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At the beginning of 1995, the Hong Kong film industry experienced an unexpected shock. Stephen Chow and Liu Zhenwei's painstaking efforts to create the "Journey to the West" series suffered a tragic Waterloo.
This huge production, with an investment of up to 60 million Hong Kong dollars, barely exceeded 29 million at the box office, and even half of the production cost was not recovered.
Stephen Chow, the king of comedy who once dominated the film industry, can only silently endure the harsh criticism of the industry and the cold treatment of the audience at this moment. The film's bold and innovative plot design and unique performance style not only did not win praise, but instead attracted a lot of ridicule.
In 1994, when Stephen Chow's acting career was in full swing, a grand idea was born in his heart - to create his own film kingdom. With this ambition in mind, he founded Playmate Films, eager to announce the beginning of a new chapter with a powerful work.
With this ambition, Stephen Chow found the talented director Liu Zhenwei, hoping to collaborate on a big production. However, when Liu Zhenwei said his idea, Stephen Chow's eyes widened in surprise.
The director proposed to shoot a subversive Journey to the West story. In this version, Sun Wukong is no longer a loyal guardian of the scriptures, but a rebel who wants to defeat Tang Seng.
What's even more unexpected is that this Monkey King will also experience an unforgettable love story.
After listening to Liu Zhenwei's idea, Stephen Chow fell into deep thought. As a leader in Hong Kong's comedy industry, he has already won the box office with series such as "The Saint of Gambling", "The Judge of the Dead", and "Truant Dragon".
This new character setting is undoubtedly a great challenge and adventure.
However, Liu Zhenwei's enthusiasm and self-confidence infected Stephen Chow. He began to imagine himself as a different image of the Monkey King, and the idea made him excited.
In the end, Stephen Chow raised his head, and his eyes flashed with determination: "Then let's give it a go!" I will create a Monkey King with Zhou's characteristics.
In this way, two talented artists joined hands to embark on this creative journey full of unknowns. They are full of passion and look forward to the glory of the future, but they do not know what kind of trials and doubts await them.
This decision not only changed the trajectory of their careers, but also invisibly shaped a classic that has influenced generations.
Stephen Chow and Liu Zhenwei's bold attempt, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, stirred up ripples after circles, and finally formed a huge wave that swept the Chinese film industry.
Their creativity, their courage, and the challenges they are about to face will be the beginning of the saga of "Journey to the West".
The filming of "Journey to the West" is like a thrilling adventure. In order to ensure the quality of the film, Stephen Chow and Liu Zhenwei resolutely invested a huge amount of money of up to 60 million yuan.
They also invited the country's top Xi'an film studio to cooperate, hoping to leverage its rich production experience.
The lineup of the production team is star-studded. Zhu Yin plays the role of Zixia Fairy, Lan Jieying plays the role of Spider Spirit, Cai Shaofen plays the role of Princess Iron Fan, and new singer Karen Mok plays Bai Jingjing.
The male supporting roles are also strong, with veteran actor Wu Mengda playing the second master, and Guan Yu in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" Lu Shuming playing the role of the Bull Demon King. What's even more remarkable is that they also invited Zhao Jiping, the soundtrack master of "Red Sorghum", to be responsible for the music creation.
However, the ideal is very plump, but the reality is very skinny. At the beginning of filming, the crew encountered many difficulties. The first is the conflict between the working methods of the mainland Western film studios and the Hong Kong crews.
Accustomed to excellence, Western Film Studio was surprised that the Hong Kong crew planned to complete all the filming work within 100 days. They were worried that this efficient model would affect the quality of their work, after all, they had spent an entire year cultivating a sorghum field in Red Sorghum.
Secondly, Stephen Chow and Liu Zhenwei's creative style has also sparked controversy. The two often added to the plot on the fly, and the flexible and changeable way of filming improvisation made many actors and crew feel uncomfortable.
They complained and questioned why they couldn't shoot according to the script. Stephen Chow and Liu Zhenwei were immersed in the enthusiasm of creation, and the discussion of the script was non-stop.
The fatigue of the crew members is increasing day by day. Dozens of hours of high-intensity work in a row left them physically and mentally exhausted, while the director and the lead actor were still full of energy, and this contrast exacerbated the contradictions within the team.
Even more worrying are the skepticism from the outside world. When some clips of the movie leaked out, almost everyone asserted that it would be a terrible production. They can't accept this iconoclastic image of the Monkey King, let alone understand Stephen Chow's seemingly absurd lines and exaggerated performances.
Criticism from industry insiders has added to the problem. Zhang Zien, the director of "Prime Minister Liu Luoguo", couldn't help but sigh that this film seriously damaged the reputation of Western Film Studio and could not reflect the artistic pursuit of Western Film Studio at all.
Even Zhao Jiping, who was in charge of the soundtrack, shook his head and sighed at the "internal organs" all over the ground after seeing the scene of Chun Shisanniang vs. the Bull Demon King, and even specifically told him not to appear his name in the end credits.
Faced with overwhelming doubts and criticism, Stephen Chow and Liu Zhenwei could only choose to remain silent. Their hearts are full of grievances and bitterness, but they have to continue to adhere to their creative ideas.
Every day of filming is like an uphill battle, and they silently persist in the midst of doubts, proving their choice with their actions.
After nine hundred and eighty-one difficulties, "Journey to the West" finally completed filming. However, this is only the beginning of the enormous challenges they are about to face. What Stephen Chow and Lau Zhenwei don't know is that a more severe test awaits them, and this controversial work will also embark on a legendary journey of ups and downs.
