[News] Drama, Movies, Actors & Actresses

[rubie]

Update : Oct 31, 2005 KST 18:22

"April Snow" sets precedent in Chinese theaters

The movie “April Snow,” starring actor Bae Yong-jun, will be shown in China with Chinese subtitles at the enthusiastic request of the actor’s Chinese fans.

The movie’s investor and distributor Showeast said the Chinese distributor of “April Snow” will show the movie with Chinese subtitles at selected theaters. The decision not to dub the movie into Chinese was made because the actor’s Chinese fans flooded the firm with requests to allow them to hear Bae’s original voice.

“That is quite unprecedented in China, where even Hollywood movies are dubbed into Chinese,” said a person from Showeast.

Chinese audiences generally prefer to watch Hollywood and Asian movies that have been dubbed into Chinese. But “April Snow” will become the first foreign movie to be shown with subtitles, once again attesting to the skyrocketing popularity of Yonsama.

Showeast says it will show both the subtitled and dubbed versions of the movie so that audiences can watch the version they prefer. However, theaters showing the dubbed version will outnumber those showing the subtitled version, because the majority of Chinese viewers still prefer dubbed films.

”April Snow” will open in more than 20 Chinese cities on Nov. 11. Bae will soon visit Beijing for three days to promote the movie.

Source: KBS Global

http://english.kbs.co.kr/mcontents/enterta...6185_11692.html

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AFI Fest Invites Horror Film 'Red Shoes'

Monday, October 31, 2005 16:25:04

The acclaimed horror movie "The Red Shoes" is the nation's only entry in the 2005 American Film Institute Fest opening Thursday in Los Angeles.

Director Kim Yong-gyun will attend screenings of the film on November 9th and 11th for a chat with the audience.

The movie is a horror adapation of the classic fairy tale by Hans Christian Anderson. A recent divorcee finds a pair of mysterious red shoes that causes a chain of horrific consequences for her family.

"The Red Shoes" is in the fest's Asian new classic category sponsored by the Asian-American cable channel ImaginAsian.

Reported by KBS World Radio

Contact the KBS News: englishweb@kbs.co.kr

Source: KBS Global

http://english.kbs.co.kr/news/newsview_sub...&key=2005103134

Booth to Sell Korean Films at Global Expo

Monday, October 31, 2005 17:20:25

Domestic filmmakers in November will set up a sales booth for Korean movies at the world's largest trade expo in Santa Monica, California.

The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, Korea Film Council and cinema distributors will promote eight domestic movies at the annual American Film Market opening Wednesday.

The nine South Korean distributors to run a Korean film sales booth are CJ Enterprise, Tube Entertainment, Cineclick Asia, Showbox, Showist, Koa Studio, Mirovision, MK Pictures and Film Messenger.

Among the Korean movies up for sale are the melodrama "All For Love," the crime thriller, "Murder, Take One," the thriller "Princess Aurora," the third sequel to the Whispering Corridors series "Voice," the sci-fi film "The Wig" and the romantic drama "You Are My Sunshine."

The council and KOTRA on Friday will hold "Korean Film Night" for 200 members of the global film industry.

Reported by KBS World Radio

Contact the KBS News: englishweb@kbs.co.kr

Source: KBS Global

http://english.kbs.co.kr/news/newsview_sub...&key=2005103138

[Guest Syjfan]

A Moment To Remember hit no. 1 in Japan Box Office for 2 consecutive weeks

Reposted from www.iyejin.com

Source: http://movie.goo.ne.jp/ranking/boxoffice/index.html

Japan Box Office 29 - 30 Oct 2005

1 私の頭の中の消しゴム A Moment To Remember (Also no. 1 for 22 - 23 Oct weekend)

2 春の雪, Spring Snow (Debut)

3 Charline and the Chocolate Factory

4 Tim Burton's Corpse Bride

5 機動戦士ZガンダムII 恋人たち, Mobile Suit Z Gundam 2 - Lovers- (Debut)

6 まだまだあぶない刑事 Abudeka

7 ソウ2 Saw 2 (Debut)

8 キャプテン・ウルフ The Pacifier (Debut)

9 蝉しぐれ Semi Shigure

10 ステルス Stealth

春の雪 is supposed to be a local blockbuster starring major lead actor/actress. However, AMTR managed to beat it and stayed at no. 1 in its second week.

[Guest coreana]

The Time, “Rain Will Be the First Korean Star to Make a Debut into the American Market”

KBS broadcasted a special program about the singer/actor Rain under a program title “Why Rain Creates Feverish Excitement.”

KBS credits Rain for the Hallyu phenomenon spreading throughout Asia like a wildfire, and focuses on how the onetime backup dancer Rain became a leading celebrity and a leading singer/actor, ambitiously eyeing the world market.

KBS also revealed through this special program in Oct. 30, Time Magazine’s report stating, “Rain will not stop here, but will become the first Korean star to debut into the American market”, including the international media’s favorable reports of Rain.

The program was divided into four subcategories to expand on the main theme “Why Rain Creates Feverish Excitement.” The four subcategory titles were: “Asia, In Love With Rain”, “How Did Rain Become an Asian Star?”, “Meet Jung Ji Hoon, the 24 Year Old Young Man, Not the Singer/Actor”, and “Rain, Moving Beyond the Asian Horizon and Into the World”.

KBS revealed that the program did also focus on Rain’s future in the world market.

credit: sports today

[rubie]

Tuesday, November 1, 2005

'Yonsama' to try his luck in China

With the slightest smile or a subtle wave of the hand, "Yonsama" Bae Yong-joon may have hundreds of Japanese women fainting with lust. But China is an unpredictable land even for the "Korean Wave Prince," as he sets off next week to meet his fans there for the release of "April Snow."

