[Drama 2023] Thief: Sound of the Sword/Song of the Bandits, 도적 : 칼의 소리

[larus]

Netflix drops trailer for Kim Nam Gil's 'Song of the Bandits'

Friday, August 25, 2023

 

Video: 'Song of the Bandits' teaser trailer

Source: Netflix Korea via YouTube

[+460] Looking forward to Netflix's first period drama on the Japanese colonial era

[+312] This feels like a combination between 'Assassination' and 'The Good, the Bad, and the Weird.' Feels like a good mix of history and action! I hope Netflix continues to put out more content surrounding the gloomy stories of modern and contemporary history, especially traditional Korean historical works.

[+240] Another legendary drama by Kim Nam Gil

[+86] Ah, another legend in the works for Kim Nam Gil ㅠㅠㅠ I can't wait

[+73] Kim Nam Gil is a must watch

[+57] I love watching Nam Gil-nim work with guns and swords on horse but more than anything, I love his gaze and voice above all

[+56] I've always yearned for a period drama like this, really happy that Netflix picked this up. Excited for Kim Nam Gil, handsome Lee Hyun Wook, pretty Seohyun. The music sounds great as well. 

 

[+44] It's only the teaser and my heart's already beating... can't wait!!

[+39] Kim Nam Gil and period dramas, it's a crazy combo ㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜ

[+37] Kim Nam Gil is so perfect for these roles, I really can't imagine anyone else

[+24] I know a lot of top stars hesitate to take on these types of dramas in fear of pissing off the Japanese market, but Nam Gil hyung never disappoints

[+19] The teaser itself already feels so majestic. Kim Nam Gil is always a trustworthy watch, I can't wait to see his action acting. 

[+4] Despite her large Japanese fanbase, Seohyun has always spoken up for and posted the Taegukgi on liberation day and other holidays during her Soshi days. Now I see that even her eye for picking dramas is a good on.Very cool of her to not bow to the opinions of others

 

http://netizenbuzz.blogspot.com/2023/08/netflix-drops-trailer-for-kim-nam-gils.html

[larus]

Character Stills Revealed for "Song of the Bandits" Featuring Kim Nam Gil, Seo Hyun, and more!

by Hazel Jung, August 29, 2023

 

Spoiler

 

 

Set in the lawless land of Gando, where people from 1920s China, Japan's wealth, and Korea converged, Song of the Bandits portray the actions of those who come together to protect their loved ones and their lives amidst the tumultuous era. The lead characters gives a glimpse into how individuals of that era faced challenges using their methods.

 

 

Kim Nam Gil takes on the role of Lee Yoon, the leader of a band of thieves. A former slave who became a Japanese soldier following the young lord he served, Lee Yoon now lives a new life as a bandit in Gando. Kim Nam Gil explained, "He starts making judgments based on his own knowledge of right and wrong, what should and shouldn't be done, expressing his changing appearance. He faces dramatic changes within the turbulent times."

 

 

Seo Hyun portrays Nam Hee Shin, who holds a dual identity as the head of the railway department in the Korean governor-general's office and an independence activist. Seo Hyun stated, "Hee Shin takes information from the Japanese soldiers not with a gun, but with her determination and heart. She won't forget the compatriots fighting while wearing a smiling mask around them." Her character, Nam Hee Shin, lives outwardly as a Japanese civilian, concealing a passionate independence activist's burning spirit.

 

 

Yoo Jae Myung plays Choi Choong Soo, the landlord of a Korean village settled in Gando. He explained, "I tried to convey a sense of solidity and authenticity through my gaze, breathing, and lines." He depicted Choi Choong Soo's resolve to protect his family, holding a bow and sword without hesitation.

 

Spoiler

 

Lee Hyun Wook brings to life the role of Lee Kwang Il, a member of the 37th Regiment of the 19th Division of the Imperial Japanese Army. "I focused on the ambition that he needed to have to survive due to the historical background," he said. He portrayed Lee Kwang Il's unflinching determination to stand up for the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, not hesitating to torture fellow Koreans.