In January 1995, "Journey to the West: Moonlight Treasure Box" was quietly released in Hong Kong theaters, followed by "Journey to the West: The Great Sage Marrying" a month later.
However, the box office results were like a basin of cold water, extinguishing the enthusiasm of Stephen Chow and Liu Zhenwei. The total box office of the two films is only 29 million Hong Kong dollars, which is undoubtedly a painful failure compared to the investment of 60 million.
This result dealt a heavy blow to Stephen Chow and Liu Zhenwei. Liu Zhenwei angrily left the film industry and vowed not to set foot in this life. Stephen Chow was also forced to close the newly established company and fell into a low period of his career.
He had to re-examine his "nonsensical" performance style, and his heart was full of confusion and self-doubt.
In those difficult days, Stephen Chow's words echoed the most: "You just need to do your job as an actor, and you don't need to express too much personal opinions." This was undoubtedly another blow to his creative passion.
Except for those loyal fans who have always supported him, almost everyone has questioned Stephen Chow, believing that he is just a clown who is good at funny and is not up to the role of a large-scale production.
However, fate always likes to joke. Just when everyone thought that "Journey to the West" had become the dust of history, an unexpected turning point quietly appeared.
In the copy version of the film at the Beijing Film Academy, the film won a warm welcome from college students and quickly became a hot topic on campus.
As time went on, classic lines from the movie began to spread among young people. People gradually tasted the deep emotions contained in it, and began to understand the deep meaning behind Stephen Chow's seemingly absurd lines.
In particular, the scene where the Supreme Treasure wears a tight spell often makes the audience cry like rain.
"There was once a sincere love in front of me, but I didn't cherish ......" has become a way for countless people to express regrets and memories. People began to re-examine the film and found that it was not just a funny film, but also a work full of philosophy and life wisdom.
By 2000, the classic lines in "Journey to the West: The Great Sage Marrying" have been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and the audience has begun to truly understand the emotions that Stephen Chow poured into these lines.
The film's reflections on love, responsibility, and growth have sparked a wide range of resonances.
In this way, "Journey to the West" completed the gorgeous turn from "bad movie" to "classic". It proves that a true work of art will always be rediscovered and cherished over time.
This once questionable film eventually became a cultural phenomenon that influenced a generation, and also opened a new page in Stephen Chow's acting career.
The success of "Journey to the West" lies not only in its unique creativity and profound connotation, but also because it carries Stephen Chow's personal emotional sustenance. In a rare in-depth interview, Stephen Chow unveiled his inner secrets to renowned journalist Chai Jing, giving people a glimpse into the emotional source behind this classic work.
It turns out that those heartbreaking lines in the movie carry Stephen Chow's nostalgia for his first girlfriend Luo Huijuan. Due to the excessive pursuit of his career, Stephen Chow missed this beautiful relationship.
Many years later, when he learned the news that Luo Huijuan died of illness, this became an eternal pain in Stephen Chow's heart.
This unforgettable regret turned into the affectionate confession of Supreme Treasure to Zixia Fairy in the movie: "If there is an afterlife, I must meet you again." "There was once a sincere love in front of me, and I didn't cherish ......" These lines not only touched countless audiences, but also became Stephen Chow's way of expressing his personal feelings.
Many years later, in "Journey to the West", Stephen Chow borrowed similar lines again. When Chai Jing was keenly aware of this and asked him if it was an irrepressible urge to express the emotion he wanted to tell most in his life at this moment, Stephen Chow rarely showed gratitude: "Thank you very much, thank you very much."
At this moment, what we see is no longer the glamorous king of comedy, but an ordinary person with deep emotions. He used the movie to tell his regrets and remorse, perhaps it was this sincere emotion that made "Journey to the West" touch the hearts of countless audiences.
Stephen Chow's practice of integrating personal emotions into his creation not only gave "Journey to the West" a unique charm, but also made this film an inseparable part of his life.
This deep emotional connection may be the real reason why "Journey to the West" can last for a long time and move generations of audiences.
Time flies, and it has been 26 years since the release of "Journey to the West". This once questionable film has now become an indispensable classic in the history of Chinese cinema.
It not only profoundly influenced Stephen Chow's subsequent creations, but also deeply embedded in the collective memory of a generation.
Stephen Chow's comedic style has been redefined with this film. The audience begins to realize that behind his seemingly absurd plots, there is a deep insight into social reality and a tender understanding of human nature.
"Journey to the West" shows another side of Stephen Chow as an artist, proving that he is not only a comedian who can make people laugh, but also a filmmaker who can touch people's hearts.
Today's Stephen Chow is no longer the high-spirited young man he was back then. The years have left their mark on his face, but his work is still like a treasure, and every time he revisits it, he brings new insights.
As a saying circulated in Hong Kong: "It takes ten years to get one Eason Chan, it is rare to meet one Lin Xi in a hundred years, and it is rare to meet one Leslie Cheung in a thousand years, there is no Huang Jiaju in the world, cherish Stephen Chow in front of him."
This sentence shows Stephen Chow's unique position in the Chinese entertainment industry.
The legend of "Journey to the West" is not only a success of a movie, but also a tribute to sticking to dreams and not being afraid of difficulties. It tells us that a true work of art will always shine in the long river of time.
And Stephen Chow, a comedian who was once questioned, finally used his persistence and talent to create a legend in the history of Chinese films.
The success of this film also allows us to see the charm of artistic creation. It reminds us not to dismiss innovative works because they may one day become classics that will influence a generation.
The story of Stephen Chow and "Journey to the West" will always inspire those who come after to innovate and stick to their original intentions.
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