Which Is : An ultra long saga about a woman named Sau Hau and her often bittersweet relationship with her in laws,her husband's other women,her absent husband,the war,poverty and triumph of the human spirit set in the turbulent decades of China going through a social change in old Shanghai time.
How Long : 50 + tapes/100+ episodes.
Who :
Amy Chan ~ Tse Sau Hau
Steven Ma Jing Tao ~ Fong Ho Sang
Sharon Tang ~ Cheung Man Fung
Gilbert Lam ~ Fong Ho Man
Lam Wai ~ Wai Sai Bong
Maggie Siu ~ Ding Man
Wong Jung Kwan ~ Lok Ping
Chun Pui ~ Fong Sai Faan
Seung Tin Ngoh ~ Sek Pui Pui
Lee Heung Kam ~ Gam Fung Ji
Bau Hei Jing ~ Fa Yihm Ha
Yeung Ga Nok ~ Jiu Saam
Wong So Fun ~ Ho Siu
Gam Saan ~ Tse Cheung
Yiu Ji Wahn ~ Yeung Giu
Jiu Hoi Yee ~ Tse Sau Lai
Mo Kei ~ Yeung Hok Hin
The Plot : Very interesting,but being oh so long,somehow something will always go wrong.For example,the span of years being a decade or so,things couldn't be anything more interesting because it is 100 episodes and there aren't much except for repetition.But the basic storyline itself is very interesting and should be appealling to everybody,especially the older generations.So here is the plot;
Sau Hau is your typical uneducated Chinese young girl from a really poor farming family.Not the modern typical type but the good old chinese type,she rarely speaks,she will work too hard,she will do anything for the man she loves(even is it was not love at first sight),she will do anything to survive(not being illegal or immoral),she'll try not to be jealous(but deep down she is),and most important of all,she is bloody nice and too kind for her own good.And she is pretty too,so not that typical of a chinese lady of the old days.One day,the rich first wife of a really rich land owner liked her so much,and being oh so sick due to her failing health,she ordered her son,Ho Sang(Ma Jing Tao) to come home,and basically tricked,cajoled,ordered and demanded that he married this nice young girl.He was very reluctant but being a good son,he married her and subsequently ignored her.But during the course of thsoe few days that they were together,he discovered that she is really one good woman,and he fell deeply in love with her,slept with her,then left for the army because you see,he is also a good citizen,wanting to fight for his country against the big bad Japanese people during WWII.And off he goes,leaving his wife,and though the wife may want him to stay,but is a good wife to do...well,let him be a man and go!Then things starts to be even more interesting in her husband's absence.The first wife died,Sau Hau became pregnant and guess what?Old lover of her husband's came back,heavily pregnant!And get this!She is the rebellious daughter of the Sau Hau's husband's family head servant!What a small world.
Which explains why he didn't want to marry Sau Hau in the first place.He was secretly having this sordid affair with Man Fung(Sharon Teng),a nice but over demanding GF who looks like his dead student GF that died in a shootout between students and army fellas years and years ago.So basically,he fell for her because of her looks.Anyway,he used her,slept with her and against the advice of her own mother whom she hated with all her heart,she fell deeply in love with a man who didn't even bothered to tell her that"hey!I am going off to war,I am getting married and I am leaving you",making the woman think that he was forced to marry Sau Hau(true!),didn't love Sau Hau(false!) and will come back and marry her(maybe!).That began a lifelong saga kind of relationship between these two women who hated each other.You see,when Man Fung came home,she was heavily pregnant and not married.People almost wanted to drown her as was with the customs of old China for unmarried pregnant women BUT Sau Hau came to her rescue,because her husband told her about his sordid love affair with that girl and being oh so nice and kind hearted,she rescued Man Fung much to the chagrin of her father in law(because you see,son made a girl pregnant,didn't marry her,that's a real big shame to the family name).Over the course of the whole pregnancy,Man Fung contracted Chicken Pox/German Measles(of which I am not sure),and everybody avoided her,refused to give her medical treatment though she was pregnant.But Sau Hau came to her rescue once again,and she became fine.But after the birth of her daughter,Man Fung suffered from Post Natal Blues,and almost drowned her own baby,but in the process caused the miscarriage of Sau Hau(how,I forgot).Everybody hated her even more,including her own mom but Sau Hau though was saddened by her loss,she lived on and forgave her.And over the course of the years when her husband was busy fighting the Japanese bad people,they will encounter many problems,like bankruptcy,building the whole damn business again but this time,they'll create a textile empire,have lost of bickerings as to my husband loves me,my husband loves me more than you routine ,only to have Man FUng realsied,during one time after the war where the husband's belongings were brought home,Man Fung who didn't know how to read asked what he wrote in the diary,and Sau Hau not wanting to hurt her feelings,lied a bit by replacing her own name with that of Man Fung's,and Man Fung was overjoyed that he was thinking about her all along,and then Sau Hau mentioned cycling.Oops!Man FUng never went cycling with him,then she realsied he didn't love her anymore,and for once she stopped arguing,stopped waiting for a man who is clearly not coming back for her and raised her daughter and fell for a rich guy,who also hates his own prostitute mother played by Lee Heong Kam.Nice isn't it?
Anyway,her husband after the war went AWOL(Absent Without Leave),and surprise surprise,thinking that he was dead,they went searching for him and found instead his war buddy,that wan his superior,Lok Ping(if I am not mistaken).ANd he liked Sau Hau so much that he fell for her,but Sau Hau clearly indicated to him,"Sorry man!I am booked for my husband only!".And after many many search done,they finally found bim,only to have him lost his memory and gasp!Living with another woman whom he called his wife(Maggie Siu)!!!!They met during the war,she a nurse and he a soldier but they weren't close.But after the war,he was hit by something,lost his memory and she took care of him.For his years of absence from home and lost of memory,she was his strength.Sau Hau was angry but he forgot about her.But they took him home ,tried to revive his memory,Man Fung was exceptionally emotional,in that she slapped and screamed at him for the injustice done to her big sis(they have since became sisters),and then that other woman,Ding man(Maggie Siu) had the nerve to come looking for him!He was clinging to her like a baby would to his mommy and in the end,to cut the loooooooong story short,he regained his memory,with him remembering one really traumatic event that happened in the past(his mom died,he was very sad and took to drinking,and he felt trapped because he was married to Sau Hau,a woman he didn't even know,and then one night,whilst he was drunk,Sau Hau came into the wine cellar looking for him,and being a woman of very few words,she slashed her own wrist and said that "Since you want to die,I as your wife will die with you" and from then on,he became the old nice and responsible Fong Ho Sang and that was how he fell for her),and he kinda loved two women now,Man Fung was never in the equation.He married Ding man as the second wife(not officially actually,since in the old days,mistresses can be considered wives),as Man Fung was granted a divorce and she married Sai Bong(Lam Wai),but to a very sad ending.And later,Ding Man also left him for another man(Lok Ping) because she realised he just didn't love her like he did many months ago before he saw his first wife again.In the end,one plus one,then plus two more,made a really unhappy family of four people,NOW IT WAS FOUR MINUS ONE,MINUS ONE MORE and you have one monogamous couple,Sau Hau and Ho Sang!Lovely,isn't it?
How About..: I missed out on a lot of people in my plot story above because then it will be too long and too confusing.Being a hundred long episodes,there must be more drama than the above right?TRUE!
Tse Sau Lai : She is the youngest child of the TSe family,and her sister Sau Hau loved her dearly.But because theyw ere too poor,they sent her away to live with someone else(I can't remember who) and she disappeared,only to reappear many years later bearing a strong resemblance to her mother(not because the mother played two roles because the actress herself bears a very strong,almost erriely strong resemblance to the actress that played her mom,perhaps they're sisters?) and is a prostitute.Heart wrenching moment,and she fell for Fong Family's second son,Fong Ho Man,but he was and still is in love with his sister in law,until he came to his senses that he won't have her,and so he settled for the second best of the Tse family,ignoring her sad and sordid past.
Fong Ho Man: Almost the unwanted child in the FOng family because Ho Sang was like the perfect being.They didn't have a good relationship,and he wasn't a good son until the war came,brother gone to war,family only old men,old women,young women and one young man,which was him.For once he took responsibilities when the family became really poor,worked as a trishaw puller,and earned his way up to respectabilty with his family,people and himself,ran the textile business later,and then brother came home and well,he was happy.But during that time,he fell for Sau Hau,but repressed it when she made it clear "No way,Jose,I am only for your bro",and so he fell for the next best thing,and diodn't really care she was a prostitute.A good man actually,not as wimpish as his brother and definately less women.
Wai Sai Bong : Young kid made it great on his own,he was really mean at first.Wanting to take over the shop that holds the Fong Family Textile business,Man Fung hated him but later,after being repeatedly wooed and pursued by this man who genuinely loved her daughter like his own,she married him.But before that,this man shares a common thing with Man Fung,he hated his mom too.Man Fung hated her mom because she was always working,she had little time for her and she was a servant,and so she imparted the "your'e also a servant's daughter therefore you're not good enough for anybody except the really poor ones" to her beloved daughter,not with malice actually .Sai Bong hated his mom simply because she was a well known prostitue and he probably didn't know who was his daddy.Sad really.But they forgave everybody and almost had a happy ending but Sai Bong had a bad relationship with the Japanese and he was cruelly assasinated.And the Man Fung became Oscar Schindler aka Schindler's List,and used her husband's factory as a safe haven for chinese dissidents,children running away from Japanese army and at the same time pretending to work for them but actually she is a spy for her country,but people was mean and called her traitor but they didn't know better.All for her husband actually becaus eher husband may have been a mean businessman but he was never a traitor.
Lok Ping : Mean army friend of Ho Sang,they became best buddies,lost contact,met his wife ,fell for her,rejected by her,met Ho Sang again,became friends,met Ding Man,became a reporter like her,fell for her,she fell for him,they married and lived happily ever after.
Best Scenes : Plenty actually.But I can't remember the exact details because I saw this like years and years ago.But most of them involves the bittersweet relationshop between Sau Hau and Man Fung,their good relationship that is often interrupted by moments of "WHo he loves most" routine once in awhile.Other than that,I can't really remember.
Also Sau Hau's expression everytime a new "other woman" walks in.
The Ultimate Classic Scene : Being a classic not because of being really good scene but because being really lousy scene,which would be the ending.I mean 1997 has passed,they're like sooooooo old,sitting together,happily.Good,if you just ignore the hours we had gone trough,like 100 episodes and that's teh ending they could give us?Can't they come out with anything better?
One I must mention would be the idea that this Ho Sang,has so many wives,and one by one left him to marry other and in the end,it's back to THE ONE ,that is his officially and legally married wife,Sau Hau.I am sorry to say this but the very idea of this is funny.Don't know why though.
The Most Sickening Aspect : Also the ending.Sickening because "Is that it?!" would be your expression towards the end."But what about.,...and the......and that......or that.....or this.......or they....".Nope,no such thing.Ending only Sau Hau and Ho Sang.But what I really do want to knwo what about the others???
Most Compatible Couple(s) as in the serial : Without a doubt,Ma Jing Tao and Chan Sau Man.NOT Cheng sau Man but CHAN Sau Man.One good looking,another pretty,both very cordial to each other(charcater wise) and both as good in their acting.
Most Confusing/Mind Numbing/"I Don't Get It" Aspect : It would have been much better if they kill off Ma Jing Tao's character,create a love affair between Sau Hau and Ho Man because frankly,the idea of that is really very delicious.I eman,bro in law with sis in law,in old china,during turbulent times,would make more drama.Instead of just showing her being such a passive character,wait and wait and wait for her husband and probably,Ho Sang would be singing,"Oops!I did it again,I played with your heart,...ooh baby baby,I'm not THAT innocent",everytime a woman walks in with him.If it weren't Ma Jing Tao,I would really hate this guy.Anyway,what is confusing is why let him live?Because we MUST have an ending of perfect relationship,husband must get back with wife?Wife must wait for husband?So that Maggie Siu has something to do in this series?It could almost be boring you know,because I mean women after women.Why can't it be men after men?If that is the case,probably I wouldn't have declered my affection for Sau Hau by calling her a good woman right?Maybe it's not that confusing after all.We must give people a good moral based story,forget the fact that this guy slept and never married the other women officially.
The Most Hated Character : For a moment,Sharon Teng's Man Fung>She could be annoying but you would emphatise with her situation.In love and waiting for a man who didn't care a bit about you.
And almost everybody hated anybody that came between Ho Sang and Sau Hau,that would be Maggie Siu's Ding man.Frankly,I like her.It's not her fault,he didn't know he was amrried and by teh time she did know that he was married,she can't just walk away right?But at the end,when she realsied that the man didn't quite love her as much,she very bravely walked away.So basically she would not have my vote as the Most Hated Character.
Frankly,the Japanese Army would have my vote,not because they showed them "rape,pillage and plunder" because I read in history books that they raped,pillaged and plundered.
The Most Lovable Character :You'll say Sau Hau.
My Most Favourite Character : You'll say Sau Hau,but i will say Ho Man.Because i like a guy who knows his weaknesses,knows that he is wrong and works damn hard to correct his inadequacies and then triumph over people expectations of him to fail.
Best Performances : Everybody was really good,so I really do not need to mention names.But one name I must mention is Ma Jing Tao.
This guy in Taiwan is well known for his over acting,but in this series,he was surprisingly subdued,and in the end,he let his eyes do the over acting,if you know what i mean.His vouce was dubbed,since he can't speak Cantonese but what a nice voice!So suitable.Anyway,he was really good in here,and after this series,I realised he can be really good,if he wants to be.Excellent portrayal of Ho Sang.
**Alert!Alert!Hacker detected!Hacker detected!! **
"Excuse me,Ma Jing Tao good?"
Not again!Seagull,is that you?!What do you want?????
"I can't believe that you say he is good.That man overacts,he rubs his chest when he is angry/sad/happy/whatever,what's so good about him?"
Aiyer,ok lar,answer you lar har,but do not delete my files!!!!!!Do not let his Taiwanese series fool you into thinking that's all he could do.I admit,people may still find him,a little bit too not to their taste,I am not his fan but you have to admit it,he is good in here,though he may seem like one expression fits it all,but his Ho Sang reminds me of this gentle and cool guy,however expressionless he may have been in this series,most of the time.
"I didn't watch this one"
Try it,but probably the only thing you can't stomach about this series is the really long story with 100 episodes and longer series.
"Was he good looking in here,like Louis?"
He's really dark in here,not tanned and I have to admit,he should play Ho Sang during the war,with little to eat.He is so thin,so ok ok,your Louis is the most good looking of ALL.
"And a better actor too!"
Maybe,but when Ma Jing Tao just act ordinarily,no throwing of chairs,screaming his lines,where he isn't playing creepy fellas,he could be really good as an innocent guy.Though I really hate his character in here,but I like Jing Tao personally.JUST IN THIS SERIES BY THE WAY.
"You're like contradicting youself.Like the person,hates the character."
Same thing as I like Miu Yeuk lan in Flying Fox but I hated Charmaine Sheh,just in this case,it's the other way around.I mean why not?Can what?!
"Ok ler,I still do not like him.I am logging off now,so more updates from you?".
If you don't go deleting my files again!By the way,if you really wanna know more about him,go to my All About Yue Ling site under Taiwan section,I have a review on his series,Green Green Grass By The River,where he was tolerable,and very very young.Maybe I should write one for Xue Ker,then maybe you'll love me for it,because I could really trash him in there.And you were right,thanks for bringing to my attention the chest rubbing habit of his.Maybe he thought he could be sexier like that.
"huh?!"
Uh,never mind.Go away then.
"Ok,then and hey,good work!"
And you,great work my friend.I am glad how things are going with this website,though reviews may be so painfully slow in being uploaded.But for what it is worth,I like to say this in print for all to see...thanks for letting me scream my opinion,beginning with DIF IV and many others afterwards.You have been a great partner.
"Eh,you sound like you're retiring or something."
Aiyor!I was just trying to be sentimental lar!I am not leaving but I haven't been catching up,probably because I have little time these days.But I'll catch up with some good series later,and notwithstanding what other poeple may write for whatever series,if I have seen it,I'll add to it,ok?
"Ok ler,I am busy too you know."
I know.....with your Koo Workshop!!Aiyer,never mind.Good riddance my friend,and everybody else who is still reading this PRIVATE THOUGHTS!!Shame on you.No..no joking.
I must add that the above is just fiction,as was with Moonlight review but Seagull has read the Moonlight one,and agreed with it.So,actually it was just a simple way to distract you and not let you go biting my head off for what I may have to say about this series.I know,I am cheap!
If I were the writers I would ....:Make this series a whole lot shorter,maybe half of it could be edited or summarised,kill off Ma Jing Tao's Fong Ho Sanga nd create a much more sordid and passionate love affair for Sau Hau,make it Sau Hau's story instead of everybody because then this series becomes a bit muddled and a whole lot more unfocused though you may still see this in Sau Hau's point of view,give a much mroe better ending,I mean not necessarily that to show hope in HK,must they alwyas end it witha glorious and peaceful handover of HK to China in 1997?Since this series was before 1997,it was a hopeful ending,but now that it is year 2000,this series can be seen as a series that could be a reality,a better future,but hey,just saw 10 minutes of the future HK!And by the way,wouldn't both of them like be really old?The make up department could buck up a bit,and what's the silly thing with a pocket TV?Good I am sute but looks more like a super imposed tv screen onto a pocket calculator,so the props dept could buck up more,the make ups are terrible in here,and so was the costume,so costuming dept should buck up even more.
In the end,the story itself is good but everything else that goes with is is really very second-hand.And all the ATV actors looked so familiar,like don't they have other actors?Oh yeah right,no other actors,that was why there were two Taiwanese actors in the series.
Anyway,great voice dubbing by the HK counterparts.
If I were you,I would.... : Rent this for my grandmama.I don't know about you,but I have this feeling that the older generations always love this kinda story,you know,old China,one woman's struggle,bad in laws,other womens,husband missing,etc.
Is it worth Renting : First half od the series,yes,because it was very engaging,but the momentum of teh storyline fizzles out by second half.For those who are hoping for a fast reunion between husband and wife wil be sorely disappointed because the reunion was quite touching but somehow by that time,I just didn't care anymore.Again,because the length of time for the reunion was simply much too long before it really happened and when it did happened,it was just anti-climax.It was like you know there would be a reunion,which made it boring.And the ending was terrible.In fact,half way through,you would be tired of this series because it was all about reperirion,rich,poor,rich again,poor again...husband gone to war,husband came back,husband gone again,husband came back again,Sau Hau waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting.Same thing al over again.And though their relationship was kinda touching,AT FIRST,but after a while,it kinda fizzled out,because,PLEASE REPEAT AFTER ME....the series was just too long!
Interesting Facts : A hit in HK and a mega hit for ATV.In fact,the biggest hit for them for a long long long time.Won a lot of awards but then it won the ATV own awards,so not much credibility for that.Made Ma Jing Tao a household name,AND Chan Sau Man who came to ATV that year as TVB's top actress became even more famous.In fcat,she was reportedly very highly paid for this series.
But me being such a gossip kinda person,statistics ain't interesting to me.BUT this should be much more interesting.Reportedly,Ma Jing Tao and CHan Sau Man hated one another during the filming of this series.We all know that Jing Tao can be a bit difficult,some sdaid he was arrogant but Chan Sau man being uncooperative?Hard to believe right?So I dismissed it as you know,publicity stunt.But it seemed that they're still not talking to each other.
Interesting Comparison : Many comparisons.
Plain Love I?The one with Gallen Lo as a poor farmer,and Kathy Chow as a young poor girl forced to marry him,lost her husband,found another,met each other again decades later.Very similiar,only much more touching than Good Old Days.
Plain Love II?Similiar backdrop but nothing in common as to the storyline.Plain Love II incorporates a very modern idea into a very old China,you know,poor guy made it big type of storyline,one that would have you cheering.."COME ONE!!!!".
Schindler's List?The story and struggle of Man Fung during the Japanese occupation.Though obviously it followed the American movie of the Jewish plight during WWII,BUT Oscar Schindler was a Nazi German with a conscience whilst Man Fung was a CHinese pretending to work for Japanese government to save her own people.Talking about dramatic,and touching storyline,you should watch the American movie,because we Chinese shared a same plight with the Jews during WWII.
Interesting Observation : This series was set duing WWII,a turbulent year for the Chinese.I didn't know about this but my parents kept telling me,so I never forgot about it .It was passed down through generations,and though we read it in history books,it somehow may have gotten lesser attention because the Nazi regime's cruel treatment surpassed the Japanese regimes' treament of the Chinese,simply because more than a million Jews died in WWII,and at any given one time,thousands of Jews died together whilst though the numbers for Chinese was lesser,it was nevertheless not less horrifying.
I feel a need to do this,to remind everybody of our past,so that we can be a bit more careful and see the warning signs.
