At the center of the entertainment storm, one sentence is enough to cause an uproar. Liu Yuning, whose name has frequently appeared on major social media recently, publicly stated: "Beautiful men in the past were all processed through filters." Not only that, in order to prove his remarks, he also deliberately unearthed those pictures from a long time ago. The original pictures of the drama re-exposed those faces that have been baptized by time into the public eye.
For a time, public opinion was in an uproar. This seemingly ordinary statement was like a depth bomb, instantly detonating the sensitive nerves of the entertainment industry. People are beginning to re-examine those celebrities who were once popular. What are their true faces? Is it true, as Liu Yuning said, that the secret of filters is hidden behind beauty?
Filters and soundtracks can’t hide Liu Yuning’s shortcomings in appearance. His costume style was accused of hitting Huang Bo’s face.
Enthusiastic netizens not only took the initiative to add filters to Liu Yuning’s photos, but also added them to the beautiful Xianxia soundtrack, trying to Make his image more perfect. However, even with the powerful filters and beautiful soundtrack, Liu Yuning's appearance still seems to be difficult to meet the expectations of netizens. Many netizens said that although filters and soundtracks can enhance the overall atmosphere, they cannot cover up Liu Yuning's shortcomings in appearance.
What surprised netizens even more was that Liu Yuning’s costume appearance actually collided with the famous ugly star Huang Bo. Although Liu Yuning is 180+cm tall and has a height advantage, his costume appearance does not seem to be accepted by netizens. Compared with those famous male gods in ancient costumes, Liu Yuning's costume styles are far different. Not only does his face look bloated, but his expression is dull and lacks a sense of agility.
This incident not only put Liu Yuning in an embarrassing situation, but also triggered people's deep thinking about appearance and image. In this age of looking at faces, appearance seems to have become an important criterion for measuring a person's worth. However, we should also realize that everyone has their own unique beauty and charm and should not be bound by a single aesthetic standard.
Liu Yuning's appearance in "One Thought Off the Mountain" was questioned, and the standards of handsome men in ancient costumes aroused heated discussions
In the "removing the mask" scene at the end of the recently popular TV series "One Thought Off the Mountain", his appearance was considered "unsatisfactory" by some viewers. This even affects the perception of other characters in the play. The handsome Wu Emperor, who was originally not very likable in the play, was more pleasing to the audience because of Liu Yuning's appearance.
Regarding Liu Yuning's performance in the play, some netizens bluntly said that his appearance is not good enough to play the leading role. However, Liu Yuning did not seem to be affected by this. Instead, he showed an "ordinary and confident" attitude during the live broadcast. He seemed to have doubts about his own appearance, and even became depressed due to the comments from netizens.
Despite facing doubts about his appearance, Liu Yuning still faced it positively, which makes people think: In the entertainment industry, is appearance the only criterion for measuring an actor's value? How should the appearance of the male protagonist in a costume drama be defined?
Looking back at the past costume dramas, those actors who are known as handsome guys in costume are not only because of their outstanding appearance, but also because they have successfully created characters that are deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. Their acting skills, temperament and compatibility with the characters together form the image of handsome men in costume in the audience's mind.
What kind of appearance can be called a handsome guy in ancient costume? Is it the exquisite facial features, elegant temperament, or a high degree of fit with the character? Every viewer has their own answer to this question. Liu Yuning's performance in "One Thought Off the Mountain" undoubtedly adds more space for thinking to this discussion.
The pinnacle beauty of ancient costumes: Yan Yikuan’s legendary appearance
In that era of turbulent costume dramas, whenever the male god in ancient costumes was mentioned, people would involuntarily think of a name - Yan Yikuan. His appearance, like a symbol of that era, was deeply engraved in the hearts of countless viewers.
I remember that back then, the TV series "Beauty's Scheming" was all the rage. In the play, Yan Yikuan plays the role of a dissolute young man who plays with beauties. He easily captures the hearts of thousands of young girls with his every smile.His handsomeness is not only the exquisite facial features, but also the charm that radiates from the inside out, which is irresistible.
But Yan Yikuan’s legend of “good looks” did not begin at this time. As early as when he starred as the "Peony Prince" Li Jiancheng in "Li Shimin, King of Qin", he had already conquered countless audiences with his stunning beauty and outstanding acting skills. In this drama, he perfectly interprets what it means to be handsome from 360 degrees - whether it is with his hair tied up, wearing armor, or with his hair half down, he can control it with ease and is breathtakingly handsome.
