Mojin: The Lost Legend
{{Infobox film
|name=Mojin: The Lost Legend
|image=The Ghouls (2015 film) poster.jpeg
|caption=Poster
|native_name={{Infobox Chinese/Chinese|child=yes|hide=no|header=none|s={{linktext|鬼|吹|灯|之|寻|龙|诀}}|t={{linktext|鬼|吹|燈|之|尋|龍|訣}}|p=Guǐ Chuīdēng Zhī Xún Lóng Jué|l=Ghost Blowing Lantern: Seeking Dragon Technique|j=Gwai2 Ceoi1 Dang1 Zi1 Cam4 Lung4 Kyut3}}
|director=Wuershan
|producer=Chen Kuo-fu
|writer=Zhang Muye
|based_on={{Based on|Ghost Blows Out the Light|Zhang Muye}}
|starring={{Unbulleted list|Chen Kun|Huang Bo|Shu Qi|Angelababy|Xia Yu}}
|released={{film date|2015|12|18}}
| runtime = 125 minutes
|country=China
|language=Mandarin
|budget=US$37 million{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=mojinthelostlegend.htm|title=Mojin: The Lost Legend (2015)|work=Box Office Mojo|accessdate=December 17, 2015}}
|gross=US$278.3 million{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficechina.com/beta/2016-02-09|title=BOX OFFICE DATA FOR TUESDAY, 9TH FEBRUARY 2016 (ESTIMATES AS OF 21:30 CST)|work=Box Office China|accessdate=February 9, 2016}}
|production_companies=Dalian Wanda Group
Huayi Brothers
Enlight Media{{cite web |url= http://www.filmbiz.asia/news/wuershan-and-chen-kuo-fu-scare-up-ghouls | title=Wuershan and Chen Kuo-fu scare up Ghouls |date=2015-05-06 |accessdate= 2015-11-02 |work= Film Business Asia}}
}}
Mojin: The Lost Legend (previously titled The Ghouls){{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/asia/chinas-mojin-to-release-in-imax-3d-1201617662/|title=China's 'Mojin' To Release in IMAX 3D Format|author=Patrick Frater|work=Variety|publisher=(Penske Media Corporation)|date=October 14, 2015|accessdate=October 14, 2015}} (English: Touching Gold: The Lost Legend) is a 2015 Chinese action adventure fantasy thriller film based on the novel Ghost Blows Out the Light.{{cite web |url= http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2014-08/08/content_33184554.htm | title=Movie giants to make blockbuster tomb raider story |date=2014-08-08 |accessdate= 2015-04-12 |work= China Internet Information Center}} It was directed by Wuershan and produced by Chen Kuo-fu. The film was released on December 18, 2015.{{cite web |url= http://www.filmbiz.asia/news/china-releasing-schedule-revealed-at-seminar | title=China releasing schedule revealed at seminar |date=2015-04-10 |accessdate= 2015-04-12 |work= Film Business Asia}}{{cite web |url= http://movie.douban.com/subject/3077412/|title= 寻龙诀 (2015)|accessdate= March 5, 2015|work= movie.douban.com|publisher= douban.com|language= Chinese}}
Plot
At the beginning of the 1990s, famous tomb explorer Hu Bayi, Wang Kaixuan, and Hu's fiancée Shirley Yang decided to retire to Manhattan. After a supposed split of the team, Wang Kaixuan was pulled into a deal to locate the ancient tomb of a Mongolian princess. Hu Bayi has been having recurring nightmares of his first love, Ding Sitian, who had supposedly died 20 years before in an underground tomb beneath the Mongolian plains. The team is lured back to their original vocation by a mysterious, businesswoman/cult leader Ying Caihong who wants them to find the ancient tomb of a Mongolian princess. They eventually learn that what she really wants is to possess a famed artifact known as the Equinox Flower that allegedly has the power to raise the dead.
