Film Name: 神兽金刚之青龙再现 / Godbeast Megazord: Return of Green Dragon
Initially, I was a bit concerned that if the film followed the character designs and production quality of the TV anime, it would be a complete disaster. However, the film’s redesigned 3D characters and mechs significantly improved my impression of it. If Ye Hui weren’t wearing that green outfit, he’d be almost unrecognizable.
The “Godbeast Megazord” series stands out textually by not only portraying the main antagonist but also fleshing out two minor villains. This sets it apart from many mecha battle films. Unfortunately, the film doesn’t delve deeper into these characters to make them more human and relatable. They remain somewhat endearing, hapless villains. Though they’ve consistently shared scenes with humans—even exhibiting autonomous behavior outside commands—from TV to film adaptations, the movie only sketches these characters without fully breathing life into them.
The overall plot thread flows reasonably well, but editing and foreshadowing remain problematic. Certain montage sequences feel disjointed, particularly in the latter half when parallel storylines unfold across multiple scenes, creating jarring transitions. The concert sequence, which clearly belongs at the film’s conclusion, is instead placed mid-story. Some characters appear inexplicably, like the Kongbeast guarding the cave—why does it reappear after falling off a cliff to become the protagonist’s helper? It leaves viewers scratching their heads. Dr. Hu’s appearance is downright deflating—a suspenseful mystery built up over time is resolved far too easily.
The film fails to let Ye Hui, the descendant of the dragon, absorb the dragon’s soul to become someone who can control the ancient dragon beasts. This leaves me feeling unsatisfied. For the protagonist’s team, this scenario would have been far more dramatic than Ye Hui simply running away. This plot point could have been mined for depth: how the other young heroes would navigate such dilemmas, how Ye Hui would overcome his inner demons to break free, or even forge a bond with the ancient beast—laying groundwork for a poignant emotional thread in the final showdown. Sadly, the film missed this opportunity, effectively squandering a chance to elevate the narrative by pushing it to its limits.
Mech upgrades are a timeless trope in this genre, yet they often feel superficial—merely upgrades for the sake of upgrades. The film also fails to explain why the protagonists suddenly receive brand-new divine beast mechs. What inner growth did they undergo to truly deserve these upgraded mechs?
The service robot Chacha stands out as a memorable supporting character. Her chatty personality effectively breaks up the monotony of the film’s battle-centric theme. Her robotic speech patterns, occasional cute moments, and subtle emotions endear her to audiences. She represents one of the more compelling supporting roles in recent Chinese animated films and a refreshingly vibrant robot design.
In contrast, Teacher Zhou feels like a complete afterthought. I can’t help but quip: when she appeared near death after an attack, her fragile, coy posture made me think she was about to confess her feelings—or pull a heavily wrapped paper package from her chest, filled with years of unpaid Party dues.
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