Thunder Twins (2021)

Good premise, bad execution.

“Messy” is the suitable word to describe Thunder Twins as a movie. Even though it was not difficult for me to follow the storyline, scenes are all over the place due to plot holes and time gaps. Because of these factors, Thunder Twins failed to show an adequate explanation on certain scenes. This left me unsatisfied with the movie.

When this happens, usually I am left with the freedom to use my own imagination to decide what could have happened. However, Thunder Twins did not impress me enough to be able to come up with my own conclusion regarding some scenes. Instead, I was left with disappointment. Mainly because the movie does not do the excellent plot justice. Yes, the plot is nothing new, a lot of cliché involved, and the plot twist is predictable. However, I believe that the plot gives the movie the potential to be a masterpiece filled with epic adventures as long as it is executed properly.

With this, I believe that Thunder Twins should have been made into a drama instead of a movie. A short drama will do. As a movie, it failed to execute all the plot's exciting elements.. Such as the plot twist on Xin Huan and Lei Zhenzi's real role at fulfilling the prophecy. The way it was revealed was lame, in my opinion. There is not enough build up for me to awe at the revelation. If Thunder Twins is a drama, I believe it will dismiss the time gaps that keeps messing up with the story's clarity. The time gaps are the cause of the plot holes that ruined the movie's potential.

As an example, the flashback scene that occurred when Xin Huan and Lei Zhenzi was having a battle. It was too brief, stale, and lacked in details to explain the kind of relationship Xin Huan and Lei Zhenzi has. It was not impactful for me to believe that they shared a strong bond. Also, I had a hard time distinguishing which kid is Xin Huan and which one is Lei Zhenzi. The flashback scene is important to show the chemistry the brothers have. But due to the poor execution, it failed to show the significance of their relationship. Because of the unsuccessful showcase of their bond on the flashback, I was not affected by Lei Zhenzi's heartbreak from Xin Huan's betrayal. It was supposed to be an emotional scene. But the lack of details and time gaps made the flashback scene not powerful enough for me to feel Lei Zhenzi's anguish. If Thunder Twins is a drama, the time gap between the period when the brothers were born and when they reached 18 years old will be reduced. It allows us to see how they grow side by side. Perhaps, we also get to see what Lei Zhenzi truly means to Xin Huan, and who Xing Er is to Lei Zhenzi.

Xing Er is also another part of the movie that left me unsatisfied. Initially, I thought Xing Er is the king's daughter, until I know that Xing Er is the blue butterfly shown in some scenes. I remember Lei Zhenzi calling Xing Er his “little butterfly”, and saying something along the line of “you will always be my little butterfly” near the end of the movie. I understand that it is up to us to think what Lei Zhenzi means when he said that, but I wish the movie gives us more background between the two. I would like to know what relationship Lei Zhenzi has with Xing Er. Earlier, I thought that Xing Er likes Xin Huan because she keeps emphasising how he is going to save the world, and that Lei Zhenzi does not like her. Turns out, I was wrong. Therefore, a proper closure of Lei Zhenzi and Xing Er's relationship would be good for me.

Aside from the story, the cinematography is good. The CGI is wonderful, it is not over the top. The acting is okay. Guo Jia Nan and Liu Cheng Lin did well at portraying 18 years old who are in fire to serve justice and save the world. However, I have to comment on Lei Zhenzi's makeup. There is something about how Lei Zhenzi is dressed that makes him looks like he is on his 30s. I thought he was on his 30s until it was revealed that he is 18 years old. Liu Cheng Lin's great acting to portray an 18 years old really helped at making it believable that Lei Zhenzi just turned 18. I suspect that it is the makeup that caused him to appear way older than 18 years old. Maybe it was intentional, to show how reckless and how rough on the edge Lei Zhenzi is as he is a carefree spirit who likes to get into trouble.

I do not recommend others to watch this movie because of the poor execution and poor character development. I do not think it is worth of anyone's time, unless they are willing to spend an hour and a half on watching a movie that is not good at delivering a story. I will not bother rewatching the movie to see if I missed any details that might explain the plot holes. Nevertheless, it is not a great movie. But I cannot say it is a bad movie. It is simply an okay movie, a solid five.

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