Stunning VFX, Flawed Execution
This is just an initial review of this drama based on the released episodes 1-7.
Based on my first impression, the most impressive aspect of this drama was undoubtedly the VFX. It's clear they invested heavily in this area, elevating the wuxia genre. However, the cinematography, particularly the color grading, left much to be desired. The overly saturated colors, especially the blues and pinks, along with the maxed-out brightness and contrast, gave it an old-fashioned wuxia look that wasn't visually pleasing.
Despite the awesome VFX, there's an over-reliance on it during the fight sequences. While visually impressive, the VFX can be distracting. The actors often make movements where they are only standing or floating in the air, and then pointing their swords at opponents, which diminishes the impact of the actual martial arts. This imbalance between physical fighting and VFX makes the action scenes feel less engaging.
As for the characters, they were somewhat disappointing. The performances felt unnatural, from the facial expressions to the delivery of dialogue. Each character seemed overly animated, reminiscent of a live-action adaptation of a Japanese anime, with exaggerated expressions and dialogue that felt out of place and unnatural.
I'm still giving it a chance, keeping my critical eyes in check, lol.
Based on my first impression, the most impressive aspect of this drama was undoubtedly the VFX. It's clear they invested heavily in this area, elevating the wuxia genre. However, the cinematography, particularly the color grading, left much to be desired. The overly saturated colors, especially the blues and pinks, along with the maxed-out brightness and contrast, gave it an old-fashioned wuxia look that wasn't visually pleasing.
Despite the awesome VFX, there's an over-reliance on it during the fight sequences. While visually impressive, the VFX can be distracting. The actors often make movements where they are only standing or floating in the air, and then pointing their swords at opponents, which diminishes the impact of the actual martial arts. This imbalance between physical fighting and VFX makes the action scenes feel less engaging.
As for the characters, they were somewhat disappointing. The performances felt unnatural, from the facial expressions to the delivery of dialogue. Each character seemed overly animated, reminiscent of a live-action adaptation of a Japanese anime, with exaggerated expressions and dialogue that felt out of place and unnatural.
I'm still giving it a chance, keeping my critical eyes in check, lol.
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