raj9448947551 I wanted to watch a Jet Li's movie since it had been a very a long time .So downloaded "Ocean Heaven" thinking it could be a good action movie.Just finished watching it. It came as a surprise that the movie has nothing related to martial arts. But it brought tears in my eyes ;it is such an emotional movie which portrayed a beautiful relationship between a great father and his autistic son. Now I like Jet Li more than ever. He played his role so perfect even in Drama genre!Apart from him, all others have played their respective roles pretty well especially his son.You will not feel bored at any point in the movie.Highly recommended for everyone!10/10

Jason Zhou "Ocean Heaven" is about JetLi (Wang Xincheng), who plays the role of a forty-seven years terminally ill father, Wang works at the aquarium while struggle to look after his twenty-one years old son Dafu, who suffers autism from childhood. He live in his own world and impaired social interaction and communication, he cannot take care of himself in daily life. Dafu's mother killed in an accident when he was young, but believed she was suicides, because she could not bear to combat his son is autism. Wang single-handedly brought up Dafu and trying to teach him basic necessary life skills in order to survive on his own and take care for himself after he found out he is terminally ill and only has 3 to 4 months to live. As well as teaching him how to wear clothes, how to cook, how to ride the bus, he struggles to look for a home for his son before he passes away. Finally they found a newly opened institution with helps from the principal of the school for intellectual disabilities children that Dafu attended as a child.In order to let his son live comfortably, Wang made the layout of his son's room exactly the same as his usual one.The film has an opening scene of Wang trying to kill himself and his son by tied themselves to a big rock and jumped into the ocean,because Wang do not know what to do with his son and do not want him to suffer on his own after Wang die. However, Dafu loves water, he is an expert swimmer, which saved their lives. Everyday, swimming at the aquarium that his father works for are the happiest time of his life, where he meet Lingling, Lingling plays the role of a clown who is part of a traveling circus that perform in the aquarium for a short period of time, they get well together as Lingling is a orphan, they become friends and Lingling has taught Dafu how to answer the phone in the aquarium when he hears it, because she know she will be leaving soon with her circus. Eventually, Wang passed away without regrets, Dafu also learned everything his father has taught him and works at the aquarium, at the end, Dafu lying on the back of the turtle, swim with peace of mind and happiness. Just like lying on his father's back.A father who is terminally ill and single-handedly brought up his son. A son who suffers autism that cannot take care of himself in daily life, when we see such film like this, we cannot help but thought where is the Ocean that makes people happy and delightful? Where is the desirable to feel the happiness of heaven? Ocean heaven is a movie that can touch something deep in people's heart. The director aims to raise public's concern on the struggling and desperate status of autistic people in the society in a very impressive way. The director has well knowledge with autism, which is one of the key elements to makes such amazing touched film. This film is a masterpiece of Xiaolu Xue,whose own personal experience from working as a volunteer at an autism school for ten years. This movie is about sincerity. It shows that in this day and age those filmmakers are willing to do something for society. It is trying to express gratitude to all the parents in the world through the film. At the beginning of the movie, father jumps into the ocean with the son and tries to end their life in the heart of the ocean. This is a very impressive scene. The ocean is beautiful and peaceful, sky is blue, all of these lead people to think about the positive things of life. However, this father, attempted to kill themselves in the heart of the ocean. Xue has successfully sets a question mark in audience's mind. The trembling of Dafu's fingers was the major element used in the film, showing the characteristic of autism patients, the compulsive behavior of Dafu appears to follow rules and arranging objects in stacks or lines. Restricted behavior of Dafu preoccupation with a single toy, all of these,which makes the film more reality and touched. Dafu's daily life is totally dependent on father due to his autism. When the father tries to find a shelter for Dafu after he knows he would die within few months, it is sad that there is no government organizations is able to help them, including hospital, insurance, welfare, disabled school. But fortunately, Dafu is taken by a group of people who are eager to help voluntary groups of people in society. This contrast reflects the problem and the instant need of improvement of china health care system. The thing that goes into the deepest of people's heart is the father's selfless love to Dafu. He accomplished an impossible task, which is to teach Dafu the necessary life skills to take out his daily activities, such as taking a bus, cooking, getting across the road and working at the aquarium. In order to prevent Dafu feel lonely, He dressed as a turtle and swim with his son, he told Dafu, he will become a turtle,he will always by his side.This is a very emotionally charged family drama showing a father's tireless, selfless love for his autistic son. This film has strong Social significance.Director Xue has well knowledge with autism and shows that in this day and age those filmmakers are willing to do something for society. Xue has successfully raise public's concern on the struggling and desperate status of autistic people in the society in a very impressive way and express gratitude to all the parents in the world through the film. Although,Wang and Dafu will never see each other again, but the eternal between them will always exist, because, Love, will always exist.Dafu will live happily in the heaven that his father created.

