High hopes, good work

Original article dated March 20, 2008 at media.daum.net
English translation by www.hancinema.net

Top stars’ next work anticipated

Top stars including Jeon Do-yeon, Choi Min-sik, Song Kang-ho, and Seol Kyeong-gu are emerging as saviors of Korean movies. From blockbuster hits to cinematographic movies, they aim to revitalize various genres this summer.

Jeon Do-yeon, who received the Cannes Film Festival award for Best Actress for “Secret Sunshine” is working hard to finish filming “A Fine Day”.

This movie is about an unemployed, single woman in her thirties who meets an ex-boyfriend and embarks on an adventure for a day.

She acts with Ha Jeong-woo, who is raising stock prices with this year’s best movie, “The Chaser”.

As soon as filming ends at the end of this month, they will go into the latter half of production.

Park Ji-eun, the marketing team leader of the production company said, “There isn’t a definite genre and plans for marketing, but it is certain that you can see this film in theaters in the later half of the year”.

Choi Min-sik is done filming “Himalaya-Where the Wind Stops”.

He showed his great acting in 2004 in “Old Boy”, and this is his first film in three years after “Crying Fist” in 2005.

When a Nepalese factory worker dies in an accident, Choi Min-sik’s character goes to a town in the Himalayas to give his family the remains. Director Jeon Soo-il has gone to many international film festivals with movies such as “The Bird Who Stops in the Air”.

Team leader Son Min-kyung of Show East, the producing company, revealed that, “Kim Hyeong-suk, who was the music director of “My Sassy Girl”, is also involved. It will be premiered in the first half of this year if impossible”.

Song Kang-ho, a very influential actor, will be appearing in the Western style blockbuster “The Good, the Bad, and the Weird”.

It is an action movie of men who are in lawless Manchuria in the 1930s during Japanese control. It is expected to be this year’s best movie, for it features other top stars such as Lee Byeong-Heon and Jeong Woo-seong.

Also,

Exclusive Film Tour

Source: KBS Global 

Actor Lee Byung-hun to Launch Film Tour in Japan

 

 

 

Top Hallyu star Lee Byung-hun is set to launch a large-scale film-screening tour in Japan.

 The actor, who successfully pulled off seven large-scale fan meetings in four major Japanese cities last year–Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka and Nagoya–will launch a two-month film-screening tour in 13 cities across Japan, including Hiroshima, Fukuoka and Hokkaido. The tour will begin on April 18 in Tokyo.

The tour, which will include a total of 47 film-screening events, will also feature backstage scenes from last year’s Arena Tour as well as the latest and yet unreleased videos for Lee’s fans. The actor is currently busy shooting a Hollywood film ‘I Come With The Rain’ with director Anh Hung Tran as well as ‘GI Joe,’ a film based on a popular animated series.

[GI Joe] Origin Appeal

Copied from source: thecelebritycafe.com, thanks to cacao-lovelbh.com for the highlight

“G.I. Joe” Film Reveals Characters; Aims for Cross-Generational Appeal

Written by: Heather Chin (March 23, 2008)

Paramount provides the first character-reveal for their “G.I. Joe” film, as well as insight into what directors and producers describe as an “origins story.”

In a photo released by Paramount Pictures, a black-clad ninja, whose face is obscured by a helmet resembling the sort of mesh mask worn by fencing students, grips a sword erect in his hands. He is Snake Eyes, the first character from Paramount’s upcoming film, G.I. Joe, to be revealed, according to USA Today.

Due to be released in August 2009, G.I. Joe is being groomed as the resurrection of a franchise, just as Transformers was last year. The sci-fi story about a team of elite military operatives battling an unsavory and villainous organization called Cobra, “G.I. Joe” (the team, not a single person) first appeared in the 1960s as a line of 12-inch figurines from Hasbro. In the 1980s, it evolved into smaller figurines and a successful TV series.

According to its director, Stephen Sommers, the movie will be an origins story, so one of the issues will be how to explain details in a way that will both induct new viewers while developing more background to interest existing fans.

Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura, who also worked on Transformers, says that this connection between past and present is a basic part of the broad appeal, and maintaining that diversity, particularly of race and gender, is important.

