User reviews

Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back is a sequel to 2013's Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons, which I really liked. It is directed by Hong Kong veteran, Tsui Hark and written by Stephen Chow, who did not return to direct this one. The movie stars an all-new cast playing characters from the first movie, with the only person returning being Shu Qi. The first movie I thought was a really good Stephen Chow movie without Stephen Chow, and what really worked for me were the characters and their likability and humor. I really liked Wen Zhang and Shu Qi's chemistry with each other, and it made me root for their forbidden love to come to fruition. This movie loses Wen Zhang, being replaced by Kris Wu, and Shu Qi is delegated to a cameo appearance, and man are they big losses, because the actors in this movie did not hold up well at all. Neither did the script though, as frankly I felt this movie is just a mess. Drastic character changes out of the blue, inconsistencies and conveniences to push the plot forward litters throughout.

Unlike the first film where it was more of a prelude to the classical story, Demons Strike Back actually plays out the episodic narrative from the classical novel, with memorable arcs such as the spider demons and white skeleton being rendered in Stephen Chow slapstick style. We actually get to see Tang Monk along with the three disciples he conquered during the first movie journeying to the west this time around. While the plot moves along episodically, the main focus here is the tension between Tang and the Monkey King, as the former still blames the latter for Shu Qi's character's death. This relationship between master and disciple is so poorly written I spent the entire time not really caring for either character, since they themselves do not seem to care judging by the terrible things they do to one another. Tang is having visions of Shu Qi from the first movie, and blames the Monkey King for her death. I am very disappointed to see this is route they went with for the sequel, after all Shu Qi tempted Tang the entire first movie, but he did not once gave in once to her. Now that he is enlightened and is journeying west, all of a sudden he is lusting for her? That just seems very inconsistent. But I guess consistency is the last thing you should expect in these types of movies.

Even though Stephen Chow did not return to direct the movie, his style of humor is still emulated here. However, being a Chow fan since I was a kid, I was sorely disappointed with how unfunny this movie was. Not that they did not try, but the actors just do not have the comedic chops to pull off this type of humor. At times, things got really dumb and silly with a mind control dancing scene which is recycled from the first movie, and a crying grown man trying to pass as funny. Another thing that was off putting was the characterization of Piggy, who was always a pervert, but never the serial rapist as he was in this one. He literally attempts to rape every girl he encounters and it is played for laughs. As someone who has watched enough interpretations of Journey to the West, this was simply not funny and kind of ruined things for me. I did chuckle a few times throughout, and there are a few good gags such as when Sandy got turn back into a giant fish, but overall this was not the clever Stephen Chow film I am accustomed to.

The action in the film was good, but it is typical C-grade special effects-laden Chinese film affair. There was never a moment where I felt danger for any of the characters because the build-up to these action scenes tends to be humorous and lacking of tension. The main highlight for me is definitely the spider demons scene, it is by the far the most exciting action set piece in the movie. The CGI is pretty average, but at least the Chinese and Hong Kong film industries are improving in this department since the disastrous eye sore that was the Donnie Yen Monkey King movie.

Kris Wu, former K-pop star musters all of his charms and good looks and gives out a fine performance as Tang. Lin Gengxin, the Monkey King was intense and likable. The rest of the cast did the best they could, but as I mentioned before, they were simply not funny enough in my opinion. The best thing about the movie was the definitely the collection of attractive Chinese ladies assembled here. Yao Chen, Wang Likun and Lin Yun are all beautiful and charming. I love my female eye candy, and whenever these actresses were on screen, my eyes were glued.

Overall the movie is very pedestrian, but passable popcorn affair. Not horrible by any means, definitely watchable for some colorful action scenes. However, too many misses on jokes and poor plot and character developments cannot save the movie from mediocrity. Even those who love everything Journey to the West or the Monkey King should only check it out if it was free and you have a couple of hours to spare.

This did not do well. The fantasy has been attempted with a different but poor approach. A combination of traditional powers and modern technology is also attempted but that too on the poor side. The good cards established in the first part are skipped and replaced by inferior elements. The Buddha is introduced abruptly without logical consistency. Comedy is also poor. This did not do well. Disappointed.

Coincidentally, I just watched L.O.R.D which has many same lead casts with this movie. And I have to say, this movie is as bad as that one. I almost can't believe it is directed by the experienced Tsui Hark.

