This review may contain spoilers
Positive: Vengao and Dilraba were made for the role. They are superb actors, attractive and have good chemistry. I love the concept of a masculine, intelligent ML, and a feminine FL, though they could make her a bit smarter. Donghua/Fengjiu characters are closest to my ideal kind of lead. (My pet peeve is pale, waif-like male leads.)Negative: You could probably skip half of the first part of the drama. Many concepts are inconsistent, not very well explained, not very well done, and character development is not so good; the reason for their actions are not believable.
Music: It's ok. Not the best like Love and Destiny. The only songs I really liked is "Book of Fate" and "Heart's Desire at Peace". Dilraba naturally has a good voice when she speaks, but her singing needs to improve.
This drama was a disappointment to me. I really wanted to like it because of the cast, and because I liked the Donghua character and story in "Legends of the Eight Immortals", and feel this drama did not compare. That drama's love story made more sense, not wishy washy like this drama. But in truth the TMOPB dramas are over-hyped. I feel the storylines are wish-washy and inconsistent. For this drama, it felt like watching a really bad 80s movie, where the concepts are all over and nothing made sense except just watching two beautiful people on screen.
They tried a similar misunderstanding at the end, like TMOPB, but it was awful. First, Donghua is a very upfront and direct person. He does not hide his sufferings or hardship like Ye Hua, so it didn't makes sense for him not to share the problems at the end with Feng Jiu. Donghua is a very aloof, reserve person. When he loves and trust someone, he is open and direct with them. But when he doesn't trust or know you, then he doesn't say much. So being he loves and trusts Feng jiu, he would have shared what was going on with her.
Second, Feng Jiu is inlove with Donghua, she would chase him to the end of the world, as long as he doesn't tell her he doesn't want her. Well, he didn't, so she would have stayed. So these are inconsistent with the personality of the character. Another criticism is Dilraba looks the part, but sometimes her expression does not show how much inlove she is with him.
And there's more inconsistency in the scripts and actions, this why I give it a low score. Please re-make with same lead!!! LOL.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Not as great as I thought
Character Analysis: Crystal Yuan looks great as the cute, innocent Chu Xuanji, but she fails badly as the heartless, badass God of War. Her armor did not make her look great, and looked too big on her. There's nothing great about Cheng yi's role except when he pretended to be the Star of Mosha and became more decisive and focus on his goal. Other than that, his character is too weak for me, even as the Prince of the Heavenly Realm. The sets wasn't as grandeur as TMOP or Love and Destiny, and I'm fine with that, but the main actors did not fit their roles. (Also is it me, or did the camera person take more close-up pictures of Cheng yi's lovely face? LOL.)Music/Ost: It's ok. Nothing memorable or enchanting.
Plot Analysis: Dijiu Bailin should have been banished from the Heavenly Realm when he created the God of War from Luo Hou Ji Du. You would think this goes against Heaven's rules, but nope, he gets away with it. Why? If you know anything about the Heavenly Realm, Dijiu Bailin would NOT get away with what he did to create the God of War. Second, having such a twisted mind in his hacking of Luo Hou Ji Du, why would Dijiu Bailin help Chu Xuanji in her mortal form? After all, when she finds out the truth, she would revenge herself for the evil deed he did.
Yu Sifeng plays a character that takes all the beating for Chu Xuanji, lifetime after lifetime. I give him credit for loving her all these times, even though there are times when he annoys me for running away from her.
Overall the plot and character actions doesn't make sense to me. The story around Chu Xuanji and Sifeng would have been enough and was already good if they did not include all the crazy, unfitting stuff from the Heavenly Realm/Demon clan. I really wanted to like the drama because the title sounds great. One thing I did like was the last ending family scene and the kissing scene didn't feel awkward.
I watched the first 20 episodes and skipped to the last 15 episodes.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Negative: Like all Chinese drama, the beginning is slow. And the ending was cut short, and had no explanation as to how Jiu Chen escaped???Positive: The cast is wonderful and likable! The story made sense. The love story is mature and realistic. Beautiful scenes and graphics!
Music: Excellent! Love most of the songs! The songs are very touching!
This is one of the drama I enjoyed, mainly because the cast fit the roles, the romance was mature and loving, and the storyline made sense. The concepts made sense. One of my pet peeves is pale actors (lack of blood/too thin???) . I like that Chen Chan looks fit as the God of War. And even Ethan Li looks mature and fit for the most powerful man in the bird-tribe.
My favorite scenes are when Ling Xi became human Ahmo and stayed in the Peachtree house by the lake. You will find it humorous as Jiu Chen and Jing Xiu both court Ling Xi, and battle it out. LOL. :)
I really think Ling Xi should have given Jing Xiu another chance to change, after all, her mother did break her promise. And Jing Xiu is really not that evil, just a product of his circumstances. But I guess they needed a villain at the end. :(
Overall, I would watch this drama again and again.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Beautiful masterpiece! Disappointing ending.
