Fengshen: The Legend of the Gods - Part One: The Storms of Chang'an" captivates French audiences, proving global demand for diverse content

According to interviews with theater employees, the premiere's golden time slots were nearly sold out, with many Chinese audience members struggling to secure good seats. This unexpected success follows the film's warm reception at the 2022 Shanghai International Film Festival, where audiences were first introduced to the powerful performance of Yi Su, who plays Jiang Ziya, aka the "Heavenly Sword."

The reaction from French audiences has been overwhelmingly positive. Audiences have taken to social media to express their enthusiasm for the film, comparing it favorably to Hollywood blockbusters. User uyosh2023 posted a video on microblogging site Weibo with the caption, "The first installment of Fengshen is playing in France now, and there are so many clips online. We can see how much attention this movie is getting."

Notably, the film has also been well-received in Australia, where audiences have praised its entertainment value. User Entertainment Circle King, who shared a review on Weibo, wrote, "The overseas word-of-mouth praises Fengshen, and Australian audiences are calling it amazing. Both places are saying it's great."

While some users have emphasized that this favorable reception is not meant to disparage Marvel films, they argue that the Fengshen series might simply be more innovative for French audiences. User chen_ming_yue commented, "It's not that Marvel movies are bad, but there are so many of them, and Fengshen might be a refreshing change for French audiences. The quote is from a French audience member, so let's not use Fengshen to attack Marvel. I like both Marvel movies and Fengshen."

However, not all feedback has been positive. User xiaoxiao_cute lamented the acting skills of some cast members and criticized the adaptation's plot for deviating from the original story. They wrote, "I don't even watch Marvel movies, but I absolutely hate Fengshen. I purposely went to the theater to see it, and as soon as I saw Jiang Ziya fighting for the ranks of the gods, I felt sick, and I left halfway through the movie. The acting was horrible, except for veteran actress Li Jing. The rest of the cast was cringe-worthy. The adaptation was awful and lazy."

Despite the mixed reactions, the overall response in France has been overwhelmingly positive, with many users expressing their admiration for the Fengshen series. User maliya_the_cute_fox posted a video of artwork of Jiang Ziya's character created by a French artist on social media, writing, "Here's a French artist's rendition of Jiang Ziya returning home. Fengshen is truly a movie that's going global."

As Fengshen continues to make waves abroad, it is undeniable that the series has captured the hearts of moviegoers in France, proving that even amidst international competition, there is still a demand for diverse, high-quality content. As user totoro_qi_qi_ said, "French audiences don't spend much time on Douban (a popular Chinese movie review platform). It's time for more people to recognize that both Fengshen and Marvel are good films. Good movies are treasures, and we should celebrate them regardless of their origin."

In summary, the release of "Fengshen: The Legend of the Gods - Part One: The Storms of Chang'an" in France has been met with a largely positive response from audiences and film professionals alike. The movie's success highlights the growing global demand for diverse and high-quality content while proving that even in the shadow of international giants like Marvel, there is still a place for innovative and engaging storytelling.

As user summersun_makes_me_happy commented, "We shouldn't disparage one film to lift up another. Both Fengshen and Marvel are great films that deserve recognition. When good movies break boundaries and reach a broader audience, it's a win for everyone."

The hype surrounding the Fengshen series shows no signs of slowing down, with fans eagerly anticipating the release of Part Two. The film's breakout success is a reminder that, in a world increasingly dominated by giant Hollywood studios, there is still a market for fresh and exciting stories from around the world.