The Face Reader’s hilarious meta teasers
by girlfriday
I was already looking forward to The Face Reader for its star-studded cast: Song Kang-ho, Kim Hye-soo, and Lee Jung-jae in one movie is nothing to scoff at, and then you throw funny scene-stealer Jo Jung-seok and noona-killer Lee Jong-seok in the mix, and I’m lining up at the door. But then the movie released its first two teasers, and they’re hysterical. They’re filled with meta jokes about the actors, and truth be told they don’t say much about the movie but all I know is, if the film has the same comic sensibility of the teasers, we’re in for a good time.
The new project from director Han Jae-rim (The Show Must Go On) is about a face reader (Song Kang-ho) who tells people’s fortunes and personality traits based on facial markers. The film is about the (genius, natch) face reader’s attempt to change the fate of Joseon during a time when the throne is vulnerable. Lee Jung-jae plays Grand Prince Suyang, future king of Joseon in the mid-15th century. His biggest political rival is Kim Jong-seo, played by Baek Yoon-shik in the film (it’s the same historical backdrop as The Princess’s Man). Kim Hye-soo plays Joseon’s top gisaeng; Jo Jung-seok plays Song Kang-ho’s assistant; and Lee Jong-seok is Song Kang-ho’s son.
Okay, so on to the teasers. The two character teasers feature Song Kang-ho in character as the face reader, telling the fortunes of these people based on their facial features. But the “fortunes” are meta jokes on the actors’ real lives and resumes, and so you get a series of hilarious premonitions with in-joke references to their dramas and movies.
Kim Hye-soo: Glory and riches will follow her… If she gets a job, she’ll be a god of the workplace, and even if she becomes a thief, she’ll make her name widely known and be hugely successful.
Lee Jung-jae: Has the countenance of someone who will be more successful in mid-life rather than in youth… Doesn’t have the face of a gangster… but many people will follow him, so his popularity will be long-lasting… A new world will soon begin where he will be met with riches.
Jo Jung-seok: I see glory and success… but he needs to live his life controlled by a woman to be auspicious… Has the tenacious face of someone who doesn’t easily change his will if he doesn’t understand [a play on his movie nickname napdeuki].
Baek Yoon-shik: Has the eyes of a king… Even if he becomes a tazza he’ll be a master… Has the face of someone who will know the taste of money wherever he goes.
Lee Jong-seok: Will surely make his name known… Has the countenance of someone that women and children will follow in droves… Is fated to shine in school… and has ears that hear other people’s voices well.
Hee. The Face Reader hits theaters in September.
Via Osen
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Tags: Jo Jung-seok, Kim Hye-soo, Lee Jong-seok, Lee Jung-jae, Song Kang-ho
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1 Bang Bang
June 29, 2013 at 12:10 PM
looking forward to this movie, exciting!!
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2 Ivoire
June 29, 2013 at 12:11 PM
Thanks!
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3 Saya
June 29, 2013 at 12:11 PM
This is one I'm looking forward to a LOT!
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4 Aneleh
June 29, 2013 at 12:15 PM
Haha, this is so clever and funny. I am so there when this movie is released.
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5 Mystisith
June 29, 2013 at 12:17 PM
Bwahahahaha.... Love that concept for teasers! How to play the card of the complicity with the viewers. ;) Of course, it has nothing to do with the quality of the said movie.
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6 dustdevil
June 29, 2013 at 12:17 PM
I kind of like how the close-ups on the faces (especially the men) show all of the skin flaws and extra hairs. It lends a certain authenticity to the pre-plastic surgery Joseon setting.
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cheekbones
June 29, 2013 at 5:54 PM
I couldn't help thinking while watching the extreme close ups, "would their fortunes change also if they alter their faces ?" Or would the face reader know ?
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7 Cynthia
June 29, 2013 at 12:21 PM
Finally! Stills that make sense! With the added bonus of being meta clever!
I do believe I shall express my thanks to them by being in attendence for this. Oh, and the pretty boy from 'Voice' is also a darn good incentive......
;)
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8 Raine
June 29, 2013 at 12:30 PM
I have been waiting for this film since JJS was cast!
