TWENTY-ONE years after the release of the two-part film, A Chinese Odyssey, Hong Kong director Jeffrey Lau finally produces the third instalment.
While classic films are considered some of Lau’s most popular works to date, spawning spoofs and remakes, the latest film sees an upgrade in the special effects department, while still keeping much of the “mo lei tau” (nonsensical) magic intact.
What makes Lau’s films so popular is his remarkable ability to turn any issue into something laughable. While the storyline in the third film doesn’t make much sense, the film in its entirety is hugely enjoyable with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.
Lau’s style often blends slapstick, political satire and over-the-top visuals, with some musical numbers as interludes and the subject of time travel, making his films unique.
He belongs to the Hong Kong New Wave era, where the recurring themes in his films often tend to touch on family, relationship and sexuality.
Known for other films such as All For The Winner and The Eagle Shooting Heroes, Lau is also the writer for these classic films.
Ever since his debut as a screenwriter and director in the early 1980s, Lau has left a mark on the Hong Kong film industry. His infectious and relentless energy, as well as distinct sense of comedy, has led to multiple collaborations, the most notable one being with auteur Wong Kar-Wai.
They first collaborated on the 1987 horror-comedy, The Haunted Cop Shop. In 1993, when Wong couldn’t finish his post-modern film, Ashes Of Time, in time for the Chinese New Year slot that year, Lau stepped in to fill up the gap by directing a spoof of that film, The Eagle Shooting Heroes.
It’s the various idiosyncrasies in Lau’s films that make them so entertaining and enjoyable.
A Chinese Odyssey 3 will not be just another run-of-the-mill comedy but one that will be remembered in the years to come. Following the earlier two-part Chinese Odyssey films, the third film sees a continuation in the way Lau tackles the legend of the Monkey King.
A totally different version of what we’re familiar with, A Chinese Odyssey opens with Zixia (played by Tang Yan) who manages to see in advance the outcome of a battle between the Gods and mankind.
To prevent it happening, she travels back in time using the Pandora’s Box, only to make matters more complicated.
Zixia also has an agenda of her own — to make sure that Joker a.k.a. The Monkey King (Han Geng) doesn’t fall for her but for Bai Jing Jing (Karen Mok) instead.
Except for Hong Kong actress Mok, who reprises her iconic role as Bai Jing Jing, the main cast from the earlier films have been replaced by Chinese actors.
Thankfully, there’s still plenty of chemistry between the characters. The film still has action and winning humour from the past.
Han Geng’s performance as Joker bears a striking resemblance to Stephen Chow’s Monkey King character in the earlier films.
Tang Yan, who replaces Athena Chu as Zixia, is a wonder to watch. She’s full of charm as the soft-spoken heroine.
Meanwhile, action martial arts star Wu Jing seems like an oddity in the group. I felt it was a wasted opportunity to see a really capable martial artist in a non-action role. Wu plays Buddhist monk Xuanzhang, whom the Monkey King is tasked in protecting as they go to retrieve Buddhist scripts in India.
Amid the adventures in slapstick and parody, Lau has managed to turn all the comic performances into something compelling and thought-provoking as well.
The film is also crammed with CGI, which occasionally feels like a video-game cut scene but it is a good effort nonetheless.
A Chinese Odyssey 3 is certainly kept afloat by the cast’s engaging performance. The picture was also beautifully lensed with rich, earthy tones.
Those who have watched the previous two films will notice that the tunes from there, The Platter’s Only You and Lowell Lo’s Love For Whole Life, have been rearranged as edgier versions in this latest instalment.
NOW SHOWING
A CHINESE ODYSSEY 3 (CANTONESE)
Directed by Jeffrey Lau
Starring Han Geng, Tang Yan, Jacky Wu, Karen Mok, Wu Jing, Gillian Chung
Duration 100 minutes
Rating P13