The Wandering Earth II is a 2023 Chinese science fiction action-adventure film and a prequel to The Wandering Earth (2019) which grossed $701 million worldwide.
Directed and co-written by Frant Gwo with Gong Geer, Liu Cixin, Hongwei Wang , Ruchang Ye and Yang Zhixue it is based on the short story of the same name by Liu Cixin, who also serves as the film’s producer. Also known as The Wandering Earth 2.
The movie stars Andy Lau, Wu Jing, Li Xuejian, Sha Yi, Ning Li, Wang Zhi and Zhu Yanmanzi.
Reviews:
“While the original film was an unapologetic piece of national cinema, The Wandering Earth II takes some of that commentary a step further, positioning the United States as openly hostile to the efforts of the world community to navigate an international crisis […] But for all its plentiful spectacle, The Wandering Earth II is also a more somber film than its predecessor. ” The Austin Chronicle
“As much as I admired Gwo’s sheer ambition both narratively and visually speaking, the climactic third act revolved around humanity’s joint effort to prevent the moon from crashing the Earth tends to overstretch its melodramatic nature of the obligatory patriotism typically synonymous with Chinese movie blockbusters. It sure drags the scene longer than it should, which could have benefitted from a tighter edit.” 7 out of 10, Fiction Horizon
“On the downside, the plot works up one too many do-or-die crises, ending in a laughable sequence in which Tu operates a computer keyboard underwater […] None of this really matters in the end. The Wandering Earth II is so well made that it’s easy to overlook its flaws. Gigantic and intimate at the same time, it’s an extremely effective sci-fi blockbuster, with superstar performances from Wu Jing and Andy Lau.” Film Legacy
“There was some helpful Chinese collaboration saving the world in Roland Emmerich’s Moonfall, but that movie was nowhere near as propagandistic. It also featured more fully fleshed-out characters, which makes it a more fully realized film. Wandering Earth II has its impressive pieces, but as a cohesive film, it is considerably flawed and far too long, at just a hair under three hours. Not wholly recommended…” J.B. Spins
“Just like the original Wandering Earth, while the VFX of The Wandering Earth II are mediocre to bad for the most part, they did not make for that big of a distraction. In fact, they add to the film’s charm. While it’s incredibly cheesy and derivative along with everything else, there’s some fun in that. In terms of performances, the Chinese characters fared much better than the rest as the language barrier affected the chemistry and the dialog did not do them any favors…” 72%, Keith Loves Movies
“Subtlety and nuance are thrown out the window along with room for interpretation without relying much on the audience’s own intelligence to piece everything together. Fortunately, it’s still an entertaining thrill ride. When it comes to production values, The Wandering Earth II is a triumph. The CGI effects, action choreography, set designs and cinematography are all superb and add plenty of style as well as pizzazz.” The NYC Movie Guru
“Visual effects can’t replace a solid and logical storyline, but when it’s this terrific, it can sure fill in a lot of otherwise daft and illogical holes and hiccups in the script. You won’t come out of this second Wandering Earth film with a new way of looking at the world around you, but you will definitely have a sense of how global top-notch visual effects are in the film industry. Worth watching.” Planet Dave
” …The Wandering Earth II—a brittle and, at heart, old-fashioned space opera—would be insufferable if Gwo and his ensemble cast members didn’t sell you on the possibility that someday, people who are as selfless, monomaniacal, and capable as Liu and Tu could exist. The Wandering Earth II is also like The Wandering Earth because it’s just the right mix of silly and somber.” 3 out of 5, RogerEbert.com
“It tries to build a sturdy foundation out of characters more emblematic of humanity’s resiliency and tenacity than actual people. And at nearly three hours and a destination already established in the original film, The Wandering Earth II lacks an excuse for being so paper-thin in its story. Still, it’s a fun, if a bit exhausting, exercise in spectacle that may wear out its welcome but does so with an exuberance and style that modern blockbusters too often forget.” Tilt
” …while nationalism and anti-Western sentiments may be somewhat expected, the portrayal of some ethnic groups approaches outright racism and is much less acceptable. From a narrative point though, the biggest problem with The Wandering Earth II is the most obvious one, we know how it all ends. While the fate of some of the characters may be in doubt, we know that the obstacles will be dealt with and the project will be successful.” 2.5 out of 5, Voices from the Balcony
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