THE THOUSAND FACES OF DUNJIA is yet another generic CGI fantasy adventure flick from mainland China; I was hoping it would offer something a little different given the participation of writer Tsui Hark and director Yuen Woo Ping, but sadly it wasn't meant to be. There isn't even any decent martial arts here, wirework or otherwise. The story has a bunch of heroic human characters teaming up to battle evil demons and all kind of magical manifestations, typically taking the form of giant fish and dragons and assorted CGI-heavy spectacle. The CGI effects are about average; some are quite detail and impressive, whereas others look very poor indeed (the meteorites and flying rings in particular). The film is light on plot and structure, heavy on repetitive action, and generally goes through the motions rather than impressing. It's nothing to write home about, that's for sure.
14 Reviews
Trouble is to figure out the story
yoggwork18 February 2019
Trouble is to figure out the story before pursuing special effects. Knowing that we are 20 years behind in technology, we still have to use our weaknesses as armor. It feels like there are no storytelling directors in Hong Kong now.
Enjoyable enough but hardly hitting all the notes, this film would serve as good entertainment if you don't need to keep track of what's actually happening
moviexclusive9 December 2017
There are a few stalwarts in the Hong Kong movie industry, and two of them are in this film.
Tsui Hark's hand in creating commercial cinema during the "Golden Age" is legendary. Both entertaining and original, his classics such as A Better Tomorrow, A Chinese Ghost Story and Green Snake have all been milestones of any Gen X's cinema experience.
Yuan Wo Ping is the other heavyweight, and is renowned for his martial arts choreography in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Kill Bill, Ip Man and the Matrix trilogy. His innovative sequences rejuvenated the genre, keeping audiences riveted with his fresh treatments.
The Thousand Faces of Dunjia sees them as producer and director respectively, so expectations can hardly be faulted. The scale doesn't disappoint because we transcend both galactively and spiritually spheres, but the storyline feels fragmented and occasionally aimless, and I think I know why. The fantasy action flick seems firmly handled with the F word in mind - I'm talking Franchise.
Let me first lay it out there - there is a sequel planned for this movie. That said, the film does provide closure with part one.
Dao Yichang (Aarif Lee) is the village's newest constable. The motivated young man, thick-browed and sharp jawed doesn't always play by the rules, but always does the right thing in the end. While fighting a criminal-turned-demon one day, he gets tangled up with Iron Dragonfly (Ni Ni), who subdues the imp and brings it back to her clan.
Turns out that an unspeakable evil force is gathering, and already demons both trapped in the earth and comets are emerging to prepare for its arrival. While this is happening, Dragonfly's Wuyinmen clan hunts for their new leader, and clansman Zhuge Fengyun (Da Peng) sees hope in the form of Xiao Yuan (Zhou Dong Yu), a child-like waif locked up in a prison for an incurable disease. This flimsy urchin turns out (expectedly) to be their potential salvation.
While the film has lofty goals, featuring stunning sets and a plethora of characters, it's not something that impresses all that much.
First of all, the plot feels like its setting up too much for the sequel, with story nuggets dropped but never picked up. Even when it does, such as the painting or the powerful sword, questions are still left unanswered. All this might be considered a purposeful cliffhanger, but it's only a metre drop down. Without background or context, the tidbits answered with more jargon just leaves the audience uninvested in what's coming. Maybe if Hark and Yuan had spent more time in fleshing out the story than focusing on distractions like piddling jokes or abrupt titles, The Thousand Faces of Dunjia would have had a better chance at being exceptional.
There's also the matter of - the effects. CGI has come a long way, and even though Asian cinema has always struggled, in The Thousand Faces of Dunjia it's like the whole team gave up. The renderings are so awkward with the scenes they are in, you never obtain the full wonder it's meant to deliver. Blasphemously, they also ruined a lot of great action sequences. Half blocked by water serpents masquerading as blows, or fuzzy discs that spin so fast you can barely see what's the damage, the impact meant to be delivered landed like an apology from SMRT - unbelievable and detached.
I will say the production design is still as gorgeous as ever, and the colours are trademark Tsui. Lush and romantic, it will no doubt still engage the visual senses. The actors also do a decent job of filling up their personas, though Lee and Da Peng do stand out for their natural performances.
Hark's recent repertoire have received more box office success than critical acclaim, and it would seem that The Thousand Faces of Dunjia would continue that streak.