With a trademark smile that accentuates his sculpted features, the 33-year-old actor stole the hearts of many Japanese women through "Winter Sonata," a hit TV drama that started off the boom for Korean pop culture in the neighboring country.

Utilizing Bae's charm to the maximum by adopting the same melodrama formula of "Winter Sonata," the movie "April Snow" managed to sweep up over two million audiences in Japan, becoming the most popular Korean movie released in the country.

But despite the success in Japan, China's reaction toward the movie remains a mystery.

Ironically, while the formula had been more than enough to please Japanese fans, Korean moviegoers who were not infected by the "Yonsama Craze" had not been so enthusiastic about the movie.

"In the movie, Bae managed to reincarnate Joon-sang in Winter Sonata," said critic Gwak Young-jin in a local movie magazine. "A reincarnation of Joon-sang had been enough to lure Japanese fans, but had evidently been a turn-off for Korean moviegoers."

Yoon Suk-ho, the director of "Winter Sonata," once said that Yonsama was a "fantasy" created by both actor Bae and Joon-sang, the main character of the drama.

Playing as Joon-sang, a man with an everlasting devotion for his first love, Bae excited nostalgia of the 1960s and 70s among the middle-aged housewives of Japan.

A heart-aching romance unfolding over the sparkling white snow, "Winter Sonata" was an Asian version of the movie "Love Story" that these women remembered in the days of their youth. Although many more Korean TV dramas were broadcast in Japan following the major hit drama, not one managed to exceed its popularity which ended with a viewer rating of 22 percent for its final episode.

But despite the hope that Bae will manage to make another mega wave in China, some critics carefully predict that China will be a different story from Japan.

It is married women in their 40s and 50s that lead the Korean Wave in Japan. Many "Yonsama fanatics" are known to be highly educated women who have reached a mid-life with some extra time and money to spare.

For these women, Yonsama in "Winter Sonata" is a perfect tool to revive memories of their youth. Watching the pure and somewhat old-fashioned love story wrapped in a modernized package, the housewives feel a familiar tingle of nostalgia that Japan's trendy dramas failed to excite.

But unlike these Japanese housewives, most Chinese women work in double harness with their husbands, and thus, do not have the time to daydream about a romance far from their reality.

Exhausted from work and family duties which often collide, Chinese women tend to fancy a down-to-earth story that they can actually sympathize with. "Family" is an important concept for these women who struggle to keep up with both duties without fail.

For example, Korea's renowned author Kim Soo-hyun's 1992 TV drama "What is Love," which was released in China in 1997, received warm greeting from viewers. "What is Love" is a family-based drama which portrays problems and everyday lives of a large family comprised of three generations. The drama's success showed that family dramas were more compelling than romances for Chinese viewers.

Moreover, the so-called "Yonsama effect" was possible due to Japan's tendency to jump on trends.

When a movie or a drama becomes a hit, companies immediately open up a market luring fans to books, DVDs, records, photographs and anything related. Because of the public's strong attachment to celebrities, the success of a movie or a TV series in Japan is often largely dependent on the popularity of the leading actor or actress.

Thus, to a certain extent, it was Yonsama's popularity that played the crucial role in the success of "April Snow," not the movie itself, critics say.

But the case is different for China, as it is often not the leading actor or actress, but prominent directors and critics' reviews that lure Chinese audiences to the cinema.

"While Japan is known for the characteristic to immediately idolize and worship a celebrity en masse, China appears to be much cooler and more rational when it comes to actors and actresses," said professor Masao Omura of Nihon University.

Thus, making a wave in China is probably a nerve-racking test for Yonsama, in which he has to try his luck to break through with a much slimmer chance. But despite the difficulties, Korea has its finger crossed with Bae, hoping that the Yonsama fantasy will succeed in reaching China's heart.

(hayney@heraldm.com)

By Shin Hae-in

2005.11.01

Source: The Korea Herald

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/htm...00511010026.asp

[Guest sunshine4ever]

These news were translated from Chinese, but I think it must be an accurate news therefore I'm posting it. If you find it to be of an error, please PM me ^^ thank you.

October 30, 2005

Jo In Sung fears love confession

Translated by Erwinia (if you take this news anywhere, PLEASE credit Erwinia, thank you).

Pretty boy actor Jo In Sung’s candid response to love confession

The lead actors in SBS drama – Spring Day, Jo In Sung and Ji Jin Hee held a fan meeting session with 400 Japanese fans on 30 Oct. It was held in Seoul, Walkerhill Hotel at 3pm. When he was asked if he would confess his love like his character in the drama, Jo In Sung replied, “it would be hard to confess.” He added “you have the right to love any woman before you confess but the right is lost after the confession is made.”

He continued, “Maybe it is better to love someone in secret, and don’t I get to love more women if I do not confess?” (This statement made the fans laughed)

Jo In Sung gave the sweater and the sunglasses that he wore to his fans as a token of his gratitude to them.

Although Jo In Sung was not well on that day, he stayed till the end of the event. (Everyone was concerned about him) Jo In Sung hurt his thigh while filming Mean Streets and thus it costs some inconvenience in his movements. Jo In Sung stated that he has only “pulled his muscle, there is no fracture and will recover soon.”

Translated by Fern

(Please credit to Fern if you take this news elsewhere, thank you very much).

Although Jo In Sung was not feeling well, he still attended at the fan meeting and everyone cheered him on warmly. Jo In Sung held a fan meeting with Ji Jin Hee on 30 in Seoul, Walkerhill Hotel at 3 pm. The event, exclusive for 400 Japanese fans, was held by Hallyu stars Jo In Sung and Ji Jin Hee, the actors in SBS drama Spring Day.

Japanese fans were shocked while seeing him. They expected Jo In Sung would look extremely good, but he was limping instead. When his fans saw him like that, they were surprised and their eye expression showed they felt so bad for him.

