"Upright repenter" gives full play to John Woo's "violent aesthetics", "brotherhood", "double guns" and other label movie vocabulary, revealing the human nature that oscillates between good and evil
. The film is not an insider exposure of the gangs in Hong Kong and Taiwan, nor is it a reflection of social reality, but a re-creation of the mythology of heroes out of the air. It is entirely the subjective desire and emotional projection of the creator. After the film was released, it became an unprecedented hit, creating a movie trend for gang hero movies
. Hong Kong movies have thus seen an upsurge of "hero movies". Among the 100 best films in Hong Kong selected by Hong Kong film critics, "Upright repenter" ranked first, which shows its profound influence on Hong Kong films
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"Upright repenter" is not only a turning point in John Woo's life, but also a milestone in Hong Kong movies. This is a film that has never been seen in Hong Kong. The men in the film have gone through hardships, but never give up the pursuit of "righteousness, status, and dignity." John Woo is full of pride, and the frustration and revenge that has accumulated in the film industry for a long time has saturated every movie screen, and the smooth and song-like editing is impeccable
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"Upright repenter" doesn't have too many children's affections, and it is the brotherhood that makes the men's blood boil. John Woo's contribution is to sublimate this kind of affection between men, and to show it to others through violent means. This film also formally established the film style of John Woo's violent aesthetics
. "Upright repenter" has unearthed a group of talents for Hong Kong films, such as Tsui Hark, Leslie Cheung, Pan Hengsheng, and Chow Yun Fat, who was called the "box office poison"; "Little Horse" has also become an idol for movie fans
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"Upright repenter" is the pioneering work of Hong Kong's heroic movies. Its greatest achievement is not that it was the box office champion of the year, or that it won numerous awards, but that the film accurately grasps the theme of the times, so that every generation can resonate with it. It is the first to perfectly integrate the unique romance and poetry of oriental martial arts with modern action movies. Every frame of the picture maximizes the beauty, and every bullet is as elegant as a ballet.
The bright colors of the film erased a trace of sadness for that period of love that has been yellowed by the years. The times make heroes, and the chaotic world is involuntary, and the peace on the surface is difficult to hide and thrive. Since then, the three anti-traditional heroism have appeared and become heroes for everyone in one fell swoop. Even if the swords and shadows are a thing of the past, the rain of guns and bullets can also reproduce the rivers and lakes. The wildness of the rivers and lakes has not decayed by half, and it still allows us to roar in it. The hero's arrogance, scorn, and childishness are all integrated into an "Upright repenter", and a monumental film history has become famous
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"Upright repenter" is a lyrical work that incorporates the director and the starring scenes, and conforms to the mentality of Hong Kong society. As a grassroots society, Hong Kong is actively entering the world market and division of labor. This film can be interpreted in multiple ways. The frustration and ambition of the protagonist in the film penetrates every screen of the film. The violent aesthetic style of the film has taken shape since "Upright repenter": the sharp and hearty images, the idol charm of the characters and the hot and exciting action scenes have reached the Hong Kong gunfight at that time. The pinnacle of the film.
The relationship between father and son, brotherhood, friendship, relationship between men and women, feelings of injustice and victimization, and feelings of revenge and hatred of men touched in "Upright repenter" vividly portray the feelings of men in their hearts. Compared with the film works of John Woo’s mentor Zhang Che, John Woo not only made Zhang Che’s costume fist and kick show transition to a fashion shootout that conforms to modern Hong Kong society at the story level, but also, in the core of the story, Zhang Che’s tragedy knight was also transformed by John Woo into a modern heroic hero. The emotional drama of women, which has been ignored by Zhang Che, became a bridge of communication between brothers in "Upright repenter".
