72 TENANTS OF PROSPERITY [Mov][HK]

Written by Funn Lim


"In fact after finishing the movie I realised the selling point of this movie is the well written witty dialogue. It looked and sounded like real effort was put in, the movie is clearly a labour of love"






SPOILERS ... SPOILERS ... SPOILERS

Released In
2009, 3 days before Chinese New Year to be exact

Language
Cantonese

Produced By
TVB I think because all the actors are TVB contracted actors or are familiar with them

Note
I can't remember the names of the characters in this movie so all the names below are taken from the Wikipedia page.

Cast-Character
Full list at Wikipedia.

Plot Summary
Taken from Wikipedia

This film used the 1973 Shaw Brothers film, The House of 72 Tenants as the blueprint. However, this story is a new creation, of which only some roles identical.

Yes, it is true. It starts with the 1973 version which we are all familiar with, with Joyce Cheng playing the same Teochew woman that her mother, Lydia Shum played in her youth. The story is similar, centering not on the eviction of 72 tenants or the corruption of the public workers (instead of firemen, in this version we have the 2 doctors from Healing Hands - Lawrence Ng and Raymond Cho if I am not mistaken demanding for bribes before administering vaccinations) but rather on Pinky, the lovely and innocent adopted daughter of the landlords (scary landlady played by Charmaine Sheh and lusty landlord played by Gordon Lam) who was forced to marry a much older but richer man but the tenants helped saved the day in the end. That was the original story. This movie continues on the basis Pinky was then pursued by sworn brothers, Ha Kung and Shek Kin, and she seems to like Shek Kin more but as both men decided to decide her fate by coin tossing and some cheating in the process, Pinky ended up marrying the shorter Ha Kung and gave birth to one son (Bosco) and one daughter (Linda) whilst Shek Kin married someone (at the start of modern times we know the wife died many years before) and has 2 children as well, one daughter (Stephy) and one son (Wong Cho Lam). What is interesting is Ha Kung the shorter one gave birth to a tall son whilst Shek Kin the taller one gave birth to a short son! Anyway they became sworn enemies and their quarrel even spilled into their handphone business, located directly opposite each other amongst the other 70 shop tenants of Sai Yeung Choi road. Thus the basis of the new 72 tenants, not tenants as in houses but tenants as in shops. The fact that Shek Kin is still madly in love with Pinky is also a sore point for Ha Kung.

However their quarrel was interrupted by several events; one where someone has been throwing acids onto the street and also a huge increase in the shop rental where few could afford it. They all rightly concluded that the unseen landlord hiked up the rental so as to force them out as the street is more lucrative now being empty than rented out as there was rumour of a rich Chinese businessman buying over popular shopping destination. They tried to find a way to solve the problem and also to find out who was throwing the acid onto the streets but in the process both Ha Kung and Shek Kin came face to face with their decades old rivalry as both their children fell for the other as the tenants find a way to preserve their beloved Sai Yeung Choi road.

Will the love of the new generation solve the rivalry of the older generation?

ENDING REVEALED
SPOILERS!! Highlight [ to ] to read the contents.

[ Quite simply, all's well that end's well (pun intended). If not what's the point of a CNY movie?


The acid thrower turns out to be the rich businessman's sexy assistant, who is the daughter of the despicable landlords in the 1970s part of the story. She wanted to avenge her father who was dragged to jail and died not much later. No news on what happened to her mother though. Ha Kung proved his love for his wife, Pinky by staying with her as he and Shek Kin tried to figure out a way to remove the strapped acid bomb on her body and they rekindled their love and patched things up. Shek Kin was able to move on and became sworn brothers with Ha Kung again and one day met with a young girl who looked like the young Pink (actually same actress that is Fala Chen). The respective children end up with the ones they fell for and the Sai Yeung Choi road was saved when the Chinese businessman was very impressed with Ha Junior, Ha Kung's son who came up with the idea of modernising Sai Yeng Choi road. Kin Chai became Ha Junior's partner in the modernisation. So the road was saved, everybody's happy and the entire movie ended with the entire cast dancing and singing, all wearing red and wishing us all a happy prosperous new year ]


Comments
Of all the CNY released movies in the cinema, this was the only one I wanted to watch, even if there was one locally produced CNY movie for a very simple reason; it has the ensemble of major and not so major, veteran and not so veteran and almost everybody from TVB that you're familiar with. In fact I did think of this movie as "Spot the TVB actor" sort of movie before I walked in, having been brainwashed by the promo shown daily on Astro Wah Lai Toi. And did spend some fun times spotting familiar faces whose name I knew and those I didn't but was glad to see them again. Of course some major names were not in here which makes me wonder could it be management's decision? Really missing are big names like Bowie Lam, Bobby Au Yeung, etc but almost all the big names of TVB are here, each starring in very small but significant roles. Like the movie tagline says, this is a movie without supporting actor because everybody has a share of the limelight. And when everybody's role is reduced to a mere 15 minutes appearance, some longer, some much lesser, suddenly I sort of appreciate their acting prowess, because 15 minutes is too short to annoy me and just enough to do what they must before we move on to the next scene.

For example, Ron Ng who spots huge glasses playing Ha Kung's shop assistant. I thought he was quite funny in a silly way as his character is quite silly. And overall he has about 15 minutes appearance and I found myself enjoying his performance. It just shows if you let the actor do what they do, let them ease up and enjoy the process, when they have fun, we the audience have fun. Then there's Charmaine Sheh with her beehive hair and her really mean landlady role. I thought she was effective too, rather bitchy and again that 15 minutes (lesser actually I think) given to her, she shone and delivered because not enough time for her to turn annoying or give a bad performance. She seems to enjoy herself in this character. Even Gordon Lam was annoying as the landlord but effectively funny. Then there's some others given more than 15 minutes but delivered the goods. Top of my memory is Wayne Lai, as the owner of a comic book shop. He delivered one of the funniest lines in this movie, the one about what he had to do to do business in this bad economic crisis, having to dress up like the comic characters and we are talking mangas here so imagine him as in Death Note, Full Metal Alchemist, etc. Very funny scene. Nancy Sit has a short memorable moment as Wayne Lai's assistant.

A special paragraph must be dedicated to Bernice Liu's performance of the tenant who sells beef ball noodle. Clearly a homage to Karen Mok's breakthrough role in Stephen Chow's classic, God Of Cookery except Bernice Liu can't act even if you give her clear instructions on what to do. First of, I commend her for bravely taking on such an ugly role, and dirty as well. If she didn't open her mouth to speak, I don't think lesser fans would be able to recognise her. I am not her fan by the way but I recognised her because every day I see her ad on TV. She is a beautiful girl with sunshine smile but in here, oh dear, really ugly and disgusting. But it was her performance that was annoying. Everytime she speaks, the other actors look at her, as if counting the minutes she will finish her lines before the next one is due to deliver theirs. She is not even funny when she is supposed to be. Her performance was the worse in here which reminds me if ever she stars in a comedy, and as a leading actress, I must avoid that series.

I must add also whilst some casting may be debatable, one was perfect casting and that was Kate Tsui as the crazy woman. She has the looks which I have been saying for a long time. Crazy eyes to full effect in here.

One guest starring I was very annoyed with was Myolie Wu, clearly as a pun to her real life relationship with Bosco. Another guest starring role which I find very very funny was the amazing and always entertaining and now really bald Dicky Cheung. His emotionless role as the bailiff was really one of the highlights, even if it was a 10 minute performance. It is not the time but the acting prowess that shows whether you can deliver or not. Michael Tse revived his most popular character, Laughing Gor but frankly I don't like Michael Tse as an actor anymore. He just annoys me. Then there was the just appear sort of role for Kevin Cheng and one other I can't remember who as firemen, clearly a reference to their popular roles as well as many others. Like I said everyone here is someone and someone from TVB, from the ke-le-fes to the supporting to the main ones.

But the full weight of the movie rested on several main characters that can be divided into the young ones and the veterans.

