Zhang Ji Zhong's productions are always maligned because fans of TVB adaptations look at them as inferiors. As someone who's watched both the 2000 TVB and 2007 Chinese adaptations, this is comfortably the best. The bigger budget and better natural setting gave grandeur to the end product and it really shows.

Jin Yong has a very peculiar problem in that editions of his novels always get worse. To fans of the book, it is a dream come true that this adaptation sticks to the original as much as it did, though I would really prefer it if A Jiu disappeared from the picture completely. This is also the reason why fans of the novel dislike the 2000 adaptation, because it twisted the plot and characterisations to accommodate A Jiu's character development and her nonsensical love line with the male lead. Thankfully, in this adaptation, Qing Qing's parts were maintained (deservedly). It would be better if they kept the plot point where He Tie Shou fell in love with Qing Qing, but it was not to be. The only other issue with the plot is that the actual source material runs pretty thin, but there is nothing one can do about that. There is a reason why this is one of Louis Cha's less popular novels after all.

The casting is brilliant. I would like a taller male lead to make the hugging scenes less awkward, but otherwise Dou is alright. Casting Eva Huang is a stroke of genius because she is basically Qing Qing come alive from the book. Kudos to Zhang for staying with her despite her then contractual issues. Qing Qing is not a likeable character with her pettiness but Eva Huang portrayed her extremely well. He Tie Shou was also a perfect choice (though her career has since gone to the gutters).

The action sequences were good as well. Looking back, they were really well choreographed. I do wish that the more recent wuxia productions can put in more effort into this aspect.

Overall, a fantastic adaptation though it could probably use a bit of extra money here and there.