Movie Review: The Fox Lover (White Fox 白狐)

  I had the chance to watch some good Chinese 'wuxia' or martial arts, fantasy, romance and suspense movies. The first movie that I have seen was Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame. I was reminded of the 'Guan Yin', statue near the South Sea of China, when I saw the 'Buddha' statue that the first Empress of China Wu Zeitian,  commissioned her workers to finish it just in time for her coronation. Anyway, I won't talk about that movie anymore since, my movie review is about 'Bai Hu' 白狐 (white fox), the English promotional title of the movie was called, 'The Fox Lover'. For a person like me who's a sucker for love stories, I was really interested to watch this film, and it has been a long time since I have watched a Chinese fantasy movie.

According to a review in IMDB (movie database) this film is about: 

Pu Songling's 蒲松齡, "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio." It is a collection of nearly 500 mostly supernatural tales. The Fox Lover is about white fox spirit Xiaochui (Gillian Chung), who is irrevocably in love with a mortal fool Wang Yuanfeng (Chilam Cheung). In the universe resides the largest bat demon that strikes terror amongst the people. Inside Wang’s soul, there is a hidden power able to destroy the fiercest demons. When Xiaochui’s loyalties are tested in the clash between humans and demons, she is willing to sacrifice her life for love. 

  It was a very good movie. I also liked the costumes that was used in the movie. Very colorful costumes, for the 'fox sisters'. My favorite costume was the one worn by the lead character, named Willow, because I really like the color blue. Nice combination of blue and white. I've included a photo of all the 'fox sisters'. Here are their names.

Gold is the one holding a rabbit, and of course the color of her clothes is gold.

Dream is the one in an orange colored clothes.

Plum is the girl with a brown or earth color clothes.

Ling is the earthly daughter of Madame Fox, she was adopted, she's wearing a colored tan with a dark green inner clothing.

Lotus is the one with scarlet colored clothes.

Bamboo is the one wearing green.

Peach is the one wearing pink.

Jade and Flower have the same color of light purple clothes.

Willow is the one wearing a sky blue and white clothes. 

I haven't watched the other movie version of the 'White Fox', so I can't really say if this movie was worst compared with the other movies. For example, I have seen a tv special of 'The Monkey King' movie remake, and for me, Jet Li and Jackie Chan's version still remains the best. I have yet to see Donnie Yen and Chow Yun Fat's version.

 The movie was a tear-jerker! I cried in some of the movie scenes! Best of all I also like the soundrack. I will include the music video here for everyone to see. I also typed the English translation taken from the movie. If you haven't seen this film I suggest you check it out. 

Some memorable quotes from the movie:

Willow: Yuanfeng, do you love me?

Yuanfeng: What does love mean?

Willow: It means embracing with you forever, or if you love one girl. You want to stay with her, and take her in your arms and never leave her.

Willow: Don't leave me.

Yuanfeng: No.

Willow: Even a knife in your back?

Yuanfeng: No. I won't leave you.

Willow: Even if you are hit by an arrow?

Yuanfeng: No.

Willow: Even with fire to burn you?

Yuanfeng: No. I won't leave you! 

Yuanfeng: The thing of love is interesting.

Yuanfeng: Willow!
Willow: Do you know me? Who are you? It seems I have met you before.

Yuanfeng: I was the fool named Wang Yuanfeng.

Willow: Wang Yuanfeng. Why are you crying? Oink! Oink! A piglet will never cry. Who are you?

Yuanfeng: I am Yuangfeng, who loves you the most. 

Willow: Love... What is love?

Yuanfeng:  It means embracing you forever. It means if you like her, you'll want to stay with her and embrace her no matter what happens. Never let go. Even a knife on the back, or hit by an arrow, burnt by the flame. Never let her go. Never...

 

The Fox Lover OST
(sung by: Lin Bi Zhen)

 

I’m lonely a fox

Keep cultivating for a thousand years

Does anyone hear my weeping?

While I'm dancing in the dim light…

I’m a fox waiting for a thousand years

Keep waiting and being lonely

In the human society who’s bewitched

And poisoned by love

I fall in love when you were a poor scholar

I left you when your career was in boom

Can I dance again for you?

The white fox you set free thousand years ago

Look at the dress floating in air

The solemn vows are gone forever

Can I dance for you again?

