javabeans: So Rain is finally enlisting.

girlfriday: How is he not in the army already? Hasn’t he been “going to the army” for like, years?

javabeans: He was “going to army” early, and then “going to army” on time, and now he’s “going to army” at the last possible moment, with just two months left before the deadline, basically.

girlfriday: It doesn’t matter so much when he’s going, just that he’s been ABOUT to go for the better part of the last decade. He could’ve gone and been back by now, and then no one would have to cry.

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Read the rest of Rain reports for military service (378 words)

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Post tags: army duty, conversation post, Rain

Thanks to Rain, we have a few more behind-the-scenes shots from his upcoming fighter-pilot blockbuster movie Red Scarf, in which he stars as a pilot with a team of fighters who carry out a bombardment of Pyongyang, North Korea.

He tweeted the following photos on April 6, with a note declaring that he’s enjoying filming the movie and feeling lots of excitement. With that much fancy military equipment at his disposal, I’m not surprised; he poses here in combat gear, with an F-15 fighter jet. (The main cast has undergone aviation training at air force facilities, and the film is being produced with the cooperation of the military. Hopefully the result of that preparation is a credible portrayal of pilots in flight, or at least entertaining ones a la Top Gun.)

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Read the rest of Rain tweets new stills from Red Scarf (140 words)

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Post tags: Kim Sung-soo, Rain

Filming has begun this week on the South-Korean-fighter-pilots-bombard-the-North blockbuster movie Red Scarf, wherein Rain (Runaway Plan B) goes Top Gun playing the fighter-pilot hero. Shin Se-kyung (High Kick Through the Roof) stars as his love interest.

The first shoots took place on March 15 at a Kangnam club in Seoul, and also featured actors Kim Sung-soo, Lee Hana, and Lee Jong-seok, all pictured below. (It still surprises me how Shin Se-kyung has been able to leapfrog her way over more experienced stars into plum leading roles like this one, and Blue Salt with Song Kang-ho and Chun Jung-myung. Girl has got some effective management, that’s for sure.)

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Read the rest of Rain takes the pilot’s seat in Red Scarf (187 words)

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Post tags: Kim Sung-soo, Lee Hana, Lee Jong-seok, Rain

Rain’s new movie Red Scarf, co-starring Shin Se-kyung as his love interest, is beefing up its cast with several new additions: Lee Hana (Triple), Kim Sung-soo (My Precious You), musical and film actor Yoo Joon-sang (Moss), and Secret Garden’s Tae-sun, Lee Jong-seok.

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Read the rest of More cast members join Rain’s Red Scarf (238 words)

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Post tags: Lee Hana, Lee Jong-seok, Rain, Shin Se-kyung, Yoo Joon-sang

Here we are, Part 5!

As girlfriday said in her review, I’d also like to thank guest bloggers Dahee Fanel and thunderbolt for participating in this year’s year-in-review roundup. A particular thank-you goes out to GF herself for being so game to jump into this whole world of crazy with me, and I think you’ll all agree when I say that Dramabeans is better for her addition to it. I never fail to get a huge kick out of her wicked humor, or for Dahee’s frank and bold insights, or thundie’s thoughtful eloquence. We don’t always agree, but that’s exactly why I love hearing the differing points of views.

Most of all, thanks to the DB readership — that means you! — who have been so supportive, vibrant, and often laugh-out-loud funny. We don’t take you guys for granted, rest assured, and are honored by the community you’ve built here. It’s like a second home, which sounds like a metaphor but actually isn’t because with all the hours I spend here, it really IS one.

So here’s the last of the reviews! With that, we bid adieu to the past year and look forward to lots more laughs, craziness, and yes, head-pounding-WTF-ery in the new year. Bring it on, 2011.

SONG OF THE DAY

Standing Egg – “First Christmas.” The song’s a day or two late, but no matter: Hope your Christmas (or other seasonal holiday) was merry! [ Download ]

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Read the rest of 2010 Editors’ Picks [Year In Review, Part 5] (5,374 words)

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Post tags: Baker King Kim Tak-gu, Cinderella's Sister, Coffee House, Eom Ji-won, featured, Giant, Jang Hyuk, Jejoongwon, Joseon X-Files, Jung Bo-seok, Kim Gab-soo, Kim Hyun-joong, Lee Mi-sook, Micky Yoochun, Moon Geun-young, My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho, Personal Taste, Rain, Runaway, Shin Mina, Sohn Ye-jin, Sungkyunkwan Scandal, The Woman Who Still Wants to Marry, year in review, Yoo Ah-in

Just as his drama Runaway Plan B comes to a close, Rain has announced his new project, a blockbuster film called Red Muffler (a working title). His co-star? She’s not the A-list superstar one might expect to star opposite Rain, but up-and-comer Shin Se-kyung (Blue Salt, High Kick Through the Roof).

