Reviews Database [Point2e.com]

BOTTLED PASSION [TVB]

2012-01-11T14:06:00.005+08:00

Written by Funn Lim
“But good and trusted formula should never be dismissed as same old, same old. As long as it is a good story well told, why not?”

SPOILERS ... SPOILERS ... SPOILERS

Released in

2011

No. of episodes

Produced by

Lee Tim-shing

The title deciphered

I get what Bottled Passion means eventhough the only kiss that the 2 main leads has in the end is a very chaste and bland one

The chinese title however is as if this series is a very lighthearted one. "Ngo D Yu Yi Long Guan". Ordinarily it means "My ideal husband" to be very simplistic although you can say lover but lover seems a bit too immoral in the context but the LONG in here is that of a wolf so it kinda means "My ideal Wolf-husband" which denotes a very sinister character, wolf usually denoting someone who lies. What I don't get is this is a serious drama, never a funny moment and yet the title is way too lighthearted. For me one of the worst title.

The poster deciphered

It's a lovely poster. Colour is nice; cute. So dreamy, so romantic, so romance like... yes yes BUT FOR THE WRONG SERIES!! Never had I seen a more WRONG misleading poster than for this series. At least not a bunch of heads crowding the poster or a bunch of them holding flowers smiling happily. That would be absolutely wrong.

Cast-Character

General

Raymond Wong - Tung Boon Sin/Lee Ho

Eric Li - Lo Yat

Mok Wai Man - Uncle Sek

Yo Yo Chen - Chan Yuk Fong

Unknown - Sophie (the secretary)

Tsui family

Ching Hor Wai - Lau Suet Ling/Mrs Tsui

Raymond Cho - Tsui Ping

Claire Yiu - Wan Yau

Niki Chow - Tsui Sum

Vin Choi - Tsui Onn

Hui family

Lee Sing Chueng - Hui Chun Ting

Cecilia Fong - Tam Mei Yan

Chan Jin Man - Hui Man Hon

Ko family

Samuel Kwok - Ko Siu Tong

Rebecca Chan - Tung Kwok Hing

Joel Chan - Ko Yi Tai

Traci Ip - Foo Bak Wai

Jack Wu - Yuen Yau Hin

Elaine Yiu - Ko Yi Kiu

Katy Kung - Ko Yi Nga

Summary

From Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bottled_Passion

Mrs Ko, Tung Kwok Hing (Rebecca Chan) adopted an orphan and claimed he was Ko Yi Ho (Raymond Wong), the illegitimate child that her husband Ko Siu Tong (Samuel Kwok) had been searching for many years. Tong believed Ho was more suitable than his oldest son Ko Yi Tai (Joel Chan) to be his successor, which later led to discontent. Eventually Ho was kicked out of the family, leaving him homeless. Living out alone, Ho got a taste of the bitterness in life and was determined to return home and take revenge on his adopted family under a different name Tung Bun Sin. Under his new identity, he vowed to give them a taste of losing their loved ones. Meanwhile, he meets his childhood best friend Tsui Sum (Niki Chow) again. The good-hearted Sum just took over the family soy sauce business, but Ho did not hesitate to take advantage of his long time friendship with Sum, deceiving her money and heart. Ho also plays Ko Family's two daughters, Ko Yee Kiu (Elaine Yiu) and Ko Yee Nga (Katy Kung) in unscrupulous ways. Ho has his own mechanism and plots, which turns him into the biggest love cheater...

The summary at wikipedia is wrong. First there is no such word as cheater. It is cheat but that is English.

The summary itself is quite simply Mrs Ko brought home an orphan named Lee Ho claiming him to be the long lost illegitimate son of the very rich Mr Ko, in order to please him. She didn't expect Mr Ho to like the boy so much and preferred him over her own son, Yi Tai that one day she exposed the boy as a liar pretending to be the long lost son. The 8 year old Lee Ho was cast out after being beaten, kicked and insulted. He came back and overheard how it was Mrs Ko who arranged the adopted and decided to expose him to protect Yi Tai's share of the inheritance and she saw Lee Ho and chased after him and ended up throwing him into the back of the cliff and he fell into the river. Some 20 years later or so Lee Ho came back as an adult with the adopted identity of a rich privileged man named Tung Boon Sin to exact his revenge and with that he needed to gain the trust of the Ko family by befriending and then betraying Tsui Sum, the young owner of the local soy sauce company whose land is the one Mr Ko desired to build his silk textile factory. What he didn't expect was he was more involved emotionally with Tsui Sum whom he was slowly falling for as he plotted his revenge against Mrs Ko by using her two daughter's affection for him whilst at the same time he searched for his childhood friend and love, Milk Candy Girl whom he befriended at the orphanage.

My Ramblings

I posted some ramblings under a specific Bottled Passion post here at http://p2e-archive2009.blogspot.com/2012/01/bottled-passion-tvb2011o.html which contains some spoiler but of course not as much as this review.

What to expect

I rarely put the producer's name in my review, in part because I don't care, but I decided to put Lee Tim Shing's name because his name will reveal several things about this series.

1. it is family drama/conflict minus the handclapping and Har Yu's incessant laughs and no Moses Chan (that is Mui Siu Ching's forte)

2. it is always serious drama with a bit of lighthearted moments so that you won't get too stressed watching it

3. the main protagonist is always the one with struggling family business who has to battle other people to make sure family stays afloat

4. reminiscent of any Jin Yong series, expect a lot of people in one particular expose scene that is bound to be explosive minus the bombs

5. a rather romantic chaste love affair between the 2 main characters who will almost always be parted longer than they're together and some may feel even though the brief reunion is nonetheless a happy one, in the end the way to the relationship is too difficult, too brief and frankly almost always childless. In that regards, Safe Guards is the happiest of his produced series but to me No Regrets was most romantic.

What not to expect

1. Wayne Lai. He is not in here.

2. the main protagonist and story is neither struggles to keep the family afloat nor a woman's struggle against injustice and fighting the Japanese. It is a man's plan for revenge and his search for his one true love.

3. It is 21 episodes but in my book, this series ended at episode 20. Episode 21 was in Chinese speak "Tor yu" meaning waste of film. I shall explain more but beware of spoilers.

COMMENTS

I am glad I avoided all spoilers for this series although I suspected a certain ending, which would be tragic although I expected at the end a happy childless reunion. In that regards I was wrong and so be prepared; this is not a happy ending. For me however the unhappy ending is not the supposed tragic end of a main character but rather how the writer chose to end that life.

Can I just reveal the spoiler? Because I can't write this review without discussing the last episode and I can't discuss the last episode without revealing who the heck died. So if you want spoilers free, best avoid this review from this moment onwards.

Tung Boon Sin dies in the end. That is supposed to be tragic, only if how he died is well written but it isn't. To me the most tragic thing about the ending is how ridiculous it was. Imagine; for 20 episodes, 20 glorious exciting episodes, this series can do no wrong. It was engaging, it stopped at that right moment that made me go "DAMN IT!! Have to wait tomorrow!" and I was excited for the next episode, and the other, and another, some characters ended brilliantly, some you knew could have been better. 20 amazing episodes and then came episode 21. That ruined it all. So in order to enjoy this series, ignore episode 21. It does not exist. It has been sucked into the black hole of That Episode Did Not Exist portal. Just pretend episode 20 is the ending. Done. Period. And then you will wanna know why the heck it ended the way it did? I think I know why but before I reach that point, can I just write something positive about this series. Let me start by explaining why I even watched it in the first place.

I had nothing to watch except for Ghetto Justice but this series came before Ghetto Justice. I am neither a fan of Raymond Wong nor Niki Chow and the title deceived me into thinking this is a light hearted romance story, the poster didn't help but I knew it was a Lee Tim Shing's production and frankly like his production so I switched on.

Episode 1 was engaging, but I was hooked from episode 2 onwards. I like the story of an anti hero and everything pointed towards that with regards to Tung Boon Sin. And I was curious who Milk Candy Girl was, although I should have known better. I suppose what engaged me was the story of Yoyo Chen's pitiful character and what Tung Boon Sin had to do with her tragic end. Some parts are told in flashbacks, neither lingering nor repetitive and this being a typical Lee Tim Shing story, you'll get the bottom of things within no time. I absolutely enjoyed the first few episodes that I decided to catch this series as it is broadcast, becoming more and more immersed into the web of lies concocted by Tung Boon Sin and his treatment towards the many women in this series. I am pretty sure viewers will be shocked at what he went through as a child and will generally agree Tung Kwok Hing is the ultimate villain in this series. I am also pretty sure viewers will agree that the seduction scenes between Tung Boon Sin and Ko Yi Kiu is pretty seductive except if you're not a Raymond Wong fan you will feel there is nothing sexy at what you will see, like myself. One particular scene which was rather memorable was Ko Yi Nga on a swing, swinging herself towards a squatting Tung Boon Sin, as she grabbed him and he pushed her away, grabbed him and he pushed her away and finally she fell on top of him. Again the problem will be if you feel nothing for the actors, that scene would be seductive but not sexy.

And this is one series that tries very hard to make such seduction scenes sexy. The music for one; every time Ko Yi Kiu appears with Tung Boon Sin, it is that music that connotes a seduction scene. Every single time. Whether it is actually sexy or not is entirely up to you as the viewer. For me, I find it not that sexy. I am never a fan of TVB kissing scenes and here, there is one supposedly passionate kissing scene between Raymond and Elaine and frankly I thought a CPR scene is sexier. But still kudos to the "foreplay" leading up to that scene, how he looked at her, how she looked at him, how he talked to her, put on the flat shoes for her, touching her feet, etc. He is seducing her, she is trying hard not to be seduced. For Ko Yi Nga, it is her doing the seducing, he pretending not to be seduced.

As for Tsui Sum, that is typical Lee Tim Shing love story; entirely chaste and yet something deeply romantic. They're mostly apart, standing apart, talking apart, sitting apart and yet there is intimacy in their relationship, a lot of teary eyed stares and in the end culminating in deep embraces and still look chaste. I would say in a typical Lee Tim Shing love story, what is profound is the respect and love between the main couple; kissing, embraces, etc rarely happens because the intimacy comes from the fact that they genuinely love one another. It is what I consider the purest form of love between 2 unrelated people, and none more so than for in the series of No Regrets. The union is always brief, the reunion in this series however is even more short-lived than I expected, and I do believe the ending is of course to illustrate the nature of the character of Tung Boon Sin; he mysteriously appeared in Tsui Sum's life and in the end he mysteriously disappeared from her life. Doesn't mean I like it that way though. I was hoping for fewer metaphors. Why does love need to have metaphors anyway? Just bloody give them a happy ending, instead of the metaphors of this life, next life, the life after. At least this isn't some Korean drama series where dying is as happy as living. No suicide here for the lead characters (well maybe you can consider it suicide but I let you decide), we have very strong female and male characters in here and credit to Lee Tim Shing, his female characters are often stronger than they look and this is what I like about Bottled Passion. For all the betrayal that Tung Boon Sin has chosen to unleash upon Tsui Sum, and she was depressed, she doubted, she questioned, she wondered, but in the end she still sees things with a clear mind and never once did she consider jumping into the river to end it all. She was pushed down, she stood back up again, she got cheated of her land, she found another, her company went bust, she created another, she was cheated of her love and her heart was stolen, she chose to find out what made him do what he did although she disliked him at first, never really hated him. She loved more than she cared to hate and generally she is a strong character that does not wallow in self pity for too long. Even if in this series she plays second fiddle to the main guy that is Tung Boon Sin, her character nevertheless is pivotal in all his later decisions and to her credit, the questions she demanded an answer for are legitimate ones and later she learned to trust her gut instinct and thereon she never once asked him any questions she knew he wouldn't answer or that she knew he would later give her an adequate answer. You can say she is naive, she is trusting but I feel her entire family is naive, her entire family is trusting but Tsui Sum is above that in the sense she chose to trust Tung Boon Sin and let him do whatever he needs to do when thereafter he will return to her. There is a promise between them two and she waited for him to fulfill his promise. In that sense this is one very romantic pair, a very old fashioned love story created at first by deceit and in the end liberated by the truth; he told her who he was, he told her what he was doing, for the rest he didn't tell her, she simply told him she will wait for him. Maybe I am old fashioned, but I really find them to be terribly old fashioned romantic.

The other characters are memorable as well and I do appreciate that every character in here however small a role plays a significant part that has some meaning in it.

I always have a soft spot for Raymond Cho but I always dislike the weak elder brother character that depends on his sister for survival and saddled by a very demanding noisy bitchy wife. It appears so for the first few episodes but luckily it didn't go that way. Tsui Ping is a weak man, and he knows it and he highly respects his much smarter younger sister who basically is the head of the family. However there was no jealousy, although pushed by the wife to gain control of the business, the best thing is Tsui Sum doesn't actually usurp the brother's position in the family. She remains respectful to him and to her sister in law and as the series progresses, you will see Wan Yau the sister in law isn't so bad after all. She is that sort that isn't very educated, sees things in a straightforward way and when it comes to crunch time, she stands by the family, no matter what. Tsui Ping never wavers from his loyalty to his family and he really loves his sister; he treasures her, protects her as best as he could and displayed such brotherly affection for her despite his cowardice in the beginning that in the end you will like Tsui Ping very much. The youngest, which is Tsui Onn is also a nice young man, who was tricked into owing massive amount of money and is involved in Tsui Sum selling the soy sauce factory land to Tung Boon Sin, already a shareholder at that time which ultimately led to Tsui Sum's heartbreak when he betrayed her by reselling the land to the Ko family and then disappearing. However again Tsui Onn in the worst of time displayed a certain integrity in character; he owned up to what he did to his family, he found a job, he supported the family for a certain period of time. Basically the Tsui family consists of good decent hardworking people and the family trusts one another, protects one another, loves one another.

Contrast that with the Ko family. Everybody scheming against everybody, primarily the mother Tung Kwok Hing against everyone, even her own daughters. From what was shown, Tung Kwok Hing was from a rich influential family who married Ko Siu Tong presumably of lower birth and with her money and his ability he founded his company and built his fortune. Tung Kwok Hing wants to appear as the supportive wife, so she appeared encouraging towards the husband's endeavour, including searching for the long lost illegitimate son. But the truth is she will do everything in her power to secure her son's position. She doesn't seem to care much for her daughters; they were her pawns in gaining the favour and fortune of her husband. Ko Yi Tai was her primary concern; I assume since he is the only son. One very realistic scene or several realistic scenes involved Ko Yi Tai pushing the more able sister, Ko Yi Kiu to marry her fiance, the sickly Man Hon who was the only son of the police commissioner in town, I think. Anyway very powerful connection there. It is realistic because he would always remind her that being a daughter, she will have no lasting hold on the father's company since daughters are to be married off. How unfair for Kiu since frankly she is the one running the company for a few years, she is more able than her brother whose only advantage is he is a son. I sort of pitied her; no matter what she does, however well she does, in the end she has no share in the fortune and is doomed to marry a sickly man and probably doomed to a lifetime of widowhood. So in her heart she knows her position and she also knows her mother will make sure of that. Between them two, there is no sincerity in their relationship. Same with Ko Yi Nga who appears to be the baby of the family, everyone dotes on her but in the end it was like a forced sort of relationship. The family is unraveling anyway, from the strict control of the mother, the unfairness of everything so Tung Boon Sin's appearance is not the reason the family fell apart but you can say he is the cause of it. I find the Ko family fake; fake in appearance, fake in so called professed love and respect for one another. As opposed to the Tsui family who sticks together, the Ko family falls apart at the slightest drama although Tung Kwok Hing tried her best to keep the family together. She just doesn't realise she is the reason the family was falling apart. A control freak. The only redeeming factor in the Ko family was Dr Yuen Yau Hin, the illegitimate son who valued his relationship with his father above all. Frankly Mr Ko does not deserve such a good son.

Another more family than the Ko family consisted of 3 people who are not related to one another; that are Uncle Sek who saved Lee Ho's life and gave him a new identity that is Tung Boon Sin, Tung Boon Sin himself and the younger man he saved many years ago and became his loyal friend, Lo Yat. These 3 stuck together at the worst of time; one helping the other and for me I was very moved by Lo Yat's loyalty to Boon Sin and Boon Sin's care for Lo Yat. I find these 2, even if including Uncle Sek to be more genuine as a family than the entire Ko family.

This series illustrates sometimes being related need not mean closeness and sometimes being unrelated can still forge a tie closer than that of blood ties. Maybe I am sentimental but I am moved by the relationship between Tsui Ping and Tsui Sum and Boon Sin and Lo Yat.

But let's not move away from the primary romantic love story that is Boon Sin and Tsui Sum. Like I said, I should have known from episode 1 Tsui Sum is the Milk Candy Girl. I knew that about quarter of the series because this series doesn't seem to want to suggest a 2nd unknown female character. I wished it had. It would have made it more difficult for Boon Sin, to choose between his real love that is Tsui Sum and his long lost love, Milk Candy Girl. But the aim of the series is not a choice between 2 loves but rather a choice between persisting with revenge and giving up. At times I was imploring Boon Sin to give up on revenge; no better revenge than to live a happier life than your enemy and there is Tsui Sum, the ideal of happiness. But I also understand his need for revenge; after all that despicable Mrs Ko did throw an 8 year old defenceless boy into the ravine, nearly drowned him as well. But as I remember, he probably only stayed there for couple of months, so it was just a couple of months of deceit compared to a lifetime of happiness; so why persist on revenge? As this series explains, in the end he persisted because to save Tsui Sum; if he doesn't destroy his enemy, his enemy will use his beloved to destroy him. And the one enemy he wants to destroy is Mrs Ko. To get to Mrs Ko he needs to use her 2 daughters; between them two, I consider Yi Kiu the innocent one even though when she was a kid she also hit poor Boon Sin.

Ko Yi Kiu is a rather interesting and somewhat complex character. She epitomizes the idea that she can't love enough, she can't hate enough but in a more negative way than Tsui Sum. Boon Sin is quite a bastard when it comes to Yi Kiu; he made her fall in love with him, even when she was very reserved about that, knowing that she will have to throw her future away if she chooses to be with Boon Sin and she didn't make that choice lightly. One good scene was her running to him with a luggage bag declaring she shall follow him wherever he goes despite going against her mother's wishes and in the end Boon Sin checked her luggage and in it were files. No clothes, not even a luggage, which meant she didn't mean what she said, and he will have to make sure the next time she does mean what she says. I never thought she was capable of anything beyond being in love, but in the end she was so in love she lost the will to live so to speak. Such a selfish self centred woman and yet in the end she could love him enough to kill him. Selfish sort of love. Very dramatic stuff too. I was expecting great things from Yi Kiu though. I expected her to want to revenge by ruining Boon Sin and Tsui Sum business wise, I expected she to run back to Man Hon begging for a 2nd chance so that she can salvage her image before her father and mother. She did none of those which to me were a twist. In the end she just popped 40 pills, whilst dying met with Boon Sin and stabbed him once in the stomach. I don't think she died in the end; she was on the hospital bed presumably dying. Funny though that she chose to kill herself the same way her jilted fiance did when she left him.

Ko Yi Nga is an even worse character, which unfortunately was underdeveloped. When things with her got interesting, she had to run away to Shanghai after hurting Tsui Sum and never to return. Thereafter nothing more from her. I was expecting to see a 2nd Mrs Ko in the making, but in the end she was just this nasty little girl; that was how Boon Sin called her anyway. However her ending is interesting; I thought mother died, father had stroke, older brother dead, younger sister tried to kill herself, half brother almost burnt to death, Boon Sin went missing and all these on the newspaper and she just flicked a callous glance and moved on. Quite a vicious girl. She maintained her life as a mistress to a rich man and interestingly, has a lover on the sideline as well. Rather immoral decadent lifestyle for a girl who has neither remorse nor conscience whatsoever. If Ko Yi Nga were to be developed more, she could have been the ultimate villain. Unfortunately her story stopped all of a sudden but to me ended well; that sort of life she had in the end couldn't have been a good life.

Ko Yi Tai is another fella that is not the worst but one of the worse. He is stupid. Simple. If he is any smarter, he would not have ended up the way he did. The way he treated Yuk Fong (Yoyo Chen), it was despicable. And I thought at first it was Boon Sin! Then the way he treated his sisters, despicable. The way he treated his father, also despicable. The way he treated his wife... well she sorta deserves it. I find her most annoying. The way he treated his servants, oh so despicable. The way to describe Ko Yi Tai is despicable on top of another despicable. I like his ending though, dead with money pouring down onto his body. If he had shown a wee bit of kindness to those in need, he wouldn't have ended up dead in some god forsaken place.

Yuen Yau Hin, the illegitimate son is a boring man, boring character, by a boring actor but pivotal to the story. His most interesting moment was when he was bound, fainted and in a burning building because 2 men risked their lives to save him, one of whom my most favourite character in this series. He didn't die; in the end he took over the business, and a hint of a possible union with Tsui Sum as Tsui Sum asked him when is he getting a girlfriend and he replied "Not yet, but soon", hinting at Tsui Sum who by that time realized she has to move on in life which she did but no clear answer as to this pair though.

Tung Kwok Hing to me is the ultimate villain. The way she pushed her daughters, the way she protected her son, the way she does things, this woman's only concern is her son and herself. She seems to be enemies with her own daughters. I wonder did she truly believe half the things she said? Did she ever love her children? And if she did, isn't her love the wrong sort of love? Was her concern ever genuine? As Boon Sin told her "You fell in the end not because of me but because you never learn to let go" which is true. The last scene before she had a heart attack that ultimately killed her showed her dreaming of Boon Sin as a child running away from her and how she treated him; juxtaposed with Yi Tai struggling with a thief and then falling off the hill and hitting his head on the rocks and died. I was thinking was that to show her guilty conscience? That innately she knew she had done Boon Sin wrong but can't bring herself to acknowledge it? Or perhaps it is just a scene to show her nightmare, her fear of Boon Sin now returning to hurt her and her family and that Yi Tai was getting his just end because of the sins of the mother? The deeper meaning or the simpler one? Knowing TVB, probably the simpler one. But I find this villain the most interesting to watch.

Ko Siu Tong is just there. He has very little to do towards the end, and not that he could do much since he had a stroke, he couldn't walk, couldn't speak. I never thought he was formidable in the first place; his wife was more formidable.

My most favourite character is the cute Lo Yat. Every single scene except for later parts he is always eating and always a full meal. At the beginning I thought he would turn traitor due to the actor playing him, at one point I said "A HA!!! TRAITOR!!" but 5 seconds later it was explained why he did what he did. A loyal friend, a brave man, an intelligent guy, I was chanting the mantra "Don't let Lo Yat be a traitor", "Don't let Lo Yat be a traitor", "Don't let Lo Yat be a traitor". Later on when I am satisfied he is not a traitor, my turn to chant "Don't kill Lo Yat", "Don't kill Lo Yat", "Don't kill Lo Yat". At one point I thought "He's dead! He's dead!" and I had to wait 1 day to find out he didn't die. In fact his ending is a happy one. After episode 21, I was like "At least it is not Lo Yat, anyone else I don't give a damn!". I like him because I always like the nice sidekick who proves his unwavering loyalty by action. I also like how Boon Sin sees his best friend; secretly apologising for the troubles he has caused him, sending his best friend away as his plans for revenge reaches its final stages and suddenly the best friend appears, refusing to leave. I quite nearly cheered. And at that point I was as emotionally vested in this series as was Lo Yat with his best friend in the world. My only complaint with this relationship is how Lo Yat addresses Boon Sin; Mr Tung. A bit too formal for such an informal relationship but I suppose he only does so in front of strangers. I never paid enough attention to hear whether he calls Boon Sin as Boon Sin in private.

Which is why I suppose I like this series; it is littered with many characters, each interestingly is given some ample time to develop, and not just any walk on ke-le-fes sort of role. Most often the main leading characters have little to say, it is everyone surrounding them that talks a lot, some way too much. You see their personalities and in some ways the dialogue is interesting without being overbearing. It would be too simplistic to say this series is simple; the contents are simple; the dialogue is same old. Yes it has all the hallmarks of a Lee Tim Shing series, but thankfully without the Mui Siu Ching over cheeriness or over gloominess. It has the right balance to make you like or dislike or hate a certain character. Not all characters are perfect though; even Tsui Sum can be annoying at times. I love to compare Tsui Sum to that of Ruoxi from Bu Bu Jing Xin aka (urgghhhh) Scarlett Heart. The latter says to herself that she can't hate enough, she can't love enough and so tortured herself and those she loved and those who loved her endlessly with her indecisiveness whether to follow her heart or follow her conscience. The former is someone who decides on whether that someone she loves is a good person or a bad person and if she believes him to be a good person, she will stand by him no matter what he does, and that includes cheating her family land. Of course you can say Boon Sin and the 4th Prince are in different circumstances but the point here is the reaction of the women they love; in that sense I like Tsui Sum's more straightforward view of love; you stand by your man no matter what. That of course I must stress Boon Sin ain't a bad guy, he is just exacting revenge for what he suffered at the hands of Mrs Ko that is Tung Kwok Hing. His body has scars to prove what he went through and basically Tung Kwok Hing is such a nasty woman you can't help but agree with what he was planning to do to her, that is to destroy her family and thus destroy her, even if it includes walking all over the 2 daughters. And just so you know, anyone who watches Bu Bu Jing Xin will argue either for or against the 4th prince, and one major event that divided fans was the steaming of a well liked character, Yu Tan. I am one who agrees he should not only steam her, but kill off 9 steps of her family line for what she did was inexcusable. And so frankly I am not against what Boon Sin did to Yi Nga and Yi Kiu. A pity that he didn't do anything exactly to that bastard that is Yi Tai because he is one nasty piece of work for the things he said, the things he did and the one woman who died because of him and that is Fong played by Yoyo Chen, a very naive but in the end pitiful character. In fact, it was this character that made me suspect Boon Sin is a villain since this series in the beginning loves to tell a story by first showing the present and then explaining everything through flashback and it was in flashback you know of Boon Sin's motive.

I don't have any particular love for the flashback mode of storytelling. I felt impatient and I thought how much flashback to tell a story. But some are told effectively; Lo Yat's past, Boon Sin as Lee Ho and his relationship with Milk Candy Girl, how he was thrown into the river by Mrs Ko. What is missing of course how the heck he survived THAT. Not told at all. And I must add one scene is a direct copy from Kung Fu Hustle but not that I am complaining; it was rather fitting even if a bit embarrassing to watch.

But generally the storytelling in this series is well paced and it stops at the right climax; making you want to know more and can't wait for the next episode. I had the good fortune of watching with very little spoilers found online so the story was kept exciting and intriguing for the most part. But even if you know the ending, it doesn't matter; you can enjoy the story nonetheless for the process of it even if I do agree knowing the ending will spoil the mood. But seriously, if you are an avid fan of Lee Tim Shing series, you would already know even if this couple ends happily, it would be a very short happy ending. And in true Lee Tim Shing fashion, when Tsui Sum and Boon Sin whispered sweet nothings to each other in episode 20, I knew episode 21 will be a death sentence for either one of them. And with the exception of Safe Guards, every of his series almost always end with the woman surviving and the man dying. So I expected nothing less for Bottled Passion, but at least I said to the TV "Let them have children!!!!". Ahhh, cruelly, no children, and cruelly, not even anything except for a very chaste kiss.

And now the ending. Episode 21. The one single episode that quite nearly destroyed the entire series, and makes me yell out "OI! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON MR TIM GOR GOR?!?!"

And to know why I said what I said, you need to know the ending. Spoilers ahead.

Boon Sin got stabbed by Yi Kiu who herself took 40 sleeping pills or whatever pills she took. He rushed out, knife deeply lodged into his stomach, and dripping with blood and one supposedly dying at any minute. But he didn't die, not yet. He met no less than 2 people; one a passerby whom he urged to go save Yi Kiu first. And then he staggered away and fell to the floor and met with Dr Yuen. When Dr Yuen returned with help, he disappeared and we see him struggling to walk away from Guangzhou, do remember the knife still in his stomach and from dead at night with NO ONE on the streets to morning light as he struggled to get into a boat, even managed to get the boat to float to middle of sea or lake or whatever and then as he laid flat on his back looking up at the sky, again the knife still in his stomach he finally died, one would assume from major blood loss. Because no way he can die of the knife wound if he can still walk around Guangzhou for at least no less than 6 or 7 hours.

And why I wonder for that 6 or 7 hours did he not crawl to the hospital?!?!?! Why did he chose to die? Why didn't he save himself when at least 2 people could have saved him? Why?

One theory fans say is because he didn't want to die in the hospital and then have Yi Kiu charged with murder, since if there is no body, there can not be murder, at least back then. I can debunk that. Why? Because if he had gone to the hospital within 2 hours or so, he needn't die at all and he can lie about how he got stabbed, so Yi Kiu can get away with it.

Another theory fans say is he didn't want Tsui Sum to know he died, as in actually died, so as not to crush her hope. I can debunk that and I can only say "Because if he had gone to the hospital within 2 hours or so, he needn't die at all and he can" then be happily ever after with Tsui Sum.

Some more theory fans say is to show the mysteriousness of his character. Since he appeared out of nowhere and caused quite a scandal with no less than 4 women (try figure which one!), the fact that he disappeared so mysteriously is only apt. You know, like a magician and the tricks Boon Sin love to pull sort of nonsense. Yes, nonsense. This is not some mystery series; we know where he comes from, so why the need to make him just die the way he did?

A more credible theory is that because of a conversation he had with Tsui Sum where Tsui Sum said;

"You're not Lee Ho anymore, and I am not Milk Candy Girl. That is our past life. We had a chance back then, now we are given a second chance at our present life; you're now Tung Boon Sin and I am Tsui Sum"

So in the end Tsui Sum said to herself their destiny for this life is over, she will wait for him for the next life.

Fans argue a sequel is a must to show just that and my argument is when did this series turn to supernatural element?! He is DEAD! DEAD! DEAD! This is no Laughing Gor resurrection again and again and again and again. DEAD! MATI! SI LIAO! What more can be more obvious than a man stabbed in the stomach crawling half of Guangzhou and onto a boat for more than half a night and then DIE? Of course he died looking into the sky but still, he died!

My theory at this ending is 4 fold;

1. to shock - I was shocked, at the stupidity of it

2. to lend credibility to what Tsui Sum said about past present life except poor Tsui Sum, didn't she realise the past and present life she spoke of is of the same person in the same life? Anyone has the heart to tell poor Tsui Sum that it is THE END?

3. to increase the level of mysteriousness of Boon Sin's appearance and disappearance, even if Tsui Sum had to wait 6 long years to know he is deader than the deadest dead. But I wonder, why the mystery when in the end the whole mystery is debunked when Dr Yuen told us what he saw and later we are shown how Boon Sin died? If you want mystery, leave it at what Dr Yuen said; he saw, he turned, Boon Sin disappeared. The end. Why bother explaining until the intestines?

4. my choice of Tim Gor Gor sudden madness at this ending, that is to create a sad sad ending. My reaction is to laugh and laugh and laugh. It was stupid. Entire episode 21 was flashback, more flashback and then he died and then we find out how where when why. And I laughed some more. For me episode 21 does not exist. It ended with episode 20, Tsui Sum and Boon Sin, happily ever after. Episode 21 was like that relative you never want to see suddenly showing up at your doorstep with a major shocking revelation and then disappeared and you are left wondering who the heck was that and what the hell just happened. A certain sense of anti climax.

Exactly my reaction to episode 21. Take my advice; ignore episode 21 exists. There is nothing poetic with that sort of stupid ending. I would rather Yi Kiu stabbed him, he rushed to somewhere and die from blood loss instead of crawling here, there, like a scenic tour of Guangzhou before his death.

And of course ignore the inconsistencies; one part Dr Yuen was supposed to have left the city with his father, then suddenly he is still there. Or the ever changing outer coat of Tsui Sum in a single scene. Leave the technicalities aside and frankly the story is pretty solid in this series.

And that is why I love this series. The story and the storytelling; it doesn't meander, it doesn't go round and round, it doesn't leave any guess work, it is straightforward good old storytelling, except for the stupid episode 21.

I must mention one thing that I didn't see in TVB for a very long time and in here I see more of it, and that is the act of smoking. In here, it is used to show the loss of innocence and the craftiness of Yi Nga and then it is used to show the stylish and adult way of Boon Sin. You must watch how Raymond Wong lighted his first cigarette in this series; with such force and such style, I quite almost celebrated the return of smoking in a TV series.

Performances wise, I was very impressed with a few of them and lament the fact that by next year this series and the wonderful performances will be forgotten, if the episode 21 has yet to kill off the series' credibility.

The children who played Tong Tong and Lee Ho. Cute children, can act, and I dare say Tong Tong’s performance of a limping leg is more consistent than Niki Chow’s performance of a limping leg.

Raymond Wong Ho Yin portrayed the complexities and the sufferings of Tung Boon Sin very well. I like particularly those scenes where he silently cried, whilst eating the soy sauce meal. If you're Tsui Sum indeed you will wonder what is bothering this man, why he is as such. He did the mysterious Tung Boon Sin even better; and like a hurricane he swept into the lives of the Ko females, seduced them and toyed with their hearts. It is the gentle caring Boon Sin that I find convincing as well as the angry shouting Boon Sin, the way he shouted at Tsui Sum, scolded her, all for her own good. But it is the seducer Boon Sin which I find hard to believe. Raymond Wong is a good looking guy but he is hardly sexy. When he removed his clothes, internet wrote of his "amazing body" but I was busy looking at the scars. He had spray tanned himself for sure but I still find his pale and sickly looking. Half the time I thought Boon Sin just emerged from a long illness or is about to be really ill. That being said, what I love about Raymond Wong himself is he can act, no doubt but he found his perfect niche in characters from this series' era because the way he speaks, he is very clear in his pronunciation and yet there is a slight cute accent but then accent or no accent, the way he speaks, one word at a time, makes me think of him as an honest guy. There is something very old fashioned about him and that is what I like most about him. Anyway even with episode 21 he gave an excellent performance although the kissing and seduction scenes were merely adequate but not enough. Maybe in a more sexier actor, Tung Boon Sin could have been a more animalistic sort of guy and with a title like Bottled Passion, I would expect Boon Sin to be someone oozing with sex appeal, and not just good old fashioned good looking.

Raymond Cho, the other Raymond in this series gave one of his best performance in his career. His Tsui Ping is cowardly, he is at times you may think useless but Raymond Cho gave Tsui Ping a certain sense of honesty and goodness that you can't help but like the earnest Tsui Ping. I love how his character progressed to be stronger and stronger for the sake of his sister and how he defended her in front of Boon Sin or his family in front of the Kos.

Claire Yiu impressed me with her guest performance in Ghetto Justice and I suppose I haven't seen much of her because I was very impressed with her performance as Wan Yau, the nosy talkative but in the end harmless sister in law. My only problem with her is her dialogue is too much at times and also her pregnancy seems to be slow mo, as if she was carrying Ne Zha instead of a normal human baby because she is pregnant for the entire series which mean whatever happened to Tsui Sum and Boon Sin, it can not be more than 1 year less.

Joel Chan was at first quite impressive as the disgusting Yi Tai. He seems to make a career out of being disgusting. But after a while, I don't know, I laughed very hard when he was arguing with Tracy Ip who plays his rather irritating wife and he was shouting so much his voice broke in mid shout, like it went to falsetto for a moment. It was very funny, reminds me of Kevin Cheng shouting until his voice hoarse in I believe Last Man Standing or something like that. But it was a credible performance.

Tracy Ip as Bak Wai the wife is a bit too stressed for my taste. Her every scene she seems to look stressed and delivered her lines like she is very stressed which she is. But I don't even like her Bak Wai in the first place. I find her rather dumb and of course how interesting she should think of punishing her philandering husband by sleeping with a homeless dirty guy and got pregnant because of that.

Samuel Kwok was a miscast. I didn't find his Mr Ko scary or authoritative.

Rebecca Chan as Tung Kwok Hing deserves an award. First of, I find her very beautiful in the way she dressed and her hair and make up. Her Mrs Ko is enigmatic and scary as well as insufferable and a control freak. She gave a whole lot of layers to her Mrs Ko and I find her character and her performance fascinating. I also like her ending; a rather mundane death you know for such a cruel highly strung person.

I still remember Elaine Yiu's performance in Safe Guards, I believe her first? Anyway she was god awful in there but Safe Guards will always be one of my top 5 favourite series of all time despite her god awful performance. In here, she has improved so much I could hardly recognise that's her. She plays the suffering and controlled Yi Kiu very well, and even her look of disbelief that Boon Sin loved her so was well done. However the seduction scenes, kissing scenes and her act of stabbing Boon Sin were not believable. But I suppose even a very strong career minded selfish woman such as Yi Kiu could fall deeply in love, enough to want to kill herself for him but also reveal her selfishness by stabbing him as well. There is nothing selfless about Ko Yi Kiu. Anyway a fantastic performance by Elaine Yiu and I believe one of best.

I do not know who is Katy Kung, I just remember her from her guest appearance in Ghetto Justice but in here she has a substantial role until suddenly disappearing and then reemerging in the end with a rather fitting ending for such a selfish cruel girl. First of, I don't find her pretty. In fact I find Katy very weird looking; her nose, her eyes, her face, everything. I don't find her remotely pretty at all. But that doesn't mean she can't act. I find her raw, but in her rawness there is a certain I suppose earnestness in the way she acted. I don't find her pretentious nor acting like she is acting. She has potential but still a long way to go. At least she doesn't have the habit of looking at the camera unconsciously. And she does have a difficult role to do; the amount of scheming, conniving, seducing she had to do, I will say she did very well for someone I believe as inexperienced as her.

I have no comment on Vin Choi except to say he has that perpetual look of a worrier. But he is rather good looking and tall and fair and a good face for such a period as depicted in this series. A pity the acting itself is a bit debatable.

Eric Li as Lo Yat is my most favourite performance in here, not because he was the best but because I like Lo Yat the best. Eric Li has the face of a villain, and he has acted in many villainous role, too many to count. To my memory I can't remember him as the good guy so when I saw his face in here, I predicted he will betray Boon Sin. He didn't. He in fact remained loyal which made me like him more. Who knew Eric Li could he cute with a simple bowl of noodles in his hands? And he ate a lot. He was always eating which added to the casualness of his character. It just shows a well written character can turn an actor into any personality the writing dictates; I do think of this casting as against type. Lo Yat still looks like a traitor which I suppose why Eric Li was casted in this role; to confuse us all. Fantastic performance though.

Everybody else did well, and I have no comment.

Now... Niki Chow, fans love her will love her, fans dislike her will dislike her. I am one of those who dislike her because I think she is not just a poor actress, she is a bad actress. She is not the worst actress. I wouldn't even say she is one dimensional with a singular feature at any one time. She can cry, she can laugh, she can praise, etc but she doesn't do anything much to any particular character she is portraying because each expression is rather... amateur. She didn't interprete the role much; she just I suppose read script, see role, act. I find no depth in her performance. And she was supposed to look at our hero with I suppose bottled passion (ALL THE PUN INTENDED) but she looks... interested. When I read this character was written specially for her as her comeback series to TVB, frankly I didn't expect much. She looks better now, fuller face, fuller body, she is prettier than she was before, as maturity gave her face a sense of gravitas as an actress. Acting wise, I admit she improved. But her improvement is minimal. I can imagine someone else as Tsui Sum; she didn't own this character but she went along with it. She did better in later scenes as she cries but throughout every time she utters a line from the script, it felt like "pui ging"; meaning someone reading her lines. I find the way she speaks too lazy, her expression between happy and pained. She did not give Tsui Sum depth, when in a better actress' hands, this character would be more complex than Niki Chow presented. I do find her performance at times bland, but her best moment is when she has to be angry or tough, there is a little personality showing through but most of the time, it is to me a "just enough" performance; just enough to make do; just enough not to destroy the series. Just "just enough". At some point I did feel her performance should have derailed this series' engaging storytelling but it didn't not because she was amazing but because thanks to the story and the storytelling. She is almost always never alone in a scene; she is almost always surrounded by veterans who had more lines to utter, so frankly sometimes your attention will be shifted to other people. If you just sit down and focus on her, ignore everyone else and I can't imagine you can ever say she was a fantastic actress. To me she was a "just enough" actress. And I long for more than "just enough" although her "just enough" performance did not in anyway kill this series. The ending did, if ever there was any such element. However I must add I thought she was very beautiful in the last scene, her hair and her make up was just right.

