New 'Water Margin' adaptation is 'ridiculous,' 'gay' say critics
By Leng Mo Source:Global Times Published: 2011-8-18 17:55:00
Bandit Song Jiang, played by Zhang Hanyu. Photos: CFP
TV adaptations of the "Four Great Classical Novels" are like tap water in China - no matter how low the creative reservoir appears to sink, the supply never seems to run dry. Following satellite re-adaptations of Romance of the Three Kingdoms and A Dream of the Red Mansion last year, it's time for - you guess it - another new version of Water Margin (don't panic, another Monkey King is on the way next year).
Adapted from the classic Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)novel, also known as Outlaws of the Marsh, it tells the story of 108 heroes of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), who fight corrupt officials and help the oppressed. The new show, All Men are Brothers is an 86-episode series broadcasting on major satellite TV channels every day, and is already midway through its showing.
Modern values
Aiming to give "updated values" to the traditional story, the new show has instead caused derision among viewers and critics.
"I knew Li Shaohong (A Dream of the Red Mansion), and Gao Xixi (Three Kingdoms) would stick to the originals, but I've decided to give a brand new adaptation, " Hong Kong director Gaau Leung Guk claimed to media. Guk has made over 10 wuxia series in the last five years, a style itself well-known for unoriginal and hackneyed adaptations.
"I never wanted to make TV to be authentic but instead to make an acceptable show for modern viewers in terms of character-building, costume, make-up and storyline," Guk added. If so, he seems to have failed impressively.
There are several controversial changes for Brothers. Pan Jinlian, portrayed as a loose woman in the original novel and a long-established symbol of such in China, is now recast as a hard-working virginal housewife in the first episodes, refusing several wealthy young suitors.
In the novel, Pan murdered her husband with her lover, Ximen Qing. In the new adaption, her affair with Ximen is a romantic love story.
"I chose not to show Pan's loose side in the beginning… so it's more dramatic when the truth comes out," Guk insisted.
A scene from All Men are Brothers Photos: CFP
Toothless tiger
The character of Wu Song is iconic in Chinese and East Asian culture for his courage and just nature. His fight with a wild tiger with his bare hands is a household tale - but in the new adaption, Wu uses a knife, the fake-looking tiger is a work of spectacularly unsuccessful CGI and Wu's costume has been called "ridiculous" for resembling the Jack Sparrow's in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
"It is not possible to kill a tiger with your bare hands, even the bravest man in the world couldn't, so we had to give Wu Song a knife," Guk argued.
Overall, the 108 heroes are traditionally considered role models for Chinese men because of their Yi (loosely translated as "Brotherhood"), martial-arts skills and sense of social justice.
But well-known scriptwriter Ningcaishen believes adjustments should be made. "The first thing when adapting classical novels is to respect the work itself: the basic principle and structure can not be changed.
"But it is inevitable to have different understandings of the characters and make adjustments according to the time," he argued. "There were a lot of killings and murders in the novel; Li Kui would kill innocent civilians. Of course, this kind of morality cannot be used in modern dramas."
Homosexual heroes
All men might be brothers but just how close are these bros? The new version emphasizes their looks and emotions too much, some say.
The character Lin Chong is a man so handsome, he habitually attracts male compliments. In fact, a generally homosexual atmosphere pervades the whole bandit series. Lin is habitually described with female imagery and the men wear flowers and sport various tattoos.
"I need to deal with each unique personality," Guk responded. "For instance, Tong Guan is a eunuch, so he is a little gay. Using a female metaphor for Lin Chong is a joke, not gay flirting! We also did research... men did wear flowers in the Song Dynasty."
The original novel is gory, earthy and full of amoral sex and violence - there's even cannibalism. All that's been excised. "They [sex and violence], of course, cannot be shown on TV if they want to pass censorship," film critic Hu Liang said.
