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Korea-China Song Festival to be Held in Beijing
2007-12-05
The 9th Korea-China song festival will be held Dec. 6 in Beijing, China.
Marking the 15th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and China, the festival will feature top Korean and Chinese artists to celebrate friendship between the peoples of the two countries.
An impressive performance will be staged by traditional drum player Choi So-ri, the b-boy team T.I.P and singer Poppin Hyunjun. Singer Maya and a Chinese singer will sign "Tianmimi" in Chinese.
To wish success for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the band Paran and Chinese singers will sing "Hand in Hand," the theme song of the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
A member of the boy band TVXQ will team with a Chinese singer to sing a song about friendship between Korea and China.
Other performers will include Lee Jung-hyun, Whee Sung and the band Baby VOX Re.V.
c: KBS Global |
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December 3, 2007
Bae Yong Joon, finishes filming and hospitalized for treatment
Actor Bae Yong Joon finished filming all scenes for the drama series "The Legend" on the 2nd and has been admitted to the hospital to treat his injury.
Bae Yong Joon's agency BOF says, "Bae Yong Joon who finished all filming on the 2nd at the Gyeonggi-do set admitted to a hospital in Seoul for a detailed examination and treatment. He was injured several times during the filming but has postponed treatment to complete the series."
Bae Yong Joon had injured his index finger ligament at the end of October when hit by a prop sword during a fighting scene. Early last month, his neck and shoulder ligaments were injured severely when an actor during a wire action scene fell on top of him. Towards the middle of the month, Bae Yong Joon had also injured his knee while landing during another action scene.
Bae Yong Joon ended up filming with a cast on his finger, then on painkillers in November.
BOF added, "Bae Yong Joon especially did not want his fans to know about his knee injury so they would not be worried and participated in filming with crutches. He will be closely examined at the hospital for 3~4 days to determine how long he will need to be treated and recover, but it seems inevitable that he will be admitted to the hospital."
"The Legend" finished all filming on the 2nd, and the final episode will be aired on the coming 5th.
Source: Broasia.com
http://www.broasia.com/lwboard/l ... amp;pg=1&no=432 |
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December 4, 2007
TV Drama Starring Kwon Sang-woo Big Hit in Japan
Top hallyu actor Kwon Sang-woo has drawn contrasting responses in Korea and abroad recently for his role in a new TV drama after a two-year hiatus.
The drama, entitled "Bad Love," recorded domestic viewer ratings of just 6.1 percent on Dec. 3, when its pilot episode aired.
But its exports to Japan and Taiwan have been anything but sluggish, posting export revenues of three billion won in Japan alone. In fact, "Bad Love" and the epic drama "The Four Guardian Gods of the King," starring actor Bae Yong-jun have been paving the way for a revival of the hallyu boom.
A person from the production crew of "Bad Love" said Asian fans have been looking forward to Kwon's acting after his long hiatus and that some 100 foreign fans visit the drama's filming sites every day.
Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/mconten ... /1493860_11692.html |
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December 4, 2007
Rain to Attend CineAsia in Macau
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff reporter
K-pop superstar and actor Rain will attend the CineAsia film festival in Macau on Friday.
J. Tune Entertainment, the singer's management agency, said the festival organizer Nielsen Business Media invited Rain to attend the three-day CineAsia Film Festival, which began Tuesday at the Wynn Macau Hotel.
Rain will reportedly receive the Asian Male Star of the Year award at the CineAsia Film Festival, while Chinese actress Tang Wei, who starred in "Lust, Caution" will receive the Asian Female Star of the Year award.
Rain, whose real name is Jung Ji-hoon, will be starring in the upcoming Hollywood film "Speed Racer." The film, directed by the Wachowski brothers of The Matrix fame, will mark Rain's Hollywood debut.
Rain gained popularity around Asia for his roles in hit Korean TV dramas, such as "Full House." He has also released four hit albums and performed in sold-out concerts throughout Asia.
CineAsia is one of four annual exhibition industry conventions organized by Nielsen Business Media, along with ShoWest, ShowEast and Cinema Expo International. This is the first time CineAsia will be held in Macau.
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2007/12/201_14919.html |
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December 4, 2007
TV Drama 'Taewangsasingi' Goes to Japan
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
Poster of the television drama "Taewangsasingi." The drama starring "Yonsama"
Bae Yong-joon marked well above 30 percent in viewership
and began airing in Japan. /Courtesy of MBC
The last episode of the TV series "Taewangsasingi" (The Four Guardian Gods of the King) airs tonight.