VERDICT

I know many fans will think "Aiyah! Same old! Same old!". True. But good and trusted formula should never be dismissed as same old, same old. As long as it is a good story well told, why not? More so it has some of the best performances of 2011, memorable characters and notwithstanding the stupid ending, it is by itself one of the best if not the best TVB series of 2011. If you wish for something different and you think I want more, let me assure you this is not the run of the mill series. It has every element; love, hate, revenge, forgiveness, fate, destiny, everything! And you know what I love most about Lee Tim Shing series apart from the whole family drama and the sometimes inspiring dialogue? The love story. In every one of his series, his leading characters are often involved in chaste but deep love and respect for one another, Bottled Passion is no different. I find Tsui Sum and Boon Sin very romantic as a pair; the things they do for one another, the things they sacrifice and the things they utter, however forced in this series (the part about past present life), they're still in essence depicting a good old fashioned love story. Kissing is not expected; embrace maybe. But the longing, the stares, the shy meeting of the eyes or the passion in the form of love turning to hate turning to love back to respect and in the end the all encompassing trust is in itself one of those rare sort of love relationship seen in TVB series. They're so chaste at times you wish for that passionate embrace, not just grateful embrace, but that all passionate roll on the grass embrace. There is more passionate display in this series than in many of his previous productions but still all very chaste. I still find his other productions' heroines and heroes more passionate without touching, more romantic without being physical but Tsui Sum and Tung Boon Sin are pretty close in being die hard romantics.

And that is why I really like this series.

Good old fashioned story well told in good old fashioned way supplemented by good old fashioned performances depicted good old fashioned characters, even the villains seem good old fashioned with a love story which is touching and ... good old fashioned.

Which basically means it is entertaining, emotionally affecting, generally well acted, memorable characters with memorable lines, with climatic ending scenes in almost every episode leaving you wanting more, almost well directed and somewhat well written (as I shall remember bitterly how the last episode nearly pulled down this series and buried it deep with it in the deep dark Pacific ocean and shall become a stuff of legend, like Atlantis except I shall never ever want to find it!).

I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to watch .. what I call a good story well told.

Just ignore episode 21. Chant this with me;

"It does not exist; it does not exist; it does not exist"

RIVER OF WINE [TVB]

2011-10-06T12:47:00.002+08:00

Written by Funn Lim

... it is a testament to how well it (this series) was doing if a viewer grumbles that it should have been longer rather than shorter.

SPOILERS ... SPOILERS ... SPOILERS

Year Released
2011

Chinese title
A very traditional sturdy title that makes no sense except it is cool, that is Gau Gwong Sap Yee Fong.

I actually thought Sap Yat Jau until I check the title again. I suppose it means the Gau Gwong's 12 shops or something like that. I actually tried google and it says "Jiujiang twelve Square"

Ha ha ha ha ha

Wait! Maybe it is true.

English Title
River of Wine, the wine being the main business portrayed in this series. River because I suppose being poetic.

Themesong
By Tai Chi the band and what a wonderful song! For once, properly sung, no heavy breathing and a song that is actually a good song! I am just so happy Bowie didn't sing the themesong! THANK YOU TVB!

Cast-Character
Leung Family
Yu Tze Ming as Grandfather
Nancy Sit as Leung Wai Lan
Bowie Lam as Leung Ching Yiu
Sunny Chan as Leung Ching Hong
Casper Chan as Leung Sau Man
Cheung Han Mo as Kwok Fung
Cilla Kung as Leung Sau Yin
Alex Lam as Chu Ah-ngau

Sung Family
Suet Nei as Sung Chi Kam
Kwok Fung as Sung Chi To
Chan Wing Kei as Sung Chi Man
Elena Kong as Sung Ting Ka Pik
Pierre Ngo as Sung Chi Chun
Linda Chung as Sung Chi Ching
Judy Tsang as Lau Yee Mui

Tsang Family
Lau Kong as Yuk Fong's Father
Sire Ma as Tsang Yuk Fong

Extended Cast
Tsui Wing as Wine mill owner
Evergreen Mak as Government Official
Lily Li
Russell Cheung

What's it about?
Everyone's saying this is Country Spirit. I am saying this is Golden Faith and a dash of Plain Love II. Don't be fooled by the wine thing, the story essentially is very very similar with Golden Faith, a man torn between love for his brother and his duty for his adopted family. And if you've seen Golden Faith, you will know the storyline basically. Between the 2, I find Golden Faith a better series because it was better developed.

No. of Episodes
Amazingly, 25 episodes. So short! Should have been 27 episodes or 28 episodes.

Summary
Thanks to Wikipedia;

The story takes place towards the end of Qing Dynasty, revolving around the Sung and Leung family. Madam Leung (Nancy Sit) is the owner of a small business with eldest son Leung Ching-yiu (Bowie Lam), second son Leung Ching-hong (Sunny Chan), third daughter Leung Sau-man (Casper Chan) and youngest daughter Leung Sau-yin (Cilla Lok). Yiu originally was a worker at the Jiujiang brewery but due to a natural disaster, rewrote the lives of the Leung and Sung family.

Sung family’s daughter, Sung Chi-ching (Linda Chung), the third mistress Ting Kar-pik (Elena Kong) and eldest son Sung Chi-tsun (Pierre Ngo) were separated. The Sung family decided to adopt Yiu as their son and looked after the business. Hong thought Yiu became the Sung family's son for the sake of wealth.

Just when business for the Jiujiang wine brewery were going well, Sung family's long lost son returns and wants to claim back ownership of the business. This results in a major feud between the Leung and the Sungs.

Finally, when Yiu tied the marriage between Ching and Hong, he was ready to return ownership back to the Sungs. Sadly, his best friend Tsang Yuk-fong (Sire Ma)'s father Magistrate Tsang (Lau Kong) causes downfall to the family. The Sung family business is stolen, luckily Hong helps the family rebuild their business. The Sung and Leungs calm their feud.

Well, not quite true. I wrote a half summary here at http://www.point2e.com/2011/09/river-of-wine-summarised-sort-of.html. If you think this is rebuilding business sort of series, it is not accurate since the rebuilding is just a few minutes scene.

So Funn, WHAT IS IT ABOUT?
Duty and family. Love and loyalty. Rules of the heart and rules of the society.

It is a struggle between any of these 2 elements. Every character faces that dilemma, none more so than Ching Yiu.

Ching Yiu is torn between his own real family's interest and that of his promise to his dead adopted father. His dead adopted father must have been a smashingly great guy to have someone so loyal, to the point he would walk over his own family to safeguard his adopted family. He genuinely cares about Chi Chun, his adopted brother, to the point his real brother would ask "What about me? Don't you care about me?".

Chi Chun is torn between his own inner demons and that his love for his family, in the form of his sister, Chi Ching. He is a good guy, but years of hardship made him into a very suspiscious man. He doesn't like the idea that after wasting so many years away from the family, he had to come home and be second best to a total stranger. At first it was eagerness to prove that he can make it on his own, but later on it was jealousy, when everyone, from sister, to aunt to girlfriend to everyone saying how Ching Yiu is number 1 and he is number 2. Imagine he would have been the only son of Sung family, now he has to be the 2nd son of the Sung family.

Ka Pik, the 3rd mom is torn between her love for Ching Yiu and her reputation as the widow of the Sung family. In a way such a relationship is doomed, luckily for her, this is towards the end of Qing dynasty. In the same way Ching Yiu is also torn between his love for Ka Pik and his own reputation as the eldest son of Sung family. It is considered incestuous to even think about loving your 3rd mom. In a way this is as forbidden a love as any story can be.

Chi Ching the sister is also sometimes torn between her love for her eldest brother and that of her 2nd brother, as well as her trust in Ching Yiu and her disbelief he could have fallen for 3rd mom, so a bit of prejudice is in issue here. She is also torn between her own disability and her need to find love and be loved.

Ching Hong is torn between his loyalty to his brother and his hatred for Chi Chun and Sung family.

Madam Leong herself is torn between her love for her eldest son and the fact that he is no longer her son; quite a struggle actually.

Even the villain, Official Tsang has to not struggle but balance between him being the bad guy in front of everyone and wanting to reconcile with his daughter, Yuk Fong whom he loved dearly.

So everyone struggles. So this series is about struggles between 2 sides of everything. There isn’t always a perfect solution though.

COMMENTS
When I first saw the many previews and trailers for this series, I was very excited; because I thought this will be Bowie's last TVB series, which it isn't. I find the story intriguing and after many years of watching a series 1 year later, finally I get to watch a current one. And I read with disappointment that the ratings are low for this series. I blame it on very little publicity, not much chat online about this series and the impatience of viewers towards a slowly developing storyline.

Make no mistake; this series is snail pace when it comes to development of the storyline. It takes about 11 episodes for the series to reach the beginning of an intrigue and then things were going faster and faster until quite suddenly, when you thought it is reaching climax, that there should be more intrigue, it bloody ended at episode 25. It felt so sudden; the story incomplete even if the ending is complete, but somehow the flow seems shortened unreasonably and even the supposedly climatic scene of drowning of 2 major characters seem to be like it was there for the sake of a bit of suspense and drama. The ending, was amateurish. It felt too easy; too simple and in some ways just didn't give this series the justice it deserves. Even the main villain's change of heart or the death of the 2nd villain seems rather rushed. It felt too simplistic, as if the writer just didn't have any budget to go on anymore and so had to end it at 25 episodes. If the series moved a bit faster in the 1st 11 episodes, yes 25 episodes is more than enough but since things were slowly building up, and the series reached sort of its zenith in about 23rd or 24th episode, 25 episodes seem a wrongly miscalculated move to end the series. I felt shortchanged and a huge sense of anti climax.

Some may argue there isn't much to watch in this series. In a way the criticisms are true. The story is familiar, it has been done before. Fans looked at the costume and quickly said this is Country Spirit, the end. No. This is Golden Faith, but with more added elements even if uncooked sort of elements. So the story has been done before, the settings is similar, everything is seen and done before but what is different about this series from the recent rest of the series is this; it takes its time to develop the character for the dozen episodes. It doesn't have a lot of flashback, and it may seem confusing at first but once you get the hang of it, you see the connections between the characters, what drives them, their struggles, their personalities.

I like the fact Pierre's character, Chi Chun is very very slowly developed and you will take your time and you will hate him. But his sudden change of heart seems a bit abrupt eventhough it is understandable; no matter what sort of a villain he is, he genuinely loves his sister, Chi Ching. Chi Ching in turn became very angry with the way Chi Chun become but she in turn is ready to forgive Chi Chun if he becomes a good man again. One very good scene has Chi Chun lying drunk, angry at everyone for not appreciating him, that including his sister for marrying Ching Hong whom he hated, and when Ching Yiu suggested giving the restaurant that 3rd mom was running to Chi Ching, he refused, saying it will in the end end up with that outsider Ching Hong and his unborn son but Ching Yiu merely said "Is she not your sister? Do you know consider Chi Ching an outsider now? Is she no longer your family just because she married Ching Hong? If you love your sister, give her the restaurant. Give her something in her name, to help her out" which he did. There is strangeness in Chi Chun; he hates Ching Yiu and yet he listens. Another very good scene has the aunt crying at Chi Chun and saying "Tell me, ever since you return home, what have you done right? Everything you have done, can you honestly tell me you have done right? Tell me.. turn back Chi Chun, before it is too late, before everyone leaves you!". In fact that was one of the best scene. Another good one also involves the aunt crying "We used to have everyone here, your brother, your sister, your 3rd mom, now one by one they have left, one by one, why is this happening? Why?". Because Chi Chun drove them away, that's why. There are many others, some makes you want to kick him (cutting 3rd mom's hair, bullying her and venting his anger at her) and yet forgive him (when he volunteered to take Ching Yiu's place for the execution - I shall let you watch that scene for yourself). Why does Chi Chun become that way? In part he felt he has lost 2 decades and so needed to rush to gain back what he has lost. He sees Ching Yiu as an obstacle, a stranger who suddenly became his brother and now refuses to back off from the business and let him take control. After a while it was jealousy. Everyone kept telling him how great and gentlemanly Ching Yiu is, and so he wanted to prove Ching Yiu is greedy and a fake that he did many things, much to his own detriment. He was also led astray by Official Tsang who had his own interest to protect but in the end Chi Chun himself was to be blamed.

At this point I must emphasize the script itself is sometimes brilliant. Ching Hong scolding Ching Yiu was a good scene. Everyone by now hates Chi Chun, and yet many are reluctant to blame Chi Chun solely but Ching Hong made it very clear when he shouted "The worst of the lot is you!" and he pointed at Ching Yiu, who was shocked. "Why Sung Chi Chun dared to do so many bad deeds you ask? It is because of you! You always keep telling us that he is a good person, he will change, wait for him to be better person, but the truth is he is rotten to the core! And you made him into that rotten person he is! You let his mistakes go unnoticed, you made excuses for him, you forgive him, you never ever chastise him, no matter what he does, you always clean up after him. You should let him fall! Let him fail! Let him learn that lesson, but you won't, you never do!". In a way it is true. Ching Yiu knows Chi Chun is now rotten, he even tried to poison Ching Yiu, he does things without thinking of consequences, he always explain Chi Chun's unreasonable behaviour. Ching Hong loves Ching Yiu very much, but sometimes he does think, and rightfully so that Ching Yiu prefers Chi Chun over him. Many times Ching Hong would say to Ching Yiu "Sometimes I think between me and Chi Chun, you choose Chi Chun over me" and even their mother thinks so, in a very frank heart to heart talks where she told a very pensive looking Ching Yiu "Did you know Ching Hong is facing trouble? You wouldn't, because you're too caught up with Chi Chun. I know I shouldn't be so heartless to say this, but you're a Leung, you're no longer a Sung, Ching Hong is your real brother, not Chi Chun, you should show you care about Ching Hong and not always running after Chi Chun". And yet Ching Hong knows his brother is an upright person. He has issues but he tries not to blame his brother until Chi Chun almost accidentally killed Chi Ching. That's when he lets it all out; and yet like any family, they patched things up later on. Ching Hong always forgives Ching Yiu as is Ching Yiu always forgiving Chi Chun for all he has done.

Another very good scene had Ka Pik realised she was cheated; when she married old Master Sung, she was not yet 20 and she was promised a piece of land where her father and older brother sold wine for over 2 decades. 2 decades later she found out she was never promised that land, Master Sung never intended to give her any land at all, and so her brother and father were booted off the land. She cried hard before Master Sung's altar, "I can honestly say for 20 years I have served the Sung family well, and I have treated this family like my own. But you didn't think of me as a family; I have given my youth to this family for nothing, nothing at all. Am I so unimportant to you? Am I so dispensable?" and in front of Ching Yiu who tried to explain the situation she tearfully said "I don't blame Chi Chun for this; I blame you. You knew, and you never told me. You help the Sungs to bully me". Which is true. A very good scene.

Surprisingly when it comes to crunch time, it was Chi Ching who was unforgiving. For one, she openly cried "I don't have a brother like that!" when it comes to Chi Chun, and rightly so. When she found out Ching Yiu is in love with 3rd mom, she was incensed. She was the first to jump to conclusion and wanted to confront 3rd mom and Ching Yiu on the rumour, that it was wrong and when Madam Leung tried to stop her, even slapped her hard on the face and cried "You will do what I tell you to do! I want you to go back to your room, and you will listen to me as a daughter in law should to her mother in law! Now!" but Chi Ching refused, crying "What brother (Ching Yiu) did is wrong! He can't be so immoral, so fall for 3rd mom! That is wrong! I can't imagine how I can stay here under one roof with such a despicable person!" to which Ching Yiu volunteered to move out but Madam Leung refused and cried "You will stay! I waited 20 years for my son to come home, and he belongs here. Whoever who doesn't like that, can leave!" and Chi Ching did. I like the fact Ching Hong didn't interrupt. He didn't know what to say actually until Madam Leung said gently "You go after her, I will be the devil, you will be the good guy, go". She didn't want the whole "affair" turn into a worst case scenario. And yet, the aunt who is very traditional in her thoughts was the one who tried to free 3rd Mom and even told Ching Yiu to take 3rd mom aka Ka Pik to leave as far away as possible. She knew of their forbidden love, they never acted on that but she knew how they felt and crying hard she begged Chi Chun to let them leave town. I was very surprised at this very different reaction. To Chi Ching, she saw forbidden incestuous love, for the aunt she understood why they fell for one another. But again Chi Ching is not unreasonable. A good heart to heart talk later by Ching Hong who said to her "Do you remember when we fell for one another? I don't either but what I do know is my brother is your brother, by relationship, we shouldn't even be together but he never objected to our relationship, he even fought for us. Imagine your 3rd mom, having widowed for so long, she was so young, they depended on one another over 2 decades, it is not hard to see why they fell for one another. We shouldn't judge them so harshly". I may have overdramatized the dialogue a little, but in essence that was what was said.

Another aspect I like about this series is the love relationships. I find them very grounded. The love between Chi Ching and Ching Hong is realistic and loving, the way she stood by her husband, defended his honour, the way he begged her to abort the child that was killing her, the way he can't afford to lose her. It was very touching even if the scene after is bad writing. I mean if the child was killing her, she was so weakened, how on earth she could then walk into the court room and all to see her husband? Shouldn't it be a struggle, physically? She seems suddenly quite well.

The forbidden love between Ching Yiu and Ka Pik was also very touching even if all of a sudden. I mean suddenly everybody, that is the aunt seems to know they're in love and never quite question that at all. It's like an accepted fact, and suddenly Ching Yiu seem rather romantic towards Ka Pik, the way they stared at each other, etc. Whatever it may be, I like their reunion scene, where Ching Yiu was due to be drowned for falling for 3rd mom, and 3rd mom came back to him eventhough he cried why she came back and she tearfully and calmly (probably due to the actress' performance rather than the script itself) said "In life I can't love you openly and freely, let me love you openly and freely in death" and finally, FINALLY they hugged. Right before then, not much touching.

But the relationship I liked most is between Yuk Fong and Chi Chun. No doubt, Chi Chun really really loved Yuk Fong; and luckily for Chi Chun, Yuk Fong is a positive influence; even Ching Yiu could see that. It is ironic that she is the daughter of Official Tsang who is the most corrupt of them all and yet she is very upright, and righteous. She will not hesitate to slap Chi Chun very hard, and she did it a few times. She always said "How can a morally upright man like Ching Yiu can have you as his brother? Can't you be more like your brother? Can't you learn to be like him more?" and of course Chi Chun will accuse her of being attracted to his brother, etc but those were angry words. In the end he always listens to Yuk Fong, although Yuk Fong in the end sees him as a lost cause and cried "I give up on you! I thought you're capable of being good, but I was wrong. You're rotten! I give up!". However I didn't like how this relationship ended, in the sense they married one another but there was no scene to show the reconciliation. Like I said, the ending was abrupt. I would like to see Yuk Fong looking at a changed Chi Chun and being rather impressed with what she saw.

But that is not to say this series is flawless. There are many characters that are wasted, such as the uncles of the Sung family, whose job in here is to incite and then nothing else. The story on how the shops were lost and won back wasn't explained much, just blamed it on Official Tsang. There were many characters, but very few were properly developed. The scene how they rescued Ka Pik and Ching Yiu was shoddy storytelling. It was just too simple; and that almost cliffhanger with the last shot of Ching Yiu's eyes closed, to inject some unwarranted suspense was just a waste of time; I'd rather more time spent on properly closing the series. In fact the whole drowning scene was something I waited for eagerly but when it was shown, it doesn't fit in well with the overall story. It felt disjointed, as if an afterthought when it should have been milked to extreme. The death of Official Tsang is another, rather abrupt, sorta anti climax, and not quite enough. I wished for him to die a most terrible death but he didn't. It was rather boring. But I suppose in the end this series does show even the worst villain is capable of love, as evidenced by Official Tsang's love for his daughter as he died saving her. The ending scene was touching, in a way, with Ching Yiu and Ka Pik starting life anew in another town with Ka Pik's brother and the rest remaining in Gau Gwong to develop further the Sung/Leung business and they're connected with wine until Ching Yiu is free to return home. In fact I find Ching Yiu and Ka Pik's lives very tragic. 20 years wasted.

And talking about 20 years, it should have been 15 years the most. Because the ages don't add up. We know Ching Yiu is older than Ka Pik probably by a year or 2. She was not yet 20 when she was widowed. So she was probably 39 or 40 at the start of the series. That's not the problem. Chi Chun was lost at the age of 7, Chi Ching was 5. So that makes her 25 and him 27 at the start. I find that a bit too much since Chi Ching's behaviour was very youthful, young and Chi Chun himself too old to be impetuous. He has all the signs of a young angry man. The separation should have been 10 years tops. This is the only aspect I find unconvincing, apart from Chi Ching who seems to recover so soon.

Other than that, the story itself will definitely appeal to those who enjoy good well written dialogue and those who emphasise more on characters than the situation they're in.

I suppose ultimately this series appeal to me in the sense that it is about the dynamics of a family. Everybody here genuinely cares about their family or a particular member of the family, even Chi Chun, even Official Tsang, for whatever reason. Even more interesting is the snippets of conversation revealing the past dynamics of such relationships. There is hardly any flashbacks, and I like that. What we know, we know through the dialogue. Like the relationship between Ching Yiu and his adopted father, with such trust placed on Ching Yiu, you know the old man must have treated him like a son already. Chi Chun happily remembered Ching Yiu as the older brother who helped him to escape from lesson on wine brewing when he was little, it shows how involved Ching Yiu was in the Sung family. Chi Ching angrily telling Chi Chun why she was on Ching Yiu's side even if he was not related by blood, because of Ching Yiu, the women in the Sung family had place and respect. If it was up to the uncles, they would have taken the money and bullied the womenfolk of the Sung family. The business was well protected by Ching Yiu who obviously showed an aptitude towards management and running a business since 20 years before. Or Chi Ching relating how Ching Yiu jumped into freezing water to save her and thus developed coughs that never left him for 2 decades. Even Madam Leung and even Ching Hong's conversation revealed how they had to avoid caring and loving Ching Yiu openly in the past, etc etc. This series shows a lot more by not actually showing. This is what I like about this series; it is not bombastic, it is not shoving down my throat with flashbacks after flashbacks, it does not really justify, it just shows, and let you decide. It does try very hard to tell us through the aunt, through Ching Yiu about how a good guy Chi Chun was, but then we have the other side of the story that shows him becoming ruthless, brutal, uncaring, unkind until in the end love saved him. His love for Chi Ching saved him from descending into total and utter madness. Jealousy was consuming him, but always at the back of his mind, surrounded by decent people like Yuk Fong he seems conflicted. He genuinely though Ching Yiu is the villain. I am also happy the ending wasn't tragic. I hate it if it ended tragically. In this series, a happy ending is the best ending even if it is a bittersweet one. In that respect, the dialogue as in the script transformed what is the usual and the ordinary into something realistic and entertaining. Many times I find myself absorbed into what was said; the script actually made sense. Many scenes with memorable lines like I have written before this paragraph, those that sticks in my mind. Many more I never mentioned but is worth mentioning here; like that scene where I can't remember who said it, could be Ching Yiu who said "Chi Chun is still the boy we knew. He deserves a chance. He is after all Chi Ching's brother, for the sake of Chi Ching, let's give him a chance" and I thought the reply was refreshing because it was realistic; Chi Ching, angry, pouting, raised her voice immediately and said "I don't have that sort of man as my brother! He is no brother of mine!" which is again, for want of better words, realistic. And wonderfully delivered with the right amount of angst by Linda Chung. Time and time again we have such scenes of the Leungs wondering why Ching Yiu had to bend his back to help the despicable Chi Chun, with mother questioning him, brother questioning him, sisters questioning him, even Chi Ching questioning him and in the end, Ching Yiu himself questioned himself why he ever bothered, that he gave up on Chi Chun, but truth was he never did. He certainly on surface loved Chi Chun more than Ching Hong but I suppose it was his sense of duty towards the old Mr Sung as well as perhaps the memory of the 7 year old Chi Chun whom he remembered as kind and loyal. Probably to him nature of a person never changes. A particularly memorable sequence of scenes had Ching Yiu investing some Sung money into the new wine shop of Ching Hong, much to the chagrin of the Leungs so that if and he was certain it will happen, but if Chi Chun thew away the Sung family fortune he will still have half a share in Ching Hong's business. He was getting ready for the what ifs, because he suspected it will happen and frankly, it did. Which was justice in my eyes because by that time I hated Chi Chun. Only towards the end with what he said to Ching Yiu finally redeemed him, but not towards what he did to 3rd mom though. That was unforgivable. At some point you will wonder Ching Yiu persists, why bother but throughout this series there were indications he was much like his dead father that is Mr Leung, a stubborn, upright, loyal person. He was bound by his promise to Master Sung. My only complaint with regards to the no flashback scenes is I would have hoped for more flashbacks with regards to Chi Chun and Ching Yiu 20 years before, to justify a bit why Ching Yiu so believe that Chi Chun can be led back to the path of I suppose goodness.

And one more aspect that someone pointed out to me; that she likes this series for its realism in the sense the women depended on men, even if a much younger men. That was how it was back in those days; that were why when 3rd mom was forbidden to leave by her "son", him being the man of the house, she could not leave. Even the aunt can't say much because she was considered a pariah for having divorced her husband or her husband divorced her. Even Ching Yiu couldn't say much since he is not the biological son of the Sung family. Only Chi Ching dared speak up but even she sometimes fell victim to Chi Chun's stubbornness. It is frustrating to watch but it is real.

As for the performances, generally some impressive performances.

Sire Ma is someone I didn't know, and I think she did well. She has her bad habits; her eyes tend to drift to the camera, and she seems like she's battling her nervousness but overall, I like her. I like her character very much, spunky, brave and I suppose the credit must go to her performance as well, even if the camera seems to like to zoom into her face and I find her delivery of her lines a bit stunted sometimes, her mouth a bit too much movements. She has yet to learn the art of subtlety, that will take experience. But she is a talent to look out for. By the way I love the fact she really slapped Pierre Ngo, so hard that I could hear the slap. Not once but I believe 3 times.

Suet Nei is also a surprise. I still remember thinking she was such a god awful actress in Happy Ever After or during those times and now, she actually is a joy to watch. Maybe it was Safe Guards but in here, her performance was fantastic. The scenes where she cried and begged and scolded and insulted, etc, she did it all. She has wonderful chemistry with Pierre Ngo and I love their scenes together.

Elena Kong is a competent actress, but I find the way she talks is too calm even if her expressions aren’t. There is no urgency in the way she speaks, like as if she is a Chinese language tutor teaching a class because her diction is amazing but hey, she is being pinned down, her hair roughly cut, being called a slut and she didn't seem to sound desperate. The struggle wasn't much, her voice... I don't know how to put it, I just feel she's just too calm. But overall I think she was competent, especially those crying scenes or the scenes where she was longing for Bowie, those unspoken passion between them.

Sunny Chan at first seems like deja vu to me; angry, angry, angry. He's in a lot of angry roles these days, but as Ching Hong develops, you see a bit of the real Sunny Chan; happy go lucky sort of guy. I always think Sunny Chan as a very happy man. I find his performance very good in here. The scenes where he cried, scolded, shouted, the romantic him, the angry him, the unhappy him, I find him very believable and he does share a good chemistry with the cast, especially Nancy Sit who plays his mom and Linda Chung who plays his wife. He has some pretty good dialogue to deliver, especially those venting his anger at Bowie which is very realistically done but seriously, his best is the scene where he was tearfully begging Linda to abort their child. You know he asked what he asked out of love; he just couldn't afford to lose her and that piece of acting is rather convincing.

Linda Chung has officially become my favourite actress in TVB. So many speculations of her winning an award for her performances, I feel if any, this should be it. The costumes in this series are fantastic and most of them are worn by Linda. I love her make up; it makes her look young. Her performance as Chi Ching is consistent and a joy to watch and I love the scenes where she is playful, cycling around and around or angry or the way she scolded or even the way she cried or pouted. Oh she can cry, really cry but for me her best isn't crying, but the one where she gets mad and gets angry. There is a streak of fierceness and spunk and she showed them well. Like I said, this is one of her best and most convincing performance. Her best scenes are those confrontation scenes with Pierre and also Nancy Sit and yet in the simpler scenes where she sits and says her lines were fantastic as well. Chi Ching is someone very protected, probably pampered and the way Linda recites her lines, you can see a bit of pursed lips, a bit of high girly voice, giving her character the image of someone sweet, young and yet a feeling that everyone caters to her needs although it was obvious 3rd mom and Ching Yiu raised her well. She looks and behaves ladylike, classy and cute. But some of the best moments had to be her attention to details. Never seen any young actress portray a pregnant lady so convincingly, especially a heavily pregnant woman. The way she slowly walks, the way she slowly sits, the way she slowly pats her tummy, the way she would sigh or talks a bit out of breath because she was heavily pregnant. Very realistic performance and certainly I can see a glimmer of A Journey Called Life in here where A Journey Called Life remains till today her best and breakout performance with one of the most realistic birthing scene. However this is not her best performance; but it is a pretty damn close one.

Bowie Lam is very strange. He is charismatic as he is ugly. Let's face it, think handsome and he isn't one. But you can't help but look at him. However in this series he seems to be breathing heavily. I wonder why? And his performance seems like a walkthrough. I mean he can act, he did well, but something is amiss. Like he wasn't paying attention or maybe his character is too subdued in the first place. But when it comes to drama, the way he cried, that one scene as he begged his mom to not force him to reveal where he hidden the book of rebels' names, and he said "Mother, please forgive your unfillial son!" and he knelt and cried so hard, I tell you, my heart almost break! That scene alone is worth the wait! And he shares great chemistry with the cast, especially Pierre Ngo. Love their interaction but I can't help but feel this isn't his best work. He wasn't paying attention most of the time.

Pierre Ngo is talented, that we all know. He can act, that we all know. But in here one single scene impressed me till no end. It was a simple scene; he was asking Bowie to let him run the business, and Bowie said ok and he didn't expect that. His face registered total and utter shock. That one single expression which is not easy to do. Other actors may give a surprised look, some dumbfounded surprised look, but Pierre gave us the trully total and utter shocked look without having to look dumbfounded or stupid or surprised or with his mouth opened or rapid blinking eyes or pouty lips. Very impressive acting. The rest also very impressive especially some harsh dialogues against Elena's character, basically calling her a slut many times or the even worse scenes of bullying. Fans of Pierre will be pleased with his performance in here.

Lee Ka Sing is another standout. He tends to shout his lines but you just need to turn the volume down a little on your own, because the performance itself fits the story and fits the character. His anger, his frustration, and when he became insane, you kinda feel this would be the best fate for him. He seemed far happier. One very good scene didn't involve him physically but did involve him in name, where Ka Pik said to Ching Yiu "My brother used to protect me when I was little, everytime I was bullied, he would be there to beat the bullies away. He loved me very much, I just wonder when did he change? When did he become addicted to gambling that he had forsaken everything?" Remember what I said earlier? This series shows the 2 sides of every character; not to justify a certain action but rather that everyone, whether good or bad is capable of doing very bad things and yet capable of doing very good things.

I always thought Jazz Lam is Jazz Lam but the cast list says it is Alex Lam. Jazz or Alex, this is surely before Ghetto Justice? Because his role here is small and sometimes insignificant. But he is a good actor, excelling in those rough uneducated friend of the friend. I still remember him in I believe his debut, King of Comedy. There is a reason why Stephen Chow cast him in that movie and I need not state the obvious. But he is wasted in here.

The young girl who plays Sunny's youngest sister, I suppose Cilla Kung is her name was the worst of the newbies. She shouts her every line, always overacted and over the top. Luckily her scenes were very very few.

Kok Fung wasted. Lau Kong basically is the shining villain. Can't imagine the same actor, same look, in Ghost Writer was the good guy, in this series, the bad guy. Absolutely same look.

The worst for last.

Nancy Sit. Shame on her. She is the veteran and her performance was worse than the newbies. She is so darn dramatic. The way she delivered her lines, she could turn a very serious scene into a joke. Her huge sighs, her funny punctuations, her tendency of walking here there everywhere when delivering a line. She is the reason why this series sucks if there is any reason to give. Luckily she isn't the only actor in here, but she is nearly in every scene. Can someone just tell Nancy Sit to just drop the dramatics and act? Just act naturally. No "AH! You must AH! tell official Tsang AH! where AH! you hid AH! the book AH!!" please. I watch this series I was very annoyed with her. Already Linda's voice is a tad too high, which can be quite irritating to those who dislike her, so imagine her next to queen of the AHs. More irritating than necessary. What a shame! A better actress would have given this role a better interpretation. What a waste.

By the way, Evergreen Mak is in this series. His character is honourable, he played him well, more of a distraction than really part of the flow of the story. My only shock is how much weight he has gained. He looked pregnant.

VERDICT
I know the ratings are low, but that doesn't mean this is no good. Whatever I may say about the abrupt and anti climatic ending, the series itself is to me like a breath of fresh air. Yes it is familiar, but not done to death. The settings are real scenery, the costumes beautiful (in fact every single piece worn by the ladies is absolutely gorgeous), the make up gorgeous, the story intriguing and most of all, if you are sick to death of those pretentious storyline that doesn't make sense other than just being cool, this is a story that combines style and a whole lot of substance. It is not the best series ever or of the year, nor the best acted, but a combination of many elements makes this series into a very entertaining one. It is a pity many didn't give it a chance. It is slow, no doubt, but this is like fine wine, it takes time to develop, to brew, to nurture and at some point I am sure you will find at least on character you will like to watch, a scene you find memorable and a series that in time will prove to be worthy of the term "a well scripted and a well made" series. You can't have perfection, so I shall forgive the abrupt ending and it is a testament to how well it was doing if a viewer grumbles that it should have been longer rather than shorter.

Fans of Pierre Ngo, Linda Chung and Sunny Chan must watch this series for their fine performances.

SUNNY HAPPINESS [TV][TW]

2011-09-27T16:49:00.001+08:00

Written by Bridget Au
... at best it’s predicable, and at worst, forgettable

SPOILERS ... SPOILERS ... SPOILERS

Chinese Title
“Xing Fu Zui Qing Tian” (rough translation)

No. of episodes
25

Theme song
“Shang Re Kuai Le” (Happy Sad Day) – Angela Zhang (closing)

Cast
Mike He as Xiang Yun Jie
Janine Chang as Fang Yong Yong
Li Yi Feng as Xiang Yun Chao
Zhou Zi Han as Wang Lan
Li Jin Ming as Kong Xin Jie
Li Zhi Nan as Huang Si Han
Zheng Wei as Wang Nian Jie

Foreword
Don’t ask me why I chose this series to recover from Love Buffet, but I did.

Review
Have you ever felt like something was wrong or kind of off, and you just couldn’t quite put a finger on what it was? This series makes me think of those situations. Sunny Happiness is not horrible and yet it’s definitely not fantastic – at best it’s predicable, and at worst, forgettable. An underwhelming effort for people who need more practice, such as:

1) The Casting Team
I’m blaming these guys because a lot of why this series doesn’t work is bad casting. Zhou Zi Han as Wang Lan, for one, is a decade too old for Mike, and looks it too. Needless to say, they have no chemistry and their acting styles are polar opposites (Zhou being classic Mainland acting with a heavy accent and Mike trying too hard to emote). It was a horrible idea to pair these two because one is distinctly Mainland and the other distinctly Taiwan, with their kid being very Mainland. I swear I thought the plot would reveal that the kid wasn’t really Jie’s. Now that I think about it, it’s a pity that didn’t happen – it would have made the storyline way more exciting.

2) Mike He
Sorry, but I don’t applaud him for taking on this role as a challenge because it’s eons beyond his current acting ability. He has zero chemistry with the actor who plays his son, and isn’t convincing in the least as a future powerful CEO of a successful company. His crying scenes were painful to watch. I think I need to stop watching Mike He series.

3) Zhen Wei
He’s a kid so he has time to practice, and he needs it. Too pretentious, talks and behaves like he’s older than Mike, and yet not perceptive enough for an 8-year-old. He doesn’t look at all like Mike, which doesn’t help their storyline.

There are a few redeeming factors, such as Janine Chang… though even she is a square peg in a round hole here. It was much more comfortable to watch her as the ice queen in Wayward Kenting. However, I appreciate that she doesn’t try to act cute in SH because she naturally isn’t, as she is more ladylike than your usual Taiwanese pixie face. The result is that she infuses a character who is supposedly the mandatory Taiwanese bubbly, sweet girl, with a certain quiet elegance, which makes her performance an intriguing one.

The other redeeming factor? The closing theme (Happy Sad Day by Angela Zhang). Yay, sad pop music.

To Watch or Not To Watch, That is the Question
Strictly for Mike He and Janine Chang fans… or if you have nothing better to do with your time.

Rating
2.5/5

LOVE YOU [TV][TW]

2011-09-27T16:44:00.001+08:00

Written by Bridget Au
Grounded in realistic situations and emotions, the series is highly successful at showing that love gone wrong seriously sucks.

SPOILERS ... SPOILERS ... SPOILERS

Chinese Title
“Zui Hou Que Ding Ai Shang Ni”

No. of episodes
18

Year
2011

Cast
Joseph Chang as Jie Xiu
Rainie Yang as Xiao Ru
Kingone Wang as Yi Xiang
Tiffany Xu as Ai Wei
Wang Chuan as Jie Xiu’s mother
Tom Price as Rickie
Deng Jiu Yun as Peggy

Foreword
Proof positive that decent execution can make something that sounds lousy on paper into something watchable and entertaining.

Review
It’s official – Rainie Yang is back. I dropped her off my to-watch list after some recent cringe-worthy output (Miss No Good, Hi My Sweetheart), but Love You brings us the Rainie that the audience got to know and love from Devil Beside You.

As the second installment of the Fated to Love You manga trilogy, Love You’s plot is nothing far-fetched in the idol drama genre. Jie Xu (Joseph Chang) and Xiao Ru (Rainie Yang) accidentally get married after a drunken escapade following break-ups with their long-time significant others (a somewhat stale Tiffany Xu, whose selfish Ai Wei is more interesting on paper than in performance; and Kingone Wang as cheater-in-love Yi Xiang). They stay married for contractual reasons that are logical only in Taiwanese (or Korean) idol drama, and while each tries to salvage their respective broken relationships to no avail, they eventually repair their broken hearts and find love in each other. Can we get anymore clichéd?

It’s not all bad though. What sets this series apart from the usual idol drama is its portrayal of breakups. Grounded in realistic situations and emotions, the series is highly successful at showing that love gone wrong seriously sucks. Anyone who’s been in a relationship when things aren’t going great will relate to the moments of hopelessness, frustration, and ultimate heartbreak shown in this series. Fuelling much of the series is the acting by the two leads.

Readers have long realized that I’m pretty brutal when it comes to reviewing, so I guess I’ll say right here that when I first saw the poster for this series, I thought it was about a girl who falls in love with someone with a mental disability, because Joseph Chang looks like one in the poster. I know, I’m terrible. However, he does look better when he’s not static in a photo. In fact, of all the Taiwanese male leads, he looks the manliest and appears quite mature. Of course, that’s relative given the competition.

While Joseph is lacking a bit in the charisma department, he delivers in terms of acting. He looks intelligent and I believe him as an architect. Surprisingly, he has some chemistry with Tiffany Xu as well as Rainie Yang, and his performance here even hints at some comic talent. It’s the first time I’ve seen Joseph, and I would watch something with him again based on this performance.

Rainie Yang’s performance is a familiar one, reminiscent of her work in Devil Beside You, with the added bonus of less pouting and more acting in this series. She is relatable and honest here, and manages some very effective emotions in the earlier part of the series where Xiao Yu first gets dumped by Yi Xiang. One of her best performances to date, and easily the best since DBY.

I feel sorry for Kingone Wang, because he is actually a pretty decent actor but his (lack of) looks probably prevent him from collecting a legion of fans like his fellow male actors. I find his character’s ending in this series a bit disturbing – the whole concept of having to marry a girl despite the fact that you’re not in love with her and you’re marrying her just assuming that you will eventually fall in love with her is unsettling. Maybe this series is trying to teach a lesson that karma’s a b-tch and cheaters will always pay.

There’s no use pretending that at the end of the day, Love You isn’t a Taiwan idol drama, due to the unnecessary subplots, such as the paparazzi guy (portrayed by a super-annoying performance by the actor in the role) and Xiao Yu’s search for her biological mother, and caricature characters such as Jie Xu’s boss.

