Confirmed: Into the Gunfire [포화 속으로], which is set to begin filming shortly, has cast Cha Seung-won (City Hall) as a North Korean officer and Kim Seung-woo (IRIS) as his South Korean counterpart.

As previously announced, the Korean War film formerly known as 71 (and originally starring Kim Bum and Yoo Seung-ho) has been reworked by a new production company and given a new cast, starring Kwon Sang-woo and TOP as student soldiers who defend their home from invading North Korean soldiers.

The casting of two of its stars (TOP and Kim Seung-woo) makes sense given that the new production company, Taewon Entertainment, is also behind IRIS. They’re following that 20 billion won blockbuster spy hit with another blockbuster that, with Gunfire’s 12 billion won budget, promises to be one of next year’s largest-scale action films.

Into the Gunfire will begin shooting on November 25, shortly after Cha Seung-won wraps filming on his Lee Jun-ik period piece, Like The Moon Escapes From Clouds.

Via BNT News

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Filed under: Chungmuro/Film by javabeans - 37 Comments →

I’m still not sure how I feel about this drama, and whether I want to recap it through the end. I enjoy watching it, and I will keep watching it, but… I was kind of bored this episode. After a nice beginning, this episode felt like a re-cobbling together of shows I’ve seen before. (I’ve seen Alias, I’ve seen 24.) For all the excitement of the plot — spies, plots, assassins, secret missions — it felt kind of ordinary, in a way. On the upside, it looked great and the plot unfolded smoothly. Which is why I think it’s interesting that I felt let down.

SONG OF THE DAY

IRIS OST – “잊지 말아요” (Don’t Forget) by Baek Ji-young [ Download ]

IRIS Episode 2 >>

Filed under: Drama Recaps by javabeans - 41 Comments →

Pretty badass, yo.

IRIS is an expensive drama, and it totally shows. I can’t say that the drama took my breath away, but it was very entertaining, and I can see why it burst on the scene with such a strong start. And then improved on it the following day.

I’m not surprised to see a lot of action, but I was a little surprised (in a nice way) to find that the first episode was actually pretty funny. I suspect that may fade as the story heads into more of its spy storylines, but it was a pleasant way to kick off the series — action mixed with beautiful cinematography, well-placed music, and oh yeah, Lee! Byung! Heon!

SONG OF THE DAY

LeeSsang – “Run” [ Download ]

IRIS Episode 1 >>

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Looks like each of the characters in the main cast of spy drama Iris [아이리스] is getting his/her moment in the spotlight. With a name like Lee Byung-heon in the cast, it’s no surprise he gets most of the attention, as does his CF queen leading lady Kim Tae-hee, but this is one solid supporting cast.

First up: Kim So-yeon (Gourmet). Kim cut off her long hair to play Kim Sun-hwa, a North Korean spy who shows off lots of fierce action skills.

[Read more →]

Filed under: Drama Casting & News by javabeans - 40 Comments →

Upcoming spy drama Iris has had the same poster forever (you know, this one) so it’s nice to see them come out with a new look, just a month before its October premiere on KBS. This image is a little more active than the first one (which was fairly static) and shows a little more personality for each cast member. They are, from left to right: Jung Jun-ho, Kim Tae-hee, Lee Byung-heon, Kim So-yeon, Kim Seung-woo, and TOP.

The action-, betrayal- and romance-packed new drama is set in the world of the NSS, or Korea’s national security agency, and the agents who work within it. With a lot of hype and a production budget of 20 billion won, hopefully this’ll be a better expression of the spy drama genre than, say, 2007’s tepid Air City, in which Lee Jung-jae played an NIS (National Intelligence Service) agent. (Hopefully Korea has learned their lesson about producing dramas around buildings.)

The 20-episode Iris takes the Wednesday-Thursday slot over from My Fair Lady beginning October 14.

Via Arts News

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Filed under: Drama Casting & News by javabeans - 65 Comments →