Friday 29 April 2016

"The Wandering Life Before You" - a Chor Lau Heung 1984 MV

I've replaced the MV yesterday (30.04) due to mis-spelling in Ibuki Satsuki's name.


"The Wandering Life Before You" - a Chor Lau Heung 1984 MV from Icha74 on Vimeo.



"The New Adventures of Chor Lau Heung" 1984 has been the only version of Chor Lau Heung that I've ever watched. However, a few weeks ago I came across the OST of the 1979 Chor Lau Heung, starring by Adam Cheng (and OST sung by the same actor). Now, as with many multi-version series, fans of CLH 1984 have their own opinions of CLH 1979 and vice versa. Just like fans of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice 1995 vs Pride and Prejudice 2005. Or Ben Affleck's Batman vs Christian Bale's Batman. Etc etc etc. Now, although I haven't watched CLH 1979, I do plan to buy the DVD hence I can have my own informed opinion about it. I do like the 1979 OST, and I think that should be enough to start watching the series. Lyrics, translation and the original OST MV are below the break.


Friday 22 April 2016

ROCH 1983 final impressions

Haven't found the original artist. Anyone knows?


I finally finished watching ROCH 1983 a few nights ago. What a relief! Although the series definitely has its highlights, in general it didn't meet my expectation of a grand series worth re-watching, but I know many people like this series. So of course my opinions below are just my own. Read on at your own peril.


To me the series became more interesting AFTER Xiaolongnu or Little Dragon Girl jumped off into the Passionless Valley. Yeung Gor didn't commit suicide afterwards, which was good. He instead became a much more interesting person without XLN. In the 16 years alone, he became the tai hap, the hero, his father would have had he been raised properly by Mr n Mrs Yeung.



Friday 15 April 2016

ROCH 1983 second interim impression

Yang Guo and Xiaolongnu by Hiliuyun Deviantart

I’m off for a week’s holiday (yay!), but I want to write about my second interim impression of Return of Condor Heroes 1983 before I go. This review is going to be short; I basically just want to jot down my thoughts before finishing the series. I will still put the review under the break due to spoilers, just in case someone hasn’t seen this series and would like to. My review is from episodes 18 to 35. Also a forewarn for those who like the main romance for this series, for what I will say may very likely upset you.

“Love Makes a Fool of None” - a Chor Lau Heung 1984 MV


"Love Makes a Fool of None" - A Chor Lau Heung 1984 MV from Icha74 on Vimeo.



I was so excited to find the third OST of Chor Lau Heung 1984 a few days ago that I just had to make another CLH MV with that song. The song was titled 情到濃時休說痴 (Love Makes a Fool of None), performed by Liza Wang, composed by Zhao Wenhai and lyrics by WH Tang. This MV is the first MV using the OST of CLH 1984 that I've made, so it's very special to me. Please note that the song ended abruptly from the original source, hence I had to improvise with the last bit. I also refrained from using the usual ending scene of CLH examining the hairpin cos I've done that scene so many times. In lieu, I used the scene where CLH walked forlornly a good few meters ahead of his adopted sisters after SC took a French leave on Ep 5. Although that scene was so early in the CLH series, I can picture Chor tai-gor walking in that manner, if not worse, as he left SC in the Palace in Ep 40.

Lyrics in Jyutping and translation are below the break. Translation was a joint effort between my friends Meenchee, Li Qian and myself. I used the MDBG site to obtain the Jyutping. I dropped the numbers in the Jyutping, and I totally made a guess for the romanisation, hence as usual, please feel free to correct me. 

Hope you enjoy the MV as I do!

Tuesday 12 April 2016

The 3rd OST of Chor Lau Heung 1984 (!!)



Okay folks, remember back in October 2015 (yes, last year) when I had the opening and closing themes of Chor Lau Heung 1984 translated? Back then, I already realised the presence of the third OST, which seemed to be sung by Liza Wang only (cos it was a female voice, and Liza was the singer for the CLH 1984 OSTs). Although I couldn't find the third track, I did note that some episodes ended with the third track (particularly Ep 30 where Daddy Emperor teased his cute daughter re: Chor tai-gor). But I almost gave up on finding the third track, cos it was so long ago, and in those days tracks were not preserved as well as during the internet era.

Then today I was sleuthing the net for the CLH 1979 track. Yes, the Adam Cheng version, cos it was definitely a cool track (one day I will make a CLH 1984 MV with the 1979 OST). Then...lo and behold, I landed on SPC Forum where the link to the third CLH 1984 track has been there since 2010! Palm/face... 

Saturday 9 April 2016

"Undying Love" - a Chor Lau Heung 1984 MV


"Undying Love" - a Chor Lau Heung 1984 MV from Icha74 on Vimeo.


Months ago I listened to "Undying Love" (情義兩心堅), one of the OST of the Return of Condor Heroes (ROCH) 1983 sung by the lovely Teresa Cheung. I didn't realise at first that it was the ROCH OST, for I listened to an MV for The Foundation 1984 (a beautiful but saaaad MV at that). When I realised that it was the ROCH OST, and also the meaning of the lyrics, I totally fell in love with the song. Recently, I thought it would be nice to have a Chor Lau Heung MV with this song, particularly because the meaning of the song was actually uplifting, and hence rather suits the love story between Chor Lau Heung and Song Siu Ching. Plus, I have subconsciously associated this song with sadness because my recent re-introduction of this song was through a (beautiful but) tragic MV of The Foundation. Hence, consider this clearing and replacing my sad palate for a more cheerful interpretation of the song (as it should be, perhaps).

