A popular Chinese folk tale gets a big-screen makeover in this animated feature. Sanshengmu (voice of Xu Fan) is a goddess who falls in love with a mortal man and leaves the heavens for earth with her magical lotus lantern in tow. Several years later, Sanshengmu's older brother Er Lang (voice of Jiang Wen), still furious at his sister's impropriety, finds her, captures her, and hides her deep inside Mt. Hua. But Sanshengmu now has a young son, and when he discovers what has happened to his mother, he sets out to find the Monkey King (voice of Chen Peisi), whose magical powers could set Sanshengmu free. But will the young boy prove worthy in the eyes of the Monkey King? Bao Lian Deng was a massive box-office success in its native China; the soundtrack features several original songs from pop singer CoCo Lee.
by Mark Deming
synopsis
