The nth drama adaptation of Return of the Condor Heroes (this one is going to have the 2014 year appended to it to distinguish it from the previous versions) is almost done filming and after four months I can say the long nightmare is wrapping to a close. Producer and troll Yu Zheng has been steadily releasing stills from the drama filming and I’ve only been sparing a cursory glance at it since the end product is a variation of photoshopped to the extreme and still mightily unattractive. Between an earthly rather than heavenly Xiaolongnu played by Michelle Chen sporting hair horns and Chen Xiao as Yang Guo looking like a hobo rather than a iconoclastic hero-in-the-making, I figured this drama would vex me to the end. The latest batch of stills released are different enough to merit a post about not to mention there is fresh controversy again. In the biggest costume and hair change for the leads since the drama filming began, the latest stills are after the 16 year time jump at the end of the book so Yang Guo is now in his 30s and an established warrior hero while Xiaolongnu has been living in a cave for this whole time.
Looks like Michelle Chen really did lose quite a lot of weight during the filming and the end result is evident in these latest stills whereas early one she was still very soft and round. It helps immensely that she’s lost the hair horns and this new hairstyle is relaxed and bland. Yu Zheng has this version of Yang Guo losing his left arm and fans are howling again since he clearly lost his right arm in the book. It’s a critical change since in the book he had to re-learn his martial arts skills with his left hand, but this isn’t the first drama Yang Guo to lost the wrong arm. Both Andy Lau and Louis Koo‘s Yang Guo also lost their left arm and the reason being the actors just can’t effectively perform the martial arts onscreen with their left arm. The only RoCH to correctly have the lead lose the right arm is Huang Xiaoming‘s version. Viewers are also LOLing at Yang Guo’s face mask in this version, which they correctly describe as a flesh-colored felt texture mask that makes him look like he’s doing a facial. Ha! This latest batch of stills finally got a flaming comment from famed C-director Zhang Zi Zhong, he who adapted all of Louis Cha‘s novels in the last decade to well-received drama versions, including the Huang Xiaoming version of RoCH. He posted on his Weibo a scathing rebuke of how RoCH is not some romance novel so why are the leads French kissing after their reunion and where is the grandeur and scale of a story about patriotic and familial ties and duty? Preach it, Zhang Zi Zhong! Even though Yu Zheng could care less and continues to laugh all the way to the bank.
Michelle Chen lost so much weight that she looks like a different person!
plastic surgery perhaps? lol
anyhow…yea, she sure lost a lot of weight. O_O
It’s not plastic surgery. PS, unlike laser treatments, it’s a big surgery. Plastic surgery on the face requires HUGE down time for the swelling to go down. There’s no way she could have had ps AND filming at the same time.
Wow…that’s a disturbing amount of weight loss in just 4 months…that’s not good
Why they always photoshop Michelle Chen pics soooo much ? It is too obvious !
The best of the best was still Andy Lau’s version, then Louis Koo. I watched both of them.
The last one is … what should I say? I and my friends who like wuxia loling too much to see Michelle Chen as Shiao Lung Li. I like Idy Chan and Charman Lee. Chrystal Liu is beautiful but I dont watch her version yet.
The best of the best version was still huang xiaoming version.
The best of the best Shen Diao Xia Lv was still huang xiaming and crystal liu version. Because the only RoCH to correctly have the lead lose the right arm is Huang Xiaoming‘s version.
we live in a very judgemental society. ppl said she was too chubby and now that she’s lost weight, ppl are saying it’s not healthy to lose all that weight . can’t satisfy anyone I guess.
My exact sentiment! thanks for voicing it out. It’s good to read good insightful comment once in awhile.
Totally…people r weird! I really like michelle chen, she’s really pretty! Plus she could hve lost some weight due to all those people saying tht bout her. But im waiting for this drama to come out so I can watch it!
The mask…!! Why is it so hard to make a mask?? Seriously, I feel like it get worse every year.
The best I have seen so far is Louis Koo’s mask in the 1995 version. I said that, but I’ll probably watch with an enthusiasm of a giggling fangirl hahaha. I just love Yang Gou! That’s a guy who know how to respect a woman right! Well, most of the time…he tried haha
Love Michelle Chen & Chen Xiao!!
RoCH 2014 ♡
Michelle Chen should not play the role of Xiao Long Nu. She is too ugly for that role. I pretty sure there are some prettier Chinese girl out there for that role. Who ever picked her for that role sucks. I loved watching the of all the other series except this one. Michelle chen ruined this series big time.