“A Writer’s Odyssey” comes up short on detail and explanation, even though its broad story arc is easy enough to follow and there’s no end of superbly executed chase sequences and spectacular sights, including cities in flames and a flock of brilliantly designed flying dragon lanterns attacking Redmane’s enemies.

The most glaring piece of missing information is how Guan acquired the ability to throw objects with superhuman strength and guide them by thought. His gift is established in the very first scene and comes into play when he hurls golf balls at two of Li Mu’s henchmen (Liu Tianzuo, Li Binghui) who also happen to possess their own special powers. It seems that Li Mu’s company has a sinister connection with these supernatural capabilities but this tantalizing thread is left unexplored.

The screenplay takes stabs at providing motivation for various characters with tales of family tragedies and childhood abandonment, but none are substantial enough to bring much emotional weight to the story or make sense of how Lu Kongwen’s fiction is able to affect reality. From around the halfway point when Guan gets to know Lu Kongwen and begins to understand more about his troubling dreams a hollowness creeps in, with each new plot development promising insight and discovery but delivering little more than visual stimulation.

With two and a half years spent in post-production and 800 special effects technicians contributing to the finished product, “Odyssey” certainly looks the goods. The film’s outstanding technical qualities include glorious photography by Lu’s regular cameraman Han Qiming, top-notch production design by Li Mao and a rousing score by ace Aussie composer Jed Kurzel (“Snowtown,” “Macbeth”).

By, Sarah Johnson

Writer, Blogger

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