Latest news with #InvestitureoftheGods
Time of India
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Ne Zha 2 Movie Review: Visual brilliance makes this tangled tale a riveting watch
Story: Left without physical bodies in the film's 2019 sequel, the souls of demon boy Ne Zha (Lü Yanting) and dragon prince Ao Bing (Han Mo) attain new forms in this chapter. However, after Ao Bing loses his in a battle, the two are forced to share a single body. To restore Ao Bing's physical form, they must undergo a three-round test set by the immortal Wuliang Xianweng (Deshun Wang) and earn a mystical potion. Review: Loosely based on the 16th-century classic Investiture of the Gods, Ne Zha 2 takes Chinese mythology and animated adventure to an all-new level of spectacle. Director Jiaozi returns with a sequel with relentless action, intricate set pieces and character designs, and complexed characterisations served through a rich storyline. The story picks up after the fire demon orb Ne Zha and the spirit pearl Ao Bing (the water dragon prince) were slain by a lightning and must now retrieve an elixir to revive a sacred lotus that can restore their bodies. Their guide is the immortal and delightfully quirky Taiyi Zhenren (voiced by Jiaming Zhang). However, Chentang Pass is attacked by the exiled dragon army, led by the vengeful leopard demon Shen Gongbao (Yang Wei). From the ethereal Jade Yu Xu Palace of the immortals to the underworld brimming with molten lava, beasts like marmots and fire-breathing dragons, the production brings different worlds to life with stunning visual finesse, dazzling animation, and jaw-dropping world-building. Themes of power, revenge, friendship, and defiance of fate run deep. The narrative questions the very nature of good and evil—flipping power structures on their head. Gods are not always noble, demons not always cruel. However, the plot at times stretches thin under the weight of its many characters and tangents. The occasional toilet humour—farts, puke, and all—feels tonally off for a film steeped in myth and emotion. What truly holds it all together is the electric dynamic between Ne Zha's chaotic fire and Ao Bing's composed calm. Their journey peaks in a riveting third act, where Ne Zha's fury clashes with the honour of exiled dragons. A tender moment between Ne Zha and his mother might just bring a tear to your eye. Whether or not you've seen the first chapter or are familiar with Chinese folklore, Ne Zha 2 delivers. With spectacular VFX, immersive set design, thrilling action, and memorable character work, this mythological epic is a riveting watch—even when the story meanders.
Daily Tribune
21-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Tribune
‘Ne Zha 2' Becomes Highest-Grossing Animated Film Ever, Smashes $1.7B Box Office Record
Email : The animated epic Ne Zha 2 has shattered global box office records, becoming the highest-grossing animated film of all time with a staggering $1.7 billion in earnings. Surpassing Disney-Pixar's Inside Out 2, the film has marked a historic moment in cinema as the first non-English-language animated film to achieve this milestone. Directed and written by Jiaozi, Ne Zha 2 is the much-anticipated sequel to the 2019 hit Ne Zha. Loosely based on the classic Chinese novel Investiture of the Gods (Fengshen Yanyi), the film premiered on January 29, 2025, coinciding with Chinese New Year, and quickly became a cultural and box office phenomenon. Breaking Records at Lightning Speed With a production budget of $80 million, Ne Zha 2 didn't just break records—it obliterated them. It became: ✔ Fastest-grossing animated film —crossing $1 billion in under three weeks. ✔ Highest-grossing film ever in China, surpassing all previous blockbusters. ✔ Highest-grossing non-English-language film, the first to reach $1 billion. ✔ The highest-grossing film of 2025 and the 8th-highest-grossing film of all time. A particularly astonishing feat was achieved on its 11th day of release, when Ne Zha 2 became the highest-grossing film in a single box office territory, overtaking Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which took 165 days to reach $936 million in North America. A Story of Myth and Magic Ne Zha 2 continues the tale of Ne Zha and Ao Bing, two legendary figures bound by destiny. After a celestial lightning strike destroys their bodies, they embark on a perilous journey to reclaim their forms and battle against treacherous forces threatening their homeland. The film blends breathtaking animation, heart-pounding action, and deep emotional storytelling, captivating audiences worldwide. A New Era for Chinese Animation Following the success of Ne Zha (2019) and Jiang Ziya (2020), Ne Zha 2 cements its place in Enlight Pictures' Fengshen Universe, proving that Chinese animation can dominate the global stage. With its unprecedented success, Ne Zha 2 has set a new standard for animated filmmaking, leaving fans eager to see what's next for the franchise.
