Feel sorry for future of (character) Lee Hyun...

I believe that this was the perfect length (6 episodes about 15 minutes each) for this series; but, in saying that, had they spent more time with characters' background stories we might have felt more sympathy/empathy for the way these four characters interacted with each other.

The two girls and one guy are seeking fun, and fun only, while one of the boys is mesmerized by the carefree lifestyle the other three exhibit but finds it hard to emulate that lifestyle himself.

It doesn't beat around the bush but goes straight in the first scene to one of the couples talking about what "FWB" means on the dating app both are using. The boy is taken back by what it means, but is interested in what the lifestyle entails.

I agree with stawbewii, in that this mini-series is about the "modern way of dating", but I really feel sad for Lee Hyun (Kim Yi Kyung) in the future, and to a lesser extent, Kim Jae Ha (Oh Dong Min). They both are headed to a sad and lonely future.

In America today, 99% of the women want the top 1% of the men. If this is an example of modern Korean dating, they are headed for the same tragic results, as American women are beginning to experience!

I was surprised after the series continued about the relationship between Ahn Ji Young (Shin Bo Ra) and Lee Hyun (I didn't see it coming!). I have nothing against the lifestyle but didn't anticipate it earlier in the film.

After about a month of "sex without commitment", Lee Hyun tells Kim Jae Ha near the end of this month that she is supposed to obey his rules when coming to his house, but he never goes to her place, ever! She was feeling that the relationship was one-sided, in his favor.

What Lee Hyun didn't know at the beginning of her affair with Kim Jae Ha was another surprise that ultimately not ended their month-long affair but also caused the four friends to split later on!

No one in the complex relationships wanted to "give" anything to the other members to which they were having sex or a relationship, which tends to make any relationship unfulfilling for all concerned; Kim Jae Ha said it best in the last few minutes of the series, "I noticed that I had to give up on my ways when I like someone." That is precisely what happens when two people start any relationship, and if you don't give up some of your "ways" there will be no relationship soon!

The cinematography was limited, since the dark streets and loud nightclubs set the ambiance the film sought, but for the length of this movie, wasn't bad at all! The director can be forgiven for a limited use of light and location for this mini-series. The entire film happened in a bar, in Kim Jae Ha house, in briefly in the girls apartment, a two brief scenes outside of the bar and on a pedestrian overpass outside of Kim Jae Ha house.

The chemistry was good between the actors, whose characters were supposed to fall out of favor with each other, and the unlisted support cast did a good job as well keeping the mood of the film going.

I downgraded my opinion for this mini-series for a) insufficient development of the characters and b) the attraction between the main male and female leads seemed too forced and artificial at their first meeting, as if it was part of a script or something (pun intended)!

RE-WATCH VALUE: 60% yes - 40% no.

This series is available for free on Dailymotion, YouTube and MyAsianTV.

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19 years - 110 Countries - 25,000 miles!

The cinematography and music was excellent in this movie!

The support cast worked great to support the main cast's performance.

I liked especially the majority movie showing the hazards, hardships and trials that befell Xuan Zang in his 25,000 mile-110 countries-19 year journey...

Instead of giving you my own opinion of this movie, I am letting others tell you 'their' opinion of this movie:

Smith Watson
2 months ago
As an Indian we are only taught about Hiuen Tsang as a Chinese traveler who visited India but we never knew how much sacrifices he made to reach India and that he was a Buddhist monk who spread Buddhism in China via the texts. Great man, Salute to him. He has written 'Si-Yu-Ki' i.e Buddhist records of the western world.

I love the scenery!

I love the attempt at making this seem to have been filmed in the time period in which the character lived.

I love the interaction on a respectful, human level which seems to be so lacking in society today.

I love the historical accuracy since I reported on this person as part of a Religious Studies class in college.

And I love being able to escape into a time where things were simpler...

Bill Amos
1 year ago
I came upon this movie totally by accident, and I'm so glad I did! It has spurred me to read more about Buddhism, the Silk Road, and Tang-era China.

