New Heavenly Sword Dragon Sabre'09/10- Deng Chao, Ady An, Liu Jing

[bachtuyet]

I don't see any chemistry between the main lead, for sake at least make it worst the audience time. Somehow zhou zhi rou seem to be overacting. Deng Chao due to costume or hair problem I don't know which it make him look so normal. He doesn't stand out from the crowd. Scenery good, action okay, support cast below average, 3 main lead beside Ady An the other 2 need some serious work

[Wuxia_FTW]

anyone here think the ending sucks? i dont even understand the ending. ruin the whole series.

[Plushie]

anyone here think the ending sucks? i dont even understand the ending. ruin the whole series.

Unfortunately that's exactly how the 3rd edition(new edition) of the book ends..... So you can't blame the drama for the ending. If you want to complain, complain to Jin Yong. XD

[Ren Ying Ying]

I am watching Deng Chao in Young Justice Bao III and he's great! I gave him an *ahem* less than stellar review in my own HSDS 2009 review because his Zhang Wu Ji completely took a back seat to Ady's Zhao Min...and well, basically all the ladies outshined him! Even the supporting casts outshined him...lol

That's kind of how I feel about HSDS in general, though. ZWJ's character isn't really memorable in terms of personality but instead for his indecisive lovelines with the 4 ladies--all of whom overshadows him. Sometimes, I kind of get the idea that the entire plot of HSDS is driven by the ladies dragging ZWJ by the nose.

[bachtuyet]

how many edition does this series have anyway?

[Plushie]

how many edition does this series have anyway?

Do you mean book-wise? There are total of 3. Jin Yong's novels all started as serials that ran in newspapers. Afterwards he did massive editing and changes to his novels for their book form. This second edition is the one that most people are familiar with.

In recent years, Jin Yong went back and began editing his novels once again; some with bigger changes than others. This 3rd edition is known as the New Revised edition. His purpose was to correct any inconsistencies in the story, historical inaccuracies and flesh out characters more etc. Unfortunately, some of the changes to his books are met with disapproval with the fans.

[time22shine]

Talk about disappointment. There were some scenes that were like and quite choppy, there wasn't a nice flow.

The acting was okay but as a few have mentioned prior, lack of solid chemistry. Gorgeous scenery but besides the attractive filmography, this remake didn't bring much to the table at all. There were many scenes that were quite draggy.

I would have to say, 2000 would have to be my favorite, yes, even though people disapproved of Lawrence; however, I found his portrayal to be quite cute and genuine. Gigi's portrayal was almost perfect, from gesture to script, to getting to the point, to chemistry, 2000 rocked it!

Ady pretty much kept me going for this series. It was either Deng Chao or the way the character was supposed to be portrayed in this remake that wasn't worthy of Zhao Min. LOL And because of that it distracted me from really falling in love with Ady as Zhao Min. Haha.

[Pa Yang]

LOL, I considered it "animal cruelty" in ROTC when the manual was hidden in the ape's belly.

[insertusernamehere]

I love this version of Yi Tian Du Long Ji! Ady An was so adorable as Zhao Min - maybe too cutesy for some but seeing that ZM is not even 20 yet, I don't see why she can't be cute. I love Deng Chao's Wuji as well - maybe not as much as Tony Leung (it's f.cuking Tony Leung!) - but it was rather refreshing to see a Wuji that has the charisma and presence to convince us (and the Ming cult people) as a leader, even if a reluctant one. Lawrence Ng was ok on this part but his Wuji was just "sleepy" in general, also too old. Alec Su was the worst Wuji for me, but I also just don't like his acting - it always feels too forced. Deng Chao as Wuji was comfortable, and adorable, esp. when he's with Yin Li and Zhao Min.
This version is not perfect, for sure - the first half was so cheesy (LOL at the bear scene on Ice Fire Island and at Xie Xun who kept falling face down like a log of wood. That was too funny. Also, he looks like Hagrid), some conversation scenes are toooooooo long - jesus they need to learn pacing from the TVB 1986 people. But other than that I'm happy they stuck close to the novel (except the inane ending). I enjoyed it tremendously!
PS: I also thought Zhou Zhiruo rolled her eyes too much, but seriously people, Gao Yuan Yuan was emotionless - I usually couldn't tell whether she was trying to emote sadness or having constipation. Liu Jing is not doing any worse than her predecessors, except maybe Sheren Tang, who's too good an actress.

