STORY (No spoilers)
As per the synopsis of this show, this is a continuation from where the first film 'Fong Sai Yuk' left off. There is more intrigue and more undercover/ plotting scenes which make way for less comedic sections, so I think the film tries to compensate by making some scenes rather funnily cliche, instead of from pure comedic timing and content.
But the mother-son duo is back and as scintillating as ever, so this show is still a great watch. The fight scenes are still brilliantly executed, with new stunts and action sequences that are amazing and breath-taking to watch.
ACTING/ CHARACTERS
JET LI - is as great as ever as the titular Fong Sai Yuk. He grows up a bit more in this film - in the first, he was still a rather immature and rash young man in the full flush of youth and still having youthful ideals. Here, having gone through some of the trials and having his eyes opened from events in the first film, he has a more serious and weighty personality. As a member of a resistance group and god-son of a well-known people's hero, he has more responsibilities thrust upon him, in addition to his newly married state.
It makes for different sort of conflicts and tensions compared to the first film. Jet Li carries it all well, and of course, the action sequences are as stellar as ever.
JOSEPHINE SIAO - as Fong Sai Yuk's mother, remains a hilariously wonderful character. Unfortunately, her screen time is not as lengthy as the first film as she has to make way for the build-up of the plot, as well as for other supporting characters introduced in this second instalment. Which is a bit of a shame because her scenes and her interactions with Fong Sai Yuk are what makes the films so sparklingly good.
As this film has more going on in terms of story/ plotline, there is therefore more supporting characters being introduced. It's a bit of a hit-or-miss with them but they carry the story along. Seriously, the brightest gems in the film are really Jet Li and Josephine Siao - all others pale in comparison to them.
MUSIC
As per the first film, it is suitably aligned to the time period and to the style and tone of the film.
RE-WATCH VALUE
Definitely re-watchable and a good sequel to the first film. The quality of the action scenes have certainly not dropped so this film is watchable, even for that alone.
A good follow-up to its brilliant first film.
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I loved the music, when I rewatched this series I was always singing along to the intro (which is really catchy)
I've already rewatched this 3 times, sooooo
overall this is an amazing tv show where you will grow to the characters and I would reccomend this 100%
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This film is now over 20 years old (!!) but it is such a classic, and such a Jet Li classic too. For Jet Li fans who would like to experience his older works, this is a highly recommended watch because it not only showcases Jet Li's great martial arts in action, but it has the added benefit of being comedic and so brings along not only the action but also the laughs!
Please note that it being such an old show, the production values and the video quality of this show will naturally come across as dated and a little poor. But don't let this put you off because aside from the video quality and the lack of realism of some of the props, the movie is just brilliant.
This film showcases the good old-style directing of kung fu movies at its best. Choreography of the fight scenes is just stellar and of the quality which you will hardly be able to find in kung fu shows these days. None of that slow-motion exaggerated rubbish, none of that CGI stunt nonsense. Nope, this is raw kung fu fight scenes at its best, which means, fast-paced and high tempo. Blink-and-you-will-miss-it kind of goodness. This film won the Hong Kong Film Award and Golden Horse Award for best action choreography during its time!
The comedy in this film does not lie in the choreography or execution of the fights (they are not the Jackie Chan-style funny antics), but rather in the story itself. Fong Sai Yuk and his mother make a brilliant pair of comedic marital arts heros and more than half of the laughs are from the antics of this mother-son duo.
The overarching stories and scenes are reminiscent of the Chinese period in which it is set - Qing dynasty setting in case you've missed it with the pigtails and male queues.
There are a few things going on in this film:-
- traditional chinese match-making of its time period is showcased, where daughters of reputable families are found matches through competitive rounds among her would-be-suitors;
- traditional chinese relationship dynamics of husband-wife;
- covert rebellious activities by rebel societies, and uprisings against what is perceived as oppression by a local tyrant - the definition of what makes a man a hero is often based on his actions and attitudes towards the people, particularly to those who are in need or oppressed; and
- traditional concept of filial piety and responsibility towards parents in that generation.
Lots of traditions and concepts of that time period are very much evident and imbued in this series, making it more than just your average comedic kung fu show. There is a wealth of information about the cultural mores and attitudes of the people in those days, which make for a much more insightful and unique watch experience.
ACTING/ CHARACTERS
JET LI is simply wonderful as the titular character Fong Sai Yuk. He portrays this cheeky, playful but incredibly talented kung fu lad to the tee. Young and brash but incredibly filial and family-oriented, he is the embodiment of your typical young kung fu hero of his day. His fight scenes are simply stellar and awe-inspiring.