 

Spoiler

 

Lee Ho Jung portrays a ruthless assassin for hire who kills for money. "The assassin is an imperfect and unjustifiable character. I started with the personality of 'Let's keep moving towards the goal' as the base," she said, adding curiosity about the change she will bring to the story.

 

more https://mydramalist.com/article/character-stills-revealed-for-song-of-the-bandits-featuring-kim-nam-gil-seo-hyun-and-more

[backstreetboysfan]

Netflix drama SongOfTheBandits teaser poster, release on Sept 22.

 

 

 

[larus]

News bites: August 30, 2023

by tccolb

• As Netflix is wont to do, we’ve been delivered a hearty batch of stills for Song of the Bandits, featuring our main cast: Kim Nam-gil (Island), Seohyun (Jinxed at First), Yoo Jae-myung (Juvenile Justice), Lee Hyun-wook (Remarriage & Desires), and Lee Ho-jung (Moving). Co-directed by PD Hwang Joon-hyuk (Black Dog) and PD Park Hyun-seok, with scripts by Han Jung-hoon (Bad Guys), the period action releases next month on September 22. [News1]

 

https://www.dramabeans.com/2023/08/news-bites-august-30-2023/

 

 

[larus]

"7 Escape" and Netflix Original "Song of the Bandits" Tease With New Posters

by Lily Alice, August 31, 2023

 

Netflix released a teaser poster for its upcoming series Song of the Bandits. 

Song of the Bandits is an action drama set in the 1920s, when the Japanese ruled the Korean peninsula, in the land of Gangdo, where desperate people strive to protect their loved ones and their livelihoods. The K-drama has released a poster showcasing the group of bandits.

Lee Yoon, Choi Choong Soo, Kang San Gun, Cho Rang Yi, and Geum Soo stand together as bandits who have united to safeguard their families and their foothold in the land of Gando.

 

 

 

Armed with weapons and set against the backdrop of a wasteland, the situational tension and determination of the thieves as they stand confronting an unseen adversary are palpable. Kim Nam Gil, who plays Lee Yoon, is armed with a Winchester rifle.

Kim Nam Gil commented, "Winchester rifles are essential to the Western [genre]. The role of Lee Yoon was a perfect fit for me, and beyond the simple act of loading and firing a gun, I engaged myself in extensive preparations, even mastering techniques like gun spinning. Anticipate a seamless display of firearm expertise". 

Yoo Jae Myung, portraying Choi Choong Soo, an independence activist, takes center stage as the pillar of support for the group. 

Kim Do Yoon, recognized for his performances in numerous well-known productions like the Netflix series Hellbound, the box office hit Concrete Utopia and Peninsula, will portray Kang San Gun, a skilled sniper known for his precise long-range shots. 

Recognized for his performances in dramas like The Ghost Detective,  Secret Royal Inspector & Joy, and While You Were Sleeping, actor Lee Jae Kyoon takes on the role of Cho Rang Yi, wielding an axe.

Cha Yeob, who has held roles in Insider, Hot Stove League, and Train, transforms into Geum Soo. Geum Soo wields the power of his fists and shotgun, overthrowing his opponents. Curiosity intensifies for Geum Soo's remarkable feats.

The people who once suffered injustice, loss, and pain now come together as a group of bandits to protect their lives and families.

Tune in to Song of the Bandits on September 22nd, only on Netflix. 

 

https://mydramalist.com/article/7-escape-and-netflix-original-song-of-the-bandits-tease-with-new-posters

[backstreetboysfan]

New casting news! .

 

 

KimDoYoon confirmed cast for Netflix drama SongOfTheBandits, he will act as a marksman Kang San-gun who is the best catcher used to catch tigers and becomes a thief protecting the land of Gando.

