Trailers and stills from TV Bang-ja Chronicles
by javabeans
Cable channel CGV is bringing back the “original TV movie” format after finding some success with Girl K; the next entry into this category is their TV Bang-ja Chronicles, so-titled to distinguish it from the film it’s based upon.
Speaking of which, I find the tagline on the poster above unintentionally hilarious; it reads, “A fresh new story nobody knew.” Ha, unless you saw the movie, of course.
Still, I find myself looking forward to this TV movie (which is really more like a mini-drama at four episodes), because I love reimagined folk and fairy tales. These days you can’t just update a familiar fairy tale and call it a day; you’ve got to add a twist, whether it’s taking the storytelling perspective of the Wicked Witch or the Ugly Stepsister or, in this case, servant man.
The poster above gives us the general idea: A woman (Chun-hyang) is promised to a well-born man (Mong-ryong), but loves another (Mong-ryong’s servant Bang-ja). It’s an evocative image, even if I think 3-Iron did it better (that first one’s my favorite):
Bang-ja is played by Lee Sun-ho, who played a bratty movie star in Mary Stayed Out All Night but was more mysterious and interesting in Tamra the Island. Mong-ryong is played by Yeo Hyun-soo (Dong Yi, Dangerous Women), while the woman caught between the men is played by new actress Lee Eun-woo (Romantic Heaven).
Also in the cast are Min Ji-hyun (Mackerel, Run) as Chun-hyang’s servant girl Hyang-dan, and Yoon Ki-won (Birdie Buddy) plays the wicked magistrate Byun Hak-do (who will forever in my mind be Uhm Tae-woong, per the modernized retelling of the story in Delightful Girl Chun-hyang).
The movie version of Bang-ja Chronicles was one of those provocative historicals making up the “ero-sageuk” genre (see also: A Frozen Flower, Portrait of a Beauty), so I wonder if the TV version will be toned down. On one hand, it’s television. On the other, it’s cable. Could go either way.
TV Bang-ja Chronicles premieres on November 5, airing on midnight on Saturdays for four episodes.
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Tags: cable programs, Lee Eun-woo, Lee Sun-ho
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1 Alvina
October 29, 2011 at 10:23 AM
how... erotic?
Honestly, the pictures look amazing but the story is terribly cliche.
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anon
October 30, 2011 at 10:23 PM
I don't mind cliche' storyline as long as they do it well and with real heart and emotions. I'm hoping this would do it. :D
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2 jomo143
October 29, 2011 at 11:07 AM
I know it is an homage to steal the 3-Iron shot, but THEY STOLE THE 3-IRON SHOT! It's so well known, and stuff.
Couldn't they come up with something original?
It's like using titles like "Scent of a Woman" "My Fair Lady" and "The King and I"
Use your own words!
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leonardswench
October 29, 2011 at 6:18 PM
LOL, get them, Jomo!
Actually, I'm just thrilled Lee Sun-ho is back with something potentially interesting in terms of character: PLEASE let it be good!
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3 Ahjummoni
October 29, 2011 at 11:40 AM
Lee Sun-ho looks more like Kim Nam Gil's Bidam, rather than KNG's Kang Mu in Portrait of a Beauty, while Jae Hee from 3 Iron poster was Mong-ryong in Hong sis drama Delightfull girl CH
Lee Sun-ho was my fav in Tamna the island but I was rather disappointed when I saw his later characters choices ( even in Midas he didn't do much)
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ColleenF-H
October 29, 2011 at 12:13 PM
I was thinking the same thing about Jae Hee's turn as Mong Ryong while looking at the 3-Iron posters. Somebody said that nothing in literature is truly new and it seems by extension other art forms as well. Still this may be fun.
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Ahjummoni
October 29, 2011 at 12:57 PM
I didn't watch The Servant coz I don't like the looks of the actor - yup I'm that shallow... however this sounds interesting :P and we know it that it isn't the first or last interpretation of the same story
as The 3 Musketeers : even it isn't folklore is one of the stories with a considerable number of screenings... in the same way this Korean story has its number of screenings in its own country
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Pat
October 29, 2011 at 3:39 PM
But isn't EVERY k drama about 2 guys and a girl?