The young ones that is heavily featured is Wong Cho Lam as Shek Kin's son, Bosco Wong as Ha Kung's son and an actress I did not recognise, Stephy Tang as Shek Kin's daughter. Linda Chung as Ha Kung's daughter had more than 15 minutes of scene but lesser compared to the other 3. Amongst these 3, Bosco and Stephy had the most role, as the entire movie's younger generation story rested on their so called forbidden Romeo and Juliet sort of love story which was probably the movie's worst aspect. I wasn't convinced by their love nor do I care. But to give credit to Bosco, he was fun to watch and he displayed his MJ moves too even if that scene was kinda tasteless whilst Stephy was ok, can't say she was brilliant because she wasn't and can't say she was bad since she wasn't that bad. She was just the usual sort of performance but her character is scary. She likes AV movies (in Japan, AV movies is hard core porn films, though the essential parts are blurred, make no mistake, they are really doing the deed and AV movies are big stuff in Japan with the actresses earning a lot in a relatively short career - I can tell you for sure one Japanese singer that I like, Fukuyama Masaharu is a fan of of AV movies which shows very little stigma there but still shocking fact for me to digest) and is so fascinated by that sort of films she became an assistant director aiming to make her own gospel themed AV movie one day. Gospel theme AV movie! How can gospel and AV be in the same sentence?! Silly sort of ambition and her room is decorated with AV actresses' posters! Scary girl and in some ways the movie turned rather offensive at this juncture but almost and not quite offensive. Wong Cho Lam has a significant role too as the son that Shek Kin just love to scold. I find Shek Kin rather rude to this son who assists him in his business as well as other endeavours. His scenes with Linda Chung is more believable, where in one scene in an elevator, she punched him, he kissed her, rather passionately if I may add, something you will never see in TVB series. They do look like quite a pair! I must add Wong Cho Lam is very funny, delivering his lines with panache and he has excellent comic timing. In fact only he and Eric Tsang can be truly described as comedians, able to deliver the funny lines on time and effectively whilst the others were rather forced. The lines happen to be funny because the lines itself is funny.

But the main crux of the movie rested on 2 veterans; Eric Tsang and more importantly Jacky Cheung who has the most scenes and may I add, the best scenes in this movie. Their chemistry together is amazing and Jacky Cheung, apart from being a great singer is actually a very very good actor. He has comedic timing and I could hardly believe he was wearing a wig! Hair looked too real to be a wig! Both Eric and Jacky also delivered in the drama department. No denying these 2 carried this movie whilst the other appearances were of course very good bonus. I even thought Anita Yuen was kinda funny although she was better in the drama department. No denying she has acting chops but if you ask me if she was funny, no she wasn't.

Other actors stood out for various reason. For the older generation scenes I particularly enjoy Joyce Cheng having a go at her mother's role but again I stress she shouldn't have been cast in that short role. I thought she should have Linda's role because she doesn't need typecasting simply because she is her mother's daughter. I understand the decision to cast her in that role but I feel Joyce Cheng has bigger talents on her own to not just fill in the void left by her mother but she could carve her own career. Wouldn't it be nice to see her in Linda's role? Linda can have Stephy's role and Stephy can have someone else's role.

Then there was the lovely Fala Chen. I am beginning to really like her, after the dismal Moonlight Resonance where story sucked but characters and acting trimphed. She was lovely in here even if her love story was silly. Raymond Lam would become Jacky whilst the other was Justin Lo (speaking with Eric Tsang's nasal voice as well!) would become Eric. Both effective even if their story silly. I was glad Eric and Jacky quickly took over because Eric and Jacky were the main selling point when it comes to performances.

Whilst the main drawing point of this movie is the spot the actor sort of fun, I was very impressed with the fact that the dialogue was well written and very witty. Some play of words, the names of the businesses after checking out Wikipedia, such as Ting Tai Phone. That's a restaurant name! There's a Kee Wah Phone if I am not mistaken, again a bakery, very famous in Hong Kong! I also remember a scene where the camera zoomed into an eviction notice with the law firm's name printed on it. I can't really remember the name there, was it Si, Liu & Pei, Advocates & Solicitors? All are valid surnames but never quite put together in one line and when it was put together, the meaning became something else which also in short means "total and utter nonsense". I remember the name was fun play of words, very funny but frankly I am not sure if it was what I wrote in here.

There was also a rather interesting scene that if done badly would be offensive but in this movie, was really funny which was Shek Kin's new business tactic of selling handphones. Remember, he is selling phones but a customer walks in, taken to a room akin to those nightclub type, young pretty girls walk in and he can pick his salesperson who took off her top as she explains the functions of the phone. She sells the phone and gives a lifesize blow up doll with her image as free gift. And all along the disbelieving customer kept muttering "I am just buying a phone... just buying a phone". I thought that scene was hilarious, whilst tasteless but all in good fun.

And earlier one which was offensive, as Shek Kin's shop revealed 3 young scantily clad girls selling phones with heavy sexual connotations but balanced that well later with a very funny trio from Ha Kung's shop, one of whom played by Chu Mi Mi.

The ending scene was funny too, where Shek Kin and Ha Kung figured out how to dismantle the bomb on Pinky. Very very simple actually, and you have to watch it to believe it!

However there were 2 scenes I really loved that involved music. One was earlier, where the workers of both handphone shop sang to Sam Hui's classic about the workers' plight (ironically I believed it was written as a mockery to TVB back in those days!) and you see many familiar faces singing to that song whilst we see Ha Kung and Shek Kin scolding the workers as they sang and worked. The one that had me laughing the most was the hospital scene, where Wong Cho Lam and Jacky had a sing off over Jacky's classic song, the title I can't remember, was it "Loving You More Each Day"? (direct translation by the way). Anyway it started with Jacky as Shek Kin singing but then we found out it was mimed to a cd version of the song as Kin Chai that is Wong Cho Lam cooly switched off the CD player and said to his father "Dad, stop miming to Jacky Cheung's song. I can sing better, listen to the expert!" and then he sang a pitch perfect Jacky version of the song and Shek Kin then said admirably to his son "You're right! You sing better!" and if I remember correctly, Kin Chai ended the scene saying "Tell Jacky that!". Something like that. There is a dispute on whether Wong Cho Lam was mimicking Jacky or it was really Jacky singing. Wong Cho Lam isn't talking, he'd rather you speculate on whilst fans say it was Wong Cho Lam singing since he is a very good mimic and famous for it.

But let me present my theory; it was Jacky singing, Wong Cho Lam miming. Why I said that is because ...

1. When Wong Cho Lam was singing, Jacky was out of sight by the left of the screen, when he was done, Jacky walked back into the scene

2. The singing was live. I was very sure of it. So when Wong Cho Lam supposedly sang Jacky style, I find his mouth movements too over the top, it couldn't have been him singing, it looked more like miming

3. The singing was to the left of the screen. The sound source was not directly from Wong Cho Lam's direction, which was why I was sure the singing was live. My theory is the first scene, where Jacky sang it was miming to a Cd version. When it was Wong Cho Lam's turn, Jacky sang live at the side with Wong Cho Lam miming to Jacky. You can't have Jacky in a movie and not sing his own song, live.

Which is why I am sure it was Jacky singing, Wong Cho Lam miming. I am not saying Wong Cho Lam is not capable of singing well, but let's face it, Jacky is God Of Song. He can sing the phonebook and can still reign as the God of Song. I am sure of it and since Wong Cho Lam is not telling, we will never know so let's speculate on!

But whatever it may be, that scene was really funny and I love the exhange between Wong Cho Lam and Jacky.

In fact after finishing the movie I realised the selling point of this movie is the well written witty dialogue. It looked and sounded like real effort was put in, the movie is clearly a labour of love and the movie set, the recreation of Sai Yeung Choi road is not only impressive but looks real as well, although look at the floor and lightning and I am sure you will be able to see it is a movie set. But at least hundreds and hundreds of people in one scene is amazing enough for me. With well written dialogue, surely the actors would have fun delivering the lines and it shows.

I don't think I have ever been this wrong about a Chinese movie. I walked in thinking it would be the usual slapstick movie, hoping not to cringe and just enjoy "Hey! That's who and who!" but I walked out being really entertained, finding it one of those movies that balances well the dramatic moments and the comic moments with some very good performances coming from unexpected places whilst the usual ones prove us fans right. A good actor in any role is a good actor. A bad actor in a time controlled role will be an entertaining one! Of course the younger generation's love story was awful and predictable and boring but their stories didn't feature heavily in this movie. I am glad the focus was on the tenants AND on Jacky plus Eric because Eric and Jacky were the backbone of this movie. I had fun!

Verdict
You will love this movie if you are a TVB fan. Enjoy spotting your favourite actors and actresses. But more importantly, the witty dialogue and some very good performances will have you laughing hard whilst enjoying yourself. A must watch!

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DUKE OF MOUNT DEER 1998 [TVB]

Written by Funn Lim


Previously posted when this series was first broadcast and reposted here without alteration.


SPOILERS ... SPOILERS ... SPOILERS

How Long
I can't remember but definitely beyond 10 tapes/20 episodes.

Who
Jordan Chan Siu Chun,Steven Ma Chun Wai,Lau Yoke Chui,Chan Siu Ha,Leung Siu Bing,and a lot of women in here.

What & Where
Set during the beginning of the reign of Hong Hei(Kang Xi) ,the second Emperor of the Ching Dynasty,it is essentially a tale of friendship and loyalty between two men who actually aren't on the same side by nationality and purpose but are bound by their loyalty to each other as great friends.And it is also about Wai Siu Bo's love lives.

The storyline
Too much stuff happening in this serial at the same time,somehow you'll always find your way to the story but still nevertheless,basically here's the plot.
Wai Siu Bo(Jordan Chan) is the lazy but cunning son of a prostitute who has absolutely no ambition whatsoever.He has a friend and later wife in Chan Siu Ha who would do anything for him,including finding him more wives,which is too good to be true.Anyway,Chan has an adopted father who was actually an eunuch who knew the dirty secrets of the palace and therefore,ran away.But many years later,he is caught up by another eunuch that is sick with tuberculosis.The old man was killed and to cut the long story short,Chan and Wai seperated and Wai was kidnapped/forced by that old eunuch into the palace to do some work for him but somehow,during one time the eunuch became blinded and so he couldn't recognise the fact that Wai was actually his eunuch-assistant in disguise.Somehow,Wai became his eyes for everything that happens there and in there,one day,he met with another young eunuch by the name of Siu Yuen Zhi(Steven Ma) who we all know is the King,Hong Hei himself who was actually exercising in that room.They became fast and great friends as The King found a soulmate in Wai who would never lie nor give him unwanted respect and Wai found in the King his first good friend who truly believes and trust in him.During one confrontation with Aobai(the King's high ranking official who is really bad) and the KIng,only did Wai know he was the King.And so the king entrusted him with many many works to do,mostly dirty works like spying,killing,plotting and each time Wai succeeds(out of sheer luck and his own cunning abilities) and each time,the King gives him higher and higher rank until the rank of Duke,thus the title of this serial.The next step would have to make him part of the royal family,so he is first rank,and he has many many friends.At the same time,dear Wai got himself involved with many anti-Ching sect,like the Heaven and Earth Sect who appointed him the leader of the sect,so he is on both sides politically.When the King knew of this,he forced Wai to choose and thus asked him to reveal his gang members as a way of forgiveness for being a traitor whilst the Sect members wanted Wai to reveal the location of the secret Feng Shui place that hold the Ching Dynasty's vast wealth and posperity where if destroyed,that's the end of the Ching Dynasty's luck.And Wai chose to run away with his 7 wives and few children and built a false Feng Shui place and used all his own wealth amassed over the years to make it look like a treasure place.Unfortunately,the King did not see his loyalty and thought he betrayed Him and so ordered the cave to be blasted to smitherins.Would the King really kill his only true loyal servant/friend and would Wai and his family and the rebel gang escape?

What About The ....
Love lives plot of Wai?Well,also very complicated.Just know that everytime he sets his eyes on a pretty girl,he wants that girl and dear first wife,Chan Siu Ha would go running to persuade the woman to marry him.Things weren't always that easy.He made an enemy with the prettiest and his most beloved wife,Ah Oh(Leung Siu Bing) at first,and proceeded to rape her and several others,impregnated her and the poor girl had no place to go but to him.But she does realised how nice he was to her and so they fell in love.Then there's his least beloved wife,the sister of the King,Princess Kim Leng(Lau Yoke Chui) who is actually his first lover.She is spoilt but when she found out that she is really not the King's sister,she changed and tried to be reasonable.All of the wives get along very well,in fact too well.

The Why Factor
Why would Wai do so many things for the King?What would he get?Apart from money and high rank and loved by the King himself,basically he gets nothing else but danger,possible assasination and he would have died thousand of times if not for sheer luck.He is always in a very difficult situation.He could have betrayed his own Han people but yet he couldn't because he is not a traitor.He could have easily helped with the "Overthrow Ching Dynasty,Reinstate Ming Dynaty" movement,but he could not and would never betray his best friend.Frankly,one has a feeling that he feels more for the King than even his own wives.The only people he is truly loyal to and respects are the King,his sifu from that sect and another female sifu(who is actually Princess Cheung Ping,the last survivor of the Ming Dynasty royalty).The others aren't important.In fact,he could easily kill a person or lie about everything than to betray these 3 people he truly cared for.Quite a confusing fella if you ask me.

The Most Dramatic Scene
The ending,where Wai was trapped in that false Ching treasure cave,with his gang members from the Sect,his wives and children,his wealth and money and the King himself,with the great misunderstanding before them and a canon that will blast the cave any seconds now.

The Best Couple
You might expect to see Wai with any of his wives here but the truly best couple in this serials is the King and Wai himself.You would wish they just marry each other and run far far away but well,they're just the best buddy in the whole world.What would Wai not to do for the King,except maybe dying?He even took all his own wealth to buy jewelries to build a false cave rather than show his gang members the real one(which will remain a secret till the end) and though he is a coward,but he would never hesitate using his own body as a shield for the King from any attacks,many many times.He has the greatest respect for the King not as a King but as a friend.He never saw him as the King.Then it is no wonder why the King loved him so that when several times Wai was kidnapped,the King would order people to search for him.He even overlooked the fact that Wai had taken bribes and stolen money from other officials because he is too loyal to the King.He entrusted him in his deepest secrets and during one time when Wai exiled to a small hidden island with his wives for many years,the King looked for him and personally went there to persuade him to go home to serve the King.But somehow,people will grow up.During one time after many years of seperation,Wai realised that the King who was his best friend has now grown up to be truly a King and there is a barrier between them.So you can't blame them for being angry with each other at the end of this serials.But even in times of extreme danger where the King fainted in that cave and the cave was falling apart and Wai has this anything-proof vest on him,he took it off to put,not onto his wives/children's body but on the King.And the King wouldvhe forgiven him for anything even being a traitor but it was too late.Wai had supposedly died in the blast but the King did not believe it aniewent in search for him.And Wai saw him and almost walked right into the arms of the King but his wives stopped him.You know,it could almost be a love story.

The Most Difficult Person To Be
You might say Wai's character is a very difficult person to be at that times because well,he is always in danger but I would have to say the young King himself.Not only he was a very young King,his dynasty is also very new and vulnerable to attacks from foreigner,own rebels and also corrupt officials.It is not easy being the King and that is why Wai sympathises with the young king's predicament.Luckilly,Wai is there to lessen the burden of the King in many many ways.

The Most Missed Person
The wives and children of Hong Hei the King.You knew he married and have children because he said so but well,you never get to see them.Not even once.

The Most Annoying People
His wives,especially Lau Yoke Chui.They're so noisy,too easy and way too many to handle.And Chan Siu Ha's character is too good to be true.If you have a wife like that you should count your blessing.Not only is she not jealous of the prospect of fighting with 6 other women for her husband's atention,she wouldn't even not mind not being the first of the seven!

