Review for Sawada Kensaku's "Saiyuki" (Monkey AKA Way To The West)

One of the shows that I still love and have fond childhood memories of was the David Weir/Fabulous Films UK dubbed version of the Kokusai Hoei/Nihon TV program "Saiyuki" (AKA Monkey, Monkey Magic or Way To The West) which ran in Japan from 1978-1979. It was a whimsical, fantastical adventure story that could be seen as comparable to some of the live action children's programs that were made by Sid & Marty Krofft or Gerry Anderson (not quite Tokusatsu but more fantasy action).

The series was loosely based on the famous Chinese novel, "Hsi Yu Chi" (Literally: "Record Of A Journey To The West") by Wu Cheng-en (1505-1580), which in turn was based on the semi-legendary pilgrimage of the priest, Hsuan-Tsang (602-664 AD) also known as Tripitaka, to India in the 7th century.

While the pilgrimage is historical fact, in time certain liberties were introduced to the story, turning it into a "supernatural adventure" of spiritual exploration. These legends told that Hsuan-Tsang was helped on his journey by a trio of supernatural animal spirits (the Monkey-King, a pig-spirit and a Kappa or Water Goblin). The Monkey-King became a legend onto itself, becoming a folklore icon (the Monkey-King character may have been based on the Hindu Monkey God – Hanuman).

Wu Cheng-en took these folk stories and made a definitive version, combining satire, fantasy, comedy and allegory. Hsuan-Tsang's pilgrimage to India became an allegory for man's pilgrimage through life. The Novel was brought to the West under the title, "Monkey", by Arthur Waley, originally published by Allen & Unwin in 1942.

There have literally been hundreds of adaptations of the story in Japan from the 1960's "Saiyuki" cartoon (AKA Alakazam The Great based on Tesuka Osamu's Manga "My Son Goku") to the space action anime "SF (Science Fiction) Saiyuki – Starzingers" (AKA Spaceketters, 1979) by Matsumoto Leiji. Of course the most popular reinterpretation of the story took the form of the immensely popular "Dragon Ball" series (1986-1989) written by Toriyama Akira.

Other live action adaptations have since shown on TV including one in 1984, another in 1994 and even a TV special with the beautiful Miyazawa Rie portraying Sanzouhoshi in 1993. The most recent adaptation of the timeless tale took the form of Fuji TV's 2006 series "Saiyuki" which set itself apart from the others above by going back to the wacky comedy and action of the 70s series. While it only last 11 episodes it drew decent ratings in Japan and even spawned one TV movie special.

As with other popular TV series like "Hero" and "Unfair", a film version of "Saiyuki" debuted this past Summer in Japan and was fairly well received. The R2 DVD will finally be released early January 2008.

Sawada Kensaku's "Saiyuki" is the "eiga ban" (movie version) of the Fuji TV series and brings back many of the TV drama cast for this big screen version.

Noble priest Sanzouhoshi (Fukatsu Eri) and "yokai" companions water spirit/kappa Sai Gojo (Uchimura Teruyoshi, one half of "manzai" comedy duo Unchannanchan), pig spirit Chohakkai (Ito Atsushi from the TV series "Densha Otoko") and the "irrepressible" monkey spirit Son Goku (Katori Shingo from SMAP) are still on their quest to Tenjiku/Ghandara (India) via the "Silk Road" (oddly similar to Dorothy's trek to OZ on the "Yellow Brick Road").

On their way they encounter the spunky princess Reimi (Tabe Minako) and her guardsman Buntoku (Tanihara Shosuke) of the Tiger Kingdom. Once a lush, fruitful and peaceful land, it was turned into a desert wasteland by the evil demon siblings, Ginkaku Oh/Silver King and Gingaku Oh/Gold King (Kishitani Goro and Kaga Takeshi). They even place a hex on Reimi's parents (Mitani Koki and Aitsuki Akiko) turning them into turtles.

Hearing the stories of Sanzouhoshi and her companions' battles with other yokai and demons, Reimi has been offering a reward of vast riches and fortune in an effort to recruit them to her aid. Unfortunately this only succeeded in bringing out opportunistic doppelgangers and pretenders, among them the beautiful thief Rin Rin (Mizukawa Asami).

