I can’t recall the last time I watched a Chinese or Hong Kong film—it's been about twelve months. This one has generated considerable buzz, being touted as China's highest-grossing domestic movie ever. I marked it down to watch as soon as possible, and after viewing with high hopes, here’s my take. I’ve been watching movies since childhood, but my passion intensified with "The Two Towers." Initially, I was a fantasy film enthusiast before broadening my tastes. However, certain films still resonate deeply, much like this one did for me. These days, we have zombies, superheroes, vampires, werewolves, aliens, robots—a wide range of options for creating an entertaining movie. But just half a millennium ago, when motion pictures didn't exist and storytelling relied on literature and stage plays, narratives centered around good versus evil, God versus the devil, man versus monsters and beasts. Modern stories are often science fiction, while older ones fall into the fantasy category. With CGI becoming increasingly versatile, filmmakers are rushing to join established genre franchises, leading to a head-to-head competition between these two genres—a real treat for movie fans like myself. My initial impression came from the film’s posters, which were styled after traditional Chinese paintings. While I wasn't thrilled with the CGI characters in the trailer, they looked much better within the full movie. It’s one of the most visually impressive Mandarin films I've seen. Despite its box office success, the budget doubled due to a drug controversy involving the original lead actor, who was subsequently replaced and required reshoots, including redoing special effects. > "Monsters are the most cunning creatures in the world. > They hide in human skin, dress as human and speak human language!" The director brought experience from working on Hollywood projects. This marked his first solo directorial debut, and he delivered impressively. The story was disappointing, though—it's essentially a familiar premise that’s been around since the dawn of cinema. Set in ancient China, it depicts a time when humans and monsters coexisted before erupting into war to dominate one another. A boundary separated their worlds, maintaining peace for centuries until a coup occurred among the monsters. The conflict reignites when some monsters cross over to the human side. The remaining plot revolves around resolving this situation through action and adventure with plenty of fun moments. The narrative bears a striking resemblance to current European migrant crises—people fleeing civil war in the Middle East are often unwelcome by local populations, leading to violence in refugee camps. Similarly, the film mirrors this dynamic between humans and monsters without realizing it. It’s geared toward both children and adults, but the depiction of killing cute monsters and cooking them left me feeling uneasy. There's also a romantic subplot, and Baihe Bai is charming. Films from this region often evoke martial arts traditions. Given the director's involvement in the "Shrek" films, it’s easy to spot influences from other industries. The concept of creatures disguised as humans recalls “Men in Black,” while the music feels reminiscent of Indian films. Comedic elements enhance the exciting stunts involving live actors and CGI characters. There are some plot points that don't quite add up, but those kinds of inconsistencies are often overlooked in fantasy films. However, more explanation would have been beneficial, particularly regarding the story’s inspiration from another culture—an area where it falters somewhat. Overall, the movie passes both the entertainment and quality tests, leaning more toward a family film than one aimed at younger audiences. A sequel seems likely given its tremendous success; failing to produce one would be a missed opportunity. For Western viewers accustomed to similar themes, it might register as an average or acceptable film. Nevertheless, I recommend it to those who enjoy comedy-fantasy films. 7½/10

Source on TMDB