However, Jo In Sung was still shining. He moved to the stage center and talked to the Japanese fans who were worried about him, “Let’s start from greeting!” said Insung. He greeted them in Korean first and then he used Japanese, “Nice to meet you! I’m Jo In Sung!” And he continued “I’m currently filming Mean Streets. I was accidentally injured due to filming action moves. I was supposed to show you the best of me, but it turns out to be this way. I’m so sorry.” Jo In Sung explained what resulted in his injuries.

“I’m hoping everyone here is going to have wonderful memories when you leave.” said Insung. He expressed his gratitude to all the fans. Even if he didn’t feel well, Jo In Sung was still there the whole time through out the program and he friendly answered all the fans’ questions.

His fans were worried about his injured thigh. Jo In Sung didn’t want them to worry him, so he explained “I didn’t hurt my bone structure…just my muscle. It’s nothing serious!”

On the day, In Sung gave his own collections to his fans, and shook hands with every fan there to provide the highest standard service.

Jo In Sung’s injures were caused accidentally while filming "Mean Streets. The movie portrays the role Byung-doo who is in a low rated gangster organization and needs to feed his widow mom and two siblings. It’s a project about people’s desire and the mean world. Jo In Sung plays as Byung-doo who swears and speaks with accent. His successful transformation in acting skill has become a hot topic.

[Guest adikkeluangman]

“A Love To Kill” gains popularity from pilot episode

2005-11-01

The pilot episode of the new Monday-Tuesday KBS TV2 miniseries “A Love To Kill”

(written by Lee Kyung-hee and produced by Kim Kyu-tae) kept viewers riveted to

their TV screens when it aired yesterday.

According to viewership research firm TNS Media Korea on Nov. 1, the pilot episode

of “A Love To Kill” recorded viewer ratings of 16.4 percent on Oct. 31, beating out

two other series that aired in the same time slot on two other major channels. The

viewership of “A Love To Kill” was 1.2 percentage points higher than that of the

SBS series “Seodongyo,” which has topped the Monday-Tuesday viewer ratings so

far.

The series drew the spotlight even before it premiered on national television for

starring the popular singer/actor Rain, who portrays a delinquent K-1 fighter. The

series’ pilot episode seems to have lived up to viewers’ high expectations.

The first several episodes of the series depict the backgrounds of its four main

characters -- Rain (“Bok-ku”), Kim Sa-rang (“Da-jung”), Lee Ki-woo (Jun-sung)

and Shin Min-ah (Eun-suk) -- as well as their relationships, which begin as

disguised love but progress into open attachment and result in ugly situations.

The series’ writer, Lee Kung-hee, also wrote the series “Sorry, I Love You” and

“Let’s Go, Sangdoo,” both portraying the “dreadful side of love.” “A Love To Kill” is

expected to continue that tradition by depicting an extreme love that is too hard to

endure.

c: KBS Global News

[rubie]

2005-11-01

Popular Korean TV actor joins military

Nov. 1, UIJEONGBU, South Korea -- South Korean TV actor Yeon Jeong-hun answers questions from reporters before joining the military at an army base in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, on Nov. 1. Two years of military service is mandatory for all S. Korean men aged 20 or more. (Yonhap)

Source: http://bbs.yonhapnews.co.kr/board/0218000000.asp

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Updated Nov.1,2005 19:25 KST

Front - Nov. 2, 2005

Actor Yeon Jeong-hun accompanied by his wife Han Ga-in, also a top actress, heads to an Army base in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province on Monday to start his mandatory military service./Yonhap

Source: http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/new...0511010018.html

[rubie]

Film 'Dongmakgol' Breaks 8 Mln Ticket Mark

Tuesday, November 1, 2005 15:22:48

This year's box office champion "Welcome to Dongmakgol" has sold more than eight million tickets 89 days after opening.

The film's distributor Showbox on Tuesday said the comedic drama drew 8,002,000 moviegoers nationwide as of Monday since opening in August.

The feature debut of director Park Gwang-hyeon, the movie has received 13 Korean Film Grand Award nominations.

"Taegeukgi," "Silmido" and "Friend" are the nation's only other movies to sell more than eight million tickets.

Reported by KBS World Radio

Contact the KBS News: englishweb@kbs.co.kr

Source: KBS Global

http://english.kbs.co.kr/news/newsview_sub...&key=2005110126

[Guest lee ji woo]

US Wax Museum to Visit Seoul

SEOUL (Yonhap) _ An exhibition from the Movieland Wax Museum, the largest wax museum in the United States, will be held in Seoul for three months beginning in December, organizers said Monday.

Life-size wax figures of famous movie stars and historical figures will be displayed at the Convention and Exhibition Center (COEX) in southern Seoul from Dec. 21 to the end of March.

The exhibition, jointly organized by the Movieland Wax Museum and the Miracle Sports and Entertainment of Korea, will comprise of seven pavilions _ historic figures, Korean stars, world movie stars, recording stars, sports stars, horror movie figures and animation characters.

The nearly 300 wax figures at Movieland are, for the most part, remarkably lifelike, the organizers said. Many of the clothes on the figures of the stars were donated by the stars or their studios.

Other costumes have been painstakingly recreated for the display. Greta Garbo's costume, for instance, cost $35,000 and took 125 hours to stitch by hand.

Among the wax figures to be displayed in the world movie stars pavilion are characters from ``Gone With the Wind,’’ ``Dr. Zhivago,’’ ``The King and I’’ and ``Ben Hur.’’

The value of the figures is said to be above $1 million each. It will be the first time they are displayed outside the U.S.

Also included in the display are wax figures of former South Korean presidents Park Chung-hee and Kim Dae-jung, the incumbent South Korean and U.S. presidents, scientist Albert Einstein, inventor Thomas Edison and painter Pablo Picasso.