The drama's legacy, however, is expected to live on, especially now that it is showing on the small and big screens in Japan. The "blockbuster" TV drama is garnering a cult following with the likes of J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" empire, with novels, books, CDs and DVDs among other products pouring onto the Korean and Japanese market.
Conquering Screens
Weaving together age-old myths and remnants of ancient Korean history with sophisticated computer graphics, "Taewangsasingi" has led the renaissance of period dramas on TV.
It has transcended the boundaries of conventional Korean TV soaps and signaled the rise of a new genre "TV picture," which combines the advantages of TV dramas and movies, according to director Park Jong-won of "Eight Days,' a mystery thriller set during the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) that is currently airing on cable movie channel CGV.
Spanning 24 episodes, "Taewangsasingi" enjoys the narrative structure of a TV series, thereby having the advantage of telling an in-depth story, but super-sizes everything. Boasting a record 43 billion won budget, its action-packed battle sequences, period detail and CG-enhanced visuals evoked comparison to films such as "The Lord of the Rings." (Naturally, its broadcasting schedule was delayed several times due to the extensive post-production work).
Not surprisingly, "Taewangsasingi" recorded a stellar audience rate, consistently attracting about 30 percent, according to TNS Media Korea.
The popularity is expected to transfer to Japan, especially since hallyu megastar Bae Yong-joon leads the production's high-profile cast. Bae, affectionately called "Yonsama" by his Japanese fans, created the syndrome with his tearjerker drama "Winter Sonata" a few years ago.
The first episode of "Taewangsasingi" aired Monday night on NHK's satellite broadcasting channel BS-HI. The series also hit the big screen Tuesday. Two 60-minute episodes will be screened over 12 showings at 10 movie theaters, over a period of six months. Actor Yoon Tae-young, one of the male leads, is currently in Japan to promote the series, visiting fans in theaters.
The drama has gone mobile as well. NiftyTV offers the subtitled series for streaming on cell phones and personal computers.
In March, the series' preview DVD topped Japan's Oricon DVD chart within the first week of its release, and in June, the navigation DVD (a guide to the series) also became a much-coveted item among fans. A special edition DVD featuring interviews with the stars and behind-the-scene footage is due early next year, followed by a full DVD set of the entire series.
'Taewangsasingi' in Print
In Korea, the series was bought to life by acclaimed novelist Kim Chang-gyu, based on the drama's original script by Song Ji-na, the creative mind behind some of the most popular TV soaps in Korean history such as "The Sandglass."
In September, the first volume of the novel "Taewangsasini" was simultaneously released with the first TV episode and immediately became a best-seller on major online bookstores such as Yes24 and Aladdin. The book sold out within two weeks, demanding two additional reprints that month. Catering to anxious fans, the publisher had the second volume in stores earlier than the original release date.
In Japan, a guidebook accompanying the series was already published in July. Containing photos, character sketches, plot summaries and detailed historical background information, the first 30,000 copies sold out, and the new batch of reprints continues to sell well, according to SDD, the Japan-based distributor of "Taewangsasingi" goods. The second volume, released in October, also created a stir.
Befitting a country known for its manga or comic book empire, a comic book version of the drama was released last month. Celebrated cartoonist Riyoko Ikeda, best known for her international hit "Roses of Versailles," brought the cartoon version to life.
A photography book is slated for release on New Year's Day.
'Taewangsasingi' Galore
The original soundtrack of "Taewangsasingi" is highly popular in Korea. The album garnered much attention for featuring tracks by Jo Hisaishi, the music maestro behind Hayao Miyazaki's beloved animation films such as "Spirited Away." Hisaishi also participated in the making of the music for homegrown film "Welcome to Dongmakgol." Internationally popular boy band TVXQ also recorded for "Taewangsasingi," and hot newcomer Jun-seo also shot to stardom for his soulful track.
Bae's star power is gaining full momentum. As of Dec. 3, Yahoo Japan, the biggest auction site in Japan, lists about 150 "Taewangsasingi" items including the CD and other goods such as posters, key rings and various stationary goods featuring Bae. Even the perfume Bae's character Damdeok gave to his lover in the series is a hot item. The DVDs and guidebooks mentioned above are also selling well.
