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news
Success of 'Crouching
Tiger' and others discussed
By Stephine Michrina
On-line Forty-Niner
"Crouching
Tiger, Hidden Dragon" may not have won best picture at
last week's Academy Awards ceremony, but its award for best
foreign film has brought exposure to Chinese-made movies.
"'Crouching
Tiger, Hidden Dragon' gave recognition to all of the Chinese-made
films over the past 10 years," said Huang Shixian, a
professor at the Beijing Film Academy, who has published several
books and articles on Chinese and foreign films. He was recently
selected to serve on a board of seven specialists to select
the 100 best Chinese films of all times, and spoke at a lecture
Thursday at the University Student Union.
"It really
is a new epoch in recognition of Chinese made films,"
said Huang, addressing an audience of more than 30 people,
highlighting issues of globalization and the market trends
of indigenous Chinese films.
With the recent
popularity of the Ang Lee-directed "Crouching Tiger,"
movie critics are analyzing where foreign films will fit into
Hollywood's big picture.
"Chinese filmmakers
will have to learn how to provide excitement and thrillers
like Hollywood produces today," Huang said. "However,
Chinese films have found a little niche in the filmmaking
industry."
Huang pointed to
specific reasons for the success of "Crouching Tiger"
in the United States.
"The first
is the romantic, classical images of a martial arts movie.
There's a beauty in the masculinity of the film.
"Second are
the beautiful scenes with the combination of digital technology,"
said Huang, referring to scenes where the stars of the movie
glide from rooftop to rooftop and fight amid waving bamboo
shoots.
"There is
also some degree of oriental mysticism in the movie,"
Huang added. "The sword is sort of a symbol of feelings."
"Crouching
Tiger" is the first Chinese film to receive an Academy
Award in the best foreign language film category. While viewing
subtitled movies is typically not well received by moviegoers
in the United States, the film has leaped this hurdle with
receipts of more than $4.7 million at the box office.
"This was
really a landmark film," said San-Poi Li, a professor
in the department of Asian and Asian American studies. "Kung
Fu movies have created stereotypes. This movie offers a new
refreshing perspective."
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