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DVD Meng hui jin sha cheng
 Run time: 85 min Rating: 4.7 Genres: Animation Director: Daming Chen Writers: Xiaohong Su |
| Storyline Xiao Long is a modern day middle-school student, who, after being transported 3,000 years back in time to the ancient kingdom of Jinsha, discovers his true destiny. Jinsha is a beautiful and magical place but plagued by a mysterious evil energy which its inhabitants fear they can’t hold off, much less defeat. After the school boy witnesses the beginnings of the destruction by the forces of darkness on this ancient land, he is overcome with sadness and pledges to help. Upon discovering a special connection with nature, Xiao Long gains the trust of the beautiful young Princess Hau’er and her loyal subjects and together they fight the wicked forces surrounding them to restore peace across the kingdom. Along the way, Xiao Long reforms himself into a courageous boy who forgoes his self-centered behavior to coexist harmoniously with others. Written by Production |
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| Details: Country: China Release Date: May 2010 (France) |
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DVD Meng hui jin sha cheng
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A young man travels back in time to Jinsha an ancient kingdom where his coming was foretold. He is possession of a necklace that is supposed to have great power. When a terrible evil appears he has to choose whether to go home or stay and fight.
One of dullest films I've seen in a long while (and with all I see thats saying a great deal)this film feels more cobbled together from spare parts rather than being a real story. Little is explained, and things just sort of happen. What powers does our hero have? It's never explained. How about the jade necklace? Nope. What is the great evil that is lurking just off screen? No explanation is given. In all honesty it's not even a real factor in the non plot until late in the film when one character messes with it, even though he's told it will fade away if left alone. Also not explained is why the monster created insists on doing what it does. Actually little is explained, just worries are expressed and the hero and the princess romp in the forest. It's only when a threat is artificially created that anything remotely exciting happens.
The audience I saw this with was bored and by the end a good number of the kids were asleep. I stayed to the bitter end because I was hoping that something, anything would happen to make it all come together, it never did and I regret not leaving 15 minutes in.
One of the worst films I've seen this year.
I'll start with the positive: The animation, the colors, everything was beautiful. So if you wanted to just look at pretty things for a good hour and a half, you could project this film and mute it and enjoy.
From the very beginning, we are lost in terms of what's going on, which is fine, as long as at some point you start understanding something. The film never develops a plot, a tangible story. The "legend" that all the characters in the ancient world speak of is never explained or revealed. How and why the two worlds collide is never explained. Things happen. We do not understand why, though we are constantly watching some characters saying "Oh, this is what the legend predicted." "This, for sure, will mean this, oh, but it could go either way, the legend is unclear." On and on, this legend is talked about but never revealed. If at the end of the film you try to understand what the legend could have been, you still have no clue… Characters are flat, as their lives, their conflicts are not explained either. At some point, the general does something, which is baffling, as we do not know why he would do this. This seems to be turning point in the story, though, again, it is not explained nor is it resolved, really, in the end.
So great visuals, but very poor plot, if you can even call it that. At times I was wondered if something got lost in translation… Perhaps someone who understands the original language can shed some light.
Note: Also not for little children, as there are some very scary and dark moments, especially towards the end, but kids might also find the bit about the dog at the beginning upsetting.