Just want to hold your last glimpse

Look at the dress floating in air

The solemn vows are gone forever

Movie Review: Confucius

After a Chinese fantasy-action film that I’ve seen, I’ve decided to watch a historical/biographical movie about a famous Chinese figure. I bet everyone else has heard about the name Confucius. In Chinese, 孔夫子 Kong Fu Zi (means Master Kung). He’s the pioneer in making education available to all. No wonder a lot of schools, and institutes were named after him.  If you’ve noticed, my blog’s header design was a saying from Confucius. I’ve decided to put a Chinese saying there, because the theme of this blog is all about Chinese. At first I really have no idea about the life story of Confucius. I thought he was a just a philosopher and a wise teacher. 

The character of Confucius was portrayed by a well-known Chinese action star, Chow Yun Fat. This is the first time that I’ve seen him play a character, that’s mellow, or someone who doesn’t fight with others, or someone who does martial arts. It’s refreshing to see him play a different role. 

I wonder why this movie didn’t make so much noise like the other Hollywood movies. I really liked the scenery, the costume of the characters, and I like just about everything in the movie. It has even a nice OST, “Virtues of the Silent Orchid”, sung by Faye Wong. For a China and Chinese studies enthusiast like me, this movie is a must-see! You’ll know more about Chinese history, and the period where Confucius live. 

I also typed my favourite lines from the movie, or statements that has strucked me the most. So it took me almost half of the day to finish this movie. I also made a drawing, sort of fan art tribute to one of the world’s greatest teacher. Like in one of my shout-outs that I’ve posted before in a social network, “If the Greeks have Plato, and Socrates, so do China. They have Confucius, (and Lao Tzu).” If you haven’t seen this movie I suggest you watch it now. You will have a better understanding of China, the man, his life, his works and the legacy that he left behind. 

Here are some of my favourite lines from the movie, and below I've included the music video, and the English translation of the song.

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My favorite lines from the movie:

Kong Qiu: Minister, benevolence is love towards our fellow men. A ritual murder is still murder, even if it complies with tradition. Lord Shu, you showed benevolence towards a pheasant.  Now I ask you, surely you must also speak up for this wounded boy?

The Zhou code of ethics teaches us to value human life above all. The burial of slaves was practiced in barbarous times. It was outlawed in our dynasty when the Zhou reign commenced. Our kingdom of Lu is the ancient home of the Duke of Zhou, known for its ethics. We should think afresh and abandon outdated traditions.

Gen. Gongshan:  It was Lord Ki Pingzi’s dying wish that those he loved should die with him. It is not cruel to bury this slave. Rather, it demonstrates the Minister’s filial piety! His love for his father!

Kong Qiu: Gen. GongShan I know you served Lord Pingzi for years. I hear he said many times that he could not live without you.

Gen. Gongshan: Right, that’s correct.

Kong Qiu: Given how close you were to him, he must still need you now that he has passed on to the next life. If you were willing to accompany your lord in death, I could not object to you taking this young slave with you. It seems the Gen. is not willing to serve his master beyond the grave. He imposes on others what he will not impose on himself. 

Kong Qiu: "Rotten wood is hard to curve."

 

Kong Qiu: The poem means, “Even while courting a gentleman observes all proprieties.”

"The hardness of the task is the measure of the gentleman."

"Poetry, books, ethics, music , a gentleman must understand all these. Rulers should treat ministers with courtesy, ministers serve rulers with loyalty. Loyalty and filial piety are the keys to humanity and harmony. All professions may prosper. Close to home, attend your parents. Further afield, placate your neighbours. There is also much to learn, including the names of birds, beasts, grasses and trees."

“Only in winter does the pine show its true strength.”

"An official wears his robes of office. But it’s his inner character and spirit which reflect his true mettle."

Kong Qiu:“A pure heart makes a pure shot. ”

 Virtues of the Silent Orchid ❀ (An Ode to Confucius)

Elegant orchid, standing tall with its fragrance spread
Its aroma faint but worshipped by all other surround flowers
If not picked and worn, what sorrow will it be to the orchid?

For days and years, I have travelled far across the land
One who goes far to search for the talented,
Will benefit himself greatly with wisdom and power
When the orchid is picked and worn,
It becomes alive in spirit and radiates its fresh scent

Even during the winter, when the ground is thick with snow and frost,
The orchids’ buds endure the coldness
The proper conduct of a man virtue,
Is the prosperity of his offspring in generations to come