Mojin: The Lost Legend

It's one of those movies that I knew I'd be interested in, going to the theaters. the poster screams action and adventure like Indiana Jones.

It's a buddy movie with a little romance and fantastic imagery. It's how the Chinese are doing epic these days, outdoing the American blockbuster, or at least giving it a valiant effort.

The special effects are boss, and the movie comes with a great assortment of charters in a story that untangles in a way that keeps you interested in what happens next.

But I have to admit, Mojin is not as charming and amusing as they think of themselves, but that might have more to do with the cultural differences

One of my favorite parts was a scene were the characters just began to drop f-bombs like it was nothing. It felt like the use of this word was not as bad in China as it is in America (especially in sub title form), but it made for a good unexpected laugh from a movie I would have assumed was rated PG-13.

Mojin is definitely visually amazing. I could watch the imagery for days and it has a great story tied to it. Nice blockbuster made in china.

3D effect is good, it's a scolding name for the effect of washing garbage. I haven't seen who the actor is for a long time. Big Golden Teeth should be the best performer. In the plot aspect, the plot develops smoothly, breaking through customs and fighting monsters, but unfortunately, there is a lack of a boss in the end, just a little less hallucination.

Just like 'Tomb Raider' this is another perfect example of amazing action sequences and stunning visuals compensating an average plot. So, if it's non-stop action you're looking for, you'll definitely find it here. The cinematography was also awesome! I enjoyed the archaeological aspect as well as the setting in the huge tomb. Angelbaby did her best Angelina Jolie impression but was not as convincing and did not seem determined enough. I enjoyed the friendship/rivalry between long-term friends Hu Bayi and Wang. The film has a lot of silly slapstick humor, but the entertainment value was far greater. This was funny, thrilling, exciting and super entertaining. It may not be a perfect movie, but it is a perfect action adventure fantasy!

We are a mere couple of weeks away from a new Mummy movie. And it just goes to show you that adventures with ancient secrets, graves and legends are still very popular in the eyes of the film watching audience. There is a couple of time-lines and everything is of course connected as you would expect. It's overall a nice adventure for the whole family with action and suspense for everyone.

You can't really judge acting in movies like that and the story overall. It's all there for the special effects to come on. The relationships work nicely and the flow of the movie is good too. The mentioned special effects are good enough. Just don't expect too much and you'll be pleased

Fighting a hopping ghostly entity in action comedy flair is an old trend in Chinese cinema, mostly dealing with silly version of vampire. As the visual technology advances this kind of premise resurfaces recently, the closest comparison would be The Mummy with oriental atmosphere. Mojin might seem too flamboyant or slow at first, rightfully so since the blend of horror and action only shows its effectiveness later on.

Story follows a reluctant adventurer Hu Bayi (Chen Kun) as he is drawn to a mystery from 20 years ago. The pacing is unfortunately sluggish at first act, relying heavily on slapstick comedy for a bit too long. This kind of loud banter is used frequently in Chinese comedy, or even in Korean or Japanese flicks, but the outlandish approach may not resonate too well for audience from the west. It's admittedly a niche flavor and culture-oriented taste. Furthermore, the drama factor simply shines towards the end.

After it sets the tone, it gets increasingly better. By incorporating few mythological embellishments and creepy characters, it even manages to be unexpectedly eerie beyond the original cheesy nature. Action and effect fare much better. There is a polished visual here, though it's not the level of high tier animation and it needs the help of artistic design to create appealing set pieces, especially since it dabbles mostly on barren terrains.

Credit must go to Shu Qi as the love interest Shirley. She looks very gorgeous, donning the popular Lara Croft visage and it's nice to have such character when raiding long lost tomb. The action also comes to fruition on second half as story shifts from silliness to tight narrative and eye-catching sequences. Humor works better as well, breaking away from the stand-up comedy and presenting a couple of nice gags even when the pace becomes faster.

The movie's later parts are better than the rest, more so considering it's a fairly long movie with considerable build-up. However, when all the pieces fit together Mojin - The Lost Legend is an adequately fascinating adventure.