Underplayed Gems

Journey to the West (1982)

Journey to the West poster
Original title
西游记
Directed by
Yang Jie
Genre
comedy film, adventure television series
Country
People's Republic of China
Length
2 seasons, 41 episodes
Rated
TV-Y
Rating
8.4 of 10 from 66 voters
Elsewhere
IMDb
The 3D catalogue: film cases on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalogue in 3D

The film shelves have a room of their own that you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real films from the same catalogue when you tell them what you feel like watching. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this series is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

A Buddhist monk travels to India with three supernatural disciples who protect him from demons and monsters. Each disciple has their own personality and magical powers that help them overcome obstacles on the journey.

whimsicalepiclightheartedmythologicaladventurousnostalgicplayfulclassic

What happens

Journey to the West is a Chinese television series adapted from Wu Cheng'en's 16th-century novel of the same name. It was directed by Yang Jie and stars Liu Xiao Ling Tong as Sun Wukong, Chi Chongrui as Tang Sanzang, Ma Dehua as Zhu Bajie, and Yan Huaili as Sha Wujing. The pilot first aired in Mainland China in 1982. Eleven completed episodes were released on 1 October 1986 before all 25 episodes were collectively broadcast on CCTV in 1988. A second season totaling 16 episodes was filmed in 1998. The series concluded in 2000 with 41 episodes broadcast over two seasons. Set in Tang-era China, Journey to the West follows the journey of Chinese Buddhist monk Tang Sanzang and his three disciples, Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing on their pilgrimage to India. The series incorporates elements of Chinese mythology as well as Chinese Buddhism and Taoism. Journey to the West attracted record viewership in China and gained national widespread popularity upon its release. It has been praised for staying faithful to the novel and its opening and ending themes have become iconic tunes in the public consciousness. In 1988, the show received a Feitian Award (Outstanding Artistry) and two Golden Eagle Awards (Best Television Series and Best Actor). (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

More like this

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