What could go wrong with a movie based on an amazing book?
For those who know the book or watched the series, they can make some connections, but those who don't, see just a bunch of disconnected scenes. Obviously, it is not possible to present all the details of a book in a series, still less, in a film. The screenwriter of a film has to prioritize the best parts of the book, however, he must maintain a sequence that synthesizes the logic of the plot. The screenwriter chose random scenes and hindered the understanding of the plot.
The director started by making a mistake in choosing the female lead, as the actress has no facial expression and her voice is just the reading of a text without any feeling. He chose a sequence of scenes for editing that made the film nonsensical. The special effects are a roller coaster ride, some good and some bordering on 'special defects'.
The performances are poor. Yang Yang was all smiles and charm, but he had no one to play with. There was not the slightest chemistry between him and the female lead, so, as much as he had emotions expressed in his face, the scene was not round, as there was no cooperation from the other party.
The costumes were well crafted and pleasing to the eye.
The soundtrack chosen was well below expectations.