Samantha

Samantha Tiara by Lee Byung Hun

 – please click on thumbnail to enlarge image

An ST 3Way Bracelet? or a phone-strap? or a key-chain? Not sure if this is another new creation from BH or a limited-edition accessory, but coming soon April 30th, 2008.

[GBW] July gem

Copied from koreanfilm.org, credits to Darcy Paquet. Image courtesy bhjwlove.com

The year 2008 started with the industry still reeling from a very tough 2007. Nonetheless there was some good news early on, with two unexpected hits in January and February: Lim Soon-rye’s handball drama Forever the Moment, which sold over 4 million tickets, and the low-profile thriller The Chaser, which thanks to strong word of mouth was well on its way to selling even more tickets. At the same time, Night and Day, the eighth film by Hong Sangsoo, was invited to screen in competition at the Berlin International Film Festival, where it was roundly praised by some critics, and criticized as being too long by others. Bad news awaited the film on its commercial release in Korea, though, with shockingly low box office returns.

Looking ahead, the year will see new films from several established names. Kim Jee-woon returns with his ambitious spaghetti Western The Good, the Bad, the Weird, scheduled for a July release, and Park Chan-wook’s long-awaited vampire movie Thirst may be ready in time for December.

Hero 2007

Image copied from The HollywoodReporter.com

May not be all relevant to Byunghun, an updated index for fanclub’s purpose » posted & shared HERE

Aug 6, 2007 » 5,000 fans come out to see Kimura Takuya and cast for “HERO” press conference » original article » article at EverythingLBH

Aug 7, 2007 » ‘Hero’ starring Kimura Takuya, to change Japanese movie history » original article » EverythingLBH

Aug 31, 2007 » Time for heroes » press review at Japan Times

Sep 2, 2007 » HERO to be released in various Asian countries in October » original article » translated article at EverythingLBH

Sep 3, 2007 » HERO gets wide Asian release » original article » also at EverythingLBH

Sep 3, 2007 » Hero set to open in Japan Sept. 8th » highlight at Lunapark6 » also at EverythingLBH

Sep 5, 2007 » “Hero” Lee Byung Hun’s 5 minutes of Guest Appearence » original article » translated article at EverythingLBH

Sep 10, 2007 » “Hero” faces no challengers at Japanese B.O. » report at Variety Asia

Sep 11, 2007 » ‘Hero’ film adapatation a hit in Japan » report at Hollywood Reporter

Sep 26, 2007 » “HERO” still shows its strength » report at Tokyograph

Sep 28, 2007 » Japanese Heartthrobs to Attend PIFF » original article

Sep 28, 2007 » Four stars on the brink of global success » 12th PIFF article at Hollywood Reporter

The First Day

Thanks to the highlight by MS, a Paramount Pics’ update on GI Joe at The Earth Times

Byung Hun Lee Completes First Day of Filming as Storm Shadow in Paramount Pictures’ ‘G.I. JOE’

Posted : Tue, 18 Mar 2008 17:51:37 GMT
Author : Paramount Pictures Corporation
Category : PressRelease

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., March 18 /PRNewswire/ — On March 13, prominent Korean film and television actor Byung Hun Lee, one of Asia’s top stars, completed his first day of principal photography as Storm Shadow in Paramount Pictures’ action adventure “G.I. JOE.” He joins the ensemble cast that includes Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Christopher Eccleston, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Sienna Miller, Rachel Nichols, Ray Park, Said Taghmaoui, Channing Tatum, Marlon Wayans and Dennis Quaid.

As big in his native land as he is in other parts of Asia, including Japan, Lee started his acting career in 1991 with the Korean television drama “Asphalt, My Hometown.” Since then, he has appeared in several television dramas including “Tomorrow Love,” “Police,” “Son of Wind,” “White Knight 3.98,” “Happy Together,” “Beautiful Days” and “All In.”

Among his feature film credits are Kim Jee Woon’s “A Bittersweet Life,” Park Chan Wook’s “Three Extremes,” “Everybody has Secrets,” “Addiction,” “Bungee Jumping of their Own” and Park Chan Wook’s “Joint Security Area.” This year he will star in two films, Kim Jee Woon’s “The Good, the Bad, and the Weird” and Tran Anh Hung’s “I Come with the Rain.”