In terms of acting disappointments, they’re not lacking either. Tom Price is hilariously bad as Rickie, and his lack of chemistry with Tiffany suggests you should have your fast-forward button at hand for their scenes. Tiffany’s acting is still stiff and generally uninteresting. She’s lovely to look at but something about her doesn’t connect on an emotional level. She needs more practice as she is hovering dangerously close to being labeled as a flower vase. Den Jiu Yun, who portrays Peggy, is appropriately b-tchy in the role, although she switches gears to Overact as soon as her character turns good.

Overall, a perfectly fine entry into the idol drama genre. Next!

To Watch or Not To Watch, That is the Question
Recommended for fans of the idol drama genre and Rainie Yang.

GROWING THROUGH LIFE [TVB]

2010-11-23T16:17:00.002+08:00

Written by Bridget Au

"Better than The Drive of Life, but only because it’s half the length"

SPOILERS ... SPOILERS ... SPOILERS

Chinese Title
“Jak Sing Zhi Lui” (roughly translates to journey to a star)

No of episodes
30

Theme songs
Opening
“Sor Wai Lei Seung” (A So-Called Dream) by Raymond Lam

Closing
“Ngor Moon Han Ho” (We’re Doing Very Well) by Raymond Lam

Year
2010

Cast
Damian Lau
Cecilia Yip
Raymond Lam
Zhao Zi Qi
Bosco Wong
Dominic Lam
Toby Leung
Supporting Cast
KK Cheung
Vionn Song
Power Chan

Foreword
Better than The Drive of Life, but only because it’s half the length.

Review
Growing Through Life has all the hallmarks of a TVB corporate drama: An inheritance battle, a villain, someone is paralyzed, terminal illness, a patriarch death, and an opening theme that starts with thundering operatic chords. It has a Chinese title that is more poetic than your usual brand of TVB titles, and a cast list with a few big names.

So what’s wrong? Well, a lot.

One of the key reasons is pacing and a lot of predictability in the story. This is one of those series where the ending is written from the beginning. The audience knows that, but usually series like these make the journey to the end a worthwhile, or at least entertaining, one. At the beginning, GTL is promising. The flashback and explanation of why each character is at the stage that they are at were well-developed and the performances are good and consistent. The series starts wavering, oddly enough, when things just start to get interesting (Damian finds out Ray is his son, Bosco starts to turn evil, Ray’s mom dies, etc.). This is partly because the explanations of why characters become the way they are is not very well-done. Bosco, for example, doesn’t really have the acting chops to demonstrate how he moves from buddy-buddy with Hanson to full-on murder to achieve his goals. A lot happens throughout the series but somehow the whole thing fails to connect on an emotional level, so you can watch this whole thing, know and/or guess what’s going on, without really paying attention or needing to pay attention.

The series also fails to affect due to filming technique, which is surprising considering that this looks like a big budget series. The general set designs are always dark. Business meetings were held in the dark, dinners were eaten in the dark, even the hospital is always dark. The company looks glamorous, but also strangely cold and lonely. So do the houses – there are no framed photos, not a lot of furniture, and it’s always dark. There’s also a blatant absence of extras and supporting actors – so blatant that the whole series just seems cold and almost inhuman, like a large gorgeous vase that’s untouchable. Strike two.

The acting is a question mark. On one hand, we’ve got anchors such as Damian Lau, Cecilia Yip, and the now-overexposed Raymond Lam, who lead the pack in terms of acting skill. Damian Lau is iconic as the patriarch, his one single best moment being when Hanson called him ‘dad”. Cecilia Yip hovers dangerously close to overacting in most scenes, but she does portray a convincing nut job. Ray does his usual Ray thing, which means a solid performance with no chemistry with his female co-stars. Maybe he should take on a gay character next time. No joke.

Btw, his English name sucks. Oh Ray, will TVB ever give you a decent English name? I hope he’s getting paid extra for his character’s names because they are getting worse by the year (mmm bop, bop bop bop, doo-wop, do it all!). How about actually using all the names as his middle name? Now, he can be known as Raymond Alfred Kingsley Hanson Lam, otherwise known as Raymond A.K.H. Lam. Nice ring to it, no? And while we’re on the topic of terrible English names… Linus?! What kind of name is that? I thought it was a disease.

There are some lights in this big tunnel. Dominic Lam, for example, was surprisingly effective as Linus’ dad. I’ve never liked him much as an actor (or a host) but in this series he delivers one of his strongest performances. KK Cheung was fantastic as Raymond’s mom. She looks really familiar but I can’t place her.

But even with half the cast performing above-average, they can’t save this series from failure in the acting department. Yep, the rest are just that bad…especially since they’re in pivotal roles. Bosco Wong, for example, who is given the villain role for the first time in his career. Unfortunately, it is simply too early in Bosco’s career to take on this character and his performance is highly flawed – something Bosco realized as it was reported he became depressed after watching his performance in the series. Toby Leung is less annoying now and demonstrates some acting potential as the angelic daughter, although I would argue that she doesn’t have the X factor. And then after all that, you’ve got the “who the hell are these people” Mainlanders who are – or should be – dubbed, such as Zhao Zi Qi and Vionn Song. Zhao Zi Qi is irritating and a bad actress to boot, something that is compounded by the fact that she is dubbed. She’s got nil chemistry with Ray, too, which doesn’t help her case. Vionn Song fares much better as the bitchy Yiu Kwun, and she has decent chemistry with Bosco.

I think if they had gone with some decent actors for these characters and also warmed up the filming technique a bit, this series would be a hit. Not surprisingly, though, GTL got a much colder audience reception than initially anticipated. For once, I’d have to agree with the audience on this one.

Rating
3/5

Find free dating sites

MISCHIEVOUS KISS [TV][Kr]

2010-11-23T16:10:00.001+08:00

Written by Bridget Au

"...the acting is weak, and the pacing of the story even worse..."

SPOILERS ... SPOILERS ... SPOILERS

Year
2010

Origin
Korea

Korean Title
장난스런 키스 / Jangnanseureon Kiss

No. of episodes
16

Produced by
MBC

Based on
the manga Itazaru Na Kiss ("prank's kiss") by Kaoru Tada

Cast
Kim Hyun Joong as Baek Seung Jo
Jung So Min as Oh Ha Ni
Lee Tae Sung as Bong Joon Gu
Lee Si Young as Yoon He Ra
Jung Hye Young as Seung Jo’s mother
Oh Kyung Soo as Seung Jo’s father
Choi Won Hong as Baek Eun Jo (Seung Jo’s brother)
Kang Nam Gil as Ha Ni’s father
Hong Yoon Hwaas Jung Joo Ri (Ha Ni’s friend)
Yoon Seung Ah as Go Min Ah (Ha Ni’s friend)

Foreword
Korea is now 0 for 2 when it comes to remakes. Oops.

Review
If Boys Over Flowers and Mischievous Kiss are any indication, Korea really needs to stop making remakes of manga stories. They’re not very good at them. Aside from cramming two much plot with major pacing problems, they also change the original characterization and story so much that they become unrecognizable, and not in a good way. The acting is nothing to write home about either, and there has been a surprise lack of chemistry among cast members for these remakes.

Kim Hyun Joong was undoubtedly the weakest link in this series. He is robotic throughout most of it and it is only when he smiles that I noticed something is different in his facial expression. A major disappointment and Joe Cheng is eons ahead of him when it comes to acting. He does have decent chemistry with Jung So Min though. I’m also surprised that Kim performed so poorly in this series as he delivered one of the stronger performances in BOF.

It doesn’t help that Korea’s version of the male lead is more or less butchered by the writers. He’s even more arrogant and aloof than the other versions, and most importantly, very cruel and cold towards Ha Ni. I mean, who says things like “I wish I never married you”? Ha Ni should have kicked him in the a--… after all, she has had plenty of experience with fixing vending machines via fly kicks.

Jung Hye Young and Oh Kyung Soo were not very good either, and although Lee Si Young is photogenic and pretty, her performance was forgettable. Kang Nam Gil fared a bit better as Ha Ni’s father, though.

It’s not all bad. I like how this series shows another reason why Seung Jo’s mother likes Ha Ni. Whereas in other versions the explanation is that she just thinks she’s good for Seung Jo, his mother also sees herself in Ha Ni, when she tells her father: “She’s like me. In my family, I’m the only one who makes mistakes and the only one who laughs. My sons don’t have that type of personality and my husband is too busy with work”. I get the feeling that underneath all the silliness, Seung Jo’s mother feels lonely in a family full of straight-forward, stone-cold males and this series shows a bit of that.

I liked Lee Tae Sung’s performance. He is a natural comedian although for the first half of the series I thought he was speaking Japanese! His accent is weird. Another plus was Choi Won Hong as Eun Jo. A cute kid and a total brat, exactly what Eun Jo is supposed to be.

Jung So Min was a delight to watch. She sports some cute hairstyles in this series and gave a fine performance as Ha Ni, especially since the Korean version of the character is a bit brighter and less useless. Definitely the highlight of the series. The actresses who portrayed her friends were very good as well.

So was it better than the Taiwanese version?
If you can’t tell already, I can give you a quick answer: Hell no. It Started With A Kiss might have been a wack-fest but it had charm and some terrific performances and cast chemistry. Korea’s version is missing charm and even raw emotions, because the acting is weak, and the pacing of the story even worse. While the plot and key scenes are identical to the Taiwanese version, the pacing is off, so much so that a lot of what happens in the Taiwanese sequel (the honeymoon, the appearance of Christine’s character, etc.) is crammed into the last 2 episodes of Mischievous Kiss. And with an inadequate performance in one of the pivotal characters, the whole ship comes down. A miss.

Rating
2.5/5

Find free dating sites

HARRY POTTER & THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 1 [O]

2010-11-22T17:42:00.002+08:00

Written by Funn Lim

"But I would have hoped another 20 minutes on the above scenes would have made this movie into a brilliant one. Do read the book to fill in the gaps."

SPOILERS ... SPOILERS ... SPOILERS

RELEASE
2010

THIS IS ...
An opinion/review on the 1st part of the movie on the 7th and fina; Harry Potter book

MORE INFO
Here at imdb.com

COMMENT
I just rushed to watch Harry Potter & The Deathly Hollows Part 1 and I am very very impressed with David Yates who in movie 6 managed to show the scale of Hogwarts and in Movie 7 managed to show the urgency of the situation at hand. It is a scary loud movie and at times tender and incredibly manages to be funny as well thanks to Rupert Grint. I believe he has taken the essence of the book or half of it and made it almost as good as the book. Luckily this last book has 2 movies treatment because 1 movie does it no justice. Most scenes in the book are in this movie. So I am very very pleased. However a few major problems or rather details in the book not included, therefore made the movie less than the book and sometimes incoherent;

1. I believe Wormtail's death in the movie is different, if he is dead. He should be since in the book he is dead in that scene except he didn't die the way he did in the movie. By changing the way he died changes the entire relationship between Wormtail and Harry and the ruthlessness of Voldemort, that he will even kill a loyal servant, that Wormtail died because of a moment of mercy he showed on Harry. In the movie he died very very differently and rather meaninglessly.

2. After being taunted by Voldemort who appeared out of Regulus Black's locket, Ron actually destroyed that Hocrux and cried. He actually cried and wept as Harry told him quietly that he loved Herminone as a sister and he heard Hermione crying sometimes, missing Ron. That's when Ron knew for sure Hermione and Harry didn't have any relationship as taunted by Voldemort. The significance of that scene is Ron's real feelings, and how he was taunted so cruelly and how Harry responded. However the movie for whatever reason did not show Ron crying or Harry's consoling words. I find it a bit cold. It was Ron's moment, and he should have had that moment.

3. In the beginning when Dudley was leaving, his unrepentant parents did not bother to say goodbye to Harry, but Dudley rushed over and in his way apologised for the years of abuse of Harry. It was a closure for Harry and for his only living relatives, one of whom Dudley. It also shows to us a changed Dudley, capable of good things perhaps, we may never know since we never heard from him again. It was Dudley's big scene and this movie for whatever reason decided to summarise this and totally cut that out. I find it terrible, that in the Dudley remained the same when in the book he changed after the Dementors attacked him.

4. The entire back story of Regulus and how he betrayed Voldemort and stole the Hocrux from the cave and his relationship with Kreacher which shows Kreacher somewhat in a good light was cut out totally. We know who was RAB but we don't know how Regulus got the Hocrux and I doubt part 2 will explain that. This is significant because Regulus was like Sirius, born into a dark arts pure blood family but chose to sacrifice themselves for goodness. I hope part 2 retains the scene how Kreacher is treated with respect and in one of the best scene in the book, how Kreacher led the fight against the pure bloods.

5. I am not sure if it will be in part 2 but I hope the conversation with Ollivander and the role of Griphook will be given justice. I am not happy how Griphook's role in denying the Gryffindor sword in Bellatrix's hands is fake and not the real one. There is a significance since Griphook being a goblin would not have helped a wizard to lie but he helped Harry. That was cut from this movie.

6. I am sorely disappointed the scene where Harry saw Luna's bedroom and saw her sketched of Harry, Hermione, Ron and I think Neville with the words like best friends or something was cut out. That scene was touching to show Harry felt an enormous gratitude to Luna for believing in him and he felt a rush of affection for Luna hence his closeness and friendliness with Luna. I would have wished Harry ended up with Luna.

7. The most significant of all, Harry's anger when he saw Mad Eye's fake eye on the door of Delores Umbridge's office. How his cover was broken was when angrily he ripped the eye out to take with him, angry at how Mad Eye was killed. That scene was missing and the eye remained there on the door. I find that cold and not very like Harry.

8. The entire story of Bill and Fleur just sort of appeared. Might as well just write them off.

9. Why the significance of the visit of Rufus Scrimgeour to Harry is cut out is beyond me. The great thing about this book is it shows how even supposedly people on the good guys' side will use ruthless means to a desired end. Rufus was supposed to get Harry to stand on the Ministry of Magic's side as their poster boy, but Harry rightly refused. This scene is significant. And Rufus' death is even more significant since he knew where Harry was but supposedly he was tortured to death but he didn't betray Harry which made Harry realised he may have been too harsh on Rufus Scrimgeour. I love Bill Nighy but he played this character like an insane sort of guy. The guy in the book described as lion like would have been more formidable looking.

I still feel Harry is lacking the anger and emotional turmoil although Daniel Radcliffe was funny when he had to be different characters. He has a gift for comedy. But the dramatic acting is still lacking. Rupert Grint lacked some anger in some pivotal scenes but frankly he is the best actor of the younger actors. He has serious talent in comedy and I think he did well. Emma Watson improved and I love the fact that the scene of her wiping out her memory from her parents was included in the movie, shows the urgency of the situation and the sadness. However she is way too serious to be the level headed Hermione I know from the books. Good thing is that in Book 7 Hermione has to be so serious looking. But I still don't like Emma Watson who still doesn't seem where to stand in a room full of people; she looked awkward. The adults were all great even if their role is reduced. Helen McCrory was a miscast and also terribly underused.

Anyway I felt some scenes were great, like when Harry, Ron and Hermione drank Polyjuice potion and entered Ministry of Magic as 3 adults and these 3 actors portrayed the 3 younger actors' personalities perfectly! I love how Snape appeared. I love all those scary scenes were not deleted but in fact played out in full. I really love how the 3 brothers' story were told in animation and I find that creative and artistic. I love Dobby! And when he died I was very sad, I was sadder reading his death but the movie did the scene justice. When Hedwig fell from the sky I was in shock eventhough I knew that was coming. I like the fact that Fred and George are given something to do than to just stand around like in previous movies. I dread Part 2 because of what is coming for the twins. I cannot stand Ginny so I am glad her role is minimal. The most waste of space of the role of Narcissa. No dialogue at all, just wallpaper. Draco had some scene but not enough. And I thought Dumbledore was buried standing up instead of laying down. And most of all, the last scene should not have ended with Voldemort getting the elder wand, it should have been a long or far shot of Hogwarts since Part 2 will deal with the great battle at Hogwarts and the destruction of further Hocrux and a major revelation.

I have a feeling the director will manage that well but I hope Neville will be given his day of glory and Ron as well. Very significant roles as well for Mrs Weasley. But I really want Neville to have his day. And more importantly, Snape. This will be Snape's moment and I hope this movie, after 7 movies will not screw up Snape's big moment and the answer to why he did what he did.

Anyway for all my complaints, Part 1 is a great adaptation. You can't have it all, especially for such a rich book as this one. But I would have hoped another 20 minutes on the above scenes would have made this movie into a brilliant one. Do read the book to fill in the gaps.

HEAR ME [Mov][Chi]

2010-11-22T17:36:00.002+08:00

Written by Bridget Au

"The movie manages genuine surprise in its final act and because we’ve grown to care about the characters so much that by that time, something poignant, maybe even magical, is felt."

SPOILERS ... SPOILERS ... SPOILERS

Chinese Title
“Ting Shuo” (I heard)

Genre
Romance

Year
2009

Origin
Taiwan

Cast
Eddie Peng
Ivy Chen
Michelle Chen
Lo Bei-an
Lin Mei Shiu

Foreword
It’s been awhile since I cried at a movie. An excellent example of when less is more.

Review
Recent entries in Taiwanese cinema have been impressive (Cape No. 7, Secret and this year’s smash hit Monga) and now Hear Me can add itself to the list of reasons to watch Taiwanese movies. There’s nothing that new in here, but the movie is well-made enough that you think you are watching something new.

Eddie Peng is Tian Huo, a local delivery boy who meets and falls in love with Yang Yang (Ivy Chen), a girl who is working numerous jobs to raise funds to send her sister to the Deaflympics. Tian Huo is immature and not that bright, but his unconditional love for Yang Yang and the way he interacts with his parents – who clearly dote on their only son – is pleasant to watch and makes him a very likeable male lead.

The sister relationship between Yang Yang and Xiao Peng was equally engaging. Well-written and thoughtful, their relationship offers the opportunity to present revelations about the barriers that people with hearing disabilities face, such as the sisters living in a flat with basically no rooms, as deaf people prefer to be able to see everything in their surroundings. The movie never tries to fish for audience sympathy, but they get it anyway, as the way these barriers are presented in a way that is simple and unpretentious.

Hear Me reminds me a bit of Korea’s …ing, where nothing really happens in terms of plot until later in the movie, but the simplicity of the story, heartfelt performances and portrayal of Taiwan’s underprivileged urban charm is honest and genuine, which is appreciated in today’s world of brouhaha film-making. The fact that the movie manages to affect even though most of the story happens in silence (since most of the dialogue is communicated via sign language) is even more impressive.

For some reason, Asian actors are ace performers at portraying people with disabilities who use sign language (Yuko Fueki in Wuri’s Family, Julian Cheung in Return of the Cuckoo, and Fala Chen in Moonlight Resonance), and Hear Me is no exception. Michelle Chen delivers her best performance to date as the deaf Xiao Peng, although there is a bit too much head-jerking in some scenes. Eddie Peng continues to improve and he is charming, cheerful, and aw-shucks likeable as the juvenile but optimistic Tian Huo.

The big plus is Ivy Chen, who performs admirably as the timid, thoughtful Yang Yang. Her acting is infused with a total lack of pretension and raw emotions, and it also helps that she looks like she walked out of an anime production. And Lo Bei-an and Lin Mei Shiu, who portray Tian Huo’s parents, are warm and funny, and although their characters are sometimes nagging and long-winded, they clearly consider Tian Huo’s happiness their chief priority, which is refreshing.

The movie manages genuine surprise in its final act (and for once I won’t ruin it for you in this review) and because we’ve grown to care about the characters so much that by that time, something poignant, maybe even magical, is felt. All you need is love.

To Watch or Not to Watch, That is the Question
Highly recommended.

Rating
5/5

LOVE IN DISGUISE [Mov][Chi]

2010-11-15T13:23:00.006+08:00

Written by Funn Lim

"And if you ask me, this is not a Wang Lee Hom movie. Nope. It is a Wang Lee Hom DOCUMENTARY."

SPOILERS ... SPOILERS ... SPOILERS

Chinese title
Lian Ai Tong Gao

Let me guess, literally translated as "A Notice/Order For Romance". I like the English title though.

Released in
2010

Directed by
Leehom Wang

Writing credits
Hung-chieh Chen, Xin Yi Du, Leehom Wang

Cast-Character
Taken from IMDB.com

Leehom Wang ... Du Ming-Han
Yifei Liu ... Song Xiao-Qing
Joan Chen ... Joan
Han Dian Chen ... Wei Zhi-Bai
Khalil Fong
Zhenyu Qiao ... Mu Fan
Na Xie
Yike Zeng ... Xiao Tao

Summary
From GSC movies

Du Minghan (Wang Leehom) is a famous celebrity pop star and with the help of his agent, Joan (Joan Chen), his career took off amazingly.

When he accidentally met the plain looking Song Xiaoqing (Crystal Liu), he immediately fell in love with her and decides to disguise himself as a student, Ah De, together with his best pal (Chen Han Dian).

Will Xiaoqing ever find out the truth of Ah De's real identity? Will she be able to accept him for who he is?

Comment
I hope the above is not the official summary because reading that summary I felt like I was watching a different movie.

Let me say this out clearly; I do not doubt Wang Lee Hom as a musician. I admire his musical abilities, I was his fan until he became like every Taiwanese pop star with the melancholic love songs, I really miss his earlier works. I may have doubts over his lyrics writing skills but I do not doubt his voice and his melodies so to speak. But I wonder who suggested to him that he can write, direct AND star in a movie that I believe he himself feels strongly for (as he should as this is his baby) and I believe his fans will eagerly watch and buy and keep and promote and praise till no end in sight but the general populace like myself may just feel the only reason he got this weak script made into a movie and directed by himself, a first time director and directing himself no less is purely because of his popularity as a musician. I will not even call him a singer, he is above that and again that I do not doubt. It is obvious if this script came from a Mr Up And Coming Nobody, it would not have been made into a movie without at least a complete overhaul of the plot plus a few rewrites. Not that it was awful.

For a first time director, and an occasional actor, Wang Lee Hom did a fair job but that is me being kind because I like him. Truthfully the movie is incoherent at times, inconsistent mostly and uniformly messy. Oh yes, it can be messy and yet organised mess.

I will save my breath over the story; it is simply a pop star meets ordinary pretty girl, goes looking for her, falls for her, juggles between 2 identities and realises the times he was in disguise is his real self, and in the end manages to get the girl and saves the music university from total and absolute annihilation due to unpopularity of Chinese music instruments in the face of modern R&B and hip hop and what nots. In the middle he crammed some stuff on the difficulties of being a pop star like constantly surrounded by rumours that are not true, paparazzis as well as snotty classically trained musicians versus famous pop stars seemingly without musical credentials. And above all that he crammed in as well the meaning of music, the making of music and the flow of music through visuals and some imagination sequences.

And if you ask me, this is not a Wang Lee Hom movie. Nope. It is a Wang Lee Hom DOCUMENTARY. Take away Crystal Liu and the half baked love story and what you really have is a musician's take on a musical journey through the eyes of a musician that is Wang Lee Hom.

And that is what I like about this movie. Everytime he sings, he plays the piano, plays the Chinese violin, performs or in Du Ming Han mode, he is at his best because that is not acting; that is Wang Lee Hom being Wang Lee Hom. But when he is far away from a musical instrument or a stage or not in a performance, quite frankly I have no idea what he is doing onscreen. As an actor, he must work on his diction. I can understand Joan Chen and Crystal Liu and everybody else perfectly but Lee Hom gave me problems; half the time I have no idea what he was saying. He sounds lazy and he speaks like he sings. Which is why I said I doubt his lyrics writing ability quite simply because half the time I can't understand him. You can compare him with the other musical thespian more famous than he is who wrote, directed and starred in his own movie that is Jay Chou except these days I can understand Jay Chou better. I think working for Zhang Yimou really helps with his music and acting performances. Of course Lee Hom can boast he worked for Ang Lee too but seriously, in that movie that shall not be named, I didn't quite bother with his presence.

That is not to say he isn't charming. There are some funny scenes; like how one overeager designer dressed him in various impossible fashion to disguise his real identity. That scene is funny but in the end meaningless and darn ridiculous. Such an image consultant/designer will not get hired for those ridiculous fashion. And the actress was way over the top in her performance which for a moment made me wonder if this a slapstick comedy?

And yet the whole thing came crashing down to earth when he entered the university and had his I suppose first taste of Chinese music eventhough his concert at the beginning incorporated those elements already. Was he playing the Monkey God in the beginning? Anyway the improptu performance he gave to the headmaster together with his best friend guitarist showed that his Du Ming Han is quite well versed with Chinese instruments. And that was this movie's best scene. What a fun musical session! So I wonder, what motivates him to join the university? To get the girl? And yet he said he just wanted to be her friend, somewhere along the way he felt jealous when he saw a fellow student touching her and so there began the very short courtship.

And then the movie changed mode and focused on the troubles of the university; like some statement given by a serious musician, that youngsters today have no appreciation for classical music, in this case the Chinese classical music being our roots and our culture and so the musical event organised by the headmaster (who so happens to be the father of the girl of his dreams) was heading into trouble as the headmaster lamented the lack of students. And yet in the beginning when Du Ming Han was walking amongst the students I see plenty of students, many of them quite young. So if there is a lack of enrolment I wonder is the headmaster hoping for 200% enrolment? The solution to the headmaster's problem is Du Ming Han himself performing at the event to draw in youngsters but as far as I am concerned, apart from perhaps 2 modern music blended with the chinese classical music, he then performed his love ode to his dream girl on a piano in a rather modern sort of way, with lyrics written by her of course. She felt moved and so ran back to him. The anger, the pain, the rejection, the confusion, the betrayal, the humiliation, all solved with 1 song and I suppose in 1 or 2 days. I find that rather simplistic.

And that is why I find this movie lacking. It thrives to be important, expounding his views on classical music versus modern music and the amalgamation of these 2 different worlds into great tunes and yet at the same time filled it with nonsense such as needless slapstick and confusing visuals that made me think "are they on drugs?" and some surface wise heavy themes but looking deep down is just touch and go issues. All wrapped up in a friendly fan pleasing love story that neither advances his musical theory or impeding it; just that it was that. It is like as if the musician him is struggling with the popular him; do I make a movie about my passion or a movie to please others? Hence the confusing script.

You know a production that better illustrate this point? The Korean dramedy, Oh! My Lady. That series made the love affair between a hot young pop star and an older woman with child more believable, probably because it has a better script, better acted and a few more hours to tell the story properly. Or maybe, just maybe it doesn't pretend to be some social commentary and is just what it is.

However I like some visuals from this movie. The sequences where Ming Han was very seduced by the music played by Xiao Qing or the masters at the university. Lee Hom filled that with butterflies and the best of course a painting being painted, Chinese style as his character flew in it. There is promise in the visuals, you can feel his passion for this sort of music. And then the love story had to butt into that part and I felt rather ambushed by it.

There are however some visuals I didn't get. Like when Xiao Qing heard her lyrics being turned into a song in the hall, suddenly rain fell on her as she walked. She was wet. When she went back to Ming Han on the stage, she was still very wet. So when the whole sequence of rain falling on her and her alone, it was real?! And then they hugged, happily and immediately his fans roared with approval. Seriously, really? Why not try and get Wang Lee Hom to do that to rumoured girlfriend Crystal on the concert stage for real and let's see if the roar of approval is instantenous because I will bet it won't be. At least a 10 seconds silence or shock would be more realistic. His manager, Joan Chen crying alone when she found out he lied to her and willing to abandon his pop star status for love and I was thinking is she in love with him or is she just crying her rice bowl may break? When his car hit Xiao Qing she stayed on the road underneath the car to play the Chinese piano to which Ming Han heard and saw butterflies. I was like again, seriously? How cliche is that? And then he went in search of her, calling her an inspiration when I never got the impression he lacked inspiration at all. Maybe showing him as a talented but somehow down on his luck musician may better illustrate his need to find her or maybe a talentless pop star who actually has talent buried underneath when he heard her music and was inspired by it. As it is I don't see the motivation except a pop star on a self indulgent spree.

And that is basically what this movie is; an indulgent.

Performances wise, Joan Chen was wonderful as she should be.

Crystal Liu is mesmerising. I find her beautiful, intelligent looking and graceful. She gives me an impression she is classically trained musician herself because she was convincing when playing the chinese piano. A pity her character is so poorly written. No doubt she is in almost every single scene and yet I felt unsatisfied; I thought she was underused. She may be in each scene but she really had nothing much to do. Even when she had something to do like looking at the snotty classical trained senior, I was thinking if Xiao Qing in awe of him? In love with him? She lacked expressions thus making her a competent mesmerizing actress but not necessarily a great one. Something was missing. And in the end at the final concert I was hoping she would duet with Lee Hom's Ming Han like in earlier scenes but she was reduced to an angry jilted lover seduced by his love song and so rushed to him to love him back. I find that nonsensical. How great it would have been to have them as equals in music; she in classical music, he in modern music, both finding a common thread in music as the basis for their love and devotion for one another. Except it ended with them kissing, lamely if I might add with the whole paparazzi looking on. And frankly that is one message Lee Hom can bear in mind next time he is kissing someone he doesn't want her seen; just let them take the pictures. However one can't always live the life one preaches. I quite detest him for reducing Crystal into a prop; a prop that is sometimes dressed in her I suppose most famous role, Xiao Long Nu.

Lee Hom himself is not terrible. Some reviewers did note that he had no problems parodying himself or rather making himself as the joke and for that I applaud him. But I didn't like how he imagined he strangled the paparazzi who dared ask him about his rumoured relationships after a successful concert. That is not funny and I feel a tad crass. I don't believe Lee Hom is such a person. I find him classy and intelligent and very patient looking. Whatever anger issues he harboured, I believe this is the first I see, on screen. And since this is to be a documentary or a biopic on him, that may be his real feelings. But what do you expect from a life as an entertainer? You're public property, whether you like it or not. Your musical abilities confirms your talent but what fuels you is your popularity and that is derived from press' opinion of you. As they always say, bad publicity is better than no publicity at all. He tries very hard in this movie of his; he cast the right people, he writes the right music, he chooses the right subject but in the end as a director he was inadequate. Sometimes another person may be able to realise one's own vision so to relinquish the baton of directorship may have been the movie's best move. It is just silly how he narrates the movie, lost the narration half way, ends it with narration again, all those dream sequences (some well done and quite relevant) and the worst move, adding title sequences between scenes ala Babe to make a point, of which I really didn't quite care. His performance is ok but his story and directorship is everywhere. Which makes this movie nowhere.

You know what would have been a better movie that would serve his purpose of the debate of classical versus modern music and explaining his views why it doesn't matter? A real documentary. A documentary of a famous musician cum pop star from Taiwan called Wang Lee Hom on a journey of musical discovery through Chinese classical music and how in the end he discovered himself along the way, showing in visuals how he sees classical music, sequences on how he merges these two mediums and ends with a mini concert and an album. In between he can talk about his approach to music, why Chinese classical music, his vision, his hopes, his dreams. Like a 2 hour special, except with widescreen treament in the cinema with premieres and stuff. That sort of documentary can be released in cinemas and if well directed, could also be submitted for considertion of the Academy Awards for Documentaries. Rarely do I see a pop star approach in classical settings and moreover, who better than Wang Lee Hom, himself I believe has classical roots? After all he is not just a pretty face or a pop star, he is a serious musician who writes good music. That would have been a great "movie", one I would gladly watch in the cinemas.

A great pity of the potential this could have been.

Verdict
Musically, heavenly. Acting wise, hit and mostly miss thanks to a poor predictable superficial script. Entertainment wise, the music works, the movie itself failed. Overall, the full movie is strictly for fans but some parts are worth a watch. Now hoping someone would just cut out those musical parts and that 30 minutes or so would have my seal of approval as one of the best "musical" ever.

INTERESTING MUSIC
Frankly I can't differentiate between hip hop and R&B so to me an addictive tune is a good tune.

My favourite from the movie is not the main ballad which is to me typical Wang Lee Hom but the other one, the one he sang with the Chinese orchestra. Found it! Thanks to chriztna and juljin79 for the tip. The title is 十八般武艺 which is the title of his album. The chorus is awesome with his falsetto but the starting not quite. I hate the woah! and I wish he uses less autotune because it does sound like autotune and quite mechanical at parts. If it is not autotune then I am not sure why he sounds too manufactured. English, Chinese lyrics all here. Did he sing all that?! By the way the English translation I believe is literal.

CLEAR VERSION
Click the embedded player to listen. If there is one great thing about Love In Disguise, it is this song, 十八般武艺 which becomes better with each listen. I was curious what the title means and the translator just says "Be Versatile" although the literal translation is 18 Martial Arts. I wonder is that actually meaning "Be Versatile"?

A GREAT WAY TO CARE [TVB]

2010-11-03T14:36:00.002+08:00

Written by Bridget Au

"There’s a lot of stigma associated with mental illnesses and while this series teaches us what the different disabilities are called, it didn’t quite address the societal stigma"

SPOILERS ... SPOILERS ... SPOILERS

Chinese Title
“Yan Sum Kai Ma” (roughly translates to deciphering the human heart)

Released In
2009

No. of episodes
20

Theme song
Juno Mak

Cast
Alex Fong as Ko Lap Yan
Kate Tsui as Man Yee (Monkey)
Cheung Chi Kwong as Dr. Lin
Raymond Wong as Chun
Vivian Yeo as Ka Bik
Supporting Cast
Ellesmere Choi
Michelle Chan
Ngok Wah
Lee Kwok Lun
Suki Tsui
Yoyo Chen
Hung Tin Ming

Foreword
May not have the A-list cast and media buy, but a well-paced plot, intriguing subject matter, and better-than-expected performances make A Great Way to Care much better than say… Healing Hands. One of the better series of 2009.

Review
A Great Way to Care was reportedly frozen due to the broadcast of Sweetness in the Salt after the success of Rosy Business, and I have to say, TVB could have picked some other series to banish to the warehouse. A B-list cast, previously unexplored territory and a May-December romance usually spells doom for a TVB series but in this case, things work out just fine and the result is an affecting, accomplished little drama.

Looking for a Miss HK to don a fat suit in TVB might have been a ridiculous thought prior to this series, but thanks to the brave Vivian Yeo, look no further. I’ve never liked Vivian in the past but she gives a winning performance as Ka Bik: sweet, cute, and genuinely likeable and she had good chemistry with Raymond Wong as well. She is definitely one of the highlights of this series.

I like Monkey because she is ballsy, good-hearted, and tough. She makes an interesting and I would say fantastic couple with Dr. Ko, and not just because of their age difference. I like how they tell each other off half the time, but beneath the no-holds-barred “Shut your mouth!”, there’s a genuine mutual respect between them. Monkey, for example, calls Dr. Ko ‘Ko Yan’ (the first and last character of his Chinese name which also translates to something like a deity-type expert, someone you go to for advice). I also like how the growth from mutual respect to mutual love is portrayed realistically.

While questionably talented, I’ve always suspected Kate Tsui had this untapped potential to play a total psychopath (she’s got those “I’m gonna kill you” eyes) and AGWTC gives her an opportunity to portray a schizophrenic girl. Unfortunately, she only gets to play that for a total of 2 episodes. She was downright terrifying in those sleepwalker scenes. If I worked in that hospital I would have believed she was guilty for murdering that guy too! I like her as the gutsy Monkey because she seems similar to Kate Tsui’s real-life personality, but otherwise her performance is just adequate.

Alex Fong, Cheung Chi Kwong, and Raymond Wong would probably top my list as the least likely casting choices for a trio of good buddies, but they have this oddball chemistry that works and brings back memories of the good-old TVB camaraderie days such as the Bobby / William / Cheung / Michael quad of Files of Justice. They also each excel at their role. Raymond is consistently a B-liner, but his performance as the unambitious, low-tension Chun was enjoyable and entertaining to watch.

Cheung has always been one of TVB’s dependable secondary actors and this series is no exception. While he doesn’t look like a doctor per se, he does convince as the research / medical journal writer type and his portrayal of the filial son, good father, and even better husband is agreeable though underwhelming.

At first, I did not know what to think of Alex Fong as the mouthy, sarcastic but very bright Dr. Ko. I thought he looked convincing as a doctor, although age-wise he is a bit too old since Dr. Ko is supposedly only 34 (which makes no sense given his supposed breadth of experience). Alex usually strikes me as oh-so-serious, but I was pleasantly surprised by his performance. His deadpan delivery of Dr. Ko’s acid wit and make-no-mistake instructions to the trainees at the hospital were hilarious. An excellent performance – who would’ve thunk? He’s got chemistry with Kate too. Their tearful breakup scene was one of the best acted since the Fei / Quin breakup from Detective Investigation Files IV.

Pierre Ngo was fantastic in his cameo performance as the religious cult leader in the earlier part of the series. Yoyo Chen continues to impress in her secondary roles. With a bit of voice training she can probably be one of the next fa dans along with Vivian Yeo. Lee Kwok Lun was also great in his role as the wimpy older brother to Dr. Ko.

Michelle Chan delivers one of the weaker performances and I find her contrite, somewhat manufactured, and even irritating as Dr. Lin’s wife. Maybe she should stick with hosting. Suet Lei was even worse; she is one of the few veterans who you can always count on for a terrible performance. Ngok Wah wasn’t too much better as his voice tends to be monotone.

This series has some more rough spots. While well-intentioned in its goal to raise awareness about mental disabilities, like many TVB profession series, they simplify matters to the point of ridicule. Mental illnesses are complex. They require a hefty dose of research and investigation into one’s background and circumstance, and still are very much misunderstood by your Average Joe on the street. But nope, one conversation with these super doctors and they’re diagnosed. Another 2-3 conversations and they’re cured! Isn’t TVB great?!

I also thought this series didn’t make full use of the opportunity to dispel the myth that people who have mental disabilities are just “crazy”. There’s a lot of stigma associated with mental illnesses and while this series teaches us what the different disabilities are called, it didn’t quite address the societal stigma. It’s also bizarre how involved Dr. Ko gets in the investigation of the cases, to the extent where it begins to seem as if the cops don’t do anything and just wait on Dr. Ko to enlighten them as to who the real culprit is (shades of The Mysteries of Love – yikes). But I should remind myself that this is TVB, and not everything needs to make sense.

To Watch or Not To Watch
Recommended as one of the underrated efforts of 2009. A pleasant surprise.

Rating
4/5

PILGRIMAGE TO THE WEST [O][Chi]

2010-10-15T10:30:00.006+08:00

Written by Funn Lim

"But those who wants a JTTW series will be severely disappointed. Wukong seemed out of character, Pig never changed in character, the Buddhas were strange and I find some storyline offensive and it didn't have the spirit of JTTW. I won't rush to rent or buy this one."

PREVIOUSLY POSTED ON 14.10.2010 AT THE MAIN BLOG

RELEASED IN
2009 (I think)

PRODUCTION
Mainland China

REVIEW

There is something not quite right with the new Journey To The West adaptation from Mainland China called Pilgrimage To The West. So many not quite right that I can't quite list them all so if I sound like I am rambling, that is because I am.

First and foremost, the Master seems rather friendly with his disciples, even taking a bath with them as they reflected back their experiences in the journey like 4 best friends in a tub, except 4 different tubs. I find that very odd because in all other adaptations that I have watched (so far, I admit about 3) the Master do keep a distance from his disciple. He is ultra serious, never lie but forced to do so often by his disciples for the greater good and often conduct himself with the greatest dignity, and his disciples treating him with utmost respect, like a son to a father, a very honoured father. So to see him in a tub chatting like some slumber party is very very odd.

Then there's the rush of all female demons wanting to marry him, male demons wanting to eat him. That is usual, except I kept thinking Master didn't look one bit offended when touched by the female demons at all. In fact he seems expressionless, rather enjoying it. In most versions he is often pushed and persuaded to do something contrary to his beliefs, including fake marriages but this one seems quite happy to go along with the plan.

But the worst had to be the conduct of Buddha himself. That is near blasphemy and I don't care what the book says, it didn't seem right.

First of, when they reached India and the place to collect the sutras, I thought it was the end. The journey they said 14 years which I read is true although the book(s) covered 9 of those years only. But it wasn't the end. Buddha first said that the unwritten sutras are the sutras but since many can't understand that, the monk and disciple will bring back the written sutras and spread to China. So He ordered the expensive and rare and honoured and holy sutras to be given to the Monk which the monk went to collect only to be told "These sutras are rare and expensive. Took us a long time to create them ourselves and to just give them to you, that will be a loss to us. So what have you to give us?" so asked Buddha's disciple. And I was like shocked! WHAT?! Corruption within Buddha's company so to speak? That must be fake but it was darn real. So monk gave up his golden bowl, took the sutras and went before Buddha. Weird thing is not only did Wukong did not say one word of that corruption, he later even said it was reasonable since they took a long time to collect the sutras! Eh! That's not the Wukong I know! The Wukong I know will make a fuss to Buddha since his master was bullied into giving his golden bowl. The Wukong I know will ask what then is the purpose of the travel to collect sutras that they have to pay for! It wasn't even part of the test mind you! And then Buddha said to Monk that only those who are strict vegetarians that have not killed or eaten meat or whatnots can open the sutras to read and our Monk like eagerly nodded and said yeah yeah yeah. No! Of course not! Buddha ain't that selfish and so rank minded! He ain't so snobbish! Worst to come! Monk said nothing! Wouldn't that be against every principle of his learnings and teachings? Nope, not one word. Technically even Wukong can't open the sutras. And Monk left without asking Buddha to release Wukong from his servitude or give enlightment to his 2 other disciples since journey is completed!

Guess what? Journey isn't completed yet! 8 more days to go, 1 more test to go and they're thrown into the wild for one final test. Since they already got the sutras which they had to pay for, answer me this; what then is the point of 1 more test? Is this version trying to tell us beaurecracy and red tape still exists and is alive and well even amongst Buddhas?

And dear Guanyin, she said nothing. In fact I thought maybe the demons pretended to be Guanyin and all and playing a trick on them but nope, that's Guanyin. And Guanyin looked like any other goddess frankly.

And I will not forget the interesting story of Princess Paro and her imitator. The problem with this story is after it is done and over with, we have to endure some more to learn the background of the imitator. Why? Why not just say it earlier and finish with it? That imitator is a rabbit on the moon, under the care and supervision of Chang Er. And Chang Er even gave orders to the 3 disciples on what to do as she flew around beautifully. Sorry, but it was as if Chang Er was on the moon on a vacation. I thought in one of the versions she was on the moon as a punishment?

Whilst I am ok with Pig, but after goddamn 14 years surely he must be on good terms with Wukong by now and not backstab him? Only Wujing seems quite ok, seems in character as a simple minded man albeit a hot looking one in my personal opinion. Wukong really had me wondering what is wrong with him? The whole entire corruption scene was weird, to have Wukong not make one fuss at all is weird. Most weird of all sometimes he is just monkey and sometimes too human, the performance is inconsistent. The most disappointing of all is his golden fighting pole. It was just a pole. No personality, no life. But then maybe just for the last 6 episodes, probably earlier it was alive and well.

Whilst I enjoyed some part of the story, I feel this is not a true adaptation, not in spirit anyway since I haven't finished the book(s). It can't be the worst since that Mainland China Dicky Cheung with Edmond Leung as the monk ranks as the worst but this can't be any good either. Everybody seems so heartless, so businesslike, Buddha seems un-Buddha, Guan Yin too hands off and too distant and the Monk, he's like sleepwalking with a permanent smile and the rest aren't themselves. The fighting scenes like it's opening theme goes on so long, I finished one bowl of rice before the fighting stops or the song finishes. The more I watch this, the more I appreciate TVB's version which is true in spirit and I went away from that series entertained, enlightened and definitely in deeper understanding of Buddhism than a story about Buddha. In truth, TVB's version is very spiritual, despite the comedy and the cuteness. Let's not even talk about the original JTTW China adaptation. This Pilgrimage To The West, the title itself is wrong. It isn't Pilgrimage, strictly speaking. But that's nitpicking. My problem with it is I went away with nothing; I learnt nothing; I got back nothing. It is just a story but no more than that and even that the story is well started but badly ended.

The acting is strange. Generally they're ok except spoilt by dubbing but frankly the monk... he lacked that wisdom and gravitas to play this role. Being handsome is not the only criteria, it is one of the criterias! He just seem like a man in a robe instead of a monk who went through centuries of being monks in all his reincarnations. Joan Chen was terrible as Guanyin and she looked like she was struggling to stand still. Buddha was shockingly young! I can't remember the rest except the girl who played Nezha was good and Chen Derong was good. The costume were good, the scenery a winner but then that is China's credit and not the director's. I was sort of impressed they found Indians to play Indian guards in I suppose border of India but in actual fact still in China?

It is just one weird adaptation. Hopefully the 2011 adaptation will fare better, at least in the spirit of the story. By looking at the pictures, I must admit Wukong looks scary. Maybe he is meant to be scary, at least this is a departure from the previous adaptations. And I hope there will be live sound recording. I am tired of hearing dubbed voices which somehow has a lot of "Eh eh eh eh eh eh eh" sounds for god knows why with the girls with high pitched voices and the men all sounding very masculine. For once I must take my hat off to TVB for making JTTW accessible, fun and a deeply spiritual experience. And Kong Wah is the BEST monk with Mimi Kung so far in JTTW the best Guanyin. Dicky Cheung made Wukong cute and lovable even if kinda dangerous who showed change from ep 1 till the end but yes, Liu Xiao Ling Tong owns Wukong. No doubt about that.

[UPDATES] The last episode was broadcast on 14.10.2010 and it was the weirdest ending ever. I find myself not really finding much faults in performances generally, although some are terrible but it's the story or rather the presentation of the story. JTTW basically has the same core and elements as any remakes, updates, etc. But this one, the ending was very badly written. It would show they went home to China, pondering how to spread the words of the Sutras which is ok, but most of these scenes which is supposed to be very emotional reunions like the Monk with his sworn brother the Emperor of his rather grown up disciples or people they have rescued before or Wukong with his family and clan. However they just kept talking and emphasises the Monk has traveled 10,800 miles (may not be miles but you know, the distance) and all I could think of was "Oh come on, after 10,800 miles, for heaven's sake, let them sit down and then talk!". In fact, the monk didn't look like he went through hell for 14 years. Hardly any time passed at all on his face. He should be thinner, looked like he suffered and basically look older. He didn't. And then the Monk had to go back to India and to get their rewards. I was thinking why go back and forth? What is the significance of that? And here comes the worst part because first of Buddha was badly portrayed and when their rewards were given, as in promotion, etc I felt rather empty. I don't feel involved with that scene and I was telling my sister why; TVB's JTTW 2 may have been god awful, it at least stayed on the right path and represented the story well. The emphasis was not on getting promotion, as this China production spent precious minutes just to show all that but rather like the sifu in TVB version said; the journey was about garnering life's experiences, that being the true teaching of the sutras. I agree. And their ending didn't really drag on with the rewards scene and in restrospect I appreciated the brevity. In this current series, it was darn boring. And the final scene was not an emotional good bye between the dragon horse (yes, in every JTTW adaptation, they will forget about the horses) or disciples and the Monk but just well, moving on. 14 years together and the sifu never looked at them and feel teary eyed. And last scene was Wukong going back to find I suppose his original sifu/teacher and then finally to Faguo Shan to be with his clan and family. And that was the final scene. I felt very detached and I thought the entire series being told the way it was told in the last 2 episodes did the earlier episodes great injustice. It simply didn't feel like JTTW, it felt like any other series.

But I admire the actors' dedication. The last bit showed the NGs and the actor playing Wukong had a tough time. He did the stunts himself, which includes flying around and he hit the wall, he hit the roof, he hit every. And the way he had to do sommersaults whilst on wire seemed so dangerous, I was fearing he looked like he was about to snap his neck several times! Also interesting was he looked mighty pissed when he couldn't get things right; very Wukong of him to throw temper tantrum, not at others but at himself and he even threw the pole roughly onto the floor one time! But again I admire his dedication to his art. It is not easy playing Wukong and he was ok but he would have been helped with a better coherent script. Even the ladies were having a tough time, Chen Derong doing her own stunts, funny moments like forgetting scripts, etc was really funny. Even the actor playing the monk, Vincent Chan, handsome brother of Kelly Chan had a scary moment when he was tied to a pole or something, dropped into the river and looked like he could have drowned and be looked almost panicking and quickly the guys came and pulled him up. I don't deny their dedication, but the script was poor. Vincent Chan was worse. But the scenery was beautiful.

VERDICT
Any JTTW fan would probably want to see a new adaptation, and I suspect liberties have been taken with the story as well so those who read the book may wish to compare and contrast. But in the end this series didn't feel like JTTW to me. It felt like a series about supernatural beings and if you see it that way, despite the long unending dialogues, the dubbing which irritated me or some poor acting, you may enjoy this. But those who wants a JTTW series will be severely disappointed. Wukong seemed out of character, Pig never changed in character, the Buddhas were strange and I find some storyline offensive and it didn't have the spirit of JTTW. I won't rush to rent or buy this one. I'd save my money for the original adaptation or TVB version if TVB ever bothered to release the full episodes instead of butchering it to fit a number of VCDs for maximum profit. Now I am eager to watch the 2011 adaptation because I am sure the cinematography would be excellent but I suspect yet again the director may just go off tangent when it comes to the story. But at least stay true to the spirit. Pilgrimage To The West failed miserably in that department.

OH! MY LADY [TV][Kr]

2010-09-13T16:55:00.008+08:00

Written by Funn Lim

"... so all idol fans will be glad to know there is nothing embarrassing with drooling over Choi Si Won in here as he did his fans proud. A fantastic performance and a definitely charismatic one."

SPOILERS ... SPOILERS ... SPOILERS

Korean title
오! 마이 레이디

Same title as in English

Better Title
Should have been Here Comes Ahjumma! but I believe that is already taken

Episodes
A rather short 16 episodes

Version
The version I watched is TV rip but HD quality with fansub which is well done but not as great as some I could name. Some aren't translated so don't go thinking all guys are called Hyung. It just means brother (as addressed by a guy to an older guy). Unni is sister as addressed by a girl to an older girl. Ahjumma is auntie. Ajashi is Uncle. Noona is sister as addressed by a guy to an older girl. Sanbei means senior, from one junior to another older guy. Appa is father. Omma is mother. Aigoo... I don't think it is even a word but more like an expression like huh? Wah Lau eh! Eh! Oi! I think...

Anyway if you would like to watch this the links are as follows:-

>> the video files
>> the subtitles files (English only)

If you wanna burn the subtitles into the video file aka hardcode the subtitles, learn how here

Broadcast network
SBS

Released In
2010

Cast-Character
Chae Rim as Yoon Gae Hwa
Choi Si Won as Sung Min Woo
Lee Hyun Woo as Yoo Shi Joon
Park Han Byul as Hong Yoo Ra
Moon Jung Hee as Han Jung Ah
Yoo Seo Jin as Lee Bok Nim
Yoo Tae Woong as Kim Byung Hak
Bang Joon Seo as Kim Min Ji
Kim Yoo Bin as Sung Ye Eun
Heo Joon Suk as Choi Tae Goo
Kim Kwang Gyu as Han Min Kwan
Kim Hee Won as Jung Yoon Suk
Hwang Hyo Eun as Oh Jae Hee
Hong Jong Hyun as Kim Jin Ho
Lee Dae Yeon as Eom Dae Yong
Chu Hun Yub as Chae Ho Suk
Seo Myung Kyu (서명규) as Min Woo's friend
Kim Hee Joon (김희준) as Min Woo's security guard
Yeo Ji Hyo as high school student
Jessica as herself (cameo, ep7)
Hyo Yeon as herself (cameo, ep7)
Choi Soo Young as herself (cameo, ep7)
Lee Han Wie as director (cameo, ep1)
Jun Hye Jin as actress (cameo, ep1)
Na Young Hee as Gae Hwa's former boss (cameo, ep1)

Summary
Taken from Wiki-addicts

A spunky 35-year-old housewife, Yoon Gae Hwa, takes on the job of manager to prickly top star Sung Min Woo in order to earn enough money to regain custody of her child from her ex-husband. Romantic hijinks and hilarity ensues when they find themselves in an awkward living situation as Min Woo pays Gae Hwa to take care of his daughter, Ye Eun.

Real Summary
I wonder do the networks actually watch the show or even read the scripts before putting down the official summary. So here is the real summary.

Yoon Gae Hwa is a divorced mother of one 7 (or maybe 8?) year old child who had to work hard to make ends meet as her ex husband, Kim Byung Hak refuses to help her out financially, blaming her financial woes on her deceased mother who used up Gae Hwa's entire divorce settlement towards the hospital bills. Out of desparation and without a job, Gae Hwa reluctantly left her daughter, Min Ji in the care of her ex husband who has since remarried to a younger wife which we will not get to see in the series. He took on Min Ji reluctantly and didn't take his responsibility as a father seriously which sees Gae Hwa having to take care of Min Ji by payments of school fees, music studies and even food even if Min Ji is staying with her father. Meanwhile Gae Hwa was given the job as a housekeeper to someone important whose privacy is of utmost priority and he turns out to be 28 year old top star/super idol Sung Min Woo which Gae Hwa isn't too impressed with even if her best friend paedetrician Lee Bok Nim and every young and aunties alike are absolutely crazy about him, despite his lack of acting skills. However the job lasted just 1 day as Gae Hwa had to leave due to an emergency with Min Ji and in the process burnt Min Woo's very expensive shirt. Fired and without a job, Gae Hwa answered an internet recruitment ad for an intern at a stage production company called The Show Company run by a very cool, cold and aloof Yoo Shi Joon. During the interview she was told she was too old for the job and as the conversation led to Sung Min Woo which Yoo Shi Joon was forced to consider casting him for his star power, Gae Hwa inadvertantly let slip she knows him. Desperate, Yoo Shi Joon told her if she could help recruit him as the lead actor in their upcoming musical called All That Love, she gets the job as the intern. Gae Hwa was desparate to reunite with her daughter and so prepared a business proposal for Min Woo, who didn't quite care to even read and threw the entire proposal out of his car although he made her buy him a new shirt. But she was persistent, as persistent as a papparazi who made it his life mission to uncover more of Min Woo's scandals. As Gae Hwa tried to see Min Woo at his luxury apartment, she saw a taxi driver letting off a 6 year old child with her luggage and said she was to be delivered to Sung Min Woo. The guard recognised Gae Hwa and thought she was the housekeeper and so she took the child to see Min Woo thinking she was his niece. To his and her shock, she turns out to be his illegitimate child with one of his I suppose childhood sweetheart before he went into showbusiness. Gae Hwa seizing the opportunity blackmailed him into accepting the job whilst meanwhile she in turn will take care of the child for him. He was thinking she would take the child and leave but Gae Hwa managed to convince him to let her stay with him whilst taking care of the child, Ye Eun as she can save on the rental as well. What Gae Hwa didn't know was Min Woo knew Shi Joon who was his lecturer during university days who predicted Min Woo as a complete failure as an entertainer and so there were bad blood between them. However Min Woo signed on, Gae Hwa got her job and so begins the precarious living arrangement between Gae Hwa who is also the housekeeper/nanny/secret keeper of Min Woo and his child Ye Eun whom he refuses to acknowledge. As time goes by he falls for her and things turn serious when Min Woo had to decide between his career and acknowledging his child.

Comments
I haven't been watching any Korean dramas not since the disastrous Cinderella Stepsister that turned me off K-dramas, and luckily not for good. I heard good things about this series and since I like Chae Rim who was the single reason to watch Dal ja's Spring, I decided to give this series a try. After all who doesn't like a good fantasy which involves an ahjumma (auntie) with a much younger hotter man? More so when this fantasy involves a dowdy looking 35 year old and a hot looking major pop idol? I know it sounds impossible, it sounds even ridiculous but if anyone can convince the audience that an impossible scenario can seem possible, it has to be K-dramas. Only they can make such ridiculous impossible scenario seem possible enough for us to take it seriously. If Cinderella Stepsister is love and tortorous love overload, Oh! My Lady is the direct opposite; it is still about love but an easygoing one so to speak. I remember rewatching All About Eve which coincidentally starred a very young Chae Rim opposite the absolutely gorgeous (and very married appa!) Jang Donggun where Jang Donggun's character chose to fall for Chae Rim's character instead of his oldest friend because Chae Rim's character made him happy and love should be happy unlike the meandering suffering love that Cinderella Stepsister would like us to believe, the same reasoning can be used here as to why Sung Min Woo could fall for Gae Hwa. She makes him happy, she feeds him, she encourages him, when his own manager belittled him it was Gae Hwa who expressed anger whilst he expressed a certain resignation to a fact that he is a lousy actor, when all was tumbling down for him and Gae Hwa was humiliated, she didn't care much about herself but worrries about him, when he was told by everyone to go on a diet for some photoshoot, she was the one who expressed disbelief that anyone should have to do that and starts to cook good food for him, she took good care of his daughter and thought of ways to make him acknowledge his responsibility as a father and in the end she loved him for who he is, not the top star Sung Min Woo but the loving father Sung Min Woo. As I was watching this series, I was hoping for 3 things to happen in the final episode;

1. a wedding. I want a wedding and K-drama seems not to like weddings
2. a still camera as the leads kiss passionately
3. a makeover for Gae Hwa

At the end, none of these 3 ever happened. There's still that circling the leads as they kiss camera technique which is boring, there is still no wedding but ended with a kiss and in retrospect, it was good Gae Hwa didn't go through any makeover at all and she remained true to herself. One telling scene had her ex husband making excuses for his affairs which led to the divorce, blaming her for looking like an ahjumma, for not wearing prettier clothes, etc which of course angered Min Woo who saw her for her natural sort of beauty. In an earlier scene they were both drunk after she had a really bad day and she confessed she knew she wasn't any great beauty but Min Woo was the one who drunkenly said "Looking at your entire face, no you're aren't attractive but individually, you do have a cute nose, and your lips.. your lips.." and he suddenly realised what he was saying and snapped out of it as she said "What about my lips? They're fine!" as she went to take a new bottle of wine but stood before the fridge and fallen asleep. Min Woo looked at her as she fluttered her eyes and suddenly, which I feel is quite a moment, he impulsively kissed her, much to her shock. It would have been great to see how they stopped kissing but the next scene she ran into her room and wondered what happened whilst Min Woo was in his room wondering why he did what he did. Then the next scene of him avoiding her, and she confronting him and saying "It was just a kiss! Moreover it wasn't a great kiss anyway!" which of course Min Woo felt insulted.

These funny moments and unexpectedly romantic moments which glued me to the screen but make no mistake, there were touching moments as well, one where Ye Eun who refused to speak due to psychological trauma of being abandoned by her mother and unwanted by her father suddenly spoke to a very patient and loving Gae Hwa, or when Min Woo promised Min Ji he will not hurt her mother and they pinky sweared on that or the most touching moment, when Ye Eun was lost in a shopping complex and Gae Hwa was inconsolable like a mother would and Min Woo held her consoling her like a father would and a panicking Min Woo went looking for Ye Eun and saw people looking at his life size cardboard ad image and saw Ye Eun holding the cardboard's hand since she recognised that as her father and he was very touched by what he saw and she then saw the real Min Woo and gave a sweet smile. I think at that precise moment he decided to hell with his career and he welcome his responsibility as a single father as well as recognising the fact that he was in love with Gae Hwa. That was a very touching moment that needed very little words and just a dash of tears.

The most romantic moment had to be when he gave her a written business proposal and Gae Hwa read how he planned to marry her in a month, a cruise later, a world tour some years later, etc which shows Min Woo now has plans for the future and is ready to shouler responsibilities and is serious about her. I think Gae Hwa didn't feel he wasn't ready for her but rather she might be a hindrance to his career, but of course his business proposal and the fact that Min Woo met with her ex husband and told him to apologise to her for hurting her to the point she was afraid of new relationships convinced her he has her best interest in his heart too.

And it is funny how Min Woo could convince her best friend, her ex husband, her boss, her colleagues and even her daughter that he was the right man for her as she pondered and wondered and kept denying that fact. He basically charmed everyone and convincing everyone of that fact which is very interesting to watch.

Despite the impossible scenario of how they met and how they ended up together, the fact that they could fall for one another, especially someone like Sung Min Woo for Gae Hwa was very possible. Of course many times in this series everyone wondered what he saw in her but sometimes you may wonder what she sees in that jerk. This series will explain why, but of course unlike Cinderella Stepsister, not painfully so but in a fun way.

Now this series lack villains. Of course villains would make it more urgent but I kinda like that there's not one person who is strictly a villain.

For example the manager of Sung Min Woo who seems like a possible candidate for Villain Of This Series but he isn't. He may have very little faith in his star, he may have threatened him and even did gangster sort of stuff all in the name to further Min Woo's career, he may even wanted to kidnap Ye Eun to make Min Woo to sign a new contract, but in the end he didn't. In fact one of the funniest scene was Yoo Ra who wants to get close to Ye Eun to gain access to Min Woo's heart convinced Gae Hwa to allow her to take her out for one day and of course she lost the little girl in the shopping complex. The manager who was tailing them so as to kidnap Ye Eun ran to Yoo Ra and screamed at her for losing the little girl and went looking for her. I think at that moment it kinda shows the manager isn't really a bad person since he was very shocked at Yoo Ra's incompetence and for losing sight of a child. I thought that particular scene was funny. Anyway in the end Min Woo decided not to sign on with his manager as he wanted to explore the possibilities on his own. He does see the manager like his older brother and the manager despite belittling him and everything and even at some point said Min Woo was just a product to him seems rather earnest in salvaging his career even if through gangster sort of ways. From the dialogue Min Woo wasn't an easy star to manage in the first place.

Yoo Ra could have been a villain but instead she is just keen on Min Woo and perplexed why he could fall for Gae Hwa instead of the hotter Yoo Ra. He was keen on Yoo Ra but in the end he recognises Gae Hwa is the one for her when he tried to kiss Yoo Ra and saw Gae Hwa's face instead. Yoo Ra may be childish and rude but she isn't a bad person. She didn't reveal to the press about the child when Min Woo repeatedly rejected her so she is not vindictive.

Yoo Shi Joon could be a villain as the series seems to suggest he likes Gae Hwa but didn't go further than that. Instead he became her friend and at times had to remind Min Woo to treat Gae Hwa with respect as he saw how Min Woo ordered Gae Hwa around not knowing she is part timing as her housekeeper. He seems to be the voice of reason and I like how in the end Min Woo learn to respect him as Shi Joon learn to respect Min Woo as well. By the way his story about Gae Hwa and him and his cheating suffering wife Jung Ah was what slowed down the pace of this series considerably. But his character has a purpose and served it well even if I thought he had already divorced his wife at episode 5 when until episode 16 only then they were divorced and remained friendly with one another.

The ex husband Byung Hak was a horrible father, horrible husband, horrible human being. He could even blame Gae Hwa for his affairs and financial woes and so he is closest at being the villain. And yet when Gae Hwa was accused of blackmailing Min Woo into starring in the musical, surprisingly and very funnily Byung Hak was the first to rise up to her defense as he proclaimed "Gae Hwa may be many things but she is not that sort of person! What sort of company is this that pushes their employees to resort to such desperate measures? What did you all do to make her go blackmailing people?!". In the end to her surprise he drunkenly offered his apology for hurting her which was a rather good scene and shows he ain't that bad even if he is a jerk. Of course the portrayal of a father who pretends to be a diligent one in front of his daughter and a whole different face in front of his ex wife was spot on. Must mention though that he may be rather offended that a hot young star like Min Woo could fall for a woman he claims to be unattractive and a nag. Of course unlike Min Woo he didn't see the beautiful aspect of his ex wife who deserves better.

Finally the reporter. Korean papparazi is scary if he is an example of such papparazi. His tailing Min Woo is not just borderline obsessive but an obvious harassment, since he chased Min Woo for scandals. But in the end he wasn't the villain as he wrote a glowing report on Min Woo which changed his image from teen pop idol to a serious character actor with a daughter to raise. In fact Min Woo became even more famous because of this new image.

So there are no villains in this series, just perhaps all sort of personalities. Moreover it wouldn't serve this series well to have a villain. I think this series knows what it is; a romantic dramedy.

However this series has its down times.

I wonder where is Gae Hwa's and Min Woo's family. So they do not have support system and when trouble comes it seems they're all alone. And we never get to see Yee Eun's mother. The mother actually just walked away!

Everytime the story moves away from Sung Min Woo and Gae Hwa the entire story falls flat. I believe Gae Hwa and Shi Joon's scenes are too many, as well as Shi Joon and his wife and also Yoo Ra and Min Woo, none of which I particularly enjoyed. I did not enjoy the reporter's story as well. Further Min Woo's backstory about the hit and run, affair with a rich man's wife, his rumours with many young stars, him beating a papparazi or something, none of these were explained in detail except to say they happened. So I didn't quite get the temperamental Min Woo although there's the arrogant selfish self absorbed Min Woo. Would these have furthered the character development of Min Woo? I don't think so, it may prove too much information but I couldn't quite imagine the sometimes lovable Min Woo or serious Min Woo could be so violent. He can be quite persistent though.

Frankly I have no problems with the characterisations in this series. Having read some online opinions, it is true the story in this series is very familiar but isn't all romantic stories the same essentially? The problem is breathing new life into the story, giving it something refreshing and I must admit the dialogues in this series are very good even if as this series would teach the rest of the world, Koreans love to mumble to themselves or is often so exasperated over everything they're rendered momentarily speechless, an observation I made in my Jewel In The Palace review. Or that they love to say "Aigoo" which I take it to mean "Wha... huh... ahhh... eh..." in any other culture. Why I love this series is of course the impossible story but most of all because of the performances.

The casting seems carefully done and I am happy if it is so because it pays to have careful casting decision.

Need I say anything more about the wonderful charismatic Chae Rim? The make up department has a hard time making her look dowdy with that awful wig (which I suspect later on is replaced by her real hairdo) and some questionable fashion choices, making her more ahjumma than unni but the fact remains she is cute and earnest and charismatic. I did wish she had a makeover in terms of wardrobe and I was very surprised her colleagues never said to her "Ahjumma, jeans and sweatshirt is not an office attire and nobody goes to a musical premier in shorts". Performance wise, I find Chae Rim could have done better than the worried look or the embarassed look and I do feel she was in better form in Dalja's Spring but frankly I find Chae Rim effective in here although her character is on one track development meaning she hardly had any development at all. I waould love to have more of her back story since after a while the series felt more like about Min Woo than about her and Min Woo. Not that I am complaining. I especially love her interaction with Choi Si Won, the way she indulges him, let him bully her and the way she quietly persuades him and the way she cooks, cleans and basically look after his every needs, including taking care of his daughter and eventually moving out with HIS daughter. After a while I was thinking shouldn't he shoulder the responsibility such as renting a place for her which he did ask to do so but she refuses. A very strange nanny!

Lee Hyun Woo is probably playing the same role I saw him play in Dal ja's Spring and may I add, I can't quite imagine him in a comedy since he totally lacks a sense of humour. He looks so much older in here, not helped by his 2 tone foundation on his face. Was he sick? I find him boring, and I find him NOT THE CHAIRMAN PLAYING THE CHAIRMAN sort of roles. It doesn't help he is slow and steady sort of person, which gives me an impression he is softspoken and rather mature but still so darn boring to watch. His scenes with the sassy looking Moon Jung Hee who can dance really well (a dancer turn actress perhaps?) playing his suffering wife is suffering to watch because these 2 has got to be the most soft spoken quarreling couples ever. The time it took for them to separate took 16 episodes and that is like a lifetime.

Park Han Byul is pretty and in all honesty, I really think she did something to her eyes, cheeks, nose and everything else except maybe her very nice figure which would take many many exercises to maintain. I mean everyone in this series probably had something done. What is interesting about her is her wardrobe; hardly a cleavage but still as suggestive with the impossibly high heels making her look even taller than she already is. Acting wise, a bit painful to watch. She quite simply utter her lines in such a careful manner that it took quite some time for her to finish one line, her expression is between huh and duh and nothing much and frankly, I find her pretty and that is about it. Possibly the worst performance in this series.

Yoo Seo Jin looks so familiar but I am not sure where I have seen her before. She plays Bok Nim who at first seems like a silly fangirl of Min Woo who turns out to be a married paedetrician who IS a silly fangirl of Min Woo. I love her character and I love her performance. So cute! I love the scene where Min Woo said "I have asked Gae Hwa to marry me" and her reaction was priceless; her coffee mug just dropped onto the table as she looked at him in complete and utter shock, an expression the Koreans are very good at.

Yoo Tae Woong plays Byung Hak the ex husband of Gae Hwa and this is the closest thing to a jerk and a villain in this series. He looks familiar, he was in He Who Can't Marry but I can't remember who he was in there. Anyway a complete and utter jerk and this actor really played him expertly. His worst as in most villainous moment had to be when he humiliated Gae Hwa at the musical premier which shows how little respect he has for his ex wife hence his disbelief when he found out Min Woo was supposedly dating her or that she is a planning manager at The Show Company. His redemption came when he defended Gae Hwa amidst the accusations of blackmailing and he became sort of a nice person in the end when he actually apologised to her, even if he was drunk and gave his seal of approval for Min Woo whom he declares is a good guy. Fantastic performance.

The actor who plays Min Woo's manager is a name I did not catch, whether character or the actor's name but he was despicable but still not villain enough. From the way he portrayed this role he gives me an impression he looks down on Min Woo, maybe sees him as an investment and his saviour and yet towards the end he still didn't kick Min Woo out of the apartment and even wanted to continue to act as his manager/agent despite the entertainment world declaring Min Woo as finished. But Min Woo of course decided to go alone, to be free agent and take care of himself. He said it in a very nice way actually.

Bang Joon Seo who plays Min Ji really looks like Chae Rim and gave an outstanding performance as the daughter. I find her cute and believable and very mature for her age which I checked is 7. Very big for a 7 year old girl.

But I am far more impressed with Kim Yoo Bin who plays Ye Eun, who is far younger than Bang Joon Seo (in the series she is 6, in real life she is 5, either way she is small for her age) and gets to have more scenes with Chae Rim and of course Choi Si Won. Her role may seem simplistic; she eats, cries and sleeps, a lot. But as the series went on and we learn that her mother did actually abandon her to start a new life in I think New York she suffered deep psychological trauma hence she refuses to talk. Then faced with a stubborn father who didn't want her, all I can think of was that her stony face or cries and silence were of better acting than some adults out there. And when she said "I understand Ahjumma" to Chae Rim in one scene, it was a near miracle sort of scene for me. Little cute scenes like refusing to take the lollipop that her father licked, or the way she quietly eats her food or wants to go to toilet (and mind you a lot of toilet humour in here but all tastefully done - no pun intended) or the best of all, holding that cardboard image of her father really did nearly broke my heart. When she smiles, she lights up the entire scene. And I love her chemistry with Chae Rim and Choi Si Won fans will be very happy to know her chemistry with her appa is the highlight of this series. A fantastic performance from this child actress.

Last but not least, Choi Si Won himself who looks like a cross between Takeshi Kaneishiro plus Wang Lee Hom plus David Wu (I think; that actor who played Bruce Lee who went on to Cat III movies who then became Channel [V] VJ and now I am not sure where he is). Anyway, let me do a checklist;

Handsome - check
Tall - check
Can dance - check
Can sing - competently so check (speaks with low voice but surprisingly sings with high pitched tone?!)
Can act - check
Has dashing smile - check check
Has killer abs - check check check
Amazing hair - check check check check check check check check check

What more can you ask for in a super idol? Maybe no chapped lips? Anyway, I am not aware of his existence except until this series came along. I do know the existence of Super Junior which is the group he belongs to but I am not a fan of either. When I knew he is a super idol playing a super idol, I did groan a little. How cliche eh? I know it would be entertaining but I was getting ready for those acting you always see in Taiwanese idol dramas which means very little substance and no expressions, if any. And after Cinderella Stepsister, frankly my opinion of idol acting in dramas isn't exactly very nice so yes I am not a fan of 2PM. What Choi Si Won has over the other idol in that drama is quality writing. Oh! My Lady has a good script and though Chae Rim may be the lead character, Sung Min Woo is the one character that is well written and would go through many challenging moments that a far worse actor would just ruin him. A good actor would make something out of him but a better actor would give him personality other than arrogant childish immature jerk. When I was watching I thought the character was 25 at most but all those mentions about university, dates, etc didn't tally and in the last episode I found out he was supposed to be 28 which in restrospect would make Min Woo incredibly childish and terribly immature. So the change in the end would have been an amazing transformation. Rest assured all fans of Super Juniors or whichever branch he is with, Choi Si Won the super idol from a super idol group who himself is a top star like Sung Min Woo himself did not disappoint; in fact I am terribly impressed with his performance which goes beyond just 2 expressions; he can actually act and he can act very very well. I wouldn't say earth shattering good but I recognise a talent when I see one and though I can't vouch for his singing (he did sing in this series, which was good) or dancing (which he did dance in this series which was good), but I feel he has a solid future as an actor. Some may dismiss this series as fluff, any actor can do it, it is a comedy, it is light hearted, it is romance series. First of, a good actor will be able to make Sung Min Woo likeable despite his immaturity or his constant pushing away his daughter. He has to be believable as a star (no problem in that) and as a person behind that facade called star and that I feel is where Choi Si Won succeeded. He has good comedic timing, his delivery of the punchline or that expression is spot on. There doesn't seem to be any deliberate acting on his part, his actions and his expression are natural and fluid, much like Chae Rim herself. I love his interaction with Chae Rim, the way he begs to be pampered or scolded or pushed around. I love his interaction with Kim Yoo Bin, especially that scene where he walked in to see her on the lap of Lee Hyun Woo's character and feeling particularly possesive, he tapped on his own thigh and a sense of triumph when the little girl walked right up to his side. His insistent on being fed, asking for fruits, saying he is hungry, etc. Those are little scenes but goes a long way to build up this character. His not so good scenes were the ones where he was angry and he was shouting which wasn't angry enough for me. But the quiet moments, like how he teases Gae Hwa or left in quiet contemplation over his future or how he should settle the problem with a bigger scandal that is his daughter, all these made him a joy to watch. It helps he is given killer wardrobe, his pants may look silly but he works them great! And it is also helpful he has killer abs with a waist so tiny, a shoulder so broad and a smile so dazzling. However I was equally as impressed with his ability to carry the little girl convincingly. You know some actors just couldn't carry a child but he can. And yes, the way I am going it is like an evaluation of a potential husband material isn't it? Well, why not? Children loves him, ahjumma like myself likes him, young girls adore him and as always it is better if all these adoration is justified. I proudly say I am a big fan of one particular star because he can act/sing/whatever and no more better honour for a fan to have such affection returned with quality performances. I do not know what the future holds for Choi Si Won, I suspect if he keeps this up he will have an illustrious solo career but so far, for this series alone, his performance wasn't fluff. His character changes from one end to the other and still maintain that likeability despite being a first class jerk. He handles the emotional scenes well and he looks good in all scenes even with ridiculous pants. I am saddened that HK does not have this sort of quality young idols, even Taiwan lacks them with all those nonsense they call acting but in series we just can't help but watch, so all idol fans will be glad to know there is nothing embarrassing with drooling over Choi Si Won as in here he did his fans proud. A fantastic performance and a definitely charismatic one.

Verdict
I have to give it to the Koreans to make such unbelievable fantasy seem like reality eventhough in real life it can never happen. There was a time there was a lull in quality with K-dramas but interestingly the acting is considerably and consistently better than most even if the story sucks. There are many reasons to watch this series; for the ahjummas in all of us, the fantasy element. For the romantics, the practical and yet romantic aspects. For those who crave good acting, this series boasts some fine ones amongst the major actors. For those who likes familiar but yet different stuff, this series has that too. But most of all, for fans of Chae Rim and Choi Si Won, there is no better reason than to watch this series for these 2. Why is it everytime Chae Rim is in a series I always wish she marries the lead actor? Like All About Eve and until now, I always believe Chae Rim is Jang Donggun's true love. Now I believe she is Choi Si Won's true love! And this is why this series is to me a success despite the ratings or the numbers; the actors convince us they're who they're.

A must watch.

One major missing scene
We have fans throwing eggs at Gae Hwa. It would have been great if there is a scene where fangirls running after her throwing eggs or maybe just curious about her. I mean it is so impossible, so why not up the notch? There is a scene of all the ahjummas running after Min Woo in a supermarket and 2 fangirls running after him in a street.

Could it happen?
If a young idol is discovered having a young child, will the sponsors abandon him like they did with Min Woo? I feel if a star such as Min Woo himself explain why and what and how and where, I am sure the fans would agree and the sponsors will agree that he is blameless. So why should he be judged immoral or unclean? It seems as this series suggest having a child out of wedlock is a bigger scandal than dating a woman 7 years your junior and having her walk in and out of your apartment or staying together in one place! I don't think in real it would matter if Min Woo has a child if it is explained he didn't know her existence in the first place.

How would Oh! My Lady be in other countries
Hong Kong
The actors' age would be at least add 5 years although for Gae Hwa it is very easy to find a 35 year old. Unfortunately it will be either very silly or very dramatic, and there will be ONE ultimate villain who will ruin things for our love pair in here. Since child actors are getting better in HK, it will be one good aspect. My guess is Raymond Lam will be cast as Sung Min Woo and he will probably play him like a gentleman and Charmaine Sheh will be Gae Hwa which I won't complain much since she is right age but damn it if she ever wears a dowdy wig because I am convince she would go through an amazing makeover where Raymond's eyes will light up which kinda defeat the entire message of the story. And Joe Ma will play Yoo Shi Joon. It is always that way. And the series will have 30 episodes. And I don't think HK can produce a Choi Si Won, the abs itself is contrary to Chinese male actors' normal body image. Why Korea and Taiwan and Japan has such super idols and HK has zero? I still can't name the HK version of F4. At some point we will see Gae Hwa and Min Woo's entire family who all knows one another and colleagues will have nicknames for one another as well. There will be many pub scenes despite Min Woo's fame. Gae Hwa at some point will go out with Shi Joon. She will end up in bed with Min Woo. The ending scene will have Gae Hwa leaving HK to further her studies and return as some classy manager meeting Min Woo again and we will be left wondering are they together again?! And then there will be a sequel. Since Min Woo is the more important character, they will kill off Gae Hwa and reintroduce a younger actress to become mother of 2 young girls and wife of Min Woo and I'll be damned if Linda Chung is not cast as that character. Somehow a female bodyguard will get involved and probably Tavia Yeung will get cast and in the end he will end up with neither because there will be a part 3 to the series where Min Woo will die and we will see a new "cool" actor in the form of Kevin Cheng.

Taiwan
The actors age will tally although Gae Hwa will look glamarous and be played by a more glamarous looking 35 year old and damn the wig and dowdy dress. She will dress in boots! To illustrate her "niceness" she will be seen crying when a goat dies. The actor will be someone good looking, maybe a bit of nice abs but will have long hair or so. Acting however will be like this; female lead acts way better than male lead who will sulk, grunt and just act cool throughout. Gae Hwa will not be pulled away by Min Woo, nope, it will be Gae Hwa running after Min Woo. The ending will be a wedding scene that I had hoped for. Yoo Shi Joon's character may be in here but probably will be drastically cut to render him insignificant. 20 episodes probably to tell the whole story. Probably plenty of kisses and definitely a whole lot more of narration with characters voicing their thoughts rather than actually speak them out.

Japan
First of, Japan will cut the episodes to an impossible 7 or 8 and still manage to tell the entire same story without much alteration. The young Min Woo will be someone from Arashi perhaps, I don't know, but he won't be taking off his shirt as often although he will have killer hairstyle which is kinda spiky short or wavy long. The actress will be less prettier than the Korean version, probably a few years younger and our Min Woo will be cool, sulky and god damn rude. They will sleep with one another. She will get pregnant. She will have miscarriage. They will part ways. He will find her. They will marry. Then they will make a one episode special to the series and then 2 movies to explain all that.

What I Learnt From K-Dramas
1. Everybody must have a rank or formal title such as President, Chairman, Manager, etc. No one is without a title or a rank and you must always address that person by that rank

2. OR you must address that person by their full name, surname included and imagine if that includes the title plus the company he or she works for plus the full name, the entire introduction scene in a well connected party can be a mouthful and will take one episode for just that.

3. Bow. YOU MUST BOW. More precisely girl bows to boy, no matter how much you despise that boy

4. In a love story situation, the guy must DRAG the girl out of a situation by leading her with one hand of his firmly clasped with hers and she looking darn confused.

5. A jerk is a jerk until he does something utterly romantic, not giving flowers but you know, go behind her back and start scolding her ex husband and insists he gives her her dignity back.

6. There was a time this is not true but now I am glad to say HERO = HANDSOME = DAZZLING SMILE = AMAZING ABS (optional but good if there is such a thing) = FANTASTIC HAIR

7. Seniors always scream at juniors who always detest the seniors but must maintain a polite demeanour with regards to the Seniors who will scream at the top of their lungs to the juniors who just look at them like "So what?!" and did I mention, seniors who are businessmen are like gangsters? In fact they all look like gangsters instead of legitimate businessmen.

8. Korea must be very very safe to allow a young girl to walk home alone

9. Just this series alone, the handphone is the must have accessory. As oppose to Cinderella Stepsister where girl searching for guy never seems to just give him a call or write a letter delivered by courier service directly to the intended person, in Oh! My Lady every episode has an average of 6 calls (as in 6 times a phone is used and always a handphone which all looks to be from the same company) and a few letters, by courier company no less

10. Korean women can really really walk. Evidence? Gae Hwa the superwoman who can do so many things within a few short hours which includes taking a bus home, clean, cook, and still manage to make it on time for the musical premier. No wonder she doesn't need a makeover. She has no time for a makeover.

Last but not least

11. Are saunas in Korea opened 24 hours? They can even sleep and eat there!

SOME PICTURES
I am absolutely unequivocally in love with that little girl Kim Yoo Bin! So precious! She came to the press conference with a cute tiny handbag! And I also love how Chae Rim would give her kisses and most of all, very surprised but shouldn't have been to see Choi Si Won doting on her! It must have been very cold but the way he covered her with his long coat and in one picture he even rubbed and blew into her tiny little hands! Super cute girl!!! And ermmm Choi Si Won isn't that bad himself. He gives me an impression he loves children and is good with them! He and Chae Rim makes such a lovely pair despite the age difference! Power to the ahjummas! More gorgeous pictures here!

231 Chamberlin Drive, West Seneca, NY 14210-2613

INCEPTION [Mov]

2010-08-25T15:30:00.002+08:00

Written by Funn Lim

"Whilst Inception is not the most important movie or best movie as it has its flaws and some questionable casting decisions, no doubt it is a very enjoyable movie that makes you think."

SPOILERS ... SPOILERS ... SPOILERS

Released in
2010

Language
English

Director
Christopher Nolan

Writer
Christopher Nolan

Cast-Character
Leonardo DiCaprio ... Cobb
Joseph Gordon-Levitt... Arthur
Ellen Page ... Ariadne
Tom Hardy ... Eames
Ken Watanabe ... Saito
Dileep Rao ... Yusuf
Cillian Murphy ... Robert Fischer
Tom Berenger ... Peter Browning
Marion Cotillard ... Mal
Pete Postlethwaite ... Maurice Fischer
Michael Caine ... Miles
Lukas Haas ... Nash
Tai-Li Lee ... Tadashi
Claire Geare ... Phillipa (3 years)
Magnus Nolan ... James (20 months)

Plot Summary
From imdb.com

In a world where technology exists to enter the human mind through dream invasion, a highly skilled thief is given a final chance at redemption which involves executing his toughest job till date, Inception.

Story Summary
Complete spoilers for those who can't understand the movie, check out imdb.com

Comments
I had to suspend my disbelief that you can actually kidnap someone, inject that someone with something, share a dream and find confidential information inside that subconcious mind in the dreamworld of this kidnapped person, in a world of corporate espisionage. Also that an "architect" can actually build layers upon sub layers of this dream world and convincing the dreamer that it is his dream and when it is somebody else's. Definitely a new cooler way of corporate espisionage and the movie doesn't bother in explaining the basics, just that they are and everybody seems to know there are such methods.

The reception for this movie is beyond critical success; some went further to say it is perhaps one of the most important movies of modern age, an instant classic, etc. Now this is a good movie but the most important in the sense of The Matrix that made you question your very existence? I doubt it.

What makes this a good movie it is a story well told, disguised in great special effects, some competent to good acting and set in a world that anything can happen and does and an ending that will be debated till the ends of earth that only the director can answer whether did Cobb really reunite with his children or was it a dream? My sister even went as far to say this is a story of the mind of a schizophrenic, nothing is real, nothing happened, just in his mind. Others would say earlier parts happened but the ending whether real or not depending on how you interprete the spinning top, some said it was still spinning meaning it is not real, some said it falters a bit and so it is real. Some noticed Cobb wears a ring in real world but not in the dream world, some said you never see the children's faces in dream world and they looked like they never grew up in even the ending thus it is fake. Some said the children wore different clothings so it must be real.

Whatever your opinion of the ending may be, the clever director who also gave us the puzzle movie, The Prestige achieved what he desired; this is one much talked about movie. My personal opinion? I like the idea that my sister proposed; he is a schizophrenic but no way the movie seems to point to that direction. I like to believe the ending is a happy one that he did reunite with his children, the spinning top did falter towards the end.

No doubt, such questions, probably will be answered in the 10th anniversary with the re-release of this movie is whatever format we will be using in future. The actors certainly didn't say anything. Argue away!

Back to the movie itself, like I said, it is full of great special effects. It looks good on screen and I can't fault the vision, the presentation.

However the narration and the story is a bit confusing. For one, it is difficult to accept the concept at fave value. If you could, then there's the question of very confusing "whose dream are we in now?" sort of way. Even if we ignore that, I was very bored with the reoccurence of Mal, Cobb's dead wife. She was intriguing at first but the ending scene of her arguing maybe he is in the real world and Cobb said no he knows he isn't because Mal in the real world killed herself so she is not real, she is just a representation of his guilt, therefore his totem (one item to remind the person whether they're in real or dream world), the entire scene felt like a fan fiction story come true, those sort you and I often write about as amateur. But there was nothing amateur about that scene, except it was very very long and became very very tedious. I was very bored with the character Mal and in the end I sorta realised I never knew the real Mal since she died. The Mal we knew was from his memories, from his guilty conscience and she was from the start a facade, nothing real. Even some flashback scenes on what happened to her and why she killed herself, and how Cobb said he could carry out the inception because he did it before seems rather forced. How did he actually did that? Putting an idea in a safe etc. That's what I mean when the story does not even explain the technically, just know that it is. And frankly, Marion Cotillard is beautiful no doubt, but I am not wowed by her acting. Since I am already irritated with the character of Mal and her irritating presence in the movie which breaks the narration rather than moving it along, Marion Cotillard didn't help matters with her how shall I put it? Her accent? I find it difficult to follow not because I could not understand her but because I could not stand the amount of time for her to finish her lines. And now I heard she may be catwoman. Why bother with the mask then? Since anyone can recognise her from the way she speaks. And Leonardo Di Caprio and Marion Cotillard shares zero chemistry; they could play complete strangers for all I know. Husband and wife is not believable at all. As to how she died, it wasn't such a big shocking mystery to me. I find it rather ridiculous anyway that her death was caused by her belief she is still in a dream, she needs to wake up by killing herself which she did. That is because frankly I couldn't buy the concept of a continous dream.

The movie presents to us the hypothesis that we can live our entire lives in a dream, from young to old for decades in a matter of minutes because in dreams world moves slower. And the deeper level of subconcious you go, the longer the time, to the point you can wake up losing your mind because in your dreams you would have probably lived a lifetime. It doesn't explain though do you or can you die in your dream from old age and what happens after? Another level of dream, deeper still? It does explain to wake up you need to kill yourself so imagine how many times Cobb did that. But by killing yourself when you're in a deep sleep means you will go to the deepest level of I suppose subconcious where it is like hell from the way it is described. In fact the levels of dreams felt like description of purgatory and hell whilst it may be heaven to some. You as the dreamer is the architect of your own dream, every character, every building, you subconciously placed them there. For most their dreams is based on reality although you can bend space, time, matter, etc. Sounds like The Matrix to me except Matrix is not a dream but a world created by machines to trick men into believing that's the real world. I can see where's the inspiration of Inception. But Inception itself presents this hypothesis as is; so I just watch it as is. But somehow in my mind I kept thinking are we capable of one continous dream as presented by the movie? Can our dreams be shared? Apparently it can be. When we wake up will we be so consumed by the perfect world in our dreams which in turn is based on reality that we will turn mad or in denial like Mal? Is it even possible? I haven't had a dream where it is one continous dream with consistent people in it. I wish I could do that.

This does make the movie an attractive one doesn't it? Strangely though since it is your dream so to speak, how come they can be attacked by guns etc? Can't they fight back by asking the architect to dream them a bigger gun or change the scenario or something? Or is the architect bound by her own creation; once in motion, she can't change it?

I have more questions but ignoring these technicalities, I find the movie very entertaining and nail biting because of the action stuff going on. Sort of like James Bond in a dream sort of action. However, one ridiculous moment had to be the moment(s) where we see 3 subconcious levels together; the van driver Yusuf and the van falling into the river which takes forever, Arthur gathering the sleeping ones in level 2 into an elevator where earlier I heard he has only minutes but it went on forever, the centre at the snow area for level 3 and in the end of course Cobb finding Saito in level 4. The scene of the van falling into the river was taking forever but the one that annoyed me was the level 2 elevator scene, it really felt like forever.

I must note the great special effect scene which is the one where Ariadne bending the streets as they fell on top of the other creating a perfect symmerty. Great scene.

In restrospect, we know so little of the characters don't we?

As for the performances, there seems to be a collection of Oscar winners, nominees and what nots. Doesn't make them all great.

Marion Cotillard is not my favourite so frankly I didn't enjoy her performance. Moreover, let me be petty; Mal isn't exactly a name that can elicit pity or any sort of emotion.

Ken Watanabe I never liked frankly but from the looks of it he is Hollywood's favourite Japanese actor, probably the only Japanese actor. I find him a bit too dramatic and his English is also a problem.

Leonardo Di Caprio is a good actor but I think he is a miscast in this movie. He can't do angst well and his character is full of it. Rumour has it Christian Bale was supposed to be in this movie but of course the director said Leo was his first choice. Christian Bale is all about angst and he will do great in the role as Cobb, on the condition he losses that breathy way he speaks ever since he plays Batman. Some viewers say the movie does not have an emotional connection, it felt cold, I disagree. I thought what more connection you want? Cobb is a tortured soul, he is angst and guilt and conscience all combined together and coupled with desperation and grief, what more? But rather it was Leo who didn't convey all these well. He sported that I don't know, that serious look throughout and nothing much. I just feel he was not Cobb and the fact that the movie felt cold was because he didn't deliver as he should.

Ellen Page plays the architect and frankly how she actually creates the dream world is skipped altogether so she spends time walking around in the movie looking like she is doing something. Then action kicks in and she is doing something and she is one character that connects with Cobb and found out his secret which I shall not reveal here. Not a secret really but how he spends his time in his dreamworld with his captive wife. And yet she manages to escape each time. Anyway Ellen Page is wasted in here.

I enjoyed Tom Hardy's role, probably one of the two "funny" ones in here that provides the lighter moments. Again exactly what he does I am not sure.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is so grown up! I remember him as the smart aleck kid from 3rd Rock From The Sun. How time flies. He has a huge role as Cobb's assistant, even if he has very little dialogue. I enjoyed his performance. Even if he looks skinny and all, his fighting scenes, and only one that fights against gravity in this movie was very entertaining.

Pete Postlethwaite and Michael Caine both have very small roles in this movie but both did what they are paid to do effectively in the few minutes of appearance. And that was Tom Berenger? The one looking oily and sneaky? Haven't seen him in a long time, could hardly recognise him!

The one actor and one character that I was absolutely fascinated with is to me the rarely seen strange looking actor, Cillian Murphy. I didn't detect any accent at all! Anyway he has I must admit a very cold sort of face with even chilly eyes but gorgeous eye colour if you ask me. Frankly I didn't follow his career much but am glad to see him having an important role in this movie. In fact his portion of the story is the most fascinating one. The entire story is built on his character and how Cobb and gang had to plant an idea in his mind and I like his relationshiop with his father and how Cobb and gang reasoned the best way to plant the idea is to effect a reconciliation with the father in the dream when in actual fact his father couldn't care less about him. He did the dramatic bits well and his scene of reconciliation with his father was definitely the highlight of this movie with some exceptional performance from this strange looking actor. He also handled the action scenes well.

I must admit Christopher Nolan is a very good director. He brings to us fascinating stories that is not some boring rehashed stuff from other boring rehashed stuff and he always make good use in his actors and prefers casting those he has worked with. I may have my grouses with this one, calling it confusing and at times boring or rather too long on one focus until I became restless but it is nevertheless a refreshing sort of movie which emphasise on storytelling as well as presentation. Whilst Inception is not the most important movie or best movie as it has its flaws and some questionable casting decisions, no doubt it is a very enjoyable movie that makes you think. Ignore the technicalities and just go with the flow and join the debate as to whether in the end is Cobb still in his dream?

Verdict
A must see. The name Christopher Nolan itself deserves at least a view at the trailer and with such a cast, whatever I may say about them, one of them must intrigue you somehow. The story (not the technical stuff) to me is the true star of this movie. Clever stuff I must say.

free hit counter

YOU'RE HIRED [TVB]

2010-08-24T16:52:00.003+08:00

Written by Funn Lim

"Dayo Wong rarely acts in TV series but when he does, somehow it is a guarantee he will be great."

SPOILERS ... SPOILERS ... SPOILERS

Released In
2009

Cast-Character
Too long. You can check them out here

No. of Episodes
22

Official Synopsis
Taken from Wikipedia

A previous successful entrepreneur, Mak Tai Song (Dayo Wong) searches for his mentor's wife, Sheh Mo Lin (Theresa Lee)and helps pay off her debt because he feels guilty for his mentor's death. On the other hand, Tong Kat (Benz Hung) pleads Mak Tai Song to mentor him, hoping to accomplish something for his father's billionaire company. Song ends up mentoring Tong Kat on a part-time basis and take shelves of good wine as payments. Song then gets chase down on making payments for She Mo Lin's debt by Lam Miu Miu (Charmaine Sheh), the debt collection agent of Sheh Mo Lin. The conflicting personalities of Lam Miu Miu, a wild spender and Mak Tai Song, a free-loader, causes many laughing moments of the drama and in the end, both fall in love with each other. When Lam Miu Miu thinks things are finally turning out the way she wants, she gets confused by Song's sudden changes and evil-tactics against Ngon Jo Lin (Michael Tse), Song's step-brother. Perhaps Song's long-lost childhood will change him entirely and make him more distant to Lam Miu Miu...

The Real Synopsis
How can the official synopsis get so many things wrong??

First of, Johnny is not a stepbrother, he is (SPOILERS! AHHH WHO CARES?!) half brother. Same mother, different father. Song is not a previous successful entrepreneur. He could be successful if he wants but he doesn't want to be. So technically he is a successful entrepreneur. Tong Kat didn't plead Song to mentor him, his father did. And Song didn't mentor Tong Kat, he became his advisor in getting out of sticky situations. He did mentor in a way Johnny. Debt collection agent? Same as debt collector. Miu Miu is not really a wild spender, she is technically a shopaholic. Ok, Song is a free loader. But the falling in love part was AFTER the problem with Johnny is solved, not before or during. The whole "make him distant to Lam Miu Miu" is pure nonsense. During that time or anywhere after there wasn't such a crisis. Who wrote this wildly inaccurate synopsis?

On The Names
You might wonder why Song calls Miu Miu "Sam Sui Mui" as in "The girl with 3 "water" in her name" because 淼淼, that is Miu Miu, and I am talking about one Miu is made up of 3 words individually; that is water in chinese! Therefore, her name as 3 water in it. Her brother, 林木森 , each individual word is made of the word "wood" in chinese! All are Wood! Clever play of words I tell you!

Did you notice anything else in this series such as clever play of words in names? If yes, do use Post A Comment!

Comments
I anticipated this series because I haven't seen Dayo Wong for a long time and he is a funny guy so I anticipate this series to be funny, except I was dreading Charmaine Sheh since comedy is not her forte. However I find my fears somewhat unfounded.

This is clearly a vehicle for Dayo Wong. Without him, this series will never work. Even with him, sometimes there are just so many plot holes and last minute changes and what nots but thankfully, or rather I didn't care. I watch it for Dayo Wong and I shall suspend my disbelief for 22 episodes. About halfway through the series, I realise everybody else is a supporting cast to the clear leading actor and character that is Dayo Wong. And yet also halfway through this series, the stories seemed stretched out, like it was losing steam because it was going nowhere with Mo Lin and Tong Kat's stories which I believe it was then Michael Tse's Johnny was introduced to great effect. His part of the story let everybody else shine, instead of just Dayo's Song. In fact I personally believe Episode 14 (if I remember correctly) as the best and funniest episode and that was because of the character Lam Muk Sang and the brilliance of Power Chan who showed his power, all puns intended. That one single episode lifted this series to quality comedy, simple comedic moments coupled with some good acting and great comic timing by everyone, even the rather shunted aside Charmaine Sheh gave this series a certain pedigree in good writing and also defines what is good comedy. But seriously, if Michael Tse didn't enter this series, frankly even Dayo Wong can't carry this series any longer with the out of steam storyline. I will explain why.

You can say this series is divided into 3 segments in the story. First which takes out a whole chunk is primarily Mo Lin's story. Then the second is Johnny's story. And the briefest is Song and Miu Miu's story, which is their relationship. Throughout we have a bit of Tong Kat, a bit of Miu Miu, a bit of Muk Sang, the noodle shop, Miu Miu's father as well as the father's disciple, Choi Kei. Song comes in in every part of the story as at first the problem solver to every problem comes his way and later his story takes the central story, his childhood, his relationship with his mentor and at last his fear of commitment and his relationship with Miu Miu. It feels like an episodic story you know, and before Johnny came into the picture, the story seems to be fizzling out.

Johnny in a way saved the series. His appearance was funny, dynamic and really pushed the story along by introducing to us Song's mysterious and very sad past. Before long we know Johnny who is really a very nice guy even if he seems like a slacker who loves the limelight and act and sing rather than do business, which is the rice business. I like how Johnny and Song interract and whilst Song seems to be the villain in here, the lessons learnt by Johnny is something that will shape him later on.

Episode 14 (or was it episode 15?) as I have mentioned is the funniest because in this episode, we have Johnny being a failed singer (failed spectacularly, all engineered by Song who perhaps wanted him to return back to Earth rather than day dream about fame all the time) and his business plan or promoting rice together with his musical career also failed spectacularly was demoted and became Muk Sang's assistant. Now Muk Sang is the assistant to the CEO, before this was Johnny, then Johnny made the error and was demoted and so his twin sister, the strict and always by the book/time Bowie took over as CEO. Muk Sang himself is assisted by Miu Miu herself. So when Muk Sang learned that he has 2 assistants, and one of them the former CEO who will probably become CEO again one day since he is the only son, and yet the current CEO is warring with the ex CEO, he is stuck in a situation where he can't be nice to Johnny for fear of getting the wrong side of Bowie and yet can't be that bad to Johnny that when Johnny regains power he will benefit from that as well! To see him running back and forth between them and to see Miu Miu too stuck in the middle was the funniest of the entire series. Here Power Chan really showed his comedic timing, his big fake smiling face to both siblings whilst trying to please them both without annoying either of them was simply the classic moment of this series!

Another great moment was when Miu Miu realised she was in love with Song, her family knew and decided to test Song on how he felt for Miu Miu. And what better way than to hold a banquet thanking Song for his help for the family but the entire thing felt more like a wedding reception than a thank you banquet! Very funny stuff as Song realised the entire thing was to force him to confess his love for Miu Miu. So Miu Miu got rejected in the end and of course tried her best to ignore him. But these 2 are peculiar pair. When Song said "Let's try to fake dating first, just a try", she agreed. Then of course there's the "Let's try to fake propose marriage first" and she agreed. In fact he gave her a wedding ring box, in it was a coupon to redeem a wedding ring when she wants to! Then of course the last straw was "Let's try to practice our separation scene, just in case" and Miu Miu got so pissed off, she said why not just break up. Of course she really really liked him. If there is one rather romantic scene, it has to be the one where he kissed her as she complained "I don't know what you're thinking, I don't know what you want, I don't know anything about how you feel, you bottle up everything inside and refuse to let me know anything at all!" and suddenly, her face really red and blushing and as he tried to explain how he feels, she in turn just shut him up and just say "Go, go, you have more important things to do, what soup you want to drink? I will make it!". Very funny and a lovely kiss.

And throughout, there are gems of scenes thanks to Song with his wisdom in dealing certain situations until the series turned deadly serious with the return of his supposedly dead mentor, Martin and we see a sombre Song trapped between his guilt for causing the downfall of Martin (and his crippled leg) and not wanting to help Martin to regain his wealth by hurting the people he care about, like Miu Miu whom he is dating at that point and also his good friend Tong Kat and his aged father, old Mr Tong who trusts Song implicitly and without question. He felt terrible for betraying their trusts and yet couldn't bring himself to hurt Martin again. In fact at this point this series just became way too serious. Frankly I didn't quite enjoy the Martin story, I find it such a ridiculous part of the story and what a stupid man to throw away the trust by the Tong company and for what I wonder? In the end we found out Martin planned everything from the beginning, and push the blame on Song. If you're wondering, Song became obssessed with success and money and sold off Martin's company for a high profit. Supposedly Martin was so upset he drove over the sea or something and died. Of course he didn't die and some years later came back a crippled. But in the end he turned out to be perfectly normal, that he actually invested in something called accumulator and lost heavily and so engineered everything, faked his death and all. Song knew because he said he paid off Martin's debt. Now this was when I was like "Huh? Where did that come from?". Never had Song indicated anything about knowing Martin lost heavily in investment. Just one of those storyline that got changed as the series went along.

But the characters are pretty consistent except for some inconsistent issues. Like Song. How he has got the money to pay off the HKD5 million debt of Muk Sang? He borrowed from an old ally perhaps? When he started dating Miu Miu, she bought a whole lot of clothes and bags and told him to pay which he did. How did he pay? He didn't have money and I assume no credit cards at all. At the final proposal scene (which they terms as Redeem The Wedding Ring Banquet), the wedding ring was at least sponsored by Tong family. How did Miu Miu's ex boyfriend who was just earning some money from his recycling business could get such a fantastic apaertment and all those furniture? And how can they just close down the business when so many people's livelihood is at stake? So does it mean all those ex homeless people goes back to being homeless? And why wasn't Johnny at the engagement banquet? Because Michael Tse's contract for this series is over by that time? And when did Miu Miu quit her job as debt collector anyway? And what's the deal with that Hunter guy?

And the ending was pretty terrible. Of course it must involve love and toilet joke but I felt the ending brought down the entire series where it succeeds in balancing drama and comedy and frankly I will just ignore the ending. If you must know, it is a happy one where a couple who retrieves an engagement ring from a pile of you know what will of course be a successful couple in my opinion.

Performance wise, generally I must say very satisfactory, especially never expected one of them to be entertaining at all.

Michael Tse I believe was brought into the production to move the story along because he came out of nowhere and in the end went out of sight quite as suddenly. His character is the sort like all of us; dreaming of stardom and not doing anything else. I find him funny and engagingly gullible when he was gullible and a very likeable character. I never thought I would say this of Michael Tse who has this look of pure disdain whenever I see him on TV being interviewed. I am sure he is a cold but not rude sort of guy but he never gave me the impression that he is affectionate or friendly sort. In this character however he is everybody's friend and I find his performance excellent for the few short episode. A pity his character is not given a proper ending in the end. Would have love to see him at the wedding cheering on his brother/good friend, Song.

Benz Hui as Tong Kat is a rather strange sort of casting decision. Benz Hui, a rich middle aged playboy sort of guy? Would never have believed that and I didn't when the story in the beginning highlighted him. Then he disappeared from screen for a good number of episodes when Michael Tse appeared and when Michael Tse disappeared, Benz Hui reappeared and I liked him better when his character was kicked out of his father's house and the screentime is dominated by Benz and Dayo as 2 best friends. Tong Kat turned out to be a pretty great character and playboy as he is, he believed Song when Song was accused of working for rival company by Martin. Their friendship is believable and after a while I find Tong Kat lovable and also understandable why he is such a successful womaniser. So kudos to Benz Hui.

Cheung Kwok Keung is someone I haven't see for some time and that man, since time immemorial has always looked that way so I will conclude he hardly aged. His Martin is strange. I wonder was he a good guy turned villain because of what Song did? Or he became a villain because he himself lost a whole lot of money and pretended to die to mark up the share prices or was it mark down? Frankly I am absolutely confused over the business part. However he was despicable when it turns out he wasn't walking with a limp at all. I find this character confusing, probably because the writing is confusing. However Cheung Kwok Keung did very well in this very serious role where the comedy at this segment of the series seem to have been totally annihilated. Not that I am complaining since it deals with Song's guilt over what happened to his master. I just don't understand why Martin would continue to betray the Tong family who entrusted him such trust and gave him so much perks if money is his no. 1 agenda because the Tongs would probably reward him well. Is it jealousy over Song and to revenge against Song for selling his company? All of a sudden we are told Song actually paid off his huge debt and Martin knew and didn't feel grateful at all. At some point I think the whole storyline of why Martin hated Song so much just got thrown out of window.

Teresa Lee as Martin's wife is also someone I haven't seen for some time. Again she hardly aged and yes, she is no comedian but her role does not require her to be funny. Her cantonese is still choppy but then Mo Lin is supposed to be a girl born and bred in US so that is understandable to me. My problem with her character is after a while there wasn't much for her to do. She suffered, Song helped her, she avoided Song thinking Song liked her, then Song explained he didn't, she in turn fell for him and then he avoided her and then she realised it wasn't love, just a misunderstanding and so she left for US. Then Michael Tse came into the picture and when he left, she returned, having found Martin (or sly Martin found her but pretended he couldn't look for her for max pity points?), found out her husband is a scum and took Song's side and the left again and then returned again when he is in prison with the promise to wait for him and hoping he would change for the better. She comes, she goes, she comes back, goes again and comes back again. To me she is a Extra Special Guest Star. Her story is short and at some point absolutely done with, which is why Michael Tse came into the picture and she out of the picture. Acting wise, she displays the right amount of confusion, determination but frankly and thankfully she does not need to be funny at all because she falls flat in that. To watch her deliver her lines is a struggle. She is someone who can act pretty well but hindered by language. If in English, I am sure it will be more natural for her. Her best scene was when she thought her mother in law didn't recognise her and her anguish as she poured out her frustration to Dayo's Song that her life sucks is one of the best moments of this series.

Mandy Cho is a surprise. First, she looks sort of like Charmaine, and I think it is deliberate, since they play in laws and she being the older sister in law but probably close in age to Charmaine's Miu Miu, they have the same hair and the same obssession with handbags. I haven't seen much of Mandy Cho to tell you how she is in her performance since I have nothing much to compare with. Again she is not funny, Power Chan is but I like how they cling to one another. The fact that they play a "power" couple and a loving one at that with similar personalities is I thought brilliant. I like how Power Chan kept holding her and she in turn cling to him. I find their relationship believable. She wasn't horrible at all, since the focus is not on her and when the focus is on her, thankfully Power Chan is there to shift the focus. So frankly not much to comment at all. Ok, one comment. A bit too much make up.

Oscar Leung is funny when it comes to expression. Again his character doesn't seem to fit into the first half of the story, with his seduction of Mo Lin which frankly isn't really funny but as the story progresses to him as the successor of the noodle shop, he displayed his ability in handling the lighter side of the story as well as the dramatic bits. I think he is a competent actor.

Joel Chan finally has a role where he isn't some jerk or some sniggering villain. Even if his character is totally unbelievable and you have to suspend disbelief, I think his over idealistic and environment loving character who actually is afraid of failure so decided not to try at all rather well, ok. He is just one of the cases for Song to solve. However his ending bit with Charmaine where Miu Miu confesses she doesn't love him anymore and he was heartbroken was gentlemanly enough to understand things have indeed changed was one of the better acted moments in this series that does not involve Dayo Wong. A good performance.

Queenie Chu is tall. She is also perfectly cast as the "time is everything" sort of strict boss. I think she is a good actress, again not a comedian and therefore she does not provide the laughs but she does provide for some good acting chops even if one moment sort of killed that credibility that was when she found out Song is her half brother and frankly the reaction as in non-reaction was all wrong. That is one of those inconsistencies I talked about. Other than that she is actually a competent actress.

The older actors did competently in the dramatic department, except for Chow Chung with his over the top expression was rather funny even if he didn't mean to be funny although his acting is much better here than his previous offerings. Suet Nei for one is a far better actress than she was when I first saw her even if I find her character despicable. Of course the justification for her abandoning Song was that her current husband was not the third party, he was actually her husband from the start and Song's father was the third party sort of like exonorated her actions of abandoning Song but I don't think so. Of course she tried looking for him, half heartedly in my opinion because he is there! And when she thought he was jeapordising the relationship between Michael and Queenie as brother and sister, she said "I wished I have never given birth to you". That would sting I tell you. What an awful thing to say. To see Song in the end accepting her because he found out his father was the 3rd party was such an easy excuse isn't it to explain for the awful things she said?

Power Chan is one half of the 2 reasons why this series is so funny. In one episode alone which is the one focusing on Michael, Queenie and with him in the middle has got to be the best in the entire series. His exasperated expressions, his desperation to serve two bosses and not offend either of them and his antics in going about that as well as teaching Miu Miu and Johnny on how to prepare a company proposal in one night certainly made this series even funnier than it was! Earlier scenes where he os often introduced as if he is such a busy person, very important, no time at all were funny too as with his role in the thank you banquet held for Song where he was the big brother ushering in Song when it looked more like the brother of the bride escorting the groom to his wedding! Power Chan's performance is energetic, he has got the comic timing, and he has always been a very good actor, except sometimes languishing in villanous role. I always thought he and Wayne Lai are similar and since Wayne Lai is now super famous, I am hoping someday Power Chan will receive similar kudos for his talent in both drama and comedy.

Charmaine Sheh is an anomaly. I have been saying the same thing over and over and over about her inconsistency, whether in performance, in a scene, in a series, in everything. No doubt she is I believe TVB's no. 1 actress now, and this series was made I suppose before you can surely say she is no. 1 actress in TVB? Dayo Wong has the unique ability, like Bobby Au Yeung to have chemistry with all their female leads, well at least a majority of them and Charmaine is no difference. Her chemistry with Dayo is wonderful, and I really thought that one kiss they shared was one of the most beautiful kisses on screen and believable kiss as well. It was not disgusting, it was not inappropriate but rather just beautiful. There are a few things Charmaine excels in , that is crying (but silently not those loud ones) and a kissing scene. Their kiss gave off a sense of intimacy and it was lovely to watch. I love her clothes in this series, especially the bright red blouse and I think she looks very pretty and thankfully she plays someone sort of like her own age so it didn't feel unbelievable. And mind you, she is in a lot of boots and mini skirts. Her best scenes are with Dayo as always and I can pinpoint which is her funniest and which is her best. Her funniest was when she returned breathless from I suppose having ran to buy Johnny's breakfast on the orders of her brother whilst Johnny was running to buy breakfast for someone else. Her inability to talk as she swung her arm around was a genuinely funny part even if it was a mere seconds. Her best scenes were during which she had to play nice to Dayo's Song such as cooking for him, going to the market together like a mother leading her son and when she found out he thought of her like his mother, her performance there was funny and effective. Another good one was during the thank you banquet, she was like practically the shy beaming bride and her Miu Miu's sudden love for Song didn't look that sudden and I find it all believable and effective. Overall I think her performance generally was entertaining, cute sometimes and competent. Those are the good parts. And what made her cute is of course herself, Charmaine is likeable as long as she doesn't shout or talk loudly. But her entertaining and competence came from Dayo which she shares most of her screentime and Power Chan, who both took away much notice from her. Frankly I wasn't paying attention to her most of the time because Dayo's delivery of his lines demands full attention and Power Chan is just too hyper for me to look elsewhere. She is funny because they are funny. She alone is not funny. I find her having no comic timing. It is unfair to compare her to Dayo who is a comedian for a start whose every delivery is a punch line and every punch line delivered with perfect timing and with the right sense of irony or sarcasm which other characters often failed to detect. She however succeeds as the one next to him, the one trailing along with him. Let me be blunt; put anyone save for the most annoying ones or those who absolutely can't act, and they would do well. This Lam Miu Miu to me is without much personality on her own. I find her bland and frankly not very interesting if there is no Mak Tai Song next to her. And frankly, when she appeared, I kept thinking Ada Choi would be a better casting decision because Ada can play someone calculative, materialistic and such even if my opinion of her dramatic acting isn't very high. But Ada had played a similar role next to Dayo of course. But somehow I feel casting of Charmaine is not the worst decision but it did nothing at all to make Lam Miu Miu special at all. How should I articulate my thoughts to explain what I mean if you don't understand what I meant? Quite simply, Lam Miu Miu in this series is supposed to be the leading female character but after a while I find her blend into the back as just one of the characters. With or without her, the series will do well. Of course every hero needs a heroine but frankly for Lam Miu Miu's character, anyone can play this role. Charmaine did nothing to bring anything special or unique to this role, except maybe that beautiful kiss and her lovely wardrobe.

Dayo Wong rarely acts in TV series but when he does, somehow it is a guarantee he will be great. After all being funny is his life's work. But this series proves he can be more than funny. It is indeed like a great shame on all those so called veterans or siu sangs or fa dans or those who works on TV regularly churning out performance after performance because if you watch Dayo in here, even during dramatic bits, he was excellent. Of course he is funny. His delivery of every punchline was perfect, subtle but darn funny. Like Stephen Chow, he mastered the art of comic timing and punchlines. What I am impressed with him is the dramatic bits. I know he can act but I never knew he can act that well. The scenes of him looking at Michael Tse's Johnny who obviously had a better easier life and a mother's love and care, were they curiosity? Jealousy? Such contemplative expression! His best was when his mother confronted him, and in an emotionally charged scene as he kept denying his identity, he finally broke down and his voice shaking, his eyes sort of brimming with tears as he told off his mother, that scene or scenes as there were several was amazing to watch. He was like a guy trying to hold back pouring out his anger, his anguish, and it took him a lot of effort. Fantastic performance. One of the funniest scene was when his mother called him and trying to make him admit who he is, and he kept denying her questions, this one single scene show a classic comedy moment that haven't been seen much. The set up is so simple, the execution flawless and we have seen such a funny scene in the past and it is nice to see such classic scene again, and that was when he kept saying he wasn't who he is, suddenly old neighbourhood friends turned up and said hi! Even the shop owner suddenly appeared and recognised his mother as mrs so and so and he was so and so. Exceedingly funny scene! I like such old school stuff instead of the put on over the top comedy and Dayo's performance as Mak Tai Song does bring back good old memories of when comedy isn't that much just about slapstick as we see now but delivery, delivery, delivery! Excellent performance and the only reason to watch this series, without him, it will never work at all.

Verdict
This series has its brilliance that reminds me of when comedy is about subtlety, isn't about a whole lot of people in one scene doing something cute or funny but sitting down, delivering a line with perfection. Dayo Wong makes this series and Dayo Wong is a class act. And a great thing is he alone isn't the one best thing of this series; he ably supported by the others even if I may criticise the usefulness of their characters or even the relevance of their performances. Afer all You're Hired has only one leading actor and that is Dayo Wong and the rest are supporting actors. If you see it as that or unless you're the biggest fan of anyone in this series other than Dayo Wong and therefore will delude yourself into thinking such and such stands parri passu with the great Dayo Wong, this is a must watch. I see it as a compliment that everybody else is a supporting cast since he can't do everything by himself, and at some point without the likes of such supporting cast even Dayo seems to be running out of steam. Why he is so funny and so great is because of such support. So in the end for whatever reason you watch this series and even if this series is inconsistent and with more plot holes than a cheese, it is still to me a must watch because it is just so funny.

Interesting Fact
Dayo Wong is mainly in one costume throughout but somehow when he wore the tuxedo, I find him so very handsome. Indeed, a good tailored suit makes a man I tell you.

The themesong is as usual sung by Dayo Wong. He is a far better actor than a singer but I enjoyed the song and its lyrics.

free hit counter

THE MYSTERIES OF LOVE [TVB]

2010-08-17T12:32:00.003+08:00

Written by Bridget Au

"The Mysteries of Love began badly. Very badly… so badly, in fact, that I thought at first that I was watching the wrong series."

SPOILERS ... SPOILERS ... SPOILERS

Chinese Title
“Tam Ching Suet On” (roughly translates to Of Love And Cases)

Theme song
Until You Stop Looking For Me by Raymond Lam

Released In
2010

No. of episodes
25

Cast
Raymond Lam as Kingsley
Tavia Yeung as Sai Lei Mui
Kenneth Ma as Gordon
Bernice Liu as Nickole
Evergreen Mak
Mary Hon
Lee Kwok Lun

Foreword
Not as bad as its title, but still pretty bad. Starring some guy named Raymond Lam.

Review
I am one of the many who watched Japan’s Galileo before this series and I can tell you without a doubt that no matter what TVB says, The Mysteries of Love definitely copied / loosely based / is inspired by its Japanese counterpart. I can also tell you without a doubt that TVB butchered everything that was great about Galileo and put its own horrendous spin on the plot and characters.

The Mysteries of Love began badly. Very badly… so badly, in fact, that I thought at first that I was watching the wrong series. You have to watch the beginning for yourself but I am fairly confident in saying that it is probably the cheesiest introduction of a family feud between two lovers in recent history. What a dumb plot gimmick.

And so we think – it’s only uphill from here, right?

Wrong.

The cases were boring and predictable. I watched this series only a few weeks ago and if you ask me about the cases, I can tell you I don’t remember a single one. Give me Detective Investigation Files over this any day. I’m also tired of how the villains always get a long confessional soliloquy in TVB series. Isn’t there a more refreshing way to explain how cases got solved?

The ending was one of the worst anti-climax endings I’ve ever watched. First off, Sai Lei Mui tells Kingsley she tried to commit suicide after he broke up with her. If the subject wasn’t so serious I think I would have laughed at how anti-climax this revelation was. This was so out of character for Sai Lei Mui and a lame attempt at last-minute drama. After that, she forgives him after watching him declare his love on national television, followed by a proposal scene where everyone and their mother encourages her to forgive him and accept his proposal. I don’t know about you, but I won’t go accepting an ex’ proposal days after I tell him I attempted suicide because of him. This was lazy writing to the core.

I am a shameless Raymond Lam fan so it pains me to tell you that I did not like his performance here. For one thing, the casting is all wrong. Ray is too young for the role. While he looks intelligent in that very academic way, he is not convincing age-wise as an assistant professor even though he’s supposed to be an accomplished genius.

And what’s with the vests? Can’t he just hang out in a lab coat, please? And the name - Kingsley King?! I thought they were joking. Why does TVB insist on giving Ray’s characters horrible English names? Alfred in Heart of Greed, for one… but seriously, Kingsley? The name was so bad and laughable that my friends and I started referring to this series as “Kingsley”. We would ask each other things like “What episode of Kingsley are you on?” or “Have you finished watching Kingsley yet?” TVB, please give the poor guy a decent English name next time. Hell, just call him Raymond Lam.

The absolute worst part of his character was that he was pretentious – as – hell. TVB has got to stop thinking it’s portraying a realistic professional just because he has a ridiculous English name, texts his girlfriend in English (and she doesn’t speak English, btw), and is referred to by his English name by his blue-blood parents. And while it may not be Ray’s fault, I was annoyed out of my mind by the constant English phrases he uses in his dialogue. At least Ray speaks decent English, unlike the other actors TVB forces to speak the language in so-called ‘profession series’…like here, where they kept calling Nickole “Nickel”.

Casting and pretentiousness aside (which is mostly the scriptwriters’ fault), I didn’t quite like Ray’s interpretation of his character either. Kingsley is supposed to be a genius driven by logic and scientific explanations. These people are usually a) loners or social outcasts b) not very in tune with their emotions c) not very expressive or a combination of the three. While again, most of this is the writers’ fault for giving him a best friend in Gordon and a quick girlfriend in Sai Lei Mui, Ray was not deadpan enough in the role. He smiles, his eyes sparkle, he’s polite and even charming in the role. The one exception would be the confession scene in the restaurant when he tried to explain how he fell in love with Sai Lai Mui. So formulaic, so logical, and very in character for Kingsley. I was laughing! Ray actually looked deadpan in that scene, which was good. Overall though, Ray fans won’t be too well served with The Mysteries of Love.

