Deer and the Cauldron 2020 review

We have come to the end of yet another remake of The Deer and the Cauldron TV adaptation. While this version went with a more comical direction than the previous versions, except for Dicky's version, which was based off of the Stephen Chow movie and was also comical, I enjoyed Zhang Yishan's 2020 version just the same. I think many didn't give this version enough time before they jumped the gun and bad mouthed it and gave it such a low score on Douban. The most common phrase I read that was used to describe the 2020 version was (烂) lan or messy/chaotic. Well that's what happens when you cut it from 60 episode down to 45. This is evident with the 2020 version starting off at a blistering pace with Xiao Bao entering the palace at around the 12 minute mark and meeting the emperor at around the 27 minute mark of just the first episode. It also had a Wei Xiao Bao that was not confident which didn't give off the vibe of previous Xiao Baos, but this version of Xiao Bao becomes confident and quick witted as the show goes on. The running joke was that everybody complains that Xiao Bao talks too much. The director came out and told the audience that Xiao Bao was still growing and to give it time. I did just that and ended up enjoying this a lot.

One of the things that I liked about this version was the fact that this didn't have a dub and actually had all the actors and actresses' own voice. It really bothers me when I hear the same voice for 2 or more characters and the .5 or 1 second delay between voice and mouth movement. So watching a series where the actors and actresses use their own voice is a nice welcome. There were some dub here and there but that's probably because they didn't catch their voice with the boom. The only ones I could tell that had a whole dub was Xiao Bao's mother and Ao Bai. As far as the music in this series, the opening and ending theme songs were nice and catchy, and the bgm were excellent. I don't know why people knock on the acting and the costumes? I thought they were good. The acting is a little over the top at times, but seeing as this is more of a comedic take, it fits. Even A'Ke cracks some jokes and is comical at times. Some of the costumes like the normal casual clothes for the 7 wives were cute. Not as colorful as one might have liked, but they looked simple and pretty. I probably have seen too many Chinese dramas at this point to care for beautiful clothes to be honest.

Whenever a new Deer and the Cauldron is announced, the first thing that people think about are the 7 wives and this version doesn't disappoint, well except for maybe A'Ke. The knock on her was that the Actress, Guo Yang, was too manly looking. People were saying that even A'Qi was prettier than A'Ke in the comments. Otherwise you have a cute and innocent Mu Jian Ping but not as naive like in other versions, a cold and smart Fang Yi but not as mean like in previous versions, a naughty and crazy Princess Jian Ning, a loyal and caring Shuang Er but with a bit of a jealous side like in the 2014 version, a sexy and mature Su Quan, and a pretty and sweet Zeng Rou. I have never thought that any of the versions got the perfect casting for the 7 wives, but I really like the 2020 casting for the 7 wives the most out of all the versions.

There are one and a half negatives I would give the 2020 version. The first is the obvious and annoying cuts that was done to this version. Unless you are familiar with the story, some of the scenes don't make sense when it jumps around due to the cuts. Like for example how did Mu Jian Ping injure her leg and how did Xiao Bao know Zeng Rou's name when she never told him her name. One of the biggest cut was the brothel scene and this causes a big plot hole. In the brothel scene they just had Xiao Bao say he'll let the girls sleep it off and that's it. They skipped any and all mentions of him sleeping with the girls. If I was new to the series, I would question how Su Quan and A'Ke got pregnant. They at least alluded to Xiao Bao sleeping with Jian Ning earlier. This cut to the brothel scene also caused the following scene in the jail cell to be a complete mess. The scene jumps several times like for example you will see A'Ke far away from Xiao Bao, but then suddenly she is holding on to his arm in the following shot. Other important scenes are also cut like the scene where the children are given their names. It just goes 3 years later and that's it for all the scenes on the island.

The half negative is that Jian Ning was involved in way too many scenes. Some scenes didn't need her involvement at all or were not necessary. Like for example when she was learning etiquette from Jiu Nan Shi Tai. This was not needed as it didn't grow her character at all and it didn't provide anything to the story. It just ends and that's it. I wouldn't have minded these draggy and extra involvements with Jian Ning, but it came at the expense of the other girls. Mu Jian Ping, Fang Yi, Ah Ke, and Zeng Rou suffered the most. Mu Jian Ping and Fang Yi had their scenes in the palace shorten or cut. Shuang Er had some of her scenes cut, but at least new scenes were added. Zeng Rou comes out the worst as she doesn't have much story bits in the novel and to have her introduction scene cut made it worser than worst. Su Quan came out the best as she got a new story scene that didn't require to have Jian Ning in it. Otherwise the only way any of the girls get a scene or new scene is if it involves Jian Ning. I love the old scenes as well as the new scenes and wished that they didn't cut so much out or involve Jian Ning so much. I thought the 2014 version staring Han Dong did a better job at adding extra story scenes for all the wives without cutting out any of their old scenes.

