Heavenly Sword and Dragon Slaying Sabre (2019)

Ok a clear and pure review....

First of all male adult lead wujj shows up in ep 14 and entry of female lead is in ep 23 which is very strange . The story in starting is good I like wuji 's journey from a child to an adult .
But in his childhood he met many female characters as his *childhood sweethearts*and too many girls are into him. I mean literally 4 girls into one man . He doesn't know how to maintain a distance and a line with a girl he like and a girl he don't like . He is too naive and innocent . Overall acting is good and I like main leads acting . But seriously I mainly prefer storyline and I think writer does very well in raising my blood pressure with this.


At last I think I watched this drama to overcome from love and redemption drama but it could be done way more better.

Read More

8/6/2021

I watched the HK version when I was young but I don't remember much about it aside from the main actors/actresses. I have also never read the book. So, my review is just basically how I feel about this particular show, and not in comparison to anything.

Negatives first:

In the first episode, I already dislike the fight scenes. For a wuxia drama, why do they use slow-motion on fight scenes? I want fast-paced, live action to get into the mood. Fortunately, they ease up on the slow motion as the show goes on. I still find the fighting to be not satisfying enough. (If you know of a wuxia drama with amazing fast-paced fight scenes, please let me know).

I also dislike the dubbing for this drama. This is a 2019 drama and it's not that old, I am surprised to see how the dubbing still doesn't line up. Additionally, I really dislike the voice of the female actress who plays the villainous Er Mei older disciple. It's like nails on the chalkboard each time she opens her mouth. I applaud the actress acting for making me hate her.

I don't like the character of the ML. He is so wishy-washy with love and he would make a horrible boyfriend. You can still be good to the ladies but set some boundaries. This is no fault of the drama, just the novel. I also don't feel the chemistry between the leads. I am not sure if it's the acting of Zeng Shunxi as the ML or what. It's my first time watching him, and I am not super impressed. I also felt the acting of Zhu Xudan as Zhou Zhiruo to be weak as well. She has this one face throughout most of the drama.

I feel that the last 5 episodes seem to be rushing a bit. There are events that I want more explanation but they are all glossed over. I was expecting more about the general in the end and how things might blow over for him, but it never happened. It didn't quite build up enough tension for a great finish.

Positives:

The child actors playing both the young and teen Zhang Wuji are great, esp. the youngest one. He is adorable and believable. When he cries, my heart breaks. I also enjoy the acting of our main female lead, Chen Quqi who plays Zhao Min. I like her sassy, feisty character and also believe her when she's sad and heartbroken. The acting of the supporting cast is great as well, esp. the veteran actors. I enjoy seeing Lin Shen as Yang Xiao. I thought I would see more of him since he's listed a a main character, but a little disappointed that he was missing for most of the last 5 episodes. I enjoy his cool and smart character and the subtle changes of emotions through his eyes. He is also pleasing to the eyes (but I think he's more handsome in "Dating in the Kitchen".

The costumes are nice. I enjoy seeing the wardrobe change of the ML from when he's young to when he became a leader, and then a successful revolutionary towards the end of the drama. The female leads also have pretty nice costumes and hairstyle change (for Zhao Min).

I think the pacing of the show is pretty good. I didn't feel bored or that it dragged in the middle. It's a slower start to build the plot and the upbringing of ML, so if you just want to watch Zeng Shunxi, you might have to wait a little bit. But I think there are enough happening to keep me engaged for 50 episodes.

As much as I complained about the fight scenes, I like there isn't a lack of fight scenes. Fighting is spread out pretty evenly throughout the show and the choreography isn't bad.

Read More

The cast did great and followed what the screenwriters wrote. I'll give that to them. There is always that BUT... I felt that Joseph Zeng who played Wuji wasn't his role. I really couldn't get into him but I did get into the child actor Zhou Yujing Hao who played the first Wuji was awesome then there was Han Hao Lin who played the 2nd Wuji and the 3rd Wuji played by Lu Zhan Xiang were all awesome... they made this story work from a child's standpoint.

The storyline was not confusing me but again, these dramas are using the male lead to line up the women and he will just fall in love with all of them. I believe if the writers didn't have so many women in love with Wuji... Zhi Ruo wouldn't go through her avenge moments to keep Wuji After all she met Wuji first and Wuji kept her in his heart until he became a man. But the screenwriters had to ruin it all by bringing a mean and spiteful female into the picture. Why do men always go for that type of woman... You see who he ended up with! I didn't feel any romantic chemistry with any of the ladies. I did feel just a tad bit that he had chemistry with the Princess with beautiful eyes.

Visual Effect was the best part of this drama series, loved the Martial art scenes. I didn't pay attention to the music and usually, that is a good sign that the music was good for me. KUDOS to Children Actors! BEST PART also.

