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ACTING Saving the best for last... the acting is the biggest thing that stands out for PLII, other than the script. This cast is not the most popular cast that always guarantees high ratings. This is not the cast where everyone are extremely good-looking. This is not the cast that has fans and reporters stalking them everywhere they go. But this is the cast with talents, good working ethics, and has super chemistry as a whole. Producer Lau Si Yu told Ming Pao Weekly that he likes working with this cast because they are willing to get down and do the work required. There are so-called "professional" TVB artists who are not willing to work in a place like Guangxi for an extensive period of time; not willing to get dirty, not willing to do the physical works such as climbing mountain or hiking in a desert, they are not willing to work under extreme weathers and circumstances. No need to explain what the cast of PLII has been through. Bao Fong suffered with a stroke that nearly kills him. Maggie Cheung Ho Yee endured hair loss and red measles. Joyce Chan Yin Hang got skin infections. Gordon Lam Ka Tung caught a cold. Louisa So Yuk Wah was heavily allergic to the weather there. And other artists with different illnesses. However, they never complained nor regretted. This is why you see Lau Si Yu only like working with a number of actors. This guy researches an actor's working behavior before he even casts them. They say, "hard work pays off", certainly true in this case. The cast of PLII's hardworking ethics earned them respect from these truly great producers like Lau Si Yu. Gordon Lam Ka Tung's performance was outstanding! Who could have thought that the guy who played roles such as a small soldier, background extra, or a servant in older TV series back in the early nineties is now making the audience cries and laughs with him. Ka Tung came from a long way, keeping one working principle: "as long as you work hard and deliver reasonable result to the audience, you don't have to say anything". Through his sisters' past away, the trouble of his best friend's pregnancy (not with him though), his jobless days, Ka Tung still stand tall and perform his duty as an actor. After such series like Once Upon A Time In Shanghai and Time Before Time, he proves to the audience he can excel through his talents, and that they can kiss the ideology of "actors have to be good looking" good-bye! He may not be Brad Pitt, but he can be like Anthony Hopkins. His role as the sissy "Um Chun Chai" Fong Yau Wai touches my heart to the very soul. His watery eyes squeeze my heart when he is framed, or when he witness Ah Poon going to get married with Ah Ngau. His naive looking when he is shy by Ah Poon's flirting is so adorable, make me want to pinch his cheeks. His protective postures when the people he loves is in danger make me want to fall into his arms. Ka Tung is a charming tea maker. Ka Tung nailed this role like eating a meal. Before watching this series, I watched Old Time Buddy - To Catch A Thief, I couldn't help but notice how well he handle such drastic difference of both characters, to mention both series were filmed at the near time. In PLII, Ka Tung did not "underact", he merely plays a low-key character. He got the body language to attach all the characteristic of such a human being. His eyes never opened all the way. He never smiles too much for too long. When attempting to do anything, he holds a hesitation by letting his body decide back and forth whether to do it. Ka Tung is a fascinating actor. I have read other reviews about PLII, I was surprised to see people bringing up the fact that they are bored with Maggie in these types of roles. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I can consider myself a die-hard Maggie Fan, plus, seeing all of her TV series and most of her movies, I don't recall her playing roles like Poon Mui Nga. None of her roles in the past had been a mixture of bad-tempered, optimistic, stubborn, and so blunt. True, there are many different types of characters given in the real world, but limited by the poor development of TV scripts, how many can she excelled in? I don't see what's the reason of complaining about Maggie, frankly speaking she's the only of the top 7 leading actresses at TVB that have taken a wide range of roles. One thing Maggie should work on is parts when she gets demanding in front of a crowd. She doesn't have enough boldness to be more bitchy or even arrogant, you know it takes a bitch to get attention from a male-dominating society. Nevertheless, you will find yourself enjoying her performance. Maggie's charms will melts you. Her flirting is quite provocative that you would hardly find yourself doing it, because the actions are so risky for the embarrassment. And like always, her tear-jerker parts is still one of her big selling points. When her character confess to Yau Wai that she is tired of chasing after her wantings (Yau Wai's feelings), Maggie's voice breaks so morosely as she feels that she is about to give up on Yau Wai, which her character forbids her to give up on anything. When she squeeze Yau Wai tightly to herself when he is infected with a deadly disease, there is an affinity within that closeness. Her tears fall continuously on Yau Wai's face, her cheeks adhere to his cheeks, her hands wouldn't stop touching Yau Wai's face because she dare not to see anything in front of her eyes at the time to be still. One memorable thing she gave to her character, Ah Poon, is a strong personality; a character who does not need authority from anyone to get what she wants, a character who owns a principle that is fearless of others's criticisms. She is so enchanting despite Ah Poon's rough characteristics. Maggie's mesmerizing performance as Ah Poon will be your companion as you might endure some of Ah Poon characteristics. Is it just me? Or is Mak Cheung Ching way too under-rated? I don't remember when was the first time I saw Mak Bo (Mak's nickname) on the TV screen, maybe through some kids's shows - he's also a cartoonist/animator. The first time I saw him in an actual role was in Cold Blood Warm Heart, where he appeared toward the end as Chris Yip Hiu Bing's husband. It has been 3 years, I don't remember how he performed, but judging on his recent works such as Journey to the West, Dark Tales, and PLII, I must say he is an actor who can act. In fact, his acting is better than some of TVB's top leading actors. But for the reason he is under-rated, I think it has to do with his image, which is not as appealing as his colleagues. But hey, this is Hong Kong Showbiz we are talking about; it's looks over talents. Sad, but true. Anyway, Mak's performance as Ah Ngau is very sincere and moody. He did the right thing by growing a beard for this role, it makes him looks more masculine - |
