Charmaine series

Flying Fox on Snowy Mountain - Charmaine acting was terrible in here. Forgivable, since it was her second series and lead role. While watching this series I just think that she was very pretty. (You see, I was very picky with wuxia adaptation especially the characters). Note: I wasn't her fan yet as I barely knew her existence.

Favorite scene: When Marco Ngai (the villain) saw her for the 1st time. Charmaine was very (I mean VERY) lovely in here.


DIF4 - Charmaine acting hasn't improved much but I love her chemistry with Sunny. I personally doesn't like Man (Charmaine role) as it was too dependable on Tze San (Sunny) and too wishy washy.

Favorite scene: Her scenes with Sunny.


Crimson Sabre - I haven't start renting TVB series on my own yet therefore I didn't watch it when it was released until the local television aired it (was it last year of the previous year?). I was already her fan and so I couldn't miss the chance to catch it on television. Ah Kau was Charmaine debut as a villainess. Again, early in her career Charmaine was always cast as beautiful maiden (this was her second JinYong wuxia adaptation).

Favorite scene: When she appeared playing the flute on the floating boat. You will understand why Gordon's character was so mesmerized by her.


Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre - After I became her fan, I went to rent all her past series. She look incredibly beautiful here, very demure yet she can be very vicious and evil at the same time. One of her most beautiful costume look to date (even PITNOL can't compare to this). I'm very satisfied as Charmaine did look angelic and beautiful enough as Zhou Zhi Rou. This was her 3rd and last role as JinYong characters.

Favorite scene:

1. When she first appear as the 20 years old Zhi Rou. She was sitting by the streamside and she was so beautiful.

2. When Mo Kei (Lawrence) jilted her at the altar and she flew into a rage. Tearful bride turns into vicious killing machine.


Return of The Cuckoo - Again, I'm not her fan yet (I'm her fan after Country Spirit and White Flame so you can imagine around when) so I didn't rent this. However, this series did piqued my interest when I heard over the radio that it broke the highest rating in HK. I rented this series after HSDS and I'm obsessed with Chilam-Charmaine ever since. Honestly Charmaine performance was just average but what I enjoyed most was their onscreen chemistry. IMO apart from Louis-Jessica, this pair was the best TVB onscreen couple. Plus, this series is a tearjerker and the themesong was beautiful - Wish You Well sung by Chilam himself. However, in accordance to TVB tradition, it has to have a bad ending. I don't get it. Why TVB has to ruin every good series with a lousy ending?!

Favorite scene: EVERY SINGLE SCENE WITH CHOR GOR GOR (Chilam). The funny one, the romantic ones till the last sad scene. Most of Chilam scenes was very good, especially the sad ones.

1. Chilam was lovesick, he couldn't accept the fact Charmaine was dating Steven and ran all the way to the jetty (he was having high fever) to 'fetch' Charmaine home. He was trying hard to suppress his tears when he saw them lovey dovey together.

2. Chilam begging Nancy Sit not to leave him in Mainland by promising he won't love Charmaine (oh, I really hate Nancy Sit then, so stupid and silly. How could you bear to dump someone who has been like your son just like that?!). I was literally crying my eyes out watching this scene.

3. Chilam real mother slapped him and Chilam called out 'mom' (Chilam was mute in ROTC).

4. Both Steven and Chilam fell from the roof, Charmaine quickly went and hugged Chilam tightly while poor boyfriend Lai Soon watched disappointedly.

5. Chilam rocking Charmaine to sleep for the last time. They love each other so much, yet Chilam can't tell her...

Other memorable scenes:

1. Steven literally ripped the whistle from Chilam's neck strap and blows the message 'I Like You to Charmaine'. I was so mad at Lai Soon. Grrrr...

2. Michael suddenly hugged Charmaine (2nd pic) and confessed his love for her. He told Charmaine he knew he wasn't good enough for her, but he is willing to change if she give him a chance. Poor Michael...

