South African viewers have lauded the second installment of China's blockbuster mythological trilogy, "Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force" since its premiere in the country on Jan 30.
Based on the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) novel "Fengshen Yanyi (The Investiture of the Gods)", the trilogy depicts the fall of the Shang Dynasty and the rise of the Zhou Dynasty in the 11th century B.C., weaving together battles between mortals, deities, and demons.
After being transported into a mythical world filled with stunning visuals and intense, action-packed sequences, viewers expressed their admiration for the film.
"I actually think it was a really good, brilliant movie. It really kept me going. I was very much interested from the start to finish. It really kept me in my seat," said Abdeyah de Sousa, a moviegoer.
"It was a very good movie. I enjoyed the action with the culture behind it. It was a very awesome movie -- the suspense, you never knew what to expect. I really enjoyed it, and I would highly recommend people to come and watch it," said Njabulo Ngcamu, another viewer.
The film is being screened in Mandarin Chinese with English subtitles, but South African audience members are embracing it, proving that great storytelling transcends language barriers.
"I think the people will be drawn to it because the storyline is so good. And so if you are invested in the storyline of it, then it's irrelevant whether it's in Chinese or in whatever the language," said Lindsay Michaels, an audience member.
The gripping sequel is not only entertaining viewers worldwide but also sparking curiosity about China's rich history.
"I was fortunate enough to visit China in September last year. And I think once you have been in the country, everything that reminds you of it wants to take you back," said Makkie Slamong, a film studio professional who viewed the movie.
Slamong stressed his anticipation for further improvements in Chinese movie production.
"The film industry in China is very developed. They just need to have that storytelling type of thing where you can relate to the protagonists and antagonists. It needs to be more relatable, but it is very good. It's epic," he said.
As Chinese cinema continues to evolve, its influence is reaching far beyond its borders. Significant investment in animation, film production and gaming is fueling high-quality adaptations, taking Chinese culture to global viewers and leaving them eager for more.
"Creation of the Gods II" garners positive audience reviews in S Africa
