Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms

There’s a lot to like in “Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms,” but you might still think of other (and better) recent movies.

Luckily, there are enough idiosyncrasies to set it apart not only from US superhero cinema but from earlier adaptations of the same story.

It's truly disheartening that, despite the substantial investment in both scale and resources, the film fails to engage its audience.

... a fun epic adventure in a mythical version of history, one that is filled with wonder and beauty, with good and evil, with gods and monsters.

Despite clocking nearly 2 1/2 hours, Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms relies on expository-heavy scenarios and multiple plot threads that come and go and at times, hastily introduced.

Wuershan’s film is a ravishing romp through Chinese folklore that bursts with sumptuous production design, breathless action, and some surprisingly racy scenes of forbidden passion.

An overlong, overproduced and exhausting spectacle.

“Creation of the Gods I” qualifies as a fantasy epic, but its significant reach and massive cast of characters might overwhelm viewers unfamiliar with the source material.

There's promise here, but unfortunately, it's a case of waiting for what's to come.

For those with some appreciation for or knowledge of the source material, you will be enamored with this incredible, sprawling adaptation that captivates from start to finish. However, if you don’t ... you face an exceedingly steep learning curve ...