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July 27, 2009
Japan GI Joe
South Korean actor Lee Byung-hun greets fans during the Japan premiere of his latest film
"G.I. Joe:The Rise of Cobra" in Tokyo, Monday, July 27, 2009. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
South Korean actor Lee Byung-hun waves to fans during the Japan premiere of his latest film
"G.I. Joe:The Rise of Cobra" in Tokyo, Monday, July 27, 2009. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
South Korean actor Lee Byung-hun, left, and director Stephen Sommers pose for photographers
during the Japan premiere of their latest film "G.I. Joe:The Rise of Cobra" in Tokyo, Monday,
July 27, 2009. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
Source: News1 l News2 l News3
Captures at pandahunnie.wordpress.com
July 30, 2009
Stars from upcoming ‘G.I. Joe’ movie storm Seoul
A press conference to promote “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” was held yesterday morning at The Shilla hotel, central Seoul. Channing Tatum and Sienna Miller were at the event, as well as Korean actor Lee Byung-hun. producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura and director Stephen Sommers. The group arrived in Korea the day before via Gimpo International Airport.
Tatum and Miller star as Duke and the Baroness, respectively, while Lee plays the role of Storm Shadow, a member of the terrorist organization Cobra. The film is Lee’s Hollywood debut.
“I had watched [Lee’s performance] before in ‘A Bittersweet Life’ and I was very impressed,” Tatum said.
G.I. Joe is a Hollywood blockbuster about a fight between an elite military unit and the notorious Cobra. The film opens in theaters Aug. 6.
Source: INSIDE JoongAng Daily |
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July 30, 2009
Boy band members move from stage to the screen
Three members of Dong Bang Shin Gi, aka TVXQ, are moving into the acting world.
TV producer Samhwa Networks announced Tuesday that Max, the youngest of the five-member boy band, has been cast as the main man for a new drama series scheduled to air later this year. The English title of the program has not been decided yet, but in Korean it can be translated as “Paradise Ranch.”
Other group members will be busy in front of the camera as well. U-Know has been selected to play the lead role for MBC-TV’s “Heading to the Ground,” which airs September 9. Lead singer Hero will appear in SBS-TV’s short television movie “Heaven’s Postman” later this year.
Source: [url=http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2908079]INSIDE JoongAng Daily[/url |
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July 30, 2009
Green light given to 'Project Runway'
Cable network OnStyle announced Tuesday that it will launch a new season of “Project Runway Korea.” The program, which first aired last February, is based on the hit U.S. reality show “Project Runway,” hosted by Heidi Klum. Model Lee So-ra had taken on the role of Klum in the Korean program. It hasn’t been decided yet if Lee will continue hosting the show.
The second season of the Korean version of the show will air early next year.
By Lee Hae-joo via INSIDE JoongAng Daily |
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July 30, 2009
Versatile actress aims for next big hit
Koo Hye-sun speaks at the opening of her art exhibition “Tango,”
which was held July 1 to 7 at Gallery La Mer in Insa-dong, Seoul. [Yonhap]
Koo Hye-sun, the 26-year-old rising actress from the recent hit TV drama “Boys Over Flowers,” has embarked on a new career as a filmmaker. Her debut film, titled “The Madonna,” was screened at this year’s 13th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival, which ended last Sunday.
The film tells the story of a priest who assists in mercy killings of people seeking salvation. Jung Seung-hye, a famous movie producer who died from colon cancer in May, co-produced the film, which won an audience award at the 2009 Busan Asian Short Film Festival.
Koo now hopes to hit her stride as a director with the shooting of her first feature movie, tentatively named “Magic,” starting in November. She recently pursued other ventures, too. The versatile Koo published a novel titled “Tango” in April of this year and held her own art exhibition under the same name earlier this month.
In a recent interview with the JoongAng Ilbo, Koo talked about her foray into other areas aside from acting and also revealed her future plans. Following is the text of that interview, edited for space and clarity.
Koo appears here as Geum Jan-di in the hit drama
“Boys Over Flowers.” [KBS-TV]
Q. Your film deals with bold subject matter: a priest involved in mercy killings.
A. I just wanted to talk about a human’s choice, rather than discuss death or religion, through this film. I found the idea of having a priest as the main character interesting because religion is a domain laden with lots of taboos.
What made you venture into filmmaking?
It’s not like I dreamed of becoming a filmmaker since I was young. I’m interested in many things, including music, art and literature, and I thought I could incorporate all those things by making a film. I met Jung [the film’s producer] two years ago and wrote a dozen scripts for a feature to show her and get her comment on them. She rejected all of them and instead recommended that I start with a short film. So The Madonna came into being through three days of shooting while I was participating in the TV drama “Choigang Chilwoo” in June of last year.
