Lee Byung Hun 이병헌 Byunghun Lee

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October 17, 2017

 

10 Well-matched drama couples despite their huge age gap

 

Source: MyKcatchup via HanCinema.net

Age is just a number when it comes to a good chemistry. There are many actors and actresses who've had a partner in a drama with a large age gap between them. This type of casting often brings worry before the drama begins, but once the first episode is aired, people can't help but be sucked into the unbreakable chemistry these couples have on screen!

 

Spoiler

 

"The Temperature of Love"

Yang Se-jong (1992) & Seo Hyun-jin (1985) = 7 years apart

Let's start with the recent younger-man-older-woman-romance phenomenon! Actor Yang Se-jong and actress Seo Hyun-jin can erase the seven year age difference from our minds when we watch them flirt. A seven year difference may sound like it's nothing compared to all the other couples ahead of them on this list, but they are wearing it well.

 

"Black"

Song Seung-heon (1976) & Go Ara (1990) = 14 years apart

Personally, I haven't yet seen the new drama "Black". (It's on the top of my list, though! You just can't go wrong with OCN dramas.) The news of the great Song Seung-heon and beautiful Go Ara as the two main characters in "Black" made everyone curious as to how their chemistry would work. According to the story that's been revealed so far, Song Seung-heon and actress Lee El appear as a couple, so I'm not exactly sure how Go Ara will come into play. Perhaps a love line will be created or they will just work together as partners. But either way, we hope to see a great spark between them.

 

"Mirror of the Witch"

Yoon Si-yoon (1986) & Kim Sae-ron (2000) = 14 years apart

Ah, young love! Actor Yoon Si-yoon and actress Kim Sae-ron also displayed a heartbreaking love line despite their fourteen year age gap. Though, with Yoon Si-yoon's forever baby face and Kim Sae-ron, who looks mature and adult-like for her age, the age difference is quickly forgotten.

 

"Fantastic"

Ji Soo (1993) & Park Si-yeon (1979) = 14 years apart

This totally unexpected couple created such lovely chemistry together! Their love story may have not been the most ideal, but the two made many peoples hearts flutter. For some reason, Koreans are enamoured by older-woman-younger-man-romance (noona romances) and even though they weren't the main couple in the drama, actor Ji Soo and actress Park Si-yeon made another great statement of that trend together in the K-drama history.

 

"Beautiful Gong Shim"

Namgoong Min (1978) & Minah (1993) = 15 years apart

Seriously, for every woman, Namgoong Min is that one man whom we wouldn't mind dating even if he is fifteen years older than us. Oppa, Marry Me, Please? "Beautiful Gong Shim" was Minah's first drama as the main character, so she was excited and nervous for the role. However, according to Minah, Namgoong Min was able to help her focus and coached her in some of their scenes, which made acting much easier and more comfortable. Having that trust between them perhaps explains why their chemistry was so good!

 

"The Perfect Wife"

Sung Joon (1990) & Ko So-young (1972) = 18 years apart

Of course, the scenes between Ko So-young and Yoon Sang-hyun were the main points, but whenever Sung Joon was in the scene with Ko So-young, there was just something sweet about the couple. Sung Joon is a rising star in recent years and this younger lover role helped him steal the hearts of noona audiences everywhere and made him grow as an actor.

 

"Secret Love Affair"

Yoo Ah-in (1986) & Kim Hee-ae (1967) = 19 years apart

How can I leave out "Secret Love Affair" when we are talking about drama couple with a huge age gap? Actor Yoo Ah-in and actress Kim Hee-ae are a legendary couple that initially shocked everyone. The drama itself had a sensitive theme, but the chemistry between these two was simply undeniable. Many agreed that for this love story to look good, it was only possible because the role of Oh Hye-won was given to actress Kim Hee-ae. No other actress would have looked this good.

 

"A Witch's Love"

Park Seo-joon (1988) & Uhm Jung-hwa (1969) = 19 years apart

"A Witch's Love" couple was as scandalous as "Secret Love Affair" couple, if not more, when the casting was announced. We knew that Uhm Jung-hwa would always be the gorgeous role-model to many womenm but having the nineteen year age gap with the Park Seo-joon made everyone question the drama. However, Park Seo-joon and Uhm Jung-hwa were able to silence all those doubts once the drama aired. The couple still stands as one of the most amazing younger-man-older-woman pairings in K-drama history.

