FIFF22丨DAY6 Roundtable "Two Tigers Slaying Dragons": "When the legend becomes a reality, the legend will naturally spread"

Al 2021-12-30 17:21:45

The host Northwest is gone

Hello, everyone, and welcome to the second round table of the 6th day of the 22nd Faroe Island Film Festival main competition. I am the host, Northwest has turned into nothing. The first film we discussed was directed by John Ford. "Two Tigers Slaying Dragons", before going further, please talk about the reasons for this score based on your own site scoring, and briefly talk about your own thoughts about this movie!

Featured Guest Joeyside

2 stars. The model of Western films can be finally reduced to a question: In the most primitive and barren moments of mankind, what drives people forward? This "Two Tigers Slaying Dragons" seems to have the shadow of "Seven Samurai" everywhere. It seems to have abandoned the original formulaic plot and stereotyped characters of Western films, and focused on the origin of the establishment of the country. However, the shots are not good.

Guest aof

"Two Tigers Slaying Dragons" I can only give 1 star. At the end, it is too boring to complete the reversal through structure, and the look and feel has plummeted.

Souvenir guests Muzhi

3 stars. Discussing the issues of justice and the legal system, traditional Western film routines, the characters are too facial, and the ending reversal is too weak.

The host Northwest is gone

Let us enter the first question of the day. The film uses a lot of space to portray political mobilization and political struggles, elections, law popularization and other plots, and it is even faster than the large number of good and evil duels and fierce games in traditional Western movies, so that many commentators jokingly claim that this is actually the western part. The "American theme" in the film. Do you agree with the term "main melody"? Do you think that the addition and emphasis of these plots is a breakthrough that gives people a bright feeling? Or is it actually a failure?

Featured Guest Joeyside

It is indeed the main theme of the United States, and it is undoubtedly a failure.

Souvenir guests Muzhi

It is indeed the main theme. I think the addition of these plots is necessary to promote the development of the story, but the length can be compressed.

Moderator Northwest is in naught

I also think it is necessary, but it is still a bit too verbose.

Guest aof

Of course it is a theme. It tells that a lawyer who symbolizes "reason and the rule of law" wants to change this barbaric land. Constantly portraying the brutality of the villain Liberty, and constantly emphasizing violence against violence is no longer useful. But the failure also happened to be that violence was still used at the end, but it left an excuse for the legal system. It was Tom who was moved by the lawyer to kill Liberty.

The host Northwest is gone

The next question is about the image of the hero, the old cowboy Tom played by John Wayne. In fact, in the first half of watching the movie, I didn't particularly like this role. It is his overly old-school, hard-line and machismo style, which makes people feel a strong sense of distance in today's era. But in the latter half of the process, the director gave this character great kindness and respect, carrying almost the most critical theme. What do you think of this role? Does this setting seem outdated?

Featured Guest Joeyside

To some extent, I think it overlaps with Dongmu's image. This tough guy's image is not only a typified setting, but also to make up for the needs of the character, but I still think this character is very old-fashioned. What is the difference between Zhang Hanyu?

Souvenir guests Muzhi

I feel that John Wayne's role in Westerns is a bit like Wu Jing now.

Moderator Northwest is in naught

Wu Jing and Zhang Hanyu seem to be the main theme.

Guest aof

Tom is actually not out of date in the story, because before the lawyer came to this place, his behavior pattern was like this. It's just that the subject falls on him at the end, which is too far-fetched.

Moderator Northwest is in naught

Agree, it is a bit far-fetched. Maybe it looks a little simple and facialized now

Assistant host poem to Adelin

Wayne is the simplest representative that the West doesn't need anymore. An old myth can only become a legend.

The host Northwest is gone

Next comes the third question. The original English name of the film is literally translated as "The Man Who Shot Rebeit Valence". This is also related to the biggest reversal of the climax of the film. It was not Lance that killed the villain, but Tom. The news editor who knew the ins and outs chose not to report the truth of the story, but instead stated that "when the legend becomes a reality, the legend will naturally spread." This is also seen as a deconstruction of the classic narrative of traditional Western films by John Ford. How do you understand this kind of subversion and rebellion?

Featured Guest Joeyside

The story of "The Dark Knight" is here.

Guest aof

I don't think this can be regarded as subversion or rebellion.

Moderator Northwest is in naught

Hmm... It probably means that the so-called truth in traditional westerns is actually just a legend that has been passed down. People are accustomed to hearing heroic stories passed by word of mouth, and don't care about the truth.

Souvenir guests Muzhi

I feel that there is a bug in the film. In the end, Lanson did not clarify that he was not the murderer, so did he go to Washington as an elected representative as a murderer?

Moderator Northwest is in naught

It should have meant this. Judging from that debate, the other party also used this as a means to criticize him.

The host Northwest is gone

Director John Ford is a recognized master of Western films. In addition to this film, films such as "The Searcher" and "Flying Guanshan" are also famous. If you have seen his other works, you can briefly talk about it, or you can talk about other westerns you like.

Featured Guest Joeyside

I have only seen Westerns after 2000, and I feel that they are not orthodox Westerns anymore.

Guest aof

The group portrait of "Guanshan Feidu" is handled very well. But my favorite western is "Mick's Shortcut", and "Desert Monster" is also very good. However, these two films are anti-western in a sense. In the western world where men are the protagonist/dominant, women are the protagonists in it, a deconstruction of the power of men in Western films.

Assistant host poem to Adelin

I like Ford's "Green Hills and Green Valley" very much. It is unparalleled and poetic. It is more poetic than the poetic films of directors who are famous for their poetic films.

Souvenir guests Muzhi

I don’t watch many westerns, so I plan to see "Guanshan Feidu"

Moderator Northwest is in naught

I like the remake of "Thunder in the Ground", and I like the feeling of sadness. In fact, it is also about the demise of the western spirit.

Guest aof

"Old Nowhere" is also very good! But "Old Nowhere" is not strictly a Western.

Featured Guest Joeyside

"Old Nowhere" I don't think it looks like a western movie anymore, the taste of film noir.

View more about The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance reviews

Extended Reading
  • Bertram 2021-12-30 17:21:45

    The perfect curtain call for orthodox westerns, a true American myth. Nolan's "The Dark Knight" is obviously a modern interpretation of this film

  • Alberto 2022-03-25 09:01:10

    John Wayne represents the glory of the Western, in which he has been overshadowed and powerless, and James Stewart from the outside means the industrialized, railroaded, democratic "new" America, in this country. In the film, his character is bright and radiant, and he is the absolute protagonist. This is a self-examination by director John Ford, who clearly recognizes the fall of the western and the arrival of a new era. "Sir, this is the West. When the legend becomes reality, it's better to publish the original legend."

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance quotes

  • Dutton Peabody: [Peabody has just been nominated as a delegate to statehood] No! No! No you don't! No! I... I'm a newspaperman, not a politician! No, politicians are my meat - I build 'em up and I tear 'em down but I wouldn't be one I couldn't be one - it'd destroy me... gimme a

    Tom Doniphon: Bar's closed.

    Dutton Peabody: Huh? Good people of Shinbone, I... I... I'm you conscience - I'm the still, small voice that thunders in the night. I'm your watchdog that howls against the wolves! I'm - I'm your father confessor! I... I... I'm... I'm... what else am I?

    Tom Doniphon: Town drunk?

    [uproarious laughter]

  • Maj. Cassius Starbuckle: What kind of lawyer is he? He takes the law into his own hands. He has blood on his hands. The mark of Cain is on this man.