New Xi You Ji - Journey to the West (Zhang Ji Zhong 2009/2010 version)

[PrinceKrillo]

Didn't the Chinese government just flat-out BAN all fantasy/sci-fi elements from television and film last year?

I believe it was reported in the west under the headline of "China bans time travel" ... even though focusing on "time travel" is typical media stupidity when the much bigger picture is the fact that the entire genre of Chinese mythology is now HISTORY because of this.

Probably why there have been no fantasy series released in over a year now.

So how are they even allowed to air ZJZ's JTTW adaptation at ALL now?

And as for ramifications as they pertain to the future, that means you can forget about any more Chinese Paladins.

Plus, considering what the Chinese government is trying to censor, I am also wondering if this extends to the wuxia genre as well. If not now, it probably will.

Seems like China is just trying to get rid of all stimulating entertainment, period ...

... wouldn't want the population to get any ideas about rising up against the oppressive censorship and [sarcasm]wonderful[/sarcasm] socialist values.

[PrinceKrillo]

At any rate, the series has finally started to air on BTV (Beijing Television), and surprise, surprise ... it's an even SHORTER version (I'm guessing only 50 episodes) with even more footage edited out.

This is just plain ridiculous.

The original version that aired in the fall was only 60 episodes, and we were SUPPOSED to get the full 66-70 unedited series. Instead, they went the other direction and made even more cuts.

Congratulations, China.

All this putting off and censoring and whatnot has really killed the mood now.

If I were Zhang Ji Zhong, I'd be thoroughly pissed off at the country right now and plotting a heinous revenge for the complete ruination of the series ... considering the show cost 100 million RMB and took years to produce.

[bluesky]

At any rate, the series has finally started to air on BTV (Beijing Television), and surprise, surprise ... it's an even SHORTER version (I'm guessing only 50 episodes) with even more footage edited out.

This is just plain ridiculous.

The original version that aired in the fall was only 60 episodes, and we were SUPPOSED to get the full 66-70 unedited series. Instead, they went the other direction and made even more cuts.

Congratulations, China.

All this putting off and censoring and whatnot has really killed the mood now.

If I were Zhang Ji Zhong, I'd be thoroughly pissed off at the country right now and plotting a heinous revenge for the complete ruination of the series ... considering the show cost 100 million RMB and took years to produce.

I'm actually waiting for the HDTV version. How come they only release up to 21 eps and stop.

[PrinceKrillo]

I just compared the scene where the Scorpion Demon is in bed with Xuan Zang between the two versions.

In the 60-episode version, the scene runs for a whole 6 minutes.

In the new version, the scene is heavily edited and split into TWO separate parts, totaling only 4.5 minutes.

I had a feeling they edited that scene, and I'm sure other great scenes (like Lady Earthflow killing the Tibetan monks) will probably also be cut.

If that's the case, I would rather not watch this series at all than deal with this heavily edited garbage.

Fail.

-----------------

EDIT:

They cut out the entire segment of the Tang emperor's death and journey to Hell.

This insanely edited version jumps right from Sun Wu Kong's defeat to the start of Xuan Zang's journey.

It's unbelievable how much they've now removed from the series.

Both Beijing Television as well as the Chinese government can suck my balls for this.

I hope they're happy with themselves. This complete lack of respect for Zhang Ji Zhong's hard work, the genre of Chinese mythology, AND the novel of 西游记 itself makes my stomach turn.

Boycott this s***.

[kidd]

Watching this on TV now. Love this series. It's better than the classic one starring Lu Xiao Ling Tong. The script is better written and the scene better done. Lu Xiao Ling Tong is still the best Sun Wukong, but, I also love Wu Yue's Wukong.

[PrinceKrillo]

Love this series. It's better than the classic one starring Lu Xiao Ling Tong. The script is better written and the scene better done. Lu Xiao Ling Tong is still the best Sun Wukong, but, I also love Wu Yue's Wukong.

ZJZ's version is superior to the '80s adaptation in every way possible. I've been highly entertained despite being extremely familiar with all of the storylines to begin with.

And Wu Yue's portrayal of the character trumps every other I've seen. At the very least, he's got the best acting skills of any of the other guys.

The only glaring problem with this series is the nonstop editing and cutting for television.

[bluesky]

Anyone know if the OST is release. I'm looking for a song sing by 吴樾 and can't find it.

[PrinceKrillo]

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...3&l=191a1ee9a5

I created a Photo Album (above link) on Facebook with over 40 pics from both the 2012 西游记张纪中版 and 2010 西游记浙江版 adaptations.