You seem to have had a special relationship with Jung.
I’m welcomed wherever I go after my appearance in the series Boys Over Flowers due to its popularity, but the situation was quite different until two years ago. However, I still dared to go and see Jung to show her my scripts, which she accepted without any prejudice. There were also times when I thought of giving [filmmaking] up, but she encouraged me to continue. Publication of the novel Tango was also possible with the help of Jung ... I was told of Jung’s death on the phone when I tried to express my thanks to her after I received an audience award at the Busan Asian Short Film Festival. She was a great teacher for both my career and my life.
Tell us about your future plans.
Since I finished a script for my next film with winter as its setting and a cellist as the main character, I’m currently looking for actors for the main roles. It will be a low-budget film of around 400 to 500 million won ($322,656 to $403,375).
In addition, I plan to write music for the movie, so now I’m studying the [cello]. I know there is still prejudice against actors-cum-directors, but I ask audiences to view my work with an open mind. I’d like to make films that transcend generations. Koo Hye-sun, the actress, doesn’t fit the script I’ve written. One of my dreams as a director is to work with actress Jun Ji-hyun some day.
By Yang Sung-hee [[email protected]] via INSIDE JoongAng Daily |
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July 30, 2009
Hwang Shin-hye Returns to Acting After 5 Years
By Ines Min
Contributing Writer
Actress Hwang Shin-hye
Actress Hwang Shin-hye is to return to the entertainment scene in a new KBS drama after a five-year hiatus.
In her new role, she will play a woman who goes to study abroad after losing her first love to a friend. When she returns, transformed into a figure of power and beauty, trouble begins to stir. A fierce battle ensues betweenHwang and her friend, played by Oh Yeon-soo, over their love interest, played by Lee Jae-hwang.
Hwang has not been seen acting in five years, since the MBC Drama “Match Made in Heaven.” The 46-year-old actress will make her first appearance since 2004 on Sept. 14.
Credits: [email protected] via koreatimes.co.kr
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July 30, 2009
Moon Jung-hee Wins Award for Commitment to Salsa
Actress Moon Jung-hee (file photo)
Actress Moon Jung-hee is to receive an achievement award at the 2009 Asia Latin Culture Festival, her agency said Wednesday.
The organizing committee for the festival said Moon has had more than 10 years experience in salsa and made a great contribution to popularizing the dance.
Moon is an expert salsa dancer who won an international salsa competition.
The festival, which incorporates the seventh Korea Salsa Congress, is scheduled to open at the Aram Nuri Arts Center in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province on Aug. 1. Moon will receive the award at the opening ceremony and give a performance as well.
Credits: englishnews@chosun.com |
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July 30, 2009
Girls’ Generation Hits Album Gold Mine
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Girls' Generation, one of South Korea's top pop groups, showed its star power by selling more than 100,000 albums for three times in a row.
SM Entertainment, the girl group's agency, said "Genie," the second mini-album, which was released on June 29, reached 100,497 in sales as of Tuesday.
This means that the nine-member group set a unique record by selling more than 100,000 copies of "Girls' Generation,'' the group's first regular album, "Gee,'' the first mini-album, and "Genie.''
Girls' Generation has been shining in the local music market since its debut in 2007 with a string of success: "Into the World,'' "Girls' Generation," "Kissing You," "Baby Baby," and "Gee."
Its members include Yoona, Tiffany, Yuri, Hyoyeon, Sooyoung, Seohyun, Taeyeon, Jessica and Sunny.
Source: koreatimes.co.kr |
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July 14, 2009
Korea 'Means Tech, Food and TV Soaps'
The images that foreigners most associate with Korea are technology, food and TV soaps, a poll reveals. The Ministry of Knowledge Economy and the Presidential Council on Nation Branding on Monday released the result of a survey conducted among 4,214 people from 25 major trade partner countries between November 2008 and January 2009.
Other images that followed were the Korean people, economic development, the Korean War and North Korea's nuclear arms.
According to the survey by the Institute for Industrial Policy Studies, "technology" topped the list of words that foreigners thought of in relation to Korea. The survey was commissioned by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency Economy.
Russians, Canadians and Saudis were most in favor of Korea, while the Taiwanese, Indonesians and Hong Kong citizens had the least favorable image.
Not everyone thought highly of the quality of Korean products. Taking the average price of U.S., German and Japanese products at US$100, respondents priced Korean goods at $68.20, and Chinese goods at $49. But the value of Korean products has been improving, up from $66.30 in 2006.
The most popular information source about Korea for foreigners was the Internet with 18.7 percent, followed by news with 14.3 percent and TV dramas with 11.5 percent.
