Originally Posted by
PrinceKrillo
I thought about this again, and I realized that Yu Zheng can take virtually any boring, crap story and turn it into something intensely entertaining. He's already done this with countless historical events and figures.
Taking a closer look at the BEST of Yu Zheng's filmography:
The Legend of Chu Liu Xiang (2007) - this sucks simply because Gu Long's novels are all horrible and overrated. However, I really doubt anyone else could have produced a better version, so ... also, Emily Sun Feifei.
Rouge Snow (2008) - it stars Fan Bingbing and Wallace Huo and the TITLE of the series is ROUGE SNOW. Enough said.
Rose Martial World (2008) - post-Qing Dynasty wuxia. Enough said. Also features the incomparable Emily Sun Feifei. Even the title is insanely delightful.
Schemes of a Beauty (2010) - the second greatest Chinese TV series to date, second only to Three Kingdoms (2010). Tense, mysterious, and full of plot twists and insane scheming from beginning to end. The epitome of storytelling. This is Yu Zheng's masterpiece You'd have to be pretty biased, pretty close-minded, and in general, pretty retarded not to appreciate this gemstone. Cast is made up of super pretty, super famous, super popular SUPERSTARS.
Palace: The Locked Heart Jade (2011) - one of Yang Mi's finest roles to date. This is Yu Zheng's answer to Tong Hua's overrated The Scarlet Heart (Startling By Each Step). It is more fun, it is less draggy, and Yang Mi destroys Liu Shishi.
Beauty World (2011) - the second installment in the "Beauty" series and the most superior telling of Wu Zetian's conspiracy story during the reign of China #1 emperor of all time, Li Shimin. The definitive story of Wu Zetian. Plenty of star power, and it mixes in tons of intrigue, tension, mystery, and drama. Feels like Schemes (2010) all over again. The difference? There's a SUPERNATURAL side to it as well. FTW.
Palace 2 (2012) - sequel to its super popular predecessor that features even more stars (including Emily Sun Feifei) joining the mix.
Beauties of the Emperor (2012) - the prequel to the INCOMPARABLE Schemes of a Beauty (2010) tells the Chu-Han Contention and the story of Liu Bang and Xiang Yu better than ANY OTHER SERIES THAT HAS COME BEFORE. Why? Simple. More relatable characters, more focus on the characters, more drama, more plot twists, and once again ... a much BETTER and more entertaining story than what history delivers. The reasons are just staring you right in the face. Get a brain and try to notice them.
Beauties Without Tears (In Love With Power) (2012) - the fourth installment in the "Beauty" series and at the very least, superior to The Deer and the Cauldron. Why? Simple. The comparison is valid as both take place during ROUGHLY the same time period (early Qing), but 80% of the characters in "Beauties" aren't completely and utterly forgettable and pointless. The story is also focused and isn't messy and convoluted and in general, just a giant, epic FAIL like Royal Tramp. In addition, Zhang Meng stars as Hong Taiji's consort. Enough said.
Swordsman (The Smiling Proud Wanderer) (2013) - Yu Zheng's take on a classic novel. Like it or not, it's Yu Zheng's version, and if you think you can do better, than go ahead and produce your own series, and see how many people give a F.
That's only about half of the TV series that Yu Zheng has either written or produced (in most cases, BOTH) to date. Maybe only about 40% of the total. But those are his best productions.
Not even Zhang Jizhong has any prerogative to talk here. The only exception might be Gao Xixi, for directing the single greatest television phenomenon in entertainment history (Three Kingdoms (2010)). But what the hell has Gao Xixi done since then? The Glamorous, Imperial Concubine (2011)? The Legend of Chu and Han (2012)? Meh.
Yu Zheng DESTROYS.
And if anyone can make an overrated piece of crap like The Return of the Condor Heroes entertaining ... it's Yu Zheng.
But he'll have to change EVERYTHING. Hopefully, that's exactly what he'll do. I want the story and the characters to be completely different. Because otherwise, I'll just end up throwing up again trying to stomach this garbage story.
If Yu Zheng casts Zhang Meng and Sun Feifei (two stars who exemplify BEAUTY and TALENT and have appeared in a number of Yu Zheng productions ... including BOTH of them appearing in Schemes of a Beauty) in his The Return of the Condor Heroes adaptation, then it will at least be worth watching. Just for that fact alone.
It's about time two of the most beautiful women on Earth appeared once again in a TV series produced by who is quickly becoming the greatest TV producer on Earth.