The Monkey King

As someone who has read the actual Journey To The West novel, I cannot be more disappointed with this characterization of Sun Wukong. It is embarassingly unfaithful to his overall personality, like the writers for this movie glanced at his Wikipedia page and decided to make a movie about him. In the original novel he was well liked by his fellow monkeys and was deemed the king FAR before he had obtained his staff. He is not an underdog, nor was he ever an underdog. I don't know where the idea that he had to overcome some kind of hurdle about being "different" because he was born from stone. Heck, the first two chapters of JTTW are about how he made friends with every animal in the forest, and was generally wiling his days away playing with other monkeys. He's not an outcast. He was loved and I dislike that this movie made it a point of contention to try to make it seem like he became egotistical as some kind of crutch because he was SOOO lonely. No, he became egotistical because he was IMMORTAL and INCREDIBLY STRONG, and even then he only got THOSE powers by SPENDING OVER TEN YEARS training under a legendary monk, defeating the Demon King of Havoc with his bare hands, and by then and only then did he find himself worried that he could not defend his subjects that he decided to get a weapon- which happened to be his staff (which, by the by, is not sentient and Wukong had to actually learn how to use it instead of the thing doing everything for him). I also find the East Dragon and the Jade Emperor's depictions to be alarmingly terrible. They were not the villians of Monkey King's story. There are no villains in his story other than his arrogance. The Jade Emperor is wise and capable, he was not lazy nor rude as he appears in The Monkey King (2023), and the East Dragon was noble and without vain. In fact, they were both tricked and ruffled by Wukong, who threatened them as he pleased. The whole reason the Jade Emperor had him imprisoned is because he was upset that his job wasn't high ranking enough so he fought his way out of Heaven in a massive temper tantrum and upon returning to earth declared himself heaven's equal. The Jade Emperor, The East Dragon, and Wukong are not without flaw- but even this movie stretches too far to try to make a terribly written underdog story of a character who was never meant to be an underdog.

The humor is what I can only describe as being "Netflix Humor", the type of joke that tries too hard to make you laugh. By the third line spoken by Monkey King I was already sick of him. He's not funny. He's boring, one-note, and painfully egotistical, and not in a way that lends to him being any sort of three dimensional.

My only positive is the animation is fluid and clean, but even that is not without it's flaws. The character design is terrible, the texturing worse. I applaud Wukong's face design being a reference to his appearance on stage but he looks like he should not reasonably be able to exist with a lower body the circumfrence of a pole with the upper body resembling the shape of a curled dorito. His head is shaped somewhat like a dinosaur, the best example being something like a Parasaurolophus, complete with the most unreasonably pointy and long swoop of hair I have ever seen. Having to look at him during the run time of this movie was painful. As an artist myself, it was like having cardiac arrest. I'm not dissing stylized animation at all, in fact, I approve of it. A better example of a stylized, eye-pleasing design of a monkey is Monkey from Kubo and the Two Strings. In fact, that movie is just better. Go watch Kubo and the Two Strings instead.

If you're still looking for a Journey to the West themed show aimed at children, watch Lego Monkie Kid. It is beautifully animated and the fight scenes are WELL done. It's overall funnier, better-looking, and offers a more faithful yet still original adaptation of the original JTTW.

I love animated movies. Luv 'em luv 'em. So when I say this is a stinker, it's for good reason. Considering the overall rating of this movie (at this time) is about 5.6... I'd say this film has some serious conceptual problems.

Start with a conceited, self-centered, destructive, unlikable character and add in non-stop pointless action-adventure throughout, and you have the Monkey King. The only redeeming grace of this movie is the girl Lin, whose character, personality and role is enjoyable and at times heart-warming. She's really the main character of this film. She is the only one that has any degree of empathy and growth.

The Monkey King himself is really an irredeemable scoundrel. I've seen Disney Villains that were more likeable than this psychotic nutcase. Okay yes, the Monkey King is historically a chaotic character, but in this film they take that concept way too far. Monkey is definitely the anti-role-model of the year.

The movie doesn't really have an overall theme to speak of, doesn't really make a point, doesn't teach any value lessons to kids. The whole message of the film is: "Do what you want and hang the consequences." Lin points out that Monkey was born from an egg, didn't have a family and even the gods rejected him (as if they had no reason)... so that's supposed to be an excuse for him being a total sociopath?

