IRIS (KBS2, 2009)
IRIS (KBS2, 2009)
IRIS 아이리스
PRODUCTION: Taewon Entertainment & Kang Je-kyu Film
PD: Kang Je-kyu 강제규 (Taegukgi: The Brotherhood Of War, Shiri), Lee Hyung-min 이형민 (I'm Sorry I Love You, SangDoo, Let's Go To School, Winter Sonata)
SCRIPT: Kang Je-kyu 강제규, Choi Wan-kyu 최완규 (Jumong, All In, Sang Do, Heo Jun)
CAST: Lee Byung-hun 이병헌 (A Bittersweet Life; All In, Beautiful Days), Kim Tae Hee 김태희 (Love Story In Harvard, Nine Tailed Fox, Stairway To Heaven), T.O.P. (I am Sam)
EPISODES: 20
START: 1st half of 2009
Korean star Lee Byung-heon is returning to TV screen in a spy thriller titled “Iris.” Lee’s first TV drama in five years since his starring role in “All In,” “Iris” is Korea’s first attempt at a high-tech spy thriller filled with flashy action scenes, cool cutting-edge devices, and scenic overseas locations.
The 20 million-dollar action-packed drama is directed by Kang Je-gyu of “Taegukgi: Brotherhood of War” and Lee Hyung-min of “I’m Sorry, I Love You” and produced jointly by Taewon Entertainment, which had made the global project “Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon.”Filming will begin later this year and take place in Russia, Japan, China and the United States. The twenty-parter “Iris” is scheduled to be aired early next year.
Lee has just wrapped up filming the French-American movie “I Come with the Rain” with Josh Hartnett and is getting ready to shoot “G. I. Joe.” Lee will be playing Korean ninja Storm Shadow in the action flick. The multi-national collaboration co-starring British actress Sienna Miller and American actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt alongside Lee is due for release in August 2009.
-- Credit to soompi
Actress Kim Tae Hee has been cast in the upcoming drama “IRIS” and will be collaborating with Lee Byung Hun. Kim Tae Hee will play as the partner of Lee Byung Hun in this spy action drama. The production company of “IRIS“, Taewon Entertainment, disclosed this information today, 10th of October.
This, if realized, will be Kim Tae Hee return work since her last drama “Love Story in Harvard” back in 2004.
Kim Tae Hee will ditch her past image and play as an agent of a National Intelligence Agency (NSS) with an with a clear and sensitive mind. She will also be thwarting terrorist activities with her colleague Lee Byung Hun in several action scenes.
She also appears to be in a love triangle with Lee Byung Hun and another colleague, Jin Sa Woo, which the cast has not been finalized.
“IRIS” is scheduled for broadcast next summer.
-- Hanfever
PRODUCTION: Taewon Entertainment & Kang Je-kyu Film
PD: Kang Je-kyu 강제규 (Taegukgi: The Brotherhood Of War, Shiri), Lee Hyung-min 이형민 (I'm Sorry I Love You, SangDoo, Let's Go To School, Winter Sonata)
SCRIPT: Kang Je-kyu 강제규, Choi Wan-kyu 최완규 (Jumong, All In, Sang Do, Heo Jun)
CAST: Lee Byung-hun 이병헌 (A Bittersweet Life; All In, Beautiful Days), Kim Tae Hee 김태희 (Love Story In Harvard, Nine Tailed Fox, Stairway To Heaven), T.O.P. (I am Sam)
EPISODES: 20
START: 1st half of 2009
Korean star Lee Byung-heon is returning to TV screen in a spy thriller titled “Iris.” Lee’s first TV drama in five years since his starring role in “All In,” “Iris” is Korea’s first attempt at a high-tech spy thriller filled with flashy action scenes, cool cutting-edge devices, and scenic overseas locations.
The 20 million-dollar action-packed drama is directed by Kang Je-gyu of “Taegukgi: Brotherhood of War” and Lee Hyung-min of “I’m Sorry, I Love You” and produced jointly by Taewon Entertainment, which had made the global project “Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon.”Filming will begin later this year and take place in Russia, Japan, China and the United States. The twenty-parter “Iris” is scheduled to be aired early next year.
Lee has just wrapped up filming the French-American movie “I Come with the Rain” with Josh Hartnett and is getting ready to shoot “G. I. Joe.” Lee will be playing Korean ninja Storm Shadow in the action flick. The multi-national collaboration co-starring British actress Sienna Miller and American actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt alongside Lee is due for release in August 2009.
-- Credit to soompi
Actress Kim Tae Hee has been cast in the upcoming drama “IRIS” and will be collaborating with Lee Byung Hun. Kim Tae Hee will play as the partner of Lee Byung Hun in this spy action drama. The production company of “IRIS“, Taewon Entertainment, disclosed this information today, 10th of October.
This, if realized, will be Kim Tae Hee return work since her last drama “Love Story in Harvard” back in 2004.
Kim Tae Hee will ditch her past image and play as an agent of a National Intelligence Agency (NSS) with an with a clear and sensitive mind. She will also be thwarting terrorist activities with her colleague Lee Byung Hun in several action scenes.