Cast
- Chen Kun as Hu Bayi
- Huang Bo as Wang Kaixuan
- Shu Qi as Shirley Yang
- Angelababy as Ding Sitian
- Xia Yu as Big Gold Tooth
- Liu Xiaoqing as Ying Caihong
Production
{{multiple image
|direction = horizontal
|header = Filming locations in Mojin: The Lost Legend
|header_align = center
|caption_align = center
|image1 = Chinatown-manhattan-2004.jpg
|alt1 =
|caption1 = Chinatown, Manhattan
|width1 = 175
|image2 = Statue of Liberty, NY.jpg
|alt2 =
|caption2 = New York City
|width2 = 180
|image3 = Grasslands-menggu.jpg
|alt3 =
|caption3 = Parts of Inner Mongolia
|width = 180
}}
The film is based on the popular adventure novel series Ghost Blows Out the Light about a trio of legendary grave robbers,{{cite web|url=http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2015-10/19/content_36836083.htm|title=Director talks about 'Mojin: The Lost Legend'|date=October 19, 2015|accessdate=December 18, 2015}} and is the second film following Chronicles of the Ghostly Tribe to be adapted based on the series. Mojin was based on the series' last four volumes while Chronicles of the Ghostly Tribe was based on series’ first four volumes. After Wanda Media acquired the rights to film the last four volumes, other production companies such as Huayi Brothers Media and Beijing Enlight Pictures came on board, adding financial and produced the project.
Filming wrapped up in New York City in late March 2015. As of October 14, 2015, the film was being remastered for the IMAX 3D format.
Release
The film was released in 2D, 3D, IMAX and IMAX 3D formats in China on December 18, 2015,{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/imax-release-homegrown-movie-mojin-832012|title=Imax to Release Homegrown Movie 'Mojin-The Lost Legend' in China|author=Etan Vlessing|work=The Hollywood Reporter|publisher=(Prometheus Global Media)|date=October 14, 2015|accessdate=October 14, 2015}} and on the same day in the United States and Canada in 2D by Well Go USA Entertainment across 30 theaters.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2015/12/december-china-blackout-movies-ghouls-mojin-ip-man-3-mike-tyson-donnie-yen-trailer-1201656744/|title=China's December Box Office Blackout Pics: Action, Fantasy & Mike Tyson? – Video|author=Nancy Tartaglione|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=December 9, 2015|accessdate=December 10, 2015}} Following the huge commercial success of Chinese films like Monster Hunt and Lost in Hong Kong, Greg Foster, senior executive VP, IMAX Corporation and CEO of IMAX Entertainment said the company was looking forward to witness such success again with the film because the suspenseful and visual nature of the film, combined with the Chinese cultural interest in treasure-hunting, makes Mojin: The Lost Legend a perfect fit for the IMAX experience. It was released in a total of 269 IMAX screens in mainland China.
Due to sensitive issues about the circulation of national treasures abroad and the reported prevalence of grave robbing in poorer parts of China, the subject was feared to be taboo on screen, making the project one of the Chinese film industry's most anticipated movie over its three and a half production period.
Reception
=Box office=
Prior to its release, various film critics were predicting the film would be a significant hit at the box office.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2015/12/december-china-blackout-movies-ghouls-mojin-ip-man-3-mike-tyson-donnie-yen-trailer-1201656744/|title=China's December Box Office Blackout Pics: Action, Fantasy & Mike Tyson? – Video|author=Nancy Tartaglione|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=December 9, 2015|accessdate=December 18, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://chinafilminsider.com/on-screen-china/|title=On Screen China: 'Mojin' Boasts Major Mojo|author=Jonathan Papish|work=China Film Insider|date=December 17, 2015|accessdate=December 18, 2015}} It is the highest-grossing IMAX film of all time in China with $27.1 million (as of January 6, 2016).{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/asia/mojin-breaks-imax-record-in-china-exclusive-1201675689/|title='Mojin' Breaks IMAX Box Office Record in China (EXCLUSIVE)|author=Patrick Frater|work=Variety|date=January 8, 2016|accessdate=January 9, 2016}} Mojin: The Lost Legend earned US$26.4 million on its opening day in China which is the highest-grossing opening day for a 3D local language film.