Of course, there have always been good, content-driven masterpieces in Chinese cinema, but the infusion of best-in-class production values, the use of high-end animation or graphics sequences, the blending of Chinese social flair with Hollywood noir filmmaking have reshaped the industry here. They seem to have carved out a unique niche in the world movie-verse, often going head-to-head with Western productions in cinematic brilliance. What I find incredibly interesting is that Chinese movies don't seem to be in the thrall of standard Hollywood fare anymore. Lost in the Stars, No More Bets and Chang'an are on my list, not to mention the upcoming Tony Leung-Andy Lau reunion crime thriller, The Goldfinger. So, I am now hoping to catch a few more blockbusters before the summer frenzy runs out. I have been a Chinese movie fan for as long as I can remember. It makes you want to love and hate the characters in equal measure. It is more nuanced and leaves ample scope for drama. Mind you, it has far fewer flying daggers and breathless rooftop fights than in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. But that did not prevent me from being sucked into the whirlwind of emotions on display and its action sequences. Of course, I could barely understand the dialogue. It has already raked in about 2.4 billion yuan so far this summer, according to film trackers, and I must say, I was absolutely wowed by its cinematic arc. I believe a sequel, too, is in the offing. The movie's canvas is huge and it thoroughly lives up to its grand ambition. Luckily, I managed to procure a ticket for the very movie I was hoping to see - Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms. Less than two weeks later, I was back again thinking I needed to catch a Chinese entertainer this time. Of course, I was soon left wondering whether my fellow movie buffs were missing out on the gravity-defying stunts while simultaneously reading dialogue in Mandarin. However, it was in English with Chinese subtitles. I thought I could enjoy watching it in Chinese, just like the others in the audience. As expected, Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One had the usual thrills one would expect from a Tom Cruise vehicle. Recently, I had the opportunity to watch a couple of movies at a theater nearby. I am a huge fan of films and their craft, and endlessly fascinated by their scale and the creative impetus behind movie making. Ticket sales have hit about 20.6 billion yuan ($2.83 billion), surpassing the previous record of 17.8 billion set in the summer of 2019, according to recent reports.Įveryone loves a good yarn, and if it comes with all the razzle and dazzle of a unique cinematic experience, so much the better. Is China fast turning into a Cinema Paradiso? Going by the stupendous box office collections so far this summer, it seems the assessment is not far off the mark.
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