Heroism in Chinese and Hollywood Movies

Lai Shuk Yee 08027676Lai Ka Hung 08020566

POLS 3620 Contemporary Europe and Asia

Content• Definition of Heroism• Heroism in Chinese movies• Heroism in Hollywood movies• Interaction of Chinese and Hollywood movies• Conclusion

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Definition of Heroism

• Hero cult• Demigod in Greek mythology• Display courage and will of self-sacrifice• Martial courage• Moral examples

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Heroism in Chinese movies• Wuxia (武俠 )• Martial Arts (武術 ) and Chivalry (騎士精神 )

• From lower classes in ancient China• Fight for righteousness• Patriotism• Confucian brotherhood

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Wuxia Films in 1960s-1970s

• Bruce Lee• The Big Boss (唐山大兄 ), 1971• Fist of Fury (精武門 ), 1972• Bruce Lee was the symbolic figure

of righteousness and patriot

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Definition of Heroism

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Sick Man of the East – A century national humiliation of China

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Wuxia Films in 1980s – 1990s

• Jacky Chan• Project A (A 計劃 ) series• Police Story (警察故事 ) series• Everyone can be a hero,

heroic image is no longer divine

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Heroism in Hollywood movies• Blockbuster Film• Patriotism (E.g. War, National

Defense) • Characteristics of Heroes

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Saving Private Ryan

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• 70 millions of production budget• D-Day landing at Omaha Beach• Americentric Centre• Patriotism

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Captain John.H Miller and his colleagues overcome all the obstacles with death to save Ryan in the last stage.

Iron ManIron Man

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• -• Cold War Period• 170million Production • Patriotism • Advanced Technology

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Chest-mounted laser beam

Repulsor rays

Cruise: Mach1.2flying range:2,000 miles

Interactions between Chinese and Hollywood Movie

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Thank You

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