Jaydeep Ghosh
8 months ago
Beautiful , love from India. Yes, Hiuen Tsang is part of Indian school syllabus in 7-8th grade history. Great to get some glimpses of ancient India and China. Love and respect!

FT- Anjana PV
5 months ago
Omg... Such a beautiful movie.. kudos to actor portrayed Xuan.. i m so glad hearing a Chinese speaking hindi and Indian actors to be a part of Chinese movie.. i really hope India and China to be friends forever. No war no hatred. Peace only. I hope people will understand this

anandita adhikary
7 months ago (edited)
Thank you China for such a beautiful film. I absolutely loved it. Have read about Xuansang as a part of history syllabus in school but to see a movie depicting his eventful and inspirational life was an experience in itself. The present relationship between the two countries is far from what it happened to be or what it should have been. The two great civilizations would have benefitted a lot from one another ;had the evil forces of destiny didn't intervene !
I have visited ruins of Nalanda University, Mahabodhi temple and the banyan tree where Lord Buddha got enlightenment personally and have great reverence for Him ??❤️

Rose Lover
1 year ago
I am a Christian and I found this movie inspiring and moving. If a horse can have a kind and compassionate heart what excuses do we as humans have? We ought to love and treat each other better.

Ruchi in China
11 months ago
Love from India! A subscriber referred to this movie and I can’t believe I haven’t watched it. Every Indian should watch this beautiful movie to learn the historical significance of these events.

Zel L B.
9 months ago
Such a film! The sceneries and phases in this film translated so well. These magnificent landscapes surely lead us to our own inner journey. Kudos to Chinese and India filmmakers, happy to have stumbled upon this.

teve a
11 months ago
I was a tourist at the Ajanta Caves in Maharashtra, India, on the day they were filming this movie and got to watch them for a bit. This main Actor who played Xuanzang is very famous and well known in India and people were lined up to say hello to him after the filming. It was all surreal to see this ....Just like stepping back in time

Jason Watkin
11 months ago
What a devotional masterpiece. I would have watched it just to hear the monks chanting Om Mani Padme Hum, or the Mandarin version of the Heart Sutra. Even the precision of the difference between Hīnayāna and Mahāyāna - Hīnayāna seeing the universe as material and perception as illusory and mutable, while Mahāyāna seeing “both” as illusory and mutable is very succinct and skillful. The cinematography and content are awe-inspiring!

triple terrific
5 months ago
As an Indian, I have great admiration for Hieuntsang about whom I learnt while at school. Thank you for writing about our history. At least through your books I learn about the golden times of my Bharatha

Any questions? A whole page full of like comments are at the English Subtitled version of this movie - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulDzLjz0wdw

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Bound to be a masterpiece as time passes...

This movie started out as a great comedy, and I enjoyed it immensely; the comedic parts are so good; you shouldn't watch this after quiet hours in your house, dorm, or apt; you will probbaly be laughing out loud some of the time!

However, a "shift' came about as Gu Xiao Jiao (Tong Li Ya) finally meets the man she initially met in her "shared" apartment twenty years later (though, just 'days' away in her timeline), and found that the path he had taken did not make him the "man" she enjoyed being with in her apartment shared in teh time distortion.

We also find that futures are "changed" with the actions brought about by Lu Zhi Yi (Lei Jia Yin) in the 1999 timeline; actions that affect both Lu Ming (again, Lei Jia Yin) and Gu Xiao Jiao's father as well.

The cinematogrphy was great: I loved the way both timelines weres shown together and seemed to be sewn together perfectly! The earlier timelines from 1999 involved many icons that also appeared in 1999 America, and they must have spent much time on details since the street scenes seemd so perfect.

I see that both main cast members worked together in past movies, which their chemistry together shows briliiantly as their onscreen chemistry is unmistakenly and almost flawless - like two people who have actually lived together for years...I also enjoyed the unexpected short dialogues intertwined within the credits at the end!

The support cast gave their talent and years of expereince in making the two main characters seem so much more alive and genuine, giving more personality to the main cast members throughout the movie.

This should become a masterpiece or have a cult following in the future!

RE-WATCH: A big Yes!

