A Bittersweet Life (2005) - 달콤한 인생 (Dal-kom-han In-saeng)

2008/04/24 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

The third week of May traditionally equals one of the most prestigious film festivals. This year's Festival de Cannes will include "I Come with the Rain", LEE Byeong-heon's English language film debut. Director BONG Joon-ho will return to Cannes with his short film "Shaking Tokyo", part of a project titled Tokyo!

LEE Byeong-heon might also feature at Cannes with KIM Ji-woon's "The Good, the Bad, and the Weird" (Joheun Nom, Nappeun Nom, Isanghan Nom). However, it is still uncertain whether KIM's film will make Cannes, the much sought after film is still in the final stages of production.

After delivering stellar films as "A Tale of Two Sisters" (Janghwa Hongryeon) and "A Bittersweet Life" (Dalkomhan Insaeng), KIM's star-studded "The Good, the Bad, and the Weird" – the lead actors are LEE Byeong-heon, SONG Kang-ho, and JEONG Woo-seong – promises to be a highlight of 2008.

"I Come with the Rain" is directed by Tran Anh Hung who also makes his English language film debut. The Vi...

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

Korean wave star LEE Byeong-heon is currently filming scenes in his Hollywood debut, G.I. Joe, an adaptation of the popular action-hero comic book series. LEE will play Storm Shadow, a ninja with a dark past who joins the G.I. Joe team.

The plot, like the comic, centers on an elite military unit of highly trained recruits, each with his own specialty skill. In the film they take on an evil and powerful criminal syndicate led by Cobra, a notorious arms dealer. LEE's character, Storm Shadow, is well known to readers of the comic and was even spun-off into its own series.

The big-budget feature is a Paramount Pictures production and is directed by Stephen Sommers whose previous films include Van Helsing, The Mummy Returns, and The Jungle Book. The film also stars Channing Tatum, Rachel Nichols, and Dennis Quaid. It is slated for release in the summer of 2009.

LEE is a popular star at home and all across Asia. He has starred in films such as "Once in a Summer" (2006),...

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2008/01/31 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

Yoon Kye-sang, Son Ho-young, Danny Ahn, Rain, Eric, Yoon Eun-hye, Ahn So-hee, Lee Min-woo, Park Jeong-ah..
This is the list of top Korean singers.

Their talents and individuality attracted so many fans to fall in love with them. Sometime as a solo, and other times as a member in a group, they had been on the stage singing for their fans.

However, a whole new story kicks in when they choose the screen as their new stage. The long stagnation in music industry and the introduction of a new concept of "multi-entertainer" increased the demand for multi-talented stars who are talented in not only singing but dancing and acting as well. Consequently, these singers made acting as their second career.

For example, "Rain" (Jung Ji-hoon) in Director Park Chan-wook's "I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK", Eric Moon (Moon Jung-hyuk) in "A Bittersweet Life" and "Diary of June" and Yoon Eun-hye in "The Legend of Seven Cutter" have all made their debuts in the film industry.

In addition, Son ...

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2008/01/13 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

Star Power Reigns Big Screen

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

This year, a long lineup of star-studded movies, both homegrown and Hollywood imports, awaits release with Korea's hottest stars and bona fide actors gracing the silver screen throughout 2008.

While a high profile cast hasn't always guaranteed a sellout, it would be hard to walk past movie posters featuring top stars.

The New Year starts off with a bang. Jeon Ji-hyeon (also known as Gianna Jun) makes her long-awaited comeback after a two-year hiatus opposite Hwang Jeong-min in "A Man Who Was Superman", to open across theaters Jan. 31.

The movie garnered attention by butchering down Jeon's "wholesome" image for the role of a chain-smoking, tomboyish filmmaker. Meanwhile, fans are anxious to see how Hwang will pull off his interesting role as an unconventional Superman.

The red poster of "Hellcats" features three female stars representing their own generation: 47-year-old actress Lee Mi-sook ("Untold Scandal",...

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2008/01/02 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

Director Lim Pil-seong assembled a fine cast and a great team of experts, the result is a well-crafted film, finely calibrated on every level.

Production designer Ryoo Seong-hee's ("The Host", "A Bittersweet Life", "Memories of Murder", "Old Boy") fairy tale world is beautifully shot by director of photography KIM Jee-yong ("A Bittersweet Life"). The visual style is at times complemented and at times contrasted by the music of LEE Byeong-woo ("The King and the Clown", "Voice of Murderer"). The result is a warm fairy tale feeling; but some unsettling events are foreboded, tangibly in the air.

The palpable darker edges create tension early on and keep the viewers captivated. The child actors admirably sensed the particular atmosphere of the film and their awareness – in combination with acting skills – is another highly beneficial factor to the collaborative achievement that is "Hansel and Gretel".

The oldest of the three children is a boy with paranormal abilities played by E...

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