A Chinese Odyssey: Part Three Movie Review

Title: A Chinese Odyssey Part Three

Genre: Fantasy, Comedy, Folklore, Action

Release Date: September 14, 2016

Origin: China

Cast: Han Geng, Tiffany Tang, Jacky Wu Jing and Karen Mok.

This is the third movie in the franchise, and a different twist to the original ending of part two.

After getting a hold of Pandoras Box, Zi Xia (Tiffany Tang) uses it to see into the future, of how she and Joker (Han Geng) are going to be in the future, only to witness her own death. When returning, she tries to read Jokers heart, and finds out that if he falls in love with her, she is bound to die, but might have a different fate if he returns to Bak Jing Jing (Karen Mok). This leads her to look for Jing Jing, who not only doesn’t believe Zi Xia, but refuses to accept Joker as the Monkey King.

As a last resort she decides to look for the Bull King (Zhang Chao) and marry him, in order to make Joker forget about her, but Joker who already has fallen for Zi Xia, saves her and ends up in a fight with the Bull King. During all this, the Longevity Monk (Jacky Wu Jing) finds Joker, to tell him about his identity. At the same time, the Monkey Kings arch enemy the Six Ears Monkey (Han Geng), with the Jade Emperor, try to take down the possible rebirth of the Monkey King…

To tell the truth, Han Geng was the reason I opted to watch this trilogy. I had seen that the third instalment had Han Geng as the lead, which is why I watched the entire thing. Though I have to say Han Geng was amazing, in portrayal of the monkey king, and the imitation of Stephen Chow, which by the way was flawless. The cameos were great too, and I gotta admit, I enjoyed this movie, though I was hoping for something different. It wasn’t necessarily boring, but I wasn’t totally into it, as the storyline was a bit… the same? I mean, I get it’s the third instalment, and we are doing the entire “retelling of the second movie”, but I honestly felt, I could’ve done without this movie.

So, all in all, an enjoyable movie, but noting out of the ordinary.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

A Chinese Odyssey Part 2: Cinderella Movie Review

Title: A Chinese Odyssey Part 2 Cinderella

AKA: A Chinese Odyssey Part 2

Genre: Fantasy, Folklore, Action, Comedy

Origin: Hong Kong (China)

Release date: February 4, 1995

Cast: Stephen Chow, Ng Man Tat, Law Kar Ying, Yammie Lam, Athena Chu and Karen Mok.

After opening the Pandora’s Box and traveling back in time, Joker (Stephen Chow) has lost the Box to Zixia (Athena Chu) an immortal fairy. After becoming her servant, he by accident removes her sword out of its scabbard, and the fairy falls in love with him due to her promise to marry the one that pulls it out. Joker on the other hand refuses to accept his fate to become the Monkey King as he only wants the Box back so he can save Bak Jing Jing (Karen Mok). Him refusing her makes her leave him – with a broken heart.

In the past, he manages to interrupt Guan Yin’s judgment by saving his master (Law Kar Ying), and unfortunately send him through time. Now with no Box he tries to hide from the upcoming storm, and meets the Longevity Monk again – who has been travelling through time. Unfortunately, he has lost Pandora’s Box, and they get caught by the Bull King, also a demon, wanting to become immortal by eating the Monk. Now Joker needs to save himself so he can find the Box, but can he defy his fate of becoming the Monkey King?

This second part is a direct continuance from the first movie. The difference is that it introduces new characters, and focuses a bit more on the overall story rather than the characters. Not that it is a bad thing, but the characters become second to the story, which the first movie didn’t do. Though it felt more like a movie rather than an introduction. So, it progressed as a chronological story.

I did not mention in the other review about the acting as I didn’t know whether their acting was bad or good, due to the comedy and weirdness of the movie. But seeing this one I realized the acting was quite good. Even though the subtitles I had for the movie were horrible, I understood each character because of their movements. They were acting with their entire bodies! This made me enjoy the acting more.

The bad part of this movie which I didn’t notice in the first (I rarely notice things though), was the wires. I noticed the wires used to pull the actors in the air. The ones they use when the actors are supposed to jump really high (superpowers) or fly (again superpowers). It’s only a little part of the movie though, but still it made me facepalm myself.

So all in all: a funny and well-acted movie, with few technical issues.

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

A Chinese Odyssey Part 1: Pandoras Box Movie Review

Title: A Chinese Odyssey Part 1 Pandora’s Box

AKA: A Chinese Odyssey Part 1

Genre: Fantasy, Folklore, Action, Comedy

Origin: Hong Kong (China)

Release date: January 21,1995

Cast: Stephen Chow, Ng Man Tat, Law Kar Ying, Yammie Lam and Karen Mok.

500 years ago, the Monkey King (Stephen Chow) commits a sin by stealing Pandora’s Box. He is punished by the Goddess of Mercy Guan Yi, and is caught to be executed. His master the Longevity Monk (Law Kar Ying), sacrifices himself to save his soul.

500 years later a lowlife outlaw leader called Joker (Stephen Chow) who lives with his group of robbers in a small hideout in the desert. When a young woman (Yammie Lam) arrives at their hideout, the men are shocked to find out that she is capable of martial arts, and she demands to stay at the hideout. Soon her equally strong sister Bak Jing Jing (Karen Mok) arrives, and they realize that they are surrounded by demons. Unaware that the two women are the demons, Joker falls in love with Bak Jing Jing. The two demons want to feast on the flesh of the Longevity Monk, as they become immortal if they do so.

Soon more demons arrive as they all have heard about the soon to come arrival of the Longevity Monk, who has been incarnated and is to meet the Monkey King, somewhere close to the robber’s hideout. Little do they all know, including Joker, that the Joker is the incarnation of the Monkey King and that fate has other plans for him…

As far as folklores go this movie is rather on the creative side. I am not the usual fan of folklore, but I do know my folklore as they do represent the culture of different times in history. The monkey king is one of those stories that go across Asia, where most Asians know the story. I don’t really remember the Monkey King becoming human at all – which I guess this movie tried to do so that there would be less dressing up as a Monkey and/or using the supernatural powers of the monkey king. Aside from the twist in the story, the other confusing thing is that the characters suddenly pop up. I got confused a few times, but then again, the characters are known to the folklore so if you know your creatures/monsters/ghosts, it won’t be that complicated. But if you don’t, you would be shaking your head and massaging your temples.

Besides that, the humor was so bad it was good. I mean I laughed at the ridiculousness and the silliness. I don’t usually enjoy movies like this, but it was okay to watch.

To sum up: a funny movie, with a hint of creativeness to an old folklore.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts