Lee Je-hoon turns Phantom Detective for comic-action-noir Detective Hong Gil-dong
by tineybeanie
Finally it’s almost here! Detective Hong Gil-dong: Missing Village (English title: Phantom Detective) is premiering on May 4. Starring Lee Je-hoon (Signal) as the badass anti-hero Hong Gil-dong, this neo-noir action flick is brought to you by director Jo Sung-hee, the same man behind fantasy-melo film A Werewolf Boy.
Man with no memories. A hero more ruthless than the villains. This modernized version of legendary character Hong Gil-dong is the leader of an illegal detective agency. Twenty years ago, he lost everything except one memory of his mother’s tragic murder. Since then, he has been on a quest for revenge against his mother’s killer, who he believes to be a man named Kim Byung-duk (Park Geun-hyung). However, as soon as Hong closes in on his trail, Kim is kidnapped by a shadowy criminal organization named Gwangeunhae, leaving behind his two adorable grandkids.
Go Ara (You’re All Surrounded) plays the role of a sexy femme fatale deeply entrenched in the criminal organization that has kidnapped Kim Byung-duk. It is up to Hong Gil-dong to retrieve his nemesis and seek retribution. But he’s not doing it alone, all along the way, these cute intrepid kids in the backseat are there to annoy him with questions about his credentials and about exactly how he’s going to find their grandfather.
Just from the trailer, it looks to be a good mix of action, drama, and comedy. It gives off the impression of wanting to be like a moderated version of Deadpool for a Korean audience. Set in a period like the 1980s, this film teaser shows the strengths of director Jo Sung-hee’s ability to meld beautiful visual effects with evocative storytelling. With the talented cast, this movie could potentially be a new blockbuster.
Well, I’m super excited to see it. Lee Je-hoon and two sassy munchkins on a road trip of revenge, what more could I ask for?
Via Star News
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Tags: Go Ara, Kim Sung-kyun, Lee Je-hoon, Park Geun-hyung
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1 lordseungri
April 30, 2016 at 2:05 PM
Oh man that walkie-talkie is giving me Signal feels
This looks great though - AWB is one of my most favorite movies ever.
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dramalover
April 30, 2016 at 2:20 PM
I loved AWB too, it was like a Korean version of Edward Scissorhands and A.I.
This is definitely going on my watch list. I am looking at Lee Je-hoon in a whole different light after Signal.
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bri
April 30, 2016 at 2:28 PM
AWB was breathtaking....just thinking about it breaks my heart.
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Mermaid Scribbler
May 1, 2016 at 10:15 AM
OK, I have to know. What is AWB?
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Zia
May 1, 2016 at 10:25 AM
A Werewolf Boy, the director's previous successful film with Song Joong Ki and Park Bo Young.
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h2ogirl
May 1, 2016 at 2:04 PM
A Werewolf Boy, a 2012 movie starring Song Joong Ki and Park Bo Young
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Grapes
April 30, 2016 at 2:32 PM
I thought the same about the walkie talkie .. I think i am not gonna get over Signal ???
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cupkate
May 1, 2016 at 12:52 AM
OMG when I saw that pic last time I thought that was from Signal. Anyway I'm enjoying Lee Je Hoon so much that I wish this could get subbed faster after being released.
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2 kaybee
April 30, 2016 at 2:10 PM
Oooh this sounds fun! And I love the style in the pictures. Definitely going on my to-watch list.
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3 Jensredshoes
April 30, 2016 at 2:28 PM
Oh I want to see this!
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4 confusedturtle
April 30, 2016 at 2:30 PM
Dang, the 80s in Korea were apparently way more stylish than the 80s in Oakland.
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5 mindy
April 30, 2016 at 2:33 PM
Yeah, this looks like a BLAST. I'm up for it! And those kids are adorable, especially the youngest one!
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6 Grapes
April 30, 2016 at 2:37 PM
Looking forward for this movie, it looks like one of hollywood movies, the visuals looks so amazing, i think it will be blockbuster
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7 museofmanymasks
April 30, 2016 at 3:11 PM
AWB wasn't for me, but neo-noir + LJH + KSK= win
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8 graey
April 30, 2016 at 3:13 PM
I'll never see a walkie talkie the same way again.... T.T
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9 Hope Airen
April 30, 2016 at 3:16 PM
WOw, Lee Je Hoon and Go Ara are hotter than ever, like damn. The movie looks so exciting, can't wait for it.
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10 WickedBiccie
April 30, 2016 at 3:20 PM
Yes! Yes! YES!!! Tineybeanie you are bringing ALL the good news!!
This looks amazing, so slick and stylish with a killer cast.
(jumps up and down in my seat with excitement)
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11 Kdramaluvshassey
April 30, 2016 at 3:23 PM
I love this. I really wish I could watch it. It looks like it will be a blast. And I love Lee Je Hoon's voice. Now I need to go rematch signal.
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12 blo
April 30, 2016 at 3:40 PM
Yay! Glad more people love him ?
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13 Mei Lig
April 30, 2016 at 3:45 PM
Oh hottie ??????
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14 Melona
April 30, 2016 at 4:07 PM
I haven't been able to move on from Signal so I want to watch this so badly, even if only to get my Lee Je-hoon fix. But I'm sure with director Jo Sung-hee at the helm at least this will be a visually entertaining movie. Add a good story and it's a win!
I've been watching clips from YouTube for this movie's promotional press conferences, and when a reporter asked the director what he thought of the differences between his two leading actors Song Joong-ki (in A Werewolf Boy) and Lee Je-hoon (in Phantom Detective), he said that SJK put a lot of effort and preparation into his acting, and was critical of his own performance, whereas LJH's style of acting was more animalistic and instinctive, to the point that with every cut of every scene he looked forward to seeing what kind of acting LJH would bring out, and that he was a thoughtful actor.