3. Lau Dan called out for Michael and ask him to return home. Michael said it was already too late and left. (Clap hands)


An Herbalist Affair - Definitely a tailor made role for Charmaine. She's very cute and natural here compared to ROTC. I enjoyed her chemistry with Roger (read: previous post 'Charmaine onscreen partners). She look a bit too chubby in here though...

Favorite scene: Roger kissing Charmaine in the telephone booth.


Seven Sister - CUTE CUTE CUTE CUTE. Apart from 'pretty', the other word which seem to be synonymous to her roles is 'cute'. Yuk Cham was very adorable and spoilt. Her ending was sad but predictable.

Favorite scene: Charmaine scenes with her grandpa and some scenes with Gallen (especially those telephone calls scenes)


Country Spirit - I'm officially her fan after this series. IMO her breakthrough role - love the character Shun Fung. Especially when she cried those silent tears, she look extremely beautiful. Shun Fung character was suppose to be a plain village girl, so when I mean beautiful it's not those skin deep type, but rather her soul. All the time she was stubborn, rude and opinionated, so when she suffers in silence you can feel her helplessness, her fragility.

Favorite scene:

1. The Ku family force her to walk over the fire bridge on the wedding day. A bit dramatic but you can feel how pissed off she was but she just swallowed it down.

2. Charmaine being tortured by her mother-in-law. A really bitchy woman. I'm so happy the table turned after Charmaine became the family head.

3. The happy ending.


White Flame - Think this series will remain a warehouse series for a long, long time. A mediocre series, with a lot of inexperienced cast and half baked plots. However, I have to stress that this was an enjoyable series, provided you don't take them too seriously. Charmaine character here was very clumsy and ditzy - sometimes to the extent of bimbo like. Sammul Chan, well was too effeminate and look a bit young for Charmaine. Lily Hong was just reading lines off the script.

Favorite scene: Charmaine very clumsy effort during nurse training. She can't even poke a needle properly. (Scary~)


Witness to a Prosecution 2 - Initially I find the idea of Charmaine and Bobby pairing up was too weird, but being an avid fan how can I say no to her series? I'm pleased that Charmaine's character here doesn't need to be the 'pretty maiden', in fact she look pretty enough in natural looking make-up. A good series, albeit some loose end.

Favorite scene: Charmaine was crying and venting her frustration that nobody wants her; Bobby consoled her and accidentally dropped the butterfly knot - it was some sort of love symbol that the beggar woman gave him and Charmaine. Bobby was embarrassed while Charmaine was happy because Bobby has feelings for her.


Perish in the Name of Love - Charmaine looked very young in here, very pretty but she has lost her weight considerably and got that scar under her chin. I was pretty disappointed when Steven took the role of Sai Hin instead of Chilam, but it turn out to be a blessing in disguise as PONR was a much better series than PITNOL. Sonija seem to improve ONLY when she portrayed villainous role. And Sonija garnered plenty of haters from this series. I doesn't like Princess Cheung Ping goody two shoes way - I prefer a more 'human' and realistic character.

Favorite scene:

1. When Charmaine FINALLY kicked Sonija butt after the latter attempt to kill her. If I were Charmaine, Sonija would have gone to the pits of hell a long, long time ago...

2. Their supposedly tragic end by dying together on their wedding night. It was meant to be beautiful and tragic but no thanks to copyright, TVB has to change the ending. (TVB didn't have the copyright of Dai Nu Fa, so they have to change the ending or face a lawsuit).


Life Begins at Forty - I wonder why many people disliked this series. This was actually one of my top Charmaine series. I'm not talking about performance wise, but the theme and the script in general. The script was intelligent and I love the underlying dark humor in this series.

Favorite scene: Plentiful, mostly the scenes before Ray and Kelly became an item. Note: Read my review

http://www.spcnet.tv/reviews/review.php?rID=491

Qianlong - I actually rented this series. One local TV station broadcasted it half year later but it was the shorter version (30 episodes) while the one I watched was 40 episodes, if my memory is correct. Boring series - the romantic scenes were too corny! Charmaine look very pretty in here though...

Favorite scene: Don't bother.


