"Hahaha, I never saw this coming, it's hilarious!"
"Pfft... The Bull Demon King thought Tie Shan was tormenting Supreme Treasure, even saying how hard it must be for him."
"He's been cuckolded, cuckolded! All that grass-eating, and now there's grass growing on your head!"
"Loving his sister-in-law? The old fox's thoughts are a bit disturbing!"
Laughter erupted in the cinema!
Up to this point in the second installment, the story had been meticulously building the emotional logic. It was then that the audience realized Bai Jingjing likely wasn't the true female lead. She was, in essence, Supreme Treasure's first love – beautiful, but ultimately, it was Zixia who was his destined one.
However, the audience was still unaware of how Supreme Treasure and Zixia would end up together, especially while remaining true to Bai Jingjing.
What followed was a series of continuous comedic scenes.
The gags were so dense that even in a movie theater, despite knowing they might disturb others, the audience couldn't help but burst into laughter. The entire cinema was roaring with mirth.
This was especially true during Supreme Treasure's impromptu serenade to Tang Sanzang!
"Dang, dang, dang..."
"Only you, can accompany me on the journey to the West,
Only you, can slay demons and vanquish monsters..."
It was a peak of nonsensical comedy!
Then Supreme Treasure delivered a massive retort to Tang Sanzang: "What do you mean 'only you'? Are you done? I already said no, and you're still going..."
A sudden, explosive sound filled the room.
Someone drinking cola sprayed it out of their mouth!
It had to be said, these two installments of 'A Chinese Odyssey' did not disappoint in terms of humor; the jokes were incredibly frequent!
And they came in unexpected, nonsensical ways.
Just like when Niu Xiangxiang's soul-switching technique caused Supreme Treasure to fall off a cliff, accidentally leading soldiers to stab their own teammates.
This kind of absurd approach was rarely seen in the market; the style was truly unique.
Coupled with Zhang Yang's superb acting, which perfectly complemented the performance, the audience was thoroughly entertained!
However.
The plot took a sharp turn.
Supreme Treasure returned to the Spider Cave.
"After you fainted, you called out 'Jingjing' 98 times."
"Heh, Jingjing is my wife."
"And there was another named Zixia, whom you called out 784 times."
This scene was enough to illustrate.
Deep down, Supreme Treasure already knew the answer, but he was unwilling to face it.
Then, Bai Jingjing from five hundred years ago appeared.
Supreme Treasure, through another series of hilarious antics, recounted his story with Bai Jingjing.
Subsequently, Bai Jingjing also entered Supreme Treasure's mind, asking who he loved the most.
This again left a cliffhanger.
The camera shifted to Zixia's side.
The Bull Demon King decided to marry Zixia in seven days.
She was waiting for Supreme Treasure to rescue her.
"Since Heaven arranged for him to draw out my Ziqing Sword, he must be an extraordinary person."
"I know that one day, he will appear before everyone's eyes, clad in golden armor and stepping on seven-colored clouds to marry me."
The camera returned to Supreme Treasure.
The night before his wedding, he dreamt of Zixia.
Supreme Treasure finally confessed that he had been deceiving her all along.
But Zixia didn't seem to care, saying it was fine if he lied, just like a moth, knowing it would get hurt but still flying into the flame, because moths were just that foolish.
Upon waking, Supreme Treasure fell into a state of turmoil.
"Does one need a reason to love someone?"
Bodhi's words deeply affected Supreme Treasure.
On the wedding day, Bai Jingjing left him a note.
"Your conscience tells you that you don't love me the most, but another woman. After I saw what she left in your conscience, I realized that the person you've returned after five hundred years to find isn't me, but her. We both must believe this is fate, and the legendary緣分 (yuán fèn - destiny/fate)..."
As the movie reached this point.
The smiles on the audience's faces gradually disappeared, replaced by deep contemplation.