Rain’s casting is finalized, while Shin still has to work out the details of her contract, although it sounds like she’s pretty much a lock. And I say, Shin Se-kyung must have fantastic management to keep scoring such plum deals. Not that she isn’t talented, but compared to her (still limited) experience, it’s amazing that she gets cast in projects with actors like Song Kang-ho.

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Read the rest of Rain’s new blockbuster co-starring Shin Se-kyung (208 words)

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Post tags: Rain, Shin Se-kyung

All right, folks, time to check back in with Runaway Plan B. I’ve been watching the episodes despite not recapping it, and now at the halfway mark, I can say that the show is better now than it was at the outset. I’m still a few points away from loving it, but I’m more invested than I was.

I said in the initial recap (and the podcast) that I liked it with some reservations, because there were a few key points that kept me from jumping fully onboard. Like the super-slickness, the style-without-a-heart vibe, the bravado. And one main weak point still holds it back: While the individual episodes move briskly (how can they not, with all that running?), the overall story progresses at a creepy-crawl. If you cut through the action and the fighting and boil down what actually happened in an episode, you’ll see that plot movement only actually makes up small fraction of the real estate. There’s a lot of time spent on filler stuff, like the other PIs in other countries and whatnot. But maybe that’s intentional.

On the upside, Runaway IS very easy to watch. And it may have taken about six episodes before I cared anything about any character, but here at Episode 10, we’re making some nice movements forward. (Finally!)

Here’s the thing, though: You absolutely can’t take it seriously. You have to approach the drama knowing it’s all fun fluff, whether we’re talking about everyone’s magic designer wardrobe — despite being on the run five times per episode — or escaping from handcuffs with a bendy straw. You’ve gotta roll with the ridiculous punches and laugh at the cheekiness, rather than rolling your eyes in derision, because otherwise you’ll just strain yourself (and said eyes).

[Watch the series at DramaFever]

SONG OF THE DAY

MBLAQ – “Running and Running” [ Download ]

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Read the rest of Runaway Plan B: Halftime report (4,947 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2010. | Permalink | 65 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Daniel Henney, featured, Lee Jung-jin, Lee Na-young, Rain, Runaway, Yoon Jin-seo, Yoon Son-ha

It was big news when Lee Min-ho was cast as a womanizing PI in the kdrama adaptation of the famous manga and anime series City Hunter, which was hugely popular in the 1980s. So what has the production team suddenly worried?

Apparently, it’s the similarity of City Hunter’s distinctive Ryo Saeba character to Rain‘s lead character in currently airing drama Runaway Plan B, as well as the storylines of the two projects. When Runaway premiered, a lot of viewers noted the familiarity of Rain’s Ji-woo to the well-known City Hunter hero, with his detective occupation, incorrigible flirting with pretty women, and chic urban style.
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Read the rest of Did Rain steal Lee Min-ho’s thunder? (476 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2010. | Permalink | 80 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: City Hunter, Lee Min-ho, Rain, Runaway

Runaway: Plan B premiered this past week to huge intro ratings, setting KBS up for yet another hit this year. (You may know the title as Fugitive: Plan B but don’t worry if you’re confused, since not even the drama’s official site is keeping things consistent.)

What we get here is a stylish action drama that is — let’s face it — pretty fluffy entertainment but executed well and with a cheeky attitude. It knows exactly what it is, and plays that to the hilt. The casting is spot-on and the action sequences are designed to achieve maximum cool effect.

Did I like it? Very much in parts, and not much at all in other parts. It’s complicated. We’ll get to that.

[Watch the series at DramaFever]

SONG OF THE DAY

Mate – “Go” [ Download ]

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Read the rest of Runaway (Plan B): Episodes 1-2 (3,984 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2010. | Permalink | 140 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Daniel Henney, featured, first episodes, Lee Jung-jin, Lee Na-young, Rain, Runaway, Yoon Jin-seo, Yoon Son-ha

We’ve been hearing that KBS’s new action drama Runaway (Plan B) is supposed to be a romantic comedy, but hadn’t seen any indication to that effect. Finally we get a glimpse at the lighter side with these two new posters, and while I still don’t know how the wild-treasure-hunt-through-Asia storyline will play out as comedic, I’m not skeptical that it can be done.

I also think this is a welcome angle, because we’re going to be getting a lot of action dramas in the near future and they were all starting to blur in my mind. I’m hoping Runaway will establish itself with a fresh, distinct voice and humorous tone.

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Read the rest of Better (and funnier) posters for Runaway (93 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2010. | Permalink | 28 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Daniel Henney, Lee Jung-jin, Lee Na-young, Rain, Runaway, Yoon Jin-seo