Wax figures of South Korean film stars Bae Yong-jun, An Seong-gi, Choi Ji-woo and singers Seo Tae-ji and Cho Yong-pil will also be shown, and the figures of sports stars will include Tiger Woods, David Beckham and South Korean footballers Park Ji-sung and Park Joo-young.

Miracle Sports and Entertainment is an organizer of large-scale international events and exhibitions. The company arranged the performances of David Copperfield and Air Supply in Seoul. It also plans to build a large wax museum in Korea after the Movieland Wax Museum exhibition ends.

For more information, visit the Web site at www.worldwaxmuseum.net or call (02) 562-8153.

10-31-2005 20:45

The Korea Times

[Guest lee ji woo]

Most wanted

Kwon Sang Woo is the Korean actor S'poreans want to see most

November 01, 2005

HE is tall, hunky, and oh-so-charismatic.

Kwon Sang Woo has a massive fan following here.

And he is the South Korean movie star whom Singaporean fans most want to see on the big screen.

Kwon Sang Woo, star of hit movie My Tutor Friend and equally-successful drama Stairway To Heaven, emerged tops in The New Paper's Favourite Korean Movie Star poll. It was based on a recently-released list of Top 10 Most Bankable Movie Stars picked by Korea's top film producers.

While Jang Dong Gun of Brotherhood fame was the unanimous choice for the film-makers, it was Sang Woo, 29, who scored with our moviegoers.

He garnered an overwhelming 61 per cent of votes to become Singapore's favourite Korean movie star.

In second place with 15 per cent is Lee Young Ae (Sympathy For Lady Vengeance), followed by My Sassy Girl's Jeon Ji Hyun (14 per cent).

Dong Gun ranks fourth, with 9 per cent.

The others in the Top 10 list include Moon Geun Young (Innocent Steps), Cha Seung Won (My Teacher Mr Kim), Kim Sun Ah (Wet Dreams), Cho Seung Woo (The Classic), Kang Hye Jung (Old Boy) and Song Kang Ho (JSA).

How did Sang Woo manage to beat Dong Gun, whose last film, Brotherhood, attracted 11.7 million admissions in Korea and grossed more than $600,000 here?

It may have something to do with his stronger presence here.

Stairway To Heaven is now showing on Channel U and his face is plastered all over The Face Shop, a Korean skincare and cosmetics chain that has opened four outlets in major shopping centres here.

The Kwon Sang Woo Singapore Fan Club here has more than 500 members.

Its founding member, Ms Dawn Teo, was understandably elated when told the good news.

She can't wait to see his upcoming action film, Running Wild, which has him playing a rugged cop opposite Yoo Ji Tae.

'I hope he'll come to Singapore to promote the film, then we can get to see him for the first time!'

The dream may just come true, since Sang Woo told the Korean media in July that he plans to tour Asia early next year.

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

It's the army now for him

THE date has been set - 29 Nov.

That's when Korean actor Won Bin will say goodbye to his fans and report to an army camp in Chuncheon, Gangwando, said a spokesman for his management agency last week.

The 28-year-old will finally enlist in the army, after numerous deferrments due to filming commitments.

He is expected to join fellow actors Song Seung Hun and Yoon Kye Sang, who are both stationed at the Chuncheon camp.

Won Bin has been on a break since he completed My Brother last October and has limited his media appearances to commercials only.

http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/show/story/0,4136,96785,00.html

[rubie]

Update : Nov 2, 2005 KST 16:21

"A Memory To Remember" tops Japanese box-office for two straight weeks

The movie “A Memory To Remember” has topped the Japanese box-office for two straight weeks, and even beat out its formidable rival, the much-touted Japanese movie “Spring Snow,” which opened on the weekend of Oct. 29-30.

“Spring Snow” was directed by the renowned Japanese director Yukisata Osao, who has produced many hit movies so far. It drew significant attention even before its opening for co-starring Tsumabuki Satoshi and Takeuchi Yuko, both of whom have a large fan base in Korea as well.

The Japanese box-office evaluation site http://www.eiga.com said “A Memory To Remember” topped the box-office during the last weekend of October, followed by “Spring Snow,” “Charlie And The Chocolate Factory,” “Corpse Bride” and “Gundam Ⅱ.” Meanwhile, “April Snow” failed to break the top 10.

The success of “A Memory To Remember” is significant because it has received recognition solely for its superb qualities as a movie, unlike “April Snow,” whose popularity can largely be ascribed to the “Yonsama” phenomenon.

“A Memory To Remember” struck a chord with Japanese audiences because it is based on the Japanese TV drama “Pure Soul” and is of the melodrama genre, the favorite genre among Japanese viewers. The movie’s superb production techniques and the constantly rising popularity of its leading actors -- Son Ye-jin, who also starred in “April Snow,” and Chung Woo-sung, who plays a lead in “The Warrior Princess” -- also contributed to the movie’s popularity in Japan.

The movie’s box-office success in Japan will serve as a good indicator of what direction the Korean Wave phenomenon should take in the future.

