Maou

[karened]

I'm going to watch Mawang. In case you don't know, that's the kdrama version of Maou. I just came across a writeup about how great Mawang is, but that's not what baited me to watch. It was a short paragraph that refuted every single view I had regarding Maou that provoked me.

My favourite Arashi song for 2008 - "when you take away the elegant soundtrack and replace it with (*gag*) Arashi numbers"

Ohno's convincing, outstanding portrayal of the character, and his death stare - "when you take away the awesome mature actors and replace them with a couple of Johnny’s boys"

Good directing, especially the opening part with Ohno reaching for Toma - "when you lose the superb directing and editing"

My favourite suspense drama in ages - "what was one of the best and most absorbing tv shows I’d ever watched was reduced to an affair of mind-numbing mediocrity"

So, I will watch for myself how magnificent Mawang is such that my beloved Maou pales so much in comparison to warrant being called "incredibly, stupendously, outstandingly boring". Perhaps it's because s/he has watched Mawang before watching Maou that made Maou such a predictable ride. Perhaps.

Perhaps at the end of the 20 episodes, I'll follow suit and comment that "It was so boring I never made it past the first few episodes, even with fast-forwarding".

Or perhaps I'll love to death, so much so that I'd want to delete this post.

But Maou will forever be Ohno's first drama, the one that made it feel like his training in butais all these while had done him good, that it was worthwhile to have to wait so so so long till her appears on tv. For that, it is special.

Comments

[showjuro.livejournal.com]

I'm interested to watch Mawang too. When was it aired in Korea?

Seriously? People actually said that about Maou? I thought although Ohno's acting isn't the best, but he did a good portrayal of the Maou. It was filled with suspense and I couldn't stop watching it.

[karened.livejournal.com]

A year earlier, in 2007.

Exactly! That's why, to be fair, I will watch Mawang....after Jin 2. =P

[shokim.livejournal.com]

I am sure Mawang is nice, but am not into K dramas...

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Mawang is my perfect drama. There is literally nothing I would change, not a second I would take or add. There are a few dramas I like more but none that are, imo, as good.

So imagine my horror to find out 20 hours of story was compressed in less than 9 hours, when the actors have been replaced by people who are simply too young to be in those roles. Nor have I ever seen a jdrama, except for JIN, with cinematography as good as Mawang's so chances of Maou replicating the cinematography is slim. Plus, I don't like Ikuta Toma and think he's medicore at best. I have never seen Ohno in anything but the fact that he has little experience doesn't make me confident. So yeah, when Maou came out, I waa fraught with horror and never watched it. Just wanted to give it a Mawang-lover perspective. I mean, if they cast Kimutaku and Fugiki Naohito, I might have risked it...

[aishoni.livejournal.com]

Hi. I think I remember reading your summary on Mawang while I watched the series.

Ohno was 28 when he acted in Maou while Joo Ji Hoon could probably be younger. They changed the age of the 2 main characters so both dramas was not entirely the same. I love Mawang but Maou was a great Japanese adaptation and it complimented the original rather than trying to compete with it.

[mjlights.livejournal.com]

just cruising and found this..... watched Maou first then Mawang (at a vvveeery slow pace)... Albeit the actors were very well known in Korea, I found that the plot was made to make you think and guess on who the killer was. Which really doesn't leave much excitement anymore as we already know who and how the series ended. Frankly, I did >> most of the episodes (yes it was making me sleep).

I must admit, Maou could have been better, but because it was the first thing I watched. Every episode held an element of suspense. Not to mention that ohno did a pretty good job convincing me that he was in pain despite the stoic appearance. Actually cheered him on LOL.

The Korean version didn't do much to my heartstring, but had to finish it for the sake of comparison. And yes these are personal opinions that are justified because I DID watch both versions.

[karened.livejournal.com]

I think the major takeaway is that it matters which one you watched first.

I think I'll end up like you, finding Mawang a drag because the surprise element has already been taken away by Maou. That was why I didn't want to watch Mawang previously. I knew from Maou that a lot of the enjoyment came from the plot twists and surprises. That's the main plot. With everything already exposed in Maou, what is there to watch for in Mawang, except for good acting and perhaps directing and sound?

[aishoni.livejournal.com]

i watched Mawang while waiting for Maou. Honestly it was a beautiful drama and Maou does seems a tad mediocre and cartoonish in comparison. However Maou pleasantly surprises me. Its not predictable, the music is as haunting as mawang was, the cast is solid (but with some wanting) and mot of all Ohno as the lawyer. JJH as the lawyer in Mawang was beautiful but, my Arashi bias aside, Ohno performance as the devil is inexplicably more.. UMPH (lol. can't find the right words). Probably my one gripe about Maou to Mawang was the detective Toma vs Uhm Tae Woong. Toma was ok but UTW was breathtaking. There's also some character changes in Maou that made Ohno as the devil more prominent than Toma the detective. Mawang could feel a bit slower now you've watched Maou and I did wish it was 16 episodes instead of 20. However overall, the original wins, with exception of small and fabulous Ohno trumping the hunky Korean devil.

[karened.livejournal.com]

Thanks thanks thanks for the opinion you shared!

I don't think I will hate Mawang. I was just slightly annoyed that one of my favourite pieces got described like it was a worthwhile piece of production. Not that I have anything against Mawang, but I'm skeptical as to how good it is. I will watch it...soon...and see for myself. Maybe I will love it to bits as well, but like what you said, Ohno was impressive in there, and Maou will remain one of my favourites.

[aishoni.livejournal.com]

My pleasure :).
Korean dramas doesn't interest me much.. I hate how long and long winded it is, but Mawang is an outstanding drama. Korean dramas still doesn't pleases me much so Mawang is pretty exceptional to have made me a fan.