Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Jang Nara Sheds 7 kg for Movie



Jang Nara
, the Korean wave (hallyu) singer and actress, lost nearly 7 kilograms to shoot for "The Sky and the Sea,'' which will be premiered in late October.

Ju Ho-sung, Jang's father and also an actor, said in a recent press interview that his daughter suffered from the drastic drop in weight (from 45 kg to 38 kg), which led to some health-related problems.

While in China, in particular, Jang was taken to a hospital after collapsing due to anemia at an airport.

Yet the 28-year-old reportedly wants to keep her current weight after being praised for looking prettier.

In the movie, the first for Jang since starring in "Oh! Happy Day!'' in 2003, she plays the role of an autistic child whose musician parents die in a traffic accident. Jang lost weight to fit the role of a pale and slender girl.

Jang started her career as a child actress, and is now highly active in China, having stints in singing and acting.

source: koreatimes.co.kr

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Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Actor Jang Dong-kun Returns as 'President'



By Lee Hyo-won

Staff Reporter


Jang Dong-kun makes a comeback onscreen as a character not unlike himself ― an eligible bachelor ― in "Good Morning President.''

The film's press event in southern Seoul Tuesday morning buzzed with reporters, particularly since it is slated to open the 13th Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival, Oct. 8. The latest comedy by prolific director Jang Jin is about three fictional South Korean presidents.

Jang returns to the local silver screen four years after "Typhoon'' as the youngest ever head-of-state who's equipped with not only charismatic diplomatic skills but also handsome looks.

The 37-year-old indeed appeared suave in a clean cut suit and tie. Reporters mischievously asked about his screen persona being dubbed "pretty-boy president'' like his actual moniker, "the original pretty-boy actor.''

" feel sort of guilty to hear that title at this age, but I have to admit it's not a bad feeling,'' he said, chuckling. ``But I do wish I would be remembered with a different adjective,'' he added, probably implying one regarding his acting skills rather than appearance.

Han Chae-young, who plays the role of Jang's love interest, said she initially felt nervous acting opposite someone she had always admired.

"At first he seemed so perfect and hard to approach but he was very down to earth and made others feel at ease, like an older brother,'' said the screen beauty. The two exchanged some jokes about Han calling Jang "adjeosshi'' or uncle.

"For my role I was more worried with not the role of president but having to do comedy. But I was able to enjoy the filmmaking process thanks to the director. It was also fresh and fun to speak in standard Korean,'' said the actor, who had taken on tough North Korean and Busan dialects, respectively, in "Typhoon'' and "Friend.''

Veteran actor Lee Soon-jae, who stars as a well respected elderly president that agonizes over winning the lottery, also said it was not hard to personify a president.


"At first I was very impressed with how times have changed,'' Lee said. "Before it would have been impossible to parody the president. The movie has just one main issue, which is how heads of state are only human, like you and I. My character is a broad-minded leader but in his personal life he could be goofy and stingy. The movie shows the human side of people who are sometimes placed on a pedestal.''

The director ("Guns and Talks''), who also wrote the script, said he had the story in mind for a while, and said that it would be free of political ideologies, and would instead be a "fun, mainstream film everyone can enjoy."

Meanwhile, the quintessential mother figure Go Doo-shim plays the role of the nation's first female president.

"It was a nice break from at-home wear to play an executive. When director Jang approached me, offering me the role of female president, I accepted without even looking at the script,'' she said. "I didn't have a particular role model in mind, but just imagined that someone in such a position would require soft power, someone who could be warm but also have a tough side. I believe it's possible and about time that a woman can take leadership,'' she said.

Comedian Im Ha-ryong, who plays Go's spouse as the "first husband,'' said it was an honor to star opposite someone who is as beautiful as Go.

Meanwhile, tickets to the film's screening at the Pusan Festival soldout in less than two minutes Monday after its online ticket sales opened.

The movie will hit theaters nationwide Oct. 22 after premiering at Pusan. Distributed by CJ Entertainment.

credit: hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr
source: koreatimes.co.kr

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Friday, September 18, 2009

Kang Hye-jung Talks About Impending Marriage



The actress
Kang Hye-jung has for the first time spoken about her impending marriage to Tablo, the leader of Korean hip hop group Epik High. During the shoot for her film "Girl Friends" in Yangyang, Gangwon Province, on Thursday afternoon, Kang said, "After news of my pregnancy and wedding was reported, I could have been exposed to criticism from the public, but fortunately I received a lot of congratulations and encouragement. I am grateful."

Early this month, Kang confessed that she was five week's pregnant and said she and Tablo will get married in October. Their romantic relationship became public in February.

"Because
Tablo is busy with his new album and I'm also busy with the shooting of the film, we don't even have time to talk about our future," Kang said, "We are young, and we are unprepared in many ways. But Tablo is being considerate and that makes me feel comfortable."

