THE PLOT THUS FAR
In a world plagued by demons who cause great human suffering, young demon hunter Xuan Zang risks his all to conquer a water demon, a pig demon and the demon of all demons, Sun Wukong. Adhering to his firm belief in giving of one’s self for the greater cause, he embraces the demons as his disciples. However, in order to atone for their own sins and save the common people, the four of them must embark on a journey to the West that’s full of challenges.
WHAT WE THOUGHT
“Journey to the West” marks the first Chow film since “CJ7”. I have to remind people that film did exist, as so many want to pretend that Chow hasn’t touched a film since “Kung Fu Hustle”. That willful need to wish away a fantasy film like “CJ7” feels like unnecessary censorship. However, I feel that “CJ7” showcases more of where Chow was heading with “Journey to the West”. It’s a big messy film dedicated to the creation of action for the sake of action.
Stephen Chow has made a messy movie. However, Shu Qi is amazing as the demon hunter. Watching the lady destroy CG creations and competitors allows for immense staging of well-choreographed action. At its worst, the film is one continuous fight scene punctuated by bits of humor. At its best, it’s Chow showcasing a sense of timing that no living Asian director exhibits. I’m not sure where I fall on that spectrum, but I appreciate the work.
The Blu-Ray comes with featurettes and a trailer as the special features. The A/V Quality is strong for a foreign release. The DTS-HD 5.1 master audio tracks show no drop off between the Mandarin and the English language dubs. The 1080p transfer showcases Chow’s great eye, but I did detect a small bit of digital noise. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase.
RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW!