Kind of. The “Yonsama”-led (Bae Yong-joon) 2007 drama Legend [태왕사신기] will be getting a newly edited version to be released in Japanese cinemas.

This “New Edition” will be cut into four movie-length parts and given a theatrical run. If each movie is approximately two hours long, the total eight hours will yield a condensed version of the drama’s 24 original episodes. The new edition will be arranged into the following four themes (and possible titles): Thousand-year Love, Crossed Fates, Omens of Farewell, and Impossible Love. The first will be released next spring, and tickets will begin to go on sale this fall (this fall?!).

As we know, the Japanese love Yonsama, and the fusion historical-fantasy Legend did well both in Korea and in Japan, so perhaps there’s still interest in this kind of project. I think it’s a great idea in theory, and perhaps it’s more commercially viable than I’m thinking. Legend has actually been screened in theaters before, back in 2007, and the 12 two-hour segments showed all 24 of the drama’s episodes. It was reportedly fairly popular.

A New Edition may actually turn out something quite interesting, because editing is a powerful tool and I’d be keen on watching a version of Legend with a tighter story and shorter running time.

Via Now News

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Most people got their first look at Philip Lee in the blockbuster fantasy-historical drama Legend (Taewangsashingi), in which he played the role of Cheoro. More than a year later, he’s returning to television in the new KBS series Story of a Man.

Story of a Man has already attracted notice for its scriptwriter, the much-lauded Song Ji-nah, who penned Legend as well as the (dare I say legendary?) 1995 drama Sandglass. It is said that Song wrote the character in this latest drama specifically for Philip Lee, who will display some of his English skills through his Korean-American character. The drama centers around a young rich man whose father’s business is bankrupted by a corrupt, large corporation, who then vows revenge.

The drama stars Park Yong-ha (On Air), Kim Kang-woo (Marine Boy), and Park Shi-yeon (La Dolce Vita) and will follow Boys Before Flowers on Mondays and Tuesdays starting late March.

Via Herald Biz

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Choi Su-jong of “Dae Jo Young,” Kim Haneul of “On Air”

Nominees are out for the 2008 Korea Drama Festival awards, and the list is rather ho-hum. For example, the nominees for Best Drama are: Legend (MBC), Mom’s Dead Upset (KBS), Dae Jo Young (KBS), and Gourmet (SBS).

At first I was disappointed in the list of nominees, but then I thought back to the year and realized it’s just been a ho-hum year for dramas overall. Although, if we’re nominating Legend for Best Drama, which premiered over a year ago in September 2007, surely there are other series that have been overlooked.

The Korean Drama Festival runs from November 1 through 5 in Jinju; see the nominee list beyond the jump.

[Read more →]

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Best Actress winners Yoon Eun Hye (drama), Kim Min Hee (film)

The 44th Baeksang Arts Awards were held in Seoul on April 24, handing out top honors to the films and television programs of the previous year.

Big winners included films The Chaser and Forever the Moment (aka The Best Moment In Our Lives); Yoon Eun Hye won for her trend-setting turn as Go Eun Chan in last year’s smash drama Coffee Prince, while War of Money took home Best Drama.

SONG OF THE DAY

MC Mong – “옛날 옛적에” (Once upon a time) from his recently released fourth album. [ Download ]

 
Full awards list for the 44th BAEKSANG AWARDS >>

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I’d like to sit down for coffee and girlchat with actress Moon Sori. Or knock back a pint of beer, since she seems cool like that.

Perhaps there’s a belief that you haven’t really made it as a celebrity till you have anti-fans. Hey, in Hollywoodland, you know you’ve made it when you’ve been satirized by either The Simpsons or Saturday Night Live. Which may explain why an actress so widely recognized for her talents looks at her newfound troops of anti-fans as a positive sign.

Moon Sori: “I’m glad to have gained anti-fans”

Moon Sori has gained anti-fans for the first time since her role in the drama Legend, and she explained her peculiar opinion by saying, “Rather, I’m happy that I was able to draw strong interest.”

Moon, who’s doing promotion for the new film The Best Moment in Our Lives (costarring Kim Jung Eun), said in an interview:

“All this time, I’ve had too few anti’s. I think that means the level of interest in me as an actor has been low. If anti’s are seen as being representative of interest in you, I think of them with thanks. After all, Kim Tae Hee, who’s far prettier than I am, also has anti’s, so what does that say?”

Moon, who’s appeared in numerous films to much critical acclaim, has been criticized for her role as Kiha in Legend — her first drama series — by people who feel she wasn’t suited to the role. (I tend to agree, although she was fantastic and intense as the ancient fire priestess Kajin.)

Her role may have gained her newfound anti’s, but it also increased her fanbase overall:

“Through my role in this drama, I gained middle-aged female [ajumoni] fans as well. In the past, people who didn’t watch many films had no idea who I was. Now I’ve gained more fans, and new anti’s have stirred things up. I think of criticism as something to be thankful for.”

Via My Daily

SONG OF THE DAY

Heritage – “Starlight” [ zShare download ]

 
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