As a fan of the Deer and the Cauldron novel and all the TV adaptations I would give the 2020 version an 8.5 out of 10. If it wasn't for the cuts I would give it a 9.5 out of 10. I liked seeing a more comedic take of a familiar story. If I knew nothing about the story, then I give it a 5 out of 10. The cuts were just that bad as a new viewer. After watching, I can't help but find it funny that the ones who complained that TV series has started to get draggy and wanted TV series to be shorter are also the ones who complains when the story becomes a complete mess because of the cuts. I would rather have a story drag and let the writer(s) and director(s) tell a complete story than it being messy and chaotic due to cuts.

If you didn't like the 2020 version, I advise you to watch the older versions. The 2008 version is as close to the novel as possible. It is best if you can find the TVB or Amazon release of the 2008 version as it is uncut compared to the China release of it. If you are like me and wanted a new take on the story because you have read the novel or have watched all previous TV versions then you would enjoy this 2020 version. I was so ready for a new take on the story that I was excited for Dreaming of the Deer and the Cauldron starring Hu Ge after watching it in 2011, but sadly it was only a web short for advertising Bu Bu Jing Xin. Really if the 2020 version was the same as the other versions it would be boring because I would have no reason to watch it. Just pretend Jin Yong's work is like the Marvel comics universe.

Well, I will now be waiting for the 2 different  movie versions, one directed by Pang Ho Cheung and another movie version that is rumored to be directed by and starring Bao Bei Er. I hope they don't wait too long to do another TV series. I just love the story too much. See all you Deer and the Cauldron fans then.

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AI Romantic Review

AI Romantic is a story about a poor A.I. salesman who accidentally hits one of his company's new A.I. called A.S.I. with his car and brings it home with him because he didn't want to get sued. He and his family uses the A.I., which they named A Bo, like a maid at first, but then they start to develop deep connections with A Bo and start to treat A Bo like she is part of the family.

I really liked the humor of this drama so the first half of the drama where Koo Ka Yim and his family started getting used to having an A.I. at home was fun. It was a blast watching A Bo learn to be more human with the help of the different family members. The way A Bo would help them with their personal problems was also amusing to watch.

The second half of the drama where A Bo and the other 4 A.S.I.s get infected with a virus and they begin to hate humans and wanted to hurt/kill them was a drag. The ending could have been better. I mean it was silly how he was able to quickly find the real A Bo. But it was at least a happy ending.

The production value of the drama is not going to impress any one. All the cg used was of medium to low quality. The acting was good and quite enjoyable. The music was also good.

I loved the idea of this drama and I enjoyed watching it even though the second half was a bit of a drag. I give it an 8 out of 10.

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How to train our dragon review

How to train our dragon is a hilarious movie about a 16 year old young man, Kuang Long, who wants to be free from his 5 over protective older sisters. When Kuang Long was a child he got his heart broken, so his 5 older sisters promise him that they will never let any girl hurt him again. Kuang Long thought that this was an encouragement to go chase after the girl, but instead all the sisters get mad at him and the oldest sister tells him to never think about ever getting a girlfriend in this life time again.

We move forward to 7 years later where Kuang Long is now 16. To gain his freedom to date again, he must find a girlfriend that meets all of his older sister's requirements. The oldest sister lays out the requirements. First, the girl must have the oldest sister's gentleness. Second, the girl must have the second oldest sister's elegance. Third, the girl must have the fifth oldest sister's diligence. Fourth, the girl must have the fourth oldest sister's attentiveness. And fifth, the oldest sister has a hard time coming up with a requirement so she just said the girl must have the third oldest sister's hair style. Of course the sisters are opposite of the requirements.

So Kuang Long sets off to find a girlfriend. He has a though time finding one. But lucky for him, the new female transfer student, Xiao Meng, loves to help people. The reason is because she has just transferred school 13 times within the year, so she has the tendency to always please others as quick as possible.

Kuang Long and his friend hatches a plan to get her to help Kuang Long. Kuang Long wanted his friend to speak highly of him in front of the Xiao Meng, but the friend instead tells her that Kuang Long is going to go crazy due to his 5 older sisters wanting to harvest his organs. The only way the sisters would not harvest his organs is if Kuang Long falls in love.

