I see a lot of complaints that this, the latest from Stephen Chow, is “no Kung Fu Hustle (or Shaolin Soccer)” which, yeah sure, it’s a different kind of movie than those. The Monkey King, who has been imprisoned for five hundred years beneath a mountain for his offenses against Heaven. And, having taking a vow of celibacy, his refusal of her advances only convinces her further of his righteousness, turning her on even more. Better movies to come. Annoyed, the demon attacks Sanzang. In keeping with the tradition of premiering a Monkey King movie every Lunar New Year, Producer Stephen Chow collaborates with Director Tsui Hark to bring Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons 2 西游伏妖篇. Averted with the little girl from the opening, who is eaten by the fish demon.
TT, Ew, I really hate Stephen Chow's comedy style. A couple enters an empty restaurant but the chef reveals himself to be a pig demon and kills them.
She expresses her feelings, but Sanzang flees, not wishing to deal with romantic love in his quest for nirvana. Transcendent. [7] On February 14, 2013, the film grossed 122 million yuan ($19.6 million) and thus overtook the record of 112 million yuan by Transformers: Dark of the Moon as the biggest single-day gross by a film in China's box-office history. Whereas earlier set pieces mix CGI, actors and choreographed action, the climax is pretty much a CGI orgy thats not technically convincing and it doesnt compensate with any low-tech Hong Kong Cinema charm either. Considering the Asuras Wrath connection, Journey to the West literally ends with a videogame cutscene! It begins when the monkey, pig and sand demon embark on a spiritual journey along with their master Tang San Zang but the catch is… they really really hate each other.
However, the films version of the true Monkey King is underwhelming as the character lacks his usual endearing impishness and charisma.
[5] The movie was first announced in July 2011 and was released on February 10, 2013 in China. The movie was first announced in July 2011 and was released on February 10, 2013 in China. But it's okay, we all know China's film industry is only starting to take off. Sanzang begins to pray to Buddha, and an enraged Monkey King rips the hair from his head. The film set several records at the Chinese box-office.
Given the wealth of talent both in front of and behind the camera, Journey to the Wests over-reliance on CGI is deflating. After days of traveling, Sanzang finally discovers a cave under a lotus garden, where Monkey King was trapped in for 500 years. To be honest, I’m extremely curious to see the brainchild of these two great minds that have such disparate styles. As a collection of set pieces, Journey to the West is nearly without peer, but as a complete, developed narrative film it doesnt fully gel. Taking place before the eponymous journey west, the film shows a younger, less enlightened Tang Sanzang as he tries to protect people from demons and learns much about the world. Miss Duan dies at the end to complete Tang's character development into a monk. In keeping with the tradition of premiering a Monkey King movie every Lunar New Year, Producer Stephen Chow collaborates with Director Tsui Hark to bring Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons 2 西游伏妖篇.
Sanzang then opens a book of nursery rhymes and begins singing to the demon. Miss Duan (and all the other hunters) are killed by Sun Wukong, but in the process, Tang achieves true enlightenment and binds the Monkey King to Buddha's will, starting his journey of redemption. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account.
If you know your Monkey King lore, then you should realize that Journey to the West is the story of how Xuanzhang becomes the divine monk Tripitaka, who eventually takes Sun Wukong as his disciple in order to travel west in search of Buddhist scriptures.
credit: Edko Films.
This episodic quest narrative, leavened with liberal amounts of outsized action and comedy and some truly inspired images (a demon-hunter with a notable foot, for one), is pleasant enough, but by the end of the film it becomes apparent that every episode has its role in the allegory Chow is building. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam.
Multi-talented Huang Bo is a terrific choice as the human aspect of Sun Wukong (and not the full-powered Monkey King hes played by a shorter guy in a monkey suit), and Taiwan singer Show Luo does a killer Stephen Chow impression as sickly demon hunter Prince Handsome. Genre: Stephen Chow really is the *fucking* man, like if Ang Lee in the early aughts did enough acid to choke out a small village.