Like Jews,Chinese around the world are like immigrants,though we are a certain country's citizen,we never really feel like one.We were lucky,because we have China but the Jews,before Israel,had nowhere else to go.During WWII,the treatment of both these races were even more apparent.Germans hated Jews during that time,for various reasons which if I were to put it in here,this review will never end.Japanese hated Chinese because we funded our fellow Chinese wars against Japan,and also some other reasons that I really think did not justify their cruel treatment of our race.Perhaps we were gullible,we were also weak,and so they took advantage of our own internal bickerings,weaknesses and uneducated minds and used us for experiments,tying us to the pole,a plane goes by,releasing some germs in the air,and see how fast we could die.And then step on our bodies for the blood until the last drop,we were bothing but lab rats to them.And they massacred the Nanjing people,young old,men,women and child.everybody died there,and they used women,not just CHinese but every women they captured as Comfort Women,a nicer word for free labour of a prostitue,but we were forced.And then they surrenderd,their Emperor got to enjoy life until he died many years later(I heard it was a difficult death),with a whole nation mourning for them,top Generals committed the Kami Kaze,meaning they killed themselves,young soldiers sent to jails for decades.And in the end,we Chinese moved on and lived on,but have we forgotten this sad past?Never forget,that was what my family always say.
I was very angry,especially they never really apologised offcially,and for many years the Japanese lived under a self denial way,the torture never happened.But old people,who used to be soldiers at that time came out and tearfully recounted the events and regretted that they didn't have the courage to say No,though some did and was dealt with,just like some Germans said no and they were killed for their disobedience.I was so angry,I hated the Japanese,maybe I was a Chinese in old China back then.
But I read this book by Simon Weisenthal,a Jewish man who survived the holocaust and spent his whole life trying to catch war criminals through the law.SOmetimes he succeed,most of the time he failed.Some asked,why can't they just assassinate these guys?And his answer was,we should never ever become like them.And like the title of his book,we want justice,not vengeance.And how true because this was one man who acknowledged that there were good Germans who helped him,like Oscar Schindler who became the subject of Steven Spielberg's award winning movie of the Jewish plight seen through the eyes of a German.So perhaps then during our plight,there were good Japanese people.
But during those time,the fear of the Japanese people created a sorry past for America.They rounded up al the Japanese Americans and locked them in camps,for fear of everything.They were not tortured I guess but fear itself could create a lot of hurt in the process.It wasn't fair for their treatment of these people who just so happened to come from Japan,since they had nothing got to do with the war or the torture,but the racial slur for them were horrible,as was with us,the Chinese.
And then the A-Bomb ended it all,one on Nagasaki,and one on Hiroshima and to this day,the Japanese will mourn for the dead in these two places.Frankly,and I am not trying to be heartless,I was glad for the A-Bomb,because if not, the war will never end,more Chinese will be dead and the Japanese people will suffer from an even bigger inflated ego.
So in the end,what is left for us CHinese in everywhere else other than China?Frankly,I am a Malaysian.We had our sorry past too,like the racial killings during the 60's.We didn;t understand one another then,but we could tolerate each other now,because for economic success,we have got to create a peaceful nation for people to invest in.I guess greed is a good thing,in this regards.But I love being Malaysian.There was a time our government was afraid that we may still feel something for our motherland,but for generations like me.our motherland is Malaysia.I do not believe in tracing your roots.I was born here,and I guess I'll die here.I love my country,the streets,the food,the people,but sometimes I do feel alienated when we are not considered Bumiputras,meaning people from this land.It hurt,and it still hurts but I have confidence there will be a day,Malaysia will truly be Malaysian's Malaysia,and looking at the current condition,we may be on our way to be just that,and I would have even more confidence in saying that if one day we have a Chinese as Prime Minister but like our PM said in a recent interview,the time is not yet now,so again,I do feel great disappointment of this sorry observation,but you may never know,there might be such a day,maybe not in near future,but at least we are not killing one another.And you know you love your country when your country losses all the games in whatever games there may be and you still cheer for your team.Like I am cheering for my country in the Olympic games,though I know we never really can do it.
So ask youself,who do you owe your allegiance too?I owe it to the place I call home,and my country is my home.So please,do not burn your flags,because really,that's just too shameful.There is a big diference between disliking your government and disliking your country.Everybody loves their country,but they may disagree with the govermental policies.Now that is a different issue altogether.
Special Mention : Maybe you already know this but well,I am still going to say this.the Chinese title,bears two meanings.
Joi Kin Yin Yeung Tin
It could be "Good Bye To The Morning Day/After",which is so negative OR it could be "Encountering/Hello/seeing the Morning Day/After again",which is very optimistic.The Good Old Days,for the English title bears a signifant resemblance to the second more optimistic title.Anyway,don't count on me for translation,I could be wrong.
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28 December 2009
I HAVE A DATE WITH SPRING [ATV]
Posted on December 28, 2009
under labels Reviewer - Funn Lim, Series [HKATV], TV Series.
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Which Is NOT : a story starring a bird,flying back home after winter to greet the spring time.Of ocurse,it is basically about 4 "birds",meaning women and their singing careers,love lives,and more importantly,their utter devotion for one another,seen through the eyes of the main protagonist,the woman in white played by Sharon Teng.I can't remember the character's name.
How Long : I can't remember,should be more than 10 tapes.
Who :
Sharon Teng......girl in white
Sheung Tin Ngor....girl in red
Man Yee Man...girl in blue
Choi Hiu yee...girl in gold
Kong Wah..guy with the saxophone
The rest,I can't remember.
Now this is going to be a fun review huh?For the first time in my review writing history,characters' can be called like the above.So I'll use the actors' names to not confuse you.Funny though,isn't it?
The Plot : Based entirely on the stage play cum movie version with the same title but played by different actresses,and actor,the only difference with this series version and the movie version is the length and the ending,apart from the obvious change in the actors and actresses.The colours were also the same.
Sharon is your really young girl aspiring to be a singer.She works in a night club singing away every night,with her three best buddies,the other three girls listed above.They sang different type of songs.Sharon being the happier and optimistic one,she sang songs that has a certain fun and faster beat to it,Sheung being older and in Red and with a temper,she sang songs in English,Man being in blue and being sad all the time,sang sad Chiense songs whilst the one in Gold being the generally happy go lucky tuype sang songs in,well happy songs if you know what I mean.
Sharon was already a star in the making,being in white and all.It was then she met teh saxophone guy,Kong Wah,an aspiring songwriter who was down on his luck,until he wrote one really good song that made Sharon into an overnight sensation but he,well he was not mentioned at all.But during this tulmutous time of 6o's HK,they fell in love.Despite the differences in fame and wealth,the guy stuck with her and ebcamea regular band member.As she became more famous,their relationship became strained.
At the mean time,Man who had a BF by that time left her singing career and went with the guy to tour in whereelse but Vietnam.Bad choice since we all know what was going on there during that time,and after awhile they got news that she died in a bomb blast with her husband,but shewas pregnant when she left.So what happened to the baby?
And then something happened and Kong Wah left Sharon,for many many years and she waited for him to come back to her,whilst at the mean time,the one in gold married the night club owner and lived very comfortably.
Many years has passed,Sharon has since retired from the singing world but still as famous.She was still intouch with Choi,and when they got news that the old night club was going to be torn down,they all gathered for one last night of performance.Then Sharon met this young saxophone player,who knew a lot about her.Through many questions and answers later,she found out that he was the long lost son of Man's,the one that died in the bomb blast.He was rescued by Kong Wah when he went looking for him in vietnam,took care of him and taught him music.And after almost 20 years of seperation,she finally saw the lover of her lufe again,but the one burning question remains,"Why the hell you didn't call me for 20 years????"Why indeed.
So Why???: Can I have the drum roll please?Ahem.........he was captured by the enmy,and in prison he met this lovely young girl who risked her life by taking a bullet for him,but she survived.She became paralysed and for 20 years,he took care of her,not leaving her until she died and then and only then he came home to Sharon.Because he was gratefula nd he was too nice to leave that poor woman alone.Wanna know Sharon's reaction?
The Ultimate Classic Scene : She screamed at him,calling him selfish and in the end,after longing and hoping and waiting and waiting and waiting and finally the guy of her dreams was in front of her,telling her such a story,SHE LEFT HIM!!Because she was one stubborn lady.I would say,poor guy.What was he to do?Leave that poor girl?
Best Scenes : One scene only.The song scene by Sharton,suppsoedly written by Kong Wah the character,NOT THE ACTOR.The song was really good,same song as was in teh movie version.Something about love that kinda reflected her own love affair with that guy,so I 'll try to translate here,and you go to the URL below and listen to it lar hah;
"You..You..You for love...you are never calm...you...you..you for love,willing to face loneliness....and for love,you're willing to throw everything out of the window.."
Well,something like that.
And also teh flirtation scenes between Kong and Sharon,quite romantic but you knew they were never meant to be.
The Most Sickening Aspect : The ending.I WANT A HAPPY ENDING!!!!!!
Most Compatible Couple(s) as in the serial : Sharon and Kong Wah?I don't think so because the woman looked kinda old.
Best Performances : Everybody was good in here,but some way better.
Man Yee Man was perfect as the suffering girl in blue.Sharon was way too old to play the character she played in the movie,but in the movie the actress was old too,so cannot complain.But Sharon has a tendecy,even now to talk in high pitch voice,especially when she is screaming,and her voice is kinda like her noce is stuck and she is talking.But still she can be quite an effective actress.
I must mention him,Kong Wah.Really young,better looking and well,very very good,though he could at least take some saxophone lessons to make it mroe believable.And my God,his English was so bad.But then,cannot complain,my favourite actor what?!Anyway,this guys is consistently good,so good for him,but like I've always said,the most underused actor of TVB,and a great pity because this guy could reallt act,with his eyes and his body language.Something Charmaine Sheh may want to learn from him,but then he is a natural talent.
If I were the writers I would ....:Switch actresses.Man Yee Man should play the girl in white,because she looked younger,and prettier.And the ending,change it!
If I were you,I would.... : Watch the movie version.Shorter,sweeter,better ending.
Is it worth Renting : Actually,I enjoyed this series tremendously though I thought teh make ups were like 10 inches thicker on Sharon,because you know,she's like old.But that was before she took to physical training,and look at her now,so lean,so slim,and so healthy looking.
Anyway,a good series,but a tad too long compared to the movie version but the movie version lacked a lot of things,like human drama.The movie was on a touch and go basis,so if you want a much more complete one,watch the series,if you do not have the patience,watch the movie.
Interesting Comparisons : With the movie with the same title.
The ending was different.the movie version,ether was no corny story of a paralysed heroic girl,but simply the man reappeared and they danced together and thatw as the ending.Meaning a happy ending I guess.
Much more drama,because the movie being a stage version adn 2 hours long,a lot of things couldn't be told,so in the series version we have much mroe longer storyline for all four women,and a believable romance between Kong and Sharon.
Different actresses.The one in white,played by Sharon was played by a well known stage actress that later made it good(not big though) in HK cinema and was once Lui Sei Leong in the Hitman Chronicles by TVB,starring Eddie Chan.
Man Yee Man's girl in blue wa played by HK's other well known stage actress,who is also TVB's own actress,So Yoke Wah,that one in Plain Love II,and also Kindred Spirits,amongst others.
The other two characters were played by stage actresses,name unknown.
As for Kong Wah's saxophone guy,the movie version was played by David Wu,though I am not sure if he acted in the stage version.
The songs were all the same,especially the principal song,you know that "you..you..you" song.
Interesting Observation : Did you know that Sheung Tin Ngor sang all the English songs herself?And sometimes,you can hear Sharon's own voice in the songs sessions.Not bad at all,but certainly being such a star in the making person,I wopuld have hped for a much more nicer voice.The stage one was obviously sung by the actresses themselves.
Special Mention : Old series by ATV,so if you really wanna rent this one,in cantonese it is called:
Ngor Wor Chun Tin Yau Kor Yeuk Wui.
WITH LOVE [Jap]
Posted on December 28, 2009
under labels Reviewer - Seagull, Series [Japan], TV Series.
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Serial Type:? Online love
Plot: This story is about Hasegawa Takashi(Takenouchi Yutaka) and Murakami Amane(Tanaka Misato) meeting each other upteem times in person but have no idea that they are email pals. A love story based on their relationship by e-mail and in real life. Will they ever know each other's true identity??
Please visit Shuji's Dramaland for detailed synopsis
Comments/Afterthoughts: B-O-R-I-N-G. Most of the serials I rated "C"s are the boring types. "B"s are the averages and "A"s are the classics. I am very disappointed with "With Love" because I like Yutaka and is dying for his new serial. Besides poor story, the female lead is gross too. I think they chose the wrong female lead. That woman looks more like an auntie to me. And frankly, the 2 leads have poor chemistry. It's like even they themselves are not convinced that they are in love with one another. Like many other reviewers have said, the only thing good about the serial is the music.
Fav Scene: None that I recall of.
Fav Character: None, though I like Yutaka, I don't really like his hairdo in this show. A bit too rugged and long.
Hate Factor: That female lead. Obasan?!
Worth Buying/Watching? Not really even if u are a Yutaka fan. The love story is nothing much and I should say the cast is worse. Try other serials first.
Interesting Point: I really wonder if people can fall in love by exchanging such short emails once in a while. Not really convincing enough to me. That's also probably why the serial failed. But I do agree on point, we can "talk" more when we don't know and don't have to face that person. It happens to me too. I find it easier to "talk" online. Of course, no cyber love for me =p
WITH LOVE [Jap]
Posted on December 28, 2009
under labels Reviewer - Funn Lim, Series [Japan], TV Series.
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Length : Surpassingly too long for such few tapes of (if I am not mistaken) 12 episodes but do refer to Seagull's review for more accurate info on the duration.
Plot:
No plot at all. But let's just assume that the poor excuse of a plot in this series is a plot....By the way, I can't remember the names of the actors, but I am sure you do know that the guy I am talking about is Yutaka, whose name I shall use and the rest I shall use the words..."heroine", the "other guy". Basically, that's about the cast in this series. Plus 2 high speed modems and 2 really big computers.Norika Fujiwara does not count.
This is a love story between two lonely souls who found each other in the Internet and became intimate friends, sharing deep emotional pain and secrets about one another, under false identities with false backgrounds. In real life, Yutaka is a struggling musician that has immense talent whilst our heroine is a bank clerk that has low self esteem and wouldn't mind being walked all over. they met as they worked in the same building but the first encounter did not go so well. Yutaka may be good looking and super cool, but in the girl's eyes he is arrogant. To that gut the girl seemed too quiet and too docile. Though Yutaka in his personal life has an occasional bed mate in the form of Norika, a famous and beautiful DJ, he does not love her. you see he once loved this woman when he was in a rock band but one day, with just a note saying "So Long", she left. And he never saw her since. And he didn't understand why she just left. Whilst our heroine was once in love with a man but was hurt for reasons I genuinely can't remember. So she became even more recluse and at work, she had no respect by her boss. But as they met each other everyday, surprisingly they became friends, often seeing each other and greeting each other, whilst on the Net, they became "lovers" and they began to fall in love with the unseen person at the opposite end. In real life, Norika tried her damnedest to get his love but to no avail. he can't let go of his past love, and when he could, after seeing her again but this time a happily married woman with two kids, he fell for this unseen woman. Whilst our heroine was pursued by this successful executive that had the genuine intention of wooing her for marriage but with all the wrong moves.But she loved only that unseen guy. After many missed encounters, on the day of the girl's engagement our hero played the song which was the real reason how they met on the internet and she knew it was HIM. She ran after him but he denied all knowledge of the internet meeting and went on with his life, until he realize at last he loved her and ran after her and well, kinda confessed his love for her. And they began their relationship miles apart by exchanging e-mails.
Why,What,Where,When,How...:
What brought them together on the Net?
He sent a song to someone via e-mail but got the wrong address, and it was sent to her instead. She loved the song so much she wrote a letter to that guy saying "Who are you?". He deleted that letter. Much later she wrote again apologizing for being so rude and writing to him. And this time he wrote back and that was the start of it all.
What was the lie about backgrounds?
He said he was an aspiring musician now a music teacher in a primary school in Tokyo. She said she is in Paris, he dream destination.
What made that other guy fall for her?
She ain't pretty but that other guy liked her very much because she was the only one that insisted on paying the bill when they had dinner with some other girls. And he liked her quiet nature, and that she will make a good wife.
What made her not like this other guy?
On the first date, he mentioned hotel. On the second date, again hotel. Every time we see this guy, he was like a sex starved maniac, but he was actually much more than that. She didn't like his strong way of approaching the relationship and I can't blame her. He looked like a jerk to me at first.
What made her say yes to his proposal?
She once almost met our hero but she was late because of work that she could've said no to but being the timid her, she couldn't. Later her friend gave her an advise, that it is better to have something real, rather than the internet guy who is just a dream that may not be genuine. moreover, this other guy is very educated, has lots of money that can give her security, and her lifelong dream..to live in Paris. So she said yes.
What then made her ran out of the engagement party?
Our hero came and without really knowing she is that woman on the net(though he suspected it because the way she said certain things), he played the song that made them meet. It was then she knew, and ran after him, and told him of her identity and his response was a laugh and a few discouraging words and he walked off.
What did she do wrong then?
Nothing actually. He didn't want to spoil things for her because the other guy may be a jerk at first, then really creepy and now a perfect gentleman, could provide her for everything in life that he couldn't. Moreover he can't forget about his old love.
Then why did he changed his mind?
Simple. He saw his old girlfriend again, now a married woman with 2 kids. And she told him why she left. they may have been in love, they may have been passionate about each other, but after a while, he wasn't listening to her anymore. There was no communication and the woman left because of this lack of communication. It was then that he realised his problem and he also realised, in a way he could open up to our heroine, like our heroine could open up to him. And that was where later on her flew to Paris for work but actually he was there to see her, but there was no one to see.
Where was she?
Why did I say the jerk-creep was a gentleman? He took her to Paris, and she even wanted to spend a night with her, and she began to unbutton her blouse which was something he wanted all along. but he stood up, walked right up to her and buttoned her blouse. He even gave her a plane ticket back to Tokyo, because he finally realised she does not love him.And loving her much more, he would want her to be truly happy, and the best way to be truly happy is to be with the person she truly loves.
So what was the ending?
They met, exchanged many words and he had to leave to Paris for work, and so they exchanged mails everyday.The End.
?
Comments:
This is the worst Japanese series I have ever seen. But I tortured myself all for Yutaka who was super sulky and yet super cool and thus super sexy. They found the right look for the girl, plain and not that outstanding because frankly if she is THAT beautiful then her social life would have been much more than in the series. But they found the wrong actress. The failure of this series is 3 fold. Mainly the length of the series. I know, TVB has 100 episodes and nobody is complaining more so a mere 12-15 episodes which is considered long for Japanese standard. But consider this, a story about two lost soul that could've just met but time and time again they never did, and they drag nd drag and drag, for me that's very long and a torture. And thus that is the second problem. the storyline. not compelling at all. not much thing is happening. japanese series is always very straightforward in its plot, they focus on one particular couple/scenario and that is why 6 episodes could make a great series. That is how you really get to know the characters and feel for them. But in this series, too much focus which makes it ultimately boring. Especially the ending scene where I though the perfect ending would've been them hugging and exchanging a loving kiss, no words spoken because they have said it all in the e-mails. But thatw as not what happened. Having dragged the story for so long with so little to talk about, that almost final scene had them on the roof, talking and exchanging whatever they said in their e-mails to each other. So frankly if you have misssed the first few correspondence, have no fear because you get a recap for a whole of 15 minutes or so. And that got to my nerve. And when they did finish reminiscing old mails, they hugged. And that's about it. Which comes to the third problem. Yutaka is a wonderfully cool and good actor. His eyes speak volumes, loneliness and pain. But our heroine could not act. She made her character into a pity little thing but to me, her character is not pitiful but lonely. She could not project that weakness. She looked very strong to me. Not being beautiful is not my main concern because she has? the looks for the character but she simply can't act. She spoilt the whole series and don't get me started on the chemistry factor between the two leads. Our Yutaka, you could see him oozing all his longing for this girl in his usual cool aloof manner, but she oozed nothing in return. They are not compatible and I am sure there are many Japanese actresses that are not too pretty but could act better. I was not suprised why this series was a bomb.?
Is this better than....
TVB's Web Of Love? I haven't watch that one but I doubt TVB's version of iNternet love is good. Maybe Tom Hank's You've Got Mail? Frankly the western one is much much better. But personally I like the original version of Tom Hank's new version, starring Jimmy Stewart in the movies called " The Shop Around The Conner". It's about the same thing but the only difference is there wasn't any e-mails then so it was snail mail. Watch this one. You'll love it.
So what is your recommendation:?