duncanj-386-766468 Ocean Heaven is an intriguing movie for several reasons: 1. It portrays a young man with autism, who also shows emotion; 2. We see a sanitized view of modern day China and how disability is supposedly supported by average citizens and the state; and, 3. A terminally ill father struggles with finding support for his son.Each theme is a separate review I'm sure. I really did not want to like this film, and as a previous reviewer suggested, I was also prepared to turn my nose up after the opening dramatic scene. But I kept going with it. I'm glad I did.The actor who portrays the young man with autism is actually quite believable. He gets the gestures just right, the mannerisms, the vocalizations,and the expressions. Having known people with autism--all across the spectrum--for thirty years now, I was amazed at how nuanced this performance was, and it did not fall into the mistakes of stereotypical portrayals, such as Rain Man. It worked. His emotional side, based on fear of the unknown, was handled well, as was his father's reactions to him. The setting for the movie was another aspect of the film that captivated my interest. It is no secret that having a disability in Chinese society is complicated; there is stigma attached to the family, not much support in terms of formal schooling, and even less for social services in the community. It is not discussed, and rarely revealed. Most newborns with obvious disabilities (such as Down syndrome) are routinely abandoned in the hospital and left to die. So why this sudden sympathetic portrayal? Did China undergo a transformation after hosting the Special Olympics in 2008? They did, after all, implement a national policy of "be nice to people with disabilities" in preparation for those games. The natural supports for Dafu (son) were all around him, if his father would only look. The character of "auntie Chai" totally got Dafu. She could have enlisted his work ethic in her store. He already had a "job" swimming with the fish and sea mammals at the aquarium. We saw scenes of him being one with the water and marine life. And so on. But the film takes us on a trip to see Chinese institutional care, segregated schools, and missed opportunities for true inclusion in his community.There are side stories that don't advance the film, such as the circus troupe and the film star clown who juggles. The metaphor of the circus outsiders (some would also equate them to freak shows) accepting Dafu is an old cliché that wasn't necessary. Another side story that is not developed deals with his deceased Mother, who apparently could not handle the truth of her son's autism. There are veiled references to her untimely death as a suicide.Now the story has legs. The real issue that is presented is that it is understandable, and even acceptable for a parent to intentionally kill their child with a disability. Pity the poor parents, who have to endure the shame and burden of a child with a disability. This is how most people really feel. In fact, there is societal support for parents who murder their child out of pity. In Canada there is a famous case of Robert Latimer, a father from Saskatchewan, who murdered his daughter Tracy because she had cerebral palsy. Most Canadians thought Mr. Latimer a sympathetic figure, not deserving jail time for his crime. There are numerous instances of children and adults with autism who end up dead at the hands of a caregiver or family member. Check out the website notdeadyet for further reporting on this subject. So the opening scene, where Dafu chooses life for himself and his father is quite dramatic, and likely the best evidence of Dafu's intellect, emotion, and will to live. It is also a tribute to all those other people with disabilities who do not get to choose how their life unfolds, whether in China, or anywhere else.

