by Brian Hioe
語言:
English
Photo Credit: Film Poster
This is a No Man is an Island film review written in collaboration with Cinema Escapist. Keep an eye out for more!
WHILE WELL-ANIMATED, Hong Kong animated film Another World ultimately stumbles due to its hackneyed plot and setting. Another World follows Gudo, a childlike spiritual guide who guides deceased human souls to reincarnation. Human souls, if they become corrupted by hate and anger, may instead turn into wraiths–demonic monstrosities that are unable to reincarnate.
When wraiths emerge, they are instead killed by other spiritual beings, such as Gudo’s big brother-figure Dark Sky, a supernatural, four-armed swordsman. In particular, Dark Sky has been tasked by the Goddess, who rules over the afterlife–the titular Another World–with watching over Gudo.
Gudo’s life changes, however, when he befriends the deceased human soul Yuri. Yuri has started to become corrupted by anger and hate, but seems unique in that she has already begun the process of becoming a wraith, but can still be rescued. Touched by her friendship, Gudo vows to rescue Yuri in as many lifetimes as it takes to cure her of her hate and anger.
All this is well enough. However, afterlife plots about redemption are not exactly new. Nor are its characters, who largely fit along stereotypes–indeed, with its central duo of Gudo and Dark Sky, Another World is not only the Sinophone animated film in recent memory to pair a childlike character with an older, more aggressive character. Pigsy, for example, had a similar pairing, this being Pigsy and the movie’s take on Sun Wukong. And Another World’s themes about letting go of hate may be timeless, but the movie ultimately has no original spin on them.
If Another World stands out, it is because of its beautiful animation. Yet this is not enough to save the movie from its lack of originality, an issue compounded by the fact that there is no real central tension that the story builds around. Instead, the plot plods along until its climax.
Another World works well enough as child fare, but it ultimately proves a forgettable movie. All the more a shame, as it is a rare example of a Hong Kong animated film.