Editor's Note: With a plethora of movies, TV shows, and variety programs being released every week, how do you make your selections? Take a look at the recommendations from The Paper's artistic team.
【Movies】
Box Office Report
According to Lighthouse Professional, as of November 29 at 4 PM, the movies "Good Things," "Moana 2," "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," "Karma," and "Crayon Shin-chan: Our Dinosaur Diary" ranked as the top five in daily box office on Friday.
This week, the film market welcomed several highly anticipated new releases. "Moana 2" premiered on November 29, continuing the adventure of Moana and Maui as they navigate unknown waters and face new challenges. On the same day, the Indian suspense film "Karma" also officially released, having garnered acclaim overseas for its extreme suspense and revenge plot, attracting domestic audiences.
The comedy film "Good Luck" is set to release on November 30, featuring actors Bai Ke and Qiao Shan, and tells the story of a company dedicated to helping people fulfill their dreams, adding new humor to the year-end festive season.
"Good Things"
Still from "Good Things"
As of around 3:15 PM on November 29, "Good Things" has grossed over 260 million yuan. Lighthouse's AI box office predictions have been raised from 400 million yuan (predicted on November 21) to 606 million yuan (predicted on November 28). The film's Douban rating remains at 9.1, based on 369,000 ratings. Of course, with its success, it's not uncommon for the film to face "scams" or criticisms as well.
By the way, friends in Shanghai, keep your tickets for "Good Things." Many offline merchants in the city are offering corresponding discounts.
→“Good Things” director Shao Yihui: Face the times honestly, and don’t underestimate the audience
→“Good Things”: Everyone can sincerely be a “child”
→“Good Things” tells of "new things"
"Gladiator 2"
Still from "Gladiator 2"
This classic IP returns, maintaining its nostalgic appeal while also attracting new viewers. In the age of overwhelming short video content, perhaps we should be grateful that some are willing to take a step back, look back, and write a new "epic."
→Is "Gladiator 2" an "unnecessary" sequel?
→Back in the Day | "Gladiator": The Renaissance of Epic Cinema
"The Generational Charmer"
Still from "The Generational Charmer"
"The Generational Charmer" is a labor of love by Jia Zhangke's team that began filming in 2001 and took 22 years to complete. The film showcases different image media over various periods, reflecting the varying visual quality and formats, as well as snapshots of different eras and lifestyles since the 21st century.
→Jia Zhangke discusses "The Generational Charmer": “Those who use digital cameras” through the ages
→"The Generational Charmer": We need some genuine, profound reflections
Other Recommendations:
“Forgiveness” tops "Film Handbook" 2024 best ten list
Bob Dylan's biopic receives media acclaim, and 'Sweet Tea' is likely to set an Oscar record
Research shows that European films are losing appeal in the global market
【TV Series】
New Series Information
The historical web drama "Shu Brocade Family" is set to exclusively stream on Youku starting November 30, starring Tan Songyun, Zheng Yecheng, Jing Chao, and Chen Xiaoyun.
The urban drama "Good Luck Family" will air in Hunan TV's Golden Eagle Theatre from December 1 and will also be exclusively available on Mango TV, featuring Zhang Xiaofei, Tong Dawei, and Chen Xiaoyi.
Adapted from the novel "Violet" by Xiao Ruse, the historical drama "Dream Flower Court" started filming on November 22 in Hengdian and will be exclusively available on Tencent Video, starring Chen Zheyuan, Zhang Jingyi, and Liang Yongqi.
The first major drama about Huizhou ink culture, "Home Business", began filming in Anhui on November 22 and will be exclusively available on iQIYI, led by Yang Zi and Han Dongjun.
The web series produced by Bilibili, "A Full Courtyard of Fragrance", started filming on November 23 and features Hu Lianxin, Fan Zhixin, and Zhang Zhilin.
