"Days of Happy Laughters" - happy MV of The Foundation part 2

I promised I would post a happier MV of The Foundation 1984, and here it is. I found that Michelle Pau's "Days of Happy Laughters" as the most suitable song, hence I used the songs but embedded different scenes of TF here. Click this post to see the original scenes of Ep 4 with the song as the background. Click this to watch the MV at my new Jianghu blog.

"The Foundation 1984" is the property of TVB Hong Kong, no copyright infringement intended. Lyrics are below the break. I have posted the MV on both Dailymotion and Vimeo. Tamuyen has inspired yet another happy The Foundation MV; we just need to find the music. Oh, and the MV below has a bit of Lok Wan as well, so hope you like it, Tammy!

Meanwhile, enjoy!

"Days of Happy Laughters" - The Foundation MV by icha74

"Heart Break" - The Foundation 1984 MV

There's a reason I have only produced one The Foundation 1984 MV (well, actually 1/3, cos the MV was combined with CLH and FD as well). The story is just downright too sad. However, as I've stated in another post, I can't shake off my love towards Li Sai Man and Chun Sik Sik, despite what he did to her later. I can only 'blame' Michael Miu and Barbara Yung for that. So at times, I'd just watch the MVs found over the internet, mostly from YouTube. However, I still want to see an MV that shows LSM's regret after what he did to Sik Sik. Since I found practically none (perhaps because I didn't browse enough), I decided to make one myself. Hence this MV, bearing Dave Wong's aptly titled "Heart Break" song. The MV shows Li Sai Man's regret over what he had done to Sik Sik; all for the throne. Hence the opening is the lonely coronation scene where the new Emperor was not happy despite being the new ruler of the Tang Dynasty. 

The Foundation 1984 is the property of TVB Hong Kong; no copyright infringement intended. Song lyric is below the break. I obtained the translation using an Indonesian translation I found at YouTube, combined with Google Translator (hence feel free to point out my mistakes). Pinyin is from the Chinese Lyrics. Uploaded to both Dailymotion and Vimeo. I have a happier MV of The Foundation down the pipeline, but for now, I hope you can still enjoy this (very) sad MV... (if "enjoy" is the right word for that). Click this to watch the MV at my new Jianghu blog.

"Heart Break" - The Foundation 1984 MV by icha74

"A Love Before Time" - a Michael Miu/Barbara Yung wuxia MV

Happy New Year again, guys! Was hoping to catch some sleep today, but MB bugged me to produce a new MV. Hence, here's the three MB wuxia series of The Foundation, Chor Lau Heung and Fearless Duo. Music is from my favourite Coco Lee, A Love Before Time (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), composed by Tan Dun, music by Yoyo Ma. I was originally accustomed to the English version, but upon understanding the meaning of the Mandarin version, I love the latter more. I post here the two versions, Mandarin and English. Have uploaded them to Vimeo, and will do that with Dailymotion either soon or tomorrow. Gotta catch some New Year sleep...

The premise is similar to my Karmic Connection fanfiction, which apparently has drawn some good readerships. I have no LOCH footage, and I don't think I can do justice here, hence I only present The Foundation, Chor Lau Heung and Fearless Duo.  The Pinyin and English lyrics are below, in addition to being embedded in the MVs. Click this to watch the MV at my new Jianghu blog.

Mandarin version (updated from 02/1/16):

 
"A Love Before Time" Michael Miu/Barbara Yung wuxia MV (Mandarin ver) from Icha74 on Vimeo.

The Foundation 1984: My impressions

One of my favourite scenes: Li Sai Man trying to kiss Sik Sik (Ep 4)

I thought I should write a post about what I think of The Foundation 1984 (决战玄武门) after watching it two weeks ago. Click this to read this post at my new Jianghu blog.

A month ago, I found that I could obtain the series in Mandarin sub and Indonesian subtitles. It seems the excellent sub was done by fans, and it reflects how fans could actually do wonders with their dedication. I was relieved to receive the DVDs and dreaded it at the same time. I dreaded watching the series for fear of a broken heart, but I couldn’t help it. In the end, I am glad I forced myself to watch it; at least now I can rest the case.

The story line itself; don't buy it as the definitive chronicles of Li Sai Man or Emperor Taizong. Reports had it that Li Sai Man indeed killed his brothers, but there was never a record of him loving a peasant girl and killed her for the throne. It was true though that Li Sai Man was a good emperor, if not THE best, of the ancient China.

