A Chinese Odyssey Series (2 Discs Blu-ray)

[pro-bassoonist]

YesAsia Link:
http://www.yesasia.com/us/stephen-ch...0-en/info.html

Set to be released on September 11.

1920 x 1080p FULL HD
WIDESCREEN 1.85:1
Cantonese dts-HD Master Audio 6.1、
Cantonese Dolby Digital TrueHD 6.1、
Mandarin Dolby Digital Ex 5.1
Subtitles : Traditional, Simplified Chinese, English, Japanese & Korean

The Austin Chronicle:

Wildly ambitious and structurally frustrating, yet quite funny and entertaining, Jeff Lau's first film since the disappointing Chow Yun Fat vehicle Treasure Hunt is also his best since his absurd 1993 masterpiece Eagle Shooting Heroes. And while this two-part epic (Pandora's Box, the first installment, plays this weekend; the second film, Cinderella, comes in two weeks) never quite achieves the relentlessly inventive comic momentum of Eagle Shooting Heroes, A Chinese Odyssey: Pandora's Box does manage to surpass it in terms of sheer imagination and fantasy. Based on the legend of the Monkey King, the film offers an unusual mixture of Chinese mythology, "Wu Xia Pian" fantasy, crude comedy, romance, melodrama, sci-fi, and, well - probably whatever else Lau could think of. Tc. A mischievous god who was destroyed some 500 years ago for his rebellious ways, the Monkey King holds the key to locating the powerful (and painfully long-winded) Longevity Monk, another mythological being whose very flesh is desired by the many gods and devils attempting to track him down. The first installment unfolds gradually as various supernatural beings descend on Joker's camp, all attempting to accomplish two things: figure out if he is really the Monkey King, and find and eat the much-sought-after Longevity Monk. Director Lau keeps the pace moving at breakneck speed, filling the screen with enough comedy, romance, action, monsters, and special effects for two movies, while Chow and his trusty sidekick Ng Man Tat give deliriously comic performances appropriate to the picture's crazed goings-on. Outrageous highlights include a giant spider monster that pulls the Joker's tooth, an incredible Fantastic Voyage-styled battle inside an opponent's body "Don't step on my intestines!" cries the King Bull), hilariously repeated time-travel attempts, and the most brutal penis abuse ever played for laughs. This is one of the wildest fantasies that the Hong Kong cinema has produced recently, and also marks a solid comeback for director Lau, as well as yet another hit for superstar Chow. One complaint, though, is the abrupt, cliffhanger finale that ends, not unlike Back to the Future: Part II, right in the middle of the story, leaving viewers in suspense until the sequel arrives.

More outrageous fantasy and comedy from stylish director Jeff Lau and superstar goofball Stephen Chow, this second installment satisfyingly concludes the epic story line begun in the original, in addition to providing many thrills and laughs along the way. Picking up where Pandora's Box left off, Cinderella gets off to a rip-roaring start as Chow is accidentally sent 500 years backward in time to witness the original destruction of the Monkey King, the mythical god to whom he may or may not have a supernatural connection. After yet another temporal screw-up, Chaiu lands himself right into the hands of the villainous King Bull and his lackeys, a clan of rebellious monsters who are searching for the fabled Longevity Monk. As if all this wasn't confusing enough, Chow winds up falling in love with a young goddess, Zixia, despite the fact that he is already married, and thus finds himself torn between two loves, two worlds, and two personalities. Lau's direction seamlessly blends a wild variety of genres with ease and confidence, signaling a growth in his abilities since the scattershot Chow Yun-Fat vehicle Treasure Hunt. Chow, as usual, is a delight, particularly when he takes on the mischievous persona of the Monkey King. Fun special effects and action sequences also abound, with the finale -- the Monkey King's final battle with the King Bull atop a flying chunk of land headed directly towards the sun -- being especially spectacular. If you missed the original film - forget it, you'll never understand what's happening in this picture, but if you saw and enjoyed the first part, you'll no doubt have a great time with this terrific follow-up.

Pro-B