Sunday, May 27, 2007

Controversial portrayal of Zhao Yun (赵云) by Andy Lau (刘德华)




http://news.qzwb.com/gb/content/2007-05/26/content_2472466.htm

The release of the photo of Andy Lau's portrayal of the Three Kingdoms warrior-general Zhao Yun @ Zi Long has been widely panned by China's netizens.

Some found his armour too much like the samurai's of Japan.
His helmet was variously thought to be Korea, Mongolian and even 20th century British.
Even his waistpack was seen as anachronistic, spatially and temporally.

One netizen by the monicker of 秋江夜泊 remarked that “搞不懂明明中国的铠甲那么好看， 导演们偏偏都喜欢不伦不类的东西。” (I just don't get it. Historical Chinese armour are so cool-looking, why do these directors insist on using some weird stuff from half-baked ideas."
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45 comments:

  1. Jules YimMay 27, 2007 at 7:40 PM

    Maggie Q???

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  2. kit meng leongMay 27, 2007 at 8:19 PM

    So what can we do about it? Who can we petition? Where do we send the letters? How do we leave feedback? Can we make a difference?

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  3. Snowy BeagleMay 27, 2007 at 9:10 PM

    In some sexy warrior's outfit ... I think there's also another publicity photo of her holding the zither ...

    IIRC, she's a ficticious granddaughter or granddaughter of Cao Cao, named Cao Ying (曹婴).

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  4. Snowy BeagleMay 27, 2007 at 9:14 PM

    If film makers couldn't be bothered to do a decent job with "A Battle of Wits" 墨攻 ...

    Seriously, the only way to make a difference is for someone else with $$$ to make a better film, with historically accuracy, and make more $$$$$$$ than these shameful quick-buck scams.

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  5. kit meng leongMay 27, 2007 at 9:17 PM

    well maybe if more people scream at them they'll start taking heed and doing a better job researching historical accuracy.

    Take hollywood for instance. I've been in correspondance with a researcher for Mummy III because she contacted me for info on Han era infantry crossbows. Hongkong will never be world class if they don't bring up their standards.

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  6. Snowy BeagleMay 27, 2007 at 9:27 PM

    The Mummy 3?!

    One thing I don't get about these films with evil ancient warlord/warlock leading an ancient (undead) army ...

    These blokes couldn't conquer the world when they were alive, and now they think they could do it when they're dead??!!!

    Maybe world-conquering villains should just commit suicide first ...

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  7. kit meng leongMay 27, 2007 at 9:39 PM

    it's all on the premise that they can now come back even in weakened half-assed form and beat the living daylight out of us weak modern humans who've lost our hunting skills, partly feminised, pampered by modern gadgetry... and hence couldn't even survive sleeping outdoors in a city park let alone stand a chance fighting ancient evils

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  8. kit meng leongMay 27, 2007 at 9:41 PM

    yes. Apparently part of the story will be in Han china.

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  9. Snowy BeagleMay 27, 2007 at 9:49 PM

    Found a wikipedia entry on it ... Jet Li ... villain ... Michelle Yeoh ... female wizard ...

    I sure hope he will look more menacing than Chow in Pirates 3 ...

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  10. Jules YimMay 27, 2007 at 9:55 PM

    Maggie Q doesn't even look Chinese, IMO. Hot babe, yes. Chinese? Dunno...

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  11. Snowy BeagleMay 27, 2007 at 10:08 PM

    That's not really an issue, IMO. Ancient Han people don't necessarily look like modern Han people. Sun Quan was described as a 碧眼儿 in the novel RoTK. There was a lot of inter-racial mixing even back then.

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  12. Jules YimMay 27, 2007 at 10:10 PM

    Hmm...ok. :-) I don't suppose physiogonomy is really an issue here, but armour.

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  13. kit meng leongMay 27, 2007 at 10:46 PM

    So back to the issue at hand. They put out the promotional posters early for a reason. They are expecting comments. "Ooohs and aaahhs." were probably more of what they had in mind perhaps and not the critical reviews of historical accuracy, but comments ARE being solicited. We should give them our comments then.

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  14. Snowy BeagleMay 28, 2007 at 12:07 AM

    I agree the helmet is way-out, but I'm not sure if the rest of the armour is really that bad.

    Okay, they exaggerated the number of plates on the arms (separate plates only required to allow mobility, I'm sure Zhao Yun was no Elastic Man). Each separate piece creates an additional vulnerability.

    But otherwise, ancient armours all used similar principles - armour piece, leather bindings ... so they probably end up looking quite alike anyway.

    And his waist-pack ... that's a mite too modern.

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  15. kit meng leongMay 28, 2007 at 12:34 AM

    Honestly, the 3K period would have used armour similar to Han designs. Han designs from tomb excavations show small lacquered lamellar plates of leather or iron. The lamellar were getting progressively smaller too and not larger. Andy Lau's armour shows segmented plate armour like Roman or Samurai armour.

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  16. kit meng leongMay 28, 2007 at 12:42 AM

    Another point. If we just compare the overall look of Andy Lau's armour, ie. breastplate, back-plate (assumed) and 2 shoulder guards, this compares only with the lightest of Han infantry armour. Heavy infantry armour (and cavalry) armour have upward imbricated skirts front and back as well as shoulder straps connecting front and back plates (under the shoulder guards).

    I'd expect an important General to wear the "better" armours and not one that's no better than those worn by "light" Han infantry.

