The Ultimate Guide to Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons - Download or Stream in 720p MKV
Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons - A Hilarious and Action-Packed Fantasy Comedy
If you are looking for a movie that combines humor, adventure, romance, and fantasy, you might want to check out Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons. This 2013 film is co-written and produced by Stephen Chow, one of the most popular and influential filmmakers in Hong Kong. It is a loose comedic re-interpretation of the 16th-century novel Journey to the West, a Chinese literary classic often believed to be written by Wu Cheng'en. The novel tells the story of a Buddhist monk named Tang Sanzang who travels to India to obtain sacred scriptures, accompanied by his three disciples: Sun Wukong (the Monkey King), Zhu Bajie (the Pig), and Sha Wujing (the Sand Monk). Along the way, they encounter various demons, monsters, and challenges.
Journey To The West Conquering The Demons 720p Mkv
The movie is a prequel that focuses on how Tang Sanzang met his disciples and embarked on his journey. It is also a spoof that parodies many elements of the novel and other adaptations. The movie was a huge success in China and Hong Kong, grossing over US$215 million worldwide. It received positive reviews from critics and audiences alike, who praised its dazzling action sequences, witty dialogue, creative visual effects, and heartfelt messages. It also won several awards, including Best Director, Best Visual Effects, and Best Action Choreography at the Hong Kong Film Awards. A sequel, Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back, written and produced by Chow and directed by Tsui Hark, was released in 2017.
Introduction
What is the movie about?
The movie follows Tang Sanzang (played by Wen Zhang), a young and naive demon hunter who believes in using kindness and compassion to reform demons. He carries a book of nursery rhymes that he sings to coax goodness out of them. However, his methods are often ineffective and ridiculed by other demon hunters. He also suffers from low self-esteem and doubts his abilities.
One day, he meets Duan (played by Shu Qi), a beautiful and powerful demon huntress who uses a magic golden ring to capture and kill demons. She is fearless, confident, and aggressive. She also falls in love with Tang Sanzang at first sight and tries to seduce him, despite his vow of celibacy. She believes that he is destined to be her husband and help her achieve immortality.
Together, they encounter three powerful demons who have escaped from their imprisonment under a mountain: a fish demon who terrorizes a riverside village; a pig demon who disguises himself as a chef and eats humans; and Sun Wukong (played by Huang Bo), the legendary Monkey King who was once a great hero but became corrupted by his pride and arrogance. Tang Sanzang tries to redeem them with his nursery rhymes, while Duan tries to destroy them with her golden ring.
Along the way, they also meet other characters who help or hinder them, such as Prince Important (played by Show Luo), a narcissistic nobleman who claims to be a demon hunter; Fist of the North Star (played by Yu Xing), a martial arts master who challenges Sun Wukong; and Master Nameless (played by Chen Bing Qiang), Tang Sanzang's mentor who teaches him about enlightenment.
Who are the main characters and actors?
The main characters are:
Tang Sanzang (played by Wen Zhang): A kind-hearted but timid demon hunter who wants to follow his master's teachings of compassion. He has a crush on Duan but resists her advances due to his religious vows. He is also fascinated by Sun Wukong's story and hopes to learn from him.
Duan (played by Shu Qi): A fierce but lovable demon huntress who uses a golden ring as her weapon. She is obsessed with Tang Sanzang and believes that he is her true love. She is also ambitious and seeks immortality through collecting demon blood.
Sun Wukong (played by Huang Bo): The Monkey King who was once revered as a hero but became evil after being imprisoned for 500 years. He is arrogant, cunning, and rebellious. He hates humans and wants to destroy them all. He also has a grudge against Buddha for sealing him under a mountain.
Prince Important (played by Show Luo): A vain and spoiled nobleman who pretends to be a demon hunter. He is cowardly, selfish, and greedy. He likes to show off his wealth and status. He also has a crush on Duan but she rejects him.
Fist of the North Star (played by Yu Xing): A skilled fighter who challenges Sun Wukong to a duel. He is honorable, loyal, and brave. He respects Sun Wukong's abilities but does not fear him.