The Best Scenes
Any scenes that has the King and Wai together,whether they're plotting to kill someone or just kidding around.Classic scenes of pure friendship.But somehow,you can't help but notice,one of them is always slightly bent down as a sign of respect but the King always let Wai get away with formalities when they're alone.
And any scenes that has Wai with his officials buddy are an added bonus..

Is it worth Renting
Yes,just for the sheer fun of it.Plus if you're a fan of Jordan Chan and Steven Ma,almost every scene has their faces in it.And if you like the girls,plenty in here.

Is is BETTER than…
Well,the original Duke Of Mountdeer that had Tony Leung and Andy Lau in it?People say nope coz that was a classic.I've never seen that one before so I can't comment on it but frankly,I like this present one.But I am sure Tony Leung would be excellent as the cunning Wai and Andy Lau as the wise young King.
Secret Battle of The Majesty from ATV with Kong Wah?Well,that was a different emphasis.In there no Wai and Hong Hei is a very old man.It is more on Yung Ching his son and successor and the battle within the palace.This serial is more on outsider's threats.

Who Is The More Loyal Servant/Friend
Perhaps we should compare the recent friendships between the King and his servants in both ATV and TVB serials with Wai Siu Bo and his King to see who is the luckier man to have a King really as a friend.The more well known are....

Kong Wah and Bobby Au Yeung in Happy Ever After
One is a wise but sufferring King in love and another his loyal chef cum friend.What would Bobby not do for the King?He almost falsely married the King's mistress and had to admit that the pregnancy was his own undoing causing his own beloved wife(Marianne Chen) to go into serious fits of anger,almost caused both of their lives.And when the King was drugged into well,being a very bad and useless King,he almost gave up his own life to cook whilst he was seriously sick so that the King would eat the cure to the poison drug and just wake up.They are the best of friends as witnessed that even in their 90's they're still great friends.But,we all can see that one will always be the King and another,always the loyal servant.

Kong Wah's Yong Ching and Nin Kang Yew in Secret Battle Of The Majesty
One is a cunning,wise and desperate Prince who wants to be a King and wnother,a lowly servant that changed camp because of gratefullness.The Prince would never have been King if not for this loyal servant who taught him the finer ways to salvage a hopeless situation,like killing his own father,own brothers,own sisters,own mother,crush all enemies.Ok,so he wasn't such a good example of a friend.But this loyal servant who always thought of the King as a friend realised that he is always the servant,never the friend.And when the King forced him to be demoted,instead of rebelling with his army fellas,he chopped off the heads of those who even thought about rebelling against the King.And when the King asked him to drink the poison-wine,he drank it,gratefully and died as the ever the loyal servant.

Louis Koo and David Cheung in War And Remembrance
One a young wise,cunning King in peril whilst the other an experienced swordsman who became the young King's tutor in the ways to govern wisely.When the King told them that he was in danger,this old man rushed to save him only to be tricked into a ploy to destroy the rebellions once and for all.And this man who thought he found a good King in that young man he had helped and saved countless of times before, killed himself in deep regret as he saw his own comrades died one by one by gunshot wound.

So,the only conclusion I can say is that Bobby and Jordan's character of the loyal servants were lucky.At least the King treated them as friends but we all do know,one will always be the King and the other always a servant,even if the servant thought of the King as a friend.

Interesting Facts
Since it was a remake of an original classic,comparisons is always unavoidable.People complained that the wives in the original series are much more prettier.Frankly,I beg to differ.Sheung Tin Ngor prettier than Leung Siu Bing,Chan Siu Ha and Lau Yoke Chui?No way.Of course,looks can never be compared with acting abilities.Now that is a differeent category altogether.

Poor Steven Ma.When this serial was shown on TV,Jordan got most of the praises and Steven the most and harshest comments.Acting is wooden,even when he was wearing the emporer's clothes,he didn't even looked like it,how torturing his acting was.About the acting dept,I do agree,he 's not great but not that bad actually.So he may not have the nobility of a King,his mannerisms is more like a common man and his speech is too un-king like but I have to agree,that when he is wearing the yellow robe,he DOES look like those Manchurian Kings that I saw in the old paintings.He's fair,thin and young ,and that fits the bill exactly.Not all Kings look like Kong Wah and Louis Koo.Actually,not even one.

You see those hairstyle of those Ching Dynasty men?Well,in this serials,Jordan And Steven had it right and yet everybody else didn't.Why then must the two principal characters shave their heads whilst the other didn't?Either do it like the original serials or do it like Happy Ever After series.Confusing to me.

On the historical aspects of it,there was an Oh-Bai and Hong Hei.Hong Hei was 6 when his father Shun Zi died and he ascended the throne.Because it was still a relatively young dynasty(just like after the overthrow of Ming Dynasty in one generation time),the King on his death bed appointed four of his most trusted officials to help and assist the young King.But they did not do so.
One was too old ,one did not bother,another was subsequently beheaded(together with all his servants,wives,children,relatives,counting 9 generations or 9 steps of relations) because of some false accusations by the fourth member Oh-Bai(Aobai),an ambitious and arrogant high ranking official.Over the years,he amassed great wealth and power by placing his relatives and croonies in various top positions and the King became his puppet.He even wore yellow robes in front of the King,as a sign of great disrespect and arrogance,as shown in this serial.But the King was wiser.He secretly(well not so secretly but Aobai did not see the warning and did not care coz too arrogant) trained young men to be prepared for a secret attack on Aobai.And the King made sure Aobai let his guard down by well,listening to his every demands.Then during one night,Aobai was summoned to the King's chambers and before he knew it,tens of young healthy well skilled men jumped on top of him and apprehended him.With that,he was charged,convicted for over 30 offences but I read somewhere he was not beheaded but jailed.I am not sure,but anyway,that show how wise the young man was,and he was only 14 at that time.From there till his 60's he governed China and was well,respected.He has the most wives reportedly.He died of old age,as opposed to popular beliefs in TV world that he was murdered by Yung Ching,his 4th son .

You would have noticed in this serial an Ng Sam Kwai,an old general,Ah Oh's supposed father and also Chan Yuen Yuen,Ah Oh's mom played by Leung Siu Bing also.Well,there was an Ng Sam Kwai.Reportedly,Ming Dynasty was losing the war to various sectors and was weak but they still have one general guarding the one last important entrance to the Ming city,by Ng Sam Kwai.TV dramas always potray that he was in love with a Chan Yuen Yuen,a very beautiful prostitute(this I am not sure if it was the right profession)
and wanting to provide for a better life,(here I would say that it was probably greed rather than a possible fictional woman),he opened the door and let the Manchurian in and thus,became the traitor of the century.That is why in this serial,many people wants to kill this man and Wai himself also hated this man who was given a small county to govern as a King or royalty(this I am not sure if it was real).And the Ming King?He hanged himself whilst I think his wives and children killed themselves,so Princess Cheung Ping could not have lived.

Interesting Fiction
There may have been personification of Wai Siu Bo in various people but I really doubt there ever was a Wai Siu Bo.And nope,Wai Siu Bo wasn't the one who killed Aobai.

Was there a Chan Yuen Yuen?Was there a Princess Cheung Ping who lived her life as a nun?

Unimportant Stuff
This is a very old serials so check out the old books containing old posters or simply,quote the cantonese title,Luk Ding Kei.

For More Info
Please visit theOfficial TVB site ,provided you can read Chinese and find your way to old serials.

I do apologise for not being able to provide some links to other similar reviews since it’s so few out there.Perhaps you might try another TVB Reviews site,by Peter Fong for a different opinion. Click his name to beam yourself there.

For a very interesting site with loads of screen captures of your favourite serials,click here.

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YOUR HANDS ARE WHISPERING [Jap]

Written by Funn Lim

This review was posted many years ago, exactly when I am not sure but it should be within months from the original broadcast of this series. I am posting it as I have posted it originally.

