The Monkey King (film) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Monkey King
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Cheang Pou-soi
Produced by	Kiefer Lyhrywgraiu Michael Wehrhahn Robert Harris
Screenplay by	Szeto Kam-Yuen Edmond Wong Lola Huo Dali Chen
Starring	Donnie Yen Chow Yun-fat Aaron Kwok Joe Chen Peter Ho Kelly Chen Zhang Zilin Gigi Leung Xia Zitong Louis Fan
Music by	Christopher Young
Cinematography	Arthur Wong Ardy Lam Yang Tao Daniel L. Symmes
Studio	(See Notes)
Distributed by	Aeon Pix Studios (India)
Release date(s)	25 January 2014 (2014-01-25) (Beijing premiere) 30 January 2014 (2014-01-30) (Hong Kong) 31 January 2014 (2014-01-31) (China)
Running time	120 minutes
Country	Hong Kong China
Language	Mandarin Cantonese
Budget	500 million yuan (82 million USD)
Money made	US $182.2 million

The Monkey King is an exciting action-fantasy movie from 2014. It was made in Hong Kong and China. The film was directed by Cheang Pou-soi. Famous actor Donnie Yen plays the main character, Sun Wukong, also known as the Monkey King. Donnie Yen also helped create the amazing fight scenes in the movie.

The movie started being made in Beijing on October 18, 2010. It was filmed in 3D, which means you can watch it with special glasses for a more immersive experience. The story comes from a very old Chinese book called Journey to the West. This book is a classic from the 16th century, written by Wu Cheng'en during the Ming Dynasty. The Monkey King movie was released on January 31, 2014. A second movie, The Monkey King 2, came out in February 2016.

The Story of The Monkey King

The movie begins with a big battle in Heaven. The powerful Bull Demon King fights against the Jade Emperor, who rules Heaven. The Bull Demon King loses the fight. His girlfriend, Princess Iron Fan, who is the Jade Emperor's sister, asks the Emperor to let him live. So, the Bull Demon King, Princess Iron Fan, and other demons are sent away to Flaming Mountain.

The goddess Nüwa then uses her own body to fix Heaven with special crystals. The Jade Emperor asks his nephew, Erlang Shen, to guard the Southern Gate of Heaven. Erlang Shen is not happy about this job. One of Nüwa's crystals falls to Mount Huaguo. Over time, this crystal turns into a monkey. A nine-tailed fox touches the crystal and gets a scar. A mysterious power then takes the fox away.

The Monkey King's Journey

Many years later, the monkey is found and taught by Subhuti. Subhuti names him Sun Wukong. Meanwhile, the Bull Demon King is planning to attack Heaven again. He wants to use Wukong to help him. He also knows that Erlang Shen is angry with the Jade Emperor and wants to take his place. Erlang Shen agrees to help the Bull Demon King. In return, he wants to kill his uncle and become the new ruler of Heaven. Princess Iron Fan does not know about this secret plan. She is also expecting the Bull Demon King's child.

Wukong goes to the palace of the Dragon King to find weapons for the monkeys on Mount Huaguo. He defeats the Dragon King. Wukong then sees a special staff stuck in the sea. He pulls it out, which causes a huge storm. The Bull Demon King asks a young Vixen if she wants to see her old friend again. This Vixen is the same nine-tailed fox from before. The Demon King says he saved her life when she was taken away. The Dragon King tells Heaven about Wukong's actions. So, Erlang Shen sends Nezha to arrest Wukong.

The Vixen, whose name is Ruxue, meets Wukong again. Wukong learns that Ruxue will die when she turns 200 years old. He promises to make her immortal. Nezha attacks Wukong and Ruxue, but the Bull Demon King kills Nezha. Wukong becomes friends with the Demon King. The Demon King tricks Wukong by telling him about Heaven's treasures and how to become immortal. Wukong goes to Heaven to learn the secret of immortality. The Demon King and Erlang Shen plan more. They decide that if Wukong eats the Emperor's special elixir, he will become even more powerful.

Battle for Heaven

Erlang Shen tries to tell the Jade Emperor that Wukong is a demon. But Subhuti steps in and explains that Wukong is not evil. Wukong meets the Emperor and is given a job taking care of the stables. Princess Iron Fan finds out about the Demon King's plan. He tells her that attacking Heaven is their destiny. Wukong finds a large oven. Erlang Shen, pretending to be a maiden, tricks Wukong. He tells Wukong that the Emperor's elixir is made there. Subhuti tries to stop Wukong and tells him to leave. But Erlang Shen challenges Wukong to take the Elixir. Wukong eats the elixir and fights Erlang Shen until Erlang Shen runs away.

Feeling ashamed, Wukong leaves Heaven. He returns to Mount Huaguo and finds it destroyed. All his friends are dead, including Ruxue. She has a dark substance around her neck. Wukong is very angry. The Bull Demon King convinces him that Heaven is responsible. Wukong goes back to Heaven and attacks the armies and the Emperor.

Subhuti fights the Demon King but loses. Wukong sees the Demon King create the same dark substance that was on Ruxue. He realizes that the Demon King killed his friends. Wukong attacks the Demon King but is defeated. The goddess Guan Yin appears in a vision and helps Wukong understand his mistakes. The Demon King defeats the Emperor and kills Erlang Shen, taking over the throne. Wukong fights the Demon King again and sends him crashing down to Earth.

Later, Princess Iron Fan gives birth to Red Boy. They find the Bull Demon King, who has lost all his power and turned into a regular bull. Iron Fan explains that this is what happens to evil people. But she still takes care of the bull. Wukong wants to help the Emperor rebuild Heaven. But Buddha stops him. Buddha tells Wukong that he will have a chance to make up for his mistakes in 500 years. Until then, he must sleep inside a mountain that looks like Buddha's hand. Wukong agrees and is sealed away by Buddha. 500 years later, Tang Sanzang is seen approaching the mountain.

Main Characters

The Next Movie

Filmko Entertainment announced that actor Louis Koo will join the cast as Tang Sanzang in the next movie, the sequel. Making the sequel started in November 2014.

See also

In Spanish: Rey Mono (desambiguación) para niños