I think she's really pretty and I heard she's got some mean moves on the dancefloor... I hope she won't go depressed and kill herself or anything after the movie like a certain deceased actress... I'm not so sure about this director *sigh* but I'm sure that since he's really acclaimed and all that, the movie should turn out to be something special...

i kinda generally agree with hmm that Asian actors especially those who are doing well in Asia should stay where they are. if they wish to expand their career outside of Asia, they should chose wisely the kind of movies and characters that they are going to play. it would be sad to see brilliant Asian actors reduced into playing petty, insignificant, stereotyped roles especially so in American movies. i remember how painful and frustrating it was watching Gong Li in Miami Vice ... wishing that she had not degraded herself playing that role in the movie.

I second the recommendation for 보리건빵생! It's really great because it tells so many different stories.
Should I watch 모래시계? Can you even be considered Korean if you haven't watched it? Haha.

[ Sandglass is one of those seminal kdramas. I think everyone has at least *heard* of it and knows the general idea. I wouldn't push someone to watch what they don't want to, but it's a good one to know. -j ]

all about supply/demand isn't it? few people would pass up worldwide fame & H-wood paycheck. but look at heath ledger: had more acting talent than 2 rain's put together, yet he was typecast & seen as a total joke to non-teens, until getting some "risque" roles. the truth is rain can't compete for "serious" roles with actors his age group in korea. oh sure, he'll never be out of work as a spunky tough/romantic interest on TV, or trade his popstar fame in movies for the short term. but in the long run, he has to distinguish himself from the massive artistic achievement of his peers somehow. he's done it already: constantly performing "the rain ambition", with mad networking skills to back it up.

ROFL at comment by rocketfuel and Shika!!
" I’ve seen Chinese play Japanese. Now Koreans play Japanese. Will wait until Japanese play Japanese."
"If he does play a Japanese ninja, the slogan for Korean actors these days should be…
“Korean, the other Japanese.” "

well.. ive got to say hmmm's comments ring true.. i think those who truly do succeed in hollywood (asian actors, they dont really push it) they really are seen with potential to breakthrough that market and they really have this xfactor. john cho, one of my faves started out small but slowly fame. i think rain is biting of more than he can chew at times. if he sticks to one first then if it goes well moves to the other is better. not unless he is that multi talented and multi tasking that he can make everything work. it doesnt really happen like that in real life.

maybe hyesoo would get less cynics about her pursuit, if she opened up her cyworld (or whatever it is), soliciting criticism and suggestions about her "artistic progress." still, i can't hate a woman who said she finally found courage to do whatever she wanted, when she entered her 30s. it's a light case of jane fonda, but better silly, vain and restless than sedantary.

PCW makes visually exciting, trippin' movies. but can he dress it up enough to reduce the BIG gap in acting ability, of SKH & KOB?
frankly, if top actresses turned him down, they probably see less in the film for themselves (other than bearing skin!) than it is for SKH (it's likely his vehicle after all) & PCW.
i'm also a little worried about the story. PCW is extremely creative and visionary, but he doesn't have much interesting to say about human relationships -- unless they're extreme emotions or very quirky concepts.

first of all, i hate the whole look; hollywood always makes asian men look feminine...there is a whole history about this. its either martial arts or a ninja. but good luck to him. second, this whole idea of america not liking accents has been around since the 1900s. when silent films came out famous mexican and spaniards were on film like Vargas, but when "sound" movies starting becoming popular in the early 1900s a lot of the actors lost their roles because of their accents. i can totally see that happening here. third, bush was re-elected mainly because after the terrorist attacks there was great sympathy for him and the whole damn iraq war. so its not stupidity in america, bc that time period was rough. if he were to run again and get re-elected then yes, there is definitly stupidity on america's part. fourth, i hate it when people say "white" america; its such a big stereotype out there especially in asia. they always equate white= american. yes, i admit , there may be a white stronghold, but i believe america is coming a good long ways, especially with the whole interracial marriage and transracial adoption thing

anyway i wish rain the best of luck, the glasses make him look nerdy, and i will always remember him for full house. hopefully he doesn't get caught up in the infamous hollywood lifestyle.
peace out~

I for one, like his look in that picture. I've always been one for the awkward-nerdy looking type.

On another note, he really is coming off as too ambitious. It'd be awesome if he made it big as a hot action star in America, but in a movie titled, "Ninja Assassin"? I'm really hoping this is just one of those coded movie titles that they'll eventually change. Please don't make him Japanese! It'd be awesome if they recognized his Korean origins a little and created a storyline with some substance. I worry about the whole "English" thing though - like will he be able to speak it?

He really needs to focus on one thing at a time.

I've seen Chinese play Japanese. Now Koreans play Japanese. Will wait until Japanese play Japanese.