SPOILERS ... SPOILERS ... SPOILERS

Title: Kimi No Tega Sasayaite Iru

Huh?! : In English, Your Hands Are Whispering.

Any Other Language?! : In Mandarin, Ni Ling Ai Liao Bu Chi, in Cantonese, Nei Ling Oi Liu But Hei, in translated English from the translated Chinese, Love Is Wonderful Because Of You, well, not THAT accurate though.

Note : I saw the mandarin version so the names will be in Mandarin version.

Cast: I only know two actors who played the two leads, the rest I can't tell who they portrayed, so here goes,

Shinji Takeda - Buo Wen (Hirofumi)
Miho Kanno - Mei Rong Tzi (Mieko)
Hikotero Honda, Midori Kiuchi, Mariko Kaga for characters such as Papa and Mama Buo Wen, Papa and Mama Mei Rong Tzi, Nai Bao Tzi (best friend of Mei Rong Tzi) and Qian Her (daughter of our two leads).

Length : The shortest ever for a Japanese Drama (that I have ever seen); 6 episodes! And My God!In 6 episodes they said what they have wanted to say, but series like ATE, they took 100 eoisodes to finish their story! That would mean that in ATE's standard, by 6 episodes, there aren't much that has been told. Amazing!

Summary : A touching and poignant story about how a deaf and mute woman coped with her own lack of confidence and marrying the normal man that she loved, and how she later tried to cope with her daughter's frustration at her mother's disability and more importantly, how her child coped with a disabled mother, so to speak.

The Story:
A simple story on the outset but quite complicated if we reflect on it after watchinge each episode.

The structure of the story can be divided into 3 main parts, each with two episodes worth of story, each depicting the different stages that these two leads had to go through to find total acceptance, in life, in their daughter and in their ownself.

Part 1 : Love & Marriage
Mei Rong Tzi has been protected all her life by her protective and loving parents but it was time for her to step into the real world and so she took a job as a clerk in a medium sized company and to everybody's shock, this young girl could not speak though she tried and she could not hear them. She used her hands to communicate and so she was an outcast in the perfect notmal world since she was deaf and mute though she could mumble a few incoherent sentences as she had a little hearing ability when she was little. She had no friends there except for her own childhood friend with the same disability called Nai Bao Tzi, a lady supervisor who was sympathetic with her because she too had a sister with such disability and she was runned down by a? car she could not hear approaching her. And there was one particular young man by the name of Buo Wen who liked her because she was pure and she was different from the rest of the girls he has met. He was the first to approached her and signed to her good morning which he had leanred just to do that and they became fast freinds. But after an unfortunate incident where MRT (Mei ROng Tzi) was stranded on a train that had engine problems and she could not deliver an important document in time, she felt useless and she felt that due to her disability she was imposing on other people to help her.S he never came back to work until Buo Wen went to her and confessed that he loved her and apologised to her for giving her a work that she was not ready to handle yet. She went back to work and so the romance started, however it did not go smoothly. Buo Wen lied about being at work but actually he was at a rock concert as he did not want ton hurt her feelings and she saw him at the entrance and she was hurt beyong words not because he was at a rock concert but because he lied to her.She ran and ran and Buo Wen chased after her. When they were standing at opposite streets, he apologised profusely and said he didn't want to lose her and he proposed, by signing. For a moment too long, she thought about it and tearfully she ran across the street and hugged him tightly. HEr parenst was sceptical about Buo Wen but he seemed sincere but it was BuoW en's parents that objected. His father was ok with the marriage but his mother wasn't. She went to see her secretly and begged her to leave her son and she tearfully agreed, as she was contented that she ahd met and fell for Buo Wen and had his love even for teh shortest momnet. So for one day she spent some wonderful times with Buo Wena nd even spent one night with him, and the next morning she told him about the break and Buo Wen who has never screamed, not even when he was signing, as he was very patient with her lost his cool this time. He signed angrily that ;

"I fell for you and so I want to give you happiness. I am not playing around when I proposed, and I want us to have a future together. But we haven't even started yet and you have doubts about our future, you do not want to take the chance at happiness. I do not want a wife like you!"; and he walked away. MRT thought for the longest time and as she looked at him walking away angrily, she ran to him and grabbed his hands and signed tearfully;

" I want to give you happiness. I want us to have a future together...", and for a momnet she thought he was still angry but then he smiled and signed playfully, "I guess my signing skills are getting better" and they hugged amd married secretly.

Later on, Buo Wen's mother appeared at their new marital home and to their surprise she signed to MRT and gave her a wedding dress. They had a wedding ceremony and life was bliisfully perfect, until MRT discovered she was pregnant. She had doubts, she feared that the child may not be normal, she feared that she may not be a good mother, she felt that her child may not be able to accept her and deny her as a mother....and so she decided for herself that she would have an abortion. Buo Wen didn't know unitil Nai Bao Tzi told him and he went to her and though he tried to reason with her, she has already made up her mind. He was disappointed, as her parents felt that she should ecided for her herself. But though eh didn't want children yet, he wanted this one and signed to her and reasoned with her that..

"This is a very important decision to make. We are married..why is it that you always feel you're to take everything onto your shoulders and decide for yourself when it affects the both of us? What about my opinion?"

And she thought for the longest time and decided that she would keep the child. Buta s months go by she became restless. She felt self pity when she saw expecting mothesr talking to their unborn child and she couldn't. She wasn't smiling anymore and Buo Wen noticed that. He took her? to the beach and made such a fool of himself that she laughed and finnaly was happy again. That night she accepted the fact that she may or may not be a good mother but the child will be very fortunate indeed to have a great father in her loving husband. When the time finally came for the child to be born, she panicked as she couldn't hear the intructions of the doctor and nurses but luckilly Buo Wen who had left an important meeting ran to her and held her had. They had a baby daughter whom they named Qian Her. But problems kept occuring where there was one time when the building's fire alarm went off, and luckilly Mama Buo Wenw as there and took the baby and patted MRT's shoulder to run, if not she wouldn't know, and at the mom's suggestion she said yes to move in with the in laws, but Buo Wen was the one who said no.

"She has already suffered from low self esteem, to live with you would destroy her confidence. let her be a mother to her child", and reluctantly mama Buo Wen agreed.

Part 2 : 3 year old Qian Her, a problem in the making
Qian Her was 3 years old and a very precocious child. She loved to talk to her mother buts he could not undertsand why she ahd to pat on her mother's legs or pull her skirt to get her attention, or that he mother never read to her bedtime stories. Buo Wen tried to teach her sign language and only managed to teach her the sign language for "RAIN" when the child lost interest. He tried to force her but MRT begged him not to and let her be. Times passed, and Qian Her was beginning to realise that her parents talked with their hands at dinner time and her mother was exceptionally quiet. There was one time she wanted her mother to read her a story and MRT tried but her pronunciations were not clear and Qian Her dimissed her mother and sat at the corner and read the book herself, leaving MRT hurt and even more fearful of her being a bad and inadequate mother. However life always find a way to get better that it already was. During one time it was raning. MRT was busy cooking and so she could not see the dresses hung outside to dry were wet. Qian Her quickly ran to her mother, pulled her skirt and guided her mama to the sliding door and to the amazement of MRT, she signed "Rain" again and again. MRT was dumbfounded and quickly pulled her daughetr into her arms and hugged her tightly. Buo wen came home just in time to see the touching picture and he too hugged his wife and child. And from thereon they need not force Qian Her to learn sign language and finally MRT coulc tell her daughter how much she loved her.

