Lee Byung Hun 이병헌 Byunghun Lee

[rubie]

February 21, 2008

Lee Byung-hun's threatening' bloody muscles' in Hollywood

The still-cuts from the Korean Wave star, Lee Byeong-Heon's first Hollywood international debut film, "I Come With The Rain" were finally released.

Recently, the photos were uploaded to an American film site, in which Lee Byeong-Heon showed off his powerfully built body. His bloodied body and the bloodthirsty expression were frightening.

"I Come with the Rain" is directed by Director Tran Anh Hung ("Mui du du xanh" -"L'odeur de la papaye verte" ("The Scent of Green Papaya"), "Le Van Loc" ("Cyclo")) and is a collaborate work between France and America. Lee Byeong-Heon is appearing as a head of Hong Kong mafia.

Other casts include a Hollywood star, Josh Hartnett; a Chinese star, Daniel Woo Shawn Yue; and the top Japanese actor, Kimura Takuya. Director Tran Anh Hung's wife, Tran Nu Yen-Khe, is also appearing as Lee Byeong-Heon's wife in the film.

On the other hand, Lee Byeong-Heon is still in Los Angeles to shoot a film "G.I.Joe" which is based on a popular animation.

English translation courtesy hancinema.net

Original article at news.naver.com

[willenette]

--- of being in endless fights and beaten-up marks .. doing all those "stuff" for the underworld boss

Yeah.. those are only the effects of make-up as an indicator for the audience to see how "violent" the life that Sunwoo had to go through in A Bittersweet Life.

Btw.. hope you won't take this the wrong way .. but there's no need to highlight the words in much larger font size as it's already clear to see from the quotes itself. But if it's necessary and needed to, making the words or text bold would be more appropriate.

BTW, I saw an article about his movie ICWTR.... I'm not sure if this was posted here.....

The still-cuts from the Korean Waves star, Lee Byeong-Heon's first Hollywood debut film, "I Come with the Rain" were finally released.

Recently, the photos were uploaded to an American film site, in which Lee Byeong-Heon showed off his powerfully built body. His bloodied body and the bloodthirsty expression were frightening.

"I Come with the Rain" is directed by Director Tran Anh Hung ("Mui du du xanh" -"L'odeur de la papaye verte" ("The Scent of Green Papaya"), "Le Van Loc" ("Cyclo")) and is a collaborate work between France and America. Lee Byeong-Heon is appearing as a head of Hong Kong mafia.

Other casts include a Hollywood star, Josh Hartnett; a Chinese star, Daniel Woo; and the top Japanese actor, Kimura Takuya. Director Tran Anh Hung's wife, Tran Nu Yen-Khe, is also appearing as Lee Byeong-Heon's wife in the film.

On the other hand, Lee Byeong-Heon is still in Los Angeles to shoot a film "G.I.Joe" which is based on a popular animation.

translated by: http://hancinema.net/

original article: http://news.naver.com/hotissue/daily_read....022116210042397

*** It looks like that this movie is interesting, huh? This is really awesome for LBH, hopefully, he’ll gain recognition in Hollywood.

[rubie]

^ Hi willenette.. looks like our ICWTR postings came out one after the other... up there.

---

Anyone with any gist for this GBW update? Merci.

한국영화 100억원 대작이 몰려온다

[조이뉴스24] 2008년 02월 29일(금) 오후 07:05

Source: http://kr.news.yahoo.com/service/news/shel...mp;newssetid=83

[Guest Hyc]

Copied from bhjwlove.com

Thanks to Ping

http://www.vietnamnet.vn/

Overseas Vietnamese director returns with Hollywood superstar

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese French director Tran Anh Hung is producing a film entitled “I come with the rain”, with the participation of famous Hollywood and Asian actors.

“I come with the rain” is the first English-speaking film by Tran Anh Hung, with Josh Hartnett playing the lead. This is the first film Tran Anh Hung has made, after Mua he chieu thang dung (The vertical ray of the sun) eight years ago.

Josh Hartnett, 30, has starred in over 20 films, including The Black Dahlia (2006), Sin City (2005), Black Hawk Down (2001) and Pearl Harbor (2001).

Besides Josh Hartnett, “I come with the rain” will also feature famous Asian actors Lee Byung Hun (South Korea), Takuya Kimura (Japan), Shawn Yue (Hong Kong) and his wife Tran Nu Yen Khe.

The film is about Kline (Hartnett), a former policeman in Los Angeles, who has become a private detective. Kline is hired to go to the Philippines to see Shitao (Takuya Kimura), a lost son of a billionaire. The search leads Kline to Hong Kong, where he meets his old friend, also a policeman (Yue). He then faces off with gangster Su Dongpo (Byung Hun) and his girlfriend (Yen Khe).

The film is being shot in Los Angeles, the Philippines and Hong Kong. It is scheduled to appear in theatres this autumn. It is rumored that “I come with the rain” will be introduced at the Cannes Film Festival 2008

[Guest TY_KSW]

February 21, 2008

Lee Byung-hun's threatening' bloody muscles' in Hollywood

http://imgnews.naver.com/image/020/2008/02...00802210429.jpg

The still-cuts from the Korean Wave star, Lee Byeong-Heon's first Hollywood debut film, "I Come With The Rain" were finally released.

English translation courtesy hancinema.net

Original article at news.naver.com

OMG! What did director Tran do to my Hunnie..

so scary! ayoo..

Looking like a series killer.. Gosh!

[rubie]

OMG! What did director Tran do to my Hunnie..

so scary! ayoo..

Looking like a series killer.. Gosh!

