Ajumma's Journal
Showing posts with label drama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label drama. Show all posts
Friday, December 4, 2009
Three Cheers for Kim Myung-Min and Ha Ji-won ( and Gamsa-hamnida to Kwon Sang-woo!)
Great to have two favourites in the same movie and even better to hear that Kim Myung-min and Ha Ji-won have won the awards for Best Actors in the movie, Closer to Heaven ( also known as My Love by My Side) in the most recent Blue Dragon Film Awards held on 2 December, 2009.
Kim Myung-min ( Maestro Kang of Beethoven Virus fame) probably suffered more than Rain ( who couldn't eat rice for 6 months apparently for Ninja Assassin) in terms of the physical preparation for his role. As someone suffering from Lou Gehrig's Disease, he had to lose 20 kg during the course of the shooting to depict his character's debilitating condition. Talk about taking Method Acting to the max. Click here and here for more on his hunger pangs.
BTW, a big Gamsa-hamnida to Kwon Sang-woo for dropping out of the role. No idea why you chose to leave the production set but you earn brownie points for being partly responsible for Kim Myung-min getting this part. Don't know if you're kicking yourself for passing up the opportunity of a lifetime or you're relieved that you didn't have to go through so much rigorous fasting for the role, but I'm so glad Kim did it instead of you!
As for Ha Ji-won, her other film, Haeundae probably has gotten more attention but I'm thrilled that she's getting this recognition for her role her as a funeral director who falls in love with Kim's character. She's been growing from strength to strength as well and I hope even more meaty roles will be offered to this versatile actor.
Update: Fans of Kim Myung-min have created a website. You can read his acceptance speech at the Blue Dragon Film Awards at http://www.myungmininternational.com/
Source:
http://www.dramabeans.com/2009/12/2009-blue-dragon-film-awards/
http://www.dramabeans.com/2009/01/kim-myung-min-takes-a-method-approach-to-weight-loss/
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
"They're ACTRESSES...they CANNOT wait!"
“You gotta understand…they’re actresses – they cannot wait!” ( line from The Actresses)
At the press conference: All that bitchiness was just for the camera. We're really good friends!
Can’t wait to see this one. Am even more eager to watch this than Rain's Ninja Assassins. Director Lee Jae-yong ( Untold Scandal) has brought together a fascinating ensemble of Korean actresses for a real vs reel ( or is it real in reel ?) movie. The movie poster promises ingredients which make for delicious entertainment: scandal, pride, fame, jealousy, mystery and complex.
GIRL POWER: clockwise from top left: Yoon Yeo-jeong, Lee Mi-sook,
Go Hyeon-jeong, Kim Ok-bin, Kim Min-hee and Choi Ji-woo.
Go Hyeon-jeong, Kim Ok-bin, Kim Min-hee and Choi Ji-woo.
Six actresses playing “themselves” are brought together for a photography session for VOGUE on Christmas Eve. Watch sparks fly as rivalries, insecurities and big-time egos get in the way of the shoot. We can look forward to tensions between the junior and senior actresses, between the used to be famous versus more recently popular stars – all revealing a pecking order of sorts. One hopes there’s chemistry between the six leading ladies here: Yoon Yeo-jeong (Worlds Within), Lee Mi-sook ( Untold Scandal), Kim Min-hee ( Asako In Ruby Shoes) , Go Hyeon-jeong ( Queen Seon-deok ), Choi Ji-Woo ( Winter Sonata), and Kim Ok-bin ( Thirst).
( Interesting footnote and discovery: Yoon Yeo-jeong's thumbnail sketch isn't on the KNTO webpage dedicated to Hallyu actresses- now is this an honest oversight or an example of ageism?!!)
Why does Lee Jae-yong ( director for Untold Scandal, the remake of Dangerous Liaisons, starring Jeon Do-yeon and Bae Yong-joon) suddenly remind me of the late, great director, Robert Altman ( of M*A* S* H, The Player, Short Cuts & Gosford Park fame)? Perhaps it’s the ensemble cast, perhaps it’s the unscripted plot which calls for a lot of improvisational work and even more trust in the director. Maybe this comparison isn’t justified and maybe it’s not even fair to Mr. Lee Jae-yong. Either way, I hope I won’t be disappointed.
To whet your appetitie, here's the trailer. Movie's expected to be released on 10 Dec.
Source:
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Namhae - Part 1 Why Visit Namhae?
My visit to Namhae in spring of 2007 all started with the movie “Barefoot Ki-bong”. The beauty of Daraengi village shown in the film was as charming as the true story of the simple-minded but big-hearted hero’s determination to complete a marathon. I had the urge to see for myself this village perched on the steep Namhae coastline which formed the dramatic backdrop to Ki-bong’s daily runs.
Many tourists are already familiar with Jeju but Namhae has enough charms of its own to give Jeju a run for its money. Namhae has almost everything that lovers of landscape could wish for – rugged coastlines, dramatic mountains, narrow valleys opening up to colourful plains and quaint villages that either hug the rocky shorelines or the foothills.
It is no wonder that this island has become the site for the American and German Villages for Koreans who have lived abroad for years. It seems the ideal place to retire with its clean air, relaxed pace of life and open spaces.
Namhae is beginning to prove a strong rival to Jeju in terms of shooting locations for TV dramas. More recently, the village of Daraengi was featured in the opening episode for "Cinderella's Step-sister" with Moon Geun-yong in the lead role. Those familiar with the K drama, Couple Or Trouble, starring Oh Ji-ho and Han Ye-seul, may also want to check out some of the places on the island that provided scenic backdrops to the story.
Even if you've never seen the movie or the drama series, Namhae is worth the time and effort. Don't be surprised to find yourself extending your stay.
sources:
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=262191
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=1051940
http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/CU/CU_EN_8_5_1_22.jsp
http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/CU/CU_EN_8_5_1_66.jsp