Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms

Synopsis

The second prince of the Shang dynasty, Yin Shou, led the Protégé Brigade to suppress a rebellion and inadvertently broke the seal of the fox demon in Xuanyuan Tomb. The fox demon possessed Su Hu's daughter, Daji, and Yin Shou brought her back to Zhaoge, stirring undercurrents in the royal capital.

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. Adapted from the Ming dynasty novel Investiture of the Gods and the Yuan dynasty storytelling script King Wu's Expedition Against King Zhou, it is the first installment in Wuershan's long-planned Creation of the Gods trilogy. It was released in mainland China on July 20, 2023.

The film stars Kris Phillips, Li Xuejian, and Huang Bo in leading roles, with supporting performances by Yu Shi, Chen Muchi, Naran, Cisha, Wu Yafan, Xia Yu, Yuan Quan, and others. The story revolves around the power struggle between King Yin Shou of Shang, the "Proton Brigade," and the fox demon Daji, as well as the awakening and growth of Ji Fa, son of the Western Bo.

Plot

Yin Shou (Kris Phillips), the second prince of the Great Shang, leads his personally trained Proton Brigade and the Shang army to quell the rebellion of Su Hu, the Marquis of Ji. Unintentionally, he breaks the seal of a thousand-year-old fox demon from the Xuanyuan Tomb. The fox demon possesses Su Hu's daughter, Daji (Naran), who is brought back to Zhaoge by Yin Shou.

Using her beauty and sorcery, Daji bewitches Yin Shou and helps him ascend to the throne. Yin Shou's ambitions swell, and he becomes a tyrannical ruler, employing various means to control the Proton Brigade, which includes Ji Fa (Yu Shi), son of the Western Bo Ji Chang. After witnessing Yin Shou's true nature, Ji Fa gradually awakens and ultimately chooses to rebel against the tyranny, embarking on a journey back to his homeland.

Meanwhile, the Western Bo Ji Chang (Li Xuejian) is imprisoned in Youli. His son, Bo Yikao (Huang Bo), travels to Zhaoge to rescue his father. With grand battle scenes and complex character relationships, the film depicts themes of power, betrayal, and growth from ancient Chinese mythology.

Cast

Production & Reception

The film was jointly produced by Beijing Culture and Century Changshengniao Pictures, among others. Director Wuershan began preparing for the Creation of the Gods film series as early as 2001, a process spanning over two decades. The production team conducted two years of performance training for the cast. All main actors received professional training in horsemanship, martial arts, and ancient rituals to ensure the film's optimal presentation.

Creation of the Gods I received a rating of 7.7 on Douban (with over 600,000 ratings) and is regarded as a milestone in Chinese mythological epic cinema. The film garnered high praise from audiences and critics for its visual effects, art design, music, and more. During the 2023 summer box office season, its revenue exceeded 2.6 billion RMB, making it one of the highest-grossing domestic films of the year.

Cultural Impact

The success of Creation of the Gods I marks significant progress in the industrialization of Chinese mythological epic films. Director Wuershan's model of cultivating new actors, high-standard visual effects production, and modern interpretation of classical Chinese literature have set a new benchmark for the Chinese film industry. The film also achieved notable success in overseas markets, receiving positive reviews after its release in regions such as North America and Australia.

References

1. Douban Movie: https://movie.douban.com/subject/10604086/
2. Baidu Baike: https://baike.baidu.com/item/封神第一部：朝歌风云/62955514
3. Wikipedia: https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/封神第一部：朝歌风云