At first .. we were shocked.. quite a lot, too..

But looking at it.. now.. in my opinion.. it proves that there is just so much more to expect from LBH, and that's what we're going to get. It's a new facet of BH's performance that's obviously unfamiliar to us.. not even the same as Three, Monster or any work he ever did before.

This talented actor does not stop.. he doesn't sit still in his comfort zone but pushes himself more and more.. from strength to strength. And what better way to showcase what he's capable to deliver in the international debut of ICWTR.

TY-hunnie.. if BH looks like a serial killer.. don't you think that he has achieved the effect for his EVIL character?

---

By the way.. all of you can throw as many snowballs at me.. because.. I.. probably.. deserve it.

Are we moving too fast, hunnies? Is the thread moving too fast that we can't catch on? I used to wonder why isn't any (group) feedback on most of the postings. Sometimes.. many questions were left without response.

Now I know why. We are indeed moving too fast.

[Guest ylin]

There is a notice on JOFC today, private to members only but from the title is seems like there is going to be a film tour this year.

http://byunghun.excite.co.jp/

【会員限定】「イ・ビョンホン全国フィルムツアー’08」開催のお知らせ【2/25】

Think it may include scenes from Arena Tour and the making of it

Will need to wait for more details (hopefully we will get some information)

ps

maybe they are going to launch Arena Tour DVD?

If not wrong, these are the venues and dates for the 2008 film tour. Hopefully my translations are correct. Feel free to correct if there is any mistakes

Looking at the schedule, I don't think BH will be there.

①　18/4　東京・東京厚生年金会館 (Tokyo Welfare Pension Culture Service Center -Multipurpose hall in Shinjuku)

②　19/4　東京・東京厚生年金会館 (Tokyo Welfare Pension Culture Service Center -Multipurpose hall in Shinjuku)

③　24/4　東京・中野サンプラザ (Tokyo Nakano Sun Plaza)

④　26/4　静岡・静岡市民文化会館 (Shizuoka citizens lyceum)

⑤　28/4 広島・広島厚生年金会館 (Hiroshima - Hiroshima Kousei Nenkin Hall)

⑥　30/4　香川・サンポートホール高松 (Kagawa - Sanport Hall Takamatsu)

⑦　1/5 　高知・高知市市民文化プラザ・かるぽーと (Kochi - Kochi City Cultural Plaza)

⑧　8/5 　兵庫・尼崎市アルカイックホール (Hyogo - Archaic Hall, Amagasaki City)

⑨　9/5 　愛知・名古屋市公会堂 (Aichi - Nagoya City Hall)

⑩　13/5 岩手・岩手県民会館 (Iwate - Iwate Prefectural Hall)

⑪　14/5　宮城・仙台市民会館 (Miyagi -Sendai Citizen Hall)

⑫　16/5　福岡・福岡市民会館 (Fukuoka - Fukuoka Civic Hall)

⑬　16/6　北海道・札幌道新ホール (Hokkaido - Sapporo Doshin Hall)

⑭　17/6　北海道・旭川市民文化会館 (Hokkaido -Asahikawa Citizens lyceum)

Thanks to LBH VIP Room 712

[rubie]

I'm getting so forgetful these days with so much on my mind.. since Hunnie's not around.

Anyway.. I'm wondering if anyone keeps the pics of LBH buses in Japan.. first seen during the Tokyo Dome fanmeet and then during the LBH7.12?

I know I have them somewhere but when I need to find the pics.. that's when I will forget everything.

Anyway.. I'll be off doing some compilation (anyone interested to join ).. to give everyone time to catch up with the thread.

It's just moving too fast, huh..

Hunnies all, maybe there's a reason for us not having any updates or any latest pics of BH. So, while waiting for Hunnie updates to come up, hopefully soon.. what should we do at the thread.. in the meantime?

Anyone with mini-projects to do? Any ideas that we can do 'online' together, that's related to BH?

Or.. perhaps it's much too early to be thinking about it but what shall we get for BH for his birthday in July? It's still like 4 months more but if we think about it, time flies so fast and it's already March. Especially when we're not located in the same place.. only connected by the thread.. maybe it's good that we start early.

Hope we can send him to him in a well-meant gift from everyone here. So, we have to start thinking about it. It doesn't have to be an expensive or very elaborate gift but something that's really coming from the heart like the photomosaic sent to him 3 years ago. Something that we know BH likes and really appreciates.

Please share your ideas with everyone here. If you're too shy to post the idea at the thread, you can always PM too.. there's always a way.

[AutumnLeaves]

Thanks AutumnLeaves for your message. I really wish I can find a copy - I'm getting excited of this because of all your posts about this movie. I contacted my friend in Korea to find me a copy & it's weekend now here in our country - tomorrow I can visit the Korea store to look for it, where I sometimes get my DVD copies. About "Harmonium", same thing, I wasn't able to watch this. But I've watched Addiction - enjoyed it - there was a "yummy" bedscene by LBH there, huh? hehehe. He looks very young in that movie.

No probs willenette, I really hope you can find a copy of JSA and share your thoughts on the movie with us It's kinda hard for me to get hold of some of LBH's movies over here in the UK too, some of them are just impossible to buy But hey, we keep trying for our Hunnie don't we?

erhmm.. R18!!!!

i found that scars make his topless back more wildly n sexy.. I love that scar too..

need to re-watch BSL tonite..

aishhs! Hyc.. u are so bad!