 

 

"The Prime Minister and I"

Lee Beom-soo (1970) & Yoona (1990) = 20 years apart

One of the biggest age difference in the K-drama history is between Lee Beom-soo and Yoona. There was a twenty year age difference with this splendid couple, but it looked so natural thanks to the veteran actor Lee Beom-soo! Plus, this romance is meant to have that age difference, so it all makes sense! The drama itself may have not gained a high rating, but this couple sure made a lot of news with their cute love story.

 

"Mr. Sunshine"

Lee Byung-hun (1970) & Kim Tae-ri (1990) = 20 years apart

With the same age difference as the "The Prime Minister and I" couple above, this new couple with the twenty year age gap is waiting for their turn to make history! When the casting was announced and confirmed for this upcoming drama, everyone scratched their heads in doubt -- they still are. We are hoping that this unexpected couple will show us what they have to offer and bring success to "Mr. Sunshine"!

 

By Lily Lee

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October 17, 2017

 

SHIN Sang-ok’s North Korea-Produced SALT to Premiere in Asian World Film Festival
Period Siege Drama THE FORTRESS Selected as Centerpiece Screening

 

by Pierce Conran / KoBiz // Asian World Film Festival 2017

 

 

Classic Korean filmmaker SHIN Sang-ok’s North Korea-produced Salt (1985) will have its North American premiere on November 1st, during the 3rd edition of the Asian World Film Festival in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, director HWANG Dong-hyuk’s Joseon Era siege drama The Fortress has been selected as the festival’s Centerpiece screening. 

 

Renowned for his classic dramas in South Korea, such as The Flower In Hell (1958) and Mother And A Guest (1961), SHIN and his wife, star CHOI Eun-hee, were famously kidnapped by North Korean agents in 1978 during a trip to Hong Kong. They were brought to Pyongyang where they were forced by North Leader KIM Jong-il to make propagandist films.

 

Set in the 1930s, Salt features CHOI as the wife in a family that harbors a rich Korean-Chinese businessman. When her husband dies, she asks for the merchant’s help and eventually enters an illegal salt trade. She is later attacked by the Japanese but then saved by a communist group.

 

Salt was screened at the Moscow International Film Festival, where it earned the Best Actress Award for CHOI. Both SHIN and CHOI finally managed to escape their captivity while visiting Austria for a film festival in 1986. SHIN passed away in 2006.

 

The Fortress, which stars LEE Byung-hun, KIM Yun-seok and PARK Hae-il, recently topped the box office in Korea, where it was released during the Chuseok holiday period. Also screening in the Culver City-based festival will be RYOO Seung-wan’s The Battleship Island and JANG Hun’s A Taxi Driver.

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The London East Asia Film Festival (LEAFF 2017) will start tomorrow, 10/19 with THE FORTRESS as the opening feature. Most likely LBH has already left for London to attend the festival and participate in the Q&A with Dir. Hwang & actor Park Hae Il. Hopefully his family will be going as well or joining him in LA later.

 

 

Source: London East Asia Film Festival

 

BREAKFAST AT THE ELECTRIC

WITH ACTORS

 

TALK WITH 4 KOREAN ACTORS 

LEE BYUNG-HUN, PARK HAE-IL, LEE JE-HOON, JUNG EUN-CHAE

& ANGELI MACFARLANE 

 

Electric Cinema, Notting Hill

 

ANGELI MACFARLANE

 

Angeli Macfarlane is the development producer at Film London, managing editorial of the Microwave and London Calling schemes for writers, directors and producers based in London. She also launched a new training programme in January 2017 created by Script Cube, providing a blend of training modules for emerging BAME and women writers, directors and producers. 

 
LEE BYUNG-HUN

 

Lee Byung Hun is an award winning actor who received critical acclaim for works in a range of genres, most notably A Bittersweet Life (2005), The Good, The Bad, The Weird (2008). He is also known for portraying Storm Shadow in G.I. Joe in 2009 and 2013. Lee continues to work in Hollywood as well as Korea.

