How gorgeous is that promo shot or what? It reminds me of the whimsical artwork of old-school Final Fantasy, doesn’t it? Somehow it manages to be fantasy-like, but not too weak or caricaturish.

Talk about changing my mind, both firmly and quickly. MBC’s Return of Iljimae has managed to do that in a really short period of time, and I admit that it’s for totally superficial reasons. But hey, that’s effective marketing (and art direction!) for ya. And image really is a huge component when we’re talking entertainment-industry success. (Also: who could have predicted that pretty-boy Jung Il-woo could pull off such a drastic image shift?)

Based purely on aesthetic, it looks like MBC will be going for a very different feel from SBS’s more overt comic-book-y influences. SBS’s Iljimae was kind of intentionally exaggerated, sometimes jokesy, and I don’t think MBC will be taking that tack. I don’t meant to belabor the comparison, but it’s rare that you get the chance to see such a stark comparison of two very similar things done (probably) very differently — it’s an interesting study in drama production, if nothing else.

Return of Iljimae premieres on Wednesday, November 19.

A few more stills from MBC’s Return of Iljimae>>

Tags: Iljimae, Jung Hye-young, Jung Il-woo, Kim Min-jong, Return of Iljimae, Yoon Jin-seo

Filed under: Drama Casting & News by javabeans - 28 Comments →

Get ready for the next Iljimae series! If you’re not all Iljimae-d out, that is.

I don’t envy the folks behind MBC’s version of the story of folk hero Iljimae, following SBS’s popular series earlier this year with Lee Junki and Park Shi-hoo. Now MBC’s finally getting ready to launch their series, starring Jung Il-woo in the titular role, to take the Wednesday-Thursday slot after Beethoven Virus vacates it next month.

When I’d first heard of the two Iljimaes, I’d initially thought that MBC’s version, directed by Hwang In-roi of Goong and then starring Lee Seung-gi, had the slight edge in that they had licensed the original Iljimae manhwa upon which to base their story (SBS, working without the source material, essentially made up their own story). SBS had the bigger actors, but MBC had the famous story, and to me, that gave it the advantage.

But then Lee Junki’s series was a big hit, Lee Seung-gi dropped out of the MBC role, and Jung Il-woo left Triple to take over (thankfully for Triple — which, btw, has been postponed to next spring. Boo). Funny how Jung Il-woo was such a breakout hit star after his turn in Unstoppable High Kick — much more so than his co-stars Kim Bum, Kim Hye-sung, and Park Min-young, who have all since risen to make names for themselves — but Jung has since faded from the limelight.

Cast alongside him are Yoon Jin-seo (Beastie Boys) as his love interest, Kim Min-jong (Hyena), Jung Hye-young (East of Eden), and Park Geun-hyung (East of Eden). Iljimae airs in late November — will you be watching?

Via Heraldbiz.com

RELATED POSTS

• Iljimae (SBS): A review
• Trading one regret for the other
• Casting roll call: Iljimae, Triple
• Iljimae (SBS): Episodes 1 & 2
• More delays for Lee Seung-gi’s Iljimae
• The battle to claim Iljimae

Tags: Iljimae, Jung Il-woo, Kim Min-jong, Return of Iljimae, sageuk dramas, Yoon Jin-seo

Filed under: Drama Casting & News by javabeans - 14 Comments →

With the start of MBC’s new drama Air City, my somewhat dormant crush on Lee Jung Jae woke up in full force and slapped me in the face. Sure, I’d seen (and enjoyed) some of his movies, like 2001’s Il Mare (시월애 / siwole) with Jeon Ji Hyun, but I’m a drama series freak at heart, and it’s been nine whole years since his last one.

It made me nostalgic for Lee Jung Jae’s first series — one of the first kdramas I’d seen growing up and one of the first of the “trendy dramas” — KBS2’s 1994 Feelings (느낌 / Neukkim). I’ve always had fond memories of Feelings, but since it’s so old, I had a hard time locating it. But thanks to the wonderful purpletiger and the entire With S2 fansubbing crew, we were able to track down all the episodes.

Left: Feelings (1994). Right: Air City (2007).

Look at that. Thirteen years and barely any change. Now that’s good genetics.

Our lovely team has decided to take on Feelings/Neukkim as a special side project, and will be releasing subtitles so you can all enjoy old-school drama goodness! (I suspect our team’s rampant Lee Jung Jae love has a little something to do with it too. Oh, right. The story’s not so bad either.)

SONG OF THE DAY

Neukkim OST - “Feelings” (느낌) by Hong Jae Sun (홍재선) [ zShare download ]

More FEELINGS >>

Tags: Feelings, Kim Min-jong, Lee Jung-jae, old-school dramas, Sohn Ji-chang

Filed under: Drama Reactions & Reviews by javabeans - 26 Comments →