This is the latest production by Zhang Ji Zhong the China maestro of wuxia pians, and completes Jin Yong’s Condor Trilogy which started with The Legend of the Condor Heroes, follwed by The Return of the Condor Heroes.

HSDS09  stars Deng Chao as Zhang Wuji, Ady An as Zhao Min, and Liu Jing as Zhao Zhirou. The story centres on the legendary set of weapons comprising of the Heaven Sword and the Dragon Sabre which were forged by Yang Guo and Huang Rong

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Aka Lu Ding Ji aka Duke of Deer Mountain.

After winning fans across Asia with his starring turns in The Return of the Condor Heroes and Shanghai Bund, top Mainland actor Huang Xiaoming steps into another classic role in the new period drama Royal Tramp from renowned producer Zhang Jizhong. Based on Jin Yong’s timeless novel, this Qing Dynasty drama revolves around the mischievous, amorous, and sometimes dangerous adventures of accidental revolutionary Wei Xiao Bao. Portraying a character previously made famous by Tony Leung Chiu Wai (The Duke of Mount Deer), Dicky Cheung (The Duke of Mount Deer 2000), and Stephen Chow (Royal Tramp), Huang brings his own natural charm to the role of a young man who grows up in the brothels and bumbles his way into the Forbidden City. Torn between his friendship with the temperamental Qing emperor and fiercely upright Ming insurgents, Wei is thrown into many life-threatening predicaments – but still finds time to woo and marry seven wives along the way!

Hong Kong actor Wallace Chung (The Patriotic Knights) co-stars as Emperor Kangxi, while the seven beauties who compete for Wei Xiao Bao’s affections are embodied by Hong Kong actress Cherrie Ying (Throw Down) and Mainland starlets Ning Jing, Hu Ke, Xiao Li Fei, Shu Chang, Liu Zi, and He Zhuoyan. Royal Tramp also co-stars Elvis Tsui and Tae.

More info…

Bi Xue Jian (???)

5th in Zhang Ji Zhong’s adaptation of Jin Yong’s wuxia novels.

Story centred around young Yuan Cheng Zhi (Bobby Dou), son of a Ming general who was executed by the emperor. Yuan ChengZhi was send away to be trained by a master swordsman but was still hunted by killers sent by the emperor. Forced to leave his hideout he embarked upon his adventures and he discovered the precious sword and martial arts manual belonging to a legendary swordsman named Xia Xue Yi. Yuan Cheng Zhi’s skills became even more powerful as a result.

Determined to aid the rebellion led by Li Zi Cheng; known as the Peasants’ King, he retrieved stolen gold meant for the rebellion. He met Qing Qing (Eva Huang), daughter of the swordsman Xia Xue Yi. Qing Qing left with Yuan Cheng Zhi after the death of her mother at the hands of her family. Together they witnessed the end of the Ming Dynasty and the eventual fall of China to the invading Manchurians.

Eventually despairing of the inability of the Chinese leaders to rally and work together against a common enemy, Yuan Cheng Zhi, together with his friends left China.

Cast:

Bobby Dou
Sun Fei Fei
Eva Huang

Links:

The story
Sina
SPCNet Forum
Jin Yong’s novel

Ratings: 4 out of 5
A great effort after the dud that was Return of the Condor Heroes, Bi Xue Jian was a return to straight forward story telling with little fluff. The acting of the main leads made this tv series a great success, although the performance of Sun Feifei was very understated when compared to that of Ping Zhong Xia Ying.
BXJ is a great show for fans of wuxia and GJ. The acting is great and the effects were not overwhelming. It was onl in the last third of the show that it starts to slow down and the protagonist gets mired in the politics of the rebel leader and his coterie.
Highly recommended for those who love wuxia.