 

Filmography: The Fortress, The Magnificent Seven, RED 2, G.I. Joe, I Saw The Devil, The Good, The Bad, The Weird

 

PARK HAE-IL

 

Park Hae-il began his acting career in theatre, but soon gained the film industry's attention with films such as Memories of Murder by Director Bong Joon-ho. Park received great praise for his performance in the period action film, War of the Arrows (2011) and A Muse (2012). 

Filmography: The Fortress, The Last Princess, A Muse, War of the Arrows, Moss

 

LEE JE-HOON

 

Lee Je-hoon started his career in indie films in 2006. Then he appeared on a few commercial films like The Front Line (2011) and Architecture 101 (2012). He is becoming one of the most loved actors of all time in not just film but on television as well.

 

Filmography: Anarchist from Colony, Architecture 101, The Front Line, Bleak Night

 

JUNG EUN-CHAE

 

Jung Eun-chae is a beautiful, actress and rising star who began her career as a model. Since her debut in 2010, she gained international attention with the release of Director Hong Sang-soo's Nobody's Daughter Haewon (2013) which premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival. 

 

Filmography: The Table, Hill of Freedom, The Fatal Encounter, Nobody's Daughter Haewon

 
FRI 20 OCT, 10AM @ELECTRIC CINEMA

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Unfortunately, this Yonhapnews report made an error regarding the movie 'ONLY THAT IS MY WORLD' saying that it's a CMS' movie. Unless, there's another movie with the same title, which is really not the case, right.

 

 

October 18, 2017

 

Korean films popular in Busan's Asian Film Market

BUSAN, Oct. 18 (Yonhap) -- Many Korean films have been sold to overseas buyers during this year's Asian Film Market held in the southern port city of Busan, the festival said Wednesday.

 

According to the Busan International Film Festival, distribution rights to "The Outlaws," a local crime action starring Ma Dong-seok and Yoon Kye-sang, were sold to companies from Taiwan, Hong Kong and the Philippines, at the 12th Asian Film Market that took place at the Busan Exhibition & Convention Center from Saturday to Tuesday.

 

"The Outlaws," which ranked first on its premiere weekend, has sold 3.93 million tickets since its release on Oct. 3.

 

"A Special Lady," an action noir led by actress Kim Hye-soo, was sold to Taiwan even before its premiere scheduled for Nov. 9 while "Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds," a film adaptation of a popular webtoon of the same name set to open in December, was pre-sold to 12 countries.

 

In addition, two other forthcoming films "Heart Blackened" and "Only That Is My World," both starring actor Choi Min-sik, were sold to other Asian nations.

 

The Asian Film Market drew a total of 1,583 visitors from 45 countries, up some 200 people from last year, the festival said.

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I think, it says that LBH was surprised to see the same fans & familiar faces at the stage greeting on 10/8, the cast were making rounds at the cinema screening THE FORTRESS. They made an appearance before the movie started but experienced fans (Rubeurs) would follow him everywhere he went to greet the audience, meaning that they have to rush to be there before he arrives. Got to have a lot of stamina being a LBH fan. 

 

From a number of fan-cams highlighting THE FORTRESS stage greet and fan-events, LBH had been given a lot of stuffed-toys ~ obviously for JoonHoo. This proud Appa, of course, received the toys with a warm smile.

 

Clip: bh_rubeurs
Seoul, South Korea

 

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Yes, they are in London right now. 

 

Photo: MJ @216jung

 

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Thanks to the highlight at PlanetBH0712 // @ProjectKFFM

The FORTRESS in Frankfurt, Germany

 

Screening on Sunday October 22 at Project K - The Korean Film Festival

 

 

Spoiler

 

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October 19, 2017

 

The Fortress makes for 'a thinking person's war movie'

 

Chris Knight: It’s difficult to know which side to root for in this 17th-century tale of clashing Asian nations

 

Source: National Post

 

 

War or peace? You can’t have it both ways, despite what Dostoyevsky wrote, but it’s difficult to know which side to root for in this 17th-century tale of clashing Asian nations. (And no fair Googling “events of 1636” to see how it all turned out.)

