cha seung won

TYRANT: Details On New Action Thriller From ‘The Witch’ And ‘The Childe’ Director

At this point all I really want is my threequel to The Witch franchise, and as long as Park Hoon-jung is back for a third time to direct it, I’ve got no complaints. In the meantime, I’m perfectly fine with another gritty, modern actioner out of South Korea from the celebrated Night In Paradise director who is now under way with Tyrant, as Acemaker Movieworks handles international sales. A covert program called ‘The Tyrant Project’ that was carried out in Korea is uncovered by the US intelligence agency, which orders the Korean counterpart to immediately shut down. The project is dismantled and is about to be handed over to the US but an accident takes place during the handoff. Operation staff Ja-kyung and Mo-yong successfully hijack the program sample as per Director Choi’s order. US intelligence agent Paul finds out about the accident and decides to retrieve the sample himself. […]

BELIEVER Review: Lee Hae Young’s 2018 HK-Inspired Reimagining Is Preaches A Violent, Well-Crafted Gospel [Reprint/Revisal]

Lee B. Golden III

Most of the time, the narrative among film fans is that remakes suck. I don’t know if that’s the same consensus shared by middle-of-the-road types in audiences of Hollywood or international titles, but generally you will come across folks who don’t favor a lot of remakes and reboots for reasons all their own. Such reasons are justified, compared to a lot of other cases that often get overlooked in which a film, remade or rebooted from its predecessor, stands the test of its duration. Lee Hae-young recently found the odds in his favor for his fourth directorial outing, taken from the filmic mastermind of Johnnie To to provide the niche with a renewed variant of the 2012 thriller, Drug War. Fast forward to 2018, and we now have a contender in Believer to whet our curiousities following its seething trailer delivery. A slightly derivative assortment here builds on what To offered in […]

BELIEVER Sequel In The Works At Netflix

Lee B. Golden III

Baek Jong-yeol (Beauty Inside) will direct a sequel for Netflix to Believer, Lee Hae-young’s 2018 reimagining of Johnnie To’s 2013 crime thriller, Drug War. According to various trade reports here and abroad, actors Cho Jin-woong and Cha Seung-won will reprise their roles alongside a cast that additionally lists Han Hyo-joo (The Pirates 2), Oh Seung-hoon (KBS series Bloody Heart), Kim Dong-young (Boys) and actress Lee Joo-young (Tastes Of Horror). In Believer, Cho starred as Won-ho, the scrappy, jaded leader of an anti-narc unit facing pressure from their superiors as he aims to bring an end to the criminal wave of the elusive Mr. Lee, played by Cha, with the help of a key witness, played by Ryu Jun-yeol. The new film will reunite both actors for a story that reteams Won-ho “with gang members who are not quite what they seem”, with the addition of actress Han in the role […]

NIGHT IN PARADISE: Don’t Miss The First Teaser For Park Hoon-Jung’s Latest Thriller Out Of Venice

Lee B. Golden III

The Witch: Part 1 and New World director Park Hoon-jung’s new thriller, Night In Paradise, just premiered Out Of Competition this year for the 77th La Biennale di Venezia. Reviews are out and about as we speak for onlookers to gain some perspective but we do have a teaser to glance at ahead of its Korean release, TBA. Tae-gu, the ace of a criminal gang led by Mr. Yang, tries to clean up his life for his sick sister and nephew. Then one day, his sister and nephew are killed in an accident by someone who aimed for Tae-gu. Tae-gu decides to take revenge in shock. In the end, he removes the boss of another gang, and runs away to Jeju Island. Without knowing that his gang has already abandoned him, he meets Kuto and his niece, Jae-yeon who look after Tae-gu. Jae-yeon is dying from an illness, while Tae-gu […]

SINKHOLE: Kim Ji-Hoon Readies Disaster Action Comedy With Cha Seung-Won

Lee B. Golden III

Following in the footsteps of Lee Sang-Geun’s hit summer disaster romp, Exit, Sinkhole is next on deck for Kim Ji-Hoon (The Tower) according to Pierce Conran over at KoBiz. Cha Seung-won (Believer) is set to star in the new disaster action comedy which sees a man whose new home lands in a Sinkhole once he’s finally purchased it after 11 years of saving up. Kim Sung-kyun (Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time) and Lee Kwang-soo (Tazza: One Eyed Jack) will also star. Production hails from The Tower Pictures with Showbox financing the film and handling distribution. (KOBIZ)