Almost everything in this sequel is boring and uninteresting, except the songs. The movie is so boring, yet still not suitable for kids due to some scenes. If you have not watched this, better skip this than to waste your time.

Taking over for directing duties for this sequel is Tsui Hark, while Stephen Chow wrote & is producing this, 2 legendary film makers collaborating. Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back, Let me just say this, this is slightly not as good as its predecessor in storytelling but very entertaining, nonetheless. I do believe, this was a risk that Stephen Chow took with this sequel but I fairly enjoyed it. I love the visuals, the action sequences filled with astounding CGI (The special effects were far better than I expected, another instance that I thought was amazing Computer-generated imagery was when Sun Wukong gets into his monkey form), this movie's style definitely has Tsui Hark written all over it. In my opinion, I thought this movie lack the cohesiveness the first movie had. But then there's something about this one that I am very fond of. Maybe it's the unique take on it, I've always liked Stephen Chow's inventiveness for his films, his imagination. Overall, I truly enjoyed it, I thought it was an entertaining movie, get a laugh, a fun & action packed journey, with eye-popping CGI, worth watching.

Being a huge fan of the first movie (it's still in my top 5), i was waiting to see this for a long time. I was unhappy about changing whole cast but after seeing the movie, i understand that was the minor problem.

Since this movie is a sequel, we have right to compare it with first movie. You know what, there is nothing to compare. This one is awful. Casting, acting, even scenario are all bad. So disappointing.

I gave first movie 10 stars but this movie is not even close to earn 2 stars. Only 1 star for Shu Qi.

This must be the worst job of Stephen Chow as producer and Tsui Hark as director.

If you're familiar with most of Stephen Chow's comedy, you will like this film. My only complaint is the computer generated imagery isn't more advanced. It feels like I'm watching a cheap Bollywood movie. There are some India references and colors that make me think this movie was made specifically for both China and India. And there is nothing wrong with that. I actually enjoyed it. That being said, it has different actors compared to the movie before it back in 2013 I think, except one person. I don't know if that is considered a spoiler or not. Anyways, it's worth watching! Enjoy!

No story, no character development, ugly battles and a bad taste CGI festival. The first episode was definitely not the best Chow but this sequel is just a waste of ime and money.

Suffers from a lot of the same problems as the first but lacks the central love story to keep it all together.

Kind of continues the story but feels like filler, aimless wandering where some feelings over events are aired out. It might look better if a third film comes out to connect it.

Overall it's okay, but it feels more like DLC than an actual sequel, and the casting changes are pretty jarring.

There is no doubt that this movie having very success in China, maybe will be the top one seller on this month. But,For my opinion , a good box office never equal to good movie, especially in China. Cause you never will know how important a actor can have their fans with money without brain. Their fans will never eject how their idol is never suit for acting. I tell the truth, no one laughed at the cinema instead of awarded. Even the children told to his mother to leave the sit because it really boring.A lot of people over-read about this movie, even the writer said "stop this, i never mean that".i don't think you made up a very analogical reason to say this movie is good is really good for the movie.

I have been looking forward to this movie for years because I'm a huge fan of both Stephen Chow and Tsui Hark and it didn't disappoint! The nonsensical comedy is very Stephen Chow and the plot is engaging, my friends and I spent the whole time laughing. No one can write a good comedic sequence like Stephen Chow. Tsui Hark's half of the contribution can be seen in the special effects and action, the effects are pretty good although not perfect. The cinematography for this is amazing, there were a lot of beautiful shots.

I wanted the original cast from the first movie to return but the new cast didn't disappoint. The monk in particularly was very funny.

I rate this a 10 because it's everything I wanted from both of them. It certainly delivered!

Saw this movie on a plane and while it was OK to pass the time with, the film as a whole was pretty bad. The humor was poorly done with unfunny jokes and unfunny slapstick stuff. While the action was pretty intense in some parts, particular the fight between the monks' disciples with the White Bone Spirit, it was too heavy on the CGI.

The monk Tang Sanzang was portrayed like a clueless clown and the three disciples, Monkey King, Pigsy and Sandy, acted pretty useless for the most part. There was too much arguing and bickering among one another, particularly between Tang Sanzang and the Monkey King.