Read More

BEST ADAPTATION OF HSDS

I have watched several versions, the 1986,1994,2003, 2009 and this 2019 adaptations also the 1993 and 2022 movies and I will say that this is the best adaptation of the Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre so far. Jason Zheng as Zhang Wuji is perfect. He is handsome, talented and smart. I know he isn't the perfect leader and have soft spot for women but he is loyal and has a good heart. He will do everything to help everyone around him. Amongst the three great heroes in the Condor Trilogy, Zhang Wuji is my number 1, Yang Guo is second and Guo Jing is third. And special praise for Zhao Min played by Yukee Chen. She is so gorgeous and the perfect Zhao Min. So far I have watched this series three times and I may watch it again in the future.

Read More

Best DS HS so far.
1. Too be honest first mainpoint is Actor and Actress are handsome and almost all are pretty
2. Angle of taking scene are good, drone etc
3. Good depth of focus
4. contains good poems and chinese moral lessons
5. small Zhang Wu ji played superb! by the small actors,
6. Storyline was made fluently
7. Good kungfu battle scene. not just visual effects of flying palms
8. Actors and actress played beautifully , like ZhangWuJi is kind and virtuous,
ZhiRuo is kind but too obedient
Zhao Min is playfull and smart
YangXiao is silent , and wise
9. Ending Song is great ( like any other chinese series should )
10. Great option of movie set, like inside the cave, the snowy mountains, Lake, etc

The only downside i see is how ZhangWuJi get his Nine Yang Manuals :D

Read More

This is the best adaptation ive watched so far. i have watched HSDS 2009 numerous times but this version is better. it presents better story and a clear timeline. the story exceeds my expectation.
Story: i thought the story will be all the same with the previous versions or worse(like the other adaptation of JY novel like Return of the condor heroes 2006 and 2014, Legend of condor heroes 2008 and 2017) but this one present slightly different story and more logical. The beginning doesnt take too much episode before the main story. The ending is great! the war scene and the struggle that Wuji and Zhao Min face potrayed beautifully(not like HSDS 2009 which seems rather forced to end so the ending quite confusing). I also love how the director tells the love story between Zhang Cuishan and Yin Susu.
Acting: at first i was rather suprised to see the older Zhang Wuji(Joseph Zeng). i thought he cant play Zhang wuji that is innocent and naive but im wrong. Joseph Zeng did a great job playing Zhang wuji and i like it a lot. Bambi Zhu playing Zhou Zhiruo was kind of expected seeing how she did a great job playing 'xuan nu' in Ten Miles of Peach Blossom which has two faced character. I like how Chen Yuqi potrayed a naughty, bossy and 'bitch attitude' Zhao Min. Her charm doesnt lose with Bambi Zhu strong character. but i'm not satisfied with how the love story between Zhang Wuji and Zhao Min went. i think i could be better. I love how the romance between Zhang Wuji and Zhao Min potrayed in HSDS 2009 by (Deng Chao playing ZhangWuji and Ady An playing Zhao Min) it was really sweet(This is what makes me watch HSDS numerous time haha). The fighting scene in this version is great but i think it was better in 2009 versions. Zhang Wuji in 2009 seems more badass by taking down all other sects' master
But overall, this version is the best so far and i would love to watch it again some other time

Read More

Great Story Ruined by Un-likeable Characters.

Don't bother. Save your binge time on something else.

I have not read the novel this is based on. The only other adaption i have watched was the incomplete Jet Li movie - "Kung Fu Cult Master". Which was lots of fun. Sad there was no sequel with same cast.

Everyone likes an underdog story. It what makes shonen manga so popular. You have a weak character who goes through hardship, grows, powers up to become strong. You can't help but feel, relate and cheer on these characters.

This one however, by the halfway mark, felt like punching the ML in the face. lol. He is SOOOO very un-likeable.

He becomes powerful through lucky encounters only to show no growth or character development. In some cases, forgetting he was that powerful. Naive to the end of days, never learning a lesson or listening to his supposed trusted companions or parents. Only listening to the antagonist who happens to be a pretty girl. Before you can you blink, she has him eating out of her palms. Proper whipped. Out of nowhere lol. It's not even a fun time, as they are unlikeable.

There are other un-reasonably frustrating characters and developments, (omg head nun) but we won't go into them.

Be it, the original story, adaption, acting, cast or a combination of all, this is a wuxia story that i imagine inspired countless others, that just disappoints with un-likeable characters.

