News culture Much more than the Chinese Lord of the Rings, Creation of the Gods I blows a divine wind on heroic fantasy
Chinese-language 7th art will be in the spotlight on our territory in 2024. France is celebrating Chinese New Year with great fanfare with the first episode of a trilogy that should interest Lord of the Rings fans. Creations of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms will exceptionally be released in cinemas in February. The JV editorial team was able to see a preview of this film that gives a divine twist to heroic fantasy.
Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms in quelques mots
Creations of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms est a fantasy film by Wuershan (Painted Skin: The Resurrection, Mojin: The Lost Legend) and co-written with Ran Ping, Ran Jianan and Cao Sheng. The Adaptation of the novel Investiture of the Gods, written in the 16th century by Ming Dynasty author Xu Zhonglin – one of China’s greatest legends – was a real hit in both the domestic and international cinema markets, grossing no less than $372.95 million before its brief release in France.
This is the first episode of a Chinese-language trilogy in the making (including “Creation of the Gods II: Demonic Confrontation” and “Creation of the Gods III: Creation Under Heaven”) will only be shown in French cinemas on Chinese New Year weekend, February 10th and 11th, 2024. The young and old guard of Chinese actors collaborate for an ambitious epic fresco ready to conquer our country with its myths and legends little known in the West. Here is the official synopsis for Creations of the Gods I Kingdom of Storms:
Prince Yin Shou makes a bloody attempt to take the throne of the Shang Kingdom with the help of his lover Su Daji, who is herself under the influence of the Demon Fox. The Taoist sage Jiang Ziya descended from the sacred Kunlun Mountain and Ji Fa, a young warrior raised by Yin Shou, team up to fight the tyrant. -Heylight images
Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms will be shown in cinemas in France on February 10th and 11th, 2024.
Once upon a time, heroic fantasy was in China
As curious and eager for new experiences as I may be (and am), I know very little about Chinese myths and legends. My knowledge in this area is limited to reading the novels “The Three Kingdoms” (14th century) and “Journey to the West” (16th century), as well as a Chinese-speaking culture that has a historical and/or fantastical and /or specific content is film. or martial arts after another. I have seen many Chinese films over the years. However, the Wuershan-directed trilogy stands out for its ambition and the source material it adapts for the big screen. “Creation of the Gods” is not a “Chinese Lord of the Rings”… It’s much more than that!
Creations of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms stands out from Western heroic fantasy films simply by adapting a founding work of Chinese literature. The cosmogony and mythology specific to the Middle Kingdom bring a breath of fresh air to the genre and guarantee a different approach to fantasy on the big screen. Far from the eternally “dark” images of our countries, Wuershan’s film is wrapped in a colorful and lush aesthetic that perfectly suits this story in which humans, gods and demons are presented on a common chessboard.
Certainly, Kingdom of Storms suffers from some visual effects that could be improved and an overabundance of computer-generated imagery (unfortunately) necessary to appreciate the conflict of divine order unfolding before our eyes. However, This fantastic epic shines in many other aspects, starting from its costumes, its real locations and several bravery sequences whose secret only the Chinese 7th art knows. I find there at times (and on a personal level) the martial and cinematic impulses of “Tiger & Dragon”, “The Secret of the Flying Daggers” or “Detective Dee”.
However, not everything is perfect. Drawing on existing writings that are sometimes worn out (particularly for those familiar with the genre), Creation of Gods I actually unfolds an expected story that all too rarely surprises. However, The feature film counteracts this weakness with its lush universe, colorful characters and epic battles. Finally, the humor, which is also very present and pronounced, is in line with strong, universal and omnipresent themes in Chinese culture. This combination of tones will certainly not please everyone, but it will not leave anyone indifferent.
Creations of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms will appeal to fans of heroic fantasy and Asian cinema. I can’t wait to discover the rest of this saga, which makes a divine appropriation of a genre that in the West is tied to certain habits and customs.
