Wikipedia

Jiang Ziya(film)

Jiang Ziya(Chinese:Khương Tử Nha;pinyin:Jiāng Zǐyá,sometimes spelt asJiang Zi Ya)[3]is a 2020 Chinese animatedfantasyadventure filmdirected by Cheng Teng and Li Wei. Featuring the mythological and fictional version of the popular Chinese figureJiang Ziya,the plot is loosely based on the novelInvestiture of the GodsbyXu Zhonglin.[4]It is a follow-up to 2019'sNe Zhaand the second installment of the Fengshen Cinematic Universe.[5][6]

Jiang Ziya
Theatrical release poster
ChineseKhương Tử Nha
Hanyu PinyinJiāng Zǐyá
Directed by
  • Cheng Teng
  • Li Wei
Screenplay byXie Xiying
Based onInvestiture of the Gods
byXu Zhonglin
Produced by
  • Wang Jing
  • Gao Weihua
Starring
Music byRaymond Wong
Production
companies
Beijing Enlight Pictures
Coloroom Pictures
Zhongchuan Hedao
Cocoa beans Animation
Distributed byBeijing Enlight Pictures
Release date
  • 1 October 2020(2020-10-01)
Running time
110 minutes
CountryChina
LanguageMandarin[1]
Box office$243.8 million[2]

The film was initially scheduled for release in China on 25 January 2020,[7]but following theCOVID-19 pandemicallChinese New Yearreleases were cancelled. The new release date was on 1 October 2020.[8]The film's official English title in China isLegend of Deification,and it is released asJiang Ziya: Legend of Deificationin the United Kingdom,[9]Australia, New Zealand,[10]and Singapore.[11]The film grossed over $243 million worldwide, becoming theeighth-highest-grossing film of 2020,and received positive reviews from critics.

Plot

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After aFox spiritcauses the downfall of theShang dynasty,a war is waged across the three realms. Eventually, the Fox spirit is captured. Jiang Ziya, a mortal who has gained renown via the war, is given the job of executing it. During the execution, the fox spirit shows Jiang Ziya that there is a young girl inside of her, and that going through with the execution would kill the girl as well. Jiang Ziya hesitates to continue the process but seemingly kills the fox spirit after it tries to escape. Unwilling to accept that the girl was supposedly an illusion created by the fox spirit, Jiang Ziya is stripped of his powers and banished to the North Sea until he can correct his mind.

Jiang spends ten years on earth despondent with his friendShen Gongbaoand his pet, Si Bu Xiang. Jiang encounters Xiao Jiu, an amnesiac young fox spirit who resembles the girl he saw during the fox spirit's execution. After a scuffle over a map, Jiang Ziya decides to accompany her to Youdu Mountain, where she believes her father is waiting for her, trailed by Shen Gongbao. During the journey, Jiang Ziya fights numerous dark demons- both evil fox spirits and the souls of the lost. At Youdu mountain, Xiao Jiu encounters the King of Zhou, who explains that she is tied to the original fox spirit and must be killed in order to fully defeat the former. Upon hearing this, Jiang Ziya attempts to kill her but inadvertently summons the fox spirit. She explains that the girl wasSu Dajiand was abandoned by her father to be given as a concubine.

Jiang Ziya along with Shen Gongbao manage to fight off the fox spirit together, at the cost of the death of Si Bu Xiang. Shen Gongbao decides to sacrifice some of his power to spirit Jiang to the heavens, so he may speak to the Master,Yuanshi Tianzun.The Master explains that Jiang Ziya wasn't denied Godhood because he didn't kill the fox clan leader but because he was willing to risk the fate of the world to save the girl. Jiang Ziya convinces the Master to let him guide the girl to reincarnation, which would kill the fox spirit.

Jiang Ziya takes Xiao Jiu to the Gate of Reincarnation, the fox spirit being held back by Shen Gongbao- however, the fox spirit manages to get past him and attack the gate. As the fox spirit regains her power, she explains to Jiang Ziya that originally, she had been promised Godhood but had instead been turned into a scapegoat to fight against to unite the three realms. Jiang Ziya attempts to save the girl, while the Master sends aguillotineto kill her. Jiang Ziya realises his true powers come from his self-confidence and not the will of heaven, and manages to seemingly save the girl, only for her to be killed by the guillotine. The Heavens applaud Jiang Ziya for killing the fox spirit and once again ask him to ascend to godhood. Realizing how corrupt heaven truly is, Jiang Ziya destroys the bridge between the human and heavenly realms, severing the hold between the two.

Years later, Shen Gongbao tells the story of Jiang Ziya to a disciple, framing him as a true hero above all others. A young girl and a dog, reincarnations of Xiao Jiu and Si Bu Xiang respectively, play together.

In amid-credits scene,three gods are posted to guard a heavenly prison. In another, Jiang Ziya has dinner withNe Zha.

Cast

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Production

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Inspiration

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The film tells the story of the mythological and fictional literary version ofJiang Ziyafrom theInvestiture of the Gods,a gargantuanMing-dynasty(1368–1644)shenmonovel that is traditionally attributed toXu Zhonglin,and incorporates various existing myths into a wider narrative.[12]Jiang Ziya is traditionally depicted in Chinese fiction as a Taoist adept inChinese folk religionandTaoism.In this film, Jiang Ziya is portrayed as a middle-aged man who insists on following his heart despite having a complex past.

Release

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On 12 December 2019, the producers released their first trailer.

