King and the Clown director Lee Jun-ik’s latest movie, Like the Moon Escaping from Clouds [구르믈 버서난 달처럼], has released character posters for its four leads, and they are simply gorgeous.

Based on a manhwa created by Park Heung-yong, this movie is set in the Joseon era as a revolutionary attempts to upend the social order and become king. The year is 1592 as the three lead males “are forced to wield their swords at each other in a fateful showdown.”

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Read the rest of Four character posters for Lee Jun-ik’s new film (150 words)

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Post tags: Baek Sung-hyun, Cha Seung-won, Han Ji-hye, Hwang Jung-min

Aw, this is one project I wish I could see in person. (Often I read about theater productions and feel left out by being halfway around the world.)

The always-wonderful film and theater actor Hwang Jung-min (Accidental Couple, Happiness) is taking on the lead role in the musical version of Wedding Singer, which is based on the Adam Sandler/Drew Barrymore comedy of the same name. The musical was first produced on Broadway in 2006 and is now being adapted for its first time on the Korean stage.

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Read the rest of Hwang Jung-min takes the lead in Wedding Singer (100 words)

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Post tags: Hwang Jung-min, musicals, Park Gun-hyung

Han Ji-hye’s next role takes her back to Joseon Korea, and for her role as a famous gisaeng, has begun taking a variety of classes. As gisaeng entertainers were often skilled in the arts of dance and music, her education includes classes in the gayageum (a stringed lute, the same instrument Honey Lee is known for playing) and singing in verse.

Han Ji-hye has mostly been known for acting in dramas (East of Eden, Likable or Not), but this project is the latest movie from director Lee Jun-ik (You’re Far Away, King and the Clown), called Like the Moon Escaping from Clouds [그르믈 버서난 달처럼, also written 구름을 벗어난 달처럼]. It’s an action-fighting period film based on a Park Heung-ryong manhwa of the same name and boasts quite an impressive cast list: In addition to the previously announced Hwang Jung-min it has added City Hall’s Cha Seung-won and Accidental Couple’s young Baek Sung-hyun. (Looks like Uhm Tae-woong and Ryu Seung-beom are out.)

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Read the rest of Han Ji-hye turns gisaeng in new film (305 words)

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Post tags: Baek Sung-hyun, Cha Seung-won, Han Ji-hye, Hwang Jung-min, Ryu Seung-beom, Uhm Tae-woong

Given that the star-studded omnibus movie Ogamdo [오감도] is touted as a story of “love beyond eros” told five different ways (there are five directors helming five different vignettes), it’s no surprise that its promotional material continues to be provocative. (For instance, the first poster got people talking with the nude woman it featured.)

In fact, the film has received an adults-only rating due to its “frank sexual depictions” and “provocative content.” Some of the narrative threads include a newlywed couple’s upset love, a first encounter for a young couple, a “peculiar relationship” between a famous movie actress and a new actress, a woman who lives with her dead husband’s girlfriend, and so forth.

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Read the rest of Ogamdo unveils more racy posters (42 words)

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Post tags: Cha Soo-yeon, Hwang Jung-min, Jang Hyuk, Kim Hyo-jin, Kim Kang-woo, Kim Min-sun, Kim Su-ro, Uhm Jung-hwa

Once again, I’m thrilled to have Dahee Fanel guest-posting her thoughts on a drama — in this case, KBS’s recently ended Wednesday-Thursday drama Accidental Couple, aka Just Looking aka That Fool. It’s always a pleasure, Dahee! –javabeans

 
SONG OF THE DAY

Judy Garland – “Over the Rainbow.” [ Download ]

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Read the rest of Accidental Couple: A review (1,658 words)

© Dahee_Fanel for Dramabeans, 2009. | Permalink | 50 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Accidental Couple, Baek Sung-hyun, guest bloggers, Hwang Jung-min, Kim Ah-joong

First off, let me get this out of the way: Yes, I caught the first episode of City Hall, which premiered this week in the same time slot as this show (which has gone through so many titles I think I’m just going to pick one and stick with it). I’ll probably write about City Hall after I’ve seen the second episode, but I can tell you that I thought the first episode was terribly boring. Like, eyes-glazed-over boring. I found it rather cold and indifferent, despite having a really solid cast, both lead and supporting. But it’s Kim Sun-ah and Cha Seung-won, so I’m going to hope for better with the next episode.

As for this drama, in a nutshell: Accidental Couple is a sweet, pleasant show that is a little predictable so far (we all know the setup so nothing comes as a surprise in these first two episodes). It wasn’t a perfect start, but this drama’s charm rests largely on its two leads — but thankfully, Hwang Jung-min and Kim Ah-joong are wonderful. Hwang in particular is marvelous at making you feel for his character — already he made me cry twice in the first episode, and not even in sad scenes.

SONG OF THE DAY

Lena Park – “나 같은 사람 너 같은 사람” (A person like me, a person like you) [ Download ]

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Read the rest of Accidental Couple / That Fool / Just Looking / Six Months (3,046 words)

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Post tags: Accidental Couple, episode recaps, Hwang Jung-min, Kim Ah-joong, Six Months, That Fool

Just Looking [그저 바라보다가] is the new name for the drama formerly called Six Months, and while I think the title change — especially so late in the game — was unnecessary, the new title has the added bonus of being shortened to “그바보,” which means “That Fool.” And, judging from these new promo posters, that’s no coincidence.

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Read the rest of Just Looking at That Fool (185 words)

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Post tags: Accidental Couple, Hwang Jung-min, Just Looking, Kim Ah-joong, Six Months