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Reviewed by hkopinions
Rating 5 stars
Casts
Tony Leung as Cheung Mo Kei (Truong Do Ky)
Kitty Lai as Chiu Ming/Zhao Min (Trieu Minh)
Sheren Tang as Chow Chi Yuerk/Zhou Zhiruo (Chau Chi Nhuoc)
Maggie Siu as Siu Ciu/Xiao Zhou (Tieu Sieu)
Simon Yam as Cheung Chiu San (Truong Thuyet Son)
Carol Dodo Cheng as Yin Susu/ Yan So So (So So)
Intro
This version of the New Heavenly Sword and Dragon Saber is the best version, personally. Although this version was made in 1986, I could still watch it over and over again. When I heard a newer version was to be made, The New Heavenly Sword and Dragon Saber 2000, I was very excited. However, when I saw that Lawrence Ng was to be cast as Truong Do Ky, I was disappointed since he is too old. The 1986 version still outshines all of the other versions unlike the Legend of the Condor Heroes 1994. In this version, almost every character performed their best and the story follows closer to the novel than any other versions.
The storyProbably everyone knows the story already. HSDS is the final part in the Condor Trilogy following LOCH and ROCH. This summary is very brief and skips many details. The story is about the possession of two treasures, the Dragon Saber and New Heavenly Sword, which had belonged to the hero in ROCH, Duong Qua. The series starts out with the parent generation of Truong Do Ky. Simon Yam portrays Truong Thuyet Son and Carol Dodo Cheng portrays So So. Simon is part of the Seven Swordsman of Mo Dong and Carol is part of the Ming Sect. By chance, the two meet and fall in love. They meet the Golden-Manned Lion, Ta Ton, and become stranded on Fire-Ice Island with him. Simon and Carol get married and Ta Ton becomes the godfather of their son, Truong Do Ky. The four are stuck on the island for 10 years. Simon, Carol, and their son leave the island and return to China. Tse Sun didnt want to leave because everyone wanted to kill him since he murdered many before in the past. When they return to China, everyone wanted to know the whereabouts of Ta Ton so they can get the saber. Simon and Carol commit suicide because of some misunderstanding. Truong Do Ky gets wounded and is in critical condition. Truong Do Ky is taken to be cured by a Ming Sect member. Years later, the doctor that cures him dies and Truong Do Ky is chased into a cave by some people who wanted to know where his godfather is. Tony Leung now plays Truong Do Ky. While in the cave, Truong Do Ky finds a powerful kung fu that helps cure his poison. Tony leaves the cave and meets Sheren and his cousin. He later encounters Maggie and the two are stuck in a hidden cave. There, Tony learns the powerful kung fu of the Ming Sect. He stops the war between the sects and becomes the Ming Sect leader. Later on Tony meets Trieu Minh, a Mongolian princess, and fall in love with her. Meanwhile, Sheren steals the Dragon Saber and New Heavenly Sword and open the treasures inside. Trieu Minh portrayed by Kitty Lai, leaves her home and follow Tony. At the end, Tony chooses between four girls: Maggie, his cousin, Sheren, and Kitty. Of course, he chooses Kitty. Tony leaves the Ming Sect and lives happily ever after with Kitty. This version follows very closely with the book and so the story flows smoothly. The plot is great and easily followed with some background of LOCH and ROCH.
Tony Leung
Tony Leung did a great job has Truong Do Ky, probably the best out of all the other versions not counting the movie starring Jet Li. Tony portrayed a character pulled into hatred because of misunderstandings from the past. However, Tony shows very little emotions since Truong Do Ky is a very simple character. Truong Do Ky has the weight of the world on his shoulders and always wants to do the right thing. He is loyal, intelligent, but at the same time gullible about women. He has great chemistry with Kitty, although not Maggie.
Kitty Lai
Kitty Lai did a wonder job has Trieu Minh. She portrayed a spoiled, smart, and beautiful girl who falls for Truong Do Ky. Their chemistry was great. Romantic scenes of Trieu Minh and Truong Do Ky are very funny and heat breaking. Kitty portrayed the playful and cunning side of Trieu Minh, but at the same time shows that Trieu Minh is indeed a romantic and can become righteous.
Sheren Tang
Sheren also did a great job of being Chau Chi Nhuoc. In the beginning she is the kindest girl in the entire series. She was sweet and innocent, but as the story progresses, Sheren turns to evil because of her love for Truong Do Ky. The ending of Chau Chi Nhuoc is very sad. I cant help but feel sorry for her.
Costumes, scenery, and special effectsBack in the 80's, I can't say there were any good special effects. Although the series cant match up to the 2000 version in special effects, the 1986 version outshines it any other reasons. The costumes were very beautiful especially Trieu Minh's clothes. The scenery was quite disappointing though if compared to newer versions. Most of the sceneries were fake with a fake sky in the background. I guess it was hard for them to film the series outside. There were many good fighting scenes especially scenes with Tony. The theme song was pretty good. It had that certain vibe to it and matched perfectly with the story. The sub theme song was also very moving.
A little history
The New Heavenly Sword and Dragon Saber is the final part of the Condor Trilogy. It takes place about 1330-1360. In part one of the Condor Trilogy, Legend of the Condor Hero, Quoc Tinh helps protect China from Chingis Khan. In part two, the Return of the Condor Hero, Duong Qua becomes a famous kung fu master and unearths the treasure of Kim Mo Dok Gu Kau Bie. The sword was very heavy but help Duong Qua become stronger when he lost his arm. At the end of ROCH, China falls to the Mongolians. Duong Qua and Tieu Long Nu disappear to live a normal life. Duong Qua's sword is given to Quoc Tinh and Hoang Dung. They make two swords out of it, the Dragon Saber and the New Heavenly Sword. In the Dragon Saber, Quoc Tinh hides tactics and war formations. In the Heavenly Sword, Quoc Tinh hides the most powerful kung fu pursued by everyone in LOCH. The Mongols rule starts in 1260 AD. Many years later, the two treasures pass from one owner to the next and finally come into the possession of Ta Ton. Truong Do Ky becomes the lucky guy to possess these treasures at the end. Mo Kei becomes the Ming Sect leader about 1340's or 1350's. The Ming Sect is united and wages rebellions against a collapsing Yuan dynasty. Truong Do Ky gives up being sect leader to be with Trieu Minh. He would have become emperor of the Chinas dynasty if he stayed. A new Ming Sect leader was chosen and in 1368 he chased out the Mongolians and established the Ming dynasty. Although most of the characters of the Condor Trilogy were fictional, Jing Yong did a great job of tying the heroes to historical events making the Condor Trilogy the most popular series of all time.
Watch it or forget itDefinitely watch it. Even if you are not a fan of the Condor Trilogy, this series is most likely the best Kung fu/sword fighting series of all time.
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