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/china-box-office-mojin-crushes-850655|title=China Box Office: 'Mojin' Crushes Records With Massive $92M Debut|author=Patrick Brzeski|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=December 21, 2015|accessdate=December 22, 2015}} This includes the US$1.34 million it earned from midnight screenings, also a new record for a 3D local film. In addition to this, it earned the largest single-day gross for a local 3D title ($35.5 million on Saturday, December 19). Through its opening weekend, it grossed US$85 million (per Rentrak), US$91.9 million (per Entgroup) and debuted at No. 1 in China and No. 2 worldwide (behind Star Wars: The Force Awakens).{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/china/?yr=2015&wk=51&p=.htm|title=China Box Office December 18–20, 2015|work=Box Office Mojo}}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2015/12/star-wars-mojin-dilwale-good-dinosaur-spectre-international-box-office-results-1201670198/|title='Star Wars' Rules Galaxy; What Else Is Up At The International Box Office|author=Nancy Tartaglione|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=December 20, 2015|accessdate=December 21, 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/asia/china-box-office-mojin-1201666461/|title=China Box Office: 'Mojin – The Lost Legend' Finds $90 Million Opening Weekend|author=Patrick Frater|work=Variety|date=December 21, 2015|accessdate=December 22, 2015}} The film has the third biggest three-day opening of all time in China behind Monster Hunt and Lost in Hong Kong (both of which were also released in 2015).{{cite web|url=http://chinafilminsider.com/on-screen-china-2/|title=On Screen China: 'Mojin' Racks Up the Box Office Records|author=Jonathan Papish|work=China Film Insider|date=December 21, 2015|accessdate=December 22, 2015}} Furthermore, it also broke the record for the biggest IMAX midnight gross (US$300,000), opening day (US$2.7 million) and opening weekend (US$7.5 million) from 250 IMAX screens.
In its second weekend, it grossed another US$44 million – US$95.7 million in its full second week – falling behind newcomer Devil and Angel.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/box-office/star-wars-force-awakens-box-office-2-1201668081/|title='Star Wars' Leads Foreign Box Office for Second Straight Week|author=Brent Lang|work=Variety|date=December 27, 2015|accessdate=December 28, 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/asia/china-box-office-mojin-and-devil-score-strongly-1201668668/|title=China Box Office: 'Mojin' and 'Devil' Score Strongly Over Busy Christmas Weekend|author=Variety Staff|work=Variety|date=December 28, 2015|accessdate=December 29, 2015}} Of that US$6 million alone came from 259 IMAX screens for a 10-day cumulative of US$17.6 million becoming the second-highest grossing local language film for IMAX ever in China.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2015/12/star-wars-daddys-home-mojin-devil-angel-peanuts-international-box-office-results-1201673407/|title='Star Wars', China Trio, 'Peanuts' Lead Weekend – International Box Office|author=Nancy Tartaglione|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=December 27, 2015|accessdate=December 28, 2015}} The film went on to surpass Monster Hunt ({{USD|27.0 million}}) to become the highest-grossing Chinese-language IMAX film in China, with {{USD|27.1 million}}.{{cite web |url= https://variety.com/2016/film/box-office/mojin-breaks-imax-record-in-china-exclusive-1201675689/|title= 'Mojin' Breaks IMAX Box Office Record in China (EXCLUSIVE)|first= Patrick|last= Frater|date= January 8, 2016|accessdate= January 9, 2016|work= Variety}} It is only behind Furious 7 (US$39 million) when incorporating all kinds of films.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/imax-china-install-100-new-869443|title=Imax China to Install 100 New Screens in 2016, Bullish on Growth|author=Patrick Brzeski|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=February 24, 2016|accessdate=February 25, 2016}}
In the United States and Canada, it opened with US$280,000 from 22 theaters.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2015/12/star-wars-force-awakens-box-office-thursday-night-previews-1201669166/|title=Sunday Is Strong For 'Force Awakens' With All-Time $60.55M; Final Opening-Weekend Record At $247.97M -Monday Update|author=Anthony D'Alessandro, Anita Busch|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=December 21, 2015|accessdate=December 22, 2015}}
=Critical reception=
While the performances of the cast, special effects and action sequences have been praised, the film overall has received largely mixed reviews from western critics.{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mojin_the_lost_legend/|title=Mojin – The Lost Legend (2015)|work=Rotten Tomatoes|accessdate=December 19, 2015}} The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 50% approval rating, based on 6 reviews, with an average rating of 4.6/10.
