Ne Zhaby Patti MartinsonReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Studio
Credits Grade: 8 A diety, named Primeval Lord, takes a problem-causing energy ball called a Chaos Pearl and splits it into two small orbs: Spirit Orb and Demon Orb. Primeval Lord designates that the Spirit Orb be reincarnated in the third son of Li Jing, whose name is to be Ne Zha. Primeval Lord also sets the Demon Orb to be destroyed by magical lightening in three years' time. He gives Tiayi, a lesser deity, the task of ensuring the Spirit Orb reincarnates smoothly.Problems arise when Tiayi's rival, Shen, interferes with the reincarnation. Shen steals the Spirit Orb and ensures that the Demon Orb is instead reincarnated into Li Jing's son. Shen takes the Spirit Orb and gives it to the Dragon King. The Dragon King reincarnates the spirit orb into his own son, in the hopes that he and his fellow dragons are freed from their bondage as guardians of a prison for demons. Ne Zha is born a demon, to the horror of his parents. Despite Ne Zha's demonic nature, his doting parents attempt to love him and protect him from the people of their village, who dislike Ne Zha and wish him destroyed. Ne Zha's feelings for the villagers is mutual, but he does manage to find two friends, a young girl he rescues from a demon, and the Dragon King's son, Ao Bing, both are unaware at first of the type of orb within them. When they both find out, things get more complicated. I had mixed feelings about this movie. Ne Zha, the main "protagonist" of this movie, is not a nice person. Attempts to make him sympathetic or a victim of circumstances doesn't always work. That his parents still love him and would sacrifice themselves to him show how powerful parental love is, no matter how problematic the child. Ao Bing, the "good" character, doesn't get much focus at all. He is beautiful and powerful, but also a victim of circumstances as much as Ne Zha is. What is most interesting about the movie is how good and evil are played out. Ne Zha is a demon, but with clearly good and loving parents. Ao Bing is the "angel" so to speak, but he has an evil parent in the Dragon King and in the evil mentor, Shen. How they both navigate their nature, given how they were both nurtured is absolutely fascinating. Even the two lesser deities, Shen and Taiyi have this duality. Shen is clearly the capable and experienced of the two, despite being nastier. Taiyi is sometimes incompetent, slovenly and likes his drink a little too much, yet he has the better nature than Shen. Eventually, Ao Bing and Ne Zha battle it out. How that battle is finally settled surprised me a little and is a strong statement in not letting destiny determine your path, as both Ao Bing and Ne Zhe rebel against what is presumed to be fated for them. While I didn't care for Ne Zha, and the animation was over-stimulating to a fault to me, it is deeper and more thoughtful regarding good, evil and destiny than one would expect. Written: July 4, 2020
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