Samples:

ADY AN YI XUAN



HE ZHUO YAN



WILLIAM FENG SHAO FENG



WU YUE / SHU CHANG



HAN DONG




WANG LI KE

And I uploaded the 2012 Zhang Jizhong version's extended theme music (in MV form) to YouTube, featuring the full version of the end theme, performed by Dao Lang:




=====================

Zhang Ji Zhong and the entire cast and crew have accomplished something truly EPIC here with what is easily the biggest (and most anticipated) Chinese fantasy/mythology series production of all time.

They need to be COMMENDED for what they've done, and all of the disgruntled, ungrateful pricks who continue to badmouth it need to be on the receiving end of an *** kicking. That's not opinion, that's fact.

There are definitely shortcomings with this series, but overall, the positives FAR, FAR outweigh the negatives.

And quite frankly ... as plain as day, 西游记 (2012) has just basically handed the likes of the Lord of the Rings trilogy its ***** ***. The production values here have exceeded that of the film trilogy's. In other words, Peter Jackson can now suck Zhang Ji Zhong's balls.

[qtee123]

I just want to share this excerpt of Lu Xiao Ling Tong on 我爱记歌词

[PrinceKrillo]

http://tv.sohu.com/20111227/n330431929.shtml

All of the ungrateful, miserable losers that continue to insult Zhang Ji Zhong's masterful adaptation (and there are plenty of these troll pricks all over the internet, in both the USA as well as China) need to take a look at this 23-minute behind-the-scenes documentary and see the amount of work that went into making this unprecedented, epic production:

1000 crew members
400 characters (cast + extras), which meant 400 different costumes
2007 is when planning began

Five years of conceiving of and building the sets, designing and creating the costumes, a shitload of CGI designing for the visual effects, casting hundreds of actors and extras, and oh yeah ... writing the damn SCRIPT. And then nine months to film it all. Every single aspect was done superbly and in a far superior way to the overrated crap 1986 adaptation, an absolute embarassment to China, to mythology, and to television in general.

Most of the haters have no CLUE whatsoever what Zhang Ji Zhong and the entire cast and crew were able to accomplish after 5 years of production. Zhang Ji Zhong's production is far, far, FAR superior to the overrated 1986 version, a piece of crap excuse for a TV series that looks like it was filmed, edited, and written by a band of retarded adolescents. The 1986 adaptation was completely devoid of philosophy and emotion ... which is pretty ironic, considering Journey to the West is supposed to be a philosophical allegory portraying an individual's self journey towards spiritual and philosophical enlightenment ... and also ironic considering the fact that the series is supposed to be a DRAMA, despite having no emotion whatsoever. In Zhang Ji Zhong's adaptation, the characters (be they gods, demons, immortals, or whatever) actually have personalities and actually show EMOTION. Wow! What a concept! In addition, there are actually scenes in which Taoist and Buddhist philosophies and principles are explained and explored ... kind of the WHOLE POINT OF THE NOVEL! A very obvious concept that the producers of the 1986 piece of crap version were obviously too pea-brained to grasp.

In addition, the video editing in the 1986 version is so horrible, I'm pretty sure high school students could have done a better job with it. Just take the scene where Sun Wu Kong battles the Nine-Headed Hydra Prince for example. This is one of the most ridiculously horrible scenes in television history. Yang Jian appears out of nowhere, with absolutely no explanation, in the most poorly-edited fashion imaginable. Then, to show just how lazy and pathetic the crew is, the Hydra Prince's "heads" are represented by what look like tiny baby arms that pop out of his damn neck. Wow. Complete and utter FAIL. Now take a look at how Zhang Ji Zhong produced this scene, in which a far superior-looking Hydra Prince transforms into an epic CGI nine-headed beast form.

The 1986 adaptation is a miserable, horrible piece of crap compared to Zhang Ji Zhong's adaptation, in terms of scope, acting, writing, story depth, costumes, and especially visual effects. The production values are far, far greater than the overrated embarassment that was "produced" 30 years ago.

It's just too bad most people are too stupid and deluded by nostalgia and BIAS to appreciate a true masterful piece of work. Got their heads shoved too far up Liu Xiao Ling Tong's ***, apparently.

1986 Journey to the West just skyrocketed to the top of my list of MOST OVERRATED S*** EVER, surpassing even the likes of Twilight, Harry Potter, Lost, HBO programming, Call of Duty, Legend of Zelda, and American Idol.

