More awards!

The Blue Dragon Film Awards took place on November 26, and the many of the same films that have been winning lately were rewarded once again: Some of the big winners were for films such as crime drama Moss, dark thriller I Saw the Devil, romantic comedy Cyrano Dating Agency, stark action movie Ajusshi, and the much-lauded Poetry.

Kang Dong-won and Song Kang-ho’s Secret Reunion prevailed to win best picture over nominees Ajusshi, The Housemaid, Moss, and Jeon Woo Chi.

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Read the rest of 2010 Blue Dragon Film Awards (1,851 words)

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Post tags: awards, Choi Kang-hee, Daniel Choi, Han Hye-jin, Jin Gu, Jo Yeo-jung, Jo Yoon-hee, Jung Jae-young, Jung Soo-young, Kim Hye-soo, Kim Sae-ron, Kim Sung-soo, Lee Beom-soo, Lee Min-jung, Nam Gyuri, Park Bo-young, Park Hee-soon, Park Jin-hee, Park Min-young, Sohn Ye-jin, Song Joong-ki, Won Bin, Yoo Joon-sang, Yoo Sun, Yoon Shi-yoon

Aie, is it that time of year again? We’re heading into the holiday months, which also means that awards season is about to descend upon us. (It’s still early, but I bet you’ll tire of them soon enough!) Here we have the 47th Grand Bell (Daejong) Awards, which were held on the evening of October 29, giving out awards to films in 22 categories.

The event was emceed by comedian Shin Dong-yub and actress Kim Jung-eun (I Am Legend), and big winners included Poetry, which notably won the best screenplay prize at Cannes; Moss, the dark thriller from the director of Silmido; Ajusshi, the dark thriller starring Won Bin, who picked up two awards; and Lee Min-jung, who likewise took home two trophies.

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Read the rest of 47th Grand Bell Awards (1,045 words)

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Post tags: awards, Cha Ye-ryun, Chu Ja-hyun, Daniel Choi, Eom Ki-joon, Hwang Jung-eum, Jeon Do-yeon, Jin Gu, Jung Jae-young, Kim Heung-soo, Kim Jung-eun, Kim Sae-ron, Kim Yun-jin, Lee Min-jung, Min Hyo-rin, Oh Ji-ho, Park Hee-soon, Seo Young-hee, Shim Eun-kyung, Song Seung-heon, TOP, Won Bin, Yoon Yeo-jung

Le Grand Chef 2: Kimchi Battle is getting an American theatrical release, and will show in twenty cities, including New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and Los Angeles.

According to a source with the film, this is the first time a Korean movie will be screened in the U.S. while still screening in Korea, saying, “With its strong story, textured visuals, and very Korean kimchi theme, this screening will set a good precedent for showing Korean culture in general in the States.”

The film stars Jin Gu in the Sung-chan role that was played first by Kim Kang-woo (in the first movie) and then Kim Rae-won (in the drama series). He works at a restaurant run by a woman who is like a mother to him. In order to save her restaurant, he faces off in a kimchi battle with that woman’s daughter (Kim Jung-eun), who’s also a famous chef.

Le Grand Chef 2: Kimchi Battle will open in Korea on January 28. Hm… with all the attention going to films with big-name directors (Thirst, Mother), I’m a little surprised to see this movie getting international recognition, but I’ll take it as a good sign.

Via E Daily

RELATED POSTS

• Character posters out for Le Grand Chef 2
• Kim Jung-eun prepares for a Kimchi Battle
• Tazza and Le Grand Chef sequels in the making
• Gourmet (SBS)

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Post tags: Jin Gu, Kim Jung-eun

Posters are out for the upcoming Le Grand Chef 2: Kimchi War, which is the sequel to the hit 2007 film that also spawned a hit television drama.

Kimchi War looks like it’s taking the formula that made both previous projects work — cinematic flair and an eye for beautiful food photography — while only being based loosely on the original film (which was in turn based on a popular manhwa). Kim Jung-eun plays a perfectionist chef, while Jin Gu takes over for the Sung-chan role previously played by Kim Kang-woo in the film and Kim Rae-won in the drama Gourmet.

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Read the rest of Character posters out for Le Grand Chef 2 (67 words)

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Post tags: Jin Gu, Kim Jung-eun, sequels

It’s that time of year again: awards season!

On December 2, the 30th Blue Dragon Film Awards were held at KBS Hall in Yoido, Seoul, hosted by actors Kim Hye-soo and Lee Beom-soo.

Considering the recent slump in the Korean movie industry, it was a pretty good year for films, with several big hits breaking box office records, like Haeundae and Take Off, both of which amassed a number of nominations. It was also a good year for the smaller, indie movie, with awards being given to actors of Breathless, and both Kim Myung-min and Ha Ji-won pulling in top acting honors for their performances in My Love By My Side (aka Closer to Haeven).

Actress Jang Jin-young, who passed away this year from stomach cancer at the age of 35, was given a special award that honored her career in film, with roles in movies like 2001′s Sorum and 2003′s Singles.

