The military war blockbuster "Operation Dragon (Special Edition)" produced by Bona Film Group and directed by Lin Chaoxian officially landed in theaters nationwide on August 30.
The special edition film has been upgraded - the 48-frame high frame rate technology was used to remake the high-speed scenes in the film, giving them a whole new texture; it was carefully edited to 130 minutes, making the main plot more focused and compact; the music throughout the film was also rearranged.
The special edition of "Operation Dragon" will be released on August 30
On the day the special edition of "Operation Jiaolong" was released, the filmmakers also produced a special music video titled "Song of the Chinese Navy's Nuclear Submarine" to pay their deepest respects to the great Chinese military personnel. The music video opens with Chief of Staff Fang Yi's powerful speech at a naval base, showcasing the indomitable fighting spirit of the Chinese military personnel.
Producer and Chief Producer Yu Dong said at the just-concluded Changchun Film Festival: "This film is China's first deep-sea military war blockbuster, presenting the heroic struggle of the People's Navy in the deep sea. We widely collected audience feedback and spent more than half a year remaking it, optimizing the narrative, innovating the audio-visual technology, and focusing more on the high-energy action scenes. Seven years ago we brought us 'Operation Red Sea,' and seven years later we are once again turning our lens on the modern navy. This is also the first time that a New Chinese film has deeply portrayed the actual combat conditions of a modern nuclear submarine."
Producer Yu Dong
As a hardcore blockbuster reflecting the current Chinese Navy's military strength, the special edition of "Operation Jiaolong" spared no effort in audio-visual components.
Action scenes like bullet fire, torpedo exchanges, submarine evasion, and close combat are rendered seamlessly and lag-free, with visible dynamic clarity dramatically enhanced, allowing viewers to feel the intense rhythm of the action up close and personal. The overall brightness is enhanced, eliminating the dimness of deep-sea scenes. This is a brand-new viewing experience delivered by the 48-fps high frame rate. "Operation Jiaolong (Special Edition)" also utilizes the Dolby Atmos immersive sound system, creating a fully encompassing audio experience: the crisp click of guns, the subtle hum of submarine instruments, the low-frequency vibrations of torpedoes hurtling through the depths of the ocean. These sounds, emanating from diverse corners of the battlefield, not only capture the realism of their respective scenes but also create a seamless transition from "detailed hearing" to "overall atmosphere."
Four submarine models, including the "Dragon Whale," were built to 1:1 scale in the film. From the massive hull to the cramped cabins, to the instrument buttons, tangled pipes, and watertight door connections, every detail was meticulously crafted to perfection. Beyond the actual sets, the film also emphasized the realism of on-location filming. For the opening scene, "The Rescue of the Offshore Drilling Platform," the crew traveled extensively to various locations before finally finding a filming location that met the director's requirements and the plot's specifications.
The movie "Operation Jiaolong (Special Edition)" also has industrial-grade visual effects that can be called "budget-burning". Every detail is meticulously crafted to "millimeter-level restoration". From the deep-sea ecological environment to the internal cabin structures of the "Dragon Whale" and the underwater mountains and cliffs, these wonders are magnified to the extreme, making the strong visual pressure come to your face and feel the immersive shock.
Director Dante Lam still carries through the sharp style of "explosion is art" in this film, maximizing the thrill of the film. In order to present the layered sense of close-range explosions, the crew calculated the amount of explosives and the detonation sequence months in advance, and used multiple cameras to capture the moments of flames bursting and debris flying from multiple angles.
movie posters
"Over the years, I have seen that the motherland's military industry is growing stronger, and its voice and status in the world are also increasing, which makes me very proud. There are many countries in the world that can show their military strength and imagination in their films, so I have always wondered if it is possible to make a military film that belongs to today's Chinese power. Eight years ago, we did it with "Operation Red Sea". Eight years later, we hope to continue to keep up with the pace of the country and make more works that make everyone excited." Director Dante Lam talked about his original intention of filming "Operation Jiaolong" in a special video released before the release.
Director Dante Lam
As a military fan, Dante Lam also said that he is looking forward to the upcoming "September 3rd Military Parade" and that he will "watch it in front of the TV with excitement" together with the audience.
