I often read gushing comments from fans about cinematography of a kdrama and chemistry of an onscreen couple. When I don’t see an explanation to back up these claims, I mentally deduct 50 points from the drama for attracting airheads. The presence of airheads warns me that the director has relied on the visuals because the plot is missing.
I wish fangirls wouldn’t use the word “cinematography” when the word “landscape” would suffice. If they can’t explain WHY they think the tableau adds depth, nuance, and context to the story, then they’re better off describing, “the background is beautiful” or “the sunset is nice.” Using a six-syllable “cinematography” as opposed to a two-syllable “landscape” doesn’t make them look smarter. It makes them look like a dumb.
I’ve already given one example of the use of “cinematography” a while ago and I’ll repost it here.
I also wish that fangirls would stop exaggerating claims of chemistry between the leads. Look: if their chemistry is the deciding factor for me to watch a show, then I might as well drop everything and just watch porn, okay? There’s lots of chemistry going on in an XXX rated show, such as heated looks, combustible skin-on-skin contact, intermingling of bodily fluids, and so on.
It’s the script! It’s the script that makes or breaks the show for me. The conflict must make sense to me. The characters must be relatable. And the dialogue must grip me by the neck or tickle my funny bone. Note: when I say dialogue, it may be verbal or non-verbal. A great dialogue is often one without words, like when the eyes are doing the talking. Or the hands.
Here’s one scene where the fingers did the talking (and I don’t mean “flipping the bird,” okay?)
If those hands could talk, they’d be saying:
His hand: Oh god! Did I just hold her hand? Why did I?
Her hand: Ohmygod! What’s this that I feel? Is he holding me? But I’m naked!!! I’m not wearing gloves. Why is he helping up?
His hand: Her hand is so small.
Her hand: What the–? Is his thumb resting on me?
His hand: How long will this last?
Her hand: Wait? Is he caressing my knuckles? Is he pressing on me? Why is his hand so big? I’m freaking out.
His hand: Let go. Let go, you dumb ox. You just revealed yourself to her.
Her hand: Okay… that lasted only two seconds but… but… ugh! I feel manhandled. What does that mean? Why did he hold my hand? Is this the start of something strange? Does he think I’ve designs on him? I’m itching to slap him right now. I’m going to wash myself the minute I get home.
His hand: Unclench now. I. must. relax. I. must. relax. I’m going to wash myself the minute I get home.
Dialogues are important to the script, both verbal and nonverbal.
The script is more than the plot. The script is about storytelling. The scriptwriter and the director arrange the dialogue, scenes, acts, movements, and all to communicate a central message or main idea through the characters. Then along with this grand central message, there’ll be subtext. That’s when the subtleties from cinematography, sound, OSTs, lighting, costume, props, weather (lol. Sometimes rain is a character, too) will come in handy to express the main context AND a score of subtext.
That’s why I rarely mention “chemistry.” Unless they’re kissing a fish or talking to a hairbrush, chemistry between actors is the least common denominator of great dramas.
I’ve been lurking here for while and enjoying your thorough posts recapping LoveO2O and Put Your Head on My Shoulder as I do enjoy pure fluff dramas like these once in a while. Just wondering if you only stick with modern dramas, because there are a handful of Chinese historical or fantasy dramas that are hugely popular. Seeing how much you love Pride and Prejudice, I’d highly recommend The Story of Minglan which I’ve seen other reviewers compare to Pride and Prejudice. It’s a big one though, 73 episodes, but I was able to watch it twice without feeling it’s too long. Everyone else I recommended it to enjoyed it very much.
Ooo…yes one of my favourite scenes from that remake of Pride and Prejudice. 😍. What was left unsaid is often more pertinent that what was. The power of suggestion trumps visual excess. Restraint makes it so much more tantalizing, yes? Leaves room for my mind to “fill in the delicious blanks” 😂.
Sparks fly for me with good meaningful dialogue, appropriate music, reasonable (and logical, read organic) build up to the moment and dare I say it…cinematography. All working parts that have to come together just so to make it work.
2 other scenes from that remake come to mind.