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A tribute to film-making in this time period and Japan in the 70s

It was my turn to furnish a movie for a group's Saturday night showing; and it went really well with the group!

BACKGROUND: Japan is on a destructive plate boundary, where the Philippine Sea Plate subducts the Eurasian Plate. It is a triple junction and three subduction zones are involved. The movie has historical significance both in the far past and more recent; in 2011, in 2011, the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, towns like Ishinomaki subsided. 'Subsidence' is a general term for downward vertical movement of the Earth's surface, which can be caused by both natural processes and human activities. Subsidence involves very little horizontal movement, which distinguishes it from slope (horizontal) movement.

For its time period, the cinematography is very good, plus what I like is the Japanese use of "model' terrain and cities, which were prevalent in the 1960s/70s as a standard way of showing mass destruction of cities, towns, countryside fires and tsunami damage (as most films of this era did). It brings back memories of my childhood seeing these models being used in era pictures going back as far as the 50s. If you want a look at movie-making in this time period, try this movie!

What I also liked about this film is that I knew absolutely no one starring in it, which made it seen so much more real; this makes the movie more believable on one level. While some would criticize this, it makes the movie more believable to e and other who were watching.

Everyone was sitting on the edge of their seats, anticipating what would happen next, and surprised when things happened "earlier" than they would anticipate them.

I also read about it before I showed the movie, and it is a good representation of Japanese culture at the time.

Other pluses: the few women in the movie kept their clothes on, and no one was cheating on their Significant Others as well!

Take a chance and see a great film about Japan and see what movies looked like in the late 50s to mmid-70s....

RE-WATCH VALUE: Definitely, especially for a group of different aged people who want to watch the same movie!

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A Masterpiece from Japan!

This movie is available in several languages, including English...

First of all, the cinematography is GREAT in this film! They found geography to make it seem you are back in the days when the movie took place and their wardrobe dept effectively captured the era's common people's attire..

Azumi is an orphan who is found by the master training assassins, who goal is to kill the main warlords who continue killing, raping and plundering the innocent people of the time period. Azumi joins the tough training regime and excels in it.

The only reason I only gave it a 9.5 was when he 'reduced' his assassin team in half and also, their reaction to what was happening in the first village they came upon. Neither were necessary.

The team 's goal is to complete the mission no matter what, and to kill or be killed in its completion.

Tragedy takes two of its members, but the rest continue their mission. Later, two more members and the Master die, leaving Azumi and Nagara (Ishigaki Yuma).

It is pure action from end to end, with tidbits of emotional touches in between.

The choreographer for this movie's swordplay must have worked overtime and deserves his own award for his or her work, as well as the cast, who must have spent hundreds of hours perfecting the fight scenes! A special note of appreciation to the psychotic white-clad assassin, who was released from jail to deal with the assassin squad team formed which was trained to kill the warlords.

I have never seen a movie with Ueto Aya in it before, who played Azumi, but I will definitely look for more of her movies; likewise all of the support staff effectively played their parts and backed Ueto Aya's performance here.

RE-WATCH - you bet!

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A great show for kids...of all ages!

Many of the online reviews kick this movie for the CGI not being "up to par" for 2015...

Most people watching a show like this are not critiqing the CGI, but simply want to see CGI that works for this particular movie. I liked the CGI here because it seeemd to 'work' for this movie!

Another critic critcized the movie for putting a handsome man playing the part of Zhong Kui...

Do you really want to scare off all the women watching the movie?

I often crticize movies for not being historically accurate, but this is a fable/myth/fairy tale/whatever, not history.

If you read the works of the (late) great mythologist Joseph Campbell, myths change with time and need of the audience, and more likely change over thousands of years of time.

Even if you know the original myth, does it hurt Zhong Kui beng less ugly than a couple of thousand s of years ago?

I found the movie refreshing, entertaining, and only a couple of places did it really show any gore (blood), so most audiences should be entertained by this movie without too much complaint.

Forget if the CGI may not be up to Hollywood standards, this CGI made you believe that the actions were actually taking place!

The main and support cast all seemed to work well together to bring about a good movie and only in one scene did I not think that the main leads may not be sincere, but that was just before the action hit its apogee and I forgot about it.

