铁血保镖

       从2004年轰动一时的《金枝欲孽》令TVB自制剧集掀起一股热潮，05年的TVB荧屏却被韩剧《大长今》占去大半年风光，自制剧集却并没有打响招牌，无论是《我的野蛮奶奶》《酒店风云》或者是《阿旺新传》《胭脂水粉》都并没有创造新的收视神话，虽然自乐易玲入主TVB之后每个电视剧的宣传都轰轰烈烈，但明眼人都看得出来那不过是TVB的自娱自乐，05年播出的电视剧整体而言剧本太套路化，看了前10集基本上你就可以知道大结局，演员的脸谱化，经理人合约制的力捧新人令到新演员的高出镜率损伤的却是电视剧本身的质量。05年给人留下深刻印象的电视剧倒是《夺命真夫》《秀才遇着兵》。

　　2006年的TVB，之前给予厚望的几部电视剧并没有如期的受到观众的追捧，比如宣称最浪漫剧集的《天幕下的恋人》整个故事的老套，比浪漫连TVB之前的偶像剧《四叶草》系列是完全比不了，比演员阵容，郑嘉颖、周丽淇本身就不具备浪漫的条件，加插温情的家庭伦理、穷小子一夜之间成为富豪的老掉牙套路，监制王心慰完全是拿观众的智商来开涮，《天幕下的恋人》整个就是一个模仿韩剧又找错演员搭错桥段的港剧失败之作。

　　而最奇怪的还是数徐遇安监制的《人生马戏团》，去年宣传轰动收视成毒药的《御用闲人》之后本来以为徐监制会彻底反省，哪知《人生马戏团》更令人看得费解，整个故事完全“不靠谱”，主要说在番禺野生动物园外发现一个民国墓葬，出土了圆明园大水法十二生肖里面被外国人当年抢夺去的铜狗头，由此发现民国的“番禺十虎”，并由香港的考古教授来广东研究文物，并且要找到另一当年遗失的铜羊头和“番禺十虎”留下的一大堆宝藏，由此展开的惊心动魄的故事……TVB现在不但戏说历史，连现代也开始戏说。而整个故事颠三倒四错洞百出地故布谜阵完全是在挑战观众的智商！而男主角陈浩民也差强人意，黄天霸总是喜欢模仿张卫健的无厘头表演方式。这个电视剧的失败主要责任还是在编剧，假大空挑战《中国文物法》的虚假情节，跑在观众后面的智慧以及东拼西凑的桥段非要在这天平盛世上演一出中国版的“古墓丽影”，这就与当年TVB收视毒药模仿美版的《无名天使3D》《争分夺秒》一样从开拍就不是明智的。

　　古装剧方面，TVB今年的作品倒是进步不少，虽然由欧阳震华和郭可盈担纲的《施公奇案》并没有宣传的那么夸张，但两位以演技和观众缘著称的TVB哥姐级人物还是带动了惯性收视，34点的最高收视率依然不过不失，但作为与欧阳震华之前为人称道的《洗冤录》系列相比较，这套剧集无论剧情、演员配搭、拍摄手法都毫无进步，作为古装案件侦破片种，《施公奇案》件件都是不痛不痒，鸡毛蒜皮的小事情，每个故事之间关联性不强，而结尾居然和《佛山赞师傅》同出一撤，虽然欧阳震华搞笑依旧，郭可盈冷艳个性依旧十足，但电视剧不同于电影，看的是剧本而不是演员，对于勉强的剧本两位电视红人演绎起来依旧感觉十分吃力。

