An Unpopular Opinion....

*** What I Like (+):
--- Yang Yang is the Master.... Master at Kissing that is - too bad he didn't have a partner :(
--- Old Man Yu is most enjoyable character to watch .... The actor, Niu Jun Feng, is the best in the show! ... (just as good as he was in Battle of Changsha)
--- Zhang Vin is so very Hot looking as the brooding KO... too bad he didn't have much screen time.
--- enjoyable encounters .... nothing annoying.
--- Villains were not real bad .... some had a little bit of growth, a positive!!!
--- The Game scenes were shot well!
--- Good looking cast.

*** What I did NOT like (-):
--- Practically No plot .... nothing much happens .... no drama.
--- 2-dimensional characters .... No depth, no psyche ..... all the more kudos to NJF who made Old Man Yu shine!
--- Lead actress froze w/ open eyes as he passionately kissed her .... She's unhealthily skinny ... Does too many pout faces.
--- What's w/ the mystery of Mr. Beautiful and KO???.... It was probably a BL in the novel, they only hinted at it here .... but at least turn their friendship into something worthwhile!! .... not just shallow encounters :P:P
--- Her friend Er Xi is way too bubbly!!! .... trying too hard to be cute :P ... too much like a manga character .... a different actress could have turned her into someone cute and lovable ... ( I am thinking of Dilraba as the impish red fox princess in Eternal Love .... so cute and energetic w/out being annoyingly bubbly)


*** Recommended for those who like:
--- Refreshing love story, b/c no love triangles ... no angst ... trusting couple who talk things out.
--- fluff and cute scenes
--- No real villains
--- Don't mind that there is NO strong Plot .... and NO well-developed or complex characters. :(((

*** Not recommended if you want depth, complex characters or interesting plot.

*** Ratings
- Story - 3 .... simple, nothing there.
- Acting - 5 ... Not bad not good ..... some supporting were bad ... Only NJF's performance stood out as very good.
- Music - 5 ... It fit well ... bit too bubbly and "pop" for my taste.
- Rewatch - 2 ... only if in front of me, I won't turn around.... But I would never seek it out.


Basically, very bland and very blah!!!! ..... Not much to love and even less to hate .... If not for Yang Yang's kisses, there is nothing to watch.

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This dramas is so much better than others in all its qualities… An epic Romance w/ political intrigue, in a captivating, tight and fast-moving plot… A story beautifully told and well executed by:
Amazing acting…Great directing/editing/writing…Beautiful cinematography…Superb production…Mesmerizing OST…even the clothes were noticeably beautifully designed.
Seamless interweaving of Romance, Politics, History, Action and drama, yet all very easy to understand!
Filled w/ many memorable well-developed characters... including the courageously steadfast Se-Ryung, one of the best characters in Dramaland, and certainly the most amazing female character!...wonderfully portrayed by MCW!
Awesome performance by Park Si-Hoo I can understand all his thoughts & emotions through his eyes- from the charming, easy-going teacher to the tortured soul caught between Love and Revenge!!!
Surprisingly, one of the best romances I have ever seen… I have seen it several times and will, no doubt, watch it again in the future.

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I usually write a review if I am inspired by greatness... This is the opposite ... Had good potential, I am annoyed by the quality of writing, directing .... I normally would drop a drama when it is this bad ... I honestly don't know what possessed me to continue, but regretfully, I did!
There is only one good, interesting thing in this show, listed below.

--- STORY --- 4/10 ... It had great potential. A scholarly vampire on a mission, searching for a lost diary containing the secret to kill the evil vampire Gui, who rules the palace...... Sounds interesting, too bad it wasn't.

--- WRITING --- 3/10 ... The worst writing, one of the most illogical plots, where things often did not make sense.
The script is boring, lots of talk as filler, didn't provide insight, or knowledge, or add interest or intrigue...
- Poorly written Characters - the vampire scholar was too simple, full of self-pity and self-loathing, no complexity (despite the obvious potential) ...
- The lead female is written to be smart, clever, strong, a woman raised as man. Her actions and decisions were not only stupid, but usually nonsensical and caused trouble for the other characters by her simplicity and stubbornness. One of the dumbest most annoying characters I have encountered!
- Evil vampire Gui started as stereotypical, but ended up being a bit complex and interesting... Best character, along w/ his muse. ....

