The Coast Guard (Movie - 2002)

Lee Min-ki revels in the art of acting

Source | 2009/08/06 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Actor Lee Min-ki, 24, who starred in the two recent Korean summer blockbusters "Haeundae" and "A Million", seems to be enjoying his newfound popularity.

Lee, who started out as a model and later ventured into acting, has been doing both for the past five years.

He has appeared in TV dramas such as "Dalja's Spring" and "Really Really Like You" and movies, including "Romantic Island" and "Oishi Man".

But it is through his two latest films that he has finally begun to gain a foothold as an actor.

In the Korean disaster film "Haeundae", Lee plays Hyung-sik, a Coast Guard who rescues a female college student and eventually falls in love with her. As Hyung-sik, Lee projects an air of innocence and self-sacrifice. In the film "A Million", however, Lee takes on the role of Cheol-hee, showing his gritty side as a hot-tempered Marine-turned-janitor who finds himself involved in a survival reality show where eight people are chosen to compete for $1 million in the Australian outback.
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Film Fests Offer Retrospective, Award to Korean Movie Stars

Source | 2008/10/22 | 0 comments | Permalink |

By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter

Two film festivals in France and India are paying respect to local actors and directors by holding retrospectives and offering awards.

The 14th Lyon Asian Film Festival will hold a retrospective on Korean movie star Choi Min-sik Nov. 4-9.

Kim Ji-seok, a programmer from the Pusan International Film Festival which ended Oct. 10, announced Tuesday that the renowned film festival will screen five of Choi's movies ― "Our Twisted Hero" (1992), "Failan" (2001), "Strokes of Fire" (2002), "Old Boy" (2003) and "Crying Fist" (2005) ― at the event.

Choi is planning to fly to Lyon, France, to attend the event and also appear for the press and fans.

The 46-year-old veteran actor is one of Korea's favorite movie stars, thanks to his superb acting and down-to-earth image. He has starred in numerous films including hits like "Shiri" and "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance". He is currently working on the movie "Himalaya, Where the Wind Dwells", which...| More

JANG Dong-gun and LEE Myeong-se Return to Earth

Source | 2008/07/11 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Korean wave star JANG Dong-gun is collaborating again with auteur director LEE Myeong-se on his latest project, simply titled Earth. JANG, who last worked with LEE 9 years ago, acting in his 1999 classic "Nowhere to Hide", will be doing voice-over narration for the new film this September.

"Earth" is said to be an atmospheric contemplation of life on earth, capturing beautiful and thought-provoking images with shooting taking place in Europe, Japan, and exotic locals around the world. JANG's deep, resonant voice was selected to enhance the meditative depth of the film.

Director LEE is known for his visually striking and meticulously choreographed features such as his recent films "M" (2007) and "Duelist" (2005), as well as his early work "Gagman" (1988) and "First Love" (1993). JANG has starred in numerous features including the hit film "Friend" (2001), "The Coast Guard" (2002) and his recently completed Hollywood debut in the upcoming fantasy-western "Laundry Warrior".

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MoMa to screen works of award-winning director Kim Ki-duk

Source | 2008/04/22 | 0 comments | Permalink |

New Yorkers will be able to taste a series of artistic Korean movies made by director Kim Ki-duk from Wednesday (Apr. 23).

The Department of Film at New York's Museum of Modern Art, or MoMa, will hold a screening of the works of award-winning moviemaker Kim Ki-duk, 48, who has directed artistic yet controversial films since 1996.

During the exhibition at MoMa's Theater 1, co-organized by the Korean Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Korean Film Council, and supported by the Korean Film Archive in Seoul, movie lovers will be able to take in a total of 14 movies directed by Kim, which will include several features never before seen in the United States, according to MoMa.

Kim is a self-taught maverick filmmaker whose works have impressed international cinema industry with a focus on symbolism and his strong sense of motifs and intensity.

He was a former factory worker, soldier, seminarian and a street artist in France between 1992 and 1995 where he discovered cinema thro...| More

Star siblings, different as sun and shade

Source | 2008/04/10 | 0 comments | Permalink |

If there is shade, there is also a sunny spot. The entertainment industry also has its share of light and shade. It is especially prominent where siblings are both in the industry.

Most of the time, one sibling has all of the spotlight while one loses it. Those who don't receive recognition for their talent are called 'misfortunes'.

There are siblings even in this generation, including Ha Ji-won's younger brother Jeon Tae-soo, Chae Rim's younger brother Park Sang-uk, Lee Yo-won's cousin Lee Joong-moon, Jang Nara's older brother Jang Seong-won, Seo Ji-yeong's older brother Seo Bae-joon, Kim Hye-soo's youngest brother Kim Dong-hwi. Jeon Tae-soo acted in "A Good Day to Love" and "King and I" but he cannot move past the label of being "Ha Ji-won's brother".

Park Sang-uk debuted in "The Coast Guard" in 2002, but he is not known at all. He received recognition recently as it became known that he was Chae Rim's brother. Kim Hye-soo's brothers Kim Dong-hwi and Kim Dong-hyeon filmed on...| More