But life was not bliss.Qian Her was really sick when she was four, and MRT panicked. She tried to call the hospital but she could not say a word, and she quickly ran to the neighbours and banged on their doors for help and luckilly one responded. They went to the hospital just in time but MRT went home and cried the whole night. Buo Wen went home and told hert to go to the hospital as Qian Her was calling her name. She quickly went back only to be slapped by her own mother for being so irresponsible and leaving her child alone in the hospital and MRT quickly ran to the bed and held Qian Her's hand. Though she could not speak Qian Her was happy that mama was there to hold her hand. After she recuperated, Buo Wen took her to the zoo and they had a fun time, but again a problem came up. Qian Her saw other kids whispering into their mother's ears, whicpering secrets and she did the same to her mama but MRT could not hear her and Qian Her was utterly disappointed and MRT hurt. Buo Wen took Qian Her to the side and tried to please her and suddenly he had an idea. He signed to MRT his idea, and then told his daughter to look at her mama. Her mama signed to her a comment about how a boy that had previously whispered a secret to his mother and laughing at MRT who was signing and he was looking at them right then and she signed how he looked like that monkey and Qian Her signed back and said yes and laughed and the boyw as so upset that he went away. Buo wen then told his beloved child that she need not whiper secrets top her mama and still they could share secrets like how they did just now. Qian Her quickly ran to her mama and hugged her Mama and MRT was laughing again.

Part 3 : 7 year old Qian Her, MRT's worst fear came true.
Life went on and eevrything was alright until Buo Wen had a prospect of promotion but he thought for the longest of time and decided to go alone to a far off place in Japan for a few years leaving MRT and Qian Her. He decided this way for the best for MRT because he didn't want her to go to a new environment and start all over again. MRT found out about this and talked to him, and reasoned with him the same way he reasoned with her when she wanted an abortion. he rtied to explain why but she cut him off and signed;

"You once told me not to make decisions for my ownself as we are a family, but you're doing exactly that right now. We are a family and whereveer you go Qian Her and I will go with you." And he reluctantly said yes.

At the new place, it was an idillyic smaller town. All was fine but what they didn't know was that Qian Her wasn't. Her new classmates were so insensitive and always bullie dher and pestered her with questions about hert "strange" mother and sai hurtful things to her. As her wlf confidence went lower, hear head looking down at the floor every day her love for her mother became shame. She didn't even want her mama to be present for her essay reading session at school and Buo Wen repeatedly asked her why and finally she said she did not want her classmates to see her mama. She? was ashamed of something that MRT had no control of. Buo Wen almost scolded Qian Her but MRT stopped her and quietly begged him to go to the school with Qian Her and she would stay at home. And MRT's heart was broken into millions of pieces at her daughter's rejection of her and her worst fear finally became true. She felt even more useless and the gap between her child and her growing further and further apart. Buo Wen did not know what to do and went home to his in laws and drank himself silly.He felt useless as a father as he could not protect his child and felt that only Qian Her can pull herself out of this problem. But MRT's parents assured him that Qian Her will be alright as MRT was her mother. Only then did Buo Wen realised how little he knew his wife.He found out that she was a top student and was teased all her life but she grew up fine. And Buo Wen asked Nai Bao Tzi to tell him everything about MRT and he klaughed with joy at the stories and was teary eyed when he heard of what she had to go through. At school the problem worsened, and Qian Her who dared not speak up remembered how her mother had tried to teach her how to catch a ball thrown at her and she repeated ran away from catching it untils eh did and her mother hugged her and was very proud of her. She realised she had to stand up for herself and she attacked the young boy who was teasing her until the teacher stopped them. Later the teacher apologised for not seeing this problem at the beginning and she explained to the class about Qian Her's plight. Some students stood up and stood by Qian Her and all thsoe who had bullied her walked right up to her and apologised and they became friends. And finally Qian Her wanted her mama to see her at school and MRT went along with Buo Wen but she was sceptical, and ashamed of her lack of perfection. But when it was Qian Her's time to read her essay, she wrote about her mother and bravely she signed and read her essay and told the class about how great her mother was, that she was a perfect mother and she now realised why her papa loved her mama so much adn she too loved her mama. the whole class was in tears and clapped and finally, at that moment MRT's fear disappeared and finally gained acceptance in her daughter's heart and she looked proudly at her daughter,a nd Buo Wen looked proudly at both his wife and child.

The Peformaces :
By the two leads, Shinji and Miho, they were flawless. Could they be so perfect ? Yes will be my answer. Perhaps I am biased but I shall explain myself...

Shinji Takeda as Buo Wen
At first I thought that he looked too boyish to be someone who will age up to 7 years in this series and I thought his non-facial expression was absolutely lacking in some scenes. But by the 2nd episode, I began to appreciate his way of expressing his Buo Wen's frustration, anger and joy. Buo Wen is a very calm and cool man. Rarely does he shoud which is why MRT fell for him, because he deosn't shout with his hands, he has the patience to learn a foregn language just to communicate with her and he made the extra effort to be such a loving and giving husband. Everytime there is a problem, MRT's first reaction is to hide, and feel self pity. But not Buo Wen who will always encourage to come out from hiding. And when she doesn't listen, he simply let her be and will reason with her slowly until she accept his reason which will be often correct. when his mother insisted that they live together after the harrowing alarm incident, he was the first to say no though she said yes. He wanted to give her the confidence and if there is such a term as perfect husband, Buo Wen is the personification of perfection of a man and of a husband and as a father. His anger and sadness at not being able to help guide his daughter in her times of unhappiness by bullie in school shows to us what a responsible and loving father this man is. At least he felt anger but did not thing rash because he is a level headed and reasonable man. there are times I feel that our MRT does not deserve such a good man as this. And verey rarely do we see Japanese man as the SNAG....Sensitive New Age Guy who even wash the dishes and change diapers. And Shinji Takeda makes his Buo Wen simply irresistable not through sex appeal nor looks appeal though he has both, and plenty of it, he makes Buo Wen irresistably unforgettable by simply making Buo Wen human and a man, but in Buo Wen 's standard, a better man. I wish I could find such a dying breed of a husband, but i do realise they're often fictional. Shinji made him a gentleman. How very often do we see that on TV these days? And understanding, compassionate, patient, loving...I do wonder, where can we find such a perfect husband? An excellent performance by this well known actor in the Japanese cinema and music scene. I want I want I wanttttttttttt.....

Miho Kanno as MRT
My first impression of Miho Kanno in this series, with her long china doll hairstyle, fair perfect skin, pinkish lips, big round eyes, and a cute smile was "what a pure innocent looking girl". the more I see her face the more I liked it and it is very rare indeed to find such a sweet looking girl on TV these days, and much harder to find such a young actress(she is 24 this year of 2001) who could grasp such a complex role so well, that we could feel her pain her joy her desperation and her need for her daughter's acceptance, and all in 6 episodes!! A bit too short if I may add but perfectly well done. She does not speak a word in this series unless you count mumbling some lines due to her inability to talk due to her deafness as lines but she uses her hands to talk about her feelings. Though some viewers may find it frustrating if you can't read the Japanese/Chinese subtitle and unlike Moonlight there are no narration unless it is a very important scene, you will find youself still able to somehow follow what she is signing by her eyes. Very very expressive. And one amazing this is that she starts as a fresh faced girl and by 6th episode, she looks a bit matured due to a change in hairstyle and clothings. You could really see her grow older as the years go by (well supposedly so) in this series. She is the best Japanese actress I have seen thus far based on her performance alone and simply an joy to watch. You know why Buo Wen falls in love with her MRT but there are times you would want ti slap her for hert self pity moment, until she neglects her own sick child in hospital. I just love that scene and many others. Take my word....she is the best.

The Others
Those who plays mama and papa, and especially 3 year old Qian Her are so good in here. I have never seen a child who could act so well, and 3 year old Qiin Her displays such emotion, that you could hardly believe that she could not be more than 4 would be my guess. Who says Japanese children are automatons? Anyway, she was so good especially her eyes of guilt that everytime her parenst are signing on the dinner table and she doesn't and refuses to understand the language. And everybody else are also very very good. Top notch performance by all.