Credits: englishnews@chosun.com |
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July 30, 2009
Top Singers of 1990s Back in K-pop Scene
Singer Seo Taiji, who made a comeback last year after a long break, will hold the ETPFEST Festival in August again, while singer Yoon Sang has released a new album during his studies abroad. Adding to the 1990s mood in the K-pop scene are the songs of Roo'Ra and Noise being played on various TV and radio shows.
Singers whose popularity peaked in the 1990s have been making comebacks since last year. Roo'Ra, Noise, Cool and other dance groups that were all the rage in the 1990s all released new albums at the same time. Roo'Ra, whose members have reunited and released the group's ninth album after a 10-year hiatus, is back with the song "Going Going," which was written by Yoo Keon-hyung of Untitle. Moreover, the group members are still as good at dancing as ten years ago.
Noise, which initially comprised four members, has come back with a dance song as a three-member group. Two previous members, Han Sang-il and Hong Jong-ho, have been replaced with Kwon Jae-beom.
Cool, which reunited last year and released a new album, is back with its 11th album this time featuring the title song "Looking Again."
The return of "uncles" and "aunts" to the K-pop scene is viewed as a positive phenomenon, because it serves as a chance to diversify fans' age groups and music genres. In today's K-pop world, which is dominated by younger groups, the "older" singers serve as proof that their music will never become outdated because they have preserved their style and now collaborate with popular songwriters.
A person from a music record company said that the return of old stars is a meaningful endeavor and positive example, given that the average lifespan of singers these days is less than three years.
However, gaining as much popularity as back in the 1990s is a big challenge for old stars for of a number of reasons, including the digital conversion of the music market. It is a matter of fact that their songs will fail to take high spots on online music charts, which are the barometers of popularity these days. Cool's song "Looking Again" was ranked 24th on the Melon daily chart on July 28, while Roo'Ra's "Going Going" finished 28th. "Hail To Love" from Noise didn't make the cut to the top-50. On the same day, only Cool made the cut to the Doshirak daily chart, finishing 25th. Roo'Ra and Noise ranked below the 50th spot.
The popularity of the 1990s stars remains low in terms of record sales as well. None of the groups mentioned above managed to climb into the top-20 of the Hanteo daily chart on July 27. A person from a record planning agency said that Roo'Ra and Noise were new to the online charts, which are mostly determined by the young generation. He added that their music had failed to captivate the hearts of young people, who are more accustomed to the sophisticated music from Girls' Generation and 2NE1. The production staff of music shows even said that viewers' ratings plummet when "old stars" perform.
A CEO of another record planning agency said the 1990s stars should seek revenue not by trying to top music charts and selling as many album copies as possible but by performing at concerts and events. A person from the performance sector said Roo'Ra and Noise evoke nostalgia in people in their 30s and 40s, who like to attend concerts and can afford tickets. He added that their success depends on how often they perform at concerts targeting people in their 30s and 40s.
Source: KBS Global |
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July 30, 2009
G-Dragon of Big Bang to Release Solo Album
G-Dragon of today’s hottest idol group Big Bang has declared that he’ll go solo on his birthday, August 18th. The leader and producer of Big Bang has already written several songs for the group, but this is the first time that he is releasing a solo album. However, G-Dragon’s solo album does not mean that he’ll depar! t from the team. It’s just a side venture he’s been planning, just like Seung-ri and Dae-sung’s solo albums. Big Bang’s agency, YG Entertainment, says that G-Dragon will join the group for their performances in Japan.
The release date of August 18 is very meaningful for G-Dragon, for he is going to turn 21 on that day. G-Dragon is very excited to have his own album and a chance to show a side of him totally different from the one shown as a member of Big Bang. Meanwhile, fellow members Tae-yang and Dae-sung are planning to roll out their own solo albums later this year.
Source: KBS Global |
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Post Last Edit by katt at 5-8-2009 18:32
News Index Page 31
July 31, 2009: SS501 Launches 1st Asia Concert Tour
July 31: 'Haeundae' to conjure up 3 million soon
July 31: Korean stars take their shot at Hollywood
July 31: Actor Lee Byung-hun Debuts in Hollywood
July 30: 'A Million' Combines Action, Noir Drama
July 31: GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra stars step out to a raucous welcome in Tokyo,
but fans save their loudest cheers for Korean actor Lee Byung Hun
Aug 1: Park Han-byul Shows Off Toned Body in Horror Flick
Aug 2: TVXQ Feuds With SM Entertainment
Aug 3: S. Korean disaster movie draws more than 4.5 million viewers
Aug 3: Supporting Roles Stealing Spotlight
July 17: Shop till you drop in Myeong-dong
Aug 3: Girls' Generation Captivates Hearts of Russian Youth
Aug 3: TVXQ to Stick Together Despite Legal Dispute
Aug 3: Korean Actors Play Bigger Roles in Hollywood
Aug 3: Is TVXQ Headed for Breakup?