Positive: Darren Wang was made for this role! He is hot, aggressive and vicious like a wolf! Love it! :DNegative: Tragic ending. Horrible clothes! ML has some strange priest-like robe.
Music: Beautiful, haunting songs! I'm amazed how good all the songs are, and it goes so well with the theme of "wolf".
I love masculine ML, who are NOT pale (LOL) and Darren Wang has a tan! Love it! I really like how the director made him cold, emotionless, yet conflicted behind the FL's back. I love how they portray the depth of his character. And I love that they gave him a tan! Fitting for soldiers in the sun all day! Finally!
FL is quite naive up until ML betrays her. Her character is a bit boring, annoying, and pitiful, but Li Qin is a very good actress, and portrays it the best she can. Though I don't think this role fits her. She seems more like a mature, smart person and this role should go to someone who looks young, naive, and gullible.
Some scenes don't make sense to me, for ex. I don't understand why ML would bring his troops to be harmed if he just wanted FL to kill him. He's big into brotherhood, so I would think he would protect his troops. If I was director, I would just have him go to the battleground himself and let FL kill him. LOL. Why bring the troops too?
I also don't get the tragic ending themes of these new Chinese drama. It's almost as if Chinese dramas are required to be tragic these days. I think this drama didn't need a tragic ending, as ML and FL could have just left the world to live in the mountains, like Return of the Condor Hero. The ending was a disappointment and unnecessary. It could have been one of my go-to re-watch drama, but I'll just watch up to the last episode. LOL.
Xiao Zhan's character is very likable in this drama. He did a great job playing someone with a big heart, though the wedding scene was a bit funny.
Xin Zhi Lei who plays Yao Ji is a very beautiful actress and plays her character well.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Simon Gong shines!
Positive: The story has a good pace and keeps you interested. The characters are likable and interesting. The two ML are attractive.Negative: The ending episodes. Could have ended with a happy wedding.
OST: Okay
Zhang Zhe Han's role was a bit boring and tasteless. He is a man who is like a coward, but is somehow admired, respected and excels in martial arts. He created a self-inflicted system (if you leave, you get 6 nails put into your body) in which Simon Gong's character tries to find a cure for. Since he created the system, somehow I find no sympathy for his struggle. But find it annoying that Simon Gong has to try to save him. Overall, Zhang Zhe Han's character is not the best here. But I liked how they gave him a tan and he's handsome as always.
Simon Gong's character was likable, interesting, and filled with depth. He's faithful, a loyal friend, excel in martial arts, and mysterious. He brings light to the scenes. And it is really his character that makes the drama interesting. He's cute, funny, and charming. I was amazed at his acting. Simon did a wonderful job portraying a carefree, playful, yet troubled character. I really think he excelled in this role and will get many fans from now on. Loved his character!
I really liked the pace of the drama. The whole drama was interesting and came together well until the very ending twist. The first episode was really unnecessary, as I thought the drama was going to be about the Window Of Heaven organization, but that organization was hardly in the drama. The first episode could have been flashback scenes, which would make more sense. The scorpion clan is also very interesting, but wished they had more fight scenes with them. Overall, it's about a bunch of clans fighting for all the fragments of a key to an armory full of powerful scriptures. And because of that, there's betrayals, and grudges.
I picked up this drama because of Zhang Zhe Han, but came out loving Simon Gong instead.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Beautiful Cinematography, Confusing Plot If You Have Not Seen The Series
Positive: Yang Yang and Liu Yifei made a beautiful couple. Who wouldn't want a handsome god like Yang Yang and an immortal fairy like Liu Yifei. Perfect casting! The cinematography was breathtaking, the sceneries and colors were beautiful. Love the sets, the graphics and visuals.Negative: The ending was confusing, and there are choppy scenes. If you watched this movie first, like I did, before watching the drama, you would be confused. I was very confused.
OST: Beautiful! Love it more than the series! Heart-breaking songs.
After watching the drama, I actually have a higher appreciation of the movie, as I understood the storyline. Now I was able to focus on Yang Yang's and Liu Yifei's characters, and see the passion in their interaction and the emotions in their tragedies. I feel the director did a good job showcasing the mood, hate and love of the characters.
I actually like watching this movie more than the series. LOL. Somehow I have a deeper connection with the movie than the series. Perhaps because the movie focused on the story and passions of Yehua and Bai Qian, while the series had many characters and wasteful scenes that I would rather skip. Plus I am not a fan of Yang Mi, but love Liu Yifei. I like both Mark Zhao and Yang Yang.
My only complaint for this movie is the ending could have been done better. Overall, I have rewatched it many times compared to the series and still feel the emotions and tearful from their love story. Wish the ending was more satisfactory.
Was this review helpful to you?