Painted Skin: The Resurrection

A sequel to 2008's Painted Skin, this epic fantasy follow-up shattered Chinese box-office records with its fast-paced swordplay, magical martial arts, exquisite costumes, and gloriously stylized CGI, combined with a star-studded cast. Unfortunately, the meandering plot and dizzying array of supernatural characters make this a somewhat frustrating—if eye-popping—watch. The action begins 500 years after the original film, as ancient fox demon Xiao Wei (Zhou Xun) is freed from centuries of icy captivity in a frozen lake, where she was imprisoned for violating demon law and protecting a human. She transforms into a manipulative seductress who must consume people's hearts to become fully human. A supernatural love triangle is formed when Xiao Wei encounters Princess Jing (Zhao Wei), who wears a golden mask to hide facial scars from a bear attack, and also pines for the bodyguard (Chen Kun) who failed to protect her from the bear. While it might appeal to the genre's most ardent followers, Painted Skin: The Resurrection is too much of a convoluted narrative mess to recommend to anyone else. Not a necessary purchase. (J. Shannon)