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Post by soengyee on Apr 21, 2020 16:18:07 GMT
I have never read the novels because the story doesn't particularly interest me very much. XSYL comes across as a typical robin hood figure we see in a lot of wuxia series/novels. Even the TV adaptions are only so-so for me, I find them boring. Strange I really enjoy the TVB 2002 adaption Treasure Raiders even though it doesn't stick to the novel at all, can you believe Feng Si Niang becomes an unofficial working for the government? And XSYL and LCB are actually long lost brothers, and their family's goal is to protect Chu Liu Xiang's secrets and lost treasures? Pretty ludicrous and everyone seems to hate the adaption but I strangely enjoy it. The dialogues and moods really feel like a Gulong novel despite the story inconsistency. Kyc thank you for sharing your thoughts with us as always; could you tell me if SBJ has any fighting scenes in this particular novel? And does the character Bin Bin appear in the novels or is she just made up?
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Post by kyc on Apr 21, 2020 17:02:42 GMT
I have never read the novels because the story doesn't particularly interest me very much. XSYL comes across as a typical robin hood figure we see in a lot of wuxia series/novels. Even the TV adaptions are only so-so for me, I find them boring. Strange I really enjoy the TVB 2002 adaption Treasure Raiders even though it doesn't stick to the novel at all, can you believe Feng Si Niang becomes an unofficial working for the government? And XSYL and LCB are actually long lost brothers, and their family's goal is to protect Chu Liu Xiang's secrets and lost treasures? Pretty ludicrous and everyone seems to hate the adaption but I strangely enjoy it. The dialogues and moods really feel like a Gulong novel despite the story inconsistency. Kyc thank you for sharing your thoughts with us as always; could you tell me if SBJ has any fighting scenes in this particular novel? And does the character Bin Bin appear in the novels or is she just made up? Actually XSYL is more of a bandit than a Robin Hood figure. I found one adaptation by Mainland China and by TVB, staring Nicky Wu as the protagonist. There's also a recent adaptation. Needless to say, I haven't watched either. The plotlines you mentioned are shocking, but then TV scriptwriters are capable of anything, even in JY. Concerning the 2002 adaptation, I feel Athena Chu is wrongly cast as Shen Bijun. She's too tanned and more suited to roles like Huang Rong than the demurre and ravishing Shen Bijun. Shen Bijun does fight in the sequel (together with Feng Siniang I think) but it's no great battle. There's a character called Bingbing (冰冰) here - she's the sister of Marquis Xiaoyao, who is the best fighter of them all.
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Post by Admin on Apr 22, 2020 12:50:53 GMT
Oh wow. now I wonder if the latest adaptation of XSYL follows this novel. Weird novel though. SBJ and FSN got to know each other, and both of them even got drunk together! Actually, Feng Siniang and Shen Bijun are friends. At least in the sequel. I think there's a scene where they got drunk together. XSYL is not a long novel. Together with the sequel, it just has about enough materials for a TV series. So yeah, I think they must have included the sequel. Oh wow, thanks for the info. In the series they got drunk together while drinking on the roof. And they had some girls talk that enough to make XSYL's ears blushed. LOL.
