Back in the dormitory, the guys were discussing classic movies they'd watched.
Dou Mingming was talking about Mark Gor's "A Better Tomorrow," saying it was incredibly cool.
Wang Qiang shook his head dismissively, preferring Jackie Chan's action comedies for their fight scenes and his playful interactions with actresses. He found them too exciting.
Zhang Xiaohao shrieked, "I still prefer Wuxia films, especially the 'Heroes Among Us.' Vincent Zhao is good too, very skilled in combat."
"Don't you guys watch Stephen Chow's movies?" Zhang Tianxing asked curiously, as he was an unavoidable figure.
"Stephen Chow isn't what he used to be. Now, he's at best second-rate."
"That can't be right," Zhang Tianxing frowned, murmuring, "Have none of you heard of or seen 'A Chinese Odyssey'?"
Everyone shook their heads, indicating they hadn't.
"That's Stephen Chow's masterpiece! You haven't heard of it?"
Seeing their confused expressions, Zhang Tianxing felt speechless. He realized he'd been so focused on making money lately that he hadn't kept up with the film industry.
Zhang Tianxing had known things might be different, but he never expected that the classic "A Chinese Odyssey" from another timeline would be so obscure here.
Then again, "A Chinese Odyssey" only became popular by chance in the other timeline.
Helplessly, Zhang Tianxing pushed the crowd away and walked to his computer. He told Zhang Xiaohao, "We'll play games later. I need to use the computer."
He wanted to go online and see how much things had deviated.
Fortunately, the Hong Kong movie stars were still the same people. It was just Stephen Chow's fortunes that had changed.
Currently, Stephen Chow was just a second-rate actor.
The movie "A Chinese Odyssey" had been released years ago.
Wang Qiang grumbled, "Oh, you mean that movie? I've heard about it. It was ranked the worst film of the year back then, a complete box office disaster. Stephen Chow lost all the money he made from filming it. Now look at him, a second-rate actor, his former glory completely gone."
Zhang Tianxing remained silent. This news hit him hard. In this timeline, after failing, Master Xing had fallen into despair and showed no signs of a comeback.
His current works lacked their former spark, feeling like just average Hong Kong films.
Zhang Tianxing didn't say much. He found a resource online and started watching. He spent the entire afternoon at the computer, watching the movie from beginning to end.
"Brother San, you watch it yourself. We guys are going to watch action movies next door, European and American ones. Wanna join?" Zhang Xiaohao said with a sly grin.
"Get lost!"
The familiar scenes were still there, but they weren't met with widespread acclaim.
I can't let a classic be buried in dust. This is a belated film review. I will reforge Master Xing's brilliance. As long as you make a comeback, I will follow you wholeheartedly.
Zhang Tianxing immediately started typing on his computer.
He especially loved Zixia's opening line: "Now I solemnly declare that everything on this mountain belongs to me, including you." It was so powerful, like a fairy tale.
But the reality was: nothing in this world truly belongs to you, not even yourself. Perhaps we are born into this world to create our own things, and because we are young, we bet it all on love.
Zun Bao rejected Zixia, believing he still loved Jingjing. Upon seeing Jingjing, he realized Zixia was his true love. Fate kept playing tricks on him: Zun Bao suddenly became Sun Wukong. He toiled to find Jingjing, only to fall for Zixia. The choice was agonizing:
To save Zixia, he had to defeat the Bull Demon King. To defeat the Bull Demon King, he had to become Sun Wukong. To become Sun Wukong, he had to forget all desires and emotions.
It sounded simple, but the difficult part was that one turn.
As the saying goes, without the golden hoop, how can I save you? With the golden hoop, how can I love you?
In reality, everyone was once the carefree Zun Bao. As we grow older, we are forced to wear the golden hoop, pick up the golden staff, and become Sun Wukong, taking on all responsibilities, never to return to the Zun Bao of the past.
The one who acts like a dog is Zun Bao, who has abandoned earthly love, desires, and emotions, diligently walking the path to the West. He is like you and me, suppressing his temper, no longer willful or mischievous, only striving for his dreams. In a hundred years of life, who hasn't wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace? Who hasn't worn the golden hoop? Who hasn't fallen in love by the West Tower? Who hasn't walked alone?
Those who were once just a step away from us, once missed, can never be regained, even if they transform into peerless heroes, clad in golden armor, riding on clouds of seven colors, leaping a hundred thousand miles.
It is our fortune to have met you, and even sadness is a form of love. Years later, we realize how difficult that turn was.
Zun Bao thought he would spend his life with his first love, but he didn't understand love at the time. Zixia, whom he had pushed away, had quietly reached the deepest part of his soul without him even knowing.
But Zixia died: "My destined hero will arrive one day, riding on colorful clouds to marry me. I guessed the beginning, but I couldn't guess the end..."
No one can guess the ending. Everything drifts away with the wind.
We don't understand love when we are in love, but by the time we do, we have lost the time to love.
The most despairing thing isn't that he doesn't love you or leaves you; the most despairing thing is that you've forgotten how to love someone, that you've lost the ability to love.
Please remember the following lines: "Once, a sincere love was placed before me, but I didn't cherish it. Only when I lost it did I regret it deeply. The most painful thing in the world is this. If heaven could give me another chance, I would say three words to you: 'I love you.' If this love must have a time limit, I hope it's ten thousand years!"
Also, remember the original version of this passage from Wong Kar-wai's "Chungking Express": "If memories are like a can of sardines, I hope they'll never expire. If they must have a deadline, I hope it's ten thousand years!"
Zun Bao first said these words to deceive Zixia, and the second time, he spoke them in utter agony.
One day, if I can't help but ask you, you must lie to me. No matter how unwilling you are in your heart, don't tell me you've never liked me.
The past can be recalled, but it was but a fleeting moment then!
He wrote down his feelings and his thoughts on the film. Zhang Tianxing's only thought was that classics should be celebrated.
After finishing, Zhang Tianxing directly posted the article on the Zhonghai University forum.
Zhang Tianxing slowly stood up.
Master Xing, I grew up watching your movies. I don't know how far you'll go, but I know one thing: I want to make the world re-evaluate your "A Chinese Odyssey."
It's not that you made bad movies, but that you made them too well, and people couldn't grasp the true essence of your filmmaking.
Zhang Tianxing uploaded it to the Zhonghai University forum. After finishing, he was exhausted and went straight to sleep.
He never imagined that this casual act of his would change the landscape of cinema in this world.