War and Beauty

[Athena]

Jus finished watching War and Beauty. It was great, too bad the Empress did not get her retribution for her evil deeds. It's so funny to see Sheren and her arguing each time. The entire series revolves around love and hate and what matters most is the meaning we get in the end. Really like the ending though i find it a bit absurd as to why the cult could juz barge into the palace. And why did the Emperor leave the palace just in the before the cult people comes? Hmm...it's more than what it seems... A worth watching serial, never regret buying it.

Historically, Emperor Jiaqing did leave the palace during the rebellion of the Tianli Sect. The son of the emperor (later on Emperor Daoguang) led the forces of Beijing and the Forbidden City to crush the rebellion. Both Gigi, Maggie and Sheren's characters were real historical figures.
I could not find Chairmaine's yet.
The empress (in history) lived a long life after her "son" ascended the throne. This Empress Niohuru (Rebecca) is the second empress of Emperor Jiaqing. The first empress (Empress Hitara; this is the empress who played a rather important role in that Sassy in-law serie with Myolie Wu and Lisa Wong) died a long time ago. After she died the empress Niohuru took care of the little prince.
A funny thing is that both Sheren's role and Rebecca's role the Imperial Consort and Empress are from the same clan: Niohuru (meaning Wolf in the Manchu language).

By the way, it was a great serie! I loved it, I felt sorry for all those poor women in the Forbidden City.

[cherrie]

oh interesting i wonder who will be included in the 2006 calendar. i hope those new mshk's would not be focused too much!

[mayce]

This drama is really good so far. I haven't finished it yet. The soundtracks are awesome! I just love Bowie's voice. The instrumentals are awesome, too.

[kacheek]

i like the songs in this series too. i wonder if anyone can share the soundtrack with us here. thanks in advance.

i notice tat most of the comments here doesnt like gigi's acting. i do agree with that. she just looks kinda 'fake' when she talks to the empress. trying to make herself sounds 'gentle'...

[rokko99]

Historically, Emperor Jiaqing did leave the palace during the rebellion of the Tianli Sect. The son of the emperor (later on Emperor Daoguang) led the forces of Beijing and the Forbidden City to crush the rebellion. Both Gigi, Maggie and Sheren's characters were real historical figures.
I could not find Chairmaine's yet.
The empress (in history) lived a long life after her "son" ascended the throne. This Empress Niohuru (Rebecca) is the second empress of Emperor Jiaqing. The first empress (Empress Hitara; this is the empress who played a rather important role in that Sassy in-law serie with Myolie Wu and Lisa Wong) died a long time ago. After she died the empress Niohuru took care of the little prince.
A funny thing is that both Sheren's role and Rebecca's role the Imperial Consort and Empress are from the same clan: Niohuru (meaning Wolf in the Manchu language).

By the way, it was a great serie! I loved it, I felt sorry for all those poor women in the Forbidden City.

Hi ,

What about the roles of Maggie , Sheren and Gigi in real history - was it the same or is that mostly TVB fiction ?

And what does the Manchu language sound like ? Mongol ? Is it still spoken to day ( Manchu that is ) ?

[momoko]

oh this is so interesting if some of the characters were real. where did you find the info from?

[kcluver89]

WAB is such an outstanding series to say the very least.Every episodes is full of suprises and excitement as no one could ever expect what is about to happen.Now im still in the middle part,cant wait for the next of it.Two thumbs up for Charmaine and Maggie for perfectly pulling off their complicated yet intriguing roles.Their acting are nicely done and it made their roles more realistic.One of them deserves the award more than Gigi.As for Gigi,I guess this must be her very few villain role she has taken up(as i've read that she doesnt accept evil roles)(for me,her best part was when she rising with the support of Onn Sin) So cant blame her for that,IMO.However I couldnt stand the part when she betrayed the man who loves her and even tried to kill him..Urgh! The main theme sang by Bowie is so astounding,though i dont understand chinese but it is catchy for anyone who listens to it. And also the musical intrument supposedly played by Hung Mo and Onn Sin..Thats kind of romantic i guess (n those time,lol) Does it have a name to it? I really hope i can get the download.so,for those are still searching for the download of the main theme..here you go..
http://s36.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1...00FOB08ME76YZH

[rokko99]

Nah , Gigi and Charmaine in my view were very average actresses and miscast for this serious series . If it wasn't for sherene , maggie and Bowie W&B wold not have been such a success , they carried the deadwood of Gigi and Charmaine.

Those 2 were unconvincing , Gigi's emotions looked so fake at times.

Maggie was the best actress in this , her role was varied and complex but she carried it off brilliantly . She should have won the best actress award . Great perfomance. Her best act to date .

[Wine and Roses]

Hi ,

What about the roles of Maggie , Sheren and Gigi in real history - was it the same or is that mostly TVB fiction ?

And what does the Manchu language sound like ? Mongol ? Is it still spoken to day ( Manchu that is ) ?

Well like s/he said, Maggie, Gigi and Sheren's characters did exist in real life. But War and Beauty is just a fiction by TVB, of course they're roles in real life did not have much to do with each War and Beauty, I don't even think all existed right at the same time.

Not too sure about what their roles in real life really is but I'm quite confident I heard someone say that all roles existed before (including Charmaine's).

