This review may contain spoilers
XIAO ZHAN IS NOT GUO JING
STORY
As adapted from classic book "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" this movie doesn't bring the original story that we remember, most of scenes hand-picked based on theme not mirroring the original book. The main is to get it colossal, going big exaggeration scenes about war which definitely missing important elements to get where the story end to. Hate to see it twisted and missing all the important details. With focusing on Genghis Khan, the Mongol army marched westward to defeat the Jin dynasty and then planned to head south to eliminate the Song dynasty. Skilled martial artists from various schools of the Central Plains were involved in the fierce battles - this is far from the book - Jin dynasty is the traitor from ambition and greed of Guo Jing's sworn brother Yang Kang and his step-father Jin Prince Wanyan Hong Li but without mentioning these traitorous characters - the script writer(s) made up story connection to fill the gap or tie the dots and unfortunately it fails to grasp the beauty of whole concept of the book 'The Legend of the Condor Heroes' as to why this is such a beloved classic. But I kind of understand too, with so many adaption/version of this novel into dramas/movies since 1958, the Team wants to focus it from different angle - so different than previous productions but I feel like they fail to capture it's manifestation.
ACTING
For sure Xiao Zhan isn't Guo Jing. Guo Jing is a bit retard, naive, innocent, slow, big boyish strong young man. Guo Jing isn't a handsome youngster unlike Xiao Zhan, his honesty and loyalty that pull Huang Rong heart. The previous drama The Legend of Heroes 'Hot Blooded' actors are more similar features (Ci Sha as Guo Jing) in the book. Guo Jing doesn't have commanding present of him, he follows what Huang Rong says because she's the genius one while Guo Jing is the physical force/brawny. Although Xiao Zhan doesn't have much of make-up on, he lives by his reputation 'pretty boy' so we can't see Guo Jing in him. Xiao Zhan leads all men in the country as man-perfection but Guo Jing is just a down to earth man - in some scenes Xiao Zhan is being male-idol Xiao Zhan not slow-Guo Jing. I think that's the mistake. The girl playing Huang Rong is alright, I like the hairdo and make up - pretty basic and minimal. It's good....don't need super neat hair and flawless make-up where they're at Gobi desert.
OVERALL
It hits and miss. The producer forget important part to be colossal movie, skipping early chapters to straight to the end chapter of the book, a colossal without (or little) beginning. Its bigger but not better. Not a good movie, scale 5 is generous.
As adapted from classic book "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" this movie doesn't bring the original story that we remember, most of scenes hand-picked based on theme not mirroring the original book. The main is to get it colossal, going big exaggeration scenes about war which definitely missing important elements to get where the story end to. Hate to see it twisted and missing all the important details. With focusing on Genghis Khan, the Mongol army marched westward to defeat the Jin dynasty and then planned to head south to eliminate the Song dynasty. Skilled martial artists from various schools of the Central Plains were involved in the fierce battles - this is far from the book - Jin dynasty is the traitor from ambition and greed of Guo Jing's sworn brother Yang Kang and his step-father Jin Prince Wanyan Hong Li but without mentioning these traitorous characters - the script writer(s) made up story connection to fill the gap or tie the dots and unfortunately it fails to grasp the beauty of whole concept of the book 'The Legend of the Condor Heroes' as to why this is such a beloved classic. But I kind of understand too, with so many adaption/version of this novel into dramas/movies since 1958, the Team wants to focus it from different angle - so different than previous productions but I feel like they fail to capture it's manifestation.
ACTING
For sure Xiao Zhan isn't Guo Jing. Guo Jing is a bit retard, naive, innocent, slow, big boyish strong young man. Guo Jing isn't a handsome youngster unlike Xiao Zhan, his honesty and loyalty that pull Huang Rong heart. The previous drama The Legend of Heroes 'Hot Blooded' actors are more similar features (Ci Sha as Guo Jing) in the book. Guo Jing doesn't have commanding present of him, he follows what Huang Rong says because she's the genius one while Guo Jing is the physical force/brawny. Although Xiao Zhan doesn't have much of make-up on, he lives by his reputation 'pretty boy' so we can't see Guo Jing in him. Xiao Zhan leads all men in the country as man-perfection but Guo Jing is just a down to earth man - in some scenes Xiao Zhan is being male-idol Xiao Zhan not slow-Guo Jing. I think that's the mistake. The girl playing Huang Rong is alright, I like the hairdo and make up - pretty basic and minimal. It's good....don't need super neat hair and flawless make-up where they're at Gobi desert.
OVERALL
It hits and miss. The producer forget important part to be colossal movie, skipping early chapters to straight to the end chapter of the book, a colossal without (or little) beginning. Its bigger but not better. Not a good movie, scale 5 is generous.
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