Post by Admin on Dec 15, 2023 4:00:36 GMT
Ok this one I can say alot. I first encountered various children's versions in my elementary school days. The contents focused on the more popular characters and story arcs. In my high school days by chance I got to hear someone shuoshu the original on radio and it renewed my interest enough to make me read the original book and one of the sequels. (Later I found out the "original" book I read wasn't really the original version, but was a deleted, 70 chapter version where it ends with a nightmare.)
The story itself makes me have mixed feelings. There are great moments, such as the plot of robbing the gifts, the three assaults on the Zhu Family Village, Gongsun Sheng and the magical battles....etc On the other hand, there's a lot of cruelty as these guys are gangsters. They kill whole families out of revenge. Qin Ming was actually set up by Song Jiang to force him into joining, resulting in his family summarily executed. Huang Shin and his band practice cannibalism. Not to mention all the misogynism in the novel. (To be fair, the 108 Stars have 3 female characters, with Sun Er Niang getting away with her...special dishes ).
My favorite character(s): Besides Wu Song, probaby Yan Qing the Prodigal. Mostly because his name sounds similar to mine (ha), plus he's a more soft type fighter, the Emperor's girlfriend is attracted to him, and he knows when to quit the scene (as opposed to his master, Lu Junyi).
My favorite adaption would be Zhang Ji Zhong's 1998 television version. The opening theme is great, the fights, especially the ones after they begin working for the Imperial Court, are great to watch.
And Yan Qing gets to be with Li Shishi in the ending!
Li Shishi the courtesan. She appeared in the film and novel as Song Huizhong and Yan Qing's favorite's woman