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Post by soengyee on Apr 22, 2020 20:25:53 GMT
I have never read the novels because the story doesn't particularly interest me very much. XSYL comes across as a typical robin hood figure we see in a lot of wuxia series/novels. Even the TV adaptions are only so-so for me, I find them boring. Strange I really enjoy the TVB 2002 adaption Treasure Raiders even though it doesn't stick to the novel at all, can you believe Feng Si Niang becomes an unofficial working for the government? And XSYL and LCB are actually long lost brothers, and their family's goal is to protect Chu Liu Xiang's secrets and lost treasures? Pretty ludicrous and everyone seems to hate the adaption but I strangely enjoy it. The dialogues and moods really feel like a Gulong novel despite the story inconsistency. Kyc thank you for sharing your thoughts with us as always; could you tell me if SBJ has any fighting scenes in this particular novel? And does the character Bin Bin appear in the novels or is she just made up? Actually XSYL is more of a bandit than a Robin Hood figure. I found one adaptation by Mainland China but not by TVB, staring Nicky Wu as the protagonist. And there's also a more recent adaptation. Needless to say, I haven't watched either. The plotlines you reveal is shocking, but then TV scriptwriters are capable of anything, even in Jin Yong. Concerning the 2002 adaptation, I feel Athena Chu is wrongly cast as Shen Bijun. She's too tanned and more suited to roles like Huang Rong than the demurre and ravishing Shen Bijun. Shen Bijun does fight in the sequel (together with Feng Siniang I think) but it is no great battle. The character Bingbing (冰冰) does appear and she is the sister of Marquis Xiaoyao, who is the best fighter of them all. There were actually two TVB adaptions. One in 1978 starring Patrick Tse Yin as XSYL, and a 2002 version starring Felix Wong as XSYL; I have seen both. The Mainland version starring Nicky Wu was a chore to watch, it moves as such a slow pace and focuses way too much on the love story/stories). Can you believe SBJ doesn't know any martial arts at all in this version? She's such a weak girl who always gets captured and needs protection. If it weren't for her beauty she might have died in the first episode. Athena is way too dark for this role even though her acting is okay. And she is definitely not ravishing enough for this role, SBJ is a supposed reputable beauty. And if I remember correctly, Bing Bing in this version is actually LCB's sister. Louise Lee See Kei portrays SBJ in the 1978 version and although the character knows martial arts and has a few fighting scenes but she is too short, a little bubbly and not pretty enough for this role. Also why does she get killed in this version I wonder? She and FSN team up against LCB (who is in disguise) but they both are no match for him and both die! I don't think this is the fact in the novel. In fact every character except for XSYL dies in this short adaption at the end. Bing Bing dies here because her health is weak, and she's very nice and teams up with XSYL to take her evil brother down. Treasure Raiders in 2002 is quite good IMHO even though the storyline also deviates from the novel. Anne Heung Hoi Lam portrays SBJ and a lot of people complain about her but I didn't find her that bad to be honest. She has the perfect height and grace (she's not as short as the other two actresses who have portrayed SBJ) and even looks good in fighting scenes. Of course there are more beautiful actresses than her and she was relatively new to the industry but I thought she improved a lot in her acting compared to her roles in The Legend of Lady Yang and Love is Beautiful. There is no Bing Bing in this version but there is a Hua Yu Yi whom is Marquis XiaoYao's long lost sister. She is highly skilled (even more powerful than XSYL) but she is a pawn in her brother's hand and does his evil deeds for him when he pretends to be handicapped. She falls in love with FSN (shocking I know!) and does everything to protect her but she still loves her brother more. She survives at the end and wanders the world alone, knowing FSN will never love her. Yang Kai Tai also dies in this version saving FSN and it is heart breaking to watch. He is such a sweet character and does anything for FSN even though she doesn't love him back. XSYL also seems to survive death a lot in this version, he seems invincible like nothing could kill him.
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Post by kyc on Apr 24, 2020 11:29:50 GMT