It was hard to believe that the great Hark Tsui directed this movie, but not surprised that funnyman Stephen Chao produced. He really should just stick to acting, as I honestly think his talents are better used on stage.

Grade D-

It is just unbelievable how two parts of a movie can be so extreme. "Journey to the West Conquering the Demons 2013" is a very well made movie that leaves the viewer wanting more. I was really excited about this follow up "The Demons Strike Back (2017)" until I had a chance to watch it... and wasted my time.

The movie seems to be mostly CGI. The CGI is jumpy and almost feels like watching a movie in fast motion. The colour contrast is much too unpleasantly vibrant and sharp.

The storyline... well there is none really. It is more like watching a plotless cartoon of punches. Some parts of the movie even get a little embarrassing and irritating such as watching the emperor throw tantrums.

Overall, I would give this move minus two stars but zero star is the worst I could do.

Journey To The West bored me, the same way that Monkey King 2 bored me. I'm starting to think that maybe the monkey king is not my thing (Although, DragonBall has to be some sort of adaption to the character do to a big likeness between the two (Same way Marvel's Thor is similar but does not full mimic the Norse mythology).

Maybe unlike anime, I can't watch these movies with subtitles . As an American use to Hollywood Blockbusters when I see an actor alone on a screen interacting with characters that were made in a computer, I'm expecting a lot more action adventure to my Fantasy, but all I got here was talk. This may have not been that bad but I feel that the comedy did not translate well with subtitles. Having to read and look at the visuals did not work this time.

Plus the anime style cartoonery did not translate well to live action. Some of the visual gags timing was fine, but it really did not click. I appreciate the attempt but I just thought it was stupid in the long run.

Like with Monkey King 2, my favorite part of this film was the lone epic action scene at the end of the movie that was big and the reason that anyone would buy a ticket to see it in 3D. Although it's not worth the ticket cause that one scene does not make this movie. I've seen films that one part can make the whole movie but The Demons Strike Back is not complex enough for that. It starts slow continues slow and then ends epic but that greatness does not make up for all the slowness.

The visual effects are OK but not good enough for a picture to bore me with them. Very standard an unimpressive (Except for the 3D spectacular that ends the film).

Maybe my knowledge (Or lack of) the Monkey King is steering my judgement, maybe I'm expecting too much from a Chinese Blockbuster (My favorite part was at the end credits when the filmmakers did a bit that confirms that this movie is the Chinese version of the Blockbuster), but this latest adaption of Journey To The West is not doing it for me at all. Maybe I need to see if they do an English dub that might translate better, and change my mine.

http://cinemagardens.com/

Journey to the west: The demons strike back is a fantasy comedy movie directed by Tsui Hark and stars Kris Wu, Lin Gengxin, Yao Chen, Lin Yun, Yang Yiwei, Mengke Bateer and Wang Duo.

This movie is entirely dependent on VFX and fails miserably in terms of storyline. The movie is slow and at some point turns boring.

Acting is good by the characters but they also couldn't save the poorly executed movie.

Avoid if you can.

Demon-fighting Buddhist monk Tang Sanzang and his three demonic travelling companions Sha Wujing (a water demon), Zhu Bajie (a pig demon), and Sun Wukong (the powerful and unpredictable Monkey King) continue to have adventures as they travel West in search of the holy sutras. The film is a continuation of 2013's 'Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons', but while the first film was entertaining in a giddy, goofy way, this sequel is just loud and childish. The CGI is colourful, detailed and sometimes imaginative but imagery doesn't make up for a lackluster story, sophomoric acting, brutally unfunny 'comic relief, and, in general, terrible script (note: I watched an English-dubbed version). Too bad - I liked the first film.

The Poem in the novel "Journey to the West" - "I used to have a sincere love in front of me. I didn't cherish it. I regret it when I lost it. The most painful thing in the world is this. If God can give I have a chance to come again, I will say thse words to that girl: I love you. If I have to add a deadline to this love, I hope it is-ten thousand years! "

Tang Seng embarked on the path of Scripture, burying the survivors in his heart.

