The Monkey King 2 2016

As the curtain of time lifts to reveal a world 500 years distant from Sun Wukong’s (Aaron Kwok) entrapment beneath the formidable Five Fingers Mountain, a novice Buddhist monk named Tang Sanzang (Feng Shaofeng) embarks on an arduous pilgrimage to the revered Thunder Monastery in India, driven by a burning desire to collect the sacred scriptures of Buddha. Unbeknownst to him, his tranquil journey is about to take a dramatic turn, as the celestial forces that govern the cosmos have decreed otherwise.

As fate would have it, Tang Sanzang’s path crosses with that of a majestic tiger, whose ferocious attack leaves him no choice but to release Sun Wukong from his ancient confinement. And so, the irrepressible Monkey King awakens to find himself bound by an enchanted circlet, forged by the benevolent Bodhisattva Guanyin herself, which will exact a painful toll whenever Tang Sanzang invokes a specific sutra during their odyssey.

The dynamic duo soon finds itself in the company of Zhu Bajie (Xiaoshenyang), a shameless pig demon consumed by unquenchable lust, and Sha Wujing (Him Law), a mystical monk with an otherworldly aura. As they navigate the treacherous landscape, Sun Wukong’s insatiable thirst for adventure and Tang Sanzang’s unwavering dedication to their sacred quest lead them into a series of thrilling confrontations.

Their journey takes an unexpected turn when the Monkey King faces off against a formidable dragon, whose scales glint like polished gemstones in the sunlight. With a burst of his trademark bravado, Sun Wukong defeats the beast and, through the application of his extraordinary powers, transforms it into a majestic steed, which he names as his loyal companion, ready to carry him forth on their perilous journey across the vast expanse of the ancient world.

As the company ventures into the Yun Hai Xi Kingdom, they are met with an unsettling atmosphere of fear and dread, for it is a land ravaged by the insatiable hunger of the White Bone Demon (Gong Li). Her unquenchable thirst for human flesh stems from her desperate attempt to cheat death and defy theWheel of Reincarnation. The demoness, aware of Sanzang’s existence, becomes fixated on consuming him, convinced that his absorption would put an end to her cycle of reincarnation and allow her to achieve eternal demonhood.

Under the guise of a benevolent elderly woman, she lures the group into a secluded cottage deep in the woods, expertly using Wukong’s trust-seeking eyes as her greatest obstacle. To neutralize this threat, she cunningly scatters tainted dust into his eyes, effectively blinding him to her true identity. While her minions, disguised as ordinary women, keep Wukong, Bajie, and Wujing occupied with a charade of domestic duties, the demoness spins a tale of woe, recounting how she was forced into an arranged marriage as a young girl, only to have her village blame her for their famine-stricken predicament. The people, convinced of her demonic nature, sought to sacrifice her to appease the gods. As Tang Sanzang offers words of comfort to the old woman, the demoness sees her chance and attempts to strike him down, but Wukong intervenes just in time.

The demoness escapes with her life, leaving behind the corpse of the elderly woman, and returns to her true form as the group begins to disbelieve Wukong’s claims that the women he had killed were, in fact, demons. Instead, they view him as a cold-blooded killer, condemning him for his apparent brutality. Sanzang takes it upon himself to punish Wukong by reciting a sutra, causing the circlet on his head to tighten in agony.

Following this confrontation, Sanzang ascends a mountain to confront Wukong, who is sulking in solitude. In a poignant moment of introspection, Sanzang reveals that he believes they share a common trait – their unwavering trust in what they see with their own eyes. He posits that it is precisely this shared characteristic that has brought them together on their perilous journey, and that only through their combined efforts can they hope to uncover the truth amidst the chaos of uncertainty.

As the troupe enters the kingdom’s grand capital, they are welcomed with an opulent feast thrown by the King (Fei Xiang), who implores Sanzang to rid his land of the malevolent spirit terrorizing its inhabitants. However, Lady White suddenly appears on the scene, her eyes fixed intently on the monk. Sanzang, sensing her malicious intentions, offers her a path of enlightenment instead, hoping to guide her towards redemption. Lady White attempts to persuade Wukong to hand over the monk, proclaiming they share a kinship of sorts; however, Wukong sees through her ruse and a fierce battle ensues as chaos erupts throughout the banquet hall.

In the midst of the mayhem, the King’s guards swoop in and snatch Sanzang from the fray. What follows is a shocking revelation: the King has been secretly kidnapping and slaughtering children in a desperate bid to cure his own mysterious affliction by drinking their blood. His attempts on Sanzang’s life are thwarted only when Wukong arrives just in time to save the monk and the remaining children from certain doom.

As order is restored, the group is hailed as heroes for their bravery. Yet, amidst the celebration, a somber truth emerges: Wukong’s piercing gaze perceives that even a young girl and her mother who approach Sanzang are unwittingly controlled by the same dark force – Lady White. Incensed and disillusioned, Tang banishes Wukong from their midst. In the immediate aftermath of this traumatic event, Sanzang is kidnapped once more by the very demoness he had sought to exorcise.

As the clock ticks away in the White Bone Demon’s lair, Sanzang faces a daunting ultimatum: convince the demoness to abandon her malevolent ways and embrace a path of enlightenment and nonviolence, or risk losing his own life forever. The demoness’ eyes gleam with a mixture of sadness and regret as she recounts her past life as a mortal, sharing the story Sanzang had heard earlier. Just as all hope seems lost, Wukong bursts into the scene, his loyal companions Bajie and Wujing hot on his heels. Together, they engage in an epic battle against the White Bone Demon and her minions, emerging victorious after a fierce struggle. As the dust settles, Wukong delivers a mortal blow to the demoness, striking a decisive blow that leaves her defeated and wounded.

The Buddha descends from the heavens to collect the demoness’ soul, but Sanzang intervenes, pleading for mercy on behalf of his fallen foe. The Buddha concedes, placing the burden on Sanzang to lead the White Bone Demon onto the path of redemption, a journey that would require him to sacrifice his own life in the process. Sanzang’s heart is heavy with sorrow as he begs the demoness to show remorse and accept the Wheel of Reincarnation, but she refuses, opting instead to meet her demise as a tainted soul within Sanzang’s body. The monk’s despair deepens as Tang Wukong hesitates before delivering the final blow, moved by Sanzang’s words about leading by example.

As Wukong brings his staff down, Sanzang’s body is transformed into a statue, a testament to the monk’s unwavering commitment to his own path of enlightenment. In a poignant exchange, Sanzang whispers a promise to Wukong: should he be reborn in the next life, he would eagerly serve as the Monkey King’s master once more. And so, the demoness’ karma is finally set right, her pain and hatred washed away through Sanzang’s selfless act.

Time passes, and Wukong and his companions continue their journey to the Thunder Monastery, Wukong proudly bearing Sanzang’s statue on his back. Meanwhile, Guanyin watches over them from above, dropping a single bead of water from her magic vase onto the earth below. The tiny droplet strikes Sanzang’s hand, shattering the surface to reveal a human finger, a harbinger of the monk’s eventual rebirth.