XAJH Mainland 2001: Final Battles
笑 傲 江 湖
~Xiao Ao Jiang Hu~
Laughing in The Wind
CCTV (Mainland China) 2001
Final Part: Final Battles
(Episode 33-40)
Main Casts
Li Yapeng as Linghu Chong
Xu Qing as Ren Yingying
I will not summarize the story for this last arc, as to not spoil the whole thing and simply share my comments.
First of all, there's the EPIC Dongfang Bubai fight. This is my #1 fight scene in this series. Ren Woxing, Xiang Wentian, Ren Yingying and Linghu Chong vs the transgender villain. The whole thing was just breath-taking, beautiful and well-crafted! But let me talk about Dongfang Bubai first. The character was played by Mao Weitao, a woman. However her voice was dubbed by a man (speaking like a transverstite). Zhang Jizhong did the perfect casting, imho. Although she's a woman, but she has broad and sharp jawline so she suits the transgender character. Beautiful Japanese kimono-like dress with pretty and artistic make-up. The book described DFBB's place beautiful and the room has very feminine taste, also he dresses not like a man but also not like a woman. This adaptation escalated DFBB's character as a classy and beauty-oriented transverstite. He definitely gives a creepy feeling with how slow the way he talks, and how slow his gestures are.
In the book, DFBB uses only needles as his weapon but this adaptation shows him using colorful threads, which was obviously inspired by Bridgette Lin's version of the character in Jet Li's movie Swordsman II, and I think it's a nice move.
With the combination of the colorful threads, beautiful and colorful flower petals around, well-choreographed fight and innovative ideas, this fight is definitely the most eye-catching and beautiful fight scene I've ever seen on TV screen! All the needles and threads work were stunning! I also love the moment when DFBB surrounded himself with circles of threads and Ren Woxing and Linghu Chong tried to tear it away with their Xixin Dafa.
You might feel "ew..." when you see Dongfang Bubai acting so lovingly toward his boyfriend, Yang Lianting, in the beginning, but at the end when Yingying stabbed YLT to distract DFBB and he was defeated, you can't help but to feel sorry for the character. He sincerely loves Yang Lianting and when he tried to reach out for him, and then Linghu Chong pushed him gently with his inner energy and made him flew and landed on Yang Lianting's body and died there, it made such a moving and beautiful ending to the fight. And I absolutely love the fact that Linghu Chong felt sorry and was very kind to let him die next to his lover.
I also love how badass and quick-witted Yingying was when the other three were cornered by DFBB and she noticed Yang Lianting could distract DFBB's attention, so she pulled him close to her with her whip and stabbed him with her sword in a very cool and stylish way.
XAJH2001's Dongfang Bubai is definitely my #1 favorite Jin Yong villain! His elegant and classy attitude and appearance, and also the fact that he prioritizes beauty, shows that he's not just any other transverstite and it lives up to his #1 martial artist's title.
I also like the fact that she only appeared in 3 episodes in this adaptation (unlike other adaptations that increases his screentime by a far margin) although I prefer him not to appear in Ep22, because that scene was meaningless, but it's still better than other adaptations.
The next worth-to-mention fight scene in this last arc is Lin Pingzhi vs Yu Canghai-Mu Gaofeng. It was not only well-choreographed, but it was shocking and had a gruesome ending, as well. To be honest, I can't bring myself to watch this scene for a 3rd time, because it's unpleasant to look at. I just find it so disgusting when whatever-black-liquid spurts out of MGF's back and hit Lin Pingzhi's face and blinded him.
Not only the fight scene, Lin Pingzhi's scenes after this fight, is very unpleasant to look at too, for a 2nd or 3rd watch. Not only he acts like a transverstite, his blinded eyes and his scarred face that is unpleasant to look at, but his attitude toward Yue Lingshan is so, very unpleasant too, it was just very annoying to watch. I do think Li Jie did an awesome job as Lin Pingzhi, just that this adaptation has a darker tone compared to the book, so what's already dark in the book (LPZ's character toward the end of the story), became darker and more unpleasant to see in this series.
I particularly love all Linghu Chong and Ren Yingying's scenes, because they have grown much closer and looks so comfortable around each other in this final arc. I love all the scenes when they're joking around and laughing together, having so much fun together. Li Yapeng and Xu Qing had natural and sizzling chemistry that was so perfect, which I love so much to the extent that I suspected they were dating in real life. (of course, I was wrong)
Although there were a few "WTF!?" editings in the last 3-4 episodes, but the final episode was definitely satisfying! In the book, it was anti-climax, because after Yue Buqun died, Ren Woxing challenged Linghu Chong to a fight but he died due to old age even before the duel time. In this adaptation, Yue Buqun and Ren Woxing had a duel, and then Linghu Chong fought YBQ, and it makes a wonderful climax scene. The LHC vs YBQ had one of the best climax ending among other fight scenes I've ever seen. When LHC threw him to the air and stopped him with his inner energy and the Hengshan nuns threw and thrusted their swords toward Yue Buqun, that was just epic and classic! The first time I saw this, I felt like clapping my hands and with the grand orchestra version of the themesong as background music, this moment really moved me and it was such a perfect, epic ending to an epic series. Amazing! Anyway, this adaptation is not the first one that put YBQ vs RWX duel before LHC vs YBQ, the 1984 TVB and 1985 Taiwanese adaptations had the same pattern, as well.
Zhang Jizhong is a very capable producer especially in the casting department. He definitely has eyes in choosing the perfect cast for each character. His friendly relationship with Jin Yong helps too, because he get to ask advice from the author himself, although sometimes he disagree with Jin Yong's opinion. This adaptation's casting is definitely one of the best. It has a very solid cast, imo.
Linghu Chong as Li Yapeng (9/10)
I admit, he's not perfect, but I think he pulls off Linghu Chong's various emotions excellently. He did his funny and comical expression right on the spot, yet he can look very cool in fight scenes, charming in serious scenes and you feel sorry for him in sad scenes, as well. Li Yapeng's problem is that the fact he has opposite personality with Linghu Chong, he is a very serious person in real life and he admitted he has difficulties in portraying the funny side of Linghu Chong. Although, he did a great job in the funny scenes, his funny mood and serious mood switches too drastic. In a serious scene, he looks naturally Li Yapeng-serious and not Linghu Chong-serious. Something's off when he switches from joking to serious, it didn't look natural. But other than that, he was awesome as Linghu Chong. His dubber did an amazing job and helps his portrayal a lot too, I think. I can't imagine Linghu Chong in that Li Yapeng's ultra-bass voice XD (he dubbed his own voice in LoCH2003)
Li Yapeng told the press that when Jin Yong visited the set and he asked him advice in portraying LHC, Jin Yong told him to make up 3 jokes everyday. According to a source, although Li Yapeng received many critics and bashing from the audience saying he doesn't suit Linghu Chong's image (as any other actors who played Jin Yong characters), Jin Yong expressed that he really like his portrayal as Linghu Chong.
Xu Qing as Ren Yingying (10/10)
Xu Qing was phenomenal as Ren Yingying. True, she made the character more complex than the book, but she managed to show different sides of Yingying so naturally and effortlessly. Her cruelness, her commanding presence, her kindness, her gentleness, her shyness and her cuteness, she switches from one face to another face naturally like she owns all these traits. Her screentime increase also helps her character development, I believe. Not to mention, she looks like an angel when she smiles shyly. I love it everytime Yingying is giggling cutely over Linghu Chong's jokes, just like in the book. Other adaptations tend to focus too much on her shy and pure traits that they never laugh and makes Yingying boring, somehow. This version of Yingying is more of a badass, as well, she get many fight scenes alone and it shows she can defend herself very well. And, of course, to quote what Jin Yong himself said to Xu Qing, "You're the Ren Yingying I've always imagined,"
On a side note, I really love Yingying's braided hair and costumes too, especially her deep blue and orange costumes, sooo pretty! They all look really good on her.
Wei Zi as Yue Buqun (10/10)
This actor is really amazing. He really suits the "Gentleman Sword" image and he portrayed Yue Buqun, such a naturally hypocrite jerk. I really can't imagine Yue Buqun acted by anyone else. Each of his gesture is just somehow naturally annoying and naturally hypocrite. Although it was never mentioned in the book, but this adaptation made him speak a little bit like a woman after he practiced the Pixie manual, and I think he did an awesome job. Not sure if he dubbed his own voice or not, but the dubber did an incredible job too.
Li Jie as Lin Pingzhi (9/10)
I find Lin Pingzhi unlikeable since the beginning, but I was never interested in Lin Pingzhi's arc in the book, anyway. But there's no doubt Li Jie portrayed the character's growth, development and changes, excellently and so natural. Ugh, I really hate the character toward the end, and I think he's just so disgusting.