 

 

 

[larus]

News bites: September 2, 2023

by tccolb

In the meantime, Netflix will be taking us to the gritty 1920s in the upcoming Song of the Bandits. Preparing for battle in the… er… wild east, our ragtag crew are assembled in the newest poster, led by Kim Nam-gil (Island) and Yoo Jae-myung (Juvenile Justice). The period-action launches later this month on September 22. [Newsen]

 

 

https://www.dramabeans.com/2023/09/news-bites-september-2-2023/

[backstreetboysfan]

Netflix drama SongOfTheBandits official trailer, release on Sept 22.

 

 

 

[larus]

September 6 2023

Trailer and character posters for Netflix drama “Song of the Bandits”

Trailer and character posters added for Netflix drama series “Song of the Bandits” starring Kim Nam-Gil & Seohyun. The character posters above and below are of Kim Nam-Gil as Lee Yoon, Seohyun as Nam Hee-Shin, Yoo Jae-Myung as Lee Chung-Soo, Lee Hyun-Wook as Lee Gwang-Il, and Lee Ho-Jung as Eon-Nyeon. Caption on all the character posters states “Must steal to survive.” The drama series is set in the early 20th century.

“Song of the Bandits” will be available to stream from September 22, 2023.

Plot Synopsis by AsianWiki: While under Japanese occupation, people in South Korea head to the lawless land of Jiandao in China. There, the travelers settle down and unite to protect their settlement from harm. Major characters are:

Lee Yoon (Kim Nam-Gil) is a Korean who serves under the Japanese military in South Korea. Circumstances leads him to leave everything behind and travel to Jiandao, China. He becomes a bandit to protect the settlement in Jiandao and its people.

Nam Hee-Shin (Seohyun) hides her real identity and works as a section chief in the railway bureau for the Japanese controlled government in Korea.

Lee Chung-Soo (Yoo Jae-Myung) was an army commander for the independence movement in Korea and he now leads the Korean settlement in Jiandao.

Lee Gwang-Il (Lee Hyun-Wook) is a Japanese military officer who is hostile to Lee Yoon.

Eon-Nyeon (Lee Ho-Jung) is a contract killer and highly skilled with guns. She is hired to kill Lee Yoon and heads to Jiandao to carry out her contract.

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://blog.asianwiki.com/korean-dramas/trailer-and-character-posters-for-netflix-drama-song-of-the-bandits

 

 

Video

Spoiler

 

 

[larus]

Kim Nam Gil & Others Fight for Their Homeland in the Trailer of "Song of the Bandits"

by Lily Alice, September 6, 2023

1 0

 

Song of the Bandits has unveiled a riveting trailer and character posters. 

The Netflix original series Song of the Bandits is an action drama set in 1920 in the land of Gangdo, where desperate people strive to protect their loved ones and their livelihoods.

The released character posters feature the protagonists. Leading the gang of outlaws in Gangdo is Lee Yoon (Kim Nam Gil), formerly a Japanese soldier; Nam Hee Shin (Seo Hyun) is an independence activist masquerading as a manager of the railroad bureau; Choi Choo (Yoo Jae Myung), once a righteous army leader, now protects the Korean village in Gangdo; Lee Kwang Il (Lee Hyun Wook) is the youngest Korean-born Japanese military major; and Eon Nyeon Yi (Lee Ho Jung) is an exceptional marksman. 

 

 

Set against the backdrop of swirling dust in the Gangdo wilderness, the posters showcase each character's iconic weapon, intense expressions, and intriguing interactions with other characters, igniting curiosity about their relationships. 

The simultaneously released trailer intensifies the anticipation for this unique action-packed epic. Lee Yoon, who had to witness his people being robbed and victimized daily, gathers a group of individuals to form an outlaw gang all with the aim of protecting his family and homeland. Choi Choong Soo, a master of the bow and sword; Kang San Gun, a sharpshooter; Cho Rang Yi, who wields an axe; and Geum Soo, skilled with both fists and a shotgun, compose this formidable outlaw gang.

