|
Post by Guest 007 on Dec 27, 2003 5:03:57 GMT -5
Well, I read this board and there seems to be a consensus that Emperor Wang Guhn is probably the best historic Korean Drama so far. I agree. Mainly, the fighting scenes looks so realistic.
I watched again a tape from EWG, and compare it with AoW. In EWG, the besieging of the castle, the cavalry charge and personal combats are all excellent (maybe because EWG have bigger budget). They even shows soldiers using ballistae and catapults throwing fire arrows and rocks at enemy's castle. They shows how they have barricades and parrapets, just like in the real combat. The cavalry charges along the rivers in one scene is just amazing.
Also, there are NO fancy kung-fu moves being shown in EWG. Imagine performing those kung fu moves while being chase by twenty men trying to impale you with their spears.
Well, Aow is not bad actually. But the fighting scenes has been toned down considerably (no more catapults, large cavalry charges, etc). The worst of all is, they now uses those fancy kung fu moves in every fighting scenes. Not to mentioned Yi Ui Min ridiculously large axe (make it look cheesy). Well, it looks more and more like Hong Kong movies now. Hopefully, they reduced those fancy moves.
Still, as of now, it is the best historic drama out there in TV.
|
|
|
Post by Eunuch 3 on Dec 27, 2003 13:53:14 GMT -5
It's been quite a while since EWG. I seem to forget what happens, but I still know the jist of the whole story line.
To me, I prefer AOW. I do know that Emperor Taejo had more significance in Korean History, but I still prefer the substance. In EWG, I liked every character, even though they were the bad guys, like the Kyun-Hwon, or old mad man Kung-Ye. In AOW, you got Kyun Chung, Ui-min, Muby, even Ui-bang to hate. Those characters I just want to hit their heads with Ui-Bangs club. About the action, I think it was the same. What did you expect from beseiging a castle from your master?
Wang Guhn was very loyal to that mad man, but Kung Ye's time was over. Kung-ye had his army, and Wang Guhn had his, so if you want to take over the palace, you might as well put some force into it. When did WG take place? And when did AOW take place? There is a big gap, I'm sure their military techniques have changed. I'm pretty sure that we still don't fight wars like in WWI.
Fancy kung fu moves? It may look fancy, like some ballet dance to you, but I'm sure that was the technique for the young warriors like Daesung(I think over acts), or Cap. Huh. I'm sure it intimidated the foot soldiers. If I'm not wrong, it is courtesy to show your face to your opponent? That's why I think these soldiers just don't stab you in the back. Even during "surprise" attacks, there is that single arrow on fire.
About that cheesy axe, I agree. Doesn't even look real. But I am sure, Ui-min did carry an axe that large.
I do love the elaborate costumes. I do not know if they're accurate, but I praise the designer. Even the headdress impress me, for the men and women.
One thing I am disappointed but great to see are the returning actors and actresses. In the early episodes, I still referred to Ui-bang as the Emperor of Bekjae, when I could remember his character. They're all great actors and actresses.
|
|
|
Post by JP Paulus on Dec 27, 2003 22:41:45 GMT -5
Some thoughts that i have... While there is some of the wire-fu-ish type of fighting, there's also better camera angles that really make the battles more dramatic. One is particular that i thought was really cool was early on, i think it was Yi Ui-Min ("Archfiend") vs. Chung Jung-Bu's borther-in-law. They had a shot looking down on the brother-in-law on the horse, swinging a crescent lance, while Ui-Min was swinging his axe. Way cool. Regarding the Axe: The Archfiend was supposed to be REALLY tall (over 6 feet). However, i don't think the actor was anywhere near big as he should be (like Jonathan Pryce as King Saul in the TNT production of David) And regarding the costumes: i got an e-mail from a history professor in response to my web site, jp.paulus.com/koreandrama.html, and she said that the costumes were indeed accurate. Exciting, ain't it? Personally, i think there's been a lot of progress being made, and especially in the area of filming techniques, Korean Historical Dramas have come a LOOOOOONG way!
|
|
|
Post by Guest 007 on Dec 29, 2003 2:47:18 GMT -5
Hey so the costume is authentic, it is cool. I think they did a good job by trying being authentic. I love the generals costume.
BTW, for Eunuch 3, no, no military officers in ancient China/Korea/or Japan will perform fancy moves in real combat situation. The combat in Emperor Wang Guhn is probably what you will see. That is why I have great respect for EWG.
If you read Romance of Three Kingdom (China) or Taiko (Japan), the "courtesy" to show your face in front of enemy before attacking does not exist. If you look away in combat, they will shoot you down or stab you. That is the nature of real warfare.
Those fancy moves usually shown in Oriental opera to depict martial heroes. This custom continues to the modern movies. But they did NOT represent real combat.
Once, I have the priveledge to meet master Tan, a shaolin monk. I asked him if ancient military China used jump kick, spinning kick, etc in combat. He said NO, they will get killed in a minute if they do that.
The method of fighting is straight. You there to kill not to impress. So, the answer is NO. Kyung Dae Sung is probably a martial artists (Since he is the son of a general, Lt. Kim--the guy who is around him all the time--is most likely his tutor). He know how to do fancy moves. But he certainly not gonna use it in front of a squad of spearmen or archers. It will be a suicide.
|
|
|
Post by Guest 007 on Dec 29, 2003 3:07:56 GMT -5
BTW,
I am not saying that martial arts training is not important for combat; it does.
But flying roundhouse kicks, back flip kicks, etc. is not really used in real melee.
Fancy moves are used in "subak" or "kumite" when you only face one or few enemies.
But in melee situation you are facing basically a chaos. There are no time to pull of those moves. And those hardened foot soldiers will NOT be impressed nor frightened by those moves. As soon as your feet start to fly, BAM, a spearhead will lodge unto your back.
|
|
|
Post by Maalii on Dec 30, 2003 13:36:38 GMT -5
If you read Romance of Three Kingdom (China) or Taiko (Japan), the "courtesy" to show your face in front of enemy before attacking does not exist. If you look away in combat, they will shoot you down or stab you. That is the nature of real warfare. If you read Romance of Three Kingdom (China) or Taiko (Japan), the "courtesy" to show your face in front of enemy before attacking does not exist. If you look away in combat, they will shoot you down or stab you. That is the nature of real warfare. All of this discussion makes we wish I had caught EWG. AOW is the first Korean drama I've seen. I too think the martial arts aspect is a bit overdone although I very much like the overall drama. I also think that battlefield military strategy such as that displayed in RTK is largely lacking in AOW, which is too bad. With regard to "showing one's face in front of the enemy", while ambushes, feints, and deception are common in RTK and other Asian warrior epics, it is also true that in many instances in those stories warriors do announce their name and trade boasts and/or insults prior to conflicts. This is sort of like trash talking the opponent. In fact knights announcing themselves to their opponents appears to have been common both in Europe and Asia. I would imagine it worked best when you were out of crossbow range.
|
|