Journey to the West

About Journey to the West

Released in 2013, "Journey to the West" is a comedy-fantasy film directed by Stephen Chow and Derek Kwok. The film is a reinterpretation of the novel of the same name, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. This film is a confluence of action, comical moments, and supernatural events, telling the story of a young monk who embarks on a journey to retrieve sacred texts while overcoming demons along the way.

Making / Production

The movie is a joint production by China Film Group, Village Roadshow Pictures Asia, Edko Films, and The Weinstein Company. Extensive CGI work has been used in the film to render the numerous fantastical elements of the story, contributing significantly to its visual appeal.

Actors

• Wen Zhang as Xuanzang (Monk), who gave a genuine and nuanced portrayal of a man wrestling with his spiritual convictions.
• Shu Qi as Miss Duan, adding depth to her character with her display of both intense vivacity and vulnerability.
• Huang Bo as Sun Wukong (Monkey King), played his role remarkably, bringing a perfect blend of mischief and intensity to the character.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film grossed over $215 in worldwide box office, making it the highest-grossing domestic film in China's history at the time.
• It is the first installment of Stephen Chow's planned trilogy of films based on the novel.

Awards

"Journey to the West" won several awards including Best Visual Effects at the Golden Horse Awards and Best Director for Stephen Chow at the Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild.

Quotes

• "To subdue the demons is to conquer our desires." – Xuanzang
• "Only when we let go of all our earthly ties, can we begin to embrace our divinity." – Xuanzang

Music and Soundtrack

• Stephen Chow and Raymond Wong, known for their work in "Kung Fu Hustle", returned to compose the film's original score.
• The film's nostalgic and emotive soundtrack became one of its most praised aspects.