So what is your recommendation:?
Unlike With Love that has a great song overshadowing the storyline(not that they have any at all), this series has no song but soem background music that isn't too inrtusive like that Shining Through series where they blast the song each time a character appears. No such thing. often silence and just those hands that do the talking. If you really want to watch a good Japanese series, or simply a good series, you can read Chinese or understand sign language or can read Japanese, this is one series that you must have in your VCD collection. Moreover the bonus point is that it is only 6 episodes long and it tells of so much. You'll be a fan of Shinji Takeda, as a woman you'll want to marry his Buo Wen, as a man you should try to emulate Buo Wen, and you'll love Miho Kanno and you'll reach for your tissues once in a while to wipe away that stubborn tears that soemhow got stuck in your eyes. If there is one series that I have ever thought to be almost perfect (well nothing is perfect!), if there is any series that TVB should copy, this would be it. IF you're tired of all those Japanese love story or long series all about love and revenge, why not try this short series that is all about life and ones own place in this big big world? GET THIS ONE!


The Most Amazing Aspect Of This Series :

again the peformances. I really thought that Miho Kanno is deaf and mute because she is just so convincing with her hands in signing and her eyes. And I really though that guy knows sign language but i think they were given ample time to learn and to act convincingly. Amazing. By the way Miho Kanno has albums you know so she is definately not deaf and mute. Amazing!

Any Interesting Stuff :

See the poster below? that is the cover of a manga series (Japanese comic series) with the same name of this series, and the same wirter JUNKO KARUBE. Coincidence? Nope because this series is originally from a manga series! Wierd I know because in other places for comic series we eithr have comedy ot cartoons or kung fu series but only in Japan can you find comic series on a wild but kindhearted teacher, basketball players, and family drama such as above.

Yes. Shinji was discovered many years ago in a talent contest, he sings and plays saxaphone for a living too with concerts around the country and mainly acts in Japanese movies in some really diverse characters. He is one character actor and you can't blame Seagull for not knowing him. And he is very young, 29 this year I think. And very thin and smokes. Who doesn't in Japan? But hey no stigma unlike USA.

Miho kanno is very young has starred in numerous TV commercials, with albums of her own, has quite a number of fans and disappointingly the first Internet picture I saw was her nude pictures. And when Is ay nude, I mean NUDE! Totally destory my feelings about her.BNut she is one excellnet actress. And nope she ain't deaf or mute.No that I know of.

I was told there is a famous and respected old Japanese actor in this series but I do not know who.

And guess what? My glowing review has a back up in facts and figures because though i have alwasy said winning awards doesn't make a series good but for this one deservedly so. And one wierd stuff......this series was shown in TV in three parts, each part 2 episodes and eahc part a different stage of their story like THE STORY above and amazingly eahc shown at least 6 months apart. oen even a year apart! I am not sure if they filmed it that way and so this will explain the actors looking older as each episodes go by or they filmed it all and then release it that way. Whatever it may be, read the below paragraphs taken from SHINJI's ROOM and decide for yourself should you buy this VCD. Not watch but BUY!

"Date: 1999-10-05 (Tue)?
?

"Your hands are whispering"

The inspiring and beautiful story of a hero, acted by Shinji,who fell in love with a heroine who has disability of hearing,acted by Miho Kanno,?

The latest 3rd chapter of this story will be broardcasted on 7th October.
He is trying a sign language in this special TV drama.
(Miho Kanno, as well)

In the 1st chapter, Hirofumi (shinji Takeda) met Mieko (Miho Kanno) at the office as colliegues.?
The sight of her working earnestly appealed to him,
?and he gradually became attracted to her.
As he wanted to talk with her, he tried a sign language.?
Though their love seemd having many difficulties ,the story finished with their marriage.
Broardcasted ?n December,1997
Got a grand prix of ATP prize '98 given to an excellent TV drama.

The 2nd chapter starts with their new life helping each other.
One day,
Mieko realized that she was pregnant, but she didn't have?
any confidence at all in becoming a mother.?
She was anxious that the baby might be born with a disability.

By the words of Hiroyuki "How people feel happy depends on how they live, not how they were born" she made her mind.
Finally, they had a lovely baby girl and named Chizuru.
Broardcasted ?n December,1998
Got a Hashida prize '99. Hashida prize is given by a well known?
scenario writer Sugako Hashida

The 3rd story tells us other difficulties of the family.
We will see growth of the child and the parents overcoming those difficulties.
There had a preview of the 3rd story on 25th, September in Tokyo.
"It was more inspiring story than ever.
I was crying all through the drama" all the people who watched it said with one voice. "

Silly Observation:

I have seen a few Japanese series.? And always a housewife will wear a white apron of the same design and cook, all the time. Same white apron! How so? Only one manufacturer?

And the ideal Japanese familyand ideal even by world standard would be mom stays at home, papa works for money and mama takes care of social work and children's affair.

In this series, you'll see in offices even superviros have no office of their own. TRUE! You may be a manager but ha ha you'll still work like all other common workers and subordinate, open office concept.

I was told in Japan there is no laws governing maternity leave and so married women who just had a child will not have maternity paid leave and will be forced to take leave or even forced to leave the job. UNFAIR! In Malaysia at least we have 2 months paid leave! And in some European countries soem even could take up to 5 years unpaid leave and you can still have back your job! And in England fathers too can take maternity leave as a step to encourage closer family ties. What is Japan doing? I hope hy this time this review is posted, thinsg have change or is already changed.

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SECRET BATTLE OF THE MAJESTY [ATV]

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RETURN TO THE TRUTH [ATV]

Written by Funn Lim

This review was posted many years ago, exactly when I am not sure but it should be within months from the original broadcast of this series. I am posting it as I have posted it originally.

SPOILERS ... SPOILERS ... SPOILERS

How Long : I can't remember

Who : 4 very very young actors,3 of them now at TVB.Kong Wah,Jackie Lui Chung Yin,Jan Lau Kam Ling,Choi Hiu Yee,Mai Suet, and 2 very talented child actor,now teenagers.

What & Where : Set in modern 80's HK,it is a tale of rivalry,jelousy,bitter hatred of two brothers,the women they both loved and their mother who is clearly biased with her love and attention.

The Verdict : I wanted to put this here first coz this will be a rather lengthy review.I personally feel this is one of the best ATV series I have ever seen,from the compelling storyline to the acting of the child actors and their grown up conterpart,you'll probably cry as much as I did.If you could find this one,do rent it.But since this was like so long ago,I don't think ATV has it until they re-released it.

The storyline : Mai Suet and her well to do husband of a rice shop has two young sons,one year apart.The eldest one is the soft spoken and not so smart and the youngest one is the smart,over achiever,naughty and the apple of his mother's eyes.It is very obvious who the mom loves more because all the best things is for this young son to the point that the oldest son is ignored way too much.But the boy,for all the inadequacy of love and atention from his mom got just as much love from his father,a good decent hard working man.And so he never felt little so to speak.But during one time because of the youngest son's malice towards an old woman who had criticised his favourite dead hero,Bruce Lee,he put rat poison into the rice that the woman bought and thus the whole family was poisoned to death and his father's shop was burnt and they were forced to live in proverty.At the same time,the mother's ex lover(a very young Lau Dan) saw that incident and kept quiet.He would pursue this woman but she tired to avoid him,staying true to her husband eventhough they lived in proverty.But the husband was beginning to suspect the wife was having an affair of the heart with this man.Then one day,tragedy struck.The two young boys,and the neighbour's daughter that they both liked was playing and the eldest son who was good at cycling was showing off to the girl.The young brother,feeling jeolous and rage decided to race his brother but instead,he feel down,knocked his head hard.The brother panicked and brought him home,only to have his father arguing with the mother and refusing to let the son see a doctor out of spite of the wife.Poor boy who by now was having a very high fever and beginning to feel numb in his limbs.But after a while,they brought the boy to the hospital and it was too late.He will remain paralysed and would not be able to walk ever again for decades because he has brain damage.But he could still observe and he isn't stupid.The wife by now had lost all hope since her only hope is now almost in vegatative state,left with her lover with a stack of cash for her son and the promise that she would come back for her two sons once she is settled.Poor eldest son who begged his mother refusing to let go of the car .That began his hatred for his mother.Because of the brother's condition and his father who is too weak to work,the young boy,barely into his teens left school and worked to support his family and to save enough money to cure his brother.Then 20 years later,they're both grown up,the eldest son is now an uneducated,tough talking renovater in the form of Kong Wah and the youngest son is still paralysed in the form of Jackie Lui.The gilr whom they both wanted is now a pretty nurse in the form of Choi Hiu Yee,Kong Wah's suffering girlfriend.When the son got better and when he met his mother again,that was the beginning of their nightmares as Jackie became more ruthless each day,to take back all his lost years.

