Director Jeff Lau, who brought us Chow Sing Chi's overly impressive Chinese Odyssey saga (ignoring its last chapter), returns a decade after those with this updated version of a Monkey King tale...
Opening with a beautiful score from Joe Hisaishi, we are already taken down a whole new road as a motherboard - of which has carried the opening credits - flies through space and burns up as it enters earth's atmosphere. This is followed by voice over explaining the mission of Tripitaka, as well as a fun introduction to the Prince himself along with the Monkey King, Pigsy and Sandy as they arrive in town to a Bollywood styled dance.
We soon get in on the action as a horde of alien insects descend on the town wanting to eat the flesh of Tripitaka, for health benefits we would never get these days from any dietary plan. Wu Kong attacks, with thousands of mini-monkey's against the locusts, resulting in some explosive fantasy action and destruction of mountains as the Monkey King takes on their leader. In terms of the CGI involved, it's definitely far from perfect, but it works..!
The opening 10 minutes of A Chinese Tall Story is already more impressive than the whole of A Chinese Odyssey 3 (2016), with its better visual effects and comic timing. The cast is far stronger also, and while still focusing on a group of pretty boys as the heroes, does a much better job than his 2016 entry.
Nic Tse is great as Tripitaka, as are his co-stars in their own right, and the cameo of names throughout are just wonderful. The sets are highly impressive, from the temples to the giant animal carcass on the riverbank, with great detail and colour that really should give the film much more credit than it deserves.
After the 10 minute mark, and with the alien insects still attacking, Wu Kong opts to save his master just like anyone else would - by wrapping him up in a giant cotton-bud and launching him for miles, to get him out of harms way! And thus - the story gets even crazier.
Charlene Choi is just brilliant as the lizard Imp Meiyan and is hardly recognisable in her prosthetic make-up and bad teeth and steals the show for the most of it. The great Kara Hui plays her mother, and after the alien insects attack their village, helps Meiyan escape with Tripitaka - all while trying to convince her to eat him herself for eternal youth...
Instead, using the power of the Monkey King's golden needle (staff), they go on a journey like never before, turning it into a jet-ski, a spacecraft and more stopping at scenic spots and the centre of the universe before facing some guards, in what I can only describe as the most artistic outlook on Heaven I've seen so far!
Ultimately though, A Chinese Tall Story is a love story, and I don't mean in the cheesy way that you think. Charlene Choi's little imp (who believes she is stunningly beautiful) falls madly in love with the handsome Tripitaka, and on his announcement of his rejection throws herself off a cliff. Of course, when he saves her, her love grows deeper - but his feelings have not yet changed. This continues throughout and you can't help but feel sorry for poor Meiyan, something that helps make this nonsensical comedy much stronger.
And on the subject of comedy - this is probably one of Jeff Lau's better offerings from the 21st Century. Many of his more recent films have been ruined by unfunny comedic scenes, dreadful CGI, or poor acting. This however, has plenty of genuinely funny moments from his typical nonsense style (as seen in most Chow Sing Chi films), to some clever moments of satire and humour - including a Spider-man spoof. A lot of the best moments however, belong to Charlene Choi as Meiyan who constantly had me roaring..!
Coming up to the hour mark, we get introduced to the beautiful Fan Bing Bing and a much bigger sci-fi element to the story. The visual effects for the time-jumps and space ships are pretty impressive for a Chinese movie at that time. Again, why Lau passed the pitiful FX on his more recent productions that are shocking in comparison (almost 20 years later), is beyond me. I must also note that the cinematography for A Chinese Tall Story is, for the most of its running time, quite beautiful - once again, helping to add to the fact that this isn't just another stupid comedy. It's as touching as much as it is funny; something I think is missed by most of its viewers. Meiyan's transformation is one such example that just hits the mark, along with her rescue of Tripitaka - just beautiful.
The rescue mission of Wu Kong, Sandy and Pigsy - with Meiyan now in super-mode - is just massive! I only wish Lau had had a Hollywood budget for this, with someone like Industrial Light and Magic behind him that would have made this epic battle visually perfect. While not unwatchable, I'm sure it will be a fault to many viewers, although to me it still highly entertained - especially when Meiyan turns Wu Kong's golden needle into a gun-toting Mech-suit..!
Jeff definitely had huge aspirations with this one, and it quite clearly shows. The ending, complete with an extended cameo by the great Gordon Liu as the Jade Emperor, continues the beautiful cinematography, comedy and romance all while tugging at the heart-strings as Tripitaka and friends attempt to rescue Meiyan. I'll not spoil the ending, but it left a lump in my throat...
Overall: Underrated by many, A Chinese Tall Story is a beautifully shot, heartfelt, touching and often hilarious comedy that (while not perfect) is definitely one of Jeff Lau's best 21st Century films!
