[GBW] Worthy Watch

May 28, 2008

Variety Praises The Good, the Bad, the Weird » read the Variety review here «

KIM Jee-woon’s highly anticipated ‘oriental western’, The Good, the Bad, the Weird, had its world premiere at the 61st Cannes film festival this month where it was given a Gala Screening at a packed 2400 seat theater. Following the end credits, director KIM and stars SONG Kang-ho, JUNG Woo-sung and LEE Byung-hun received a 10-minute standing ovation from the enraptured audience.

In the days following, US entertainment trade magazine Variety, offered the first review of the film in the mainstream press, beginning with a glowing intro: “East meets West meets East again, with palate-tingling results.” Writer Derek Elley praised the film, comparing it to Sergio Leone’s classic, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly for its “striking widescreen visuals” but adding that it is a “much more intense, visceral, full-contact experience than Leone’s — and, as such, 100% Korean.”

Elley highlights the film’s bracing pace, impressive set-pieces, chemistry of the three star leads, wild score, and a “jaw-dropping” chase scene through the desert flatlands.

[GBW] Charm of the Cowboys

Gratitude to kdramafanusa for the NEWSIS article translated by Hancinema.net with image from cinemacafe, thanks to ylin-EverythingLBH, soompi.com

May 25, 2008

Korean cowboy “The Good, the Bad, the Weird” charms at Cannes

“The Good, the Bad, the Weird” had a good reception at Cannes Film Festival. It is a movie about men on a chase about a treasure map and takes place in the 1930s, in the Japanese colony of Manchuria.

It was first revealed through a press conference on the 24th. On the same day, executive chairman of the Cannes Film Festival Thierry Fremaux volunteered to host the conference. Sean Penn, Natalie Portman, and other Hollywood stars attended.

Director Kim Ji-woon said, “It’s great to have a warm welcome in a foreign place. We filmed for nine months going back and forth from Korea to China. The actors and staff went through a lot with hot temperatures in the Gobi Desert in China.

Director Kim said that the movie showing in Cannes and the movie premiering in Korea had different endings. “The Korean version has more humor and action, and it is more entertaining so the whole family can enjoy it”.

He said that he got a lot of his inspiration from Director Clint Eastwood’s 1992 movie “Unforgiven”. He said, “I wasn’t particularly aiming to make the Western genre popular in Asia. It’s enough that I can revive the Manchurian Western genre in Korea”.

Lee Byeong-Heon said, “I wondered if I should get some information while watching a Western movie, but I didn’t because I thought I would copy the character exactly. It’s true that it was overwhelming to make a creative evil character that was hard to express. But it was a chance for me to have a new experience. Although this character is evil and willing to risk his life to become the best, he is an introvert and focuses on the small details. I focused on portraying a character that wasn’t greedy for money but was willing to kill someone because of fame, someone with depth”.

Jeong Woo-seong met with Korea’s press on the 23rd and said, “I’m glad that the movie first showed at Cannes Film Festival. I think I can proudly step on the red carpet because of the good reviews from foreign movie critics”.

He also said, “I hope for more opportunities to film movies with a great cast, such as Lee Byeong-Heon and Song Kang-ho. It’s hard to meet actors with ability, but if those actors want to come together, there needs to be a great scenario. In that sense, “The Good, the Bad, the Weird” has all these characteristics”.

Song Kang-ho couldn’t hide his proud look as he said, “I’m glad that I was again invited to the world’s best film festival following last year for “Secret Sunshine”. The Korean movie industry seems inactive, but I hope that this is a way to advertise the industry so it may find its pride once again. I feel that this is the first movie in a while that the whole family can enjoy. I’m proud that I can show my kids how hard I worked to shoot this film”.

As much as it is a Western, it has dangerous scenes. Jeong Woo-seong said, “There was a time I kept filming without knowing my arm was broken. The scene with the horse was dangerous, for they were race horses”.

Song Kang-ho remembered running to catch the train on a hill with rarefied air. “I breathed in air with a portable oxygen tank, ran, breathed, and then ran. It was harder than I thought to run for it 2000 meters above sea level”.

There were hardships while filming for three months in China. Still, Song Kang-ho said, “There were some communication problems, but on resting days, we played soccer and the losing team paid for dinner. We got along”.

[Update] New Artist View

Thanks to the highlight by ylin from article at daum.net and translation of JOFC announcement by Sung-ja at EverythingLBH, soompi.com

From JOFC Information:

Note. The resignation of Mr. Song Wanmo and the establishment of his new Company [5/28]

Hello LBH fans,

Mr. Song Wanmo (previously VP of BH Entertainment) who had been producing and supporting LBH’s activities for many years left the company recently.

Now he has made his new step as the president of his newly established company “Artist View” the agent specializing to tie Korea and Japanese culture in more various fields.

But of course, there is no change that he continues to work mainly for LBH’s activities in Japan as before and he keeps assuming his important roll to tie LBH and his fans.

Being in the position as an agent, he will not appear to the front of fans anymore, but he will be as close to LBH as ever.

Mr. Song left the message to thank you very much and asking your steady support to LBH as ever.

[Cannes2008] GBW hope floats

Thanks to the highlight by kdramafanusa at GBW-soompi.com for article at Chosun

East-Meets-Western Offers Hope for Korean Film Recovery

A poster for the film ‘The Good, the Bad, the Weird.’

