ROTTEN TOMATOES: Oh No They Didn't: Spielberg and Yimou Want in on "Journey To the West"

Oh No They Didn't: Spielberg and Yimou Want in on "Journey To the West"

by Jen Yamato | August 15, 2006

A day after we got word of a possible Peter Jackson-Jet Li-Jackie Chan collaboration, it seems that Steven Spielberg -- also rumored to have been interested in adapting the "Journey to the West" Chinese epic -- might indeed give the Jet-Jackie pic a run for its money. And he's got a big name in Chinese cinema in his posse.

MonkeyPeaches.com is reporting that not only is Spielberg interested, but that he would do his "Journey to the West" in tandem with Chinese director Zhang Yimou ("Hero," "House of Flying Daggers"). The news comes from Chinese producer and Yimou pal Zhang Weiping, who told Sina.com that the two renowned directors "agreed to make a movie together and this movie would probably be based on Classic Chinese fantasy novel Journey to the West."

Jet and Jackie: Looks like you've got company

Is Weiping a credible source? He's produced six of Yimou's last projects, including the now-filming "Curse of the Golden Flower," which stars Chow Yun-Fat and Gong Li, and has already been picked up by U.S. distributor Sony Pictures Classics. Oh, and by the way, Weiping has stated that he and Yimou are already gunning to win Best Foreign Film at the next Oscars with "Flower."

While the Spielberg-Yimou collaboration has yet to begin, both directors are apparently set to produce the 2008 Olympics ceremonies in Beijing.

A Zhang Ziyi - Jackie Chan rematch? A Gong Li - Jet Li showdown?

And who might join the pair in a "Journey to the West?" A smart bet might be on Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi, who was discovered in Yimou's "The Road Home" (1999) and appeared later in both "Hero" and "House of Flying Daggers" for the director. Ziyi also starred in the Spielberg-produced "Memoirs of a Geisha" and is arguably the most recognizable Asian actress in Hollywood -- a key casting move if the Spielberg-Yimou project aims for American audiences.

Another frequent Yimou collaborator is Gong Li ("Ju Dou," "Raise the Red Lantern,") who also appeared in "Memoirs" and widened her Hollywood exposure with this summer's "Miami Vice."

Which begs the question: who is the powerhouse team in this American-Chinese folk-legend adaptation face-off? Peter Jackson/Jet Li/Jackie Cha n or Steven Spielberg/Zhang Yimou/Zhang Ziyi?

Related Items

Celeb:	Yimou Zhang
	Peter Jackson
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	Zhang Weiping
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Movie:	House of Flying Daggers
	Hero
	Memoirs of a Geisha
	Miami Vice
	Raise the Red Lantern
	The Road Home

(1-20 of 21 posts) | Reply

boxofficejojo writes:
on Aug 15 2006 06:28 PM

[b]go for both[/b]
I think both movies sound amazing

(Reply to this)

Waldo783 writes:
on Aug 15 2006 06:57 PM

Wait... why can't we have a Spielberg/Yimou/Li/Chan/Ziyi flick?

(Reply to this)

sammyL writes:
on Aug 15 2006 07:00 PM

Gong Li IS the best Chinese actress in China and most of the world, They should go with her..

(Reply to this)

hellhole writes:
on Aug 15 2006 07:05 PM

A movie of Journey To The West? You might as well try to do a cover-to-cover adaptation of the Bible.

(Reply to this)

Simple Minded writes:
on Aug 15 2006 07:32 PM

[b]We need more movies like this[/b]
"Hero" was amazing.

(Reply to this)

Senh Duong writes:
on Aug 15 2006 07:54 PM

In reply to this comment (#842340)
It very well could happen. Jackie said in his journal that he and Yimou were planning to work together on a top secret project.

(Reply to this)

homerschum writes:
on Aug 15 2006 08:31 PM

[b]Oh no! Maybe will have MORE choices when it comes[/b]
Peter Jackson/Jet Li/Jackie Chan or Steven Spielberg/Zhang Yimou/Zhang Ziyi?

Why not Peter Jackson/Steven Spielberg/Jet Li/Jackie Chan/ Zhang Yimou/Zhang Ziyi?

(Reply to this)

Bad_Animation_Man writes:
on Aug 15 2006 09:07 PM

In reply to this comment (#842345)
Why not throw a few more names in the pot ?

