quiet unique.
I think the story is different. There's many dramas and movies about mermaids but this story is different it's a big fish but not a other mermaid story. I just like the idea that it's about a giant fish it's not something I've seen before so the idea is great. Also heroine is great although it's as expected that she would obviously be scared or surprise at first but she's not cowardly or weak which is a plus.The story has a twist so it's something to look forward to. As you watch the show you may have many questions and maybe confused about what are the character but it would be explained very clearly near the end of the movie.
I think it should be a drama instead of a movie. It just felt so rushed, there's no time for development. However overall it's quiet fun to watch.
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One of the better movies out there
I really liked this movie. I would like to see a drama made from it so the story background could be explained more and the romance part made longer. Lol I am a romantic?.Storyline - I liked it. Only thing is that I have found with Chinese movies is that they cut a lot and jump a lot to tell the story. The difference from American and Asian movies, as far as I can tell, is that American movies based off a novel is just that - based off a novel that is anywhere from a couple of hundred pages to a couple of thousand. And I may be wrong but I have noticed most Asian dramas are based off a manga that runs for weeks to months to maybe years to tell the story and so most Chinese, Korean, and Asian dramas are long and many episodes so they can cover all the details. So for me the movies always fall short because there is to much story to put into a couple of hours and it gets chopped. I did really like this one however. It covered the basic and you understood what was going on throughout the movie. I just wish it had more background story to really tell why this was happening and so on. But again that would make for a very long movie like Lord of the Rings. But it was a good show.
Acting/Cast - I really liked the FL. I have seen her in many CDramas and have really grown to like her. She did a really good job in this movie. As for the ML this is my first time seeing him and I was not disappointed. He did a great job.
Music - was good. I liked it a lot as I do all CDramas and KDrama music.
Rewatch - It is a definite YES! I did like it. I recommend it.
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Unique concept and story
Before I watch movies/dramas I always read the synopsis, but I think disregarding everything except the first line may make watching the movie more enjoyable. I explained why in "Comments" at the end of the review.Review:
The story was unique even though it used the common legends of sending a human bride to a sea monster. I liked the mystery behind it and it made it more entertaining since very few clues were provided throughout the movie, but maybe it is because of the synopsis that made me focus more on the love triangle/quadrilateral/pentagon than anything else.
The acting/casting was not bad and I am assuming this is Zhang Yu Xi's more recent works since her acting is not bad even though I heard quite a few negative things about her acting especially in these movies (The Beauty Skin and Mermaid Bound and this). I hope she continues to improve. Her character, Ah Li, has a good/better balance of brave/kind and scared when necessary. Ah Li is not uselessly brave that she looks stupid nor is she always annoyingly weak. Hai Da Yu, I mean I disliked him cus I felt bad for Yan, but everything turned out okay, but they could have made Yan less "bumpy" and "green". Wen Yu (the character) was just okay, like what he did brought suffering to Ah Li (to some extent) and himself, but thanks to him Ah Li and HDY fell in love and also Wen Yu brought Ah Lai so he somewhat redeemed himself.
I felt like there was not anything that made me have strong emotions, but it was interesting to watch, which is why I gave it a 7.5, but an additional 1-2 scenes could have made this an 8.
Comments:
Twenty minutes into the movie, I was expecting a love triangle, but got a different type of triangle or quadrilateral/pentagon even since the FL has multiple love interests and this also made me a bit frustrated since the synopsis made it sound like Ah Li was going to have a thing for Hai Da Yu and Yan, but it was in those 20 minutes that there was also the original love interest, Wen Yu. So I had negative thoughts regarding Ah Li, but I'm glad it wasn't this chaotic.
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Beauty and the beast
Alone and helpless, Ali spends her days by the sea accompanied by Hai Daiyu (Han Dong), a fish that can transform into a man. As time passes, the two fall in love. However, Ali imprisons Yan after she becomes pregnant while Hai Daiyu's whereabouts remain unknown. Soon enough, Ali discovers that the conspiracy behind the marriage to the sea god.I found this movie to be very similar to beauty and the beast the English version, although enjoyable and funny with the whole plot of deceiving and falling in love to protective and fighting your way through the mess.
It was a good watch when you in that switch off kinda mood.
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Beauty and the Beastie Fish
It is a nice fantasy movie but I wish the editing could have been better. The actors/actresses acted well, and the island of the sea demon god was nice, windy and pretty. The story and plot were interesting, and I believe all the film crew and production did their best to make this film. I really liked the look of the enormous legendary flying fish. He looks so majestic... LOL.Overall, it is a sweet love story of a beauty and a big gigantic beastie flying fish. The beastie fish was cursed to look ugly, but pure real love released him and transformed him into a prince with godly powers.