Aug 3: 'Haeundae' continues boxoffice reign
Aug 4: New horror special to chill summer nights
Aug 4: S. Korean disaster movie draws over 5 million viewers
Aug 4: SS501 Launches Asia Tour
Aug 4: Let Horror Take Control of Summer Heat
Aug 4: Synchronized Swimmer Inspires TV Character
Aug 5: S. Korea's 'Breathless' grabs more international honors
Aug 4: Ahn Jae-wook to Release a New Album in Korea and Japan
Aug 5: 2PM Advocates Children’s Human Rights |
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July 31, 2009
SS501 Launches 1st Asia Concert Tour
The latest hallyu star SS501 is going to launch their first Asia concert tour. Starting in Seoul on August 1st, the idol group is going to travel to Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, China, Malaysia, and Singapore for the next four months to hold a total of 15 shows.
The concept for the group’s latest tour is “persona.” True to the concert concept, each member is going to show his unique persona through individual performances. SS501 promises electrifying and unforgettable concerts. Their repertoire will include new adaptations of their old hits, and the first-ever releases of their newest songs and the music videos from their second regular album.
The first shows of the Asia tour will be held in the Olympic Park in Seoul on August 1st and 2nd.
Source: KBS Global |
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July 31, 2009
'Haeundae' to conjure up 3 million soon
By Hyun Ji-hyang
A movie, "Haeundae" looks set to reach the 3 million ticket mark just nine or 10 days since its release, according to news reports.
According to the Korean Film Council, "Haeundae," released on July 22, attracted more than 290,000 viewers on July 29 nationwide, with total attendance close to 2.88 million so far.
The reports said the movie would hit the 3 million ticket mark on Thursday or Friday. The record would be the quickest among Korean films released this year, while "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," reached the same mark in six days.
[email protected] l http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEW ... 31/200907310089.asp |
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July 31, 2009
Korean stars take their shot at Hollywood
Supporting roles seen as opening door to larger parts
By Park Soo-mee
Lee Byung-hun looks for his big break in "G.I. Joe." (Getty)
SEOUL -- At the Wednesday press conference of “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra," it wasn’t Channing Tatum or Sienna Miller that caught the eyes of many Japanese fans who anxiously waited outside the hotel lobby to get a glimpse of their star. Instead, they all flew in to see the Korean actor Lee Byung-hun ("The Good, the Bad, the Weird"), who plays a supporting role in his first Hollywood live action.
For Paramount Pictures, the film’s distributor, this was a promising sign -- one that suggests the potential benefit of casting an Asian superstar to attract regional ticket buyers when marketing a quintessentially American film.
The strategy seems to be on the rise with major Hollywood productions that once had limited roles for Asian actors. Aside from Lee, who plays the film's charismatic Storm Shadow, other Korean actors are also participating in the trend.
After tasting bitterness with the boxoffice flop of his Hollywood debut “Speed Racer,” Korean singer-actor Rain is aiming to revamp his reputation through “Ninja Assassin,” another action flick produced by the Wachowski Brothers. Daniel Henney, a Korean-American actor with a strong Asian fan-base, starred as Agent Zero in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.” Gianna Jun (or Jun Ji-hyun), an Asian darling from a hit romantic comedy “My Sassy Girl,” also known for its Hollywood remake, recently starred in a pan-Asian English-language film “Blood: The Last Vampire,” which many see it as Jun’s prelude to Hollywood debut.
The trend largely owes to a phenomenon dubbed among the locals as hallyu, or a Korean wave, in which Korean TV dramas and movies became such a hit throughout Asia that the country’s entertainment scene suddenly became a new tourist attraction.
In the film circle, the idea was quickly picked up through organized meetings like Asia Pacific Actors Network during the annual Pusan International Film Festival, which was originally started in 2007 by prominent Korean actors like Ahn Sung-ki and Kang Soo-yeon, and quickly turned into a venue that encourages Asian actors to make inroads into Hollywood.
“For Hollywood, it [hallyu] is a sign that Korean actors hold major ticket power in Asia,” said Choi Min-soo, the head of marketing at CJ Entertainment, the importer of “G.I. Joe.” “It’s also a sign that the Asian market is no longer just ‘one of them.'”
In marketing a Hollywood film featuring Korean celebrities, many distributors and importers are now developing a regional strategy focusing on local stars.
In “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” the 20th Century Fox Korea prepared a separate poster image featuring Daniel Henney next to Hugh Jackman and a few other leads in the film; Henney’s character is not included in the North American version.
Fox Korea has also produced a separate trailer which has added clips of the Korean-American actor on top of the international version. “It was simply more helpful to market a film [featuring a Korean celebrity],” says Mark Kim at 20th Century Fox Korea. “We do arrange a promotion tour of the cast or a junket before a film releases, but it’s different having the actor and their agent around in the country in terms of access.”
