A Chinese Odyssey Part Two: Cinderella from (1995) is a martial-arts comedy film, directed by Jeff Lau and produced by Stephen Chow. It's the second installation of A Chinese Odyssey film series, which is based on the Chinese classical novel Journey to the West. The movie follows the quest of Zixia (Athena Chu), a celestial being who transforms herself into a mortal to find her reincarnated lover, the Monkey King (Stephen Chow).
The Monkey King is a mischievous and powerful deity, who is trapped in a demonic world by the Evil Overlord (Man-Tat Ng). In the human world, the Monkey King is reincarnated as Joker, a goofy and clumsy young man, who works as a stable boy at the Empress's (Kit Ying Lam) palace. Joker is unaware of his divine nature and is smitten with Ah Xian (Ada Choi), a beautiful and kind-hearted baker.
Zixia travels to the human world with her sister, Nannan (Karen Mok), who is also a celestial being, but Nannan's ultimate goal is to bring Zixia back to the celestial realm. Zixia and Nannan meet Joker at the palace, and Zixia recognizes him as her lost love. However, Joker has no memory of his past life, and Zixia has to find a way to trigger his memories.
Meanwhile, the Evil Overlord's minions are searching for Joker, as they believe he's the key to their master's escape from the demonic world. The minions disguise themselves as human beings and corrupt the Empress's court, causing chaos and misery. To make things worse, the Empress's son, the Prince (Jeffrey Lau), falls in love with Ah Xian and wants to marry her, despite her objections. Joker, Zixia, and Nannan team up to protect the palace from the demonic invasion and unravel the mysteries of their intertwined destinies.
The movie blends elements of comedy, action, romance, and fantasy, making it a unique and entertaining experience. Stephen Chow's performance as Joker/Monkey King is hilarious and endearing, as he delivers his trademark humor and physical prowess. Man-Tat Ng's portrayal of the Evil Overlord is menacing and comical, as he switches between terrorizing his minions and indulging in his hedonistic pleasures. Ada Choi and Athena Chu shine as the female leads, providing emotional depth and grace to their characters.
The film's production values are impressive, with colorful and imaginative sets, costumes, and special effects. The fight scenes are skillfully choreographed and use a mix of wirework and martial arts techniques. The soundtrack features catchy and memorable songs, including the iconic "Mojo Pin" by Jeff Buckley.
Overall, A Chinese Odyssey Part Two: Cinderella from is a delightfully quirky and entertaining movie that appeals to a wide range of audiences. It's a must-see for fans of Stephen Chow's comedy style, martial-arts cinema, and Chinese folklore. The film's blend of humor, romance, and fantasy creates a world that's both surreal and familiar, leaving a lasting impression on the viewers.
A Chinese Odyssey Part Two: Cinderella is a 1995 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes.
