ATE 1 versus ATE 2 - 2
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Re: My Opinion On ATE1
Posted By: just me <sharonapple@mail.com>
Date: Saturday, 30 June 2001, at 1:36 p.m.
In Response To: My Opinion On ATE1 (R Yin)
I agree that the storyline is not realistic. But if you enjoy this kind of dramas, i.e. the "secrets and revenge" sort, then you can't expect total realism. The thing about dramas like that is, if they are able to be realistic within the world that they create then they are believable.
Some of the reasons why you thought ATE1 was "laugable," I actually agree with. That's why I prefer ATE2 which I thought was more interesting and more logical.
I didn't like Wing Yan's character either because I thought she was too weak. I didn't like Helen in ATE1 either because of the same reason but I do grow to like her in ATE2 because she grows up. I liked Tina in ATE1 because I thought she was a woman with some strenght and ambition. I didn't like Keung in ATE1 although I do grow to like him in ATE2. He really grows at the end of ATE2 and I like it that he actually plays a large role in the success of the smog-free city.
My problem with ATE1 is that the series did drag a fair bit and the characters were unrealistic even in the world that the scriptwriters have created. The main reason why I think they are unrealistic in ATE1 is that they don't seem to grow. That's why I find ATE2 more interesting. Not only do things move fairly quickly in the first 10 to 20 episodes, most if not all the major characters exhibit a great deal of growth and maturity.
I think ATE's biggest problem in that respect is that the scriptwriters were trying to reserve most of that growth for ATE2 but that meant that ATE1 was kind of stagnant.
However, what I find is ATE1's saving grace is actually one of the things you don't like about ATE1. I liked the religious overtones. I liked it because I think what makes ATE different from other series of this nature is that it doesn't focus on revenge... instead it focuses on forgiveness and redemption. That is why I like the use of the song "amazing grace." ATE suggests that the ultimate path to success and happiness is forgiveness. ATE also suggests that everyone deserves another chance, even bad people. ATE suggests that even bad people can turn back. Of course the series doesn't do it for everyone but the chance to turn back is offered to most of the major characters. I find that thematically, ATE is actually quite interesting.
The religious overtones continue towards the end of ATE2. This time though they use buddhism (or taoism, since I can't tell the difference.)
Also, just because a series uses religious overtones or themes does not make it a John Woo wannabe. John Woo isn't the first nor will he be the last person to use religious imagery in film & tv. Besides, Woo doesn't really talk about religion, i.e. there really aren't too many discussions about God or the battle between good and evil in Woo's films. He just uses religious imagery.
Response to 4).
I think that although Tim is able to get stuff from the triads, he isn't exactly all buddy buddy with them either. As to whether they can find out who the killer is... I don't know either. If Michael doesn't say, Jason doesn't say and the killer don't say... who's to know. And here's the brilliance of it all, the killer isn't even the real killer since Michael wasn't exactly "killed."
I will agree partially on point 6). I don't think it was a waste for them to have been kidnapped because to tell you the truth I'm not that fond of Joe and I was even more annoyed with what he becomes in ATE2. However, I will agree that, the did disappear for an extended period of time and the audience isn't updated enough on their condition. Even then, the Philippines episode can't really be compared to Rambo, since we don't have a one-man hero going round shooting everyone else to pieces while walking around in plain view of everyone and yet miraculously stay alive at the same time.
I don't think Keung was a "good" character in ATE1. I think that while he isn't a "bad" person, he is too childish, too protected, rash, has an explosive temper and is self-righteous. I think that in ATE2 when he learns who really "killed" Michael, he learns that even he can be wrong. I think too that when Keung almost dies from a fall off a building that he realises the value of his own life. I think Keung wants to believe, especially in ATE1, that he is THE good guy. In a sense, "forgiving" Michael was to make himself feel better about himself. In ATE2, he won't be quite as self-righteous. He grows to be a mature, confident man with an inner strength we do not see in him in ATE1.
A good part of why I like ATE as a series is due to ATE2 which I think dealt with the growth of most of the characters rather well. Also, I liked the themes of ATE, which unfortunately took a little too long to surface in ATE1. The acting is good in ATE. There are still a couple things I don't like about the series but not enough for me to diss it completely.
As a series I actually liked it more than Cold Blood Warm Heart. And I know that there aren't many people who agree with me on that. But I really disliked CBWH except for Gallen whom I thought did a really good job as the bad guy and Christine Ng & Wallis Pang who played women with backbone. I think the characters in ATE exhibit a heck of a lot more growth by the time the series is over than CBWH which was pretty much an old-fashion good is white, bad is black and no shades of grey in between.
Well, that's more or less it. Looking forward to other comments and your response.
enjoy