There were actually two TVB adaptions. One in 1978 starring Patrick Tse Yin as XSYL, and a 2002 version starring Felix Wong as XSYL; I have seen both. The Mainland version starring Nicky Wu was a chore to watch, it moves as such a slow pace and focuses way too much on the love story/stories). Can you believe SBJ doesn't know any martial arts at all in this version? She's such a weak girl who always gets captured and needs protection. If it weren't for her beauty she might have died in the first episode. Athena is way too dark for this role even though her acting is okay. And she is definitely not ravishing enough for this role, SBJ is a supposed reputable beauty. And if I remember correctly, Bing Bing in this version is actually LCB's sister. Louise Lee See Kei portrays SBJ in the 1978 version and although the character knows martial arts and has a few fighting scenes but she is too short, a little bubbly and not pretty enough for this role. Also why does she get killed in this version I wonder? She and FSN team up against LCB (who is in disguise) but they both are no match for him and both die! I don't think this is the fact in the novel. In fact every character except for XSYL dies in this short adaption at the end. Bing Bing dies here because her health is weak, and she's very nice and teams up with XSYL to take her evil brother down. Treasure Raiders in 2002 is quite good IMHO even though the storyline also deviates from the novel. Anne Heung Hoi Lam portrays SBJ and a lot of people complain about her but I didn't find her that bad to be honest. She has the perfect height and grace (she's not as short as the other two actresses who have portrayed SBJ) and even looks good in fighting scenes. Of course there are more beautiful actresses than her and she was relatively new to the industry but I thought she improved a lot in her acting compared to her roles in The Legend of Lady Yang and Love is Beautiful. There is no Bing Bing in this version but there is a Hua Yu Yi whom is Marquis XiaoYao's long lost sister. She is highly skilled (even more powerful than XSYL) but she is a pawn in her brother's hand and does his evil deeds for him when he pretends to be handicapped. She falls in love with FSN (shocking I know!) and does everything to protect her but she still loves her brother more. She survives at the end and wanders the world alone, knowing FSN will never love her. Yang Kai Tai also dies in this version saving FSN and it is heart breaking to watch. He is such a sweet character and does anything for FSN even though she doesn't love him back. XSYL also seems to survive death a lot in this version, he seems invincible like nothing could kill him. Wow, I didn't know TVB actually adapted the books. But lol, everything seems changed. I agree that Nicky Wu is wrongly cast as XSYL, but I can't imagine Felix Wong as the protagonist too. He seems so serious, I can't imagine him being the wisecracking XSYL. Right now I am reading The Legend of the Heavenly Glacier Maiden (《冰川天女傳》) by Liang Yusheng and Jin Yong's The Legend of the Condor Heroes. The similarities and differences are intriguing: the LYS starts really well but has settled. The JY is a slow, simmering read which I believe will climax later. Their differences in style are also fascinating. I will update once I finish, but both novels are long (especially the JY). I realized that Admin has read the LYS - it will be interesting to know her thoughts as well.
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Post by soengyee on Apr 25, 2020 3:57:44 GMT
You are absolutely right. Felix Wong has aged and his acting is still good in Treasure Raiders but he is way too serious as XSYL. He only cracks a few jokes with FSN at the beginning and then he suddenly just loses all his sense of humour for whatever reason. Oh and in Treasure Raiders Marquis XiaoYao's sister poisons FSN, and the only way to cure that poison is for XSYL to sleep with FSN... so it's almost like rape because it wasn't exactly consensual even though FSN loves him. But in that process XSYL gets poisoned instead. TVB is too inventive sometimes... ^_^ I am glad you are still reading LYS's novels. He is my favourite author, I am the oddball as I prefer his novels over Jin Yong and Gulong. (冰川天女傳)is the story about Princess Bing Chuan and Tang Jing Tian (Tang Xiao Lan's son) correct? Would you kindly write a brief summary once you are finished with this one kyc? I am curious is Lv SiNiang still alive at this point in the story? I also believe Jin ShiYi too appears in this story if I remember correctly, he is the protagonist in the later story (雲海玉弓緣.
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Post by Admin on Apr 26, 2020 13:57:11 GMT