‘The Days of Happy Laughters’ – the Foundation 1984 happy OST

The Foundation 1984 has three main tracks, all sung by Michelle Pau. The opening and end credits are sad, but the third one has a very happy note. It was played during the first real date between Li Sai Man (Michael Miu) and Chun Sik Sik (Barbara Yung) in Episode 4. I said “the first real date” because by this time, Sai Man no longer pretended that he was a jerk just to evade his brother’s spies. It was like, “Screw this. I’m dating her and I will just cherish her presence and make her laugh!”  Hence the song and the scene, which I successfully uploaded to YouTube (TVB, please don’t tell me to delete it later, it’s only 2.5 minutes anyway...). Edit: TVB blocked it, so I moved it to Dailymotion. If it's blocked again, I will just post the video on my public Dropbox domain... (Jeepers, I'm not even trying to sell anything here!). Click this to watch the MV at my new Jianghu blog.

Michelle Pau The Foundation 1984 "The Days of... by icha74

The original lyrics are found at Musixmatch and SPCNET (the Musixmatch missed the last line). The English translation is also provided in the second version of the video. The song is a happy one indeed. It shows how Li Sai Man truly loved  Sik Sik and just wanted to make her happy...

Karmic Connections: a Michael/Barbara wuxia fanfiction

My attempt to bridge the four main MB wuxia stories together.  It started at the end of Ep 20 of Fearless Duo when Lam Chor Yin accidentally broke the jar that contained Szeto Man Mo’s soul. The Foundation 1984, the Legend of Condor Heroes 1982, Chor Lau Heung 1984 and Fearless Duo 1984 and their characters are the properties of TVB Hong Kong. This fanfiction is dedicated to Michael Miu and Barbara Yung. Contains plentiful reincarnation viewpoints. Not everyone's cup of tea, but it works for me to mend my broken heart for what Li Sai Man did to Chun Sik Sik. Check this for the accompanying MV. Click this to read this fan-fiction at my new Jianghu blog.

The four Michael Miu/Barbara Yung wuxia that I string here

Karmic Connections 

 On an autumn night, their reunion darkens all love scenes

Moments of their reunion surpass joy on earth

So sad to part each other

Eternal love shall withstand the time apart

~'Tale of the Magpie Bridge'

The ceramic jar broke and the white butterfly escaped. Lam Chor Yin made a small, disappointed gasp as she saw the butterfly flying away out of sight. In panic, she scanned the room to find the butterfly's whereabouts to no avail. The Supreme Master, the person who opened the door and hence bumped into her and caused her to drop the jar, entered the hall to find the Young Madam Szeto looking around the room like a mad woman before finally slumping down on the floor and wallowing in sorrow. Despite his own heartbreak to learn that the butterfly that contained Szeto Man Mo's soul had escaped, Supreme Master did his best to console Chor Yin. They had to find the butterfly again soon if they want to successfully install Man Mo's soul back into his body, and he needed Chor Yin to pull herself together to speed up the search process. 

The Foundation 1984 recap eps 10-12 (end)

Sik Sik taking care of the injured Sai Man, Ep 11

Below is the recap of the Foundation 1984 episodes 10-12. Click this to read this post at my new Jianghu blog. I’d like to thank the Kaypang Gallery for providing the Cantonese ver with excellent Indonesian subtitles for this series (the DVDs can be purchased here). You can also watch the Cantonese ver from Tudou. The spellings of the main characters are in Cantonese. Spellings of other characters in Mandarin pinyin. I sourced many spellings from the Wikipedia entry of Li Shimin and its associated links. I will add more screen shots later, so keep visiting this post if you like... Needless to say, the post contains spoilers, so you are forewarned...

Ep 10: Kong Fung took Sik Sik to the beach, where she later told him that it was the very place Li Sai Man usually took her to when he wanted to cheer her up. She then told Kong Fung that Sai Man actually knew that she met KF on the beach that day. Kong Fung then realised that it was all Li Sai Man's play, that he actually just wanted to get KF's support to overthrow his brothers. Kong Fung then visited Sai Man and confronted him about his play. He said that Chun Sik Sik was a fine lady and Li Sai Man should treasure and cherish her. On the matter of assisting the 2nd Prince, Kong Fung still firmly said that HTM wouldn't intervene with Royal affairs. Later, Li Sai Man walked down the beach and found Sik Sik there. He whispered her name, she heard him and tensed slightly. He approached her. She turned and calmly commented that he looked thinner. He replied that she was thinner too. She melted into his embrace.

The Foundation 1984 recap eps 6-9

Sik Sik reconciled with Li Sai Man, Ep 6

Below is the recap of the Foundation 1984 episodes 6-9. Click this to read this post at my new Jianghu blog. I’d like to thank the Kaypang Gallery for providing the Cantonese ver with excellent Indonesian subtitles for this series (the DVDs can be purchased here). You can also watch the Cantonese ver from Tudou. The spellings of the main characters are in Cantonese. Spellings of other characters in Mandarin pinyin. I sourced many spellings from the Wikipedia entry of Li Shimin and its associated links. I will add more screen shots later, so keep visiting this post if you like... Needless to say, the post contains spoilers, so you are forewarned...

