The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber (2003)
From DramaWiki
Details
- Title: 倚天屠龙记 / Yi Tian Tu Long Ji
- Also known as: The Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre
- Episodes: 40
- Broadcast network: CTS
- Broadcast year: 2002
- Opening song: Xin Ai by Jin Xue Feng
- China Ending song: 爱上张无忌 / Ai Shang Zhang Wuji (To Fall in Love with Zhang Wuji) by Mao A Min (毛阿敏)
- Taiwan Ending song: Xue Lai de Shi Hou (When the Snow Comes) by Alec Su
Synopsis
Based on the popular novel by Jin Yong Kam Yung (aka Louis Cha). He also wrote Legend of the Condor Heroes and Return of the Condor Heroes. The Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre takes place during 14th Century China during the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty, roughly 100 years after the events of Return of the Condor Heroes. After decades of struggles, famine, and bitterness which the Chinese citizens blamed on the Yuan Dynasty's misgovernment, the Martial Arts sects have begun to rebel. Prince Ruyong asks Cheng Kun, a Shaolin monk with an ulterior motive, for a plan on how to deal with the rebels.
"The wielder of Heavenly Sword and/or Dragon Sabre rules the world."
This well known legend in the Martial Arts community is the impetus for the tale of Zhang Wuji. The story begins with how his parents met (episodes 1-3), then tells his trials as an adolescent (episodes 4-8), proceeds to relate his rise to prominence (episodes 9-23) and reveals the secret behind Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre (episode 23), and ends with the confluence of Wuji's love life, the Martial Arts sects' long standing grudges, and cruel fate.
Cast
- Alec Su as Zhang Cui Shan / Zhang Wuji 张翠山 / 张无忌
- Alyssa Chia as Zhao Min 赵 敏
- Gao Yuan Yuan as Zhou Zhi Ruo 周芷若
- Zhang Tie Lin as Yang Xiao 杨 逍
- Bao Yi Lin as Yang Bu Hui
- Phyllis Quek as Yin Su Su 殷素素
- Florence Tan as Xiao Zhao 小 昭
- Tsui Kam Kong as Xie Xun 谢 逊
- Zhang Guo Li as Cheng Kun aka Yuan Zhen 圆 真
- Wang Gang as Wang Shi 王 爷
- Dao Hong 陶虹 as Ji Xiao Fu 纪晓芙
- Chen Sha Sha 陈莎莎 as Zhu Er 蛛 儿
- Yan Qing Yu 阎青妤 as Granny Golden Flower 金花婆婆
- Shi Xiao Long 释小龙 as Young Zhang Wuji 少年张无忌
Production Credits
- Original novel: Jin Yong Kam Yung
- Screenwriter:
- Producer:
- Director:
Review
The special effects take the form of cheesy CG and green screen. The pacing of the story drags in parts, specially early on. The kid they got to play Wuji at age 10 looks like he's 15 or 16. But any flaws in execusion are overcome by the excellent plot and beautiful actresses. Just when you get tired of one hawt actress, the story introduces another one. Before I knew it, I was watching to see how the story unfolds instead of just watching the hawt actresses. Truly, this story is a Wuxia masterpiece where romance and kung fu are intricately intertwined. To quote the great rock band Queen, "Too much love will kill you."
Songs
This show was a China-Taiwan-Singapore co-production. It aired identically in all 3 regions except for the ending song. The Taiwanese show had an ending song sung by Alec Su. There is also supposed to be an English version of the opening song. The opening song sings about a man willing to surrender to the woman who has captured his heart. The ending song which Alec Su didn't sing is about a woman who's unwilling to allow the man she loves to have another woman in his heart.
External Links
- CTS Offical Site
- Sina Site
- Wikipedia Page
- Original novel info & translation
- Screenshots page WARNING Some of the screenshots are spoilers.