August 20, 2026

Unlike with Greek or Roman mythology where immortality involved springing fully armed from your dad's head or emerging from a spume of sea foam, Chinese folks readily mixed with their gods and there was an intermediate level between them and the plebs where immortality could be conferred upon the worthy. Well that's what this disparate bunch of chancers, crooks and relapsed monks are hoping to obtain as they search for a magic lantern that might … read the rest.

Unlike with Greek or Roman mythology where immortality involved springing fully armed from your dad's head or emerging from a spume of sea foam, Chinese folks readily mixed with their gods and there was an intermediate level between them and the plebs where immortality could be conferred upon the worthy. Well that's what this disparate bunch of chancers, crooks and relapsed monks are hoping to obtain as they search for a magic lantern that might reverse the depressing "doomstrike" that is affecting the whole nation. "Lü Donbing" notices that a rather portly gentleman is wandering the streets of the city giving the "Artful Dodger" a run for his money, but when he tries to steal his ancient sword that means it is time to intercede. After quite a lengthy chase, and quite a lot of disrobing, he uncovers the charmingly roguish "Zhongli Quan" whom he happened to study with many years earlier at the temple for immortal studies. He regales his new friend with talks of this fabulous vault full of gold - and of the mysterious lantern, and after a bit of initial scepticism they decide to rob it! That will be easier said than done as it belongs to three gods and is buried deep beneath their mountain-top palace. They concoct a cunning plan, but like any good plan it cannot be executed without some help from other quite differing and personable characters - some more willingly than others - and so soon they are destined to share their loot between eight of them. What now ensues are a series of quickly paced adventures as they imperil their very lives; discover just what did happen to the magic light and have to face a most formidable opponent - and his hound - that will require all of their guise and legerdemain else they will be powdered into mystical oblivion. This is an enjoyable story with loads of characterful complexities and plenty of mischief thrown in, too - but it's the quality of the animation that is astonishing. The depictions of the dashing "Zgongli Quan" are almost portraiture in nature and although that doesn't extend to all the cast members - nor even to the rest of their less detailed bodies, it's really quite impressive artwork to look at as their perfectly choreographed combat scenes play out. The score almost perfectly matches the ambitiousness and sentiment of the plot and though I can't say I loved the ending (cue for a sequel, surely), it really did fly by for the better part of 2½ hours with just the slightest hint of a tortured bromance too!

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