Compared with Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige's works in recent years are pitiful. In the past 7 years, Zhang Yimou has released a total of 7 movies, an average of one per year; Chen Kaige directed by himself, only 1 "Volunteers" was released, 7 to 1, the gap is a bit big, and there may be 3 reasons:
First: Chen Kaige seems to be transforming into a producer and producer. In recent years, Director Chen has served as the producer of many movies or programs, such as "Changjin Lake" is co-directed by Chen Kaige, Tsui Hark, and Lin Chaoxian, Chen Kaige also serves as a producer, and when it came to filming "Changjin Lake 2", the director's work was completely handed over to Tsui Hark, and Director Chen himself concentrated on being a producer.
Second: Chen Kaige has made movies with the theme of the main theme in recent years, and the scope is not wide enough, while Zhang Yimou is shooting all kinds of themes, suspenseful, anti-corruption, and those who come do not refuse, so naturally there will be more films.
Third: Chen Kaige is a little unaccustomed to the commercial film market. Both directors are growing up with literary films, but what the market needs later is commercial films, Chen Kaige also tried to shoot "Wuji" and "The Legend of the Demon Cat", but the online evaluation is average, on the other hand, Zhang Yimou's "Hero" and "Ambush on All Sides", etc., have good influence at the box office.
Fourth: Some people may mention "My Motherland and Me", this ** is that 7 directors filmed 7 segments respectively, and Chen Kaige is only responsible for one of them.