Can domestic film industry be saved by heroes?

For years, Chinese films have been lampooned for their lack of heroes. Those who were born in the 1980s have to think all the way back to their childhood to recall a major iconic hero. At least in my case, aside from protagonists Sun Wukong, the famous Monkey King from the classical Chinese epic novel Journey to the West, and Pan Dongzi, a little hero in a Chinese film named Sparkling Red Star who helped Red Army soldiers fight against landlord in a small village, I could barely think of any major screen heroes that have surfaced in recent years.
It was reported that Seven Stars Entertainment, a Chinese film company seeking to build "Chinawood," is establishing a joint venture with Arad Productions, headed by Avi Arad, widely known as the man behind Marvel Films, which has produced Hollywood superhero franchises such as Spider-Man, X-Men and The Incredible Hulk.

The joint venture is planning to produce its first movie, Rise of the Terracotta, which aims at depicting heroes based on Chinese culture and tells the story of four terracotta soldiers, named Wind, Fire, Thunder and Flash, becoming defenders of justice.　

I couldn't help but laugh when I read the news and began imagining the scenes. A team of terracotta soldiers, which have been resting in peace for thousands of years in Chinese people's minds, suddenly jump out, demonstrate some bizarre Chinese Kung Fu moves, and break through a tight circle of enemies.

It sounds like typical Hollywood fare, and it's unknown whether Chinese audiences will buy a story about terracotta soldiers that's filled with copycat Hollywood heroism.

Han Sanping, chairman of China Film Group, said in an interview with Nanfang Daily several months ago that he believes the biggest problem with Chinese films is that they lack great heroes. In Han's eyes, Hollywood movies wow audiences around the world not because of their technology or savvy marketing, but rather the brave figures on screen that deliver thrills.

"Modern Chinese movies need to give birth to a Chinese hero in a good story. Audiences need to have their hero worship satisfied in movies," said Han, who sees heroism as the main thing that Chinese movies must learn to grasp.

However, this is easier said than done. Kung Fu Panda taught Chinese filmmakers an embarrassing lesson: A Chinese panda, via Hollywood filmmaking, can become a hero who fights against the evil, save loads of ordinary people and let audiences feel the thrill of good triumphing over evil. The tale that Kung Fu Panda tells is a cliche, but Hollywood screenwriters excel at cliches, and they rely on such expertise to profit from high box office numbers.

Chinese movies need heroes, but it's much more complicated than coming up with a brave figure. In order to make protagonists shine, logical plots, smooth narration and a well-timed climax are crucial. This is a comprehensive project. Chinese film directors lag behind the pack in terms of storytelling, which dulls the heroic figures they've worked to create.

In such circumstances, Rise of the Terracotta is a test run that deserves high expectations. If Hollywood's storytelling acumen is employed in the movie, the production will likely be filled with great protagonists, reinventing the Chinese audience's long-held conceptions of the solemn-looking soldiers. However, if not, the movie may become another reason for people to criticize modern Chinese movies' capacity for destroying their own historical and cultural legacy.