I found the lyrics from MojimI adapted the translation from YouTuber Guo Jing (his translation can be found here). I obtained the Jyutping Cantonese romanisation using this site. Since I don't speak Cantonese or read traditional Chinese characters (or simplified characters for that matter), I'm bound to make a lot of mistakes, so correct me when you spot any mistakes.

Translation is below the break. I uploaded the MV to both Vimeo and Dailymotion. The beautiful magnolia paintings were painted by Ella Saridi from Suibokuga Etsy. Hope you like it. And pay attention to min 1:40 when Chor tai-gor tried to catch Siu Ching but the girl kept running to Fell Cut. Chor's helpless expression as he turned to Wu Tit Fa was priceless!!


Thursday 7 April 2016

Interim impressions for the Return of Condor Heroes 1983

The Brave Archer and His Mate, by Hiliuyun

I started watching the Return of Condor Heroes (ROCH) 1983 last week, mainly because I want to see the plight and victories of Yeung Hong's son Yeung Gor (Yang Guo, Andy Lau). I've watched the series when I was like 11/12... and then also when I was already at second year at uni, but I've forgotten most of the details. I'm in Ep 17 now and so far, I like it. I decided not to do episode summaries this time for it's not an MB series, but you can check Wiki for this. So this post is mostly for my interim impression up to Ep 17. Romanisation is mostly Cantonese. Click here to watch the series in Dramanice. Major spoilers for those who have not watched the show (trust me; there ARE people who haven't watched the series...), so proceed at your own risk.

Sunday 3 April 2016

The gorgeous costumes of Wong Yung and Yeung Hong (LOCH 1983)

Wong Yung's first appearance as a girl in a lovely light blue number (Ep 10)
Barbara Yung Mei Ling and Michael Miu Kiu Wai seemed to wear gorgeous costumes in almost every drama they played. In addition to the gorgeous costumes in the New Adventures of Chor Lau Heung 1984, they also donned some lovely numbers in Legend of Condor Heroes 1983. Tammy and I even think that the costumes Barbara wore as Wong Yung were cuter than those she wore as Song Siu Ching; and mind you, Siu Ching had lovely tunics! Michael as well; he had gorgeous garments in LOCH 1983. Hence, these are some of the numbers they wore in LOCH 1983. If any of you find me missing a particular number, let me know. I'll display Wong Yung's wardrobe first, then Yeung Hong's.

Also, I have added some screen shots of the last episodes of LOCH 1983 from ep 55 to 59, particularly during the Yeung Gor/Yang Guo baby naming scene.

Enjoy!

Saturday 2 April 2016

Sketches of Wong Yung and Yeung Hong

Wong Yung by 'Sweet'

Cynthia from the MB (Michael/Barbara) forum dug her vault and found these beautiful sketches of MB, this time as Yeung Hong and Wong Yung. The artworks are mostly about Wong Yung, though we have one beautiful Yeung Hong (so alike!) and one manga-style Chor Lau Heung. We haven't been able to identify the artists (the WY sketches were made by someone called 'Sweet'), but we will acknowledge them once we do. The CLH manga art seems to be drawn by a Vietnamese artist (the fashion is more of the Qing Dynasty, but still gorgeous).

Enjoy! And thanks Cynthia for keeping the artworks for so long!


Friday 1 April 2016

'The Dragon’s Repentance' - an LOCH 1983 fanfiction

It was so difficult for me to watch Yang Kang’s demise. I know he was full of mistakes, but he still loved Mok Nim Chi tremendously and he was actually filial in his own ways. I’m also sad that he didn’t have the chance to at least mend the bridge with Wong Yung (he did though with Kwok Ching, which was such a relief). Anyway, to console myself, I wrote this piece. It was also difficult to finish for I never wrote Yeung Hong before. And since this is a hypothetical situation, I hope I got it right somehow. Legend of Condor Heroes 1983 is the property of Jin Yong and TVB Hong Kong; no copyright infringement intended. Also inspired by LOCH 2008 which gave Yang Kang the chance to be with his wife and son for a few months. Romanisation is Cantonese... Yale, I think...

Yeung Hong's final moments with his wife, Ep 52


The Dragon’s Repentance


Yeung Hong stirred in his sleep and stretched his arms. The space next to him was empty. Alert, he opened his eyes and immediately sat on the bed. The movement hurt his chest, but the possible reason of the empty space was more frightening for him. He looked around the simply furnished room to find his wife Mok Nim Chi. She wasn't there. Panic, he jumped out of the bed and walked out into the living room that also functioned as the dining room and weaving place for Nim Chi. She wasn't there. Hyperventilating due to his excessive movements, his heart cried as he ran outside to the back yard. He prayed to Heaven, to Buddha, to anyone who were willing to pity his wretched soul to keep his wife safe. To keep her with him.

Sketches of Chor Lau Heung and Song Siu Ching


I've contacted several Deviant Art artists if they can do a commissioned work for Chor Lau Heung and Song Siu Ching. Since none of them has returned my message, I sleuthed around the internet to find an online converter tool for photo to sketch. Found that picjoke.net was sufficient to create the following images. However, if you do know an artist I can commission to do a CLH/SSC painting, let me know. Would be much better if you are the artist and also love these characters! 

Oh, and I have one sketch of Li Sai Man and Chun Sik Sik from The Foundation 1984 too below. Prompt me for any other sketches!