72 Tenants of Prosperity
I have chosen 72 Tenants of Prosperity as a cultural text analysis of my film review. It was released on February 11, 2010 which was during a period of the Chinese Lunar New Year. According to the official website of the film, the box office was over 30 million until February 28 and it is the second high box office of local record in decade. The three directors are Tsang Chi Wai, Patrick Kong and Chung Shue Kai. The casting is quite eye-catching, such as, Jacky Cheung, Tsang Chi Wai, Anita Yuen, Bosco Wong, Linda Chung, Stephy Tang and so on. Over half of the characters are from TVB since it is a TVB and Shaw Brothers Studio production. 72 Tenants of Prosperity refers to a 70s classic comedy film, 七十二家房客 with a new plot of story. However, some of the outstanding characters were kept to remind audience. The main location in the film is on Sai Yeung Choi Street, Mong Kok but built in a studio.
I am going to discuss the genre of this film and as well as its iconography, setting, characters, themes, narrative. I would classify the film into comedy, a traditional comedy film of Hong Kong. Besides, it has touching scenes to have a balance within the plot.
For the iconography, it aims at making the audience laugh so the way it tells which has to be humorous. The focus turns to the image of the performers or how they act in an exaggerating way. For instance, Bernice Liu acts as an ugly woman who sells fishball on the street. It is totally different form the image she has built up in the past which is hot and sexy.
It has a quite good setting of the film which locates on a hot spot of Hong Kong. Visiting Sai Yeung Choi Street is a “must” for tourists. It is popular within Hong Kong people, too. Shopping for cheap and worldwide brands, eating for local and international cuisines, experiencing the latest technology devices, it just represents the diversity of cultures of Hong Kong.
The casting of the film is not weak. And it makes good use of creating some leading characters. Jacky Cheung and Tsang Chi Wai both had experience in the comedy acting in the past. They seem like enemy but actually very close in the story. They fight with each others in a fun way and become closer and closer at the end.
There are sorts of cultural and social issues in the film to bring out its themes. It includes representative and recent news to draw the audiences’ attention, such as, the culture of local teen model/pseudo model, acid-attack in Mong Kok and extremely high rent from the landlord. These elements can make the audience feel so real to enjoy the film.
Lastly, the narrative of the film is very common in most of the comedy films. A community have to unite together to solve some kinds of problems. It always ends with a happy ending.
Let’s come with my feedback towards the film. I have found something interesting in the film. There are many brands show in the film. For example, they are Hoi Ting Tong, Langham Place, Sony Ericsson…etc. They just show up in a natural way comparing with the films in the past. Perhaps it is a new way for the advertisers to approach the mass audience. Apart from the very common plot, it is great to watch with friends or family during the Chinese New Year since it just all about laugh and fun.
I have chosen 72 Tenants of Prosperity as a cultural text analysis of my film review. It was released on February 11, 2010 which was during a period of the Chinese Lunar New Year. According to the official website of the film, the box office was over 30 million until February 28 and it is the second high box office of local record in decade. The three directors are Tsang Chi Wai, Patrick Kong and Chung Shue Kai. The casting is quite eye-catching, such as, Jacky Cheung, Tsang Chi Wai, Anita Yuen, Bosco Wong, Linda Chung, Stephy Tang and so on. Over half of the characters are from TVB since it is a TVB and Shaw Brothers Studio production. 72 Tenants of Prosperity refers to a 70s classic comedy film, 七十二家房客 with a new plot of story. However, some of the outstanding characters were kept to remind audience. The main location in the film is on Sai Yeung Choi Street, Mong Kok but built in a studio.
I am going to discuss the genre of this film and as well as its iconography, setting, characters, themes, narrative. I would classify the film into comedy, a traditional comedy film of Hong Kong. Besides, it has touching scenes to have a balance within the plot.
For the iconography, it aims at making the audience laugh so the way it tells which has to be humorous. The focus turns to the image of the performers or how they act in an exaggerating way. For instance, Bernice Liu acts as an ugly woman who sells fishball on the street. It is totally different form the image she has built up in the past which is hot and sexy.
It has a quite good setting of the film which locates on a hot spot of Hong Kong. Visiting Sai Yeung Choi Street is a “must” for tourists. It is popular within Hong Kong people, too. Shopping for cheap and worldwide brands, eating for local and international cuisines, experiencing the latest technology devices, it just represents the diversity of cultures of Hong Kong.
The casting of the film is not weak. And it makes good use of creating some leading characters. Jacky Cheung and Tsang Chi Wai both had experience in the comedy acting in the past. They seem like enemy but actually very close in the story. They fight with each others in a fun way and become closer and closer at the end.
There are sorts of cultural and social issues in the film to bring out its themes. It includes representative and recent news to draw the audiences’ attention, such as, the culture of local teen model/pseudo model, acid-attack in Mong Kok and extremely high rent from the landlord. These elements can make the audience feel so real to enjoy the film.
Lastly, the narrative of the film is very common in most of the comedy films. A community have to unite together to solve some kinds of problems. It always ends with a happy ending.
Let’s come with my feedback towards the film. I have found something interesting in the film. There are many brands show in the film. For example, they are Hoi Ting Tong, Langham Place, Sony Ericsson…etc. They just show up in a natural way comparing with the films in the past. Perhaps it is a new way for the advertisers to approach the mass audience. Apart from the very common plot, it is great to watch with friends or family during the Chinese New Year since it just all about laugh and fun.
Lam Sz Ki, Kiki 10321278
The review is quite comprehensive as it touches upon genre of comedy, authentic culture of Hong Kong (in particular lives of grassroot people), casting choice and social messages represented throughout the film. The part on “Sai Yeung Choi Street” can be examined in more details, as it reflects many local cultural practices and lived experience of people.
ReplyDeleteRegarding your last point on brand promotion through film media, why do you think the strategy is more “natural” in this case? What is the major difference? Do you feel more comfortable with this approach and why?
Hi, Avin!I'm Kiki.Thanks for your comment!
ReplyDeleteActually,I don't know how to describe the feeling of seeing such brands in the film without any covering so I use "natural". It is because the films used to not advertising for brands so the film makers will cover the brand name in an "unatural" way. I don't think it is a good way of promoting some kinds of products since it is quite "hard sell". Yet it does draw my attention maybe I just don't adapt to it.