FAIL.

[kidd]

PrinceKillo. Be a bit fair to the 1986 version. They did not have the technology back then that ZJZ has now. So, of course the special effect won't be as good.

[PrinceKrillo]

PrinceKillo. Be a bit fair to the 1986 version. They did not have the technology back then that ZJZ has now. So, of course the special effect won't be as good.

Having been produced 30 years ago excuses them for the crappy visual effects ...

... doesn't excuse them for anything else.


How does being produced in the 80s excuse them for the horrible, HORRIBLE editing? You don't need fancy computer programs to properly EDIT a damn video, a skill so lacking in the 1986 production that I fail to understand how it can possibly be watchable by anyone who isn't a child or mentally challenged.

Being produced 30 years ago is also not an excuse for the horrible, horrible dialogue. Kids programs on PBS Kids and Nick Jr. deliver more riveting dialogue ... as well as more well-developed characters than the emotion-less "robot" characters from the 1986 adaptation.

In addition, both the ZJZ and Zhejiang productions are chockfull of philosophy and Taoist/Buddhist wisdom. I'm not even sure if the moron producers of the 1986 adaptation even UNDERSTOOD what Journey to the West (the NOVEL) is about. If you think it's about some monkey-looking douche bag traveling across China killing demons with a stick, then you are obviously unable to look past a thin surface layer to comprehend any kind of deeper meaning.

Cue Wu Cheng'en ... rolling in his grave.

Both the ZJZ and Zhejiang versions used the words xiu cheng zheng guo multiple times throughout the episodes. This phrase was never used ONCE in the original version. Based on that fact ALONE, I could argue how badly that version FAILS. Apparently the producers were too stupid to even understand that the "journey" is allegorical, representing an individual's lifelong path towards philosophical and spiritual enlightenment through contemplation and the gaining of wisdom, as well as the overcoming of hardships, in order to reach a state of intellectual purity. Retrieving the damn Buddhist scriptures is merely representative of THAT, but I guess that's just too deep for the criminally STUPID to comprehend.

What's really sad and pathetic is that the majority of Chinese viewers themselves are probably too stupid to understand the philosophical depth of the novel (which is really not even that "deep" at all, compared to much deeper Taoist philosophies found elsewhere). All they can take away from the story is ... monkey hit demon with staff. Such is the stupidity of the human race.


• 1986 production fails MISERABLY to convey the Taoist and Buddhist philosophies/wisdom that the novel does. I question whether the moron producers/director even understood the novel at all. FAIL.
• 1986 production has no character development, drama, or emotion whatsoever ... and any present is horribly out-of-place, awkward, and a testament to the horrible direction; characters also have no personality (especially the gods) and the cast SUCK at their attempts to act. FAIL.
• 1986 production tried to fit EVERY single story from the novel into ONE episode ... despite the fact that some storylines are far longer and more developed than others. The result is absolutely disastrous and results in the most retardedly uneven show ever produced. FAIL.
• 1986 production has some of the worst dialogue I've ever seen on TV. Childish and uninspired at best. The very first season of Power Rangers had less corny dialogue. I could have written a better screenplay of the novel back in high school. FAIL.
• 1986 production is one of the most poorly-edited TV productions in the history of the medium. Apparently blind, brain-dead children were hired to edit the scenes, because I can't imagine a fully-functioning adult being that inept. I am embarrased that this is the so-called "crown jewel" that China shows to the rest of the world. FAIL.


See, I don't even need to mention the horrible visual effects ... about the ONLY thing that can be excused.

The Zhejiang AND Zhang Ji Zhong adaptations excel in each of these areas. 1986 version FAILS in EVERY way possible.

ZJZ/Zhejiang FTW.

1986 FAIL.

Couldn't make it any simpler. What's truly amazing is that I even have to make an ARGUMENT for it. It really should be plain as day, but there I go again giving more credit than I should to people and forgetting how pea-brained most of the population really are.

In addition, nostalgic bias is really the only reason people still have their heads shoved so far up Liu Xiao Ling Tong's rear. The guy can't even act. Wu Yue is by FAR the best ACTOR that has ever played the character. Unlike Liu Xiao Ling Tong, he's actual been in TV productions (and the lead, no less) and actually has acting skills ... not just the ability to act like a damn primate. That's right, I went there. And that right there is argument enough.