Source: KBS Global

http://english.kbs.co.kr/mcontents/enterta...6409_11692.html

[Guest CindyW88]

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11/1/05 – Accompanied by his wife Han Ga In, Yun Jung Hoon reports to “Kyunggido 306 Recruitment Center (경기도 306 보충대)” at 1:40p.m. on 11/1 to start his military service. There are more than 50 reporters from news media pushing and shoving to get the interview. YJH states, “My parents are glad about this. I’ll complete my military service in the next two years and then return healthily.” He holds HGI’s hand and whispers something in her ear. HGI says her last farewell to YJH, “Come back healthily.” Then she watches YJH enters into the drill ground of the military center. YJH will spend 5 weeks to receive basic military training. Then he will be arranged to serve in a division around the neighborhood of his newly-wed house.

http://www.chosun.com/se/news/200511/200511010249.html

http://news.goodday.co.kr/2005/11/01/20051...646102100.shtml

http://sports.hankooki.com/lpage/entv/2005...15090658390.htm

11/1/05 -- Chun Jung Myung (천정명) will costar with Yoon So Yi, Kim Min Hee, and Lee Jae Ryung (윤소이, 김민희, 이재룡) in the drama “Goodbye Sorrow (굿바이 솔로)” scheduled to be aired by KBS2 in March of 2006. He plays the role Kim Min Ho (김민호) who grew up in a rich family and he forms triangle love relationship with thos roles played by Yoon So Yi and Kim Min Hee. The storylines of the drama is similar to that of Hollywood movie “Love Actually (러브 액추얼리)”. The script writer is Noh Hee Kyung (노희경) whose previous works were “Lies” and “More Beautiful Than Flower”. The filming is scheduled to start early next year. Currently, CJM is filming the movie “Powerfuf Enemy (강적)” costarring with Park Joon Hoon.

http://www.chosun.com/se/news/200511/200511010114.html

http://www.mydaily.co.kr/news/read.html?Ne...510311116110100

10/31/05 -- Shim Hye Jin (심혜진) will lead the Friday drama “That Woman (그 여자)” scheduled to be aired by SBS on 12/9 following the final episode of “Tear of Diamond”. Every Friday, two episodes of the drama are broadcasted starting from 9:55p.m., and most of the viewers are adults above 30 years old. The drama portrays the married and divorced couples of the new generation. Examples of these couples are: a housewife undergoes agony after she learns her husband’s infidelity and then eventually divorces, couples get married without careful selection, and a wife has extramarital affairs.

SHJ plays the role Yoon Ji Soo (윤지수) who divorces her husband Jung Jae Min (정재민), played by Jang Dong Jik (장동직), after she learns her husband’s infidelity. Two years after she divorced, she meets a married man Goo Do Yun (구도연) and she feels her affection throbs again. The problem is that Goo Do Yun’s wife had relationship with Jung Jae Min before. SHJ’s current project is MBC’s sitcom “Goodbye, Franceska (안녕, 프란체스카)”. She will also act in MBC’s drama “Palace (궁)” next year.

http://www.chosun.com/se/news/200510/200510310503.html

http://news.goodday.co.kr/2005/10/31/20051...939532100.shtml

http://www.mydaily.co.kr/news/read.html?Ne...511021406460100

Box office Top 10 (10/24/05 – 10/30/05)

1. Beast and the Beauty (Ryu Seung Bum, Shin Min Ah)

2. Princess Aurora (Uhm Jung Hwa, Moon Sung Geun)

3. All for Love (Lim Chang Jung, Uhm Jung Hwa)

4. Sad Movie (Jung Woo Sung, Cha Tae Hyun)

5. The Legend of Zorro (Antonio Banderas, Catherine Zeta-Jones)

6. Monster-in-Law (Jennifer Lopez, Jane Fonda)

7. You are My Sunshine (Jun Do Yun, Hwang Jung Min)

8. The Merchant of Venice (Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons)

9. The Cave (Morris Chestnut, Cole Hauser)

10. Wicker Park (Josh Hartnett, Diane Kruger)

http://www.krmdb.com/office/krbo-2005105.b5.shtml

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

[s@nbi]

Actress Kim Namjoo gives birth to a girl

Top Star Kim Seungwoo and Kim Namjoo became parents of a baby girl on the 2nd. Kim Namjoo gave birth to a girl on the 2nd at 2:47PM in the afternoon. The baby was healthy and weighed 2.98kg.

Kim Seungwoo and Kim Namjoo got married on March 25th. They were given the joy of a wedding and a baby this year. They did not want to reveal information about the pregnancy and birth because they didn't want too nuch attention. But during September at the '2005 Korean Wave All Star Smart' Kim Seungwoo revealed news about Kim Namjoo's pregnancy.

Translation credits: Sanbi

Source: Sports Hankooki

[Guest vignette]

China under emergency due to BYJ

[sports Seoul] 11/3/05 00:08

Top star BYJ(33) will set foot on Chinese soil under perfect(literally-withoug any crack for water to leak) protection.

Chinese press reported on 2 that for the personal protection of BYJ, who will arrive in Beijing, China on coming 11, the local opening day of the film 'Oe Chool(April Snow)'(Directed by Hur Jinho), and for keeping orders, its Chinese distributor, Huaxia Company, plans to mobilize over 300 security staff. Along with that they reported, "Although BYJ plans to enter the country with 2 personal body guards, because the Huaxia Company judged that his safety is doubtful with this number so that they plan to hire 10 additional local body guards."

BYJ will visit China for the first time on a schedule of 2 nights and 3 days along with Director Hur Jinho who directed it. He will go through press conference on the day of arrival and stage greeting held prior to preview screening and relay interviews with local press on the next day, respectively.

Besides these, his visit to China is creating many topics of talks. It was known that breaking the custom of Chinese theaters where dubbed editions are generally screened in case of foreign films, subtitled edition will be provided along at the requests from fans in China who would like to listen to BYJ's voice personally. The 'Oe CHool' will be released in over 20 cities in China all at the same time. Also, Chinese press showed hot interested in whether the love scene with naked upper half of body in the film he acted in harmony with SYJ might be expurgated by strict local censorship. Regarding this, the Huaxia Company told, "It has already passed the censorship. There was not a big problem."

There are signs that BYJ's unique bright smile will capture the Chinese Continent also following the Japanese Isles.

Reported by Cho Seongjoon, when@

Copyright © Sports Seoul.

source: BYJ Quilt News Section

[Guest shred]

Actress Kim Namjoo gives birth to a girl

Top Star Kim Seungwoo and Kim Namjoo became parents of a baby girl on the 2nd. Kim Namjoo gave birth to a girl on the 2nd at 2:47PM in the afternoon. The baby was healthy and weighed 2.98kg.