Miao Yiyi as Yue Lingshan (8/10)
To be honest, I think it's very easy to portray this character, as long as the actress looks pretty and cute. The character is cute and lovely in the beginning but then she gets more and more boring as the story progresses. Miao Yiyi did a good job as Yue Lingshan, the only downside is that none of her wig looks good and/or naturally goes with her face, but I blame the costume crews for this, poor Miao Yiyi.
Chen Lifeng as Yilin (9/10)
Yilin is a damsel in distress in the book and in any adaptations. This one is not an exception. But I gotta give the actress almost a full mark for willing to shave off her head bald, true to the book! That's amazing professionalism. And even with her head bald, her face still looks so beautiful like how the book described her. Unbelievable. None of any other adaptations has the Hengshan nuns really shave off their heads. I really kowtow to all the actresses and extras who plays the Hengshan nuns in this adaptation.
The cast and crews with Jin Yong, the novel author
Despite the solid cast, amazing details, amazing cinematography, amazing locations and amazing fight choreography, plus the generally high TV ratings, this series received critics and bashings among Jin Yong's purists, that Zhang Jizhong almost turn down CCTV offer for him to be the producer again for LoCH2003. Jin Yong himself expressed his disappointment that CCTV changed some of the plot although they promised him they'd stay true to the book when they bought the copyrights. When the media blew this out of proportion and made it sound like JY was so angry toward CCTV and caused the negative critics from fans and audience got more severe, Jin Yong released another statement through the media, that he was just disappointed and not angry at all about the plot changes, and that he actually felt really moved with all the cast and crews' effort and passion in the overall production.
1) Li Yapeng & Xu Qing with producer, Zhang Jizhong, on the set
2) Li Yapeng, Xu Qing and Miao Yiyi at a promotional event
The only minus point for me, is the music scores that mostly sounds so boring and puts you to sleep. There were very few BGMs I like though, including the BGMs during fight scenes that uses only drum sound or like when Linghu Chong threw a cup to a table and it makes clatter noise, the clatter noise makes a certain rhythm and becomes the BGM for the fight scene, I thought that was interesting and innovative.
It has been 13 years but I still haven't find any wuxia series that can beat this one, not even any other later Zhang Jizhong's productions that has followed. The crews' attention to little details in this production is unbeatable so far, for me. I really hope another one like this, and better, will come out someday.
You can watch this series here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCos_1jZq9Y&list=PLA3M3jODMcbdXo8IKcg_9AkDKTMeDI20c
~Xiao Ao Jiang Hu~
Laughing in The Wind
CCTV (Mainland China) 2001
Final Part: Final Battles
(Episode 33-40)
Main Casts
Li Yapeng as Linghu Chong
Xu Qing as Ren Yingying
I will not summarize the story for this last arc, as to not spoil the whole thing and simply share my comments.
First of all, there's the EPIC Dongfang Bubai fight. This is my #1 fight scene in this series. Ren Woxing, Xiang Wentian, Ren Yingying and Linghu Chong vs the transgender villain. The whole thing was just breath-taking, beautiful and well-crafted! But let me talk about Dongfang Bubai first. The character was played by Mao Weitao, a woman. However her voice was dubbed by a man (speaking like a transverstite). Zhang Jizhong did the perfect casting, imho. Although she's a woman, but she has broad and sharp jawline so she suits the transgender character. Beautiful Japanese kimono-like dress with pretty and artistic make-up. The book described DFBB's place beautiful and the room has very feminine taste, also he dresses not like a man but also not like a woman. This adaptation escalated DFBB's character as a classy and beauty-oriented transverstite. He definitely gives a creepy feeling with how slow the way he talks, and how slow his gestures are.
In the book, DFBB uses only needles as his weapon but this adaptation shows him using colorful threads, which was obviously inspired by Bridgette Lin's version of the character in Jet Li's movie Swordsman II, and I think it's a nice move.
With the combination of the colorful threads, beautiful and colorful flower petals around, well-choreographed fight and innovative ideas, this fight is definitely the most eye-catching and beautiful fight scene I've ever seen on TV screen! All the needles and threads work were stunning! I also love the moment when DFBB surrounded himself with circles of threads and Ren Woxing and Linghu Chong tried to tear it away with their Xixin Dafa.
You might feel "ew..." when you see Dongfang Bubai acting so lovingly toward his boyfriend, Yang Lianting, in the beginning, but at the end when Yingying stabbed YLT to distract DFBB and he was defeated, you can't help but to feel sorry for the character. He sincerely loves Yang Lianting and when he tried to reach out for him, and then Linghu Chong pushed him gently with his inner energy and made him flew and landed on Yang Lianting's body and died there, it made such a moving and beautiful ending to the fight. And I absolutely love the fact that Linghu Chong felt sorry and was very kind to let him die next to his lover.