Wu Yue >>>>>>> Liu Xiao Ling Tong
Zhang Ji Zhong >>>>>>> the pea-brained neanderthals that produced the 1986 trash

Even Dao Lang's rendition of the END THEME is superior to the original's version. Wow.

[kidd]

I was just talking about your complaint of the Hydra head, not, the other complain of yours. I didn't even say the ZJZ inferior to the 1986. In fact, I just wrote a few posts up that this version is better than the 86 version.

Very sorry that I didn't quote the specific passage and made you go into anotherangst-filled rant.

[/B]Couldn't make it any simpler. What's truly amazing is that I even have to make an ARGUMENT for it. It really should be plain as day, but there I go again giving more credit than I should to people and forgetting how pea-brained most of the population really are.

You don't need to, since you already done it so many times throughout this thread. Calling people pea-brained does not make your argument stronger either. I know you love this version veryX120 greatly, but, no need to blow up just because not everyone love this version as much as you do and hate the 86 version as much as you do.

[PrinceKrillo]

Very sorry that I didn't quote the specific passage and made you go into anotherangst-filled rant.

That's okay. Because every angst-filled rant becomes another blog entry by me ... and each new blog entry means a new tweet and a FB share promoting it. And the net result is more page views.

And my "arguing" in favor of the new series is basically like arguing that the earth revolves around the sun ... and not the other way around. To anyone with an ounce of wisdom, it's common knowledge. I shouldn't even have to argue it at ALL, but there will always be those miserable morons out there that will dispute even the most obvious of things. These pricks decided in their minds that they would HATE ZJZ's work long before it was ever even released. No matter how it turned out, they were going to trash it.

Now if you don't hate the new adaptation, then the angry rant isn't directed towards you. It's directed towards the millions that do, because they have absolutely no reason to whatsoever, save for their subjective BIAS towards the old version and against the new one.

The fact of the matter is, these people would have talked trash about the new series regardless of how ZJZ produced it. It is for that reason that SOMEONE has to post these things in order to put these jackoffs in their place.

And if I'm going to spend the time and energy writing it, I'm damn sure going to be copying and pasting it everywhere for maximum exposure. Aside from blogging it, I share it on FB, post it to the FB group/page (both mine), tweet it (that's a given), and paste it as "comments" on every popular related YouTube video I can.

Anything to put these turds in their place. The level of disrespect shown towards this epic production is simply disgusting. These people have some nerve watching the entire series and then turning around and spitting on it. Filth.

On multiple Chinese video sites, the series currently holds incredibly low average user ratings ... around the 4.0-6.0/10.0 area.

It's fairly obvious these a-holes are giving the series incredibly low scores (ZEROs, basically) out of immature, childish spite.


At any rate, check this find:

I believe someone in this thread was asking about the track by Wu Yue that he sings after the An Yi Xuan fiasco, around Episode 15 or so?



Track by Wu Yue entitled 多保重 (Take Care) from the 西游记张纪中版 Journey to the West (2012) OST.

The music video features scenes from the series.

Wu Yue FTW.

[kidd]

Now if you don't hate the new adaptation, then the angry rant isn't directed towards you. It's directed towards the millions that do, because they have absolutely no reason to whatsoever, save for their subjective BIAS towards the old version and against the new one.

Haha, thanks. I actually enjoy this version very much. Not only is the special effect good, it also has great characterisation and many humourous scenes (the monkey is cute). Only one weakness. The rubber masks for the various demons really impede the actors facial expression a lot.

Both the ZJZ and Zhejiang versions used the words xiu cheng zheng guo multiple times throughout the episodes. This phrase was never used ONCE in the original version. Based on that fact ALONE, I could argue how badly that version FAILS. Apparently the producers were too stupid to even understand that the "journey" is allegorical, representing an individual's lifelong path towards philosophical and spiritual enlightenment through contemplation and the gaining of wisdom, as well as the overcoming of hardships, in order to reach a state of intellectual purity. Retrieving the damn Buddhist scriptures is merely representative of THAT, but I guess that's just too deep for the criminally STUPID to comprehend.

I do agree that 86 version only feel like an adventure story while this version has personal development where the characters learn and grow.

[bluesky]

That's okay. Because every angst-filled rant becomes another blog entry by me ... and each new blog entry means a new tweet and a FB share promoting it. And the net result is more page views.

And my "arguing" in favor of the new series is basically like arguing that the earth revolves around the sun ... and not the other way around. To anyone with an ounce of wisdom, it's common knowledge. I shouldn't even have to argue it at ALL, but there will always be those miserable morons out there that will dispute even the most obvious of things. These pricks decided in their minds that they would HATE ZJZ's work long before it was ever even released. No matter how it turned out, they were going to trash it.