She also appears to be in a love triangle with Lee Byung Hun and another colleague, Jin Sa Woo, which the cast has not been finalized.
“IRIS” is scheduled for broadcast next summer.
-- Hanfever
Last edited by kobe23 on Oct 10th, '08, 13:05, edited 3 times in total.
Probably not many Lee Byung Hun fans around here but I'm more excited about this upcoming drama than any other drama in the works. Unless of course, it's Song Hye Kyo's new drama, or maybe.....this IS gonna be SHK's new drama? That would make it an All In reunion
It's been 5 years since LBH's last drama All In in which he played my favorite k-drama character of all time - Kim In Ha. SHK hasn't done a drama for 4 years so it's the perfect time for her comeback and showcase her talent as a multi-dimensional actress. Just looking at the budget and people involved is enough to make me feel a bit giddy. This is gonna be the slickest k-drama ever, and it seems, there might even be a compelling storyline underneath all that gloss.
It's been 5 years since LBH's last drama All In in which he played my favorite k-drama character of all time - Kim In Ha. SHK hasn't done a drama for 4 years so it's the perfect time for her comeback and showcase her talent as a multi-dimensional actress. Just looking at the budget and people involved is enough to make me feel a bit giddy. This is gonna be the slickest k-drama ever, and it seems, there might even be a compelling storyline underneath all that gloss.
im really glad that LBH will return to the small screen after all these years, but im afraid all this hype about this production team is gonna kill it badly, just like it did with Lobbyist. not sure if this is a trend or not, but dramas that get the most publicity tend to fail miserably in scripting, and vice versa. i hope the writer won't get overconfident about the cast and abandon the focus on creating a solid script.kobe23 wrote:Probably not many Lee Byung Hun fans around here but I'm more excited about this upcoming drama than any other drama in the works. Unless of course, it's Song Hye Kyo's new drama, or maybe.....this IS gonna be SHK's new drama? That would make it an All In reunion
It's been 5 years since LBH's last drama All In in which he played my favorite k-drama character of all time - Kim In Ha. SHK hasn't done a drama for 4 years so it's the perfect time for her comeback and showcase her talent as a multi-dimensional actress. Just looking at the budget and people involved is enough to make me feel a bit giddy. This is gonna be the slickest k-drama ever, and it seems, there might even be a compelling storyline underneath all that gloss.
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Well this should be the writers 3. attempt to high budget action. After both Aircity and Lobbyist, which come from the same writer, miserably failed. I hope he gets out a good story this time. Even if not I will still watch it
If LBH wouldn't play in this drama I would really ask myself who would invest 20Million$ in another action drama by this writer.
If LBH wouldn't play in this drama I would really ask myself who would invest 20Million$ in another action drama by this writer.
Not to mention LBH wouldn't accept the role if he didn't like the script. I mean, the guy is now a Hollywood star, he's not gonna comeback to k-drama for a failure!
As for the female lead, I honestly don't think it'll be SHK either; that's just my wishful thinking, but it'll probably be some serious actress who can do action sequences and play the sexy 'femme fatale' role. Over at soompi they are suggesting Kim Hye Soo, which I think would be a pretty good choice.
As for the female lead, I honestly don't think it'll be SHK either; that's just my wishful thinking, but it'll probably be some serious actress who can do action sequences and play the sexy 'femme fatale' role. Over at soompi they are suggesting Kim Hye Soo, which I think would be a pretty good choice.
There shouldn't be a script right now. Usually the writer and PD only give the basic scenario to the actors but LBH must trust them. Hopfully they find a great actress and please not Choi Ji Wookobe23 wrote:Not to mention LBH wouldn't accept the role if he didn't like the script. I mean, the guy is now a Hollywood star, he's not gonna comeback to k-drama for a failure!
As for the female lead, I honestly don't think it'll be SHK either; that's just my wishful thinking, but it'll probably be some serious actress who can do action sequences and play the sexy 'femme fatale' role. Over at soompi they are suggesting Kim Hye Soo, which I think would be a pretty good choice.
hehe, same here. for some reason, i find CJW's presence extremely repulsive. perhaps it was due to the horrible experience with Stairway to Heaven.WroW wrote: There shouldn't be a script right now. Usually the writer and PD only give the basic scenario to the actors but LBH must trust them. Hopfully they find a great actress and please not Choi Ji Woo
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I thought there would've been a draft at least before the PD and actors sign their life away. So in Korea they just go in blindly without knowing what the heck they're getting themselves into? No wonder so many big stars and PD's are involved in total flops.WroW wrote:There shouldn't be a script right now. Usually the writer and PD only give the basic scenario to the actors but LBH must trust them. Hopfully they find a great actress and please not Choi Ji Wookobe23 wrote:Not to mention LBH wouldn't accept the role if he didn't like the script. I mean, the guy is now a Hollywood star, he's not gonna comeback to k-drama for a failure!
As for the female lead, I honestly don't think it'll be SHK either; that's just my wishful thinking, but it'll probably be some serious actress who can do action sequences and play the sexy 'femme fatale' role. Over at soompi they are suggesting Kim Hye Soo, which I think would be a pretty good choice.