Buy the soundtrack. I love the ending song.And I think it was by a group called My Little Lover, or something like that. And if only the ending was like in the ending song. Japanese series has this weird ending scenes, that aren't about the next scene you'll see, aren't scenes from the series accompanied by the song but are scenes that may have connection to the whole series in spirit but is totally independant and totally not in the series itself! Funny! But I love the song. Buy it. If you're a Yutaka fan, watch this one unless you hate his overly long hair and skinny appearance. I thought he looked cool. Other from that reason, avoid this one like a plague. Boring boring boring. If I were to adopt Seagull's rating system, I'd give it an F for FAIL. A very tired looking series.
Any Interesting Stuff :
Norika Fujiwara is very big in HK but is she that big in Japan? And is she that beautiful? I agree her body is perfect but to me, she is plain if not for that body. As for her? acting, I guess she will do. I? saw China Strike Force which was good?? until I saw Jackie Chan's Accidental Hero which made me realise why Jackie is Jackie.
That other guy in real life is a rock singer who could play a guitar. He could act, that's for sure.
This role was tailor made for Yutaka, mainly because of his two great features. Hie eyes, the way he would stare at a person, which I totally agree for choosing Yutaka and his VOICE. It seems that he has this deep rich voice. That I do not know because I watched the mandarin version. But I did hear his two words, "This is ..." in English and believe me when I say MY Sorimachi's voice is no where as deep as his.?
By the way, Yutaka is a mommy's boy. When he was at the worst in his career, going nowhere and living alone, when he couldn't even afford a ciggarette, he would call home and would go home to his parents and let them mother him. Cute! He looks like Louis and even has the same closeness with his family as Louis with slight difference. Louis once said that he is still living with his family because whenever he worked late or away from home and he would missed their quarrels so much that he would call home and when he heard thsi parents quarreling, he would cry and missed not being at home with them.
Silly Observation:
I have seen a few Japanese series. Other than MY Sorimachi, who has? a beautiful voice and tends to be very expressive in his acting, the other Japanese guys are so robotic. i mean they stand up too straight, even when they're running they reminded me of that mercury guy in Terminator 2, always straight, they never shout, always talk in deep tone of a voice, sometime quite expressionless and consistently too darn thin! I think that's quite silly for an observation but are all Japanese actors like 50kg below? But yet they looked strong unlike the HK artists that looked like theyr;'e gonna fanit. And just 40 years ago we laugh at the Japanese for being short, really short and has that kind of a carrot top for a hairstyle, and too fair so a bit sissy. Look at them now. All almost 6 feet tall, still thin but tanned thin, and they're the trendsetters in fashion! How much has changed since then. And 10 out of 10 actors would have at least one scene with a cigarette or one picture with them smoking.
And do notice how that girl talk and walk in this series. Even when she was holding the cup whilst brushing her teeth, she had to put the toothbrush down because she has to use both hands to hold one cup! And the way she sit, so darn straight, and legs never 1mm apart. I find that pretentious, at least in that actress' performance. I am sure in real life also they're like that. They whisper, they never laugh out loud, so there aren't any spontaneity in them. But can't blame them because that was how they were brought up. But from all my silly observations, my silly conclusion would be that Japanese, they're mild mannered, polite, extremely soft spoken, very apologetic and very disciplined. WIth great posture, beautiful skin and lots of hair, on top of his head of course! BUT till now they never ever say sorry for WWII.Pity.I almost like them. But I must admit, they make great series, and good songs. But not this one reviewed.
G.T.O [Jap]
Posted on December 28, 2009
under labels Reviewer - Funn Lim, Series [Japan], TV Series.
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Which Is :? Great Teacher Onizuka
Theme Song(s):
Right click on the link to save the song. Listen to the song only after u finish downloading onto ur computer. Do not click on the link directly, there will be problems if u do so.
Song 1
How Long :???? Amazingly,12 episodes.
It's About?? :??
Gui Jung Ying Zhi,or Sensei Onizuka and his quests in reforming his students,teachers,schools and losing his virginity to someone that he loves.
Remember? :?
This is a Japanese serial,comedy but with some drama in each episode.One story per episode and absolutely right to the point.Almost wished it is longer.
Verdict :?
Before I venture any further to tell you the whole story and nothing but the story,I would like to put this first. This is the first Japanese serial that I have ever really watched and frankly,after seeing this one,I regretted not watching MY Sorimachi in Beach Boys.Anyway,this is a very refreshing serial,very funny and extremely heartwarming.I watched the Mandarin version,which is actually exactly the same as the original version.Should I say this?I think I should.Watching this serial,I feel kinda sad for ATV/TVB/Taiwanese serials/HVD/TCS.Why?Because this serial managed to tell us what ATE took a 100 episodes to tell,life,challenges,bad greedy people,ungrateful souls,sacrifice and a few lessons along the way.EXCELLENT.
The Plot :??
A very simple plot,based on a very successful and highly rated manga series,by the same name.Ex-biker gang leader,Onizuka wants to be a teacher all his life and he realised that dream of his.So very optimistic and daring to just do whatever he feels is the right thing instead of following procedures and protocols,all the teachers disliked him except for 3,the Lady Chairman,Tung Yuet(the pretty English teacher) and the literature teacher.With students,teachers and the high officials conspiring to get rid of him under the pretext of him being a bad influence,at last he won the hearts of his students and the respect of his teachers with his very unorthodox ways of teaching.And also,he gained not just all that,he got Tung Yuet and at last,gave his virginity to the woman he loved with a condom that kept for many years.
So What About The Others?Just Ke-Le-Fe? :??
All the other characters played a very important part in telling us how hypocritical and stubborn they could be compared to our Onizuka.Though he may be porn loving,cigarette smoking and gangster looking teacher,whom I really doubt could really teach a good decent subject,but compared with all the other teachers,even Tung Yuet,he deserved his title,GTO because he has one thing that none of the other has;he truely and genuinely cares for the welfare of his students and though he may have used unorthodox and sometimes shocking ways to help and get his message across,nevertheless he has a heart of gold and with the noblest of intentions,how can we not love this very flawed man.
Anyway,in this serial,you'll meet some very stubborn students like the troubled Xiao Ya,Chun Zhi,a very arrogant but extremely smart computer wizard( I can't remember his name),the innocent Peng Zhi,the very emotionaly scarred Nanazhi.Also you'll meet a very scary Mathematics teacher,the very doubtful Tung Yuet,the very low self esteem literature teacher,the very mean old assistant headmaster,the kindly old lady chairman,the very malicious and greedy assistant to the assistant headmaster,PE teacher and also a very bitchy Home Science teacher.They'll all in the span of 12 episodes tried to get rid of our hero,and when you think the trouble with Xiao Ya is over,there comes the biggest problem,a rich and powerful politician taking over the school and sacking everybody.How then can our hero save the day with his philosophy of life,and never his fists?
The Most Hated Character? :?
All the teachers other than Tung Yuet,the literature teacher and our Onizuka.I laughed when they were sacked because they were so mean to the students(calling them useless and scums) and also towards the good and popular teacher, Onizuka. Because of their own unwillingness to unite and instead spent their days plotting to get rid of everybody else,they brought about the biggest problem to their school.But they redeem themselves at last,which is my most favourite scene.?