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9 jasmin
June 29, 2013 at 12:38 PM
Am I the only one who is seeing Kim Yuna skating her short program to the music "Danse macabre" while watching the teasers?? xD
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10 Nessa (Bebe) 🌹
June 29, 2013 at 12:42 PM
OMG I die from all the meta baahahahahahahahaha
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11 pigtookie
June 29, 2013 at 12:44 PM
jo jung seok looks awesome in this already!
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12 pogo - sailing HMS Queen of Tears and HMS Sailboat Lovely Runner🍉
June 29, 2013 at 1:13 PM
ahahaaaaa meta I love it already
I really hope the film is as good as it should be.
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13 crazedlu
June 29, 2013 at 1:18 PM
lollllllll. cast alone has me! can't wait!
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14 junny
June 29, 2013 at 1:51 PM
this movie sounds like a riot! lee jung-jae <3
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15 panshel
June 29, 2013 at 2:11 PM
I got a kick out of reading those fortunes. Thanks for the translations, girlfriday!
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16 Dramafed1782
June 29, 2013 at 2:24 PM
Bu ha ha ha GF!!!! That was simply hilarious!!!!!! A pun on their previous dramas and movies, ha ha ha ha..... Waiting for the reviews :D
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17 Serena B
June 29, 2013 at 3:39 PM
Oh heck yeah, I'm on board for this 100%.
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18 KDaddict
June 29, 2013 at 4:01 PM
Super love the very last picture: the painting showing how to read the face. So artistic, historic and plain cool! TQ.
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19 anniemo
June 29, 2013 at 4:04 PM
Jo Jung Suk AND Lee Jong Suk?!! I'd show up for aaaaaaanything they were both in. I am so freakin' sold.
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20 anna
June 29, 2013 at 4:15 PM
Aw man, it reads so funny. The little inside jokes if you don't understand Korean, it just isn't as funny :( If only I studied when I had the chance, now I'm just too slow for it.
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21 anvesha
June 29, 2013 at 4:17 PM
This is unbelievable! The two actors I currently love together?!?! Lee Jong Seok and Jo Jung Suk!!!!
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22 Lemon
June 29, 2013 at 4:57 PM
Haha so cute!! Can't wait for this movie to be out :D
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23 snow_white
June 29, 2013 at 5:06 PM
OMG......Jo jung suk and Lee jong suk together!!!!!
Can't wait to watch this.....:-):-)
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24 AddyisVIP
June 29, 2013 at 5:50 PM
OMG cannot wait to see this one!!! The cast alone is daebak n I really like the trailers!!! I will pray for this to get screened in the US cuz I can't wait for subs!!! ㅠ.ㅠ
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25 Dita
June 29, 2013 at 6:14 PM
Double Soek in a movie? I'm in!
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26 eny
June 29, 2013 at 6:46 PM
the cast n the story seems really interesting
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27 zepthee
June 29, 2013 at 6:46 PM
jo jung seok's smile reminds me of Jet Li's hehe i have to write down the title so i wont forget when the sub is available, i do hope there's any, please..please..
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28 george
June 29, 2013 at 6:59 PM
Interesting!I like it.So yeah,subs please.Please....
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29 Nahla JW
June 29, 2013 at 7:15 PM
This movie looks awesome ... I'm totally in hehehe .....The weird thing is that I 1st saw the main poster posted by Joo won !!!! But it was all in korean and I didnt bother myself to look but I thought it'll be something funny hahah....now I found it on DB :)
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SS
June 29, 2013 at 10:23 PM
same thing that happened to me. I saw Joo Won tweet this poster with "Fighting!" to Jo Jung Suk. But I couldn't figure out the rest and now there's Lee Jong Seok? Gonna to look out for this.
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30 ilikemangos
June 29, 2013 at 7:32 PM
Gosh darn i love meta.
<3
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31 jess
June 29, 2013 at 7:50 PM
Haha that was brilliant! Excellent cast, I will watch this movie for sure. Boy, I'd give Lee Jong-suk all the awards for picking up such great project after great projects.