If Ray’s performance was a surprise, so was Kenneth Ma’s, but in a good way. In series, Kenneth usually bores me to tears but in interviews he seems chatty, interesting and even silly at times. I think with this series as well as his performance in Survivor’s Law II, Kenneth has found his “golden character” - the ones who are bright but goofy, not very polished, even a bit crass. He’s got chemistry with Bernice Liu and their friends-with-benefits relationship was more interesting to watch than the Ray-Tavia overused storyline. Kenneth’s performance is both entertaining and brave here, what with his very intimate scenes with several actresses.

Bernice Liu was reduced to a cameo here, so I don’t have much comment on her performance other than the fact that she has improved in the dramatic scenes. A decent performance.

Tavia Yeung was a question mark for me. She looks a lot like the actress in the Japanese version, and though her character is kind of annoying in here (she is all over Kingsley all the time), Tavia can act. Her best scene was the scene with her father, when she broke down in tears after breaking up with Kingsley. It reminded me of a similar scene in Love Bond with Kenix Kwok and Paul Chun. I also liked Tavia’s bantering scenes with her co-workers here and the scenes with the actor who plays her nephew. I felt nothing for her scenes with Ray, though. Anyone feeling overexposed to these two actors may need alcohol and/or a fast-forward button to get through their scenes. In fact, they behave almost like siblings. While I have no complaints about Tavia’s acting in this series, I have to say she lacks charisma. I really think she should stick to the secondary characters. However, I will take her as a female lead any day over Charmaine or Shirley.

With the exception of the veteran who portrayed Sai Lai Mui’s father, no supporting cast member was especially memorable. Casting missed the mark again with Mary Hon and Lee Kwok Lun as Kingsley’s parents. They were almost cartoon versions of snobby old-money people, and from the way they behaved and talked, were beyond pretentious – the antithesis of class. I was happy to see Evergreen Mak again, although this role didn’t make much of his acting skills.

To Watch or Not to Watch, That is the Question
Strictly for Kenneth, Bernice, Raymond, and Tavia fans… and even then, I make no promises. A miss.

Ratings
2/5

free hit counter

GALILEO [TV][Jap]

2010-08-17T12:23:00.001+08:00

Written by Bridget Au

"Clever, entertaining and fast-paced, Galileo is a refreshing departure from your usual Asian idol drama or romcom"

SPOILERS ... SPOILERS ... SPOILERS

Year
2007

Japanese Title
“Garireo” (Japanese loan words)

No. of episodes
10

Cast
Kou Shibasaki as Kaoru Utsumi
Masaharu Fukuyama as Manabu Yukawa
Kazuki Kitamura as Shunpei Kusanagi
Hiroshi Shinagawa as Shiro Yuge
Ikkei Watanabe as Hiromi Kuribayashi
Miki Maya as Sakurako Jonouchi

*Based on the mystery novel Tantei Garireo (“Detective Galileo”) by Keigo Higashino

Foreword
Clever, entertaining and fast-paced, Galileo is a refreshing departure from your usual Asian idol drama or romcom. What Taiwan’s Pi Li MIT should have been.

Review
As anyone can tell from scanning my review list, I don’t watch many Japanese series. However, this series came highly recommended by a fellow reviewer who tends to share my tastes (most of the time). After Googling the series and seeing the poster, my first thought was “What the – is that Ekin Cheng? And Emme Wong?” Can you tell I’m from Hong Kong?

Before I get stabbed by the, er, enthusiastic Fukuyama fans, let me say that he only looks like Ekin Cheng in the poster i.e. when he’s not moving. Same with Shibasaki. Moving on.

I was not disappointed with this series, unlike all the other times I’ve been duped into watching overhyped series (I’m still recovering from War of In-Laws). The basic formula for Galileo is similar to the detective-style series of 90s TVB, but of course with striking differences:

1. The cases are creative, clever, and some are borderline creepy in that very Japanese way. Case in point (pun intended) is the fake suicide one with the hanging contraption. Some of my favourite cases were the very first one with the laser beam, and the one involving the mirage in the factory.

2. The romance between the two leads is subtle and doesn’t really end in a “Ashiteru!!!” (I love you in Japanese) nor is it the main focus, thankfully.

3. Unexpectedly funny moments. My favourite was when Yukawa is trying to dismantle the bomb in the last case to save Utsumi, and at first she talks about pink and blue chords and Yukawa dryly says “You watch too many cartoons”. Then when he gets to the last dismantling task, he sees a pink and blue chord and then mutters “I should have watched more cartoons”.

4. Case-solving is based on actual logical explanations topped by physics theories. Whereas you get half-assed, not very scientific resolutions in TVB cases (the NOT MATCH flashing screen in Forensic Heroes is my example of choice here), the cases in this series seem impossible at first – with a touch of paranormal – but after the revelations by Yukawa, everything makes sense. Unfortunately, similar to TVB’s detective series, every case ends in a confession. Boooooooring.

5. Great characterization. Though the character of Utsumi is nothing new, Yukawa sensei was very well-written and Fukuyama’s performance nailed the character to a T.

My complaints about the series are minor. Whereas the plot and cases are fast-moving, fun, stylish, the character development stays flat. For someone used to character arcs and/or linear development, Galileo won’t quite float your boat. The way Yukawa always scrambles to find something to write with when he gets the AHA moment to solve a case also gets somewhat tiring. Aside from Fukuyama’s and Shinagawa’s spot-on performances, the acting was pretty much a bore. All that aside, though, Galileo sticks to its purpose and pretty much delivers.

To Watch or Not to Watch, That is the Question
Highly recommended for mystery fans or for anyone who is getting bored with the same-old formula for Asian series.

Rating
4.5/5

free hit counter

CINDERELLA'S STEPSISTER [TV][Kr]

2010-08-05T16:52:00.000+08:00

Written by Funn Lim

"I was really hoping one of them just drop dead with some incurable disease which was the trend in Korean love stories before with which I am happy is no longer the trend but at least just for this one, just one time"

SPOILERS ... SPOILERS ... SPOILERS

NOTE
This is not a full review but an opinion

RELEASED IN

2010

Except for the first few episodes, Cinderella's Stepsister turns out to be possibly one of the most hyped and worst Korean series of all time. I am trying to write a review, in fact trying to articulate my words but all I can remember is their meandering melancholy, anger, tears and seeing those 2 in love that went nowhere but staying stuck and rooted in their longing for one another when a simple "Eun Joo ya, saranghae" will probably solve every problem faced by these 2 except for the supposed killing the father part. The entire series was 20 episodes and I double checked the number of episodes to be sure and indeed 20 episodes but at least 10 is devoted to doing nothing but cry, cry and cry. I was hoping someone will get blinded or struck down with cancer which I have a feeling the writer was tempted to do so to Hyo Sun's character but except for the father, no one else dies at all. The business part is childishly written and characters exciting at first when introduced in the end turns out to be just another ke-le-fe because nothing ever happens. Even the character of Jungwoo ended up doing nothing but aimlessly and endlessly supporting Eun Joo, except of course with some nice romantic moments like he carried her and ran all the way up a hill. And that was a complete waste of time because the story stopped developing when the rival teenagers grew into rival adults. The fashion was terrible. The settings never move beyond the big old house or office or forest. I'll be damned if I see some scenery in this series. Even the special effects seem to dry up when they all grew up, the very few things that is unique about this series, Eun Joo's constant dream and imagination. The original story posted by KBS seems to change beyond recognition and in the end we are left with a sappy underdeveloped non moving love story that isn't even a love story. Many times I just wish they know there's something called handphones.

The acting however saved the series from total annihilation and that is largely thanks to the 2 veteran actors, the super weird but charismatic Kim Gab Soo who plays the father and whose death caused the final demise of this series and Lee Mi Sook the mother who was excellent but in the end given little to do except for conniving and then regretting.

The younger ones fared worse quite simply because their characters never went anywhere.

Moon Geun Young perfected the angry stare look and in fact she did little except looking that way although occasionally you will see a small smile or some big tears. She shouts a lot, push people away a lot and basically just death stare many people a lot. I find her character tiring after a while and her performance stagnant and uninteresting when her character grew up still sullen and sulky although her best scenes were always with Kim Gab Soo as she was less angry but darn rude and Lee Mi Sook where her anger moves away from just pure anger and unhappiness and moves into regret and a certain fear. I wasn't wowed by her performance to tell you the truth because the character sucks.

I was however mighty impressed with Seo Woo (yes, she looks weird, yes, her face is plastic, yes, she has obviously done work to her entire face but you must admit, she can act) who played a young spoilt teenager very convincingly and despite there were moments she may turn bad or whatever, I wasn't convinced she would be. I knew Hyo Sun deep down still yearns for acceptance, she is a nice girl through and through. Unfortunately her character may have developed a little, especially her confrontation with her stepmother and frankly Hyo Sun seems to be the only character that changes or rather has something else to do than meandering suffering, I just thought if only the entire series were better written, Hyo Sun would have been wonderful to watch. The guys didn't fare any better. Chun Jung Myung has dazzling smile and after a while, his entire back story about his mother, his half siblings, his father, I never understood any of that. He just seem to serve Eun Joo's suffering and nothing more. Taecyeon had it worse. He didn't even get the girl in the end even if Eun Joo in real life may be in love with Jung Woo without realising it since she seems to ease up when with him. Performance wise, Taecyeon whom I know is a famous pop star in a boyband and is extremely popular is the worst of the 4, but to be fair to him that is because his character had little to do.

I must however applaud the best performance in this series, and that is Moon Geun Young's hair extensions in the beginning of the series, quite simply because they have a life of their own in her performance of the sullen character. That extends to the wind (I suspect the big huge fans) and a lot of running by Moon Geun Young who could really really run.

I was thinking what went wrong with this series? And I am convinced it is the writing. It just began spectacularly and then went kaput. All we are left with is a series that had such a great beginning that the fans felt compelled to follow through and I suspect many are disappointed to have wasted precious hours on this junk. Yes, a junk. First half great, second half junk and unfortunately a series must know how to begin well and end even better. I gave up watching half way through, began reading the recaps instead and then picked up a bit and then just felt I have wasted enough time on this. It is nowehere near the greatness of some very memorable Korean love stories and eventhough it was suffering to watch Winter Sonata, I can't believe there is one series whose love story is worse than Winter Sonata and that is Cinderella's Stepsister. And funny thing is it didn't start as a love story. It started with a tale of 2 sisters but in the end became no more than a love story with the sisters concept being pushed away. What a total waste of a great idea.

Give it a miss. Save yourself some time and just watch something else, anything else which I know may be worse than this but seriously why watch a series with a foregone conclusion? I was really hoping one of them just drop dead with some incurable disease which was the trend in Korean love stories before with which I am happy is no longer the trend but at least just for this one, just one time. I was hoping Eun Joo will be the one to die because frankly I grew tired of her "I am angry! I am so so so angry! I hate everyone! I hate my life! I don't belong here!" cue the death stare and her rudeness.

WAIT! That's it! The review, as above! Ok, now I don't even need to write it! I will just post this as an opinion. Great! Now I can just stop thinking how to write this review!

SOME GOOD LINKS
- The official summary
- The series' entire full recap, read this and you don't even need to watch the series. I applaud the passion of the writer in all the details, knowing how suffering it was to watch this series.

BIJO KA YAJUU [BEAUTY OR BEAST][TV][Japan]

2010-08-02T15:53:00.003+08:00

Written by Funn Lim

"He (Fukuyama Masaharu) is charismatic no doubt, very handsome of course, he can act dead serious very well but in here, in this series after watching it in full I realise this may be his best performance todate."

SPOILERS ... SPOILERS ... SPOILERS

Japanese title
美女か野獣

Interestingly I used a rather reliable online translator which translated the title as "It is a beautiful woman or it is a brute" which I suppose does mean Beaty Or Beast. Alternate title is Kiss Or Fight? which I was hoping for KISS KISS KISS. Spoiler alert; there is ONE kiss at the almost very end. But plenty of fight.

Released in
Way back in 2003

By
FujiTV

No. of Episodes
11

Language
Japanese with English subtitles thanks to MediaCorp as the version I watched was a TV rip from MediaCorp

Average Ratings
Pretty high, 18.5%

Cast-Character
To those unfamiliar with Asian way of names, family name comes first, then family name. But as demonstrated in this series, Japanese does seem to favour calling a person by their surname than their given name.

Matsushima Nanako as Takamiya Makoto
Fukuyama Masaharu as Nagase Hiromi
Watanabe Ikkei as Kuze Teruhiko
Yashima Norito as Towatari Kantaro
Sasaki Kuranosuke as Kote Hiroshi
Shiraishi Miho as Shirai Yukino
Nagai Masaru as Yamamoto Takeshi
Papaya Suzuki as Kacchin
Fukaura Kanako as Akiyama Fujiko
Kodama Kiyoshi as Sakuragi Kyoichiro
Shimizu Shogo as Tamaru Reishi
Shiga Kotaro as Tsurumaki Yukio
Yamamoto Ryuuji as Sakamoto Daisuke
Morishita Tetsuo as Todo Seichi
Okada Tadashi

For those unfamiliar with Japanese stars as in acting point of view, some of the names above are familiar names. You know who is Fukuyama Masaharu. No? He was the lead in Galileo and also was in the mega hit, Under The Same Roof. Watanabe Ikkei, his frequent co-star was the assistant in Galileo as well as in Ryoma-Den and To Daisuke In Heaven. Kodama Kiyoshi looked so familiar until I checked and realised he was Ryoma's father in Ryoma-Den. I have no idea who is Papaya Suzuki but his name is very cool! Imagine that, Papaya! He's the guy with the afro in the series. As for Matsushima Nanako, she was the lady lead where she I believe she met her future husband, Sorimachi Takashi in the hit series, GTO (Great Teacher Onizuka). For international audiences, you might recognise her from The Ring (Japanese version) movies. The rest I may have seen them before but frankly I do not know.

Plot Summary
Taken from Wiki

After graduating from the Tokyo University School of Law, Takamiya Makoto (Matsushima Nanako) goes on to Harvard University where she earns an MBA. She later works at one of the "big three" networks in the United States as a news reporter. While covering a story on an international symposium in Paris, Makoto is scouted to work for JBC Television in Japan. The news producer at JBC wants to use Makoto to help raise low viewer ratings. He persuades her to work for him for an absurdly high salary, and also gives her the right to hire who she needs.

While Makoto is being brought in to be the savior of the News Department, one man gets transferred from the Variety Department. His name is Nagase Hiromi (Fukuyama Masaharu). Since joining JBC Television, all he has done is variety programs. Although Hiromi has done everything he possibly could to ensure his programs are a success, his boss just could not take anymore of Hiromi's behavior which ranged from getting caught up in scandals with female television personalities, punching-out assistant directors, to taking kickbacks from production companies. His boss finally tells Hiromi to make a fresh start in the "hard nosed" News Department.

So now the News Department has Makoto who thinks high ratings are the meaning of life, and Hiromi who values the success of a program as just a tool for the full enjoyment of life. These two totally different personalities mix it up and somehow reach a mutual understanding, creating a delightful "light comedy" for adults.

For More Info
Like the themesong, screencaps and download links, click here.

Comments
It took me quite a long time to finish watching this series because it took me a long time to download the only known subtitled copy in the internet and then remembering I haven't watched it yet, I finished the entire series in about 2 days. It is not difficult to finish even in one day since it is only 11 episodes, and each episode isn't exactly a full hour. The synopsis above is pretty accurate except for one point, that both main protaganists of the story knew and were lovers 9 years 3 months before the meeting at the beginning of the series where the series will slowly reveal the nature of their relationship and why and how they parted. The past does explain why the present they is a bit playful and serious (for the man and the woman) respectively.

First thing first, may I proclaim my undying love for this series for several reasons, first and foremost is of course it stars my favourite singer/actor or rather my current obsession, Fukuyama Masaharu, henceforth Masha. But those who knows me by my reviews will know I don't always favour a series simply because I favour the actor(s) in it. So the other reason for my proclamation is because I really do like the story. If you read the synopsis, it does remind you a bit of Korea's All About Eve but it stops at the similarity being news. Nothing else is similar. Whilst All About Eve which was excellent in performance and story wise was after a while meandering and slow, Beauty Or Beast is not as meandering or wishy washy when it comes to love. It isn't even about love, but centres on a department of JBC (Japan Broadcasting Channel - should have been Corporation) that broadcasts the Evening News. Just the Evening News mind you. And with 11 episodes and if unfamiliar with the Japanese way of storytelling, I won't blame you for thinking "Isn't it a little short?". It is, but what the Japanese are good act which Koreans and especially HKTVB aren't is brevity. In 11 episodes, they can tell the entire backstory of this small TV crew, with each episode dedicated to one character of the crew whilst managing to relate it back to the 2 leading protaganists and also put forward a moral of the story, even if the moral is somewhat shoddy. In 11 episodes, I knew the back story of the characters without being shown a flashback scene and the ending is pretty definite in my opinion. These are reasons why I really like this series. It is just 11 episodes, and complete and done with compared to TVB's Gem Of Life which took more than 80 episodes to tell a story worth 20 episodes and even that the characters were poorly written and sometimes poorly portrayed. The actors were well chosen, each just right for their role even if you at first may think "No way! Not suitable at all!". I will talk more on this later.

First, the story. It is by no means perfect. As stated earlier, it is about the Evening News department of JBC whose ratings were falling so badly that the management decided to hire a hotshot young news reporter, Makoto as the new chief who paid her dues in credentials in America with news on terrorists, riots, etc so you know she's good at what she does. And she will be highly paid as well. Once she returned to Japan, she found herself working alongside a shady character that is Hiromi who was transferred from variety channel to the news channel for reasons we shall find out later. This series explains being in variety channel which is ratings driven and news channel which is news driven is very different but Hiromi, however much he flirts or jokes his way around does know his job as a producer generally. And for 11 episodes, we get to see how Makoto tried to win ratings at all cost whilst it was Hiromi who acts as her conscience but towards the end Makoto herself helped Hiromi gained his integrity by dealing a bit with his mysterious transfer to the news department whilst at the same time having to choose between her principles and her father which is the big finale. In the middle of it all we see stories of retrenchment, the battle between 2 rival stations where Makoto realises sometimes ratings isn't everything, the worth of her colleagues and the value of integrity when it comes to news reporting.

Of all the episodes, I really enjoyed the story about Sakuragi the aging but legendary anchor of Evening News and one more whose name I didn't catch, the small sized reporter with glasses who instead of capturing news actually dropped the camera to held save a construction worker's life. These 2 stood out because the stories are touching. In just simply less than 1 hour each, the entire story of these 2 men were told in straightforward manner. Sakuragi was about to be replaced by a much popular, handsomer and younger anchor hired from another station to boost ratings, as usual by the management whose meddling often harms the department rather than helps. Sakuragi was given no choice but to leave for cable TV which has less audience but needed his expertise. And in that episode we will find out why Sakuragi is a legend and how he calmly reported on a bank heist with coolness and ease, and why Evening News isn't the same without him. In fact somewhere towards the end Evening News was in the danger of becoming less about news and more about variety show! There was one very good scene where the cocky new anchor said the success of a show is the anchor so every details must centre on the anchor that is him and him alone. But in the end when faced with the same question by Makoto who feels the way that the cocky anchor does, Hiromi simply said the success of a show is teamwork. No man can operate alone, it is all about team work and again another lesson for Makoto who strives at nothing but ratings.

The other story of the bespectacled colleague who was also on the verge of being fired and questioned his own self worth as a reporter taught Makoto a lesson in life; sometimes news reporting isn't everything and winning awards certainly isn't. She was slightly ashamed of her crew when she saw how efficient the Diamond News Channel crew was and was often told the obstacle to her success are her crew but in the end she told the bespectacaled subordinate to do as he deems fit in future, that she trusts his judgment and that gave him a confident boost and tells us Makoto isn't such an ice queen after all. These 2 stood out for their performances and storytelling.

Another stand out episode was the one dealing with a snowstorm and the Morning News crew couldn't report back in time and Makoto is tasked with doing the Morning show as well, something she didn't expect to do. She pushes her fellow subordinates who complain to no end but did try their best to work under dangerous and tiring circumstances. I love the scene where Makoto, Hiromi and gang thought everything was in place for the morning show until they realise the anchor that is Sakuragi is missing. They ran to find him, and found out he was stuck in a lift. But when they pry open the lift, to their astonishment there stood the old Sakuragi, cool as a cucumber, fixing his time, and cooly running several floors up to make it to the front of the camera in time. They were amazed at his age, he could run that fast. That was a genuinely funny scene and did opened their eyes to their fellow colleagues, who each have their own weaknesses and in the end strengths and thus each contribute to the Evening News in their own way.

There was an episode which deals with Hiromi's transfer from Variety dept to News dept and how he dealt with one of his long time friend's silence when one of the assistant was badly beaten up by the hotshot host. I really believe that could really happen, more so in Japan and even in Korea. The scene between Hiromi and his friend and their heartfelt talk with his friend asking "Are you bitter Nagase?" because he thought Hiromi revealed the news and is pushing him to admit the news out of spite when Hiromi said something which kinda admits he is bitter because he always felt his friend was more talented than he is, without this show, there will always be new ideas from him to form another show where his friend can be the top producer. I find that scene and Hiromi's honesty heartfelt and that opened his friend's eyes how foolish it is to protect such a host who treats them like dogs.

We will see also personal lives of very few characters but the major one has to be of course the showdown between Makoto and her father whom she respects and love deeply. When she found out he may be doing some dirty job for his employer (his father is a high ranking secretary to a high ranking minister) which involves bribing witnesses and hurting the credibility of not just the Evening News but the entire crew, she thought for a while and then didn't hesitate to expose her father who probably ends up in jail or as a star witness in the end. Why did she do it? As she said; "Principles". She was hurt her father ignored his principles and he taught her well, she stood by her principles even if it meant hurting her father, which is something Hiromi didn't understand. In the end her father was rather pleased it was her and no one else who exposed him and he stood before her, prouder of his daughter than he has ever been. That scene was rather touching even if a bit dramatic. But then news can sometimes be very dramatic, even more dramatic in real life than in fiction so there is a believable aspect in all those drama.

I also like the slow reveal of the relationship between Makoto and Hiromi. I thought at first what they had 9 years before during their university days were just a fling. But as the series went on, it was quite possibly Makoto's first love and a serious enough relationship where Makoto once knitted him a scarf, he was concerned enough about her to say he didn't like handmade stuff, that she liked him enough to want to introduce him to her father and he liked her enough to have rushed to the airport to try to stop her from leaving Tokyo for Harvard University. The way they met again in the beginning were like strangers but there was more, with the way she stole glances at him, he stole glances at her but 9 years is a pretty long separation although we all know they still have feelings for each other.

What surprises me was for such a playful character Hiromi actually graduated from Tokyo University! You would think he is academically poor but he is just playful.

Which brings me to the point why this series isn't perfect.

Some parts are downright sexist and ridiculous. I know it is supposed to illustrate some cultural thing or perhaps Hiromi's character but the audition for a weather girl with young girls wearing 3 piece bikinis to audition is of course a very sexist scene. But Hiromi's reaction was funny. Then the weather girl who was hired not because of her bikini body but because she does have cute factor was for most part relegated to making coffee for her seniors and in the beginning so afraid of losing her job she herself proposed to wear shorter skirts. That is very telling on what sort of society we are dealing with. Then there's Hiromi visiting an all girls' school and how he oggled at teenaged girls who may I remind is younger than 18? We all know Makoto is one power woman because she had to deal with an all male management team but I wonder to what purpose does it serve to show her bottom being pinched even if playfully and then to show her willing to sleep with a minister to get his exclusive interview. She may be intelligent but she can be stupid sometimes.

And what is even more ridiculous is that that horny minister dared ask her to sleep with him! Why? As we know later, her father is high ranking guy working for an even higher ranking guy, she knows a lot of high ranking people, one high ranking guy working for the PM wanted to date her, she has her connections and here this horny corrupt minister dared ask her to sleep with him for a scoop. I mean she is no ordinary woman. I find that part utterly ridiculous. She should have just said "Touch me one more time and I will have your credentials stripped" not because as a newswoman she can do that but because of her family connections. The fact she didn't say that was disappointing.

And some may be quite offended by the fact that such an intelligent women need saving by a brute like Hiromi again and again, like a damsel in distress. But I will disagree on this. It just shows Hiromi may be capable but sometimes even a capable person makes wrong choices. You learn from your mistake. Hiromi's mistake was not listening to her subordinates and Hiromi, a crowd pleaser teaches her the value of teamwork. She in turn teaches Hiromi certain things as well.

The ridiculous part is sometimes I wonder is Evening News a news show or a talk show or a discussion forum show? Because towards the end with the Top 50 Ramen and what nots, it was dangerously becoming a variety show. I thought it was a news reporting like Bulletin News or CNN so I was very confused as to what is Evening News and I suspect so were the characters towards the end.

Which brings me to the characters. Well written and well performed, each character contributes to the story and I don't believe there was a moment wasted in storytelling even if some parts do drag on a bit, like the relationship between Hiromi and Makoto itself. Other than that I find the story well paced and the characters serves the story rather than the other way around. Which of course means the actors did a great job.

Fukuyama Masaharu is in no doubt my current obsession and he is a mighty fine singer/songwriter but as an actor? I loved him in all of his works I have seen, even if he was sometimes criticised in Suspect X the movie, I could explain why I love him so. But having seen some of his works fully and a few with a bit here and there, and him being less an actor and more a singer, I could lament the fact that if only he concentrated on acting more. He is charismatic no doubt, very handsome of course, he can act dead serious very well but in here, in this series after watching it in full I realise this may be his best performance todate. Hiromi can be quite a disgusting character with his flirtatious and sometimes sexist nature but Masha made him adorable, and with a bit of heart and integrity. After all Hiromi was the first to see the worth of his fellow colleagues when Makoto failed miserably. Masha played him very animatedly, in fact his most animated performance todate. I love his interaction with his fellow co-stars and the way he portrayed his character with his exagerated hand movements, body language and some rather signature greeting styles. And during the more serious moments, he toned down and showed us a serious or mournful looking Hiromi who has more on his thoughts than he lets it out. He plays Hiromi as a more relaxed and warm person rather than Makoto who is dead serious and cold. I was quite amazed by his performance and some part of me suspects this may be the real Masha at that time. He may have been Hiromi, except I suppose he won't wolf whistle the young girls in bikini. An excellent performance by Masha.

Matsushima Nanako whom I quite like but rarely watch isn't some stunning beauty but her hair in this series fits her perfectly. I am thankful she wasn't wearing an apron in this series but she does speak in an infuriatingly soft spoken small voice which much later I realise is her real voice. She is very soft spoken in real life and in this series she was also soft spoken. She can't even shout and so I wondered how can she be some fearless iron lady but she proved she can with her steely eyes and her body language which means no funny business. She always stand with authority and exerted a certain how shall I put it, authority and control in the scene she is in. Yes she did raised her voice a bit but not shouting. However I find her effective as an iron lady, even if her English sucks. A great performance in my opinon and her chemistry with Masha is one of the best of all Masha's pairing with other actresses, and sometimes quite intimate without a single hug or kiss. They're always several feet apart and yet you feel the closeness between them. However that being said, why is it Hiromi is always out of breath when speaking with Makoto? Why was he always running after her?

I will not elaborate on the other cast but I could very well say all performances are excellent. The acting animated and the voices just right even for some girls again that kittenish voice which is the staple of Japanese culture. I can't fault their performances really, and a special mention goes to Watanabe Ikkei who can play serious and comic characters. All versatile actors that elevated this series from good to excellent.

I keep forgetting about this aspect which is understandable because when done well, it is not to be noticed, and I am talking about consistency in scenes. I wasn't paying much attention to this aspect until one scene Motoko was in her house wearing a shiny looking straight skirt. Few scenes later she is in office and the same skirt. Now that is consistency, she woke up in morning getting dressed for work and at work same dress. And we are talking about 2 different scenes.

A note on the subtitles of this series. I know they're hardcoded into the TV rip, probably provided by MediaCorp themselves but I am curious why they kept getting Makoto's name wrong. It is always Tamiya instead of Takamiya and then it is never Sakamoto but something else. One part I couldn't believe "Yamete, kudasai" could translate to "Please respect me ..." which is longer than I remember because the original words should be "No, please" or "Stop, please" which makes me wonder did they translate from Chinese subtitles? How can 2 words can become a full sentence? But apart from that I am just happy there is a subtitled version. It does seem credible to that of the story so I will take the essence of the translation rather than the literal meaning.

Verdict
I know it is suffering to download the entire series because it is slow but if you're a fan of Japanese series or Masha or Nanako, this is the series to watch. I absolutely enjoyed the story and I believe even if Masha is not in it, I will still enjoy it. It is fun, funny, touching and serious, all at the same time and since it is only 11 episodes, what can you lose?

Interesting Themesong
I love the opening sequence and I love the themesong called Ginga to Meiro which translates as The Galaxy and Maze (some may translate it as The Milky Way and Maze) sung by a band with an even cooler name, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra. You can find the opening/ending sequence, the original MV, the MP3 and Romaji lyrics here. If you know where I can find the English translation for the lyrics, do tell!!

Interesting Download
Can you still buy this series? Fear not! You can download this series. Quality is bad but at least subtitled. All here.

Interesting Screencaps
You will see the exact same sets in my other posts about this series and is reposting here because I really like them!

P/S THE ENDING
Spoilers.

Evening News is not cancelled. Makoto leaves for America, starts her own production company and goes full time into news reporting like she did before. But she maintained contact with Hiromi although we are not told if they're an item but can safely deduce they will be since their parting scene was a hug, a kiss and a smile from Makoto. Life goes on in the JBC Evening News dept with Kuze as acting Chief and they continue to put news integrity first, management wishes last.

ROSY BUSINESS [TVB]

2010-06-29T15:53:00.001+08:00

Written by Funn Lim

"In the end the series is flawed but compared to recent offerings, this is the best in terms of acting and story."

SPOILERS ... SPOILERS ... SPOILERS

Chinese Title
巾幗梟雄

Pinyin Title
Gan1 Gwok3 Hiu1 Hung4 / Jin Guo Xiao Xiong

What it means
Wikipedia says...

Li Tim Shing (producer) explained that the production was temporarily called "Wives and Concubines" (妻妾成群) when the initial script was first submitted, but was later renamed to "Red Powder Merchant." Colleagues criticized the new working title, and Li later finalized the official title to "Veiled Heroine, Ruthless Hero" (巾幗梟雄) and its official English title to Rosy Business. "Veiled Heroine" (巾幗) represented Tang's role of the fourth wife, while "Ruthless Hero" (梟雄) represented Lai's role 'Chai Kau'. The drama was also sponsored by Bawang Shampoo.

Bawang? In Malay Bawang is onion. I am sure in Chinese it must mean The Conquering Emperor or something like that.

English Title
An impossibly bad title, Rosy Business.

Released in
2009

Cast-Character
Cheung Family
Suet Nei as Guai Yuk Yu 季玉如
Elliot Yue as Cheung Kiu 蔣喬
Stephen Wong as young Cheung Kiu
Susan Tse as Yan Fung Yee 殷鳳儀 (First wife)
Jessie Shum as young Fung Yee
Kiki Sheung as Pang Kiu 彭嬌 (Second wife)
Josephine Shum as young Pang Kiu
Kara Wai as Lau Fong 劉芳 (Third wife)
Summer Joe as young Lau Fong
Sheren Tang as Hong Bo Kei 康寶琦 (Fourth wife)/ Originally Hong Bo Yin
Angel Chiang as young Bo Kei
Pierre Ngo as Cheung Bit Man 蔣必文
Ron Ng as Cheung Bit Ching 蔣必正
Kelvin Leung as Cheung Bit Mo 蔣必武
Chan Wing Kei as Chow Gwong 周廣
Kong Fai as Siu Cheung 小張
Ling Lai Man as Uncle Tsuen 泉叔
Wong Ji Wai as Keng 瓊
Wong Fung King as Aunty Tin 田嫂
Lam Ying Hung as Siu Hung 小紅

Yau Family
Suki Chui as Yau Man 丘敏
Helen Ma as Yau Ngan Yuk Heng 丘顏玉卿

Hing Fung Nin Rice Company
Wayne Lai as Chai Kau 柴九
Cheung Yick as Lee Cheung Fat 李祥發
Suen Kwai Hing as Uncle Wah 華叔
Wong Man Piu as Keung 強
Hugo Wong as Wai 威
Martin Tong as Dat 達
Yau Biu as Brother Sek 石哥
Hui Ming Ji as Ji 志
Jacky Yeung as Seng 勝
Cheung Han Mo

Rice Companies
Lee Tsi Kei as Kum Boss 岑老闆
Chan Min Leung as Mok Boss 莫老闆
Law Kwan Chor as Chung Boss 鍾老闆
Kwong Chor Fai as Chu Boss 朱老闆
So Yun Chi as Kum Boss's wife 岑老闆之妻

Ching Bong Group
Lee Sing Cheung as Pang Hang 彭鏗
Oscar Leung as young Pang Hang
Nancy Wu as Suen Hoi Tong 孫海棠
Lee Kai Kit as Ah Chiu 阿超
Brian Wong as Ah Jen 阿俊
Bryant Mak as Ah Yu 阿釣

Sa Ka Group
Kwan Ching as Sa Tzan Tin 沙震天
Cheng Ka Sang as Ma Hung 馬雄
Adam Ip as Lek Jay 刀仔
Ho Kin Man as 豹

Governers
Kwok Fung as Lord Wong (King's Brother) 王爺
Bruce Li as Governer Lam Ji Fu 林知府
Joseph Yeung as Governer Lam's brother 林知府之弟
Cheung Siu Chin as Governer Lam's Uncle 林知府舅仔
Leung Kin Ping as Governer Chung Ji Fu 秦知府
Wong Wai Leung as Governer Hong Cheung Weng 康梓榮 (Hong Bo Kei's father)
Yeung Ying Wai as a Governer

Taiping Rebellion
Ben Wong as Chiu Yut Ming General 趙一鳴將軍
Lau Tin Lung as Chiu General's followers 卒長
Mikako Leung as female solder 女太平軍
Poon Koon Lam as female solder 女太平軍

Wuxi Villagers
Dia Yiu Ming as a disaster victim 災民
Ng Wai Shan
Fanny Yip
Cilla Kung
Ngai Wai Man
Lily Liu
Eda Chan
Coson Ning
Chalk North

Others
Gei Bo Law as Doctor Bak Long 白朗大夫
Raymond Tsang as a killer 殺手
Wong Wai Tak as a killer 殺手
Kau Cheuk Nung as killer 殺手
Kwok Tak Shun as Uncle Kin 堅叔
Lai Sau Ying as Grandmother Wan 穩婆
Law Tin Chi as Sei 四
Kitty Lau

Story In A Nutshell
Taken from Spcnet

HONG PO KEI's (Tang Shui Man, Sheren) engagement with Wuxi rice baron TSEUNG KIU (Yueh Wah) broke off many years ago when a natural disaster hit the country. Later when the country was running out of food supply her whole family was killed and she become a criminal. Over the years, KEI has never got over KIU. She has been trying to prove he is not as heartless as the others think. Fate has it that they meet again and she becomes his fourth wife. KIU's first and second wives, YAN FUNG YEE (Tse Suet Sum) and PANG KIU (Sheung Tin Ngor, Kiki), always make things difficult for KEI. KEI, who is an extremely clever person who never wastes time on trivial things, turns every threat into an opportunity. This makes KIU appreciate her wisdom and persistence. He entrusts his business to her and tells her to find a suitable successor for him before he dies.

Despite all the attacks in the family, KEI manages to keep the business in good shape. She has never forgotten KIU's last wish, too. By chance, she discovers that TSEUNG PIT CHING (Ng Cheuk Hai, Ron), KIU's second son, is not really a playboy but an upright person loved by everyone in the shop. She therefore guides and helps him in every possible way, but her efforts are met with CHAI KAU's (Lai Yiu Cheung) challenges. KAU seeks vengeance for being mistreated and wants a pay back from TSEUNG family. After rounds after rounds of battle wits and actual fights, KEI and KAU begin to appreciate each other. KAU even falls for KEI as time goes by.

Detailed Summary
All written by me here. Be forewarned, complete spoilers.

Comments
I first watched the 1st episode of this series 3 times over at ASTRO On Demand and never once was I bored. I waited about 1 year or so before it was finally broadcast over at ASTRO Wah Lai Toi. I watched every episode with my full attention, my miniature hobby put aside (unlike Gem Of Life) and wrote my episodic thoughts to the best of my memory for every single episode, never missing one nor have I missed more than collectively 10 minutes of the entire series. I sat through the entire end song, watched the previews next episode and waited with abated breath every Friday because the series would resume on Monday. Let me state it here first before I go any further with my review; the intensity in my concentration is in part due to the series itself, but largely because I was going to write a recap of the series later on. I will say there was never any dull moment in this series but I will stop short of calling it an instant classic or that it was amazingly great. Because it wasn't. You might think I am contradicting myself, how can I give such attention to it and yet not call it the greatest? Quite simple really. The fact I gave so much attention to it I see its flaws, which are deep flaws in everything of this series and yet because it has its moments, not every few episodes but in every single episode, you will just ignore those flaws.

Rosy Business, which is really an awful title reminds me of 2 series, one which it follows the story and the other, the format, increasingly popular in TVB series these days, which is good for excitement but bad for storytelling as a whole.

Safe Guards is the obvious reference. You may say Sweetness In The Salt or even the China production it was accused of ripping, but to me the entire story of Safe Guards is in this series, except different gender, different timeline but basically it Safe Guards but bigger production and the roles reversed.

Moonlight Resonance is the obvious format. There is a crisis in each episode, and the crisis is solved within 1 or at most 2 episodes. There are confrontation not unlike Jin Yong sort of stories, except in Rosy Business it is between families and not between clan members of different sect or kung fu masters. The confrontation is highly emotional, that as a viewer you will take sides and you will cheer when the finality comes, when one anti-hero stands out and became hero of the day to rescue the fair maiden who herself is a very capable person. The anti hero here is Chai Gau, the fair maiden is Hong Bo Kei.

Make no mistake, this series may have a lot of people but the entire series is from the viewpoint or rather is about 2 people; Chai Gau and Bo Kei, both coming from different background but faced similar adversities that binds them together. The rest of the characters either moves the story forward or to add some sort of dramatic value but none of the other characters ever fully develop.

Which is why I say the series is exciting but deeply flawed.

Like Cinderella's Stepsister, Rosy Business spends a lot of time developing the 2 main characters but except Cijnderella's Stepsister, our protaganists never wallow in their own misery. They triumph over it, they make do with whatever they have and they do so for the sake of others and not for themselves. Which is why I feel this series imparts positivity even at the most negative time, even at the worst of time. The human spirit triumphs.

The success of this series is without a doubt is due to the characters of Chai Gau and Bo Kei. Without them, it is empty. They're the good guys, but not clear cut good.

For example Chai Gau. He is to me the anti-hero and the best developed character in this series because the scriptwriter just love him. He is an interesting character. He started off such an arrogant man, who is in over his head and yet during all those times, you sense he knows what's right and what's wrong, but his rebellious nature somehow stops him from quickly doing what's right first. When Bo Kei begged him to help her when it comes to Bit Mo's kidnapping, he refused and refused and refused. But at the end he did help. Whenever Bo kei faces objections from many about her ability, he may not be the fastest to step out to speak on her behalf but he certainly was the first, and sometimes only voice of support. What he does, he did sneakily but when he speaks, he speaks the truth. Which is why viewers will cheer because he is often right. There is wisdom in his words, because he has seen the worst, he has experienced the worst and because he is not bound by family or fortune or by status or reputation. Even Bo Kei sometimes had to do things carefully, even if she knew the right thing to do is a certain act, she preferred to see things over first. Chai Gau does not have that limitation, but he learnt to impose on him a limitation when he began to care about the people surrounding him, first and foremost his benefactor and somewhat mentor, Bo Kei, then his fellow kinsmen, his brothers, his wife Hoi Tong, etc. He matured, though he fumble. Whilst he assisted Bo Kei and became her voice of support, Bo Kei is his voice of reason. He may limit himself, but sometimes he steps over and will in the end hurt himself. Give him a little and he will walk all over you. However Chai Gau is not a bad person which is why Bo kei see in him a supporter, an abled assistant, a friend, a confidante and in the end a soul mate. Chai Gau obviously respected Bo kei, if not her then who deserves his loyalty? He may have felt hurt when he thought she betrayed him when Bit Man he was still alive, but in the end he forgives her because he knows he has stepped over the limit and is only hurting himself and those who cares about him. You can say he is her light at the time of darkness whilst she is her conscience at the time of confusion. These 2 characters made this series into what it is if not for those silly moments or incoherent storyline. Strip away the incoherent and you will see a beautiful, engaging and satisfying story of these 2 people, about more than a decade of age apart.

