This is the newest (Chinese) rendition of story that has been told a couple of times. In 2001 this was aired, under the same title, but with 27 episodes. It is also a retelling of a Japanese Manga "Boys Over Flowers." Reading the review on those I am actually glad I started with this because a consistent comment is that this telling in 49 episodes (45 minutes per episode) allowed for telling some side stories and greater character development which which were two of the things I really liked. In this version, Shen Yue plays the female lead, Dong Shang Cai. I loved her spunky nature. Those that had watched other versions did not like this element they felt that rather than responding to injustice she played it more like she had a chip on her shoulder. But I will say more about that in a minute. She works hard and finds herself in an elite university that has a boy group called F4 which is made up of the handsomest, wealthiest and most talented boys in the school. Of course, Shang Cai has a run in with them and, most particularly, their leader, Dao Ming Si (Dylan Wang). He is basically an arrogant bully and Shang Cai basically has no problem standing up to him because she doesn't hero worship people. That and her spunky nature, sets it up so these two main characters will have a lot to learn from each other. You begin to understand why he is the way he is and that just because someone appears to have everything does not mean that they do. His friends - the remaining three of F4 - Hua Ze Lei (Darren Chen), Yan Ximen (Caesar Wu), and Feng Meizuo (Connor Leong) were also arrogant and seemingly spoiled on the surface but as you got to know each of them you realized there was so much more to each. I loved Hua Ze Lei he was one of my favorites. He was there when he needed to be and not when he shouldn't be for all of the characters. I both loved and hated this movie deeply. I loved it because it was a well developed, beautiful story. The romantic story was wonderful but the relationship between the boys was equally moving. We all want friends like that. The way they all came to like her because they could see how happy she made their friend was one of my favorite parts. There are a lot of sad parts and I do not typically like anything that makes me feel sad. That was the part that I did not like. I cried, along with the characters, multiple times. But, in this case, the story was so good and ended so well I was willing to forgive it. You definitely have to understand the culture to get why they do certain things and I don't think you need to understand it up front but you do have to approach certain parts with a level of curiosity and seek out the answers if you don't understand. If you have immersed yourself you will likely get it but if you know little then you will not get certain things. I personally grew up in poverty and can tell you that some of the elements in this movie still exist within the culture I am most familiar with, the American culture. There was certain people that were sort of off limits because of their wealth and social standing. Much more subtle but definitely there. So I could identify with that. I know I will watch this again in the future (and not too distant) as I know I would gain even more if I watched it again. Grab some tissues if you are a crier and saddle up for a bit of an emotional roller coaster. You will be glad you did.
Review of Meteor Garden