Invited to the Out of Competition section of the 61st International Cannes Film Festival, the Korean movie “The Good, the Bad, the Weird” screened at the Grand Theater Lumiere on Saturday (local time), giving the world its first glimpse at the potential of a bold new genre — the Korean Western.

Warmly received, a reporter from U.S. film industry magazine Variety wondered why a U.S. distributor had yet to be decided for the movie, while Hollywood actor and director Mel Gibson’s Icon Entertainment International snapped up the U.K. distribution rights.

“While In Competition puts an emphasis on the spirit of the times, Out of Competition can be considered the ‘flower’ of the festival in terms of popular films,” the film’s director Kim Jee-woon said at a press conference at the Palais de Festival earlier Saturday. “I think the invitation of my movie proves that Cannes recognizes the new experiments being made in Korean commercial cinema.”

The Korean movie was in good company in the Out of Competition section, screening alongside Steven Spielberg’s “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”, DreamWorks Animation’s “Kung Fu Panda”, and Woody Allen’s “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”, suggesting that Korean adventure and comedy movies may have finally overcome the crisis of confidence they have suffered.

From left, director Kim Jee-woon and actors Jung Woo-sung, Lee Byung-hun and Song Kang-ho pose as they arrive for the screening of their film ‘The Good, the Bad, the Weird’ at the 61st International Cannes Film Festival on Saturday in Cannes. /AFP

Reminiscent of Sergio Leone’s 1966 classic “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” “The Good, the Bad, the Weird” follows three men hounding each other across the Manchurian desert in the 1930s in pursuit of a treasure map. It has drawn attention since production started as it stars three of Korea’s top actors — Song Kang-ho (the Weird), Lee Byung-hun (the Bad), and Jung Woo-sung (the Good).

[Cannes2008] Charming men of GBW

Thanks to ylin & kdramafanusa at EverythingLBH, soompi.com for these wonderful Cannes captures from GettyImages, Reuters, StarNews

CANNES FILM FESTIVAL 2008 – 24 May 2008

 

South Korean director Kim Jee-woon (Right) poses with cast members from (L-2nd R) Song Kang-ho, Lee Byung-hun and Jung Woo-sung during a photocall for the film “The Good, The Bad, The Weird” at the 61st Cannes Film Festival May 24, 2008. REUTERS/Vincent Kessler (FRANCE)

 

From Prague to Cannes

Thanks to the highlight by Eldri and gist by Janice at EverythingLBH, soompi.com from article at star.moneytoday.co.kr

LBH to star in “G.I. Joe” Sequel; arriving in Cannes on May 23

BH will arrive in Cannes on May 23 at 11:00 p.m. on Lufthansa Airline;
Attends GBW gala screening on May 24th; to fly back to the G I Joe Filming set in Prague early morning on May 25th. (ref: BH Entertainment)

LBH to star in ‘G.I. Joe ‘ Sequels; will arrive in Cannes on May 23

On May 22, BH Entertainment announced that there might be a possibility for LBH to star in G.I. Joe sequels with Hollywood Paramount Ent.

[Magazine] VOGUE June 2008

Thanks to Fiona & EverythingLBH for the wonderful highlight of the clip with utmost gratitude to PlanetBH0712 for the awesome magazine captures.

Watch the behind-the-scene clip at VOGUE TV

http://www.vogue.co.kr/inmagazine/index.asp?menu=06&ins_no=397

[IRIS] A Cannes follow-up

Thanks to Janice at EverythingLBH-soompi.com for translated gist from article at media.daum.net

Director Kang Je Gyu was spotted in Cannes on May 20. The well-known, high-profile helmer has been out of sight since his blockbuster movie Taegukgi in 2004, concentrating on his venture in a Hollywood project since 2006.

A reporter has had a chance to catch up with Kang in Cannes for the following interview. Kang said he is under a lot of pressure these days directing his 600 billion won Hollywood Sci-fi debut as well as busy preparing for the big scale 200 billion won IRIS drama.

He mentioned that one of his main purposes in Cannes is to promote the upcoming 200 billion won drama IRIS, a spy drama. They have planned this drama for a year just to wait and cast mega star LBH. There will also be 15 other actors in the drama.

[GBW] CJ Entertainment showcase

Thanks to Janice at EverythingLBH-soompi.com for the gist & highlight from article at news.empas.com

Cannes is shakened by Korean Alain Delon upcoming arrival!

Due to the popularity of “The Good, The Bad, the Weird” and LBH, CJ Entertainment booth has attracted many visitors from USA, Asia and the European countries. Some French ladies are eager to buy and own a copy of LBH posters; Many of them felt that BH resembles their very own Alain Delon such as his facial feature and muscle sth like that.

CJ released the poster on May 18 and they were gone instantly on the same day. According to a CJ spokeperson, before GBW was annouced, many already shown great interest on LBH. Even at this time, many Japanese oversea students studying in Europe would also flock to Cannes just to catch a glimspe of LBH in person.

CJ entertainment had been receiving non-stop phone calls by fans enquiring when exactly LBH will arrive. Another actor Jung Woo Sung also received great attention from fans. This will be Jung first visit to Cannes.

[GBW] The BAD is really bad..

Our thanks to ylin at Fantasyworld for uploading the clip for us to share from the original source at toutlecine.com

Also thanks to the highlight by Janice at EverythingLBH-soompi.com for a longer Cannes feature clip courtesy canalplus.fr