General and I (2017)

The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

Like a puzzle or a rich tapestry, the individual pieces may not be exquisite when viewed individually. Put together, they create a stunning picture. General and I is one of these masterpieces where the whole is greater than the sum of the individual parts.
Yes, it has flaws. Angelababy's acting, especially the opposite of Sun Yizhou's, is lackluster, and a dead fish could emit more EQ or facial expressions than Angelababy. When paired with Wallace Chung, she can shine like the luminous jade hairpin she wears. The production quality suffered for the CGI budget (which was mediocre at best). The story left something to be desired (especially when it comes to the female cast being suicidal or depressed over misunderstandings or that falling in love with someone you grew up with was the primary way to fall in love in this world). Weave all these imperfect pieces together, and the whole became greater than the sum of its parts.

Wallace Chung (Chu Beijie) shines in every scene he is in. The other actors around him become the scenery to complement him. His ability to shine the spotlight on the other actor or actress when needed makes him one of the acting gods of Chinese filmography.

The Story between Bai Pingting and He Xia at the beginning felt flat. He Xia's feelings for her felt insincere and fleeting at best. His refusal to let go of the past, accept change he doesn't like, and disregard for the feelings of others makes him a perfect villain to Chu Beijie. Add to that Bai Pingting's self-doubt and Beijie's willingness to accept blame for any event that goes wrong, and you have two people who love each other deeply but spend too much of the show separated.

The plots within plots within plots and one-sided love interest stories add to the misunderstandings between the two. The plot arc between Shisan (Thirteenth Lady) and Beijie/PingTing felt unnecessary, especially given that Beijie was more than upfront with her on many occasions, letting her know that she had no chance to weasel her way into his heart and that he would only ever see her as a colleague and friend. Her selfishness cost him several episodes of extra estrangement from the person he loved, and while she eventually rights her wrongs, the story arc could have been that of friendship, not only with Beijie but with PingTing as well. It would have made her actions in episode 61 more meaningful to the story.

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The opening song's very first scenes are the leads playing musical instruments in a place with cherry blossom trees and misty forests. Before commenting on the drama i would have to say that I love the locations. I have never been to China...but if there are places like that i would definitely want to go there.

Having said that ......General and I is a historical romance that really kept me hooked. I might have skipped a bit in the middle because it was tedious to watch the leads moping about when there was absolutely no valid reason except for the usual "I left you for your own good" line of thought.

The romance was sizzling. It was great to see them so devoted to each other throughout the drama with so many obstacles in their way . Ping Ting might have irritated me sometimes with her escapades but she made up for it on other situations. No complain on Bie Jie! He is so romantic!!

The political aspects was well executed and wasn't as boring as some dramas. He Xia awed me with his cold-hearted cunning and with the way he climbed the political ladder. But that also led to his downfall.

The thing that made me cringe was the exaggerated fight scenes. The actors almost seemed to fly.... way too much superhuman abilities.

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This drama is something that I cannot make sense out of. I didn’t like the storyline because there are many pieces that a viewer cannot emphasize. With so much of the production cost, it could have been more intellectual and gripping. The series seems to drag itself too long with meaningless love and separation stories. Also, the characters themselves seem to be prescribed and confined to their destined roles and I don’t see much of dynamic, evolving characterization over time. Overall, it didn’t grip me that much and none of the characters themselves were very charming. I do like some of the acting like Sean Sun even though he became evil, he portrayed the emotions and the character very well in the drama. CBJ as main lead is supposed to be charming, but I didn’t find him much charming but the fact that the drama made him so invincible like a god of war in any battle made it so unrealistic. BPT’s character is also hard to understand in a sense she fell for the enemy’s general so quickly right after she witnessed the massacre of HX’s family and was sworn to his parents’ grave that she would avenge. Her make-up made her look so pale and frail all the time, which didn’t fit well with her characterization as a brilliant strategist. All in all, there is many flawed storyline but music and some of the scenes were shot very nicely, but more attention could have been paid to storyline, plot, and characterization. I would not watch it again.

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The beautiful Angelababy...

