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Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms
封神第一部：朝歌风云
2023 148 min China 16+
★6.9
Action, Fantasy, War
Director: Wuershan
🎭 Based on
«Investiture of the Gods»
byLu Xixing
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
Based on the most well-known classical fantasy novel of China, Fengshenyanyi, the trilogy is a magnificent eastern high fantasy epic that recreates the prolonged mythical wars between humans, immortals and monsters, which happened more than three thousand years ago.
Budget:
$85M
US Gross:
$1.71M
Worldwide:
$369.08M
Starring
Huang Bo
Actor
Kris Phillips
Actor
Xuejian Li
Actor
Awards
Asian Film Academy 2024
— Best Costume Design
Asian Film Academy 2024
— Best Visual Effects
Asian Film Academy 2024
— Best Sound
Key opinion
Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms is an ambitious, visually grand fantasy epic that draws clear comparisons to Western genre staples like The Lord of the Rings. While it earns praise for its exploration of complex Confucian themes and impressive physical commitment from its cast, it is hindered by narrative unevenness caused by aggressive editing and polarized reactions to its patriarchal storytelling.
| Production | The production design, specifically the costumes and interiors, creates a visually stunning and immersive world for the viewer. | |
| Theme | The film succeeds in exploring deep thematic territory, particularly the conflict between Confucian filial piety and the trauma of tyrannical father-son dynamics. | |
| Acting | The actors' physical commitment to their roles—undergoing rigorous training—results in a palpable sense of genuine intensity and struggle on screen. | |
| Editing | The narrative flow suffers significantly from heavy editing cuts, leading to disjointed scenes and occasional logical gaps in the storytelling. | |
| Production | Visual effects quality is a point of contention; some viewers find the creature designs and CGI majestic and imaginative, while others view them as childlike or of inconsistent quality. | |
| Culture | The film's patriarchal focus divides the audience, with some appreciating the intense, male-centric power dynamics while others find the limited female representation alienating or problematic. |