Lee Jae-eung (이재응)

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

Imagine, being perched above a vertigo-inducing height, swishing down a roller coaster-like slope and then freewheeling through the air ― with only a pair of skis to safeguard the landing.

Ski jumping is a minority within the sports scene here, but onscreen the icy game provides for the hottest summer movie experience. Packed with adrenaline rush, tastefully crafted drama and a rocking soundtrack, "Take Off" ("Ski Jump") lifts viewers onto a pulsating flight in this story about ski jumpers that dared to dream ― and fly.

Director Kim Yong-hwa didn't need to adopt the standard formula for sports films. Sure, the movie features conventional elements ― setting hurdles to overcome, overturning team dynamics and lots of sweating ― but truth is sometimes more interesting than fiction, and the filmmaker simply had to tell the amazing story, which he does with finesse.

Inspired by true events, the movie takes viewers to 1997 Muju, North Jeolla Province, which is bidding to host the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. A national ski jumping team needs to be whipped together...More

The moment that the actor jumps from the ski jump bar, the actors are tearing up.

The film, "Take Off" is about the ski jump atheletes life experience in trying to reach their dream though they are unknown atheletes. The 5 actors who are the atheletes are Ha Jeong-woo, Kim Dong-wook, Kim Ji-seok-I, Lee Jae-eung, and Choi Jae-hwan....More

"Take Off" is definitely a sports film that has cost the most to produce and its coming this summer! This film will definitely cool you hot summer days with ski jumps off the snowy mountains.

This movie has already been Choonmooro's hot film because it is directed by Kim Yong-hwa who also directed "200 Pounds Beauty" and the hot actor Ha Jeong-woo is the main character!

It has cost 11,000,000,000 Won (~$US 10 millions) to produce this movie!

However, this film has a very new story different from other sports films. We can see how the national atheletes have worked so hard with their jumpsuits for ski jumps with all the equipment used for this sport. The motive is to show how these atheletes work hard.

Many film producers try hard to use less money however, this film has taken a bold step in using all that money fiming for 2 years and 7 months! The film has filmed 101 different times with 200 staffs!...More

It happened once again. People tear apart my heart countless times all throughout the year and I also unconsciously hurt others. And they are mostly someone very close to me.

It is now time to heal these wounds and to prepare for a new year. So, how about wrapping up the year while watching movies that would heal the scars on your hearts?

"Bravo, My Life", ("Mommy, Dearest") is a coming-of-age film set in 1979. In the movie, first-year middle school student Gwang-ho (Lee Jae-eung) lives with his sister and mother (Moon So-ri) who sells cosmetics by visiting houses door to door. The movie is about Gwang-ho, who is in the adolescent period and talks rudely to his mother such as, "How come you are so ignorant", an...More

South Korean films won the majority of the awards at the 51st Asia Pacific Film Festival which concluded November 25th in Taipei after a four day run. All-time record holder "The Host" did extremely well, winning three awards: Best Editing for Kim Sun-min, Best Sound for CHOI Tae-yeong, and Best Supporting Actor for Byeon Hee-bong.

Both Best Actor and Actress awards were won by South Koreans. Child actor Lee Jae-eung took the Best Actor award for his central role in "Bravo, My Life" ("...More