Storm Shadow, one of the most popular characters in the G.I. JOE universe, has a dark and complex history. He was trained by the same Ninja master as Snake Eyes, a member of the elite G.I. JOE team, but now fights against him.

Lost Planet colonies

Thanks to the highlight by cacao at lovelbh.com

LOST PLANET COLONIES – - coming soon – - May 29th, 2008!

http://www.capcom.co.jp/lostplanet/
http://www.capcom.co.jp/lostplanet/colonies/

Character Wayne by © Lee Byung Hun/BH Entertainment CO. LTD.

Bound for Hollywood

Hollywood’s remake of “Addicted” premieres in America

Hollywood has remade the Korean movie “Addicted” into a thriller, “Possession” and will be premiering nationwide on the 28th. This is the second remake of a Korean movie following “Lake House” starring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock, which remade “Il Mare”.

“Addicted”, starring Lee Byeong-Heon and Lee Mi-yeon, premiered in 2002. It was about two brothers who experienced an accident on the same day, and the mysterious love story that follows after only the younger brother wakes up and claims that their souls have changed. The basic outline of the Hollywood remake is the same. The main female character, originally Lee Mi-yeon, will be played by Sarah Michelle Gellar, who was in “Scooby Doo” and “The Grudge”.

Also, the role of the brother-in-law that earned Lee Byeong-Heon a lot of praise went to new actor Lee Pace. Simon Sandquist and Joel Bergvall are the directors.

Still Addicted

ADDICTED now POSSESSED.. as in a Hollywood remade..

March 10 – Korean article at sports.khan.co.kr

» » » » »

Credits: dramabeans.com, imdb.com, movies.ign.com

09-09-2007 : Sarah Michelle Gellar’s “Addicted”

A new wave

Original article at kr.news.yahoo.com
English translation by www.hancinema.net

Why Hollywood is into Korean actors (American captivated by the Korean Wave)

Lately, Hollywood movie producers are making an effort to employ Korean actors and Korean-American actors. Once captured by Japanese and Chinese actors, Hollywood is slowly being taken over by Korean actors.

Lee Byeong-Heon (G.I. Joe), Rain – Jeong Ji-Hoon (Speed Racer), Jeon Ji-hyeon (Blood the Last Vampire), Jamie Jung, and Park Joon-Hyung (Dragon Ball), not Japanese actors are playing supporting roles in movies that are remakes of Japanese animations. This fact means that in a culturally, Korea has surpassed Japan as a strong nation, and it is welcoming news.

There are two main reasons why Hollywood keeps sending love calls to Korean and Korean-American actors.

It is because the Korean Wave that has blown in Asia has influenced Hollywood as well. Another reason is that the image of Koreans has risen in America. The power of the Korean community has increased enough that America would be interested.

Best 10 of 2007

Thanks to kdramafanusa at soompi.com for the gist & highlight of the survey from SmaSTATION!!

SmaSTATION!!
Japanese choose 10 best Hanryu dramas

Participants: 1600 Men/Women in their 30’s.
Each participant chooses 3 favorite Korean dramas. First place gets 10 points, 2nd place gets 5 points, 3rd place gets 3 points.

RANK / DRAMA / POINTS / CAST

1. [Winter Sonata] – 6688
- Bae Yong-joon, Choi Ji-woo
2. [Jewel in the Palace] – 5746
- Lee Young-ae, Ji Jin-hee
3. [Stairway to Heaven] – 2932
- Kwon Sang-woo, Choi Ji-woo, Shin Hyun-joon
4. [Beautiful Days] – 1611
- Lee Byung-hun, Ryu-shi Won, Choi Ji-woo
5. [Hotelier] – 1464
- Kim Seung-woo, Bae Yong-joon, Song Yoon-ah, Song Hye-kyo
6. [Sad Love Story] – 1181
- Kwon Sang-woo, Kim Hee-sun, Yeon Jung-hoon
7. [All In] – 1099
- Lee Byung-hun, Song Hye-kyo
8. [Summer Scent] – 1060
- Song Seung-hun, Son Ye-jin