Although the news is not yet final, it looks like So Ji-sub will likely take on a role in a large-scale blockbuster war drama for his next project. The Korean War-set drama Road No. 1 [로드 넘버원] comes from Logos Films, with whom So is currently in talks to work out the finer details.

Road No. 1 tells the story of a military cadet who finds himself thrust into battle when war suddenly breaks out, and fights for survival alongside his rival. The title comes from the name of the No. 1 national highway that served as the main passageway used in 1950 during the outbreak of the Korean War, traversed by those from the North into Seoul, and from the South into Pyeongyang. In the drama, it also serves as a symbolic locale, which carries meaning as the place where the hero meets his first defeat and fights for victory.

PD Kim Jin-min (La Dolce Vita, Time Between Dog and Wolf) has been preparing this drama for the past two years with writer Han Ji-hoon of blockbuster war film Taegukgi and action drama Time Between Dog and Wolf. The drama boasts a 10 billion won production budget and plans to begin filming in January for a June broadcast, in time to commemorate the 60 years that have passed since the Korean War. If So Ji-sub is confirmed, he’ll begin training in early December.

I’ve learned to be wary of blockbusters and large-scale epics, but I’m sort of in the mood for something hard and gritty, and this could be quite interesting. So Ji-sub’s last Korean project was the high-profile drama Cain & Abel (which I hated for its ridiculous plot but which performed well in the ratings), after which he took on a Chinese-Korean co-production in Sophie’s Love Manual (aka Sophie’s Revenge) and the Japanese “mobile drama” I am Ghost.

Via Star News, BNT News

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• Cain & Abel ends (Open Thread)
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On October 8, the 14th Pusan International Film Festival, or PIFF, opened in Busan. (Yes, the city takes a different official spelling than the film festival. Blame inconsistent Romanization.)

As the largest film festival in Korea, it drew a large list of attendees, as you can see from the long list of red-carpet walkers. It was definitely a star-studded opening night, and even included one familiar Hollywood face (Josh Hartnett).

This year’s PIFF features its largest lineup to date, screening 355 films from 70 countries, and closes on the 16th.

[Read more →]

Filed under: Chungmuro/Film by javabeans - 81 Comments →

How time flies, huh? It felt like just the other day I was writing up my first impressions on the SBS revenge drama Cain & Abel, and now it’s already over. (The last episode aired Thursday, April 23.)

As with other popular shows I haven’t followed, I’m opening this up to an Open Thread, so you can discuss Cain & Abel’s run, its ending, whatever, go wild. (Previous end-of-drama open threads: Tazza, East of Eden).

Starting next week in Cain’s Wednesday-Thursday SBS timeslot is Kim Sun-ah’s City Hall.

SONG OF THE DAY

Cain & Abel OST – “운명” (Fate). One of these days I’d like to see a kdrama soundtrack (particularly a thriller) NOT feature a song named “운명.” Just for a change, you know? [ Download ]

RELATED POSTS

• Currently airing dramas: A roundup
• Cain & Abel: First impressions
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• New stills from Cain & Abel

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Photo post!

If you love So Ji-sub (currently acting in Cain & Abel), check out how cute (and cheery) he looks at the April 2 launch show for the men’s cosmetic brand VONIN’s Rx Sports line.

What’s particularly cute is how excited the ladies seem to be to pose next to him, which includes actress-comedienne Ahn Sun-young (Who Are You, What’s Up Fox), who appears to be co-hosting the event.

[Read more →]

Filed under: Celebrity News by javabeans - 37 Comments →

Caveat: This isn’t a proper recap. It’s not even a proper review. After catching the first few episodes, I wasn’t intending to write about SBS’s new Wednesday-Thursday drama, Cain & Abel, but I got a lot (a lot!) of emails from people asking what I thought of it and requesting recaps.

The thing is, I didn’t know how I would feel about Cain & Abel going in, but was expecting one of a few scenarios: to love it or to hate it. To be drawn in right away or turned off right away. To be impressed or to be disappointed.

What I did NOT expect, however… was to be bored.

SONG OF THE DAY

Cain & Abel OST – “미련한 사랑” (Foolish love) by G (So Ji-sub) (he’s the rapper) and Chae Dong-ha [ Download ]

CAIN AND ABEL Episode 1-3 thoughts >>

Filed under: Drama Reactions & Reviews by javabeans - 96 Comments →