[genna]

This is definitely my favorite HSDS. Honestly, I never liked HSDS before. I’ve watched three versions of it prior to this one. ZWJ’s character in general never appealed to me. Out of all of Jin Yong’s protagonists, ZWJ was one I really disliked (of course none of them ever came close to how much I hated Wei Xiaobao). Surprisingly, this ZWJ was different, as many people has mentioned before already. He was undeniably still indecisive, but I felt he was more in control of the situations. And he handled his relationships with the ladies much better here. The biggest turn off for me has always been ZWJ’s character. I’m glad that Deng Chao portrayed ZWJ a little differently in this version.

[Easter Lily]

(Long post)
As usual, I'm late to the party.
Still, I have enjoyed this particular adaptation tremendously. Enough to join up and post here anyhow. I haven’t read the novel and can’t make comments about the accuracy of characterization and plot development. I started watching this only because I had seen Deng Cao in Detective Dee (wondered who he was) and was intrigued that he had done this. This is the fourth adaptation of HSDS that I’ve seen. The others, are a dim, dark memory as I haven't seen any since 1997.

While generally entertaining, it isn’t without its flaws.
It looks good... scenery is sumptuous and all that but in this day and age, with so many advancements in CGI and film editing, it’s hard to believe that the sfx can be utterly shoddy in parts. I put it to budget shortfalls that we’re seeing laughable 60s style Dr Who effects at certain parts of the series when the CGI for most of the fight scenes were pretty decent.
Editing appears to be another problem... Choppy transition between scenes gave me the impression that there were plenty of scenes that should have been in but didn’t make it.
Pacing was a bit off ... a tad laggy to begin with. It seems a pity that one has to persevere through the draggy back story to get to the good stuff. And those distant long shots of individuals in dialogue when close ups would’ve been more effective... Don’t get me started on that.
In the scheme of things, they are secondary issues perhaps as they didn’t really affect my overall appreciation of the series too much.

I belong to the school of thought that if an actor looks like he is acting, then he is trying a bit too hard. A really good actor, in my book, is a team player, inhabits the role and responds to his fellow actors in natural fashion without trying to chew through the scenery. This is what I loved about Deng Cao’s performance. It was filled in equal measure with subtle changes in expression, angst and gravitas. His Wuji is a man who feels the weight of the world on his shoulders, who would really prefer the simple life to saving the world. But save the world he must... because he, a reasonable man, knows all too well that he is best placed to do it. That invariably leads to all kinds of internal struggles...

Ady An’s Zhaomin is an interesting counterpoint. She is almost everything he isn’t. Ambitious, brilliant, vivacious, cunning but ultimately sound at heart. I think she finds him amusing... then fascinating because she can’t quite get her head around the fact that in a day and age when men rule by fist and sword, the greatest pugilist in the martial arts community wants friends and foe to hold hands and sing “kumbaya”. It tickles her fancy that a man with so much power would give it up at the drop of a hat for a peaceful existence.
I have so many favourite scenes... most of them between Wuji and Zhaomin. Their banter is sportive, playful and at times delightfully combative. I love it. I think this Wuji does too, despite being superficially irritated. In the end it is what attracts him to her. She challenges him and understands him completely.

One of my favourite bits is the obvious juxtaposition of the two young couples. For separate reasons Wuji/Zhaomin and Zhurou/Qingshu deploy the cover of lovers as a form of subterfuge. One relationship is obviously one-sided born out of expediency and malice, the other relationship uses the cover to spy out the land. The second relationship is fraught with irony. Under the cover of eloping lovers, are brewing passions barely contained within the bounds of convention. Utterly smitten and frustrated, I thought Wuji was more than ready to have babies with Zhaomin that very moment after the peck on the cheek.

Wuji’s relationship (in this adaptation anyway) with the other women hold some comedic interest but for us modern types it can be hard to take. Having not the read the novel, I’m not sure that his relationship with them is altogether egotistical. No doubt he likes them and cares for them in different ways.

