You've probably seen this somewhere around the Internet already. But just in case, here is Rain's dance-off with Steven Colbert from Monday's COLBERT REPORT.
Showing posts with label Random TV stuff. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Random TV stuff. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Monday, May 05, 2008
Along Came the Rain and Washed the Colbert Out...
BIG NEWS: Colbert Report fan site the NO FACT ZONE is reporting that Jung Ji-hoon (aka Rain) will be appearing on this Monday's episode (May 5). And apparently there WILL be a Dance-Off.
But it looks like it is going to be a special dance-off. The link above has *Spoilers*, so click at your own risk. But it looks like the segment has much humor potential.
I must admit, I am really surprised and impressed that Rain has managed to get so much traction in the West so far. Significant supporting role in SPEED RACER (which will be released in a few days, on May 7), starring in NINJA ASSASSIN, representation with William Morris and a bunch of projects in the works. He has really come a long way in the year since he left JYP Entertainment. Good for him.
UPDATE: Oh, I just checked out Shenyue Pop and noticed that the TIME 100 poll for this year has closed. And in the great war between Rain and Stephen Colbert, the winner is ... Shigeru Miyamoto? Yes, the Japanese video game designer (DONKEY KONG!) beat both Rain and Colbert. Maybe for his next trick, he can design a video game featuring Rain versus Colbert, like Spy Vs. Spy.
But it looks like it is going to be a special dance-off. The link above has *Spoilers*, so click at your own risk. But it looks like the segment has much humor potential.
I must admit, I am really surprised and impressed that Rain has managed to get so much traction in the West so far. Significant supporting role in SPEED RACER (which will be released in a few days, on May 7), starring in NINJA ASSASSIN, representation with William Morris and a bunch of projects in the works. He has really come a long way in the year since he left JYP Entertainment. Good for him.
UPDATE: Oh, I just checked out Shenyue Pop and noticed that the TIME 100 poll for this year has closed. And in the great war between Rain and Stephen Colbert, the winner is ... Shigeru Miyamoto? Yes, the Japanese video game designer (DONKEY KONG!) beat both Rain and Colbert. Maybe for his next trick, he can design a video game featuring Rain versus Colbert, like Spy Vs. Spy.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
'Night & Day' and other Random Notes - Vol 3, No. 5
So I got the chance to see Hong Sang-soo's latest film NIGHT & DAY a few days ago. The film officially makes its world premier on Feb. 12 at the Berlin International Film Festival, but, well, there are ways...
Of course, I am sworn to secrecy about the film. But I can say what the press kits talk about -- it is the story of a middle-aged artist who flees to Paris after smoking a little pot in Korea. While in Paris he meets an ex-girlfriend, makes a new girlfriend, and smokes and drinks a lot.
It was Hong's longest movie so far, clocking in at 144 minutes, but it felt quite brisk and I never felt bored. Perhaps not as fun as WOMAN ON THE BEACH, but most worthwhile. I will try to write more about it after its official premier in 10 days.
Not that anyone asked, but here is my unofficial list of Hong Sang-soo's best films:
1. A Virgin Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors
2. Woman on the Beach
3. Night and Day
4. Turning Gate
5. The Day a Pig Fell in the Well
6. The Power of Kangwon Province
7. Woman Is the Future of Man
8. Conte du Cinema
I would not put too much stock in that list, though. Nos. 1 and 8 are fairly entrenched, but the rest of the list fluctuates a lot day by day.
After the screenings, a bunch of us went to eat and drink and noraebang (because "noraebang" should be a verb at this point). Director Hong led us in a pretty brutal drinking version of Rock, Paper, Scissors. And there was much merriment. Drinking with director Hong just after watching a Hong film (full of drinking and such), is a pretty amusing experience.
I cannot believe I missed this news when it broke (well, actually I can... I have been swamped with work for the last couple of weeks) -- Kim Chang-ik, drummer of the great Korean rock group Sanullim, died a few days ago. Apparently there was some sort of accident in British Columbia, where he lived.
