Reviews written by jack
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Condor Hero (DVD) (End) (English Subtitled) (US Version)
Condor Hero (DVD) (End) (English Subtitled) (US Version) DVD Region 1
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March 6, 2007 Huge DisappointmentHaving read the novel many times and loved the classic 83 version, I was hoping this will be an updated version of the story. It was a HUGE let down.
CAST: Let's start with Yang Guo. The kid Yang Guo is so annoying and unwatchable I wanted to fast foward most of his parts. He also had no resemblance to the older Yang Guo. The older version isn't much better. Casting someone with pop star looks isn't a good way to choose your lead actor. He overacts and loses all the subtle playfulness of Yang Guo, instead, he hits us over the head with a brick to try to get his character across with emotional outbursts everytime he's on the screen. He is also unwatchable until he reunites with Xiao Long Nu, the first time they came out of the Passionless Valley, from then on he doesn't spazz out until he sees Xiao Long Nu again 16 years later. I also hated how he treated all the women he encounters, instead of playful flirting he seemed more like a scumbag with a pocketful of condoms.
Xiao Long Nu by Liu Yu Fei was much better than Yang Guo. Physically she's very pure looking and in that sense fits the role. However I felt she lacked strength... Just because you can put eye drops in your eyes to make yourself cry doesn't mean you should everytime you see Yang Guo.
The rest of the casts are overall passable. Guo Jing seemed a bit weak and unsure compared to how he appeared to be in the novel. Huang Rong was ok, could be a bit more clever and more of a smirk on her face. Jinlun Fawang felt a bit too playful for someone of his stature. Two characters stood out to me though among the supporting cast: Guo Fu and Li Mo Cho. The actress that played Guo Fu was so pretty that I thought she overpowered some of the scenes. Li Mo Cho was one that I thought that did a very good job of acting.
Story: Stayed fairly true to the novel, which is a great relief.
Action: some good fighting scenes... but too much cutting/special effects that took away the real action. And what's up with all the Dragon Ball style fighting? People floating in the middle of air for no reason...
Sets and locations: Pretty damn good job here, big part of the reason to do an update. My only complain is Ancient Tomb looks funny as hell. A house on a stick in the middle of an underground lake. The only exit is to fly through the hole on the ceiling?
Special effects: Hated the special effects. Especially when it involves the kung fu. It made this series look like cheesy low budget chinese deity legends than a wusha story... why are there swords made of flower flying when Yang Guo and Xiaolongnu are trying to master the Maiden Finesse? The umbrella fighting scene between Li Mo Cho and Xialongnu was a good idea but poorly executed... The list goes on and on. A lot of the special effects hurt the story more than they helped it.
Overall I find the acting just ok. But with Yang Guo horrible and had no chemistry with Xialongnu, you can't save the series with great location, sets and decent supporting cast. The special effects were more of a distraction than help. Sky Dragon Eight Parts didn't have this much special effects but was much more effective... The director over-dramatized a lot of the dialogue and scenes. He should of trusted in the story more and let that be the back bone of the series, instead we are treated to emotional outbursts and bad special effects for this ambitious but not quite meeting the expectation tv series.
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United States - English
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