[neverland]

I read this review and it talked about some of it becoming true. It also gives facts about what really happen...I think the tragedy was properly not true but the people in the story actually existed. Read the review...its quite good.

[earth4477]

There is this one series that everybody I know who is above 35 keeps telling me tto hunt for it, where it was considered the father /mother of all power struggle series. The chinese title is directly translated I think as Eagles of the Mainland (crrect me if I am wrong) but i do not know the English title. It starred Alex Man (remember him anyone?) and it kinda fuels the legend of Ying Zheng and his Lui Sei Leung love story. I was told this series was made during the golden era of ATV, the story and the acting was not just engaging but fool proof, absolute perfectly acted and made series. Did you just mention this series in any one of your listed old series?

Unfortunately can never find this series. It's like Holy Grail to me.

Funn Lim,

I already mentioned the english title of the ATV drama TV series called "DYNASTY I" --productions of the early 1980's starring Alex Man Tze leung & Mai Suet (Michelle Yim) & david Chiang Dai Wai & Ng,Wai-Kwok & etc.. when they were young---this ATV drama TV series receive good ratings during its initial broadcast during the early 1980's that ATV later decided to do a sequel called "Dynasty II" starring alex man tze leung & leslie cheung kwok wing & etc..

The sequel Dynasty II is NOT as good as the pre-sequel "Dynasty I".

Both "dynasty I" & "dynasty II" is already released on VCDs boxsets in asian languages of mandarin, cantonese & vietnamese available for purchase on asian video on-line stores.

*******This ATV drama tv series "Dynasty I" is MUCH BETTER THAN TVB's "war & beauty" & more enjoyable to watch in comparison.

***whatever quality dramas TVB produced either bad, mediocre or good, TVB always still get good viewers' ratings. TVB knowed how to maintain their dominant market share thru one of the means of good effective advertising, marketing & distribution. In the past some of TVB's oldies dramas are good but recent or new dramas are not enjoyable or worth watching, they are NOT that good in quality. NOT all nor most of recent TVB dramas are good nor worth watching. In comparsion I do not see anything in recent TVB dramas worth watching to ATV dramas. I don't understand why TVB continued to receive high viewership in their dramas----they are NOT that good nor enjoyable to watch.

[baobao]

NOT all nor most of recent TVB dramas are good nor worth watching. In comparsion I do not see anything in recent TVB dramas worth watching to ATV dramas. I don't understand why TVB continued to receive high viewership in their dramas----they are NOT that good nor enjoyable to watch.

well, you are still watching right.. even though they're not worth watching.. or else you wouldn't know that they're not worth watching.
so it's people like you, me and everyone else on this board that complains about tvb yet still watches it that keeps the ratings high. not very hard to understand ..

[hkgirl129_]

TVB is still getting good ratings because it's practically got the monopoly. and people of HK need the stress reliever, so they will watch the shows even if they are of poor quality.

[rokko99]

i think the empress is the most evil of all the women. of course her motive is to make sure her sons got to be the heir to the throne, but that's not a good reason to go and kill off children of the other concubines.

Her sons ? i thought she had none ?

wasn't that what Sheren said to her after sheren's baby died, that the empress was too old to have kids ?

[rokko99]

Any one who says that Charmiane looks pretty in this series or any for that matter needs their head tested or there are women jealous of the other real baeuties .

From a man's point of view Jade leung is the best followed by maria chen , she looked sexy lah with her mickey mouse hairstyle - hehehehe .

[TommyH]

I finished this recently (didn't watch it when it first came out because i lack the brain to understand its complicated contents) and it was really good. AWSOME! I have no doubt that it recieved a 40 or over as its rating.

Gigi Lai looked really pretty in this series especially at the end of episode 18 when she got that "star/moon" hairstyle. Her performance was also outstanding.

Charmaine Sheh is also incredible (as always).

Shenren(don't know how to spell) and Maggie were nice as well.

Bowie and Moses = NO WORD FOR THEM!!! THEY WERE GOOD TOO!

This was the best of the many series I've watched. I RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE WHO HASN'T WATCHED IT!!

[cherrie]

who is maria chen?

[rokko99]

I finished this recently (didn't watch it when it first came out because i lack the brain to understand its complicated contents) and it was really good. AWSOME! I have no doubt that it recieved a 40 or over as its rating.

Gigi Lai looked really pretty in this series especially at the end of episode 18 when she got that "star/moon" hairstyle. Her performance was also outstanding.

Charmaine Sheh is also incredible (as always).

Shenren(don't know how to spell) and Maggie were nice as well.

Bowie and Moses = NO WORD FOR THEM!!! THEY WERE GOOD TOO!

This was the best of the many series I've watched. I RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE WHO HASN'T WATCHED IT!!

oh yeah right , western Chinese telling the real Chinese about what Chinese beauty is .

WC's are the worst kind , looked down upon by the white , by the black , know nothing about their own culture but still try to tell Chinese in the homelands what it is ?

Why don't you get of your backside , grow a pair and come live in Chinese countries ?

I have no respect for these types.

[rokko99]

Can someone tell me why the queen did not punish Bowie and Gigi when they confessed to their " affair ".

At least it didn't seem like no punishment.

[hkgirl129_]

I have the same question as cherrie, who's maria chen?