Totally agree TY_KSW, I love the scars on his back. He's sporting more scars in GBW so lucky us

Thanks H for the warm words, I truly appreciate it. ♥ Likewise.. I'm really looking forward to your thoughts on BH and anything about it, always making me smile every morning. But I'm no star *nonono*.. just a VERY hopeless fan. I've been rambling like this everyday... all these years that it's getting a bit repetitive, unfortunately. That's why I really hope to read the thoughts shared by everyone.

No need to write long postings (like rambling rubie).. just simple thoughts or short comments are always more than welcomed.. right?

Thanks Rubie I like reading comments from both rambling rubie or short commenting rubie lol!

Hunnies all, maybe there's a reason for us not having any updates or any latest pics of BH. So, while waiting for Hunnie updates to come up, hopefully soon.. what should we do at the thread.. in the meantime?

Anyone with mini-projects to do? Any ideas that we can do 'online' together, that's related to BH?

Or.. perhaps it's much too early to be thinking about it but what shall we get for BH for his birthday in July? It's still like 4 months more but if we think about it, time flies so fast and it's already March. Especially when we're not located in the same place.. only connected by the thread.. maybe it's good that we start early.

Hope we can send him to him in a well-meant gift from everyone here. So, we have to start thinking about it. It doesn't have to be an expensive or very elaborate gift but something that's really coming from the heart like the photomosaic sent to him 3 years ago. Something that we know BH likes and really appreciates.

Please share your ideas with everyone here. If you're too shy to post the idea at the thread, you can always PM too.. there's always a way.

I think it's a good idea to be thinking about those things now Rubie. I'll put my creative cap on and get thinking of some ideas and get back to you soon with any ideas I can think of

[rubie]

I think it's a good idea to be thinking about those things now Rubie. I'll put my creative cap on and get thinking of some ideas and get back to you soon with any ideas I can think of

Thanks H for the much-appreciated response. I hope everyone at the thread feels the same way & would not hesitate to voice out cool ideas to share with all.

Then we can have a consensus on the best gift for our Hunnie's 38th birthday.

[rubie]

March 2, 2008

[THE HIGH TIDE OF THE KOREAN WAVE(17)] Korean dramas carve a niche in Japan

The full force of the Korean Wave hit Japan in 2004. Four years later, the phenomenon known here as "hanryu" has succeeded in creating a comfortable niche for itself in the Japanese TV and music world.

In November, 2004, the initial frenzy clogged Narita Airport, as thousands of Bae Yong-joon fans flocked to welcome him to Japan, ten people were injured as the crowd outside his Tokyo hotel scrambled to get a peek at him. Today, the hanryu boom has evolved into a calmer, sustained and widespread interest in Korean pop culture that has increased the Japanese public's desire to better understand the customs, lifestyle and cuisine of their closest neighbor.

Of course, not everyone has rushed to ride the Korean Wave, but it has succeeded in widening the perceptions and perspectives of many. Here on the northern island of Hokkaido, where Korean TV dramas are especially popular, signs of the hanryu presence are everywhere. Ladies gently jostle each other out of the way to get at the wide array of hanryu magazines at the local bookstore, and TV commercials remind us that the new "Winter Sonata II" and "Spring Waltz" pachinko (pinball) machines will be out soon. At the local music store, a large box containing a 30-centimeter Kwon Sang-woo doll decked out in the priestly robes he wore in the movie "Love So Divine" is propped up against shelves full of Korean drama theme music collectors' boxes and DVDs from John-Hoon and Rain.

In Hokkaido, five to six Korean TV series are shown each week on terrestrial TV, mostly on weekday mornings and mostly without Japanese voiceovers. Not only have many Japanese TV viewers discovered they love Korean dramas, but they have found that they are just as happy watching them in the vernacular with subtitles. That would have been utterly unimaginable even a few years ago -- an indication of the amazing effect the hanryu boom has had. Add in the plethora of dramas offered on Japan's dozens of satellite TV channels, and those of us who have never been to Korea could easily spend everyday there vicariously, if we like.

Nor is the exchange all one way. While Japanese TV tourists flock to Seoul, several Korean dramas have featured Hokkaido locales. This February and March, director Kim Jin-min has been in the port town of Otaru filming a new TV drama starring Lee Dong-wook and Oh Yean-su that will air on MBC in May. Otaru is hoping it will be good for local tourism, too.

The big question, of course, is just why has the hanryu boom been so successful? Mutual profit, timing and quality seem to be the answers. The entertainment industries in both countries quickly recognized the lucrative potential of the pop culture exchanges, and have actively promoted them. It would be difficult to even try to estimate the reverberating economic impact that all the hanryu spin-off industries, from publications and tourism to language study and licensing, have produced.

The cross-cultural entertainment world influences are now so great, it's hard to imagine that this all took off just four years ago with one memorable TV drama -- "Winter Sonata," starring Bae Yong-joon and Choi Ji-woo. NHK, the national public broadcaster, decided to try it Saturdays at 11:10 p.m. in a time slot usually reserved for U.S. and British fare. Like all the Korean dramas shown on NHK since, it was broadcast with Japanese voiceovers. Japanese TV viewers, especially middle-aged women, quickly were carried away by the sensitive love story. Soon, glasses and wool scarves were fashion statements. Yong-sama, as he affectionately became known, was being carved in ice at the Sapporo Snow Festival, and tours to the filming locations became all the rage. NHK quickly followed up with "Beautiful Days," "All In," "Spring Waltz," and the historical dramas "Damo" and the very popular "Daejanggum," which NHK also later ran in animated form for the kids. Asian dramas have occupied the Saturday 11 p.m. time slot ever since. Those desperate for "Desperate Housewives or "ER" now have to wait until 1 a.m. As an added bonus for those who stay up even later, "Himawari" with Lee Byung-hun airs at 1:50 a.m.