It won't be fair that the beautiful Angelababy was stumbled on the acting because of her breathtaking beauty < female genius military strategist. She's more up to modern setting FL than centuries ago heroine...but here I am apparently stereotyping or even misogynistic although can't help it when concerning show business - all about acting, presentation and appearance. Anyway, her delicate beauty appearance might not be representing rashness reality of 'Military. Strategist' which predominantly men....at front line of war(s). Imagine if you will, the beautiful Angelababy in a war with her glamorous delicate white or pastel flowing gown tell bloody-slashed exhausted soldiers what to do, I couldn't take her part convincing enough. She might be genius, brilliant, but rival General Chu BeiJie wasn't a fool either. He retreated and lost soldiers but came back strong, he knew what he's up against. The little boy (General) Chu fallen in and promised himself to marry a little girl when she helped him and Mom, way back then. Luckily, he recognized in adulthood and pursued her...took her as a wife. Her loyalty laid to someone else...divided between a husband (from opponent kingdom) and where she's from (sweetheart). Heart wrenching scenes supposedly but...I waited and did not drop a single tear...what's going on??? No...it's not about Bai PingTing....I don't know I didn't finish the drama...62 episodes was way too long and by episode 19 I lost interest.

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Having a hard time to continue

I’ve only watched 9 episodes and I have a hard time with Angela baby acting skills. Her eyes don’t show right emotion and at some point it even became frustrating. Wallace Chung is doing a good job.
The story for the nine first episodes is basically Chu Bei Jie running after Bai Ping Ting because he met her once as a child and wants now to marry her!
The role of the noble consort who is the jealous vile woman is the usual female role for a vilain and it’s also frustrating as it’s very limited.

I don’t know if I should continue. Is the rest of drama worth it or it will unfold as I’m expecting it?

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I dont like it and here is WHY

Scripts/ Story:
Trailers looks like its maybe good.... but after first episode or 2nd or 3rd, it didn’t help. I love the idea of the story but they way it was made ..... just falls apart.

Basically Characters building in this series is not well done. It is kind of sloppy slapping together. There is no little moment, that make audience feel attached to the characters, or cheering for them. Everything is too easy. Like this is a story about politic, power struggles , love struggles but the conflict doesn’t feel like a conflict if every one in the story just say so.... you have to show us their struggles but we didn’t see that. I dont want to rang too much just because I dont like it but I believe it could have been done better.
Look at : Nirvana in Fire, or Love and Destiny, they way they builds characters’s conflicts and political struggles.... there was so much more Layers.... or Red Cliff .....
I mean the Bei Ting Ping is basically Zhuge Liang(Romance of the Three Kingdoms ), woman version no?


Acting/ Casts:
I dont know how talented these actors are because the script is so badly written.... even if they are good they cant really show their full skill... sadly. Even if the main actress is very good looking.

Production Values:
It’s not great. Costume could have been better. Camera/ lighting and yea.... everything could have been better.


I wouldn’t recommend it...

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Um romance que supera tudo e todos.

Muito bom.
EXCELENTE.
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Uma história que tem tudo para todos os gostos.
Drama, acção, Romance, Comédia, tragédias, intrigas e muito mais.
E em escrever Romance, um romance que supera tudo e todos.
Com obstáculos que muitas vezes pareciam que não havia solução, mas de alguma maneira foram ultrapassados para ter o final mais desejado por todos.

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Es ist sehr sehr schön und auch sehr traurig ich hab so geweint und das passiert nicht so oft das ich bei Dramen, Serien und Filme weine das ist das 2 Mal das ich bei ein Drama geweint habe . die Schauspieler finde ich sind sehr gut harmonieren super manche Szenen sind zwar übertrieben aber ich kann damit leben stört mich jetzt nicht weiter ich liebe es trotzdem.?❤???
It's very very beautiful and also very sad I cried so much and it doesn't happen that often that I cry in dramas, series and films that's the 2nd time I cried in a drama .I think the actors are very good they harmonise very well with each other and yes some scenes are exaggerated but I can live with that doesn't bother me anymore I love it anyway. ?❤???

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Nic tylko zmarnujesz swój czas oglądając tą dramę!

