“Anyone who offends China will be killed no matter how far the target is.” That is the tagline for Wolf Warriors 2, the Chinese box office hit. It sees a soldier entering into an African war-zone and saving hundreds of lives from Western bad guys. It’s basically the plot of your typical Hollywood action movie, but this time it’s a Chinese man upholding justice and keeping the world safe.
Following in the footsteps of Jackie Chan and Jet Li, martial arts expert Wu Jing is among a new generation of directors who were initially Chinese action stars. His first Wolf Warrior film came out in 2014, but it didn’t catch much attention. Mainstream movies, especially those promoting patriotism, usually don’t do very well in China. Wolf Warrior 2, however, has become a phenomenon. The massive response in China also made the film top the global box office worldwide last weekend, beating Hollywood blockbuster Dunkirk.
Many moviegoers said online that they were touched by the patriotic plot. “This movie is the best Chinese action movie,” one social media user wrote. “Shockingly good — hot blood and tough guys. I cried after watching it,” said another.
One reason for the enthusiastic response compared to the first Wolf Warrior film is its improved action scenes. Many in China have praised the film for its fighting scenes and special effects, saying they are of “Hollywood quality”. The movie, which is entirely privately funded, has also been lauded for its attention to details and features of close replicas of many of the latest weapons used by the Chinese army. Timing has also contributed to its success, with the Chinese nation in the times of a new wave of patriotism.
The film first came out just ahead of the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese army, a hugely symbolic event for the country. Over the weekend, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) held a grand military parade, which presented the latest weapons of China. In a serious speech, which in parts was not different from lines from the film, President Xi Jinping promised to fight anyone who tried to tear China apart.
【小题1】The text is meant to ________.| A．introduce a recent action movie |
| B．explain why Wu Jing is a successful director |
| C．compare Wolf Warriors 2 with Hollywood movies |
| D．claim that China is a super power in terms of weapons production |
| A．it doesn’t promote patriotism |
| B．its combat scenes are of higher quality |
| C．the weapons in the movie are the most advanced |
| D．Wu Jing is becoming better at directing after failing his first movie |
| A．Dunkirk has attracted more audiences compared to Wolf Warriors 2. |
| B．Social media users think highly of Wu Jing’s acting skills. |
| C．In the past, movies about patriotism often appeal to the public. |
| D．Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Wu Jing were actors at first. |
| A．encouraged | B．praised | C．criticized | D．awarded |
