Once Upon A Time (Movie)

Not to be confused with the drama, Once Upon A Time 三生三世十里桃花 has released movie posters starring Crystal Liu and Yang Yang where they look ravishingly ethereal as the star-crossed lovers clad in matching white robes. 

Crystal Liu takes the cake as the resident actress in ancient dramas due to her traditional yet exquisite features that is practically made for the genre.

While Yang Yang has not yet amassed an equally expansive resume, he along with co-star Crystal Liu certainly possess an otherworldly aura that befits their respective roles as immortals. 

The onscreen couple's stills together are eye-catching to say the least and the very literal symbolism using the peach blossom, dragon and fox offer a nice touch. Filming for the movie wrapped last March and the premiere is expected to be some time next year.

The source novel titled Three Lives Three Worlds Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms aptly belongs under sadistic romance aka depressing beyond words and because I was that curious, I scoured the net for enough information to know that horrific things happen in the story.

On another note, I was recently made aware by an anonymous commenter that the writer Tangqi Gongzi is actually riddled with plagiarism claims that are too obvious to ignore (see comparisons made here). 

It's ridiculous how blatant the similarities are that it feels right to shed light on the controversy that might otherwise be overlooked due to the intense hype on the drama and movie adaptations of the same.

Source: Ent163, CNWNews

Small Town Adventures

Set during the Republican era, Small Town Adventures 茧镇奇缘 is a novel-turned-drama adaptation about the murder cases surrounding the Huang family. The cast is led by Victoria Song (Ice Fantasy), Jiang Jin Fu (Legend of Qin), Zhang Zhi Xi (Three Heroes and Five Gallants) and Yang Yang (Three Lives Three Worlds). 

Victoria Song as Du Cun Xiao relies on her investigative skills to unravel the mysteries behind the deaths that ultimately leads to the truth behind her own identity.

For synopsis, cast and ratings, see 2016 popular c-dramas.

Crystal Liu and Yang Mi face off in Three Lives Three Worlds

Based on a novel by Tang Qi Gong Zi 唐七公子 (writer of Hua Xu Yin), Three Lives Three Worlds Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms 三生三世十里桃花 tells the tale of a romance spanning three lifetimes and Crystal Liu and Yang Mi will star as the lead in a movie and drama adaptation, respectively.

Undisputedly two of the most beautiful actresses in Chinese entertainment, Crystal Liu (born 1987) and Yang Mi (born 1986) are often typecast into the same roles especially if said role requires someone who looks like an ethereal goddess.

Is it any wonder that they have been acting in similar characters as early as 2005? Crystal Liu Yi Fei got her big break playing Ling Er in Chinese Paladin 1 and four years down the road, Yang Mi clinches the role of Xue Jian in Chinese Paladin 3, also opposite Hu Ge.

Yet the similarities don't end there. Back in 2004, Yang Mi portrayed the titular role of Xiao Qian in the drama version of A Chinese Ghost Story while Crystal Liu Yi Fei headlined the 2011 movie version of the same. 

They're not always pitted against each other though as I distinctly remember seeing them together in one of my favorite wuxia series titled The Return of the Condor Heroes with Crystal Liu as Little Dragon Lady (Xiao Long Nu) and Yang Mi as little Guo Xiang.