The Wandering Earth (2019)

Plot Summary: Set in a future where the sun is dying, humanity builds enormous engines to propel Earth out of the solar system toward a new star. When Earth passes Jupiter, a gravitational spike threatens the planet, and a group of heroes must race against time to restart a failed engine and save humanity from extinction.

Director: Frant Gwo
Screenplay: Gong Geer, Frant Gwo, Junce Ye, Yan Dongxu, Yang Zhixue, Ruchang Ye (based on the novella by Liu Cixin)
Music: Roc Chen, Liu Tao
Cinematography: Michael Liu
Starring:
Qu Chuxiao as Liu Qi
Li Guangjie as Wang Lei
Ng Man-tat as Han Zi'ang
Zhao Jinmai as Han Duoduo
Wu Jing as Liu Peiqiang

 

***SPOILER ALERT***

A Belated Promise and a Grand Premise

A few months ago, I promised my friends on the Chinese social media app Red Note that I'd review some Chinese movies. Unlike other platforms where my opinions vanish into the void, I was flooded with recommendations. I lost momentum and felt terrible for not following through, but now I'm making good on my word. The first film on the list, The Wandering Earth, was suggested by a user named 常常常爸, which translates to something like "Always Dad." So, thanks, Dad, but I have to be honest: I don't think I enjoyed this movie that much. The film, loosely based on a short story by Liu Cixin, kicks off with a fantastic concept. The sun is dying, cataclysms are destroying the planet, and humanity unites to build thousands of colossal engines to physically move Earth to a new solar system. This opening act, establishing the sheer audacity of the project, was by far the most interesting part of the film.

Watch below the opening clip where the movie explains what's happening.

A Journey of Broken Beliefs

My main issue is that while I tried hard to suspend my disbelief, the movie kept pushing the boundaries of plausibility until I just couldn't care anymore. Once you accept that humanity could cooperate to build planet-sized engines, you're on board. But the moment a blast from Jupiter hits Earth and the crew survives what should have been an extinction-level event with just a minor shake, the film lost me. Their souls should have been disintegrated. That side of the planet should have been scorched ash. It felt like because we had to win in the end, anything miraculous could happen, which paradoxically made the stakes feel low and the plot a bit boring. There were other lousy details too, like how certain areas seemed to retain heat, allowing characters to walk around without helmets. Where did the moon go, by the way? That seems like a pretty important detail to leave out. The action sequences became a repetitive cycle of jumping, running, pushing, and pulling, and the characters were largely forgettable. Duoduo, in particular, was very annoying with all her whining. The emotional beats also fell flat; the finale, with its Armageddon-style sacrifice, felt like a bit of a ripoff and failed to connect.

Watch below the clip where Daddy good shoes sacrifices himself to save humanity.

Cultural Shifts, Visual Splendor, and My Final Take

Despite my criticisms, there were things I genuinely appreciated. It was refreshing to see a blockbuster with a positive message of global unity, even if it felt naive at times (like when everyone just speeds back to help the crew with that nucleus thing). The violence is toned down compared to American action films, and I loved seeing the USA's typical geocentric role overshadowed. The focus on the Chinese and Russian collaboration, with Liu Peiqiang's best friend being the Russian cosmonaut Makarov, was a welcome change. Visually, the movie is an impressive spectacle of special effects and would probably hit differently in a cinema. For a $50 million production, it certainly looks the part. On a personal note, one positive outcome was that the film's aesthetic inspired me to create a new theme set for my AI art project. Ultimately, though, I won't be watching the sequel, no way José. I'd only recommend this if you're a fan of massive, logic-defying action movies in the vein of something like, idk... the Fast & Furious franchise?

Watch below the friendship between Makarov and Liu Pei and how AI will betray us.

🎥 Cinematography (6/10):

Impressive visuals of Earth's engines and space sequences. The frozen landscapes look convincing and dramatic.

📖 Story (3/10):

Fantastic premise that quickly descends into implausibility. Many plot holes and logical inconsistencies that break immersion.

🎬 Direction (3/10):

Competently handles the large-scale action scenes but struggles with pacing and emotional moments.

👥 Characters (3/10):

Mostly one-dimensional with predictable arcs. Duoduo is particularly annoying, and few characters leave any lasting impression.

💥 Visual Effects (7/10):

Impressive for the $50 million budget. The Earth engines, space station, and Jupiter sequences look convincing and cinematic.

🎭 Acting (4/10):

Serviceable but rarely memorable. Wu Jing's sacrifice scene doesn't land with the emotional impact it should.

💬 Dialogue (3/10):

Often expository and on-the-nose. Character interactions rarely feel natural or compelling.

🌍 Setting/Atmosphere (5/10):

The frozen Earth and space environments are well-realized, but inconsistencies (like heat pockets) break the immersion.

🎵 Music (4/10):

Serviceable but forgettable. Does the job of enhancing action scenes without being distinctive.

😄 Entertainment Value (3/10):

Initial concept is fascinating but repetitive action and logic issues make it drag. The spectacle may entertain some viewers.

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