If the first installment was a pure comedy,
Then the second installment, built upon comedy, was frantically filling in the gaps from the first.
By this point, the critics' opinions on whether it had depth or was passing grade no longer mattered.
"I bet on Supreme Treasure and Zixia for the ending!"
"Do I even need to say it? If he doesn't end up with Zixia, I'll go and stab Jiangnan, the old fox, myself!"
"In that case, Bai Jingjing is too pitiful; she hasn't wronged Supreme Treasure at all."
"Damn it, if it were me, I'd take them all!"
Everyone became engrossed in Supreme Treasure's emotional dilemma.
Once they put themselves in his shoes, the feeling of helplessness, of not knowing what to do, was incredibly moving!
...
The movie had reached a critical juncture.
Zixia and Qingxia fought fiercely during the wedding ceremony.
Supreme Treasure's soul appeared in the Water Curtain Cave.
He finally understood what Zixia had left within him.
It was a tear.
Supreme Treasure could fully feel how heartbroken Zixia had been at that moment.
It turned out she had known all along that he was deceiving her!
"Once you put on the golden circlet, you are no longer an ordinary mortal. You can no longer touch the reputation of the human world. If you harbor feelings, the golden circlet on your head will tighten..."
The scene of Supreme Treasure putting on the golden circlet weighed heavily on the audience's hearts.
Especially when he uttered that line again, "Once upon a time, a sincere love was placed before me..."
They knew that the last time he said it, he was lying, but this time, he wasn't; he was truly confessing his love to Zixia!
That resolute determination, that inner conflict, sent shivers down many viewers' spines.
Now they finally understood why the theme song was written that way.
Why this comedy had such a melancholic melody!
Everything made sense at this moment!
But what should Supreme Treasure do?
The Bull Demon King forced Zixia to drink the nuptial wine.
The sky suddenly changed drastically!
Everyone looked into the distance!
The passionate music played again!!
Seven-colored auspicious clouds appeared!!
Sun Wukong arrived on the clouds!
At this moment, Supreme Treasure achieved enlightenment, fully transforming into Sun Wukong!
The final battle sequence was arguably the most spectacular part of the entire film. The crew had prioritized cost savings to ensure the grandeur of Sun Wukong's triumphant entrance, with the fight choreography and special effects fully unleashed!
Sun Wukong's refusal of Zixia due to his obligations, and then his choice to save Tang Sanzang between Zixia and Tang Sanzang.
This scene made everyone feel an overwhelming sense of sorrow!
He had put on the restraint; he could no longer be with Zixia!
"I only understand one thing: loving someone is such a painful thing!"
The Bull Demon King attacked sneakily, and Zixia took the blow for Sun Wukong.
As she fell, Sun Wukong rushed to catch her!
"My destined one is a peerless hero. One day, he will ride on seven-colored auspicious clouds to marry me. I guessed the beginning, but I couldn't guess the end..."
When Zixia died.
Sun Wukong's emotions finally broke loose!
He held Zixia's hand, the restraint on his head slowly tightening.
That despair! That struggle!
He had to let go, allowing Zixia to fall!
A scream!
A heart-wrenching scream!
Sun Wukong was completely enraged!!
"I'll kill you!!"
He began to attack the Bull Demon King ferociously!
However, at this moment, many viewers in the cinema were already in tears.
"So all the foreshadowing from before was leading to this moment. I'm breaking down; why is it another tragic ending!"
"Damn it, I've got goosebumps all over; this scene is absolutely explosive!"
"I guessed the ending, but the ending isn't what I guessed, Jiangnan, the old fox!!"
"She's dead? Just like that??"
"I can't accept it! Why did Zixia have to die? Why couldn't they be together??"
Everyone had expected that Supreme Treasure would appear on seven-colored auspicious clouds to save Zixia, and they would live happily ever after. Little did they know, they were overthinking it.
Jiangnan, the old fox, had no intention of giving them a happy ending!
...