La frontiera del drago

... for Who is to Say it Will Not Become a Dragon?

The Water Margin is justly regarded as a cult TV show in the UK where the entire 26 episode run has been shown 3 times since 1976. Originally a 13th century Chinese epic, this TV series was made in Japanese and then dubbed into English before screening by the BBC.

I'm not going to include any spoilers, but simply say it's a tale of chivalry. If you try it your curiosity will be well rewarded. Also it has what must be the most heroic TV theme ever...

Oh ~ and it shouldn't be confused with either the 1972 Shaw Brothers film of the same name, or the oddball 1999 'Water Margin: Heroes' Sex Stories'.

'...One wrong can move a people, and a wronged people can move the world.'

Now this is the best series ever shown of its kind. From being a school kid to having become a grown-up to me, this classic still has a magic to it. Often referred to as the Robin Hood of Liang Shan Po in the South chinese marsh lands Lin Chung leads his "army" of just men (and one woman). All joined him because of the faith they all met with and shared. Without spoiling anything it is safe to say the story is set in a corrupt ancient imperial china, in which a loyal and just army officer becomes a rival to a corrupt man named Kao Chiu who later even works his evil ways up to becoming a governor of the province. All members of Lin Chungs band are outlaws in the eyes of the corrupt powers that be. And so they fight a war of justice, which is not always easy. The "bad guys" are the good and the really bad are bad. Each member has his/her own specialty be it a fast runner, excellent archer, marvellous swordsman, or a great strategic mind. All characters develop from their wronged positions into free souls formerly belonging to knights, bringing out the good in (most) people. Often their fighting can be and is being compared to "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" for the flighing through the air and all martial arts moves...... Well, I remember loads of it and ordered the 24 out of 26 available parts from Amazon Video. It will be great to enjoy it all again from time to time. The voices have been dubbed and even that had been done in a great way, which makes us understand the dialogues and still gives the play its authenticity. NHK produced it in 1977. The star role of Lin Chung played by Atsuo Nakamura. Also there's comic relief in the overweight form of Lu-Ta a Buddhist "flower priest" an asian "Friar Tuck". Watch Wu Sung the Tiger man he is a lot of laughs too, eventhough I don't hear many comments on him. Hu San-Niang is the only feminine hero. It seems all other women die in the one episode they happen to appear in. At one stage we even saw Hu San-Niangs "kid" sister. Best other hero Shih Chin Tatooed dragon. All according to the chinese saga. Shih Chin always represented what I, then a schoolkid wanted to be like. Except for the tattoos. Well, I am no "yakuza".

So the Water Margin eventhough a while back, remains yet another oriental feast to watch, especially for people, who like me are very much into "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" stuff. BANZAI ! - a Ten out of Ten in my rating book.

Loved this as a child and watched it religiously on BBC2 every week. It was very much centred on story rather than mindless violence, a sort of Robin Hood and King Arthur in one. It also featured an interesting mix, not only of martial arts but also of wizards, clever tricks, evil villains... It also conveyed well the concepts of good, bad, betrayal and other timeless morals that can be understood anywhere rather than being a front for Chinese propaganda as I found HERO to be. The movement was also believable rather than looking like people at he end of wires. Breaks my heart to see so much rubbish on the big screen these days, yet Hollywood has never made this into a Blockbuster. Certainly one to rent or buy if you can!

Skipping over the myth of souls reborn, this was a fantastic series of good vs evil, many battles won by evil, but never the war. It raises the question of whether, seeing that illusion exists, life itself is a mere illusion - evil seems to prefer the idea of moral unaccountability, whereas good is prepared to face reality & unselfishly die for what is right. The main protagonist is Lin Chung, sword master. He forms the hub of a resistance movement. The agent of darkness is Kao Chui, risen from insignificant society to prime minister, looking to undermine his sovereign & rule China. Real heroes & villains. It should not be forgot. Downsides exist, such as some buffoonery where there should be seriousness, and the backdrops (eg landscape & moonscape).

At one level, it is a Chinese martial arts series, and a good one at that, with excellent and believable action. But it is so much more than this.

The characters have been developed and rounded, so you feel as though you know them. The plots are intricate enough and stretch over a number of episodes, giving the impression that it is not just a number of linked stories.

The Heroes have more honour than any comparable series, whereas Kao-Chiu is as disreputable a villain as you will ever see. But, even the heroes can make mistakes and are defeated fairly often, making them human.

The fight scenes are excellent, especially when Lin Chung bursts on the scene doing his whirlwind impression. One of the episodes has a man being cut vertically in two by a sword, something which had a lasting impression on me as a 14 year old when I first watched it.

All in all, an excellent series.