Um. I know it’s hardly accurate to judge a movie based on a 30-second trailer, much less a few photo stills. But, erm, based on these stills of the upcoming action flick G.I. Joe… it looks kinda lame.

Which is too bad, since, as usual, Korean fans are excited about the inclusion of another big-name star (this time actor Lee Byung Heon) in a Hollywood production. And G.I. Joe does boast some well-known Hollywood names, starting with director Stephen Sommers (The Mummy, Van Helsing) and actors Dennis Quaid, Sienna Miller, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jonathan Pryce, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, and Marlon Wayans.

I was more optimistic about Lee’s chances being cast as Storm Shadow (a ninja assassin with dual loyalties to both Cobra Commander and G.I. Joe) than, say, Rain’s criticized performance in Speed Racer, because Lee Byung Heon has at least distinguished himself more as an actor than Rain. But Rain will get another chance to redeem himself, playing (sigh) a ninja assassin in the upcoming Wachowski brothers production of the same name. Yeah, I know Lee’s role was supposedly changed from Japanese to Korean, but that’s just something to appease the Koreans — to the rest of the world, a ninja is a ninja.

Well, fingers crossed for more successful Hollywood crossovers for Jeon Ji Hyun (Blood: The Last Vampire) as a vampire-hunting warrior and Jang Dong Gun (Laundry Warrior) as an “Asian warrior assassin.”

(Seriously, Hollywood? Are you running down the Asian Stereotype Checklist and all just happened to get stuck in the “warrior assassin” mode? What next? A slew of movies about nerdy Asian scientists who speak Kong-Ching-Japlish (hey, they all sound the same, right?) who decide to engage the world in a new Red Terror and revitalize communism with the help of their doll-faced, subservient women? While acing the SAT, running convenience stores and bemoaning their lesser-endowed sexy parts? ‘Cause… yeah, we are not impressed. And by “we” I mean “me,” but I’m pretty sure also “we.”)

Filming began in February in L.A., and G.I. Joe plans to release in Summer 2009.

Via Star News

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8eight - “물어봅니다” (I ask) [ Download ]

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Lee Hye Young

Actors’ editing woes

After an enjoyable movie comes to a close, sometimes we’re left with a letdown feeling at its end. Some actors whose roles are cut down in the final products also express disappointment when seeing the finished film. We’ve gathered the thoughts of directors and actors from film sets to talk about the dilemma of editing.

Report

Audiences are first introduced to the endless string of movies to be released over the year in the film’s initial press conference. Excepting special circumstances, the media event is when actors who’ve participated in the making of the movies first see their roles onscreen.

 
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Slow Jam - “가르쳐 줘요” (Teach Me)
[ zShare download ]

Actors react to their roles for the first time >>

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Jang Dong Gun

This isn’t too different from the Hollywood system of things, if you substitute “talk show circuit” for the Korean variety programming mentioned below. You know, if an actor or personality appears on Letterman, Conan, or any of the other late-night (or early-morning) programs, chances are they’re hawking something, whether it’s a new movie, new book, new fragrance, new vanity athletic shoe line, new healthy-cooking meat griller, whatever. And similarly, in Hollywood, the bigger the star, the rarer the appearances (and the bigger the deal when they do appear). So to the following, I say, (1) makes sense, and (2) DUH.

Active stars who don’t appear on variety shows…?

“I’m not close with Jang Dong Gun. Please talk with his management.” “Please ask Mr. Jang Dong Gun and get him to appear.” Those are the words of [host] Kang Ho Dong on MBC’s popular program Goldfish. Kang Ho Dong never fails to ask for Jang Dong Gun to appear whenever the opportunity arises or a star connected to him comes on the show. In truth, he’s said that PD Lim Jung Ah is negotiating to get Jang Dong Gun to appear.

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Rocket Diary - “What You Want” [ zShare download ]

Who else avoids variety shows? >>

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It’s the all-ladies edition!

