In this mystical action-adventure, legendary tomb explorer Hu Bayi sets off on a dangerous mission across an island of monstrous creatures to find the Tomb of Emperor Xian.
I’ve never seen “Mojin: The Lost Legend” but from my brief research I’ve gathered it was a successful epic adventure story. It was a huge hit at the Chinese box office and just like in Hollywood, if it made money once, why not regurgitate it? Sequels rarely tread new ground or thoughtfully warrant their existence. This sequel is definitely unnecessary and looks like it was made on a shoestring budget.
From the opening moment, I was audibly groaning out loud. I’m a big fan of Indiana Jones, “Aguirre, the Wrath of God,” and the recently fantastic yet underseen “The Lost City of Z.” I love tales of fortune-seeking and treasure hunting, especially when the colonizers get their comeuppance. “Mojin” really doesn’t cut it, there’s so much wrong with the picture, it’s hard to know where to begin. I can immediately point out the horrible CGI, cast, and lighting. The majority of the story is set on top of a gargantuan mountain filled with fantastical snakes, flying piranhas, and other poorly configured creatures. The cast looks like they are straight out of some Asian soap opera, cemented with way too much hair and make-up. The story is overdone with drama and zero character development. For a movie that’s not very long, I was constantly checking my watch.
Asian cinema has been supremely impressive the last 20 years, give or take. South Korea has exported some of my favorite horror, action, and psychological films. China is no different, with a massive film industry that recently has had its fingerprints on many big-budget Hollywood films. The intersection of international audiences is unifying for pop culture and obviously a cash cow for the respective studios involved. I really wish “Mojin: The Worm Valley” was as enthralling as something Yimou Zhang would make but I guess I can’t have my expectations set too high. Maybe I should check out the original “Mojin,” until then, I’ll try to forget about this sequel.
Available on Blu-ray, DVD & Digital July 9th