Based on Liang Xiaosheng's novel of the same name, "My Life and My Fate" began filming on November 26, officially announcing Tan Songyun as the female lead, with Guo Jingyu as the screenwriter and Bai Shan as the executive director, set to stream exclusively on Youku.
The historical drama "The Ancient Music Chronicles", produced by Stellar Gravity, started filming in Hengdian on November 27 and will be exclusively available on Tencent Video, starring Li Yitong and Chen Xinhai.
The period drama "Surprise" wrapped filming on November 28 and will be exclusively available on iQIYI. Directed by Zheng Xiaolong and Li Yifan, it stars Yu Hewei, Xin Baiqing, Fu Dalong, and Cao Bingkun.
"I Am a Detective"
"I Am a Detective" still
This series offers a realistic portrayal of the work and lives of front-line detectives, employing a realist narrative style and documentary filming techniques to comprehensively showcase the complexities and challenges of grassroots criminal investigation. The story is set against the backdrop of the 1995 shocking armed robbery case in Hegang.
Screenwriter Xu Meng mentioned that while gathering material at the front lines, he deeply felt the perception, execution, insight, and loyalty of police officers to the people. Inspired by this, he decided to depict three generations in the script to embody a spirit of the profession and an epic character. Director Hui Kaidong revealed that the crew spanned multiple regions, from Chongqing to Northeast China. Actor Yu Hewei shared, "I have nearly 800 scenes in this drama, which is rare in my many years of acting."
Taking advantage of its subject matter, the show's ratings skyrocketed upon release, leading on various charts like Lighthouse and Yunhe, currently breaking the 8500 mark on iQIYI. The plot is tight, characters are authentic, and the restoration of cases is high quality; although the series is set again in Northeast China, it avoids the typical artistic lens associated with the region, presenting a natural and realistic environment. However, excessive pixelation at crime scenes can distract some viewers. Additionally, some audience feedback suggested that the storyline and characters seem disjointed, with Yu Hewei having portrayed detectives multiple times, lacking freshness. Moreover, the ending theme song "Young and Ambitious" has been criticized for its less-than-stellar quality.
"Inside Marriage, Outside Marriage"
Poster for "Inside Marriage, Outside Marriage"
The variety show "Goodbye Lover" is akin to the television version of this drama. "Inside Marriage, Outside Marriage" is a collaboration between director Gao Xixi and chief screenwriter Wang Wanping, reuniting after more than a decade since "Happiness is like Flowers" and "Sweet Honey." The series begins with a seemingly glamorous and perfect yet actually "riddled with conflict" relationship, presenting multiple marriage and family dilemmas. The plot unfolds from dual perspectives: from the male lead's view, both are intimate allies constructing a perfect marriage fairy tale; from the female lead’s perspective, it is a moment of awakening from "The Truman Show" where the distance between happiness and reality gradually becomes apparent. The series has currently surpassed a popularity score of 20,000 on Tencent, and despite its short air time, its performance on other charts remains unclear.
Some commentators suggest that the writers should watch divorce reality shows to truly understand what discord between couples looks like, as this drama shares similar flaws with previous urban dramas, being somewhat detached from reality.
"The Courage Not to Please"
Still from "The Courage Not to Please"
This series tells the story of contemporary "big factory girl" Wu Xiuyu (played by Li Gengxi) who, by chance, reunites with her old classmate Shi Ye (played by Wei Daxun) and discovers stand-up comedy. She finds a stage where she can express herself frankly, beginning to change her previously unsatisfactory life, chasing her passions, bravely transforming, and reviving her true self.
Since its release, the show's popularity index has continued to rise, hovering within the top ten on various charts like Lighthouse. Its audience primarily consists of those from new first-tier cities and ages 24-30, with female viewers making up 85%, demonstrating the show's appeal among young, sophisticated women. Viewer feedback indicates that many resonate strongly with the show’s satire on work and colleagues; while the stand-up portions may not be laugh-out-loud funny, they come off
