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Reviews
Dou Luo Da Lu (2021)
Another great story butchered by an incompetent studio
Another great story butchered to death. If you loved Soul Land novel, comic and animated series, you'll hate this live version. Apart from the main actor (who looks nothing like Tang San but at least gives a good performance) and a very few other elements, most of the story is made up stuff which doesn't make any sense as there's so much to choose from and it'd still be impossible to cram all the relevant parts into the 40 episodes this is made of. The characters look nothing like the originals, there's a lot of screen time wasted on bad comic relief and unreasonably stupid characters, and the studio definitely doesn't know the difference between "adaptation" and total corruption of the script. If you're a fan of the real story, stay away from this one.
Battle Through the Heavens (2018)
Great donghua is butchered by rubbish live show version
"Battle Through the Heavens" is one of my all time favourite donghuas so I was quite looking forward to the show, especially after seeing the beautiful rendition of the live "The Blood of Youth" (from Great Journey of Teenagers). I was sorely disappointed: nothing but a rushed jumble and mash of the original with storylines crossed, ignored and/or butchered, timelines made a nonsense of, opposing sects from different empires all mashed into one, massive black holes in plot, and the characters a lazy, rushed, "budget efficient" bad joke on my iconic heroes - I'll never forgive them for how they portrayed Xiao Yan on the "annulment" day, Hai Bo Dong (from Ice Emperor to merchant clown) and Queen Medusa (if that's who that silly clingy girl brat is; if she's not, I resent the association they made though). I couldn't bear to watch anymore after episode 26 episodes).
If you haven't read the novel or the graphic novel (manhua) or watched the donghua, you might get something out of it; but beware!! If you come from the real thing, the parent story, expecting to enjoy the story in its full integrity, spare yourself the disappointment and watch something else.
I gave it 4 stars out of respect for the actors who aren't to blame for this, pity it didn't fall into more respectful hands to direct it the way it should have gone: onwards and upwards, like a shooting star to dazzle the eyes.
The studio however was given gold and turned it to
.. well, you know what..
" God gives teeth to people who don't have nuts, and nuts to people with no teeth." - Portuguese saying.
The White Queen (2013)
One of the most faithful adaptations to the novel that I ever watched
I've read the 3 books, The White Queen, The Red Queen and The Kingmaker's Daughter, and this series is one of the most faithful adaptations I have ever watched.
Obviously it can't cover the whole novel, and that is an experience I recommend even more, if you like reading, plus the other 2 I mentioned. But the portrayal of the Tudor and Lancastrian England, the life and politics of the feudal society, how Kings and Queens and Great Royal Houses were made or unmade with in fire and blood, and the brilliance and fortunes of Edward's court, with some artistic license from Philippa Gregory, make for a very compelling watch.