If they come out and announce Choi Ji Woo as the female lead - or even a cameo appearance - I would'nt even watch one episode. Heck, I'd probably drop k-dramas altogether and move onto something else
Apparently Son Yeh Jin tried the femme fatale role and failed miserably in the recent movie Open City. I haven't seen it yet, but according to many reviews, she just doesn't seem to be able to shake off that cutesy image that she's developed over the years. Will watch it soon enough to find out myself how she faired.i think Son Ye Jin would make a perfect femme fatale and i would love to see her paired with Lee Byun Hun!
My guess is they'll probably cast someone in their 30's since LBH is what...almost 40 now? But yeah, anyone but CJW and at least someone who is somewhat attractive
Often the leads sign onto roles before the basic plot has been outlined, and it's not unusual for them to not know what happens to their character until they're literally given the script one or two days prior to shoot. That's why this move away from a live shoot is a big deal. Writers assemble a storyline not based on market research, and actors can fight for the integrity of their characters.I thought there would've been a draft at least before the PD and actors sign their life away. So in Korea they just go in blindly without knowing what the heck they're getting themselves into? No wonder so many big stars and PD's are involved in total flops.
Also I share WRoW's concerns regarding their prior work Lobbyist and Air City (which isn't that bad, just not commiserate to the cast given to the project.) It's not so much merely about whether this project will be good or not; it's more that in both situations, they mishandled the enormous star power and quality of casting given to them in both circumstances. You sometimes wonder whether you're watching of frustration these actors (Jang Jin Young or Lee Jung Jae) asking themselves "I signed up to say this?!? I'm never doing TV again!!" It's an alienating response (both did not do well) that just pushes away those rare opportunities to watch the A-list on TV. That said, I assume this one will be eventually sold to SBS, and LBH and SBS are like "*THIS*" He's done as much as any actor to carry SBS's blockbuster dramas through well over the last 10 years.
He's an idol to me, but I don't need to see him on TV. I'm just worried the show is going to be really, really bad, and I don't usually say this about potential matchups.
Non-spoiler thoughts on Open City:Apparently Son Yeh Jin tried the femme fatale role and failed miserably in the recent movie Open City. I haven't seen it yet, but according to many reviews, she just doesn't seem to be able to shake off that cutesy image that she's developed over the years. Will watch it soon enough to find out myself how she faired.
Well I am not sure if there is a script or not but it's fairly normal for "star" writers just to pitch their idea and get the green light before even starting. I don't know how realistic On Air portrays the actual drama making but if you should watch the drama, they also didn't have a script before castingkobe23 wrote: I thought there would've been a draft at least before the PD and actors sign their life away. So in Korea they just go in blindly without knowing what the heck they're getting themselves into? No wonder so many big stars and PD's are involved in total flops.
Come to think of it, I guess it's not such a big deal for the actors to sign up without a script since k-dramas have no plot anyway
Thanks for your thoughts on Open City, belleza. I'll definitely watch it sometime over the next week since you piqued my interest as u always manage to do Good thing you mentioned Uhm Jung Hwa: She would be a great candidate as the 30-something spy/femme fatale/agent. I thoroughly enjoyed her in Princess Aurora and I think she would be perfect alongside LBH. Thoughts?
Thanks for your thoughts on Open City, belleza. I'll definitely watch it sometime over the next week since you piqued my interest as u always manage to do Good thing you mentioned Uhm Jung Hwa: She would be a great candidate as the 30-something spy/femme fatale/agent. I thoroughly enjoyed her in Princess Aurora and I think she would be perfect alongside LBH. Thoughts?
With most actors, yes she would be perfect for the part. Not a great actress per se (and most definitely not popular over at Popseoul ), but she and Kim Hye Soo are absolutely authentic women. 90s K-drama queen Choi Jin Shil would also work. (Actually friend and I were talking about her some weeks ago, when she was like in everything in the 90s. Ahh, 90s K-drama . . . )I thoroughly enjoyed her in Princess Aurora and I think she would be perfect alongside LBH. Thoughts?
But because this is a Lee Byung Hun star vehicle, that would probably be unlikely. He prefers working opposite (much) younger female leads, meaning that it even Choi Ji Woo (even considering her fanbase in Japan) would probably be too old now to play opposite him. Personally, I'd love to see a JSA reunion between him and Lee Young Ae. LBH (as well as LYA) has an intense on set reputation, often fighting directors, off-putting relationships with their co-leads, and vouching for their characters in their work. That speaks to their integrity and care for their craft, and sometimes their retiring relationship with TV work. But I think that also causes problems when LBH is cast against actresses of similar age or stature.
Also, given that the story will be a Pan-Asian romp, Iris by default will be earmarked as Hallyu project and therefore possible lead candidates would be parceled out according to demographics. I was actually visualizing LBH opposite Han Chae Young or Jang Nara. Hmm . . .