• Fresh-faced young actress Han Hyo Joo (love her!) has been cast as Lee Junki’s love interest in the upcoming drama Iljimae. Looks like the Junki version just got a leg up over the Lee Seung Gi version. The drama airs in April on SBS.
• Coming off a very recent public breakup with longtime boyfriend Lee Dong Gun, actress Han Ji Hye has come out saying, “No matter how much I’m in love, if my parents oppose the match, I’d give up my love.” Is it a revealing truth, or damage control in the post-breakup scramble to look better than the ex? Either way, the girl annoys me to an irrational degree. Can’t explain it; she just always looks so smug.
• The just-premiered “season drama” (based on the U.S. multi-season model, a la Auction House) Before and After: Plastic Surgery featured a surprise cameo by actress Kim Jung Hwa — who waived her performance fee for the occasion. The first episode of the series on the 6th brought in a 8.6% rating.
• Jeon Ji Hyun and the cast of her upcoming film The Man Who Was Superman were on hand for a press conference on the 7th in Apgujung. Movie opens the 31st.
• Kim Jung Eun denies that publicity over her romance with fellow actor Lee Seo Jin is a “marketing ploy” for her newest film, The Happiest Moment In Our Lives. She says her relationship is her private life, but she’s not the type to tell interested people, “Excuse me, please don’t talk about my personal life.” But I’m sure she’s eager enough to add, don’t forget her movie opens on January 10!

SONG OF THE DAY

Brazilian Taco - “이별보다 쉬운 사랑” (a love easier than farewell) [ zShare download ]

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• One planned comeback, one failed one
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• Check out the new poster for the Jeon Ji Hyun–Hwang Jung Min movie The Man Who Was Superman, photo above.
• End-of-the-year awards ceremonies are approaching, and KBS has selected Lee Da Hae as its MC, along with Tak Jae Hoon.



• Don’t drink and drive. Actress Hwang Bora (24, to right) learned that the hard way when she was arrested for driving under the influence despite claims of only drinking one glass of wine. If that name doesn’t ring a bell, perhaps you’ll remember her as Yoorin’s goofy best friend in My Girl. She was also in the Nonstop series Rainbow Romance and Lawyers.
• Cable channel Mnet just had its M Countdown Christmas-themed concert, featuring mostly artists I don’t care about, like Super Junior, SG Wannabe, Seeya, and Girls Generation, and some I do, like FT Island, Dynamic Duo, and Lee Soo Young.
• Chun Jung Myung is busy cramming in as much Hansel & Gretel promotion while preparing for his upcoming January 2 military service enlistment, which starts even earlier than Gong Yoo’s on January 14. Sob.
• Actress Han Ji Hye, girlfriend of actor Lee Dong Gun, has released photos of herself with her older sister and younger brother online.

SONG OF THE DAY

Lucite Tokki - “비오는 날” (Rainy day). Lucite Tokki is an awesome new indie band from the Pastel Music label, with a similar sound to (similarly awesome) labelmates Love & Pop, Fanny Fink and Misty Blue. [ zShare download ]

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• News bites: December 6
• An early look at The Man Who Was Superman
• Chun Jung Myung’s twisted fairy tale
• Army-bound

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On the 28th, reporters were invited to check out the filming location and talk with the main players in the upcoming movie The Man Who Was Superman, starring Jeon Ji Hyun and Hwang Jung Min.

Described as a “cheerful and warm human drama,” the movie stars Jeon in a complete turnaround from her usual image; she even ditched her trademark long straight hair for an unkempt permed style with bangs. The character doesn’t wear makeup, doesn’t dress in frilly or feminine clothes, drinks a lot, and smokes: “In a word, she’s got a dirty image.” Furthermore, she seems something of a cynic, dismissing emotions like sympathy and sentimentality as pointless and ineffectual.

As a small-scale producer, Jeon’s character starts filming a new subject in hopes of bringing her success and fame as a documentary producer; the guy is Hwang Jung Min’s character, who believes he’s Superman who’s just momentarily misplaced his superpowers.

Jeon said of her costar: “More than just as an actor, Hwang Jung Min was so comfortable as a person and treated me well” and “It would be great if all male actors could be like him.” Meanwhile, he said of her: “It’s a little disappointing that our relationship in the film isn’t a romantic one. At the outset, I was more nervous [than her].”

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Ju Da In - “고백” (confession) [ zShare download ]

More preview stills of THE MAN WHO WAS SUPERMAN >>

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