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Read the rest of 2009 Blue Dragon Film Awards (1,513 words)

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Post tags: awards, Cha Tae-hyun, Choi Kang-hee, Chu Ja-hyun, Chun Jung-myung, Go Soo, Ha Ji-won, Ha Jung-woo, Han Ye-seul, Jang Jin-young, Jang Young-nam, Jeon No-min, Jin Gu, Jo Ahn, Kang So-ra, Kang Ye-won, Kim Haneul, Kim Hye-soo, Kim Ji-suk, Kim Min-hee, Kim Min-joon, Kim Ok-bin, Lee Beom-soo, Lee Chae-young, Lee Min-ki, Lee Shi-young, Oh Yeon-seo, Park Bo-young, Sohn Ye-jin, Song Chang-eui, Sunwoo Sun, Wang Seok-hyun, Yoo Sun, Yoon Jin-seo

It’s not unheard of for movie stars to visit other film sets in support of friends, but the unannounced arrival of Won Bin on the set of the new film Le Grand Chef 2: Kimchi Battle came as a surprise, particularly since Won Bin is known for lying low and not doing a making a lot of appearances.

Kimchi Battle is the sequel to the popular original film starring Kim Kang-woo (which was based on the same manhwa that was adapted into the drama Gourmet with Kim Rae-won). It stars Kim Jung-eun and Jin Gu, the latter with whom Won Bin acted in his recent film Mother. He’d also once shared the same management with another cast member, Wang Ji-hye, and had worked on the movie Taegukgi (which solidified his status as a top star) with Kimchi Battle‘s producer Lee Sung-hoon.

According to one source, the visit was completely unplanned and Won Bin came bearing snacks for the staff and greeted the director and actors individually. He is currently taking a break after finishing promotional activities for Mother, and is considering his next project.

Via Sports Seoul

RELATED POSTS

• Mother will get a U.S. theatrical release
• Mother opens big with a box-office record
• Kim Jung-eun prepares for a kimchi battle
• Won Bin interviews about Mother, acting, and future goals
• Tazza and Le Grand Chef sequels in the making
• Gourmet (SBS)

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Post tags: Jin Gu, Kim Jung-eun, Won Bin

It was announced a while back that the 2007 hit film Le Grand Chef (which spawned the successful drama series Gourmet) would be coming out with a sequel, which has been cast with a new set of actors.

The original film starred Kim Kang-woo, Im Won-hee, and Lee Hana; the sequel, Le Grand Chef 2: Kimchi War, stars Kim Jung-eun (Forever the Moment, General Hospital 3) and Jin Gu (Mother). It wouldn’t be Le Grand Chef without main character Sung-chan, who has been portrayed by two different actors already, Kim Kang-woo in the film and Kim Rae-won in the drama. Jin Gu will give the character his own spin as the third Sung-chan.

Interestingly (to me, at least), despite being one of the main leads, Kim Jung-eun hasn’t been cast as Sung-chan’s love interest but rather his older half-sister. The two were entrusted with differing kimchi-preparing techniques by their separate mothers, and as you may know, kimchi-making can be a fiercely competitive thing (the older the ajumma/grandma, the fiercer the pride, it seems). Sounds like a simple plot, but both the drama and film were able to find success for its lovely execution, so perhaps Le Grand Chef 2 will prove to be enjoyable, if not strictly necessary.

To prepare, Kim has been busy with cooking lessons; she explains that she enjoys cooking as a hobby, and is fairly comfortable with her way around a kitchen. The film begins shooting in mid-July, and is aiming for release later this year.

Via Sports Khan

RELATED POSTS

• Tazza and Le Grand Chef sequels in the making
• General Hospital may get third season
• A Rising Star for Kim Jung-eun
• Gourmet (SBS)

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Post tags: Jin Gu, Kim Jung-eun, sequels

Swallow the Sun [태양을 삼켜라] has something of a puzzling name (imo), although I suppose it’s more evocative than the “All In 2″ it’s been dubbed (due to the reuniting of the PD and scriptwriter from the original All In). It’s also another of the highly anticipated summer dramas (although not so much for me), and will air on Wednesdays and Thursdays on SBS.

The drama features a pretty extensive cast list (see below), headed by Ji Sung (New Heart), Lee Wan (Insoon Is Pretty), and Yoo Oh-sung (Invisible Man Choi Jang-soo), who play close friends since their UDT (underwater demolition) training days. The ladies include Sung Yuri and Go Doo-shim.

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Read the rest of Swallow the Sun preps for July premiere (247 words)

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Post tags: Ji Sung, Jin Gu, Lee Wan, Sohn Hyun-joo, Sung Yuri, Swallow the Sun, Yoo Oh-sung

Won Bin is currently in France for the Cannes Film Festival, along with the cast and director of his latest film, the Bong Joon-ho-directed thriller Mother (see pics below); this coincides with his latest France-set photo shoot (with the Eiffel Tower in the background, natch) for the June issue of Harper’s Bazaar.

Inside the magazine, the “original pretty boy” talks about acting and films, as well as his five-year hiatus, his days starting out as an actor, his family, hometown, and other diverse topics.

Mother releases on May 28 and will be his first film in five years.

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Read the rest of Won Bin in Bazaar and at Cannes (277 words)

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Post tags: Bong Joon-ho, film festivals, Jin Gu, Kim Hye-ja, photo shoots, Won Bin