Judging from Episode 1 ONLY:
*warning* ALOT of comparing with other adaptations and original^^
THE BAD:
1. It doesn't start with Takemoto's narration. All Japanese versions, anime, live-action movie and live-action drama, all started with Takemoto's narration. As a big fan of H&C the Anime, to me, Takemoto's narration is pretty important and a-must, because he is basically the main character. Narrations of the character's thoughts are the big plus points in the original story, so it disappoints me that there's no narrations at all in this Taiwanese version.
2. Seem like Mayama and Morita has more screentime than Takemoto. Really feel bad for Takemoto >_< Although I can see that Joe and Eddie are more familiar faces to the audience than the newcomer, Lego Li. I'm suspecting that they changed the main character to Mayama/Joe Cheng.
3. Despite it follows the original scene, Takemoto and Hagu's first met was not as powerful as the ones in Japanese versions. They didn't make that scene important at all. The japanese drama didn't follow the original, but they made it more beautiful and powerful instead, we can really feel for Takemoto. The anime itself, although it went the same as the Taiwanese drama, but it felt more memorable.
4. The change of plot... it changed just as much as the live-action Japanese drama^^ However, this is just a judgement from the first episode.
5. Although the Japanese live-action drama was just so-so for me, but at least, it still wins in the directing/cinematography departement, it shows alot of the ARTISTIC side of the story. But this Taiwanese version, despite the story being about 5 art students, there's no artistic directing, or beautiful shots, instead they concentrated too much in the comical side... which is good sometimes, but sometimes they exagerrated it as well.
To sum it up, the japanese drama lacks the comical side, the taiwanese drama lacks the artistic side x)
THE GOOD
1. Loved the opening sequence with the casts in gothic lolita costumes, interesting^^
2. My favorite comical scenes in the anime like Takemoto waking up Morita, and also Hagu-Morita's first met, that were deleted in the japanese drama, are in this one!!! I'm so happy! And they pull it off quite well too. But there are also scenes not shown here, shown in the japanese drama... so its like they're completing each other xD
3. My favorite pair is Hagu-Morita. So Hagu and Morita's first met scene here really satisfied me!! Loved it alot. Loved both Eddie and Chiaki's expressions. My most favorite scene so far. I think they'll have a good chemistry.
4. Despite that Aoi Yu(movie) and Narumi Riko(drama) portrayed Hagumi's humane side very well, they lack Hagu's comical side, they portrayed her so quiet, while in the original story, Hagu is not a quiet person at all after she knows well the persons. She's only quiet when she doesn't know the people she just met. So far, Ito Chiaki portrayed Hagu's comical side excellently!! Let's see if she can still keep it up, and also handle the later changes that'll happen to Hagu. Ito Chiaki also fits Hagu's appearance very well, she's so petite and short
As for the other casts, I think it's still too soon to judge. So far, I love the live-action japanese drama's Takemoto-Ayumi-Mayama the best so far... however, none of the actors who play Morita Shinobu can portray him well. (not in the movie nor the drama) Morita is my most favorite character. I won't expect anything from Eddie Peng as well... so I won't be too disappointed later x) But he's OK so far.
Anyone knows if Mayama's twin gay bosses will also appear in this version? How about Morita's older brother and his own mysterious plot about his father's company?? The one thing I love the most about Morita is his mysterious past that he never tells anyone. And the live-action japanese drama totally deleted this plot!!!
Hopefully it'll be in this version.
I haven't finished the jap version yet... I'm not really addicted to it, I'm only watching because I want to finish it and Toma is awesome !
)
Support Myolie Wu, Ariel Lin, Joe Cheng, Raymond Lam, So Ji Sub, Jo In Sung, Sung Yuri 