Even in these dramas, his character often has some scumbag and dissolute qualities, but he still cannot stop the enthusiasm of the audience in front of the TV. Because the unique charm he displayed has already surpassed the character itself and has become an eternal classic in the hearts of the audience.
However, good looks are only part of Yan Yikuan’s charm. His acting skills, his professionalism, his devotion and love for the role are the reasons why he can truly conquer the audience. He is not only a handsome actor, but also a true artist.
Today, when we look back at that golden age of costume dramas, Yan Yikuan's name still shines brightly. His legendary appearance is not only his personal glory, but also a symbol and memory of that era. Whenever people talk about the ceiling of male gods in ancient costumes, Yan Yikuan always deserves to be the first.
The pinnacle of ancient costumes: Jiao Enjun, the face of the times
When we look back at those handsome men in ancient costumes who have been carved by time, Jiao Enjun’s name is like a shooting star across the night sky, bright and unforgettable. He was once the "costume ceiling" of that era and planted the seeds of love in the hearts of countless girls.
I remember the "Er Lang Shen" Yang Jian he played in "Lotus Lantern", he was so heroic and energetic. Whenever he appears in front of the screen, he can easily capture the attention of thousands of viewers. But few people know that before his role as Yang Jian made him famous, Jiao Enjun was already a leader in the costume industry.
In 1994, when he was still a newcomer in the entertainment industry, he made the audience remember his appearance with his role as "Zhan Zhao" in the TV series "The Seven Heroes". His handsome facial features are like a finely crafted work of art. He is on par with Louis Koo, a well-known handsome guy at the time, and is known as "Southern Jiao and Beigu".
It was an era without filters or refined photos. Everything on the TV screen was so real. The pores and acne are clearly visible on Jiao Enjun's face, but this does not affect his handsomeness at all. On the contrary, these "imperfections" made him closer to people's hearts and became a costumed male god in everyone's mind.
What’s even more amazing is that Jiao Enjun’s appearance seems not to be eroded by time. When he starred in "Little Li Flying Knife", he was already over 30 years old, but in front of the camera he was still handsome and handsome with sharp eyebrows and starry eyes. In the scene of his first appearance in "Lotus Lantern", he was wearing silver armor and his eyes were as sharp as lightning, as if a god had descended, which shocked the hearts of countless viewers.
At the same time, we have to mention Louis Koo, the handsome man who is as famous as Jiao Enjun. Wearing ancient costumes, he looked equally heroic and handsome. The two of them, like the twin stars of that era, lit up the sky of costume dramas together.
Now, when we mention these past events again, people can’t help but sigh: the handsome boys of that era were real and dazzling. Their looks have withstood the test of time and become eternal classics. And Jiao Enjun is undoubtedly the most dazzling star among them.
Reshaping the Classics: The Ancient Costume God in the No-Filter Era
When it comes to the classics of those eras, Jin Yong's "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" is undoubtedly a highlight. This work, after being remade in Hong Kong, has entered the youthful years of countless viewers. Among them, the role of "Yang Guo" interpreted by Louis Koo is even more upright, handsome and unforgettable.
In the play, even though Yang Guo suffered a ruthless sword attack from Guo Fu and lost one of his hands, this did not weaken his heroic spirit at all. Louis Koo's original handsomeness is still shining even under the lens without filter, and it seems that there is no need for any post-production modification and enhancement.
As time goes by in recent years, the "Four Beauties from the End of the World" have become the new representatives of handsome men in ancient costumes. Recalling Huo Jianhua and Hu Ge in "Sword and Sword III", they are like the two anchors in the world of costume dramas. The characters they played such as Xu Changqing, Jingtian, Fei Peng, and Long Yang are all full of charm and deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.
It is worth mentioning that the drama "Sword and Sword III" almost completely abandoned the filter effect in its production. In this era, filters seem to have become a standard feature of TV dramas, but "Sword and Sword III" goes in the opposite direction, showing the actors' most authentic looks and acting skills. This kind of courage and confidence is admirable.
From Jin Yong's classics to the new era of "Four Beauties from the End of the World", the definition of handsome men in ancient costumes may be changing, but the audience's pursuit of true, pure, and in-depth beauty has never changed. These actors used their appearance and acting skills to create vivid characters for us one after another, and also left us with countless beautiful memories.