Due to theCOVID-19 pandemic,the film's mainland Chinese release date was changed from 25 January 2020 to 1 October 2020.

The film was released on that date simultaneously in China,[1]the United States, Canada,[6]the United Kingdom,[9][3]Australia, New Zealand,[13]and Singapore.[11]

Reception

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Box office

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In China, pre-sale tickets totaled up to 90 millionyuan(US$13.3 million).[14]In just eight hours since its release, the film has grossed a total of 297 million yuan (US$43.7 million). The film surpassed its predecessor,Ne Zha(144 million yuan, or US$21.2 million) to become the highest grossing animated film opening day in China (308 million yuan, US$45.4 million).[15]the film legged out fairly well, dropping to $303 million CNY on its second day, and $115 million CNY by its fifth, ending up with $1.037 billion CNY by the end of its first week. The film ended up with $1.6 billion CNY ($240 million USD), making it theeight highest-grossing film of 2020,the second highest-grossing animated film of that year behindDemon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Trainand thesecond highest-grossing Chinese animated film everuntil it was surpassed byChang'anin 2023.

Critical response

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Onreview aggregatorwebsiteRotten Tomatoes,the film holds an approval rating of 83% based on six reviews, with an average rating of 6.3/10.[16]

The film holds a 6.6 and an 8.3 out of 10 on aggregator sitesDoubanandMaoyanrespectively.[17][18]

See also

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References

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  1. ^abc"Khương Tử Nha ( douban )"(in Simplified Chinese).Douban.2020.Archivedfrom the original on 23 March 2020.Retrieved1 October2020.
  2. ^"Jiang Ziya (2020) - Financial Information".Archivedfrom the original on 27 October 2020.Retrieved23 October2020.
  3. ^ab"Past, present and future releases to Past, Present and Future Releases | UK Recent and Upcoming Movie".Film Distributors' Association.Archivedfrom the original on 16 January 2022.Retrieved1 October2020.
  4. ^"New Chinese animated filmLegend of Deificationto hit theaters in January ".Xinhua News.Xinhua News Agency.25 September 2019. Archived fromthe originalon 27 September 2019.Retrieved17 December2019.
  5. ^《 Khương Tử Nha 》 Tết Âm Lịch đương chiếu, phong thần vũ trụ ra đời, võng hữu này phân điện ảnh danh sách lệnh người chờ mong(in Simplified Chinese).Tencent QQ.13 December 2019.Archivedfrom the original on 17 December 2019.Retrieved17 December2019.
  6. ^ab"JIANG ZIYA(2020) – Official Movie Site – Coming in 2020 ".Well Go USA Entertainment.2020.Archivedfrom the original on 1 October 2020.Retrieved1 October2020.
  7. ^"Chinese mythology seriesJiangziyarelayNezhaat the beginning of the new year ".jqknews.25 September 2019. Archived fromthe originalon 17 December 2019.Retrieved17 December2019.
  8. ^Tô san, ed. (16 August 2020).Quốc mạn tác phẩm tâm huyết 《 Khương Tử Nha 》 ngày 1 tháng 10 quốc khánh chiếu.Xinhua News(in Chinese).Xinhua News Agency.Archived fromthe originalon 1 September 2020.Retrieved21 August2020.
  9. ^ab"Khương Tử NhaJiang Ziya| Chinalion Film Bắc Mỹ hoa sư điện ảnh – Theatrical Release ".Chinalion Film Distribution.2020.Archivedfrom the original on 27 September 2020.Retrieved1 October2020.
  10. ^"LEGEND OF DEIFICATION| ANZ FINAL TRAILER | 30 JAN ".YouTube.17 January 2020.Archivedfrom the original on 28 May 2023.Retrieved1 October2020.
  11. ^ab"Jiang Ziya: Legend Of Deification(2020) Showtimes, Movie Tickets and Reviews ".Popcorn.Archivedfrom the original on 27 September 2020.Retrieved2 October2020.
  12. ^"New movieLegend of Deificationto hit Chinese cinemas ".MENAFN.26 September 2019.Archivedfrom the original on 17 December 2019.Retrieved17 December2019.
  13. ^"China Lion Film Úc Châu hoa sư điện ảnh".China Lion Film Distribution.Archivedfrom the original on 20 September 2020.Retrieved1 October2020.In Cinemas OCT 01
  14. ^"《 Khương Tử Nha 》 năm quan ổn? Đầu ngày phòng bán vé đem đột phá 3 trăm triệu, kéo dài 《 Na Tra 》 huy hoàng – giải trí tin tức ( tồn mãn giải trí võng )".cunman.Retrieved1 October2020.
  15. ^Lữ hành chỉ lộ nhân (1 October 2020)."Chiếu 8 giờ phòng bán vé cuồng thu 2.97 trăm triệu,《 Khương Tử Nha 》 đánh vỡ phim hoạt hình kỷ lục, phiến phương kiếm phiên".Sina Corp.Archivedfrom the original on 30 July 2023.Retrieved1 October2020.
  16. ^"Jiang Ziya".Rotten Tomatoes.Fandango.Archivedfrom the original on 23 October 2020.Retrieved30 October2021.
  17. ^"Khương Tử Nha".Archivedfrom the original on 23 March 2020.Retrieved1 October2020.
  18. ^"Mắt mèo điện ảnh Pc đoan".Archivedfrom the original on 4 April 2022.Retrieved4 April2022.
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