talkmagic.co.uk

In Sainsbury's this morning, I made a surprising discovery in the DVD department.

A movie which, I believe, is a feature-length pilot for the new Monkey Magic series.

I knew there was one, but hadn't seen hide nor hair of it anyware. And there was the pilot. Singing to me. Whispering 'take me home' in Japanese.

Okay, I absolutely love the 1970s series, and have a minor obsession with Wu Ch'êng-ên's original Journey to the West tales. The DVD might have been poo, but it couldn't stay on the shelf...

I've just watched it - it's a two-hour long pilot, by the way!

Absolutely bleedin' awesome! I grinned so much I thought my face would break.

It's an all new cast - obviously - as Masako Natsume (Tripitaka) is no longer with us, and the rest of the pilgrims will be getting on a bit by now...

But the format is the same as the 70s series.

The characterisation is the same.

The humour is on the same level.

The design general look is the same (except for the fact that Monkey himself is now a blonde).

They even have a girl playing Tripitaka.

The story itself seems to just follow on from where the original series left off, without any attempt to reintroduce the characters at all.

But the production values are through the roof - especially for TV. The effects are phenomenal.

I absolutely loved it!

It's amazing the things you find!

Pete

When I read Monkey Magic, I thought of the Ch5 magic show. But I was wrong...

beetlejuiceecis wrote:When I read Monkey Magic, I thought of the Ch5 magic show. But I was wrong...

Same. Bad title on their part, to be honest, it's impossible to find out anything about them.

I'm assuming you're both significantly younger than I am.

For someone my age, the words 'monkey magic' can't mean anything other than the Great Sage Equal Of Heaven. And that applies regardless of how into magic you are.

And continuing the thread, I also saw the movie Forbidden Kingdon, starring Jackie Chan and Jet Li.

It concerns a young Americal fella, whisked back in time to return the Monkey King's staff and free him from life as a statue. Hardly true to the original premise, but still great fun. The banter between Chan and Li is lovely, and Jet Li's performance as the Monkey King is beautiful lunacy.

Forbidden Kingdom isn't Monkey as most of us know it, but it's immense fun.

Pete

Oh, and the new Monkey Magic DVD even features a new recording of Ghandara on the closing credits.

I was in nerd heaven.

pcwells wrote:

Oh, and the new Monkey Magic DVD even features a new recording of Ghandara on the closing credits.

That's reason enough for me to buy it!! All we need now is an update of The Water Margin and my nerd heaven will be complete.