The Golden Child

Plot synopsis:
In a temple in an unknown location in northeastern Nepal, a young boy with mystical abilities — the Golden Child — receives badges of station and demonstrates his power to the monks of the temple by reviving a dead eastern rosella, which becomes a constant companion. A band of villains led by a mysterious man, Sardo Numspa (Charles Dance), breaks into the hidden temple, slaughters the monks and abducts the boy.
Some time afterwards, a young woman named Kee Nang (Charlotte Lewis) watches a Los Angeles TV show in which social worker Chandler Jarrell (Eddie Murphy) talks about his latest case, a missing girl named Cheryll Mosley. She seeks him out the next day and informs him of the kidnapping of the Golden Child and that he is the 'Chosen One' who would save the Child. Chandler does not take this seriously, even after the astral form of the Child and his bird familiar begin following him.
Cheryll Mosley is found dead from blood loss, near an abandoned house smeared with Tibetan graffiti and a pot full of blood-soaked oatmeal. Kee Nang reveals to Chandler that this house was a holding place for the Child and introduces Chandler to Doctor Hong, a mystic expert, and Kala (a creature half dragon, half woman, who remains hidden behind a screen).
The three track down a motorcycle gang, the Yellow Dragons, which Cheryll had joined, and Chinese restaurant owner Tommy Tong, a henchman of Numspa, to whom Cheryll had been 'sold' for her blood, used to make the Child vulnerable to earthly harm. Tong, however, is killed by Numspa as a potential traitor. Still not taking the case too seriously, Chandler is drawn by Numspa into a controlled dream, where he receives a burn mark on his arm. Numspa presents his demands: the Ajanti Dagger (a mystic weapon which is capable of killing the Golden Child) in exchange for the boy. Chandler finally agrees to help, and he and Kee Nang spend the night together.
Chandler and Kee travel to Tibet, where Chandler is swindled by an old amulet seller, who is revealed as the High Priest of the temple where the dagger is kept hidden and, subsequently, Kee's father. In order to obtain the blade, Chandler has to pass a test: an obstacle course in a bottomless cavern whilst carrying a glass of water without spilling a drop. With luck and wits, Chandler recovers the blade and even manages to bring it past customs into the United States.
Numspa and his henchmen attack Chandler and Kee. The Ajanti Dagger is lost to the villains, and Kee takes a crossbow bolt meant for Chandler, and dies in his arms confessing her love for him. Doctor Hong and Kala offers him hope: as long as the sun shines upon Kee, the Child might be able to save her.
Chandler, with the help of the Child's familiar, locates Numspa's hideout and retrieves the dagger with the help of Til, one of Numspa's men converted to good by the Child, and frees the boy. When Chandler confronts Numspa, the latter reveals his true face as a demon from hell. Chandler and the Child escape the hideout, only to be tracked down by the demon in a warehouse. Chandler loses the dagger when the warehouse collapses, but Numspa is buried under a chunk of falling masonry. Chandler and the Child escape and head to Doctor Hong's shop where Kee is being kept.
As the two approach Kee's body, a badly injured but berserk Numspa attacks Chandler, but the amulet the Old Man sold Chandler blasts the dagger from Numspa's hand. The Child uses his magic to place the dagger back into Chandler's hands, and Chandler stabs Numspa through the heart, destroying him. The Child then uses the last ray of sunlight and his powers to bring Kee back from the dead. The three take a walk discussing the Child's return to Tibet and (as Chandler jokingly suggests) the boy's prospective fame as a stage magician.

Tags: good versus evil, cult, comedy

Review:
"The Golden Child" was Eddie Murphy's first film since his megahit "Beverly Hills Cop".
Without doubt it's one of Eddie Murphy's finer films; it's impossible to not have a good time while watching this movie...
This Film Offers A Good Mix, But Eddie Is Too Loud For Me Now. Like most people, I enjoyed Eddie Murphy in the 1980s with the humorous, wild movies he made.
With her looks and manner, I thought she might go places, but I think this was the only hit movie she's been in.Twenty years after "The Golden Child," I have found most of those Murphy films not the entertainment they used to be.
Every once in a while, Eddie Murphy will surprise you.In a movie like "the Golden Child", especially.
But Eddie really does work; he's smart, he's funny, he's brave, kind, courteous, thrifty, clean and everything else a hero should be.Having been chosen to secure a mystic child who holds the key to protecting the world from complete evil (embodied perfectly by Dance), Eddie goes from California, to Nepal and back, all while the beautiful Kee Nang (Lewis) wonders if he's all he says he is and a crazy old holy man (Wong, perfect as always) knows that he is.It's exciting, breathtaking in spots, shocking and, of course, funny.
