Film Name: 赛尔号大电影4：圣魔之战 / Seer 4
It must be said that “Seer 4” far exceeded my expectations. The 90 minutes spent in the theater felt far from wasted—instead, I was almost constantly in a state of mild excitement. Rarely does a domestic animated film draw me in so completely.
The tedious internal squabbles among the War God Alliance members seen in “Seer 3” have been discarded, instead spotlighting Gaia, a prominent War God member. Though the final battle is still fought collectively by the alliance, Gaia achieves a glorious transformation distinct from his peers by heroically rescuing the damsel in distress. The young Sails, who were reduced to useless sidekicks in “Seer 3,” return as protagonists this time. A-Tie’s character development is particularly rich—from his talk of becoming a real man, to his retreat in moments of crisis, to finally stepping up. He completes his own character arc.
After all, “Sailor” remains a story about how the Sailors overcome overwhelming odds to protect the world against powerful foes—not about how the War Gods exploit their strength to cheapen peace.
This time, the War Gods finally face a worthy—even superior—opponent throughout the entire film: the bounty hunter Mogos. His dual-form identity, switched via medication, represents a novel character concept in domestic animated cinema. While some young girls found him slightly frightening, most children were captivated by his transformations and gripped by the dramatic tension sparked by his espionage activities. This character teaches us a lesson: a novel character, an unfamiliar archetype, and an unexpected dynamic can captivate audiences more than the film’s core narrative itself.
The Blazing Flames and their gorilla tribe possess no language, yet they feel more credible and reliable to viewers than any higher-order species capable of speech. Their entrance is unassuming, yet their role is pivotal. Their courage reshapes A-Tie’s wavering heart, forming a crucial subplot within the film.
The introduction of the new Goddess of War, Muse, transcends mere addition to the pantheon—she possesses distinct character and flair. Her predominantly red palette immediately conveys her fiery temperament. While it’s difficult to conclude whether the inclusion of a female war god was a deliberate tactic to attract female audiences or how effective it was, the dynamic between Muse and Gaia carries a hint of the dynamic between Red Wolf and Gray Wolf. This elevates the film beyond mere childishness, adding adult elements that make it more multidimensional.
A few minor points:
Judging by the audience reaction, kids were fascinated by Mogos’ transformation, but since it relies on pills to change form, this raises a question: how many pills does it actually have? Some audience members murmured this question aloud. Additionally, while the magic stone possesses immense magnetic force, why wasn’t Dean himself pulled into it? The scene with the dead forest was visually stunning, but unfortunately, the plot didn’t utilize the unique qualities of these dead trees. Remember, the ravine in “The Croods” wasn’t merely a peculiar landscape feature—it served as a tangible reminder of the father’s lost path.
A minor suggestion:
If the creators studied “Frozen” closely, perhaps they could emulate its divine opening sequence. Starting with a mysterious figure forging a sword—endlessly hammering away at a sacred blade—might it not make the character of Yerimes feel more substantial?
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