 

On the one hand, we have Injo (Hae-il Park), king of Josean (modern-day Korea), holed up in a mountain fortress under siege by the forces of the Qing Empire (China). On the other, General Ingguldai, leading the siege and awaiting the arrival of his own emperor.

 

Somewhere in the middle, possibly a traitor, maybe a patriot, certainly a pragmatist, is Choi (Korean superstar Byung-hun Lee). As a courtier, he has the ear of the king; as a messenger, valuable information about the invaders. But his travels between camps has many certain he’s a traitor, and calling for his head.

 

Peace would spare the lives of countless soldiers and citizens, already facing starvation as the winter siege continues. But war spells exciting computer-generated mayhem, even if director Dong-hyuk Hwang isn’t exactly known for that in previous light fare like Miss Granny.

 

Without giving too much away, there’s something for everyone here. Politicians plot and debate before the king; skirmishes take place in the shadow of the mountain redoubt; and Choi walks a thin line between violence and appeasement, occasionally stumbling to one side or the other. (In an early scene, he slays a boatman after the man says he’ll help the enemy cross his river.) At more than two and a quarter hours, the subtitled Fortress is a little long, but still succeeds as a thinking person’s war movie.

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October 19, 2017

 

This morning's  posting from Lee Byung Hun's  Weibo account (A translation) 

 

 

 

“ Through the movie “ Terminator Genisys ”, I met the great film score composer Hans Zimmer, who held  a concert in Korea.  I am very honored to be able to participate in this event which also left me precious memories. ”

 

Source:  LeeByungHun0712weibo.com

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Source: The London Tree‏ 

 

#London #EastAsia #FilmFestival officially starts today with #LeeByungHun starrer #THEFORTRESS in the Opening Gala. #leaff2017

 

 

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Photos: liae_lives_in_london
Leicester Square

 

 

 

Spoiler

Spoiler

Spoiler

 

Photo: janyumm
Leicester Square

 

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Photo: ji__wook

 

 

Minjung was also spotted in the audience, no fan-cams pics of her (yet) but maybe this is from the opening gala. Photo posted by MJ herself on her IG, looking more formal than the other casual photos of her sight-seeing in London.

 

 

Clip: letsharait

 

 

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Photo & clip: cm.alex
ODEON

 

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Photos: London East Asia Film Festival @leafilmfest

.

 

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Source: News1 // S.T.Dupont

 

Another LBH photo from the ARENA x S.T. DuPont pictorial. Hopefully it's not just a pictorial but Lee Byung Hun endorsing the French brand.

 

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Source: Jon Alagoa‏ @Jonzumaki

 

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October 19, 2017

 

Review Korean historical war drama 'The Fortress' portrays and requires fortitude
 

Noel Murray LA Times

 

Hwang Dong-hyuk’s South Korean historical epic “The Fortress,” a grim look back at the infamous 1636 siege of a mountain stronghold, is so evocative that by the end viewers may be as cold and hungry as the movie’s cast of courtiers.

 

Based on Kim Hoon’s novel “Namhansanseong,” “The Fortress” covers the crisis faced by the Joseon dynasty when its historical alliance with China’s Ming government was challenged by the emergence of the Manchu Qing. When the latter sent armies to force Korea’s King Injo into line, the royal family and its aides retreated to the chilly hills.

 

The king (played by Park Hae-il) soon realizes he’s effectively imprisoned his people in a fort that lacks the supplies to survive the winter. He turns to two trusted advisors: Choi Myung-kil (Lee Byung-hun), who believes they have an obligation to the citizenry to surrender, and Kim Sang-hun (Kim Yoon-seok), who wants to fight.

 

The battle scenes here are impressively large-scale, but too sparsely deployed. A good two-thirds of this movie consists of miserable-looking people quietly debating their terrible options, which can be exhausting.

 

Still, by fostering an intimate understanding of what these historical figures went through, Hwang has given purpose to a story about hopelessness. The situation in “The Fortress” comes to a sad end. But it’s just one chapter in our ongoing human story.