The cinematography was good, and I liked the angle changes on some scenes.

All in all, I think it is a movie that kids of all ages can watch and re-watch again, and enjoy themselves doing it!

Let the critics watch some ugly guy in another movie....


RE-WATCH VALUE: Yes!

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Only the last segment is worth watching!

Prologue "Tell Me Your Name"- Seo-Hee (Choi Hye Kyung), Nam-Hee (Kim Kkot Bi) and Kim Lan (Han Ye Ri) hold tarot cards and told to chant their names as a magical spell. Once their names are spoken, special events unfold.

NOTE: Whoever wrote the profile on AsianWiki got the order and names of the segments wrong! I am using what is used by the majority of sites for this movie...

Only a prayer and good writing could have saved this movie!

Tarot 1 [6:00] "The Hand that Calls"- Lan (Han Ye-Ri) and two of her best friends are ordered by their seniors to get into an abandoned school building. Lan steps into a classroom in the abandoned building where a kid died without anyone knowing. The dead may not want to be alone and she can't leave the basement.

First, almost nothing in this segment is scary: the students go into the old school during the day; there is electricity in the old school building; th girls seem to die from falling a whole 3-4 feet (fortunately, none of the girls belong to any school sports teams, or they weould be off with injuries always!); no one seems to be worried when any girl disappears; and the shyest girl turns out to be the ghost!

Tarot 2 [37:05] " Stay With Me"- So-Young (Shin Ji-Su) is popular among her peers and the teachers. When So-Young learns that her best friend Nam-Hee (Kim Kkobbi) is pregnant, So-Young tells Nam-Hee that she should keep the baby and they will raise the child together. However, a tragic accident happens and So-Young loses touch with Nam-Hee, for a while.

Tarot 3 [1:11:10]"Haunted Boy""- Park Chul-Min (Lee Tae-Ri) is a high school student. He can also see ghosts, but tries to pretend he doesn't see them. Chul-Min then sees a cute girl ghost named Seo-Hee (Choi Hye-Kyung). Seo-Hee can't forget her first love and asks Chul-Min for his help.

The cast, main and support all did an amazing job with this movie; however, without good (scary) music, a good script from good writers and good cinematogarphy, nothing can save the first two stories of this movie...only "haunted Boy" is worht re-watching.....Sorrhy!

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A TIMELESS treat for the whole family!

This is one of the best movies I have watched for a long time...

Although I believe that this movie is geared toward 10-20 year olds, it is still a great little; movie; my major problem is that there is no reference on the Internet for any of the cast except a few; and not all movie sites list the ladies, or men, who starred here. With an imagination, this is a great kids movie as well!

However, the person adding this movie only gave you ONE main female lead; there are FIVE females and FIVE males who act this movie

I hate to brag, but I told the group that watched this movie together what the four ladies actually were BEFORE we got to the part where they explained themselves to Su Su (Liu Qian Yu), and I also successfully predicted who she would choose as her boyfriend at the end, both less than halfway through the movie!

The cinematography was excellent, and the support actors did an excellent job, especially the one who was beaten up!

The main actress

What many people don't understand that that EVERY woman is the same as You Menghan, the lead female character here:

Every female is a 'daughter', and if their parents live, they become a daughter when they visit them;

Many women, especially today, is a 'coworker' and can accompany her coworkers, let her hair down and make sure everyone gets home safely;

(Almost) every female is a 'sibling', who becomes a sibling again when interacting with sister(s)/brother(s)

Every female is a 'warrior' - just watch a female have their children threatened, they become Liu Rusi, the warrior in this film;

Every female becomes Chen Zilian, the 'wine bibber in this movie, when fortunate to be in her situation;

Every female, if she chooses, can be a Li Mengying, our 'startling geisha' in this movie, and can entertain people, her family or even her loved one;

and lastly, every woman during her lifetime (especially if she has child(ren), becomes a Susu - giving and wanting to see others with a smile on their faces!

This should be a 'must-see' for anyone who majors in psychology/sociology...

RE-WATCH VALUE: Of course!

