What do you get when you cross a Chinese classic tale with Star Wars? A Chinese Tall Story by Hong Kong director Jeff Lau Chun-Wai, an adaptation with a bizarre twist of the famous Chinese classic book Journey to the West.

(Credits– the Malay Mail by Chow EE-Tan)

HONG KONG  Dec. 20, 2005   The film, starring Nicholas Tse, Charlene Choi, Fan Bing Bing, Chen Po-Lin, Kenny Kwan, Steven Cheung and Isabella Leong, would be Lau’s third movie adaptation from the classic book.

His well-known 1995 movies A Chinese Odyssey: Pandora’s Box, A Chinese Odyssey: Cinderella both with Stephen Chow, were fresh attempts at reinterpreting the classic, featuring the central character Sun Wukong, better known as the Monkey King.

"In fact, I wrote the script to this third story 10 years ago but I couldn’t shoot it as most of the special effects I wanted were not possible at that time," said Lau in a recent phone interview.

To Lau, A Chinese Tall Story is first and foremost a love story. "It’s a love story that’s laced with some special effects," he said, adding that the story is actually a tragedy but he chose to interpret it as a comedy.

While Journey to the West has been adapted into countless films and TV series in the past, Lau has set himself a new challenge that breaks boundaries by mixing science-fiction elements into the familiar tale to bring action and fantasy to new heights.

The movie’s highlight would be the spell-binding visual effects using computer-generated images (CGI) that are featured in at least 40 per cent of the film. And in making this HK$100 million (RM50 million) production, Lau is aided by international action director Cory Yuen, whom he has worked with regularly since 1993, Japanese music maestro Joe Hisaishi, award-winning art director Bill Lui, costume and image designers William Chang, Bruce Yu and Lee Bik-kwan, as well as visual effects masters Eddy and Victor Wong. But when asked what’s the film’s selling point – the special effects, the love story or the young cast? – Lau said he never thought about the it as he wanted to make a movie that’s unique in every way.

Is he ever concerned about critics that might blast him for making a farce out of a classic? Lau said with a laugh: "People have crucified me for a long time already. So I’m not worried what people say. "I just want to be true to myself and to the films I make. I want to make them interesting and creative. I can’t always be worrying about people’s comments."

Lau also clarified that A Chinese Tall Story is a totally separate outing from the Odyssey series he filmed a decade ago. And he has already put away all the baggage that came with those two films to start afresh. He said he felt satisfied because he had finally completed all the three chapters based on one topic, something he had envisioned a long time ago.

On whether he would make another film adaptation of Journey to the West, Lu quipped: "Oh no, I don’t think people can take it anymore!" Filming A Chinese Tall Story was tiring but seeing his creative ideas and fantasies come to life would no doubt be a thrill to a director who has loved the Chinese classic since young. "When I read it, sometimes I would imagine I’m the Monkey King. I thought of how I could rebel against the Heavens and the Tang Monk who was too strict on him."

Could his childhood fantasy have contributed to his creativity in making the film? "In a way. But I was only looking at the classic from another point of view, and it happens that my filming style is comedy.’’

Lau said he has the highest respect for the Tang Monk, who was a real person. "The monk was a great man and he sacrificed so much. He was also an adventurer as he made his journey on foot from China all the way to India to get the Sutras (sacred text). He was also a literary scholar as he translated the sutras into Chinese. "However, in the book, he became quite long-winded. He has much philosophy in him," he said of his interpretation of the character in the film.

Nicholas Tse portrays the soft-spoken monk who is torn between the love of two women. Playing his love interest is Charlene Choi’s uglified character Meiyan, a lizard imp from outer space. "She was originally from another planet but adopted by the monsters as a kid, and later she was given more human elements as she grew up. "Ah Sa (Choi’s nickname) had to undergo four to five hours of make-up everyday for shooting," Lau said. Tse, meanwhile, had it easier as other ‘creatures’ required between one to two hours for their make-up. It was not the easiest movie to make but Lau insisted that all his actors had fun working on his movie.

On winning awards, Lau, who has been directing movies for 18 years, honestly answered: "Of course every director likes to win an award, including me. However, I won’t be so hard-up for it and go all out to get it. "I feel we can’t depend on the affirmation of other people for our happiness. So, I’m quite happy about how things are. "I suppose not winning an award means that others are better than me," he said matter-of-factly.

Having said that, Lau’s track record is nothing short of impressive. His unique story-telling methods have won him the honor of being named one of the 100 Top Chinese Directors. A producer and script writer, his other outstanding works included All For the Winner, Ashes of Time, Second Time Around and A Chinese Odyssey 2002.

In the 1980s, Lau spearheaded Hong Kong movies’ mo lei tau (nonsensical humor) culture with Stephen Chow and was responsible for catapulting Chow to superstar status with a series of dark comedies. Till today, Chow, a director in his own right, still says he would love to be directed by Lau again.

Karazen Movie Review: A Chinese Tall Story

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