Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms review

Non-organised thoughts about Creation of the Gods:

• So many pretty people.
• So many muscular torsos. 😆
• The most unsubtle Chinese blockbuster ever but omg so fun to watch. Also fun to watch favourite Chinese mythological characters come to life. Nezha. Fox spirits done right! Floating immortals! And what a thrill to watch Er Lang Shen (Cha Si looks so good when he twirls his spear around.)
• War is shit and awful.
• People who cause them are the shittiest.
• Glad the movie did not glamorise war from the very first shot.

The story

The mighty warrior prince Di Xin becomes the King of Zhou after a series of unfortunate events. However, his ascension to the throne sparks one disaster after another and the mystics declare that the kingdom is under a heavy curse.

To save the mortal world from calamity, the gods intervene by sending the King of Zhou emissaries – among them the deities Nezha and Er Lang Shen – and a powerful magical device that could save the kingdom. But they discover that there was more to King Zhou’s succession than meets the eye, and that perhaps the wrath of heaven was justified.

The deities (from left) Nezha and Er Lang Shen.

This movie is part one of a trilogy, and is based on the Investiture of the Gods, a 400-year-old fantasy tale about 100 chapters long. It tells the story of the fall of the Shang dynasty about 4000 years ago – among many, many other things. There’s also lots of myths and legends, supernatural shenanigans. Probably one of the oldest works of fantasy fiction in the world.

Some say calling it China’s “Lord of the Rings” is insulting due to its long history. But a lot of people in China are calling it that; it is fitting in a way, because it is a mythological tale of China and there really isn’t a Lord of the Rings cinematic epic from China until this one came along.

However, at the same time, it is really a shallow description of the story as it is a) hella old b) infused with Chinese philosophy c) steeped in actual history.

Creation of the Gods I is an interesting exploration of responsible governance and a good illustration of the “Mandate of Heaven”, a Chinese belief that the emperor only has the right to rule if he governed well and for the good of his people.

When he doesn’t fulfill his responsibilities, he loses the Mandate of Heaven, the gods get angry and calamities will befall the kingdom, and then the people have the right to rise up against him. (Frankly, I think this philosophy makes it mighty convenient for rebels to topple governments and take over without a fight.)

This mindset has been ingrained in Chinese culture for centuries and until I learned more about it, I didn’t realise how unique this philosophy of governance was from medieval Europe & Greek/Roman governance.

Anyway, reading the reviews from Western audiences is fun. Many liked it but some admit that they have difficulties understanding the cultural nuances many of us Chinese take for granted. Some misinterpreted it completely. (OMG one even called Nezha a bratty kid! I mean, he is, kinda. But he is also a freaking god with fiery feet 😆.)

And it’s a lot to unpack. Filial piety. The Mandate of Heaven. Gods. Demons. Loyalty to the Emperor and to your Family – which one is more important??

Anyway, this is the xianxia I remember from my childhood, even if it is, er, infused with modern sensibilities and was less than delicate about it. The gods are concerned about human beings. They have actual jobs to protect mankind. They’re not as concerned about their love lives.

If I have only one criticism of the show, it is that Nezha and Er Lang Shen is relegated to super-powered sidekicks. I’m aching for them to do more, but I think they’re not supposed to interfere too much in mortal affairs or something. Well, let’s hope that the second movie which is rumoured to come out next year, will give them a more prominent role.

Fun facts

• The actor who plays the evil emperor is a Taiwanese American named Kris Phillips. I didn’t even notice as his Mandarin is good though China audiences liked his “odd” accent. I am too banana to notice I guess 😆
• The cast went through six months of training – not only in acting but in culture, swordsmanship, martial arts and even shooting arrows while riding actual horses!

Final rating: A+