My Better Half

I didn't have any expectations for MBH but I thought it couldn't be too bad because the cast was pretty good and this is Maggie Cheung's comeback drama. MBH started out okay and it made me laugh at some scenes but as a drama overall, it failed to be good or memorable. I didn't really care for the plot or the characters and I only finished this because I already have the whole drama so I thought might as well try to finish it, it was something for me to do while I train in "Final Fantasy III" on the Nintendo DS, and I really wanted to see Maggie onscreen since I haven't seen her since "War and Beauty" (I have only seen parts of The Conqueror's Story"). MBH was too repetitive and redundant since the problems/misunderstandings were annoying to watch after awhile.

Maggie Cheung: She was fun to watch in here as the mean wife in the beginning but I didn't care for her too much after she had a miscarriage. I felt this role was a waste for Maggie since she could do a lot better; her talents were wasted in here. 4****

Michael Miu: A very sweet but extremely unrealistic husband. Michael did a good job with what he was given. 4****

Michael Tse: A sort of interesting character and he really fits the character of a perverted playboy. 4****

Teresa Lee: She was good in here; one of her better roles so far. 4****

Mandy Cho: I find her to be so pretty in here but her character wasn't that great. 4****

Derek Kwok: His character was pretty funny as a supporting role; he achieved what his character was supposed to be. 4****

Mimi Lo: Not a very important character but she's always a joy to watch. 4****

Jamie Chik: I love how she had a guest star role in here; so random but it was nice seeing her onscreen with her husband, Michael Miu. 3***

Maggie+Michael Miu: They were not a bad couple and actually look really cute together. 4****

Maggie+Zac Koo: I wouldn't really call them a couple but Zac really does look like the younger version of Michael Miu. 1*

Michael Tse+Teresa: They were okay in here. 3***

Michael Tse+Mandy: Another drama in which Mandy loses Michael to another woman...is this going to be a trend from now on? 3***

Derek+Mimi: 4****

Themesong by Michael Miu and Michael Tse: 2**

Rating: 2**

Born Rich

I had such high expectations when I first heard BR was being filmed since it has one of the best ensemble cast and the plot sounded interesting. However, bad ratings and reviews plagued BR and I can understand why. The premise of BR is not bad but the plot was too unrealistic and draggy. If BR was a lot shorter (around 20 episodes instead of 41 episodes), I think it would have done better. The ending was also ridiculous and it's such a waste for such a great cast.

Ray Lui: This is his comeback TVB drama and I thought he did a great job. His character was not likable at all and his change of personality was due to his arrogance and high self-esteem. Ray still looks really young; he doesn't seem to ever age! 5*****

Gallen Lo: Gallen's 2nd comeback TVB drama; I haven't seen him in a drama since "Seven Sisters" (I have only seen parts of "Golden Faith" and "The W Files")! His character was really despicable and greedy but Gallen did a fantastic job. Gallen has aged a lot since the last time I saw him onscreen. 5*****

Nancy Sit: I couldn't take her seriously in here since she threw a lot of tantrums in the beginning. I didn't like her character until she supported Jamie Chik's character. This is not one of Nancy's best roles. 4****

Jamie Chik: She's still pretty but you can tell she has also aged. Her character is too nice that it's sometimes unrealistic. Her character is also too in denial when it comes to Ray's character. However, her acting is still good after taking a long break from acting. 5*****

Kenix Kwok: She looks too skinny that it's getting scary; I can't believe she was pregnant in real life near the end of BR! BR might also be Kenix's last drama since she wants to focus on being a mom. Her character was too obsessed with Ray's character and she was horrible when she wrecked Ray and Jamie's marriage. Kenix was convincing as a third party though. 5*****

Anita Yuen: Watching BR proved to me that Anita is a fantastic actress! I had doubts after watching "Love Exchange" but Anita proved otherwise in here. Her character for the most part was likable even though she was too stubborn and blinded in love when it came to Gallen's character. 5*****

Joe Ma: I think this might be my favorite role of Joe's. He was really likable and I like his undying and never willing to give up love for Anita's character. 5*****

Kenneth Ma: He's such an adorable character in here. His character wasn't all that important until the very end though. 4****

Sharon Chan: Her character's purpose was only to be used by Vincent and Gallen's characters so she wasn't really all that important. Her hairstyle was horrible (the bangs have to go). 4****

Vincent Wong: He looked a little bit better in here than in "War of In-Laws II". His character was greedy but he sort of redeemed himself at the end. 4****

Ray+Jamie: They were believable as a married couple and they had chemistry, which was a given since they were a couple in "The Flying Fox of Snowy Mountain 1985". I hated Ray's character for betraying Jamie's character though. 5*****

Ray+Kenix: They would have been a better couple if Kenix wasn't the third party. 4****

Gallen+Anita: A lot of people liked them together in the beginning, but I thought they kind of looked weird together (it's probably because they are "half-siblings" in here). 3***

Anita+Joe: They are cute together even though it was mostly one-sided. 4****

Gallen+Sharon: They had no chemistry whatsoever. 1*

Kenneth+Sharon: They were cute. I just wished their relationship was more developed. 4****

Sharon+Vincent: They also had no chemistry whatsoever. 2**

Themesong by Gallen Lo: I love Gallen's voice so this song was great as always. 5*****

Rating: 3.5***

The Smiling, Proud Wanderer 1984

I like "State of Divinity 1996" a lot better since Chow Yun Fat is always sad and depressed in here. However, it's an okay watch if you can stand some changes to the characters.

Chow Yun Fat: Jackie Lui is hands down the best Ling Hu Chong even though Chow Yun Fat is more handsome. 4****

Rebecca Chan: I really like her in here but I think her portrayal of Ren Ying Ying is more ruthless than Fiona Leung's since Fiona's is a lot softer. 5*****

Jamie Chik: She's probably the best Yue Ling Shan in terms of looks. 5*****

Chow Yun Fat+Rebecca: 4****

Chow Yun Fat+Jamie: 4****

Themesong by Johnny Yip and Francis Yip: 4****

Rating: 3*** I would have rated this higher if I haven't seen "State of Divinity 1996".

The Flying Fox of Snowy Mountain 1985

This is not my favorite Jin Yong novel but I thought it was a decent adaptation. I think this is the closest to the novel so by default is the best adaptation of "The Flying Fox of Snowy Mountain" and "Other Tales of the Flying Fox".

Ray Lui: He's really handsome and fits the character Hu Fei very well. He also did a good job as Hu Fei's father. 5*****

Elaine Chow: I love her in "The Duke of Mount Deer 1984" but I found her annoying in here. She's not really lovable in here. 4****

Mirta King: She's really lovable in here and a pretty good actress since she was completely different in "The Duke of Mount Deer 1984". 5*****

Margie Tsang: She's so cute in here although her role was extremely small. 4****

Jamie Chik: I consider her one of the prettiest actress during the 1980's since she was breathtaking in here. It's a pity that her character died too early. 5*****

Ray+Margie: They're cute together but I wished they were developed more although that's Jin Yong's fault. 4****

Ray+Elaine: I didn't really like them as a couple but they suited in terms of looks. 3***

Ray+Jamie: They were a pretty "hot" couple since they are both good-looking. 4****

Ray+Mirta: I felt sorry for Mirta but the friendship they shared was nice. 4****

Themesong by Lui Fong and Susanna Kwan: 3***

Rating: 4****