This movie had incredible potential but it also had some pretty glaring flaws. While the plot is predictable, the world it's set in does a decent job in making you overlook that. It's some strange combination of steampunk with magic and gods walking among humans. While gods walking among mortal humans isn't anything new in Chinese fantasy, having the setting be in a weird fusion of old-school Hong Kong + advanced robotics and prosthetics + magical creatures is something I haven't seen before.
My biggest gripe with this film is that they don't do enough to set up the characters and their motivations. It's fast-paced and has beautiful stylized shots but the characters lack any real depth.
The dialogue and the flashback scenes also speeds by so quick that I had to rewind a few times just so I could understand what the hell was going on. The movie expects you to be already be familiar with the gods in this movie which makes it confusing for people where this is their first taste of Chinese myths.
Despite all that, the animation alone is worth the watch. Absolutely gorgeous and is as good as-or even better-than Pixar. There are a few water scenes which looks so real, it's hard to believe it's animated.
Was this movie perfect? No. It lacks heart and depth.
Did I enjoy it? Hell yeah! It's definitely a popcorn movie that will hold your attention if you enjoy slick animation and fantastical fight scenes.
My biggest gripe with this film is that they don't do enough to set up the characters and their motivations. It's fast-paced and has beautiful stylized shots but the characters lack any real depth.
The dialogue and the flashback scenes also speeds by so quick that I had to rewind a few times just so I could understand what the hell was going on. The movie expects you to be already be familiar with the gods in this movie which makes it confusing for people where this is their first taste of Chinese myths.
Despite all that, the animation alone is worth the watch. Absolutely gorgeous and is as good as-or even better-than Pixar. There are a few water scenes which looks so real, it's hard to believe it's animated.
Was this movie perfect? No. It lacks heart and depth.
Did I enjoy it? Hell yeah! It's definitely a popcorn movie that will hold your attention if you enjoy slick animation and fantastical fight scenes.