But most audiences probably didnt see that film, and Journey to the West hits enough high points to make it worthwhile for those who did.
Running Out of Karma: Stephen Chow’s Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons. While its sad that Stephen Chow has apparently given up performing, his work behind the camera inspires plenty of confidence, and if further adventures of Wen Zhang and Huang Bo tripping to the west are in the offing, then the line forms to the left. If you have seen the original, then you’d know that the story is anything unconventional in many ways and the sequel promises to be no different. Sanzang comes to the same restaurant, this time apparently filled with people. The film was well received by critics. Change ). Tang doesn't profess his love for Duan until she's dying. The Monkey King at one point charges and looks like a giant feral monkey.
Disillusioned, Sanzang meets his master and bemoans his lack of capabilities compared to more aggressive demon-hunters.
It doesn’t follow the escalating structure of classic screwball and slapstick comedies, instead it follows the spiritual journey of its hero (similar to the path trod by King Hu’s A Touch of Zen) tracing an epic arc from grounded realism through increasing abstraction to a kind of transcendence. Entertaining fantasy-comedy that's funny and well-played, with fine turns from Wen Zhang, Shu Qi and Huang Bo. Stephen Chow returns, in spirit if not form.
When the pig demon appears Monkey King easily subdues it, allowing Duan to turn it into a puppet.
Even though there are new top grossers with each passing year, my personal favorites are still the ones where Stephen Chow is actually in the movie. The IT factor is obviously the meshing of a comedic genius and a wuxia extraordinaire so much that they deserve some screentime at the end of the trailer. But building on the somewhat rote spiritualism of Kung Fu Hustle, Chow, along with his co-director Derek Kwok and a host of co-writers, appears to be exploring Buddhism with some allegorical seriousness.
After Sanzang refuses her advances again, she destroys his book of nursery rhymes and he leaves.
One funny segment involves Xuanzhangs body being controlled by Miss Duans sexy sister (Chrissie Chau), and Wens seductive dancing is actually better than Chaus. Chow was arguably the biggest Hong Kong star of the 1990s, and Kung Fu Hustle in particular is a masterpiece, the pinnacle of the kung fu parody, driven by CGI to fully realize the live-action Looney Tunes-quality this era of Hong Kong comedy always strived for. Sanzang frees himself and, along with the survivors, manages to beach the creature, which turns into a man.
His master reaffirms his humanist philosophy and sends Sanzang off again to find "enlightenment.". The sight gags and dry comic asides are as enjoyable as anything from Chows accomplished filmography, and the themes of devoted love and irreconcilable regret two concepts that Chow frequently obsesses over strike the proper emotional chords. Each of the demons is a human who’s soul has been poisoned by tragedy, their perversions the direct result of desire and attachment. A 2013 loose reimagination of the Chinese classic Journey to the West directed by Stephen Chow.It contains Chow's trademark mix of drama, kung fu, and slapstick comedy.
Duan bursts into the restaurant and destroys all the corpses, and attacks the pig demon. If that sounds disappointing, then deal with it because Journey to the West is still an entertaining film that’s worthy of the Stephen Chow brand. [1] The film is a loose comedic re-interpretation of the 16th century novel Journey to the West, a Chinese literary classic often believed to be written by Wu Cheng'en.
But we all know China is letting HK seed their movies industry. The villagers ignore him and, at the priest's provocation, string him up. If you have seen the original, then you’d know that the story is anything unconventional in many ways and the sequel promises to be no different. Essentially, this is Tripitaka Begins except with an important lesson on how lesser love informs Tripitakas ultimate transformation into Buddhas earthly avatar.
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I usually warn against too much genre shifting in a movie, as, also usually, playing around too much with … As they hike across the desert, Sanzang looks across the sand and sees an image of Duan. Duan then gives both the fish and pig puppets to Sanzang and offers her golden ringed weapon as an engagement band, but he rejects her again.