Zaczynająć może wspomnę, że spdziewałam się płomienneg romasu z wieloma przeszkodami, lecz przeszkody które były w tej dramie bardzo, ale to bardzo mnie irytowały.
Jak do 20 od odcinka, nawet do 25 jest jeszcze ok, to później szlak chce trafić człowieka. Jak można przez 20 kolejnych odcinków pokazywać jak główna bohaterka (niby tak bardzo kochająca generała) ucieka od niego i stwierdza, że lepiej mu będzie bez niej no hit. Nawet później jak odkrywa, że on za nią tęskni nie biegnie do niego, tylko jak jest postawiona pod ścianą idzie z łaską do niego i mu opowiada, że nie może już ukrywać przed nim, że jednak żyje no wtf… jak dla mnie straciła swoje wygodne życie to leci do niego z podkulonym ogonem, dla mnie to nie wygląda jak by go kochała!!! A on jej tak po prostu wybacza, że przez 3 lata udawała martwą no wtf… naprawdę nie kumam tej dramy serio, wiem ze wycierpiała przez niego dużo, no ale ona jemu też piekło zgotowała, więc nie mogę pojąć tej całej historii. Powiedzcie mi jakim cudem byliście w stanie oglądnąć 20 odcinków jak ona uciekała przed nim, no hit! Ja to przewijałam z nadzieją, że jednak się spotkają, a takie rozczarowanie, bo ona go porzuciła. Początkowo gdy nie miała do niego żadnych uczuć było to zrozumiałe, że go zwodziła. Nawet później jak wymusiła na nim 5 lat bez wojny, a już go kochała było do manie wszytsko ok. Póżniej to co ona zaczęła odwalać to normalnie dramat, niby chciała kilka razy dla niego poświęcić życie, ale dal mnie to wyglądało jak idealna strategia. Poźniej jak już do niego wróciła, nagle zrozumiała wszystko i jak wygra zostanie jego cesarzową hahahhaha normalnie padłam :P jak dla mnie to jest najgorsza postać kobieca jaką oglądałam ostatnio w dramie, już wole głupie naiwne główne bohaterki, a nie mądrą i przebiegłą lisice, która dla mnie kalkuluje zyski i jak dla niej jest ok to wtedy wraca do męża itd.
Chociaż muszę przyznać, że kilka razy chciała oddać za niego życie, może jakieś uczucia do niego ma, ale po prostu jest samolubna i postępuje według własnego uznania. Końcowe odcinki mimo wszystko udowadniają, że chyba go kocha, ale ja mam taki mętlik w głowie… Dlatego nie mogę dać wysokiej oceny, na pewno nie wrócę już do tej dramy, jak by tak akcja dramy przebiegała do 25 potem od 54 to wtedy drama była by dla mnei dużo ciekawsza, pozdrawiam

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Un Must-to-see pour les amateurs de Wuxia

Je l'ai regardé pour le super CL : Wallace Chung (toujours aussi beau et talentueux) et Angelababy !! Je n'ai pas été déçue, l'alchimie est intense.
Le début est prometteur et accrocheur, avec une multitude de grands acteurs.
L'histoire est complexe, avec de multiples personnages (notamment les 2 rois de Jin et de Yan qui se ressemblent), tant qu'elle en devient un peu confuse.
Les décors et les costumes sont magnifiques. Un régal...

MAIS :
- il y a un très large abus des câbles dans les scènes d'action (perte de crédibilité :) :). Je sais que c'est du Wuxia, mais quand même!
- les réalisateurs devraient faire attention : une poignée de petit bois qui fait un feu ardent toute la nuit ? Cela nous ferait des économies dans la vraie vie ... :) Des coupures de la jugulaire qui tuent mais saignent à peine... :)
- certaines scènes où le tournage sur fond vert est trop évident.
Bref, il y a un tas de défauts, mais la qualité des acteurs "fait passer la pilule". ( ｡◕‿◕｡ )

J'ai binge watché jusqu'à l'ép.36, mais c'est une trop trop longue histoire !! (je me demande combien de temps ils ont mis à tourner cette fresque épique de 62 épisodes...)
J'ai fait du zapping entre les épisodes 36 et 49 (séparation du CL par kidnapping, puis fuite de la FL sans raison valable, puis naissance du fils et vies séparées pendant 3-4 ans)...On n'attend que la fin de toutes ces souffrances avec enfin les retrouvailles à l'Ep. 54 !! Mais...

