Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms
Synopsis
Fantasy epic directed by Wuershan, adapted from "Investiture of the Gods." Starring Kris Phillips, Li Xuejian, and Huang Bo. It tells the story of King Zhou of Shang and the brigade of hostage princes, unveiling the prelude to the appearance of the fox demon and the opening of the Investiture of the Gods list. Rated 7.7 on Douban.
Overview
Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms is a 2023 Chinese fantasy epic film directed by Wuershan, with a screenplay by Ran Ping, Ran Jianan, and Wuershan. It stars Kris Phillips, Li Xuejian, Huang Bo, Yu Shi, Chen Muchi, and Naran. The film was released in mainland China on July 20, 2023, and holds a Douban rating of 7.7.
This film is the first installment of the Creation of the Gods trilogy, with a total investment of approximately 3 billion RMB, taking nearly a decade to prepare and produce.
Synopsis
King Zhou of Shang (Kris Phillips) leads his army to suppress the rebellion of Su Hu, the Marquis of Jizhou, but inadvertently breaks the seal on a fox demon trapped in the Xuanyuan Tomb. The fox demon possesses Su Hu's daughter, Daji (Naran), and is brought back to the capital, Zhaoge.
Meanwhile, the immortal Jiang Ziya (Huang Bo) descends from Mount Kunlun with the "Fengshen Bang" (Investiture of the Gods list), seeking the true ruler of the world. Ji Chang, the Marquis of the West (Li Xuejian), foresees the fall of the Shang dynasty and secretly protects his son, the hostage Ji Fa (Yu Shi).
| Character | Actor | Description |
|---|---|---|
| King Zhou of Shang | Kris Phillips | Monarch of the Shang dynasty |
| Daji | Naran | Fox demon in human form |
| Jiang Ziya | Huang Bo | Immortal from Mount Kunlun |
| Ji Chang | Li Xuejian | Marquis of the West |
| Ji Fa | Yu Shi | Hostage, later King Wu of Zhou |
| Yin Jiao | Chen Muchi | Crown Prince of Shang |
Production Highlights
The Creation of the Gods trilogy represents a significant attempt at the industrialization of Chinese cinema.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Release Date | July 20, 2023 |
| Runtime | 148 minutes |
| Total Investment | ~3 billion RMB |
| Preparation Time | Nearly 10 years |
| VFX Teams | Collaboration between Korean and Chinese teams |
| Douban Rating | 7.7 |
Box Office & Reception
Creation of the Gods I grossed approximately 2.6 billion RMB, making it one of the highest-grossing fantasy films in Chinese box office history.
Audiences praised the film for its stunning visuals, calling it a milestone in Chinese film industrialization. Kris Phillips's portrayal of King Zhou was noted for its commanding presence, and Li Xuejian's Ji Chang for its gravitas. Some viewers, however, felt the pacing was slightly slow and that there were too many dialogue-heavy scenes.
References
- Douban Movie: Creation of the Gods I (7.7)
- Baidu Baike: Creation of the Gods I
- Wikipedia: Creation of the Gods I
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