Arnold / Sly / Willis / The Rock / Ford / James Cameron - Make it a 5 hour long explosion with kung-fu added .

(Reply to this)

IgnorancePersonified writes:
on Aug 15 2006 09:15 PM

[b]Please![/b]
Please oh God let this happen!

(Reply to this)

SuperScarface writes:
on Aug 15 2006 11:08 PM

Is this going to be a huge Celebrity orgy fest?

(Reply to this)

eastern2western writes:
on Aug 15 2006 11:12 PM

Sometimes too many cooks in the kitchen can ruin a pot of good soup. Journey to the west is a story that revolves around the monkey king. If they are going to make it right, they should do it all in chinese or not do it at all. If the end result turns out to be some kind of english interpretation of the novel and use some stupid rap or techno music for the soundtrack, I swear I am going to protest the movie on its premier day. One very good movie they fuck up big time is Miramax version of Drunken Master two. In the new americanized version, the original music is replace by some kind funky ass techno rap, new voices were redubbed for the fight scenes and all actors were dubbed in british english. The whole turned out to be a complete mess after the redubbing and miramax only released the movie without its original cantonese sound track. Such good example shows that american studios have no respect for chinese films. I truely hope that they are not going to mess up journey to the west, it is simply one of the most beloved novels of all time.

(Reply to this)

RenaissanceBen writes:
on Aug 16 2006 12:01 AM

If it's Spielberg then you can pretty much bet on John Williams doing the score. I mean, even if Williams died, you could bet on Spielberg doing some "Weekend at Bernie's 2" zombie shit and having Williams' zombie ass compose yet another catchy orchestral piece for this one.

(Reply to this)

Mikeal420 writes:
on Aug 16 2006 08:16 AM

[b]Just Pray this gets more people to see Chinese Cin[/b]
As we all know, unless youv'e been living under a rock, China IS the FUTURE. Not just in economics, but mainland China has become the creator of the greatest films in the past in the past 15 years, despite all the government cencorship. It's a shame the movies that ohnly get attention are action/epics, but I guess it's the same for American films. But if you havn't seen "Farewell my Concubine", "Emperor and the Assassin", "Unknown Pleasures", "In the Mood for Love", "Raise the Red Lantern", or any Zhang Yimou movies other than "HERO", you are missing out on a cinematic movement in China that is unlike any the world has ever seen.

(Reply to this)

#1movielover writes:
on Aug 16 2006 09:12 AM

[b]Stephen Chow should be the Monkey King[/b]
Stephen is funny and already play Monkey King. He would be great in it.
Maybe they can do an all chinese language and subtitle like Crouching Tiger Hinden Dragon. It would be great.

(Reply to this)

Elixir writes:
on Aug 16 2006 10:10 AM

In reply to this comment (#842346)
hahaha.

(Reply to this)

packerbacker writes:
on Aug 16 2006 11:40 AM

In reply to this comment (#842349)
Remember, when Spielberg was attatched to direct Memoirs of a Geisha, he had wanted to do it for $10 million and film it in Japanese with subtitles, so assuming this report is accurate, I'd say there's a good chance he'd want it to be as authentic as possible. And yeah, Johnny always comes through with the score, you needn't worry about that.

(Reply to this)

renodc writes:
on Aug 16 2006 11:54 AM

In reply to this comment (#842343)
[b]Hero[/b]
In a art sense, I agree Hero was very good. The colors of the movie were eye popping like going to a museum and viewing a beautiful piece of artwork. As artwork Hero works, but as a movie Hero still stands as one of the most boring experiences of my life. Slow doesn't even begin to describe this movie. A person can only take slow motion multi-colored flying fabric for so long.

(Reply to this)

LimpytheTurtle writes:
on Aug 16 2006 01:27 PM

In reply to this comment (#842355)
I agree 100%

(Reply to this)

pradeep55 writes:
on Aug 17 2006 07:16 AM

Yes.........finally a good movie

(Reply to this)

cthulhubob writes:
on Aug 17 2006 07:45 AM

In reply to this comment (#842349)
[b]Saddened to hear about Miramax Drunken Master 2[/b]
Drunken Master 2 was my first theatre exposure to Hong Kong Fu and I've been a fan ever since. And I agree, music is important, especially in a period piece.

(Reply to this)