If this ends up being "Oppa! Identity"/"Damo Hard", I can think of no better actress than Ha Ji Won. She's approaching the "Korean 30" (aiiich!! is Sex is Zero THAT old already?!?) And she does have that wonderfully Korean niche of "tearjerker queen who kicks ass!!" Iris: a Forsythe-on-crack political thriller about Shanghai contracts, ruble rockets, Korean yakuza triads, and estranged soulmates of an especially tragic childhood will enter a fatal end game of interpol vs. spy. Bullets will rain like tears. Tears will rain like bullets!
Oppa, you're under arrest! Stop Oppa or I'll shoot!! Yippie kai yay I'm already crying . . .
Even though I'm not a fan of Ha Ji Won I think she would fit in nicely, considering she's probably the most versatile Korean actress at the moment. She's done it all before: Horror, Comedy, Romance, Melodrama, Adult, Historical - Now she just needs to do a spy thriller to fill her already very impressive CV. But where on earth would she find the time though? I think she does like 3 movies + 1 drama a year
If Iris is even half as interesting as that, I'd watch it even with Choi Ji Woo as female leadIris: a Forsythe-on-crack political thriller about Shanghai contracts, ruble rockets, Korean yakuza triads, and estranged soulmates of an especially tragic childhood will enter a fatal end game of interpol vs. spy. Bullets will rain like tears. Tears will rain like bullets!
I just watched Open City and I totally agree with your thoughts belleza. I have no idea what all those professional reviewers are on about - The 'cutesy' bits are actually one part of her different personas. Son Yeh Jin's performance was fine, especially considering how different she was in her earlier works (Classic and AMTR) Sure, she's no Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct, but her character in this movie isn't a cold blooded, calculated killer either. With that, I would love to see SYJ play alongside LBH in Iris, and I'm sure she would do a great job.
Congrate on your right pick: yes, the man has found his spy lady
Check it out!
http://www.soompi.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=212404
Check it out!
http://www.soompi.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=212404
From [Hanfever]:
Allow me to quote Rubie from Soompi:This time round Son Ye Jin becomes the lover of Lee Byung Hun. It has been finalized that Son Ye Jin will play in the upcoming spy drama “IRIS” that is scheduled to air in the first half of 2009. Son Ye Jin plays as Lee Myung Hee, an agent of NSS, a national intelligence agency.
Can't wait!
Lee Byung Hun and Son Yeh Jin? In a big budget remake of Shiri?
Sweet
Mother
(of)
God
(but how the heck can they afford both salaries and have anything left to shoot a show?)
Sweet
Mother
(of)
God
(but how the heck can they afford both salaries and have anything left to shoot a show?)
Kobe, you're the Yul Brenner of Hallyu. So let it be written, so let it be done!With that, I would love to see SYJ play alongside LBH in Iris, and I'm sure she would do a great job.
I've been thinking about the same thing. Tho I'm a fan (some of you might notice ) and absolutely ecstatic to see him anywhere, I'm still a bit worried. He has the badass looks and all, but he was a bit stiff on I am Sam. Maybe he has improved. It wouldn't be so bad if the other actors were newbies too (when everyone's bad, you don't even notice ), but usually the lack of experience shows when there's just one newbie with big names (which I just assume they are, since they aren't familiar to me).kobe23 wrote: Not too sure how T.O.P. fits in here; he seems really out of place in this big budget blockbuster bonanza.
Still, can't wait! *fangirl mode*
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That would be a big concern because I really hope they don't skimp on special effects and well choreographed action sequences just to pay the two leads. I hope the budget holds up because this has the potential to be huge!belleza wrote:Lee Byung Hun and Son Yeh Jin? In a big budget remake of Shiri?
(but how the heck can they afford both salaries and have anything left to shoot a show?)
It was actually someone from the first page who suggested SYJ first, but hey, I'll take the creditKobe, you're the Yul Brenner of Hallyu. So let it be written, so let it be done!
I am sure they will find a 'Moo-Shin' type role for him delivering one liners without expressionSSpiegel wrote:I've been thinking about the same thing. Tho I'm a fan (some of you might notice ) and absolutely ecstatic to see him anywhere, I'm still a bit worried. He has the badass looks and all, but he was a bit stiff on I am Sam. Maybe he has improved. It wouldn't be so bad if the other actors were newbies too (when everyone's bad, you don't even notice ), but usually the lack of experience shows when there's just one newbie with big names (which I just assume they are, since they aren't familiar to me).kobe23 wrote: Not too sure how T.O.P. fits in here; he seems really out of place in this big budget blockbuster bonanza.
Still, can't wait! *fangirl mode*
One thing I've noticed about Korean models/singers-turned-actors is that they tend to improve quite a bit in subsequent works (unless your name is Dennis Oh), so I don't think he will bring embarrassment to this project. I hope not anyway....for the sake of his fans
Oh, I have my fingers and toes crossed for his success. One weak link in a dramatic action-filled series might turn ugly.
(only a bit, tho) The only reason why I'm so worried is that I've been watching Maou this fall and while it had the potential to be pretty good (whoa, Ohno Satoshi is brilliant in this), it falls flat because of Ikuta Toma. I totally love the guy, and his comical roles are really good, but he can't play a serious role even if his live depended on it. The series comes off as comical, even tho it's supposed to be, what? Suspense?
