War of In-Laws II

English Title: Wars of In-Laws II
Chinese Title: 野蠻奶奶大戰戈師奶
Cantonese Title: Yeah Maan Naai Naai Dai Cheen Gwoh See Naai
Casts: Liza Wang, Myolie Wu, Bosco Wong, Benz Hui, Suki Chiu, Vivien Yeo, Derek Kwok, Nancy Wu, Joyce Tang
Length: 20 episodes (Cantonese) // 15 tapes (Vietnamese)
Release Date: January 2008 (Canto) // March 2008 (Viet)
Genre: Modern Comedy/Fashion

Sypnosis

In-Laws Rivalry…
Continues to Make Headlines in Town

Magazine editor-in-chief KWO PIK (Wang Ming Chun, Liza) will never save face for her superiors, nor will she come to the defense of her subordinates. She shows no mercy to her enemies and does everything she can to keep her son KWO TAK (Wong Chung Chak, Bosco) under her thumb. She is an iron lady who can’t afford to lose anything. As she is still full of confidence that she can determine her son’s future life, a plain, geeky-looking girl named CHOW LAI-MAN (Wu Hang Yee, Myolie) has already managed to become the wife of TAK. Later MAN resigns from the police force and chooses to work as a magazine journalist, thus leading to even more conflicts between her and PIK.

Not long after, PIK is dragged into a scandal and gets framed by her assistant KO PO-PO (Tang Lai Ming, Joyce), which causes her to lose her place all of a sudden. Facing a dramatic career slump and her deteriorating relationship with her son and daughter-in-law, PIK moves to the outlying islands on her own. There she meets a new man in her life, the knowledgeable and talented BUT PING-FAN (Hui Shiu Hung) who was once a convict. From FAN, PIK has learnt how to reflect on herself and let go of the past. As everything seems to be going fine, MAN discovers that there is a conspiracy going on and that the magazine she is working for is in danger of falling apart.

My Thoughts

Even though comedy is not my favorite genre, I am still looking forward to this series because of the wonderful acting, especially the chemistry between Boscolie. I’m not crazy for the couple or anything, but they are one of the best couples ever. They did so well in the WOIL! This series might be one of the better ones because of the acting because I’m sick of watching series with those newcomers who can’t act. This is probably one of the better series of Myolie’s next year.

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Too Many Newcomers!

Linda Chung.
Series: Forensic Heroes, The Biter Bitten, Heart of Greed, The Gem of Life
Good: Her acting might not be up my standards yet, but she definiately has one of those cute and innocent looks, which give her advantage when she takes roles like Seung Joi Sum. However, I thought it was a little too early for TVB to give her the Most Improved Award in 2006. I can see that she did improve, especially in her crying skills in 2007.
Bad: She doesn’t have a strong voice like Myolie Wu. Even when she yells, it’s very weak. Probably she will be another Charmaine Sheh. Moreover, sometimes her voice is a little shaky, not fine and solid like Myolie.

Fala Chen.
Series: Heart of Greed, Steps
Good: A beautiful face and nice body. I actually like her smile for than Linda’s. It’s more natural. For an actress, her beauty definitely gives her an advantage. Her looks give her the opportunity to take on any role.
Bad: Her accent. This is the only thing about Fala that bothers me besides the fact that TVB is promoting her too much. Furthermore, like everyone else, her winning the Best Supporting Actress is totally an insult to more talented and experience stars like Leila.

Kate Tsui.
Series: La Femme Desperado, Steps, On the First Beat, The Four
Good: Unlike Fala and Linda, Kate’s looks average. I cannot believe she won Miss Photogenic in 2004 MHK. Anyway, the only thing that Kate has an advantage is her voice. She has a stronger voice and tone than Linda and Fala. She definitely improved in On The First Beat as the stubborn and tough police.
Bad: Her looks doesn’t fit my definition of an actress. Most of her roles are tomboyish and I just can’t find the feminine side of Kate. In addition, did Kate deserve the Most Improved Actress award in 2007? Yes, she did improve in her acting. However, if you compare her acting to those on the nomination list, her acting, as everyone know, is not better than Leila or Selena. Unfortunately, awards are given based on loyalty, whether or not your are contracted, bribery, and looks (which I don’t find in Kate), instead of performance and acting. Her casting and pairing up with Raymond in The Four signifies that TVB really want to boost her. Cannot imagine their chemistry.

