Lee Han-wi (이한위)

'More Than Blue' Is Poetic, Luminous

Source | 2009/03/05 | Permalink |

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

Romanic poet Won Tae-yeon makes his directorial debut with a classic romance, "More Than Blue". Though featuring typical elements of the South Korean melodrama, "Blue" does not attempt to squeeze out tears from viewers. Rather, the director crafts a film that is poetically sparse, and also witty and hilarious as much as it is heartbreaking.

Hallyu star Kwon Sang-woo, the heartbreaker from the tearjerker TV soap "Stairway to Heaven", plays the tragic male protagonist "K", yet another faithful one-woman man involved in a pitiful love triangle. To top it all off, he has cancer. With the little time he has left to live, he plays Cupid to marry off the woman he loves, "Cream" (Lee Bo-yeong), to an eligible bachelor, Ju-hwan (Lee Beom-soo), so he can rest in peace.

"Blue" however feels more classic than cliched and the undying fidelity of the love-struck characters nostalgically evokes old romances. The talented actors also bring freshness to their pa...| More

Actor Kim Soo-ro as English Teacher on Big Screen

Source | 2008/08/20 | Permalink |

By Le e Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

The zeal for English education in South Korea needs no introduction, except that it has inspired hit comedies like "My Tutor Friend" and "Please Teach Me English" (2003).

Funnyman Kim Soo-ro comes back to the big screen as E.T. ― no, not an extraterrestrial, but an English teacher ― or more specifically an unconventional, "alien-like" one in the upcoming film "Our School E.T" (working title).

The 38-year-old actor ("A Cruel Attendance ", 2006) plays the role of a quirky high school physical education teacher. But the school's new policy to boost English education puts his position at stake, and he decides that teaching English is his only hope. Thus begins the simpleton's rigorous training to exercise his brain "muscles" to master English.

Kim's anxious "survival" seems to extend off screen. "I made the film thinking it would be my last. If this doesn't fare well in the box office, then I won't be getting any more offers, so I pou...| More

Sitcom originator Oh Ji-myeong, 'Oh Po-jol' this time

Source | 2008/05/29 | Permalink |

Oh Ji-myeong and comedy writer Jang Deok-gyoon are working together again.

It is through the fusion historical sitcom "Oh Po-jol", which starts airing June 2 at 9:30 every Monday to Friday.

It has been 15 years since Oh Ji-myeong and Writer Jang of "Gag Concert" have worked together after "The People of Professor Park".

Jang said, "We introduced the sitcom genre in 1993 through 'People of Professor Park', and 15 years later, the rumors of the dangers of sitcoms were unfortunate. We decided to work together to rewrite the history of sitcoms".

"Oh Po-jol" outlines the happenings of the Joseon's government. Yang Taek-jo, Lee Han-wi, Kwon Yong-woon, Jo Eun-sook, Kim Byeong-man, and Kang Yoo-mi were also cast....| More

[MOVIE REVIEW]'Solace' twists melodrama to its advantage

Source | 2006/11/27 | Permalink |

Sometimes, we watch films to satisfy our burning (yet often unfulfilled) desire for a better world - a cheap entertainment that whets our insatiable appetite for a sugarcoated fantasy that we hope will help replace our cheaper reality.

"Solace", directed by Byeon Seung-wook, defies such convention. The world it portrays is far from beautiful: Life is tough, all the characters are trapped, relationships are hard to forge and even harder to maintain.

In-gu (Han Seok-kyu) is a likable pharmacist. He smiles a lot, is friendly, and pleasant to talk with. His drugstore is small but he seems comfortable in the cramped space, playing an online poker game in his leisure time and ordering Chinese food for a quick lunch.

But his life is anything but happy-go-lucky. Older brother, In-seop (Lee Han-wi), is mentally disabled, and In-gu bears the burden of taking care of his brother, often involving a wild-goose chase around town because he tends to disappear. His older brother's presence po...| More