For Korean actors, though, common dilemma exists when they try to “make it abroad.”
Language is an obvious barrier. But for many, compromising their regional star power to play a relatively minor role in a Hollywood film often takes courage and commitment. The pressure on the local actors is real and often immediate, given that Korean audiences are particularly sensitive about how the international market sees their idols.
Local Internet users, for example, questioned the significance of Lee’s role in his first Hollywood debut by making a fuss about the original poster for “G.I. Joe” which showed the face of Lee over a white mask. CJ explained that the company deliberately hid the actor’s face “to tease,” and later changed it with a different version fully showing Lee’s face.
In a country where national pride is often high, many Korean actors also worry about losing their local fans by choosing roles that misrepresent their country or present wrong ethnic stereotypes.
Kim Yun-jin, a Korean-American actress from the ABC series “Lost,” had made it clear in an interview with a Korean press that she did not want to start her Hollywood career through a geisha’s role, recalling her casting offer from “Memoirs of a Geisha.”
“It depends on how you approach it,” said Charles Kim, a producer for October Pictures, a production company based in Hong Kong, Beijing and Seoul. “Forget the amount of time the character appears on screen. The question is whether their role will have any impact in creating a strong impression of the actor.”
Despite some risks in dampening their reputation, many in the industry agree that actors like Henney and Lee have made the right move for a smooth landing in Hollywood through supporting roles.
On the flip side, companies share mixed views about whether the casting of Asian celebrities will have any direct impact on local boxoffice. There’s no real way of proving it.
Although various factors determine a film’s success or failure, the local boxoffice of “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” didn’t do as good as its previous film. “Blood: The Last Vampire,” failed miserably in the local boxoffice as well. It's now is up to the score of “G.I. Joe,” which opens here Thursday.
Source: hollywoodreporter.com |
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July 31, 2009
Actor Lee Byung-hun Debuts in Hollywood
Actor Lee Byung-hun, who is almost 40, is a seasoned actor in the Korean film industry. He debuted in 1992 in the TV drama "Tomorrow Love." In the 1999 movie "The Harmonium In My Memory" Lee played a teacher who captivated the heart of a young woman from a rural area. And in the 2000 hit "Joint Security Area," he perfectly portrayed a South Korean soldier who pleads for help when he steps on a mine.
The turning point in Lee's life came in 2005 with director Kim Ji-woon's movie "A Bittersweet Life." Lee easily portrayed difficult action scenes and impressed viewers with his acting talent.
In the 2006 movie "Once In A Summer" Lee appeared opposite Su Ae, and last year he stunned everyone by playing a gangster in "The Good, The Bad, The Weird."
Lee has tried diverse roles so far, joiningg the ranks of A-list actors. And he is not picky when it comes to genre, whether it is a thriller, an action movie or a melodrama. This time, Lee is poised to make his name in Hollywood through Stephen Sommers' movie "G.I.Joe: The Rise of Cobra."
At a recent news conference in Seoul, Lee shared his thoughts about his Hollywood debut. He said, "My manager showed me the script of 'G.I.Joe' and said that I had to take this role. To be honest, I didn't find the script interesting. So my manager's words didn't sound that persuasive to me. It's a huge project, but I doubted I could do it. I didn't feel the need to try it, while feeling scared."
Lee sought advice from directors Kim Ji-woon and Park Chan-wook, who encouraged him to take the role. But Lee was still hesitant. "The most difficult part was overcoming my own doubts. That's what we call 'mind control.' I was afraid that people who like my acting would never approve of my cartoon-like character," said Lee.
While deliberating, Lee remembered how he came to love movies in the first place. He said he still remembered how happy he was when he first went to the theater at age 4 and saw a sci-fi movie. "My favorite movie was a sci-fi movie. So I asked myself what kept me from filming such a movie in Hollywood. That's how I was able to film it with pleasure," said Lee.
Lee says he found Hollywood to be a completely new world to him, a place where capitalism and rationalism rule. Shoots were never delayed because costumes and expensive accessories were always at hand, and the cast was provided with snacks on time. If any of the actors wanted to have hamburgers, hamburger cars were brought to the filming set. Everything was perfect. He said, "The director's authority didn't seem to be that powerful against the amount of money invested in the production. Even the production crew's instructions are reflected."
Lee's English pronunciation in the movie is quite impressive, though he says he only learned English for two years as a teenager. Some even raised suspicions about the authenticity of his voice in the movie, because it sounds unusual. Lee said, "It was good to hear that. My voice sounds unfamiliar even to me. I heard that our vocal chords work differently with different languages. Few people have heard me speak English so far."