One day, rumors spread about the transportation of funds for the construction of the Gangdo Railway - prompting Lee Yoon, driven by the desire to protect his loved ones and secure money, and an unknown character with their sights set on the money - to head to Gangdo. This unfolds alongside Nam Hee Shin, who enlists the help of Eon Nyeon Yi and spares no means, including stopping a train carrying Japanese soldiers. 

The trailer shows an action spectacle and characters in high-stakes situations, risking their lives to fight for survival. 

Tune in to Song of the Bandits on September 22nd, only on Netflix. Watch the official trailer here.

 

https://mydramalist.com/article/kim-nam-gil-others-fight-for-their-homeland-in-the-trailer-of-song-of-the-bandits

 

 

[larus]

A wild action spectacle in Song of the Bandits

by missvictrix

Netflix has just dropped the official trailer and character posters for upcoming period action drama Song of the Bandits, and it promises to be — their words — a wild action spectacle.

 

With Kim Nam-gil (Island), Seohyun (Jinxed at First), Yoo Jae-myung (Juvenile Justice), Lee Hyun-wook (Remarriage & Desires), and Lee Ho-jung (Moving) leading the way, a wild spectacle is exactly what we see in the full-length promo: a high-budget production with non-stop action and intrigue, and pretty impressive art direction.

Set in 1920, we see firsthand the clash between Imperial Japan and Joseon freedom fighters who will do anything to keep their country and countrymen breathing. Fighting spirit is at an all-time high for our Joseon rebels and bandits, and the onscreen text announces that they “live to surive,” and “steal to protect.”

Our hero Lee Yoon (Kim Nam-gil) is a Korean man who served in the Japanese army. When he finds himself in Jiandao, China, he meets the head of the Korean settlement there — Lee Chung-soo (Yoo Jae-myung), former commander of the Korean independence movement.

While our two bandits are openly Team Joseon, our female characters have more complicated stories. Nam Hee-shin (Seohyun) works for the Japanese government but is secretly helping the independence movement — much to her peril (but while wearing fabulous hats). Meanwhile, contract killer Eon-nyeon (Lee Ho-jung) is hunting down Yoon at the command of our baddie Lee Kwang-il (Lee Hyun-wook). In the trailer, Kwang-il declares that Joseon’s fate is over. But methinks our heroes have other plans in mind. After all, our hero Yoon promises no mercy.

Directed by Hwang Joon-hyuk (Black Dog) and Han Jin-seon, with scripts penned by Han Jung-hoon (Bad Guys), Netflix’s Song of the Bandits will drop its nine episodes on September 22.

 

https://www.dramabeans.com/2023/09/a-wild-action-spectacle-in-the-song-of-the-bandits/

[backstreetboysfan]

New casting news! .

 

ChaChungHwa confirmed cast for Netflix drama SongOfTheBandits, she will act as Kim Seon-bok who runs an inn in Myeongjeongchon and does weapons trading business, she helps her younger brother-like KimNamGil and the bandits.

 

 

 

[backstreetboysfan]

Netflix to release SongOfTheBandits main OST "Bandit" by NCT Taeil later today at 6pm KST

 

 

 

[larus]

Premiere Watch: Song of the Bandits

by missvictrix

 

Time slot: Friday (single drop)
Broadcaster: Netflix
Genre: Action, historical
Episode count: 9

Reasons to watch: Netflix’s next original series takes us back to the 1920s during the Japanese occupation, but we’re one-upping the freedom fighter motif with Old West-style bandits. With Kim Nam-gil and Yoo Jae-myung leading the fray, we also have Seohyun as a double agent of sorts, also fighting for freedom (and looking beautiful while doing it). On the baddie side of things, there’s born-to-be-bad Lee Hyun-wook as the officer after our hero, and the lovely Lee Ho-jung as the assassin who will try to put an end to the pesky bandits. While the costuming and art direction look amazing, and the drama looks like a fun romp, I’m not yet entirely sold on Netflix’s portrayal of the era, nor its commitment to the high-budget action sequences. There’s a fine line between historical adventure romp and campy train wreck, so I’m hoping we veer towards the former.

