Animal World (2018)

How do you write a review for a film that has totally and completely flabbergasted you that you're left with a huge grin on your face, but with few words to say. I guess like this.
Animal World by director Yan Han (great name) is the most entertaining film I've seen in a while. It's a Chinese blockbuster through and through based on a Japanese manga series, starring the very American Michael Douglas. And I'll be honest, all of those combined is probably what makes this film so great and approachable. The teaser footage shown on Netflix is only a taste of the overall film, and really isn't all that representative. Nevertheless, what is on offer here is great.
Zheng Kaisi (Yi Feng Li) is a man down on his luck who gets in way over his head and ends up having to gamble his life in several games of rock paper scissors on a boat ran by Michael Douglas. When the film started my response was "Who comes up with these plots" and by the end of it I had a pretty firm idea. The film, on the surface level is as crazy as it sounds. It even has a crazy clown subplot (I'll get into that later) to boot. But the problem (or maybe not) is that underneath is a pretty standard film. And while that sounds harsh it actually benefits the film greatly. This film is approachable, and best of all watchable. There was never a moment where I was confused or lagging behind. Everything is paced so smoothly, detailed (with heavy exposition) stylishly, and shot so beautifully that you're swept along for the ride without ever falling off, banging your head and asking "What?". But despite that the film still oozes with crazy, like it's plot for example, or the fact that Zheng transforms into a alien killing clown in his thoughts. And while I wish that it was developed further (likely in the sequel) it still adds to this bizarre romp much needed individuality and creativity. Because without it this film would very much be a weird, Michael Douglas Chinese film about rock paper scissors (actually that still sounds amazing.)
And for once with these sorts of movies (Marvel I'm looking at you) it's not only shot well, but it's stylish too. Everything looks cool (for a lack of a better word) and watching it is a visual treat. The use of colour is pretty awesome too. Aliens ooze blue, green, yellow even pink blood as the clown slashes through them. And then the set design tops everything off with this James Bondesque ship fitted with chandeliers and poker tables (or in this case rock paper scissors tables) ran by their very own slick card dealers/card removers (just watch it).
Unfortunately I can't deliver the same praise to the CGI used heavily in the movie. There is good CGI, for example when it's used to explain all the maths, but when Zheng is in a high speed car chase and everything is done using CGI, it just looks awful. It wasn't distracting, and things get better and more practical the longer the film goes, it's just noticeable and crappy.
But I think the main point here isn't the style, the bad CGI or even the fact that Michael Douglas is in it and a clown kills aliens. It's that while I was watching this insane Chinese Japanese manga adaptation, I was having the time of my life. Nothing made sense and yet you absolutely get it all. And when it said To Be Continued... at the end I got giddy and yelled out in excitement. This film instills in me a hope I have been long searching for. I had almost given up hope in movies, but this, this Chinese blockbuster, showed me that even a cash in film starring Michael Douglas doing his best Al Pacino impression, can still be great and creative, and there are truly people out there who care about making films. Bring on Animal World 2 baby!
8/10

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