On DVD and Blu Ray - "Journey To The West: Conquering The Demons" - (2014) - Director Stephen Chow’s (Kung Fu Hustle, Shaolin Soccer) reimagining of the Chinese Odyssey is as intermittently strange, funny, innovative and entertaining as one familiar with the helmer's work might expect- it’s a bit of a heart breaker that it all amounts to a meandering, uneven misfire.
One gets the feeling that the budget for the effects work is depleted well before the film ends- an early showdown with an aquatic demon terrorizing a small fishing community is first rate, with excellent CGI staged around an impressive set piece, though subsequent showdowns feature effects work of deteriorating quality. Furthermore, the story throws a slew of ill-defined characters at the audience while the narrative often bogs down with unnecessary diversions.
Though open-ended, this was initially conceived as a one-off film- with Journey… turning out to be the highest grossing Chinese film of all-time, there will more than likely be sequels to follow. I just hope Chow is able to get a better grip on the material and focus in on a more coherent and cohesive narrative- a better script would work wonders.
As is, the film is an exercise in unrealized creative potential from a highly creative filmmaker. That said, fans of the Director and his zany antics may still find plenty here to appreciate.
Worth a rental.
7.0 out of 10
Director: Stephen Chow, Chi-kin Kwok
Cast: Qi Shu, Zhang Wen, Bo Huang, Show Luo, Shing-Cheung Lee, Bingqiang Chen, Sihan Cheng and Yu Xing
Run-Time: 110 minutes
MPAA: Rated PG-13 for fantasy violence including bloody images, some sexual content and partial nudity
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