--- ACTING/CAST --- 4/10 ... Mostly bad.
- Lee Jun Ki - not at his best, but with an awful script and worse partner, I'm sure inspiration was lacking.
- Lead actress --- I don't even want to know her name... she's the worst part of this show... From her first appearance on screen, it was obvious... dressed as a man, but pitter-patter steps, swinging her arms, wriggling her hips, clenching the man's robe in fear, etc... Her mannerisms were more feminine than a "flaming drag-queen" (a gay man dressed as a woman).... combine it w/ her character's stupid actions... Then
--->>> How in the world can I believe any man can fall for her charms (in this case, her lack of charms)???
- Lee Soo Hyuk is good enough ... best part of this show.... sexy.

--- DIRECTOR --- 4/10 ... probably to blame for how bad it is ... He allowed the lead actress' acting instead of guiding her ... very draggy, too much filler ... bad editing... way too many things that didn't make sense.

--- BRIGHT SPOT --- the relationship b/w evil Gui and the girl he trains is the most interesting, and both were the most interesting characters...and had good chemistry.
--->>> I especially liked her ... a complex character ... She was smart, clever, brave... a victim but didn't have self-pity ... strong to fight for what she wants ... and she really understood Gui and how to manipulate him ... Very pretty.

--- WORST PART --- illogical plot and zero chemistry of leads ... and a female lead that is utterly unbelievable as being in any way attractive.

--- MUSIC --- 4/10 ... music did not add anything, and at times was inappropriate ... there is one song that is good, but didn't always fit the scenes.

--- REWATCH --- 0/10 ... Only if you need an excuse to shoot yourself.






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I desperately want to give this 20 out of 10 .....It was Great ....Perfection.... Almost !! -:((
In the second half the writers really messed up w/ inconsistencies (read my Semi-Spoiler below...No details).

Nonetheless, every moment of this drama is Captivating !!!
---- Great pace... 51 episodes and I want more!!!
---- A good story w/ memorable, well developed characters....
---- Great acting ....especially Joo Jin-Mo and Ji Chang-Wook ... the great love these 2 men expressed was very palpable !!!
---- Excellent Casting all around .... the actors fit their roles perfectly ..... so many memorable and enjoyable characters ....
---- A perfect balance b/w Romance / Action / Intrigue / Melodrama / Comedy ...

---- Ep 1-22 were Perfection !!!
---- then, starting w/ ep 23 , I felt the writers really let me down ....too many inconsistencies!!!
.... If they want a certain outcome in the plot ---->>> then they should have come-up w/ a better way to get there ... Weak, weak, lazy writing ! ...

----->>>> Very disappointed w/ the writers for ruining what could have been a PERFECT DRAMA :
Directing.... Acting... Plot... Music... Cast... Costumes....etc....

I rate according to my personal enjoyment not necessarily about objective technical crafting .... BUT .... the disappointment in the 2nd half marred my 'Perfect enjoyment' ...so , I give it a 9/10 ....


********* Semi-Spoiler Alert ----- No Details ----**********
---- the one HUGE Disappointment is the secret person revealed in the last few episodes .... Utterly ridiculous !!! ... A huge flaw that cannot be overlooked like the others..... seems like a patch-up job... a last minute idea/change....Weak! ..... the biggest reason I could not give it a 10!
********** END of Semi-Spoiler *********

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Old-school Jackie Chan at his best!

Non-stop exciting action and fun humor from start to finish! Old-school Jackie Chan at his best. It is all acrobatics and Kung-fu with a low budget; there is no need for elaborate stunts, expensive car chases, or fancy locations, only Jackie, a stick, bench or common prop, and amazing Kung-fu.

Story & Writing:
The plot is simple but good, well told, nothing fancy. The pacing is captivating non-stop development, antics or action.
The writing is very good for an action-packed film. T he characters are well-defined enough to not seem 2-dimensional cut-outs. The dialogue is neither banal nor trite (like in some of his other old-school style movie such as the silly “Heart of a Dragon” or “My Lucky Stars”.) And most importantly, the humor is actually funny.

Director & the Action:
This is directed and Co-written by Jackie Chan. It was originally 3 hours long, but cut down to 90 minutes. There were many more action scenes, and the very long fight near the end is said to have been even longer; I feel they have been denied to me. However, considering that there are no filler scenes and the pacing is very tight and action packed, the editing resulted in a very good Version.
Of course Jackie is also the action director, and his stunts are classic Jackie, displaying amazing acrobatics and very powerful Kung- fu !

Cast and Acting:
Jackie is supported with a few good characters and a good cast for the action sequences, most notably Yeung Bao, although his role is small. Acting all around is good nothing noticeably bad, with Jackie showing his talent in acting (those expressive facial expression) and why he is an all-around talent, whether it is in Martial-Arts, action stunts, humor, acting, or charisma. Do I sound trite in my praise? Yes, I probably do, I don’t have the talent to give justice in my words to this true living legend.

