Saiyuki (Journey to the West Japanese style)

This is the Japanse version of Journey to the west (or maybe I should say it's a parody loosely based on Journey to the west). Starring: Shingo Katori as Son Goku (Monkey King), Eri Fukatsu as Sanjo Houshi (Monk), Atsushi Itoh as Cho Hakkai (Piggy), and Teruyoshi Uchimura as Sa Gojou. In this version, Shingo the monkey likes to eat, Atsushi the Pig is greedy (and likes girls), Teruyoshi the (whoever he is) likes girls as well (and more so than the pig himself), Eri the Monk is played by a woman and I'm not sure if she's supposed to be a he or whatever but if it's a he, he's a crybaby. Ep 1 has guest star Takuya Himura as one of the youkai. I thought ep 1 was kind of funny so I plan to watch a bit more.

http://wwwc.fujitv.co.jp/gokuu/index2.html
http://www.jdorama.com/drama.990.htm

I know everyone likes visuals and I did intend to put up some screen shots but can't get into imageshack.

Eri Fukatsu as Sanjo Houshi (Monk)
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Shingo Katori as Son Goku (Monkey King)
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Atsushi Itoh as Cho Hakkai (Piggy)
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Teruyoshi Uchimura as Sa Gojou
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The muffin man... I mean some old man from heaven (I don't know the name)
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Ep 1

Taki plays a bird youkai of some kind kidnapping children
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The four arrived and Goku started fighting with the feather youkai
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'Son Goku?'
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Four walking pass desert. Everyone is thirsty esp. monkey.
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"Nani?"
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Monk is using the last drop of water to for the plant.
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"No way." (As monk waters some more.)
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"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
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"I..... uh...... " (started to cry)
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Next they arrive to a town. It appears some parts were burnt down by an ox youkai below. He demands sacrifice. In order to save the father and daughter, the monk pretends to be the sacrifice and four are waiting to face the ox but monkey needs to pee.
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So he runs to the toilet and overhears a conversation.
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He finds out that the father and daughter are in cahoot with the baddies.
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Goku is angry.
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He runs back to let master know but...
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the ox's minion in a form of a ninja (?) appears
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"Oh no!"
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The ninja comes prepared...
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"Need weapon.. where is the metal stick?"
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"No metal stick..."
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"It's over."
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"ororo......."
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why is the monk play by a girl?

Shingo looks like he's making lots of facial contortions. I'm not sure I like his interpretation of the Monkey King. Goodness knows why they chose Eri to be Tripikata. Perhaps they wanted someone small-sized and with good acting cred?

This is supposed to be their third remake of Saiyuki, and I can't help but wonder why. Anyway if you like lores, it would be better to watch the drama special by TBS, Satomi Hakkenden (The Legend of Satomi Clan and The Eight Dog Warriors). It is very entertaining and has a star-studded lineup.

I heard about Hakkenden but I didn't really pay attention since I'm not a big Takizawa Hideaki fan. However if it's readily accessible to me I'll try it out. I never saw any live action Saiyuki before so that's why I wanted to see this. I also happen to like Shingo ('cause I think he's really funny.) So far it's pretty wacky and who knows what they'll do to the plot. I'll follow more as they become accessible to me.

I currently also follow unfair (just because masaya kato is in there however his screen time is limited). I'm getting tired of this older woman younger men pairing that they're implying. The boys really have to go. I want to see some fine looking men as main chars here. :D

Neither am I a Takky fan. Curiousity just got the better of me and I watched it (Miho Kanno's role as the evil sorceress was good reason to) although I generally don't follow taigas. I've some small grouses like the annoying damsel-in-distress and scenes where the good appear out of no where to save their fellow comrades in arms from the bad. That's too neat and convenient.

I thought to watch Unfair too. Are they pairing Ryoko with Eita? Guess its too early to judge how the story will develop but I don't fancy the older woman younger man proposition either.

Wondering whether Yaoh is a good drama to catch...oh the second ep of Saiyuki is out.

It seems like a sealed deal with the older woman younger man thing in Unfair. I guess it worked for Anego so they're trying the same thing. (I mean those two already spent the night in the first ep.) My main gripe is just that the boys are just not manly and beautiful enough for eye candies. :D Anyways, I rest my case.

I don't know much about Yaoh but it looks kind of good. Hmm... there are quite a few fairly good looking men in there. I shall check it out. If the plot is so so at least there are eye candies. :naughty:

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This is the only Goku that Japanese are aware of. Selling the other "real" Goku maybe hazardous in Japan.

I do have a conspiracy theory that this probably is vengeance for memoirs of the geisha. :D

Anyways, I did watch ep 2 and I think I've seen enough.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Grifis

I do have a conspiracy theory that this probably is vengeance for memoirs of the geisha. :D

Anyways, I did watch ep 2 and I think I've seen enough.

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Haha. ;)

Saiyuuki isn't to your liking? I'm following Hyouheki and Unfair this season. Waiting to see what other dramas to add to my list.

It turns out Eri Fukatsu plays a priestess. Saiyuuki doesn't seem to do justice to the Chinese novel - it feels so slapstick.

SON GOKUU

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RINRIN

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DEMONS

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SAIYUUKI

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Actually, this sounds a lot like the manga Saiyuki. It has all of the same character names. If it IS based on that, then the reason they chose a woman for the monk was because the monk is supposed to be a "pretty boy" that looks like a woman!

But, I am quite disappointed with the cast...according to the story, aren't they all supposed to be really HOT???