　　而身为当代最著名的玄幻小说作家黄易的第四部古装剧《覆雨翻云》TVB可是下重本打造的，由于《大唐双龙传》的严重超支和一片恶评，TVB在拍摄《覆雨翻云》时将监制从之前连续3部的监制庄伟健换成了张乾文，虽然整个电视剧在香港播出依然没有得到很好的评价但这实在是非战之罪，《覆雨翻云》作为06年亚洲地区武侠电视剧最具探索性和开拓性的一部鸿篇巨制实在值得一看，除了武打设计层次高超之外，整个取景都在北京怀柔和河北附近的实景完成，而无论运镜或者电视配乐的设计绝对有电影的质感，而林峰、黄宗泽、佘诗曼、郭羡妮、姜大卫、郭政鸿等新老配搭的演出的确也是不二人选。虽然不少黄易迷抗议该剧与原著改动太大，但一共10多本书内容的小说要通过30集电视剧的篇幅来展现本身就是一个巨大的难题，对于TVB的黄易剧虽然目前只有《寻秦记》大获成功，但归纳起来最重要的原因还是因为演员的原因，而非电视剧制作水平距离的问题。至于为什么TVB电视剧难以再象以往那样群星闪烁，知名演员鱼贯出场而带动收视，这不是电视剧监制能把控的问题，而是因为乐易玲上台后采取的硬捧廉价新人，以及一大串幕后幕前精英离职而带来的最严重恶果吧，长此以往，一大堆如胡杏儿、郑嘉颖这样所谓红星天天占据TVB电视剧主角的时候，估计也就是TVB华人电视剧最大供应商退守香港自娱自乐的时候了。

       不过，今年上半年TVB收视冠军的作品，创下最高43点历史性突破打平当年万人空巷的《金枝欲孽》的黑马电视剧，是之前完全没被看好的民初电视剧《铁血保镖》。这部由TVB金牌监制李添胜一手打造的小成本制作，事先没有过多的宣传，也没有时下TVB得令的红人参演，但靠剧力万钧的剧情，演员真切的表演以及详实的历史背景取得了观众的一致认同。《铁血保镖》的整体水准与内地的《大宅门》相比都毫不逊色，监制李添胜的作品一向是TVB金字招牌的保证，除了90年代一系列在华人地区创下口碑和收视奇迹的金庸电视剧外，04年的《楚汉骄雄》也算港产剧中最严谨和最忠实还原历史的超级制作，相较之内地的《大汉风》系列完全不在一个层次。说回《铁血保镖》以杭州第一镖局——会友镖局走镖“合吾”的接应声拉开序幕，精培细练物色镖师，打开各路官诋之路，几经波折行走江湖，勤与山贼斗智斗勇，行行色色的走镖场面在此剧中可谓尽收眼底。《铁血镖局》见证了会友镖局从鼎盛—衰落—革新—再度倔起的过程，也向世人展现了清末年间江南镖局的兴衰与变革之过程。整个电视剧围绕会友第二代人四兄弟之间的明争暗斗展开，是一部比较纯粹的男人戏，而整个电视剧透出中国传统思想“忠效义”以及“善恶终有报”的主题，透过每集都爆发的风波和事件折射出人间百态，加上马浚伟、姚子羚、黎耀祥、黄智贤、黎诺懿和郭峰等主要演员的精彩演出令整部电视剧摆脱了TVB近年来“小香港题材”的弊病，而虽然还是在TVB将军澳那小的不能再小的电视城古装街取景，但历史功力深厚的李添胜仍费劲心思制造了这部具有浓厚历史底蕴又充分体现现代口味的经典之作，整部电视剧充满了励志和阳刚，而马浚伟演唱的主题歌《会友之乡》更为电视剧增色不少。相比该剧要在内地播出时，收视当不在《金枝欲孽》之下。

　　到了下半年，TVB值得期待的大部头作品将陆续上档，5月1日播出的《火舞黄沙》算是今年TVB的重中之重，陈豪、林保怡、蔡少芬、黎姿、邵美琪、黄德斌的超级阵容加上金牌监制：戚其义以及银川的实景拍摄，该剧以30年代为背景讲述了几大家族的恩怨和男女之间的爱恨，趁着《金枝欲孽》的美好记忆，这部电视剧前途一片看好。而由马浚伟、陈豪和郭羡妮主演的《汇通天下》；以八年抗战为背景的《乱世佳人》。在警匪片方面，有《刑事情报科》和《法证先锋》，分别讲述警队中的狗仔队和法证部门的故事，都将在下半年陆续播出。

　　不过，在众多电视剧当中，最有可能引起华人地区轰动和捍卫TVB华人电视制造工厂的当然还是目前正在拍摄的带有大时代背景的超级巨制，包括为纪念香港回归十周年的长达60集的风云岁月》和长达80集的《双城记》，演员集合了TVB老中青三代包括郭晋安、苗侨伟、马德钟、郑少秋、陶大宇、吴启华、汪明荃、郭可盈等等，从2000年100集的《创世纪》之后已经很久没有大动作的TVB这两部大堆头的金装剧集将会带给观众更多的震撼。(小森)