There's been a lot of talk about big budget, hyped-up dramas ending up as a flop (or at least very disappointing). I hope this isn't one of them.
(only a bit, tho) The only reason why I'm so worried is that I've been watching Maou this fall and while it had the potential to be pretty good (whoa, Ohno Satoshi is brilliant in this), it falls flat because of Ikuta Toma. I totally love the guy, and his comical roles are really good, but he can't play a serious role even if his live depended on it. The series comes off as comical, even tho it's supposed to be, what? Suspense?
There's been a lot of talk about big budget, hyped-up dramas ending up as a flop (or at least very disappointing). I hope this isn't one of them.
The problem is that Lee Byung Hyun will eat him alive. Alive. He's not just an actor with true A-list movie star charisma (not unusual for other actors to disappear once he comes into a room); he's also notoriously intimidating onset. His preparation can be intense, and he demands the same commitment from other people. Another problem is if they do a triangle between the two men and Song Yeh Jin, it wouldn't wash. Son Yeh Jin is a true movie star with real (IMO still underrated) acting chops, one whom you associate with other popular (and much, much older) male actors. TOP would seem like a boy were SYJ playing a fatale similar to Open City.but usually the lack of experience shows when there's just one newbie with big names (which I just assume they are, since they aren't familiar to me).
I'm not knocking TOP here; but he has his work cut out for him.
Yeah, this is roughly the equivalent of that pipe dream rumor about Rain and Jeon Ji Hyun doing a show together. I honestly didn't think a LBH/SYJ casting (wow, I just think I heard Japan squee! ) in anything but an expensive movie was realistic anymore. Now, having said that, this is supposed to be a remake of Shiri and we're supposed to have location shoots all over Asia. You could put together such a drama under a mid-level budget, but it would look tacky and cheesy. Their previous project Lobbyist looked cheesy, like American Ninja cheesy. And East of Eden's action sets have been a touch inconsistent, some of it feeling a bit dated too. You want something sleek and gadget man cool. You want something like Time of Dog and Wolf, but if the salaries of the two actors take up like 50-60% of the budget, that will hurt too.That would be a big concern because I really hope they don't skimp on special effects and well choreographed action sequences just to pay the two leads. I hope the budget holds up because this has the potential to be huge!
His performance also looks worse when you compare it with Eom Tae Woong's tortured performance in the original Mawang. I like Ikuma Toma a lot (and IMO he's among the most handsome of JE), but just doesn't have enough proper acting experience to play the role. Ohno is arguably the most serious actor in Arashi (and maybe the most talented between Arashi, SMAP, etc.), having done proper theatre and such. It was never fair.I totally love the guy, and his comical roles are really good, but he can't play a serious role even if his live depended on it. The series comes off as comical, even tho it's supposed to be, what? Suspense?
belleza wrote: he's also notoriously intimidating onset. His preparation can be intense, and he demands the same commitment from other people.
Having a true professional on set (with high work ethics, too) might prove helpful to a newbie like TOP. He might be intimidated and fail badly, or they might enhance his performance crucially. For his defense, I've heard he's majoring in film and theater in college. (tho I'm not entirely sure how these young stars really get their education, but anyways... ) But who knows how he'll do before we actually see it with our own eyes.
His performance also looks worse when you compare it with Eom Tae Woong's tortured performance in the original Mawang.
I began to watch the Devil before Maou started airing, but I haven't gotten very far at it. But even in the start the atmosphere is much tighter and the actors performance is on another level (tho I think Ohno Satoshi is a bit better at expressing the complex feelings than Joo Ji Hoon). Still, the Japanese cast is solid enough excluding Ikuta Toma. I can't help but laugh everytime he starts to run, bursting into places and ruining the scene with his overdramatic rants. I'm sure it's not totally his fault, the director did a bit of a lousy job at, well, directing him. But enough of
It's not so much a reflection of TOP, as it is that LBH is just a very demanding/difficult worker (also known to fight with directors and have difficult working relationships with his female leads) onset. Lee Young Ae developed a similar reputation for similar reasons. I mean, there are good reasons for this; he's often asked to carry big-budget SBS dramas that may be lacking. There are certain shows where he's simply a force of nature, the vortex from where all the story's emotional gravity eludes.Having a true professional on set (with high work ethics, too) might prove helpful to a newbie like TOP. He might be intimidated and fail badly, or they might enhance his performance crucially. For his defense, I've heard he's majoring in film and theater in college. (tho I'm not entirely sure how these young stars really get their education, but anyways... ) But who knows how he'll do before we actually see it with our own eyes. [
For me, the #1 problem though is the budget, especially since both actors are probably earning career paychecks for this drama. This is going to be very expensive and logistically challenging.
