A Journey to Love 一念关山

Truth be told, I had no intention writing about the dramas I've watched until the bugging thought of Liu Shishi's impressive posture kept hunting me. Actually, it still does. Which isn't that bad. It's a good reminder to keep proper body mechanics.

I'm not sure why I decided to watch 一念关山 (YI NIAN GUAN SHAN) but I believe Liu Yuning was one of the reasons. I've seen him in three dramas before so I'm quite familiar with him.

As there have been a lot of posts about 一念关山, I don't think there's a need for me to comment in detail about the story. Everything here is just personal thoughts.

PLOT.
一念关山 just reminded me right now of The Matarese Circle but sort of Romeo and Juliet. Imagine the best of opposing parties coming together for a mission, that branched into multiple missions. Shishi and Yuning's characters are supposed to kill each other should they meet. But they met under different circumstances, which would quite confuse viewers if they don't pay enough attention to dialogues.

Besides the main characters, the supporting characters have solid stories on their own that would surely capture  the viewers.

The storyline, ending included, is realistic. Too realistic despite being a wuxia. If you're tired of the canon and orthodox endings, 一念关山 is for you.

SCREENPLAY.

This was written by Zhang Wei, who's probably the first Chinese writer I paid attention to because of what happened to the characters in 一念关山. *wink wink* Somehow I think she drew inspiration for Ren Xin  任辛 / Ru Yi's 如意 character from Himura Kenshin 剣心. Besides the nature of their character, their names could almost sound the same. So it's like Ren Xin is the female version of Kenshin.

I think there's a good build up from situations to situations so the storyline doesn't come as boring. The action scenes were impressive as well. I think there were no banal moves, perhaps because 一念关山 was released late last year so the choreography have become better. And I've read that this was Liu Shishi's first costume/period drama in six years.

Of course, they have to make sure they provide good comeback moves for one of the Four Dans. And given Shishi's ballet background, it won't do her skills justice if she was provided with something mediocre.

CHARACTERS.
I remember ending up praying to God to grant me a Ning Yuan Zhou. He's just a vast green forest. He can cook. He's protective. He's loyal. He's got integrity. He's mission and goal oriented. He's very supportive. He's a feminist gentleman. He's tall too. He's such a good brother and bro as well. And he wants to retire as a farmer! He wants a simple life. What a dream guy!

I'm not gonna talk about the other characters, though each deserve a post of his own. I'll just focus on this couple, so ideal and inspiring. Despite being fictional characters, watching them made me wishful of having a relationship like theirs. It'd be nice to have someone who understands your thoughts, despite being unspoken.

Ning Yuan Zhou and Ru Yi are the couple that gives no room for other pairing. There's just them and neither can be paired with anyone else. Just impossible.

Even before the ceremonial bows, these two have already played as life partners. What a goal! I think I have to make another prayer to God.

BGM.
I didn't know Liu Yuning sings! Or did I? Maybe I just didn't know that he sings OSTs, which includes A Journey to Love. And mahn, he's got amazing voice! Well, alt-rock has been one of my fave genres. The other tracks are also amazing. And they're now staple on my regularly played albums in Spotify.

ENDING.
It is what it is. Despite other fans' claims, everything that happened before the Emperor's arrival was real. Logically speaking, they really happened. And I could just feel for Ru Yi when she said that a world without reason for living is too lonely.

PS. I think I want to learn traditional Asian dancing, including that of China's.

Now Playing: Utada Hikaru - Final Distance

Jason Bourne

Imagine my excitement when I found out that Paul Greengrass was directing a Jason Bourne movie. That only means one thing. Matt Damon's back as Jason Bourne. Interesting enough. The latest movie title of the franchise was simply Jason Bourne.

That was a kilig-overload for me. JASON BOURNE! Double that when it was confirmed that Julia Stiles was also coming back. And there's Alicia Vikander. Three of my favourite actors in one film. It was a total win-win for me.

I've been actually considering watching it again. Like seriously. Perhaps I really should.

Anyway, came July 29 when I was free to watch one of my favourite franchises. As usual, I watched it alone. Because I always, or at least more than often, watch movies alone and because that's what I do whenever the film I'm going to watch is something I've been looking forward to, and because I wasn't so sure how I'd react seeing Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, and Alicia Vikander on screen again.

I imagined myself to be so kilig. That's a private moment, which I would only share with someone particularly special. There's no one as such. By the way, I did the same when I watched The Bourne Ultimatum back in college. I was in SM Megamall.

And I was right. I got kilig. So kilig. Because. Matt Damon. Jason Bourne. Julia Stiles. Nicky Parsons. Alicia Vikander. Heather Lee. But why Lee? I'm intrigued with Alicia's character's last name. I'm intrigued with her character.

When Jason Bourne was coming to an end, say on the fourth quarter of the film, I had this idea or thought which I hope would come to pass. It'll be like Cameron Pryce. Yeah, I love Robert Ludlum. It's one of those moments when I wish I was filthy rich or at least a producer. I would definitely produce "Jason Bourne Returns" as well as the sequel to The Bourne Legacy.

I've read somewhere that Matt Damon only had limited lines in the movie. Regardless, I'd say the film was able to tell the story, to give justice to the movie title. As for the fight scenes, I'd say those in this film were not enough for me. I miss those in Identity and Supremacy. The drive scenes in Vegas though, I'd say, seemed to have tried to catch up with the 'features' of today's Hollywood films but still being true to its Bourne foundations. It even gave me a sense of nostalgia, as if I was brought back to at least nine years ago. It was like the story of Bourne's life was coming back to me.

It's really nice to have a lot of your favourite things rolled into one. I've already mentioned the three actors I love. Add to them the story itself, created by my top favourite author Robert Ludlum.

How I wish The Matarese Circle project would be reconsidered. Never mind if we don't have the original casts. Let's have someone else.