I just finished this! Wow! I didn't think I would love it so much!
I was pretty reluctant to watch this at first because I'm such a huge fan of MatsuJun

but I absolutely
HATED Jerry Yan's version of Dao Ming Si (Domyoji) in 'Meteor Garden'!

so I was really worried that I might not like Jun's version of the character either

But I didn't know just how WRONG I was! As it turned out, I absolutely
LOVE him! He is my favorite character in here actually!

Jun's version of the character was every bit of the Domyoji I imagined! He portrayed the character perfectly!

now I love Jun even more, because he has proven to me what a great actor he is! I first became his fan in Gokusen, he was great in it, and I think he was only 18 when they filmed it! I have to say, he is one of the BEST japanese actors I've seen so far!
Anyway, in MG, Dao Ming Si was just utterly pigheaded! some found him really cute, but I just think he's utterly annoying and silly

I didn't think he deserved Shancai (Makino) either! you can say that he is one of my most HATED characters of all-time!

So it was really a HUGE shock for me when I watched Hana Yori Dango, that I found myself actually falling in love with the character! I'm a huge Shancai-Lei fan, so in MG, I've always been rooting for Shancai and Hua Ze Lei (Rui)!

Lei is also my favorite character in MG, he was abit different to Rui; in MG, he was more devoted to Shancai; he loves her a whole lot more, he loves her to the extent that he rejected his first love; Teng Tung Jing, he would go to any lengths to protect her, and even though he knows that Shancai may not ever love him the way she loves Dao Ming Si, he is still willing to stay by her side forever and watch over her at all costs, he always has hope that one day, he and Shancai can really be together! That is how devoted he is to her! Now come to think of it, it just seems like Shancai is his
REAL 'first love' and NOT Jing!
Lei and DMS have fought many times over Shancai, it seems that the very strong rivalry between them is never-ending, even though they're bestfriends, but they're also very tense love rivals
In MG, I am completely in love with Hua Ze Lei

because of his strong devotion to Shancai, his intelligence and his cuteness; he is the reason I became such a huge fan of Vic Chou!

But in HYD, I'm in love with Domyoji! To me, he is exactly how the character should be! And for the first time, I actually think that he and Makino really deserve each other!

But I have to admit that I was pretty disappointed with Oguri Shun's version of Rui, I guess it's because I love Lei so much

and yet Shun's version of the character in comparison just seemed abit...I dunno...he is cute I have to admit that, but compared to Lei, his character is just not deep enough...or it could also be because Lei in MG has sacrificed alot and has been hurt alot deeper, either way, I much prefer Lei...sorry Rui fans.
HYD and MG are so different, particularly the story; MG was longer but it had more depth to it, while HYD was short and sweet...I don't know which one I prefer, because I honestly love both of them very much! I prefer HYD because I love Domyoji and Makino. But on the other hand, I prefer MG because I love Hua Ze Lei and Shancai, and that very strong connection they have together
So I really can't choose which one I love the most, I guess I love both of them equally!
Sorry for the LONG post, I guess I got carried away!