Feng shen Di yi bu: Zhao ge feng yun

Since its detonating release in the mainland, this movie was praised as legend among the viewers. Indeed, Feng Shen represents China's highest standard of film production, whether VFX, production and costume design, screenplay adoption, choreography, and performance. Despite the few scenes at Kunlun with questionable green screen utility, the visual effect is much better than that in The Flash, as the extreme wide shots of the coronation or the sacrificial pyre depict architectural grandeur without forgetting the details of men. In terms of bringing one of China's most famed mythology into life, the movie succeeds once more in modifying the intent of Daji the Fox Demon and adding the Army of Hostages; my personal favorites are Nezha's Fire Wheels and Red Sash, which are exactly what I pictured from the original text. Performance wise, Fei Xiang and Na Ran are doubtlessly the best castings for the devious tyrant and the animalistic temptress.

Onto the negatives, the movie seems to portray plot-driven characters instead of having the characters pilot the storylines. Especially approaching the final act, the deaths and arcs of numerous characters, including the protagonist, either appear scripted or simply do not convince me. This could be the result of extensive editing and condensation in regards to the length, which is always an issue for commercial films with adopted screenplay. The work is enough as entertainment, but if the trilogy wants to become classic, it still needs a push.

Can't wait to see the second.