Opening with a beautiful score from Joe Hisaishi, we are already taken down a whole new road as a motherboard - of which has carried the opening credits - flies through space and burns up as it enters earth's atmosphere. This is followed by voice over explaining the mission of Tripitaka, as well as a fun introduction to the Prince himself along with the Monkey King, Pigsy and Sandy as they arrive in town to a Bollywood styled dance.
We soon get in on the action as a horde of alien insects descend on the town wanting to eat the flesh of Tripitaka, for health benefits we would never get these days from any dietary plan. Wu Kong attacks, with thousands of mini-monkey's against the locusts, resulting in some explosive fantasy action and destruction of mountains as the Monkey King takes on their leader. In terms of the CGI involved, it's definitely far from perfect, but it works..!
The opening 10 minutes of A Chinese Tall Story is already more impressive than the whole of A Chinese Odyssey 3 (2016), with its better visual effects and comic timing. The cast is far stronger also, and while still focusing on a group of pretty boys as the heroes, does a much better job than his 2016 entry.
Nic Tse is great as Tripitaka, as are his co-stars in their own right, and the cameo of names throughout are just wonderful. The sets are highly impressive, from the temples to the giant animal carcass on the riverbank, with great detail and colour that really should give the film much more credit than it deserves.
After the 10 minute mark, and with the alien insects still attacking, Wu Kong opts to save his master just like anyone else would - by wrapping him up in a giant cotton-bud and launching him for miles, to get him out of harms way! And thus - the story gets even crazier.
Charlene Choi is just brilliant as the lizard Imp Meiyan and is hardly recognisable in her prosthetic make-up and bad teeth and steals the show for the most of it. The great Kara Hui plays her mother, and after the alien insects attack their village, helps Meiyan escape with Tripitaka - all while trying to convince her to eat him herself for eternal youth...
Instead, using the power of the Monkey King's golden needle (staff), they go on a journey like never before, turning it into a jet-ski, a spacecraft and more stopping at scenic spots and the centre of the universe before facing some guards, in what I can only describe as the most artistic outlook on Heaven I've seen so far!
Ultimately though, A Chinese Tall Story is a love story, and I don't mean in the cheesy way that you think. Charlene Choi's little imp (who believes she is stunningly beautiful) falls madly in love with the handsome Tripitaka, and on his announcement of his rejection throws herself off a cliff. Of course, when he saves her, her love grows deeper - but his feelings have not yet changed. This continues throughout and you can't help but feel sorry for poor Meiyan, something that helps make this nonsensical comedy much stronger.
And on the subject of comedy - this is probably one of Jeff Lau's better offerings from the 21st Century. Many of his more recent films have been ruined by unfunny comedic scenes, dreadful CGI, or poor acting. This however, has plenty of genuinely funny moments from his typical nonsense style (as seen in most Chow Sing Chi films), to some clever moments of satire and humour - including a Spider-man spoof. A lot of the best moments however, belong to Charlene Choi as Meiyan who constantly had me roaring..!
Coming up to the hour mark, we get introduced to the beautiful Fan Bing Bing and a much bigger sci-fi element to the story. The visual effects for the time-jumps and space ships are pretty impressive for a Chinese movie at that time. Again, why Lau passed the pitiful FX on his more recent productions that are shocking in comparison (almost 20 years later), is beyond me. I must also note that the cinematography for A Chinese Tall Story is, for the most of its running time, quite beautiful - once again, helping to add to the fact that this isn't just another stupid comedy. It's as touching as much as it is funny; something I think is missed by most of its viewers. Meiyan's transformation is one such example that just hits the mark, along with her rescue of Tripitaka - just beautiful.
The rescue mission of Wu Kong, Sandy and Pigsy - with Meiyan now in super-mode - is just massive! I only wish Lau had had a Hollywood budget for this, with someone like Industrial Light and Magic behind him that would have made this epic battle visually perfect. While not unwatchable, I'm sure it will be a fault to many viewers, although to me it still highly entertained - especially when Meiyan turns Wu Kong's golden needle into a gun-toting Mech-suit..!
Jeff definitely had huge aspirations with this one, and it quite clearly shows. The ending, complete with an extended cameo by the great Gordon Liu as the Jade Emperor, continues the beautiful cinematography, comedy and romance all while tugging at the heart-strings as Tripitaka and friends attempt to rescue Meiyan. I'll not spoil the ending, but it left a lump in my throat...
Overall: Underrated by many, A Chinese Tall Story is a beautifully shot, heartfelt, touching and often hilarious comedy that (while not perfect) is definitely one of Jeff Lau's best 21st Century films!