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An excellent movie for ALL AGES!

This is one of the sweetest movies I have ever seen!

The acceptance of Jeni being pregnant and their combined decision to have and keep the baby is so heartwarming...

The cinematography is great, music is superb, and the cast do an excellent job in their respective acting roles!

Combining the moral decision of keeping the baby with the sweet middle-school antics of two kids falllng in love with other, plus just enough comedy to keep your interest alive (boys running into the goal post while looking back at his girl; girl jealous when she thinks he snuck a kiss with another girl; et al).

Over halfway through, both sets of parents finding out about the 'secret', Jeni and Juno's plans almost fall apart, but with the help of last-minute 'friends' their hopes of having the baby are fulfilled!

Well worth the watch, and an occasional re-watch is also recommended...especially if you like a sweet couple's story and good, clean comedy as well!

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Weird movie which needs to be watched more than once!

This movie was based on the hit song "Kaette kita yopparai" by The Folk Crusaders, a folk and pop music group that also appeared in the film. It was released in March 1968.

I had to watch this film two tmes (and it repeats the movie twice in one playing, with a slight "twist" in the second run-through) before I go the point being made..

After I realized what it was trying to say, it became a lot clearer and it made sense then.

My late brother, James Vernon Robinson, was stationed in Japan with the U S Navy as a security/intelligence NCO in the 1960s-early 1970s; he always said that unless you has a hockie mask on, carrying a chain saw dripping with blood, that passing through Japanese customs was simple and quick, if you weren't carrying a Korean passport...but, if you were carrying a Korean passport, you were placed under a bright lamp and interrogated for hours or days as to your past lives, income, et al (hyperbole, but you get the meaning!) before the Japanese allow you, as a Korean, to enter their country!

This film sheds the same paradigm, but in a more humorous way!

This film would probably be more enjoyed by young people, because of the silly song associated with it, although it does have an overall message.

Re-watch, probably not!

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Mismatched couple who mature...too late!

I personally would like to see kids in Junior/Senior High to watch this in class and talk about it...

The cinematography and support actors/actresses did a good job filling in the spaces but not taking focus off of the couple in question.

The movie shows two immature teenagers (Zhou Xiao Qi aka Greg Hsu and You Yong Ci
aka Zhang Ruo Nan)), the male reckless and the female insecure, cross-matched and continually losing each other.

Her requesting him not to fight anymore shows she wanted him to be around for her; and not in and out of her life. He was awestruck with puppy love grew a little more mature when he agreed not to fight anymore (but at the time, he didn't know this!)...

A drunken father finding his wife and her his daughter, forced her and her mother on another move, something that the young girl grew tired of, but I thought it was caring of her to tell him to leave while the crowd watched her clean up the broken glass; she knew in her heart that her stability with another move was threatened. I felt that she was thinking of him at this time.

He gained the impetus to go to college, seeing her photograph on pictures of university life; but alas, she is already dating someone else and another separation ensues when he forces the soccer star to reveal his two-timing promise that he made to two separate women!

Again, as a swimming star, they meet again, and an injury forces him to give up his main goal in life....what is funny, nothing would have happened had he swam the race!

Fast forward to two lovebirds finally living together, with a reality check when his injuries prevent his stardom and large endorsements. I personally think had he not been so worried about his athletic injuries and taken a stable low-paying job, the ending would have been totally different. You Yong Ci unfortunately hears his lamenting about meeting her in a conversation with his friend, which brings back all her insecurities and seeing him as her father who was never there for her. Last separation...

The loss of You Yong Ci and the fact that he had to get a stable job to pay the rent taught him many lessons about his past and gave him the the ability to mature...but too late for reuniting with his former over.

The meeting with You Yong Ci on her wedding day shows how much more mature BOTH parties were.

You Yong Ci laughs when he says he is a master thief, and thanks him for coming to her wedding; both appear to be at ease, even though they broke up a few years ago...she is smiling while they talk.

His statements he made to her shows the maturity he gained having a low-paying but steady job as he had to deal with other kids like him in high school:

"You look wonderful in your wedding dress"

"I used to be a fool...worrying over the future...while wasting the present."

