New Hong Lou Meng/Dream of the Red Chamber 2007-2008

[hinako442003]

I think LDY's personality was better than XBC, just because she wasn't so devious and plotting; she spoke her mind and sure, she was the jealous/depressed type, but at least she was a straight-forward and honest person who didn't try to use tricks and under-the-table tricks to get what she wanted. Plus, she had more talent than XBC.

XBC was healthier-looking, and more bubbly whereas LDY was frail and sick. But the impression I got was the LDY was more beautiful due to the extensive praises written by the author.
As for personality, I don't think XBC was tricksy. She was the traditional orthodox type, and she knew what not to say, and although she was also very well-educated, she doesn't display her knowledge outwardly. LDY on the other hand spoke her mind like you said, and showed her intelligence freely. That's why she wasn't too favored in the family.
>_< depressing story still... don't know if I should catch it when it comes out.

[TiffTiff]

Sorry but I don't know much about Chinese literature, can anyone tell me what is the story about ???

I thought there used to be an X-rated movie with the same title too.

[heavensentangel]

oh dear.. can they not find any better looking people?!

in my opinion, Qiao Zhen Yu would make a perfect Jia Bao Yu He definitely has that look.

[WuxiaGem]

I thought XBC is supposed to be a little plump (sorta like concubine Yang) and LDY is supposed to be very slender. The candidates for both characters look around the same weight.

Anyways, I watched the first Hong Lou Meng when it came out and I was 7 years old, I liked XBC more than LDY. But as i revisited the series in my late teens, I realized that XBC is a devious character and I gained sympathy for LDY. Although LDY is often jealous and petty, she is honest with her opinions and does not hide her nature. She is quickly slighted but anyone with half a brain could understand what she is thinking/feeling. XBC, on the other hand, is a master illusionist. She really knows how to perfect her image and make everyone in the household like her and compliment her. I'm not saying that she's evil...just much more scheming and calculating than LDY. XBC wants an advantageous marriage whereas LDY wanted love. I'm sure XBC liked Baoyu but if he were not of good social standing, LDY would still take him whereas I feel XBC would not. For example, Baoyu did not want to take the civil examinations and everyone in the family were pushing him to study for them, including XBC. LDY, on the other hand, did not pressure him and just let him be himself.

[Sparky]

i think they are still casting.... saw the contestants competing on tv a few days ago

They better keep casting for a long time. I don't see any suitable leads yet

I should suggest that person's son to audition for JBY...I've never seen him but if he's a looker, then he could easily beat out these choices in that perspective.

Didn't someone originally suggest either Chen Hao or Zhao Wei for the role of Xue Baochai during fan speculations?

As for the LDY vs. XBC deal, I don't like any of the lead characters in Hong Lou Meng very much. LDY's personality is too weak and easy to take advantage of, XBC is too manipulative and I hate suck-ups, JBY is irresponsible...well, I guess the ending works for me in that case. If I had to choose between, I'd pick LDY because I know I wouldn't be able to stand XBC in real-life.

[Lady Zhuge]

Candidates from Taiwan: http://ent.sina.com.cn/f/v/newhlm/taiwan.shtml
Candidates from Guangzhou: http://ent.sina.com.cn/f/v/newhlm/guangzhou.shtml

More disappointing lots. Only Wu Ting seems acceptable, although she's not a newbie to the acting scene. She looks kind of like Echo Shen Ao Jun in this pic:

[LiYuanZhi]

HLM is like one of my ultime favourite books, and I've loved it since I was a kid. Though of course, back then, I was completely unaware of certain things.

Anyway, contribuing to the XBC vs LDY, I prefer LDY, because I tend to sympathize more with her.

With XBC, what is find is a very apt description of her is 'cold beauty'. She's not compassionate; she follows logic and social structure perfectly, almost to a fault. One of the most prominent scenes when this is evident is the death of Jin Chuan (the servant girl who committed suicide by jumping down a well). When XBC is talking to Wang fu ren (JBY's mother) about this, she's very calm and cool about it, like the death of a life isn't even important. She says that it's probably a silly accident, that the girl simply was playing around the well and slipped. Then she goes on to say that even if she did commit suicide, then it would only mean that she was a foolish girl, and not worth being upset over. In effect, her solution is, give the family some money, and the problem is solved.

Given the setting/time period, I can understand where her statements are coming from. To her, a maid's life isn't really all that worthwhile; it reflects the social hierachy at the time (rich peoples lives are worth something, poor people's don't count). But still, it still shows she's cold, doesn't it? That's why I prefer LDY.

In contribution to the actors/actresses, I feel that most of them are WAY too old. At the beginning of HLM, LYD is 11, JBY is 12. At the end, I think LYD is only 16/17. They're still kids! Obviously, it's probably unlikely that they can get teenage actors, but still, they should at least LOOK young. Also, I don't think any of the actresses for LYD have the 'look'. LYD is meant to be seriously depressed, you should see the sorrow in her eyes. But most of the actresses don't have that depth in their looks.

Mleh. I can appreciate how difficult it would be to act/direct in HLM. No matter what you do, you're guarantee to be criticized because it's such a classic and everyone has their own different views.

Just a side information, did anyone know that the actress for the old LYD in the 80's mainland version (Chen Xiao Xu) became a nun recently? She was a successful business woman in advertising, but recently 'chu jia le', along with her husband.