Sorry, but some movies just don't pull it off, and this is one of them. In the whole movie the Monkey King learns absolutely nothing, experiences no personal growth, doesn't change at all. If you're needing an adrenaline rush this might do, but don't look for anything else in this poorly-conceived plot and presentation of an ageless character.

(Parental note: some parents may object to the film presenting Buddha as God of the universe. Some parents may be delighted at such. Let the viewer be aware.)

I liked this movie, it is about a rebellious, selfish and lonely monkey who tries everything to become a deity aided by a stick and a little girl, but he will have several enemies to face.

I loved the animations in this film (especially the one in 2d at the beginning of the film), with a perfect choice of colors that fit to better represent the various scenes, and really amazing and functional camera movements.

For the soundtrack we have excellent music accompanying all the sequences in the feature film.

The acting is excellent does its job, believable voices.

This is an excellent film for those who love the legend of the Monkey King.

Greetings again from the darkness. Adapting literary works for the big screen is common practice; however, the stakes are a bit higher when dealing with a beloved classic Asian work that is more than 400 years old. "Journey to the West" was initially written during the Ming Dynasty and no original author has ever been confirmed. The stories were re-imagined for an English audience in 1942 by Arthur Waley and published as "Monkey", and now director Anthony Stacchi and co-writers Steve Bencich, Ron J Friedman, and Rita Hsiao have brought their vision to the screen ... focusing on one specific segment of the story.

Now, if that first paragraph sits a bit heavy, you should know this is an animated movie targeted at kids. It's action-packed, colorful, and funny ... all while packing a message or moral that most parents will appreciate. Much of the Chinese spiritual and philosophical and cultural aspects are included, but never so heavy-handed as to lose the attention of kids. In fact, if any aspect is somewhat overboard, it's the martial arts fighting and action sequences ... of which there are many. Possibly too many for some kids and some parents, and if the messages somehow get lost, it's likely in the crash-boom-bang overdose because the action, while well done, is relentless.

Monkey King (voiced by comedian Jimmy O Yang) is birthed/sprung from a rock and has special powers. Unfortunately, he is not accepted by the local clan of monkeys, even after saving them from a threat. Instead, he turns his attention to being accepted into The Immortals (Gods of the animal world). To prove his worthiness, he sets out to defeat 100 demons, but along the way, we witness an oversized ego and lack of humility. Monkey King is simply not very likable. On this journey, he gains an assistant in his number one fan (not in a MISERY way) Lin (Jolie Hoang-Rappaport). Monkey King even treats her poorly.

The next best character, and Monkey King's nemesis, is the underwater Dragon King (SNL's Bowen Yang). Their exchanges and ego-wrangling are some of the best in the movie, and the underwater scenes provide a welcome CGI change of pace. With no family and his only friend being his magic stick, Monkey King is an outsider with special powers and the kind of attitude that gets junior high kids sent to the Principal's office. No matter how many heroic feats he turns, his lust for power and lack of humility win him no points with The Immortals.

The Dragon King gets the best musical number, while Monkey King's journey leads him through Buddha (BD Wong) and literally into both heaven and hades. The film's big question is how long it will take Monkey King to learn humility and show kindness to others. As has been stated, an ego trip is a journey to nowhere ... it's a lesson this talented Monkey King must learn.

Opens on Netflix beginning August 18, 2023.

A monkey is born from a rock with light ray eyes. He gets banished from his troupe for his carelessness when a Demon takes another baby monkey. He tries to battle the Demon and fail. He steals a magical staff and intends to defeat 100 Demons to become a God himself. Village girl Lin joins him as his assistant.

The Monkey King is a traditional Chinese character and this Hollywood Netflix movie is trying to adapt it. I can't speak to the accuracy of the adaptation. The story is a series of energetic fights over some unknowable God/magic/fantasy. It all makes sense but it doesn't make it compelling. Mostly, I don't really like the Monkey. It may be easier to center the movie by using Lin as the lead. She seems to be the more relatable character. Maybe the kids will like a fighting monkey cartoon.