The Eight Hundred

The Eight Hundred (Chinese: 八佰) is a 2020 Chinese historical war film directed by and co-written by Guan Hu, and starring Huang Zhizhong, Oho Ou, Jiang Wu, Zhang Yi, Wang Qianyuan, Du Chun, Vision Wei, Li Chen, Yu Haoming, Tang Yixin, and Zheng Kai. The film is about the Defense of Sihang Warehouse in 1937 Shanghai during the Battle of Shanghai and the Second Sino-Japanese War.

The Eight Hundred
Promotional poster with original release date
Chinese八佰
MandarinBābǎi
Directed byGuan Hu
Produced by
  • Wang Zhonglei
  • Liang Jing
Written by
  • Guan Hu
  • Ge Rui
Starring
Music by
  • Andrew Kawczynski
CinematographyCao Yu
Edited by
  • Yiran Tu
  • He Yongyi
Production
company
Distributed byHuayi Brothers
CMC Pictures Holdings (international)
Release date
  • August 21, 2020 (2020-08-21) (China)
Running time
147 minutes
CountryChina
LanguageMandarin
Budget$80 million[1]
Box office$472.6 million[2][3]

Originally scheduled for released in July 2019, the premiere and the release was moved to August 21, 2020 nationwide release.[4][5] The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing $473 million worldwide. It was the highest-grossing film of 2020,[6] marking the first time since 2007 that the top-grossing film of a given year earned less than $1 billion,[7] and the first time in history that the top-grossing film of a given year was not a Hollywood production.[8]

Plot

During the early days of the Second Sino-Japanese War, and on a greater scale World War II, the Imperial Japanese Army invaded Shanghai, which became known as The Battle of Shanghai. After holding back the Japanese for over 3 months, and suffering heavy losses, the Chinese army was forced to retreat due to the danger of being encircled. Lieutenant Colonel Xie Jinyuan of the 524th Regiment of the under-equipped 88th Division of the National Revolutionary Army, lead 452 young officers and soldiers to defend Sihang Warehouse against the 3rd Imperial Japanese Division consisting of around 20,000 troops on a heroic suicidal last stand against the Japanese under an order by Generalissimo of Nationalist China, Chiang Kai-shek. The decision was made to provide a morale boost to the Chinese people after the losses of Beijing and Shanghai, and help spur support from the Allies, who were in full view of the battle from the International Settlement in Shanghai just across the Suzhou Creek.[9]

Cast

Production

Guan Hu had been preparing for the film for 10 years.[10] The Eight Hundred is the first Chinese and Asian film shot entirely on IMAX cameras.[11][12] The production team had built a real scene of 68 buildings with an area of 133,333-square-metre (1,435,180 sq ft) in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu province.[13] The investment amount of the film is as high as 550 million yuan ($80 million USD).[10]

Principal photography started on 9 September 2017 and wrapped on 27 April 2018.[13][14]

Soundtrack

A theme song for the film titled "Remembering" (苏州河) was written by Bob Ezrin, Shridhar Solanki, Cheng Zhang and Isabel Yue Yin based on the melody of the Londonderry Air and was performed by Andrea Bocelli and Na Ying. The theme song had both an English and Mandarin version. The theme song was accompanied by the film's main theme and score written by Rupert Gregson-Williams and Andrew Kawczynski.

The Eight Hundred Official Movie Soundtrack
NameAuthor/Singer(s)Duration
When I Turn to DustAndrew Kawczynski2:48
Great City in RuinsAndrew Kawczynski2:48
Day 1Andrew Kawczynski4:51
White HorseAndrew Kawczynski1:50
Imminent DangerAndrew Kawczynski3:10
Overstepped BoundariesAndrew Kawczynski5:29
Day 2Andrew Kawczynski4:10
True HeroesAndrew Kawczynski5:36
Day 3Andrew Kawczynski4:01
Pure Gold Fears No FireAndrew Kawczynski4:39
A VisionAndrew Kawczynski2:50
Day 4Andrew Kawczynski4:55
Politics of WarAndrew Kawczynski3:59
The World is Watching UsAndrew Kawczynski3:12
Before the DawnAndrew Kawczynski3:32
Take CoverAndrew Kawczynski6:48
Last StandAndrew Kawczynski2:35
You Will See My SmileAndrew Kawczynski2:37
Remembering (Chinese Version)Andrea Bocelli and Na Ying4:51
Remembering (International Version)Andrea Bocelli and Na Ying4:52

Release

The film was originally scheduled to premiere on 15 June 2019 during the prestigious opening slot of the Shanghai International Film Festival but was pushed back to 5 July, due to "consultation between the production team and other entities".[15][16] Before film withdrawal, the Chinese Red Culture Research Association held an academic conference on filmmaking where attendees voiced opinions on The Eight Hundred.[12] Attendees did not agree with the portrayal of the National Revolutionary Army, saying the film failed to portray "the class oppression within the ranks of the Kuomintang army, the misdeeds of its officers and its evil oppression of the people".[12] Afterwards, the film's screening at the Shanghai film festival was cancelled. Jia Zhangke, a prominent filmmaker, criticised the decision, saying on Sina Weibo "[things] cannot be done like that for the moviemaking business".[17]

The film was then delayed yet again from its 5 July 2019 release date.[18] Pushed back by over a year for failing to pass the censors, on 2 August 2020, the producers announced that the film was scheduled for release on 21 August 2020 nationwide in China.[12][19] The theatrical version is said to be 13 minutes shorter than the one that would have screened in 2019 at the Shanghai film festival.[20]