"Girl Friends" is a romantic comedy about three women who love the same man and end up becoming best friends. Shooting began in August, and the film is released in December.

Credit: englishnews@chosun.com

source : Chosun

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Tuesday, September 15, 2009

More Than Blue [ Korean Movie 2009 ]



Genre : Melodrama, Romance

Starring : Kwon Sang-woo, Lee Bo-young, Lee Beom-soo
Release date : March 11, 2009

Runtime :105 min.

Directed by : Won Tae-yeon


Synopsis:

Radio producer K was abandoned by his family. Lyricist Cream lost her family to a car accident in a split second. These two people continue their lives filling in each other's longings like family, friends and lovers. But K has less than 200 days to live. When he's gone he knows she'll be all alone. K decides to find someone who can be with her for the rest of her life. Joo-hwan is a dentist, a kind and gentle soul. But most importantly, a healthy human being, someone who can be by her side. Joo-hwan falls in love with her the moment he sees her.
source: www.koreanfilm.or.kr

Gallery:


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Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Hur Jin-ho Will Bring 'Heart-Fluttering' Romance


Actors Jung Woo-sung, left, and Gao Yuan-yuan in a scene from
Hur Jin-ho's new film "A Good Rain Knows"


By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter


Hur Jin-ho, the director known for films about fading romance, brings something brighter in “A Good Rain Knows,” coming to theaters in October.

“It’s the brightest, most cheerful and happy movie among all the movies I’ve made so far,” said Hur during a promotional event for the film Tuesday in Seoul.

The director is known for bringing together top South Korean actors in heartbreaking melodramas ― Han Seok-gyu and Shim Eun-ha in “Christmas in August” (1998), Lee Young-ae and Yu Ji-tae in “One Fine Spring Day”; Bae Yong-joon and Son Ye-jin in “April Snow”; and Hwang Jung-min and Lim Soo-jung in “Happiness.”

This time, he pairs up heartthrob Jung Woo-sung and Chinese actress/model Gao Yuan-yuan.

“If my past works were about a man and woman falling in love, living together happily and then breaking up, this story is about a couple who didn’t realize it was love the first time they met. They reunite and build a happy romance ― a movie that makes your heart flutter,” he said.

The 46-year-old, who married recently in 2007 and recently had his first child, was asked if his private life affected his work. “My six-month-year-old baby is so adorable and makes me marvel how such pleasure can exist in the world,” he said, but explained that he simply wanted to make a film that was light and positive.

“I believe that it’s crucial when and where a man and woman meet,” he said, suggesting that timing is everything.


The film is set in Qingdao, China and its title was inspired by a stanza in a poem by Tang Dynasty writer Dubo, “a good rain knows when to come.” Jung stars as a traveling architect who runs into a woman (Gao) he knew while studying abroad in the United States. The two realize that the friendship they shared back then had actually been love and rekindle the romance.

Timing was opportune, said Hur, in casting Jung, whom he had wanted to work with since his directorial debut. The two almost collaborated in “One Fine Spring Day” but was unable to because of scheduling conflicts.


Jung said he felt better prepared for Hur’s film this time. “Every time I received Director Hur’s script I doubted whether I could express such emotions that gently tide in like the ripple of still waters,” said the 36-year-old.


Meanwhile Gao said she had been a fan of Hur’s since the 1998 film “
Christmas in August” and never missed his works in theaters. “When I got the offer I immediately accepted even though I hadn’t even read the script,” she said.

Jung said that working with Hur was a very “different experience” compared to his past projects. The star of “The Good, the Bad, the Weird” said that Hur “draws out invisible emotions from characters and puts a lot of thought into spatial relationships.”


“Everything took very long and I learned the charms of long takes,” he said.


credit: hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr
source: koreatimes.co.kr

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Tuesday, September 01, 2009

My Sassy Girl [ Korean Movie 2001 ]



Genre : Romantic comedy

Starring : Cha Tae-hyun, Jeon Ji-hyeon
Release date : July 27, 2001

Runtime :122 min.

Directed by : Kwak Jae-yong


Synopsis:


My Sassy Girl tells the amusing love story between an inexperienced student (Cha Tae-Hyun) and a quirky college girl (Jeon Ji-Hyun). He finds her collapsed on a late night subway car, drunk to the point of throwing up on an unfortunate passenger. Left without a choice, he takes her to the nearest inn, waiting for her to come to her senses. This is how their dates begin, with him falling in love with a girl that's hurting because of a previous love that's ended. Loving her, however, doesn't come easy. She shoves him into a pond, wanting to see how deep the water is. When her feet hurt, she steals his comfortable tennis shoes, leaving him to wear her pointy heels.
source: visitkorea.or.kr

Gallery:




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