Producer and director Luc Besson's latest film "The Warrior's Gate" has received mixed reception. Criticism about the movie include comments regarding its "white savior" narrative and a reputation as a "failed experiment" by the director.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, "[t]ime and space are crossed in this Chinese-French co-production featuring emerging PRC star Ni Ni, Hong Kong vet Francis Ng, and galactic guardian Dave Bautista." "The Warrior's Gate" focuses on Jack Bronson, portrayed by Uriah Shelton ("The Glades," "Girl Meets World"), who is an avid gamer. One day, he receives an antique box from the kind owner of the shop he works at. Unbeknownst to Jack, the box is actually a portal to "a mysterious land."

Soon after, an imperial warrior named Zhao, played by Mark Chao/Zhao ("Black and White"), and Princess Su Lin, played by Ni Ni ("The Flowers of War"), appears before Jack. Zhao believes Jack is actually the Black Knight, the latter's online video game avatar, and the two strangers bring the teenager back with them to help in the fight against Arun, the movie's antagonist, played by Dave Bautista ("Guardians of the Galaxy").

Directed by Matthias Hoene ("Cockneys vs Zombies," "Beyond the Rave"), "The Warrior's Gate" is a $50-million film that is the first project in EuropaCorp and Shanghai's Fundamental Films' "three-pic co-production deal." It appears that the collaboration aims to appeal to China, the world's second-largest film market.

Despite its flaws, The Hollywood Reporter appreciated the laughs that were scattered about the film. However, the review maintained that "The Warrior's Gate" follows its own bizarre internal logic, but that it does not have "the goofy glee that accommodates suspension of disbelief to go with it."

Meanwhile, another review from South China Morning Post echoed the same sentiments. The online publication gave "The Warrior's Gate" two stars out of three, stating that "Besson wrote and produced this relic from a time when Asian stereotypes passed by almost unchecked, although its boundless energy almost salvages it - almost."