The movie “Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms” is the first in a trilogy based on the novel Investiture of the Gods, which narrates the traditional Chinese myth of the Fengshen Bang (封神榜):

Forces of evil are stirring, and the gods foretell treacherous years ahead for the people of the mortal realm. So, they feel it is necessary to return peace to the mortal realm by bringing the Fengshen Bang down from their own realm and placing it in the hands of the “ruler of the world.” However, the one who brings it down will themselves become mortal, and will never again be able to enter the gods’ realm. Jiang Ziya, a mortal who had ascended and joined the ranks of the gods, volunteers. He is turned back into a mortal and sent down to the mortal realm with the Fengshen Bang, two accompanying gods, and the task of finding the “ruler of the world” and handing the Fengshen Bang to him. 

Although this is all depicted in the movie, the main story in the movie does not focus on him. Instead, it centers around the elites of a grand kingdom that rules over 800+ smaller kingdoms who pledge loyalty to it. More specifically, it follows the new King Zhou of the grand kingdom, his son, and his son’s best friend, whose father is the leader of one of the four main branches (north, south, east, and west) that each overlooks a quarter of the 800+ kingdoms. 

The movie brings Chinese myths alive, with vibrant scenes, distinctive characters, a rich world, and many familiar names and faces from Chinese mythology. However, the wide cast of characters and lack of detailed explanation may overwhelm and confuse those not already familiar with the myths.

Nevertheless, overall, the director crafts an entertaining story that strikes close to home. The myths are thousands of years old, but they continue to entertain, and the underlying morals still apply today. Although some details were tweaked, the overall story and themes remain unchanged, and the story flows smoothly on the screen. 

The movie was the culmination of years of work by a big group of dedicated people; they brought in the same advisor who worked on The Lord of the Rings, combed the globe for talented young actors, and trained them for half a year in horseback riding, archery, martial arts, and more. All this effort shows as the final product is an enchanting movie that celebrates Chinese mythology, and I look forward to the release of the next two movies in the trilogy. 

On this blog, members of the Carmel High School chapter of the Quill and Scroll International Honorary Society for High School Journalists (and the occasional guest writer) produce curations of all facets of popular culture, from TV shows to music to novels to technology. We hope our readers always leave with something new to muse over. Click here to read more from MUSE.