Creation of the Gods 1: Kingdom of Storms Movie Review : Epic in scope and uneven in execution, this film struggles to captivate

Story: The Shang dynasty's future is threatened by the Great Curse. To restore order, Ziya, one of the three immortals, is sent to Earth with the sacred scroll for the king. However, when Ziya uncovers the true nature of the King, everything changes.

Review: ‘Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms’ is an ambitious film marred by inconsistencies. With a runtime of approximately 148 minutes, it struggles to maintain viewer attention and interest, ultimately falling short. Based on the 16th-century mythological epic and centered on the theme of power struggle, the film fails to deliver anything epic beyond its visual grandeur. The performances often feel theatrical, and the second half drags almost to a standstill. Clearly influenced by films like ‘Lord of the Rings’ and ‘Baahubali,’ this Chinese blockbuster lacks the compelling plot that made those films captivating.

The story unfolds as King Zhou (Kris Phillips) prepares to attack the city of Jizhou with the assistance of Ji Fa (Yosh Yu), his loyal guard. Their objective: eliminate Su Hu (Ashton Xu), a defector. Zhou successfully executes the mission, wiping out the entire clan except for Su Hu's daughter, Su Daji (Naran). However, it is soon revealed that Su Daji is not human but a demon fox who enchants King Zhou with her magic, ultimately becoming his concubine and trusted confidant. Upon Zhou's return, tragedy strikes as his brother murders their father, only to be later accidently killed by Ji Fa. During the coronation ceremony, a curse afflicting Zhou is unveiled. Meanwhile, the Gods of Kunlun debate whether to release the sacred scroll to restore order. Jiang Ziya (Huang Bo), one of the three immortals, decides to relinquish his extraordinary powers and deliver the scroll to Zhou. Yet, just as he is about to do so, he discovers the true nature of the prince.

Before production began, director Wuershan reportedly consulted with Peter Jackson and James Schamus (the co-writer of 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' and credited at the start of the film). However, the results of this collaboration do not translate effectively onto the screen. The CGI is inconsistent, which detracts from the film's grand scale. While the costume department and actors perform adequately, the film lacks impactful confrontational scenes, resulting in a rather tedious experience. Su Daji emerges as one of the most intriguing characters, yet her storyline remains underdeveloped. The pivotal scene where the Immortals discuss the sacred scroll is meant to be a turning point, but its execution falls short, leaving much to be desired.

It's truly disheartening that, despite the substantial investment in both scale and resources, the film fails to engage its audience. This fantasy adventure, where mythical characters shape earthly events, sounds compelling in concept but falls short in execution. Ultimately, it represents a missed opportunity in cinematic storytelling.