kdrama and kpop

Despite its top notch cast, stellar script and near cinematic perfection, SBS' new Wednesday and Thursday night series "The Painter of Wind" failed to win audiences over last week.

The period piece drew in nationwide viewer ratings of 10.6 percent (AGB Nielsen Media Research) following its first episode, which aired last Wednesday. Its low ratings placed it below rival dramas MBC's "Beethoven Virus" and KBS' "The Land of the Wind," which scored nationwide ratings of 16.5 percent and 15.9 percent (AGB Nielsen Media Research) respectively.

The second episode of "The Painter of Wind" fared only slightly better, with a mere 0.5 percent increase in ratings (AGB Nielsen Media Research).

But the drama's poor track record hardly does it justice. While ratings may reflect a viewer's preferences, they do not represent a series' level of quality. Nowhere is this more evident than in the case of "The Painter of Wind."

Based on the bestselling novel of the same name, this drama -- which reinterprets and rewrites the lives of leading Joseon Dynasty painters Kim Hong-do and Shin Yun-bok -- manages to fuse the artistic and human beauty of rival series "Beethoven Virus" with the sweeping epic proportions of KBS' "The Land of the Wind."




Actor Park Shin-yang and co-star Moon Geun-young bring star power and acting prowess to the game, pulling off their leading roles as mentor and pupil, lovers and comrades, with stunning depth and complexity.



If "The Painter of Wind" possesses an Achilles' heel, it is that it chooses to focus on art. For the average television viewer, the combination of art and history can come across as boring and long-winded.

"It is a difficult drama," admitted director Jang Tae-yoo at a press conference held on Sept. 17. "It is challenging to make art interesting. I don't know how much of it will get communicated to audiences."

Judging from the first two episodes, Jang and his team have succeeded in breathing new life into a potentially stuffy genre. Soft and sweeping shots of aspiring court painters putting brush to paper and tipping back wine while ogling gisaeng (Korean geisha) paint an entirely new portrait of the Joseon Dynasty.

While the series retains the usual elements of intrigue and murder, politics and warfare take a back seat. Romance and the essence of the late Joseon Dynasty, of an era of reform and cultural renaissance, come to the forefront, imbibing the period piece with a strong sense of humanity and intimacy.

More importantly, the series takes on an approach reminiscent of lush period pieces like E. J-yong's "Untold Scandal" (2003), by focusing on issues of sexuality and gender.

Posing the classically Shakespearian question: "What if the famed painter Shin Yun-bok had been a girl pretending to be a boy?" The drama -- like the original novel -- toys with themes of homosexuality and forbidden love while highlighting the inequalities of a male-dominant society.

Actress Moon took up the challenge of playing girl-turned-boy Shin Yun-bok. And she does a surprisingly good job of portraying a confident and rebellious girl struggling to make it in a world ruled by men.

"I tried to copy my older male co-stars," said Moon, 21, at the press conference.

The precocious actress did more than just mimic her male colleagues. Within the first two episodes, she managed to convey the mischievous and anguished nature of her character, at times playing a sweet and innocent tomboy, at others a cocky and seductive painter.

Though there is no evidence to show that the real Shin was a woman, his talent at capturing the beauty of women and for creating exquisite intimate paintings remains undisputed.

Known by his pen name, Hyewon (b. 1758), he is remembered today as one of the "Three Wons" of Joseon-period painting.

The other two "Wons" include fellow genre painter Kim Hong-do a.k.a. Danwon (1745- c.1806) and 19th century painter Jang Seung-up (1843-1897) -- otherwise known as Owon.

While Kim enjoyed a relatively prominent career as an artist, fellow painter Shin -- who was expelled from the royal painting institute, Dohwaseo -- lived a more obscure life.

"The Painter of Wind" takes historical liberties with the lives of Kim Hong-do and Shin Yun-bok, depicting a full-blown romance between Kim, played by Park Shin-yang, and Moon Geun-young's character against the backdrop of 18th century Korea.

"The Painter of Wind" airs on Wednesday and Thursday nights on SBS at 9:55 p.m.

Credits : By Jean Oh@heraldm.com, images courtesy of SBS and from mydaily

Source : The Korea Herald

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/

“To be, or not to be – that is the question.” Hamlet agonized himself whether to fight against harsh fate or to live a life surrendering to lies.

Hamlet, one of the tragedies written by the great English writer William Shakespeare, is a classic everyone may have ever heard of or read at least once. Hamlet, the tragedy, has a background of Danish royal family 400 years ago, and the hero of the tragedy, Hamlet had raised wrath and revengeful thoughts, seeing his mother marry his uncle who murdered his father. But who can really sympathize with the life of Hamlet in such an unusual situation? We can only get the rough idea of it.

There is a man who is experiencing Hamlet’s life with all his mind and body and expressing Hamlet’s life through songs and dances on the stage. He is the singer and actor, Lee Jee Hoon. He is now holding the stage under his control as Hamlet in the new musical Hamlet. He is showing the best performance with maturity, experience and charisma which he gained from his career over 10 years. Audience kept cheering and applauding for a long time after the performance and JH is the very hero of the stage.

