[Movie] The Monkey King

The Monkey King (film)

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The Monkey King
Theatrical release poster
Traditional	西游記之大鬧天宮
Simplified	西游记之大闹天宫
Mandarin	Dà Nào Tiān Gōng
Cantonese	Daai6 Naau6 Tin1 Gung1
Directed by	Cheang Pou-soi
Produced by	Kiefer Liu[1] Michael Wehrhahn[2] Robert Harris[2]
Screenplay by	Szeto Kam-Yuen Edmond Wong Lola Huo Dali Chen
Story by	Wu Cheng'en
Starring	Donnie Yen Chow Yun-fat Aaron Kwok Joe Chen Peter Ho Kelly Chen Zhang Zilin Gigi Leung Xia Zitong Louis Fan
Music by	Christopher Young
Cinematography	Arthur Wong Ardy Lam Yang Tao Daniel L. Symmes
Studio	Filmko Entertainment[1][3] Mandarin Films[1][3] China Film Group[1] Shenzhen Golden Shores Films[1] Zhejiang HG Entertainment[1] Dongguan Boning Entreprise and Investment[1] Beijing Wen Hua Dong Run Investment Co., Ltd.[3] China Film Co-Production Corporation[3] Global Star Productions
Distributed by	Filmko Entertainment (Hong Kong; International)[1] Newport Entertainment (Hong Kong)[1] Beijing Anshi Naying Culture Co. (China)[1] China Film Group (China)[1] Wanda Media (China)[1] Global Star Productions
Release dates	25 January 2014(Beijing premiere) 30 January 2014(Hong Kong) 31 January 2014(China)
Running time	120 minutes
Country	Hong Kong[1][3] China[1][3]
Language	Mandarin[3] Cantonese[1]
Budget	500 million yuan (82 million USD)[4]
Box office	$175,835,580[5][6]

The Monkey King is a 2014 Hong Kong^[1]-Chinese^[3] fantasy film directed by Cheang Pou-soi and starring Donnie Yen as the titular protagonist. Yen also serves as the film's action director. Production began in Beijing on 18 October 2010^[7] and was filmed in 3D.^[8] The plot is based on an episode of Journey to the West, a Chinese literary classic written in the Ming Dynasty by Wu Cheng'en. It was released on 31 January 2014.^[9]

Contents

  [hide] 

• 1 Plot
• 2 Cast
  • 2.1 Main cast
  • 2.2 Other cast
• 3 Production
• 4 Release
• 5 Reception
  • 5.1 Box office
• 6 Sequel
• 7 References
• 8 External links

Plot[edit]

The film is based on selected chapters of Wu Cheng'en's classical novel Journey to the West and will tell the story of how the Monkey King rebels against the Jade Emperor of Heaven.^[10]

Cast[edit]

Further information: List of Journey to the West characters

Main cast[edit]

• Donnie Yen as Sun Wukong, the Monkey King
• Chow Yun-fat as the Jade Emperor
• Aaron Kwok as Bull Demon King
• Joe Chen as Princess Iron Fan
• Peter Ho as Erlang Shen
• Kelly Chen as Guan Yin
• Zhang Zilin as Nüwa
• Gigi Leung as Chang'e
• Xia Zitong as the Nine-tailed Vixen
• Louis Fan as Juling Shen

Other cast[edit]

• Eddie Cheung as Li Jing, the Pagoda-wielding Heavenly King
• Calvin Cheng as Nezha
• Him Law as Muzha
• Liu Hua as the Dragon King of the East Sea
• Li Ching as the Green-haired Monkey King
• Irene Wang as Fairy Caiyun
• Hai Yitian as Subhuti
• Cathy Leung as Fairy Caixia
• Monica Mok
• Liu Ye
• Wang Xizhi

Production[edit]

When the film was first announced, both Jet Li and Donnie Yenwere eyed for a role.^[11] On 18 May 2010, Yen was confirmed to be playing the title role of the Monkey King.^[12] Later, it was announced Chow Yun-fat and Aaron Kwok will be playing the Jade Emperor and Bull Demon King respectively. Kwok's role is said to be breaking traditions for being handsome, stylish and fighting for love.^[13] The film was originally budgeted at 300 million yuan but later was raised to 400 million yuan. Production companies include Filmko, Mandarin Films, China Film Group, Shenzhen Golden Shores Films, Zhejiang HG Entertainment, Dongguan Boning Entreprise and Investment, Beijing Wen Hua Dong Run Investment Co., Ltd., China Film Co-Production Corporation, and Global Star Productions, Inc. Michael Wehrhahn, President of Global Star Production, Inc, has joined forces with former Imagine Films President / Universal Television Icon Robert Harris in producing and releasing high end features for the U.S. and Asian markets.^[14][15][16]