Kim Seungwoo and Kim Namjoo got married on March 25th. They were given the joy of a wedding and a baby this year. They did not want to reveal information about the pregnancy and birth because they didn't want too nuch attention. But during September at the '2005 Korean Wave All Star Smart' Kim Seungwoo revealed news about Kim Namjoo's pregnancy.

Translation credits: Sanbi

Source: Sports Hankooki

awww congratulations to KSW and KNJ

[rubie]

Friday, November 4, 2005

'Boy, Goes to Heaven' conjures up body-transference fantasy tale

If you are not a fanatic fan of the cinematic fantasyland, especially the body-transference genre in which a boy turns into an adult overnight, stop reading here.

Now that you've ignored the kind warning and decided to read on at your own risk, there's one more thing you have to do. What is the 1988 body-swap classic film in the United States? The BIG hint: Tom Hanks starred in it.

The answer is of course "Big," and this silly question-and-answer has something to do with "Boy, Goes to Heaven," the latest Korean boy-into-a-man film directed by Yun Tae-yong.

Both films belong to the peculiar genre, and their backgrounds are set in the 1980s. Unfortunately, their similarity ends just there. While "Big" is a hilarious body-swap comedy that showcases Hanks's amazingly flawless acting, "Boy, Goes to Heaven" is a fantasy-driven melodrama that evokes not so much laughter as memories about the 1980s.

And number "three" seems important in "Boy, Goes to Heaven" as the boy in question is 13 and turns 33 before reaching his ultimate age of 93.

The "three" characters in the film also matter most: Nae-mo, the precocious 13-year-old boy played by Kim Gwan-wu and Park Hae-il, and Bu-ja, a sort of femme fatale by Yeom Jeong-ah.

The young Nae-mo, played by Kim Gwan-wu, is the only son of a single mother who runs a watch repair shop in a small town. He loves singing the popular songs of the 1980s and looks cheerful, but wonders why he isn't allowed to know about his father whom he never met.

Nae-mo is indeed an interesting character. Since he has an unmarried mother and thinks he understands the loneliness of his mother, Nae-mo decides to marry an unmarried mom in the future.

His life suddenly takes a drastic turn when his mother commits suicide out of despair and sorrow. Nae-mo is now living alone, managing his own household alone (don't ask why and how a young boy is left alone in the empty house instead of being sent off to an orphanage since this is, well, a pure-play fantasy).

Where there was his mother's watch store, a comic book rental shop comes in - along with its female owner named Buja who turns out to be an unmarried mother.

Nae-mo instantly falls for Bu-ja since she is the dream-come-true woman for his life. Not only is she an unmarried mother with a son who's younger than Nae-mo, Bu-ja is also a sexually attractive and sensuously irresistible lady.

The transformation happens at a movie theater (which is a symbolic place as it's the center of boyhood fantasy). When a fire breaks out at the theater, Nae-mo stays inside to rescue Bu-ja's son and somehow he dies instead.

Or so he thinks. It turns out that a death messenger get things mixed up and Nae-mo's real father also plays a role mysteriously to resurrect Nae-mo. The catch is that his life restarts at the age of 33 (body only) and his age advances quite rapidly (one day in his new life is a year passed). He is supposed to live until 93, and that's 60 more years, but thanks to the pact with the death messenger, it translates into just 60 more days.

The 33-year-old Nae-mo, who is now played by Park Hae-il, pretends to be his own father since nobody believes he's the young boy in a grown-up's body. And his quest for marrying the unmarried mother Bu-ja gains momentum.

The movie is supposed to feature Nae-mo's pure emotions. He is not only in love with Bu-ja but also protects the unmarried mother and becomes a father for her son, who needs a father like he did.

But Nae-mo's pure-heart aspect is sidelined not least because of the Bu-ja character played by Yeom. Bu-ja's nightly job (she's already the so-called two-job member in the 1980s in Korea) is singing in a tawdry dance club, and her gorgeous appearance and strong sexuality as a single mother in her mid-30s virtually obliterates the simple boyhood purity.

Another not-so-kiddie problem is that Bu-ja has sex with Nae-mo, falsely believing he's a grown-up. And even before she unknowingly commits the child molestation crime, she says she could have married the young Nae-mo, who truly and wholeheartedly loved her, if she had waited for just seven years - the time when Nae-mo turns 20 and becomes eligible as a husband. Bu-ja is not a pedophile but she clearly - and at least initially - doesn't have motives as pure-hearted as Nae-mo's.

In all fairness, Kim Gwan-wu's acting as the young Nae-mo is impressive and believable. Park Hae-il, one of Korea's top-rated actors, is also true to form and fame.

But Yeom's sexual appeal is too strong and too much emphasized in a hackneyed fashion. Some wonder why Yeom keeps taking up such roles involving kids and yet her image on the big screen is still directed towards her sexual attractiveness.

No big deal. Director Yun emphasized the film is designed as a fantasy tale for adults, meaning that you are not allowed to ask too many questions. Given that actor Park is dubbed "Korea's Tom Hanks" in the film's official PR brochure, director Yun seems to hope that "Boy, Goes to Heaven" would emulate the classic body-swap comedy "Big." But that is just a big fantasy.

(insight@heraldm.com)

By Yang Sung-jin

2005.11.04

Source: The Korea Herald

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/htm...00511040024.asp

[rubie]

Update : Nov 4, 2005 KST 15:04

Park Yong-ha and Park Jin-hee to star in Japanese TV drama

Hallyu star Park Yong-ha is currently filming a Japanese TV drama that features his new song entitled “Truth.” Sankei Sports reported on Nov. 4 that the new TV drama, “After Love,” is based on Park’s new song, which is due for release on Dec. 21 in Japan.

