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 Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