Rakuten, Japan's largest online shopping mall, lists some 400 products, including the manga "Taewangsasingi." Japanenjoy, a company that enables Koreans to access Japanese auction sites and online stores, said that the number and variety of products are expected to go up now that the series has started airing in Japan. These items featuring an armor-clad Bae model seem to be replacing the myriad of products for the star's character from "Winter Sonata."
Recently, various sources reported the waning of hallyu, or the Korean wave, as the Korean entertainment business lacked the stronghold of mega hits like "Winter Sonata" or "Jewel in the Palace." "Taewangsasingi" might be a breath of fresh air.
Meanwhile, Bae is finally in the hospital, receiving due treatment for the injuries he suffered while filming. The star hurt his finger, shoulder and knees doing action scenes for the drama. He had, however, delayed getting medical treatment so that the shooting of the drama could meet its designated deadline.
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2007/12/135_14912.html |
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December 4, 2007
Epic-Drama Grabs Audience of Cable TV
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff Reporter
An autopsy scene in "Byeolsoongeom," which is airing on cable television
channel MBC Dramanet
In late the Joseon era, Kim Gang-woo, a special crime investigator known as a "Byeolsoongeom," places a thin vinegar-soaked Korean paper with faint red blotches on a stone. Suddenly, blood drops are revealed. This "gocho" reaction is reminiscent of the luminol test, the up-to-date scientific process seen on the "C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation" series. This is not another C.S.I. spin-off, but "Byeolsoongeom," a Korean historical forensic science drama.
Byeolsoongeom is presently airing on the cable television channel MBC Dramanet at 11:00 p.m., Saturday, but is not the first show to feature these investigators. In 2005, "Mystery Documentary Byeolsoongeom," first aired as a pilot program on MBC during the Chuseok holidays and was included in the regular schedule in fall. It attracted a cult following, but failed to record high viewer ratings and so was cancelled after only five episodes.
Fans continuously requested the return of Byeolsoongeom, and it was temporarily revived as a two-episode New Year's special in 2006. Finally after roughly two years of endless requests from fans, Byeolsoongeom returned to TV screens, this time on MBC Dramanet on Oct. 17, with the original directors and writers.
There are four main Byeolsoongeoms in the drama along with three examiners from "Gyeongmucheong" ― much like today's police. Byeolsoongeoms are like the field investigators of C.S.I, while the examiners are more like lab people.
Unlike most other epic dramas about kings and queens, this drama depicts the life of humble men and women in the 19th century, a time of tumultuous social changes right after King Gojong's modern reforms. Nevertheless, there are almost no historical documents left about this era. The drama reconstructs this "lost period," when foreign civilizations clashed against traditional values, through investigating murder cases.
"Byeolsoongeom deals with forensic science just like the C.S.I. series, but instead of sloppily copying the American version, it dates back to the Joseon era. It can gain more sympathy from Korean viewers who like crime investigation stories," said Sung Hyun-suk, a fan.
All the experiments and investigation methods described in the drama are based on historical inquiry. "Sinjumuwonrok," a guidebook for autopsy published in 1440, and "Jeungsumueonrok" an updated version of the former with investigation archives and secrets of the Byeolsoongeom's scientific background. Of course, there are some imaginary settings in the drama as well. For example, roping off the crime scene with special straw rope and keeping evidence in designated envelopes is not historically accurate.
The show recorded an audience rating of 4.33 percent on Nov. 17, according to TNS Media Korea _ the first time a cable TV program has exceeded ratings of 4 percent, which is equivalent to a 15 percent rating on network television. Ironically, the original "Mystery Documentary Byeolsoongeom" broadcast on the network channel MBC was a failure because of low ratings. Thus, the drama's success on cable shows the difference in taste between viewers of mainstream and cable TV. Most TV dramas aim for average viewer demographics while cable television dramas mostly target a specific audience. This allows cable television dramas to have more freedom.
Another driving force behind Byeolsoongeom are inarguably the fans. More than 3,000 people joined the drama's Internet club to share information and discuss the drama. Some active fans even visited the shooting scene to encourage the actors and directors. There will be a special screening in a movie theater for fans on Dec. 22.
The last episode of the first season will be aired on Dec. 29 and the producers plan to release a second season next August. The gap will be filled by a Byeolsoongeom Web cartoon serialized in Daum Comics (comic.daum.net). Lee Jae-mun, producer of the drama, said the web cartoon will focus more on supporting characters' stories and spectacular computer graphics not shown in the drama. "This Web cartoon is an example of one source multi-use of TV dramas," Lee said.
