Investiture of the Gods

[solivini]

Anyone seen this? It came up as a suggestion in my Amazon Prime. The setting is the decline of the Shang dynasty and the rise of the Zhou dynasty. It doesn’t have fantastic reviews. I was debating on checking it out, but I wanted to see if anyone had seen it.

 

[Freedda]

Since it's free, I'd suggest you give it a try.

I did just that, and I think it's fictional, more than a bit silly, and not historically accurate, and I don't think it accurately portrays divination practice - though it does show the sacrifice of slaves, which was practiced by the Shang - and maybe by the Zhou as well.

I did like it when the woman - who is more like a Tibetan oracle in a trance state - changes her divination in order to save her wild-eyed arse! And who knows, maybe that was an historically accurate practice of diviners - e.g. tell the emperor what he wants to hear instead of what you're really seeing.

It was, well ... interesting, but I'm not sure how much it will continue to hold my interest.

7/10 update: watched a bit more yesterday - acting: bad: story: silly; special effects: hokey. Conclusion: it's bad, boring, and I not going to waste any more time watching it.

 

[hilary]

This got a mention on yesterday's Well Gathering, and Priscilla found a Youtube link for it too:

(Unfortunately not available here in the UK, so I still don't get to see it!)

 

[solivini]

Since it's free, I'd suggest you give it a try.

I did just that, and I think it's fictional, more than a bit silly, and not historically accurate, and I don't think it accurately portrays divination practice - though it does show the sacrifice of slaves, which was practiced by the Shang - and maybe by the Zhou as well.

I did like it when the woman - who is more like a Tibetan oracle in a trance state - changes her divination in order to save her wild-eyed arse! And who knows, maybe that was an historically accurate practice of diviners - e.g. tell the emperor what he wants to hear instead of what you're really seeing.

It was, well ... interesting, but I'm not sure how much it will continue to hold my interest.

7/10 update: watched a bit more yesterday - acting: bad: story: silly; special effects: hokey. Conclusion: it's bad, boring, and I not going to waste any more time watching it.

This is what I was afraid of and why I was reluctant to see it. Thank you for your response. I’m going to avoid it

 

[Freedda]

I’m going to avoid it

Well, that's a fine decision. I'd only say you may find it just silly and badly-acted enough to make it enjoyable, like a c-grade scifi movie. But as far as learning anything about the Yi, or ancient China, I think not. That would be like watching Austin Powers and mistaking it for a documentary about the British secret service! Ya Baby!

 

[moss elk]

That would be like watching Austin Powers and mistaking it for a documentary about the British secret service! Ya Baby!

You mean Austin Powers isn't real??
Say it ain't so!

One Saturday morning when I was a kid of about 8 years old, I was watching cartoons and heard a commotion on my porch.
A film crew had set up (without asking) and James Bond was buying the white car with the jet foils across the street. I got to meet Mr. Moore and get a photo/autograph.

 

[Freedda]

James Bond was buying the white car with the jet foils across the street. I got to meet Mr. Moore and get a photo/autograph.

James Bond? Mr. Moore?

 

[moss elk]

James Bond? Mr. Moore?

Yes, the O.G. Austin Powers:
James Bond, 007, Sir Roger Moore.

 

[solivini]

That’s pretty cool moss elk! How exciting for an 8 year old.

 

[moss elk]

In hindsight, the best part was the looks of amazement on all the other 8 year old boys faces at school. It wasn't about me, but I got to share it with them.