Martha CrimsonAm I missing something because I'm a noob at c-drama? The costume design is weird, and the story doesn't really click together. It's an okayish watch, so I don't regret spending time on it though. I'd say it's a good 'scream and throw popcorn at the screen' movie, best watched with friends.
Suzie Cho@MarthaCrimson Is it the 2003 movie? I don’t think I’ve watched this yet which is strange because Zhao Wei is probably my favourite C-actress. She’s cancelled now though which is unfortunate.
@suziecho
That's the one. It's currently on Netflix Nordic. Zhao Wei does a good job, as do most of the actors - I feel the movie was butchered in editing. Pity about the cancellation! What happened?
That's the one. It's currently on Netflix Nordic. Zhao Wei does a good job, as do most of the actors - I feel the movie was butchered in editing. Pity about the cancellation! What happened?
@MarthaCrimson Oh it’s on my Canadian Netflix too & last day to watch is Nov30. Darn I better hurry up! Re Zhao Wei: https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/30/china/china-entertainment-crackdown-mic-intl-hnk/index.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twCNN&utm_content=2021-09-23T11:10:33
I’m still heartbroken over this. It’s probably more because she & her businessman husband are entrepreneurial & very wealthy. An actor signed to her agency fell afoul with netizens cos he was photographed at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo. They dug up Zhao Wei wearing a dress with the Japanese flag too!
@suziecho In a way it's like being put in a weird time machine back to the early 1970s re Zhao Wei, Guo Jingming, and Deng Lung (etc). While the accusations are different, the treatment/"show" and even some of the rhetoric is the same. "Reminiscent of the Cultural Revolution" is spot on. My guess is that the authorities have noted k-pop fans' influence on politics, and are cracking down on anything they can get.
@MarthaCrimson Absolutely! The Govt uses the arts & entertainment industry to define their moral & societal standards. That’s also why we’re seeing more Govt-sponsored propaganda productions these days. The recent award-winning movies & dramas are all likely to convey the party rhetoric. Luckily it’s harder to tamper with the fantasy genre & historicals are usually pretty patriotic anyway.
@suziecho
Yes, fantasy is a bit of a safe space that way. Fairies and dragons don't easily lend themselves to official retoric, and don't count when it comes to criticism since they're Not Real.
Yes, fantasy is a bit of a safe space that way. Fairies and dragons don't easily lend themselves to official retoric, and don't count when it comes to criticism since they're Not Real.
@MarthaCrimson Zhao Wei & Donnie Yen starred in an action wuxia, 14 Blades. Her Painted Skin 1 & 2 movies are fantasy/adventure with a fox spirit - both appear to be on YouTube. Also her 2009 Mulan is leaps & bounds better than Disney’s live action attempt. Sorry for just listing recommendations, but as a Zhao Wei fan, I can’t let her works disappear forever even if in China they want to forget her.
Robert@MarthaCrimson I haven’t heard of that one so has to look it up - it does look old and dodge. Much better stuff out there
@rLok Indeed there is! Rn I'm locked to whatever I find on Netflix, and since I'm not big on romance I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel. A Viki account is in the works, but I have to ask my wallet nicely first 🙃
@MarthaCrimson what do you normally enjoy? Netflix doesn’t have as good a selection of C-dramas as it does K-dramas, but there are some reasonable options there
@rLok Fun fantasy mostly (my key ingredients are dragons and explosions - sometimes fluff depending on mood). I think I've worked through most of it by now.
@MarthaCrimson 👍 under fantasy, I think my favourite C-dramas on Netflix are Ashes of Love and Eternal Love