The movie "Kong Zi" reflects how the Confucianism was developed and consummated in ancient China by describing the whole life of Kong Zi. Based on the benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom and trust, Kong Zi created Confucianism in china. The Confucianism has reflected significant influences to every generation of Chinese people since it was created. From the perspective of Confucianism, it is practical in daily life. The key of Confucianism is to adjust people's behavior and mindset. Confucianism can set clear guide for ethics and courtesy to restrict people's behaviors and to make the society stable. One of the key ideas in Confucianism is courtesy. In the movie, Kong Zi reflected the importance of courtesy from his daily behaviors. For example, whenever Kong Zi went to visit the king of country Lu, Kong Zi completed the whole process of a standard courtesy of Confucianism: Thrice kneeling and nine times bowing. In front of the palace, Kong Zi needed to kneel down with three bows. After entered the palace, he kneeled down with three bows again. Finally, after he saw the king, he needed to repeat the process one more time. In total he needed to kneel down three times with none bows. This courtesy is a typical noble courtesy. Moreover, in the scene of taking dinner, the courtesy was also strict. All people needed to wash hand firstly. After that, they could not make any noise in the dinner. They should sit straight and chewed the dinner slowly. This courtesy for dinner is still applied in china today. At 19', Kong Zi was proposed a toast by his student. Kong Zi lifted his two hands to take the bowl from his student to show his respect. At 96', Kong Zi and his students shared the only one bowl of soup. This scene reflects the courtesy of giving precedence to other people. Another typical courtesy is to make an obeisance by cupping one hand in the other hand before own chest. Kong Zi applied this courtesy to show his respect to people before they had a chat. To show respect to people from different hierarchy, this kind of courtesy is reflected in different ways. The diversified courtesies to different people reflect that the strict hierarchy and courtesy take place at same time in Confucianism. For example, when Kong Zi was competing with Jisun in an archery game, Kong Zi proposed a toast to Jisun because of the requirements of courtesy and hierarchy. At 70', students kneeled down and bow to Kong Zi firstly. After that, Kong Zi also kneeled down and bowed to his students immediately. This scene also reflects that the courtesy and hierarchy are both important in Confucianism. Benevolence is one more important idea in Confucianism. In this movie, Kong Zi gave a clear expression to benevolence by overthrowing a bad tradition. Ancient Chinese got used to bury living people with dead people to show respect to the dead people. Kong Zi led a revolt to against this bad tradition. He insisted that every people should not take other people's life at will. Kong Zi had a well-known word about the benevolence "People who are actuated by Confucianism should realize the benevolence even sacrifice themselves." Moreover, in the scene at 108', Kong Zi taught his student Zi Lu that they should quit from the country because the government officers did not apply benevolence as a guide to manage the country anymore and the country became unstable. Kong Zi also exhibited the significance of persistence to people who practiced Confucianism in daily life. When he was restricted in the place between country Chen and country Cai, his students and him were tormented by hunger more than couple of days. However, Kong Zi asked his students that they should not gave up Confucianism for any reason. This idea is also known as "people should insist their faith and should not be bended for poor and power." The persistence is also reflected from people's loyalty to the king in the country. In the scene at 11'30'', Kong Zi did not cooperate with other people to replace the king of country Lu. Kong Zi believed that loyalty was a basic and critical requirement to people. Feudal code of ethics is another important idea proposed by Kong Zi in Confucianism. When Kong Zi was in country Wei, he taught the king that the leader of a country should apply feudal code of ethics to educate his people. This scene reflects that the education of feudal code of ethics is critical to stabilize a country from the perspective of Confucianism. Furthermore, when Kong Zi was spreading the ideas of Confucianism in country Song, the king and other people of country Song cut the tree that was applied by Kong Zi to shade the sunshine because people did not believe in the feudal code of ethics at the moment. They just wanted to drive Kong Zi and his students out. This scene reflects that the feudal code of ethics in country Song was extinct. At 108', Kong Zi's student-Zi Lu was dying. Zi Lu insisted to adjust his hat to a proper position before died. These scenes exhibits that the feudal codes of ethics are important to both of the country and individual people Confucianism. At the end of the movie, Kong Zi told his students before died: future people can understand me through this book; however, future people can also misunderstand me through this book. In my opinion, "future people" reflects all people who know or are getting to know the Confucianism. The "me" indicates all ideas in the Confucianism. The "book" exhibits people's diversified perceptions of the Confucianism. People who really understand the ideas in Confucianism can practice these ideas in daily life and gradual become as the people who can benefit other people and whole society. On the other hand, people who misunderstand the Confucianism believe that these ideas are only applied for the leaders to control the country and manage their people.

An interesting look at the life of someone everybody thinks they know, but , in fact, know very little about. In and around 500BC, in a small kingdom within China, lived a man whose teachings and philosophy have underpinned Chinese thoughts for millenia - well, that's what they say, but Mao must have forgotten to read it, or subverted the bits about dictators and oppressors! There is action in the first half, but the second half drags as the hero wanders around China in exile - presumably most Chinese would be aware of the stories and events depicted, but they do not grab the audience particularly. Chow Yun Fat acts tremendously well, but is hamstrung by the saintliness of the depiction. In fact, much of the film reminded me of a cross between 'El Cid' and 'King of Kings' as a man battles with his beliefs in a time of great strife and trouble. Certainly it portrays a lot of Christian teaching without the deification element in Western culture. But we do not learn really enough about why he became so influential, and why his teaching was so radical. Guess I'll have to look on Wikipedia!

Many people that write on here about films such of this almost have too 'expert' a view. As has been said elsewhere, it is a real epic and the performance by Chow Yun Fat is exceptional. Whilst there is always going to be debate about accuracy, style and even politics about such a film, for lovers of sumptuously shot cinema and outstanding acting, it will be a joy to watch and will open up Confucius the man to many more people. It is actually being widely released in the UK on DVD and Blu Ray on Monday 4th October on the Cine-Asia label, so will be really interesting to see what a much wider audience makes of it. Personally, I think that people will appreciate its quality and see it for what it is - a very well made historical epic movie.

I came inches close to missing this gorgeous epic tale & cannot understand how few posters could feel negative. Unless they're not fans of Asian films or fake posters with motives against the film's makers? But I am so glad I decided not to believe their reviews. First of all, Yun Fat Chow is not going to turn down a major role in Red Cliff to be in another bio-story type film not just as amazing. And this film was far from long & drawn out. If you're a fan of most popular Chinese epic films than you'll love this! Every camera shot was gorgeous as with the costumes. It's rare to find present epic Asian films that aren't tastefully shot anyway. The color was stunning, and the interpretation of the classic tale was unique with plots that never disappoint. Xun Zhou was as beautiful & cunning as she was in Painted Skin which I watched 4 x's, lol. With all the characters, the actors each held such a powerful presence. It's very tough to develop any character singularly while you have so many important characters with their own mythos and chronicles, but each actor really held up professionally! The amazing battle sequences & periods of war were not drawn out(thank God). And formations, strategies & clever weapons take centerstage in the first major confrontation with Confucius advising the King.Confucious is a solid film that is both a mega blockbuster and quality film-making--------One of the best films ever...epic, complex, realistic, emotionally engaging and unforgettable