Additional cast members were later announced including Cecilia Cheung, Gigi Leung, Kelly Chen, Peter Ho, Joe Chen and Liu Ye.^[17] On 17 May 2011, Zhang Zilin, winner of Miss World 2007, confirmed that she joined the film, playing the role of Nüwa, replacing Cecilia Cheung, who was originally^{[citation needed]}announced in the role. However, Zhang claimed that she never heard that Cheung was to be in the film.^[18]

For the 3-D shoot, Filmko recruited Hollywood talents. The crew includes David Ebner (Alice in Wonderland, Spider-Man 3), who will serve as visual effects supervisor for the film and Shaun Smith (The Forbidden Kingdom, 300, I Am Legend) who will be the special make-up supervisor.^[19]

Release[edit]

The original poster released had a release date of February 2012, but it was postponed.^[12] Later it was announced that it would be released on 7 July 2012,^[20] on 4 July 2013,^[21] and finally on 30 January 2014 in Hong Kong and 31 January in China.^[22] It will be released in the United States on September 14, 2014.

Reception[edit]

The Internet Movie Database gave this film a score of 4.8 / 10^[23].

Box office[edit]

The film had the highest-grossing opening day in China with RMB121 million (US$20.0 million), surpassing Iron Man 3.^[24] It grossed RMB389.97 million (US$64.35 million) in the first four days.^[25]

Sequel[edit]

Filmko Entertainment announced Louis Koo will be joining the cast as Tang Sanzang in the upcoming sequel.^[26]

References[edit]

1. ^ Jump up to:^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p} "Film Review: ‘The Monkey King in 3D’". Variey.
2. ^ Jump up to:^a b "The Monkey King: An IMAX 3D Experience". Big Movie Zone.
3. ^ Jump up to:^{a b c d e f g h} "THE MONKEY KING (2014)".Hong Kong Cinemagic.
4. Jump up^ Skipper, Ben (2014-01-20). "Monkey King: A Look At China's Biggest (And Craziest) Film Ever". Retrieved 2014-02-07.
5. Jump up^ http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/intl/?page=&wk=2014W5&id=_fTHEMONKEYKING01
6. Jump up^ "Weekly box office". english.entgroup.cn. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
7. Jump up^ "The Monkey King Starts Wreaking Havoc - Wu-Jing.org".
8. Jump up^ "Donnie Yen to Transform Himself into The Monkey King - Wu-Jing.org".
9. Jump up^ Stephen Cremin (2013-11-07). "Mega-Vision close deals on Vegas to Macau". Film Business Asia. Retrieved 2013-11-13.
10. Jump up^ "Donnie Yen, Aaron Kwok Join Cast of 'The Monkey King'".
11. Jump up^ "Soi Cheang Tapped To Direct 3D MONKEY KING! Donnie Yen And Jet Li Eyed Up For Key Roles!".
12. ^ Jump up to:^a b "Donnie Yen is The Monkey King".
13. Jump up^ "HKSAR No Top 10 Box Office: [2010.10.12] DONNIE YEN, AARON KWOK AND CHOW YUN FAT STAR IN MONKEY KING".
14. Jump up^ "Watch The Brand New Trailer For THE MONKEY KING: THE LEGEND BEGINS!". Retrieved 15 December 2013.
15. Jump up^ "Shanghai Film Festival: China’s Ultimate Soft Power Fest". The Diplomat. June 18, 2013.
16. Jump up^ King Of Kung Fu (July 15, 2013). "King Of Kung Fu Presents: The Interview With Monkey King Producer Michael Wehrhahn". AMC Asian Movie Pulse.
17. Jump up^ "The Monkey King Announces New Cast Members".
18. Jump up^ "張梓琳《大鬧天宮》演女媧 從未聽說張柏芝出演".
19. Jump up^ "Filmko recruits Hollywood talents for 3D Monkey King shoot".
20. Jump up^ "Monkey King will be the first Chinese 3D blockbuster".
21. Jump up^http://www.chinesefilms.cn/141/2012/07/04/241s10503.htm
22. Jump up^ "author=Elley, Derek". Film Business Asia. April 9, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
23. Jump up^ "Internet Movide Database".
24. Jump up^ Kevin Ma (1 February 2014). "Monkey King has record opening in China". Film Business Asia. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
25. Jump up^ Clifford Coonan (4 February 2014). "China Box Office Sets Single-Day Record of $41 Million, Driven by Local Films". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
26. Jump up^ Hsia, Heidi (2014-02-12). ""The Monkey King 2" is confirmed!". Retrieved 2014-02-13.