This review was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the striking writers and actors, the film in question would not have happened.It’s probably safe to assume that many of us first encountered new myths, legends, and tales through animation. The Medium is the perfect setting for this kind of story. After all, the lack of limitations of reality may make us more open to the fantasy worlds it presents. Therefore, it is not surprising that the latest attempt to recreate the famous legend of monkey king for Western audiences was made in this form with the latest in a series of Netflix original animated films.
Director Anthony Stakkiwith script from Steve Bencic, Ron J. Friedman And Rita Xiao, monkey king follows the titular monkey (voiced by Jimmy O. Yan) as he seeks family and a sense of belonging. Born from a rock that fell from the sky, he’s the epitome of chaos and out of place in the frightening ape community he’s trying to get into. When disaster strikes, it encourages him to train and learn to fight, but even What not enough to give him the sense of belonging he longs for on Earth.
Instead, he sets a new goal: defeat 100 demons with the Stick (Nan Lee), an ancient powerful weapon that he stole from the Dragon King (Bowen Yan), thereby giving himself the opportunity to earn immortality from heaven. In the wrong - if with good intentions - quest is Lin (Jolie Hoang-Rappaport), a girl who wants to make a difference for her impoverished village and acts as a counterbalance to the rather self-absorbed Monkey King.
Monkey King brings you up to speed quickly
Once inside, I knew very little about the legend of the Monkey King. Ironically, I knew it was a big deal in China. I recalled seeing the posters for the film adaptation of the story when I visited Hong Kong in 2016 with my local friends who told me that the character and the story behind it was really important. This left me wondering how much of this legend I really need to know in order to start a story.
Like a story and an introduction to a legend, monkey king does a fantastic job of immersing the audience in the story right away, with fast narration and beautiful brushstroke-inspired visuals to let you know everything you need to know. This allows the Monkey King and Lin’s powerful journey to do the rest. How this will affect an audience already familiar with the story, I can’t say, but the film seems original enough. It’s comedic and heartfelt enough to grab viewers’ attention, whether it’s their first experience with the Monkey King or not.
If the film has one sticking point, it’s the pacing at the beginning. monkey king generally has an emotional basis as well as a general focus on the quest for the Monkey King, but the film still feels episodic in nature. It works to the film’s advantage, but the pace of the first few episodes feels like they’re being built into something longer. Once the film is in place, it will be much easier for you to get used to it.
‘The Monkey King’ finds nuance where it counts
The central thesis of the film is that everyone needs somewhere to belong seems simple on paper. However, in practice, everything turns out to be much more subtle. It often seems that the answer to finding belonging is either a painfully obvious option, or just be yourself and everything else will follow. Which such narratives do not cling, and which monkey king explores in depth how unrealistic and lonely these respective options are. Even if it seems clear that the Monkey King’s friendship with Lin may be a response to his search for belonging, by the time they meet, he is already aiming for immortality. The character is painfully arrogant and dirty. This is understandable, of course. Anyone who’s ever felt out of sorts will recognize the defense mechanism when they see it, and how it’s handled is an amazing, unique angle for a movie of this kind.
With the strong message and character journey of the characters at its core, and the absolutely amazing animation that makes up the film, we truly live in an unprecedented era for the medium. It’s a joy to be exposed to new stories from a wider range of storytellers who just want to be able to share the art that matters to them. Studios shouldn’t be afraid to try new things and new styles, especially when passion means it pays off spectacularly.
Rating: B+
- monkey king it’s a beautifully animated film that immerses viewers in its classic story while making it accessible to those unfamiliar with the legend.
- The film explores the theme of belonging with nuance, showing that finding a place to belong isn’t always easy or straightforward.
- With its strong message, character journey and amazing animation, monkey king demonstrates the value of new and unique storytelling.
monkey king Coming to Netflix August 18th.
Source: Collider
I have worked as a journalist for over 7 years and have written for many different publications. I currently work as an author at Daily News Hack, where I mostly cover entertainment news. I have a great deal of experience in the industry and am always looking to learn more. I am a highly motivated individual who is always looking to improve my skills. I am also a very friendly and personable person, which makes me easy to work with.
