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The Lost Empire by Peter MacDonald
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DVD Cover InformationActor: Bai Ling, Kabir Bedi, Ric Young, Russell Wong, Thomas Gibson Director: Peter MacDonald Brand: Lions Gate Cinematographer: David Connell Producer: David Henry Hwang Writer: David Henry Hwang Producer: Robert Halmi Jr. Producer: Robert Halmi Sr. Producer: Steve Harding Producer: Tomás Krejcí DVD: Region Code 1 Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo; English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Full Screen, NTSC Picture Format: 1.33:1 Running Time: 170 minutes DVD Release Date: 2001-08-14 Audience Rating: Unrated Studio: Lions Gate Product features: - Actors: Thomas Gibson, Ling Bai, Russell Wong, Ric Young, Kabir Bedi.
- Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Full Screen, NTSC.
- Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo).
- Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only).
- Not Rated. Run Time: 170 minutes.
Movie Reviews of The Lost EmpireMovie Review: Fun, but near racist Summary: 5 Stars
My review doesn't match my stars!
Please, someone, recommend a GOOD Monkey King DVD that I can watch in the USA!
From an American point of view, I enjoyed the fact that it was Monkey. I've read two translations, but until this, had never seen Monkey on-screen (for another western taste, get Forbidden Kingdom). I loved this, except for the stupid love story. There is no place for that in Monkey, and I found it offensive. If you are from Asia, you may be offended at what America has done to a venerable tale and to the Goddess of Compassion. I don't blame you. I keep rewriting this in my head. Hollywood screws up everything. At least, thank God, Disney hasn't got a hold of it. Well, getting on with it:
Read the one-star reviews first, then go up the scale. Since other reviews will tell you what you need to know, I'll say this: If you are a westerner who is unfamiliar with Monkey's Journey to the West (one of the world's most popular tales, even if we don't know it), this is a fair introduction, even if it is inaccurate and offensive. I know, offensive is a bad word. Think of the old Westerns, where the indians were all white actors, or minstrel shows, where the actors were all in blackface. It's that kind of offensive. But like those old westerns, you can still enjoy this film for what it is.
It was fun watching the terra cotta army, the Chinese version of heaven (so filled with beaurocrats and civil servants), and Monkey and crew. I found it a lot of fun, except for the offensive romantic relationship. I can take bastardizing a tale as long as Journey to the West. I can even allow a western scholar to bridge a cultural gap, even if Another White Man to the Rescue bores and angers me. I was disgusted at the turning the Goddess of Compassion into an airbrained, ditsy sex toy (albeit a chaste one).
Still, probably because I am a westerner, I enjoyed this for what it is. Funny, because I can't enjoy Disney's destruction of Little Mermaid or the Pocahontas rape/kidnapping.
Anyhow, I enjoyed it and watch it regularly, which is why I gave it five stars. Enjoying it does not take away any of the negatives, but the negatives do not take away from the pure fun of this.
Summary of The Lost EmpireStudio: Lions Gate Home Ent. Release Date: 08/30/2005
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