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A typical fantasy movie with romance and magic
I'm a big fan of mermaids, fantasy and all that jazz, so when I heard about this movie, I had to give it a try. Attempting to find it with English subs was a challenge, but I was able to watch a version dubbed in my language.Overall story was basic, easy to follow, and romance is not over the top cheesy. I liked the supernatural aspects of the story. Like the others say, it is a Beauty and the Beast retelling with a twist. It's not completely out of nowhere, but it's a little different. I don't like toxic relationships, so I was a bit turned off by the FL's husband.
Music is forgettable, unfortunately.
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This review may contain spoilers
Beauty and the Beast but make it about fish people
Not gonna lie I kinda liked this movie...I feel like fantastical romance movies with happy endings are few and far between when it comes to Chinese cinema. Although I don't know the tale this movie was inspired by in "Strange Tales of Liao Zhai" (there's like, tons of adaptations for the stories in there), to me it's straight up Beauty and the Beast. And personally, I could rewatch BatB retellings all day, any day, so of course this would be a hit for me.
Thank you Productive Procrastination for the subs!
PROS
❀ Fast-paced storytelling that manages to fit a lot | It felt like I watched an entire drama in these 2 hours. Obviously it's much harder to get onboard the romance and chemistry due to the inherent rushed nature of the plot, but it's the price you gotta pay for romance movies, lol.
❀ Low-key surprised at the CGI/visuals | I don't except much when it comes to CGI in Chinese films/dramas, but I was pleasantly surprised at the ones seen here. The fighting scenes were elaborate and fun, the romantic scenes/scenery were gorgeous (if fake), and the settings in general were very fantastical. I liked it!
Another note on the production value: It was way more intricate than I expected, including background instrumental music, which made it easy to get immersed in the story.
❀ Main couple was easy to cheer for | Their romance isn't deep, but typical to what you would find in a BatB retelling. The FL's acting was not too bad (she's so pretty!). I didn't like her character in Intense Love, but at least in this movie her character's actively trying to escape her fate and figure out the mysteries.
❀ Pretty OST | I'm a fan of the ballad song that comes up when the leads get together. It's called "The Song of the Sea in My Heart" and fits well with the dramatic tones of this movie.
❀ Happy ending!!! | With a nice, intense kiss scene in the middle of the movie too. Swoon!
CONS
✕ Cheesiness | It do be kinda cheesy at times. Also, there was so much happening in the last half that got me shook (a combo of the writing + acting + graphic effects). Not a bad shook! Like a "whoa, okay, that's happening" shook. Prepare yourself.
✕ Why did the ML have such an indifferent expression the whole time? | Mans took "brooding" to another level.
✕ Misunderstanding level: 0/10 | No misunderstandings happen outside the classical BatB storyline.
OVERALL
If you're looking for a quick fantasy romance, this movie delivers. It features all the components of Beauty and the Beast, gorgeous (but fake) backgrounds, low key well-done action scenes, and a happily ever after!
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I wish i can unwatch it
i watched it and didn't like it first off the ML has a legal wife (Hai Fu Rong [Maid]) Deng Yu Li because she can't birth a child and only a human can birth a child. that is the reason they need a bride. So when the legal wife found out the ML have feelings for FL obviously she went bad shit crazy and tries to kill FL oh just a bit of a spoiler so when a human birth their child they die by turning into dust so yeah they were trying to speed up the birthing process and they did that successfully but because ML give FL his essence she survives. Let's be real the legal wife had all right to kill the FL don't get me wrong but just think of it she married him for 600 years and waited for a kid and for him to love her but ML fell in love with FL, in short, the legal wife never got his love so when she found out ML love FL she becomes jealous and that's why she wanted the girl dead and gone I think when the FL is dead and gone the legal wife taught she could rise the kid with ML and have ML love. Obviously, it didn't play out the way the legal wife planned it to happen anyways this was prue adulterous love which is why i don't like it. I give it 4.5 plot was ok the FL acting was ok but seriously she didn't ask any necessary questions to the ML and don't get me started on how shitty ML is like really he locked her up to keep her safe. oh hell no it would have been better if he had communicated but there was barely any communication it's only to the end that was it revealed that he was the goldfish. if i could i would like to unwatch this but that's impossible. i really hate this i regret watching this if i could unsee this it would be great like i need this movie to be wiped out of my brain right now. I don't like anything linked to an adulterous relationshipWas this review helpful to you?
