“Bullet Brain” Plagiarized 2001’s “Mr. Winner”?
Bullet Brain <神探高倫布> is the lethal collaboration between 3-time TV King Wayne Lai (黎耀祥) and producer Lee Tim Sing (李添勝). Despite earlier anticipation, the series has fallen flat with audiences, who criticized the slow-moving and repetitious plot. Aside from the low production values, viewers also believe that Bullet Brain plagiarized television drama, Mr. Winner <敗家仔>.
When Bullet Brain debuted last Monday night, it pulled 28 points in its premiere episode. Audiences eventually left in droves, causing the ratings in its initial week to only average 26 points.
Set in 1960s Hong Kong, Bullet Brain revolves around Wayne’s character, Ko Tai Hei (高大喜), who turns from a kind simpleton to an overnight genius after his brain cells evolved when a bullet hit his head. Detective Columbo Ko not only became smarter, he also became more cunning and cold-hearted, resorting to unscrupulous means to prove his influence. The series also stars Edwin Siu (蕭正楠), Sire Ma (馬賽), Ngo Ka Nin (敖嘉年), Natalie Tong (唐詩詠), Joe Junior, Brian Burrell (布偉傑), Lau Dan (劉丹), and Corinna Chamberlain (陳明恩).
Plagiarism?
TVB viewers also believe that Bullet Brain may have plagiarized Mr. Winner <敗家仔>, also known as <神探方天謬>. In the series, Dicky Cheung’s (張衛健) character, Fong Tin Miu, was originally a simple and kind man. He turned smarter and became good at solving crimes after having a fever. Like Wayne’s Detective Columbo, Fong Tin Miu was also ruthless and cruel after gaining intelligence.
Regarding the similarity between Bullet Brain and Mr. Winner, TVB producer Lee Tim Shing denied the plagiarism claims. He said, “I don’t know because I’ve never seen the latter.”
Wrong Props
Viewers also noticed that the props used in Bullet Brain were too modern to fit the 60s setting. For example, the hearse that the kidnappers stole was too modern. Ngo Ka Nin was observed smoking a new product that was only released this year. Viewers mocked that TVB’s drama could actually “travel through time”.
With the plot set to thicken when Natalie Tong’s (唐詩詠) character returns and Wayne’s effective portrayal of the complex main character, producer Lee Tim Sing believes the ratings for the show will only continue to rise. Regarding the criticism that Wayne is just playing Chai Kau from Rosy Business <巾幗梟雄> all over again, Producer Lee disagreed. He explained that unlike Chai Kau who was merely ambitious, Columbo is more selfish and wants to etch his name in history.
However, producer Lee agreed that the props used were too new. “It’s really difficult to find the same ones as those used in that era. We already tried to be as close to the original as we can. I hope the viewers will focus on the interesting plot instead.”
Source: Ming Pao
This article is written by Karen for JayneStars.com.
If people have not watch Mr Winner… here’s the Cantonese version, episode 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_R_p1MjBIk
This. Is. Beautiful.
Thank you so much.
sire ma looks so pretty!!!
Sire Ma looks like a young Angela Tong many years ago. When I first saw her scene, I thought she was Angela Tong Ying Ying.
First of all, Mr. Winner is actually worth watching and funny! THE TWO CANNOT BE COMPARED! Second of all, Bullet Brain is just plain boring.
I dont know the reports info that Bullet Brain is “copy” from Mr Winner from the character? But there no differences other then this drama sucks.
i agree with the article won can only play only the one role but lucky wayne
and they say ‘plagiarism is a form of flattery’…
but in this case.. it literally fell flat. tats about it.
watch half of epi 1 and snooze. everything about is sooo boring. overacting much.
how many more wayne series is tvb pushing out? with almost the same acting and style. maybe housewives enjoy them. i guess.
“how many more wayne series is tvb pushing out? with almost the same acting and style.” Agree absolutely. Wayne’s only different and good acting so far was Lau Sing in “No Regrets”. It was his best performance and well-deserved a TV King award.
Now into EP 7, this drama should be shot down earlier. The plot Boring as hell, I have literally fast forward every single episode, hoping for something unusual. Wayne Lai’s acting also sucks big time. I wanna puke at his repetitive acting especially of ‘chai kau’ of rosy business and every other drama. And when he tries to act cool, I get eerie goosebumps watching it. Please end this drama as quick as possible and air something worth watching again TVB. This drama sucks big time.
Episode 7 should be the ending. Columbo falls from the second floor. Dai Hei suicide with self inflicting shot to his head. Also the flashbacks…. Its going to be a field day of complaints at TVB Human Resource center in that episode.
We still have not see Natalie yet.
What a great drama, Lee Tim Sing!
Maybe this is Mr Lee’s grand plan to leave TVB. He wanted to go but they keep asking me to stay, and his response is to produce a show SO BAD, that TVB will think twice about extending his contract.
otherwise there is no other explanation on how this show can be SO BAD !!!
Poor Lee Tim Sing! He deserves a better ending relationship with all his beloved audience. People always praised him for his good work, such as Rosy Business, No Regrets, and many other oldies.
I also blame the scriptwriter. This is more confusing then Master of Play.
This drama is not confusing. In fact it’s straight-foward plain boring. Plus, Wayne looks like a senior citizen trying to act suave and young. Aaarrrgh… Yawn……. Not only is the plot slow and repetitive with the same old flashbacks, the dialogues are extremely corny and predictable too. Scenes of Wayne Lai seducing Sire Ma, what in the world are the producers thinking putting together such a hideous couple. And the forced crying, please, who in the freaking mind voted Wayne Lai as TV KING are truly dumb cos he has no acting talent at all. He has never improved his acting or do anything different all these years. Try watching him lick and snazz his tongue exuding a disgusting sound in every single one of his drama. So annoying and would u call these bad habits acting?
hahahaha, i totally agree with your comments about Wayne. He is trying too hard to act suave and young. It is unbearable.
Me, too. In fact, I also agree that Wayne has not improved his acting much. He is still the same old Wayne, but a bit slimmer. He can excel if he gets the right role with the right partner (someone who can lead him). He just cannot do much by himself.
They could have use some “A Fistful of Stance” element script incorporated this drama to improve the flow the episodes.
“A Fistful of Stance” was surely a good drama series. Kevin Cheng and Tavia Yeung did not do well in it, but all the others did well, especially Kenneth Ma ….. a big improvement.