"You're more mature" (what he is saying to me, is that HE is more mature)"

"But today, I want no more regrets"

"But when you called me by my name...then in a fleeting moment...then I was back when I was seventeen."

All these statements - to me - show that he will be ready to have another lasting relationship in the future, but not with You Yong Ci ...I believe that the character of You Yong Ci realizes he finally gained the maturity to have a meaningful relationship..., but not with her.

The supporting actors did a fantastic job as well, and I would recommend this movie, especially to youthful couples...what wasn't said in the movie was that the individual must die as any couple matures.

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Perfect Introductory work to Ran Masak or Masahito Segawa....

"Roman Porno from 1985. A young teacher heads off to teach fencing in a school in the countryside."

This is a Japanese Cat III movie which contains lots of frontal nudity but it is not vulgar as other Cat III movies are...

The fencing teacher Noriko Saotome (Ran Masak), is invited to teach fencing at a remote mountain school, not realizing that her so-called friend, Saeko Okazaki (Izumi Shima) has a personal reason and ulterior motive in recommending her for the open position...

It turns out from even before the two ladies reach the school, that the male students in the school (young students (and later, the faculty alike) are misogynist. Also, an incident shows that the female students are very tolerant of this mindset.

First, mistreatment by students leads the main female lead into a world of sex, submission and perversion by all men, including the school's principal.

Although many reviewers believe this is not worth watching, I totally disagree. This is a great film featuring nudity but no raunchy sex scenes!

The cinematography is as good as any other regular film for its time, both the inside and outside settings. The music which assists in setting mood and segues in the movie is excellent and the actors/actresses play their roles convincingly and add to the overall atmosphere of this under-rated movie.

From my readings on the Internet, the actress Ran Masak maintained a special working relationship with director Masahito Segawa during their professional career years; I would recommend trying all the movies in which they collaborated.

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Great chemistry, but drawn out too long!

WARNING:Spoilers ahead

Great series, especially the flirting and teasing between Kao Er (Cecilia Liu) and Mo Chi (Geng Mo Chi)...they actually pull off appearing to be an actual couple in love!

On the negative, the series would have been better a little shorter, since around every corner something happened where Kao Er, Moshi or Shu Li (Bao Jian Feng) exaggerated some sort of event to the point Kao Er and Mo Chi were thrown away from each other's arms, and marriage...

The series bounced back and forth from flirting and teasing to drama because of the two lovers never seem to make it to the altar, at least together; the writers did an excellent job on the series abeit they should have cut if down a few episodes (more of the director's fault than theirs, however).

Continuously laughing at some of the scenes (example: Kao Er and Mo Chi both sparring at the 100th day anniversary of their spouses' death at the adjoining graves), I kept saying to myself that the actors/esses had to had fun doing many of the scenes and (at least) one of them probably cracked up laughing as they were trying to keep a straight face acting out the funnier scenes!

I also laughed when Shu Li told Kao Er that he knew of a perfect match for Mo Chi's heart transplant; something told me that HE was the perfect heart donor...I also immediately saw Jin Yi as Shu Li's long-lost sister.

Ying Zhi (Qi Xiang) played the perfect and steadfast friend of Kao Er, while Mi Lan (Yang Yi Tong) played an excellent friend-turned-villianess...I hope China's movie industry gives her a chance to star as a main character/villianess in another, future, movie or series!

[She and Second Sister from General's Lady (2020) both deserve a chance to play a main role as a "bad woman" in the future]

Anyway, quite a good series, with the minor detail of too many "coincidences" keeping them apart for so long!

I likes it also when Shu Li made the comment of when Kao Er told him of Mo Chi being destitute, but apparently still able to rent a fancy boat apartment in an expensive city like Seattle...the humor was not wasted on anyone knowing how expensive it is to live anywhere in Seattle, WA...especially on the waterfront!

Equally funny was Kao Er renting the same waterfront boat apt as Mo Chi did with all the money she had, then expecting to just "go" and get a job so that she could eat...can you imagine her applying for ANY job with her lack of experience in the food business!