I am glad you are still reading LYS's novels. He is my favourite author, I am the oddball as I prefer his novels over Jin Yong and Gulong. (冰川天女傳)is the story about Princess Bing Chuan and Tang Jing Tian (Tang Xiao Lan's son) correct? Would you kindly write a brief summary once you are finished with this one kyc? I am curious is Lv SiNiang still alive at this point in the story? I also believe Jin ShiYi too appears in this story if I remember correctly, he is the protagonist in the later story (雲海玉弓緣. kyc soengyee : yes, The Glacier Maiden 冰川天女傳 is about the Glacial Maiden and Tang Jingtian. But since this is LYS, actually after some times, the main protagonist is no longer the Glacial Maiden and Tang Jintian, but Jin Shiyi. Tang Jingtian was an awesome perfect guy, but he's overshadowed by Jin Shiyi in the middle up to the end of the novel. If I'm not mistaken, Lv Siniang was still alive and she met Jin Shiyi but not in this story, but at the 云海玉弓缘 What I like from this novel, is LYS' description about Tibet, Potala Palace, and other places. I first read this novel more than fifteen years ago, and then when I visited Tibet in 2017, I was just like : "Wow....this it Tibet! This is just what I imagined from the novel by LYS.' This is my blog about The Glacial Maiden novel - the places mentioned and the pictures of the real location : lixijiang.weebly.com/2091224029228252289920256--peng-tjoan-thian-lie--bidadari-sungai-es.html Indeed LYS made thorough research when he wrote this novel. Really admire him for this (Y)
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Post by kyc on Apr 27, 2020 11:15:48 GMT
I am glad you are still reading LYS's novels. He is my favourite author, I am the oddball as I prefer his novels over Jin Yong and Gulong. (冰川天女傳)is the story about Princess Bing Chuan and Tang Jing Tian (Tang Xiao Lan's son) correct? Would you kindly write a brief summary once you are finished with this one kyc? I am curious is Lv SiNiang still alive at this point in the story? I also believe Jin ShiYi too appears in this story if I remember correctly, he is the protagonist in the later story (雲海玉弓緣. kyc soengyee : yes, The Glacier Maiden 冰川天女傳 is about the Glacial Maiden and Tang Jingtian. But since this is LYS, actually after some times, the main protagonist is no longer the Glacial Maiden and Tang Jintian, but Jin Shiyi. Tang Jingtian was an awesome perfect guy, but he's overshadowed by Jin Shiyi in the middle up to the end of the novel. If I'm not mistaken, Lv Siniang was still alive and she met Jin Shiyi but not in this story, but at the 云海玉弓缘 What I like from this novel, is LYS' description about Tibet, Potala Palace, and other places. I first read this novel more than fifteen years ago, and then when I visited Tibet in 2017, I was just like : "Wow....this it Tibet! This is just what I imagined from the novel by LYS.' This is my blog about The Glacial Maiden novel - the places mentioned and the pictures of the real location : lixijiang.weebly.com/2091224029228252289920256--peng-tjoan-thian-lie--bidadari-sungai-es.html Indeed LYS made thorough research when he wrote this novel. Really admire him for this (Y) soengyee , Admin , I'm glad someone finally prefers LYS to JY and GL! Although I wavered over LYS and JY sometimes, I prefer LYS to GL. LYS has an entrancing style, I can see the glacier mountain and ice palace in my mind's eye! His descriptions are graceful since he was a poet! I'm midway in the novel and have to take a break as I think I'm tired. JY has better plots and the way his story unfolds is more structured. Jin Shiyi has already appeared. He immediately steals the limelight from Tang Jingtian. Tang Jingtian is a bit like Zhang Danfeng and the Glacier Maiden like the White-haired Demoness. Jin Shiyi is a young misanthrope who's highly skilled. Very fascinating. I also like Chen Tianyu (陳天宇). I think the beginning parts with him are the best. Thank you for the blog link, admin. Is it your personal blog? Will continue the novel in a few days' time. I'm reading JY right now ( The Condor Heroes) but will go slow.
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Post by kyc on Apr 27, 2020 11:22:24 GMT
You are absolutely right. Felix Wong has aged and his acting is still good in Treasure Raiders but he is way too serious as XSYL. He only cracks a few jokes with FSN at the beginning and then he suddenly just loses all his sense of humour for whatever reason. Oh and in Treasure Raiders Marquis XiaoYao's sister poisons FSN, and the only way to cure that poison is for XSYL to sleep with FSN... so it's almost like rape because it wasn't exactly consensual even though FSN loves him. But in that process XSYL gets poisoned instead. TVB is too inventive sometimes... ^_^ Feng Siniang does sleep with XSYL, she probably took some aphrodisiac and has to have sex with XSLY (typical of Gu Long). They are too embarrassed to admit it. FSN knows that he loves Shen Bijun and not her, but in the end, neither FSN nor SBJ end up with him.
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Post by kyc on Dec 16, 2020 15:00:55 GMT
This week I read superfast and completed The Bordertown Wanderer (《邊城浪子》)。 It's the sequel to Sentimental Swordsman, Ruthless Sword (which I have not yet read) and prequel to The Horizon, Bright Moon, Saber. It keeps up the high standards of middle Gu Long and has probably the best ending of any GL novels I have read so far.