The historical dramas and lighter Korean romantic comedies broadcast on satellite TV and available for sale or rental on DVD have insured that hanryu fans now include both sexes and all age groups. The appetite of the most dedicated fans has become insatiable, and has stimulated interest in Korean movies, music, musicals and tourism.

A Hanryu Cinema Festival featuring 14 films, mostly starring actors who are familiar to Japanese TV fans, is running again this year in Tokyo and Osaka from March to May. (Check http://www.cinemart.co.jp/han-fes2008). The spring 2008 travel brochures advertising Korean destinations are offering tickets to the popular musicals "Nanta (Cooking)" and "Jump," besides promoting all-in sights on Jeju, "Daejanggum" locales and dining experiences and, for the die-hard Bae Yong-joon fans, a Yong-sama "mo ichido" (once again) tour that even includes his college campus. JTB also sponsored special tours to the open sets used in "Jumong" in February and March. And the list of Korean actors and musicians coming to Japan for concert tours, fan meetings, dinner shows or to release albums here grows longer by the day. March promises Big Bang concerts and the release of the first SG "Wanna Be + Japan" album.

The desire for ever more information on the activities of Korean entertainers has led many big-name Tokyo publishers to issue an impressive array of hanryu magazines, directories and the glossy photo-heavy, magazine-style books known in Japan as "mooks." Those who want even quicker access to the Korean entertainment scene news can get up-to-the-minute bulletins on their cell phones.

With all the dramas and information now available, Japanese hanryu enthusiasts are becoming increasingly knowledgeable. The latest directory of Korean stars includes the profiles of 780 actors, directors and scriptwriters. Truly dedicated hanryu fans can even test themselves on how much trivia they have amassed.

"Kentei" (proficiency tests) in all sorts of subjects, from languages to local history, are popular in Japan, and the first introductory-level "hanryu kente" (a project done in conjunction with JTB) is currently underway. Those who pay for and successfully complete the test on-line will receive certificates of proficiency and be eligible for special TV tours to Korea. An intermediate-level exam is already planned for May. Those who think they have watched enough Korean dramas to qualify may want to try the mini-test at http://www.k-x.jp, with sample multiple-choice questions like: Amnesia is a recurring theme in Korean dramas. Select the drama which did not deal with this theme.

Few fans take their fascination to this level, but even occasional and casual TV viewers will recognize the names of the stars of those first few NHK series -- Bae Yong-joon, Choi Ji-woo, Lee Byung-hun, Ryu Shi-won and Lee Young-ae -- and their works -- "Winter Sonata," "Daejanggum," "Stairway to Heaven," "Beautiful Days," and "Hotelier" -- which top a list of the most popular Korean dramas in Japan, according to a survey of 1,600 Japanese, mainly women in their 30s, done in 2007 by the TV Asahi program SMAStation. Hosted by SMAP's Shingo Katori, the program unfortunately has had to compete with these dramas in the Saturday, 11 p.m. time slot. And even Japanese TV scripts have begun to recognize the hanryu presence as a part of the modern 21st century Japanese lifestyle. In the recent Japanese TV series "Hatachi no Koibito," the heroine's colleague is a devoted Lee Byung-hun fan who reads hanryu magazines on her breaks, and rushes off from work to attend his fan meetings.

This brings us to the second important aspect of the hanryu success: the timing was right. Had the Korean Wave arrived five or 10 years sooner, when Japan's own TV dramas were at their peak and bringing in average ratings of over 30 percent, the hanryu boom might have faced a more difficult challenge. But, for the last few years, Japanese dramas have been weathering a considerable slump. Although two dozen series are launched each quarter, it has become extremely difficult for most to get anywhere near 15 percent ratings, and few top that figure. Only dramas starring SMAP's Takuya Kimura have been consistently capable of climbing up over the 30 percent mark in the new century. Irritating or inconclusive endings, predictable dialogue and a trend away from serious romances have discouraged viewers, and created a vacuum that the quality Korean products have very conveniently filled. Serious drama fans have taken refuge in the parallel hanryu world with its overall high quality, straightforward and sincere style, freer expression of emotions and romantic leading men.

Hanryu dramas might even be able to help enliven the Japanese prime time lineup, now heavy with variety shows and trivia quizzes, if given a chance, but foreign TV series have been unable to significantly break through into the 8-11 p.m. market. Since 1990, I can recall only one foreign drama that was able to crack that barrier and be welcomed into the Japanese prime time schedule -- "The X Files" in 1995.

Still, the hanryu phenomenon has become secure enough in its niche that it has been able to make some dents in the barrier in two ways: Japanese remakes of Korean hits, and appearances by Korean stars in Japanese dramas. In 2006, Tokio's Tomoya Nagase starred in a successful remake of "My Boss, My Hero," the Korean comedy about a gangster who goes back to high school that was among the top ten-rated Japanese TV dramas that year. A Japanese remake of "Hotelier" was less successful, even though it featured a cameo guest appearance by Bae Yong-joon. SMAP's Tsuyoshi Kusanagi and actress Reina Tanaka will appear in "Ryokiteki na Kanojo," a remake of the 2001 hit Korean movie "My Sassy Girl" beginning in April, 2008.

Korean stars who have tried acting in Japanese dramas have faced a bigger challenge. Choi Ji-woo starred in "Rondo" in 2006 and Ryu Shi-won co-starred with Japan's top actress Yukie Nakama in "Joshi Deka (Lady Detective)" in 2007, but the latter reached only 54th place in the year's drama rankings. Both series met with only moderate success, in part because the Korean stars were not given ample opportunity to display their talents.