Now if you don't hate the new adaptation, then the angry rant isn't directed towards you. It's directed towards the millions that do, because they have absolutely no reason to whatsoever, save for their subjective BIAS towards the old version and against the new one.

The fact of the matter is, these people would have talked trash about the new series regardless of how ZJZ produced it. It is for that reason that SOMEONE has to post these things in order to put these jackoffs in their place.

And if I'm going to spend the time and energy writing it, I'm damn sure going to be copying and pasting it everywhere for maximum exposure. Aside from blogging it, I share it on FB, post it to the FB group/page (both mine), tweet it (that's a given), and paste it as "comments" on every popular related YouTube video I can.

Anything to put these turds in their place. The level of disrespect shown towards this epic production is simply disgusting. These people have some nerve watching the entire series and then turning around and spitting on it. Filth.

On multiple Chinese video sites, the series currently holds incredibly low average user ratings ... around the 4.0-6.0/10.0 area.

It's fairly obvious these a-holes are giving the series incredibly low scores (ZEROs, basically) out of immature, childish spite.


At any rate, check this find:

I believe someone in this thread was asking about the track by Wu Yue that he sings after the An Yi Xuan fiasco, around Episode 15 or so?



Track by Wu Yue entitled 多保重 (Take Care) from the 西游记张纪中版 Journey to the West (2012) OST.

The music video features scenes from the series.

Wu Yue FTW.

That was me who looking for the song. I didn't know that Wu Yue can sing so good. Thanks a lot.

[bluesky]

That's okay. Because every angst-filled rant becomes another blog entry by me ... and each new blog entry means a new tweet and a FB share promoting it. And the net result is more page views.

And my "arguing" in favor of the new series is basically like arguing that the earth revolves around the sun ... and not the other way around. To anyone with an ounce of wisdom, it's common knowledge. I shouldn't even have to argue it at ALL, but there will always be those miserable morons out there that will dispute even the most obvious of things. These pricks decided in their minds that they would HATE ZJZ's work long before it was ever even released. No matter how it turned out, they were going to trash it.

Now if you don't hate the new adaptation, then the angry rant isn't directed towards you. It's directed towards the millions that do, because they have absolutely no reason to whatsoever, save for their subjective BIAS towards the old version and against the new one.

The fact of the matter is, these people would have talked trash about the new series regardless of how ZJZ produced it. It is for that reason that SOMEONE has to post these things in order to put these jackoffs in their place.

And if I'm going to spend the time and energy writing it, I'm damn sure going to be copying and pasting it everywhere for maximum exposure. Aside from blogging it, I share it on FB, post it to the FB group/page (both mine), tweet it (that's a given), and paste it as "comments" on every popular related YouTube video I can.

Anything to put these turds in their place. The level of disrespect shown towards this epic production is simply disgusting. These people have some nerve watching the entire series and then turning around and spitting on it. Filth.

On multiple Chinese video sites, the series currently holds incredibly low average user ratings ... around the 4.0-6.0/10.0 area.

It's fairly obvious these a-holes are giving the series incredibly low scores (ZEROs, basically) out of immature, childish spite.


At any rate, check this find:

I believe someone in this thread was asking about the track by Wu Yue that he sings after the An Yi Xuan fiasco, around Episode 15 or so?



Track by Wu Yue entitled 多保重 (Take Care) from the 西游记张纪中版 Journey to the West (2012) OST.

The music video features scenes from the series.

Wu Yue FTW.

Do you know if the OST release.

[ByTmE]

Apologize for being redundant...but has any group taken on the project of subbing this?

[PrinceKrillo]

Not sure if there even is an official release of an OST. Not that many songs in the series, I don't believe.

And Jiang Hu said that they were subbing the series, but I'm not sure if they've been using the original, raw episodes or the NEWER version of the sixty episodes (the two are different and have differently edited/cut scenes).

[Cesare]

And quite frankly ... as plain as day, 西游记 (2012) has just basically handed the likes of the Lord of the Rings trilogy its ***** ***. The production values here have exceeded that of the film trilogy's. In other words, Peter Jackson can now suck Zhang Ji Zhong's balls.

XYJ is a very good looking series and the production values outshine any other mainland TV production (even the CGI is slightly better than usual), but this, my friend, is a *huge* overstatement. :-}