The Big Swindle (Movie - 2003)

World Beware: The Wizard is Coming this Summer

Source | 2009/06/05 | Permalink |

Korea's own super hero movie "Jeon Woo-chi" is set for release this summer. The movie is highly anticipated not just because of its colloquial superhero themes but its super star cast and director. Choi Dong-hoon known for the colourfully large "War of the Flower" (2006) and "The Big Swindle" (2004) helms this ambitious Taoist action film feat. Equally as well known as Choi are its actors who are mainstays in Korean cinema. Kang Dong-won, young star of 'M' (2007) and The "Duelist" (2005) plays the mischievous time transported hero fighting against Kim Yoon-seok the detective anti hero in last year's surprise hit, thriller "The Chaser" (2008). Im Soo-Jeong from Kim Jee-woon's "A Tale of Two Sisters" fame and Park Chan-wook's "I'm a Cyborg, But That's Ok" also appears in the film along with Yoo Hae-jin who worked with Choi on "War of the Flower" and a host of other films.

Even though a superhero flick, Cho Dong-hoon has taken the familiar family genre, fused it with Korean h...| More

What's on Cultural Horizon in 2009?

Source | 2008/12/30 | Permalink |

By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter

The year 2009 is now finally around the corner, and it is about time to prepare for the New Year. The past year was an interesting one, and readers can now preview what is planned in 2009.

Dramas

Historical Dramas on the Rise: The three major networks are planning to air three distinctive historical dramas next year, MBC with "Queen Seon-deok", KBS with "The Iron Empress" and SBS with "Princess Ja Myung Go".

The three dramas will touch on the lives of powerful women during the period in which the programs are set: the Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392), the Silla Kingdom (668-935) and the Goguryeo Kingdom (37 B.C.-A.D.668), respectively.

Starring Ko Hyeon-jeong and Lee Yo-won, "Queen Seon-deok" will carry the story of the first queen to rule during Goryeo, while "The Iron Empress" will bring back the courageous grand daughter of King Taejo (47-165), played by Chae Si-ra, and her lifelong struggle to protect the country her ancestors built. "Prince...| More

CHOI Dong-hoon's Comic Fantasy: "Jeon Woo Chi"

Source | 2008/08/27 | Permalink |

Director CHOI Dong-hoon, who made a splash in the local film industry with his high stakes thrillers, "The Big Swindle" (2004) and "Tazza: The High Rollers" ("The War of Flower", 2006), is currently in pre-production on his latest project, tentatively titled "Jeon Woo Chi". The big budget US$12 million production now has three quarters of its financing secured and will participate in the Pusan Promotion Plan (PPP) a major project pre-market during the 13th Pusan International Film Festival.

Highly successful producer LEE Eugene ("You Are My Sunshine", "Voice of Murder") and her shingle Zip Cinema will produce the project with financial backing from CJ Entertainment and United Pictures. The star cast includes KANG Don-won ("M") as the title character Jeon, IM Soo-jeong ("Happiness"), and KIM Yoon-seok ("The Chaser").

The story begins in the Chosun Dynasty in 1509 and involves a trio of Taoist wizards, a magician named "Jeon Woo Chi" (KANG Dong-won) and his dog, a corrupt king,...| More

The Korean Gangland Is 'a Dirty Carnival'

Source | 2008/05/26 | Permalink |

Yoo Ha's searing crime melodrama deserves kudos

Kyu Hyun Kim (qhyunkim)

Byung-Doo, lanky and adorable, (played by TV drama star Jo In-Seong from "Something Happened in Bali") is a 29-year-old career criminal working for the middle-rank enforcer Sang-Chul (Yoon Je-Moon, a Molotov-cocktail-loving vagrant in "The Host"). Burdened with a terminally ill mother and taking care of younger siblings, Byung-Doo is feeling financial pressure as a substitute patriarch. When the big boss President Hwang (Cheon Ho-Jin, "The Big Swindle", "Crying Fist") is cornered by a corrupt prosecutor, Byung-Doo volunteers for a whack job and wins the man's trust. However, his real trouble begins when friend Min-Ho (Nam Goong-min), an aspiring movie director, asks him to be a "consultant" for the latter's debut film, a gangster epic not unlike "Dirty Carnival".

Yoo Ha's follow-up to the successful "Once Upon a Tim...| More

CHOI Dong-hoon casts IM Soo-jung and KANG Dong-won

Source | 2008/05/08 | Permalink |

CHOI Dong-hoon, the director of the major hit films "Tazza: The High Rollers" ("The War of Flower") and "The Big Swindle" is preparing his next project with the assistance of IM Soo-jeong and KANG Dong-won.

KANG is set to play an undisciplined womanising Taoist from the Joseon era (the name of Korea previous to the Japanese occupation) who ends up in present day Korea, causing mayhem with his knack for magic. IM will play a double role, portraying a Joseon woman and an aspiring actress in contemporary times.

KIM Yoon-seok will reunite with CHOI after their collaboration on "Tazza:The High Rollers" ("The War of Flower"), KIM will be fighting against KANG's character. KIM is currently highly successful with his leading role in NA Hong-jin's The Chaser.

CHOI is also responsible for the scenario and will start directing from August. The film will enter cinemas in 2009.

Yi Ch'ang-ho (KOFIC)...| More