Movie Digest
Jiang Ziya is a top commander who has been given the responsibility to hunt down the Nine-Tailed Foxes that threaten human existence. He sets out on his mission with determination to bring peace after the war. This is until he realizes that the soul of one of the Nine-Tailed Fox is tied to an innocent girl. If he were to take action against the creature, the innocent girl would be put in harms way as they share the same body. Will he be able to fulfill his task, or would his morals and righteousness triumph over his duties?
The Feel-Good Part
The visuals of the film are mesmerizing. The fantasy world looks straight out of someone’s most beautiful dream. The world-building is incredibly well-executed as the fantasy elements are intriguing, which makes for an immersive viewing experience. The characters are compelling as they have strong motivations and are easy to cheer on. They have strong character arcs, which allows the audience to watch them grow as the movie progresses, which is quite satiating. The film has a solid overarching message about the importance of individuality, which is refreshing to see as it adds more substance to the film.
The Disappointing Factor
The story is pretty cliché and doesn’t stray away from the standard plot points of this genre, which makes it predictable and may make it boring to watch. Some of the compelling characters regress as the film progresses, which is quite disappointing as they had a lot of potentials to be assets to the plot. The film and the world it belongs to may be pretty confusing for people who don’t have the context to understand the cues made to Chinese mythology, which may leave them feeling disconnected from the movie. Some of the emotional aspects of the film don’t land, as well as the execution feels dramatic.
In-Depth Analysis
The film’s highlight is its animation, which is incredibly done and fits seamlessly with the plot. The visuals and aesthetic of the film serve the plot well and provide the audience with an entertaining experience. Both the plot and the characters are written to be vehicles of the story. There are very few places where the film falls short, which is also easy to overlook because the movie is highly entertaining.
Star Power
All the performances were excellent. The cast delivers their respective characters with nuance, which makes the audience connect with the characters well.
Overall Opinion
Jiang Ziya is a film that lives up to its predecessor; some would say it outshines the first film in many ways. This is a treat for existing fans as it doesn’t disappoint compared to the first film. It’s a film that is a must-watch, as its epic visuals make up for the film’s shortcomings. It is an entertaining film that will be enjoyable by people of all age groups.
