What's the biggest contributor to that "polished" Hollywood look?

C

c.g._eads

Veteran
I was watching Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle, and I know both of those movies were shot on 35mm. So why does Kung Fu Hustle have that more polished professional look? The colors are richer, the look is more lush. What's the biggest contributor to that?

Is it the camera they use? Is it the lenses? My guess is it's what's done in post-production. Color-correction. They use some super awsome color corrector software/hardware that's too expensive for independent films (maybe the da vinci?) I have a feeling it's one main thing. Can anyone tell me what that thing is?
 
This list is endless; but I say 'contrast' goes a long way towards a filmic look. You can crush levels in 60i VHS and make it look cool
 
Read a great quote once...and I'm not sure who it was from -

"if you know how to light,
it doesn't matter what format you shoot on,
and if you don't know how to light,
it doesn't matter what format you shoot on."


Unfortunately... I don't really know how to light.
 
Kung fu hustle does have a very cool almost cartoony look to it.

They didn't accomplish that look with any special tools that aren't available to hollywood.

I think the film makers are cool and actually care. That's all.
 
I don't think the D.P. for Shaolin Soccer didn't know how to light. I've seen D.P.s who've created that polished look take cheaper films (still shot on film) where they go back to the cheaper look. They obviously know how to light. So maybe it's that they don't have the equipment or the time to light on those smaller projects?
 
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