The Monkey King 2

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The Monkey King 2
File:TheMonkeyKing2.jpg
Film poster
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 <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Music by Christopher Young
Cinematography <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
  • Yang Tao
  • Cheung Man Po[2]
Edited by Angie Lam[1]
Production
company
Filmko Entertainment
Release dates
 <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
  • 5 February 2016 (2016-02-05) (United States[2])
  • 6 February 2016 (2016-02-06) (Hong Kong)
  • 8 February 2016 (2016-02-08) (China[1])
Running time
 119 minutes[3]
Country <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
  • Hong Kong
  • China
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

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[when?] 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. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ http://en.yibada.com/articles/101621/20160130/monkey-king-2-released-globally.htm
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=monkeyking2.htm
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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