Hong lou meng

This is China's 1987 TV-series version of The Dream of Red Mansions, featuring the tragic love of Bao Yu and Tai Yu, and the prosperity and decline of the four notable feudal ruling-class families of Jia, Shi, Wang and Xue. The story also features the revolts of the many nurses and servants of the Grand View Garden.

The location and elaborate sets of the village, gardens, temples and palaces were detailed, elegant and colorful - capturing the beauty of the architecture of ancient China. The music score was brilliant with its haunting and elegant songs, and the large ensemble cast of characters each gave a powerful portray of their respected characters - charming, rebellious, humorous, authoritative, cold, kind, among other traits. The make-up and costumes for each character were realistically and superbly done.

My mom introduced this TV-series to be as a little kid, and I have grown to appreciate the history, characters and lessons of the story. Many movie, opera and TV adaptations of this story exist, but this 1987 TV-series is the ultimate and best version that exists!

Grade A

Although the economic level of the 1980s was relatively low and material was relatively scarce, actors and actresses were serious about acting.Costumes and props are impeccable, actors are selected from the country, one by one eliminated, but also after training, is the other version can not compare.

In the world of literature, Ireland has it's "Ulysses", Russia it's "War and Peace", and China it's "A dream of Red Mansions" This 1987 TV adaption is said to be the definitive one. It Is I confess rather slow, and I needed to take a break from it, before finishing it off. I did find it hard to keep track of some of the characters. There are so many deaths in the last 5 or 6 episodes, that you might find it hard not to be a little amused by it. But the acting is exemplary.

Yes, the show is terrific. it's different from most shows that are or were on Chinese TVs as I remember. Because as a Vietnamese I was fed on Chinese dramas, the majority of which are about star crossed lovers, kungfu, palace intrigues...But this show is really a stand alone, and that's why many of my friends and my family don't really like it, it just doesn't follow a plot.

The main joy in watching the series as well as read the novel is the distractions: music, poetry, food, comic stories, painting. I was really doubled up in laughters whenever I see the servants bicker, or when Liu Laolao came to the garden, or at the biting and proud and sarcastic words of Qingwen or Daiyu. it's really a find to see myself laughing in a so-called tragic series and book.

For the most part of the Cao version is so funny, with only some deaths, but they are all heart-felt. I love Qingwen. The last 40 chapters are not good at all, all filled with deaths which do not bring me tears, even Daiyu's, Xifeng's, and devoid of poetry. So it is quite reasonable to make 30 episodes for 80 chapters and only 6 for the rest.

I confess the outcome of the director is much better than the book's. At least it is filled with tragedy, not like the book ending with everyone making up, and hailing the goodness of the king and monarchy. You know,the series does a great job juxtaposing, contrasting sadness and fun and so make both impressive.

The TV series is adapted from one of China's four famous works. The actors, shooting, make-up and music of the play are all excellent, which are hard to reproduce.