Xiao Meng doesn't want to pretend to be Kuang Long's girlfriend at first, but after the incident at the zoo, she sees Kuang Long's fourth and fifth oldest sisters come in to check on him. They check on his head, arms, feet, and his male part. Instead of seeing it as love, Xiao Meng thinks they only care about his organs, so she says she is Kuang Long's girlfriend. So now they must prove to the sisters that their love for each other is real.

One of the only complaints I have about the movie is that the 5 older sisters didn't get enough development, but considering the time constraint of a movie, they provided enough info for the viewers to distinguish the different personalities of the sisters.

This movie keeps the comedy coming and you're laugh all the way from the beginning to the end. I give this movie a 9.5 out of 10, and I highly recommend it to people who love slap stick comedy with a side of romance. It is almost like an anime come to life.

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DGSD 2021 Review

This new version of Demi Gods and Semi Devils 2021, like the latest version of The Deer and the Cauldron 2020, is very divisive. That's because we are trying to compare past versions to the new versions. I stopped comparing The Deer and the Cauldron 2020 with past versions and I ended up really enjoying the 2020 version. For Demi Gods and Semi Devils 2021, I did the same and enjoyed it.

Was there a need for a new version, no and yes. No because we liked the old versions and thought they were perfect. Yes because this new version might have been better than previous versions if it was done better. When the 2003 version was announced I was like again, but I ended up liking it more than the 1996 version. I didn't like the 2013 all that much, but it was only because of the casting. Kim Ki Bum as Duan Yu and Zhang Meng as Wang Yu Yan were badly miscast. Mao Xiao Tong as Zhong Ling was perfect, very sweet and cute. So new versions being made isn't a bad thing. You might end up liking the new version more than previous versions like I did.

So now that the rant is over, let's move on to my review.

As for the positives of the 2021 version of Demi Gods and Semi Devils, Mu Wan Qing was one of the bright spots. I never really liked past actresses portrayal of the character. Liu Mei Tong had the perfect look and mannerisms to portray Mu Wan Qing. Other positives are the locations and music used for the show. The locations used were nice looking and the music was fitting.

As for the negative, it was the cuts. Like Duan Yu knowing Mu Wan Qing's last name before she even told him. I thought I missed the scene but nope, Duan Yu just miraculously knows it. Another cut that was bad was after the fight between Xu Zhu and Xingxiu Lao Guai. Xu Zhu's master tells him to listen to his orders, but how the hell can he when they were not in the same location. Xu Zhu just magically teleports back to his master.

A second negative is the expanded story for A Zi. Like why? No knock on the actress He Hong Shan as she was very good as A Zi, but the extra story bits for her I could do without.

A third negative was the ending. Zhong Ling and Mu Wan Qing leaving and never coming back was such a big "what the" moment. And Wang Yu Yan almost becoming a nun but not in a matter of seconds was also confusing. If they were going for an original ending at least give us a more satisfying one.

Again look pass the fact that this is yet another version of an old series and you'll enjoy it to some degree. If this is your first version and you didn't like it all that much, I recommend the 1996 HK TVB version or the 2003 version.

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Happy Mitan Review

Happy Mitan is sort of an unofficial prequel to The Deer and the Cauldron / The Duke of Mount Deer / Royal Tramp.

In Happy Mitan, viewers meet many familiar characters that appear in The Deer and the Cauldron / The Duke of Mount Deer / Royal Tramp like Chun Hua (Who is Wei Xiao Bao's mother), Hai Da Fu, Chen Jin Nan (Who still goes by Chen Wang Ren in Happy Mitan before changing his name to Chen Jin Nan), Feng Xi Fan (Who goes by Fan Xi Feng before he changed his name), Hong Er Niu (Who is Su Quan's mother), and many others.

The positive is that Happy Mitan is very funny. It is very slap sticks in its humour and it has many forth wall breaking moments. You will laugh out loud in many of the different scenes.

The negative is that it focuses on a lot of side characters that drags the whole series. Another negative is that the mix of slap stick comedy and the serious dramatic bits feels weird when it is mixed together in the same scenes. Like am I supposed to laugh or cry? It also suffers from being good for the first half of the series to being boring and a drag for the last half of the series.

I recommend those who are fans of the The Deer and the Cauldron / The Duke of Mount Deer / Royal Tramp to give this series a watch. While it is not an official prequel, it is done well enough that it feels like a real prequel.

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