Xiao Ya who blamed the teachers and adults for causing the death of her beloved Ah Mon.She tried many ways to get rid of Onizuka but at last she realised he is one adult she could trust with her life,literally.And also because of the way she treated Peng Zhi,I really didn't like her at first.
That boy who looked like Ah Mon for trying to rape Xiao Ya but she was saved by Onizuka,and then when he lost in a hand to hand fight,he stabbed our hero,made false report that Onizuka was a violent teacher,etc.But he reedemed himself at the end.
The Most Pitiful Character :??
Onizuka.Poor man.He's just trying to be a good teacher and everyday there will be complaints against him and plots to get rid of him.And during one time,he had to resit his high school exams and forced to score 400 points and above (this is actually a plot to have him resign by the teachers) because frankly,he came from a third grade University and he took 7 years to complete that degree.But he did not it and then he got hurt.
The Most Saddest Character :??????
Xiao Ya.She really does loved that Ah Mon,so much that it is almost painful and her prince charming,Chun Zhi has always been waiting for a chance.When all her friends left her,even Peng Zhi,loneliness set in.Sad girl, for having so much hate in such a young mind.
The Most Kindest Character :??
Peng Zhi.Even when Xiao Ya treated her like she's really that stupid,she still nonetheless genuinely cares for Xiao Ya,her best friend since they were little children.And the happiest thing is,this girl is supposed to be on the way up in her attempt to be a young pop idol,thanks to the encouragement of Onizuka.
My Most Favourite Characters :?
Basically four.Tung Yuet for obvious reasons,Onizuka for much more obvious reasons,the old literature teacher because even if nobody listens to him,he dared to speak up even when Tung Yuet would not dare to.And of course,that student computer wiz.He is so cool.I just love it when he just stood up and left when that Xiao Ya's mom was giving her speech about the evil Onizuka.
The Best Scenes :??
Would it be too much if I say,every scene is the best scene?If I must choose one,I will state more than one.All the scenes that have Onizuka delivering his thoughts about how one should take action in their lives,all those fighting scenes ,the going back to school scene for Onizuka and also,the ending tape,where for once,all the teachers and students unite to save the school from demolition and frankly,I was so touched by that one scene.Truely a classic.And the funniest thing is,when Onizuka walked into the school with his students and practically kidnapped the school,everybody though he was crazy and that he must have been mistreating the students.The thing is,he didn't care one bit about the outside media.All he wanted was to prepare the school for their yearly funfair and for everybody to have a good time.Again,I would vote the ending as my most favourite scene,if I must vote for one.
And another vote from me,the scene where Tung Yuet came rushing to the school and our hero is at the opposite of the fence and she asked him how does he really feels about her and he just took out the condom that he has saved for all these years for the woman he loved and he gave it to her.How romantic...
The Worst Scene? :? None? .I have never said this before for all the reviews I have written and actually meant it.The beauty of this serial is it is so short and so compact,that there is no time to talk nonsense so basically,there would be no worst scenes because every scene has its purpose and message.
Most Favourite Pair :??
For this serial, definitely our hero and heroine, Onizuka and also Tung Yuet. Both so tall.
Best Performances :
Without a doubt, EVERYBODY.I must admit,whether bad guys,good guys,they can all act and act very well.Especially Nanako who plays Tung Yuet,very sweet though she may be a bit too much sometimes,in her bickerings with Onizuka.
And frankly,Onizuka's Sorimachi was quiite ok at first,I though he couldn't really act but when the scenes demand that he cries a little,I get emotional when he gets emotional.So I guess,great acting then.The thing is,this guy is way beyond cool,he is the epitome of manliness and he shall be my first (and only) male idol from Japan.And yet his character is flawed in every sense.He smokes in almost every scene,he oggles at big breasted women,together with his police pal,they watches porno tapes and even collects them,he acts ,talks and dresses like a gangster.You would not have? liked his character if not for his actions towards his students and his fellow colleagues.So I grew to feel some sort of an affection for this character,and in the end,I just wished,two more episodes please.I love this man.
Worst Peformances :
?Frankly,none that I could think of.?
Is it worth Renting :?
No.It's worthed buying and keeping for annual broadcast for your own private veiwing.Absolutely G.S.C.... Great Serial Collectibles.
Interesting Facts :?
Like I said above,based on popular manga series.But the cartoon does not look a bit like Sorimachi's Onizuka.I mean blonde hair and jeans wearing 22 year old school drop out.And the manga tell us more why he wants to be a teacher whilst this serial,it's starts off with him wanting to be a teacher but never telling us why.
This serial was such a hit,need I say more.It even beat another Takeshi,that is Takeshi Kaneishiro's serial,God,Please Give Me More Time (something like that) and got the 1st spot.Frankly,I am still cursing myself for missing Beach Boys,and again from what i have read,his character in that serial is a real no good SOB who lives on women's money and yet,we will still like him.Sorimachi is nothing like that Shazna group.Really,like HK people like to say,very Man.
He sung the title song and sorry Seagull,I really do think he is one of the few Japanese singers that can really carry a decent tune.And I like the song,I mean I don't understand a single word he is singing except for those translated into chinese words,so just hum a little and then sing.... da..da.da..da..da..da..da..da.. .poison.Love that song.
Interesting Observation :??
Do you think such a GTO exists?In all my personal schooling life,except for my University days,I have yet to meet a Good Teacher,more so Great Teacher.I mean strictly speaking,Onizuka would be a very bad example with his behaviour,and I doubt he can teach .But the thing is,any decently well trained teacher could teach but can they TEACH and reach out to their students when they're in trouble?I have yet to meet one.Sad I know.Maybe you have.I never liked my school teachers,very emotionally abusive and very insulting to us,and I was from an all girls school! I remember one incident when I was 15 or 17(I can't remember),we were all standing in the school assembly hall and we were supposed to be going to the opposite all boys school for sports day and the first thing that the discipline teacher said was for us not to flirt with the boys over there.I felt so insulted,and so were many of my friends.Yes,there were some who really flirted with the boys but frankly,where is the harm?If not how do we ever get to know any guys?That is why I have little respect for my teachers,who is more fond of using chalkes to draw on my face and pinching me until I cried and saying insensitive words.Sure,I've met good teachers,nice teachers,especially University years but none a great teacher like what is depicted in this serial.If there was one,I would either continue to stay in school and refused to leave or become a teacher myself.So far none gave me so much inspiration that I would want to be oneFrankly,when i left school I felt sad,not because I am leaving my beloved teachers,but because i really did love my school's compounds,assembly halls,a classroom with 4 fans,that Virgin mary statute that they took down some years back,those faded cross signs on yet to be repainted walls.It's the strcuture and the history that I missed,and I can't even remember a single name of my teachers.Sad.Hopefully,you could remember one,fondly.
Unimportant Stuff :?
Onizuka (in chinese words) has two chinese characters,if combined as one would mean a chinese character,SOUL,which? our hero has plenty of.