31 Days of
Drafts and Darkness: VOL 2!
"Journey to the West" (2013)
Let's talk about Stephen Chow, one of my favorite directors.
When Stephen Chow makes a movie, realism isn't what's on his
mind. Hyper-realism is. Mr. Chow's signature style is one that I can only
describe as turning cartoon characters into live action. And when I say
cartoon characters, I'm talking about off-the-wall, zany comedians. Less
Superman, more Bugs Bunny.
"Kung Fu Hustle", my favorite foreign film, takes
all the trappings of a conventional kung-fu/gangster flick and melds them with
this over-caffeinated energy. Characters literally bounce off the walls at
times, and while that sounds bizarre, the attitude is kooky enough to make it
all work. This world looks like ours, but the physics are drunk on slapstick.
But what really fascinates me about Mr. Chow's films, which tonight's feature perhaps illustrates more than any other, is how
darkness manages to infiltrate the proceedings. A scene that's played for 95%
comedy can turn on a dime into tragedy. A moment of cartoony violence can
sudden twist visceral. It happens so quickly that you never expect it. And that
lack of emotional adjustment means such moments hit with a loud thud.
Is
"Journey to the West" hysterical? Yes, it is. It also genuinely
shocked the hell out of me at points.
The Plot:
We begin our tale in a small coastal village circa 18th-century China . The residents are a peaceful band of fishermen living out their lives
happily. Then the first demon shows up. You see, in this world, souls of those
treated unjustly in life can return as vengeful spirits. These spirits take on
the form of hideous monsters who know nothing but hatred for mankind. When they
arrive, the butchery begins.
In response, various fighters have taken on the
mantle of demon-hunter and travel the land slaying such beasts. The demon
hunters are the rock stars of their world, revered by everyone no matter how
arrogant they are. The hunters are skilled, but demon attacks are on the rise.
A young Buddhist monk-in-training by the name of Tang
Sanzang purposes a novel solution: demons are born from human hatred, and thus
must be fought not through violence, but peace. Sounds sensible until you first
see him tackle a demon via nursery rhymes. Tang is naive and doesn't understand
the true nature of his path, but is passionate in his cause. A fellow demon
hunter by the name of Miss Duan, who most certainly falls into the 'badass'
category of demon hunters, initially scoffs at his philosophy. Over time, their
adventures change the both of them.
But there are a lot of nasty demons to face along the way,
ending with a confrontation with the fabled Monkey King.
The Flavor:
"Journey to the West" plays itself primarily as an
epic comedy. While the scenery and themes are mythical, the movie's soul is
that of a jokester. Not unlike the Monkey King, himself. Whenever someone
strikes a pose, it usually means they're moments away from falling on their
face. Especially the demon hunters, who are just as concerned with maintaining
their celebrity status than they are fighting evil.
The epic-hero trope is
toyed with, as these mighty warriors are revealed to be as insecure and awkward
as the rest of us. Some of the film's funniest moments come from Miss Duan, who
despite her tough exterior, finds herself falling for the pious Tang. Thing
is, she has absolutely no idea how romance works. Awkwardness ensues.
That said, when things do get epic, damn do they go big. The
demon hunters are a bunch of blow-hards, but they do indeed possess some pretty
neat powers. From controlling swords with their minds to growing a giant,
crushing foot, these warriors bring a lot of flash to their fight scenes. The
CGI flows like water here, but like the comedy, the
results are so over-the-top that you totally buy it. It's not supposed to look
real. Heck, it's better that it doesn't!
But then there's the side I mentioned earlier. The dark one.
"Journey to the West" has a few genuinely terrifying moments. The film
shows off some truly grotesque imagery through the demons, who are in no way,
shape, or form goofy. The demons are straight up monsters, and the movie makes
no qualms about reminding you of what they're capable of.
You'll be laughing at
one character and then screaming at what happens to them next. I'm not really
sure if it's a bait-and-switch style scare or if the movie just loves messing
with its own tone. Either way, the scares are unexpected and strong. This film
doesn't rely on jump scares to get to you. It only need show off its demons to dig
in. In that same vein, the movie can also turn dramatic out of
nowhere, even pulling at the heart strings. Perhaps all the laughter lets down
an emotional guard, opening you up for terror and sadness alongside it?
Best Paired with:
As you might have guessed, this is a quirky film. Be aware
of its schizophrenic tone. Never feel comfortable in a scene, because darkness
could be just around the corner. Strange as it is to say, it's also damn
hilarious. If your group of friends are in the mood for something different,
"Journey to the West" does indeed bring something for everyone.
Fantasy, comedy, horror. Just be mindful how quickly things can turn from one
to the other.
Accompanying Brew:
So, a quirky array of bold, intense flavors that rapidly
transform from one into the other? I have just the thing:
Name: Jack-o Traveler
Brewery: The Traveler Beer Co.
Where Brewed: Burlington, VT
ABV: 4.4%
Style: Wheat Pumpkin Shandy
For those who wish to enjoy a beer, but loathe hop flavor
(*gasp*), I tend to recommend lighter,
sweeter styles. The Shandy, a German blend of ale and lemonade, has grown in
popularity over the past few years. We most often get them during the summer.
Not surprising,considering the style is light and refreshing.
The Traveler Beer
Co. specializes in this variety of beer, and this year they've offered up a Fall variety. Gotta say, it's quite the weird beast. Not that that's a bad
thing.
Color: A lovely, deep ruby red. I figured it would've been
golden or amber, but nope. Crimson.
Amora: Right off the bat, the aroma hits you with a sweet scent. There are also heavy notes of cinnamon and nutmeg as well. The overall smell is almost like a spiced
candy. There's also a brightness to it, likely from the lemon addition.
Taste: Not your ordinary pumpkinhead ale. The pumpkin and spices are there, but the predominant
flavors are citrusy-sweetness and something akin to a ginger kick. The lemony/ginger
flavor is bold, almost overpowering the Fall spices. The
pumpkin and cinnamon are there, not quite in the background, but not as loud as
that sweet citrus/ginger rush. It's an odd array of flavors to pair up with the
more Fall seasonal tastes, and while it takes some getting used to, I can see
someone who enjoys sweeter brews liking it. Almost like the baby of a summer
shandy and normal pumpkinhead ale. With a shot of ginger thrown in to kick it up a notch.
Aftertaste: The sweet sticks around, folks. For a good while
after a sip, you're quite aware of the sugar on your tongue. The lemon/ginger
spices begins to fade slowly, leaving more of the pumpkin to go along with the
sweetness, which works well together. The final impression you're left with is pumpkin pie. Odd how the lemon/ginger flavor transforms to a pumpkin aftertaste.
Body: Very light, like a Shandy should be. This is a Fall beer, but you could easily drink a bunch of them in 98 degree heat.
Pair: Acid-rich foods like marinara sauce would go well with the beer's sweetness. I'd also recommend salty cheeses/pizza/calzone.
Recommended for folks not used to bitter beer, especially if
they like sweet.
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