While hanryu fans in Japan might idolize the Korean stars, and rush to their fan club meetings, what they are really buying is the whole Korean drama package -- the excellent camera work, the passion, the direction, the perkier dialogue and plots, the detail regarding fashion, and the beautiful background music that make them a distinctly Korean commodity. Thus, Korean stars might want to think twice before accepting roles in Japanese series.

Korean actors who want to try their hand at Japanese dramas may find it educational, but it is also a career choice fraught with peril. Their popularity on the archipelago may be more secure if they continue to star in domestic Korean dramas with export value, and only pop across the sea for periodic personal appearance tours, rather than getting caught up in the slumping continuing-drama-series crunch in Japan.

Although Ryu Shi-won's week-long guest appearance on the 2007 NHK morning serial "DonDon Hare" significantly helped spike ratings for that series, just look at what he faced in one romantic scene with Yukie Nakama in "Joshi Deka:" In the scene where she is so distraught that she hasn't eaten all day, what does the script call for -- a kiss, a hug, empathy, sympathy? Not even some concerned and caring Korean drama-style wrist yanking (which makes one wonder if repeated strain wrist injuries are an occupational hazard for Korean actresses who have to rehearse scenes like that all day).

No, Ryu Shi-won has to tell her to close her eyes. Then he leans over and pinches her nose while shoving a morsel of food into her mouth. Ridiculously unromantic and a waste of his talents. And the Japanese networks wonder why their drama ratings are plummeting, while the public craves serious romances. As long as Korean dramas continue to fill this void, the hanryu boom should continue to be a lucrative niche industry in Japan.

The next bounce will no doubt come from "Taewangsasingi," starring Bae Yong-joon. Already running on NHK's satellite channel, it will be broadcast in NHK's lucky Saturday 11:10 p.m. terrestrial time slot from April 5. Japanese actor Masato Hagiwara, whose own career got a boost when he did the Japanese voiceovers for Yong-sama in "Winter Sonata," will be back to give voice to the hero again.

For now, it looks like the hanryu TV boom is here to stay and will continue to bring the peninsula and the archipelago closer together through couch-potato diplomacy.

By Kathleen Morikawa (Writer's Profile)

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/

[rubie]

BSL Request

Would appreciate it very much if anyone has the capture of Sunwoo in BSL sipping coffee or stirring his cuppa.. you know.. the scene at the beginning of the movie?

Anyone has that particular capture or anything related to it.. to share with me? Please. :blush:

I've looked through BSL at Cine21, none of the said image but I found a few BTS pics to share that some of us might not have seen before.

Captures credit to Cine21

---

Yupyup.. the ever-so-hopeless rambling rubie is back. I can't leave the thread by itself.. feels so incomplete seeing it so lonely. Come on hunnies.. soooo quiet.

[Guest TY_KSW]

At first .. we were shocked.. quite a lot, too..

TY-hunnie.. if BH looks like a serial killer.. don't you think that he has achieved the effect for his EVIL character?

Pandarub... no doubt!!! frankly speaking, to me.. Mr Lee is the #1 successful actor conveying the evil character on screen... I bet at any price... ! (hehehe.. of course.. my another kings are performing excellent too.. JDG and KSW... )

Speaking for the "I Come With The Rain" movie... like i said before.. Dir Tran always casted his wife a leading actress.. She is Hunnie's co-star.. Here is her pix in the movie... tsk tsk.. i guess she is 10-year older than our man!

[rubie]

Pandarub... no doubt!!! frankly speaking, to me.. Mr Lee is the #1 successful actor conveying the evil character on screen... I bet at any price... ! (hehehe.. of course.. my another kings are performing excellent too.. JDG and KSW... )

Speaking for the "I Come With The Rain" movie... like i said before.. Dir Tran always casted his wife a leading actress.. She is Hunnie's co-star.. Here is her pix in the movie... tsk tsk.. i guess she is 10-year older than our man!

http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/4079/ic...inmovie5qj6.jpg

ICWTR pics & info from past postings.. seems that our BH and Mrs. Tran will have some pretty intense love scenes in the movie.. I think..

Age does not matter.. if the actor or actress concerned is good.

Source: www.cine21.com

TY-hunnie.. these are their pics, right?

Tran Anh Hung (born December 23, 1962) is a French film director of Vietnamese ancestry.

He has long been considered as having been in the forefront of the wave of acclaimed overseas Vietnamese cinema in the past two decades. His films have received international notoreity and acclaim, and until recently had all been varied meditations on life in Vietnam.

His Oscar-nominated debut (for Best foreign film) was with the The Scent of Green Papaya (1993) which also won two top prizes at the prestigious Cannes film festival, and his followup Cyclo (1995) featured top Hong Kong movie star Tony Leung Chiu Wai, also eventually nabbing a top prize at the Venice International Film Festival. The Vertical Ray of the Sun, released in 2000, was the third film in what many consider now to be his "Vietnam trilogy."

After a long sabbatical, it has been officially announced that Tran Anh Hung is back behind the helm with the film I Come with the Rain (2008), which features a star-studded international cast including Josh Hartnett, Trần Nữ Yên Khê, Lee Byung-Hun, and Takuya Kimura.

His wife, Trần Nữ Yên Khê, has also starred in every single one of his films to date. (wikipedia)

Source: vietnamnet.vn

Photos from thanhniennews.com & theyshootpictures.com; thanks to MRS.le ♥

[Guest TY_KSW]

Yup.. they are!

tsk tsk.. i frankly dun like this couple so far.. I hope this movie will change my mind!

