Review of Journey to the West (2014) by Rafael M — 12 Nov 2013

The films biggest flaw is its extremely inconsistent tone. Normally this isn't something I'd gripe about in a film, since such a thing can often make a film more realistic (life sure as hell has an inconsistent tone) but here it feels like Stephen Chow just didn't know what type of movie he wanted to make. The comedy and lighthearted tone clash greatly with some genuinely unpleasant moments and real horror in a manner so jarring it took away from the experience for me. There's no problem showing the dangers our hero must face, it's still an action film in addition to a comedy after all, but something like dragging out the death of a young girl just feels over the line in this type of film. Additionally, once again in a Chow film, the romance feels very weird and unnatural, and presents a weak point in the film.

Still, when it settles down and figures out what it wants to do, it's pretty damn good. It's an interesting spin on the Journey to the West story, and it was a lot of fun seeing a live action demon hunter (something usually restricted to anime). The action sequences are all extremely well put together, and wildly creative. The film has a bit of an identity crisis of comedy, horror, and action; but when it settles into action it's a helluva' fun ride. Certainly not Chow's best, and there were some parts that I really didn't like, but it's interesting to see him try something a little different, and it's still mostly successful in its attempts.