The Worst Of The Lot is : Definately Jackie Lui's character.When he regained his clear mind and movements,he did worked hard but his mother,who have tried to find him for many year but couldn't pampered him and spoilt him.He was in love with his borther's girlfriend,raped her one night because she thought he was the older brother.When his brother found out,he let him have her .But because of his greed,he married a rich man's daughter(sister of Jan Lau).But he didn't have to do that because he is smart and he could've made it even without connections whatsoever.But his greedy and malicious side got the better of him.And in the end,he killed his step father,killed his motehr(accidentally) only to discover that all his mother's wealth has been left for his eldest brother.He then tried to cause serious harm to his brother by the law but Jan Lau,who is a prosecutor and by now,the brother's GF caught him before he did.Though in the end,he had almost everything but even if the law couldn't quite catch him in his criminal ways,God did.His condition reversed and even before he killed himself,he had wanted his brother to shoot him but his brother,by now who has no more feelings for this brother that he had slaved most of his life for,walked away.

The Most Difficult Person To Be Is.. : The oldest brother,Kong Wah.Deprived of a decent chance of a decent education,all of his life he lived with the guilt that if it wasn't him who had raced with his brother in that fateful aftrenoon,the brother would not have been living his life in a wheelchair.So he worked hard,sacrificed his education,threw away his pride to use the money his mother left for them, sacrificed his dignity to kneel in front of the doctor who eventually cured his brother.From a wimpish boy who cried without a second thought,he became a tough talking man who refused to cry.He fought for his brother's dignity.Some might say he should but how much must one man do to be forgiven for an act he never did do?When he met his mother again,he,unlike the spineless brother was unforgiving .But in the end,when he discovered his own brother became an entirely different boy that he once loved and knew and when his own unreasonable father died of a heart attack because his youngest said the unthinkable,the brother began to hate this young man who had seduced his wife to be,and when his mother told him that he was the better son and she regretted not loving him as a son,all is forgiven but it was too late.His mother was dead and he knew who did it.When at last his own little brother became as he was before,he had begged his elder brother to shoot him,to make it easier for himself and probably to have the blood on his brother's hands,Kong just walked away.You may say he is heartless to his brother's plight but in the end,those who sin must bear the conseqeunces themselves.I would say that Kong is the Most Hourable Character in this series.

The HATE factor : Jackie Lui who at first would be my Most Pitiful Character nominee
but towards the end you'll hate him.So he spent most of his life in a wheelchair deprived of everything thinking that his brother had a better life.But what did he know of his brother's hardships?He was ungrateful,spineless for calling that man 'daddy' and in the end,evil.But we do know that something about him wasn't right since the first episode.He was boastful(which brought about his own misery),malicious and evil too for putting those rat poison into the family's rice.He wasn't a good boy and when he grew up,he wasn't a good man.But when he was paralysed,he was the most decent man.So somehow,you would wish if only he wasn't cured.

The Best Scene : The first 2 tapes that featured the two young boys,especially the younger one who I feel is the best child actor I have ever seen in HK.He was also the young Wong Yat Wah in the excellent classic,Looking Back In Anger with Deric Wan,Carina Lau,Kathy Chow.By the way,those two boys are real life brothers,now all grown up and not acting.A great pity for someone with his talent.Other secens would be the ending.Simply well,simple,poignant and full of unspoken meanings.

The Love factor : Choi was the GF of Kong,but he always neglected her and during one drunk night,she selpt with Lui thinking he was Kong.In the end,she lived in with Lui only to have him married to a rich girl(I think the girl's name is Strawberry something,now in TVB).She gave him a son but she kept the son.Kong then met Jan and Jan feel for this honest and honourable man though he wasn't as educated nor rich as she was.You could say in the Love Factor wise,it was a happy ending.

The Most Unreasonable/Annoying Characters : The father.Being as unreasonbale as he was,it was no wonder that the wife left him.And also the mother,whom I felt was the cause of all their miseries.And Lau Dan.What more can I say except that he deserved his ending.

Is Jackie Any Worse Than... : Kelvin Kam of Secret Of The Heart? Well,almost. In fact,the story is quite similiar with this series,but Kong's character is not as stupid and naive as Sunny Chan's character.But in terms of Jackie's character and Nick Cheung's character,quite similiar,only less gruesome deaths in this series.
Lei Chi Hou of Kindred Spirit? Nope.Lee will have the honours for being TV's worst son/brother.And the fact that he has all the best lines which made Kindred Spirit such a hit.
But the one person that I could see the most similiarities is two characters.One is Ming Chi Kit of Flaming Brothers and the other,Deric Wan's character in Looking Back In Anger.What is it with younger poor brothers who wanted much more in their lives adn the only way they think they could achieve that is by:

1)dump good poor GF wh would always be brother's former GF
2)marry nice mega rich girl and torture her emotionally
3)kill lots and lots of people,beginning with their own family(especially mothers)
4)Got a lot of money and THEN do more criminal stuffs like selling drugs,ect which kinda make all his past efforts redundant
5)before he either got killed/killed himself,his brother would be the one who will enjoy the fruits of honest living
6)AND he never ever goes to prison.

The Best Performance : The two young boys,Jackie for his doey-innocent-turned bad eyes,Kong Wah for his excellent potrayal of a man caught between,well eveything,Mai Suet for her excellent potrayal of a wman biased and lived to regret it.Nope,the others weren't that good,especially Choi whose acting is a bit raw here.

Is it worth Renting : Definately .Enough said.

Is It Better Than ...: All the above mentioned series?All have their similiarities in the sense that honest older brother,good turned bad younger brother,how the older brother would deal with the youngest brother in the last episode.But the main difference is the ending.Ok,so THEY ALL DIED in the end.BUT...

Flaming Brothers : Michael forgave a very repentant and seriously injured Patrick

Looking Back In Anger : Deric wasn't that repentant but he knew he was wrong.The brother wanted to forgive him and the only way for forgoveness is for him to face the consequences of his own actions.So Felix Wong sent his brother to USA for a business,knowing that the plane would land in Malaysia where the brother was a wanted murderer and before he was to hang to death(death penalty),the brother forgave a very scared to die brother.

Kindred Spirit : I am sure when Lee died,everybody forgave him.

But in this series,which is the only difference with above mentioned series other than the way they died itself,which now we rarely see this very realistic ending,Kong never forgave a not very repentant Jackie and his brother told his young brother do whatever you want with your life,it is you life and he walked away amdist the sound of "BANG".and he continued to walk away.Classic ending.

Interesting Facts : Out of five principal characters you see in this series,four is now in TVB and one (Choi) in China/Taiwan.Even Lau Dan is in TVB.And I would say for some,it was a good decision,like Jackie whos is getting a lot of exposure in TVB.But for Jan and Kong Wah,I really don't think so .So they have work,a very consistent thing but all Jan is playing is,..can anyone remember?And for Kong,though he has much more exposure but now after JTTW,all he played is Kings and more Kings.I am not complaining coz I have a feeling that he is probably the only TVB actor who can boast that he hugged more up and coming actresses than Louis(who got to kiss most of them though),and also all of the series he is in in TVB are all big time hits,which is a good thing.But then,he has less demanding roles.Since he is older now than he was in ATV,I guess other younger actors will get more screen time and hero roles.Which is a great pity for this actor who was simply irresistable and amazing as the very complex Yong Zheng in Secret Battle Of The Majesty.He deserves to have meatier roles that deman much more acting chops than he is having right now.

By the way,you can see him in Legend Of Lady Yang,Ups And Downs and also you can hear him in his coming album.

Jackie can be seen in When Dreams Come True

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