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Amazon.co.uk Review
Monkey! is a loose (very loose) Japanese TV adaptation of Wu Ch'eng-en's 16th-century collection of Chinese fables, which was re-dubbed into English in the early 1980s and became required viewing for a whole generation of schoolchildren. The titular monkey (played with great enthusiasm, not to mention athleticism by Japanese comic actor and former rock star Masaaki Sakai) accompanies boy-monk Tripitaka (confusingly, a pretty actress called Masako Natsume) on his/her quest for the Indian Sutras. They pick up Sandy (Shiro Kishibe), Pigsy (Toshiyuki Nishida) and a dragon that becomes a horse along the way.
The appeal of Monkey! is easier to experience than explain. It's an occasionally surreal blend of Oriental fable, knock-about martial arts, pop Buddhism and slapstick comedy. The frequent comic fight scenes are accompanied by a 70s disco-fusion soundtrack, and a narrator (English voice: Frank Duncan) uses gaps in the action to deliver inscrutable snippets of wisdom ("Even a starving camel is still bigger than a horse", "Does love mean labour even for the carp-hearted?"). Best of all, though, is the dialogue: without regard to any lip-synch niceties, the English script (by David Weir) is full of idiomatic delights, jokes and double entendres ("I can use it as well", boasts Monkey of his staff that grows from a tiny stick into a big pole. "Ooh, I never doubted it, passionate primate", purrs the Dragon Princess into his ear, "go on, make it bigger"). All are delivered by British actors in hilariously cod-Japanese accents (distinguished thesp Miriam Margolyes is the voice of Tripitaka). Bad special effects crown the show's cheesy, retro appeal. ----Mark Walker
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This DVD set is excelant. The packing and prestation, i.e the menus, are all really well done. There is even a poster/calender included, the only sad thing you learn that the actor who played 'Tripitaka', Masako Natsume died. The calender tells of various events information such as birthdays, you are also told when thev first showing was both in Japan & UK.I am looking forward o purchasing the following sets if they are all of this standard then i will be a happy camper.After i have brought the complete series i shall have a monkey marathone.The extras are great, with things like the closing credits sung in it's origanal language.
18 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Monkey is a great series to watch when you get home from the pub. The sheer bizarre nature of it makes strangely compelling viewing. Its loosely based on an old folk tale about a journey by some pilgrims to fetch ome holy scriptures, or something. I was much too caught up in the fun of it, cheesy special effects and ridiculous costumes are the order of the day here. Its just about the only foreign show on which I enjoy the english dubbing!
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