Ep 6: The day of the decadal martial art competition arrived. Li Sai Man was surprised to see his 3rd brother there. Sai Man was more surprised to see Meng Qing Bing fighting for the Wu Ling Kau (Crow Sect), but when Sai Man saw Yuan Ji conversing with the Crow leader, he knew that QB had betrayed him for 3rd Prince. QB then defeated Sima Hang, the first disciple of HTM. Kong Fung decided to fight Qing Bing with the One Thousand Forms Style and he defeated QB. KF emerged as a new favourite in his sect, and he also gained more friends and supporters from his sect, including the 2nd disciple who originally despised him. Meanwhile, Li Sai Man felt guilty that Li Jing had used his inner strength to save QB, only for the latter to back-stab them. LJ said Sai Man shouldn't be bothered with that issue, and if anything went south, LJ knew how to bake, hence he should be fine (as a baker). Madame Li overheard the conversation with utmost concern.

The Foundation 1984 recap eps 1-5

Chun Sik Sik (Barbara Yung) and Li Sai Man (Michael Miu), artwork by Tomoyo262

Below is the recap of the Foundation 1984 (决战玄武门) episodes 1-5. I’d like to thank the Kaypang Gallery for providing the Cantonese ver with excellent Indonesian subtitles for this series (the DVDs can be purchased here). You can also watch the Cantonese ver from Tudou. The spellings of the main characters are in Cantonese. Spellings of other characters in Mandarin pinyin. I sourced many spellings from the Wikipedia entry of Li Shimin and its associated links. Needless to say, the post contains spoilers, so you are forewarned. Click this to read this post at my new Jianghu blog.

Ep 1: Li Sai Man (Li Shimin, Michael Miu) and his third brother Li Yuan Chi (Li Yuanji, played by Ken Tong) were sent to Jiang Nan by Emperor Father to observe the daily life of the commoners. They met two Hao Tian Men (Wu Tien Mun) people and were impressed by the way the HTM sect/clan conducted themselves in upholding justice. The two princes then saw two HTM folks being attacked and murdered by someone. Sai Man (who used his secret identity Wen Ding Yuan) wanted to report the incident to HTM headquarters, but his Sam Gor (third brother) Yuan Chi (who used the false name Wen Ding Jiang) said they shouldn't intervene with the wuxia world, hence the brothers went to a brothel instead. There, while Sai Man enjoying the wine, Yuan Chi tried to flirt with a woman who was courted by Meng Qing Bing (Austin Wai). Sai Man reminded YC to behave. A fight broke outside between the HTM and the murderer (played by the guy who played as Yip Shing Lan in the Chor Lau Heung 1984 series). Meng Qing Bing intervened. Meanwhile, the HTM students accused the Crow sect as the culprit behind the HTM murder. The Hau Tian Men Master Ren (portrayed by the actor who played Sit Yi Yan in CLH'84) was angry that his students attacked the Crow sect without his approval. The Master then consulted some kung fu masters, including Meng Qing Bing and General Li Qing (or Li Jing), about the murder. 

The Foundation - a heartbreaking Michael/Barbara ancient series

Click this to read this post at my new Jianghu blog.

Li Sai Man (Michael Miu) and Chun Sik Sik (Barbara Yung) in The Foundation 1984

After finishing Fearless Duo 1984, I want to see other Michael Miu/Barbara Yung series. I still have three to watch: Legend of Condor Heroes 1982 where they were bitter enemies (Yeung Hong or Yang Kang vs Wung Yung or Huang Rong); United We Stand 1984 (they were lovers, tho Babs played twins, and the twins loved two different men, Michael one of them); and The Foundation 1984. The last one I don't really want to watch for I will definitely cry buckets of tears and may not be able to show my face to the public for a while... 

In The Foundation (决战玄武门), Michael portrayed Li Sai Man (Li Shi Min) who was the co-founder of the Tang Dynasty. Later known as Emperor Taizong, Li Sai Man was originally a happy-go-lucky young prince who met a servant village girl in his counselor's household (Chun Sik Sik, portrayed by our lovely Barbara). Li Sai Man then fell in love with Sik Sik, the humble village girl who used to love Kong Fung (Felix Wong), a man from her village who left her to improve his kung fu career. Sik Sik then also fell in love with Sai Man and left her love for Kong Fung behind. 

Have a look at this MV by Thaijet. How beautiful and sad it is...SPOILERS ahead. For those who don't want to be spoiled, don't watch the MV till finished. The music is not the original the Foundation OST. Rather, it was from the Return of Condor Heroes (1983), featuring Andy Lau and Idy Chan. The next MV below the break contains the original OST of the Foundation.