The Monkey King (2014)

Journey to the West is a different show from the new 2014 Monkey King movie but the new movie is not bad either.  Even though you incorrectly call the new movie a hot mess, that has nothing to do with the amazing and magnificent original novel that was written in the 16th century by Wu Cheng''en.  Journey to the West is one of the four great classical novels of China.  Please note the fact that Martial arts and kungfu which were invented and created from China is very impressive.  The beautiful ancient Chinese costumes of Asian Chinese men and women, great Chinese mythology and the Bhuddist monk are excellent in the high quality TV series.  Journey to the West is the best novel written about Bhuddism.  Even though the new Monkey King 2014 movie is being badmouthed by you westerners, please note the fact that the special effects and CGI that you complainabout have NOTHING to do with the really good TV series. How about complaining that Hollywood movies in the 20th century, including Harry Potter have PLAGIARIZED and COPIED the Asian Chinese concept of the original Monkey King flying in a cape with this magic staff that was invented first in the 16th century!!!  When you complain and whine about the new Monkey King movie with Chow Yun Fat who did a great job, the other guy, Soe Cheang did a good job with the 2014 movie!!! Please stop writing excessively negative and sad articles to sabotage the new 2014 Monkey King movie.  You bad racist people on IMDb.com are directly and indirectly badmouthing and sabotaging the good reputation of the literary genius, Wu Chengén and the magnificent Journey to the West novel.This IMDb.com website is just jealous of the Monkey King 2014 being a decent movie that deserves an 8/10 or at least a 6.5/10. Why don't you say that the X-men is the 3/10 or worst special effects of all times in the X-men. The western people or other people who evaluated this IMDb rating of 4.7/10 is ridiculous and highly unreasonable at www.imdb.com/title/tt1717715. This "4.7/10"is your opinion and your opinion is wrong and does not make any sense at all. The Hollywood Terminator movie is a 4.5 out of 10!!. If you can be so rude and unreasonable, is it okay for people to write and promote that The Terminator is the WORST movie of all time. It is really rude and NASTY of western/caucsian people to initiate these incorrect insults first against the new Monkey King 2014 movie.

The Monkey King: or perhaps more fittingly- how not to utilise your slew of fan-favourite, award-winning actors/actresses, sky-rocket budget and effort- lackluster at best.For those who have no knowledge of the tale or are simply looking for a dumb, uproarious, action romp- look no further- as senseless as it is it should entertain fine.I must warn those people that know of the original tale, or those who are looking for a blockbuster film done right- consider slamming yourself under a mountain for 500 years before seeing this cinematic atrocity. Forget the juvenile acting, forget the meagre costumes, forget even the headache- inducing CGI-fest: what truly went wrong with this 'Journey to the West' adaption is the storytelling and story itself.Spoilers Below: The adaption fails to create a journey worth investing in, opting for a show of big name actors that bring nothing to the table. The very essence of the story that consolidated it into Chinese legend for over 400 years was flagrantly overlooked- instead of keeping the spirit and notions of the classic, the adaption changes the very themes of the story into some Frankenstein's's monster. Most offensively, is the fact that 'The Monkey King' was cheaply converted into a much- clichéd prophesy story, which entirely misses the point of the monkey king's free will and rebellion towards heaven: in arrogance, and just because he can. Or the fact that Master Puti seeks our protagonist out after been notified by higher-ups- completely robbing the monkey king of his determination, direction and growth.The worst out-of-characterisation, is perhaps in the end, where Sun Wukong obediently and matter-of-factly accepts his defeat, and accepts punishment under the mountain. What. Famous characters are flagrantly misrepresented. There is a line between 'reimagining' characters and 'completely butchering them beyond recognition'Princess Iron Fan is not a submissive house wife. Bull Demon King is not a calculating, all-powerful contender for the heavenly throne. Er Lang Shen is not a scheming, political traitor. The Jade Emperor is not a tolerant, liberal, front line ruler. And for Buddah's sake, Sun Wukong, the Monkey King should not have a romantic interest.By no means am I implying that the only way to achieve an adaption is a word by word transcription of the original old text, changes must inevitably be made. But no thematic adaption has missed the point so completely like 'The Monkey King.'There are many things amiss in this movie attempt, but other than the stated above, the movie simply fails to engage. No emotional connection is made with any character, save perhaps the lead in the very least.Donnie Yen, I still love you, you tried, really. Everyone else...under the mountain.

If you thought Dragonball the movie was bad ... you don't even want to attempt to watch this movie. SPOILERS ... this movie SUCKS. I don't even know how they are going to make back their 100+ million budget. I hope they don't because this movie blows and the director does not deserve another movie to be made. The story was so weak.It did not follow the original folk tale story that was told. The green screen was awful. The "fight" scene were terrible. I could make a better fight choreography in my backyard. The only reason I went to go watch this movie was because of Donnie Yen, but damn. He did a awful job with the fighting choreography in this movie. I don't like how they have to dub over his voice. In conclusion. Do NOT go to watch this movie. For those who are going to. Make sure you have a few to drink first.

I can only feel sorry for the Chinese people fond of their cultural heritage. Donnie Yen's Monkey King was painful to watch. Specially the costumes were so kitsch I wanted to shout of annoyment: 'What the hell have U done with the 100M$ budget, fools!" Next and near as bad as the costumes, the CGI/special effects pathetically trying to imitate a bunch of various styles in an awkward way bordering the look of a college project movie. It's actually hard to believe that such mediocre production can be achieved today with that kind of budget, particularly since a few 'international experts' were working on this flick and anyone who has any idea about what these people could do with that kind of money will be bewildered to witness the end result. Finally, I have read from Chinese reviewers that the original story has gone very much out of tracks with this movie and it is a pity to think that such a classic part of their culture is being mixed up by modern 'story tellers' who have no respect for the very material they use to make money. If Donnie Yen wished to do one more take on the Monkey King, He could at least have respected the source material rather than releasing a distorted and immature production for the whole world to absorb, thus diluting slowly the accuracy of the original epic story. For one thing, if U are just someone who wanna take kids to the theater to see some Asian movie, then this might be working for them at the condition that they are under 6-7 or didn't yet develop a critical sense about movies. Hehe. I give it a 4/10 for some OK sequences, and I feel somehow generous.