1. https://youtu.be/zrUd40tmeOQ (Going for Jane). The scene opens with Lizzie trudging through miles of marshland to make her way to Darcy’s to see her sick sister Jane. Soft piano music, a shadowy resolute figure marching in fog, a single solitary tree in the background. Perfection. Then the sudden switch of scenes to the stuffy breakfast room with inane conversation between Darcy and his snobby sister. Darcy tenses as soon as the servant announces “Ms Elizabeth Darcy”. He only has eyes for her. The REAL her. Fiery, wild spirited, irresistible. Stilted conversation between the OTP…awkward pauses…the clock ticking in the background just adds to the discomfort…blatantly obvious that HE LOVES HER ❤️. No words need to be said. And his sister’s remark in the end only seals it for the audience that he saw the REAL Lizzie Bennet. “My goodness did you see her hem?? 6 inches deep in mud”. That was all she saw…unkempt, dirty, not fit to be seen Lizzie. But we the audience know that he saw different. He didn’t even notice her hem 😂.
2. Final scene was perfection. Meeting in the foggy marshland. Her hem was mud caked (again 😮). Dawn…birds chirping softly. She pauses to see a solitary figure in the distance, walking resolutely towards her. Music swells. It’s him!! Not all starched and pressed but just as casual and unadorned as she is! 😮. They meet. Exchange courtesies. He makes his tentative (and rather long winded) confession again (no longer brash and demanding like his first one – he is hesitant and respectful but hopeful). As he makes his confession, he notes the faintest hints of a smile and he inches closer before finally stuttering on the simplest 3 words…”You have bewitched me body and soul and I love…I love…I love…you”. O my heart ❤️ 😘. Perfectly articulate till then. Vulnerable. Heart on sleeve. She pauses (knowing full well she is in control and the ball is in her court), then she moves towards him, takes his hand and plants a kiss on it as her response. “Well then…your hands are cold.” He nods and they seal their union with a gentle meeting of their minds (foreheads touching). The sun rises in the background…no kiss…just tenderness, longing, resolution – all there as a new dawn breaks on their relationship 😍. I can rewatch this scene over and over again. So much unsaid but she said all that was necessary. It still sends chills. 😍
Link to final scene (point 2 above) https://youtu.be/Ll2H3TIt0PE (I forgot to add it 😂)
Okay…. You win the internet today, @nrllee.
hahaha.
There’s no way I can be this romantic describing scenes from Pride & Prejudice, my friend.
I’ll post this up on the blog. lol.
LOL over everything written here!
O…typo… “Ms Elizabeth Bennet”…not Darcy… but she may as well be Elizabeth Darcy 😂
Thanks for the recommendation. 🙂 I don’t mind historicals and I saw “The Story of Minglan” talked about in another forum. But I balk at 73 hour commitment. Whoa!
I don’t know how to blog a 73 episode drama. lol. But I’ll give it a try if you don’t mind telling me exactly where the episodes are that reminded you of Pride and Prejudice. Or which episodes you thought resembled P&P. If the scenes are interspersed throughout the series then I’ll have something like a mile-marker to move me along.
But first, let me finish Put Your Head on My Shoulder. I keep getting distracted but I must finish this this weekend.
I see your point, but I have to say I don’t think I can throw away acting chemistry so easily and say it’s the least important to me as a viewer. I think it depends on the type/genre of show. For romantic dramas and certainly romantic comedies, a good chemistry between the leads is important for me because when I enjoy watching the 2 leads together that increases my enjoyment of the series or film. Good acting chemistry helps me to believe in the love story and engage in the drama and If I don’t find the 2 leads believable, or if it’s boring watching them together, well, I’m more likely to stop watching. And frankly, it can color my perception of the actors and whether I want to watch them in other projects. You mention that you want supporting evidence when someone gushes about “chemistry” but I think it’s difficult to give “supporting documentation”, if you will, because acting chemistry itself is subjective-each person views things differently, and it’s based on feelings, which are difficult to explain and quantify.
I’ll agree that a skilled actor can easily generate chemistry with his or her co-star,but the skill levels of actors vary widely, so we are often relying on that elusive “chemistry” element, especially in romance themed dramas.
Erm haha I’m one of those who stress on that word ‘chemistry’ PM3..but I totally get where you’re coming from. In my opinion, when the script, the plot, the director’s skillful construction of scenes and great actors work together in a way when everything looks amazing on screen, that’s when the ‘chemistry’ also works. In hands of a poor director, and in case of a poorly written script it would not create that magic, that sparkle, that we see here on this 20 second clip from ‘pride and prejudice’. So I think we’re not in disagreement here. ^^
For instance, whenever I watch new episodes of ‘angel’s last mission’ I am gushing about the chemistry between the main leads. But the credit of course goes to the heart fluttering lines coming from them. So it’s not just this physical attraction which makes it work for us. A lot has to do with the skillful maneuvering of the things.