Illustration: Liu Rui/GT
TheMK sports Chinese animated epicNe Zha 2hit 10 billion yuan ($1.37 billion) at the box office on Thursday, entering the top 20 of global box office rankings and marking a historic milestone. The Global Times gathered reviews from several viewers who attended the film's premieres in the US and Australia. They shared their thoughts on the film, the development of the Chinese animation industry, and their expectations for China-US film cooperation and cultural exchanges.
C. L. Chadwick, a viewer from Adelaide, Australia
Ne Zha 2is an enthralling spectacle. It showcases the capability of Chinese firms to challenge the status quo of the international film landscape.
As an outsider walking into a cinema to watch my first Chinese movie ever, I had little idea of what to expect. From the very first minutes, I was impressed by the quality of the animation and art direction. By the time the film came to a close, I felt I had just seen the highest quality animation of my life. Beautifully articulated, every moment of the film is a visual spectacle.
With my limited knowledge of Chinese mythology and the Taoist theological tradition, some aspects of the world of Ne Zha 2were unclear to me as a foreigner. Nevertheless, the film's writing was sufficiently clear in its direction that I was able to grasp most of what I needed to know from context. It could be argued that films like this could serve as a valuable tool to expand interest in Chinese culture on the global scene.
Ne Zha 2clearly shows that the Chinese film industry is capable of reaching heights of technical and design achievement that rival or surpass that of the traditional Hollywood film industry. As stated previously, the animation was superlative in quality. Furthermore, in a film landscape where risk-averse Hollywood giants roll out the same tired old tropes ad nauseum, it seems apparent that Chinese film is able to offer a fresh take and perspective that the jaded global audience has been sorely missing. In a post-Marvel Cinematic Universe world, novelty is a rare commodity. By capitalizing on these strengths, there is definite potential for films such as Ne Zha 2to emerge as real challengers to the Hollywood hegemony.
It ought to be said that the interaction between the output of the two cultures does not have to be one of animosity (beyond the crass commercial sense), as Western consumers can only benefit from digesting a more diverse diet of global culture in much the same way that the Chinese have evidently befitted from exposure to Hollywood. By capitalizing on the rich and universal tradition of syncretism in film media, both China and the US can enhance the quality of their cultural output.
If China can cement itself on the global stage as a credible exporter of cultural content, it will not only benefit the Chinese nation and its diaspora, but also the citizenry of the entire global community.
Nora Jing, a Chinese student in Los Angeles, US
On February 8, as one of the first overseas viewers, I attended the premiere of Ne Zha 2at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. The event was mostly attended by Chinese, but there were also quite a few foreigners, including American filmmakers and students. Before the screening, Chinese cultural activities such as sugar painting and martial arts performances outside the Chinese Theatre attracted a large crowd of moviegoers and tourists.
In the US, Chinese-language films often face significant challenges regarding screening schedules. However, thanks to the efforts and voices of many within the Chinese community - some writing emails or making phone calls to movie theaters near their homes, and others leaving messages with distributors - the IMAX version ofNe Zha 2was released early, on February 12. The advance sales were extremely strong, with every show sold out, and additional screenings have been continuously added. This is something I've never seen before in the history of Chinese-language film releases in North America.
As for the film itself, the art and visual effects of Ne Zha 2were the most impressive aspects to me, achieving international standards. What delighted me even more was that Chinese animation in the film was not only advanced technically but also integrated unique Chinese ink painting imagery, giving the entire film a distinct Eastern aesthetic.
I'm glad to see that some of my foreign friends also enjoyed Ne Zha 2. I believe this is because the spirit of resistance of ordinary people conveyed in the movie is universal - taking control of one's destiny is a value shared globally, which resonated with many foreign moviegoers. In addition, I paid special attention to the subtitles, which were overall quite natural and many cultural references were cleverly adapted to make it easier for foreign audiences to understand the plot. As Li Zhiqiang, China's deputy consul general in Los Angeles, said at the premiere, the goal is for more American audiences to understand China through films like Ne Zha 2and strengthen mutual friendship. This is being realized with every frame of the movie.
Oliver Lowery and Hunter Liu, two high school students from Colorado, US
First, congratulations to Ne Zha 2for breaking into the top 20 of the global box office! We deeply love and appreciate the meticulous creative details of Ne Zha 2. We have never seen such vivid and striking visuals - the carefully crafted colors and visual effects truly immerse us in the film.
In the US, those who have watched and come to understand this film all say that it is one of the most spectacular and passionate animated movies in the world, yet it also carries a sense of sorrow. Ne Zha 2not only showcases China's rich historical culture and fascinating mythology but also explores complex parent-child relationships and the concept of justice. We believe these are essential elements of a great film - only movies that inspire thought and bring joy can truly be called great. Ne Zha 2has genuinely and wholeheartedly achieved this, leaving us in awe and deeply moved.
We would like to express our gratitude to Director Jiao Zi for bringing us this groundbreaking masterpiece, as well as to China for allowing us to witness such a high-quality film. Ne Zha 2has also significantly changed how Americans perceive China, deepening our understanding of Chinese culture, cinema, history and even art. It has allowed us to see a new and more complete image of China.
We love Ne Zha 2, and we also hope that Chinese films continue to thrive. Our classmates and the American audience are all eagerly looking forward to Ne Zha 3!
John Smith, a viewer from California, US
As an American viewer of Ne Zha 2, I can definitely say that it shattered my previous stereotypes of Chinese movies. I had almost never watched Chinese films, probably due to culture shock. But this movie truly changed my mind. The film is brilliant in both special effects and plot. The story is full of humor, emotion and action, featuring moments that evoke both laughter and tears. My friends and I watched it with great concentration, even though we didn't fully understand some parts due to cultural differences.
I really like Ne Zha's appearance, and I was deeply touched by the indomitable spirits of Ne Zha and Ao Bing. In this film, white doesn't necessarily represent justice, and black doesn't always symbolize evil. Only by fighting evil and bravely moving forward can we achieve a happy ending. I think what makes this movie so popular is its grand concept, wonderful plot, humorous elements and beautiful special effects. There are many remarkable highlights. It's much more attentive than other films I have seen.
In this film, I saw the great leap of Chinese film. Obviously, China has made great progress, especially in the animated film industry. This advancement will greatly help develop better collaboration and relationships between China and the US in the movie industry. I'm firmly convinced that win-win cooperation between the two sides will be the prevailing trend.
