Two Oscar judges have highly praised the Chinese animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2", calling it a major and incredible achievement made by the Chinese film industry.
The animated epic fantasy film, released on January 29, has shattered multiple box office records so far, becoming the first film to cross 1 billion U.S. dollars in a single market and the first non-Hollywood film to join the coveted billion-dollar club.
The film was screened on Friday in a limited theatrical release in North America, with its North American pre-sale box office exceeding the opening weekend record for any Chinese-language film in the past 20 years.
After watching the film in Los Angeles, Oscar judge Sheila Sofian expressed her admiration for the Chinese hit, highlighting the cutting-edge production design and the skillful storytelling.
"I'm so impressed on so many different levels with the accomplishments of this particular film. Because I had already seen the previous film, I was sort of expecting the same level, which was brilliant. But this grows even higher in terms of production design, sound design, and music. The story itself was so complicated, and all the twists and turns kept me guessing the entire time. So I was very engaged, sort of on the edge of my seat the whole time," she said.
Another Oscar judge, Alan Ellasof, described the Chinese animated film as a major achievement, praising its action design, emotional appeal, and philosophical elements.
"What's expanded and great about this movie is, first of all, the quality of the animation, the production design -- everything is amazing! Also, the different ways the story operates on different levels. Obviously, there's a lot of great action, but there are also a lot of touching scenes and a lot of philosophy. I think it combines a lot of layers, which I think is really incredible. It's a major achievement. I think everyone in China, particularly in the Chinese film industry, should be really proud," said Ellasof.
As of Saturday, the total box office of "Ne Zha 2" (including pre-sales and overseas earnings) has surpassed 11 billion yuan (about 1.52 billion U.S. dollars), making it the 11th highest-grossing film worldwide.
Oscar judges praise Chinese blockbuster 'Ne Zha 2' as major achievement
Oscar judges praise Chinese blockbuster 'Ne Zha 2' as major achievement
The Chinese animated blockbuster Ne Zha 2 began preview screenings in London on Friday ahead of its official release in the country and Ireland on March 21, attracting excited crowds to watch the film in advance.
The film made its debut in the UK at London's BFI IMAX, home to the country's largest IMAX screen and is scheduled to screen in over 250 cinemas of 100 cities across the UK and Ireland during the first week of release.
The film's Europe-wide distributor, Trinity CineAsia, announced that it has acquired theatrical distribution rights for Ne Zha 2 across 37 countries in Europe, including the UK, Ireland, and Germany. This scale of film release is exceptionally rare in the history of overseas distribution for Chinese-language films, reflecting the strong confidence of local cinemas in the movie's market potential.
"The fact that it is here and, you know, that we are getting a lot more influx of films from all across Asia from China, South Korea, Japan, South Asia as well. I think it's really good to kind of like widen the palate, because we all want to escape our little cinematic bubble and see what the rest of the world has to offer," said Jack Martin, a film reviewer, in an interview with the China Central Television (CCTV).
"Ne Zha 2" has shattered global box office records to become the No. 1 box office animated film of all times and also the first non-Hollywood production to crack the global all-time top 10 box office chart.
Rooted in 16th-century Chinese mythology with a bold reinterpretation, the movie has attracted attention of global audiences with its stunning visuals, well-crafted storytelling, and deep cultural heritage.
"And I think all these elements show that Ne Zha 2 is both a film that's modern, but also has its roots in something very deep and very ancient," said Cedric Behrel, managing director of Trinity CineAsia, in an interview with the CCTV.
Many audiences attending the preview screening in London have shared their thoughts about the movie in interviews with the CCTV.
"It was moving like heartwarming. Yes, I'll go home now and talk to it to all my friends," said a moviegoer.
"I thought that the humor of the film was really great, but it balances so perfectly with some of the more dramatic and heartfelt moments of it. And yeah, I really, really enjoyed it. And the language barrier was not a problem at all," said another moviegoer.
"We might not speak the same language, but at its heart is a very universal theme of friendship and just trying to do right in the world. And I think that a lot of people really resonate with that. I can see why it's done so well in China already," said Jack Martin.
James Smith, an social media influencer, shared his views about the movie in Chinese language during the interview. He thought the movie can serve as a bridge for foreigners to understand Chinese culture.
"I watched Ne Zha, the 2019 box office hit, in China. When I heard that its sequel was set to debut in the UK today, I rushed to the cinema to see it. It's definitely a great movie, filled with humor, touching moments, and encouragement. My friends often ask me how they can better understand China, because they think I know something about the country. I would say that you can watch the Ne Zha 2, as I believe it's a great film and through which you can learn something about Chinese culture," he said.
Ne Zha 2 begins preview screenings in London, captivating local audiences
