loose adaptation of the classic novel "Journey to the West",
A Chinese Tall Story updates the story of the
Monkey King with a hot young cast, imaginative costume designs, and unbelievable visual effects. But the biggest change of
all: the movie isn't really about the Monkey King! Instead it focuses on the Tang monk, Tripitaka (Nicholas Tse), who experiences
his own adventure after his stalwart companions Piggy (Kenny Kwan, formerly of Boy'z), Sandy (Stephen Cheung of Boy'z), and
Monkey King Sun Wukong (Wilson Chen) get taken hostage by an evil Tree Demon.
Tripitaka must fend for himself, and finds an unlikely companion in ugly lizard imp Meiyan (Charlene Choi), who instantly
falls in love with the handsome, but chaste monk. Complicating matters are Tripitaka's own wavering faith, plus the appearance
of white-garbed aliens (led by Fan Bing Bing), who may or may not be Tripitaka's allies. When Tripitaka decides that it's
time to rescue his companions, will the aliens help him? And what of the newly-transformed Meiyan, who possesses powers unknown
even to herself?
Director Jeff Lau is no stranger to the Monkey King legend, having directed 1995's A Chinese Odyssey starring Stephen
Chow. The stirring score was provided by Joe Hisaishi, composer for the majority of Hayao Miyazaki's films, and the film also
features appearances from EEG starlet Isabella Leong, and classic Chinese stars like Yuen Wah, Kara Hui (Wai Ying Hung), and
Gordon Liu. Full of comedy, action, romance, and plenty of big-screen spectacle, A Chinese Tall Story is a worthy update
of the Monkey King legend!
DVD FEATURES:
- Language(s): Mandarin, Cantonese
- Subtitle(s): English,
Chinese (T/S)
- Special Feature(s): Bonus Trailers; Commentaries