Zhiruo’s problem fundamentally is that she is that she oscillates emotionally and is fundamentally of weak character. It’s not surprising really considering where she spent her formative years... at the sanctimoniously moralistic Emei sect under the high minded but ultimately cruel Meijue. A hotbed of catty internal backbiting, scheming and bullying makes for a very dysfunctional upbringing. That Meijue allowed that sort of stuff to fester was a huge character flaw on her part that ultimately led to the sect's degeneration.

No doubt Zhiruo is far too young to be the leader of Emei although to all intents and purposes, she ends up being the best of a dismal bunch. Slowly but surely though, she becomes a schizophrenic version of the merciless nun. Her coping mechanism, it seems to me is to revert to the Emei way of doing things.

Where Wuji was concerned, she seemed far too eager to reel him in. It’s one thing to marry a man who doesn’t love you but it’s another thing to marry a man who likes you but is really in love with another woman. It seems to me a bad call as you're likely to be looking over your shoulders for the rest of your life. It causes one to wonder too if the marriage was not, in her mind, the culmination of a revenge narrative against Zhaomin.

In the final analysis, what does it for me is Deng Cao’s performance. It combines all the best qualities of a character actor and a leading one. I love it in the way I love Dan Stevens’ Edward Ferrars. It differs from original source, no doubt... but at least you feel that you’re watching a grown-up facing up to his responsibilities.

[IPlayWow]

how many edition does this series have anyway?

Now I never read the novel books but if you're asking about the TV series than as far as I know there are 7 in total and here is a picture of them put in order from top 1 left to right 4. bottom left 5 to right 7 that I found. I challenge anyone to say that what's being shown in this picture is not correct info.



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[Tam_Nguyen]

Isn't "Nam De Bac Cai" before "Cuu Am Chan Kinh"? H7C was already old in "Cuu Am Chan Kinh" while he was still young in "Nam De Bac Cai"

[IPlayWow]

Isn't "Nam De Bac Cai" before "Cuu Am Chan Kinh"? H7C was already old in "Cuu Am Chan Kinh" while he was still young in "Nam De Bac Cai"

Now that depend on what you think. I never watched Nam De Bat Cai.

I was only thinking that it was

Dong Ta Tay Doc, Nam De Bac Cai.

You don't say those phrase backward do you?

[patricia n]

Isn't "Nam De Bac Cai" before "Cuu Am Chan Kinh"? H7C was already old in "Cuu Am Chan Kinh" while he was still young in "Nam De Bac Cai"

those are tvb's made up stories with heavy jin yong influences so the accuracy of the character's age and such will be off.

[Tam_Nguyen]

Now that depend on what you think. I never watched Nam De Bat Cai.

I was only thinking that it was

Dong Ta Tay Doc, Nam De Bac Cai.

You don't say those phrase backward do you?

lol no I don't say it backward, it's just that the drama "Cuu Am Chan Kinh" actually happen after "Nam De Bac Cai" but anyways, it doesn't matter lol

[wenzhouyu]

Best Zhou Zhiruo i think... the char very life, full of emotion and Liu Jing very beautiful. But the make up make her old... My favorit from 4 lady.

I prefer Kitty Lai than Ady An Zhao Min, but still Ady An' Zhao Min is good.

Deng Chao ZWJ not much different from Tony Leung ZWJ.

All 7 Wu Dang heroes are cool...

[LuNaR]

i thought zzr in here was badly portrayed, and deng chao isnt that great a zwj, he would be a better guo jing. everyone else was solid!

[PrinceKrillo]

He Zhuo Yan isn't that pretty ...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!


Anyone who hates He Zhuo Yan and/or Zhang Ji Zhong and his productions ... do yourself a favor and kindly read the rant I JUST posted:


http://kibescorporation.blogspot.com...raphy-and.html


This addresses the elephant in the room and puts into perspective something that has been a LONG time coming.





BTW, saying that He Zhou Yan is "not that pretty" is like saying Zhuge Liang is "not that intellectual."

What a ridiculous statement of utter FAIL.


Read the rant:
http://kibescorporation.blogspot.com...raphy-and.html

[PrinceKrillo]

http://kibescorporation.blogspot.com...r-2009_19.html

I posted my commentary on this series.