Reception

Box office

Previews of the film were screened on Friday 14 August, making $2.1 million, then on Monday 17 August and Tuesday 18 August, making about $7.6 million each night for a preview total of $16.8 million.[21] It then made $40 million on its official opening day.[22] It went on to gross a total of $116 million (RMB 803.2) in its opening weekend (including previews), the biggest debut of 2020 up to that point.[23] As of September 13, 2020, The Eight Hundred had grossed more in a single territory than any other 2020 release, having made $366 million in China.[24][25]

Critical response

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 86% based on 24 reviews, with an average rating of 6.63/10.[26] On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 64 out of 100, based on seven critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews."[27]

Maggie Lee of Variety describes the film as "monumental, if sometimes unwieldy" and comparing The Eight Hundred to Dunkirk, "the saga does share similar sentiments of survival, grit and triumph in defeat" to Dunkirk (2017) and "it too plunges audiences into both the intimacy and magnitude of brutal war spectacle while immersing them in a stunningly mounted period canvas."[28]

Cath Clarke of The Guardian praised the film, characterizing it as an “Ear-rattling, breathtaking battle for [the] Chinese Alamo” and stating that “Guan goes hammer and tongs with the special effects, delivering stupendously, joint-rattlingly-loud battle scenes and combat sequences edited to the lightning pace of a superhero movie.” and “with so much intense focus lavished on the action, there’s none to spare for the characters’ emotional lives, and it’s hard to care much about who lives or dies.”[29]

Michael Ordoña of the Los Angeles Times criticized the film’s character development, stating, “Unfortunately, “Eight Hundred” skips over the whole character-development part, along with the logic of many choices and scenes. “ and “Yet somehow, we don’t get to know any of these folks. The sort-of protagonists are a collection of deserters and draft-dodgers forced to aid with the defense.”[30]

References
  1. Patrick Brzeski (25 June 2019). "China's $80M War Film 'The Eight Hundred' Cancels Release After Suspected Government Pressure". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  2. "The Eight Hundred (2020)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  3. "Ba bai (2020) - Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  4. Patrick Brzeski (25 June 2019). "China's $80M War Film 'The Eight Hundred' Cancels Release After Suspected Government Pressure". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  5. "War epic film 'The Eight Hundred' to hit Chinese theaters". chinadaily. 5 August 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  6. Scott Mendelson (20 September 2020). "Box Office: Tenet Tops $250M As Eight Hundred Passes Bad Boys 3". Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  7. Guerrasio, Jason; Shamsian, Jacob; Loudenback, Tanza (27 Aug 2020). "The biggest box-office movie that came out the year you were born". Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  8. Xu, Ting Ting (November 12, 2020). "New Asian Cinema: The Eight Hundred (Babai), (China)". Golden Globe Awards. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  9. Elaine Yau (27 August 2020). "Chinese war movie The Eight Hundred a hit with film-goers, but critics say it is sensationalist and distorts history". Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  10. Lao Meng (老孟) (3 August 2020). 耗资5.5亿，筹备超10年，7位影帝3位影后，《八佰》真的来了！. qq.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  11. Flannery, Russell. "IMAX Back On Track In China With "The Eight Hundred," Theater Reopenings: Forbes China Forum". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
  12. Patrick Frater (2 August 2020). "'The Eight Hundred' Controversial War Film Finally Given China Release Date". variety.com. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  13. Wang Xiaoyang (王小羊) (9 September 2017). 管虎战争片《八佰》苏州正式开机 搭建200亩实景建筑 再现30年代上海风貌. mtime.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  14. Wang Xiaoyang (王小羊) (27 April 2018). 管虎执导战争电影《八佰》杀青历时八个月 全程用数字IMAX摄影机拍摄. mtime.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  15. Henry Chu; Rebecca Davis (25 June 2017). "Already Pulled From Shanghai Festival, 'The Eight Hundred' Cancels Its China Release". variety.com. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  16. Wang Xiaoyang (王小羊) (14 June 2019). 上影节开幕片《八佰》取消放映"因技术原因取消" 时代背景1937淞沪会战. mtime.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  17. Elaine Yau (17 June 2020). "Chinese war film The Eight Hundred's release cancelled, days after it was pulled from Shanghai film festival". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  18. Wang Xiaoyang (王小羊) (25 June 2019). 《八佰》开启预售？无法购票系误会 管虎执导 曾因技术原因取消上影节放映. mtime.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  19. 《八佰》正式定档8月21日上映. ifeng.com (in Chinese). 2 August 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  20. Davis, Rebecca. "'The Eight Hundred' Marches to $119 Million Total at Chinese Box Office". Variety. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  21. Nancy Tartaglione (August 19, 2020). "'The Eight Hundred' Coming On Strong In China Previews, Tops $20M – International Box Office". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  22. Patrick Frater (August 21, 2020). "China's 'The Eight Hundred' Hits $40 Million Box Office Total on Opening Day". Variety. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  23. Nancy Tartaglione (August 23, 2020). "'The Eight Hundred' Storms $83M Three-Day China Opening, Rises To $116M Including Previews To Score 2020 Records – International Box Office". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  24. Scott Mendelson (August 27, 2020). "China's 'Eight Hundred' Reaches Huge Box Office Milestone For 2020". Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  25. Tartaglione, Nancy (August 30, 2020). "'Tenet' Triumphs With $53M Worldwide Launch From 40 Offshore Markets & Canada – International Box Office". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  26. "The Eight Hundred (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  27. "The Eight Hundred Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  28. Maggie Lee (26 August 2020). "The Eight Hundred Film Review". Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  29. Cath Clarke (16 September 2020). "The Eight Hundred review – ear-rattling, breathtaking battle for 'Chinese Alamo'". Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  30. Michael Ordaña (16 September 2020). "Review: Chinese soldiers face overwhelming odds in historical war blockbuster 'Eight Hundred'". Retrieved 17 September 2020.
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