Journey to the West is a 2013 made Chinese movie by Stephen Chow, Chi-kin Kwok. Which is in original, one of 4 grand novels of Chinese literature.
It is grand and majestic in aesthetics, significant in some actors performances, funny and absurd all the time, it is a love story at the same time, it has a journey and lots of action in it, by the way, don’t forget the philosophy. But, mainly it is Chen’s story about finding himself. A childish guy to grow up, a stupidly bald guy who tries to hunt demons with nursery rhymes.
We’ll see 5 stages of depression in Chen. Denial and isolation, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. We’ll also witness these stages also in the movie, at the other characters, the environment in everything.
Apart from all that good stuff, Journey to the West contains great oscillation. Even the start has a great art of editing, a sideslip. Starts with curiosity, fear, confrontation, happiness, suspicion, threat, danger and finally horror and sadness. In just two minutes. Just at the start of the movie. The story grabbed us, we are in it now. This is true craftsmanship.
This oscillation will continue throughout the film, at every other level.
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Absurdity, sadness, pity, action, danger, horror, heroism, grandeur, terror, comedy and then Duan comes. The first blink of love, we see her in the eyes of Chen. From the first meeting, we can see that they are supplementary to each other. Chen is caring, bland and good-natured. On the other side, practical, forward and direct Duan.
In the first part, we witness sincerity, honesty, and humiliation for Chen’s part. He could not save the people’s lives. It is a test of bravery and also being a fixer which he fails. Denial is happening while Chen cries, also questioning his beliefs.
The second part is about appearance. It may be deceptive. Actually, it is for the film. The employees are all plastic looking. For the people who are looking for pleasures, appearance is a trap. However, for righteous people like Chen, it is easy to avoid. He can see what is beyond.
Part 3 is about the family, he meets with Duan’s gang, it is also about misunderstandings and gets overcame them. You know, according to some psychologist, everything is related to connectedness. This is the opportunity for Chen to break his walls and get connected. To do that he has to overcome with his pride. But his pride breaks and he could not do it. The fight occurs: Anger. 2nd stage.
As a movie in oscillation, it also breaks the fourth wall in a way. Not talking to the audience but making a critic about the censorship teasing with the bloody scenes. If you think more blood is savagery, you are wrong. Exaggerated means it is fake.
Part 4 is about the final oscillation in the character. Monkey King is an opportunist, he does everything in order to reach his goals. Great acting, oscillating in characters, first, pure and found the goodness in himself. Turns manly and threatening, then mad, then the flirty dancer. This is the bargaining state for Chen. Finally, he makes the fault that causes Duan’s death.
In the final part, Chen falls into the depression, only Buddha can help him. Asking help from Monkey King was wrong. Finally accepts the truth and transforms.
Chen finally a mature guy, after this journey, ready to walk for his ultimate journey.
This was it, we witnessed, psychology, artistic oscillation, and test in different levels in this movie. A great movie; don’t mind the IMDB points.