Like Popular Gusts, I have long considered Sanullim's second album to be one of my favorites. When you have had a couple of adult beverages too many and you are at some old bar at 2 or 3 in the morning, and that great bass line from Nae Maeum-ae Judan-eul Kkalgo comes on the bar's stereo, it is one of my favorite feelings. I am just happy I was able to catch the band live in concert at their 30th anniversary show a couple of years ago.
A very sad story in the New York Times a couple of days ago about the fate of Michael Vick's dogs. Wonderful to see that people are trying to nurse them back to health (both physical and mental). But the story of Georgia is really heartbreaking...
THE WIRE. I have now managed to see the first five episodes of season five of THE WIRE, and I continue to be as impressed as ever. As I believe I said before, I am especially enjoying this season because it focuses on the Baltimore Sun newspaper, which I used to read regularly in the couple of years I spent in that city.
What makes it even better for me is that when I was breaking into journalism a few years ago, I was working at the Joongang Daily under Hal Piper, a first-rate reporter and editor who spent most of his career at the Baltimore Sun.
Season five has been especially controversial to some (journalists, mostly) because of its portrayal of cutbacks and the modern evolution of the news room. Some people think that David Simon, the show's creator and veteran crime reporter for The Sun, has been unduly harsh and petty about the leadership at The Sun when he was there. Others think he was spot on. There have been some great debates.
As for Mr. Piper, he has not seen THE WIRE, but this is what he had to say about The Sun and Mr. Simon and the others:
He goes on to say: "The issue, it seems to me, is that management has made a strategic decision in favor of mediocrity (closing foreign bureaus, using mostly wire stuff for travel and book reviews, etc.)." Ouch.
At any rate, you can read Simon's point of view about the series and Baltimore and more in this fine story.
Of course, I am sworn to secrecy about the film. But I can say what the press kits talk about -- it is the story of a middle-aged artist who flees to Paris after smoking a little pot in Korea. While in Paris he meets an ex-girlfriend, makes a new girlfriend, and smokes and drinks a lot.
It was Hong's longest movie so far, clocking in at 144 minutes, but it felt quite brisk and I never felt bored. Perhaps not as fun as WOMAN ON THE BEACH, but most worthwhile. I will try to write more about it after its official premier in 10 days.
1. A Virgin Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors
2. Woman on the Beach
3. Night and Day
4. Turning Gate
5. The Day a Pig Fell in the Well
6. The Power of Kangwon Province
7. Woman Is the Future of Man
8. Conte du Cinema
I would not put too much stock in that list, though. Nos. 1 and 8 are fairly entrenched, but the rest of the list fluctuates a lot day by day.
Like Popular Gusts, I have long considered Sanullim's second album to be one of my favorites. When you have had a couple of adult beverages too many and you are at some old bar at 2 or 3 in the morning, and that great bass line from Nae Maeum-ae Judan-eul Kkalgo comes on the bar's stereo, it is one of my favorite feelings. I am just happy I was able to catch the band live in concert at their 30th anniversary show a couple of years ago.
What makes it even better for me is that when I was breaking into journalism a few years ago, I was working at the Joongang Daily under Hal Piper, a first-rate reporter and editor who spent most of his career at the Baltimore Sun.
Season five has been especially controversial to some (journalists, mostly) because of its portrayal of cutbacks and the modern evolution of the news room. Some people think that David Simon, the show's creator and veteran crime reporter for The Sun, has been unduly harsh and petty about the leadership at The Sun when he was there. Others think he was spot on. There have been some great debates.
As for Mr. Piper, he has not seen THE WIRE, but this is what he had to say about The Sun and Mr. Simon and the others:
Yes, I knew Simon (not well), Carroll and Marimow. The latter two were my bosses in my last few years at the Sun, and I respected them a lot. I have seen what Simon says, but I think Carroll and Marimow reversed a prior decline in the quality of the Sun. When I left it in 2001 I thought it was a better paper than it had been in 10 or 15 years. Now that I am back in Baltimore, and reading the Sun again, I think it is a worse paper than I can remember in my lifetime. So, acknowledging Simon's talent -- he really was a great police reporter -- I wouldn't trust his evaluation of the paper as a whole. That said, I am dying to see the show. Some of my friends who are no longer with the paper have bit roles as reporters.