Sanzouhoshi agrees to help Reimi seek out her grandfather, Ryusei (Kobayashi Nenji) who is said to possess a magical orb that can cure her parents (perhaps a reference to "Dragon Ball"?), and thus the group heads for the snow capped mountains of Northern China. However Rin Rin discovers that Reimi had made a deal with Kinkaku Oh and Ginkaku Oh to get the orb for them (the orb turns out to be a power source for one of their mystical machines which would enable them to cast the World into total eternal darkness). Rin Rin warns the group but stubborn Goku refuses to break his promise to Reimi and continues on with her to obtain the orb even though he realizes it will be handed over to the evil brothers.

Once the orb is obtained from Ryusei, Goku and Reimi are attacked by Kinkaku Oh (who was sent by his brother to get the orb and kill the Princess). He had captured Sanzouhoshi and was holding her captive in a magical bottle. They are saved by Rin Rin and the old hermit Roshi (Okura Koji) who Chohakkai and Sai Goji had found buried underground.

With the team has regrouped they head back to Tiger Kingdom to stop the demon brothers from turning the world black.

Director Sawada, who directed one of my favorite J-Doramas "Lipstick" as well as "Pride" and "Beach Boys" succeeds at making the film "Saiyuki" just as fun and exciting as both the 2006 remake and the original 70s series.

Katori Shingo's manic and often irritating performance as Goku was a bit over-the-top and I kind of prefer Sakai Masaaki's more controlled performance in the original 70s TV series. Katori definitely has the look down and his Goku is indeed a lot more athletic and superhero-like (there is a part in the film where Goku even displays some "Super Saiyajin" like powers) although in a bumbling sort of way.

Uchimura Teruyoshi's performance was surprisingly mellow considering that "Unchan" is known for being more off-the-wall in his antics (like his singing alter ego with the defunct J-Pop group Pocket Biscuits and the various Unchannanchan TV shows). In a funny cameo partner Nanbara Kiyotaka (Nanchan) portrays a "Fake Goku" early in the film. I kind of liked Uchimura's portrayal of Sai Gojo and thought it was a bit of a step up from Kishibe Shiro of the original.

Ito Atsushi's version of Chohakkai was okay but definitely not as great as Nishida Toshiyuki's hammy performance in the original series.

Fukatsu Eri (Odoru Dai Shosasen/AKA Bayside Shakedown) is a worthy successor to a role made famous by the beautiful model/actress Natsume Masako who died tragically at the mere age of 27. While in the novels and the TV series Sanzouhoshi was supposed to be male, in this version, Sanzouhoshi is obviously female and in a way it is for the best as even in the original series I found it hard to believe that the gorgeous Natsume was a male character. Fukatsu's portrayal of Sanzouhoshi/Tripitaka, while nothing particularly special was still engaging and a calming balance to Shingo's overacting.

Tabe Mikako (Hinokio, Sailor Moon Musical, Yoru No Picnic) makes for a cute heroine as Reimi, the Princess of Tiger Kingdom and she is very fetching in the role.

There are quite a bit of interesting cameos throughout the film including Kobayashi Nenji (Furyo Bancho, Truck Yarou series) as Ryusei, Okura Koji (Ping Pong, Swing Girls) as Roshi, Mizukawa Asami (Ieryu-Team Medical Dragon, Go, Bishoujo H) as Rin Rin and Tanihara Shosuke (Godzilla x MechaGodzilla, Godzilla x Megaguirus) as Buntoku.

The villains in particular were quite a pleasant surprise with Kishitani Goro (Brothers, Crows Zero, Diamond Girl, Returner) portraying the sinister speed demon Ginkaku Dai Oh (Silver King) and Kaga Takashi (Ultraman Zeius, Death Note, Chairman Kaga of Iron Chef) as his equally diabolical knife wielding brother Kinkaku Dai Oh (Gold King). They surprisingly don't have that many lines but their flamboyant costumes and menacing glares were definitely intimidating.

I'm glad that there were various tips of the hat to the original series particularly with the inclusion of Canadian/Japanese J-pop band Monkey Majik's remake of the Godaigo song "Ghandara" which was the end theme for the 70s TV series. It was a nice reminiscent touch that I enjoyed.

While most of the CGI effects were very good, particularly the sky duel scene between Kinkaku Oh and Goku, some miniature and blue screen effects did look a bit fake. The costumes on the whole were very impressive and definitely beat those of other similar films this year like "Ge Ge Ge No Kitaro".

I kind of wished original cast members Kishibe Shiro, Sakai Masaaki and Nishida Toshiyuki had cameos in the movie but I guess it wasn't meant to be.

In all I found "Saiyuki" to be a great adventure film and a worthy tribute to the 70s series. Some may find it somewhat campy at times but it definitely was a fun movie.