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Originally Posted by
PrinceKrillo
First of all, the 1986 version is the most overrated piece of crap ever. All of the characters were emotionless, unrelatable, and the editing was absolute garbage. It was also completely black-and-white, treating all of the demons as "evil" ... which is complete crap, and unless you're an 8-year child, I don't see how you could appreciate it.
I have enjoyed the 80s version since first watching it nearly 20 years ago and still enjoy it to this day. Compared to today's standards and taste, it might not measure up, but it does have its own entertainment value and artistic merit. It also leaves a nostalgic feeling for fans like myself. Calling us elderly folks 8-year old children is a bit childish, don't you think?
Sad to say but I think it will be very hard to find an 8 year old today that would sit through the 80s show, because they are not used to the dated technology.
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The Zhejiang version is currently by FAR the best version ever released. The reason there are people who disagree and actually hate it is because this world is filled with immature idiots who want nothing more than mindless action/fighting with no real story, philosophy, emotion, or meaning.
I have watched the beginning of the Zhejiang version. I enjoy it, but I have more feelings for the 80s version (probably because of nostalgia). I am not sure I care for the way the monkeys are portrayed. They seemed to lack the innocence and naivete I would associate with monkeys found on a remote island. I thought the 80s Sun Wu Kong was more convincing when he first encounter humans. Zhejiang's Sun Wu Kong adapt a bit too fast for my taste. Also, the overuse of CGI makes everything look too bright and fuzzy. I like the grittiness of the past version a bit more.
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For the rest of us ...
... the Zhejiang version is exactly what a DRAMA, especially an epic myth series, is supposed to be. All of the characters, including all of the gods and demons, are developed very well, have personalities and emotions (like real people, and not damn statues), and have relationships that actually develop over the course of the story. Pretty STANDARD stuff. It's called DRAMA. It's what a DRAMA series is supposed to have ... duh.
On top of that, and more importantly, the Zhejiang version delivers fulltime with the philosophy, incorporating deep meaning and Buddhist/Taoist teachings into every single storyline that they did. Even made them better than Wu Cheng En's original writing. In addition, every demon in the Zhejiang version had an actual reason or principle for acting the way they did. It wasn't just because they were "evil." That's incredibly retarded. For instance, the Red Boy brought pain to others because his parents the Bull Demon King and Princess Iron Fan were crap parents and did not raise him properly or give him the attention he needed. Therefore he turned to bringing pain to others as a way or coping. RELATABLE. The Spider Demons seduced and killed men because they believed it was their NATURE to do so. The Yellow-Browed Buddha captured Xuan Zang and the others because he had the misguided intention of completing the journey himself, so that he could take credit. And there are a million other examples of why the characters in the Zhejiang version are FAR superior. They're actually DEVELOPED. Wow. What a concept.
I do agree that Zhejiang version has more character development. Interactions between many of the characters are very engaging. I also enjoy the fact that they incorporate a lot of the mythology behind most of the gods and demons. They did a very good job setting the background of each of the characters through action and dialogue (conversation between Nezha and Li Jing that mentioned Nezha's brother as a side note was very well placed in my opinion and the Jade emperor and Yang Jian's dysfunctional family situation was fun to hear about). It's nice that a show about Xi You Ji pays homage to other stories like Feng Shen Bang and Bao Lian Deng.
The downside of some of the character development is that sometimes directors and writers take too much liberties with the characters. For instance, the friendship between Nezha and Sun Wu Kong seems a bit too fanfiction (actually, it's also seems like a rip off from the Japanese anime Saiyuki).
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In the real world, people do "bad' things because they were wronged or screwed over by society. Not because they're just "evil." Puh. The 1986 version was a retarded, formulaic piece of crap in which every storyline was the same as the one before. Completely pointless.
I don't agree with this. Not everything in this world has to have a deep driving force. I truly believe that some people will do evil things just for the heck of being evil. And of course, 80's version did explain that most of the demons try to harm XuanZang because consuming him would lead to heightened power, extended life, and possible godhood. This is reasonable motivation, I think. Afterall, they are called demons for a reason.
However, I do want to point out that the 80s version is not as repetitive as you make it out to be. Many of the "evil" guys do have different motivations and stories are very different. They don't always fight demons. Sometimes they face off Kings who are foolish and heaven beings who are too prideful.
The number one complaint I have with the 80s version is that XuanZang is just too pathetic. I cannot respect him in anyway and often wish Sun Wu Kong would accidentally slip up and the monk gets eaten. Sadly, even when XuanZang is killed, he didn't stay dead.
I have not seen much of the XuanZang in Zhejiang's version, but from what I have seen of Victor Chen's XuanZang, I know he's at least 10 times better than the 80's XuanZang.
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These are the things that will determine whether or not Zhang Ji Zhong's version can match up. At this point, it's pretty much guaranteed to take second place at least, but only because every other version in the past (1986, HK, Japan, animated, etc.) has been utter nonsense made for 8-year old children. No one with any sort of wisdom or maturity wants to see 50 episodes of substance-less fighting scenes. LAME.
So as far as I'm concerned (and as far as anyone with any culture and refinement is concerned as well), it really doesn't matter how "flashy" Zhang Ji Zhong has made the action scenes. If that's what he thinks epic mythology is about, then he is going to fail hard. If his version doesn't deliver the kind of emotion/drama and philosophical wisdom that the Zhejiang version did this year, then guess what? FAIL.
Don't be too fast to judge. ZJZ may surprise you. Though with his work, people tend to really like it or really hate it. It's hard to find neutral people (maybe because his shows has too much marketing and publicity prior to completion). I will definitely finish ZheJiang's version and then will watch ZJZ version when it comes out. However, I think the 80's version will probably always be close to my heart (even if people accuse me of being an idiotic 8 year old who lacks wisdom and maturity).