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The Monkey King 2
西遊記之孫悟空三打白骨精
2016 120 min Hong Kong, China G 12+
★6.9
Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Director: Soi Cheang, Jack Lai
🎭 Based on
«Journey to the West»
byWu Cheng'en
Trailers
Description
Taking place 500 years after the Havoc in Heaven, the Tang Priest is appointed by Buddha to go to the West to fetch the sacred scriptures, only to accidentally free the Monkey King. With Lady White aiming to break up the team assembled to defeat her, the Monkey King must fight in order to save his world!
Budget:
$68.49M
US Gross:
$709,982
Worldwide:
$193.68M
Starring
Aaron Kwok
Actor
Gong Li
Actor
Shaofeng Feng
Actor
Awards
4 wins & 4 nominations total
Key opinion
This sequel is widely considered a significant improvement over its predecessor, successfully balancing grand spectacle with philosophical themes derived from Chinese folklore. While its visual craftsmanship and lead performances earn praise, opinions are polarized regarding its cultural accessibility and the quality of its humor.
| Acting | Aaron Kwok delivers a nuanced performance that elevates the Monkey King from a chaotic force of nature to a character defined by duty and emotional depth. | |
| Acting | Gong Li provides a chilling and memorable portrayal of the White Bone Demon, serving as the film's standout antagonist. | |
| The film integrates Buddhist philosophy and themes of forgiveness naturally into a high-fantasy adventure format. | ||
| Production | Technical elements, including makeup and visual effects, show a clear advancement in quality and naturalism compared to the previous installment. | |
| Humor | The humor is polarizing; proponents enjoy its lighthearted, childlike quality, while critics find it juvenile or culturally specific to a degree that fails to resonate internationally. | |
| Adaptation | While fans appreciate the tighter connection to the source material, others argue that specific narrative choices and scene compositions remain disjointed. |