Niu Lang Zhi Nu2008 starring Ady An yi Xuan

[sunnysnow]

did any1 watch this series yet???? could anyone offer advice as 2 whether 2 watch it or not??

The series will air in China (CCTV-8) on the 29th of June.

Official trailer: http://video.sina.com.cn/ent/v/m/200...42644410.shtml

[Creme de la top]

YAY, THIS IS FINALLY AIRING!

First episode is up, and here's the link if anyone can't wait and wants to watch it immediately. (I'm going to try and wait, of course.)

http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/CuvvxWhh8TA/

[sunnysnow]

I'll probably start watching this tomorrow since I'm quite free atm though I heard bad reviews regarding Tian Liang's performance. Although he doesn't seem great in the pics and trailers, I still hope he's tolerable in the actual series. Also hope the plot is decent or even the fact that Ady's in here won't be a good enough reason for me to finish the series since I'm already quite sick of this story in the first place.

[Cacophony]

Just started watching this....

I'm not a big fan of the male lead. Xia Yan is a lot more attractive.

Also,

 click to show spoilers

Why is she the 3rd princess?? Did they alter the story?

[sunnysnow]

Just started watching this....

I'm not a big fan of the male lead. Xia Yan is a lot more attractive.

Also,

 click to show spoilers

Why is she the 3rd princess?? Did they alter the story?

They modified a lot of the legend. In the original story, Zhi Nu is a weaver of the clouds, not a princess. Anyhow, I watched a couple of episodes and don't think im going to complete this series anytime soon. The storyline is messed up and silly- there's a hip hop rap in the first episode, the jade emperor is a hen-pecked wimp in here, the deities are clowns and love and marriages are aplenty in heaven!

[patricia n]

They modified a lot of the legend. In the original story, Zhi Nu is a weaver of the clouds, not a princess. Anyhow, I watched a couple of episodes and don't think im going to complete this series anytime soon. The storyline is messed up and silly- there's a hip hop rap in the first episode, the jade emperor is a hen-pecked wimp in here, the deities are clowns and love and marriages are aplenty in heaven!

hehe..ady's old manager really messed up on this decision for her! glad she left the old management team.

[yanfeng]

They modified a lot of the legend. In the original story, Zhi Nu is a weaver of the clouds, not a princess. Anyhow, I watched a couple of episodes and don't think im going to complete this series anytime soon. The storyline is messed up and silly- there's a hip hop rap in the first episode, the jade emperor is a hen-pecked wimp in here, the deities are clowns and love and marriages are aplenty in heaven!

That's hilarious!

SS, I wasn't planning on watching this one at all from all the lukewarm reviews, but your description makes episode 1 sound so funny I might watch a few minutes of it, just for laughs!

[sunnysnow]

That's hilarious!

SS, I wasn't planning on watching this one at all from all the lukewarm reviews, but your description makes episode 1 sound so funny I might watch a few minutes of it, just for laughs!

Yes, it's really quite silly though there are some pretty cute stuff like:

 click to show spoilers

Si Yin's tiny guard and the way the animals communicate with each other on earth. Though I really cant stand the way the deities are scripted in here. The jade emperor is wimpy to the point of having his rival stamp over him and his first 2 daughters are lunatics. He even has an love affair with another deity and was forced to marry Wang Mu.

I'm not a big fan of the male lead. Xia Yan is a lot more attractive.

I'm with you here. Somehow, I really cannot bring myself to like Tian Liang. He doesn't look good in ancient wear and seems to have very little screen presence. Ady looks very pretty but her character is very typical and bland, in fact Si Yin's 2 elder sisters are more interesting to watch since they're so silly.

And I agree that Xia Yan is so much better-looking and looks good with Si Yin!

[Cacophony]

Watched another episode today. I'm starting to think that the acting is really lackluster in this series. And I agree... everything is silly to the point of ridiculousness. Not sure if I'll continue either.... except that there's never anything good to watch on TV.

[Creme de la top]

I really dislike series that starts out with the main leads in their younger days. I'm just waiting and waiting for the story to pick up already, but it doesn't, so I'm losing patience since nothing good is happening here.

I still haven't seen Tian Liang in action yet, so no comments on him. But I agree, Sunnysnow, the heavens is so weird. The emperor is a complete wimp. The 2nd (?) sister is so bratty. And I thought marriages between deity and mortal or deity and deity didn't happen, so how come the 1st sister could get married? It's just weird.

