Diary of the Dead

DVD News

아름답다 (Beautiful) Coming Soon to DVD

by . X ., July 18, 2008 10:10 AM

This fell a little under the radar, but looks to be well worth picking up.

If you've read comparisons between director Jeon Jae-Hong and Kim Ki-Duk, when the film was invited to Berlin in the Panorama section, there is a reason. Jeon grew under Kim's wings, working as scripter in 시간 (Time) and on the production team for 숨 (Breath). Whether that means resembling the early, rugged and powerful Kim Ki-Duk of 나쁜 남자 (Bad Guy) or the insipid Festival-friendly version of his last five years, we'll have to see. Story sounds like 미녀는 괴로워 (200 Pounds Beauty) all gone wrong, with a beautiful lady getting into a world of trouble because of her beauty, and the stalker who falls in love with her. The real interesting point is the young cast: Cha Su-Yeon might be nearly unknown, but she's among the most interesting new talents in Korea. She was excellent as the decadent temptress in 개와 늑대의 시간 (Time Between Dog & Wolf), and in a completely different role in last year's fabulous 별빛 속으로 (For Eternal Hearts). On the other side we have Lee Cheon-Hee, who found his footing in the masterpiece 한성별곡 正 (Conspiracy in the Court), and is currently starring in 대왕세종 (Sejong the Great) on TV. Among the interesting special features on the DVD set coming out on July 29 is a short film by director Jeon, Calling You. More info on this whenever preorders are available.

 
 

4 Comments

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"or the insipid Festival-friendly version of his last five years".

So Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter... and Spring, Samaria, Bin-jip, Time and Breath are insipid movies? This site is on a downward spiral...

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Not yet. He's doing in well in Sejong the Great too. It's the character that's a bit off (historically, at least).

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"I give a chance to everything..."

Hmm, I must learn to do that. But some things I just can't bring myself to touch with a ten-foot pole.^^ Humming's not one of those, of course. Lee Cheon Hee left such an impression in Conspiracy I'll happily watch anything else he's in.

Can't screw things up with a stellar track record? Nah. Legend totally showed me how possible that is. You might have watched more by the duo and so didn't gasp in shock, but I watched only Eyes of Dawn and Sandglass.

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Well, Song Jina and Kim Jong-Hak had been stinking up the place ever since 1998, and there was even Dae Mang in the middle, so mildly predictable disaster, especially considering it starred Yonsama. But Son Young-Mok's a really, really good writer. It's very hard to screw this up unless... well, they're forced to. Which is possible, I guess.

I give a chance to most things, but then there's times I last 4 minutes. C'est la vie.