Shawn McKenna This has been touted as Jet Li's first starring non-action drama. While that is interesting it is probably the wrong approach to think of Li's past roles before watching this movie. This is a simple bittersweet realist drama that is a moving cinematic experience because of the earnest performances. Jet Li's minimalist characterization is the right approach for his character Wang Xuechang and quite different than his action persona. The director describes Li's character as "like a man who has become a mother." He is described by others in the film as a good man, which he is. He is doing the best he can with this situation with dogged determination, not with brilliance or luck, but perseverance. Wang is a maintenance work for an aquarium and had lost his wife fourteen years ago. He also has complete responsibility of his son Dafu (Wen Zhang: also acts with Jet Li in the later The Sorcerer and the White Snake) who suffers from severe autism. Wang is also dying from liver cancer and is given around three months to live.The film stars off inauspiciously. Wang takes his son out to the ocean to drown him and himself. This does not work because the son had secretly untied the rope and the son has one special gift in his mostly closed world -- he is an excellent swimmer. So Wang goes back to his home and work determined to leave his son prepared for his passing while his pains get worse by the day. At first he tries to find a place where he can leave his son. But either the institutions are for kids or seniors which the 22-year old does not qualify. While this proves difficult he also spends time going over simple behaviors like riding the bus, cooking eggs, and spending money so he can have some semblance of a normal life.While Dafu spends his days swimming in the aquarium tanks he befriends a traveling circus clown and juggler Ling Ling (Kwai Lun-mei: also acts with Jet Li in the later Flying Swords of Dragon Gate; she also sings a song for the film) who also gives Dafu someone else to trust. But given that her life is nomadic and that Wang's life is slowly ebbing away you are left to wonder what is going to happen to Dafu.This is Xue Xiao-lu's first directed film. Her only other screen credit is for the writing on Chen Kaige's Together. Xue has stated she has worked on this project fourteen years, referring to her volunteer work with autistic children, and by the time the screenplay got to be read by Jet Li it was in its seventh draft. What is impressive is the crew that was put together for this film. For the cinematography you have Christopher Doyle (In the Mood for Love, Rabbit-Proof Fence, Hero), for the music you have Joe Hisaishi (Kikujiro, Spirited Away) and production design by Yee Chung-man (Tokyo Raiders, Shaolin). Having this triumvirate is quite unbelievable considering the modest budget. Their collaboration helps the film immensely in sound and image.This is a beautiful looking film. The cinematography and production design is dominated by blue hues throughout as a constant allegory to the water in their lives. The acting from Li and especially Wen is quite good. There relationship is quite touching as is the relationship between Dafu and Ling Ling. That one is underplayed, but I think that is the right decision for this film. So much of the success of this film depends on how Wen portrays his character's interactions with these two. There are no magical solutions to the familial issues, just a lot of hard work from caring people. There are no real antagonists in this story. Some might consider this a negative, but the movie does not need it. I am glad, because Dafu's life is difficult enough and the movie is emotional enough. I had to watch it in two sittings because the first half depressed me quite a bit. I do recommend this movie and hope those who are on the fence about watching this to give it a watch. I think it is quite a good film.There are certainly some parallels between this film and Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung's Heart of Dragon. Both films were dramatic roles dealing with a caretaker having no choice in dealing with a mentally challenged relative and both were popular action stars getting a chance to expand their acting repertoire. This film also reminds me of Zhang Yang's underrated Shower in which the relationship between Er Ming and Liu parallels that of the two main characters here. There is also a water motif present in both films though I think the allegory is stronger in Shower and more matter-of-fact here. I mention these films because both are interesting and different approaches to similar matter. Shower is also one of my favorite films.I saw this on the R1 Well Go DVD release. But there is also a R1 BD/DVD combo available from Well Go which should have the same extras. For the extras there is an 11 minute "Making of" extra which has interviews from Jet Li, Kwai Lun-mei, Wen Zhang and Xue Xiao-lu and inserted footage from the movie. It has some good information, but is ultimately too short. There is a trailer and a teaser for the movie as well. The start-up trailers (not accessible by menu) are 1911, The Stool Pigeon and The Man From Nowhere. I found a mistake in the description on the back cover which uses names for the two characters (Sam and David) that appear nowhere in the film and there is no English dub so I am not sure where they came from. The two dubs for this are a Mandarin 5.1 Dolby and a Mandarin Dolby Stereo. There is also an R3 Edko release of this film that came out in 2010.