Eddie is the only action hero I know who could begin a movie by making rude remarks behind some guy reading a porno magazine and end it with smart-aleck remarks about Ed McMahon.No problem with this "Child": it's a "Golden" find.Nine stars.
So Na-Na to you Mr Jarrell.Jarrell is fast talking, hip, and irreverent but well meaning - in other words everything that summed up Eddie Murphy in his "relevant" phase, which ended around the release of Boomerang when Murphy got all serious and introspective and sh*t.Kee on the other hand is poised, deliberate, sombre and calm, but surprisingly well equipped at unexpected times - and I'm not just referring to the scene where she gets her white blouse soaked for no good reason...
well two good reasons.After the two team up the trail takes them to the lair of a bikie gang, then Chinatown where they meet Kala the Oracle (of sorts) who informs Chandler of the magnitude of his quest - being that he is the Chosen One after all...Chandler also learns that the Golden Child is a once in a thousand generations birth, born specifically to rescue humanity, capable of restoring life with a touch, wise beyond reason and with the ability to make a Pepsi can dance to classic 1950s songs...So there's that.There is a cool oddball dream sequence and a trip to Tibet to obtain the sacred dagger that can free the imprisoned Golden Child, and a pretty hilarious scene where Chandler and Kee have to bluff the airport security to escape from Tibet.When finally meets his nemesis Sardo Numspaa (Charles Dance) formally to discuss the dagger for child swap things heat up, before a good quickie 80s finale in which everything builds to a crescendo, the figureheads of good and evil have a showdown and all is resolved in about 6 minutes.Perhaps The Golden Child doesn't move quite as fast as films do today and the FX - which were pretty cool in the 80s - don't hold up quite so well now, it is fun and enjoyable while it lasts and also has a few quotables, including "One of her ancestors was raped by a dragon", which is a line you don't hear every day.Final Rating - 6.5 / 10.
A private detective specializing in missing children is charged with the task of finding a special child who dark forces want to eliminate.John Carpenter was originally scheduled to direct the film, but dropped out and would later direct "Big Trouble in Little China", a film with similar Chinese mysticism themes (Chinese American actors Victor Wong, James Hong, and Peter Kwong appear in both films).
The actors are OK and the footage can't be complained at either and I must add that thanks to Eddie Murphy the movie is watchable and even funny.I don't know how he does it but his zany jokes keeps hitting the right comedy-button - every time.So the conclusion is that, in the end I must recommend you all to see it - if not for a brilliant movie but for Murphy's jokes..
By all means this is not Eddie Murphy's best film, like Beverly Hills Cop, 48 Hours and Trading Places, but he has also done worse, Norbit anyone?
By all means it is not perfect, as the story does have its silly and predictable moments, one or two parts in the middle half sag a tad in the pacing and the effects do seem creaky by today's standards, but it is not flat and unfunny like critics make it out to be and although I make every effort not to take IMDb ratings to heart I do think the rating is a disgrace for this film.
The Golden Child may be flawed, but it also has its strengths, such as Eddie Murphy's charming performance, funny and smart script(or so I think), a fun performance from Charles Dance, decent direction and agreeable soundtrack.
For I can remember vividly how much this film entertained folk back in that decade, it's box office was $79,817,937, making it the 8th biggest earner of 1986, but since the 80s faded from memory it has become the in thing to deny Eddie Murphy pictures the comedy accolades that they actually once had.
The Golden Child is not up with the more accepted 80s Murphy pictures like Trading Places and Beverly Hills Cop, but upon revisiting the film recently I personally found that it contains Murphy at his wisecracking, quipping and charming best!
Eddie Murphy spends his time looking for lost children, so when a very special magical child is kidnapped in Tibet, the sexy Charlotte Lewis asks for his help to rescue this child from the clutches of evil itself.Although the story is a bit silly, it never quite feels corny, despite the hilarity of the comedy throughout the film; Charles Dance off-sets the comedy with his very serious and dark characterisation of the evil that holds the child hostage.The Golden Child is very funny, action packed and really quite compelling in a charming, almost magical way.7/10 Great for all generations..
And here, loquacious Eddie Murphy erases memories of Trading Places and 48 Hours with this "family" adventure flick, which is an unbelievably tedious, childish and generally plain awful misfire in which the chance to see Charlotte Lewis's great big breasts in a tight blouse is the most appealing aspect of the entire film.The story is pure humdrum.
