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Raman Hui‘s attempt to adapt the novel, The Tiger’s Apprentice, to become a possible new animated franchise sort of works. When it’s supposed to look at Chinese folk beliefs, what’s shown feels quite light. It lacks that sense of wonder which Light Chaser Animation‘s works excels at. The differences is well explored with the home video release due to the bonus content, and although this film has its heart in the right place, I wished it could’ve done more with why Ming yun (destiny) matters.
Tom Lee (Brandon Soo Hoo) must be ready to become the next guardian and when he’s not even sixteen yet, the force determined to kill him must do so before the coming of every Lunar New Year. Most people know that a select group of animals represent each lunar cycle, and I get the sense that Loo (Michelle Yeoh) is not picky on when to destroy him. I’m also not sure if she’s been trying those few weeks before the end of every twelve months, but if she doesn’t do so quickly, he’ll be strong enough to defeat her! That sense of urgency isn’t conveyed, because during this film, the last time she successfully chased the boy down is during the Year of the Ox.
Whether she has been trying every year is unknown. It’s safe to assume she wouldn’t go after the boy during the year of the tiger, otherwise he’d be at the height of his powers. But when the Lee home is also protected with tons of charms, rendering this family invisible to the yaoguai (monsters), he’s safe year-round. However, in 2024, the year of the dragon, where the present incident takes place, this enemy may well have her last chance before he comes of age. After killing his grandmother, the only close family he has is Mr. Hu (Henry Golding), and it’s up to him to get him ready to take on this goddess-like figure.
But when the kid makes the mistake of taking those wards down, that’s when the fun begins! Despite delivering a good sense of nostalgia for those viewers in the know, there’s just something missing making this film spectacular.
The problem isn’t really with simply generalising the problem to themes that a western audience can understand. I’m sure the team of Raman Hui, David Magee and Christopher Yost are aware of that. Even then, to contextualise certain ideas without a proper understanding of Chinese theology really deadens the material.
What’s presented felt too Westernised than given a proper Asian flair. While that concept is universal, I wished Tom’s transition to adulthood ventured into other places than what’s defined in a paint by numbers’ scenario. Even the villain doesn’t stand out as weirder than others from other attempts like Mulan, Red Panda or even Raya and the Last Dragon.
Although I haven’t read the novel to which this movie is based on, I do want to make comparisons based on what I know. The significance of what the Phoenix represents is missed. Technically, in this culture, this bird is known as the Fenghuang, and its significance is interestingly similar to the creature of Egyptian origin. It’s less about death and rebirth, but more about the virtues even this bird lives by. Like the Table Round from Arthurian Tradition where they swear by the pentangle regarding virtue, duty, ritual, compassion, and trust, what’s represented here is no different, but is defined according to Confucius.
Had this work featured more tests to see if he can make the grade, then that last challenge could’ve been stellar. But what happens feels more like when Harry Potter died and was brought back to life following his fight with Voldemort. I’m sure the book does a better job at delivering a finale worthy of Gawain and the Green Knight. After watching this film, I’ll have to seek out the book just to see how much detail was lost, as I’m sure a lot more got lost in the translation for a Western audience.
3 Stars out of 5
The Tiger’s Apprentice Movie Trailer
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