The one-hour-long melodrama is a story about a three-cornered romance involving Park’s character, his ex-lover, and a girl named “Saseo” (portrayed by Park Jin-hee) who works at a library.

Last year, Park made a guest appearance on the Fuji TV drama “Destiny Of Love.” He is now making a small screen comeback three years after his last production, the 2002 Korean drama “Loving You.”

“I felt awkward during the beginning of filming, as it has been a while since I starred in a television drama. But soon I was able to concentrate on my character. I look forward to seeing viewers’ reaction to my acting skills,” said Park.”

“After Love” will air Dec. 10, 23 and 29 on Japan’s CS Satellite TV.

Source: KBS Global

http://english.kbs.co.kr/mcontents/enterta...6563_11692.html

[Guest Syjfan]

AMTR maintained no.1 in Japan for weekdays 31 Oct to 4 Nov 05

1. A Moment To Remember

2. Spring Snow

3. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

4. Tim Burton's Corpse Bride

Source: http://broadband.biglobe.ne.jp/index_ranking.html

(From Video dated 4 Nov 05)

Looks like good chance to stay on top for 5 to 6 Nov weekend.

Agar agar fighting!

[rubie]

Update : Nov 3, 2005 KST 14:06

U.S. Daily Calls Actor Bae 'One-Man Corp.'

Thursday, November 3, 2005 13:56:24

The Los Angeles Times says popular actor Bae Yong-joon, nicknamed "Yonsama" in Japan, is like a one-man corporation worth billions of dollars.

Calling Bae a cultural ambassador who is enhancing his nation's image, the daily on Wednesday cited his massive popularity in Japan since the release of his hit KBS-TV drama "Winter Sonata" two years ago.

The report also analyzed the economic and cultural effects of the Yonsama phenomenon in Japan and included an interview with the actor.

Reported by KBS World Radio

Contact the KBS News: englishweb@kbs.co.kr

Source: KBS Global

http://english.kbs.co.kr/news/newsview_sub...&key=2005110319

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11-04-2005

Miniseries 'Tamo' to Be Aired in Kazakhstan

MBC martial arts drama ``Tamo’’ will be aired in five episodes across Kazakhstan from Nov. 14 to Dec. 1, Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry announced Friday. Tamo was broadcast in Uzbekistan from May to June and is being aired in Vladivostok, Russia at the moment. The ministry said that broadcasting the drama in the regions is expected to increase Russians’ awareness and interest in Korean culture and contribute to the export of Korean cultural products.

11-04-2005 19:55

Source: The Korea Times

http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/culture/20...19532211700.htm

[rubie]

November 03, 2005

Cine21 Interviews Bae Doo-Na

While stars her age were choosing roles which would enhance their beauty, or even going as far as undergoing plastic surgery, she appeared in the most natural of ways: with no make-up in Bong Joon-Ho's 플란다스의 개 (Barking Dogs Never Bite). That performance showed the birth of a new star in the Chungmuro galaxy, one who would become one of the industry's most unique and creative personalities: Bae Doo-Na. Through her films, she painted a figure of insiders who look outside, of people who open their eyes to what's around them. Take Hyun-Nam in 'Barking Dogs Never Bite', helping an ajumma find her little Chihuahua everyone else hated; or Tae-Hee in 고양이를 부탁해 (Take Care of My Cat), escaping the psychological traps of middle class life in Korea; Young-Mi in Park Chan-Wook's 복수는 나의 것 (Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance), the impressionable 'activist' youth singing Communist songs and spewing hate on the Cultural Imperialism of the US, and so on. Bae always played 'familiar strangers' amongst their circle of friends, opening them to the fact that foreigners, people with handicaps, kids and even animals have a right to share the same space with them.

Perhaps it's for that reason that she's adored by Korean film fans overseas, and more or less ignored at home. People overseas identify in an easier way with her kind of characters, sort of lost in a space they don't see as their own, more than attempts at making characters that are 'foreigner-friendly' like Lee Na-Young in Kim Sung-Soo's 영어완전정복 (Please Teach Me English). Most of her films flopped in Korea, some even badly - like the blockbuster 튜브 (Tube), but she never lost sleep over that. She didn't try to find counter measures which would increase her popularity, but just kept following her road, and starring in projects that would present a new challenge for her. It's probably for that reason that she hasn't been in a Korean film in almost 2 years. She took 'time off' to pursue other interests, namely following the family line in starring in a theater play in Daehak-Ro, featuring in a few interesting Dramas, and even a Japanese film.

But she might finally find that super-hit in Korean Cinemas that escaped from her hands every time she tried. Shooting Bong Joon-Ho's third film 괴물 (The Host) with established faces like Song Kang-Ho, Park Hae-Il and Byun Hee-Bong could be the gateway to popular acceptance, after becoming one of the darling of the critics at such an early age. Featuring in an interview after quite a long time, here's a few excerpts from her interview in a recent Cine21 magazine.

Cine21: After your 1999 screen debut with 링 (The Ring Virus), every year you've starred in one, sometimes even two films per year. But for the first time, you spent the last two years without a film released in theaters.

Bae Doo-Na: When I went back 'to work' on the set of 'The Host' I didn't really remember how I used to do things, it was both something refreshing and even confusing. I'm a workaholic, really. I never lived even once without having anything to do. The moment a film was presented to the press, I was almost always already shooting the next one. But after completing 봄날의 곰을 좋아하세요? (Spring Bears Love) I thought by myself: now my first cycle is really over. While I rest a little, I wanted to make a fresh new start. But now that I had some time for myself, I didn't know what to do! Even though I never really liked doing that, I started learning flower arrangement and baking, just to kill some time and make me feel less lonely.

Cine21: Famous theater actress Kim Hwa-Young is your mother. Do you remember anything of her acting life when you were little?