The support Zach Ireland Splittgerber, Sun Zhi Hong, et al, deserve praise for their roles also; in particular Kao Er's parents: Ru Ping and Xie Yuan (mother and father, respectively).

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Great spinoff using cast from the orginal Love Lost In Time (2017)

First of all, if you watched the original 'Love Lost In Time', the last scene by Yin Cai Qian (Xu Mu Chan) was her growing up some and going in search of General/Prince Yuan Che (Simon Gong) , who was critically hurt in the defense of the Achai Tribe city that Black Armored Army was defending (original series LLIT).

Since I thought we should also find out how these two ended up after LLIT ended, it fit perfectly with the expectations of the fans of the original.

This story picks up as Cai Qian is redirected to the Meandering Skies, where the body of General Che is recuperating and still in danger of losing his life. Che is attended by Ming Yan, Mage disciple (Mary Ma) and Yuan Li, 12th Prince and Keeper of the Sacred Pebbles of Nine Transformation (Jovi Xu), who is sent in a bracelet to assist Cai Qian in the three dream states where she must assist General Che in solving his 'nightmare' of three dreams in order for him to be fully recovered and able to marry Cai Qian; if either one of them dies in a dream state, she cannot return to the real world.

What follows is Cia Qian, dressed all except a few times as a man, discovering that General Che is more complicated than she anticipated. and her quest is hampered by both the head assassin of the Dark Mages and in the last dream a female chief Black Mage...

The chemistry between Cia Qian and General Che is as good as their relationship and interaction in the original LLIT; unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the interaction this time between Ming Yan and Yuan Li, who seem to be reading a script but not interacting for the most part in this series. An utter disappointment, as their chemistry in the original LLIT was part of the reason it was so good and I continued watching!

One additional point: Yuan Li, 12th Prince, finds a long-lost friend, who helps the main couple along the way!

The cinematography is excellent in this series as well as the original. The musical interludes also add to the reason to watch, and re-watch, this series! The use of the original sets and a majority of the original support cast made this a "must see" for anyone who likes Love Lost In Time's original series.

All in all, I am glad that i found this short jewel of a series!

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Award-winning performances all around....

This was excellently written and directed, superb cast performed by the main and support characters.

A lone female and her wolf clan run free in the Gobi Desert...earlier the female has been captured by a human and exposed to human ways and lived briefly with the Tartars, until her "Papa" is killed by a greedy warrior who wants to become king of the desert Tartars, and she returns to her wolf pack.

A chance meeting with Ninth Lord and his caravan while stealing from them, our lone beautiful lady, Jin Yu, and the wolf that follows her, are let go. The Lord gives her a dress and salt, and bids Jin Yu goodbye. The lady changes into the dress and the next day she runs into a group of men, whom she later observes as being trained in martial arts, being attacked by desert pirates...after calling on her wolf pack, the pirates decide to abandon their attack on the foreigners.

The foreigners thank Jin Yu for her help and ask her for guidance through the desert; since her dead "Papa" has planned on taking her back to his home, the city of Jain-an, before being killed she guides them safely through the desert and remains in the city. Amongst the foreigners is the dashing General Wei Wu Ji.

What follows is a rapid advancement, after being drugged at first, of Jin Yu into being the House Manager at a dance theater/house; her wit, intelligence and {sometimes} unseen support from Ninth Lord's Shi Shipping business, lands her into profit and some prestige, yet also unneeded attention from the Palace hierarchy.

The second male lead, General Wei Wu Ji of the Nan Dynasty, saved by the wolf pack and our heroine, tries to find the wolf lady; however, while Wei Wu Ji is looking through the city for Yin Ju, , Ninth Lord has already found the wolf girl and is supporting her as much as possible (even staying with him part-time). Still Wei Wu Ji attempts to woo her, only to find her already in love with Ninth Lord.

A one-sided romance develops between our heroine Jin Yu and Ninth Lord, but as Ninth Lord continues to ignore her advances, Jin Yu is heartbroken, trying to be a 'tree' as Ninth Lord is, and also support him instead.