Daniel M. Gold of The New York Times gave a negative review saying the film wastes some fine actors such as Shu Qi "on predictable, one-dimensional characters, and once the tomb is entered, the underground sets become all but interchangeable. What starts eerie becomes strictly cartoonish."{{cite web|url=http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/12/18/movies/review-mojin-the-lost-legend-in-search-of-a-burial-ground.html?_r=0&referer=https://www.google.co.in/|title=Review: 'Mojin: The Lost Legend,' in Search of a Burial Ground|author=Daniel M. Gold|work=The New York Times|date=December 17, 2015|accessdate=December 18, 2015}} Likewise, the Los Angeles Times gave a negative review.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-capsule-mojin-movie-reviews-20151218-story.html|title='Mojin: The Lost Legend' is an overreaching action-comedy|author=Michael Rechtshaffen|work=Los Angeles Times|date=December 18, 2015|accessdate=December 19, 2015}} Writing for rogerebert.com, Mark Dujsik awarded the film one and a half stars out of four calling it, "equal parts shabby and discomforting."{{cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/mojin-the-lost-legend-2015|title=Mojin: The Lost Legend|work=rogerebert.com|author=Mark Dujsik|date=December 18, 2015|accessdate=December 19, 2015}}
However, not all reviews were negative. David Noh of Film Journal International advised "Grab a big bag of popcorn and a soda and sink yourself into this rambling but skillfully done and surprisingly deep Chinese action romp."{{cite web|url=http://www.filmjournal.com/reviews/film-review-mojin-lost-legend|title=Film Review: Mojin: The Lost Legend|work=Film Journal International|date= December 17, 2015|accessdate=December 18, 2015}} Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter—while criticising the film for being overlong, convoluted and repetitive—praised the action sequences and special effects, deeming them superb, and lauded the performances of the leads.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/mojin-lost-legend-film-review-850215|title='Mojin: The Lost Legend': Film Review|author=Frank Scheck|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=December 18, 2015|accessdate=December 19, 2015}} Chief Asia film critic Maggie Lee of Variety agreed that the film provided "enough robust action and technical moxie to make audiences overlook its formulaic plotting and rote characterizations."{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/asia/mojin-the-lost-legend-review-1201665772/|title=Film Review: 'Mojin: The Lost Legend'|author=Maggie Lee|work=Variety|date=December 21, 2015|accessdate=December 22, 2015}} Jake Wilson of The Sydney Morning Herald gave the film three stars out of five, writing "the result can feel a bit disjointed: it takes a long time for things to get started, and there are too many distractions for the hints of social commentary and tragedy to register with much force." But he praised the cinematography, comparing it to that of Peter Jackson's work on The Lord of the Rings trilogy.{{cite web|url=http://m.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/mojin-the-lost-legend-review-chinese-blockbuster-melds-fantasy-horror-romance-and-martial-arts-20151216-glosno.html|title=Mojin: The Lost Legend review: Chinese blockbuster melds fantasy, horror, romance and martial arts|author=Jake Wilson|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=December 16, 2015|accessdate=December 18, 2015}} The Taipei Times said the movie "is lavish, packed with eye-dazzling action and fantastic plots, making it feel right at home among the Lara Croft: Tomb Raider films."{{cite web|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2015/12/25/2003635592|title=Movie review: Mojin — the Lost Legend|author=Ho Yi|work=Taipei Times|date=December 25, 2015|accessdate=December 25, 2015}}
=Accolades=
Sequel
A sequel of the film, although without the original film's director, writer or cast, titled Mojin: The Worm Valley, was released in 2018.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|4276752|Mojin - The Lost Legend}}
{{Ghost Blows Out the Light}}
{{Wuershan}}
Category:Films based on Chinese novels
Category:2015 action thriller films
Category:Chinese fantasy adventure films
Category:Chinese action adventure films
Category:Films set in Inner Mongolia
Category:Films shot in Inner Mongolia
Category:Films set in New York City
Category:Films shot in New York City
Category:Beijing Enlight Pictures films
Category:Films with screenplays by Zhang Jialu