The Lost Empire
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Movie Reviews of The Lost Empire
Movie Review: Campy Fun
Summary: 4 Stars
I've read the other reviews available at the time this one is being written, and this film has some enthusiasts and some absolute haters. I'd like to offer a more centrist look in the hopes that it might make a little more sense. I gave this film 4 stars as center leaning towards fun and inspiration.
I'm a graduate student doing research on modern Japanese interpretations of "Journey to the West", "Suikoden", and "Fenshen Yanyi", and let me tell you, this film doesn't even compare to the weirdest, out of context interpretations the Japanese have done with this classic story. One of the most popular modern Manga adaptations of Journey to the West has the scripture pilgrim (who Mr. Gibson replaces in "The Lost Kingdom" [sort of]) as a gun toting, beer drinking, gambling, meat eating, rebel ("Gensomaden Saiyuki" by Kazuya Minekura). Another has him as a harmonica playing traveler in a post apocalyptic world ("Assobot Goku" by ARIMORI Jyoji), and don't get me started on "Dragon Ball". It doesn't detract from the story all that much to have a white guy in the lead roll if you've already trudged through that, especially since this movie is obviously designed for a Western audience.
On the pros side: This movie is entertaining. Its family friendly and it's not bogged down for a casual watcher in fancy dialogue. In fact, it's very much in the new millennia so far as most of the language goes. Having read the full original novel for my research, having every other paragraph be poetry would not have worked here. You'll laugh at it most of the way through. Fun Martial Arts sequences can be found throughout the film. You don't really have to know anything about the original story to watch it (but it helps). Amazing costumes and makeup are used in this film. It's very aesthetic.
On the cons side: It's not accurate in a lot of places. It's also not really trying to be. This strikes me as a movie that would have made a better book. The acting is not as good as most American's would expect, but it probably could pass for a BBC Miniseries in a Dr. Who/Neverwhere kind of style. Its special effects aren't stellar (although what they lose in quality they certainly made up for in quantity). It's important to remember that this movie is not supposed to be a retelling of the original legend, but more of a really campy sequel. Yes, Confucius is a lying swindler in this. He seems to embody more of what the government in modern day China is in this film that what he historically was. It seems relatively obvious that his character is simply a way to move the plot. It's unfortunate that they chose a historic scholar to corrupt.
Why is it worth a watch then? "Journey to the West" was historically a series of stories that were circulating long before Wu Cheng'en put it to paper in the Ming Dynasty, and those legends differ slightly across East Asia. The reason the collective works had so much meaning was that they were the literary pieces of the time that allowed for integration of Taoist beliefs, Buddhist beliefs, and Confucian ideals peacefully, and that union is part of what created the Chinese identity. "The Lost Kingdom" has taken bits and pieces of the original and used them with Western ideas to introduce the legend to a new audience. In the beginning narrative of the film, the main character even likens himself to a 'western cowboy' in China. There is no attempt at all to hide that this is a best fit cultural merge. It's an effort to bring cultures together for 3 hours that could spawn a search for a better understanding of Chinese culture (despite the fact that this doesn't match the original creator's full intent at the outset).
My academic pursuits of Chinese and Japanese literature started from a Japanese science fiction adaptation of Fenshen Yanyi as a 10 year old. Aliens in Ancient China who wear turbans ("Houshin Engi" by Fujisaki Ryuu) didn't put me off finding out the truth behind the original. Who knows what this film could inspire?
It's worth a watch. It's funny, and it's campy, but don't take it seriously. I understand declaring it 'Racist' and 'insulting' makes big headlines in news papers, and that sells issues, or gets blog hits, but the movie doesn't take itself that seriously, and making broad sweeping declarations about it probably means you've worked yourself up for nothing.
Movie Review: The movie is just the beginning.....
Summary: 4 Stars
I rarely write reviews because it is so time consuming to write a good/thorough review.
I have read the other reviews for this movie and would like to submit an alternative way of looking at this movie. First, I do like the movie. It is exactly as it was designed to be - bloodless battles, villians that are larger than life, heroes that are equally large, and special effects that will never win any awards. The movie is simply 'fun' if you can leave your brain at the sidelines for a while. Who wouldn't want to learn to fly on clouds, learn martial arts from a mystic instructor, and battle dragons, demons and evil spirits all for the love of the beautiful goddess (ladies, just substitute 'handsome god') and to save the world?
That hardly seems like enough reason to give a movie a '4 star' rating though. I grant that the movie is hardly accurate in its portrail of Chinese mythology and/or religious beliefs. However, it is the kind of movie that makes the viewer want to know more. Does the book "Journey to the West" really exist? Are there really stories about The Monkey King, Piggsy and the other gods that appear in the movie? Are the stories similar to the mythology and fables of other countries that teach lessons as they amuse the young (and not so young)? Who is the Jade Emporer and what is his place in Chinese history/theology? China is a country that is rich in history and this movie can make the viewer ask the questions that can start him/her down the road to appreciating another culture.
In summation, I found "The Lost Empire" to be an enjoyable film with the potential to cause the curious viewer to begin an appreciation for another culture.
Movie Review: Passable entertainment
Summary: 4 Stars
OK, I rounded up to 4 stars. This really isn't bad, though.
It's an idiom that most American viewers won't be familiar with. The major characters are Kuan Yin, Confucius, and a flock of other gods, godlings, immortals, buddhas, figures from myth, and other well-known figures and stereotypes from the Chinese pantheon. There are the flying heroes, improbable weapons, and acting at least on a par with the Dr. Who series. In other words, lots of viewers will see it as alien, disconnected, and amateurish, as well as being filled overly convenient miracles.
But it's not in the Western idiom, so parts of it have to be taken in their own terms. And it has the look of a low-budget film, so you won't see effects on the Star Wars scale. And it is a bit cheesy and over-the-top, which is part of the appeal.
The fights are bloodless, the romance is chaste, and all but the youngest kids will understand the characters. If you don't take it or yourself too seriously, there's a lot of fun in this one.
//wiredweird
Movie Review: Great fun for all ages
Summary: 4 Stars
This is not real mythology, but it does mention several legit Chinese myths. Of course, it's not meant for a mythology or history lesson, it's meant for entertainment. This is not a great movie by any stretch. Having read the reviews already on here, it's not even a good movie to some people. It is, however, entertaining and fun to watch. Yeah, the story does wander off of the plot a few times, but it always meanders back. The acting is hardly Oscar caliber, but the actors are good enough to get the point across. Ling Bai is very good as the Goddess of Mercy. She is able to be sweet, sexy and heroic at the same time. The main selling point for me, though, is that my 9 year old granddaughter and I can watch this movie and enjoy it together. She likes the character of the goddess and that gives her a good female role model in the movies and that's not something a lot of movies offer these days (ie Mean Girls). A good, fun way to spend a couple of hours.Movie Review: The Lost Empire really good movie
Summary: 4 Stars
I thought that this was an enjoyable movie. I love the Monkey King and his friends. They are the best part of the movie. I thought Thomas Gibson was really good as Nick (The Scholar from Above). I think for the time that the movie was made the special effects are pretty good. There are some good values in this movie. The fight against good and evil, Making choices, and facing the concequences for your actions. There is a little bit for every one. Great fight scenes, comedy, and alittle bit of love.I do have a few things I don't like about the movie, but over all I would highly recommend this movie.