Al-Ahram Weekly
16-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Chinese cheer animated blockbuster's Ne Zha 2 release abroad - Screens - Arts & Culture
Chinese fans of the blockbuster film "Ne Zha 2" packed into cinemas in Beijing on Sunday, snapping selfies and queueing up for movie posters and other merchandise. The animated film, now China's highest-grossing movie of all time, was released overseas last week, sparking local hopes that it would gain the same acclaim abroad. The movie has broken multiple box office records and is the first to earn more than $1 billion in a single market -- overtaking "Star Wars: The Force Awakens", which made $936 million in the United States in 2015. "Ne Zha 2" hit the big screen in Australia and New Zealand on Thursday, one day before its release in the United States and Canada. At a cinema in Sanlitun, one of Beijing's most popular commercial districts, fan Zhou Jingwen told AFP she was about to see the film for the third time. "I think it's different from traditional American animated films," the 29-year-old said, adding that she felt it would be well-received abroad and was "rich with Chinese mythological background". A sequel five years in the making, the fantasy-comedy, loosely based on the 16th-century novel "Investiture of the Gods", tells the tale of a rebellious young deity, Ne Zha, who uses his powers to battle formidable foes after his village is destroyed. Released domestically on 29 January to coincide with the Lunar New Year holiday, a prime movie-going time in China, the movie has reignited the country's film industry after 2024 saw box office receipts slump 23 per cent compared to a year earlier. Fan Zhang Kaihan said he was seeing "Ne Zha 2" for the first time and was looking forward to the sequel featuring even more exciting action scenes than the first movie. The original "Ne Zha" became China's highest-grossing animated film after its release in 2019. According to Zhang, moviegoers abroad could better understand Chinese culture after seeing the costumes and scenery portrayed in the new film. "I'm confident that overseas audiences will also love this movie," he added. Also at the cinema, mother Wen Juan was accompanied by her two sons, aged four and 12, intentionally dressed in red and yellow -- the same colours Ne Zha wears in the film -- along with her husband and parents. She praised the movie for reflecting "a more modern understanding of parent-child relationships". The film depicts Ne Zha's parents as supportive and encouraging, departing from the strict Asian family stereotype. "It inherits elements from tradition but also adapts them, which I find really well done," Wen added. Short link:
The Independent
06-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 breaks box office records over lunar new year
Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 became the country's highest-grossing film on Thursday, giving its box office a massive boost over the lunar new year holidays. Ne Zha 2 is a sequel to the 2019 fantasy adventure Ne Zha, which follows a young boy born with unique powers who teams up with dragon prince Ao Bing to fight demons and save the very community that fears him. The film series, written and directed by Jiaozi, is loosely based on a 16th-century novel, Investiture of the Gods, attributed to Xu Zhonglin. Ne Zha 2 was released in cinemas for the Chinese lunar new year on 29 January. Most businesses and government offices close for an eight-day public holiday for the new year to enable people to travel home. The extended break likely contributed to the success of the film, which not only features a beloved Chinese mythological character but appeals to audiences of all ages. Ne Zha 2 has collected ¥5.8bn (£640m) at the box office so far. In the first week alone, the film made ¥4.84bn (£534m), setting the record for the most money made by a single film in the new year period, which runs from 28 January to 12 February. Driven by the success of Ne Zha 2, the Chinese box office saw the highest single-day collection of ¥1.8bn (£199m) across all releases on 29 January. Other major releases in theatres that contributed to the earnings were Detective Chinatown 1900 and Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force. Ne Zha 2 has already surpassed Ne Zha in total earnings and is well on its way to becoming the highest-grossing film ever not in the English language, beating 2021's The Battle at Lake Changjin. It has already overtaken The Battle at Lake Changjin as China's biggest film ever. According to ticketing app Maoyan, the film is projected to make ¥8.7bn (£960m) in China alone. If those projections are met, Ne Zha 2 would beat Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens as the highest-grossing film in a single market. The space opera film made $936.7m (£754m) in North America. The numbers bode well for the Chinese film industry, even taking into account the fact that the lunar new year is generally one of its most lucrative periods. In 2024, total box office collections dropped 22.6 per cent from the previous year as a sluggish economy reportedly prompted moviegoers to stay home.
South China Morning Post
29-01-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
In Chinese fantasy Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force a star is born
Published: 7:45pm, 29 Jan 2025 4/5 stars Forces of good and evil from the human world and the spirit realm go head to head in Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force , the second chapter in Wuershan's spectacular adaptation of the 16th century Chinese fantasy novel Investiture of the Gods . This time out, the action focuses on the Shang army's siege of Xiqi City, as the evil Lord Yin Shou (Kris Phillips) continues his quest to become ruler of the entire kingdom. A magical scroll infused with the power of the gods, known as the Fengshen Bang, is also up for grabs, and a multitude of warriors, immortals and mythical beasts duke it out in order to wield its power. But the ageing Yin's strength is now waning despite the help he is getting from a seductive fox spirit (Naran) and the dark sorcery of three-eyed Wen Zhong (Wu Hsing-kuo).
