Xiang83

In order to answer your questions, understanding the characters of Fat Hoi and White Snake is necessary.

Fat Hoi is a very powerful monk sheltered from the world he views from his temple, and has never seen a naked woman until he stumbles upon two snake spirits trying to shelter a woman giving birth from the rain. That is when he first experiences the pull of mortal desire, which is a serious trial for him as someone who has become one with Buddha.

White Snake has taken on human form but in order to fully transition to become human, getting pregnant from a human male and carrying the baby full-term to give birth would herald her complete transformation into a human and no longer a spirit.

As a result, she dies due to being greatly weakened and exhausted from childbirth and no longer a spirit but a human, that combination rendering her unable to use her powers to protect herself.

Hsui Xien thought that if he took on the tonsure of a monk and gave up the sisters, the fighting would stop because he no longer has to care about worldly desires, the sisters would give up on him and/or Fat Hoi would be appeased.

This is seen as a betrayal by Green Snake, understandably so. Both sisters risked everything to free him, but this human male whom she knew was also drawn to her... was ultimately a flip-flopping coward who turned his back on them and this was unforgivable because of the one she loved most: Her sister.

When Green Snake realised her sister had died, she decided to make the decision for Hsui Xien. She did not want him. Hsui Xien had married her sister. As it is with love that should be true, he should die and be with her sister.

When Fat Hoi wants to strike her down, she speaks of what she has learned: You humans don't even know what love is. Her disillusionment sends her back to the Purple Bamboo Grove.

I wrote a review for this movie less than five days ago on this website. You may find it helpful, since I included mentions of the inspirations behind certain art or costumes, such as Peking Opera.

BTS has a lot of things happening.

Bingyi is pawing Li Lun's chest here: https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1pB42167S1/

While the guys exclaim over Yan An's chest, Chen Duling does not dare to turn around https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1EB42167vv/

Zhu Yan is giving Li Lun something special: https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV18K411e7Nk/

After a certain gift, Zhu Yan tidies stray hair for Li Lun, and Li Lun points at-
https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1pw41177Wr/

Non-BTS: Yan An carries Neo Minghou, Neo Minghou carries Yan An: https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV127DGY2EW2/

I don't use Instagram. You are not able to access any links on weibo.cn?

Please consider adding this 15-second clip of the carrying scene to your compilation (got slo-mo and some editing with music, to make everything even more memorable):

https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5193866971975147

Thanks for your compilation!

Curious to see how many ways this director can convey chemistry between the two leads without the usual obvious methods.

I read this fairly-serious attempt from this weibo account evaluating Ai Mi and HMH's CP effectiveness by thoroughly considering their astrological charts, and cracked up:

https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5193038345538768

Perhaps you can check for Ai Mi's pictures for the GLASS Magazine for 4 August here:

https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5193505959054639

Please add that to your compilation, so it is easier for others to find.

Thanks! I can get absent-minded when multi-tasking. Made an edit to my comment and credited you :)

This movie in mandarin with English subtitles can be watched here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov5Ne2LzL-4

Primary reasons why I don’t fault Ai Mi is because of her body of work relative to her age, how I gauge capability plus what I am used to watching, and I have acquaintances whose children worked very hard just to be given a key secondary role in a play (not any of the main roles).

Experiencing a diverse collection of non-romantic roles as a child and teenager keen on theatre work and/or screen work is important. That helps to compensate for lack of life experience, when combined with a good acting coach. Ai Mi meets that basic criteria which is not easy to obtain, so those going on about her age while ignoring everything else are being completely disrespectful towards her years of hard work as a child actor until now, to obtain this role under this director and scriptwriter.

The 1992 movie 家有囍事 is a staple Chinese New Year movie, timelessly hilarious with no reviews on MDL. Maggie Cheung is probably the most recognisable actress from an international non-mandarin speaking perspective. Her acting is the weakest IMO amongst the main cast roles, but it doesn’t mean she can’t act. She was simply out-acted by those who have an impeccable sense of comedy, timing and nuancing in completely conveying their characters. Whether in Mandarin or Cantonese, the dialogue is hilarious. A talented star-studded cast still needs a good director and screenwriter. Without the latter two at certain standards, I am certain something will not be a good drama or movie.

To me, Charlie Chaplin and Mr Bean are highly-recommended examples of comedy without dialogue. To excel at conveying the necessary without words to reach a large audience = terrific art form. Yes, less is more. I can just as easily enjoy the BBC adaptation of Gormenghast, because I have read the books by a fantastic writer, the director and writers were very smart in knowing how to adapt a novel into a series, and the main cast all have strong theatre backgrounds to carry out their roles perfectly. There is no room for over-acting or poor acting in a star-studded cast of heavyweights. By “star-studded”, I mean talent, not modern Hollywood standards.

