Top Three Blockbuster Chinese Movies for the New Year Holidays (Advanced)

Top Three Blockbuster Chinese Movies for the New Year Holidays

Key Learning Points (Preview):

牺牲 (xīshēng) v. / n. sacrifice

传奇 (chuánqí) n. legend

The New Year is coming! And dozens of movies are coming out in theaters. Amongst them, the three following movies are at the top of the list!

赵氏孤儿 (Zhào shì gūér) Sacrifice

非诚勿扰2 (Fēi chéng wù rǎo èr) If You Are The One 2

让子弹飞 (Ràng zǐdàn fēi) Let the Bullets Fly

1. 赵氏孤儿 (Zhào shì gūér) Sacrifice

The story is adapted from a historical play, and tells the story taking place during the Spring and Autumn Period in China, around 770BC. At that time, contention existed between two generals of the Jin kingdom. General Tu Anjia, an insidious man, was jealous of the upstanding general Zhao Dun because Zhao Dun’s son was the son-in-law of Duke Ling of the Jin Kingdom. An opportunity seized by General Tu Anjia enabled him to kill the entire Zhao Dun family of nearly 300 people. Only an orphan survived. That same orphan, 20 years later, after learning how his family was killed vowed to avenge their deaths and, in the end, he got his revenge.

电影看点(diànyǐng kàndiǎn) The highlights of this movie:

Yóu Chén kǎigē zhí dǎo, diànyǐng zhǎnxiàn le tā yíguàn de fēnggé,
由     陈      凯歌   执   导，电影         展现     了他  一贯   的   风格，
qíngjié yǐnrénrùshèng; shēngdòng de rénwù sùzào;
情节      引人入胜；        生动          的  人物     塑造；
yǒulì de tǐxiàn le zhōngzhèng yǔ jiānxié de máodùn chōngtū;
有力 地   体现 了  忠正          与  奸邪   的   矛盾        冲突；
quánshì le xīshēng jīngshen zhēnzhèng de nèihán.
诠释       了  牺牲       精神         真正       的  内涵。

Directed by famous director, Chen Kaige, the movie is indicative of his style – fascinating plots, captivating characters that show the struggles in man between loyalty and uprightness, craftiness and evil, and conveys the deeper meaning of sacrifice.

The main actors are Ge You, Wang Xueqi, Fan Bingbing.

2. 非诚勿扰2 (Fēi chéng wù rǎo èr) If You Are The One 2

If You Are The One 2 is a sequel to the highly popular movie by the same title. The director Feng Xiaogang continues the story of the two main characters, Qin Fen and Liang Xiaoxiao. After coming back from Hokkaido, Japan, the two people begin a trial marriage. After some time together in this manner, Liang Xiaoxiao comes to realize that they are not compatible. But, in the end, despite this sad fact, they decide to stay together.

电影看点(diànyǐng kàndiǎn) The highlights of this movie:

Biǎomiàn kàn tā shì yíbù xǐjù, gǎoxiào de qíngjié
表面        看  它  是 一部 喜剧，搞笑   的  情节
yǐjí yǎnyuán yōumò de táicí  fùyǔ le tā xǐjù  de yìyì;
以及 演员      幽默  的 台词 赋予了它喜剧 的 意义；
dàn shízé, chénsī zhī hòu, nǐ huì tǐhuì dào tā de bēijù sècǎi,
但     实则，沉思   之  后，你 会 体会 到  它 的 悲剧 色彩，
suóyǐ zhè bù diànyǐng shì bàn bēi bàn xǐ jù, zhèngrú měi gè rén de shēnghuó.
所以   这   部  电影      是  半    悲   半 喜 剧，正如    每   个  人  的   生活。

It seems like a comedy, with its funny plot and witty lines. However, later on, you will find it a sad story. The film is regarded as half comedy and half tragedy, just like many people’s lives.

The main actors are Ge You and Shu Qi.

3. 让子弹飞 (Ràng zǐdàn fēi) Let the Bullets Fly

Set in the Northern Warlords period, the story tells the legends of bandits and hooligans.

电影看点(diànyǐng kàndiǎn) The highlights of this movie:

Bùtóng yú lìshǐ jù “Zhào shì gūér,” xiàndài jù “Fēi chéng wù rǎo èr,”
不同     于 历史 剧《赵氏孤儿》，   现代   剧   《非诚勿扰2》，
“Ràng zǐdàn fēi” zhè bù jùyǒu chuánqí sècǎi de
《让子弹飞》        这  部  具有    传奇     色彩  的
diànyǐng chōngmǎn le jiāngwén shì de xiǎngxiàng.
电影         充满        了  姜文       式   的   想象。
Qí tūchū tèdiǎn jiùshì yōumò ér yòu yìwèishēncháng
其 突出   特点     就是   幽默  而  又   意味深长
de duìbái yǔ qíngjié. Piànmíng yě yìwèi zhe yǐngpiàn jiāng
的    对白  与  情节。    片名     也  意味  着    影片       将
chóngxiàn zhànzhēng de gǎnjué.
重现            战争          的  感觉。

Different from the two films above, “Sacrifice,” a historical play, “If You Are The One 2,” a modern story, “Let the Bullets Fly” is a legend full of imagination. Humorous and meaningful dialogues and an interesting plot make it fun to watch. And the title, “Let the Bullets Fly,” leaves no doubt that this is packed with action.

The main actors are Ge You, Chow Yun-fat, Jiang Wen

Key Learning Points:

牺牲 (xīshēng) v. /n. sacrifice

Nowadays people use “牺牲” as a noun or a verb meaning to sacrifice or to make a sacrifice. In ancient China, it held similar meanings, such as a beast being slaughtered for sacrifice

Example:

Jūnrén xīshēng hěn dà, bùnéng zhàogù jiātíng.
军人      牺牲     很    大，不能      照顾      家庭。

A soldier needs to make a great sacrifice and can’t look after his family.

传奇 (chuánqí) n. legend

Example:

Zài tǐtán, Dèng Yàpíng shì yí gè chuánqí rénwù.
在   体坛，邓      亚萍   是  一 个   传奇      人物。

In sports, Deng Yaping is a legendary athlete.