http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4715788.stm

Monkey magic casts spell in Asia

An ambitious remake of Japan's most successful television drama Saiyuki (Monkey) is causing a stir across Asia.
The new version of the 1978 drama broke ratings records last month with one in three Japanese viewers tuning in.

Companies in Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore have secured rights and makers Fuji TV have had inquiries from Thailand, China and Malaysia.

It is based on a 16th Century Chinese myth following hero Monkey's journey to India to obtain Buddhist scriptures.

The fantasy drama, first broadcast by Japan's Nippon TV Network, was a mix of lavish special effects, witty performances and martial arts.

The remake has remained faithful to many of the original elements - the fighting stick that shrinks to fit inside the human ear and the magical cloud that Monkey uses to travel great distances.

Fuji Television's most significant decision was to cast Shingo Katori as the show's hero.

Mr Katori is one of five members of SMAP - one of Japan's most popular boy bands. The Japanese heart-throb will be the first actor to play Monkey after Masaaki Sakai more than 25 years ago.

Modern Monkey

However, Monkey purists may be disappointed by the new version. The opening scene of each old episode that retold the legend of his birth from a stone egg on a mountain has been dropped.

The scene where Monkey achieves immortality by gorging himself on 9,000-year-old peaches will also not be included.

A dubbed version of the original was shown in the UK on BBC Two in 1981.

An undisclosed British TV company has secured the rights to the new 11-episode remake and will broadcast the show later this year, reports say.

*****japanese drama on British TV?!?!?!?*****
i can't wait!!!! :D :D :D :D

hey! and Monkey Heaven even got a link on the side! :D

when will it come to Australia? pelase make it soon!

funky_monkey, i have a funny feeling it wont be coming to australia

NNNOOOOOOO!!!!!!! :angry:

wow, funky_monkey delivers yet ANOTHER productive and thought provoking post, how does he do it?

its easy i have this desire to post more than you can. which im sure you have the desire to post more than i can. and who is winning? oh thats right me!!!

funky_monkey, today i have truly lost much respect for you. i was merely trying to have inteligent conversations with fellow monkey fans, providing posts with valuable opinions and points. funky_monkey, im not angry, im just dissapointed in you. it dosn't matter about the number of posts posted, but about the depth of the posts, and yours, i'd have to say, are pathetic.

well lets have a look at some of your posts shall we.

oh there we see the truth comes out.

If only I could read the book 'Journey to the west'.
Where could I buy it? Someone told me it was sold in parts or something. Is that true?

Yeah 4 parts, you can find it on Amazon.

100 chapters in all, long chapters too, I'm only about a third into the first volume and they haven't even met pigsy and sandy yet. It's the bit with that old monk who wants the shiny shiny robe.

hmmm, funky monkey, you can't be that old if you have to resort to such childish reactions as to question someones sexuality, settle down, find a group with kids your own age, or just drop your defencive behaviour and at least try to fit in.....

J-O-K-E it was a joke. you see the funny thing is samas and i are actually the same age. even he thought it was funny.if it wasnt for us this forum would be dead and you wouldnt be able to make you self appear mature, cause unless your a chic or you parents have died you have the same maturity level as i do.

-funky out :ph43r: