Chen Sicheng has finally let go of 'Southeast Asia'! I made this unusual movie, although it continues the essence of 'reversal and reversal', it's much better than what I've made before! I finally gave up taking on a lot of advertisements and filming too many deliberate comedy scenes in movies! However, this film is not just a simple suspense mystery film, it is more like a grand Chinese blood and sweat history!
Character creation is very fresh! Created a group of distinct and unforgettable characters. Qin Fu is the translator of Sherlock Holmes, and Ah Gui is actually a railway worker saved by Native Americans. He has a lot of imagination, but it is reasonable! In addition to these two main characters, supporting role also have distinctive personalities. Bai Zhenbang and Zheng Shiliang are like representatives of revolutionary youth at that time! And Fei Yanggu is like a representative of the decline of the late Qing Dynasty at that time, with a tragic ending.
At the same time, the plot layout is also very intricate and interconnected. Although there are 136 minutes in total, the plot is still tense and tight. The plot of the film is also full of twists and surprises. There are three major reversals in total! Whenever approaching the truth, an unexpected twist breaks all speculation and takes the story in a whole new direction. In the process of advancing the plot, the director cleverly used multiple subplots to enrich the layers and thickness of the story. In addition, the comedic plot is also a major highlight of the movie. This time, there was no deliberate use of vulgar comedy techniques, but rather some dramatic means.
At the same time, the film also deeply criticized the social reality of that time. In 1900, China was in the abyss of a semi colonial and semi feudal society, with sharp social contradictions and people living in hardship. The film reveals the darkness and decay of society at that time by depicting various social phenomena such as corruption in the officialdom, invasion by foreign powers, and the widening gap between the rich and the poor. In addition, the film also explores the relationship between history and destiny. In that turbulent era, an individual's fate was often influenced by the currents of history. The protagonists in the film are not only investigating cases, but also for the safety of Chinese Americans in the United States. Although they strive to pursue justice and truth, their fate is always closely linked to the fate of their country and nation. Their choices and efforts in the face of historical difficulties deeply reflect the weight of history and the insignificance of personal destiny. This kind of contemplation on history and destiny further elevates the theme of the film.
Overall, this movie has set a new and good example for domestic suspense films. Making suspense films doesn't necessarily have to be on a large scale, nor does it necessarily have to be directed to Southeast Asia.
2 out of 7 found this helpful