-------------

‘The Fortress’

In Korean with English subtitles.

Not rated

Running time: 2 hours, 19 minutes

Playing: CGV Koreatown, Los Angeles

 

 

Source: koreajoongangdaily

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October 20, 2017

 

Film Review: ‘The Fortress’

Hwang Dong-hyuk's glacially paced historical drama focuses on a 17th-century clash between Asian countries.

By Joe Leydon Variety.com

It would be unfair, but not altogether inaccurate, to say audiences will undergo an ordeal only slightly less punishing that the one suffered by the folks on screen as they watch Hwang Dong-Hyuk’s “The Fortress,” a vividly detailed but exceedingly ponderous historical epic about the 17th-century invasion of Korea by an army of China’s Qing Empire. As King Ingo of the Joseon Dynasty and his loyal subjects remain ensconced in a mountaintop fortress while besieged by Qing forces, a combination of freezing temperatures, starvation and rash miscalculations by prideful military leaders systematically increase the body count. By contrast, viewers only have to worry about being seriously brain-fogged, if not bored to death, as the often confusing narrative sluggishly progresses.

 

Top-billed South Korean superstar Lee Byung-hun (familiar to North American audiences for his appearances in the “Magnificent Seven” remake and the “G.I. Joe” film franchise) underplays to a fault as Choi Myung-gil, the taciturn minister of the interior who dearly wishes to avoid a war he fears King Ingo (Park Hae-il) is ill-prepared to wage. He advocates for a policy of appeasement, even though if necessitates turning over the king’s young son to the Qing invaders as a hostage.

 

Spoiler

 

But minister of rites Kim Sang-heon (Kim Yoon-seok) takes a far more bellicose stance. He insists that King Ingo pit his outnumbered forces against the invaders so as not to besmirch the national honor of Korea.

 

Right from the start, it’s clear Kim speaks for the majority of the king’s advisers, a rabid bunch of war-mongers who feel no sacrifice is too great when it comes to defending their country. That is, not too great just as long as they’re not the ones actually doing the sacrificing. At one point, the prime minister issues commands to redirect supplies intended for the freezing and underfed soldiers to feed horses that will be needed for cavalry charges. When the horses wind up being slaughtered so the troops can be fed, the incensed minister very nearly executes a jeering soldier to maintain “military discipline.”

 

Every so often, though not nearly often enough, writer-director Hwang Dong-Hyuk (working from a novel by Kim Hoon) livens up “The Fortress” with graphically violent and impressively well-choreographed battle scenes. And he manages to generate some mild suspense by suggesting there may eventually be some sort of karmic payback after an elderly boatman is murdered to keep him from transporting Qing forces. (The unfortunate victim is survived by a cute granddaughter who makes her way into the mountain fortress.)

 

For the most part, however, “The Fortress” is a soporific grind that drearily alternates between scenes depicting screaming arguments among the king’s advisers (anger-fueled episodes that usually end with toadying lackeys reciting rote compliments like “Your majesty’s grace is immeasurable!”) and other scenes showing how miserable soldiers and civilians alike can be as they withstand dead-of-winter conditions without adequate clothing and food. “The Fortress” clocks in at 139 minutes, but feels much, much longer.

 

 

Spoiler

 

Film Review: 'The Fortress'

Reviewed online, Houston, Oct. 19, 2018. Running time: 139 MIN. (Original title: "Namhan Sanseong")

PRODUCTION: (S. Korea) A CJ Entertainment release and presentation of a Siren Pictures production, in association with Invent Stone. Producer: Kim Ji-Yeon. Executive producer: Jeong Tae-Sung. Director, screenplay: Hwang Dong-hyuk, based on the novel “Namhan Fortress” by Kim Hoon. Camera (widescreen): Kim Ji-Yong. Editor: Nam Na-Young. Music: Ryuichi Sakamoto.

WITH: Lee Byung-hun, Kim Yoon-seok, Park Hae-il, Go Soo.

 

 

 

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Photo: London East Asia Film Festival @leafilmfest

 

FB: London East Asia Film Festival

 

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Clip: lora_londra
London, United Kingdom