    As for that hat... I have absolutely nothing to say. The words... they get choked in my throat.

    Someone please give me their feedback e-mail. I'll send them a sketch of late Han era armour.

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  17. kit meng leongMay 28, 2007 at 12:50 AM

    See this for Han heavy infantry/cavalry armour.

    http://chinesearmour.multiply.com/photos/photo/3/14
    http://chinesearmour.multiply.com/photos/photo/3/15
    http://chinesearmour.multiply.com/photos/photo/3/19
    http://chinesearmour.multiply.com/photos/photo/3/20

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  18. Snowy BeagleMay 28, 2007 at 12:53 AM

    I get "The Ancient China Research Society Singapore group does not have any Photo Albums currently available for non-members. Please click on the Home tab and check out the rest of our site." when I clicked on the links ...

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  19. kit meng leongMay 28, 2007 at 12:59 AM

    Damn!

    Ok I've uploaded the pictures here too.

    http://img134.imageshack.us/my.php?image=handetails1bx7.jpg
    http://img340.imageshack.us/my.php?image=handetails2xb0.jpg
    http://img204.imageshack.us/my.php?image=armour3dqo5.jpg
    http://img84.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cutout1od3.jpg

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  20. Snowy BeagleMay 28, 2007 at 1:13 AM

    Can't find any official website or email. Production already started, so I'm not optimistic about them heeding any feedback.

    Found some pictures from the shooting location though. Added them to this album.

    I'll leave the critique of the armours to our expert.

    ReplyDelete
  21. kit meng leongMay 28, 2007 at 2:11 AM

    uh... ok I donno whether to thank you for the additional photographs or not. I mean, what's with the dorky helmets? I think I just lost my will to live...

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  22. Snowy BeagleMay 28, 2007 at 2:21 AM

    Could the producers possibly have gotten them from some LOTR post-production garage sales?

    Well, not exactly LOTR, but maybe they're trying to save cost by recycling them for another movie ...

    Or wait ... maybe they borrowed the helms from some PLA units ...

    ReplyDelete
  23. kit meng leongMay 28, 2007 at 2:23 AM

    LOTR may be right. They look suspiciously like Orc helms without the face-guard.... uggghhhh.... my heart....

    ReplyDelete
  24. kit meng leongMay 28, 2007 at 2:28 AM

    Oh an what's on the horse's head? A Decepticon symbol?

    ReplyDelete
  25. Snowy BeagleMay 28, 2007 at 2:44 AM

    Glad to know it's not just my imagination ...

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  26. Jules YimMay 28, 2007 at 2:46 AM

    How come I can't join the ACRS? :(

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  27. Jules YimMay 28, 2007 at 2:47 AM

    Oi. Maggie looks frightening with her eye paint. :D

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  28. kit meng leongMay 28, 2007 at 2:47 AM

    kakashi

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  29. Jules YimMay 28, 2007 at 4:26 AM

    Yucky!

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  30. Snowy BeagleMay 28, 2007 at 7:40 PM

    It's a waste of money when they spend big budgets on period movies and manufacture weird designs ... if they want "artistic", they should just make it a fantasy movie ... like 天下 or 风云 ...

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  31. kit meng leongMay 28, 2007 at 8:50 PM

    Actually, come to think of it, the scenes remind of me "7-swords".... uugghhh...

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  32. Jules YimMay 28, 2007 at 8:53 PM

    Yes. Gross.

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  33. kit meng leongMay 28, 2007 at 8:56 PM

    especially the dildo-head guy on the horse.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Jules YimMay 28, 2007 at 11:06 PM

    Dildo head??

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  35. kit meng leongMay 28, 2007 at 11:21 PM

    ... in avoidance of more biological phallic references...

    ReplyDelete
  36. Ur PersiaMay 29, 2007 at 12:09 AM

    I keeping with tradition I think I will refer to this one as the 'turtle head'.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Jules YimMay 29, 2007 at 12:12 AM

    True...but that is a novel reference...

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  38. L YMay 29, 2007 at 1:19 AM

    Lau's helmet looks very American, cannot put finger on it... Military? Park Ranger?

    ReplyDelete
  39. Snowy BeagleMay 29, 2007 at 1:31 AM

    It's similar to the Brodie helmet and Adrian helmet.
    See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brodie_helmet and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrian_helmet

    ReplyDelete
  40. kit meng leongMay 29, 2007 at 1:55 AM

    can we like class action them like soon?

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  41. Ur PersiaMarch 26, 2008 at 11:14 AM

    Hey, has this movie been released yet? Did I completely miss it? I don't get to see Turtle-head in action?

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  42. kit meng leongMarch 26, 2008 at 8:05 PM

    7th April release right? (or was it 10th) I remember there are two "China" movies being launched, 7th and 10th. The other is the Chow YF movie which I think will be pretty good. Anyone want to go watch it?

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  43. moon luminousMarch 26, 2008 at 8:38 PM

    yeah lets fix a date and all go together watch this movie...

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  44. Lady OscarMarch 26, 2008 at 8:58 PM

    can't promise because I need to catch other movies too but let me know date, day and the time and see whether I can join you guys.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Ur PersiaMarch 26, 2008 at 10:18 PM

    Chow Yun Fatt, Michelle Yeoh definitely. Just saw the trailer yesterday looked good.

    ReplyDelete

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