TL;DR: Kim Nam-gil tears it up as a freedom-loving bandit in the 19020s

 

https://www.dramabeans.com/2023/09/premiere-watch-song-of-the-bandits/

 

Pictures from the press conference

 

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.mhnse.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=220661

[larus]

NCT Taeil sings the main song of ‘Thief: The Sound of the Sword’… OST 'Bandit' released today

 

 

On the 22nd, SM Entertainment announced that the main title song 'Bandit' of the Netflix series 'Thief: The Sound of the Sword', sung by NCT's Taeil, will be released on each music site at 6 PM today. The new song 'Bandit' is a song that dramatically unfolds Taeil's cool singing skills against the background of Western classic colors reminiscent of the wild atmosphere of the wilderness. This song, along with lyrics containing the story of the protagonist's past history, will be mainly played in the main action scene of the play.

 

https://m.etnews.com/20230922000159

 

 

Teaser

 

[larus]

Kim Nam-gil “‘Thief: The Sound of the Knife’ shows a sad face” (pictorial)

 

 

Actor Kim Nam-gil's pictorial has been released. Kim Nam-gil showed another unfamiliar face through the October issue of fashion magazine Allure Korea.

 

In this pictorial, Kim Nam-gil goes back and forth between a chic boyish look and a dandy charm, giving off a variety of moods. Kim Nam-gil perfectly pulled off luxurious yet unique styles, including a black jacket with scarf details, a tie, a black point knit, and a black leather jacket and brown cargo pants, drawing a warm response from the on-site staff.

The sensuous pictorial was completed with free-spirited poses, as well as facial expressions and eyes that changed with each cut. By freely going from a dandy atmosphere to a boyish look, he showed a variety of faces and once again realized the aspect of an unrivaled ‘pictorial craftsman’. In an interview following the photo shoot, Kim Nam-gil talked about the Netflix series ‘Thief: The Sound of the Sword’, which will be released on the 22nd.

 

 

 

 

Kim Nam-gil said, “Is the face shown in ‘The Thief: The Sound of the Sword’ a miserable face? I wonder if that kind of face would have appeared. “In order to tell the story of people who live in difficult times and protect what is precious to them, I tried to express a character who lives in that era silently,” he said, explaining the character Lee Yoon, who plays the role in ‘Thief: The Sound of the Sword’.

 

In ‘Thieves: The Sound of the Sword’, Kim Nam-gil plays Lee Yoon, who made a remarkable contribution during his time in the Japanese military, but after an incident six years ago prompted him to abandon everything and lead a group of thieves to Gando. Lee Yoon is a character who is skilled in fighting and using firearms, having a record of destroying an artillery unit single-handedly. Expectations are high for the colorful and stylish actions that Kim Nam-gil will show.

 

Kim Nam-gil's pictorial and interview can be found in the October issue of Allure Korea, website, and social media channels.

 

https://www.mk.co.kr/star/hot-issues/view/2023/09/723115/

 

[tulip06]

I don’t understand the Spaghetti Western styling. Is this how people dressed back then, and were saloon bars with short swinging doors something in Korea?

[larus]

Song of the Bandits: Episode 1 (First Impressions)

by missvictrix

 

Netflix’s latest series brings us into the past, into a period of lawlessness and desperation where “kill or be killed” is the motto of the day. Attempting to pull us into a sweeping tale, though, the drama lacks any backing to get us emotionally invested, and the first episode moves both far too fast, and far too slow.

Editor’s note: This is an Episode 1 review only. For a place to chat about the entire drama, visit the Drama Hangout.

