Movie Digest
The spring festival has just concluded in Hujiazhuang bringing after it inconsistent weather varying between coldness and heat. A traditional Chinese lion dancer, Luo Chuan who is a jolly and uninhibited person, dreams of carrying forward the legacy of the lion dance. However trouble follows him wherever he goes. Because of this he is considered as a major threat to his village by the village chief Hu Changli. A Nian or a Chinese beast accidently comes into the human world and steals the lion’s head which is an important heirloom. The village chief Hu Changli considers it to be Luo Chuan’s fault and sends him to retrieve it back. On the way Luo meets a rat immortal, Axi, who has come down to seize the Nian. They decide to look for the Nian together. On finding the Nian, they realize that it is not all that horrible. The village chief Hu, gets possessed by a spirit-devouring demon and plots against Nian. However, in the end Luo, Axi and the villagers all work together and defeat the demon spirit and help wake Hu.
The Feel Good Part
There are power packed action scenes to satisfy the action lovers. The Nian, although a beast, has a cute look about him. He wreaks havoc all around which is fun to watch because he is not meaning to be harmful. There are also a few comedic scenes for the fun lovers.
The Disappointing Part
The movie absolutely delivers in all the sections and there is nothing disappointing about it. But if you are big on CGI then you might feel that the CGI of the Nian could’ve been worked on better. Other than that, there is nothing disappointing about this movie.
In-Depth Analysis
This adventurous and action movie packs a punch for all the action and adventure buffs. The comedic scenes make you laugh despite having to read the captions. The action scenes are elite and the actors have perfectly played their part; from their animated facial expressions to the way they carry their character is immaculate. It is not much of a thought provoking film but rather a light watch. All ages are sure to enjoy.
Star Power
The main star leads are Chuang Chen and Peng Jiang. Both of them have showcased their acting prowess to the best of their ability. To their facial expressions to their conduct of themselves, all show a highly skilled actor.
Overall Opinion
If action, adventure, fantasy and comedy are your cup of tea then this compact culmination of all these three factors is just the right thing for you. It’s a fun and action filled movie. Watch this for an hour and seventeen minutes of escape into the Chinese fantasy land of the past.
