On September 5, the film titled The Tail of the Great Sage was released, drawing significant attention from audiences due to the appearance of the star from Journey to the West – the famous “Princess Iron Fan,” Kim Xiao Xiao. However, the film quickly garnered many criticisms regarding its quality, particularly the “performances of the supporting cast” that sparked controversy among female viewers.
In the film, Kim Xiao Xiao confuses audiences by playing a character named Ly Thuong Linh, a young woman who is referred to as “the spirit of the dead” with a tragic backstory. Ly Thuong Linh dies under mysterious circumstances and later returns as a ghost seeking justice for her death. However, the central theme that captivates the viewer’s attention is the portrayal of Kim Xiao Xiao’s young character.
At the age of 48, it is quite challenging for Kim Xiao Xiao to convincingly portray a young and attractive character, which leaves many viewers puzzled when this character is built as a leading role. The men in the film are depicted as three father-son pairs who must fall in love, creating a complicated romantic dynamic.
According to QQ, the character portrayal of Kim Xiao Xiao cannot convince viewers, making the film’s plot less engaging. Additionally, the storyline is overly convoluted and predictable, primarily revolving around the theme of “ghost seeking revenge” to restore justice for the character who has been wronged. As a result, the film struggled at the box office, earning less than 700,000 CNY (approximately 2 million USD) since its release, with many reviews rating it 1-2 stars on Douban.
Moreover, many viewers find it even harder to understand when the director of The Tail of the Great Sage is Banh Phat, who previously made a name for himself with the high-quality series Infernal Affairs , which was commercially successful and critically acclaimed. “The director of Infernal Affairs is not capable of making trash films; anything he creates can be successful,” one viewer commented. However, the performance of the star from Journey to the West remains a significant contribution to the film’s failure.