Review: Lee Hae Young’s BELIEVER Preaches A Violent, Well-Crafted Gospel

Lee B. Golden III

Most of the time, the narrative among film fans is that remakes suck. I don’t know if that’s the same consensus shared by middle-of-the-road types in audiences of Hollywood or international titles but generally you will come across folks who don’t favor a lot of remakes and reboots for reasons all their own. Such reasons are justified, compared to a lot of other cases that often get over looked in which a film, remade or rebooted from its predecessor, stands the test of its duration. Lee Hae-Young recently found the odds in his favor for his fourth directorial outing, taken from the filmic mastermind of Johnnie To to provide the niche with a renewed variant of the 2012 thriller Drug War. Fast forward to 2018 and we now have a contender in Believer to whet our curiousities following its seething trailer delivery. A slightly derivative assortment here builds on what […]

BELIEVER Delivers A Smokin’ New Trailer For Lee Hae-Young’s DRUG WAR Remake

Lee B. Golden III

To say that remakes can’t be done right is a statement that doesn’t exactly stand flawless. Granted, there are plenty that fail to deliver, but the scale weighs differently with each film which is exactly why I’m always willing to give them a shot. That being said, I don’t specifically know if the same skeptic sentiments often shared in Western audiences extend in China and Korea, but director Lee Hae-Young is more than willing to make a worthwhile case. Having found his inspiration in Johnnie To’s hit crime thriller, Drug War, Lee’s fourth film, dubbed Believer, has begun its campaign with a first a official trailer that doesn’t hesitate to get down, dirty and in the thick of things. Detective Won-ho is determined to catch the infamous leader of Asia’s largest drug market, who is known only by the name, ‘Mr. LEE.’ While searching for Mr. LEE, Won-ho apprehends and […]

THE MAP AGAINST THE WORLD Dares To Open Joseon's Doors In The U.S. Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

Slimido and Fists Of Legend helmer Kang Woo-suk is pivoting to a first in his 20-film career thusfar. His newest and debut history drama, The Map Against The World, follows in the footsteps of a legendary cartographer who braved the elements to provide a map to the people of late Joseon, taking notes from Park Shin-bum’s 2009 Munhakdongne novel, “Gosanja”. Thus, we are now granted a story a la Kang with screenwriter Choi Jung-Me adapting the book, and with a South Korean release stamped for September 7, CJ Entertainment is proudly presenting the new adventure drama on September 9 in select U.S. cities. In the meantime, the distributor now brings us a new trailer to highlight the sprawling tale of one man’s perilous journey of redemption and awakening. SYNOPSIS: Kim Jeong-Ho’s (Cha Seung-Won) father died due to an erroneous map. Because of this, Kim Jeong-Ho has a strong desire to […]

The New Poster And Trailer For MAN ON HIGH HEELS Unleash Inner-Femme Fury!

Lee B. Golden III

When you think of a movie title such as director Jang Jin‘s new film, Man On High Heels, you can’t help but see it as almost anything but an action thriller, which is exactly what it is. And a tasty looking one at that, based on the most recent teasers that were unveiled by late last month. Well, guess what? The film is granting interested onlookers a full first trailer and an even more refreshingly brutal poster for the new film featuring lead actor Cha Seung-Won in this third outing with the aforementioned director. So, make no mistake. This is definitely one for the niche it was meant for, no matter what orientation you share. Man On High Heels opens domestically on June 4. SYNOPSIS: Ji-wook is a cold-blooded detective who would brutally assault and stop at nothing to catch criminals. However, despite his perfectly masculine appearance, Ji-wook struggles with […]

Cha Seung-Won Is A Kick-Ass Diva In Two New Teasers For MAN ON HIGH HEELS

Lee B. Golden III

Care to enjoy your fair share of slick, stylish macho Korean action cinema with a feminine touch? Then take a gander at the latest footage for the upcoming film, Man On High Heels, which will be screening in Cannes this month prior to its forthcoming theatrical domestic release in June. The film marks the third pairing of director Jang Jin and lead actor Cha Seung-won, and was originally pitched as an action comedy. Although however, you might not be able to tell as much from the visual, stylish and action thriller-oriented nature presented in the two teasers you can check out below. No complaints from me, however. Action is where it is, whether it’s in a pair of mens’ Sketchers or Rockports, or womens’ six-inch Louboutins. Just sayin. Check out the teasers and stay tuned for more information! SYNOPSIS: Ji-wook is a cold-blooded detective who would brutally assault and stop at […]