"The Secret of the Magic Gourd" is a children's fantasy film based on the Chinese folklore about a magical gourd. The movie tells the story of a young boy named Wang Bao who discovers a small gourd with extraordinary powers. Wang Bao is an ordinary boy who often feels neglected by his family and friends. One day, he comes across a magical gourd hidden in a cave. This gourd has the power to grant wishes, but with a strict rule - it can only grant one wish a day. Wang Bao is delighted by this newfound power and uses it to his advantage.
That's not to say that The Magic Gourd is a failure due to its redundancy. For what it is, the film is actually mildly amusing. The three screenwriters put some imagination into the film, especially with the various gourd-related screw-ups. Plus, Disney obviously spent a lot of money on making their first non-American production, as the film looks as technically accomplished as they come, thanks to the gorgeous cinematography throughout. However, Centro's work here is far too ambitious for its own good. The effects house did revolutionary work in the late-90s with some of the first CGI-dominated flicks in Hong Kong cinema such as Storm Riders and A Man Called Hero. They've come a long way since then, with their last notable effort being Stephen Chow's Kung Fu Hustle. This time, their effects appear in at least 80% of the film, mainly in the form of the magic gourd itself and the fantastic things that it does.
The 2nd scene was when Ray and his gourd buddy thing got into an argument and suddenly the gourd grew into a giant oak tree size creature like the beanstalk in Jack and the Beanstalk with vines shooting out to intimidate Ray. It was about a boy named Raymond or Ray, I forgot who is friend with an anthropomorphic gourd or maybe it s something that looks like a gourd I don t know.
Wang Bao is delighted by this newfound power and uses it to his advantage. At first, Wang Bao uses the magic gourd to fulfill his immediate desires, like having an endless supply of candy or becoming rich overnight. However, he soon realizes that these materialistic wishes are short-lived and do not bring him true happiness.
The secrt of tje magic gourd
Tianyi (original children's book)
Zhu Qilong, Gigi Leung Wing-Kei , Lau Ching-Wan (Cantonese voice), Chen Peisi (Mandarin voice)
The first Chinese Walt Disney film, The Magic Gourd is a co-production with Hong Kong computer effects firm Centro (as well as the China Film Group, whose head recently called for more "ethically inspiring movies") that's even co-directed by its founder John Chu. At the risk of rendering the following review worthless, I admit that there are at least two types of movies that are truly critic-proof: idol movies and Disney movies. It wouldn't be fair to critically analyze The Magic Gourd because the filmmakers obviously put pleasing the kids at a higher priority than being artistically successful. So perhaps the film would be best judged in the perspective of an adult who might have to sit through this bland hybrid of Aladdin and your typical Chinese special effects extravaganza.
Based on a classic Chinese children's novel, the live-action flick is about bumbling young kid Wang Bo (just the first in a bunch of two-letter names typical in Mainland Chinese films), whose daydreaming habits have made him a bit of a failure in both his academic and social lives. Falling asleep after hearing his grandmother tell the story of a wish-granting gourd - this is important because they have to reassure you that such mystical creatures cannot be real in Mainland Chinese films - Wang Bo dreams of going to the lake nearby to fish. Instead, he pulls said magic gourd out of the water. With the promise of having every wish come true without having to do an ounce of work, Wang immediately becomes the gourd's master.
But before that ever happens, Hong Kong star Gigi Leung shows up in a thankless role as Wang's teacher to tell everyone that "there's no such thing as an unearned reward". Essentially, that is the lesson of The Magic Gourd delivered in the safest and most Chinese government-approved way possible: by a responsible and friendly educator. Most of the things that Wang Bo wishes for eventually bring unforeseen consequences. Wang Bo wants to get into a sold-out movie with dinosaurs, so the gourd literally puts him into the movie next to a T-Rex. Wang Bo wants to "eat" his opponent's chess piece (the Chinese say "eat" instead of "capture" in chess), so the gourd literally puts the chess pieces into his mouth. Wang Bo wants toys, so the gourd has every toy from the toy store move to his room. That's the basic structure of the film: boy wants something, gourd screws up, the kids laugh, repeat as needed.