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Ahjummoni
October 29, 2011 at 10:12 PM
hehe..... sometimes we have 2 gals one guy
watch family/week-end dramas... sometimes secondary OTP and 3rd OTP don't have a 3rd problem in the couple, but real life problems
Secret garden was out of the norm and somehow City Hunter too
Sign was too procedural and his thoughts about his ex could be about any other gal not necessarily the prosecutor - they didn't dig too much on this trope
Vampire Prosecutor the same thing as Sign - they spend their time on cases and not on romance
5th Republic was rather Political
yap you're right: it is a pain to search for a Kdrama without love triangle
this is the aspect that I love about jdramas: they don't give me headaches with the love triangle- they go for friendship, detectives or highschoolers: in the end if they feel like it - they throw a scene or 2 with the love matter
bd
October 31, 2011 at 3:50 PM
Eh, "SG" was so "by the book" - didn't do anything diff. or that good for that matter.
There are a lot of dramas w/ 2 male and 2 female leads.
Cyoon
October 29, 2011 at 3:04 PM
I totally thought Lee Sun Ho was Kim Nam Gil...
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Birthday Girl
October 31, 2011 at 4:32 PM
BIDAM-- and then I saw the cheekbones and lips...
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Han
October 29, 2011 at 4:35 PM
Honestly, I was thinking something similar. As soon as I saw the poster I was like "Wait, how is KNG in this, he is not yet out of the Army!"
I kind of feel bad for the actor because he is dressed so much like Portrait of a Beauty's KNG and looks similar that to western audiences at least, there will be the inevitable comparison.
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kirst3n
October 29, 2011 at 11:28 PM
That's the first thought that came in my too. I really thought it was KNG!
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houstontwin
October 29, 2011 at 5:24 PM
Didn't Lee Sun-ho play the math genius who commits suicide after loosing a competition(in The Snow Queen)?
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elle loves kdrama
October 29, 2011 at 5:42 PM
Yes, he did. And he is one of my favorite characters in the sitcom "More charming by the day". He is simply adorable in it :)
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4 Severine
October 29, 2011 at 11:46 AM
Looks interesting. Might give this a shot if it's subbed.
Don't know if this has been answered before, but is cable programming more provocative than network programming in Korea, just like it is here in the States?
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diorama
October 29, 2011 at 2:34 PM
From my (probably limited) knowledge, cable networks don't have the super-stringent censoring policies that the networks do. It doesn't take much, really, if you've seen the stiff, pallid 'kisses' on network TV that are pretty much all that's allowed (with a few exceptions).
Still, because cable is given that freedom, it often does go all out on the graphic violence, nudity, etc. It makes for much cooler, gritter, and realistic TV, even though sometimes I do think it's a bit much.
I don't know much about the U.S. system though; ever since I started kdramas I've rarely watched a show in English, lol.
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Severine
October 29, 2011 at 2:58 PM
Thanks for the info, I appreciate it! :)
I was just curious, because, if I'm not mistaken, cable is a fairly new thing in Korea or it just recently got coverage on DB. Can't tell. lol.
I totally agree that it probably doesn't take much to make cable more 'racy' in Korea. I'm actually really excited to see all the new cable dramas in Korea, because I really love the cable shows we've got here in the U.S. I've recently been watching a lot of American TV, but I feel like going back to K-drama land for a bit, and I might start with a cable show now that I can expect some "cooler, gritter, and realistic" material.
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hjkomo
October 29, 2011 at 6:20 PM
Definitely more provocative. As are movies.
But Lee Sun Ho on cable again... not a bad thing at all. ;)
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5 alua
October 29, 2011 at 12:11 PM
Before I opened the post, I was thinking "3-Iron"!
I like this take, even if it doesn't beat the 3-Iron one.
