On May 25, the film Huyền Học Đệ Nhất made its online debut after a two-year hiatus, having been “suspended”. This project marks the return of actor Trần Hạo Dân in a leading role, yet it has sparked numerous discussions about its quality.
According to analyses from Sohu, Trần Hạo Dân’s comeback does not leave a significant impact, showing that the once-popular star is now a shadow of his former self. In Huyền Học Đệ Nhất, he portrays the character Đoàn Hoa Dự, a role previously played by him 26 years ago in Thiên Long Bát Bộ. However, after many years, Đoàn Dự now exhibits “signs of aging”, lacking charisma and vitality on screen.
The return to the role of Đoàn Dự in a project outside of Jin Yong’s novels has led to speculation about Trần Hạo Dân’s desire for recognition, wanting to revive the classic character that made him famous. Nonetheless, his performance in Huyền Học Đệ Nhất has received mixed reviews, especially when juxtaposed against his younger co-star, Trương Hàm, who is 26, creating a noticeable age gap.
Moreover, the content of Huyền Học Đệ Nhất has been criticized as dull and illogical. The lead female character, Thư Vũ, falls in love with Đoàn Hoa Dự almost immediately upon meeting him. Additionally, many female characters in the film seem to “fall into romantic dilemmas” with the male lead, creating a sense of confusion regarding their feelings due to the forced narrative.
With a lack of coherent content, Huyền Học Đệ Nhất has become the next project of Trần Hạo Dân, which has been labeled as “trash cinema”, contrasting starkly with the illustrious career of the actor from Thiên Long Bát Bộ, who has fallen from grace.
Source: Sohu
