The next day we went out for a walk, experiencing the local customs and customs, and of course tasting the delicious food.
On the third day, I visited Johnnie To, which was also the main purpose of coming to Hong Kong Island. We had a great time cooperating with him last time, and the box office and reputation of Drug War were both good. It was rare for Mr. To to take the initiative to invite me, so I had to give him face.
"Let's go to the wine cellar." Du Qifeng was very happy to meet him and directly took him to visit, showing off to Ding Hui the red wine he had collected for many years.
"The two things I love most in my life are cigars and red wine."
Looking at the wall full of red wine, Johnnie To said proudly: "Especially red wine, just like beauty, each bottle has its own taste, and there are so many beauties with their own styles."
Ding Hui doesn't know much about wine, so he can only give him a few polite flatteries. I heard that many rich people in Hong Kong like to collect red wine. They claim that it can maintain and increase its value?
"What are your plans for the future?" Johnnie To took out a bottle of good wine, opened it carefully after sobering up, and slowly wiped the mouth of the bottle with a white towel, full of a sense of ritual.
"I don't have any specific plans." Ding Hui took the red wine and said with a smile: "Aren't actors just acting and waiting for scripts?"
"Hahaha, that's right." Johnnie To laughed. He liked this guy's frankness very much. His acting skills were only one aspect, the main thing was his character. I felt very close to him.
"I, Johnnie To, will never look at the wrong person, let alone find someone to film with casually!" Johnnie To swung the goblet, took a deep breath, sipped the red wine, and looked full of enjoyment.
Ding Hui shook his head, not to mention new movies, even the film "Blood in the Blood" that swept the Golden Statue has not been released in China.
No one wants to watch the industry they work hard for and love die!
"Hong Kong movies are getting worse and worse." Johnnie To said helplessly: "It started to decline ten years ago. It's getting harder and harder for newcomers to get ahead. They all rely on a few old guys to support them."
It's a bit difficult for Johnnie To, especially after his creative career has entered a mature and peak period, and he obviously feels that human nature is a theme he is willing to explore?
"Can we see the new movie?"
Of course, Galaxy Image also has the confidence to be proud of itself. Although the production volume in recent years has not been high, each of its films is a high-quality product and is a golden brand in the hearts of the audience.
Except for a few relaxing films, such as "High Altitude Love" and "My Boxing Boyfriend," police and gangster movies from various angles are used to express different aspects of human nature from different angles.
Ding Hui was silent. The clearest feeling he had when he came to Hong Kong Island this time was four words: The sun is setting.
Just because of the trial...
"Cultural differences?" Du Qifeng sneered: "We are all Chinese, what cultural differences do we not understand?"
This kind of thing is the general trend and cannot be solved by a galaxy image. Whether it is Liu Tianwang or Johnnie To, as the beneficiaries of the golden age, they naturally do not want to see this kind of decline.
But in these movies, we all see Johnnie To's certain pessimism - after emphasizing the suppression of reality throughout the film, he makes a fairy tale-like choice at the end.
"Forget it, there's no point complaining about this, come and drink."
He desperately wants to reject the negative perception of human nature, but he still has a pair of eyes that can see the negative aspects of human nature. He sees the criminal with conflicting personalities and the dark side has the upper hand, and sees the righteous police officer An Zhijie falling into darkness.
Feeling that his interest was waning, Ding Hui did not continue. Everyone knew the truth and could analyze it clearly and logically. What next?
It's all just talk.
"Fortunately, it's not embarrassing, it's OK to just have fun." Johnnie To swung his wine glass, as if saying to himself: "I still like Hong Kong Island, even though it is small, even though fewer and fewer people watch local movies, even though..."
After half a lifetime of making movies, I gave up long ago if I didn't have any love or pursuit. It's not just the two of them, but many people are the same, even the Hengdian extras.
Another example is "Exiled", where the gunmen struggled between the tasks given by their superiors and their own inner chivalrous emotions, and finally chose to respect their own wishes.
There was no specific purpose for this visit. Galaxy Pictures is notoriously low-yield, especially in recent years. They may not be able to make a movie every three to five years.
It should be said that the award-winning movies in recent years have basically never been released!
"Could it be cultural differences?" I couldn't help but ask.
Ding Hui smiled. He had already seen Du Sir's arrogance. Not many actors could be attracted by him. You can tell by looking at his previous works.
Even his first mainland debut show chose the theme of police and criminals.
They are all great actors.
Johnnie To is one of my favorite directors, and Liu Tianwang also admires his predecessors the most. Visiting him is not only a sign of respect, but also the fulfillment of a small dream of his.
The most representative one is Detective. The most impressive scene for Ding Hui is when Liu Qingyun cuts off the ears that can hear other people's despicable thoughts.
Fortunately, Liu Tianwang is well-deserved as a model worker. He produces at least two or three works every year, and there are many opportunities for cooperation.
Even the true outcome of the drug war is not that justice defeats evil, but that Cai Tianming escapes and continues to engage in crime. This is not a movie fiction, but a real prototype.
"Besides Andy Goo Ka Fai and others, can you see other Hong Kong actors in the mainland?"
Even the supporting characters are of Lin Xue's level.
Movie box office is just a microcosm of the economy. The most glorious period was also the golden age when Hong Kong's economy was at its peak. Only when there is money can there be a market, only when there is a market can there be demand, and only when there is demand can there be supply.
"It's my first time filming in the Mainland, and I'm actually not used to it." Johnnie To didn't hide it, and said straight to the point: "There are too many rules and regulations, and I can't get rid of the troubles. I may not film in the future."
Almost the entire page is used to show the confrontation between the police and drug dealers, allowing both parties and the audience to constantly guess Cai Tianming's true inner position.
Ding Hui was stunned and nodded quickly. As a participant, there were a lot of chaos and troubles during the filming of Drug War. Although the mainland team has long been used to it, they must not be accustomed to the Galaxy team that pursues efficiency.
The good ones are like "The Bird", which breaks away from the suppression of the rules and order of contemporary society, and pursues freedom like the bird, which finally breaks free from the constraints at the end of the film and runs towards the endless sky.
“But I still like it!”
Tony Leung Ka Fai, Nick Cheung Ka Fai, Lau Ching Wan, Louis Koo, Ng Chun Yu, Simon Yam, Lam Ka Tung...
Is it a cat or a mouse?
The climax of the shootout between police and criminals brought the confrontation between the two sides to its peak, and Cai Tianming's continuous repetitions in this battle became increasingly confusing.
At the end of the execution, a series of shots will completely and continuously emphasize the death process of the criminal's life, and then the picture will stay on Cai Tianming's last breath, and then the body that will never rise again.
It was not until his death that Johnnie To gave the answer: Cai Tianming did not belong to any camp or position. Everything he did was not as a policeman or a drug dealer, but just as an individual based on human nature's original desire to survive.