There are few actors or actresses that’s a sure thing to watch and Bolin Chen is on that short list for me. His intensity in performance is always a pleasure even in the most uninspiring of fare, and most of the time he picks wisely in projects that have a story worth telling. His return to drama land for the … Continue reading →
Good news is better when confirmed fast and this confirmation satisfied my excited appetite for a potentially great onscreen drama pairing. Last night the Chinese drama fans were treated to a drama cast flirting via Weibo that put to rest the leads for the upcoming C-drama adaptation of romance novel Empress Fuyao. C-actress Yang Mi has been cast for a … Continue reading →
It might not be a stretch to say that C-actress Yang Mi has set the bar for how to properly and perfectly portray a fantasy period heroine with mythical powers. Her three character take in Three Lives Three Worlds, Ten Miles Peach Blossoms (Eternal Love) may not stand for all eternity but for now takes the goddess throne as confidently … Continue reading →
The romance novel Once Promised is a fantastic read for those who hate love triangles and love OTP consistency, but terribly traumatic for those who need happy endings. The C-drama adaption A Life Time Love (Ancient Love Song) uses the story but changes all the names to avoid upsetting Chinese censors as the original tale was about historical fantasy deities … Continue reading →
I did double take when I saw both the casting and the adaptation announced for an upcoming fantasy C-drama. The King of Blaze (Fire King) taps into an old school manga well in adapting the same name Taiwanese manga from the early 90’s (1992 to be exact) by writer You Su Lan. It’s the sequel manga to You Su Lan’s … Continue reading →
Adaptations of Chinese romance writer Tong Hua’s novels have been mostly a miss. Other than Bu Bu Jing Xin all else have failed to tap into what made her stories come alive on the page. From Song of the Cloud (Love Yunge From the Desert), Ballad of the Desert (Sound of the Desert), Secrets Hidden by Time (Best Time) to the … Continue reading →
It’s weird how much I still love Liu Shi Shi considering she hasn’t made a single drama or movie I’ve liked in five years, yet the love from Bu Bu Jing Xin and even earlier in Legend of the Condor Heroes is sustenance enough. I always have hope her next drama will be good and this upcoming period romance Lost … Continue reading →
New and dramatically sideways drama posters for upcoming big budget period C-drama Princess Agents has me mildly hopeful I can find a new C-drama worth watching. Can’t say I love either leads Zhao Li Ying or Lin Geng Xin but I don’t dislike either as well and have heard lots of buzz around this particular project since it was announced. … Continue reading →
Popularity doesn’t always mean money and oftentimes I hear of popular K-idols who lament being penny poor because they haven’t been paid due to contract or income complications. The same goes in the television world where ratings matters less than what the product sold for and how much ad revenue it brought in. The greater the delta the better for … Continue reading →
Filming has commenced for what is being billed as Taiwan’s adaptation of hit K-drama Descendants of the Sun, but really I think that’s a stretch and more of a marketing ploy. DotS has been referred to as a homage and glorification of military service in Korea, turning what is a mandatory two year purgatory of sorts of all able bodied … Continue reading →
Is 16 years long enough or still too short a period of time to consider offering up a new version? Drama adaptations of Louis Cha wuxia novels are now hitting airwaves at shorter and shorter intervals in between so 16 years may be sufficient to proffer up another Taiwan drama take on the classic shoujo romance manga Hana Yori Dango … Continue reading →
Consider me once again wholly impressed with TW-actor Mark Chao‘s depth and range, a good 8 years after he blew me away in his acting debut performance as the co male lead in hit drama Black & White back in 2009. What was starting to feel like a one hit wonder performance finally feels properly displayed again placed next to … Continue reading →
I have a feeling that Yang Mi and her performance in the recently concluded mega hit fantasy romance C-drama Three Lives Three Worlds, Ten Miles Peach Blossoms (Eternal Love) will actually get better with time. Most dramas and performances don’t age well, and some can’t even stand up to a second watch. But so far into my second watch of … Continue reading →