And that is what is so interesting about them.

This is an olden day series, and we have a widow who is much older and an unmarried man who is much younger and both of different status even if they went through similar hardships. And yet there is no objection to the nature of their relationship, the story didn't bother to even go there except for one outburst by Bit Man who accused them of having a sordid affair which wasn't true and it was quickly dealt with in 10 minutes or so. The rest of the series, no one said a thing. The ending Bo Kei is described as his "Ji Kei" which can be best friend, close friend, confidant, soul mate, lover. I will take the term as soulmate. They were never lovers physically, but in their hearts there exist this utmost respect, admiration and in the end pure love between them. They spent 2 years together, unmarried to one another, never apart and Chai Gau died not with his wife Hoi Tong beside him but this soulmate, that is Bo Kei. And never once this series every attempted to make something ugly or dirty of that and I appreciate that. I like the fact that the people felt grateful for them and what they did and that they should do whatever that makes them happy. So I feel this series is rather classy in the way it dealt with this unique relationship because when this series started properly, it is filled with senior citizens or those near that. Average age is about 35 and above. Of course the series never really stated clearly except for Bit Mo's age (16 at the time of kidnapping) and Chai Gau's age (35 at the age of death). You will have to do the math yourself but it isn't exact science since it isn't exactly said. I am not even sure how long a time line was this series except for the 20 odd years, there is a specific number given from Bo Kei's hiding until her reunion with Cheung Kiu, I can't remember how long but there is no specific date given for what happened afterwards. I think the last narration did state it specifically, I didn't catch it but my guess was no more than 5 years. The characters themselves did not tell us how much time has pass because Bit Man the eldest remains unmarried when he died, Bit Mo still looked like a kid and Bit Ching married, but not much was said.

Timeline aside, the series can be divided into crisis at work, crisis at home and crisis in the town. Sometimes interlinked but most of the time the crisis at home is due to crisis at work and crisis at work is due to crisis in the town. The perspective is pretty narrow. And quite a lot of crisis, from locusts to rebellions. No, no earthquakes or godzilla attacking the town but still major stuff happening.

The crisis at home is always due to fighting of the fortune even when the patriach that is Cheung Kiu was still very much alive. It is the crisis at home that belittles the story, and I find that part rather dumb.

You see, the villains in here are specifically 2 people, Fung Yee and her son Bit Man. Uncle Cheung Fatt is just an assistant, a fool rather than a villain. This series already has all sorts of dramatic problems, and villains in forms of greedy merchant that is Pang Hang (but he is not the villain per se) and the town officials and such. But the villains, Fung Yee and Bit Man. And the problem with these 2 is they remained the same from episode 1 till the last. It took Fung Yee too long to express her vilainess so to speak because she was always instigating Pang Kiu or Lau Fong to do her dirty deed so she is a passive villain. When she finally expressed herself as an active villain, everything she did she fails and I knew she will fail within 1 episode, no matter what her big plan was. Her character became stunted, there is just no growth and she will either die spectacularly or go crazy which she did the latter. I find her start was great, her end was great but everything in the middle was just furstratingly under developed. A useless villain.

Her son, Bit Man is just the same. There was a scene which suggests a change for the worse or better but in the end he flatlines as a villain. He didn't do anything that would move the line up or down, he was pretty consistent villain and again underdeveloped. And after he came back from his exile, he just stopped developing and the story of these 2 villains went into a loop which is frustrating. His end is a bit anti climax BUT very suitable. Why? He fails as a villain and so should die an unmemorable unremarkable death. But due to his death, Fung Yee should have one final outburst against Bo Kei which is one of the highlights of this series. That scene was just waiting to happen.

So for me, the villains sucks.

The other characters have problems too.

Pang Kiu just never developed. She was a bully in the beginning until the time she went off screen. There is no growth. And she kept saying that word, "I am a ghost repelling talisman", that is probably more quoted than Chai Gau "How many decades does one have? Seize the day and live life to the fullest!", or rather bored to hear what she has to say. But interesting, even when I felt zero for Pang Kiu, her death was probably one of the 2 saddest scenes in this series, the other is Chai Gau's death. Why you may wonder? Because of Bit Mo. I feel for Bit Mo. There is very little on this character, but yet I could feel his presence. He is always talked about, sometimes he is not even in a scene and I suppose this is due to how Bo kei reacted when he was kidnapped. So there is an emotional tie between Bit Mo and the viewers. And we see the goodness of Pang Kiu through her eyes. He is a decent boy, he later stood his ground in support of Bo Kei which shows Pang Kiu must have done something right. Pang Kiu may be an underdeveloped character but through Bit Mo we know she is a good mother. She loves her son dearly and so her death scene was very sad to watch because of how Bit Mo reacted. In my mind I was thinking "poor Bit Mo, half an orphan". Never once did I go "Poor Pang Kiu". I didn't pity her, but I did pity Bit Mo, more so when her death was told by his shell shocked haunting eyes. You will feel for that boy. And I like the fact that Cheung Kiu didn't play strict emotionless patriach, he in fact held Mo and stroke his head and back like a modern father would. There are elements of modern values infused with this family and I think that makes that particular scene richer. But I must admit, there was never any kind of development on Bit Mo's character per se.

Pang Hang may look well developed but he is basically the same from episode 1 to 25. However this is one villain that provided the comic moments due to the wonderful portrayal by the actor, Lee Sing Cheung, a wonderful veteran actor at TVB whom I only know his name after watching this series. I don't think the comic moments were unintentional. But because of this comic moments it made Pang Hang less evil. In fact no one is evil in this series, just a varying degree of foolishness or stupidity.

Bit Ching is a major character and I feel even more major than Bit Man himself. Many scenes he has but always shared with Bo Kei or others. I like this character because he is a decent guy, a good man but it took him forever to smarten up and become a capable man and even that moment, that moment Bo Kei told him you're better than you think you are or that Lau Fong who gave him life in the end gave him his strength as a man came too late and too fast. I wanted to Bit Ching to be on equal footing with Chai Gau and Bo Kei but even at the end, he is not near their capabilities. Not really a major criticism but you get this feeling Bit Ching should have been given proper prominence instead of touch and go. After all he is the heir apparent chosen by Bo Kei, shouldn't he be given the time to develop fully into a capable man? As in you believe he can run the company without fumbling and can run it with an iron fist so to speak? I wasn't convinced in the end but his heart as always shown from the beginning is in the right place.

His wife Man fared no better. She doesn't seem she can assist him at all. Bit Ching will be all alone if Bo Kei dies unless he smartens up some more. Even Bo Kei needs Chai Gau sometimes.

Another character that is shown very little but somehow I just feel for her is Hoi Tong. Her background we will hear by narration, her end is not important except for that scene she knew Chai Gau loved Bo kei the most and so let Bo Kei have the privilege of accompanying Chai Gau and let him spend the last of his days with Bo Kei. I feel Hoi Tong's character seems like some idiot but she turned out to be naive and later on a rather loyal brave woman despite the hardships she went through. I like how her love story developed with Chai Gau. Nothing romantic, even rather cold and simplistic but I would never have thought she would end up with Chai Gau. I thought she was just one of the characters.

The character of Uncle Cheung Fatt will make you vomit blood and this guy is not underdeveloped but rather like a broken record. He never went anywhere and yet his death scene was now shown but implied and was rather sad quite simply because he did finally said something that he should have said much earlier and he was foolish most of the time. Maybe the writer wanted to imply he was in love with Fung Yee but that was never developed or even mentioned. Maybe they should have. His loyalty lies in the fact not because he is godfather of Bit Man but because Bit Man is first born and that his dead master said first born will be the heir. You thought how dumb he is to think that but even Cheung Kiu thought that. But in the end their actions is not because Bit Man is first born but rather because they truly love him, despite his obvious flaws.

Lau Fong is one frustrating character. I thought she changed but almost at the end still the same old Lau Fong. However I like the way suddenly she became much stronger, for her son. Her timid personality almost made Bit Ching that way but when she knew she had to stand up for Bit Ching, her one slap and one shove of Fung Yee was indeed one of the highlights. Her death was sort of sad I suppose marred by Ron Ng's awful acting but saved by Sheren Tang's great performance of a grieving Bo Kei.

And then we have another major character, Cheung Kiu. I thought he would die much earlier but he died way later but spent some time in a coma. He should have died much earlier because all those fighting when he was in coma and everything else after he woke up just downgraded the story in my opinion. For one, what drives Fung Yee to scheme and do so many scheming som openly and yet pushes Bit Man to his father's side thinking Cheung Kiu will recognise the son's pretentious good efforts when someone will surely tell Cheung Kiu about Bit Man and Fung Yee's real deeds? Like the keys incident? What makes them think no one would tell Cheung Kiu? What makes them think Cheung Kiu will not find out? And a whole lot more. And when he dies die, that scene about the 2 wills played out too fast in the series. You will realise with the conclusion of the will scene in just that episode itself, the villains will be going nowhere, there won't be any further development and whatever they do later will bound to fail. It makes the entire scene anti-climax. Of course we have later scenes how Bit Man and Fung Yee tried to grab power again but it is so pointless. What makes them think they can? No one respects Bit Man at all, and no one cares about Fung Yee and what she has to say. It would be different if Bit Man started off as respected but from the beginning everybody hated him. I find such instances dumbed down the story.

Which I must compare this series to Safe Guards, who has scene per scene copied in Rosy Business except at different times and I really believe this was done conciously to show a different series from Safe Guards. But Safe Guards' villain is successful. He was seen as the gentleman, the good guy and so the support given to him was believable. The protaganist is the hero and the problems are not compartmentalised but rather continous; how does the hero ensure the business evolve with the changing times? Safe Guards will show you what he did and though it may look ridiculous, it was at least consistent and continous. The Will reading scene in Rosy Business just served nothing more than drama, it solves some issues but not satisfyingly so. In Safe Guards, the almost last scene was the Will reading scene and it once and for all solved the crisis and in dramatic fashion with revelations after revelations. The entire theme of Safe Guards in the end was a person's integrity; the lack of it will lead someone to do bad things, the one with integrity leads and wins. Even certain scenes where the dialogue was believable and ring true, like how the mother realises her son isn't cut for the business even if he is the eldest child. It makes Safe Guards truly unique, memorable and most of all, in my opinion, an instant classic.

Rosy Business stopped short of that. It has waves of drama, waves of excitement, some exciting and somewhat realistic dialogue although you're right to wonder why would anyone listen to Chai Gau, a lowly employee at the beginning? Because Rosy Business infuse modern values. Someone with something useful and reasonable to say must be listened to, screw the hierarchy! That is why I feel Safe Guards is the better and more superior series because the story is far more superior.

I must mention about Chai Gau's adopted grandmother whom I have nicknamed Kawaii Grandma. She is so cute, however the acting was horrendous but she is so so so cute! And also a miracle. I actually thought she died when Chai Gau left in episode 1. Since there was famine, she was bed ridden and very old, I naturally thought she would have starved to death. She didn't. She in fact outlived Chai Gau. Amazing!

The opening sequence though was quality stuff. It reminds me of those China production sort of opening, meant to be watched on 16:9 widescreen format and I love how the graphics played out to the song. It was beautiful. The poster is beautiful but the theme opening sequence was gorgeous, rarely have I been so delighted by such beautiful sequence, it was like art, a very good one. It was somewhat similar to Gem Of Life except Gem of Life was just scrolling pictures whilst in Rosy Business the tone was sepia giving it an antique and mysterious feel, a very grand sort of feeling. In fact the opening sequence and the end sequence seems to be made for cinemascope. Some scenes have such beautiful cinematography and wide angle camera scope that it felt grand, it felt expensive and it felt that this was one production that the producer felt personal and important. However that feeling is not all the time but at least some of the time, and it is a real treat to the eyes.

Now the performances.

No doubt, I was dying to watch this series because of one man and one man only; Wayne Lai. He truly arrived with the character of Chai Gau but frankly I thought he already arrived with his performance as the pig in Journey To The West. He never really left but nobody really took notice except those who did. He was beyond excellent in Safe Guards but in Chai Gau you will see a different side of him; despicable, desperate and yet sometimes quite debonair. He is angry, he is fierce and yet there exists that tenderness in him. Someone said he has that hunger in his eyes and that hunger never left the entire series which made him such a great actor and yet despite the hunger, you will feel Chai Gau will never betray his integrity at the most important moment. He will be an asset, not a liability and Wayne Lai infused all that into his Chai Gau. Truly Chai Gau may not be his original creation but the development of Chai Gau is his alone. Probably one of the best developed character in the series or in any series, Wayne gave Chai Gau such life that you would believe such a man truly exists and the last scene where he died, I am sure you will be shocked and yet feel that is a proper end for this great character. I was hoping Bo Kei will die and not him though but then in the end Bit Ching will need Bo kei's wisdom and not Chai Gau's strength. What an amazing performance by an amazing actor. I am truly happy for Wayne for his recognition and his success and may I sad, he is even more handsome now!

Sheren Tang is one actress I never quite liked beyond liking but in here, this is truly her best performance. Hard to explain but in the past she seems to look arrogant and nothing else but as Bo Kei, there were many expressions. A wonderful performance even if she looks young for the character. But then she looks young for her age.

Susan Tse is ok. Nothing ground breaking. It's not that she can't act but her acting is so old style, so 50's, so opera-ish, but not really over the top that I just feel she is neautral and another more modern approach to acting of an actress would have made this character better. Why not as Liza Wang to do this role? I want to see her as a villain. A bit too old though.

Kiki Sheung had little to do. Wasted in this series.

Kara Hui on the other hand may be stuck with a one note character but her performance was anything but one note. She improved so much in her acting. I never thought of her much, even in Safe Guards but in here, she played to perfection the weak and timid Lau Fong, the way she cried, her eyes suddenly looked so big to me and so expressive. Fantastic performance! But hated the character.

Elliot Yue is to me not the best actor amongst the veterans. I feel Chun Pui would have been far greater. I just feel Cheung Kiu was meant to be a more shrewder, faer more intelligent man but Elliot Yue's Cheung Kiu just stop short of that. I don't feel his wisdom, I feel him to lack the leadership and shrewdness quality that makes a successful merchant compared to the resourceful Chai Gau. I was hoping for more scenes of his younger days grieving for Bo Kei but none.

Ngo Ka Nin has always been a good actor. His limitation in here is not him but the character who was exciting at first but in the end became a one note character.

Nancy Wu is one actress I never thought of much. I thought she had only one expression and that is the arrogant look. But in here, she displayed more emotions, she breaths life to Hoi Tong even if her scenes were not much. I like how she stripped away those ladylike whatever and just go for her role, displaying everything desperate and ugly about Hoi Tong and yet in the end showed how gentle, caring, loyal and loving she could be. A wonderful performance and she should have gotten the Most Improved award if she hadn't already.

Suet Lei was terrible. Inconsistent performance, worse was when Bit Man was dead and she seems rather cheerful about it.

Kelvin Leung as Mo is to be wonderful. I just like him as Mo.

The rest are ok, although Suki Tsui wasn't up to par. First of her character seems like a possessive unreasonable bossy wife. Her performance was lacking of oomph. She is cute but what is cute in the face of so many better actors who probably can play cute much better? Is cute a natural ability? Can you practice cute?

A special note of all the younger actors playing younger counterparts of Cheung Kiu, Bo Kei, Pang Kiu, Lau Fong and Fung Yee. All were wonderful, even if screentime was little. The one possible exception was the actor who played the young Pang Hang. Too caricature.

Now... Ron Ng...

I know he garnered a lot more fans after this series, praising him for his performance as Bit Ching. I was surprised that he was the one who sang the themesong because the singer sounded good. So I must praise him for improving in his singing but the themesong is already a good song. A better singer would have done the song more justice, not that Ron Ng was awful. But his acting, now that I have seen the entire series, was in the end awful. If Ngo Ka Nin's problem is with his character Bit Man who in the end was a 1 note character, Ron Ng's problem is that his performance was a 1 note performance. I wrote and praised highly about Bit Ching, because I truly like this rather honourable character who actually developed as a character, who to me should have been central to the struggle and not beside it, so to me the script did Bit Ching injustice by shoving him to the side and giving more prominence, to the point of utter obsession with Chai Gau, not that I am complaining. But Ron Ng, he looked dead serious when he is upset, he looked dead serious when he is supposed to be playful, he looked dead serious when he is happy and the only scene he looked suitable was when in dead serious scenes. I feel little for Lau Fong's death because Ron Ng's performance in that scene was so utterly inadequate. He was worse in his earlier performances but he has improved, however the improvement means he is stuck in one facial expression only that is dead serious. He does look dead serious everytime. His eyes emote nothing but a blank stare. No emotion, no joy, no pain, no nervousness, just utter blankness. His body language is as worse. He is perpetually hunched, in excitement whether due to joy or fear or panic, he will grab both sides of the shoulders of the person he is delivering his lines to, and most of the time the way he delivers his line, his head is bobbing up and down, like a chicken on the prowl which gives me a headache. But body language can be cured by just strapping him onto the chair. His expression was a major problem. The only scene he ever did well was in EU where he cried as Laughing Gor died. Even then, it was a blank face, but there were tears and why he did well was because that is one dead serious scene. He contributed nothing to the development of the character of Bit Ching except the fact he is playing Bit Ching. You look at him then look at Wayne Lai and you see how awful he was. By himself with other younger or lesser actors like Suki Chui, he fares better. But with even Kara Hui, he was inadequate. His character loves his mother very much, often withstand abuse and bullying for her sake and yet I feel none the love nor the warmth between them except the script says they're. There is no chemistry between them. Compared to the same character of a son to a father in The Greatness Of A Hero where Wayne Lai plays the stern and unloving father and Stephen Wong if I am mistaken plays the son who is eager to please the father. In their death scene, that just one final moment, there was familiarity between them, there was love, there was acceptance and a certain sadness that the son loved the father so much he was willing to die with him and the father finally understood how much his son loved him. I don't see this familiarity between Ron and Kara and it is not Kara's problem. She seems almost afraid or wary to touch him, there wasn't much physical contact, but plenty of tears and frustration. Stephen Wong plays the young Cheung Kiu in here but I would have preferred he plays Bit Ching. In fact I would have thought Ngo Ka Nin could play Bit Ching and Bit Man can be played by someone else because I know Ngo Ka Nin can play a gallant gentleman that exudes gentleness and grace, something that Bit Ching was supposed to be, which was why Bo Kei liked him so much at first glance. However, Ron Ng may have been awful, but he wasn't hopeless, if not I would have lamented that fact in each and every recap I wrote. I just thought Ron Ng screwed up the chance to present to us a better performance. It is true that the more he is in the background the better he will develop as an actor but unfortunately, however much I love the character of Bit Ching, I can't bring myself to say the credit goes to Ron Ng. It goes to the script writer for writing a good character in the first place.

As for the ending, let me just say it was apt. I may have wished Bo Kei to die and Chai Gau to live but I suppose it is apt Chai Gau dies as he was like a burning bright star, that burns out fast. Like a force that hits you and then gone. His death scene was only seconds but the effect stays with you for a long time. I feel it was suitable to have an unknown narrator to narrate his life although at the start there wasn't much indication this series is about Chai Gau only. The narration makes it as if the series start with Chai Gau and ends with Chai Gau because Chai Gau is the main leading character which is misleading. There is a disadvantage to this as everybody else is shoved aside, either went out of camera or never properly developed because too much importance is placed on 2 characters. But I am not going to complain. This is Wayne Lai and Sheren Tang's moment, especially Wayne Lai and if the other characters are poorly developed, if the story is loopsided and is weakened by the fact that the story isn't told well, I really don't care, for once. I really enjoyed the story of Chai Gau and I like that the ending was personal, it was a shot of him and Bo Kei sitting next to each other watching the beautiful sunset. I would have wished though Bo Kei give Chai Gau just one hug, that didn't happen. But I think in the end she did hold his hand whilst dating and on his deathbed, if that is as I remember it, then well... I still want a hug. It is supposed to be a love story but this is like a restrained love of the heart sort of love story.

Verdict
Many noted how similar this is to Safe Guards and you're all right. Many noted it is way better than Safe Guard, story and performances wise. Let me make this clear, my opinion; Safe Guards was way better. The story was evened out, the villains properly developed, the struggle of Seung Chi and in saving his family business and in the end his family itself was consistent throughout and not a problem by problem basis. Many scenes played out for a reason and was dramatic at the right time. Rosy Business failed in that consistency, and many dramatic moments just passed with no lingering effect. And the story wasn't well developed, the characters even less so. However performances wise, both series has Wayne Lai, and that is a bonus. Steven Ma plays the gallant gentlemanly struggling adopted son better than Ron Ng but then he is more similar to Sheren Tang's Bo Kei than Bit Ching. Safe Guards is pulled down by a very bad actress but lifted up by great performances by the veterans and younger ones. Rosy Business has that balance too. So it is a give and take situation; you can't have all excellent performances in one series it seems, which is such a pity. Make no mistake though, Rosy Business is highly entertaining, certain dialogue will spur you on, you will feel connected to the story, feel the raw emotion, the pain, the struggle, the joy when there comes those scenes but when those scenes are over, you will feel like you were crashing down emotionally. It is like an emotional high, then emotional low, and not much in between. Which is why I feel strongly for Safe Guards but for Wayne Lai, any would be fan or any existing fan of Wayne Lai must watch Rosy Business for his star turn as the always fierce and angry Chai Gau. I did wish Chai Gau leaves the company and join his brothers earlier because I expected him to return really angry but the way the series went, I thought it was suitable too. You may wonder how come Chai Gau can exert such influence on his fellow colleagues when he was a nobody but with Wayne Lai in it, you just stop wondering and just accept that as a fact. In the end the series is flawed but compared to recent offerings, this is the best in terms of acting and story.

A must watch.

NEW HEART [TV][Kr]

2010-06-03T16:43:00.002+08:00

Written by Bridget Au

"Korea’s version of Healing Hands isn’t bad, but I pray I’ll never need heart surgery if I ever visit Korea one day"

SPOILERS ... SPOILERS ... SPOILERS

Korean Title
“Nyu Hateu” (Korean loan words)

Released in
2007

No. of episodes
23

Cast
Jo Jae Hyun as Choi Kang Gook
Ji Sung as Lee Eun Sung
Kim Min Jung as Nam Hye Suk
Lee Ji Hoon as Lee Dong Koon
Supporting Cast
Sung Dong Il as Lee Seung Jae
Jung Dong Hwan as Park Jae Hyun
Lee Ki Young as Kim Jung Gil
Jung Ho Geun as Min Young Kyu
Kang Ji Hoo as Woo In Tae
Jang Hyun Sung as Kim Tae Joon
Shin Dong Mi as Jo Min Ah
Lee Chang Joo as Lee In Ho
Son Yeo Eun as Choi Hyun Jung
Shin Da Eun as Kim Mi Mi
Park Chul Min as Bae Dae Ro

Foreword
Korea’s version of Healing Hands isn’t bad, but I pray I’ll never need heart surgery if I ever visit Korea one day.

Review
Finally, the roles are reversed! For once, the girl is the one who is intelligent, well-off, and unapproachable, and the guy is the poor, optimistic, and friendly one.

Lee Eun Song is an orphan who went to medical school in the countryside who goes from zero to hero when he scores an internship at the prestigious Kwang Hee University Hospital in Seoul alongside stone-faced top scholar Nam Hae-suk. Both are under the direction of brilliant surgeon Choi Kang-gook. Under his tutelage, both become excellent doctors in their own right, but not after numerous challenges. Choi himself has a rough time re-establishing himself in the profession, after previously leaving the hospital due to conflicts with its management. He frequently bickers with arrogant colleague Kim Tae Joon, who is jealous of Choi’s brilliance and also happens to be hiding an affair with a fellow doctor of the hospital, Jo Min Ah. To top it all off, Choi also experiences family problems throughout the series, with wife and daughters believing that he isn’t as devoted to the family as he should be. Eventually, relationships are repaired some others begin. Yay.

I first saw Ji Sung in the blockbuster All In and was not impressed. He was lacking in charisma but New Heart has changed my mind. He is a delight to watch as the sunny, caring Eun Song with boundless energy and his character contrasts well with the stiff, steely Hae-Suk. What I like about Eun Song is that he isn’t unrealistically optimistic and is someone with a less-than-rosy past who got a second chance at life. He works hard for his patients, caring not only about their health but also mental well-being. He has his own failures and times of disappointment or sadness, but he always manages to eventually see the silver lining in the cloud. His best trait is that he has an ability to make the most serious/depressing situations lighthearted, like when Hae-suk was threatened with HIV, she hugs him in a moment of distress and he comforts her while saying “You’re not as pretty as a dying heroine. Stop writing novels”. An effortless performance radiating energy and spirit that will make you smile. And how funny is it that this guy spends his free time sewing teddy bears?

Nam Hae-suk is one of the more interesting heroines in Korean drama. Not your usual emotional waif or damsel in distress, nor your screeching, messy tomboy in the average Korean romcom. What I like about her is that she has principles that she doesn’t deviate from. You may not agree with them, but she couldn’t care less. She’s often mistaken as cold, but I see her more as aloof. And that’s only on the surface. The writers did a great job with her character. She is surprisingly three-dimensional, a talented, bright young woman who eventually finds love in the caring, devoted Eun Song. On the surface, Hae-suk seems stone-cold, emotionless and fundamentalist, not caring about anything or anyone except her ambition to become a cardiac surgeon. But the series makes it clear that this ambition is driven by one thing and one thing only – her desire for approval from her father, the hospital’s President. An illegitimate daughter from birth, she worked hard to become the top scholar in the nation and was devastated – clearly so – when she got rejected for the first time for the internship. In a way Hae-suk doesn’t only want her father’s acknowledgement, she also wants his love. It’s why she broke down in tears when reading her father’s letter near the end of the series, where he told her to learn from Dr. Choi and that he was sorry he caused her so much pain. The former was very much what a father would say to a daughter, and it was a poignant scene to watch.

Kim Min Jung did well in the role. She appropriately conveys Hae-suk’s toughness but also conveys her hysterical tears and yearning for love and also in a way, her loneliness until she finds Eun Song. She has very good chemistry with Ji Sung and I really like how the series portrayed their relationship from mutual confusion, to mutual respect and understanding and finally to mutual love. What is missing in this series, however, is her relationship with her mom. I was expecting a lot more on the role that her mother plays in the frosty relationship between her and her estranged father.

Jo Jae Hyun was magnificent as Dr. Choi. He looks intelligent, he looks principled, and his relationship with both star pupils was fun to watch. He was also unexpectedly funny in that snarky, sarcastic way, like when Eun Song runs to catch his elevator and stops the door with his hands, he hits him on the back and scolds: “Idiot! Why did you stop the door with your hands? Do you know how important a surgeon’s hands are? Next time stop it with your foot! Better yet, stop it with your head”.

Korea offers consistent, quality supporting cast actors and New Heart is no exception. Jang Hyun Sung and Shin Dong Mi had chemistry, the former whose arrogance masked his guilt and love for his childhood sweetheart and the latter ladylike and elegant. I recognized Shin Da Eun instantly from I Am Happy, and she delivers another funny performance here. The actors who played the other residents in Eun Song’s and Hae Suk’s room were also very funny.

The one weak link is Lee Ji Hoon who threatened to kill this series with his irritating performance. Good thing he only appears in 2 or 3 episodes.

I’m from a place that prides itself on public health, so I was beyond intrigued by all the “board meetings”, where they discussed various upcoming surgeries and made decisions on them, such as which surgeon would perform the operation. Do doctors in Korea really decide who to operate on based on who’s more rich or influential? And are we to believe that these people are actually doctors and perform life-or-death surgeries?! All of them, from the interns to the veterans, are over-emotional and borderline psychotic. I cannot count the times one of the interns screamed and bellowed when a patient was in an emergency state, or when the surgeons argued with each other in the operating room! The only exceptions are the head nurse, Choi, Nam and Lee, who actually look and behave like medical professionals. But geez, if New Heart reflects reality, I seriously hope I never need heart surgery in Korea.

These sore points aside, New Heart is entertaining, well-written and surprisingly compelling. A recommended, underrated effort from Korean drama.

Rating
4/5

free hit counter

LET'S GO WATCH THE METEOR SHOWER [TV][China]

2010-06-03T16:31:00.003+08:00

Written by Bridget Au

"My vote goes to Let’s Go Watch Something Else"

SPOILERS ... SPOILERS ... SPOILERS

Chinese Title
“Yi Qi Qu Kan Liu Xing Yu” (direct translation)
(technically it is "Let Us All Go Watch The Meteor Shower Together - Funn)

Released In
2010

No. of episodes
36

Cast
Zheng Shuang as Chu Yu Xun
Zhang Han as Murong Yun Hai
Yu Hao Ming as Duanmu Lei
Wei Chen as Ye Shuo
Zhu Zi Xiao as Shangguan Rui Qian
Wang Jian Xin as Murong Zhong Shi
Li Ying as Shen Han Feng
Xiao Han as Murong Yun Duo

Foreword
You’ve seen Let’s Go Watch the Meteor Shower before. Now all that needs to be done is for TVB to film their remake. Can you stand the wait? I know I can’t.

Review
If you ask me why I watched this series, I will tell you it’s because … well, I’ve seen the other remakes already, I might as well keep up with any others that are made. No? Oh well.

Let’s Go Watch the Meteor Shower, produced by China’s Hunan TV, is loosely – very loosely – based on Japan’s best-selling shoujo manga of all time, Hana Yori Dango. It is the fourth Asian country to film a TV adaptation of the comic, after Taiwan, Japan, and Korea. The comparison stops there. 10 episodes in and you will realize that this adaptation basically combines every flaw of previous adaptations into one big grab bag of “what the hell did I just watch?” Let’s Go Watch the Meteor Shower has its merits as a standalone idol drama, but as an adaptation – even a loose one – it gives new meaning to the word “butcher”.

When the posters for this series were first revealed, I was as appalled as the rest of the netizens. Out of 1+ billion people, these were the best-looking actors China could find?! F4 is supposed to be the dream of every girl; rich, tall, and handsome (although I will be the first to tell you that Taiwan’s version and even Japan’s version also left much to be desired in terms of looks).

I am positive I wasn’t the only one who laughed when Duan Mu Lei made his appearance. Yu Hao Ming not only looks like a girl, but he also cannot act. I kept thinking that he would make a good gay best friend for Yu Xun à la Korea’s Personal Preference. Yu doesn’t manage to convey Rui’s mysteriousness (Vic Zhou’s performance) nor his inner compassion (Kim Hyun Joong’s performance). Not only do I see absolutely nothing in his appearance and/or demeanor that would convince me that Yu Xun would fall so hard and fast for him, the actor is uncharismatic and delivers a train wreck of a performance that could possibly incite death via unintentional laughter.

Wei Chen and Zhu Zi Xiao were both unexpectedly good, for different reasons. Wei's performance was the best out of the younger cast, and Zhu is goofy and appropriately smart-aleck.

A good point about this series is that it explores a lot of back story in side characters. Yun Duo’s plotline about her relationship with a man who constantly felt lesser than her was intriguing, and Xiao Han delivers one of the better performances of the series in the role.

I remember Alec Su once said that acting with Koreans was different and challenging because their style of acting consists of delayed, prolonged reactions. And while neither of them are Korean, both leads in this series suffer from the same acting problem – delayed reactions.

Zheng Shuang reminds me of a kiddy version of the actress who portrayed Qing Er in Princess Pearl. She has very good chemistry with Zhang Han though she has little comic timing and is not nearly as tough as Makino is supposed to be. Zheng is a lovely crier and at her best in the dramatic, romantic scenes. Her scenes as the tomboyish, brash Yu Xun are much more of a tough sell – she overacts and her expressions always come 3 seconds too late. Her performance is partially adequate as deep down, Makino is actually a romantic soul.

The writers shamelessly butcher the original characterization for Doumyouji’s remake Yun Hai. No way in hell would the original character blurt out lines like “We’ve experienced life and death. I’ll love you for all eternity” or “You’re the first girl I’ve fallen so hard for”. The hot air balloon scene was the absolute worst: “I, Mu Rong Yun Hai, swear on the land and sky and fresh flower rainbows that I will love only Chu Yu Xun until death do us part”. And then Yu Xun repeated the same vow. I was in shock. I think I actually said out loud “What the f-ck was that?!” For you TVB fans out there, remember in Detective Investigation Files IV when Quin and Fei jumped into bed (literally) immediately after Fei realized Quin was safe after falling from a building? This is what this scene reminded me of. It was so completely out of character for both leads that I just about died laughing.

So though the script hangs him out to dry, Zhang Han is actually not that bad. He is shaky at the beginning but improves gradually towards the end. He has chemistry with Zheng but his best scenes are those with his sister and mother. A big gap though, is his friendship with Mu Lei and how it’s affected by Yu Xun’s appearance. Not only does the Chinese version completely change the nature of their friendship by having Yun Hai befriend the 3 much later than they’re supposed to, I don’t see the friendship chemistry between the actors.

To Watch or Not to Watch, That is the Question
Raise your hand if you want a sequel. Too bad, there will be one anyway. And since I like torturing myself, I will watch it. You’ve been warned – if you’re a fan of the original manga and story, you may want to request a title change. My vote goes to Let’s Go Watch Something Else.

Rating
2/5

free hit counter

THE GEM OF LIFE [TVB]

2010-04-23T14:51:00.004+08:00

Written by Funn Lim

"It is like an 82 storey building but the elevator just goes from 1 to 10 and back to 5 to 1 to 8 to 3 to 10 to ... never beyond 10 and to its highest potential"

SPOILERS ... SPOILERS ... SPOILERS

Title Discussed
I am always confused whether the's a THE or no THE but a quick check on Wikipedia, there's a THE. Chinese title is "Chu Kong Bou Hei". I will not pretend to know what it all means so I will not discuss it.

Released in
2009

Episodes
An epic staggering humongous OMG WHAT?! 82 episodes.

Cast-Character
Taken from this review, also posted in this website

Hong Family
Maggie Shiu – Sylvia Hong Nga Yin
Gigi Lai – Constance Hong Nga Tung
Ada Choi – Jessica Hong Nga Sze
John Chiang – Hong Ching Yeung
Louise Lee – Hong Bak Siu Yau

Maggie is the eldest, Gigi the second and Ada the youngest children of gem dealer John and socialite Louise. All 3 daughters were married at the start of the series and all 3 will divorce within the next few episodes.

Ho Family
Elliot Yue (Ngok Wah) – Martin Ho Fung
Moses Chan – Terrence Ho Jit Lam

Moses is the only son of Elliot whose wife died a long time ago. He later will marry Ada and have one son, Soon.

Shek Family
Wong He – Shek Tai Wo
Bosco Wong – Will Shek Tai Chuen

Wong He is the older brother of Bosco. Parents died long time ago and Bosco raised by Wong He who in turn works for John since very young so John treats him like a son. Wong He is in love with Ada since he was a teenager and is close to all 3 sisters.

Sung Family
Chan Hung Lit – Philip Sung Sai Man
Helen Ma – Margaret Sung Kwok Yuen Yee
Linda Chung – Elise Sung Chi Ling
Queenie Chu – Mandy Man Wai
Queena Chan Dan Dan – Charlie Cheuk Yi

Helen is the 1st wife, Queenie the so called wife but rather is a mistress as well as Queena, to Chan Hung Lit. He has a son whom he does not respect and a granddaughter Linda whom he dotes on. Mother of Linda died when she was little in an apparent suicide. Linda later falls for Wong He but realised in the end she loves Bosco whom she cruelly ditches at the start.

Others
Bowie Lam – Calvin Ko Cheung Sing
Kenny Wong – Sunny Yau Yat Tung
Eddie Kwan – Derek Chan Kai Fat
Rebecca Chan – Melissa Yan Wai Ting
Florence Kwok – Catherine Shum Ji Tang
Lau Dan – Suen Wai Tak
Lai Suen - Madam Ko

Bowie is the only son of Madam Ko who worked as a prostitute to raise Bowie. Kenny is Bowie's best friend whom he met when they were training to be a chef many years before and met again when Kenny was the leader of Moses' yacht team. Eddie is the only son of a gem dealer who died many years before who was a partner in business with Lau Dan. Lau Dan is the boss of David and Wong He and a successful gem dealer. Florence is the only sister of a very rich Vietnamese man with chains of supermarket who died from kidney failure. She will later marry Bowie and give birth to his child. Rebecca is a highly successful and rich widow of a rich man who died many years before. She has her own company and is best friends with Elliot and is in fact in love with him and has known him even before he was rich. She will later die of an illness and her entire business given to Bosco.

Summary
Too lazy to write it all out so you can refer here. But my comments will contain huge spoilers and some discussion, well actually a lot of discussion on the plot.

My Comments
When this series was about to be broadcast like some 82 days ago, I wrote I wanted to do an Episode Thoughts. Many discouraged me and after 82 days (minus maybe 20 days or so) spent devoting my life to this series, I have to say a big thank you to those who discouraged me. I feel your love, you won't want me to suffer and in return my review is written with you the viewer who maybe has seen, seeing, has not seen or plan to re-watch this series in mind.

Just a summary before I go into the details. Go on, ask me, ask me "Funn, how was it?".

You want to know the truth? Truth is and I shall admit it I was entertained. There are some series you just hate and yet will watch and those you love and rewatch again. This series is in between; I don't think I wasted my 82 days (minus that said 20 days or so) or that my 82 days were the most glorious days of my life. Maybe I never quite paid attention as I was either busy eating, talking, doing my miniature stuff whenever I was watching this series. Being so preoccupied with something else makes me not hate this series in general. Doesn't mean it is a total waste of breath to watch because truth is there are good parts, some bad parts, and after a while when you have spent time watching 20 episodes you feel like well, 62 more, and then 40 episodes and you go "but it's only 42 more!" and when you reached 60th episode it is like this kiasu feeling "Eh! Watched so many already, might as well just finish it!". I couldn't bring myself to stop watching, not because it is so darn good, but because I have invested such a long time and to just abandon it halfway through will be like wasting my previous days. So my point is either you don't start with this series but if you started, better just go on and finish it. It does have gem moments so to speak but I can't pinpoint where since it is 82 episodes you know.

Ok, now to my review proper. There are 3 things to this series you can look at;

1. the story
2. the characters
3. the performances

I will go with the story first.

Like I said, I did plan to write the episode thoughts and as some pointed out to me it will be huge commitment. But on hindsight it might be easy to do since it will be like this;

"The sisters are great together"

"Nope, fighting"

"Good again"

"All hell just broke loose, they're fighting again!"

The men?

"Fighting"
"Fighting"
"Fighting"
"Fighting"
"Fighting"
"Eh, they're scared!! Stopped fighting already" (Last episode)

That's the entire series. They make up, they fight, make up, fight, fight, fight. They fight always because of business.

And to tell you the truth after 82 episodes I still didn't get what sort of business they're doing. All I know is Gigi married someone not rich but later married very rich. Maggie married comfortable as she is successful herself but got involved with someone really rich. Ada was rich as she married someone rich but later remarried mega rich. Bowie is super rich. Rebecca Chan is mega rich. Moses is super mega rich. Elliot is super duper mega rich. Chan Hung Lit (RIP) is the richest of the richest of them all!

It is like a show on I am rich, but he is richer but you know what, that guy over there, richest!

But what exactly do they do?

Business. I know Rebecca has a PR company. Ok... Elliot is ermm, not sure, Moses is always playing with his yacht so he must be filthy rich, Maggie is PR, Bowie is well...I don't know. Because after a while everybody does everything. It's like as if in HK whenever the Chinese government announces one project, be they telecommunication, construction or picking up sewage, whatever these people just fight each other for the contract. I had to really laugh when Rebecca was introduced as super duper mega rich and she has a PR company. Has there ever been a blue chip multi billion dollar company a PR company? Florence is owner of highly successful supermarket chains and from the way Elliot goes to her, she is richer and may I stress Elliot is already super rich? But Wal-Mart I can understand. PR company? Why not TVB? Why not OSK? Why not some handphone company, or ACER or something?? And joke is they even want to get into production of cars which is you and I both know is pretty exclusive club! You don't make computer and then suddenly go to make cars? Do you?