He goes on to say: "The issue, it seems to me, is that management has made a strategic decision in favor of mediocrity (closing foreign bureaus, using mostly wire stuff for travel and book reviews, etc.)." Ouch.
At any rate, you can read Simon's point of view about the series and Baltimore and more in this fine story.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Random Notes - Vol. 2, No. 9
Tuesday - 20.4
Wednesday - 26.9
Thursday - 26.9
In Seoul, ratings rose slightly from Wednesday to Thursday, too. Too early to know if it will be a moderate hit or a big hit (or even if people will get bored and lose interest), but it is definitely a solid start.
(Actually, the Korean missionary schtick was the weakest part of this week's New Rules, but I still think it is worth a listen).
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen - 16%
Alexander - 16%
Hannibal Rising - 15%
Underdog - 13%
Garfield - 13%
Dungeons & Dragons - 11%
Catwoman - 10%
Elektra - 10%
Battlefield Earth - 3%
Half Past Dead - 2%
So I guess Shim Hyung-rae really is a Hollywood-quality director.
UPDATE: Crap. D-WAR is actually making a little money. $1.5 million on Friday alone. Looks like it is a lock to become the highest grossing Korean film in the United States (not hard, since the previous record holder, SPRING SUMMER FALL WINTER... AND SPRING only had about $2.3 million).
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
The Fat Man Sings: Goodbye Sopranos
One last SOPRANOS post, now that the series is over. There will be SPOILERS, so feel free to skip if you do not want to find out what happened (although good luck at avoiding the thousands of other stories out there.
Spoilers...
Spoilers...
You have been warned...
Spoilers....
Anyhow, like everyone, I was wrong about how the series would end. Although count me among the people who really loved the ending. Confusing, sure, along with frustrating, surprising and more, but I still loved it. But what does that cryptic cut-to-black ending mean? As I see it, there are two possibilities:
1) We were seeing the world through Tony's eyes, his constant paranoia that he lives with. He once again "won" a power struggle, his family is together and safe, but it is a Pyrrhic victory. Tony knows he is never really safe, and lives in constant fear of it being taken away from him (by being whacked, arrested, whatever). Or,
2) Tony was killed. At first, I thought (1) was the more likely meaning of it all. But the more I think about it, the more I think (2) is likely. The Bobby flashback at the end of "The Second Coming" really supports this view, I think. As do the hints that New York was not entirely satisfied with the post-Phil situation.
However, the great thing about the episode is how open-ended it was. I am sure once people go through each frame, it is possible they will be able to work out a more definite theory. But either way, I thought it was a great end to a (usually) great show. (I am, however, disappointed to hear the Dante's Inferno theory of the last nine episodes was wrong).
Also amusing to learn that superstitious Italians think about cats the same way Koreans do. Although I did like the mysterious cat in that episode (which I think could have been Adrianna).
Spoilers...
Spoilers...
You have been warned...
Spoilers....
Anyhow, like everyone, I was wrong about how the series would end. Although count me among the people who really loved the ending. Confusing, sure, along with frustrating, surprising and more, but I still loved it. But what does that cryptic cut-to-black ending mean? As I see it, there are two possibilities:
1) We were seeing the world through Tony's eyes, his constant paranoia that he lives with. He once again "won" a power struggle, his family is together and safe, but it is a Pyrrhic victory. Tony knows he is never really safe, and lives in constant fear of it being taken away from him (by being whacked, arrested, whatever). Or,
2) Tony was killed. At first, I thought (1) was the more likely meaning of it all. But the more I think about it, the more I think (2) is likely. The Bobby flashback at the end of "The Second Coming" really supports this view, I think. As do the hints that New York was not entirely satisfied with the post-Phil situation.
However, the great thing about the episode is how open-ended it was. I am sure once people go through each frame, it is possible they will be able to work out a more definite theory. But either way, I thought it was a great end to a (usually) great show. (I am, however, disappointed to hear the Dante's Inferno theory of the last nine episodes was wrong).