Jin Yu finally works up the nerve to directly tell Ninth Lord her feelings, but Ninth Lord still rebukes her and her love advances...this causes Jin Yu to abruptly leave Jain-an, leaving letters for her able house assistant, Ms. Hong, and Wei Wu Ji.

General Wei Wu Ji finds Jin Yu at a travel station along her route back to the desert, and abducts her to his military camp. After returning home with Wei Wu Ji, Jin Yu moves back to the dancing house, but later goes to live with Wei Wu Ji...Her emotions are set on a roller-coaster ride as she finds out the trouble that Ninth Lord went to trying to find her but he still rejects her Significant Other advances...and also troubling is the fact that Wei Wu Ji lied to Ninth Lord about knowing her whereabouts earlier...

Political intrigue enters the scene upon the two returning as 1) Wei Wu Ji becomes a pawn in the Court power struggles, especially with his adopted family, the Wan faction, and 2) the concubine, Qin Xiang, that Jin Yu trained so that she would be accepted into the Palace harem, rapidly gains power in the harem but turns on Jin Yu, causing her misadventure in the later episodes.

Although Jin Yu promised not to reveal the real reason for Madame Xiang's presence in the harem (vengeance, although others figured it out by themselves), she becomes the target of the Madame, partly for her being free and able to travel outside the palace and live her own life, a life that Madame Xiang begins to covet!

What started out as to men fighting over Jin Yu becomes a loose partnership between Ninth Lord and
General Wei Wu Ji , both supporting Jin Yu as she is attacked and placed into captivity by forces of the Wan faction, and both Yin Ju and Wei Wu Ji being poisoned. Both Yin Ju and Wei Wu Ji feel trapped by the political warfare in Jain-an City, and seek to stay apart from political intrigue; however, the Wang faction first tricks Wei Wu Ji in killing the head of the Li power faction, General Li ji, who happens to be the only supporter of Madame Xiang in the palace (besides the Emporer) while the Wan family plans a more morbid future for the General.

Thus, a plan is hatched to free them from Jain-an and service to the powerful Emporer; unfortunately, one of them does not know about it.

Al the actors and actresses, both main and support, performed their roles brilliantly...

Main Roles:

Shi Shi Lui, as Ying Ju, portrayed a cornucopia of emotions as she portrayed the female lead...going from chlld-like innocence in one scene to intelligently fending off attackers in the next. Especially dramatic was the two episodes of her childbirth and the following one: even though I know these are scripted series, I momentarily forgot this during the birthing scene and the two episodes after that....fantastic acting from a great actress!
I also especially loved Jin Yu's dance in the palace as the Tartar girls are performing and one is about to steal her man!

Hugh Hu, as Ninth Lord, portrayed a Stoic benefactor to the female lead, time and time sacrificing his money, and later his health, in supporting both Yin Ju and General Li Ji; many comments on the CN Drama (YouTube) site wish that a spinoff movie would be made in the future to have Ninth Lord finally find his love!

Eddie Peng, as General Wei Wu Ji, perfectly portrayed a platonic supporter of Yin Ju until he saw her response after Ninth Lord's last rejection of Yin Ju's love, then he easily portrayed Yin Ju's lover and supporter as well afterward.

Supporting Roles:

Han Dong, as General Li JI, was superb as a cohort of General Wei Wu Ji, and also as someone who tried to talk sense into Madame Xiang and save her from herself and the Palace harem she foolishly sought entry into...performing as well as he did in his roies in 'Love Lost In Time' and 'Scarlet Hearts'.

Fala Chen, as Madame Xiang, went from a level-headed sister to her episode brothers Qin Yong (Qin Yuan Chao) and
Zhang Xiang (Qin Yuan Qi) to a vindicitve but suffering madame in the harem of the Emperor...I personally saw her ending way before the final episode.
I think that she would be more than able to play a lead villianess in a major movie or series if given a chance!

Deng Li Min (Uncle Shi) and Han Zhen Hua (Uncle Chen), among the many other support actors/actresses that I do not have the time to mention here, put on superb roles as supporters of their respective houses in the series.

Superb writing, superb directing, superb acting....the ingredients to a great series!

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