Master Nameless (played by Chen Bing Qiang): Tang Sanzang's master who guides him on his path of enlightenment. He is wise, calm, and humorous. He knows more than he lets on.
The actors are:
Wen Zhang: A Chinese actor who has starred in many films and TV shows, such as Love Is Not Blind , Badges of Fury , The Mermaid , When We Were Young , etc.
Shu Qi: A Taiwanese actress who has starred in many films both in Asia and Hollywood, such as Gorgeous , So Close , The Transporter , If You Are The One , The Assassin , etc.
Huang Bo: A Chinese actor who has starred in many films both in comedy and drama genres, such as Crazy Stone , Cow , Lost In Thailand , Dearest , The Island , etc.
Show Luo: A Taiwanese singer, actor, host, dancer, etc., who has starred in many films both in Taiwan and China such as Hi My Sweetheart , Journey To The West: The Demons Strike Back , Bleeding Steel , etc.
Yu Xing: A Chinese martial artist and actor who has starred in many films both in China and Hollywood such as Kung Fu Hustle , Ip Man 4: The Finale , Mulan , etc.
Chen Bing Qiang: A Chinese actor who has starred in many films and TV shows such as Let The Bullets Fly , Detective Dee And The Mystery Of The Phantom Flame , Nirvana In Fire , etc.
What are the main themes and messages?
The movie explores several themes and messages such as:
The power of love: The movie shows how love can motivate people to do good or evil things, to change themselves or others, to sacrifice or selfishly pursue their desires. For example, Duan loves Tang Sanzang so much that she risks her life to save him from danger, but she also tries to force him to marry her against his will. Tang Sanzang loves Duan too, but he chooses to follow his faith and respect her freedom. Sun Wukong hates humans because he feels betrayed by them, but he also shows signs of affection for Tang Sanzang, who treats him kindly and sincerely.
The balance between compassion and justice: The movie shows how compassion and justice are both important values that need to be balanced in dealing with demons and humans alike. For example, Tang Sanzang believes that demons can be reformed by appealing to their inherent goodness, but he also learns that some demons are too evil to be redeemed and must be stopped. Duan believes that demons deserve no mercy and must be killed, but she also learns that some demons have feelings and reasons for their actions. Sun Wukong represents the extreme case of injustice, as he suffers from unfair punishment but also causes great harm to others.
The quest for enlightenment: He then attacks Tang Sanzang with his golden cudgel, intending to kill him. Duan intervenes and blocks his attack with her golden ring. She tells Tang Sanzang to run away and save himself, while she fights Sun Wukong alone. She says that she loves him more than anything and that she will sacrifice herself for him.
Tang Sanzang refuses to leave her and says that he loves her too. He says that he is sorry for rejecting her and that he wants to marry her. He says that he has realized that love is more important than his vows and that he wants to spend the rest of his life with her. He then kisses her passionately.
Sun Wukong is enraged by their kiss and unleashes his full power. He transforms into a giant ape and creates a huge storm that shakes the mountain. He throws his golden cudgel at them, but Duan uses her golden ring to deflect it. She then throws her ring at Sun Wukong, hoping to capture him.
However, Sun Wukong catches her ring and crushes it with his hand. He then throws it back at Duan, hitting her in the chest. She falls to the ground, mortally wounded. Tang Sanzang rushes to her side and holds her in his arms. He cries and begs her not to die.
Duan smiles and tells him that she is happy that he loves her. She says that she has no regrets and that she hopes he will find peace and enlightenment in his journey. She then dies in his arms.
Tang Sanzang is devastated by Duan's death and screams in grief. He then stands up and faces Sun Wukong with a determined look on his face. He says that he will not give up on Sun Wukong and that he will make him his disciple. He says that he will use his love and compassion to conquer his demons.
He then opens his book of nursery rhymes and begins singing to Sun Wukong with all his heart. He sings a song about friendship, loyalty, courage, and forgiveness. He sings a song that touches Sun Wukong's soul.
