I have to admit that the 97th edition of "Dragon's Eight Branches" is really a masterpiece, with wonderful and hearty martial arts design, the soundtrack that combines the picture with the plot rhythm, the superb performances of Felix Wong Yat Wa, Benny Chan, Fan Shaohuang and so on, and of course, the sound that Wang Qiao must turn on every time he appears.
As a remake in the mid-to-late 199s, the 97th edition of Dragon's Eight Branches seems to be perfect and impeccable, which can be said to make various versions that have been remake again in the next 2 years dull.
however, what we are going to talk about today is an earlier version, that is, Tian Long Ba Bu, which was shot by TVB in 1982. This version can be said to be the most classic and perfect version of all film and television works, and it is also the most recognized version by Mr. Jin Yong.
This version was broadcast in 1982, yes, one year earlier than the 1983 version of The Legend of the Condor Heroes. Therefore, many actors in the play later appeared in The Legend of the Condor Heroes, such as Xie Xian as Duan Zhengchun (82 Dragon) and Yang Tiexin (83 Condor), Liu Zhaoming as Duan Yanqing (82 Dragon) and Yang Panpan. Kwan Hoi-san plays Murong Bo (82 Tianlong), Lu Chengfeng (83 Shooting Sculpture), Yang Zelin plays Yelu Hongji (82 Tianlong), Ouyang Feng (83 Shooting Sculpture), Xu Shaoxiong plays Zuo Zimu (82 Tianlong), Zhu Cong (83 Shooting Sculpture), Ceng Jiang plays Xixia King (82 Tianlong), Huang Yaoshi (83 Shooting Sculpture), and Jiang Yi plays Xuan Ku (82 Tianlong) and Ke Zhene (82 Tianlong).
Among them, Duan Yu, the hero, is played by Tang Zhenye. When some friends see this, they will ask, Isn't Qiao Feng the hero of Dragon Eight, and how did he become Duan Yu? In fact, if you have read the original Dragon, you should know that the hero is indeed Duan Yu. Duan Yu was born in a family of Dali emperors, who believed in Buddhism. After abdication, he had to become a monk in Tianlong Temple. The whole book started with Duan Yu and ended with Duan Yu, and the main plot was also carried out in Duan Yu. Even the words "Tianlong Babu" are Buddhist terms.
In addition, Qiao Feng, the leader of the Beggars' Guild, is played by Liang Jiaren, and Xu Zhu is played by Felix Wong Yat Wa. Yes, the 97 version of Joe's Guild is Xu Zhu here, and Qiao Feng, Liang Jiaren, is the Qiao Feng image that Jin Yong himself admitted best.
what are the classics of the 82nd edition of Dragon?
First of all, the plot. The 82nd edition is more faithful to the original. The plot begins with Duan Yu's bizarre experience, which leads him to meet Zhong Ling, Mu Wanqing, Wang Yuyan, etc., and leads to the story of beggars' gangs and Qiao Feng, etc., while Qiao Feng is actually only a supporting role in the book.
There is a well-known saying in the drama called North Qiao Feng and South Murong, which is an evaluation of Qiao Feng and Mu Rongfu, two people with the highest martial arts attainments in the Jianghu. In the 97th edition, Qiao Feng was changed into the leading actor, and he was forced to appear in the first episode. Qiao Feng was also a hero, but Mu Rongfu was really a loser. Besides dressing up as Li Yanzong and Qiao Feng, he became a loser later. In fact, both Qiao Feng and Mu Rongfu appeared late, which was restored very well in the 82nd edition, and Mu Rongfu was not so timid. Mu Rongfu in the 82nd edition was played by Shi Xiu, who had aristocratic temperament, which was very in line with Mu Rongfu's image. Mu Rongfu, who played by him, had strong martial arts and charming spirit, with a cold arrogance, and really deserved the title of Nan Murong.
The two theme songs "Two Forgets in the Smoke" and "Ten Thousand Waters in Qian Shan" are very pleasant to listen to. Like the later 83rd edition of The Legend of the Condor Heroes, the music was composed by the great musician Gu Jiahui and written by James J.S.Wong, which is in line with the style of Hong Kong-style Chinese martial arts music in the 198s, and some of the soundtracks were also used in the later 83rd edition of The Legend of the Condor Heroes.
At that time, the 82nd edition of Eight Dragons was divided into three films, namely, Excalibur with Six Veins, Tears of Heroes and Legend of Xuzhu. At that time, I thought that "Eight Dragons" meant that the play had eight films, but I was still wondering how to finish the third film.
Later, when TV stations introduced it, they also made different edits, and there were versions such as Jin Ge Dangkou, Biography of Qiao Feng, and Heroes' Complaints.
Any film and television work will be more or less adapted from the original, otherwise, everyone will just read the book directly. The 82nd edition of "Tian Long Ba Bu" made a great adaptation of the plot ending. In the original and the 97th edition, Xiao Yuanshan and Murong Bo were inspired by sweeping monk, and they put down their hatred and fled into an empty net. In the 82nd edition, however, Murong Bo's ambition never dies, and he developed the Yijin Sutra. He joined forces with Jiu Mozhi to kill sweeping monk. Finally, Duan Yu, Xu Zhu and Xiao Yuanshan joined forces to get rid of Murong Bo.
In other adaptations, Zhong Ling and Arju are both played by Huang Xingxiu. Later, Qiao Feng saw that Zhong Ling looked like Arju and had feelings for her.
It's been 38 years since the 82nd edition of Dragon's Eight Branches was broadcast. Because it was introduced to the mainland late that year, it didn't get a very high replay rate like the 97th edition, and many young viewers haven't seen it. I really hope that some TV stations can replay this classic work again.