Movies
The umpteenth adaptation of the Painted Skin legend. We're dealing with another short straight-to-streamer film, so you should know what to expect. The thing that sets this one apart is that the CG is slightly above par, with even some successful attempts to be a bit more artistic and creative with digital technology. I didn't see that one coming. The plot is a bit too familiar by now, but these films are short, well-paced, and focus more on the delivery. The sets and costumes look cool, there's some solid action and the lead performances are decent. Some of the CG is still a little shoddy, but there are some cell-shaded in-painting scenes that looked surprisingly stylish. Better than I expected.Read all
Another iQiyi release. The Chinese streaming giant seems to have carved out its own niche of genre films. Short, cheap but highly amusing martial arts/fantasy productions that are produced by the dozens. These are no masterpieces, but people looking for fun genre filler are sure to find some worthwhile releases to pass the time. The cinematography is bright and colorful, the pacing lightning fast and the mix of fantasy and martial arts very amusing. The CG is ill-used though and the comedy doesn't really hit the mark either. These are common complaints with these films and considering the way they are produced, chances are slim they can be easily overcome. Still, there's plenty to enjoy here. Read all