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The Script that Barely Scratched the Surface & Fizzled Out
I wanted a strong wuxia and this author has been spoken about by many people as being basically the creator of the genre. I know a lot of the actors from previous dramas but with this first compilation of 30 episodes, it was a watered down version of what I had seen in other adaptations. The script that fizzled out with the actors going along for the ride. Not doing pros and cons this time.I liked the fight scenes; wish there were more of them and that they were more defined. I think the actors did the best they could with what was given to them but felt that what was written lacked any sort of depth and I've never even seen any other adaptation nor read the books. Just as a viewer, I felt that the romances were bland and there was very little chemistry between the characters. I didn't really know why they made it so shallow seeming. YK wasn't as complex as people said from the original and he was just a straight up evil narcissist that didn't struggle much with being good. GJ had very low IQ when it came to everything except martial arts and I still don't know how he "leveled up" each time. The senior martial artists were always asking subconsciously "how did he get this powerful so quickly?" And I was right there with them lol. Unless they showed him practicing, you had no clue how in a span of 2 mins he went from a certain level to full blown grandmaster especially at the end. HR was spunky and smart but her Jing gege voice and way too cutesy behavior was a bit much. The older actors were great to watch fight but I wish we saw more about them.
In any case, my main review will be added to this one on the main page once the other compilations are done but for now, I think this could have been amazing with a strong script.
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No ordinary remake of a Jin Yong classic
The significance of the TV series, The Legend of Heroes (2024), launched to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Louis Cha, the late author of the martial arts classic, should not be lost on even casual viewers. The first 30 episodes, entitled “Hot Blooded” (perhaps more appropriately, “Blood of Iron and Love of Country”), feature Cisha and Bao Shang’en, respectively, as the protagonists, Guo Jing and Huang Rong, a match made in heaven. For one thing, the two young leads, both in their 20s, are much more age-appropriate than their counterparts in all the previous adaptions in the Mainland. For another thing, unlike young Mainland TV actors/actresses these days, who tend to come across as cardboard cutouts looking more like internet celebs, Bao and Cisha amply prove they have the chops for the demanding roles: the former with the lithe body and agility of a dancer and the latter with his impressive horse-riding skills.Directed by Yang Lei, the critically-acclaimed director of the 2023 sci-fi TV series, Three-Body, these first 30 episodes may follow closely the original book by Louis Cha but come as a pleasant surprise. They mark an obvious departure from run-of-the-mill Mainland TV shows more interested in serving up eye candy than telling stories of flesh and blood. Instead of being slavishly “faithful” to the original story, even the relatively minor characters in this series are fleshed out with more backstory. Benefiting from Cha’s ever-popular classic featuring colourful characters who have virtually become household names among Chinese communities worldwide, this show is further blessed with the added advantage of a bigger budget and state-of-the-art production technology. In the deft hands of the director, a snappy pace of storytelling is mixed with convincing special effects to make watching this series a more engaging and immersive experience. Hence this innovative costume drama not just showcases exquisite costume design and lavish set pieces, not least a near-photorealistic Peach Blossom Island, home to Huang Rong and her father, Huang Yaoshi, one of the top five martial artists in the story. Towards the end of the series, a scene showing water droplets suspended in mid-air in slow motion even has almost a sci-fi feel to it!
What’s more, the innovative use of backstory is not just meant to give more screen time to less major characters. It actually spins the subsequent four new upcoming chapters, comprising another 30 episodes, not found in the original book. Taking this familiar and well-loved story on a delightfully unexpected journey into the unknown, the creative team of this new series boldly goes where no man has gone before. Now that the plot thickens, can’t wait to be pleasantly surprised some more.
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A Remake of a Classic - FAILED
I don't know how many times I have read the book while I was a teenager and then seeing the HK version for countless times. So, YES, definitely I am biased. I thought I would be dropping this drama because as DH said, it's been done too many times. And I know the story backwards. And yet, I am still watching it ... partially for old's time sake and partially because of the new special effects.Let's begin with what's wrong with this drama ... and why it's NOT rated higher:
1) Wang Hong Yi as Yang Kang cannot capture the complexity of this character. He doesn't have the look/presence of Yang Kang, who is supposed to be handsome, tricky, good/evil, and so charming.
2) Bao Shang En as Huang Rong falls short of the iconic role by Barbara Yung, who has the personality and the presence of this beautiful and smart FL. BY (although a little bit too old for HR) could capture the essence of HR from the book. Bao Shang En doesn't have the look and also the acting capability for this role.
3) Ci Sha as Guo Jing ... Looks-wise I think he does look like Guo Jing. However, acting wise, he doesn't have a lot of expressions. Guo Jing is again not a straight forward person. He's gullible, honest but he's not dumb. Felix Wong as Guo Jing was a better actor. And when paired with Barbara Yung, they had so much chemistry.
4) Huang Yao Shi also failed because the way he acts was like a parody of the character! Not as I remember from the book. For example, when the GJ's teachers challenged him, he puts hand on his head as if to say, "you've got to be kidding me"! Seriously, HYS shouldn't have this type of gesture. He doesn't make jokes like this ... He's dignified and serious.
Same thing goes for the beggar king ... Yeh, the are not acting like the characters from the book.
Like a lot of other reviewers say, this drama glosses over A LOT of scenes and character development. It's like telling a summary of the book. For people like me, it's kind of ok because I just need a summary- I've seen it so many times. For others, please watch the HK version. It's just like the book ... so good in storytelling and acting.
Why I give music such low score? Please just go and listen to the HK version. OMG ... I don't speak cantonese but the music was amazing. And the singers too!
There is a version with better actors ... I think I will try this one: https://mydramalist.com/2529-legend-of-the-condor-heroes-2008
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