JOSEPHINE SIAO as Fong Sai Yuk's mother is a scene-stealer! Her comedic and weighty moments in the show are on-point, while her own kung fu scenes are as awesome and as brilliant as Jet Li's. And that's saying a huge lot, I'm telling you, because Jet Li is practically the undisputed kung fu specialist of his time.
Both mother-son duo are the lynchpin and the cornerstone of this film - without them, the film would not be as scintillating and brilliant as it is still today.
MUSIC
Memorable traditional chinese instrumentals and songs which heighten and add depth to the show, nothing is out of place.
RE-WATCH VALUE
I have this film on DVD and while it is very well used in terms of it being lent to others for the spreading of the enjoyment of this great show, I will never ever give my DVD away. This show is just too good and too nostalgic - a keeper for sure and wonderfully re-watchable for the laughs and for the kung fu fight scenes.
An awesome kung fu film of the ages - it is not called a Jet Li classic for no reason!
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I felt the story could have been better written but I still enjoyed the series despite its flaws. What really won me over was the cast which is the biggest reasons to why I watched the show! Everyone did an amazing job but the true star here was Lee Joon Gi. He was phenomenal and had became my favorite Korean actor all time. He brought 4th prince to life! Whenever Wang So smile, it made me so happy. Whenever Wang So would cry, I would cry. Whenever Wang So was being flirty, I would melt. Seriously. Lee Ji Eun (IU) also did a great job. She's not on Lee Joon Gi's level but these two definitely have chemistry. The most amazing chemistry I have ever seen. Whenever those two were together, it always felt like the temperature was rising! Mostly Wang So's story and the love story is what drew me in the most. Also can't forget the bromance! Lee Joon Gi and Nam Joo Hyuk were the best! Kang Ha Neul also won me over. Such a great job as the 8th prince and his smile.... can't stop thinking about it! Overall the entire cast was amazing and beautiful that I have become such a huge fan, not just for this show but for them. Even the locations were beautiful.
The music... What can I say? One of the best soundtracks of 2016! My top favorite of them all. Lee Hi, Davichi, EXO, Punch, Taeyeon and so many others! I have this show's soundtrack on my ipod and always have it on repeat!
I've lost count to how many times I've watched this show. Especially my favorite episodes. I was obsessed with this show before it even premiered!
Despite Scarlet Heart Ryeo not being a success in its home country, it is such a huge hit worldwide. You won't regret watching.
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Yes, the storyline is very typical, but I found each and every episode to be enjoying to watch, and the writers do a great job of ending off with a cliffhanger, making you click on the next episode. I deleted 3 apps on my phone just so I could have the storage for Good Morning Call. I love the cliches (THE FREAKING LOVE TRIANGLE HAD ME TORN OMG), but also appreciated how some drama stereotypes were broken (the guy, while handsome and smart, isn't rich and you really get to see how hard he has to work). I loved the friendships. Oh my holy goodness, the friendship between the main protagonists with the other characters is so delightful and genuine and I was so happy to see such a tight group of friends.
I absolutely adored the acting and cast. All of the cast did a great job of brining unique aspects to their character and tying the storyline together. They also all had great chemistry with each other, making the story believable.
The music wasn't' a big part of the drama, but there were definitely some tunes I found to be super cute and fitting to the drama.
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Drama Special Season 5: I'm Dying Soon
8 people found this review helpful
The acting was believable and I swear Kim Seul Gi's acting gets better everytime she acts, I'm sure she'll go far in her career, since she's so cute and likeable!
I'll definately rewatch this again if I have time!
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even though it's a short series it got straight to the point which is what i liked about it. the characters were all likeable and they've all got their adorable quirks. the only thing i disliked was that is was too short imo, i needed more satisfaction for the eyes & the fact it looked like an advertisement? there wasn't much plot but what do you expect for 6 minutes each episode? it was still somewhat enjoyable.
i don't remember there being many ost tracks so sorry if the music rating is quite low. but overall this is a decent short series & hope you watch it.