I also love how badass and quick-witted Yingying was when the other three were cornered by DFBB and she noticed Yang Lianting could distract DFBB's attention, so she pulled him close to her with her whip and stabbed him with her sword in a very cool and stylish way.
XAJH2001's Dongfang Bubai is definitely my #1 favorite Jin Yong villain! His elegant and classy attitude and appearance, and also the fact that he prioritizes beauty, shows that he's not just any other transverstite and it lives up to his #1 martial artist's title.
I also like the fact that she only appeared in 3 episodes in this adaptation (unlike other adaptations that increases his screentime by a far margin) although I prefer him not to appear in Ep22, because that scene was meaningless, but it's still better than other adaptations.
The next worth-to-mention fight scene in this last arc is Lin Pingzhi vs Yu Canghai-Mu Gaofeng. It was not only well-choreographed, but it was shocking and had a gruesome ending, as well. To be honest, I can't bring myself to watch this scene for a 3rd time, because it's unpleasant to look at. I just find it so disgusting when whatever-black-liquid spurts out of MGF's back and hit Lin Pingzhi's face and blinded him.
Not only the fight scene, Lin Pingzhi's scenes after this fight, is very unpleasant to look at too, for a 2nd or 3rd watch. Not only he acts like a transverstite, his blinded eyes and his scarred face that is unpleasant to look at, but his attitude toward Yue Lingshan is so, very unpleasant too, it was just very annoying to watch. I do think Li Jie did an awesome job as Lin Pingzhi, just that this adaptation has a darker tone compared to the book, so what's already dark in the book (LPZ's character toward the end of the story), became darker and more unpleasant to see in this series.
I particularly love all Linghu Chong and Ren Yingying's scenes, because they have grown much closer and looks so comfortable around each other in this final arc. I love all the scenes when they're joking around and laughing together, having so much fun together. Li Yapeng and Xu Qing had natural and sizzling chemistry that was so perfect, which I love so much to the extent that I suspected they were dating in real life. (of course, I was wrong)
Although there were a few "WTF!?" editings in the last 3-4 episodes, but the final episode was definitely satisfying! In the book, it was anti-climax, because after Yue Buqun died, Ren Woxing challenged Linghu Chong to a fight but he died due to old age even before the duel time. In this adaptation, Yue Buqun and Ren Woxing had a duel, and then Linghu Chong fought YBQ, and it makes a wonderful climax scene. The LHC vs YBQ had one of the best climax ending among other fight scenes I've ever seen. When LHC threw him to the air and stopped him with his inner energy and the Hengshan nuns threw and thrusted their swords toward Yue Buqun, that was just epic and classic! The first time I saw this, I felt like clapping my hands and with the grand orchestra version of the themesong as background music, this moment really moved me and it was such a perfect, epic ending to an epic series. Amazing! Anyway, this adaptation is not the first one that put YBQ vs RWX duel before LHC vs YBQ, the 1984 TVB and 1985 Taiwanese adaptations had the same pattern, as well.
Zhang Jizhong is a very capable producer especially in the casting department. He definitely has eyes in choosing the perfect cast for each character. His friendly relationship with Jin Yong helps too, because he get to ask advice from the author himself, although sometimes he disagree with Jin Yong's opinion. This adaptation's casting is definitely one of the best. It has a very solid cast, imo.
Linghu Chong as Li Yapeng (9/10)
I admit, he's not perfect, but I think he pulls off Linghu Chong's various emotions excellently. He did his funny and comical expression right on the spot, yet he can look very cool in fight scenes, charming in serious scenes and you feel sorry for him in sad scenes, as well. Li Yapeng's problem is that the fact he has opposite personality with Linghu Chong, he is a very serious person in real life and he admitted he has difficulties in portraying the funny side of Linghu Chong. Although, he did a great job in the funny scenes, his funny mood and serious mood switches too drastic. In a serious scene, he looks naturally Li Yapeng-serious and not Linghu Chong-serious. Something's off when he switches from joking to serious, it didn't look natural. But other than that, he was awesome as Linghu Chong. His dubber did an amazing job and helps his portrayal a lot too, I think. I can't imagine Linghu Chong in that Li Yapeng's ultra-bass voice XD (he dubbed his own voice in LoCH2003)
Li Yapeng told the press that when Jin Yong visited the set and he asked him advice in portraying LHC, Jin Yong told him to make up 3 jokes everyday. According to a source, although Li Yapeng received many critics and bashing from the audience saying he doesn't suit Linghu Chong's image (as any other actors who played Jin Yong characters), Jin Yong expressed that he really like his portrayal as Linghu Chong.
