Aoi Miyazaki (宮崎あおい)

2008/04/04 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

Japanese Kadokawa announced the release dates of SIN Tae-ra's horror film "Black House" (Geomeun Jib) and KIM Ji-hoon's "May 18" (Hwaryohan Hyooga), the films will open on Japanese screens on April 5 and May 10, respectively.

"Black House", a domestic box office hit, stars HWANG Jeong-min ("You Are My Sunshine"/Neoneun Nae Woonmyeong) in an impressive psychological charged role as an insurance agent who gets drawn in a suicide case in a mysterious house. Director SIN's ("Brainwave") film is based on a Japanese novel of the popular horror writer Yûsuke Kishi.

After his "Mokpo, Gangster's Paradise", director KM Ji-hoon's next film "May 18" was highly anticipated and the film about the Gwangju civilian uprising against the military dictatorship was a box office success of 2007. The film's strong line-up includes AHN Seong-gi ("Silmido") and LEE Joon-ki ("The King and the Clown"). LEE enjoys great popularity in Japan and starred in the Korean-Japanese co-production "Virgin Snow" (C...

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2007/11/29 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

Armadas of middle-aged Japanese women no longer chase Bae Yong-joon, the biggest star the Korean wave of the early millennium produced; instead, more and more Korean fans are now dying for a glimpse of their favorite Japanese stars. In Korea, some of the so-called J-drama maniacs watch Japanese soaps all night long, and the growing popularity of Japanese novels here already outstrips any enthusiasm for Korean writing.

Obviously pleased with the reversal of fortunes, a Japanese movie magazine hailed the Japanese boom in Korea, saying, "While the Korean wave is on the wane, the Japanese wave is waxing". Many critics agree that while Korean Wave is receding, Japanese culture has been slowly assimilated into the mainstream of Korean culture and has firmly taken root there. So what are the strengths differentiating the Japanese Wave? The Chosun Ilbo asked experts for their views.

◆ Stars

Korea only opened its door to Japanese movies and drama on Jan. 2004, and ever since, the...

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2007/11/02 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

Time now to check this week's new movies.
There's the film version of a bestselling Korean comic book about master chefs and two collaborations between Korean and Japanese filmmakers.
Lee Jeewon has our preview.
"Le Grand Chef", this is a movie for gourmets.
Two apprentices at renowned Korean restaurant Unamjung compete to become the head chef.
Although their food looks and tastes divine, judges at the contest fall out of their chairs poisoned from fish prepared by the apprentice, Sungchan.
The other candidate, Bongju, wins while Sungchan quits cooking altogether.
But fate brings them together again this time for a bigger title.
The film is based on a popular Korean comic strip which later was published as a comic book with 540-thousand copies sold.

Heavyweights in the Korean and Japanese film industries come together in "Virgin Snow".
It's love at first sight for characters played by Lee Joon-ki and Aoi Miyazaki.
But will they end up together despite the language barriers...

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2007/10/30 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

"Virgin Snow", a Korean-Japanese co-production, is not exactly a seamless integration of Korean and Japanese filmmaking sensibilities. Although Korean director Han Sang-hee helms this ambitious project, the film's overall identity is pretty much Japanese.

The film's key developments take place in the historic Japanese city of Kyoto. Min (played by Korean heartthrob Lee Joon-ki) follows his father, a professor of ceramics, to live in Japan as an exchange student for a while, and encounters a shy Japanese girl named Nanae (Aoi Miyazaki).

From the very beginning, the film defines what's Korean and Japanese in a way that amplifies their contrasting features. Min is portrayed as a very upbeat, carefree and highly competitive Korean high school student. A typical extrovert, he quickly mingles with his Japanese friends, and even beats up some bullies, using his well-honed taekwondo tricks.

Nanae is exactly the opposite character. She's shy and thinks carefully when she is required to...

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I agree you look as handsome as ever! From Alicia plchia 2007-11-01 22:01:11

2007/09/04 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

South Korean star Lee Joon-ki is gaining popularity in the US. The 27th Hawaiian International Film Festival (HIFF) has announced that Lee will be this year's recipient of its Rising Star award. The award acknowledges the actor's work, media image, and growing star-power in the global arena. The festival, which runs October 18 – 28, will present the award at "An Evening with Lee Joon-ki" on Friday, October 19 along with a screening of the US premiere of one of his latest films.

The young actor rose to near instant stardom at home for his role in the box office super-hit "The King and the Clown", in which he played the role of the gender-bending Konggil, an unwitting court-jester. His popularity in Asia soared thereafter, and was sealed with the Korean-Japanese co-production "Virgin Snow", in which he played opposite Japanese actress Aoi Miyazaki. Other films starring the model-turned-actor include "Fly, Daddy, Fly" (2006), and "Flying Boys" (2004).

Lee also has a role in...

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