Suki Chiu.
Series: The Green Grass of Home, Word Twisters’ Adventures, War of In Laws II
Good: She’s extremely cute and pretty. I have only seen her in The Green Grass of Home and as a newcomer, her performance was not perfect, but acceptable. She has a nice and sweet voice.
Bad: She seems uncomfortable onscreen. Well, in Green Grass, she did seem a little shaky in her tone and sometimes she messed up her lines. She shrugged and was uncertain how to act sometimes. However, I don’t have a strong bias against her because she is not as heavily promoted as Fala and Kate.

Selena Li.
Series: Face to Fate, To Grow with Love, A Change of Destiny, The Four, Survivor’s Law II
Good: Her superb and wonderful acting skills makes me love her! She improved so much within one year, 2005-2006. I remember watching her first performance in Life Made Simple and I was extremely annoyed by her character. Well, I got annoyed by the series (except Leila) as a whole because it was so silly. However, I was so shocked when I saw her in To Grow with Love and later in Face to Fate. She had a great character in To Grow with Love, very cute and greedy for money. Her acting was very humorous and her character was witty. Furthermore, superb chemistry with Jack Wu. By the time I finished Face to Fate, I loved Selena. Her character takes on a more mature side compared to her previous roles. It makes her such a versatile actress.
Bad: Her looks. Unlike Fala and Linda whose popularity and opportunities originated as a result of their looks, Selena’s popularity has came through the audience because of her acting. I have never thought that she was beautiful, but depending on her role, she can act as cute, and still bring the role to life. But I don’t mind at all, considering that her acting is so good!

Leanne Li.
Series: The Green Grass of Home, The Drive of Life, The Ultimate Crime Fighter
Good: I don’t know. Can’t really find anything good in her. I think she resembles Selena to a certain extent because both their chins are a little too long.
Bad: Her accent. Can’t stand it. It’s like Fala’s. Her acting lacks depth and emotions. She usually plays those mean and jealous girls.

Toby Leung.
Series: Men in Pain, The Drive of Life
Good: Like Natalie, I don’t see any potential in her.
Bad: Basically it’s like Natalie. I have only seen her in TDOL, so I can’t say much about her. No beauty and bad acting. See no improvement.

Natalie Tong.
Series: Forensic Heroes, The Ultimate Crime Fighter
Good: Um, I can’t find anything positive to say about Natalie.
Bad: Basically, I want to ask TVB what potential does Natalie have? Looks? Acting? Neither, I would say. She’s not even good-looking and her looks, by no means, meet my standards of an actress. Acting. Hmm, I can barely hear her lines clearly. If you know what I mean, it all comes out in a glob of nothing. Furthermore, her roles are very similar is every series she takes. The type of roles she takes are those disobedient and naive girls who doesn’t listen to their parents and flirts with men.

Vivien Yeo.
Series: The Ultimate Crime Fighter, Men Don’t Cry, Forensic Heroes
Good: I think she’s very cute and pretty, especially her smile.
Bad: Her accent. These days, it’s always the accent thing that make me not like the actress. Well, since almost all these newcomers were once pageant winners (and they are overseas) they can’t speak Cantonese clearly. Like Leanne and Fala, she can’t act very well. I don’t know if the accent really makes a big difference, but her lacking lacks the emotions of the characters. She can give the looks, but cannot bring out the character to life.

Tracy Ip.
Series: Heart of Greed, Suspicious Love
Good: I really like her. Period. I don’t even know why, but her beauty just strikes me. I didn’t find her pretty during the pageant thing, but by looking at her photos, I just loved her. Don’t know if TVB is looking to promote her because her roles are small, but she was one of the host at 2007 anniversary.
Bad: I guess I can’t really find anything bad in her acting since I have only seen her in Heart of Greed and she only has a cameo role. She will have an affair with Ellesmere Choi in Suspicious Love. Hope to see her improve.

Yoyo Chen.
Series: Forensic Heroes, The Brink of Law, Women on the Run
Good: Um, I guess it’s her voice. Compared to the others, I think she has a rather strong, but also feminine voice. Her roles are similar to those of Natalie, except you can hear her speak.
Bad: Her looks are pretty average. Not beautiful and not ugly. Somewhere in between. But, in order to see her improvement, I wish to see her in more diverse roles other than playing those mean girls.

Mandy Cho.

Series: Guts of Man, The Charm Beneath, War and Destiny, Suspicious Love

Good: I guess it’s her looks. She’s definitely prettier than Natalie and Toby and Kate, but not Fala and Linda.

