A Classic Remake kind of watchable
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.
--- although after watching her more and comparing her with other Chinese actresses from other remakes, she does a decent job. Watchable.
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, they 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!
After looking at the other 2 Chinese adaption of this drama, I decided to give it another chance. The FL is not too bad relative to the other previous ones.
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One of the better remakes worth watching
I have seen the original Cantonese and great memories of it. And I watched previous remakes.I think this is one of the better remakes. It is done with more realistic tone and less silly characters. You know what I mean. Characters that talk in squeaky voices or act like clowns or act like a child to be wise. Just stupid.
This one doesn't have that kind of stupidity.
Dialogues are good and intelligent. The writers have brains unlike many other C Dramas that are still writing like they are targeting viewers who live in countryside without any education.
I think the most interesting character have been the blind woman with claws.
The main leads are okay. Not huge chemistry but they are likeable and best of all, they are not annoying. I enjoy them. Rong is cute and she doesn't quite capture the cunning of 80s Cantonese actress but she is competent and does a good job. I like her.
Male lead is also okay. Nice thing is both of them do not overplay their characters. And that works.
It's a solid remake and definitely worth your time. It is not an exact repeat of previous shows and I thought pacing was fine.
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Remake of interesting scenes from the condor trilogy
In case you didn't know, this is just a summary of the condor trilogy, its not only LOCH which is about Yang Gou. It's kind of pointless to watch this as it is right now and I have no idea why they even made this.Not to mention that they casted old and popular actors, paid for VFX and stuff.. Surely there must be other dramas that can be made with the money invested into this instead.
This is basically 2 full stories combined into one, with a LOT of content missing.
It is a trilogy, because The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber (倚天屠龍記) is a part of the condor heroes story and takes places after LOCH, and YG is basically the reason why the sword and the saber exists.
However it doesn't seem like the final story will be adapted at all
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ANOTHER REMAKE
I don't know how many are they all together remaking this story. My favorite is still the Hongkong version remake in the 1970 or 1980, they are classic because they cast the perfect actors for the job - besides it set in the standard of many remakes drama after them (which not memorable). As a big fan of Jin Yong for many years, I graded 10 for story and the screenwriters do good job on dialog and pretty consistent with storyline in the book. I can basically map it out what the next scenes are basaed on the novel, although it's pretty outdated (Jin Yong wrote it in 1957) and after countless remakes, I like this one better than previous Chinese version but fighting choreography isn't good.I think the young actors who play Guo Jing and Huang Rong are cute together. Although Guo Jing is pretty slow intellectually and average looking, he's honest innocent loyal kind-heart and hard work that makes Huang Rong loves him to no end. Huang Rong is the kind of daddy girl who has photographic memory, very intelligent, inheriting deviousness from her father, young beauty, carefree and a happy girl. Her intelligent help Guo Jin in so many level, solve many difficulties; from securing a teacher, help him in Mongolia against Ouyang Feng, up to defending the border while she's pregnant.
Wanyan Kang/Yang Kang in the other hand is a malicious malignant evil man. He compared ragged poor honest biological father with his richly ambitious Jin adoptive father, he'd rather be a traitor to his Han bloodline than live in poor and disrespected. His relationship to Mu Nian Ci resulted in a baby boy name Yang Guo (Main character on next novel the Return of Condor Heroes), Wanyan Kang killed Ouyang Ke just to be Ouyang Feng apprentice. I think he died in the hand of Mu Nian Ci though....she couldn't see him become more evil and treacherous. Mu Nian Ci would hand their little boy Yang Guo to Guo Jing and Huang Rong to be adopted before she died. Which they both raise young Guo Yang in strict discipline and moral code, not to grow up like his father.
5 Grand masters; Ouyang Feng, Huang Yao Shi, Zhou Bo Tong, Hong Qi Gong, Duan Zhi Xing here are all looking young and handsome. As far the characteristic in the book they're all in their 60th or 70th with grey hair. Ouyang Feng is poisonous ruthless senile evil man who'll end-up insane because of self-teaching from fake Jiu Yin Manual Guo Jing wrote (ep 16). Huang Yao Shi will finally bless Huang Rong to marry Guo Jing and leave the island for the couple. Hong Qi Gong will travel and spend time in Palace's kitchen to steal more delicious foods. Childish Zhao Bo Tong will live together blissfully happy with the woman who loved him. Kind His Royal Highness Duan Zhi Xing live secluded as a monk. I could't believe I still remember all that after many years...
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Doesn't live up to the hype
A MASSIVE dump of characters where no story is told in depth. Surface level of events paired & lightning speed of couple pairing. Did the drama just decide to collect as many drama actors as possible hoping it will succeed? Looking at the cast, there are 13 Main leads!ML Ci sha, he did pretty good as supporting roles in prior dramas, but I don't think he holds up here. Maybe it's the script too but there's a lack of convincing expressions fitting his character.
I was looking forward to some better choreographed fight scenes but classic kung fu in dramas is mostly dead these days replaced by overuse of wires and frozen poses blasting massive wind into people's faces. Sure, the dancer background or the Chinese Opera background actors tend to do better but I haven't seen anything amazing past 8 episodes.
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AN ABSOLUTE JOKE!!!
It's laughable what acting is over there in China (at least what we see internationally) and the fact that some of these dramas go through numerous stages of screening so to say for them to be published and this is what we get.I'll just get to the point; I've decided to drop this drama after 1 episode beacuse I'm so sick and tired of seeing the same poor displays of something that's meant to be entertainment and I cannot fault the actors on this one because I think this is just pure mediocrisy from the crew.
This drama gives me BTTH Season 2 vibes and I dropped that drama as well after a couple of minutes for the same reasons. The pacing of the story and the way it's rushed, the special effects, the stunts (THEY ARE REALLY BAD), the camera movement and all that is just average and looks like it's made for a youtube prank video.
Once again a highly anticipated drama (as most always are) taking the mick. Absolute joke.
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