Honestly, I felt Joo Ji Hoon was miscast for that part. He's not that bad, but I always picture Lee Jung Ki, especially a seething Jung Ki with those blazing eyes, in that role.(tho I think Ohno Satoshi is a bit better at expressing the complex feelings than Joo Ji Hoon)
Ah, I didn't really think you were criticising him and I wasn't really defending him either, but thanks for clearing that up. Like I've said, I'm not familiar with the leads of this drama (as I'm pretty new to Korean dramas), so everything I've said is just the impression I've gotten.belleza wrote:
It's not so much a reflection of TOP, as it is that LBH is just a very demanding/difficult worker
On a more general note, hearing all this stuff about LBH has made me even more interested in this drama. Too bad it's still a million years away from airing. (weirdly enough, after more than a year of watching Asian drama I seem to get even more passionate about it. ah, I'm expecting so many new dramas I don't have enough fingers to count them)
LBH is one of my favorite actors. When he plays dramatic, tough guy roles, there's just so, so much gravity there. His rage, his tenderness, his masculinity, etc. If you want to get a taste of LBH, I'd try out All In, his most popular drama. If you don't have time for a full drama, then try out the movie Joint Security Area, made by the same director who did Oldboy.On a more general note, hearing all this stuff about LBH has made me even more interested in this drama. T
Or you could try A Bittersweet Life from the same director as A Tale of Two Sisters...
To be honest I never really thought LBH would ever be back in the small screen considering his status, but that's what I love about Korean dramas. It's great how they can pull in big names and have big budget productions unlike dramas in other countries.
But yeah, my biggest concern is also the budget. I guess as long as there aren't any cringe-worthy scenes I'll be happy.
To be honest I never really thought LBH would ever be back in the small screen considering his status, but that's what I love about Korean dramas. It's great how they can pull in big names and have big budget productions unlike dramas in other countries.
But yeah, my biggest concern is also the budget. I guess as long as there aren't any cringe-worthy scenes I'll be happy.
Definitely felt the same way. He really paid his dues on TV and had become one of the standard SBS leads for their blockbuster dramas. I didn't think he'd want to do that again.To be honest I never really thought LBH would ever be back in the small screen considering his status,
This is really a return to an old relationship. SBS likes to draw movie actors in their big projects; that this is a favorite son like LBH just makes it sweeter.
The cynical part for me says LBH is only doing this because he knows he'll get paid crazy money. He's still popular as ever; his last movie with Song Kang Ho and Jung Woo-Sung (also from the Tale of Two Cities director) is a huge hit. Imagine how much he's going to get paid here. Besides the base salary, he'll earn royalty rights when this gets distributed around Asia. The fact that Iris will pair him with Son Yeh Jin gives this Legend-level visibility in Taiwan and Japan (where Summer Scent is popular and highly regarded.) More money, less problems.
But, I do like that Choi Wan Kyu, who's the usual hired hand to do Action! Macho! Body Count! K-dramas! is going to write the show. For example, he's one of the current writers of the sageuk Kingdom of the Winds. A recent episode involved the bootcamp training of the Black Shadows, which kinda resembles a sageuk version of a Navy Seal/Israeli Special Ops unit. It just screamed -- SCREAMED -- Choi Wan Kyu! It looks like this is going to be the first drama since All In, where Choi Wan Kyu will be the principal/main writer too. The most disappointing thing about Lobbyist was how tacky, utterly tacky, the action bits seemed. Like it was a 2007 attempt at Delta Force-era Chuck Norris. An attempt that failed!
Gawd how I loved All In. Ain't nothing more romantic that LBH mowing down random white people with a AK-47 . . . just so he can make to the church to marry sweet Song Hye Kyo. What's a groom in love without a little BLOOD?!?
Found new news:
Kim Tae Hee is Lee Buyng Hun's lover in Iris
It says: "...will have a triangle relationship with Lee Byung Hun and another person who is yet to be picked yet."
So if LBH is the Main Man and KTH is the Main Lady, but there's also a guy who's supposed to be in the love triangle (which is usually the Second Guy), and SYJ is the Second Lady, where's TOP supposed to be in this? I though he would be the SG, but it sounds like the SG is yet to be announced.
Or then this drama just doesn't fit to the usual Kdrama pattern where there's four main characters, two men and two women.
Kim Tae Hee is Lee Buyng Hun's lover in Iris
It says: "...will have a triangle relationship with Lee Byung Hun and another person who is yet to be picked yet."
So if LBH is the Main Man and KTH is the Main Lady, but there's also a guy who's supposed to be in the love triangle (which is usually the Second Guy), and SYJ is the Second Lady, where's TOP supposed to be in this? I though he would be the SG, but it sounds like the SG is yet to be announced.
Or then this drama just doesn't fit to the usual Kdrama pattern where there's four main characters, two men and two women.
Let's just say if this is true, the best special effects we can hope for are shadow puppets and some guy making bazooka sounds with his mouth. And a lot of inappropriate "stare into space for 5 minutes" scenes with Kpop ballads. Because they won't be able to afford anything else if they try to soak up LBH, SYJ, and KTH's asking fees. Yikes.So if LBH is the Main Man and KTH is the Main Lady, but there's also a guy who's supposed to be in the love triangle (which is usually the Second Guy), and SYJ is the Second Lady, where's TOP supposed to be in this?
I just don't buy it. It's unlikely that you'll see either Kim Tae Hee or Son Yeh Jin play 2nd fiddle to the other in a drama, unless it's a sageuk.