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32 Abbie
June 29, 2013 at 7:51 PM
These have got to be the funniest teasers I've ever seen. And Jo Jong-seok looks damn fine with a mustache. Hope this is released with English subs at some point.
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33 rainerust
June 29, 2013 at 9:59 PM
How meta! How appropriate! How witty! I wish all teasers were this funny and clever. Looking forward to this movie (it has such a great collection of cast) and hope the story holds up to whatever they've been showing us, cos I feel expectations rising...
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34 michyeosseo
June 30, 2013 at 2:41 AM
I'm feeling all Cha Taehyun's Gone with the Wind or Kang Dongwon's Jeonwoochi with this movie all over again~ *^^* I hope it hits big so subs will come out faster. Teehee \^^/
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35 Rovi
June 30, 2013 at 9:56 AM
What the actual fuckery?! XD
I'm in.
I thought nothing would buy me after "Reckless Family", but this one's basically a hoot. Nonwithstanding the political backdrop of the 1453 coup (which was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO "The Princess' Man").
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36 Cocoboo
June 30, 2013 at 10:50 AM
I wouldn't have known about the meta jokes w/o your translation/info so thank you. ^^
The movie seems funny and interesting already.
Jo Jung Seok!! I want to see more of his dramas, but not the current long one... You’re the Best, Lee Soon-shin. x3
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37 CaroleMcDonnell
July 1, 2013 at 5:04 AM
LOL!!! Yay, I've been floating in the hallyu wave for a while apparently. I actually understood and laughed at some of that meta.
Thanks for telling us about this.
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38 Rovi
July 1, 2013 at 10:00 AM
I only noticed now, that besides Lee Jong-seok's barely noticeable mole under the corner of his right eye, he has a really really barely noticeable mole on the lefthis upper lip...though it kinda looks unnatural; I know 'cause I have one in nearly the same place, though after checking it out it's nearly very faint. And in my place, moles on the lips means a chatterbox (which I am, coupled with another saying that if you feed a baby chicken butts, it woud grow up to be a chatterbox).
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39 amberscube
July 2, 2013 at 2:26 AM
This is just too clever. So funny!
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40 Cheryl
July 3, 2013 at 1:09 AM
If the script is as clever as the teaser, this film is going to be fabulous. Definitely going to have to keep my eye out for when this is available with subs.
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41 pg
July 19, 2013 at 11:23 AM
why aren't Korean movies released worldwide I would love to go see it on its premier night obviously its got the great ensemble of Korean giants which must make it a great ride to watch but along with it is jo jung suk for whom I haven't been fanatically obsessed of as much as lee jong suk but in each of his role you can literally see through that he is a real gem in acting and it doesn't matter if you give him the smallest among the small role he will definitely outshine the other actors you name it architecture (movie) or the king 2 hearts (drama and it had ha ji won and another actor as lead but you still fall for him) no wonder his already won so many awards when its only been 2 years that his debuted in television guess theatrical background has helped him a lot and I am really delighted that lee jong suk is in it which is one of the major reason why I wanna watch it so much and am really glad that he is getting to be a part of such a big project not just commercially but artistically which makes it such a big school for him to learn as much as possible from such critically acclaimed actors hope he comes out of it as a even better actor but I guess we are already witnessing the side effects considering how good I hear your voice is doing and how well his acted in it............
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42 Sam
October 27, 2013 at 9:54 PM
I just watched 'The Face Reader' a few hours ago at the CGV Cinemas in L.A.'s Koreatown and am now in the process of checking out online what others thought. There aren't too many reviews around yet, but I can tell you all that this is a wonderful piece of work from the mysteriously infrequent director Han JaeRim. It's gorgeous, involving, and everyone in the main cast turned in an excellent performance. However, I have to reserve a special piece of praise for Lee JungJae, who played the villainous Grand Prince Suyang (later King Sejo). From the first moment he appeared on screen to his last scene he was simply riveting, that's all. The man just exuded power and menace; he was so confident, so cool and elegant even as he did the most despicable things to people, that you couldn't help but admire him. If I liked him in New World, I loved him in The Face Reader. The only thing keeping me from saying it's the role of a lifetime is the possibility of Lee going on to do even greater things in the future. It's that good!^^
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