The novel revolves around Fu Hongxue (傅紅雪) and Ye Kai (葉開), the latter who is a disciple of Flying Dagger Li (李尋歡). The front and middle parts are pretty good but the resolution is the best I have read in GL. Of course, as is typical, there're plenty of surprises and revelations, but at least for this novel, everything hangs together well. You don't get the feeling in late GL that he is trying too hard to impress with surprises.
That said, this novel piqued my interest in Sentimental Swordsman, Ruthless Sword, which will be my next GL once I get hold of the books. Also, once I finish the Xiaoli Feidao series, I will progress to Chu Liuxiang and Lu Xiaofeng. GL's works aren't as daunting to read as LYS, and I think I can read three GL novel for every LYS novel.
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Post by machete on Dec 16, 2020 16:17:52 GMT
I remember in Treasure Raiders there was the plot about people being shrunk to miniature size. Of course in the end it was just some "special effects" and it turned out it was all a trick in the plot. Or something like that. Did that part appear in the novel?
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Post by kyc on Dec 16, 2020 17:56:30 GMT
I remember in Treasure Raiders there was the plot about people being shrunk to miniature size. Of course in the end it was just some "special effects" and it turned out it was all a trick in the plot. Or something like that. Did that part appear in the novel? Treasure Raiders is adapted from Xiao Shiyilang. There is indeed a scene where the characters appear in a gigantic house, almost as if they have been shrunk. So yes, it does appear in the novel, although it's a different novel from The Bordertown Wanderer.
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Post by Admin on Dec 23, 2020 5:28:55 GMT
I remember in Treasure Raiders there was the plot about people being shrunk to miniature size. Of course in the end it was just some "special effects" and it turned out it was all a trick in the plot. Or something like that. Did that part appear in the novel? Treasure Raiders is adapted from Xiao Shiyilang and there is indeed a scene where the characters appear in a gigantic house, almost as if they have been shrunk. So yes, it does appear in the novel, although it's a different novel from The Bordertown Wanderer. ah...so apparently the characters appear in a gigantic house and not they're being shrunk to miniature size? I remembered when I saw the Shaw Brothers adaptation of XSYL, they gave the impression of they're being shrunk.
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Post by kyc on Dec 23, 2020 15:38:24 GMT
Treasure Raiders is adapted from Xiao Shiyilang and there is indeed a scene where the characters appear in a gigantic house, almost as if they have been shrunk. So yes, it does appear in the novel, although it's a different novel from The Bordertown Wanderer. ah...so apparently the characters appear in a gigantic house and not they're being shrunk to miniature size? I remembered when I saw the Shaw Brothers adaptation of XSYL, they gave the impression of they're being shrunk. Like what machete says, it's just special effects. So yes, Marquis Carefree is just trying to scare everyone who barges into the house, but XSYL manages to break free from it.
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Post by kyc on Dec 26, 2020 7:53:32 GMT
As I have mentioned, I managed to get hold of Sentimental Swordsman, Ruthless Sword (《多情劍客無情劍》) and finished it on Christmas Day. It's a fairly early to middle novel that is longer than most Gu Long. The protagonists are Li Xunhuan (李尋歡) and A-Fei (阿飛), who must be the "sentimental swordsman" of the title. The antagonists are Shangguan Jinhong (上官金虹) and Lin Xian'er (林仙兒), probably the sluttiest woman in GL universe (the equivalent of Kang Min/Lady Ma in JY).
An enjoyable read, although not as tense or gripping as some later GL. The middle parts are a bit loose. That said, Flying Dagger Li is already ingrained in wuxia culture. Your liking for this novel will depend on how you respond to Li Xunhuan and A-Fei. Li Xunhuan gave up his love to repay his benefactor, and spends his remaining lifetime regretting it. Although the novel ends happily with Li Xunhuan getting a new love, many women will cringe at his decision. A-Fei must be the most naïve man in the entire GL (or even wuxia) universe--the equivalent of JY's Princess Fragrance. How many times must he be jilted to understand Lin Xian'er's treachery? I grimaced every time it happened.
So all in all, a representative novel in the Xiaoli Feidao series. It is well written and recommended of course if you want to read the four novels making up the series. I will next tackle The Eagle Soars in the Ninth Month (《九月鷹飛》), the only novel in the series I have yet to read, which I understand is about Ye Kai.
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