I’m sure most of you have already seen pics of Rain rocking his newly slimmed (10 kg!) chiseled body — achieved through a strict chicken-breast-and-veggie diet — in preparation for his upcoming Ninja Assassin role. But what about this “Chocolate Abs” pic released on the 14th? (Dude, I don’t come up with the names, I just report ‘em.)
Rain is currently in Berlin working on Ninja Assassin, dreaming of samgyupsal (pork belly).
Um. I know it’s hardly accurate to judge a movie based on a 30-second trailer, much less a few photo stills. But, erm, based on these stills of the upcoming action flick G.I. Joe… it looks kinda lame.
Which is too bad, since, as usual, Korean fans are excited about the inclusion of another big-name star (this time actor Lee Byung Heon) in a Hollywood production. And G.I. Joe does boast some well-known Hollywood names, starting with director Stephen Sommers (The Mummy, Van Helsing) and actors Dennis Quaid, Sienna Miller, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jonathan Pryce, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, and Marlon Wayans.
I was more optimistic about Lee’s chances being cast as Storm Shadow (a ninja assassin with dual loyalties to both Cobra Commander and G.I. Joe) than, say, Rain’s criticized performance in Speed Racer, because Lee Byung Heon has at least distinguished himself more as an actor than Rain. But Rain will get another chance to redeem himself, playing (sigh) a ninja assassin in the upcoming Wachowski brothers production of the same name. Yeah, I know Lee’s role was supposedly changed from Japanese to Korean, but that’s just something to appease the Koreans — to the rest of the world, a ninja is a ninja.
Well, fingers crossed for more successful Hollywood crossovers for Jeon Ji Hyun (Blood: The Last Vampire) as a vampire-hunting warrior and Jang Dong Gun (Laundry Warrior) as an “Asian warrior assassin.”
(Seriously, Hollywood? Are you running down the Asian Stereotype Checklist and all just happened to get stuck in the “warrior assassin” mode? What next? A slew of movies about nerdy Asian scientists who speak Kong-Ching-Japlish (hey, they all sound the same, right?) who decide to engage the world in a new Red Terror and revitalize communism with the help of their doll-faced, subservient women? While acing the SAT, running convenience stores and bemoaning their lesser-endowed sexy parts? ‘Cause… yeah, we are not impressed. And by “we” I mean “me,” but I’m pretty sure also “we.”)
Filming began in February in L.A., and G.I. Joe plans to release in Summer 2009.
Actor and hip-hop artist Yang Dong Geun (29) has surprised many with the belated disclosure that he recently began his military service; he enlisted on May 6, but the information wasn’t released till just recently, along with a picture of him in training (to right).
A source explained that he’d wanted to begin his training quietly, and kept it a secret from even his friends; he was only sent off by his mother and manager.
Most recently, Yang Dong Geun starred in the drama series I Am Sam (he’s appeared in numerous films and dramas, such as Ruler of Your Own World and Dr. Kkang, as well as putting out four hip-hop albums). He’d planned for the film I-tal (Secession) to be his last project, but ended up canceling those plans and enlisting instead. He’d received his enrollment papers in January, but had put off service because he was in the midst of film talks. Apparently he’d finally decided enough was enough, and that he would rather get his service over quickly than postponing further to squeeze in more projects.
While at work filming his current KBS series Three Dads, One Mom on May 11, Jae Hee was injured and required nine stitches. Ironically, the scene he was shooting took place in a hospital.
In the scene, Kyung Tae (Shin Sung Rok’s character) is stabbed and Jae Hee’s character rushes him to the emergency room. While waiting for his friend’s surgery results, he becomes overcome with anger and strikes a wall in frustration.
Apparently Jae Hee was a little too immersed in his work and hit the wall with too much force, “tearing his hand.” Luckily, he didn’t have to travel far to receive emergency treatment, and received nine stitches.
But rather than taking time off for his injury, Jae Hee continued with the shoot. Neither is this the first time he’s displayed his serious work ethic; previously, he’d injured an arm in a bicycle chase scene (lol) and continued filming despite it.
Jae Hee’s always seemed like an actor who takes his job extremely seriously (despite some unfortunate role selections), so I’m not too surprised to hear this, although nine stitches? In one hand? Yeesh. It’s just too bad the two actors immersing themselves into this drama can’t make up for the other two who aren’t.
I’m a few weeks late to this news, but I haven’t seen this pic floating around yet (forgive me if you already have): So Ji Sub (yes, this one and, unfortunately, also this one) dons the role of a spirit in upcoming Japanese film Gegege no Kitaro. The movie releases in Japan on July 12.
