This is a story about a Buddhist who is striving to guard the village against three demons, his evolving feelings for Miss Duan, the demon hunter who provides him service countless time and a transformative coming across with the Monkey King.
Critics Of "Journey To The West: Conquering The Demons"
New York Magazine/Vulture
March 07, 2014
Journey to the West works so well because Chow has a flair for grand comic-action set pieces, and his imagination seems to actually draw energy from these rapid-fire tonal shifts.
Stephen Chow's Journey To The West: Conquering The Demons is a thoroughly entertaining action comedy that suggests, a la Woody Allen, a promising new life behind the screen for the actor-director.
The final product is very much Chow - with elaborately staged stunts, slapstick inspired by silent Hollywood, and a silliness that will appeal to kids (as well as some black humor that may take some explaining for younger audiences).
Mr. Chow has perhaps achieved more sustained and elaborate adventures, but he hits a sweet spot of comedy that never grows too self-aware or forgets the value of a good, clean demon whomping.
A kung fu comedy, a Chinese fairy story, a Buddhist action movie, a prequel to a mega-series that makes James Cameron's ambitions look puny, Chow's Journey to the West is everything that is good about China's mega-blockbuster inclinations.