Tsui Hark's hand in creating commercial cinema during the "Golden Age" is legendary. Both entertaining and original, his classics such as A Better Tomorrow, A Chinese Ghost Story and Green Snake have all been milestones of any Gen X's cinema experience.
Yuan Wo Ping is the other heavyweight, and is renowned for his martial arts choreography in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Kill Bill, Ip Man and the Matrix trilogy. His innovative sequences rejuvenated the genre, keeping audiences riveted with his fresh treatments.
The Thousand Faces of Dunjia sees them as producer and director respectively, so expectations can hardly be faulted. The scale doesn't disappoint because we transcend both galactively and spiritually spheres, but the storyline feels fragmented and occasionally aimless, and I think I know why. The fantasy action flick seems firmly handled with the F word in mind - I'm talking Franchise.
Let me first lay it out there - there is a sequel planned for this movie. That said, the film does provide closure with part one.
Dao Yichang (Aarif Lee) is the village's newest constable. The motivated young man, thick-browed and sharp jawed doesn't always play by the rules, but always does the right thing in the end. While fighting a criminal-turned-demon one day, he gets tangled up with Iron Dragonfly (Ni Ni), who subdues the imp and brings it back to her clan.
Turns out that an unspeakable evil force is gathering, and already demons both trapped in the earth and comets are emerging to prepare for its arrival. While this is happening, Dragonfly's Wuyinmen clan hunts for their new leader, and clansman Zhuge Fengyun (Da Peng) sees hope in the form of Xiao Yuan (Zhou Dong Yu), a child-like waif locked up in a prison for an incurable disease. This flimsy urchin turns out (expectedly) to be their potential salvation.
While the film has lofty goals, featuring stunning sets and a plethora of characters, it's not something that impresses all that much.
First of all, the plot feels like its setting up too much for the sequel, with story nuggets dropped but never picked up. Even when it does, such as the painting or the powerful sword, questions are still left unanswered. All this might be considered a purposeful cliffhanger, but it's only a metre drop down. Without background or context, the tidbits answered with more jargon just leaves the audience uninvested in what's coming. Maybe if Hark and Yuan had spent more time in fleshing out the story than focusing on distractions like piddling jokes or abrupt titles, The Thousand Faces of Dunjia would have had a better chance at being exceptional.
There's also the matter of - the effects. CGI has come a long way, and even though Asian cinema has always struggled, in The Thousand Faces of Dunjia it's like the whole team gave up. The renderings are so awkward with the scenes they are in, you never obtain the full wonder it's meant to deliver. Blasphemously, they also ruined a lot of great action sequences. Half blocked by water serpents masquerading as blows, or fuzzy discs that spin so fast you can barely see what's the damage, the impact meant to be delivered landed like an apology from SMRT - unbelievable and detached.
I will say the production design is still as gorgeous as ever, and the colours are trademark Tsui. Lush and romantic, it will no doubt still engage the visual senses. The actors also do a decent job of filling up their personas, though Lee and Da Peng do stand out for their natural performances.
Hark's recent repertoire have received more box office success than critical acclaim, and it would seem that The Thousand Faces of Dunjia would continue that streak.
My gosh what were they thinking ???
phanthinga9 November 2018
I refuse to believe that a movie direct by Woo-Ping Yuen and written by Hark Tsui a two legendary of a filmmaker can comes up with a hot mess like The Thousand Faces of Dunjia.I really want to enjoyed this movie just like I did with "The Four Heavenly Kings" the latest installment of the Detective Dee franchise that pretty much what this movie dream to be:"A dumb fantasy movie that heavy with CGI while weak in the plot and characters but never boring".There not a single decent fight scene in this movie although it direct by the man who gives us classic kung-fu flick like:The Drunken Master and Iron Monkey so there another reason for to avoid The Thousand Faces of Dunjia like the plague as it should be
not bad for a chinese fantasy movie
WatchedAllMovies2 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
The effects are not as good as hollywood, but still to be encouraged. It is already a big improvement from the wire-only effect where the actors are flying through the air while being suspended by wires.
My main gripe is the CGI monsters are all very western style. I notice this in many chinese movies. Could it be that it's cheaper to animate a western style creature than to custom make chinese style creatures?
I find the movie engaging enough I did not fast forward it and watched the whole movie.
My main gripe is the CGI monsters are all very western style. I notice this in many chinese movies. Could it be that it's cheaper to animate a western style creature than to custom make chinese style creatures?
I find the movie engaging enough I did not fast forward it and watched the whole movie.
