Contributed by Wang Duo
Translated by Ling Limin
The US release blockbuster Transformer 2 is a hit in Chinese cinemas and hope to make a box-office record at home, breaking the record of“Titanic”. People together at cinemas, mass media report all around and the toys of all kinds of transformers are the best sellers in the markets. Transformer is no longer a simple sign of a film but a social culture phenomenon. Chinese version >>
The online survey from a famous website in the country shows that more than 50% respondents like the image of Optimus Prime and at the same time over 40% believe Optimus Prime leaves deep impressions on them. Why is Optimus Prime so popular among public? It’s thought-provoking when someone hits the point: moral limpid and pure.
In the film, people respect for his quality and morality, namely, good is good, wicked is wicked, right is right, wrong is wrong, etc. He is clear about what to love and what to hate without ambiguous and compromised. He fights against enemies with human beings as the symbol of justice, ready for self-sacrifice at any time. There was an impressive dialogue once between Megatron and Optimus Prime at the moment of their decisive battle.“Why are you always the loser? Since you battle for the weaker?”This is meaningful and full of philosophy. In Optimus Prime’s mind, it is noble heroism and the splendor of idealism to battle for the humans, weaker and justice. People appreciate his battle spirits and his incomparable noble quality. More importantly, he respects what humans have chosen and protects human freedom by his rational strength. Kant, the great western philosopher once said:“human being born with metaphysics.”The successful of morals of Optimus Prime reflects the pursuit of moral excellence and dreams.
The other reason for its popularity is that he embodies incompleteness of morality in our secular world which happens around us. We are dazzling because of contrary to the noble personality of Optimus Prime and thus worth reflection. In daily life, we see too many fantastic things and secular philosopher tells us that“the world is not only black and white; there are gray areas in the middle”. Crafty theory also makes us know that“clear water have no fish; too observation have no friend.”We are exposed to the world of sleek, sophisticated and market skills far from idealism, nobility and heroism.
It is from the characteristic of Optimus Prime that we review great noble, integrity, kindness and loyalty. These qualities inspire us to find heroes bravely without turning back.
Although the moral environment in reality is not so prefect, we gratify ours love towards Optimus Prime that is, man’s continuous pursuit of noble morality. This helps human beings to make further progress and unceasing improvement of our internal dynamics.