Sun Wukong is stunned by Tang Sanzang's singing and feels a surge of emotion in his chest. He remembers his past life as a hero who protected his people and friends from evil forces. He feels a spark of goodness in his heart.
He then drops his golden cudgel and falls to his knees. He cries and asks Tang Sanzang to forgive him for his sins. He says that he is willing to follow him as his master and go to India with him. He says that he wants to learn from him and become a better person.
Tang Sanzang smiles and walks towards Sun Wukong. He hugs him and tells him that he forgives him and welcomes him as his disciple. He says that he is proud of him and that he believes in him.
They then see Master Nameless appear before them. He congratulates them for passing the test and achieving enlightenment. He says that he has been watching them all along and that he is pleased with their progress. He says that they are ready to embark on their journey to the west.
He then gives Tang Sanzang a new book of scriptures that contains the teachings of Buddha. He tells him to read it carefully and share it with others along the way. He also gives Sun Wukong a new golden cudgel that can help him fight against evil forces.
He then tells them that they have two more disciples waiting for them: Zhu Bajie (the Pig) and Sha Wujing (the Sand Monk). He says that they are also former demons who have been reformed by Tang Sanzang's nursery rhymes. He says that they will join them soon.
He then bids them farewell and disappears into thin air.
Tang Sanzang and Sun Wukong look at each other and smile. They then hold their books and weapons and walk towards the horizon, ready to start their journey to the west.
Review and Analysis
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the movie?
The movie has many strengths and weaknesses, depending on your preferences and expectations. Some of them are:
The action sequences: The movie features many spectacular and creative action sequences, such as the fight between Duan and the fish demon, the duel between Fist of the North Star and Sun Wukong, and the final battle between Tang Sanzang, Duan, and Sun Wukong. The movie uses a combination of practical effects, wire work, stunt work, and computer-generated imagery (CGI) to create these scenes. The movie also showcases the different fighting styles and abilities of the characters, such as Duan's golden ring, Sun Wukong's magic powers, and Tang Sanzang's nursery rhymes. The movie delivers a lot of excitement, thrill, and fun through these scenes.
The humor: The movie is also very funny and hilarious, as it parodies many elements of the novel and other adaptations. The movie uses various types of humor, such as slapstick, wordplay, sarcasm, irony, and satire, to make fun of the characters, the situations, the clichés, and the tropes. The movie also makes references to other works of popular culture, such as Jaws , The Matrix , Kung Fu Hustle , etc. The movie makes you laugh out loud with its jokes and gags
The romance: The movie also has a romantic subplot between Tang Sanzang and Duan which adds some emotion and drama to the story The movie shows how they develop their feelings for each other despite their differences and conflicts The movie also shows how they influence each other in positive ways such as Duan becoming more compassionate and Tang Sanzang becoming more confident The movie also shows how they sacrifice themselves for each other such as Duan giving up her immortality for Tang Sanzang and Tang Sanzang risking his life for Duan The movie makes you feel touched by their love story
The messages: The movie also has some meaningful messages and themes that resonate with the audience such as the power of love the balance between compassion and justice the quest for enlightenment etc. The movie shows how these values can help people overcome their challenges transform their lives and achieve their goals The movie also shows how these values can help people deal with demons both external and internal such as fear anger greed pride etc The movie makes you think about these messages and themes
However, the movie also has some weaknesses, such as:
The plot: The movie has a simple plot that follows a basic structure of introducing the characters, setting up the conflicts, resolving them, and ending with a happy conclusion. The movie does not have much twists or surprises in its plot, except for some minor ones such as Master Nameless being alive or Prince Important being a fraud. The movie also does not have much depth or complexity in its plot, as it focuses more on comedy and action than on drama or mystery.
The characters: The movie has many characters, but some of them are not well-developed or fleshed out. Some of them are only there for comic relief or plot convenience, such as Prince Important, Fist of the North Star, or Master Nameless. Some of them are also stereotypical or one-dimensional, such as Duan being obsessed with Tang Sanzang or Sun Wukong being arrogant and rebellious. Some of them are also inconsistent or contradictory in their actions or motivations, such as Tang Sanzang changing his mind about Duan or Sun Wukong suddenly becoming good after hearing a nursery rhyme.
