After shattering domestic box office records in China, the Chinese animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2" has wowed Canadian cinema goers with its stunning animation and thrilling storyline.
"Ne Zha 2" smashed box office records, surpassing 11 billion yuan (about 1.52 billion U.S. dollars) in global earnings, including presales, by Saturday, according to ticketing platform Maoyan.
The film is being released in Mandarin with English subtitles in 42 cities in Canada, aiming to win over Canadian hearts.
Audience demand for the latest box-office hit was so strong that Cineplex Entertainment, led by General Manager Kevin Isaac, couldn't meet it even after significantly increasing preview screenings.
"Sales have been very good for Ne Zha 2. We have a lot of guests that are very excited to see this movie and we know that it's been grossing really good numbers worldwide already. So, the strong advanced sales we have on already, I would imagine we will be playing it for a few weeks at this point," said Isaac.
Audiences were captivated by the movie's stunning visual effects, which they said brought the story to life in a truly immersive way.
"It was fantastic, I really enjoyed it. The story, it was like a little complex, but really entertaining. I found the animation itself to be fantastic, really like visually, it was a great experience. I've seen some pretty good north American animation, but I would say that this was definitely like top tier, very visually stunning," said a moviegoer.
Chinese animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2" captivates Canadian audiences
Farmers in India, a major agricultural producer and fertilizer importer, are raising concerns over fertilizer availability ahead of the planting season, as the escalating Middle East conflict and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz put global supplies at risk.
The Middle East serves as both a vital energy hub and a major global fertilizer supplier, yet the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has heightened risks of disruption to international supplies.
Chand Singh Yadav, a farmer in Haryana, a northern Indian state, said poor crop yields would be disastrous for the country and called on the government to ensure adequate supplies of fertilizers, agrochemicals and seeds to prevent a food crisis. "Without fertilizers, our crops will not grow well, and this would be disastrous for the entire country. If farmers cannot grow crops, people will not be able to buy food in the market. We urge the government to improve the supply system for fertilizers, agrochemicals and seeds to prevent the country and society as a whole from sliding into a food crisis," he said.
The Indian government is stepping up subsidies for farmers and optimizing fertilizer distribution and allocation to stabilize the supply. Prices have remained broadly stable, but demand is expected to surge ahead of the planting season, potentially exacerbating supply pressures.
"The current situation is worrying for us farmers. Spring sowing has not yet started, and the rainy season has not arrived. Fertilizer prices are temporarily stable, but in two months, demand for agricultural fertilizers will become pressing. Without fertilizers, it will be difficult to properly cultivate various types of crops. Urea and diammonium phosphate are especially critical. Crops can only grow normally when these fertilizers are applied. As these fertilizers are largely imported, if the conflict persists, supplies cannot be guaranteed," said Santosh Mishra, a farmer in India's eastern state of Odisha.
Escalating Middle East conflict strains India’s fertilizer supply
Escalating Middle East conflict strains India’s fertilizer supply