Three Eyed Purple People Eater
westsideschl31 July 2018
Yes, it's mostly a fantasy CGI green screen wire rope flying/jumping sequence after sequence film which can get really tiresome because theses movies have been done so many times, but I thought they did a quality job on all those elements including a bit of historical Chinese myth as plot backdrop. The three eyed toothy fish was hilarious. Acting was good. Entertaining as any to be found in this Chinese genre.
They Had Me With The Fish
terrancegore9 July 2018
I have never seen a film quite like this and if, as I saw written in one review of it, it is a "proper Chinese Fantasy movie", I'll have to look for a few more of them because I loved it.
The plot lost me quite quickly but I don't really think that's the point. Watch it and you will see what I mean, that they really did have me with the fish.
The plot lost me quite quickly but I don't really think that's the point. Watch it and you will see what I mean, that they really did have me with the fish.
A surprise hit! (pun intended)
huyzer20 December 2017
I came in thinking this movie would have a serious theme to it. It surprised me how amusing (not in a bad way) and funny a lot of the moments were. The moments where the movie tries to make you laugh, it succeeded. I couldn't help but, literally, laugh out loud in the theatre. Others were definitely doing the same. I feel the comedy worked. For your comparison, I think in Thor: Ragnarok, it tried too hard. I think they were trying to make it like Deadpool (which succeeded in my eyes).
The special effects were definitely amusing in the beginning due to the character. This took me by surprise. But the special effects are not on par with Hollywood blockbusters that we're used to from the United States. I can't fault it too much though, because I thoroughly enjoyed the movie.
It entertained, and I will definitely be recommending it to others. I connected with the characters, and the psychology of the relationships between the characters. Anyhow, that's enough from me. I recommend you go see it. :)
The special effects were definitely amusing in the beginning due to the character. This took me by surprise. But the special effects are not on par with Hollywood blockbusters that we're used to from the United States. I can't fault it too much though, because I thoroughly enjoyed the movie.
It entertained, and I will definitely be recommending it to others. I connected with the characters, and the psychology of the relationships between the characters. Anyhow, that's enough from me. I recommend you go see it. :)
Actual Ninjas
charlestraphagan25 September 2018
Finally a pure Chinese style fantasy movie!
M1racl3sHapp3n6 February 2018
Once you start watching this movie, it will be impossible to look elsewhere because you'll be completely immersed in its plot. The characters are highly likable and very well portrayed in the sense that you don't have any stereotypical role. The story will make you smile and cry and the incredible CGI effects will bring you to the next level. If you love Chinese fantasy this is a masterpiece: you won't be disappointed. Great job!
Great Chinese fantasy
rockshox-2831213 July 2018
Humorous and intriguing
algernonstruther22 November 2021
Sadly, the show wasn't longer.
What I enjoyed most was the acting, and then novel effects. An example of a novel effect: a gloomy cave full of skulls, the camera scanning halts at a skull and its jaw bone drops off... meh, not that funny now, maybe, but there's many small effects like that - almost unnoticed, which, for me, added more interest / novelty.
Although equally enjoyable were story, sets, and CG. The story is obviously about overcoming evil... it's not that difficult to understand. The badies were bad and the goodies were good, but also imperfect, lol.
The actors, for me, were convincing in their passionate displays of sorrows joys and jealousies, ouch! By the side: a guy in the hero group - I don't even recall if he even had a line - had heavy brows and staring eyes, just wild, so novel. The rest of the hero group were mainly weird looking, out-of-this-world people. That added more novelty - quirkiness, which I enjoy.
Excellent sci-fi fantasy - and I suspect, lots of Chinese mythology thrown in. Don't miss it!
What I enjoyed most was the acting, and then novel effects. An example of a novel effect: a gloomy cave full of skulls, the camera scanning halts at a skull and its jaw bone drops off... meh, not that funny now, maybe, but there's many small effects like that - almost unnoticed, which, for me, added more interest / novelty.
Although equally enjoyable were story, sets, and CG. The story is obviously about overcoming evil... it's not that difficult to understand. The badies were bad and the goodies were good, but also imperfect, lol.
The actors, for me, were convincing in their passionate displays of sorrows joys and jealousies, ouch! By the side: a guy in the hero group - I don't even recall if he even had a line - had heavy brows and staring eyes, just wild, so novel. The rest of the hero group were mainly weird looking, out-of-this-world people. That added more novelty - quirkiness, which I enjoy.
Excellent sci-fi fantasy - and I suspect, lots of Chinese mythology thrown in. Don't miss it!
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