En conclusion : un must-to-see pour les fans de Wuxia, pour la performance des acteurs, la beauté des décors et des costumes, les OST excellentes (notamment le duo que l'on retrouve sur les moments d'émotion).

Ce drama est beaucoup trop long pour que je le regarde à nouveau mais je revisionnerai avec plaisir certaines scènes.

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Um amor destinado

Um drama histórico com uma historia de amor e os conflitos da corte.

Angelababy e Wallace Chung se saem bens em seus papeis.

Este drama está longe de ser perfeito, mas seus pontos positivos compensam suas falhas.

Esse é um drama relativamente longo e que em certos momentos,
tende a se arrastar em partes, devo admitir que ele possui algumas falhas.
Mas no final de tudo seus acertos acabam compensando seus pequenos problemas.

A historia é um tanto quanto simples e as vezes clichê.
Se arrastando em alguns momentos, idas e voltas que podem ir longe demais.
A trama como um todo não é nada de se surpreender, em vários momentos ela vai decair,
por mais problemas que possam haver, são os bons momentos e as partes chaves da historia que compensam.

A qualidade da produção é boa.
As coreografias são aceitáveis.
O figurino é okey.

A OST é presente e se faz presente quando necessária.
As musicas são realmente boas, você definitivamente vai querer ouvi-las e talvez essas possam soar um pouco diferente quando você ouvir, que é algo normal. Mas com toda certeza, toda a trilha sonora tem seu charme e se torna marcante.

O romance aqui funciona bem,
em pouco tempo as coisas avançam, sem enrolar muito.
Vamos ver como esse amor irá caminhar por esta longa caminhada.
A química entre o casal principal é muito boa rendendo boas cenas e alguns beijos~

Angelababy como Bai Ping Ting fez um excelente desempenho, dando vida a sua personagem. A quem diga que ela tem uma falta de expressividade ou qualquer outra coisa, eu acho uma bobagem. Gosto muito de sua atuação.
Sua personagem é de uma jovem mulher forte, extremante inteligente e muito acima de outros,
suas conquistas são definitivamente grandiosas e levam-na a encontro de Chu Beijie.

Wallace Chung como Chu Bei Jie e para os mais íntimos o deus da guerra~ esta muito bem em seu papel, sua atuação é convincente e você definitivamente espera que as coisas deem certo.
Seu personagem é um General, um grande general da família Chu.
Um homem a procura de sua amada, da qual ele jurou amar por toda uma vida.
Seu caráter impar, sua personalidade forte e sua dedicação a seu amor é louvável.

O elenco é bom como um todo e no geral se saíram muito bem em seus papeis, menções para Chu Moran e Zui Ju.
Menção especial fica com dois personagens,
He Xia é aquele típico personagem que eu não gosto. Quanto ao personagem, perceba o que a vingança causa.
Um casamento politico com uma mulher que ele pensou não amar até ser tarde demais para parar.
Sua atuação é louvável definitivamente ele consegue nos fazer odiá-lo kkkkk por suas escolhas.
Princesa Bai Lan é aquele personagem que esta ali, mas não tem muito pra onde ir,
você já imagina onde tudo vai acabar, suas escolhas a levam a seu final.

Fico surpreso com certas criticas extremamente negativas
Acho surpreendentemente reclamações quanto a voz de Chu Beije,
serio que é tão estranho assim? Aos meus ouvidos sua voz soa muito bem.
Acho curioso que algumas pessoas achem estranho esse drama ter uma nota relativamente alta,
pois elas parecem achar que isso não esta muito correto, fazendo comparações com outras injustiças.
Acho bem estranho criticas negativas sobre Angelababy, apenas não vejo qual problema possa haver ali,
sua atuação é boa. Uma curiosidade para os menos informados quando esse drama foi gravado, ela estava gravida.

Por fim, as considerações finais.
Esse é um bom drama para aquelas que procuram algo desse gênero,
ele entrega o esperado, possuem seus altos e baixos, mas acaba compensando suas falhas.

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