[invisible_dolphinbay]

Candidates from Taiwan: http://ent.sina.com.cn/f/v/newhlm/taiwan.shtml
Candidates from Guangzhou: http://ent.sina.com.cn/f/v/newhlm/guangzhou.shtml

More disappointing lots. Only Wu Ting seems acceptable, although she's not a newbie to the acting scene. She looks kind of like Echo Shen Ao Jun in this pic:

i'm not sure, but isn't this the girl that played jiao wan er in bi xue jian ?

[sunnysnow]

The candidates for Xue Bao Chai in the first posts all look pretty attractive! The same cannot be said of the candidates for the leads though

[LiYuanZhi]

The candidates for Xue Bao Chai in the first posts all look pretty attractive! The same cannot be said of the candidates for the leads though

Xue Bao Chai is a lead. Just not very well liked in general.

[sunnysnow]

Xue Bao Chai is a lead. Just not very well liked in general.

I was talking abt the female and male leads, Lin Dai Yu and Jia Bao Yu.

[redfirefly124]

None of the candidates are too good looking.........BTW, is there a character called Xiao Hong (Little Red)? What does she do? Cause this candidate looks kinda nice...kinda reminds me of Wang Yan actually....

[LiYuanZhi]

None of the candidates are too good looking.........BTW, is there a character called Xiao Hong (Little Red)? What does she do? Cause this candidate looks kinda nice...kinda reminds me of Wang Yan actually....

Yeah, Xiao Hong is a maid of JBY's- but a lesser one. She does simple jobs, and doesn't even see him much; basically she's a very low ranked maid who he doesn't even know the name of. (How many maids does the guy need? ).

Anyway, she's the daughther of the 'guan jia', Lin Zhi Xiao. Later on, Wang Xi Feng asks her to do a chore, she does it really well, so she becomes Wang Xi Feng's 'ya huang' (girl servant/maid). She marries Jia Yun, how is a distant relative of the Jia family. She may/may not have helped at the end of the series in rescuing Qiao Jie (Wang Xi Feng's daughter) (it varies between different versions).

She's quite a minor character though.

[Lady Zhuge]

Che Jin from Chengdu:


http://ent.sina.com.cn/v/2007-03-24/11041491387.html

Fang Wen from Beijing:


http://ent.sina.com.cn/v/2007-03-24/11041491391.html

Jiang Chen Yang from Shanghai:


http://ent.sina.com.cn/v/2007-03-24/11041491384.html

Li Ang from Shenyang:


http://ent.sina.com.cn/v/2007-03-24/11041491393.html

Zhang Di from Beijing:


http://ent.sina.com.cn/v/2007-03-24/11041491383.html

Liu Zhuo from Beijing:


http://ent.sina.com.cn/v/2007-03-24/11041491390.htm

Su Hang from Beijing:


http://ent.sina.com.cn/v/2007-03-24/11041491385.html

Xu Yao from Ji'nan:


http://ent.sina.com.cn/v/2007-03-24/11051491394.html

Wang Long Hua from Xi'an:


http://ent.sina.com.cn/v/2007-03-24/11041491386.html

[Lady Zhuge]

Cheng Yuan Yuan from Chengdu:



http://ent.sina.com.cn/v/2007-03-24/12011491421.html

Min Chun Xiao from Guangzhou:


http://ent.sina.com.cn/v/2007-03-24/12021491431.html

Gao Yang from Ji'nan:


http://ent.sina.com.cn/v/2007-03-24/12011491417.html



The rest have apparently been eliminated. I would definitely go with Cheng Yuan Yuan out of these three.

[Lady Zhuge]

Bai Bing from Xi'an:



http://ent.sina.com.cn/v/2007-03-24/12241491460.html

Cai Fei Yu from Shenyang:


http://ent.sina.com.cn/v/2007-03-24/12231491450.html

Yao Di from Beijing:


http://ent.sina.com.cn/v/2007-03-24/12231491447.html




Yay, my favorite, Yao Di, is still in the running.

[Trinie]

Thanks for all of the pix of the finalists Lady Zhuge!! I like the finalists... I wonder who will be chosen? By the way, who are the judges that will select and have a final saying in who will get the roles??? Are they still auditioning???

By the way, I heard one of the actresses for Hong Lau Meng became a nun with her husband and has died of breast cancer. Is this the one that played LDY in the old HLM from the 80s???I think she was a great LDY. She had the looks and played the role really well..

[redfirefly124]

By the way, I heard one of the actresses for Hong Lau Meng became a nun with her husband and has died of breast cancer. Is this the one that played LDY in the old HLM from the 80s???I think she was a great LDY. She had the looks and played the role really well..

I heard about the became a nun part....but if this is true, RIP. I never saw her act, but supposedly she was really good.

LiYuanZhi: I know this is kinda late, but thank you.

Lady Zhuge: Thanks for the update!

The choices looks...interesting....not bad, actually. Some don't really have the "look", but some look pretty promising.
BTW, to me, Cheng Yuan Yuan looks a bit like Dong Jie.
I feel so bad for the eliminated people though.........

[Trinie]

Yea, thanks LiYuanZhi!

I have always disliked XBC and never understood why some people really like her. I think even though LDY is really jealous and all, she isn't so bad and I can sympathize with her more.

I feel bad for everyone that is eliminated too. I just hope that everything will be fair this time and not like the auditions with ROCH 06 which seemed really unfair.... But unfortunately, only ONE person can get each role... Lets see who will be the lucky ones.

Yea, may the actress who passed away R.I.P.

[WuxiaGem]

I like the third candidates for both LDY and XBC.