Anyway! i sincerely support this movie for Hunnie's sake!

if it is not involved my Hunnie... no way i watch it!

sorry for my saying... just personal oppion... No offend! :blush:

[rubie]

March 2, 2008

THE HIGH TIDE OF THE KOREAN WAVE(17) 
Korean dramas carve a niche in Japan 

By Kathleen Morikawa (Writer's Profile) koreaherald.co.kr

The full force of the Korean Wave hit Japan in 2004. Four years later, the phenomenon known here as "hanryu" has succeeded in creating a comfortable niche for itself in the Japanese TV and music world. 

In November, 2004, the initial frenzy clogged Narita Airport, as thousands of Bae Yong-joon fans flocked to welcome him to Japan, ten people were injured as the crowd outside his Tokyo hotel scrambled to get a peek at him. Today, the hanryu boom has evolved into a calmer, sustained and widespread interest in Korean pop culture that has increased the Japanese public's desire to better understand the customs, lifestyle and cuisine of their closest neighbor. 

Of course, not everyone has rushed to ride the Korean Wave, but it has succeeded in widening the perceptions and perspectives of many. Here on the northern island of Hokkaido, where Korean TV dramas are especially popular, signs of the hanryu presence are everywhere. Ladies gently jostle each other out of the way to get at the wide array of hanryu magazines at the local bookstore, and TV commercials remind us that the new "Winter Sonata II" and "Spring Waltz" pachinko (pinball) machines will be out soon. At the local music store, a large box containing a 30-centimeter Kwon Sang-woo doll decked out in the priestly robes he wore in the movie "Love So Divine" is propped up against shelves full of Korean drama theme music collectors' boxes and DVDs from John-Hoon and Rain. 

In Hokkaido, five to six Korean TV series are shown each week on terrestrial TV, mostly on weekday mornings and mostly without Japanese voiceovers. Not only have many Japanese TV viewers discovered they love Korean dramas, but they have found that they are just as happy watching them in the vernacular with subtitles. That would have been utterly unimaginable even a few years ago -- an indication of the amazing effect the hanryu boom has had. Add in the plethora of dramas offered on Japan's dozens of satellite TV channels, and those of us who have never been to Korea could easily spend everyday there vicariously, if we like. 

Nor is the exchange all one way. While Japanese TV tourists flock to Seoul, several Korean dramas have featured Hokkaido locales. This February and March, director Kim Jin-min has been in the port town of Otaru filming a new TV drama starring Lee Dong-wook and Oh Yean-su that will air on MBC in May. Otaru is hoping it will be good for local tourism, too. 

The big question, of course, is just why has the hanryu boom been so successful? Mutual profit, timing and quality seem to be the answers. The entertainment industries in both countries quickly recognized the lucrative potential of the pop culture exchanges, and have actively promoted them. It would be difficult to even try to estimate the reverberating economic impact that all the hanryu spin-off industries, from publications and tourism to language study and licensing, have produced. 

The cross-cultural entertainment world influences are now so great, it's hard to imagine that this all took off just four years ago with one memorable TV drama -- "Winter Sonata," starring Bae Yong-joon and Choi Ji-woo. NHK, the national public broadcaster, decided to try it Saturdays at 11:10 p.m. in a time slot usually reserved for U.S. and British fare. Like all the Korean dramas shown on NHK since, it was broadcast with Japanese voiceovers. Japanese TV viewers, especially middle-aged women, quickly were carried away by the sensitive love story. Soon, glasses and wool scarves were fashion statements. Yong-sama, as he affectionately became known, was being carved in ice at the Sapporo Snow Festival, and tours to the filming locations became all the rage. NHK quickly followed up with "Beautiful Days," "All In," "Spring Waltz," and the historical dramas "Damo" and the very popular "Daejanggum," which NHK also later ran in animated form for the kids. Asian dramas have occupied the Saturday 11 p.m. time slot ever since. Those desperate for "Desperate Housewives or "ER" now have to wait until 1 a.m. As an added bonus for those who stay up even later, "Himawari" with Lee Byung-hun airs at 1:50 a.m. 

The historical dramas and lighter Korean romantic comedies broadcast on satellite TV and available for sale or rental on DVD have insured that hanryu fans now include both sexes and all age groups. The appetite of the most dedicated fans has become insatiable, and has stimulated interest in Korean movies, music, musicals and tourism. 

A Hanryu Cinema Festival featuring 14 films, mostly starring actors who are familiar to Japanese TV fans, is running again this year in Tokyo and Osaka from March to May. (Check cinemart.co.jp). The spring 2008 travel brochures advertising Korean destinations are offering tickets to the popular musicals "Nanta (Cooking)" and "Jump," besides promoting all-in sights on Jeju, "Daejanggum" locales and dining experiences and, for the die-hard Bae Yong-joon fans, a Yong-sama "mo ichido" (once again) tour that even includes his college campus. JTB also sponsored special tours to the open sets used in "Jumong" in February and March. And the list of Korean actors and musicians coming to Japan for concert tours, fan meetings, dinner shows or to release albums here grows longer by the day. March promises Big Bang concerts and the release of the first SG "Wanna Be + Japan" album. 

The desire for ever more information on the activities of Korean entertainers has led many big-name Tokyo publishers to issue an impressive array of hanryu magazines, directories and the glossy photo-heavy, magazine-style books known in Japan as "mooks." Those who want even quicker access to the Korean entertainment scene news can get up-to-the-minute bulletins on their cell phones. 