Being a fan of both actors, I find this a very interesting comparison.
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Rachel
April 30, 2016 at 11:21 PM
That's definitely an interesting perspective. Thanks for that!
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15 CandidClown
April 30, 2016 at 5:25 PM
Way to keep bringing in the news, tineybeanie!!
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16 Chelsea
April 30, 2016 at 5:55 PM
Detective Lee Jehoon ;A; Will head to head with Civil War then. Hope it'll doing fine in the box office and knowing it's from CJ after good review from Time Renegade~
Dramabeans please do movie review too please! ILY <3
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pogo - sailing HMS Queen of Tears and HMS Sailboat Lovely Runner🍉
April 30, 2016 at 11:53 PM
nope, Civil War is already out and doing gangbusters business so far (it's cleared more viewers in four days than Batman v Superman did in its entire run in Korea)
It'll still be tough competition but not as extreme as if they were actually getting released on the same day.
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17 blueribbon
April 30, 2016 at 6:08 PM
Thank God I forgot the news about this movie otherwise I would have died in the waiting process, Thank you for reminding me about it :)
But now I will have to wait a month or so for it to get subbed :(. I wish Korean movies were released more often were I live or actually at all. I would definitely pay for a ticket.
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18 loveblossom🌸
April 30, 2016 at 6:35 PM
Dang, the trailor looks awesome! The visual effects look great. The action and comedy seems to be there. Hope the story is good too. :)
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19 jaymie
April 30, 2016 at 7:45 PM
Omo omo omo....I'll just here on my lonesome self fangirling about how hot Kim Sung Kyun looks like here.
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theredsnowflake
May 1, 2016 at 3:56 AM
You are not alone
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crazykel
May 2, 2016 at 6:55 AM
You're definitely not alone. He looks so good. I love how versatile he is in roles. There's no trace of Samcheonpo or President Kim in those eyes. I love it!
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20 Kaylie
April 30, 2016 at 8:37 PM
Hope this movie will do well in Korea. Lee Je-hoon deserves more love!!! Anyway I'm so glad that he's doing so much promotions for Hong Gil-dong so I get to see him more on variety shows. He barely went on any in the past! He's so cute in real life - kind of shy and introverted, but trying so hard to be entertaining. You can see that he's normally a very serious person who studies his own characters in depth.
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Rachel
April 30, 2016 at 11:22 PM
Me too! He is so adorable on these promotions, especially the live broadcast he did on V App.
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Kaylie
May 1, 2016 at 12:02 AM
Yeah the live broadcasts on V app were so cute I went on a crazy screenshot spree.
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21 coffeenlucia
April 30, 2016 at 9:34 PM
Go Ara is such a goddess.
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22 saranga
April 30, 2016 at 11:09 PM
aww, i got really excited for a bit thinking this was an upcoming drama! sigh i miss signal!
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23 Eman Resu
April 30, 2016 at 11:15 PM
I'll have to check this out. I am a big fan of Lee Je-hoon. He's got very good presence on screen.
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24 elvira
April 30, 2016 at 11:18 PM
Aaaaiiiieeeee...
Even though you want to either save or revenge your mom so badly, don't listen to that walkie talkieeeeee!!!
(Storywise it will give me thrill, but imagining what happens after opening the pandora box, that is the walkie talkie, gives me nothing but chill)
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25 whozdat
May 1, 2016 at 1:22 AM
i cant wait especially the interaction with kids,i think its point plus for this movie...
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26 Moko
May 1, 2016 at 4:02 AM
Soooo excited about this O.o
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27 aqua❤jcw
May 1, 2016 at 6:37 AM
Wow! simply wow!
But the only problem is... I have no idea how and when a korean movie will be available to watch.....! dang... *hits my head on wall*
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28 Hayley
May 1, 2016 at 8:15 AM
le je hoon. aaaahhhh sigh. so pretty :P
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29 AFN
May 1, 2016 at 8:52 AM
For a short moment I thought that was gonna be Lee Je Hoon's getup for Signal 2.0. Dang it I'll nevet get over Signal, right?
Excited for this movie.
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30 crazykel
May 2, 2016 at 7:05 AM
I'm excited for this one! Lee Je Hoon impressed me so much in Signal, and for a minute there after I saw the pic with the walkie-talkie, I cried. (I swear I do every time I see a walkie these days; I anticipate Jo Jin-Woong's voice each time.) Anyway, this looks like a lot of fun with a nice helping of revenge. It also has both Go Ara and Kim Sung Kyun in it, so Reply 1994 feels abound too. I like how flashy the fashion is so far. (Please be subbed quickly!)
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31 Adal
May 2, 2016 at 8:10 AM
Go Ara is so visually pretty... no wonder LJH joked that she looks like a doll...
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32 brenda fong
May 9, 2016 at 1:27 AM
Hot damn, this looks like a lot of fun, im kind of sad that this is a movie though since ive been trying to find a fun drama to watch and am still searching.
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33 ramonathepest
December 15, 2018 at 2:18 PM
I watched this last night (December 14, 2018), not expecting much as I'm not crazy about Lee Je-hoon. I was really happy and surprised with what I got! The movie is shot in a beautifully film noir manner yet never so dark you can't see what's going on. Just beautifully covered with sepia tones. And oh so tonally dark AND funny. I loved everything about it. I might even check out more of Lee Je hoon's past work.
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