With a solid story, descriptions based on historical evidence and impassioned performance of actors, the show marks a new epoch in original cable television dramas.
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2007/12/135_14914.html |
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December 5, 2007
Korean TV Series Breaks New Ground in Japan
All 500 seats of a cinema in Shinjuku, Tokyo, are taken up by women of all ages, there to watch "Taewangsasingi (The Four Guardian Gods of the King), |
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December 5, 2007
Actress Ha Ji-won Helps Low-Income Youths
Actress Ha Ji-won has been helping the needy, including low-income youths, for the past year.
The Gangnam branch of Healthy Family Support Center said the actress has been taking an active part in the 'Smile Again Project' since December last year to help low-income and disabled children.
The center also said the entire budget for the long-term project was donated by Ha. It said the actress will be donating money every year for the project.
The project includes a custom-designed family support service that involves home-to-home cognitive verbal therapy, a project called 'Dreams Come True' providing money for education and extracurricular activities for non-disabled children living with disabled family members, a project entitled 'A Painting By Our Family' that involves family members visiting local community centers to paint their walls as well as a 'Happy Bank Account' to promote love and expression of love among family members.
Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/mconten ... /1494023_11692.html |
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Actress Helps Poor, Handicapped Kids
By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
Actress Ha Ji-won
Korean actress Ha Ji-won, renowned for her role in the KBS hit drama "Hwang Jin-Yi," has been secretly helping underprivileged and disabled children and their families for the past year.
The actress together with the Gangnam-gu Family Welfare Center in Seoul has been running a donation project for children called "The Smile Again Project," which they started in December 2006. The actress' fan club "1023" have been active volunteers since the beginning. Ha put down 100 million won to get the project going, ward officials said.
"Ha has been very cooperative, and most of all she has made sure the project didn't end up being merely a donation event," said an official from the center.
Members of the project are still visiting children and provide them with financial, medical and educational support. The project has organized various events such as wall painting and special bank account campaigns, collaborating with regional welfare organizations as well.
"It is very important for these programs to last, Ha has been donating regularly and her fans have also participated with enthusiasm," said the official.
The center is planning a year-end party with Ha and will celebrate the successful first anniversary of the project on Saturday. They will invite the children and their families to the party, look back on their journey and also prepare for a more fruitful second year.
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/ ... 7/12/178_15020.html |
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[color="#48D1CC"][size="4"]Park Hye-kyung to Hold Joint Concert in Japan
2007-12-06
Talented vocalist Park Hae-kyung will hold a joint live concert in Japan.
The Korea-Japan friendship concert, entitled 'THE STANDARD-SONGS,' will be held at the Tokyo FM Hall on Friday evening.
Park's performance is entitled SETSUNAI, which is Japanese for 'heartwrenching.' She will share the stage with Japanese musical stars and classical singers.
Debuting at the 1995 Gangbyeon Song Fest, Park was also a member of the group Deodeo. Her husky voice has a dynamic range from powerful to smooth and soft. Her songs have also been favorites in drama, film and commercials.
c: KBS Global |
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December 5, 2007
Lee Lights Christmas Tree in Thailand
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
Actor Lee Jun-ki
Actor Lee Jun-ki celebrated Yuletide, royal style, in Thailand. During his tour with the Korean-Thai Chamber of Commerce (KTCC), the 26-year-old took part in a large Christmas ceremony with the Thai royal family in Chiang Mai, Monday.
This is the first time a "hallyu" (Korean wave) star has visited the area, and reportedly some 5,000 people swarmed the venue to catch a glimpse of Lee lighting a Christmas tree, according to Metro. The tree-lighting event is an annual royal festivity.
The star of "King and the Clown" was also invited to the 80th birthday celebration of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Wednesday, a first for a foreign celebrity.
Lee had filmed part of his latest TV series "Times of Dogs and Wolves" in Thailand, and has a large fan base there. During the shooting, he took part in a charity event where he auctioned off some of his personal belongings. The occasion had attracted some 5,000 fans and over 100 local press members, demonstrating his immense popularity in the area.
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/ ... 7/12/139_15022.html |
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December 5, 2007
The Railroad Wins Two Awards at Torino Fest
KIM Gang-woo received the Best Actor Award at the 25th Torino Film Festival for his acting in The Railroad. Director PARK Heung-sik抯 film also won the Fipresci Award.