Actress Kim Tae Hee has been cast in the upcoming drama “IRIS” and will be collaborating with Lee Byung Hun. Kim Tae Hee will play as the partner of Lee Byung Hun in this spy action drama. The production company of “IRIS“, Taewon Entertainment, disclosed this information today, 10th of October.
This, if realized, will be Kim Tae Hee return work since her last drama “Love Story in Harvard” back in 2004.
Kim Tae Hee will ditch her past image and play as an agent of a National Intelligence Agency (NSS) with an with a clear and sensitive mind. She will also be thwarting terrorist activities with her colleague Lee Byung Hun in several action scenes.
She also appears to be in a love triangle with Lee Byung Hun and another colleague, Jin Sa Woo, which the cast has not been finalized.
“IRIS” is scheduled for broadcast next summer.
-- Hanfever
Well well well. What an interesting development. When I first read that Kim Tae Hee was cast in Iris I was like .... euphoric. Imagine both KTH *AND* SYJ in the same drama? Starring alongside LBH? Obviously that's too good to be true and the budget certainly could not support the 3 megastars.
So where does that leave Son Yeh Jin? According to coolsmurf she was left out due to a conflict with her schedule.
This is a double-edged sword for me. It's been five years now since KTH's last drama and needless to say, I am very excited, but at the expense of SYJ? Not happy. KTH's acting is questionable and she might even make TOP look good But we have seen her do action before in Nine-Tailed Fox where her acting was tolerable and she was very sexy in those leather outfits. So err..yeah, I guess I'll have to embrace her "comeback" with open arms. Welcome back Kim Tae Hee
Same for me, I am happy about it but absolutely can't imagine her in that role...but if the drama is as bad as Lobbyist or Aircity than at least we will have a reason to watchkobe23 wrote:
This is a double-edged sword for me. It's been five years now since KTH's last drama and needless to say, I am very excited, but at the expense of SYJ? Not happy. KTH's acting is questionable and she might even make TOP look good But we have seen her do action before in Nine-Tailed Fox where her acting was tolerable and she was very sexy in those leather outfits. So err..yeah, I guess I'll have to embrace her "comeback" with open arms. Welcome back Kim Tae Hee
I see, so Son Yeh Jin dropped out? That slipped my eyes this morning or coolsmurf updated it later.
It seems the schedule has been pushed back, too, since it was supposed to be aired in the first quarter of 2009 and now it says summer... But it's no wonder if they still have the SG to cast. And maybe there'll be a Second Lady, too. (can't lose the pattern thinking )
It seems the schedule has been pushed back, too, since it was supposed to be aired in the first quarter of 2009 and now it says summer... But it's no wonder if they still have the SG to cast. And maybe there'll be a Second Lady, too. (can't lose the pattern thinking )
And yet somehow I can visualize her in a love triangle including TOP whereas I couldn't with SYJ.KTH's acting is questionable and she might even make TOP look good
TOP: "Noona. Your Natural Cerebral Beauty (note: this is her official title in South Korea) and face the size of our new Big Bang CD (note: also true of her) has haunted me since my days in junior high. Your shows even taught me English!"
KTH: "Uhhh English uhhh . . . "
TOP: "Kidding. I hated school. Look at me, I'm pretty!! And brooding in this bandanna!! Forget Uncle Lee Byung Hun; I wanna make it wit you!"
KTH: *flashes her CM Queen smile* *cha ching! cha ching*
See, romantic!!
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Hi all!
Yesterday they filmed Iris in Hungary, Europe.
I made some pics.
All the pics i made:
http://img14.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=dscn5268p.jpg
Intresting, huh?!
Yesterday they filmed Iris in Hungary, Europe.
I made some pics.
All the pics i made:
http://img14.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=dscn5268p.jpg
Intresting, huh?!
Last edited by majom on Jan 4th, '19, 23:14, edited 1 time in total.
I think WITHS2 proposed to do the subs for it as you can see here >> http://fansub.d-addicts.com/With_S2#POS ... E_PROJECTS
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Non-spoiler thoughts on First Episode . . .
The first episode was flat out brilliant. Goes beyond anything I've ever seen done in J-drama thrillers and transcends 24-style histrionics into something that resembles the first Bourne Identity. Autumnal, melancholy, claustrophobic, gritty, even poetic.
The budget is obviously there, but the director Kim Kyu Tae is in full command of the filmmaking idioms associated with thrillers. First, I love how he dialed back the music, and instead of manufacturing full-on frenzy, he goes QUIET (like the first Bourne Identity movie.) He turns down the volume in all figurative aspects of the word. Goes intimate, knows how to shoot the chase scenes tight, how much Greengrass-style handicam shaky action to use, and when to use master shots in order to survey territory, rather than merely showing off the money that went into this. This is exactly what I hoped for when Kim Kyu Tae was hired to direct this.
It's not saying much, but I have a feeling that Kim Tae Hee's character Choi Seung Hee may end up one of the best female characters in Choi Wan Kyu's cannon. Here, the KTH casting actually works brilliantly in the first episode, because when the plot twist happens toward the end, you realize all along that you really don't know Seung Hee. Consider that the biggest monster may be Choi Seung Hee, . . .
