Some movie industry professionals in the United States have recently given glowing reviews to Chinese films, expressing high appreciation for the production and the hope that this medium will play a more prominent role in promoting Chinese culture across the U.S.
Comedy films such as "YOLO," "Pegasus 2" and "Successor" are among multiple Chinese top-grossing movies that have quickly gained a large fan base in American cities like Los Angeles, home to Hollywood, since their respective releases in the country earlier this year.
Matthew Robinson, who works as a film editor in LA, is one of the Chinese film enthusiasts captivated by comedy-drama films "YOLO" and "Pegasus 2," both premiered in China this year.
"YOLO," a Chinese box office hit, tells a compelling story of an unemployed, overweight woman who embarks on a journey of self-discovery after taking a boxing career, while "Pegasus 2," the sequel to a 2019 blockbuster film, revolves around a down-on-his-luck rally driver who finds unexpected new partners that allow him to re-enter a famed rally race.
"The most recent Chinese movies that I watched is one I think it's called 'YOLO' or 'You Only Live Once'. It's about a boxer, and it reminded me a lot of the 80s' boxing movies like 'Rockies' and things like that, where it's just that perseverance and that commitment to discipline and excellence to get you over the hump. And I really enjoyed that. And then I think the other one was a comedy. I think it was 'Pegasus'. What I like about that, I like the way that Chinese filmmakers really use comedy to imply serious things in their films. It's their style and the way that they approach comedy, it is so much different than we do. And I think they've mastered it, if I can say the least, they've really mastered that. And I appreciate that," Robinson said in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV).
Located on LA's iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame, the TCL Chinese Theater has hosted multiple Chinese movie premieres this year, becoming a symbol of Chinese films and culture among the local audience.
Lacey Noel, who is in charge of external affairs for the TCL Chinese Theater, said she has seen firsthand Chinese films' strong appeal to Americans as a form of cultural expression.
"Working at the Chinese theater has really made me appreciate Chinese culture and Chinese film and everything. And the Chinese Theater is such a wonderful way for Americans, especially in Los Angeles, to be able to experience that. And I have friends that have also discovered and enjoy Chinese films here as well. I really hope that Chinese film becomes more of a bigger thing here in the States, especially Los Angeles, because Chinese culture and Chinese film are absolutely beautiful, and it creates more of an audience for it to be appreciated on a grander scale by all sorts of different people," she said.
Ben Lee, a professor in Communication at the University of Southern California, said high-quality Chinese films and television series are gaining in both popularity and recognition across the world in recent years.
"I think the quality of Chinese filmmaking has been on a strong trajectory upwards. We see many, many more really better stories, stronger stories. It's not just in the movie, the film market; we see that in series," Lee said.
Lee said that along with Chinese films, the runaway global success of Chinese video game "Black Myth: Wukong" shows that Chinese culture is gaining recognition around the world in diversified ways.
The "Black Myth: Wukong," an action-packed adventure based on the Chinese classic novel "Journey to the West," has taken the world by storm after it sold millions of copies within a few days, becoming China's most successful game of all time.
"The 'Black Myth: Wukong' - that is a truly a breakthrough. You can see a lot of recognition globally and you can see the people being motivated to look at the original television series or even to read the original text based on the game. So, I see both genres, whether they are films or games, as expressions of the best of Chinese culture," said the professor.
Chinese films win hearts of industry professionals in U.S.
