The magic gourd is a traditional story that has been passed down through generations. It is a tale that teaches important lessons about greed, honesty, and the power of contentment. In the story, there lived a poor farmer who struggled to make ends meet. Despite his efforts, he could barely feed himself and his family. One day, while working in his fields, he found a mysterious gourd hidden beneath a pile of hay. Intrigued, he picked it up and took it home.
Now it’s here that one must admit Disney has been more than a little cheeky: a first glance at Magic Gourd’s packaging would not alert anyone to the fact that this is a dubbed Chinese-produced film. The front cover purposely gives the attention to the Gourd and a frolicking frog (that only appears for a scant few minutes in the film), with only the bottom of Zhu Qi Long’s shaded out face visible and a sticker on the glossy (non-embossed) slipcase promoting Corbin Bleu’s involvement.
The impressive stats a four year production period including two years of shooting and animating with over 140 artists add to the feeling that this was a prestige production and not a rush-job, a sentiment evident in the final result. Secret of the Magic Gourd, The film A young boy named Wang Bao finds a gourd with magical powers, but discovers that the gourd s power to fulfill his wishes comes as a great price everything the gourd helps him obtain is taken away from its rightful owner.
Intrigued, he picked it up and took it home. To his surprise, the gourd turned out to be a magical one. Whenever he would say the words, "Gourd, gourd, make me rich," it would produce food, money, or anything else he desired.
The magoc gourd
Walt Disney Pictures/Centro Pictures/China Film Group (June 29 2007), Walt Disney Home Entertainment (January 27 2009), single disc, 84 mins plus supplements, 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 English, Mandarin and Cantonese Surround, Rated G, Retail: $29.99
Overwhelmed by the sudden wealth, the farmer's life changed dramatically. He built a magnificent mansion, wore luxurious clothes, and indulged in all kinds of extravagance. However, as time went on, the farmer became consumed by his own greed. No matter how much he had, it was never enough. The magic gourd could only produce limited resources, but the farmer desired more and more. His obsession with wealth blinded him to the happiness that comes from simple things in life. One day, a wise old man visited the farmer and noticed his unhappiness. Realizing that the farmer had fallen into the trap of greed, the old man decided to teach him a lesson. He asked the farmer to lend him the magic gourd for a day, promising to return it the following day. The farmer, eager to display his wealth, readily agreed. However, when the old man took the gourd, it stopped producing anything. The farmer was shocked and pleaded for its return, but the old man insisted on keeping it for a little longer. Day after day, the old man kept the gourd, and each day, the farmer's wealth diminished. Finally, when the farmer had lost everything, the old man returned the gourd and said, "You have been consumed by your own greed. Only when you learn to appreciate what you have, will the magic gourd bring you happiness." Realizing his mistake, the farmer apologized and promised to change his ways. From that day on, he lived a simple and contented life, cherishing his family, friends, and the simple pleasures of life. The magic gourd story teaches us that material possessions alone cannot bring us true happiness. It is our ability to appreciate what we have and find contentment in the simple things that truly matters. Greed can blind us to the joys of life, but when we learn to let go of our desires and be grateful for what we have, we can find true happiness and fulfillment..
Reviews for "The World of Magic: Adventures with the Enchanted Gourd"
1. John - 1 star
I found "The Magic Gourd" to be extremely cliché and unoriginal. The plot felt predictable and the characters lacked depth. The overall message of the story seemed forced and contrived. I was hoping for something more creative and imaginative, but this book fell flat for me.
2. Sarah - 2 stars
I was really disappointed in "The Magic Gourd". The story started out promising, but it quickly became repetitive and mundane. The writing style was lackluster and didn't hold my interest. Even the supposed magical elements of the gourd couldn't save this dull read. I wouldn't recommend it.
3. Michael - 1 star
"The Magic Gourd" seemed like a children's book written for adults. The storytelling was simplistic and lacked any real depth or complexity. The characters were one-dimensional and made many illogical choices. I had high hopes for this book, but it did not live up to my expectations at all.
4. Emily - 2 stars
I found "The Magic Gourd" to be a bit too formulaic and predictable. The plot followed a typical hero's journey with few surprises along the way. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it hard for me to connect with the characters. While the concept of a magic gourd was intriguing, the execution left much to be desired.