It generally looks interesting (ooh, that picture after the 2nd teaser trailer...), but as much homage as it gives to 3-Iron, I doubt it'll be as original as it (copying the poster perhaps already being suggestive of that). Still, I'll watch it, or at least give it a try.
Anyone who hasn't seen 3-Iron: watch it! It's fabulous. Kim Ki-duk is one of those Korean filmmakers you can't miss.
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6 hpn88
October 29, 2011 at 12:28 PM
lmao "ero-saeguk"
this just makes me want to watch 3-Iron again - which remains my favorite KKD film.
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7 JAEHEE
October 29, 2011 at 1:06 PM
Omo, I thought Jae Hee's in the poster. Haha.
Too bad he doesn't have that muscles. :|
Anyway, I really miss him in K-dramaland.
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8 d
October 29, 2011 at 4:09 PM
LSH looks fine but while i was reading thru i was like, bratty movie star? we've bratty movie star in MSOAN? Guhhh..
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9 Steamy Bun
October 29, 2011 at 5:29 PM
So that's the guy from Tamna?? He is so good looking.
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10 Grumblepie
October 29, 2011 at 6:21 PM
Soooo... Lady Chatterly's Lover, then?
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11 Shin mi rAe
October 29, 2011 at 6:42 PM
KIM NAM GIL!!!!
Oh, you are not kim nam gil. Coz he is still in military. I keep going back to the first pic, the 3rd pic, and yeah, so kim nam gil. I thought, portait of a beauty??? Bidam???
Then someone mentioned snow queen. Ok, i will have to check my snow queen dvd.
Oh yeah, i've seen "the servant" (and frozen flower and portrait of a beauty... What does that say about me???!!!!)
Anyway, its cool...a retelling of chun hyang. Totally loved the servant in the end.
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12 jenny
October 29, 2011 at 7:00 PM
lee sun ho is perfect for this role.
yay!
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13 annie
October 29, 2011 at 8:07 PM
I loved Lee Sun-ho in Tamra. And I'm always up for a reimagining of a well-known fairy tale.
Cable is looking good this season.
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14 Uca
October 30, 2011 at 1:44 AM
isn't she Park Jin Hee? lol very looks alike, from what my eyes see
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15 Raine
October 30, 2011 at 4:35 AM
I haven't seen 3-Iron so I will definitely watch it before I go into this. I'm curious to see what path it will take, as JB said. How will they reinvent the wheel?
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16 kooriyuki
October 30, 2011 at 4:36 AM
"the wicked magistrate Byun Hak-do (who will forever in my mind be Uhm Tae-woong)"<--- same here!!
oh a side note, i can't take UTW seriously now after watching 1N2D XD
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17 erika
October 30, 2011 at 5:06 AM
muscles......
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18 pistachione
October 30, 2011 at 3:54 PM
I still love 3- Iron. It was was amazing! It was so breathtaking especially Jae Hee portraying his role well. The story was just appropriate for a film, I'm not sure it's fitted to be in a drama.
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19 Bim2
October 30, 2011 at 8:18 PM
From the poster, I got vibe that this Chun Hyang will not potrait as same Chun Hyang in "Bang Ja Chronicle"-movie. Straight gaze from this Chun Hyang make me wonder, if this Chun Hyang will be portrait more evil. Don't you think so?
Hehehehe~
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20 hermosa5790
October 30, 2011 at 11:06 PM
3-Iron = SUPERB!
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21 Carinne
October 31, 2011 at 2:42 PM
Ooo~ the smell of eros all over... eh, if it's avail online I'll watch it.
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22 nonski ⭐️A forever JIN who crash landed on Hyun Bins heart❤️!
October 31, 2011 at 5:32 PM
mmmmm.... the pics looks... delicious. kekeke
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23 hottestjen
November 1, 2011 at 5:17 PM
from the poster i thought it was kim nam gil from bad guy.
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24 kd101
November 8, 2011 at 12:47 AM
Those 3 iron posters are hauntingly beautiful and worse they remind me of Jae Hee. Love to see him in another Hong sister's drama.
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