Pick a bit for "Xia Nv"

Stone 2022-01-20 08:04:13

The story of "Xia Nv" comes from "Strange Tales from a Lonely Studio". The original work is only a few thousand words. It was expanded by Hu Jinquan into a nearly three-hour masterpiece. The adaptation of the script should be said to be very successful: Hu Jinquan liked to read "History of Ming Dynasty", so he put the background of the story of "Xia Nu" into the Ming Dynasty that she is familiar with; after arranging Xia Nu as the loyal minister Yang Lian, her revenge has been improved. Emotional basis recognized by others; abandoning Gu Shengzhai’s sorrow of children, because modern audiences certainly can’t accept the male protagonist chasing women while still playing men; also made changes to Gu Shengzhai’s character, from being a lecherous apprentice Zi transformed himself into a talented man who was full of economy but willing to be a hermit; he turned the fox who had a leg with Gu Sheng into Dongchang Jinyiwei...

But the script is not without flaws, and there are soft and hard injuries.

The biggest bug should be Yang Huizhen's mother's age. At the beginning of the film, Gu Xingzhai asked her mother who was still in Miss Yang’s family. Gu said: “There is also her mother, she is more than 80 years old, and she is sick all day long.” Later, Yang Huizhen complained to Gu Xingzhai’s Chen family. Shi Shi, her father Yang Lian seemed to be only 50 or 60 years old at most. I checked the information. Yang Lian was born in 1571 and died in 1625 at the age of 54. Weird, how can a 54-year-old man have a wife in his eighties? After Yang Lian died, Yang Huizhen went to Jinglutun Fort not long after fleeing, and then met Gu Xingzhai. During this period, she only hid in the temple for two years, not for decades. Besides, according to Gu's mother (we can also see it): Yang Huizhen is only in her twenties. Could it be that her mother was in her 60s before giving birth to her?

Moreover, in the novel, there is a prerequisite for the Xia Nu to promise Gu Sheng. Xia Nu and her mother live in poverty, and they are unable to sustain three meals. They all rely on Gu's family to take care of her. Gu's mother had a sore on her lower body, and the chivalrous woman washed her wounds and applied the medicine. She was not tired of the filth. Gu's mother was moved to tears and said how can I find a wife like you to give me the end of old age wow! In this passage, Dan Minglun, who criticized "Strange Tales from a Lonely Studio," commented: "This time I cried, and after crying out of a girl, I laughed twice." Xia Nu was grateful that she didn't want to repay her, so she reported to her in the bed for the family property. Next son. In the movie, it is only said that Gu's mother gave them needles and threads once, and then Gu's mother was injured by the cold and Yang Huizhen came to take care of her. Gu's mother lamented that Gu's family had no future, and Yang Huizhen remembered it in her heart. After that, Yang Huizhen and the other person met, but Gu Shengzhai broke through. Yang Huizhen invited him to meet at night, and the two of them went to bed and had a good time. Because of the lack of necessary psychological foreshadowing, it looks more like Yang Huizhen is tempted by color in order to seal Gu Xingzhai's mouth.

Furthermore, Gu Xingzhai saw the wanted Yang Huizhen bulletin in the county government office, was shocked, and rushed home to let his mother pack her things and run away. In this scene, Gu Xingzhai ran home out of breath and said, "Mother, hurry up!" Gu's mother took the parcel and left in a carriage without questioning anything, and compared with the pretentious and reluctant village created before. The woman's personality is totally inconsistent, which is too hasty.

The above is just boring, just pick a bit. The flaws are not hidden, "Xia Nu" is very good-looking, even if it is not the most classic martial arts film, it is definitely one of the most classic. Among the 100 best Hong Kong films published by "Watching Movies" magazine "A Hundred Years of Hong Kong Films", there is no "Xia Nv". I have been mad about it for a long time.

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Extended Reading

A Touch of Zen quotes

  • Ku Shen Chai: Have you seen Miss Yang, the lady who lives here?

    General Shih Wen-chiao: No, I'm blind.

    Ku Shen Chai: Forgive me.

    General Shih Wen-chiao: Miss Yang and her mother are gone.

    Ku Shen Chai: She said you should run for your life too. Do you know where she went?

    General Shih Wen-chiao: No.

    Ku Shen Chai: I have to find her!

    [Shih pulls out a sword as two soldiers fly down from the sky and attack, but are quickly killed in a few brief strokes of the sword]

    Ku Shen Chai: Mr. Shih, Mr. Shih, who are you really?

    General Shih Wen-chiao: I'm not blind, that's for sure.