 

 

 

EPISODE 1

 

Song of the Bandits is here, and if there is one thing I appreciated from start to end of our premiere episode, it was the gorgeous art direction. Let me stare at those stagecoaches some more, and sit inside with our characters and weather some sandstorms! But what our drama had in spades (art direction, cinematography, etc.) it lacked in any actual grounded emotion, as it relies on a lot of “telling” to introduce our hero and get us acquainted.

We first meet LEE YOON (Kim Nam-gil) when he’s in a drunken and depressed haze. But lo, news comes that the mysterious person he’s been looking for has finally been located. Suddenly, his torpor gives way to action, and he’s ready to leave town, and he’ll bust his way out if he has to. And he kinda does, because his “friend” — a.k.a. the man who once owned him, and with whom he’s served in the Japanese military — is fuming mad that he wants to move on. This chingu is LEE KWANG-IL (Lee Hyun-wook), and his rage against Yoon is only just beginning. Because why be bad when you can be Bad with a capital B?

 

Before Yoon leaves town, he says a silent goodbye from the street, gazing up into a window where we see a yet-unnamed woman (Seohyun). With heartbreak and longing in his eyes (gah, Kim Nam-gil, stop doing that to me!) we can tell he was once in love with her (eh, and still is), but things didn’t go as planned. Which is pretty much our hero’s entire life experience, as we’ll come to learn. He’s carrying a heavy burden of guilt and self-hate, but we first have to follow him to a settlement in Gando (a.k.a. Jiandao) to get any answers.

It’s here we meet the illustrious KIM SUN-BOK (the delightful Cha Chung-hwa) who is like an older sister to him. They were once serfs together (*waves at Kwang-il*), but now Sun-bok is a wealthy arms dealer and thus, relatively secure in the lawlessness that is life in Gando and the settlement city of Myeongjeong.

But Yoon isn’t there for Sun-bok — he’s there for a guy named CHOI CHUNG-SOO (Yoo Jae-myung who looks magnificent in a sangtu (topknot)). Chung-soo was once the general of the independence fighters, but is now living in hiding, scraping by with his Joseon cohort.

 

Up until this point, Yoon has done a whole lot of looking miserable and guilty, and we finally learn that in his duties with Kwang-il in the Imperial army, he was responsible for the slaughter of the freedom fighters and their families. And he’s been living in misery for those actions ever since. Of course, the story would be too simple if Chung-soo just killed him with his bow and arrow in retribution after Yoon confesses this fact, so instead, he tells him to suffer and live. Which is rather what they’re all doing. Eventually, as the episode ends with a surge of the plot to come, the two plan to gather all the desperate Joseon men from those parts and form a bandit group to fight back against the brutality.

It’s all well and good — beautifully shot and beautifully acted — but it’s so strangely hard to connect with emotionally. I know that Yoon is suffering greatly, but seeing the slaughter via flashback (omg those bayonets) is graphic, but not at all gripping. I only believe in Yoon’s misery because Kim Nam-gil is expert at carrying his characters’ history around with him, not because the script did a compelling job of articulating said history.

more

https://www.dramabeans.com/2023/09/song-of-the-bandits-episode-1-first-impressions/

[backstreetboysfan]

The cast of SongOfTheBandits for NETFLIX

 

 

 

[larus]

"Song of the Bandits" Trends on Netflix, "Twinkling Watermelon" Gets a Rating Boost

by Lily Alice, September 27, 2023

1 1

 

Premiered on September 22, the Netflix original series Song of the Bandits ranks on Netflix's top 10 lists in numerous countries like Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Chile, Cyprus, France, India, Hong Kong, Kenya, Morocco, and Nigeria, to name a few, just a few days after its release. top10.netflix.com also lists Song of the Bandits as the sixth most-watched show on Netflix (non-English), with 14.9 million viewed hours in total as of September 24. 

 

 

Where to watch the K-drama Song of the Bandits?

All the episodes of Song of the Bandits are available to stream on Netflix. 

https://mydramalist.com/article/song-of-the-bandits-trends-on-netflix-twinkling-watermelon-gets-a-rating-boost