The CGI: The movie uses a lot of CGI to create its fantasy world and creatures, but some of them are not very realistic or convincing. Some of them look cartoonish or artificial, such as the fish demon or Sun Wukong's transformation into an ape. Some of them also have poor quality or glitches, such as the storm or the statues of Buddha.
Conclusion
Why should you watch Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons?
You should watch Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons if you are looking for a movie that is entertaining, funny, exciting, romantic, and meaningful at the same time. You should watch it if you are a fan of Stephen Chow's movies or Chinese culture and literature. You should watch it if you want to see a different interpretation of a classic novel and its characters.
comedy for those who want to laugh, action for those who want to thrill, romance for those who want to feel, and messages for those who want to think. It is a movie that celebrates the power of love, compassion, and enlightenment in conquering the demons within and without.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons:
Q: Is Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons based on a true story? A: No, it is not based on a true story. It is based on a fictional novel called Journey to the West, which is a Chinese literary classic often believed to be written by Wu Cheng'en in the 16th century. The novel itself is inspired by the historical figure of Xuanzang, a Buddhist monk who traveled to India in the 7th century to obtain sacred scriptures.
Q: Is Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons a sequel or a prequel? A: It is a prequel that takes place before Tang Sanzang got his disciples and embarked on his journey to the west. It is also a spoof that parodies many elements of the novel and other adaptations.
Q: Is Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons suitable for children? A: It depends on your judgment and preference. The movie is rated PG-13 for some violence, blood, partial nudity, and sexual content. The movie also has some dark and scary scenes, such as the fish demon or Sun Wukong's rampage. The movie also has some crude and vulgar humor, such as Duan's seduction attempts or Prince Important's antics. The movie also has some cultural and religious references that may be unfamiliar or confusing to some viewers.
Q: Where can I watch Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons? A: You can watch it on various streaming platforms, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, etc. You can also rent or buy it on DVD or Blu-ray.
Q: Are there any other movies related to Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons? A: Yes, there are many other movies related to Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons. Some of them are:
Title
Year
Description
Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back
2017
The sequel to Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons, written and produced by Stephen Chow and directed by Tsui Hark. It follows Tang Sanzang and his disciples as they encounter more demons and challenges on their way to India.
The Monkey King
2014
A fantasy action film starring Donnie Yen as Sun Wukong. It tells the story of how Sun Wukong became a hero and rebelled against heaven.
The Monkey King 2
2016
The sequel to The Monkey King, starring Gong Li as a white bone demon who tries to devour Tang Sanzang.
The Monkey King 3
2018
The third installment of The Monkey King series, starring Zhao Liying as a queen of an all-female kingdom who falls in love with Tang Sanzang.
A Chinese Odyssey Part One: Pandora's Box
1995
A comedy fantasy film starring Stephen Chow as Sun Wukong. It is a parody of Journey to the West and other works of popular culture.
A Chinese Odyssey Part Two: Cinderella
1995The sequel to A Chinese Odyssey Part One: Pandora's Box, starring Stephen Chow as Sun Wukong. It continues the parody of Journey to the West and other works of popular culture.
A Chinese Odyssey Part Three
2016
The third installment of A Chinese Odyssey series, starring Han Geng as Sun Wukong. It is a reboot of the previous films and a tribute to Stephen Chow.
The New Legends of Monkey
2018
A television series based on Journey to the West, starring Chai Hansen as Sun Wukong. It follows a young girl who frees Sun Wukong and his companions from their imprisonment and joins them on their quest.
Monkey King: Hero Is Back
2015
An animated film based on Journey to the West, starring Jackie Chan as Sun Wukong. It tells the story of how Sun Wukong befriends a young boy who helps him regain his powers and fight against a demon lord.
Journey to the West (TV series)
1986
A television series based on Journey to the West, starring Liu Xiao Li