Read More

INCONSISTENT

Saw a fight scene on youtube and got in to binge watching. Show was ok while the main lead was a kid, i say just ok because even then there was some huge nonsense logic, writing. Like the kid he's son of a hero, grandson of annother wealthy man, but he just wanders all his childhood alone, like a beggar, for whatever reason,and every one thinks it's normal. And it's just one plot hole, cause there are a lot. But the childs acting was great, so i got through.
Now. He grew up. The DUMBEST MF on the planet. The most annoying character in this drama is the main lead. I don't even want to go in the plot, writing, cause the plot its not even stupid, but on a verry high level stupid. It doesn't make any sense, like literally no sense. I'm at ep 19,and just can't bear anymore with this. I don't understand how those precedent reviews are positive, must be fake reviews like for other bs dramas.
Chinese have a HUGE potential for those kind of semi-wuxia drama, with amazing decors, huge ressources, all those ancient manors, beautiful actors, compared to kdramas they have ten times moore ressources. But the writers, directors etc, don't have a fkin clue what to do with it. A lot of the shows start ok, even verry well, and then... THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT. They choke. I create this acount just to tell my opinion after seeing the positive reviews, i said no way i'm letting this pass this time, too many fake reviews.
Conclusion, don't wadte your time on this drzma like i did, it's really crap.

Read More

Ok...

Heaven Sword Dragon Sabre is an all time classic. Before the start of rise of Asian drama, this story was one of the most classics along with may of Jin Yong's work especially during the time when Hong Kong was the top dog of the asian entertainment industry during the 80s-90s. Who has never heard of Heaven sword and Dragon sabre? Like many of the classics, this story is one where it has been adapted many many times before and it stands just. The intricate story, world building and complex relationships has made this one of the most classic tales to come out of modern Asian literature. Heaven Sword Dragon Sabre is the third installment of the late Jin Yong's Condor Triology. Although it is a triology, each story can entirely be a stand alone and one does not need to necessarily understand what happens in each story to understand this drama. With that said, although this live action did take creative action to change some minor details or add some minor plots, I would say it did a good job of trying to stay true to the story.
I would say in this live action adaption, for casting, I think they did a good job. The leads were all refreshing new faces who brought something new to the classic characters they played. Yuki Chen who played Zhao min I would say was one who surprised me the most. Her interpretation of Zhao min( although I would say isnt the best) was very good. The charisma she brought with the character made her outshine most of her new cast memebers. The only thing i did not like for her was that she became really whiny at the ends and was always " wuji" this and " Wuji" that and it was totally kind of out of character for Zhao Min. Like she became such a suck up to Wuji that it was just kinda stupid Also something I did not like was that I felt no chemistry between the leads. They did not write enough in to the script to help flesh the relationships out more so that they were better define. At least Wuji and ZHao min relationship should have had more of a spark. This is literally why they were an intriguing couple. There was a spark there that wasn't there with other other 3 girls in Wuji life. The actors and the script apparently did not deliver( cause-plus that kiss scene was atrocious).
THe choreography was crap. Sorry to say, but this is wuxia. Although I love the aesthetics and costumes, I felt like the fight scenes were boring and seriously, the slow mo were not needed at all. This was the thing I most hated in this series. The fights were stiff with horrible sound editing and it totally takes you out of the story when you can tell none of theses "Martial Artist" can fight. There were some action scenes where it did look good but then again I think it was the slow mo that ruined it.
Finally The ending felt rushed and made no fucking sense. I like how they went with the " lets tear the lovers apart" as this was an aspect that they never really wanted to explore in the other adaptions but like they did such a poor job. All characters felt out of character and suddenly I felt like a toddler took over the script. Even though the ending in the original novel was a little ambiguous, The ending of this particular adaption is one where I think it definitely was a fanfic. Although I did enjoy the little ending in the Mongolian planes, that slightly made up for the bad conclusion. Like they totally skipped out the final scene where Zhirou kidnaps Zhao Min and makes Wuji really confront his feelings. Like shit that was a pivotal plot point, how the heck are you just gonna glaze over it.

Read More

Could've been so much more

This is one of those title that will for sure get some kind of spin off or remake every decade. I love that they used the same classic song in the intro. The stunts, wire works, fight scenes were great! Feels high budget. If you like classic wuxia this is a great watch at least for the fighting scenes. The series started out strong with a cutest child actor for WuJi. (same child actor in joy of life). The supporting cast had some great veterans, solid cast however the eye candies they picked out had some acting challenges. Pretty faces and ..... that's it. Lead Actor Wu Ji did a ok...job but did not do its character justice. 1. he didn't have any chemistry w/ any of the FLs. 2. He's supposed to be smart but it didn't translate 50% of the time in fact keep getting lied to by various females.
40 ep later writing got sloppy and made no sense. Sadly yet another drama started out great and fizzled.

Favorite supporting characters:
Yang Xiao. I hated his character in dating in the kitchen but he's got wuxia swag in this one.

Sadly I watched this for the story and the supporting cast and not so much for the leads.

Read More