Music:
Not noticeable, so at least it was functional in providing the accurate mood.

Conclusion:
It is wonderful to see the “stripped down” Jackie with only his extraordinary talents in Kung-fu that has been rarely scene in his glossy 21st century productions, which keep relying on higher budgets and elaborate stunts. I highly recommend it as a very good old-school action flick and for Jackie in his prime.

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Not enough! Not enough of the “exhilaration” expected from a Jackie film. Not enough of Sammo in action. Not enough good humor. Good , but not great.

Story & Writing:
The premise is interesting: a cop is torn between pursuing his lifelong dream of becoming a sailor or taking care of his adult mentally deficient brother, who seems to have gotten entangled with mobsters, but it is a letdown.
It takes 55 minutes until the action or any development in the plot starts. Before that, it is mainly the setup and introduction, with lots of uninteresting scenes of Sammo Hung’s character playing with the neighborhood children.
The writing seems to fluctuate between the two story arcs, Jackie’s dilemma and the missing jewels of the local gang. Too much importance is given to Sammo being a kid and not enough to maintaining a tight fast moving plot. In addition, the humor is not funny.

Action Scenes:
The action can never be disappointing in a Jackie and Sammo film, and here Sammo Hung directed. So, of course there are several extraordinary stunts, with the trademark Jackie style. However, the only memorable action is in the finally sequence where Jackie fights the mobsters in order to save and free his brother. Sammo, unfortunately, does not have enough action scenes.

Conclusion:
I am not “wowed”. Overall the action is good, entertaining, with a very good final action sequence. The attempt at humor is tedious. Nothing else is noteworthy.

Special Note: Jackie kisses his onscreen GF. I have not seen Jackie kiss on screen before.

Disclaimer:
I watched the English dubbed version, I am sure that takes away from the film.

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A very good action film that is well crafted and has a good balance of action, romance and thrill with a highly interesting and layered plot, despite the overdone bad-boy/good-girl trope. It does everything very well, directing, writing and acting.
As a result, it has become a classic of HK cinema, with several iconic and memorable scenes, sometimes emulated in other films.

Story:
Nothing new, a bad boy falls for a good girl and it changes his life , trite but appealing. It has, action, romance, bromance, gangster power-struggles and a heist story-line as the cops-and-robbers trope. Yet, every part of plot line is done with depth and detail to captivate the viewer.

Writing, Directing, Acting:
What makes this film better than others and not just mundane is the good writing of a layered well told plot and the excellent execution by the director.
The characters are well-drawn, they come to life through the excellent acting of the cast, headed by icon and legend Andy Lau.

The ELEMENTS which make this film a a success and a “CLASSIC” :

--- SCENES ARE LAYERED ---. they are multi-purpose ... you think it is an action scene, but something else is also happening, another fact is being revealed, etc.... Every shot or scene gives relevant info and further unfolds the plot.
This excellent writing and directing is probably the most important factor in putting this film above the rest.

--- INCREDIBLE UNDULATING PACE .... the Tempo is like a dance ... Quick Quick Slow ... Quick Quick Slow .... most of the slower moments are the "Moments of Romance" ... . a perfect break from his violent life.
Just when you think you’ve figured out the scene, something interrupts ....

-.-- SEVERAL PLOTS SEAMLESSLY INTERWOVEN --.- 3 plots running simultaneously: the romance plot, the jewelry heist plot w/ detectives in pursuit, and the ill “godfather”, the triad boss, w/ a struggle for succession.. Of course, they all collide in the end!
Each plot-line given enough time to illustrate the essentials and captivate the viewer. Yet, a lot is said or expressed w/ "seemingly" very little effort .... I say “Seemingly”, b/c it is a Well Crafted Script!

--- WELL-DEVELOPED CHARACTERS .... we find out about their background, their hidden desires, their pain and dilemmas , and thus their motivation .... All these facts are incidentally revealed in scenes about some other action in the plot.
Again seamless interweaving of plot-lines and layered scenes.

--- LAYERS AND SYMBOLS --- especially the colors red and white everywhere ... symbols of innocence and passion, angel and devil, purity and evil ... all represented by Jojo and Wah Dee.