With all the dramas and information now available, Japanese hanryu enthusiasts are becoming increasingly knowledgeable. The latest directory of Korean stars includes the profiles of 780 actors, directors and scriptwriters. Truly dedicated hanryu fans can even test themselves on how much trivia they have amassed. 

"Kentei" (proficiency tests) in all sorts of subjects, from languages to local history, are popular in Japan, and the first introductory-level "hanryu kente" (a project done in conjunction with JTB) is currently underway. Those who pay for and successfully complete the test on-line will receive certificates of proficiency and be eligible for special TV tours to Korea. An intermediate-level exam is already planned for May. Those who think they have watched enough Korean dramas to qualify may want to try the mini-test at k-x.jp, with sample multiple-choice questions like: Amnesia is a recurring theme in Korean dramas. Select the drama which did not deal with this theme. 

Few fans take their fascination to this level, but even occasional and casual TV viewers will recognize the names of the stars of those first few NHK series -- Bae Yong-joon, Choi Ji-woo, Lee Byung-hun, Ryu Shi-won and Lee Young-ae -- and their works -- "Winter Sonata," "Daejanggum," "Stairway to Heaven," "Beautiful Days," and "Hotelier" -- which top a list of the most popular Korean dramas in Japan, according to a survey of 1,600 Japanese, mainly women in their 30s, done in 2007 by the TV Asahi program SMAStation. Hosted by SMAP's Shingo Katori, the program unfortunately has had to compete with these dramas in the Saturday, 11 p.m. time slot. And even Japanese TV scripts have begun to recognize the hanryu presence as a part of the modern 21st century Japanese lifestyle. In the recent Japanese TV series "Hatachi no Koibito," the heroine's colleague is a devoted Lee Byung-hun fan who reads hanryu magazines on her breaks, and rushes off from work to attend his fan meetings. 

 

Spoiler

This brings us to the second important aspect of the hanryu success: the timing was right. Had the Korean Wave arrived five or 10 years sooner, when Japan's own TV dramas were at their peak and bringing in average ratings of over 30 percent, the hanryu boom might have faced a more difficult challenge. But, for the last few years, Japanese dramas have been weathering a considerable slump. Although two dozen series are launched each quarter, it has become extremely difficult for most to get anywhere near 15 percent ratings, and few top that figure. Only dramas starring SMAP's Takuya Kimura have been consistently capable of climbing up over the 30 percent mark in the new century. Irritating or inconclusive endings, predictable dialogue and a trend away from serious romances have discouraged viewers, and created a vacuum that the quality Korean products have very conveniently filled. Serious drama fans have taken refuge in the parallel hanryu world with its overall high quality, straightforward and sincere style, freer expression of emotions and romantic leading men. 

Hanryu dramas might even be able to help enliven the Japanese prime time lineup, now heavy with variety shows and trivia quizzes, if given a chance, but foreign TV series have been unable to significantly break through into the 8-11 p.m. market. Since 1990, I can recall only one foreign drama that was able to crack that barrier and be welcomed into the Japanese prime time schedule -- "The X Files" in 1995. 

Still, the hanryu phenomenon has become secure enough in its niche that it has been able to make some dents in the barrier in two ways: Japanese remakes of Korean hits, and appearances by Korean stars in Japanese dramas. In 2006, Tokio's Tomoya Nagase starred in a successful remake of "My Boss, My Hero," the Korean comedy about a gangster who goes back to high school that was among the top ten-rated Japanese TV dramas that year. A Japanese remake of "Hotelier" was less successful, even though it featured a cameo guest appearance by Bae Yong-joon. SMAP's Tsuyoshi Kusanagi and actress Reina Tanaka will appear in "Ryokiteki na Kanojo," a remake of the 2001 hit Korean movie "My Sassy Girl" beginning in April, 2008. 

Korean stars who have tried acting in Japanese dramas have faced a bigger challenge. Choi Ji-woo starred in "Rondo" in 2006 and Ryu Shi-won co-starred with Japan's top actress Yukie Nakama in "Joshi Deka (Lady Detective)" in 2007, but the latter reached only 54th place in the year's drama rankings. Both series met with only moderate success, in part because the Korean stars were not given ample opportunity to display their talents. 

While hanryu fans in Japan might idolize the Korean stars, and rush to their fan club meetings, what they are really buying is the whole Korean drama package -- the excellent camera work, the passion, the direction, the perkier dialogue and plots, the detail regarding fashion, and the beautiful background music that make them a distinctly Korean commodity. Thus, Korean stars might want to think twice before accepting roles in Japanese series. 

Korean actors who want to try their hand at Japanese dramas may find it educational, but it is also a career choice fraught with peril. Their popularity on the archipelago may be more secure if they continue to star in domestic Korean dramas with export value, and only pop across the sea for periodic personal appearance tours, rather than getting caught up in the slumping continuing-drama-series crunch in Japan. 

Although Ryu Shi-won's week-long guest appearance on the 2007 NHK morning serial "DonDon Hare" significantly helped spike ratings for that series, just look at what he faced in one romantic scene with Yukie Nakama in "Joshi Deka:" In the scene where she is so distraught that she hasn't eaten all day, what does the script call for -- a kiss, a hug, empathy, sympathy? Not even some concerned and caring Korean drama-style wrist yanking (which makes one wonder if repeated strain wrist injuries are an occupational hazard for Korean actresses who have to rehearse scenes like that all day). 

No, Ryu Shi-won has to tell her to close her eyes. Then he leans over and pinches her nose while shoving a morsel of food into her mouth. Ridiculously unromantic and a waste of his talents. And the Japanese networks wonder why their drama ratings are plummeting, while the public craves serious romances. As long as Korean dramas continue to fill this void, the hanryu boom should continue to be a lucrative niche industry in Japan. 