Also amusing to learn that superstitious Italians think about cats the same way Koreans do. Although I did like the mysterious cat in that episode (which I think could have been Adrianna).
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Sopranos' Last Aria
Okay, since people seem to be giving their SOPRANOS finale predictions these days, I suppose I'll weigh in with my random guesses. (I will try to keep spoilers to a minimum, and even then I will write them in white, so you can skip them).
Since we returned from hiatus, for the second half of season 6, we have seen four very different episodes. Some people on the Internet have described this as a curtain call, others say it is just bad writing. Some people think Tony will die in the end, either by Carmilla or Janice. My theory is a little different. (And here come my spoilers, in invisible text... highlight to read).
I think what is happening now is that we are seeing the total alienation of Tony from his friends, from his insular little world. Episode 13, he fought with Bobby (and scared the hell out of Janice). Episode 14 he fought with Christopher, Episode 15 was Paulie, and Episode 16 was Hesh.
So when trouble really hits the fan in the final couple of episodes (and I assume this will mean the Feds finally getting RICO on Tony), I think Tony will find himself without allies. Maybe his friends will even turn on him outright.
His back against the walls, his friends turned hostile, his life over, Tony will do the unthinkable -- he will turn snitch. Not, of course, on the family (which would be unthinkable). Instead, he will offer information on potential terrorists in New Jersey/New York to the Feds in exchange for a new life.
The big question, to me, is whether Tony will have one last, mega-therapy session with Dr. Melfi. Certainly in traditional dramas, that is the kind of climax one would expect. But THE SOPRANOS have been fairly unconventional during most of their run, and series creator David Chase seems to dislike the artificial therapy breakthrough.
(And if the invisible spoiler protection does not work on RSS feeds or other platforms or whatever, I apologize).
----
Oh, back in the world of Korean-related subjects.... the Miro Space movie theater (in downtown Seoul, beside the Seoul History Museum) is having a couple of interesting Korean films with English subtitles. Right now, it is showing Kim Tae-shik's RIDING WITH MY WIFE'S LOVER, and beginning on May 10 it will be showing TEXTURE OF SKIN, by Korea's top animator Lee Sung-gang (in a surprising animation-free project).
Miro is a pretty funky building with some decent restaurants. Its Korean site is here.
Since we returned from hiatus, for the second half of season 6, we have seen four very different episodes. Some people on the Internet have described this as a curtain call, others say it is just bad writing. Some people think Tony will die in the end, either by Carmilla or Janice. My theory is a little different. (And here come my spoilers, in invisible text... highlight to read).
I think what is happening now is that we are seeing the total alienation of Tony from his friends, from his insular little world. Episode 13, he fought with Bobby (and scared the hell out of Janice). Episode 14 he fought with Christopher, Episode 15 was Paulie, and Episode 16 was Hesh.
So when trouble really hits the fan in the final couple of episodes (and I assume this will mean the Feds finally getting RICO on Tony), I think Tony will find himself without allies. Maybe his friends will even turn on him outright.
His back against the walls, his friends turned hostile, his life over, Tony will do the unthinkable -- he will turn snitch. Not, of course, on the family (which would be unthinkable). Instead, he will offer information on potential terrorists in New Jersey/New York to the Feds in exchange for a new life.
The big question, to me, is whether Tony will have one last, mega-therapy session with Dr. Melfi. Certainly in traditional dramas, that is the kind of climax one would expect. But THE SOPRANOS have been fairly unconventional during most of their run, and series creator David Chase seems to dislike the artificial therapy breakthrough.
(And if the invisible spoiler protection does not work on RSS feeds or other platforms or whatever, I apologize).
----
Oh, back in the world of Korean-related subjects.... the Miro Space movie theater (in downtown Seoul, beside the Seoul History Museum) is having a couple of interesting Korean films with English subtitles. Right now, it is showing Kim Tae-shik's RIDING WITH MY WIFE'S LOVER, and beginning on May 10 it will be showing TEXTURE OF SKIN, by Korea's top animator Lee Sung-gang (in a surprising animation-free project).
Miro is a pretty funky building with some decent restaurants. Its Korean site is here.
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