Trying to sort through my thoughts after watching Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants for the first time.
Spoiler free review ahead.
First of all: If there is any chance at all, you need to watch it on the big screen. It was made for the big screen. It's so, so epic!
I went in with high expectations. And I was still blown away!
If you've read the book: The movie is nothing like the book. But at the same time, it's still clearly The Legend of the Condor Heroes. The movie takes bits and pieces of the book, really just a small part of the whole, and not even the main parts, rearranges them, re-interprets them, adds something new, and just makes the story its own. It's still Legends of the Condor Heroes. But it's also a brand new story. I'm glad I read the books, because I think some of the flashbacks might have made more sense to me, and some of the relationships made have had more of an impact for me. But because so much was so different, the storyline was still surprising for me. Familiar, but also not at all, in the best way possible.
Same for Xiao Zhan's Guo Jing. He was undeniably Guo Jing, but Xiao Zhan - with the help of the script and director, obviously - made Guo Jing his own. Turned him into his own character, his very own, fresh version of Guo Jing. (Side note: I tried watching one of the TV versions not long ago, but had to give up a few episodes in, because the story was almost 100% faithful to the book, but felt wrong. Here the story was different from the book, but felt right).
I did not expect the movie to put such a focus on the love story. The first part basically has the love story at the heart of everything, and builds the rest of the story around it. And it works! Because it's really well done, and because all characters involved, Guo Jing, Huang Rong and also Huazheng, are all amazing characters in their own rights. Love, love, love the interactions between the two girls in particular. Love both girls, period.
All the important characters are memorable, actually: Temujin, Tolui, Guo Jing's mother, Ouyang Feng, the beggar clan...
The movie is surprisingly funny at times, even at times when you don't expect it, but even then it just works and fits seamlessly into the moment. My very favourite surprisingly funny moment: Guo Jing's "I cannot believe that actually worked" face. You'll know it when you see it.
And it's super, super epic. The fight scenes, the effects, I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like it before.
Also, don't forget to stay through the credits.
There's so much more, but that's all I have for now. I'm still feeling pretty overwhelmed and very, very grateful I got to see it on release day, on the big screen. And that I'll get to see if several more times, so I can pay more attention to the details, and give everything more time to truly sink in.
I'm so happy for Xiao Zhan, that this movie is such a special one. And I hope everyone gets a chance to see it, fan or not. It's just a really, really good movie that works on every level.