-— ICONIC IMAGERY —— Images that are immediately indelible and identified with it. A few examples: The final shot of her in the street. Andy’s bike outfit. And the head shot of the hero as he rides away on the bike , taken from below to make a powerful impact.
Some of these shots are emulated in other films, and where immediately recognized by me. What comes to mind, among others, is Taiwanese film “Our Times” , where the motorcycle scene is intended as a replica from this film, since FL was a great fan of Andy Lau and should recognize it and the effort of the ML without the need of any explanation or of any character mentioning the film or the actor,
Thus, to assume that even today’s audience would recognize such an image, further illustrates the lasting impression and iconic value of the imagery from this film.

--- PERFECT ENDING —- very fitting
--- PERFECT MUSIC —- fitting, memorable and recognizable.
--- PERFECT TITLE —- As expressed in the tempo of the pace, his respite in his fast-paced life is “A Moment of Romance” with Jojo whenever he can grab it , to make his life worth living.

NOTE: It took a second watch for me to appreciate the exquisite crafting of this film.

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Fast moving and lots of Stylish superbly-constructed action sequences ... balanced w/ some romance ....Good story, and very well Edited .... ...
Peter Ho is magnetic .... Loved the "maniacal" Japanese Colonel Masaya played by Wilson Guo Mingxiang ....

... At the climax, although the action scenes are thrilling, I felt the plot got a bit weak.
.... The script felt like a compilation of one liners - mostly adages and aphorisms - mainly delivered by the veterans like Tony Leung's no-nonsense Mengzi or Mickey He's friendly Xiao Wu , and often repeated by Peter Ho's unworldly Liangfeng ... It offered up some comedic relief .....

Lots of thrilling fun visually! But , due to the lack of an equally thrilling plot at the end, and the lack of a better script ---> the film fails to make a psychological impact ... ...

The action deserves a rating of 8 or 9 at least...
I recommend it for action lovers ... and even for non-action lovers like myself (I was impressed).

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Although Full Throttle succeeds in illustrating the exciting experience and danger of motorcycle racing, it does not do as well in illustrating the turmoil of the hero’s journey to maturity and reconciliation.
The film stands out in the excellent filming of the action scenes,

Story: 7
It tells of the emotional journey the hero is experiencing which is often expressed through his attachment to motorbike racing and the thrill, danger and pride involved. The family conflict is a typical trope, that serves to explain the hero’s motivation and state of mind. Ultimately , the story revolves around this issue, which is an interesting concept.
Good, but nothing new, typical of HK 1980’s & 1990’s action movies.

Action Scenes: 8.5
As a primarily action film, the scenes are exciting and express very well the excitement of riding, the pride of racing/winning and the adrenaline rush of speed. It graphically shows the danger of motorcycle racing in a very disturbing yet palpable way. Some of those violent scenes of speed are indelible and will likely be film images that I will always remember.
The scenes are filmed in a manner so as to put the audience in the driver’s seat and have one experience the driver’s POV. It succeeds in this endeavor.

Characters, Plot and Message: 6
Unlike the motorbike scenes that grabbed me emotionally, the film is not as successful in affecting me enough to much care for the characters. The plot is intended to make the audience at least care for the hero, his emotional scars and turmoil. The emotional scenes of the father-son conflict and the deep attachment b/w the hero and his girlfriend are two very interesting relationships, but somehow, they are not explored adequately or perhaps with enough depth. The scene of enlightenment is set off by mediocre dialogue. The last few scenes in the film perfectly summed up that failed effort.
Neither the writing nor the directing relayed any palpable emotion that we are told is there.

Acting: 7
I love Andy Lau and I am biased. He’s very good here, at least an 8. The others were adequate. I was not impressed by the lead actress.

Music; 8
Very fitting

Conclusion:
1) I am glad I watched it, the action is very much worth watching, the story is OK but nothing new.
2) It failed to make me truly care for the characters and the hero’s journey.
3) Some unforgettable images that have given me a better graphic and emotional understanding of the thrill and danger of motorbike racing. (Well, I have always loved the adrenaline rush of speeding . Ofc that is only fond memories now, as I have matured and no longer have that youthful feeling of infallibility, which apparently the hero and his friends have.)
4). The writing and directing failed the very interesting , yet unoriginal concept.

Recommended for the action scenes and to Andy Lau lovers.

Side Note:
I can imagine this film remade into a Hollywood movie with a much faster moving plot , highly sophisticated action with exciting editing and a lot of “tugging at the heart” moments (usually very superficial). It would have a hero that is louder and more expressive of his emotions .... And, I would probably hate it !!!
—->> I would still prefer the Hong Kong approach, but done in a better way than this director managed.

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