The Wandering Earth (2019) [Film Review]

The Wandering Earth; or, Space: 2019

     Beijing No. 3 Transportation Division reminds you. Routes are countless. Safety is foremost. With unregulated driving, your loved ones might end up in tears.

The Wandering Earth is the latest Chinese production which broke many financial records and climbed the divine top of the domestic box-office after such recent hits as Wolf Warrior 2, Operation Red Sea, and The Mermaid. It is based on a novella of the same name written by science-fiction author Liu Cixin and tells the larger-than-life epic tale of a few good men (and one woman) who are on a mission to save mankind.

Release Info

Directed by: Frant Gwo Starring: Qu Chuxiao, Ng Man-tat, Zhao Jinmai, Wu Jing

Language: Mandarin Original Title: 流浪地球 Runtime: 125 min

 

Plot

In the year 2061, the Sun expands rapidly and is about to devour the Solar System within the period of 300 years. In order to survive, countries on Earth join forces, resources, and technology in order to realise the most daring plan ever invented: move our home planet 4.2 light years away to the Alpha Centauri system. Liu Peiqiang (Wu Jing) is a Chinese astronaut assigned to a space station that will help Earth navigate as it moves out of the Solar system. He leaves his son, Liu Qi (Qu Chuxiao), under the care of his grandfather, Han Zi'ang (Ng Man-tat). Seventeen years later, adult Liu Qi and his adopted sister, Han Duoduo (Zhao Jinmai), sneak out from the underground city and grandfather Han runs searching for them. As Earth passes by Jupiter, the planet’s gravitational spike causes devastating earthquakes that disable many fusion thrusters across the globe and put the Earth on a collision course with Jupiter. The only way our protagonists can save the day is by restarting the thruster engine located in Sulawesi.

 

Moving Out: Extreme Edition

Director Frant Gwo, having only two directing credits prior to this film, is allegedly a major sci-fi buff who spent a lot of years studying the genre. Evidently, The Wandering Earth is a visually pleasing piece of entertainment that very much feels like “The Best of Science Fiction” compilation. Two years in the making, three thousand concept maps and countless storyboards resulted in a mash-up filled with nods and references to such classics as Armageddon (1998), The Day After Tomorrow (2004), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Blade Runner (1982), and Space: 1999 (1975-1977).

 

The Wandering Earth was indeed a financial risk for the Chinese movie industry, considering the fact that they have never done a movie on such a big scale before, but they certainly passed this test. You can feel the grandeur of the movie’s rich world in almost every shot, which is enhanced by Roc Chen and Liu Tao’s towering music score. The studio sets and practical effects combined with CGI are definitely top notch across the board. Hollywood was given a good run for their money in this aspect.

 

However, excellent technical execution does not mean that The Wandering Earth can be regarded as an instant masterpiece by default. There are a few things which really distract the viewer from fully enjoying what is presented on the screen. First of all, the film lacks necessary exposition in the moments where it very much needs it. The first act and the ending have exposition, but the middle is all about the action without explanation. Secondly, there are too many characters doing too much epic stuff. From a merry band of three heroes, they grow to (about) 10 in the finale. Thirdly, the film desperately wants to pass itself as memorable. Remember the driving safely quote from the review’s beginning? It is reiterated by the truck’s AI at least 6 times throughout the story, hoping to enter the pantheon of such classic citations as Tears in Rain monologue or Open the Pod bay doors, HAL exchange.

 

Yet, while not matching the greatness of its predecessors, The Wandering Earth is still an entertaining flick. The story is interesting, the stakes are high, and there are some good performances by Qu Chuxiao, Li Guangjie, Ng Man-tat, Zhao Jinmai, and Wu Jing. An honourable mention goes to Arkady Sharogradsky for providing the most over the top portrayal of a Russian astronaut in the history of cinema.

 

Recommendations

All things considered, if you thought that, for example, Armageddon is THE most bombastic and overblown motion picture ever made, then you are wrong. The Wandering Earth is Armageddon but on METH, and it communicates the message of generational sacrifice. It is a fun sci-fi movie for one time. Grab your popcorn and enjoy the story about how the Chinese tamed “the right stuff” and rescued our degenerate Caucasian butts by setting Jupiter on fire.

Overall score: 7/10