If the thought of this being a sequel is erased, the film presents a strong notion of timelessness or transcience of time. There is a past not witnessed in the film, and yet carried along in memories, there is the future, moments imagined, feared or desired. And there is the now, witnessing things go by., events seeming real or unreal. The ghostly girl Tang Seng loses at the end feels like a reincarnation of his missed old love, and when he says to her that his heart still belongs to his old love, it is like the past repeats itself, he is letting things go by, not owning or holding onto them, he lets them die. He becomes a mere observer. The last scene of him imagining Miss Duan in place of his disciple makes one see that love he once felt is taking shape of other people on his journey. There is no longer only one person, there's many.

Tsui Hark is mainly a master of character building in very efficient ways, and as a technical virtuoso, also a craftsman of visual poetry serving his philosophical concepts and ideas, Journey To The West is a beautiful example of his open heart and spirit let loose, depicting the world of illusions or undead, whether demons, spirits or ghosts of people lost in memories. The music by Raymond Wong captured my heart with its exquisite innovative touches ranging from Mexican to Chinese influence, the last time he was musically involved with Tsui Hark was for Love In The Time Of Twilight in 1995.

I find the power of the film residing in its ability to focus on the depth behind each character presented in a way that can entertain on a surface level just as much. It is reflecting the time when a lot of people facing their own inner demons, when leaders revealing their own true self, their immaturity, sometimes being treated like coddled children. And also spiritual masters who show their own hypocrisy. All these observations come from my own experience.

The film is a jewel embedded in my memory, memorable and significant, for its uplifting energy as well as political, social and spiritual angles.

There are so many hate in this movie here in IMDb, but hater always hate. People nowadays like to compare and expect the best, but then gets easily disappointed more than ever.

For me, this movie is a perfect sequel and a must-watch for teens and adults. The recast is not as bad as they say and the actors fit their roles perfectly. The story is unpredictable and humorous with amazing visuals just like the first movie. There's also more CGI, not like GoT or Avengers quality, but better than the first and still satisfying. I really enjoyed the movie and I'm very excited to see what will happen next. The same feelings I had after finishing the first movie, surprised and thrilled.

This is my first review and I hope you see this fair and unbiased. Don't believe what others say. Watch the first movie and then give this one a chance. You'll not regret it!

With the iconic director, Stephen Chow, as producer and screen writer and Hark Tsui, as director and popular superstar Kris Wu as the leading actor, the highly anticipated movie "a Journey to West: Demon Chapter" has every reasons to be business successful. Majority of people go to movie to enjoy Stephen Chow's signature sense of humor and the mind-blowing special effect, which by the way, is one of the best in China. The movie did live up to their expectation. The highest box office has proved that audience is satisfied.

But movie critics may hesitate to see the movie because they think it would be another remake of the classic Chinese traditional folk tale "a journey to west". As it turns out, the movie "a Journey to West: Demon Chapter " is everything but cliché.

Based on the novel, the relationships among character had further developed, new screenplay gave those characters more human touch and the movie was able to show another side of main character. Especially by demonstrating the interaction between Tang Seng and The Monkey King, and the flash back of Ms. Duan, the movie has shown us that Tang Seng was not only a determined monk but also a man with emotions and wisdom. Without giving too much details, I have to say that the plot of the movie is exciting and more importantly, surprising. Last but not lease, the actors are also worth mentioning. The way the movie portraits character is unexpected yet amazingly enjoyable, from the artistic style design to the actor selection, especially Tang Seng, Kris Wu has shown that he is more than just a pretty face.

All in all, "a Journey to West: Demon Chapter" is a success both in box revenue and among critics.

Wish there was another chapter of 'Journey to the west' with Miss Duan reincarnation.

Quiet enjoyed the other chapters of 'Journey to the West', but i wish the love story take a next step.

I really don't have any idea if the myth contains Miss Duan reincarnation, but i just wish that the love story of the Monk and Miss Duan continues with her reincarnation and not with the Monk carrying the memories of the past.

Actress Shu qi has played her role so well that whenever i think of the Monk's love all i that comes to my mind is Shu qi. I would really like to see her if there is any new chapter.

With the iconic director, Stephen Chow, as producer and screen writer and Hark Tsui, as director and popular superstar Kris Wu as the leading actor, the highly anticipated movie "a Journey to West: Demon Chapter" has every reasons to be business successful. Majority of people go to movie to enjoy Stephen Chow's signature sense of humor and the mind-blowing special effect, which by the way, is one of the best in China. The movie did live up to their expectation. The highest box office has proved that audience is satisfied.