The next bounce will no doubt come from "Taewangsasingi," starring Bae Yong-joon. Already running on NHK's satellite channel, it will be broadcast in NHK's lucky Saturday 11:10 p.m. terrestrial time slot from April 5. Japanese actor Masato Hagiwara, whose own career got a boost when he did the Japanese voiceovers for Yong-sama in "Winter Sonata," will be back to give voice to the hero again. 

For now, it looks like the hanryu TV boom is here to stay and will continue to bring the peninsula and the archipelago closer together through couch-potato diplomacy.

 

[AutumnLeaves]

BSL Request

Would appreciate it very much if anyone has the capture of Sunwoo in BSL sipping coffee or stirring his cuppa.. you know.. the scene at the beginning of the movie?

Anyone has that particular capture or anything related to it.. to share with me? Please. :blush:

I've looked through BSL at Cine21, none of the said image but I found a few BTS pics to share that some of us might not have seen before.

Captures credit to Cine21

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Yupyup.. the ever-so-hopeless rambling rubie is back. I can't leave the thread by itself.. feels so incomplete seeing it so lonely. Come on hunnies.. soooo quiet.

Thanks for the pics Rubie I took these screencaps from my BSL DVD, were these what you had in mind?

Nah.. it's alright, TY. No offence taken. You're more familiar with the director & wife better than most of us here. It's no problem at all in your personal opinion... we all have our dislikes.

Hopefully.. the movie will be better than expected and as of now.. no one knows how this will actually turn out. Even though Cyclo has had a disturbing storyline, I just hope that ICWTR will not only be thought-provoking (I'm sure it will be quite shocking nonetheless ) but most importantly, delivering a well-worth acting performance all-around especially from LBH.

I agree Rubie, I'm sure LBH will give an excellent performance. I'm really interested to see how Josh Hartnett does in his role too... I'm so excited for this movie

[Guest celina86]

Hi Guys

I`m coming here after 3 days now (I think)... I was away because I got in to a minor accident And top of that I was not allowed to come online due to my Mom... but thank god I`m better now and I was already missing coming here :blush: I was not able to think my day would be complete if I don`t visit here and especially all of you guys :blush:

Anyways I`m also glad I`m visiting after 3 days - that means I get to see more BH goodies

Will try to catch up with everything around here

[zashibear]

I'm not too sure about BH's endorsements for AUDI but if I'm not mistaken he had at least twice been the spokesperson for the German carmaker. The pics that ylin posted were from the ceremony held in late 2003. Wait a minute.. I'm not sure if Audi was sponsoring the cars used in All In because now it looked quite familiar (especially the car that Jimmy Kim uses).. or maybe not. All In fans can help clarify this?

--- Edited to add

There's a little posting at the All In thread if anyone wants to read about Jimmy Cha, the man behind the Jimmy Kim (In Ha) persona. Simply refer here for the related articles.

Sorry for the late reply to this question. But ALL IN always brings out the lurker out of me. And yes , Jimmy Kim used Audi cars in ALL IN. (At least during the parts of the drama that he was a big shot businessman in the drama). :blush:

[rubie]

Thanks for the pics Rubie I took these screencaps from my BSL DVD, were these what you had in mind?

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t123/Hi...fter01/bsl7.jpg

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t123/Hi...fter01/bsl8.jpg

I agree Rubie, I'm sure LBH will give an excellent performance. I'm really interested to see how Josh Hartnett does in his role too... I'm so excited for this movie

These caps are awesome, H! MwaHHH! Just what I wanted, too.. you know that.. that's not BH's hand putting in the sugar cubes in the coffee, right? It's Dir. Kim's hand.. which is all the better, for what I'm asking for. :blush: I love it how BH would love to tease the director saying that the latter really wanted to act in the movie as well, hence his hand with the coffee.

Hi Guys

I`m coming here after 3 days now (I think)... I was away because I got in to a minor accident And top of that I was not allowed to come online due to my Mom... but thank god I`m better now and I was already missing coming here :blush: I was not able to think my day would be complete if I don`t visit here and especially all of you guys :blush:

Anyways I`m also glad I`m visiting after 3 days - that means I get to see more BH goodies

Will try to catch up with everything around here

aWw, no wonder we didn't see you as much as before.. so sorry to hear about your minor accident. Hope you'll get over it soon. A BIG HUG for our Celina!

And definitely know how you feel not being able to be online as often but coming back after 3 (LOOOOONG) days for more BH goodies sounds mighty cool, too!

Take care and we'll see you soon!

ps: hmm.. maybe I should do the same.. come back after 10 days.. because I especially love to see A LOT of BH goodies at the thread, too! Would that work?

Sorry for the late reply to this question. But ALL IN always brings out the lurker out of me. And yes , Jimmy Kim used Audi cars in ALL IN. (At least during the parts of the drama that he was a big shot businessman in the drama). :blush:

Thanks zashi! Really appreciate the info, no wonder the car looks so familiar all of the sudden. What a cool coincidence! :blush: Really glad that you didn't miss the posting & question.

Hope many more will un-lurk.. for BH.. huh.. huh..

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Btw... hunnies all!

Fan sighting LBH in LA!

A Japanese friend told me last night that 2 Japanese fans saw BH in downtown LA and in a club recently. No specific date and no pics though but according to the fans... BH looked soooo cool! :blush:

I'm not sure if the fans were (actually) following him.. .. but they saw him, just didn't take any pics. Probably giving BH his time of privacy.