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", 2003), whose sex appeal seems to grow stronger with each passing year; 25-year-old fashion icon
Kim Min-hee, who appears onscreen for the first time in six years; and 15-year-old
Ahn So-hee of the sensational K-pop group Wonder Girls, who is making headlines with her acting debut.
Tracing the highflying romances of these three women, this ultimate "chick flick" is slated for release Jan. 17.
A host of films boasting macho star power will be released this year. In March comes "Nuneneun Nun, Ieneun I" "Eye For and Eye" ("Eye For and Eye, Tooth For a Tooth") starring two household names,
Han Seok-Kyu ("
Shiri", 1998) and
Cha Seung-won ("
My Teacher, Mr.Kim", 2003). In his 16th film, Han gives an edge to his soft charisma as a merciless cop while Cha pumps up his muscles to play the perfect criminal.
The poster for "Sukmyeong" (
"Fate") steals women's hearts and provokes men's jealousy as two "momjjang" or "hot body" actors appear together -- topless.
Song Seung-heon makes a big comeback -- after serving in the military -- opposite
kwon Sang-woo in this action-packed drama about a friendship that goes sour.
Director
Kim Ji-woon ("
A Bittersweet Life", 2005) brings a "Korean-style Western" movie, "
The Good, the Bad, the Weird", to the screens starring three of Korea's A-list male celebrities: "certified" actor
Song Kang-ho, hallyu megastar
Lee Byeong-Heon and heartthrob
Jeong Woo-seong.
The movie is set in the 1930s, during the Japanese occupation of Korea. Far away in Manchuria, the Good (Jeong), the Bad (Lee) and the Weird (Song) become entangled in a train robbery case over a treasure map. This larger than life story becomes even more complicated as Japanese authorities and Korean independence fighters enter the scene.
Another highly anticipated film is "
A Frozen Flower", coming to theaters this summer. It combines the star power of
Jo In-Seong ("
A Dirty Carnival", 2006) and
Joo Jin-mo ("
200 Pounds Beauty", 2006). Director
Yoo Ha takes the two handsome actors back to Goguryeo Kingdom (37 B.C.-A.D. 668). Zo and Joo play the parts of a king and bodyguard, respectively, who become involved in a homosexual romance.
Other long-awaited films include low-budget projects that still shine with star power. Korea's celebrated director
Kim Ki-duk brings together Korea's popular actress
Lee Na-young and Japan's heartthrob
Joe Odagiri in "Bimong" (
"Dream"), which will be in theaters this fall/winter.
Actress
Jeon Do-yeon, undoubtedly the biggest headline maker of 2007, continues her post-Cannes acting career through a small, mellow film "Meotjin Haru" ("
One Fine Day - Movie", working title - "
My Dear Enemy"), which is also slated for release in the fall/winter.
Filmmaker
Park Chan-wook, whose name alone is enough to attract crowds, has fans anxiously waiting with "Bakjwi" ("Bat", scheduled to show this spring,
"Thirst") as well as a "Hongdangmu" ("Miss Carrot" - "
Crush and Blush"), a film he is producing for the first time.
Meanwhile, Hollywood films starring top Korean talent make 2008 an exciting year for fans: "Speed Racer" starring pop star
Rain (Jung Ji-hoon) and Joon Park (Park Joon-hyung), a former member of K-pop group G.O.D.; "Laundry Warrior" ("
The Warrior's Way") with hot actor Jang Dong-kun (
Jang Dong-gun); "
Blood: The Last Vampire" with
Jeon Ji-hyeon (Gianna Jun); and
"Fetish" with
Song Hye-kyo.
Other big movies to look forward to this summer are the latest installments of Hollywood blockbusters: the 22nd of the James Bond series and the fourth Harrison Ford classic "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" in May, as well as the Sylvester Stallone-helmed "Rambo 4" (release date in Korea to be announced).
