A few days ago, I noticed a news story from YouTube about Ne Zha 2, a blockbuster that has grossed RMB 15.3 billion, giving it the fifth best box office in the history so far.
It reminded me of a recent experience with a friend of mine. Before I visited him in Shanghai last month, he mentioned this movie to me over WeChat. He was so excited to tell me how Ne Zha 2 had taken China by storm. Everybody everywhere is talking about it all the time, he said. He had already seen it three times and wanted to take me to it.
So we went. My kind friend picked one of the best movie theaters in Shanghai, which has the new generation IMAX Laser technology. He was afraid I might get lost in the Shanghai subway system because I hadn't been to Shanghai since 2019. He called me and met me at the Chang Su Station on the No. 1 line. Then we hopped on the No. 7 line to Da Rong Cheng which is in the Da Hua area, a famous poverty in Shanghai 30 years ago. It was nearly unrecognizable to me due to the huge amount of change and development.
My friend said, do you know why Na Zha 2 is so hot in China right now? Tell me, I said. Because in the movie there is an evil old man(無量仙翁） who acts exactly like Joe Biden. He looks nice and kind and helpful but is full of darkness and evil ideas. You will also notice that he lives in a building that looks like the Pentagon and has an eagle on it. Meanwhile, there is a handsome boy and pretty girl who help him fulfill his evil plan. They are Japanese and South Korean. This completely shocked me.
I felt extremely uncomfortable watching the movie. It contained so much violence and was full of hateful language throughout. I was pretty sure the movie would be PG-13 in the States. I checked the rating on Google and was right. I am not quite sure whether this movie is recommended for students in primary school and junior high school in China, but I have no doubt it is way too much for them.
My friend mentioned that this movie is playing in the States right now. You may have to watch it again with your wife, he said. I told him that my wife definitely wouldn’t want to watch it, and that I wouldn't be interested in watching it again.
I reminded my friend that the United States was allowing this movie to play despite its anti-American message, and that this reinforces to me that America is the best country in the world. She opens her arms to all people from every country. It is one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. That phrase comes from the Pledge of Allegiance, and it is not just talk or a joke. It is very serious and important to people in the United States. I told him I was unhappy to have watched Ne Zha 2.
My friend was silent after I spoke, and I realized that, I too, no longer wanted to discuss this topic.
回複 'randomspot' 的評論 : Your friend made a mistake to take you to the movie. It is clear that he did not realize that you guys are no longer sharing the same value.
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Yes, you are exactly right, we have different values, although we have a brotherhood. No matter what the value is。