The actor added that he was lucky because he didn't have to say many lines. Lee usually reads the script twice before he practices his lines on the set. But this time he memorized his part by heart with the utmost effort. "Making bloopers by saying the wrong lines is not professional. That's why I memorized everything by heart. It was difficult. Sometimes the director asked me to accentuate certain words. That was very confusing. I realized time and again what a difficult task it was," recalled Lee.
The portrayal of feelings was another challenge. Playing Storm Shadow, which is a very popular cartoon character, presented numerous challenges. Lee said the director liked it a lot when he made his eyes look exaggerated or when he portrayed action scenes. "I thought the director would never want me to act the way I had acted in all of my previous productions. That's why I did things accordingly. To American viewers, my acting might look natural, but to my Asian fans it might look too 'cartoonish'," said Lee.
Lee said, "It takes more than one time to succeeed. But I'm satisfied with my first Hollywood role. It was a chance to diversify my profile." Lee says it is encouraging to see several Korean actors and actresses making forays in Hollywood. But he added that it is not easy to overcome racial and language barriers and achieve a top status. "Korean actors tend to lead isolated lives. But our lifestyle is reflected in our attitude. As a result, we become narrow-minded instead of opening up to the outside world. We must get rid of that kind of attitude. We must open up and practice speaking foreign languages," said Lee.
"I always wanted to try my skills at filmmaking. But at the same time I want to continue doing what I am good at. I would try to direct a movie when I don't feel ashamed of my skills," said Lee in conclusion.
Source: KBS Global |
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July 30, 2009
'A Million' Combines Action, Noir Drama
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
In the dramatic thriller "A Million," participants of a reality TV show
must literally survive to win $1 million. / Courtesy of Sidus FNH
In "A Million," Joe Mino offers something brilliantly noir and dramatically stimulating that goes beyond the often scathing or superficial moral laundering that an action-packed thriller tries to rub into the narrative.
How far would one go to win $1 million? In an attempt to answer the question, the movie invites viewers to join its star cast through the lush wilderness of Perth, Australia, an inland island encircled by sea, desert, jungle and river.
The director of "Les Formidables" offers a story about a reality TV show gone awry ― or rather, just as planned in all its hardboiled horror. As expected, it begins with some caricatured characters falling victim to money lust and displaying savage instincts for survival.
Compared to its computer graphics-ridden competitors in the summer box office, the mid-budget film relies less on the art of spectacle. It grips the audience with the classic premise of a tightly knit script, seamless acting ― and toiling ― and layers of edgy, involving drama. "A Million" is not without its anticlimactic moments and could have spun stronger, more atmospheric visuals in the exotic locale but it merits comparison to Bong Joon-ho's visionary films.
The film is unique in that it does not explore a "Lord of the Flies"-style awakening of basic instincts in the not-so-warm bosom of Mother Nature. Rather it suggests that one could take an urbanite out of the city but not the urban apathy out of the urbanite ― how sense of responsibility often becomes diffused among bystanders of violence.
Eight lucky ― and later not so lucky ― people from different walks of life are chosen in a draw to take part in a sensational televised game program: apathetic documentary filmmaker Gi-tae (played by the talented Park Hae-il); Yu-jin, who makes a living on a string of part-time jobs (the high-in-demand Synn Mina); hot-tempered marine-turned-janitor Cheol-heui ("Haeundae" star Lee Min-ki); timid law student Ji-eun ("Chaw" heroine Jung Yu-mi); a slick financial analyst (Lee Chun-hee); a cutthroat swimming athlete (Yu Na-mi); aspiring actress-cum-bargirl Bo-yeong (Go Eun-a); and jobless glutton Seung-ho (Kim Hak-seon).
Everyone has come to Perth for one thing, to win a million bucks. Soon, however, they discover that the reality TV program's producer Jang (charismatic screen personality Park Heui-soon) really meant it when he said it was a survival game, and the kooky-eyed man makes no secret of it
Participants realize that the omnipresent cameras are for more than just live online streaming ― it's more like a Big Brother method to keep an eye on them at all times in the secluded venue (though here the movie does not go off on a tangent to explore the effects of broadcasting murder like the cyber killer movie "Untraceable"). But no matter how hard they try to break the rules, they cannot call the game quits.
Characters propel "A Million." Joe offers a roster of the most obviously contemptible, the worthiness of sympathy and even the forgettable. But the personalities here often enter a murky gray zone when forced to fight with their own selves under pressing situations. It is noir to the core, but not misanthropic in its deeper exploration of the human thirst for redemption and revenge, and moreover provides for some thrilling entertainment.
In theaters Aug. 6. Distributed by Sidus FNH.
Credits: hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr |
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July 31, 2009
not Just your Average Joe
GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra stars step out to a raucous welcome in Tokyo, but fans save their loudest cheers for Korean actor Lee Byung Hun
By Crystal Chan
PICTURE: AP
He plays only a secondary role in the upcoming action blockbuster GI Joe: The Rise Of Cobra.
