Unboxing Old Photos: So Handsome! Dicky Cheung's "Monkey King" Battles Gods and Demons

(CNA website) "I am the special envoy appointed by the Tathagata Buddha, the Jade Emperor, and the Bodhisattva Guanyin to journey west to obtain the scriptures, the Handsome Monkey King of the Flower-Fruit Mountain, Water Curtain Cave, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong! So handsome it's ridiculous!" This rapid-fire self-introduction is the signature line of "Monkey King" and a shared memory for those born in the 70s and 80s.

"Monkey King," a joint production of Taiwan and Hong Kong, was touted as the drama with the strongest cast in 2002. It is an adaptation of "Journey to the West," starring Dicky Cheung as the protagonist Sun Wukong, taking a lighthearted and comedic approach.

A major highlight was the innovative "dual female lead" setup. Dicky Cheung personally invited the then-popular Hong Kong girl group Twins to participate. Charlene Choi (Ah Sa) and Gillian Chung (Ah Gil) transformed into the agile and adorable Fairy Zilan and Fairy Ziwei, respectively. Not only did they have significant roles, but they also developed romantic relationships with Dicky Cheung's Sun Wukong and Jimmy Lin's Nezha. By replacing tedious monster-slaying and cultivation with romance, the show successfully captured the attention of a large audience.

Furthermore, the plot of gods and demons battling was star-studded and featured a luxurious lineup. Sammi Cheng, Law Kar-ying, Anita Yuen, Nicholas Tse, Barbie Hsu, and others transformed into various deities, subduing demons and monsters played by Yuki Hsu, Pao-lin Hsiao, Ai Iijima, and Wong Yat-fei on the journey to the West. The stars' exaggerated costumes now possess a unique retro charm.

This was Dicky Cheung's second time taking on the role of the mischievous Monkey King. In '85, he reached a career peak with the TVB version of "Journey to the West" but fell out with his employer over a sequel contract and moved to Taiwan.

During his active period in Taiwan, besides "Monkey King," Dicky Cheung also left a deep impression with his historical roles in "The Duke of Mount Deer," "Young Zhang Sanfeng," and "The Little Fish and the Magic Carp."

To see more photos of "Monkey King," visit the CNA Image Space immediately. 1150701

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