Réalisation:
Rob MinkoffScénario:
John FuscoPhotographie:
Peter PauMusique:
David BuckleyActeurs·trices:
Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Michael Angarano, Collin Chou, Bingbing Li, Crystal Liu, Thomas McDonell, Mathew Tang, Morgan Benoit, Alan Ng, Deshun Wang (plus)Résumés(1)
Fan de kung-fu et de cinéma hong-kongais, Jason Tripitika, 17 ans, rêve souvent du Roi Singe. Il découvre un jour, dans une boutique de Chinatown tenue par le vieux Hop, une longue canne - un "bo" - ornée d'un singe en bronze qui ressemble à celui du personnage de ses rêves. Quelque temps après, une bande de malfaiteurs oblige Jason à s'introduire dans la boutique pour la dévaliser. Hop est abattu d'une balle, mais il a juste le temps de confier la canne à Jason et de lui faire promettre de la restituer à son propriétaire. Paniqué, le garçon s'enfuit et, serrant la canne contre lui, tombe du toit. Quand il reprend connaissance, il se retrouve plongé dans la Chine ancienne, toujours en possession de la canne. Alors qu'il est attaqué par les guerriers de Jade, Lu Yan, un ivrogne, vient à son secours et réussit en quelques mouvements de kung-fu à le débarrasser des agresseurs. Reconnaissant le "bo", Lu Yan explique à Jason qu'il doit libérer le Roi Singe et accomplir la prophétie en lui remettant la canne... (Belga Films)
(plus)Critiques (6)
Un film obsolète, discret et peu original. Mais en même temps si inoffensif et sans défauts spécifiques, qu'il n'y a tout simplement rien à reprocher. Nous nous souviendrons probablement de lui uniquement pour ceux qui s'y sont rencontrés. Et personnellement, j'apprécie que le scénariste ait été totalement juste envers eux et tous deux ont de très beaux rôles, exploitant les paramètres de leur culte de la personnalité.
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At first, I wondered why Rob Minkoff got the job, but as it started to follow the storyline of The Neverending Story, I regretted not being twelve because then I would have definitely appreciated it. The film was actually made for one scene, but it's unnecessarily overwrought and you’ll forget the rest of it with the closing credits. Minkoff is just a dry routinist that throws up one pretty image after another, but there’s nothing to it. The plot doesn't resolve much and Yuen Woo-Ping can't do much without wires. In an Asian production, it would have been the battle of the decade, but this is a fairy tale that I watched for less than two hours that doesn't entertain the kids and doesn't excite the adults. At least it went by fairly quick.
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A fantasy fairy tale with a pleasant eighties feeling to it. It does try to be something it isn’t, but as a whole it's actually quite playful. For me, the experience of the expedition to the petrified Monkey King was determined mainly by nostalgia. If you manage to tune into the era when children’s movies like The NeverEnding Story (it has surprisingly much to do with it and it is no coincidence that it is mentioned so often here), Willow, or The Golden Child were popular, then you’re half way there. Plus, if you can fine-tune your nostalgia so precisely that you forget how agile Jet Li and Chan used to be, and that they can of course no longer bend like young branches, then you are completely good to go. In terms of physique, here they are merely a shadow of their former glory, but they are still absolutely enjoyable to watch with their charmingly imperfect English. The technical aspects are ok; the screenplay does not deviate from the confines of the genre; the musical selections are perfect; the pacing works overall; and so the only downright bad element is the actor in the main role, Michael Angarano. Even the German soccer team is more likable and has more charisma. He is no new Bastian. Overall, however, I was satisfied, although, as I have already mentioned, mainly thanks to that tricky beast that calls itself nostalgia.
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NeverEnding Story with Chinese motifs. If it weren’t for Jet Li or Jackie Chan, I doubt the producers would have ever approved a screenplay like this. All possible clichés fill out the “journeying" breaks between fights which, luckily (thanks to Yuen Woo-Ping), are really good. Perhaps the next collaboration between Jet and Jackie will (allegedly for China) turn out better. This is just slightly above average.
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At times it's more of a comedic farce than a solid action kung-fu movie, but Jackie Chan plays the drunkard so enthusiastically that it's impossible to be angry at him. The guys prove that they still know how to handle themselves excellently, and even though there are many shots (especially the entire Mythology) and scenes that could be seen as copied from The Lord of the Rings, the whole thing is so likeable and heartfelt that you are willing to turn a blind eye to the mess. Sometimes, I might imagine less flying and more solid action, but you cannot expect from Eastern warriors what is commonly done in Europe or in the US.
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For it to be truly special, it shouldn't have been so clichéd from the beginning. However, I just love the legend of the Monkey King, no matter which version it's presented in. The story is quite straightforward, but the fight scenes are fantastic, which is thanks to the Chinese co-production. I really liked the exteriors, which are sometimes simply beautiful. Other than that, though, I probably won't remember this movie for very long. It’s something like a version of The Karate Kid in a fantasy fairy tale.
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Annonces