第三個願望 (The Third Wish) is being released in Taipei today. The movie is of a father and son pairing that gets broken up when the mom comes back. When Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis comes, the father and son have a choice to make.
I am a big fan of Alice Tzeng so I will watch this film! If it shows up in Los Angeles.
愛到底 (L-O-V-E / Love) is a 2009 movie out of Taiwan. The movie is split up into 4 story arcs. Each arc has its own directer and stars. But none of the 4 stories are linked together. This film has been on my radar since March.
The first story arc stars Van Fan and Megan Lai. Van and Megan are celebrating their 7th year together. They recall together how they met and fell in love. In a 3 hour elevator ride. Van had a broken foot in that elevator. While at the hospital for an examination, another patient approaches him because they have the same sounding voice. The patient has 3 months to live and ask that Van calls his suicidal mother to wish her well, so that she will continue to live on. Van now has a brain tumor (assuming here) and he's going in for life threatening surgery. Van ask for the same to the ether for someone to call Megan.
The second story arc stars Blue Lan, Annie Liu, Alan Kuo, Tammy Chen, and Chie Tanaka. Annie Liu is a tour guide for the 華山 area. Blue Lan is the director for a MV shot in the area. Alan Kuo, Tammy Chen, and Chie Tanaka are there to make the MV. Annie Liu and Alan strike up a friendly relationship. To Blue's distaste. Blue confronts Annie and ask her why she's ignoring him. Annie doesn't remember him and the love triangle is officially started. We later find out that Annie and Blue were together 3 years ago. But three years ago, they split and Annie gets into an car accident and loses some of her memory. Including all of her memory of Blue.
The third story arc stars Ethan Ruan and Alice Tzeng. This arc is hard to describe as it doesn't have a story. It is about a couple that are at a crossroads in their relationship. One is more mature and one is less. When will the less mature be ready to grow to the same level?
The forth story arc stars mainly Tracy Chou. The rest of the crew is like a who's who of the Taiwan entertainment industry. Many many cameos. The story arc is also hard to describe because it has a storyline, but an exaggerated one. The premise is comedic in nature. This arc doesn't have the feel of the other 3 and is the most light hearted.
Should you watch it? Yes. It was a well made film that presents love in 4 very different view points. Can they stand along on their own? Probably not. But as a premise of the title of the film goes, love to the end (愛到底), with all 4 stacked together, you get the point.
心星的淚光 (Starlit) is a 2009 drama out of Taiwan. The drama stars Jerry Yan, Terri Kwan and Alice Tzeng. It runs a quick 22 episodes (47-49 minutes each). I was surprised at how fast I got through it.
Jerry Yan plays Ah Yue. Terri Kwan as plays Xiao Lu. Alice plays Rui Zhan. Zhang Xi Xi plays Da Hong. These are the major players in the drama and they all put on quite a show.
Xiao Lu is on assignment in Taiwan from Beijing. Xiao Lu takes some time out to take pictures in Jioufen. Ah Yue is walking by when Xiao Lu is in the middle of the street. Xiao Lu can't move and Ah Yue pushes her out of the way, but gets hit by the bus. After the hit, Ah Yue falls on the ground and the bus runs over his hand. Taken to the hospital and Xiao Lu follows. But Xiao Lu's plane is leaving and she does not want to miss her flight back to Beijing. Xiao Lu leaves her information, but through the magic of dramas, it is lost.
Well, Ah Lu recovers, but his hand can no longer return to the way it was. Which was that of a piano prodigy. Now that Ah Yue was lost everything he's lived his life for, he takes to the road. Two years later, Ah Yue ends up in Shanghai. Through the magic of dramas, Ah Yue and Xiao Lu bump into each other. You know how it goes from there...
Well, I was impressed and really dug this drama. The story, formula, etc. have all played out someway in other dramas. But there was something about all the played out clichés and drama magic that didn't turn me off. I am also not a big fan of Terri Kwan. But somehow, none of that seemed to bother me. Jerry is Jerry and played the character well. The rest of the cast somehow made everything work for me.
Zhang Xi Xi (章西西) was the biggest surprise for me. I'm not sure if I'll see her in any other dramas as she's a China actress and isn't going to be many idol dramas from Taiwan. But 章西西 was someone I hoped had a bigger supporting part. Maybe 章西西 will have a big supporting role in Always Smile! Check out this blog page for more of 章西西. I am a fan!
The drama actually spends only 3-4 episodes in Taiwan. The rest is in Shanghai. The majority of the secondary cast seemed native to China and not Taiwan. All but 2 the major parts were played by Taiwan based actors. Maybe this is the future for Taiwan dramas that want more penetration in China's emerging market.
But I must warn that the ultimate subject matter is quite depressing. Doom and gloom is a heavy subject. The first half is the chase, the second half is the doom and gloom.
I am looking forward to it. Seems to be a episodic movie about 4 different love stories.
It has a star studded cast from past and present. I wish it the best of luck in Taiwan and aboard in the Asia region. I also hope for a version on the US shores by the end of the month that's in good quality.