[NuDaFu]

I've been waiting a long time for this series, as with most Chinese 14-16min trailers, there are usually no secrets in what to expect.

Sunnysnow, I reccommend reading Greek mythology, it will make this series seem normal in comparison. I don't think the series is aiming to be 'traditional' in the very sense of the word. The context is most certainly borrowed from the 'Niu Liang Zhi Nu', but the details are very human. It's a bit redundant to compare any 'faith' to details from a myth anyway, because it is not based on verifiable, exact history or fact. And, if a repeat in storyline from the original was made, everyone would just complain there is nothing new to watch - one cannot have it both ways. There always needs to be some fresh perspective into an old adaptation.

We always expect and hope the 'ruler', in this case the Jade Emperor, to be strong, powerful, 'not wimpy'. A human reality is personality weakness, and like the Greeks, ancient Chinese styled their Gods very much like humans. Jealousy, punishment, even innocent 'lack of focus' is not an uncommon theme in many stories about Chinese Gods. I prefer to look at it as a take on how the Jade Emperor can still make the 'best' out of a bad situation...that is true strength. The Jade Emperor is supposed to be the very ideal of justice, that in itself is a limitation - when everyone, including the Queen (Hera no?) throws opposition with such vindictiveness, dealing with it with passivity may seem weak, but ultimately the 'enlightened' way...fighting back is immature and childish, using the same 'deception' goes against justice itself, so where would it leave the Jade Emperor? Having had a fling with another woman doesn't make things easier, but there had to be some premises to all the shennanigans that rocked the heavens. Plus, if there was no starting 'heavenly melodrama' the story would be kind of dull...I could think of a more intellectual portrayal of the original story, but honestly, how many people are attracted to indie films compared to dramatic entertainment?

I really dislike series that starts out with the main leads in their younger days

It's a valid vice for character development. They used quite a lot of it in Memoirs of a Geisha movie (actually, I preferred the kid to Zhang Ziyi). What is so disagreeable with tracing the childhood roots of a significant character?

[Cacophony]

It's a valid vice for character development. They used quite a lot of it in Memoirs of a Geisha movie (actually, I preferred the kid to Zhang Ziyi). What is so disagreeable with tracing the childhood roots of a significant character?

Hmm. I agree. I think even in this case, I prefer kid Niu Lang to adult Niu Lang. Much more attractive.

I want another face-off between Xia Yan and the fire god.

[NuDaFu]

I actually didn't think Tian Liang looked that bad in ancient attire - his acting was another kettle of fish; I think either he or the director has a funny perspective of 'simple', although, there were a few moments where there was a genuine look of innocence that seemed more innate than performed. Certainly not as 'hot' as Xia Yan.

Kid Zhi Nu had a bit too much lipstick at times - it looked like make-up had been done by a clown rather than make-up artist, or, looked like the make-up had been done by the kid herself (one never knows).

[Cacophony]

 click to show spoilers

Ok. I can't believe Xia Yan died. Now I really have no reason to keep watching this.

[NuDaFu]

 click to show spoilers

Ok. I can't believe Xia Yan died. Now I really have no reason to keep watching this.

I suggest keep at it. The ending ending is actually quite interesting.

Xia Yan may've been eye candy, but there were some scenes that were plain boring with him in it.

 click to show spoilers

Xia Yan walking continuously across the desert became meaningless at some point and added nothing to the story. Plus, wasn't he able to fly? Why he went on foot at times is totally beyong me.

[BDxCrazyazian]

wish they would come out with this drama with english subs... been looking everywhere for it but cant find it

[NuDaFu]

It was first aired 29th of June - it's been like, less than a month. I don't think English subs would be out that quickly BDxCrazyazian, and judging by the less than warm reception, I don't think there will be a great fan base to faithfully sub it soon.

Although, one really isn't missing much depth in dialogue. One can almost work out what is happening through their actions. Then again, that would make English subbing it very simple and direct exercise indeed. I'll file it away as a 'future subbing project' - don't waste your breath though, because any future subbing projects from me won't happen until 2010 .

[seventhfairy]

Umm..here some pics from the series. I watched and i thought it was ok, so so, normall, not too intresting, but the first part was great when si yin was a little princess and they get into love story and it got kind of boring.

[seventhfairy]