Bad: Voice. Like Linda, she doesn’t have a strong and convincing voice and that’s one of the worst things about being an actress. However, she is still better than Natalie and Toby because at least her lines are brought out clearly. But many of today’s actress just doesn’t have a strong voice like Myolie. Also, like Suki, she seems quite uncomfortable onscreen.

Chris Lai.
Series: Heart of Greed, Glittering Days, The Green Grass of Home
Good: He’s quite cute and his acting is improving. However, his character is very similar and quite hard for him to explore other roles.
Bad: I think the guy is a little too tall. I mean tall guys are nice, but he’s like another Joe Ma. Furthermore, I want to see if he can act in ancient series like Raymond and Ron. His roles are quite boring though.

Jack Wu.
Series: To Grow with Love, Phoenix Rising
Good: His acting. Love his acting and he has a very masculine and manly voice. He has a lot of potential to be an actor and hope TVB gives him more opportunities. He can act very well regardless of the role.Bad: Again, I can’t find anything negative to say about the guy, except that his acting is definitely not recognized enough. I mean he’s Raymond, but better than Kenneth and Sammul.

Wong Cho Lam.
Series: Glittering Days, On the First Beat
Good: His acting is very humorous.
Bad: I barely notice him in series. I mean, if people don’t bring him up at the forums and blogs, I won’t even know he exists because he’s just another typical character. Additionally, I think he’s too short to be an actor. Plus, not very handsome.

Joel Chan.
Series: Face to Fate, Glittering Days, The Green Grass of Home
Good: Very convincing as villain!
Bad: I see him in many series, but he’s always a villain. So I don’t see how TVB can promote him, yet give the role of the bad guy, and still hope that audience will still like him. It’s just like Joe Ma winning Favorite Character for his role in TDOL. Moreover, his role is always the same, but he acts very well as “the jerk”.

Matthew Ko.
Series: To Grow with Love, Steps
Good: He’s extremely handsome. Like the younger version of Kevin Cheng.
Bad: He seems quite uncomfortable onscreen. Well, I’ve noticed him in To Grow with Love and loved his character as well, even though it wasn’t fully developed. But because I’m not really interested in dancing, so I’m not going to watch Steps. Hope to see him improve, but I guess I will never see him in ancient because like Kevin, he only looks good in modern.

Survivor’s Law II

English Title: Survivor’s Law II
Chinese Title: 律政新人王II
Cantonese Title: Lut Jing San Yan Wong II
Cast: Kenneth Ma, Sammul Chan, Ella Koon, Selena Li, etc.
Length: 20 episodes (Cantonese) // 15 tapes (Vietnamese)
Release Date: December 2007 (Canto) // February 2008 (Viet)
Genre: Modern Drama/Law

Sypnosis

“Equal Justice Under Law”
It isn’t Slanted by Prejudice or Bias of Any Kind.

Righteous young man SUN MAN KWAN (Ma Kwok Ming) comes from the grassroots. To put the doctrine “All men are equal before the law” to the test, he study law at university. After a few years of hard work he has finally become a lawyer. Although his boss appreciates his unconventional way of doing things, his colleagues always try hard to avoid him. His personal assistant, CHEUK WAI MING (Chan Kin Fung), is an exception. MING admires KWAN’s out-of-the-box style and always lends him a hand on the quiet. As time goes by, two men become good friends.

KWAN defies the rich and the influential. In light of this, he looks down upon SUEN LEI LEI (Ella Koon), who is also a lawyer, for what she does and how she behaves. Their frequent co-operations very often are full of hilarious episodes. In LEI’s eyes, KWAN is no different than a rascal who leads a lousy life and who always dallies with women. Later on, LEI is attacked and almost gets killed because of a lawsuit. Fortunately, KWAN comes to her rescue. Not until then does she realize she loves him indeed. But fate has it that she and MING have become lovers for the sake of her father’s business. Meanwhile, just when their relationship is at a standstill, MING learns that his ex-girlfriend, CHENG CHOI YUK (Lee Sze Wan), is pregnant with his child.

My Thoughts

I actually might considering watching this series because the first one came out to be a success, but also considering the fact that I’m not a big fan of Kenneth and Ella, I might not watch it. I’m not so desperate for Sammul’s acting, but the first time I saw him in Survivor’s Law, he was extremely cute, one of the cutest TVB actors today. As for Selena, she is the only purpose I might watch this serial. Still deciding as the plot is not of my interest, but I am interested in whether or not the stars’ improve. Also, Kenneth seems to be having much more acting opportunities next year. He is collaborating with Kate is like three series next year, two of which they are playing a couple, if I remember correctly.

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