Adjust font size:

"A Chinese Odyssey" (1994)

Posters for two classic "A Chinese Odyssey" films. [Images courtesy of Xiying Group]

The "King of Comedy" Stephen Chow's two-part fantasy film series "A Chinese Odyssey," directed by Jeffery Lau, is a nostalgic cult classic. The films are loosely based on the Chinese ancient classic "Journey to the West," but more a wild adaptation.

When it was released, many didn't understand what the films were trying to convey. Critics hated "A Chinese Odyssey," and so did the audience. The two installments failed at Chinese box offices in 1994 and 1995, respectively and Chow's film company went bankrupt. But they later found a new life, ironically on TV, VHS, VCD and online downloads after 1996. The films are now regarded as timeless classics since a new generation of young people has found resonance with the movie's characters and the story of lost love.

Many lines from the movie became catchy phrases on the internet later in the 2000s, defining a new generation's vocabulary. A particular monologue from the film about regret for love has become a golden line in the internet era and is often recited by fans and university students.

"I had a sincere love before me, but I didn't treasure her. When I lost her, I felt regretful. It is the most painful matter in this world. If God could give me one more chance, I would say three words to her - I love you. If you have to give a time limit to ensure this love, I hope it should be 10,000 years." The song "Love in a Lifetime" from the film series has since become a romantic anthem.