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(无量仙翁） 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.
每天一讲2025-04-01 08:51:29回复悄悄话
回复 'randomspot' 的评论 : 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。
randomspot2025-03-31 19:55:49回复悄悄话
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.
大家说不满意美国的话，我只得顺着别人的意思说话，争论是无意义的。
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对美国很不满意，主要是宣传的问题。另外上海人有钱了，自然有底气了。
的确，争论没有任何意义，尤其人多时，特别注意。
谢谢留言
大家说不满意美国的话，我只得顺着别人的意思说话，争论是无意义的。
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生活在西方国家，本来就要在职场，生活中遇到或明或暗的discriminations, 你要去面对，而不应该去逃避，逃避是逃不过去。
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向抗日先烈致敬！
请教，中国的敌人是谁 ？我一直想搞明白....
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生活在西方国家，本来就要在职场，生活中遇到或明或暗的discriminations, 你要去面对，而不应该去逃避，逃避是逃不过去。
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花花早上好，我建议你去看看这部电影，再下结论更好些。在上海时新闻几乎每天都有这电影排行榜报告，想来挺有意思。
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但愿是“放空炮”，否则首当其冲的是我们这些人
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早上好，是不是也可以怎么说，如果中国不把美国当目标，美国也不会和中国为敌。
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同感，乱七八糟，但是场面还是挺震撼的。
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京妮儿，带来了北京的声音，我也就放心些了 ：-）
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京妮儿早上好，那么去看看这部电影，掌握第一手资历，不更好吗
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我认为这是约定俗成，和陋习没有任何无关，国外还有贫民窟（gheto）
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倪颖早上好，上影厂有不少演员和导演当时住房条件不太好，我就有好友，他父亲是上影厂最老资格的特技，几乎所有50，60年代上影厂优秀电影都有他名字，去年在微信上还有我好友转发的一篇他父亲回忆上官云珠的文章，读来让人难过。
他家本来住在华亭路大一室户，条件很一般，80年代后期搬到了田林X村3室户，住房才有了很大改善，在那里上影厂和上译厂的老人很多，我这次回上海也去看我好友。
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Yes, you are exactly right, we have different values, although we have a brotherhood. No matter what the value is。
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早上好，方玉。谢谢你的留言。同感你上面的留言。但是，现实恰恰相反，有些人自己有毛病，也不想让其他人过得好些，总之这些人不少，文学城里也有。
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大蚂蚁早上好，不知道你这个论断是否正确。
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+1
"如果美国不把中国当目标， 中国不会和美国为敌。 就像在文城， 如果不是有人 先 把你当目标， 你也不会与人为敌。 不是吗？"