Highway Star (Movie - 2007)

[MOVIE REVIEW] New comedy tests Cha's star power

Source | 2008/10/30 | Permalink |

No Korean actor automatically conjures up a comic image on the silver screen as much as Cha Tae-hyeon

This is largely due to the huge success of his role in "My Sassy Girl", which opened the floodgates for the Korean Wave of cinema across Asia. This cuts both ways, however.

Cha comes back to the big screen with another comic role in "Speedy Scandal" (Gwasok Scandal), to be released on Dec. 4. It is hardly surprising that he plays a character who is supposed to create, well, comic relief.

What's surprising, though, is that he has accepted a role whose identity is somewhat similar to his own experiences as a leading star in Korea. In the film, directed by Kang Hyeong-cheol, Cha plays Nam Hyun-su, a former idol who captured the hearts of teenage fans.

Yes, he "was" a big star in the good old days, but he is now in his mid-30s, and his star power has significantly diminished.

But Nam retains some of his recognition. That is why he keeps a DJ post at a local radio show, a sit...| More

Epitaph sold to Japan, Hong Kong, and North America

Source | 2008/04/04 | Permalink |

Among the new slate of talented young Korean directors, the brothers JEONG Beom-sik and JEONG Sik are among its leading exponents; the latest development around their debut film "Epitaph" (Gidam) is the sale of its distribution rights to North America (TLA Releasing), Hong Kong (Celestial Movies Channel) and Japan (CCRE) by Studio 2.0 at the Hong Kong Filmart.

Studio 2.0 also sold the rights of "Highway Star" (Bokmyeon Dalho), starring CHA Tae-hyeon, to Hong Kong (Celestial Movies Channel), China (H.G.C.) and Vietnam (Diamond Cinema). Animation "Aachi and Ssipak" was picked up by Spain's Notro and "Lovers of 6 Years" (Yooknyeonjjae Yeonae Joong) with KIM Ha-neul will be released in Vietnam (Diamond Cinema).

TLA Releasing describes its prized acquisition "Epitaph" as, "Beautifully lush, Korean supernatural, psychological horror", and, "A reinvention of Korean horror and moving it into a refreshingly, new direction". JIN Goo ("A Dirty Carnival"/Biyeorhan Geori), KIM Bo-kyeong ("W...| More

Lee So-yeon, "Couldn't sleep at first main role in drama"

Source | 2008/03/20 | Permalink |

Lee So-yeon revealed that she has not been sleeping from stress of her first main role in a drama. She revealed this at a press conference in Seoul for the production of the SBS drama "Why Did You Come to My House".

She said, "I'm very nervous for my first main role. The movie I was in after last year's "Highway Star" didn't do so well, so I thought carefully about my next work".

"I chose this because the character is very fun and daring. I realize how big my role is while filming little by little. This overwhelms me".

She also said, "I can't sleep because of stress. The directors and actors are helping me to adjust. I will do my best".

The drama will be aired after "Bichunmoo - Drama" on the 28th, and it tells the story of Jo Ki-dong (Kim Ji-hoon-I) who marries into a rich house for money.

Lee So-yeon plays Han Mi-soo, who is on the verge of marrying Jo Ki-dong....| More

"M" and "Happiness" Picked Up by Japan

Source | 2008/02/05 | Permalink |

Major local film player Showbox has sold rights to LEE Myeong-Se's "M" and HEO Jin-ho's "Happiness" to music and film giant Avex Entertainment in Japan. Avex, known as one of the largest independent record-labels in the world, made a move into the film industry last year, picking up its first Korean title "Highway Star" (2007).

Both LEE's "M" and HEO's Happiness premiered last September at the Toronto International Film Festival. They feature prominent Korean Wave stars with KANG Dong-won as the bemused lead in director LEE's stylish mystery and actress IM Soo-jeong along with HWANG Jeong-min as the ill-fraught lovers in HEO's melodrama.

Both LEE and HEO have had their previous films released in Japan. LEE's "Duelist", also starring actor KANG, opened on about 200 screens across Japan in 2006. HEO's "April Snow", starring Korean Wave sensation BAE Yong-joon, became the top grossing Korean film of all time in Japan, with earnings of over US$26 million in 2005.

Overall K...| More

Why the Japanese Wave Just Keeps on Coming

Source | 2007/11/29 | Permalink |

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...| More