To be honest, China has older great fantasy.

Rating: Null/10 (24 November 2013)

This is fun to watch, honestly speaking. However, I would not say I was strongly amazed by all the stunt and makeup or technology, in spite of the fact that this has won lots of international awards. As a Chinese audience, I have grown up enjoying Chinese films and dramas series and literature. I have to say the general plot of the film so much reminds me of our famous Chinese classic literary work 'Pilgrimage to the West', nearly 500 years' old. If not the first, this 100-chapter novel is still one of the earliest to portray an odyssey to a faraway place through hardship and fateful danger, although the aim was not to bring anything there and destroy it, but one master protected by three disciples to collect something invaluable - Buddhist scripture. Lord of the Rings does not overlap with the Chinese classic in terms of details, but still not the earliest fantasy/odyssey novel. I am highly aware of the fact that this film has won various Best Makeup Award. Yet I must declare the Chinese novel mentioned above was adapted into TV series in 1982 in China, with makeup not apparently simpler or less graphic than Lord of the Rings. In fact, some makeup is slightly similar. The point is without the technology in 2001, the Chinese series still managed to present a fantasy story so beautifully and stunningly that they have been broadcast for over 2000 times, unbeatable Guinness Record.The world does not know them very well, but they have won countless award in one of the largest countries in the world-China. Again, some fussy findings from this film. Legolas' long hair looks very nice, and is frequently seen in Chinese films and series set in ancient China. The androgynous voice of Galadriel reminds me of a 1987 Hong Kong film A Chinese Ghost Story. That is doubtlessly an awkward English title, but the original was much more romantic and meaningful. The world is still yet to learn Chinese literature and art. When China is known better, the world will see art from this old country has been ignored and ostracised for so long.