“Firstly, as Hamlet is a prince, I am well-matched to Hamlet, don’t you think so?” he joked at the question how he got to join the musical. Then, soon he became serious. “I watched the first Hamlet performance. Of course, I read the book long time ago. I couldn’t understand some parts of the tragedy when I read it, but when I saw the musical, I got to understand the whole things. His father was murdered and his mother married his uncle who killed his father. While he was planning revenge, Ophelia and her father died…Then, I got to understand what drove Hamlet to do so. Only then, I could understand his wrath and regret for the first time. Sincere and human Hamlet is quite a desirable character.”

“I always longed to be on the musical stage. My singing career is over 10 years and my acting is reaching the stage of maturity. I hoped to be on a musical stage which can combine acting and singing. I hoped to show audience my another appearance which people have never seen from me. I hoped to challenge to a new field and receive much recognition.”

When he got the proposal to be a Hamlet, however, he hesitated, too. “ I thought it would be too much for me to be on the stage because my schedule is too heavy. When I show a poor performance, I will be hit by arrows of disappointment as much as their expectation to me.” Besides, 4 people were cast as Hamlet. Park Kun-Hyung, Lim Tae- Kyung and Yoon Hyung-Ryol are recognized in the musical field. Lee Jee Hoon had no choice. He should show the best performance equal to them.

He is preparing with such a resolution. So, he picks up an umbrella when he has time. Fencing match with Laertes, Ophelia’s brother, is a climax of the musical. “I concentrate on the fencing practice. Because the timing is very important and difficult to get.” His agent/manager is the practicing partner.

“As far as I am a singer, I hope to impress audience through songs in the musical where songs can stand out remarkably. Music in the musical is an axis which leads performance. Songs are the lines which convey emotions and do the communication. The vocalization of ballads, the genre of most of my songs, is that of drawing inward. So, I am not ready to throw my voices outward whether it is low or high. That is why I got to be pointed out that I sang like a pop singer when I sang musical songs at first. But I am better now,” he affirmed.

Dance is left open yet. “In the musical, there are many big motions like tap dance and group dance. I think I can dance well enough to bring into line with others. But I feel awkward still now.”

He shows love scenes, too. He kisses Ophelia briefly and he takes off his shirt and pants for bed scene. “Now that I have acted for quite some time, I don’t feel awkward at all, but only I find it hard to get good timing when I take my pants off on the bed…timing is important in that scene.” He is serious and said, “If the drama is good, if there is coherence and if necessary, I don’t decline to be in the nude.”

He differentiates his Hamlet from Park Kun Hyung, Yoon Hyol Ryol, and Lim Tae Kyung Hamlets which stand on charisma and power. “(Hoon-let is) Hamlet with warmth, sweetness and tenderness. Nevertheless, he also dies like other Hamlets at last.”

“I can’t forget the thrill and the feeling which I felt and made me shudder at the moment I came down after finishing my first performance.” “I thought I did the right thing to decide to be in this musical. I also thought that I am in character with Hamlet. At first, I worried and wondered if my new look of anger and outcry could appeal to audience because I had never showed anger and outcry. But after I did it, it served as a chance for me to find a new aspect of myself,” he diagnosed.

“I once turned my eyes to Laertes for a moment, because I shed tears whenever I hear the musical songs which Ophelia and Laertes sing together. But Hamlet is the best. There is no character like Hamlet. Hamlet is a prince, above all,” he laughed mentioning prince again.

Lee Jee Hoon emphasized, “The musical Hamlet is a good work which can make audience feel that a good work is born after a long time.” He showed his confidence, “You will never regret having spent the ticket fee. Though Hamlet is a hero, all characters have reasons for being and their situations are persuasive in the musical.” “You may get another feeling when you watch the musical once again. The more you watch the musical, the more you get to fall into it.”

Lee Jee Hoon gave his word, “I will make up for the insufficient or weak points and show you all I have at the last performance.”


souce:benoit0511@newsis.com
credit: leejeehoon.co.kr

KSW with his mom


He's crying awww....=3










The little girls are his nieces ^^



credit: on pic, my daily







Check the paparazzi, crazyyy.

Director Park Chan-wook’s acclaimed film “Old Boy” was cited one of the 500 greatest movies of all time compiled by the British film journal Empire. Among the illustrious list that includes “The Godfather,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” and “Empire Strikes Back,” Park’s “Old Boy” came in 64th place in the list.

Empire polled 150 film directors, 50 critics and more than 10,000 members of the public for the top 500 picks. The only Korean film to make the list, “Old Boy” was applauded for tenaciously probing the lure of revenge and its futility. The most memorable scene in the award-winning thriller was when the main character played by famed actor Choi Min-shik ate a live octopus.

On the whole, the 500 greatest movies list leans on the pop culture side. The perennial number one, Orson Welles’ “Citizen Kane” ended up in the 28th place, while such commercial films as “Raiders of the Lost Ark” or “Jaws” were placed in the top 10. In spite of some questionable rankings, Empire’s 500 list is rated as a good source of recommendations and for discovering the classics as well as some really good films made outside the U.S.

Source: KBS World

http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/entertainme...ail.htm?No=8258