But Korean actor Lee Byung Hun certainly stole the show at the movie's world premiere in Tokyo on Monday night.
As soon as the convoy of cars transporting the show's hot stars arrived at LaLaport shopping mall in Toyosu district, fans began screaming. The screams grew louder when Byung Hun stepped onto the red carpet. Fans continued screaming out his name when he went up on the stage.
Even though it was pouring, the eager fans remained undaunted, whipping out their cameras to take pictures of him. Ironically, they were noticeably less boisterous when the show's leads, Hollywood actors Channing Tatum and Sienna Miller, appeared.
Singaporeans will probably best remember Byung Hun, 39, for his roles in Korean movies like Joint Security Area and A Bittersweet Life.
In his first Hollywood foray - about an elite military unit of operatives who go on a mission to dismantle a nefarious organisation headed by a Scottish arms dealer - Byung Hun plays villain ninja Storm Shadow.
Onscreen villain he might have been, but he certainly charmed the crowd offscreen with his fluent English and Mandarin and sense of humour.
Waving to the fans, he said: 'I appreciate that all of you are here despite the rain.'
Of his Hollywood debut, Byung Hun said during the press conference in Tokyo's Ritz-Carlton Hotel: 'This is different, because the genre and the character are different. As you know, (GI Joe) is based on a cartoon and I've never done that (starring in such a movie) before. 'And everything is so different, especially the language, culture and people. So I had a hard time, a little bit, at first.'
As for his popularity in Japan, it's probably easy to understand why. Korean dramas have been huge in Japan since Winter Sonata became a big hit there in 2004.
Earlier this year, when Byung Hun filmed the Korean drama IRIS in Akita Prefecture, as many as 2,500 fans visited the filming locations every day.
Most of the promotional material in Japan for the GI Joe movie focused on him instead of his more famous co-stars.
INTENSE
When asked why he cast a Korean actor instead of the stereotypical gongfu-fighting Chinese actor for the role of Storm Shadow, director Stephen Sommers (Van Helsing, The Mummy) said he was simply drawn to Byung Hun's intensity.
Sommers said: 'As soon as I saw him, I thought, 'Oh, God. He projects so much in his eyes'.
'There's something about this guy that I fell in love with and I didn't consider anybody else.'
Even Byung Hun's co-stars were quick to latch on to his popularity in Asia. Just before the movie was screened, comedian Marlon Wayans - who plays Tatum's soldier sidekick Ripcord - told the audience jokingly: 'I'm best friends with Byung Hun.'
Byung Hun said that despite the language and cultural differences with his US and British co-stars, he instantly bonded with them.
He said: 'As time went by, I grew close to them. I was so comfortable and the character is so nice.'
The biggest challenge for him turned out to be getting in shape for the role.
In one battle scene towards the end of the movie, the buff heartthrob suddenly whips off his white costume to display his gleaming, tanned and ridiculously ripped torso - keep your eyes peeled for his rock-hard six-pack, girls - while crossing swords with Ray Park, who plays good ninja Snake Eyes.
Byung Hun said: 'I had to work out so hard and I never drank - not even one bottle of beer. I had to be on a diet. When I was in Los Angeles, I wasn't an actor. I was like a bodybuilder.'
For all that hard work, he admitted wishing he could have had more screen time shirtless. He said jokingly: 'I hope there'll be more of the last fight in Asian DVDs.'
Byung Hun was not the only one who had to shape up to fit into his role.
Actresses Miller, 28, who plays femme fatale Baroness, and Rachel Nichols, 29, who plays sexy sharpshooter Scarlett, also underwent rigorous physical training for their roles.
Nichols did six weeks of fight training to play a counter-intelligence specialist and martial artist in GI Joe's team.
Likewise, Miller put on five pounds of muscle on her slender frame after a four-month-long fitness and training programme. She said, smiling: 'To play a character like this, you have to be pretty good at fighting. I can do mixed martial arts so don't mess with me.'
What was harder, she revealed, was putting on the Baroness' uniform - a skin-tight black leather catsuit - saying she needed 'a lot of talcum powder and manpower'.
As for going from blonde to brunette, Miller said she wore a wig.
Filming a summer blockbuster is a change in direction for the British actress who is known more for her indie fare like Factory Girl and Layer Cake. Of the difference, she said: 'To be honest, from having done more arthouse movies and not thinking that this (mainstream movies) was my genre, I've now completely changed my mind.
SEQUEL ANYONE?
'I love the movie so much and I've made some great, great friends.'
Miller went on to say she hoped there will be a GI Joe 2 and 3.
