Jiang Ziya (2020)

[Drunk Monk]

Another Hoopla. Hoopla rocks. 

From the same company that brought Nezha (http://www.brotherhoodofdoom.com/doomFor...p?tid=5349). In fact, Nezha appears in a post credit scene in this film when they all wish everyone Happy Lunar New Year (this was for last year). This film has a completely different animation style, except for that last scene. Nezha is more cartoonish. Jiang Ziya is more artsy and visionary. 

Jiang is a hero from the 16th classic Investiture of the Gods which I have not read because I haven't found a good English translation (Nezha also figures in this story). It's a crazy epic tale of magic, gods and demons. 

This film has one of the best depictions of a nine-tailed fox demon that I've seen. And I love nine-tailed fox demons. They are way up there in my fav azn demons.  

It took me two tries to watch this. Last night, I fell asleep. Not because I was bored. Because I was sleepy. I struggled to stay awake but the movie became so abstract that it gave me extraordinarily weird dreams. I can't relate them now. They were more about the imagery.

I went back tonight to review from where I fell asleep and it was still abstract. It's a confusing story, overwhelmed by its otherworldly imagery. Best to let the visuals just wash over you. It builds a startling fresh world - visions of heaven and hell - and almost every scene is an eye feast. I would've loved to see this on the big screen, stoned with a plate of nachos. 

However, the story didn't flow well. Maybe it would if I knew the myth behind it better. It's one of those movies that would work really well projected on the wall of a warehouse rave with its soundtrack replaced by throbbing dubstep EDM. I enjoyed it on that level.

SPOILER It also had one of the most touching familiar deaths I've seen. That was beautifully actualized END SPOILER

There was some swords, but no actual sword fight. Lots of magic fights however. Not DOOM recommended.