Visually brilliant superhero tale that carries just enough emotional weight
I’m not familiar with the source material, but I still felt the worldbuilding lacked depth and intricacy. It didn’t quite meet the expectations set by its visual scale.
I also didn’t know any of the cast beforehand, and it was only after watching that I learned Mark Chao and Deng Lun are top-tier actors. I can see why. Their performances weren’t over the top, but they delivered just the right amount of emotion to match their characters and the demands of each scene.
The rest of the cast didn’t fall short either. I think everyone gave solid performances.
The strongest aspect of the film is definitely its visuals. The CGI and cinematography are impressive, and the color grading is beautiful.
I especially appreciated how background elements were used to enhance lighting—lamps casting warm orange glows, the moon shifting the palette to cool blues on dark nights. It’s visually stunning.
The music scoring was excellent, too. There was a seamless blend of traditional and contemporary styles, and the music entered scenes with perfect timing that were always elevating and never intrusive.
Technically, the film is impressive. Groundbreaking, even. I wasn’t surprised to learn it was directed by Guo Jing Ming. I’ve seen My Journey to You and Fangs of Fortune, and his signature style definitely spilled into this film.
Based on those two works, I’ve noticed a recurring imbalance between technical brilliance and storytelling.
While the production is consistently impressive, the narrative often suffers, leaving a visually rich but emotionally hollow experience.
Fortunately, in this case, the storytelling—while not groundbreaking—is fairly decent.
Still, it feels like a missed opportunity not to have explored the characters more deeply. A bit more buildup and backstory would’ve helped, as I often felt left to piece things together on my own.
Some plot points also got muddled, and I’m not sure if the missing context is only accessible to those familiar with the source material. That lack of clarity has definitely affected the emotional impact and depth of the film.
But overall… it’s okay. Despite the patchiness, the writer showed control and a clear sense of direction.
My favorite storytelling element was the use of names as a plot device.
The film opens with the quote: “A name is the shortest form of a spell.”
Beyond Qing Ming’s repeated cries of “Boya! Boya!”—each under different stages of their relationship and circumstances—names were used meaningfully to explore other characters, too.
For Killing Stone, his name symbolized acknowledgement and a second chance. For Fangyue, it reflected her longing for commemoration. As for Qing Ming, obtaining the title “The Yin-Yang Master” at the end is a crucial moment, not just for his character arc, but for the film’s overall narrative.
Technically, this film is a masterpiece. The storytelling isn’t flawless, but it’s good enough—action-heavy with just the right emotional pull to keep you hooked.
It reminds me of Marvel or superhero movies—not just because of the visual effects, but because of the feeling it leaves you with: protagonists who are still figuring things out but have saved the world, for now.
I also didn’t know any of the cast beforehand, and it was only after watching that I learned Mark Chao and Deng Lun are top-tier actors. I can see why. Their performances weren’t over the top, but they delivered just the right amount of emotion to match their characters and the demands of each scene.
The rest of the cast didn’t fall short either. I think everyone gave solid performances.
The strongest aspect of the film is definitely its visuals. The CGI and cinematography are impressive, and the color grading is beautiful.
I especially appreciated how background elements were used to enhance lighting—lamps casting warm orange glows, the moon shifting the palette to cool blues on dark nights. It’s visually stunning.
The music scoring was excellent, too. There was a seamless blend of traditional and contemporary styles, and the music entered scenes with perfect timing that were always elevating and never intrusive.
Technically, the film is impressive. Groundbreaking, even. I wasn’t surprised to learn it was directed by Guo Jing Ming. I’ve seen My Journey to You and Fangs of Fortune, and his signature style definitely spilled into this film.
Based on those two works, I’ve noticed a recurring imbalance between technical brilliance and storytelling.
While the production is consistently impressive, the narrative often suffers, leaving a visually rich but emotionally hollow experience.
Fortunately, in this case, the storytelling—while not groundbreaking—is fairly decent.
Still, it feels like a missed opportunity not to have explored the characters more deeply. A bit more buildup and backstory would’ve helped, as I often felt left to piece things together on my own.
Some plot points also got muddled, and I’m not sure if the missing context is only accessible to those familiar with the source material. That lack of clarity has definitely affected the emotional impact and depth of the film.
But overall… it’s okay. Despite the patchiness, the writer showed control and a clear sense of direction.
My favorite storytelling element was the use of names as a plot device.
The film opens with the quote: “A name is the shortest form of a spell.”
Beyond Qing Ming’s repeated cries of “Boya! Boya!”—each under different stages of their relationship and circumstances—names were used meaningfully to explore other characters, too.
For Killing Stone, his name symbolized acknowledgement and a second chance. For Fangyue, it reflected her longing for commemoration. As for Qing Ming, obtaining the title “The Yin-Yang Master” at the end is a crucial moment, not just for his character arc, but for the film’s overall narrative.
Technically, this film is a masterpiece. The storytelling isn’t flawless, but it’s good enough—action-heavy with just the right emotional pull to keep you hooked.
It reminds me of Marvel or superhero movies—not just because of the visual effects, but because of the feeling it leaves you with: protagonists who are still figuring things out but have saved the world, for now.
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