The Railroad premiered successfully in 2006 at the Pusan International Film Festival in the New Current section and enjoyed a limited release in Korean cinemas around May 2007. The Railroad is PARK抯 second feature film and was supported by the 2005 KOFIC Production Support for Low-budget Films.
KIM plays a man whose path crosses a woman portrayed by SOHN Tae-young. Both happened to be on the same train and end up together at the last stop before the North-South Korean border.
KIM is quickly rising to stardom this year because of the box office hit Le Grand Chef and is in the spotlight again because of the upcoming film Rainbow Eyes. SOHN featured in the assembly cast of Sad Movie and numerous television dramas.
Yi Ch'ang-ho (KOFIC)
http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/KOFI ... amp;Gesimul_SNO=863 |
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December 5, 2007
YOO Ha Casts JOO Jin-mo alongside ZO In-sung
Korean auteur cineaste YOO Ha added rising star JOO Jin-mo to the ranks of his royal historical drama; tentatively titled Ssanghwajeom, after an old song from the Korean historical Koryo dynasty. JOO joins ZO In-sung who is onboard from the beginning of the Opus Pictures project.
JOO will tackle the role of a youthful charismatic Koryo king. ZO will portray a royal bodyguard who is favored by the king. The story will deal with love and betrayal to offer an insight to human nature. The female lead, a queen besieged by the Koryo king and his men, has not been cast yet.
YOO Ha also directed ZO in his previous film, the acclaimed gangster drama A Dirty Carnival . JOO latest films were A Love and 200 Pounds Beauty.
Yi Ch'ang-ho (KOFIC), image from empas.com
http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/KOFI ... amp;Gesimul_SNO=864 |
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December 6, 2007
Sang Sang Plus' Introduces New Segment on Show
A popular show program 'Sang Sang Plus' on KBS 2TV will introduce a new segment entitled 'The Birth of Fun and Games.'
The new segment, which will be broadcast on December 18th as part of the year-end special along with 'The Man Who Reads' segment, is made up of numerous games.
Choi Jae-hyung, the producer of 'Sang Sang Plus' said the new segment will encourage more viewer participation with laughter and fun games.
The program has added the new segment following the success of the previous hit segments like 'Old & New' and 'The Man Who Reads.' 'The Birth of Fun and Games' will be hosted by announcer Choi Song-hyun and will feature regular celebrity guests including Lee Hwi-jae, Shin Jung-hwan and Yoo Se-yoon.
Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/mconten ... /1494131_11692.html |
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December 6, 2007
Lee Jin Wook and So Yi Hyun cast in MBC series "Before and After: Plastic Surgery Clinic"
Lee Jin Wook, So Yi Hyun and others have been cast for the lead roles of the upcoming MBC drama series "Before and After: Plastic Surgery Clinic." This series will start airing on January 6th.
Lee Jin Wook will play the young clinic owner Han Geon Soo who tries to protect the clinic from being taken over by loan sharks. He tries his best to save the clinic when uncollected loans are passed on to him after his father's sudden death, but cannot even hold a mes because of a medical accident.
Kim Sung Min will play the talented doctor Choi Yong Woo who joins the clinic to return the grace of Han Geon Soo's father. Choi Yong Woo is a character that often gets into arguments with patients that want to undergo unnecessary plastic surgery.
So Yi Hyun will play the nurse Yoon Ki Nam who forms a love triangle with the two. Jung Ae Yeon will play the manager Yoon Seo Jin who has perfect beauty through plastic surgery.
Source: Broasia.com
http://www.broasia.com/lwboard/l ... amp;pg=1&no=434 |
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Korea-China Song Festival Expected to Boost Korean Wave
2007-12-07
The 9th Korea-China Song Festival, which is being co-organized by KBS and China's CCTV, has opened in Beijing, China.
The festival is expected to promote the Korean Wave in China, as many top Korean artists will show off their impressive vocals and even Chinese-speaking skills to Chinese audiences.
Korean performers have already enraptured Chinese viewers with their astounding dancing skills and powerful vocals.
A b-boy team staged a perfect performance while singer Lee Jung-hyun took the audience's breath away with her powerful voice.