The new Monkey King, meanwhile, will be directed by Zhang Jizhong but its scheduled showing on satellite TV has been delayed; rumor has it this is due to yet another ludicrous adaptation. However, new transmission dates have not been given.
TV adaptations of the "Four Great Classical Novels" are like tap water in China - no matter how low the creative reservoir appears to sink, the supply never seems to run dry. Following satellite re-adaptations of Romance of the Three Kingdoms and A Dream of the Red Mansion last year, it's time for - you guess it - another new version of Water Margin (don't panic, another Monkey King is on the way next year).
Adapted from the classic Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)novel, also known as Outlaws of the Marsh, it tells the story of 108 heroes of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), who fight corrupt officials and help the oppressed. The new show, All Men are Brothers is an 86-episode series broadcasting on major satellite TV channels every day, and is already midway through its showing.
Modern values
Aiming to give "updated values" to the traditional story, the new show has instead caused derision among viewers and critics.
"I knew Li Shaohong (A Dream of the Red Mansion), and Gao Xixi (Three Kingdoms) would stick to the originals, but I've decided to give a brand new adaptation, " Hong Kong director Gaau Leung Guk claimed to media. Guk has made over 10 wuxia series in the last five years, a style itself well-known for unoriginal and hackneyed adaptations.
"I never wanted to make TV to be authentic but instead to make an acceptable show for modern viewers in terms of character-building, costume, make-up and storyline," Guk added. If so, he seems to have failed impressively.
There are several controversial changes for Brothers. Pan Jinlian, portrayed as a loose woman in the original novel and a long-established symbol of such in China, is now recast as a hard-working virginal housewife in the first episodes, refusing several wealthy young suitors.
In the novel, Pan murdered her husband with her lover, Ximen Qing. In the new adaption, her affair with Ximen is a romantic love story.
"I chose not to show Pan's loose side in the beginning… so it's more dramatic when the truth comes out," Guk insisted.
A scene from All Men are Brothers Photos: CFP
Toothless tiger
The character of Wu Song is iconic in Chinese and East Asian culture for his courage and just nature. His fight with a wild tiger with his bare hands is a household tale - but in the new adaption, Wu uses a knife, the fake-looking tiger is a work of spectacularly unsuccessful CGI and Wu's costume has been called "ridiculous" for resembling the Jack Sparrow's in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
"It is not possible to kill a tiger with your bare hands, even the bravest man in the world couldn't, so we had to give Wu Song a knife," Guk argued.
Overall, the 108 heroes are traditionally considered role models for Chinese men because of their Yi (loosely translated as "Brotherhood"), martial-arts skills and sense of social justice.
But well-known scriptwriter Ningcaishen believes adjustments should be made. "The first thing when adapting classical novels is to respect the work itself: the basic principle and structure can not be changed.
"But it is inevitable to have different understandings of the characters and make adjustments according to the time," he argued. "There were a lot of killings and murders in the novel; Li Kui would kill innocent civilians. Of course, this kind of morality cannot be used in modern dramas."
Homosexual heroes
All men might be brothers but just how close are these bros? The new version emphasizes their looks and emotions too much, some say.
The character Lin Chong is a man so handsome, he habitually attracts male compliments. In fact, a generally homosexual atmosphere pervades the whole bandit series. Lin is habitually described with female imagery and the men wear flowers and sport various tattoos.
"I need to deal with each unique personality," Guk responded. "For instance, Tong Guan is a eunuch, so he is a little gay. Using a female metaphor for Lin Chong is a joke, not gay flirting! We also did research... men did wear flowers in the Song Dynasty."
The original novel is gory, earthy and full of amoral sex and violence - there's even cannibalism. All that's been excised. "They [sex and violence], of course, cannot be shown on TV if they want to pass censorship," film critic Hu Liang said.
The new Monkey King, meanwhile, will be directed by Zhang Jizhong but its scheduled showing on satellite TV has been delayed; rumor has it this is due to yet another ludicrous adaptation. However, new transmission dates have not been given.
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