egg-rolling t1_j6li3ai wrote on January 31, 2023 at 4:08 AM

Fan of the series.

I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s pro-Russia propaganda. The most significant poke at Russia would be their nukes have no safety and two triggers. I think it’s more directed towards the Chinese stereotype of Russians.

In the first movie, it also depicted Russian astronauts bringing vodka into space station. Another stereotype.

Overall I think I can read the favored tone towards Russian tho. But I would probably just rule it to “poke fun at them” since to Chinese viewers this is also a “new year” movie so some comedic stuff are included

Shillbot888 OP t1_j6lkr47 wrote on January 31, 2023 at 4:32 AM

They made a joke about them. But every heroic westerner in the series has been Russian. Seems like they want to paint a positive image of Russia.

I guess at the end of the day it's no different to American movies showing Americans as heroic.

Some reviewers complained about Americans being portrayed as dumbasses. But I think that's fair seeing as how Hollywood movies treat Asian characters as comic relief.

I'm guessing this thread is being downvoted by those with the same opinion as those reviewers.

egg-rolling t1_j6luvi4 wrote on January 31, 2023 at 6:14 AM

I think ultimately the director wants “the world to save the world”. In the first movie, more than one of the engine was fired up to blow up Jupiter, instead of solo heroism that one team saves the day. In the second movie, astronauts from all nations volunteered as a symbol of courage for mankind. Granted the story was told from China’s perspective but I think it just happens to be they chose China’s wandering earth plan instead of other countries’ proposal.

If I am a Brazilian fan, I can still write a fan work on how Brazilian astronauts contributed and saves the day within the same universe.