Steven Ma, Wayne Lai, Elaine Yiu, Ben Wong Zhi Yin, Kwok Fung, Suet Nei, Lau Kong, Ram Tseung Chi Kwong, Wai Ying Hung, Chris Lai

What, when, where and who
Wui Yau Guards' Bureau, a very famous Guard' Bureau, which helps to transport the important goods across the nation. Kwok Fung, the head of the Bureau, who is struggled to decide who can be the next main manager. He has four sons, the oldest one Wayne Lai was very lazy and irresponsible. The second one Ben Wong made many mistakes and eventually became a robber. The third one Steven Ma, who was an adopted son. Steven is a very hardworking person, however, he is also responsible for everything. The forth one Chris Lai, he was in the foreign country for many years, and doesn't know much about the Bureau.

With the struggles among the family members, the Bureau itself, and the business of transporting goods, the entire family went through many ups and downs... Steven has to do whatever he can to take all the mess away, and build a good future of the Bureau.

More Information
(1) Episode Summaries
(2) Character Intros

To further discuss this series, please visit the TVB Square Forum

 

THE FACTORS
- Love Factor -
Steven Ma
He gets blame for everything!!!! No matter what he does, how good he does his things, he will get blamed for, because he is the adopted son. His parents can reject him anytime, his brothers can call him trash all the time, his workers can work against him most of the time. No one listens to him, no one respects him. At once, Wayne called him, "stupid." You may think he is stupid, because someone as talented as Steven can work elsewhere and become rich and famous. However, Steven is willing to stay in the Bureau, solving all the problems, cleaning all the mess. At once, Wayne also said to him, "Stupid, why are you hiding? Come out to take the keys (take control of the Bureau), and stop taking the blames." Of course, we all know that Steven is the only one who can take control of the business, because he is the only one who truly cares about the Bureau....

Wayne Lai
He is very useless, never makes any clever decision. From the beginning to the end, he didn't change any useless bone inside of him. At the beginning, we all hated him. Whenever he is in trouble, he will seek Steven's help, however, he will blame Steven for helping him. In order to make situations worse, he always work against Steven, always brings the trouble to the Bureau. As Steven said, Wayne is not the leader type, and Wayne could die if he takes control. Steven was right. Wayne did "died", but Steven gave him a new identity, from then, Wayne became the biggest supporter of Steven. However, Wayne is still the useless, panic-over-nothing type. How can I fall in love with such a useless person? The answer is short and simple, and it only took me 9 minutes to love him, that was when he gave up the keys to Steven, read more below...

The Story
- 10 Days Monday Back Guarantee
The story begins with a very exciting task for Steven: asking for all the money back within 10 days. I thought that was a very good beginning for the series, it was interesting, exciting, and we get to see the mean Steven. I especially loves the part when he was blamed for a guy's death, but Steven was willing to defend himself.
- "Promote some, demote some, kill (fire) some"
I love the way Steven say this line! This is now my favorite line of the series. Steven thought a strategy to promote the good, hard working people, demote the lazy people and fire the ones that harms the guards' bureau. So perfect for the real world as well ;-)
- Who gets the key?
This question will be asked throughout the story. As the audiences, we all know the answer, however, Steven's father has hard time deciding. At one time, he is switching between Wayne and Ben. Steven clearly told everyone that Wayne is not the leader type. Steven's mom got mad and wanted to kick Steven out. Steven apologized to his mother and told her the reasons why. That scene was so convicting and so emotional.
- The Last 9 Minutes of Episode 20
The 9 minutes is dedicated to Wayne entirely. This is also THE best moment of the series, when Wayne gave the Bureau keys to Steven. Wayne had a powerful speech, which can easily make you love him after hating him for the first 19 episodes.
- Wai Ying Hung's Letter
Before episode 23, make sure you have enough tissues at home, if not, go buy some. Because, reading her letter will make you cry like crazy. Most of us will waste lots of tissues here, because this is one of the saddest TVB scene I ever watched...

