A movie featuring Korean dragons is about ready for its local and worldwide release.
Since completing the monster movie "Yongari" in 1999, Shim Hyung-rae, 50, has been preparing his new movie "D-War", or Dragon Wars.
"D-War" will be by far the most expensive Korean movie in history.
Shim was one of the most loved comedians in Korea during the 1980s and 90s. In the late 1990s, he made his less-than-stellar directorial movie the Godzillaesque "Yongari".
But "D-War" and the hoped-for bigger bang from its 30 billion-won budget show how much Shim and the staff of his production company Younggu Art have been working to redeem themselves. The computer-generated special effects are being credited with bringing to life the best-looking Asian dragons ever.
In broad daylight in Los Angels, two gigantic pythons -- one good, one evil -- fight each other over a crystal ball with the power to turn the victor into a dragon. The monsters wrap around skyscrapers, crush buildings and swallow hundreds of cars.
The movie's serpents -- Dark Imoogi, Schaconne, Bulco and Dawdler -- and all of their movements were created through years of efforts by Younggu Art's computer graphic designers.
"D-War" is based on a traditional myth about immogi (pythons in Korean) one of which is reborn as a dragon every 500 years after successfully embracing the yeouiju, a blessed crystal ball.
A lady named Sarah was born with a dragon tattoo on her shoulder. She herself turns out to be the coveted yeouiju and is chased by Dark Imoogi, an evil serpent trying to become a dragon.
When the movie premieres in Korea in early August, theatergoers will be treated to a soundtrack that features the Seattle Symphony Orchestra and Choir performing Korea's most famous folk song "Arirang".
Around 1,700 U.S. theaters are expected to screen "D-War" in mid-September, and in Japan, 500 cinemas will screen the movie during the winter vacation.
The American production crew who joined the latter half of the production reportedly praised Shim's leadership and human touch at a press conference in L.A. in mid-July, saying he was always open to new ideas and put total trust in his staff.
The Americans predicted the U.S. audience would find these Korean monsters exotic, radical and appealing.
Shim plans to shoot another movie, "The Last God Father", in November.
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