Xu Qing as Ren Yingying (10/10)
Xu Qing was phenomenal as Ren Yingying. True, she made the character more complex than the book, but she managed to show different sides of Yingying so naturally and effortlessly. Her cruelness, her commanding presence, her kindness, her gentleness, her shyness and her cuteness, she switches from one face to another face naturally like she owns all these traits. Her screentime increase also helps her character development, I believe. Not to mention, she looks like an angel when she smiles shyly. I love it everytime Yingying is giggling cutely over Linghu Chong's jokes, just like in the book. Other adaptations tend to focus too much on her shy and pure traits that they never laugh and makes Yingying boring, somehow. This version of Yingying is more of a badass, as well, she get many fight scenes alone and it shows she can defend herself very well. And, of course, to quote what Jin Yong himself said to Xu Qing, "You're the Ren Yingying I've always imagined,"
On a side note, I really love Yingying's braided hair and costumes too, especially her deep blue and orange costumes, sooo pretty! They all look really good on her.
Wei Zi as Yue Buqun (10/10)
This actor is really amazing. He really suits the "Gentleman Sword" image and he portrayed Yue Buqun, such a naturally hypocrite jerk. I really can't imagine Yue Buqun acted by anyone else. Each of his gesture is just somehow naturally annoying and naturally hypocrite. Although it was never mentioned in the book, but this adaptation made him speak a little bit like a woman after he practiced the Pixie manual, and I think he did an awesome job. Not sure if he dubbed his own voice or not, but the dubber did an incredible job too.
Li Jie as Lin Pingzhi (9/10)
I find Lin Pingzhi unlikeable since the beginning, but I was never interested in Lin Pingzhi's arc in the book, anyway. But there's no doubt Li Jie portrayed the character's growth, development and changes, excellently and so natural. Ugh, I really hate the character toward the end, and I think he's just so disgusting.
Miao Yiyi as Yue Lingshan (8/10)
To be honest, I think it's very easy to portray this character, as long as the actress looks pretty and cute. The character is cute and lovely in the beginning but then she gets more and more boring as the story progresses. Miao Yiyi did a good job as Yue Lingshan, the only downside is that none of her wig looks good and/or naturally goes with her face, but I blame the costume crews for this, poor Miao Yiyi.
Chen Lifeng as Yilin (9/10)
Yilin is a damsel in distress in the book and in any adaptations. This one is not an exception. But I gotta give the actress almost a full mark for willing to shave off her head bald, true to the book! That's amazing professionalism. And even with her head bald, her face still looks so beautiful like how the book described her. Unbelievable. None of any other adaptations has the Hengshan nuns really shave off their heads. I really kowtow to all the actresses and extras who plays the Hengshan nuns in this adaptation.
The cast and crews with Jin Yong, the novel author
Despite the solid cast, amazing details, amazing cinematography, amazing locations and amazing fight choreography, plus the generally high TV ratings, this series received critics and bashings among Jin Yong's purists, that Zhang Jizhong almost turn down CCTV offer for him to be the producer again for LoCH2003. Jin Yong himself expressed his disappointment that CCTV changed some of the plot although they promised him they'd stay true to the book when they bought the copyrights. When the media blew this out of proportion and made it sound like JY was so angry toward CCTV and caused the negative critics from fans and audience got more severe, Jin Yong released another statement through the media, that he was just disappointed and not angry at all about the plot changes, and that he actually felt really moved with all the cast and crews' effort and passion in the overall production.
1) Li Yapeng & Xu Qing with producer, Zhang Jizhong, on the set
2) Li Yapeng, Xu Qing and Miao Yiyi at a promotional event
The only minus point for me, is the music scores that mostly sounds so boring and puts you to sleep. There were very few BGMs I like though, including the BGMs during fight scenes that uses only drum sound or like when Linghu Chong threw a cup to a table and it makes clatter noise, the clatter noise makes a certain rhythm and becomes the BGM for the fight scene, I thought that was interesting and innovative.
It has been 13 years but I still haven't find any wuxia series that can beat this one, not even any other later Zhang Jizhong's productions that has followed. The crews' attention to little details in this production is unbeatable so far, for me. I really hope another one like this, and better, will come out someday.
You can watch this series here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCos_1jZq9Y&list=PLA3M3jODMcbdXo8IKcg_9AkDKTMeDI20c