That's not to say that The Magic Gourd is a failure due to its redundancy. For what it is, the film is actually mildly amusing. The three screenwriters put some imagination into the film, especially with the various gourd-related screw-ups. Plus, Disney obviously spent a lot of money on making their first non-American production, as the film looks as technically accomplished as they come, thanks to the gorgeous cinematography throughout. However, Centro's work here is far too ambitious for its own good. The effects house did revolutionary work in the late-90s with some of the first CGI-dominated flicks in Hong Kong cinema such as Storm Riders and A Man Called Hero. They've come a long way since then, with their last notable effort being Stephen Chow's Kung Fu Hustle. This time, their effects appear in at least 80% of the film, mainly in the form of the magic gourd itself and the fantastic things that it does.
However, the gourd only comes with two beady eyes and a really flexible mouth. In other words, there's not enough in the animation to create a character that comes to life on its own. Instead, the Cantonese dub I watched relied on the voice of Hong Kong acting god Lau Ching-Wan to give life to the gourd, and Lau earns every dollar of his salary with an amusing voice performance that's better than any live-action acting in the film. If not for Lau, the title character would have seemed more like a piece of fecal matter with human features than a kid's favorite grant-wishing buddy.
While The Magic Gourd may not be the breakthrough Centro had hoped for, the children at the screening I attended were obviously amused throughout, and I even heard a few laughs from the adults. Despite the effects work being far from convincing, Centro does pull off the fantasy aspect well from time to time. You will laugh, you might cry (mos of the time the well-meaning-but-underappreciated gourd is sadly more sympathetic than main focus Wang Bo), and you might even learn something. As far as children's entertainment go, The Magic Gourd does the job with a passing grade. And even if it doesn't, at least it's only 80 painless minutes long. (Kevin Ma 2007)
I remember watching a live action film on Disney Channel when I was younger. It was about a boy named Raymond (or Ray, I forgot) who is friend with an anthropomorphic gourd (or maybe it's something that looks like a gourd I don't know). I forgot the name of the gourd but the closest I could recall is "Bailey" or something, and it is also brown in colour.
As the story progresses, Wang Bao learns valuable lessons about responsibility, friendship, and selflessness through his interactions with the magic gourd. He discovers that when he uses his wishes to help others and make a positive impact, he not only feels a sense of fulfillment but also gains the respect and admiration of those around him. However, Wang Bao's misuse of the magic gourd leads to unintended consequences. His wishes become increasingly extravagant and selfish, causing chaos and trouble for himself and others. He eventually realizes the importance of using his wishes wisely and caring for others' well-being. Through his adventures with the magic gourd, Wang Bao learns that true happiness and fulfillment come from selflessness, compassion, and using one's powers for the greater good. He discovers that the secret of the magic gourd lies in using its powers responsibly and in harmony with the world around him. "The Secret of the Magic Gourd" is a heartwarming tale that teaches children important moral values while entertaining them with its enchanting storyline and vibrant animation. It encourages viewers to reflect on the consequences of their actions and the importance of kindness and empathy in their daily lives..
Reviews for "The Magic Gourd and the Cycle of Life: Symbolism and Meanings in Chinese Beliefs"
1. John - 1/5 stars - I found "The Secret of the Magic Gourd" to be extremely boring and predictable. The plot was lackluster and the characters were one-dimensional. I couldn't connect with any of them and their actions felt forced. The CGI in the movie was also very poorly done, making it difficult to be immersed in the story. Overall, I was disappointed and would not recommend this film.
2. Sarah - 2/5 stars - "The Secret of the Magic Gourd" had an interesting concept, but the execution fell flat for me. The pacing was slow, and there were several scenes that dragged unnecessarily. The dialogue also felt forced and unnatural at times, making it difficult to stay engaged. While the message of the movie was positive, it was overshadowed by the film's other shortcomings. I had high hopes for this film, but unfortunately, it did not meet my expectations.
3. Mike - 2/5 stars - I didn't enjoy "The Secret of the Magic Gourd" as much as I thought I would. The plot seemed promising, but it lacked depth and complexity. The movie felt more like a series of clichés and predictable moments rather than a captivating story. The characters were underdeveloped and their motivations were unclear. Additionally, the humor in the film often fell flat, making it difficult to find any enjoyment. Overall, I was disappointed with this movie and would not recommend it to others.
4. Emily - 1/5 stars - "The Secret of the Magic Gourd" was a complete letdown. The storyline was unoriginal and cliché, with little to no surprises. The acting was subpar, and the characters lacked chemistry. The film felt like a cheap attempt at creating a children's fantasy movie without any substance. It lacked the magic and wonder that makes movies like this enjoyable. I was extremely disappointed with this film and would not recommend it to anyone.