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The Monkey King 2
Movie

The Monkey King 2

2016 • Unknown

Woke Score
1
out of 10

Plot

Taking place 500 years after the Havoc in Heaven, the Tang Priest is appointed by Buddha to go to the West to fetch the sacred scriptures, only to accidentally free the Monkey King. With Lady White aiming to break up the team assembled to defeat her, the Monkey King must fight in order to save his world!

Overall Series Review

The film is a Chinese fantasy epic, directly adapting a classic 16th-century Chinese novel. The narrative focuses on the Buddhist monk Tang Sanzang and his disciples, led by Sun Wukong, as they embark on their spiritual quest for sacred scriptures. The central conflict is a traditional battle between selflessness, enlightenment, and true compassion (represented by the pilgrims) against pure selfishness and demonic evil (represented by the White Bone Demon). The themes are heavily rooted in Eastern spiritualism, particularly Buddhist tenets of mercy, karma, and atonement. The plot follows a classic, universal morality tale where characters are judged by their actions and the content of their hearts, not by immutable characteristics. The male protagonists embody distinct aspects of masculinity: the protective warrior, the compassionate spiritual guide, and the comedic figure prone to vice. The main antagonist is a powerful female demon, but her role is that of a traditional, formidable villain whose power is used for pure evil, including harming children, firmly setting her against the heroes' moral code.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics1/10

The movie is a Chinese-produced adaptation of a foundational Chinese classic, featuring an entirely Chinese cast playing culturally authentic mythological and historical figures. The focus is entirely on character development, spiritual atonement, and moral conviction, operating within a universal meritocracy framework defined by the spiritual journey. The concept of vilifying 'whiteness' or forced diversity is absent.

Oikophobia1/10

The entire premise is a positive, heroic quest to acquire Buddhist scriptures in order to calm the natural order of the home culture. The film is a celebration and modern presentation of one of China's most significant cultural and literary legacies, *Journey to the West*. Institutions like the Buddhist faith and the pilgrimage itself are treated with respect as shields against demonic chaos.

Feminism3/10

The score is slightly raised because the primary antagonist, the White Bone Demon, is an extremely powerful and commanding female figure, which could be interpreted as a powerful 'Girl Boss' trope. However, she is explicitly the villain, driven by pure evil and the desire to abduct and use the life essence of children. The men in the group are not emasculated; Wukong is the strong, heroic protector, and Sanzang is the compassionate moral leader. The benign divine figure is the Goddess of Mercy (Guanyin).

LGBTQ+1/10

The narrative is centered on a group of male pilgrims bound by a spiritual quest requiring celibacy. There is no presence of sexual ideology, alternative sexualities are not centered, and the film does not engage in deconstructing the nuclear family. The structure is entirely normative and focused on spiritual transformation.

Anti-Theism1/10

The movie is profoundly theistic, focused on the Buddhist pilgrimage appointed by the Buddha and guided by the Goddess Guanyin. The central conflict addresses transcendent morality, comparing the simple recitation of moral law with the monk's ultimate understanding that one must 'lead by example' through selfless action. Faith and moral law are the source of the heroes' strength and purpose.