Monkey: Episodes 1-13 (NTSC) (DVD) (UK Import)

Directed by Yûsuke Watanabe

Starring: Masaaki Sakai, Toshiyuki Nishida, Shiro Kishibe, Masako Natsume, Mieko Takamine
Contributors: Tsuneo Hayakawa, Yoji Katori, Ken Kumagaya, Kazuo Morikawa, Tadahiro Nagatomi, Muneo Yamada, Mickie Yoshino
Studio: Fremantle Home Entertainment
Genre: Television, Fantasy
Main Language: English
Region: Region 2
Release Date: 29 Mar 2004
Originally Issued: 1979
No of Discs: 4
BBFC Cert: (12) Suitable for 12 years and over.
Run Time: 585 minutes

Description

The first thirteen episodes of the cult Seventies action series. In 'Monkey Goes Wild About Heaven', King Monkey (Masaaki Sakai) disgraces himself after being summoned to Heaven. He and two officials get into an argument and end up being sent back to Earth as a punishment - Monkey is imprisoned under a mountain, while the others are transformed into a pig monster, Pigsy (Toshiyuki Nishida), and a water monster, Sandy (Shiro Kishibe).

'Monkey Turns Nursemaid' sees Monkey set free in order to help holy man Tripitaka (Masako Natsume) on his quest to save the world. In 'The Great Journey Begins', Monkey protects Tripitaka against both Pigsy and Sandy, both of whom end up joining them on their journey. In 'Monkey Swallows the Universe', Monkey, Pigsy and Sandy must protect Tripitaka from the demonic Golden Horn and his wife.

'The Power of Youth' sees Tripitaka kidnapped by the immature King of Youth. In 'Even Monsters Can Be People', Tripitaka punishes Monkey by sending him away when he thinks his protector has slain an innocent girl and her parents. However, Monkey's victims were in fact demons disguised as humans! 'The Beginning of Wisdom' sees Pigsy offering to sacrifice himself to save a village from a terrible drought.

In 'Pigsy Woos a Widow', the porcine Casanova turns the charm on a pretty widow, who, in turn, is infatuated by Tripitaka. In 'What Monkey Calls the Dog-Woman', Monkey discovers the true intentions of a group of bandits, whilst Tripitaka, Pigsy and Sandy are terrorised by a dog-woman innkeeper. In 'Pigsy's in the Well', Tripitaka and his three disciples set out to prove that the man ruling as king of Cickrow is in fact a murderous magician imposter.

'The Difference Between Night and Day' sees Monkey rendered powerless when he falls in love with a pretty young girl, while Pigsy defects to join the evil creatures of the night. In 'Pearls Before Swine', Monkey and company promise to help the inhabitants of a land ruled over by three evil immortals. And finally, in 'The Minx and the Slug', Pigsy disguises himself as the slug monster husband of the beautiful Hai-Min.

Special Features

• Interactive Menus
• Scene Access
• Biographies