There Was a time when Eddie Murphy was one seriously funny guy, and this film is a good example of that, released in the fall of 1986 THE GOLDEN CHILD was met with mixed to mostly negative reviews (Then again Roger Ebert liked it) I really don't see why people didn't like this film, and to some extent it still to this day is considered a low point in eddies career, for those of you who haven't seen this film before/since i suggest giving it another watch with an open mind knowing that its a fantasy comedy and not your usual Eddie Murphy film (Probably the reason why people just didn't get into it) The Plot concerns Eddie trying to find a kidnapped child who holds magical powers that can bring love and peace in the world or can bring chaos and destroy the world if the child were to be polluted with anything evil, and the people who kidnapped him want to sacrifice the child to gain and use his power for their own evil scheme.PROS: Eddie Murphy is hilarious just playing the average Joe who cannot believe the situation around him, as things get crazier Eddie just gets funnier, Charles Dance as the main Villain does a Decent job at playing a Super Serious villain who seems to constantly keep pronouncing his J's Silent Which leads to a lot amusement when Eddie Murphy shares scenes with him.
The Art Directiom is Splendid and the Cinematography is stunning (Especially with the scenes in Tibet) The Musical Score by Michael Colobier is so 80s but infectiously catchy Funk influenced Pop Rock that just makes you feel like a Bad A%$ The Film has a great supporting Cast Half of which appear in another similarly themed movie Called BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA And there's a handful of creative set pieces that really stand out (I.E) The Cave which Eddie must retrieve a dagger and a Hilarious Dream Sequence with Eddie and the villain.CONS: The Final showdown with the Villain feels a little rushed and the Villain's final form isn't all that inspired And the Film's Visual FX don't hold up well in 2 or 3 scenes But aside from that the Film is a lot of Fun, Eddie needs to release a special edition DVD/Blu Ray for this one, but according to some sources he's not too fond of this film (Honestly I don't see why, maybe because it was made at the height of his career and it burned him inside that it didn't do as well as it should have)Overall: 7/10 "Not as good as Coming to America or Beverly Hills cop, but its not far behind and definitely better than anything Eddie made in the 90s onwards..
The Golden Child is a very mediocre movie with a storyline that is actually pretty promising storyline but fails to be interesting because of a not so inspired cast.Edie Murphy did do a good enough job,but he was the only member of the cast that seemed like he actually liked this films script and was enthusiastic about being in this movie.I think that the story sounded really good and if they had made it a bit more serious and less comedy and got a more serious cast it could have been really interesting,I think that it was a bad decision making it a comedy.It is funny at times,but honestly not enough,and because of that I wouldn't really recommend the Golden Child to anyone.
In fact, I think you have to be either an Eddie Murphy fan, or looking for a goofy time to enjoy this one.In all, this movie will make you chuckle all the way through!.
At least "The Golden Child" represented a real change of pace for comedy star Eddie Murphy, cast here as Chandler Jarrell, a tracker of missing children whom, it is determined, is the perfect individual to retrieve a powerful child (J.L. Reate) who's been stolen by some very bad men.
It has some pretty good special effects, and exciting action scenes.As a finder of lost children, Murphy's character starts off looking for a missing girl, which leads him on the path for which others believe he was "chosen" - - to protect the Golden Child.
As we accept this premise of the plot, we must let go of our touch with a perceived daily reality, and prepare for the earth and walls to crumble away, and reveal a realm of evil just waiting to destroy us.This is an excellent movie, with a good plot, fine acting, and for the most part, pretty decent dialogue combining a serious topic with a healthy balance of Martial Art fighting, and Eddie Murphy humor..
For the sheer funniness of it and underrated aspect of Eddie Murphy just being a VERY good, NATURAL actor that makes it look EASY (I feel WILL win an Oscar one day if/when given the right role...it's kind of amazing he hasn't won one yet)...I give this movie a HIGH 8..
Big Trouble with the Golden Child - not one of Murphy's 80's best, but still an entertaining comedy / fantasy / adventure film for all the family !!.