Bae: I just followed her in and out of the practice room, naturally. Since I was quite a quiet kid, I sat in the make-up room waiting for the end of the play, not saying a word from start to finish. I remember her first line in a play she acted in at a theater in Myung-Dong. She said: "Tom, go wash up." I heard that line so many times, when I was five year old I would follow my mother's dialogue in the make-up room step by step, so much even people in the guest seats would hear and laugh. People might say that since my mother is a theater actor, I became an actress. But to me, those experiences probably had the opposite effect. On the contrary, because I saw many great actors working with my mother, I thought this was a job only people with extraordinary talent could do. So, in a way, debuting on stage was a big challenge for me, trying to defeat all the primal fears I had regarding theater. While presenting the play I acted all cool and calm, but in reality it was incredibly hard.

Cine21: But despite all that you took that challenge and starred in 썬데이 서울 (Sunday Seoul). On top of the aforementioned childhood fears and the challenge it posed for you, I'm curious what kind of lessons you learned as an actor doing this play, technically speaking.

Bae: Telling people I did theater to combat my fears makes me feel a little embarrassed. It sounded like such a personal thing to do, but it's not really the case, even though it helped me a lot. Technically speaking, I just wanted some expansion, and show a kinder side of me to the public. My acting is really unkind [her personal blog is entitled 불친절한 두나씨 (Unkind Doo-Na), a word play on Park Chan-Wook's 'Sympathy For Lady Vengeance' - whose Korean title means Kind Geum-Ja - and her acting style]. [...] I didn't really know how to cleanly get through rhymes either, so that's what I learned from this experience.

Cine21: You didn't just work in films, but also Daily and Weekend TV Dramas, and now even theater. It feels like you're personally trying to add many things to your curriculum.

Bae: By chance, I got into the business as an unknown when I starred in 학교 (School) and the film 'The Ring Virus', and compared to most people I had many more leading than supporting roles. As undeserved as those opportunities might have been, I tried my best to work with my seniors, just make experience through acting with them.

Cine21: You've fundamentally matured quite a bit.

Bae: There's people who know three out ten, then you can say they know a little. Then there's those who know nine out of then, but even if you only don't know one, isn't that saying you don't fully know? I'm the latter. I only have been acting for 6-7 years, and am still learning. On top of that, if I start thinking that actresses really come of age in their thirties... man, at this rate I'll really become 30, then what? I have to do well, it's quite a burden! (laughs)

Cine21: Let's talk a little about your new film リンダ リンダ リンダ (Linda Linda Linda). A while ago I read in an interview that you used to categorize films between those that 'wouldn't work if it wasn't you', that you'd be 'thankful they came to you', or that if you did them, 'it would be another film.' What was your reason for starring in Yamai can't reada Nobuhiro's 'Linda Linda Linda', then?

Bae: A while ago Director Bong Joon-Ho, after returning from the Morioka Film Festival, said a young Japanese director wanted to cast me, and Bong told me to do well later. That was Director Yamai can't reada. So I decided to return the favor, and watched his previous work 'Ramblers'. It had a very extravagant sense of humour I fell right into. I shot 'Linda Linda Linda' thinking it was my 'foreign version', but wasn't it so close to one of the stories in 'Take Care of My Cat'?

Cine21: I really liked episode 1 and 2 of 떨리는 가슴 (Six Love Stories), where you play a young divorced woman. Actually it was the first time I saw you in a very mature, adult-like type of role. Up to that point you always had a 'fairy'-like kind of image, like some characters in 新世紀エヴァンゲリオン (Neon Genesis Evangelion) or other Anime. But in 'Six Love Stories', for the first time I saw a woman who showed more maturity than her age. Before shooting the Drama, did you have any thought of starring in a stage play?

Bae: Oh.. really? That's great. That's exactly what I'm trying to concentrate on at the moment. Which became reality a while ago (laughs). I always used to play characters who were dreamers, rarely realist ones. Even in 'The Host', I consulted director Bong for the last two years about how to portray my character Nam-Joo. He wants the same thing I do, a character as far from 'Barking Dogs Never Bite' as possible.

Cine21: You've worked with a lot of directors, but you worked twice with Park Chan-Wook, and it's your second with Bong as well. Which films do you prefer from those made by the two?

Bae: I haven't seen Park's 올드보이 (Oldboy) and 친절한 금자씨 (Sympathy For Lady Vengeance) yet. He said to me, 'aren't you even sorry about it?' (laughs). I loved 공동경비구역 JSA (Joint Security Area) so I watched it five times, but if you ask me personally, I'll say 'Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance'! As for Director Bong, 살인의 추억 (Memories of Murder) is fantastic, but I personally prefer 'Barking Dogs Never Bite'. I always liked the beauty of blank spaces, and films without accidents or incidents, films that focus on small details are hard to find. I like films that make me laugh, and I think Bong's comic tone fits with me well.

Cine21: The family organization of Park Hee-Bong (Byun Hee-Bong), Park Gang-Doo (Song Kang-Ho), Park Nam-Il (Park Hae-Il) and Park Nam-Joo (Bae Doo-Na), along with the young detective (Go Ah-Sung) who tries to catch the monster in 'The Host' remind a little of the Fellowship in 'Lord of The Rings'.

Bae: Even if it weren't so, at the beginning of the film Bong said this to us: 'Now I feel like Frodo going to Mordor to destroy the ring. So you people, please become my Sam'. Since I usually have a lot of enthusiasm, I jumped up and said: "Ahh.. director, that was so cool. We'll become Sam!". But then again, nowadays I don't even go see the shoot, since most of my scenes are over, very unlike Sam. (laughs). But I'll still be on the set.

Via Cine21

» Posted by X at November 3, 2005 02:20 AM

Source: http://www.twitchfilm.net/archives/004024.html