which is his role's characteristic. His smiles show
all the excitement, his frowns hide a deep sadness. Unlike Maggie Cheung, Mak Bo is very good at scenes where he gets demanding in front
of a crowd. He possessed a very strong built of facial expression, and tones. Honestly, I
can't think of anyone else with the right acting, and the features to play Ah Ngau as well as Mak Bo has. He certainly nailed this role right, I would pity those who
don't see real talents in this man. One more thing, Mak Bo got married when PLII is
broadcasted in Hong Kong. Overwhelmed by the success of its ratings, and his wedding that most of the cast of PLII was there to celebrate;
Mak Bo was so touched he cried at his wedding. The first time I saw Louisa So Yuk Wah was from Detective Investigation Files (DIF). I already liked her... apparently, and honestly, her performance was the best beyond any other actresses in there. People begin to recognize her skillful acting through the sequel of DIF (which she chose to leave after that and not continue to be in the later installments), the long run A Kindred Spirit, One Good Turn Deserves Another, and many other worthy TV series. However, astonished by her passion for acting, not for fame, Louisa devotes most of her time for TV series and musical stage plays. Perhaps because of a background in musicals, Louisa's acting is very cogent. She portrays a girl whose soul is trapped, but who knows behind that delicacy is a bitter woman inside of her. Louisa nailed it! She has quite a charm with her patience and that aloof fa?ade. It seems like Sung Sheung Wah (Louisa's character) is a totally different person before she married Ah Ngau and after she married Ah Ngau. Sung Sheung Wah before marriage is more easygoing and willing to give up her belongings. However, after she married Ah Ngau, she gains a demeanor toward everything; she hold on tight to things that she possessed, not letting anyone take it away from her. Much of the influence is from Ah Poon and Sheung Wah's mother, Dai Dong Ka. It's a tough transition and I was so amazed how well Louisa handle that transition so smoothly without any flaws. I think Louisa is also very under-rated as well, but I don't think she ever wants to be a big spotlight for fame either. If anyone say that she always have small roles, she would reply, "I don't always have small roles, I'm just a small actress". Yuen Wah is absolutely hilarious! He is the main contribution to laughter in PLII. His clumsy characteristic is amusing, like a child. This is the kind of character that TVB audience expects to see every time they watch a TVB series. It becomes a ritual, but it's all right, it only makes you laughs. Ching Ho Wai is stunning! I mean her acting. If she has a more attractive face, I would love to see her as Chi Hei Tai Hou (Queen Chi Hei of Qing Dynasty). She has such a confidence and the slow movements of a high-class bitch. However, her transition from a mean to a soft-hearted woman is a bit rough. It is almost unconvincing. Notwithstanding, her overall performance has very high quality. When watching the series, I find myself laugh at the fact that she's a better actress than some TVB's leading actresses. Dickson Lee Ka Shing as the infamous Sik Chun is famous for this kind of roles. He rarely plays a truly good person, but someone who has a major paradox between decency and evil. I wish the plot allows the audience to see more about Sik Chun. He's the one who cause the chaos, and yet we don't know how he became such a person. Regardless, Dickson plays his character copiously with a full package; the tones, the looks, the personality, and the guilt. His face is very deceitful, it's hard to blame him for literally being typecasted to play characters like Sik Chun. But it's better to use what he have and make the best out of it. Thumbs up for Dickson Lee Ka Shing. Surprisingly Winnie Yeung Yuen Yee's Man Kiu is pretty decent. The character is not to my liking, and there isn't much to like or to dislike because it's not too focused on. This role was originally larger than it came out to be, but it was deducted greatly because of change in casting (producer Lau Si Yu couldn't find another "class A" actress to take this role frankly, he doesn't like many of the "class A" actresses). Due to the reason that this is such an easy role to portray, Winnie Yeung nailed it. This is not an insult, but harsh fact. Winnie Yeung has been a stiff girl since she became Miss Hong Kong 1995 (her walking is very rigid), her acting is just like that as well. I was glad that in this role she was able to mellow it down a little. I give her props for trying. Other supporting actors such as Joyce Chan Yin Hang, Bao Fong, Hong Wah, Oi Wai, Bak Yan, etc. have done a fabulous job. They are so bold to their soul, full of great moments that their acting just burst up and grasps your breath! But best of all, the whole cast have an extremely great chemistry connection. This is what you called, "group work", and the result is one big victory.
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