QAS
Los Angeles, CA
Flashbacks in Shanghai
I came to the party 1 1/2 years after the initial TV broadcast. I was searching for C-dramas with English subs, that are hard to find. I found it by accident on YT, and watched the whole drama, with some fast forwarding, over eight consecutive days.
Story:
The plot was plausible, but long-winded, and packed with unnecessary, redundant, superfluous flashbacks. At least six episodes would have been shaved off, if they had resisted the flashback route. Drama could have been renamed "Flashbacks in Shanghai" or "I Hate You, I Love You!"; a romance, conspiracy, crime, musical, pre-war drama set in Shanghai.
Acting/Cast:
Huang Xiao Ming was impressive with his height, acting and fighting skills and his steadfast character. Zou Zhen was overzealous about Jingxui. Joe Chen’s acting was average. Her character Jinxui is a very confused, easily manipulated woman, who flows like the river, and latches onto any man in her periphery. At least six men were in various stages of like/love/obsession, which was a stretch.
Qiao Kimi gave a very good acting performance as SLS Ying Dong. His character was easy going but conflicted. Lu Kelsey was the most beautiful actor in the cast. Her acting range was greater than Joe Chen's. Qi Ji was the tall, handsome, dastardly evil villain Maeda. Maeda's false charm and charisma were over the top, and should have been dialed back. The supporting actors did very good professional acting jobs. The puppy was the best character.
Music:
I was very impressed with the opening song, the BGM and the closing song.
Rewatch Value:
Once is enough, even if Huang Xiao Ming were to ask me to watch it again.
Overall:
Acting-very good
Directing-good, but could have been better if he had laid off the Flashback Management Team.
Cinematography-very good
Costume design-very good
Set design-very good
Editing-good, but could have been better if he had refused to load all the inane flashbacks. A painted scene of Shanghai would flash monotonously across the screen numerous times in every episode, as if we did not already know that the city is Shanghai.
Memo to production companies; If we see a building or landmark once, we do not have to see it 100 times.
Story:
The plot was plausible, but long-winded, and packed with unnecessary, redundant, superfluous flashbacks. At least six episodes would have been shaved off, if they had resisted the flashback route. Drama could have been renamed "Flashbacks in Shanghai" or "I Hate You, I Love You!"; a romance, conspiracy, crime, musical, pre-war drama set in Shanghai.
Acting/Cast:
Huang Xiao Ming was impressive with his height, acting and fighting skills and his steadfast character. Zou Zhen was overzealous about Jingxui. Joe Chen’s acting was average. Her character Jinxui is a very confused, easily manipulated woman, who flows like the river, and latches onto any man in her periphery. At least six men were in various stages of like/love/obsession, which was a stretch.
Qiao Kimi gave a very good acting performance as SLS Ying Dong. His character was easy going but conflicted. Lu Kelsey was the most beautiful actor in the cast. Her acting range was greater than Joe Chen's. Qi Ji was the tall, handsome, dastardly evil villain Maeda. Maeda's false charm and charisma were over the top, and should have been dialed back. The supporting actors did very good professional acting jobs. The puppy was the best character.
Music:
I was very impressed with the opening song, the BGM and the closing song.
Rewatch Value:
Once is enough, even if Huang Xiao Ming were to ask me to watch it again.
Overall:
Acting-very good
Directing-good, but could have been better if he had laid off the Flashback Management Team.
Cinematography-very good
Costume design-very good
Set design-very good
Editing-good, but could have been better if he had refused to load all the inane flashbacks. A painted scene of Shanghai would flash monotonously across the screen numerous times in every episode, as if we did not already know that the city is Shanghai.
Memo to production companies; If we see a building or landmark once, we do not have to see it 100 times.
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