Feeling a bit more of a personal link to his character was Tatum, who plays heroic protagonist Duke.
The 29-year-old gushed about how it was fascinating to star in the movie after being a loyal follower of the cartoon during his childhood.
He said: 'The best thing to me is the fantasy of living out a childhood dream. 'To look over and see Snake Eyes next to me was one of the highlights of my life.'
Tatum, who recently got hitched to his Step Up co-star Jenna Dewan, was also inundated with questions about his recent nuptials.
To which he demurred: 'You know, I don't really want to share that stuff. It's really personal to me and it's really special and I'd kind of like to keep it in my family. 'But it was just the best day of my life and I appreciate that you care. Thank you.'
Tatum's resume includes working opposite big names like Samuel L Jackson and Johnny Depp, but this is the first time he is headlining a summer blockbuster.
He will next be seen in Dear John, a romantic drama opposite Mamma Mia! actress Amanda Seyfried.
When one journalist told Tatum that a New York Times reviewer compared him to a young Marlon Brando, he was surprised.
Tatum said: 'A lot of people think that actors are just doing a job. We really want you guys to enjoy what we're doing. Whether it has commercial appeal or critical acclaim, we put our hearts into every single thing.'
As for his own heroes, he added: 'Paul Newman and Robert Redford have always been my favourites.'
REPORTING FROM TOKYO via Singapore New Paper |
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August 2, 2009
TVXQ Feuds With SM Entertainment
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
Members of TVXQ from left, Xiah, Micky, Hero, Max and U-Know
/ Korea Times File
Three of the five members of K-pop group TVXQ are creating a stir by taking legal action against their management agency. Hero, Micky and Xiah submitted Friday to the Seoul Central District Court an application for provisional disposition to terminate the validity of their contract with SM Entertainment, Yonhap News reported Saturday. Max and U-Know did not take part in the legal action.
"We confirmed that the three members' request for provisional disposition was submitted on the 31st,'' a staff member of SM Entertainment told Yonhap News. "We are very surprised and regretful but are trying our best to understand the situation.''
Reports of dissension started circulating about a month ago. The three members were said to have conflicting interests with SM regarding their private business endeavors in the makeup industry. Max and U-Know, meanwhile, had been busy pursuing individual acting careers in TV soaps in addition to their work with the group.
This raised concern among fans about the group's potential break up. "This is a typical problem concerning contracts in the entertainment industry and I cannot provide further details," the lawyer in charge of the case, identified as Im, was quoted as telling Yonhap News.
One source related to the entertainment business said that typically, conflicts of this nature are difficult to mend. "The five members of TVXQ have been split into two groups, and the agency that fostered them is upset, and normally it's difficult to reconcile."
But despite rumors of disbandment, SM Entertainment maintains that the band, at the height of its career, should continue performing, saying "TVXQ is a group that represents Asia and we believe that their career should continue. We hope to figure things out soon.''
The five singers appeared all together, as planned, at Japan's A-Nation concert Saturday. They are also expected to perform Thursday at a fireworks festival in Tokyo and at SM Entertainment's SM Town Live 2009 Concert, Aug. 16 in Seoul.
TVXQ debuted in 2004 with the album "Hug" and shot to stardom in Korea, Japan and other parts of Asia. Their subsequent albums were well received and their fourth album, "Mirotic," released last year, sold 500,000 copies here despite sluggishness in the Korean record market.
In Japan, the group has topped the Oricon daily singles chart six times and recently gave a concert at the Tokyo Dome, which is regarded as a top-tier venue. They also have staunch fan bases in China, Taiwan and Thailand.
Credits: hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr |
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August 3, 2009
S. Korean disaster movie draws more than 4.5 million viewers
SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- Ticket sales for the South Korean disaster movie "Haeundae" topped 4.5 million over the weekend, drawing the largest number of viewers in the shortest time period among this year's local releases, the Korean Film Council said Monday.
The big-budget action, portraying a fictional tsunami that hits a popular beach in the Korean port city of Busan, drew nearly 4.55 million viewers as of Sunday, the film's 12th day of screening, the state-run film institute said.
Currently playing at some 870 theaters nationwide, "Haeundae" continues to top the local box office, followed by ski-jumping film "Take Off" and Disney-Pixar's first 3D digital movie, "Up," which opened July 29.
"Haeundae," directed by Yoon Je-kyoon, is a local take on the classic Hollywood disaster formula, starring several big names including Seol Gyung-gu, Ha Ji-won, Park Joong-hoon and Eom Jung-wha.
South Korean films have been holding up relatively well among a deluge of Hollywood blockbusters this summer as they venture into genres normally dominated by U.S. films. South Korean movies saw their worst sales figures in eight years in 2008, falling by more than 20 percent from the previous year.
Credits: [email protected] via yonhapnews.co.kr |
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