THE FANTASTIC MAGIC BABY REVIEW

I have a new review of Chang Cheh's 1975 film, The Fantastic Magic Baby HERE. The movie tells the story of Red Boy and his efforts to abduct the Longevity Monk so his parents, Bull King and Princess Iron Fan can eat him and gain immortality. Monkey and his companions must rescue and protect their master. It has very little dialogue and the fight choreography is quite true to the Peking Opera style. This is a very unusual movie which takes an episode from Journey to the West and presents it in the style of Peking Opera. While there are dashes of this in some of his earlier works The Fantastic Magic Baby is perhaps the most unique entry in Chang Cheh's catalog. That doesn't mean it is spectacular. I grappled with this movie and was really not sure what to think of it. There were aspects I loved, aspects I found frustrating, but I ultimately appreciate what he was trying to do. You can check out the review for the rest of my thoughts.