After the global success of "Beverly Hills Cop", Eddie Murphy's next project was to expand his wisecracking on-screen personna in comedy / action flicks to a more adventure / fantasy oriented, galloping on the ressurgence of the adventure films such as the two first "Indiana Jones" films and the major hit of "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome" released the year before."The Golden Child" was conceived as a straight action / adventure / fantasy / horror film with the 'Master of Suspense", John Carpenter in the director's chair and the rising star, Mel Gibson in the lead role of Chandler Jarrell (the main character's first name was a homage from the screenwriter Dennis Feldman to Raymond Chandler, the famous 'detective fiction' writer and the creator of Philip Marlowe, P.I.).When Carpenter left the project to direct his own (& similar themed), "Big Trouble in Little China" and Mel Gibson took a year off movies before starting shooting "Lethal Weapon", Eddie Murphy stepped in as a replacement (the same happened before when he replaced Sylvester Stallone in "Beverly Hills Cop"), the movie was re-written to acommodate Murphy's humour routine and Michael Ritchie, the veteran director of comedy flicks such as "The Bad News Bears" ('76); "The Survivors" ('83) or "Fletch" ('85) was hired to enhance the lighthearted comedy aspect.The end result is a fun film, but not as fun as the previous Murphy's films and even if it made a good money at the B.O., it was critically torn apart and was considered a financial disappointment by the studio.Murphy returns in a re-hash of his two previous (& widely famous) film roles as Reggie Hammond in "48 Hrs." and Axel Foley in "Beverly Hills Cop", but this time a bit more contained and less vibrant & exuberant as if he tried to pursuit more his dramatic side, following the mixed tone of the movie (part dark fantasy / part lighthearted comedy), but still improvising his trademark wisecracking humour which was probably estipulated on his contract with Paramount Pictures.The movie suffers from the crossover genres imposed, because it's way apparent that it went into production as a straightforward and 'serious in tone' fantasy film and the added comedy, even if some gags were nicely staged and always hilariously performed by Murphy, it still feels a bit out of place.In the supporting cast, Charlotte Lewis is almost as wooden as she is stunning beautiful and Peter Kwong, Victor Wong & James Hong came straight from the "Big Trouble in Little China" set to perform here similar parts, except for James Hong, playing here a way different character than his evil sorcerer, David Lo Pan in the latter.
Classical trained English actor, Charles Dance is superb playing the 'Machiavellian' main villain, Sardo Numspa, with his usual wicked bureaucratic snobbery and a touch of exquisiteness.In short, despite its flaws, "The Golden Child", emanates that movie magic that only the 80's could do, it's a very entertaining flick that appeals to both, children (i loved it when it was released, i was around 10 years old or so) and adults (i still like it a lot now) and a good watch for a movie marathon with "Big Trouble in Little China", "Shangai Surprise" and even "Howard the Duck", curiously all also released in '86.I give it a 7 / 7.5 stars, but as a nostalgic film from my youth and because it's way better than the 99,9 per cent of the fantasy / adventure movies that came out nowadays, it surely deserves an extra point..
The Golden Child is much more of a comedy and Eddie Murphy is in top form here, in one of his strangest, but funniest movies.
Somewhat underrated Eddie Murphy movie with Eddie playing an American social worker recruited by a Tibetan woman to help rescue a kidnapped boy with special powers called the "Golden Child." I remember when this came out it wasn't met with a warm reception, from the critics or myself.
Ironically, this was a bigger box office hit than Big Trouble but the latter has gone on to deservedly earn a cult fandom while Golden Child still has a mixed reputation at best.Eddie Murphy is pretty good here and seems to be having a fun time.
Eddie Murphy had two exceptionally good comedies in the first three years of his film career.
The most interesting and entertaining aspects of the film involve the young monk, the golden child, played by Jasmine Reate.In 2015, Eddie Murphy still has some years of acting ahead.
THE GOLDEN CHILD is less spectacular than both of those films – it has fewer special effects than the first and no martial arts like the second – but it proves to be a likable enough film boasting a strong comic turn from Eddie Murphy before he stopped making films for adults.The story, as it reads, is exceptionally lightweight: Murphy is, for some inexplicable reason, the 'Chosen One' and his job is to rescue the 'Golden Child' from the clutches of evil, personified by Charles Dance in one of those stock British villain-type roles that Hollywood seem to love.
There is also some nice special effects, particular the Golden Child moving objects around with his mind.I would have like to see more action, though, between the good and bad guys as I thought the second half was rushed somewhat and scenes cut away from one and another too quickly.
THE GOLDEN CHILDI like this movie.It has been a lot of years since I last watched this film, and even though it was still very good...
his stand up gigs (Delirious and Raw) were brilliant.The Golden Child was funny, but not as good as some of Eddies others.There were a lot of special effects in this.
The first time I saw Golden Child, I wasn't really all that impressed, but now I have come to appreciate the charming wit that is Eddie Murphy, and the way that a man who is used to the mundane in thrown into the hidden fantasy world that the real world hides.This movie has little to think about.
Eddie Murphy, Charles Dance, Charlotte Lewis and Victor Wong star in this 1986 fantasy-comedy.