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first of all what made me gave this show that rate not 10/10
that it's basically depends on baseball sport rules & i don't like that sport or even understand it's rules
but the story it self away from that part full 10 cause
i adore the stories about how friendship turned to be love
what made that story distinguish that it could happen in real life (realistic) one,
very smooth ,superfine & slow love
although i wasn't at the drama mood but it kept drawing my attention till i continued which means it's really v.good drama & the plot is amazing
i love how they tried hard to keep their friendship safe just not to lose each other till finally they discovered that if they won't admit their love they already 'll lose
i love how they were so honest about what they were thinking about without sensitivity
P.S : really i was broken hearted for (Lee Tae Sung) cause he really loved (Soo Ae) so T_T
in sum : i found it amazing underrated drama
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This show made me feel in ways I can not describe.I felt the tenderness between lovers, the true meaning of friendship and the love and care between various characters.
The actors portrayed their characters magnificently, especially the king and I hardly saw any flaws being done by the other two main characters.They were all immersed in their character. A couple of the supporting characters also had fantastic acting skills.
This show is a must watch for those who enjoy beautifully portrayed characters and a fantastic story, that has its ups and downs, and its moments of laughter and sadness. The love in the show makes me believe that there is true honest love in this world.
P.S I think I fell for the king
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First..for the good parts, the special effects are well done and much better than the obviously fake CGI animation in the tv drama. i also prefer the lead actress liu yifei in the movie. For me she looks more endearing than yang mi in the drama. It took a bit of time for me to warm up to TV yang mi. The pacing is fast (sometimes too fast) so you will not get bored watching.
now for the bad parts. whether or not you've seen the TV drama version, this movie has fairly significant shortfalls.
if you've not seen the drama, the plot will be baffling. Special effects cannot make up for lack of cohesive story. The idea to constantly go back and forth from the present to the past was initially ok, but later robbed the impact and I suspect will make it confusing to moviegoers with no background. And while i understand and support the need to cut many characters and side story, there was lack of explanation on important parts. On the positive side, you will likely find the acting passable, though not brilliant.
if you've seen the drama, the story will be understandable (thanks to your pre-knowledge), however the movie itself will be disappointing. Chinese netizens are diligently posting ludicrous parts e.g. the audience actually laughed the first time some of the supporting characters costume came on to the screen - not the reaction you wanted! Thankfully, the lead actors qian qian and ye hwa are (mostly) costumed nicely, however even qian qian elicited another laughter on one supposed to be dramatic scene, again due to over the top costume. But to me costume can be overlooked. What made it unsatisfying ultimately is lack of emotional connection. The actor yang yang is not so bad, but if you've seen the drama, you can't help but compare to mark chao. Whether it is the fault of the story pacing or the deficiency of acting skills, many dramatic scenes felt flat. One of the highlights of the tv drama was when lead actor and actress met again after a period of separation. In the movie, it was more like "boy meets girl for first time" romcom type of vibe.
For fans of the novel/series, don't be discouraged by this review. Do go ahead and watch. Arm yourself with low expectation and you will enjoy the movie more with its beautifully shot scenes and relive the story. Certainly the ~2hrs flew by quickly. For non-fans, I recommend stay away, it will leave you baffled on what the fuss is all about.
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(I watched this movie a few nights ago and this is my first review so it might be a bit rusty! I apologise if it isn't very helpful.......)
GOOD:
- Story: The sci fi/futuristic elements of this movie are great. Once the crime/mystery is revealed, it twists and can get quite confusing (that's why I liked it!). The ending wraps it quite well and although there are some things left open, I don't think they were necessary to answer.
- Characters: The 'good' guys are relatively likeable, but this movie goes in all sorts of directions so you will feel a lot of things. And as for character development, it was decent for the leads.
- Acting: Some of the best I've seen. Emotion is expressed really well particularly at the extremes.
- Music: Goes well with each scene, although not very memorable but it worked with the emotion.
- Visuals: I'm all for wonderful CG and special effects, and this movie did it very well.
NOT SO GOOD:
- Story: Uncomfortable and disturbing during some scenes (as mentioned in the TWs!). The pacing felt a bit off and rushed towards the end. Storyline might be a bit predictable... especially if you're a fan of the genre like me!
- Characters: As mentioned, watching the definite bad guys doing the things they do..... ....was uncomfortable.... but necessary for the story...
REWATCH: I don't tend to rewatch anything I've seen once unless I loved it, and because of the disturbing scenes it is very unlikely that I'll be watching this again.
OVERALL: 8/10. Enjoyable for most of it. But please don't watch this if you feel like you might get triggered!
EDIT: I forgot to mention that I haven't seen the prequel to this movie! Yet it seemed to act fine on it's own, so I don't think you need to see it if you haven't
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