Carry Me Fly and Walk Off - If you think Qianlong was rubbish, this series totally wasted my time and money. I bought this series for Charmaine sake - she was good in here but the storyline and dialogue was plain crappy! And I cringe at the excessive PG-13 kisses - NO NO NO! Plus, I was wondering if Benny has a clause in his contract forbidding better looking male co-stars - because they sure look UGLY.

Favorite scene: If Qianlong has 'don't bother', what do you expect from here?


Point of No Return - Yay, finally a Chilam-Charmaine series! Love Charmaine and Damian but Chilam outshone everyone in here. I have a soft spot for actors that can cry (in a variety kind of way) and Chilam tops my list. He practically cried buckets load more than all the cast combined. Charmaine was not afraid to make herself ugly in here. I don't mean her face but her behavior was really 'kampung' like and petty. The only setback was lack of creativity. Is the scriptwriter sleeping on the job? Because they obviously ripped off the storyline from korean hit My Sassy Girlfriend. The themesong Love Has No Dream was my favorite whenever I go Redbox.

Favorite scene: Chilam and Charmaine of course. Read my review

http://www.spcnet.tv/reviews/review.php?rID=215


Angels of Mission 3D - On the surface it looked like a ripped off version of Charlie's Angel. Let me assure you that it's not. Apart from having three beautiful, ass kicking and gun toting ladies, it bears no resemblance to CA at all. As with White Flame, please don't take it too seriously and you'll enjoy the series. Charmaine temperamental and karate chopping character was my favorite to date and you'll get to see Stephen Au rather short but marvelous performance.

Favorite scene:

Read my review http://www.spcnet.tv/reviews/review.php?rID=389


War and Beauty - The most hyped TVB series in 2004. Four beautiful woman battling their wits and intelligence in ancient Qing court. In the end, everyone loses. Fresh script, intriguing plots, stellar cast and beautiful costumes. Read my long review: Do not miss out the info section of my review.

http://www.spcnet.tv/reviews/review.php?rID=684

Strike at Heart - A revolutionary approach in TVB wuxia series in term of technology and mood. Feel free to scroll back and read my episode summaries and review in my previous post.

Fans of Joe, Charmaine and Stephen must not miss this. WAY BETTER THAN Twins of Brother.

(Read my review of TOB http://www.spcnet.tv/reviews/review.php?rID=687)

Lethal Weapons of Love and Passion (unreleased) - I know, the title sounds cheesy. The chinese title Fu Yun Fan Wan means Tossing Rain and Turning Clouds (excuse me but this term was constantly used to describe the passion in the bedroom if you know what I mean 'wink'). Anyway, the title came from a wuxia novel with a same title.

To read the chinese novel, go:

http://www.qfxl.com/wuxia/huangyizuopin/fuyfy/index.html. One warning: It's very long.

This will be Charmaine first role in Huang Yi novel adaptation. On the other hand, it was Raymond and Sonija third and second time respectively. Raymond: A Step Into The Past (Qin Emperor), Twins of Brother (Kau Jong)

Sonija: A Step Into The Past (Kam Ching).

This is my most anticipated series in 2005 - I hope to see good chemistry between Charmaine and Raymond despite their age differences.


Food For Life (in post production process) - Previously title Yummy Yummy, this is a 30 episodes collaboration between TVB and Singapore Channel U. The young cast look and the storyline look promising (just don't expect too much thought provoking themes though) - give me some sort of 'happy summer' feel (coincidentally it was set to be released during coming May-June).


Always on Standby (filming) - I can't comment much as there's not enough info on this new series. Ekin returns to TVB to film this 30 episode series about Government Flying Services which obviously he's trying to revive his flagging career. Look what TITS did for Francis Ng. Charmaine might be cutting her long locks off for this series.

*Extra* Sales presentation

Angels Of Mission


The Brotherhood (now it's Courageous KunLun starring Ron Ng, Sammul Chan and Mandy Cho)


Life for Life (not filmed)


Perish in The Name of Love (originally cast Chilam as Zhou Sai Hin)

(thanks to Yen for screencaps) Anyone out there with this clip? I'm begging you to email it to me PLEASE~