The bands "Girls' Generation" and "Paran" debuted in China at the festival, promising to boost the Korean Wave when they firmly establish a presence in China.
c: KBS Global
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Kim Seung-eun Cares for Babies at Holt
2007-12-07
Actress Kim Seung-eun volunteered as a one day mom at the Holt Children's Services on Thursday.
Kim, the agency's PR envoy, helped out by feeding babies and changing diapers.
A Holt official said, "Kim visits often and play with the kids apart from her official duties. It doesn't take long for even shy babies to smile at Kim."
Kim said, "I love children. I'm just happy I can meet with them more often since I became Holt's goodwill ambassador. Holding them in my arms, I feel so peaceful and their smiles are simply priceless."
c: KBS Global |
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December 6, 2007
'Venus and Mars' Defies Expectation
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
A scene from "Venus and Mars"
Cognitive dissonance is a psychological phenomenon that refers to the discomfort felt when what you already know clashes with a new interpretation. "Venus and Mars" feeds off this idea from beginning to end, as director Han Ji-seung ("A Day," 2001) ironically defines love through the art of warfare, using a mix of genres dubbed "hardboiled" romantic comedy.
Called a romance guru for his hit TV series "Alone in Love" (Yeonaesidae, 2006, SBS), the director makes a comeback on the silver screen where he traces a highly volatile emotional ― and physical ― tug of war between a divorced couple.
Hot-blooded glass artist Jin-a (Kim Tae-hee) and faint-hearted, cleanliness-obsessed entomologist Sang-min (Sul Kyoung-gu) have absolutely nothing in common. But opposites attract, and the two tie the knot after a string of ultra dramatic break-ups and make-ups. The two end up splitting, however, when a bug-in-the-glass-jar incident demonstrates their irreconcilable differences.
But just when they think they've been liberated from the past, repressed emotions ― and high kicks _ take full pendulum swing over nothing. Sang-min had split every single item in half, including his cherished clock after their divorce. On a mission to recover the missing pendulum from Jin-a, he inadvertently triggers his hot-tempered ex-wife, who gives him an ultimatum.
"Venus" is crafted in the style of "The War of the Roses" (1989) crossed with "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" (2005) _ and a touch of "Kill Bill" (2003). A minor quarrel spins out of control, and you've got cars crashing and burning, wrestling in a pile of ostrich dung and police intervention.
The film made headlines as it cast an unlikely pair to play improbable roles: Kim eradicates her frail, angelic image to play as a woman with serious anger management issues, while Sul, known for playing tough anti-heros in films such as "Peppermint Candy" (2000), turns into a super-sensitive guy.
Seeing a spineless, obsessive-compulsive Sul is bound to create more cognitive dissonance in viewers than Kim's high kicks. But Sul's bona fide acting suggests he's born for the role. The film's greatest strengths lie in the delightful details, such as a scene where Sang-min is bathing his pet bug Wu-kyung or scraping off miniscule bits of dried toothpaste in the bathroom, or when he is about to run away from his ex-wife in a movie theater and happens to stand against the emergency exit instructions.
Unfortunately, such wit does not translate into the overall quality of the film. The film forcefully packs both heavy melodrama and surreal, comic elements that create a confounding audiovisual experience. It becomes too difficult to lightheartedly laugh at the funny parts, while the dramatic moments capturing the subtle emotional tension between a divorced couple are rather stilted.
The film also makes some pathetic attempts to squeeze out laughter by resorting to extremes, rather grotesquely. Sul's obsession with order and cleanliness is funny at first but becomes freaky _ you begin to think this guy needs some serious treatment, as does his friend, an agricultural studies professor who's infatuated with his cow. Jin-a, on the other hand, remains a rather undeveloped character that borders on hysterical, while her divorced friend, bloodthirsty for revenge against the all the ex-husbands in the world, defines hysteria.
The director deserves credit for not settling with something safe. But it's unfortunate that "Venus" feels more like a bits and pieces of a romance movie, animation and hardboiled action film slapped together. It's fun when films experiment, but "Venus" throws the viewer into a state of cognitive dissonance that makes it hard to digest.
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2007/12/135_15099.html |
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Dec 7, 2007
Kim Tae-hee Puts Up 'Fight' Against Critics
When people think of Kim Tae-hee, they often say she is beautiful but her acting still has a long way to go. Her perceived shortcomings in acting have been constantly talked about while she worked to be recognized as a true actor than a graduate of the elite Seoul National University. Can 揊ight, |
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Post time 5-12-2007 01:11 PM
Author