Everytime they sit down plotting, be they Ada and her minions, Maggie and Bowie, Moses and his subordinates, or even Bosco later on, I can never understand a word they're saying. They say things like "This project is very important. Go get it done!" or "I will ask so and so to start the work now". Yeahhh but what work? This series never actually show them doing any work. They walk left, walk right, discuss, meetings, coffee, eat, chat, play ball, and the usual chaufferred around in a nice car. But signing agreements, consulting, etc, either just a scene or 2 or none at all. For so bloody rich sort of companies, the staff are so few and more importantly, they seem to do no work at all.

So if you want the business aspect in this series to be realistic, it is not. It can't be. No one company can be so diverse and do so many things. Like I said, you don't go from planting trees to making guns.

I just don't get the business part. But interestingly everybody cheats. The last 2 episodes shows everybody lies to everybody and cheats on everything to get the business or project and my family and I was joking all of them will be going to jail for a variety of reason and they will have a reunion in the prison! Even Gigi's character will go to jail, why? She kept important information from ICAC and that is perverting justice. Of course her defense will be "But your honour, I was trying to save my sister and my ex husband!". Point is girl, it may be a white collar crime, but it is still a crime nonetheless.

So what is the focus of this series? At the start and the end it is the 3 sisters. Yes I get that but in the middle, the focus went everywhere and seem to focus on business. In fact in the last episode the richest of them all turns out to be Bosco as he got the biggest project in the end. But he wasn't happy. It is like as if this series is trying to show it is lonely to be at the top when you have sacrificed so much, done so many deeds and you ask yourself is it worth it? But the series never focus on that. I would love it if it focusses on business and the effect of all these mind playing and plotting on the souls of each individual characters instead of focussing on the 3 incredibly stupid sisters.

In a sense there is not much intelligence in the script.

For one, the sisters. The eldest Maggie is supposed to be headstrong. Gigi the second is the go between, the kind nice one who thinks of family first. Ada the youngest is the spoilt one, always getting what she wants and put her own interest above her own family. In fact she put her husbands' interests above her own family. If her husband is successful she will be so in the end her own interest above all else.

And for 82 episodes, the characters remain practically the same except Maggie shifted gears to become incredibly despicable and suddenly so selfish as her man comes first but in actual fact there is an indication of that earlier on. So really, not much change. I will get to that in a little while. The characters exhibit no major personality change. It is just from happy to unhappy. Characterisation wise, it is pretty stagnant throughout. Even if Ada became super rich and runs the company, she is still that same Ada from episode 1. Gigi never changes, even when she threatens Ada to save her and Moses, she is still the same from episode 1. Maggie even if she seems to exhibit the most change is actually the same person albeit from a different perspective. After so many things happening, son died, husband died, lover planning to frame you, lover telling you he stood by and let your ex lover die, etc etc etc, not much emotional or personality change at all. Sometimes Ada for instance became sullen but then next minute neurotic like she was in the beginning when her first husband left he with a bunch of debts.

The men fared a bit better in the sense there is some change. Moses became more sullen in the end. Bowie became desperate and in the end at peace with himself. Bosco the same actually. Wong He is pretty much the same throughout since his character is only 1 track mind that is love Ada. Some men have personality, some their personality derive from the female characters, such as Wong He. Bosco I would say has not much personality. He can stand there and hold a billion dollar in cash and still I won't believe he runs a huge successful company. Not to say his acting is terrible but the personafication, I don't see him as a businessman, more so a successful one.

The older characters fared much better. Elliot exhibited probably one of the biggest change, from humble to in your face to mad. But very believable changes. The other is of course Chan Hung Lit who started off incredibly in your face and arrogant and then desperate and cruel and finally pitiful and somewhat pleasant as he realised what he had done was wrong. Rebecca may just stand and cross her hands to indicate a highly successful career woman (do high successful career woman stand with their hands crossed all the time?) but she has some changes too but since her character is minor, you probably won't care.

The biggest change would be 2 characters; Louise who changed because of her illness, from glamarous highly made up and quite arrogant look to in the end humbled, less make up and quite pitiful look. Then there's Linda; really big change from spoilt arrogant selfish bitch to the end a mature understanding quiet lady. I find Linda the biggest change. Her character isn't the biggest one, it is in fact quite a small character but her character exhibits the biggest change, more than those 3 sisters combined.

The rest are just stuck there in a time warp.

And that is the problem with being 82 episodes long. Some series is given 20 episodes or 30 episodes and an epic is born. Some series like the one I am watching now called Ryoma-Den from Japan is given 48 episodes I think to tell the life story of a samurai and I even think it is not long enough. TVB gives this long winded series 82 episodes and for 82 episodes, it just went by without any big change or movement. It is as if the story has just started, not quite properly ended and the middle part are just screwed up. And it moves at a frantic pace too, so how come it took 82 episodes to tell a non-moving repetetive story?

Many episodes were devoted to boasting the budget I think. The cars, the planes, the yachts, the games, drinking, talking, driving, discussions in alien language that TVB calls business talk, etc. Too many characters going in and out of camera. In the end the focus is not there, it is touch and go for most things. I think all those in itself adds up to 20 episodes worth.

But when the series picks up pace, it is fast. Every character hitting on the other, plotting on the other, arguing, pushing, crying, etc. When the series slows down, you can basically just not watch it at all. This is one series you can afford to miss 10 episodes and still not miss a thing. Maybe you will miss the catfights and all but in the end when they're sour, you know they're fighting about business, when they're happy they patched things up. Like I said, the script isn't very intelligent at all, nor engaging the whole time.

So for 82 episodes, it doesn't really grab your attention for all 82 episodes. To be fair when it grabs your attention you won't want to look away. But when you let go, you can.

So it just translates to the story and the pacing being mediocre at best with some really good moments but not enough. I certainly wouldn't rush to rent this one based on the storyline.

The characters are strange.

For the life of me I can't understand why 3 smart intelligent human beings would want to plot, cheat, lie and sacrifice themselves for one man that is Bowie. Bowie, the character I mean is not likeable. He can be rude, unfeeling but he does love his mother very much. The only time he exhibited gentleness and true happiness was the earlier episodes where he was starting a relationship with Maggie. After that it was plotting after plotting. When his business suddenly was on the brink of ruin, out of nowhere if I may add Maggie and Kenny decided to get married so that he would forget about Maggie and then marry Florence who will help him with his business. So very K-drama don't you think? Later when he realised the truth he left his wife despite her pregnancy and began on a journey of self hate and later chanelled all that hatred to Kenny and Maggie who both felt like they owed him and Maggie especially decided to do all she can to help him, including framing her sisters and going to jail. She did so because she felt she owed him for what she did to him. Granted, when Bowie first found out the truth he did ask I think Florence "Why do you think I will choose the company? You never gave me that choice!" and true, maybe he would have chosen Maggie and face financial ruin. But he is also an incredibly driven man, ambitious due to his inferiority over his childhood so maybe he would have chosen marrying Florence and saving the company? Anyway my point is I don't get the storyline on Maggie and Kenny both feeling they owed him. They didn't point a gun at him to marry Florence. He did it voluntarily, so why must they be his dog and do his bidding? I believe the truth is as stated by Maggie at the end when she said "I must help this man! I can't let him fall! I have done so many things, sacrificed so many for him, it is far too late for me to just let him be! I can't!". So, it is because she is a kiasu. Despicable woman though, the way she used her sisters and all.

Moses is also a strange one but with an even stranger predicament. I kinda pity him in the end. He is said to be arrogant and flaunts his money, as said by Bowie. I find that inaccurate. Ok, so he is a playboy, who isn't. He is one guy who always plotting to get something, but always falls flat on his face doing it. I have never seen any of his business coups, etc ever succeed. He is in fact a rather bad businessman, because he got conned, got lied to, threatened, investigated, etc. The joke is which I find incredibly funny is towards the end everybody is against him and accuses him of all sorts of things like

- kidnapping his father
- causing the death of his brother
- badmouthing Eddie to the point Eddie lost his career

none of the above is true. This is one character who is constantly being accused of something and when he was accused of deliberately causing his brother's death, my immediate reaction is NO WAY! And when he was accused of badmouthing Eddie, I was like NOT HIS STYLE. He is the sort that couldn't hide things well. He hates, you can see his hate. He loves, you can see his love. Very transparent sort of man so when he wants to plot against someone, he will walk right up, insult that person and do the plotting. Unlike Bowie who is far more secretive, Moses' Terence is an open book. So there he was accused of so many things, and none of it was true. And the one thing no one accuses him of, that is he stood by and looked at Eddie being burnt to death, that is true. And when people like Lau Dan who by then sees Eddie as his successor and Gigi Eddie's one time girlfriend found out how Eddie could have been saved but wasn't, they end up not hating him. Lau Dan still can't forgive him but Gigi who said "I knew he stood by and let Ah Fatt die. I knew he didn't help Ah Fatt and I know that is despicable. But why am I still doing so much for him? Why did I just threaten my sister to save Terrence?" did and Lau Dan reasoned "Yes, Terrence may have stood by and let Ah Fatt die but the fact that he confessed to you and me, that was incredibly brave of him. That took courage and that would mean he has fully repented. If this is the case, Constance, your choice to forgive him isn't wrong". I kinda agree. There is no crime for not saving someone, just so you know. Which is why if Terrence is going to jail it ain't for this. Anyway he didn't go to jail for anything. In fact life goes on for him. His last scene with Gigi was pretty moving in the sense they start anew. She dropped her ring into the sewer and here was 2 beautifully dressed individual kneeling with their butt up high looking for the ring. She hugged him when he found it and he hugged her back. A clear indication there is hope for this pair. Earlier to give credit to Moses that is Terrence, he felt so guilty over abandoning Ah Fatt he refused to see Gigi and to give him more credit he confessed to Lau Dan who punched him (rightly so!) who raged "Why did you choose to tell me this now? WHY?! Is it because everybody thinks I Mr Suen is the nicest person on earth and so will most likely forgive you?! Is that it? Let me tell you this! I will never forgive you! Ah Fatt could have been saved! He could have been saved!!" and Terrence quietly said "I didn't expect you to forgive me". I find that scene one of the best , very emotional as well.

Chan Hung Lit's Sung Sai Man is strange. He loves his granddaughter very much because since she was born he was always lucky. He was very arrogant, flamboyant and had many wives/mistresses. At the start he was the richest but later after his downfall thanks to decades of planning by Elliot (don't ask me how he brought Chan down! The series skipped that and just said decades of planning), he didn't become destitute. He was still rich but not THAT rich and certainly his ego bruised. Here is one character like a Korean character. He always, ALWAYS pronounces his name in FULL, other pronounces his name in full AND HE HIMSELF calls himself SUNG SAI MAN. One name you will never forget because he appears and he goes "I, SUNG SAI MAN!!!!" and other appears and will say "THAT SUNG SAI MAN!!!". My sister said not quite Korean because must add "CHAIRMAN SUNG SAI MAN!!!!". In fact everybody else also got their names in full such as "HONG NGA SI!!!!!!!!!!!". Anyway, Chan suffered I can't remember how many heart attacks and survived them all. Funny was his main enemy Elliot died way before him! He was so vengeful, he wanted not just to regain his wealth but hurt others by demanding Linda to sleep with Bosco to get his wealth to challenge Ada! Linda by that time was in love with Wong He and was shocked and said "How can you ask me to do that grandpa? How can you ask your own granddaughter to become a whore?" and Chan angrily said "You slept around before!" and Linda said "Yes I did but that was me long ago. This is me now and I am not that sort of person anymore!" and grandpa raged "I don't care! You will do as you're told!" and Linda cried when he slapped her and said "I will not grandpa! I thought you have let go! You lied! I swore to myself I will never hurt the Shek brothers anymore! I will not!" and later not really because of her, grandpa suffered yet another heart attack. This heated exchange between these 2 were one of the best in this series and truly showed Elise maturing. I was afraid Elise will then do as she was told afer grandpa's heart attack but thankfully the story never went that way. Elise is a nice girl now and I like that side of her. Later Chan will have more emotionally heart wrenching scenes, such as the one where he was slowly pushing Soon, Ada's young son onto a highway full of speeding cars!! He really wanted to do it but was weak so he was doing slowly when a woman stopped him and she turns out to be Charlie who betrayed him (she was a mole sent by Elliot to seduce him) and Charlie was pregnant then and emotionally said "Please stop! Please don't hurt this innocent child. I have always wanted to see you, to seek your forgiveness of what I did. I had no choice, my mother (I think she said that) was sick and I needed the money and Mr Ho offered me the money. I needed it but I felt terrible to have caused you so much pain. I am sorry! But please don't take it out on a child. This is Mr Ho's son right?! You must stop! Mr Ho is dead! Stop the fighting! Please! You have been through heart attacks, and survived. Can't you see? Even the heavens is giving you a chance to repent. I guarantee you, if you do this, even your own granddaughter will not look to you anymore and you will never be able to hold your head up high! Stop with the madness and just enjoy whatever time you have with you wife and grandchild!" and he cried. She was right. Great dialogue but horrible acting by the actress. Later when he tried to confess to a mad Ada about what he had done, and Ada was so convinced it was Moses who caused her son's death, he cried and pleaded "I don't want to leave this earth carrying this guilt! It was I! I caused Soon Soon's death! It was never Terrence! I bought him some snacks, I didn't know that will kill him! I did it!" but Ada refused to listen. Again one of the best scene.

There are gems of interaction in here and one of the best was when Bosco confronted Ada to ask her to not chase Sung Sai Man for his debt as he lies in the hospital bed (this was after Chan slapped Linda earlier) and Ada said "Elise asks you to do this?" and Bosco said "No, I am doing this for my brother" and Ada shrugged "Why are you 2 brothers always cheated by this Elise? Can't you see she is using you both?!" and Bosco said "The only one who has lied, cheated, manipulated and using my brother is YOU! Because of you, he is going blind! Yes, it was because yof your husband who sent those guys to beat him up and you didn't stop them! I don't want my brother to be disappointed by your false promises again!" and Ada was shocked to hear that. Great exhange there.

Then there's the one moment which also showcases probably the best acting moment in this series.

It was at the end, last episode, a more relaxed Ada visits Wong He who gave her I suppose her lost brooch and she asked him to wear it for her and he fumbled and suddenly Ada looked closely and said "What's wrong with your eyesight?! I thought it was under control? You didn't damage your eyes further to make this brooch for me? Why are you so foolish!" and Wong He said sadly "Let me be foolish one last time. It really doesn't matter anymore. I just had to do this ... Ah Si, gems, there are gems which are rough and then polished to become a gem. But when a gem is polished again and again, however much it is a gem, the constant polishing will degrade the quality. Do you understand me Ah Si?" and Ada was crying and nodded and Wong He continued as he cried "I will be fine! I may not be able to see you clearly now, I want to Ah Si, I hope to see your face again but I know I have you in my memories. I can still see your young face, I can still see that face I just saw when you said you have let go and I know you meant it because that was the face of Hong Nga Si I knew, I will remember all these faces and see them often. I will be fine" as he cried and so did she. Why I said it was best acting moment was because of Wong He. As he said "I will be fine" to Ada, he didn't look it. He was shaking and crying, you knew his Ah Wor is afraid of going blind, he is afraid of not ever seeing her face again but he pretended to be brave for her own good but he grabbed her arms as she grabbed his. Before that when Ada was sitting and he was walking over, notice how his hands was lightly touching the chair, the table, as if feeling the place, finding his sit. His eyes may look at Ada but they're unfocused, or slighly askew. I excitedly told my sister "Sis! Sis! Did you see that? That is supreme acting I tell you!" and she agreed. Only 2 times I was very excited at this series and this was the second time. Wong He really showed us all the meaning of subtlety and fans of good acting and Wong He will appreciate his small touches to his character, that blink, that wayward eye, that moving hands, that fear in his eyes, this man in this one scene alone acted with his body and his face! I was so excited! What I don't get though is I thought he was going blind in one eye, ended up now 2 eyes! I think. I must add another great acting moment was when Ah Wor told Elise Ah Si will let her grandfather go but Elise was sceptical but Ah Wor was so convinced Ah Si will do as he asked. Wong He delivered his lines with such earnestness I kinda believed his Ah Wor too.

The other time was when Moses was carrying the boy and running to the hospital and at the top of the escalator he fell hard whilst holding the boy. I was screaming! I actually thought he fell! I actually imagined the boy flying up in the air as Moses fell! Truly scary moment!

Other performances didn't fare as well. I mean most are good but saddled with poorly written characters but none so mind bogglingly good as did Wong He and that small scene. May I add, Wong He can really really cry but at least I can still understand him.

Ada Choi is well.. ok. I hate her character. In fact I hate all the female character for many reasons but Ada's Ah Si is one selfish woman right up until the end. She uses Ah Wor, she lies to her family all for her own good. Later on she went mad a bit and that's when all those overacting come into the picture. That one scene which shows Wong He's greatness also unfortunately highlights her inadequacy as an actress. I find her acting or rather body language very stiff and where Ah Si should exhibit regret and remorse, after all it was because of her he was going blind, her body language was suprisingly not there. Oh she was crying and all, but I don't feel that sincerity from her. I hate it when Ada goes insane or cries as she talks, as I can never understand a single word she is saying. Her character is also badly developed so to Ada's credit she had to do what she is given, that is flesh out Hong Nga Si but would you believe me if I say I find her Ah Si one dimensional? Like I said, hardly changes. I feel this is a competent performance of a badly written character (and funnily this is one of the more fleshed out ones) but I wasn't wowed by her performance. At times I thought she was shrieking and I find her annoying.

Linda Chung had to deal with a bad girl character that is beyond redemption and have you believe that. She was rude I tell you and Linda went all out with Elise. But when the series changed it tones and believably Elise changed when she met Ah Wor, I believe in her change and felt what she did later was for her grandfather. But when her grandfather told her to do what he asked her to do, her tears, her total disbelief, etc was convincing. I don't know about you but I always find there is some sincerity in Linda's performances, that makes you believe this is one person who can be redeemed no matter what she did. As Elise, I believed that and I was as disgusted as she was with her grandpa's suggestion. Her sudden quietness shows a more mellowed down Elise and I welcome that. There is a contrast, a before and after and whilst Elise started off as my most hated character, in the end she has more integrity than those sisters combined. She sees the difference between right and wrong, she fully repents her past. I must give credit to Linda Chung for giving life to Elise which should have been a caricature, which should have been cardboard character and yet given the limited time she was given, everytime her Elise comes on screen, it is quite a watch. It was a bit slow between Elise and Bosco's character, at times rather boring but I like the later Elise. The writing may not be adequate but Linda gave Elise a sense of integrity, and never once did I find her Elise annoying, just incredibly rude at first.

Maggie Siu has a tough time. I think even she herself isn't convinced with her character, Sylvia who from strong headed woman to someone else. But truth is when her husband left her, her Sylvia actually turned to the supernatural to bring back her husband. So that shows when driven to desperation, this woman is capable of anything. I never liked Sylvia, I find her judgemental (even if she was often right about her mother and Ah Si) and at times arrogant. But I don't see why she should feel she owes Calvin anything. Towards the end I hated her. I find her such a stupid woman who mistakes giving all to your man and hurting your family to being giving. That's not giving, that's stupid. Her character just became worse and worse. Maggie is a great actress so tha fault lies with the stupid writing. I don't even care about her ending with Calvin. In fact I care more for Terrence than Sylvia! By the way maybe Maggie should take English lessons. There is a character named Catherine in here and it took me some time to realise it is Catherine because Sylvia kept saying Caffeine. I was thinking where's Tea then? Yes, throughout, Caffeine this Caffein that until one episode towards the end she said Catherine and then back to Caffeine. I know it's a small issue but you know you don't want people to laugh at you for pronouncing something as simple as Cat-te-rin as Caffeine. And with 82 episodes (maybe minus 30 or so), someone should have told her "excuse me Maggie, it is Catherine, not Caffeine". I mean Bowie who knows English should have told her rather than have her being humiliated by this one mistake. And to me it is a huge mistake. You're an actor paid to act and deliver your lines accurately. And there is a big difference between Catherine and Caffeine. They should have just named her Cat. Even other cast members mispronounce Sylvia as Silfia. Why not just call her Sophia?

Bowie as Calvin at first was like a welcomed relief. Not everybody rich has to be standing with hands crossed over the chest or in pockets to look rich. His Calvin is unabashedly unpolished and I love that. Love his first scene on how he greeted Terrence. Of course the way he does business, always going after Terrence is suicidal. And then he showed his softer side, as he cooks, and all. And as suddenly towards the end his character turned despicable, willing to frame all crimes on Sylvia for self preservation and the way he treated his best friend Sunny when in one of the best scene where he scolded Sunny "I know you're trying to do me in because you want Sylvia for yourself! That's what you want isn't it?!" and Sunny sadly said "It is you I love Calvin!" and suddenly Calvin's face turned to shock as Sunny held on to him and said "It is you I love! Calvin, please stop this madness!" and Calvin pushed Sunny who fell and had such a huge concussion he lies in coma. Last scene was Calvin going to jail soon and he said goodbye to Sunny cheerily as he said "I won't be visiting you for some time my friend but I hope when I do get out, I will be seeing you again" and one single tear dropped from Sunny's closed eyes. Before I go on, I really don't care whether Sylvia gets back with Calvin (yes) or whether she will wait for him (yes) or how many years Calvin gets (never told) but rather WILL SUNNY WAKE UP?! That I will never know but crying is a good sign, right? Anyway, Calvin is not a great character as it goes on but Bowie Lam is a great actor. He did what he could with a crappy character so for that kudos. Also that scene where Sunny confesses, his look of utter shock and disgust and fear and realisation was very well done!

Gigi Lai acts as a saint in here. Again not much change. If Sylvia is headstrong, Ah Si driven, then her Constance is an idiot. I don't know, I find her Constance rather empty up there but as the series went on, her Constance has more integrity than the other 2 combined and yet is still sort of spineless as she said to Mr Suen "I may have threatened Ah Si with this evidence but I know I can never take this to ICAC. What if she knows I am just bluffing?" Oh come on, have a bit of a spine, report that insane woman! She wanted you kidnapped! Anyway Gigi's Constance is incredibly patient person and really does not know her priority. I applaud the fact that to her family comes first. But when she found out what Terrence didn't do for Ah Fatt, incredibly no screaming, crying, breathless speech about how hurt she is but rather she forgave him. Why not just say it out; "Ah Fatt is nobody! I forgive you Terrence because I love you most!" And when she cries, OMG, all the breathing and asthma attack is on. And why when she was younger her hair is always down but when she went around Tibet some 2 years later her hair is always tied up? How come she can have money to go to Tibet? Dad gives? Does she even work? And I was so disgusted when she aspired to become a gem designer and her mother wanted her to marry someone rich and rather she works as a secretary rather than a designer. This is like one clingy woman, and for me rather lazy. After a while, no news anymore on her ambition. At least she had something to do when she was appointed co-trustee to the company by Martin in his will but then, give the company management to this airhead? That's the end of the company as she will always side with her sister. Earlier in the series, she confronted Ah Si then still married to her first husband and in a wedding shop, in full view of everybody cried loudly "HOW CAN YOU LIE TO OUR PARENTS? HOW YOU CAN KEEP UP THESE PRETENSES?!". Whilst I disagree with Ah Si's actions, exposing her in public like that will not only humiliate her but further push the company into trouble with truth about their wealth! An idiot! Acting wise, Gigi is ok. Just don't get her crying and talking at the same time but other than that she is tolerable. Some people just mistakes being an idiot as innocence. Maybe the character isn't written that way and Gigi's inadequacy made it that way. All I know is Constance annoys me.

Kenny Wong surprisingly has a big role in this series, he is in almost every scene for the entire series. I didn't need a big guess to correctly guess his issue with Sylvia and Calvin being together and not understanding what is so damn special about Calvin to have this wonderful man loving him until he is willing to do so many things for him, but not the illegal stuff of course. When he fell and hit his head and went into a coma, I was hoping the ending would be him waking up. I mean he is a good guy, one of the nicest in this series but I just hated the ending with single tear drop. What does that mean? He wakes up? He hears but he can't wake up? Good but guys devoted to love will either end up blind or in coma? Anyway Kenny looks very good with his very nice body, severely gelled up hair (as in gelled down) and his well, I have issues with his porn-star moustache but other than that he looks good. I like his Sunny but unfortunately this actor does not show any emotion as in muscle movement on his face. His face seems frozen in time, and he looks worried and more worried or even more worried but nothing else. No flirtatiousness or anything. With a physique like his, he should make Sunny a very desirable and sexy man who unfortunately has his eyes on an unattainable man and if you want my honest opinion, a man undeserving of him. Anyway I didn't feel anything for his performance really. He is just so wooden. His acting is the same here as in Storm Warriors or whatever series or movies he was ever in and may I be honest with you? He was thoroughly boring despite looking so good.

Eddie Kwan surprised me. First of, he hardly ages, this man looks even better now than he did back then when he first appeared, looking very effiminate. He has beautiful features I can tell you. I loathed his Derek in the beginning. What a disgusting man, so hung up over perfect Constance who was rightly pissed off with him for lying to her, even if I had to endure her ashmatic crying scenes as she broke off with him. The way he treated his girlfriend (I am sure the actress is probably 2 decades younger than Eddie! her character by the way conveniently killed herself when her new boyfriend dumped her) was terrible and the way he stalked Constance and burned Elise's case was crazy. And then he went to jail. His entire story about how he feels about Lau Dan's Mr Suen got tired after a while and you wonder is this series about the 3 sisters or about every other man in the series? He disappeared and suddenly reappeared a gentler nicer guy and that's when I like his Ah Fatt, who knew he had zero chance with Constance. His death scene was sad of course, you could blame Terrence for his death but the truth is whether he could be saved or not is debatable and isn't quite the issue but rather Terrence did nothing to save his life. And so he died. Not that big a spoiler because if he doesn't die, Terrence and Constance can't get back together. And when I start to like him, boom! He's gone. As a testament to his acting abilities, Eddie disgusted me in the beginning and in the end made me like him. So I suppose you can say he gave a great performance even if half the time I can't stand his earlier scenes with perfect Constance or rather goddess Constance.

Moses Chan is always and will always be cast as the playboy even if I should petition TVB to stop doing that. He is not convincing as a playboy at all. I find nothing sexy nor flirtatious nor romantic about him. In a comedy he excels as he can play goofball strange characters and he seems to be more relaxed in a comedy but somehow TVB just insists on putting him in serious and ultra serious big budgetted dramas such as this series. It doesn't help that Moses doesn't look rich. His suits hung so loosely on his thin frame, his face registers perhaps one expression. If Kenny Wong's face is froze, Moses' face is probably paralyzed. There is no hope and yet that same face can make all sort of silly faces in a comedy or at least in Moonlight Resonance but in here it seems his entire personality has been sucked out. Even when he was revealing what he didn't do for Derek to Mr Suen, even when Mr Suen punched him and he knew he was guilty and totally deserved that, his face was one unchanging paralyzed look of nothingness with a huge pout as his lips. His eyes registers neither pain nor anger nor guilt nor anything. Compare him with Wong Hei, whose eyes registers warmth everytime he sees Ada, brotherly love and concern everytime he sees Bosco or anguish everytime he sees Elise. They should just switch roles. I don't care if Wong He is believable as a playboy, who knows maybe Wong He can be sexy. But Moses, oh Moses, what on earth was going through his mind during those pivotal scenes? Was he counting when he should stand up or sit down? The only scenes I see any resemblence of a personality is when he is fighting with Ada, there seems to be some attitude there but most of the time, everytime he appears with Goddess Constance and that to hell with it French music comes on, I tuned off. I didn't care of they got back together. They deserve each other anyway, one an idiot, the other a fool, you decide which is which. And yet his Terrence is a very interesting character, a failure each and every time, bailed by daddy, then by wifey, what a lucky guy and is blamed for everything catastrophic that happened and yet he did none of the things he was accused of. But why oh why Moses didn't give this role justice? What a blank performance if you know what I mean and this series further reinforces my belief that Moses Chan can't carry a series on his own. In a drama he has zero charisma. He should do more comedy or lighthearted series. TVB, enough already trying to push down our throats that ...

a. Moses can play playboys
b. Moses can play mega rich people
c. Moses can act in dramas
d. Moses can be sexy
e. Moses can kiss

He can't kiss. He doesn't even kiss beautifully. The one that convinces me there is any intimacy in their relationship was Gigi Lai's very intimate embraces of Moses. She did all the affectionate kissing whilst he seems like a waxed statue of himself. Awkward scenes!

Lau Dan is my favourite character in this series because his character is the only one that is

a. supremely decent throughout
b. really nice person
c. isn't a fool

His best scene was punching Moses' Terrence and in that one moment you will see his Mr Suen is no fool and yet is so kind that he didn't tell Constance what Terrence told him. What an understanding man. I love Mr Suen. From beginning till the end, he made the series bearable because he is decent when everybody else is either stupid, foolish or downright ugly. Long live Mr Suen! Yes I was very afraid in the middle he might be killed off and I was like "NOOOOOOOO" and luckily to show Derek's humanity and Mr Suen was right to help Derek, Mr Suen lives! And he lives even in the end! As for Lau Dan, ok so he looks worried half the time because Mr Suen has a lot of problems but Lau Dan really brought out the decency in this character despite the porn-stach so to speak! But he has always has that moustach anyway. Where was I? Ah yes, Lau Dan. A magnificent performance. It is very hard to play a decent nice character without audiences feeling disgusted with how bloody nice he is but Lau Dan managed it well and to me he is the best.

David Chiang was annoying in the beginning as the employee of Mr Suen as he was always criticising and in a way mocking Mr Suen. When he went to Eddie's Derek to offer help and all I was totally disgusted with his behaviour because I was on Mr Suen's camp all the way! Anyway when he realised his mistake, his tone changed and towards the end his character turned out rather strong even if he had very little say in how his daughters live their lives. In fact he hardly said anything much and towards the end he gave up trying to say anything at all, being very disappointed with his daughters' constant fighting as well as facing his wife's impending alzheimer. I thought David played the dutiful husband and loving father very well even if let's face it, David Chiang is an iconic actor during his younger years but he is not that great an actor. But for all his limitations, his performance is still way ahead than some of the younger ones in here.

Louisa So was spectacular as the manipulative mother who was humbled by her illness. Her looks in the beginning contrasted with her looks in the end was quite a transformation. I was however very annoyed with her performance towards the end, not really her fault but rather the script's fault which forces us to listen to her calling her 3 daughters for dinner and one scene at a time, and the dialogue was like the same repeated 3 times and she was talking very slowly. I was thinking luckily for us she didn't have 10 daughters or this scene would take forever. Anyhow, a great performance nonetheless even if I couldn't understand why a woman so intent on her daughters marrying rich men would herself not having married one? She has a maid who raised her and who followed her into the marriage, so that shows in her younger years her character must have been from a well to do family. Her husband was in the end a jeweler, neither supremely rich or poor but it was surprising she seems happy with her husband when she seems so hung up over money and status for her daughters. I suppose a mother wants what's best for her daughters.

Florence Kwok's character is strange. Totally useless in the beginning, manipulative in the middle and at least got her dignity back in the end. Calvin is such a bastard because his wife was pregnant and he still left her, and agreed to have no part to play in the child's life at all. And here is this woman who was willing to defy her brother, her company, her common sense for him, to do everything for him, he should be so lucky to have her and he never quite appreciated that fact. Anyway her character is like I said strange quite simply because she came out of nowhere and in the end went away just like that. Performance wise I have no complaints. Florence can act, as always.

Chan Hung Lit (RIP) gave a fantastic performance of a one dimensional character. He looked so convincing as a man who had a stroke and survived it. In real life he didn't survive his stroke. What a pity! That is all I want to say.

Rebecca Chan, not much to do. No comment.

Bosco Wong at times just seem like a lost young man amongst the seas of veteran. He didn't held his own, nor did he create anything great with his performance. In fact after he became rich he just seems smug and yet doesn't convince me he is a rich man who won the war of richness and became the richest of them all. He just doesn't seem conniving or manipulative enough and he doesn't look like a businessman. But I must say I can't read his expression and at times his eyes seem to register "You want me to believe THAT?!" sort of look which is very appropriate. But in business he looks like a young kid, not like a seasoned pro. His best moments are not with Linda Chung but with Wong Hei. But even then, I thought his performance was inadequate at times because I can't understand why the series shifted the focus to him. That is the writer's fault but like I said, Bosco didn't do anything earth shattering with his character. He looks more like a young exec than a CEO. He doesn't exude authority at the end. He should have but he didn't. I like Bosco but until todate I have yet to see him shine in a performance. He is an adequate actor but still much too green.

Elliot Yue is one actor that commands respect when he walks in even if his character was a mouse in the beginning and revealed himself as the lion in the middle but the writers deem fit to kill off his character in such an undignified way. His Martin exudes more charm and grace than Moses' character and I find Martin very desirable and I understood perfectly why Ah Si fell hard for him, of course the fact that he was so bloody rich is not really the bonus. No! His richness was the main point, his good looks and gentlemanly ways a bonus. Anyway I hated how his character ended. Martin being the ultimate villain deserves more screentime and a better death.

And since we are on the subject on how strangely certain characters ended, I must comment on why this series failed big time for me.

The first half, can't remember how many episodes were like bullet train, more so when Martin revealed as the ultimate villain. Terrence realised he should be very afraid of his father, Ah Si proud to have such a conniving husband, Mrs Hong happy that she has such a fantastically rich son in law, Constance leaving Terrence to find herself so to speak, Sylvia settled down with Sunny, Calvin somewhat happy with Catherine who was beaming, Elise humbled and Sung Sai Man destroyed. And suddenly, just suddenly, the series skipped forward to if I remember correctly 2 or 3 years later. Why? I was enjoying the entire change. And even if this series intends to skip, at least show us the kidnapping of Martin. That was told off camera. Suddenly Ah Si was running the business, Terrence being pushed out and accused of kidnapping his father and I suppose Martin believed the rumour. So many exciting things happened out of camera. I would love to see Terrence's face when being pushed out by Martin, Ah Si's reluctance to take over the job, etc etc but the series just changed gears, maybe realising they were going in one big circle by that time and should have ended the series then. But it was a huge mistake to jump and missed out on the better drama than what we got to see. And there were many unanswered questions by then. I would love to see Derek changing instead of changed, I would love to see Terrence shut out instead of being shut out already, one of the better aspect of this series was Terrence with Martin and I love to see their interaction but that was cut out. Show us how Will tookover the company from his dead mentor, how he struggled. I can't believe it was all smooth ride, there must be some objections. Also perhaps Ah Wo objecting to his brother taking over the business? Or how Elise coped? None whatsoever. To see Ah Si suddenly looking slick and running the business threw me off the series. She could run the business? Obviously as the series unintentionally painstakingly tell us she is terrible at running the company. So will be Terrence. And then the whole will by Martin appointing Constance as the 3rd trustee to the company was just pure drama. Did Martin predicted this long before his death? Did he think Constance was an important decisibe figure between the fighting Terrence and Ah Si? Since he suspected Ah Si of having an affair with Ah Wo, but that was later on and for just a few episodes, definitely not enough time between that and his death for him to change his will. Everything happened so suddenly and unexpectedly, the series can be viewed in 2 segments independent of each other. The continuity is terrible and I thought the better story lies in what happened in those missing years than in the later segment.

But in case you're one of those who debated what and what, perhaps let me offer my opinion on several issues:-

1. Who kidnapped Martin?
Not Ah Si who worships her husband. Not Terrence who wouldn't do such a thing. He does love his father. So it was just a routine kidnapping by a third party.

2. Who spread the rumour that Terrence was the mastermind of Martin's kidnapping?
The series seems to first suggest Ah Si. But why would Ah Si in that 2 years do that? She has always wished for peace between herself and Terrence for the sake of Martin so I don't think it was her. Her desire was never to run the company but rather to be the wife of a very rich man. I would think Sung Sai Man in trying to avenge his loss of fortune, trying to create a discord between father and son and hopefully takeover the company in some way, I don't know how. In TVB world, business talk is gibberish talk. Maybe Calvin but I doubt that.

3. Did Ah Si kill Martin or let him die or did he really told Ah Si not to call the ambulance after his stroke?
I believe Ah Si. For one Ah Si's entire existence at that point is to do as Martin says and not to upset him. We know she loves him very much and would do anything for him. So if Martin told her not to call the ambulance, she won't. She opposed Constance's appointment as the 3rd trustee simply because she was pissed Martin didn't believe her. However all these are speculation as the series didn't even show any flashback of Martin telling Ah Si not to call police. But I believe Ah Si's version of events.

4. Did Ah Si ever loved Martin?
Yes. Even if the series tried to create some horror moments when suddenly Martin would rise up from the bed, or slowly tip toeing to her with a pillow in hand, seeming to suggest he wanted to suffocate her. Why such moments I can never understand. I just laughed out loud, such stupid scenes but anyway yes she loved Martin very very much.

5. Did she ever loved Ah Wo?
No. She loved him as a friend, used him as a friend, probably felt guilty but she never loved him in the way she loved Martin, or herself.

6. Who Elise loves, Will or Ah Wo?
This is where TVB chickened out. I would love to see Ah Wo with Elise, they will make quite a pair. The series seem to suggest that too until suddenly 360 degree turn and Ah Wo said to Will Elise was actually in love with Will. So I don't know. I think by that time even the writer was confused.

7. So the mother regains her memory in the end?
Alzheimer doesn't improve, it deproves. It is just a moment of clarity.

8. Why suddenly everybody stopped fighting?

Because 82 episodes is enough already! For the men, they didn't stopped, they just give up, mostly because they were in danger of being imprisoned, all of them. Yes, the men stopped because everybody was discovered having cheated and committed some white collar crime. So quite suddenly they were disrupted in their plans. Sometime later they just didn't continue the fight. The women stopped because of their mother. Specifically, Ah Si stopped because she felt lonely, she remembered her family when she was having dinners alone in her big mansion and also she stopped being so hung up and paranoid over her position in the company. Constance stopped because Ah Si stopped. She always wanted to stop anyway. Sylvia stopped because of Sunny. She finally sees sense when Sunny went into a deep coma.

9. Happy ending?
For me, since Sunny never woke up, it is sad ending. Since all 3 women still alive in the end, super sad ending. Since Elise suddenly didn't love Ah Wor anymore, a tragedy.

109. Is Ah Wor going blind?
Yes but I am confused, blind as to one eye or both eye? The way he goes it is like 2 eyes.

Verdict
You will watch it no matter what I say. Whatever ratings it received, I suppose I should applaud it for managing to stretch to 82 episodes and still manage to maintain the non moving story. It is like an 82 storey building but the elevator just goes from 1 to 10 and back to 5 to 1 to 8 to 3 to 10 to ... never beyond 10 and to its highest potential. The problem with this series is not the actors. I may complain about some but in the end the story is the problem. It just doesn't know what it wants to be. It tries to draw pararrels with other characters but it is so disjointed it is like it's own story thus making the story even more disjointed. It tries to connect the dots but unlike JK Rowling who actually connects the dots of minor facts in earlier books to major facts in later books, the writers in this series is exactly that; as if 10 people writing independently. Consistency is a problem when showing the show as a whole. Being 82 episodes long, none of the major characters are compelling enough or convincing enough. Some characters just stop growing, others grow off tangent. The length is the problem. This series will work best at half the length but even then will be terribly boring because the story isn't well formed nor well written. I find it amateurish at times especially the depiction of rich people. The worst was the business side. Until the end I still don't get what they do, I just know they're super rich businessmen and therefore must compete with other super rich businessmen for every single project announced in HK and China. The ending was terrible. I kinda understood they all stopped fighting because of their mother and also because after awhile you just can't remember why you fight in the first place. But I mean the ending's ending with the 3 women hugging each other and their mother. That works if I still care about those 3 and the mother. I didn't quite care anymore at that point. I would have love to see the ending with the mother dying. Nothing unites a family more than a wedding or a funeral. Since they have lost their mother, they can't lose each other. I would find that poignant, sad but apt. With such supposedly happy ending, hugs and all I find myself being very detached.

For a big budgeted series with somewhat famous cast, whether their acting is up to par or not is debatable but they're all famous for sure, the series is pulled down by the shoddy and amateurish writing. And it really doesn't help when things became interesting the entire series went 3 years later.

Unless you're their biggest fan, don't waste your money on this half hearted series. Find something worthy.