 

- Dislike Factor -
Elaine, her tears, her performances, and everything else about her
There is a scene, Elaine was about to "die", because Steven's father doesn't want to help her out. Elaine had about 5 minutes of self-speech. Couple people in the room listening to her, she talks about life, about how she doesn't want anyone to feel bad. Everyone in the room was in tears. I was totally lost, I didn't feel pity for her, I didn't feel bad. Don't give me wrong, I have nothing against her character, but I have all the complaints about her performances. That 5 minutes of self-speech is one of the worst scene in the entire series, her tears look fake, her speech was useless. Everyone else in that room had awesome performances, just by listening to her useless speech... This was only a small example, but, disliking Elaine wasn't a surprise. Of course, she is the only factor that can destroy the whole show. However, the story and the performances of the others can over-shadow her anytime, so you don't have to worry about her too much. Sooner or later, you will forget about her performances.

 

- How Come Factor -
Steven's marriage when he was 4
I remember Steven talked about his marriage when he was four. I thought that girl was Elaine, but I don't think that was her, because the father of the little girl is not Elaine's father. However, later on, no one mentioned about that marriage what-so-ever.

 

- Chemistry Factor -
Steven Ma and Elaine Yiu
This is one of the best chemistry of the year because of Steven's awesome performances. This is also one of the worst chemistry of the year because of Elaine's poor performances. Mix together, I have hard time deciding how to like or dislike them. For sure, I will prefer anyone else over Elaine.

Ram Tseung and Wai Ying Hung
The chemistry between Ram and Ying Hung was so strong, which can make most of you cry. At the beginning, you might not notice them at all, because Ram is also very useless, but he is very smart. Ram always thinks the best strategies to solve the problems, but he also wants to hide whenever there is trouble. Ying Hung hates Ram because he always play with his birds when everyone else works very hard. Ying Hung also loves Ram because he always think very hard about his strategies when the Bureau is in trouble, she also loves Ram because he was willing to sell all his valuable things to get money and help the Bureau. Ram loves Ying Hung, because she is strong, but also noisy. She will say so much thing for Ram to do so little thing. However, that also builds a very strong relationship between the two...

Steven Ma and his family
I love Steven's family, even though there are the greedy and bad ones, there are also the mean and stupid ones. I sometimes hate Steven's mother for blaming Steven too much. I sometimes hate Steven's father for giving Steven all the hard tasks. However, his parents were still willing to give the entire Bureau under Steven's control. In addition, when there is trouble, some people added even more trouble while others trying to reduce trouble. When there is happiness, some people will do harmful things to make the situation unhappy. This, makes a perfect family ;-)

 

THE COMMENTS
- The Performances -
Steven Ma came back with an awesome series, his performances shine the entire series, also successfully overshadowed Elaine's poor image. I especially LOVE Steven's crying scenes, so emotional and so powerful. I also want to mention Wayne Lai, who is very good at every character he performs. That 9 minute of Wayne speech in episode 20 is the peak of the entire series. You will love every single thing about that speech. As for the smaller characters, I think everyone did a good job, it's hard to pick anyone to blame, other than Elaine, of course.

- The Story -
I think I have included all the best thing about the story in the "Love Factors" part. This story was very unique, and very special. I learned so much things about the Guards' Bureau. After you finished watching the series, come back and read my review again, you will agree with me ;-)

- Worth Watching? -
If you are going to skip this series, you will miss a lot of things. This is THE BEST series of 2006 so far, if you are going to skip it, you might just better off skip the entire year's series. OK, maybe I am going little too far, but this is the must watch of the year, totally deserves the high rating, deserves your time and tears. Go watch it!

   一流的中文电视剧人才还是在香港，攒的不错。
   有句话记忆最深刻：“我们做镖师的出来面对山贼，一定要讲三碗面，一是场面，二是人面，三是情面”。此外“合吾”俩字贯穿全片始终，与当前“和谐社会”的提法相合：）

之前看介绍，说是一部收视率很不俗的男人戏。
看了之后明白为什么收视好了，这不就是tvb擅长的大家族争斗戏嘛。
说是讲镖师的故事，其实讲的是镖师家族。
马浚伟的角色有点像《流金岁月》里面的罗嘉良。
又看到马仔和祥仔在一起，他们两也算是tvb的官配了吧，就是兄弟也不错啊。
女主角不难看，清秀温柔的小家碧玉，看着很舒服。