[ I have a lot to learn as my appreciation is at the layer of filmmaking and performing universals that can be appreciated cross-culturally.] - What do you like to watch? Are you professionally engaged in the field, in some way? I appreciate that you enjoy old Hollywood. Less is always more. That said, Tropic Thunder is a unique modern comedy that will never see such a film being made again. I consider that to be a timeless comedy masterpiece as well poking fun at modern movies of specific genres, for what it mocks and parodies and genuinely tries to illuminate via different characters.

I’ll share three examples below that should give you insight into what I think and how I evaluate a drama or movie. Feel free to share your own examples. How people think fascinates me. I am curious to know how you see things.

This drama interested me enough to translate articles, even though I am not a fan of the two main leads. I believe they have the potential to excel with this script and under this director and of the two leads, Ai Mi has a higher chance of making me a fan depending on what she does.

My key concern is Riley Wang not being able to do justice to the character Li Mao, because of the duality and descent of his character which is nothing like the previous roles taken upon by this actor (and only because he could do well with his guest role in FoF, that I hope this Director will be able to help Riley truly grasp the character). Bian Cheng would have been much a better choice IMHO because Bian Cheng is quite talented and very suitable for this role. Wang Duo would not be suitable because he will naturally out-act both leads. Wang Duo already did that in the previous drama he was in, with Sun Zhenni and Zhang Bin Bin.

[ Bian Cheng in Serenade of Peaceful Joy was totally immersive, if you are curious: https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1gS4y1X7hX/ ]

Dame Judi Dench does Shakespeare on The Graham Norton Show (Shakespeare always had words for almost everything, and Caesar is my favourite amongst his works that I studied including Merchant of Venice)- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_0VBS9AOhE

“Deewani Mastani” from the Bajirao Mastani movie (chant starts in Marathi, before being sung in Hindi by Shreya Ghosal and for Hindi movies, she is one of the vocalists I most appreciate) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIofkrOFFSw

FMV of the 1987 movie “Wings of Desire” by Wim Wenders, utilising Frou Frou’s song “Let Go” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FHp58zElm4

Thanks for the heads-up about the pictures! I'll go delete them.

I did see some comments on douyin claiming the drama is based on a novel, so I'll take one more look. But since it wasn't in any articles, I didn't mention that because I couldn't verify it.

Edited for clarity, thanks to dhila ahmad: Amongst the hottest videos of HMH on weibo for this drama series, this one from Hou MInghao's officlal studio has been seen at least 240,000 times. At 2:29 minutes in total and well put-together, it combines footage of him in-character and meeting fans during the opening launch of shooting this drama. Highly recommended viewing to grasp Xiao Wuyi and the man behind the role, even if you are not a HMH fan:

https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5189128130140501

Thanks, I'll go take a look. I have seen comments about this drama being based on a novel by a specific author in 晋江文学城 but I have not been able to find that novel.

I also shared two photos, plus a longer daytime video uptop from weibo, when NMH first walked out in daytime with his newest costume.

Have you seen this video on weibo? It's a 40-seconds birds' eye view clip of him walking and being sheltered in the new costume during daytime, from yesterday:

https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5193093189470131

September, thanks to Vince being helpful:

https://mydramalist.com/768987-wan-xin-ji#comment-22822492

Vince was helpful and here's the month (no specific date yet):

https://mydramalist.com/768987-wan-xin-ji#comment-22822492

Thanks! When multi-tasking, I'll overlook things. Looks like I'll have to wait quite a while longer for《水龙吟》(October to December)......

My standards of measurement for this drama and the actors are the Hong Kong movies and dramas of several countries I grew up watching, from the late 80s into 2000s, whereby side characters and main characters have to shine in English or Mandarin or at least two other languages. What's your measurement for whether Ai Mi is suitable or not, for this main role? I am not a Neo Hou fan but he works hard and he has proven that under the right director and script, he can shine.

This drama is first and foremost, not about romance or focused on romance and has nothing to do with Ai Mi's appearance or age. If you read the discussion post, you'd know that. For me, the best work is not about romance. BBC's adaptation of Gormenghast is one example.

Your comments seem to be full of condescending assumptions, including a remark I find completely insulting: "The chinese audience is totally okay with this concept as the age of consent is 14."

You referring to all chinese people, or just people in China? Your comment is offensive on multiple fronts to me.

A primary wife has to exist before a secondary consort and concubines can be taken. Is this discussion on weibo or some other site?

I had quite an international upbringing, and this was one of many games I played as a kid XD