No offense, but HOT is not the word to discribe this cast!

Just finished watching all of them. Refreshingly fun drama to watch. Thoroughly enjoyed sequel 1~10. :D

Previous versions often started with how powerful the monkey was in the past. And a whole -"Battling with Heavenly Soldiers" stuff. A substantial amount of history. This 11-sequel version is a much compact version which somewhat much more suited the title "Journey to the West". This show talks about more on the human nature, down-to-earth feelings such as companionship, love, family love etc. So not much of the emphasis is placed in the heavenly soldiers, celestial history, bestial designs, costume compatibility etc. Much of the settings is based on Jap Shinto-buddhism, rather than what was like in the Tang Dynasty.

The Cast:
Son Gohan (Wukong) is a whiney monkey who cant stand hardship. This is ADVERSELY unlike any of the previous versions. What's more, he is the third disciple rather than the first. Only similarity that remains is his mischief, impatience and power. (Always walks in the rear~ :D )

Cho Hakkai (Piggy) in this drama still loves woman but is more of green-apple type. He is NOT the most horny of them all. Not only that, his forte is endurance. Able to sustain hardship and most of all PAIN. (The opposite of Gohan) He carries the luggages intead of Sandy. However his weakness is (changed to) food...

Sa Gojou (Sandy) is an interesting character. I like his character development. He is a Kappa. Those familar with Japanese folktales will know Kappa is a water demon. It can survive on land provided the waterdish on its head is not cracked. To match this with the traditional River Demon Sandy is quite close! But still adheres to Jap culture, I would say it is quite igenious. He is the ultimate lustbug! Yet he is the first disciple who always marches after Tripitaka. Also, he loves to munch on cucumbers too! His cool headedness is the utmost asset in the team.

Sanjo Houshi (Tripitaka) is a female lead. But she really acts Tripitaka quite well. The costume she wore appropriately resembles that of a travel monk. In "The Travels of Xuanzang", the show features how tripitaka walked to Tianzhu alone, most of the time on foot. This show adhered to that FACT. While similar to previous versions, he (she) is still a crybaby, gullible, etc, the show tells what would happen if she were to travel without Gohan. (Ep 8) This alternate reality is the same as in OUR reality! And that the show cleverly brings that out.

Feelings and thoughts:
In past versions, we see how the four manage to survive mainly on Wukong's divine skills. More often than not, it is Piggy or Tripitaka who gets into trouble and Wukong saved the day as usual. Quite dull and boring. This time, all the characters have equal chances of performance/screen time. Their characters are deepened. They often worked out solutions together and survived the threats as a team. Tripitaka is not a totally useless whim like the original novel but assertive in decision making. Piggy is not sniffing up skirts all the time but often able to overcome his timid self to help his master. Sandy is made to be observant and clever to overcome tricky situations, unlike his previous "white elephant" version. Probably, Wukong is the least outstanding of all. But his loyalty and courage is always welcome.

Packaging:
With the CG graphics so overused these days, these is one of the dramas that uses approriate CGs in the right balance. i.e Kintoun, the cloud that wukong ride on, 50,000 demon armies (looks like Lord of the Rings). While the fighting can be improved by more stunning moves and CGs, the director insists on "natural look". Which really is a challenge to the actors. But the unpolished weapon play makes it quite pseudo-like... Nevertheless, the nice soundtracks by Satoshi Takebe and cool wacky End theme by Monkey Majik deserves an applause. The effects and mixing is also great in handling the fun times as well as sad moments. I would say the packaging is really well-doned and the plot would score a 8/10 or higher if not for the last episode.

~ Rating: 7/10

Saiyuki not on youtube :(

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by shanghai girls are hot

why is the monk play by a girl?

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For balance. Yin and Yang. If the monk was a guy, then, there's only really one main girl present in the series -- Rin RIn.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hotohori_91

Actually, this sounds a lot like the manga Saiyuki. It has all of the same character names. If it IS based on that, then the reason they chose a woman for the monk was because the monk is supposed to be a "pretty boy" that looks like a woman!

But, I am quite disappointed with the cast...according to the story, aren't they all supposed to be really HOT???

No offense, but HOT is not the word to discribe this cast!

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What are you talking about? Rin Rin is not just HoooooooOOOOOOOOOTTTTTTTTT! She's also cute!
So is the Princess in the Princess + Chicken "Prince Charming" episode.
On a physical beauty scale of 1 to 10, I would rate that princess a 12! (Sorry for being shallow!)

Anyways, I saw the 1986 version back in 1986 when it was released. Saw the TVB version as well.

Of all of them, I have to say I like Saiyuuki the Japanese version the best. And it's not b/c Shingo Katori tries to be a monkey-cross-Bruce-Lee character. :D

(There's just something about how the story was crafted to deliver powerful meanings about life's struggles in general which the Japanese version appealed to me).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gettinglucky

Anyways, I saw the 1986 version back in 1986 when it was released. Saw the TVB version as well.

Of all of them, I have to say I like Saiyuuki the Japanese version the best. And it's not b/c Shingo Katori tries to be a monkey-cross-Bruce-Lee character. :D

(There's just something about how the story was crafted to deliver powerful meanings about life's struggles in general which the Japanese version appealed to me).

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I bet you're only saying whatever you're saying because the monk master is a girl not a boy like the 1986 version, 96 version 2009 version, 2011 version


I like the theme song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sty9fhmKU_Y