The Monkey King 2
| The Monkey King 2 | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Traditional | 西遊記之孫悟空三打白骨精 |
| Simplified | 西游记之孙悟空三打白骨精 |
| Mandarin | Xī Yóu Jì Zhī Sūn Wù Kōng Sān Dǎ Bái Gǔ Jīng |
| Cantonese | Sai1 Jau4 Gei3 Zi1 Syun1 Ng4 Hung1 Saam1 Daa2 Baak6 Gwat1 Zing1 |
| Directed by | Cheang Pou-soi[1] |
| Produced by | Kiefer Liu[1] |
| Written by | Ran Ping[1] |
| Based on |
Journey to the West by Wu Cheng'en |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Christopher Young |
| Cinematography |
|
| Edited by | Angie Lam[1] |
Production company |
Filmko Entertainment |
Release dates | |
Running time | 119 minutes[3] |
| Country |
|
| Language | Mandarin[4] |
| Budget | US$60–60.5 million[5][6] |
| Box office | US$193.7 million[7] |
The Monkey King 2 is a 2016 Hong Kong-Chinese fantasy film based on the classic novel Journey to the West by Wu Cheng'en. The film was shot in 3D and is a sequel to the 2014 box office hit The Monkey King with Cheang Pou-soi returning as director and Sammo Hung as action director, who replaces Donnie Yen's role from the previous installment. The film stars Aaron Kwok, who portrayed the main antagonist in the previous installment, as the film's titular protagonist, who also replaces Yen from the previous installment.[8] It was released in the United States on 5 February, in Hong Kong on 6 February and in China on 8 February 2016, the first day of the Chinese New Year holiday period.[1]
Plot
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 young monk Tang Sanzang's travels brings him to the Five fingers mountain and meets Sun Wukong where he's trapped beneath. It is there that they will form a bond as Master and disciple. In their travels, they will also meet Zhu Ba Jie and Sha Wu Jing whom also become the disciples of Sanzang and join them in their travels to Leiyin Temple at Vulture Peak in India to collect scriptures to bring back to Chang An. This sequel, will focus on the story arc of the White Bone Demon who is hell bent on consuming San Zang, because this will grant her Demon-hood for all eternity as she did not want to go through reincarnation.
Cast
- Aaron Kwok as Sun Wukong, the Monkey King
- Gong Li as Baigujing
- Feng Shaofeng as Tang Sanzang the Buddhist monk
- Xiaoshenyang as Zhu Bajie the "boar"
- Him Law as Sha Wujing the water-buffalo
- Fei Xiang as the king of Yun Hai Xi Kingdom (literally Western Kingdom of Sea of Clouds)
- Kelly Chen as Guan Yin
Production
Development
Filmko Entertainment first announced a sequel for The Monkey King on 13 February 2014. Wan Haifeng, Chairman of Filmko, also stated that Louis Koo has confirmed to join the sequel and portray the role of Tang Sanzang, while also negotiating with Chow Yun-fat to reprise his role as the Jade Emperor in the sequel.[9]
Casting
Aaron Kwok, who portrayed the Bull Demon King in The Monkey King, announced on his Sina Weibo account that he would be portraying Sun Wukong in the sequel, replacing Donnie Yen from the previous installment.[10] To prepare for his role, Kwok took several months of martial arts training before the shoot.[11] During filming, Kwok had to undergo six hours of makeup and an additional three hours to clean it up daily.[1] On 27 November, it was reported that Gong Li will join the cast, portraying the role of Baigujing, the White Skeleton Demon, and will be paid HK$40 million for the role.[12][13] Additional cast members that were announced by Filmko Entertainment later include Feng Shaofeng as Tang Sanzang, a role that was previously reported to be portrayed by Louis Koo, Xiaoshenyang as Zhu Bajie, and Him Law, who portrayed Muzha in the previous installments, as Sha Wujing.[8]
Filming
Principal photography began in December 2014 in Wuxi Studio[1] and will later move on to New Zealand. 3D effects team from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit to aid the production crew.[13] Special Makeup Effects supervised by Shaun Smith.[14] Visual effects supervised by Oscar-nominated VFX Supervisor Jacques Stroweis. Filmko Entertainment is co-producing the film with an additional 11 production companies that are not yet to be revealed.[1] On 28 February 2015, main cast members Kwok, Gong, Feng, Xiaoshenyang and Law gave blessings at a Buddhist temple in Wuxi as the film was heading into the final stages of filming.[6]
Release
On 24 December, the film held a press conference in Wuxi where it was attended by the film's producer Kiefer Liu, director Cheang Pou-soi, action director Sammo Hung, and main cast members Aaron Kwok, Gong Li, Feng Shaofeng, Xiaoshenyang, and Him Law. During the event it was announced that the film will be released on 8 February 2016, the first day of the Chinese New Year holiday period, which is also the first day of the Year of the Monkey.[1]
Box office
The Monkey King opened simultaneously with The Mermaid and From Vegas to Macau III in China and recorded an opening day of US$25 million.[15]
Critical reception
Elizabeth Kerr of The Hollywood Reporter called the film "a fun spin on a well-worn legend."[2]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "《西遊記之孫悟空三打白骨精》劍指猴年春節檔票房冠軍".
- 1 2 3 Kerr, Elizabeth (February 2, 2016). "'The Monkey King 2': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
- ↑ "THE MONKEY KING 2 [3D] (12A)". British Board of Film Classification. 29 January 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
- ↑ "The Monkey King 2". Event Cinemas.
- ↑ http://en.yibada.com/articles/101621/20160130/monkey-king-2-released-globally.htm
- 1 2 "“The Monkey King 2″ Enters Final Stages of Filming".
- ↑ http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=monkeyking2.htm
- 1 2 "Him Law’s Big Film Break in "The Monkey King 2"".
- ↑ ""The Monkey King 2" is confirmed!".
- ↑ "AARON KWOK TAKES OVER THE MONKEY KING 2 FOR DONNIE YEN".
- ↑ "Li Gong Refuses to Respond to Questions about Golden Horse Awards In early November".
- ↑ "猛料速遞：鞏俐12變撼城城 天價誘唐僧".
- 1 2 "Gong Li Pockets $40 Million HKD for "The Monkey King 2"".
- ↑ Jurinko, Mark. "The Monkey King 2: The Characters and Their Creators". Famous Monsters. Philip Kim. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
- ↑ Patrick Brzeski (February 9, 2016). "China Box Office: Stephen Chow's 'Mermaid' Powers Record Single Day". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
External links
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