“Creation of the Gods 2: Demon Force”, a sequel that is still as fantastic as ever

In ancient China, King Yin Shou was bewitched by a fox demon, who took the form of a young woman, who became his concubine, Su Daji. Under his yoke and victim of a curse, the monarch, once good and just, became violent and paranoid, going so far as to kill his own son, Yin Jiao. But a handful of immortals, aided by an old sage and Ji Fa, son of the lord of the city of Xiqi, lead the resistance.

Here, roughly summarized, is what happened during the two and a half hours of the first "Creation of the Gods" , released last year in France and which became a real phenomenon: 60 million spectators in China alone, its country of origin, and some 400 million dollars (around 380 million euros) in revenues throughout the world.

"Creations of the Gods 2: Demon Force" is the direct sequel to this epic saga, rightly compared to "The Lord of the Rings" , but inspired by a major text of Chinese mythology, "The Investiture of the Gods" (which also generated, in a completely different style, the cartoon "Ne Zha 2"). We therefore find the same characters, but also some new ones, including Deng Chanyu, an intriguing female general who will lead the assault of King Yin Shou's troops against the fortress of Xiqui, with the help of four giants endowed with magical powers.

Because this "Demon Force" is an epic that is always so fantastic, whose protagonists, in addition to their dexterity in martial arts and weapon handling, also often possess supernatural powers. The film begins with an impressive resurrection scene, performed on Prince Yin Jiao by several magicians, in a debauchery of special effects that have nothing to envy Marvel productions. XXL format also during the battle scenes, which can mobilize thousands of extras.

This second part turns out to be even more fun than the first, now that we know the context and the main characters, and there is no need to introduce them at length. The action turns out to be almost uninterrupted for 2 hours 25, with however some humorous or romantic breaks to relax the atmosphere.

Attention fans: no less than three post-credits sequences await the conscientious viewer for revelations about the direction the last part of the trilogy will take.