In terms of story, Iris definitely reflects Choi Wan Kyu's personal tropes. The All In-style opening sequence. The "boys will be boys" emphasis on military comraderie. The macho code. The love of all things geeketry. Yet we also see something new here. Choi Wan Kyu reveals us not a superhero spy -- which we assumed Lee Byung Hun would be -- but a character who may have been forced into something he was never prepared for. A man much frailer, much sadder than what we've seen in Lee Byung Hun's headliner dramas.
The woman that he/they love. Is she worst thing that ever happened to his life? Boom Boom Pow.
Lee Byung Hun is wonderful here. If you haven't watched his comedy work or period stuff like Once in a Summer, then you probably haven't seen his impish, adolescent side. He's one of the few major Korean male leads who can inhabit a role with full-on, soul-stirring gravity of a Choi Min Soo, or be equally convincing as a silly, rather stupid-minded brat. Here, he gets to do both in the first episode.
But, this show is simply loaded with STAR POWER. Jung Joon Hoo doesn't get to eat scenery like Lee Byung Hoon, but his natural, easy charm, ease with comedic ad-lib, and just general flexibility doesn't really feel like a support role. He seems like a true Bro to LBH; the only other time where I felt this kind of bond was during All In, between LBH and Hu Joon Ho. Kim Seung Woo, who hasn't done a lot of action since the thriller Yesterday, is smooth, efficient, and worldly in his role so far. Kim So Yeon plays the female counterspy with the femme efficiency you'd easily expect from Kim So Yeon. These performances feel lived-in. They really seem like the top spies around them.
Which leaves Kim Tae Hee. Her enigmatic Choi Seung Hee is the joker card of the first episode, and therefore she is the most fascinating character. What is she thinking? Why is her agenda? What is behind that beatific face, that smart posturing, that blankness? This character feels like it was WRITTEN FOR HER, that only a Kim Tae Hee could play this, because literally this character seems written with your perception of KTH in mind.
Thoughts on Episode 2 . . .
Finally, where this show (and Koreans thrillers in general) has advantages over the thriller fare we see in the Americans, is that the lead characters are not really written to be "cool." They're written to be practical, and so we dwelve into the NSS world, we are persistently aware that the business they are in is a nasty one. Not in an ironic way. Not in an political intrigue way. But that people do become monsters in this work.
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Thanks for your thoughts on the drama belleza. I also thought Kim Tae Hee wasn't that bad as some other bloggers said her to be. True, she seemed blank or stiff in character, but I think that's the point the director wanted to take.
Her character is hard to read and the end of ep1 (only episode I watched so far) surprised me. Like WTH was she thinking?!! It was all set up from the beginning. Surely, this drama has already gotten my interest. Much different when I watched Swallow of the Sun, because I just didn't feel moved by the characters from the start of that drama. Continued watching it till ep7-8 but the lack of addictive storyline made me drop it. Hopefully, IRIS doesn't become dull and keeps up its unpredictable and shocking storyline ... especially for someone who has watched too many Korean cliches.
Her character is hard to read and the end of ep1 (only episode I watched so far) surprised me. Like WTH was she thinking?!! It was all set up from the beginning. Surely, this drama has already gotten my interest. Much different when I watched Swallow of the Sun, because I just didn't feel moved by the characters from the start of that drama. Continued watching it till ep7-8 but the lack of addictive storyline made me drop it. Hopefully, IRIS doesn't become dull and keeps up its unpredictable and shocking storyline ... especially for someone who has watched too many Korean cliches.
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The first ep was interesting. There was shooting for the guys, and topless guys for the girls. I just hope there are topless/scantily clad women later on (only for balance of course). Or, failing that, at least big explosions and gunfights.
The pacing seemed to be good, and the plot looks like it won't be linear, thankfully. The budget looks like it was well used, let's hope that it continues right to the end. Looking forward to the rest of the series.
The pacing seemed to be good, and the plot looks like it won't be linear, thankfully. The budget looks like it was well used, let's hope that it continues right to the end. Looking forward to the rest of the series.
Well, I was definitely hyped up about this show (the year of waiting went by surprisingly quickly). When I finally got to watch the first episode yesterday, I wasn't exactly disappointed, but I wasn't totally satisfied either.
LBH was excellent, so were the other actors/actresses. It looked good, too, the big budget shows. But the pacing was off. It started off in a bang and suddenly the tight atmosphere just died. The music didn't fit most of the scenes. LBH is great in less serious roles, too, so I really liked the back story of his bromance in the special forces training thing (whatever it was). But the explosive and dramatic start and well, pretty much rest of the episode didn't fit together at all! I'm not sure if it was the abrupt change from one to another, but it felt like thay had taken two parts in different genres and just glued them one after the other. I'm not really good at explaining what I mean, my English fails me! It just didn't flow well.
LBH was excellent, so were the other actors/actresses. It looked good, too, the big budget shows. But the pacing was off. It started off in a bang and suddenly the tight atmosphere just died. The music didn't fit most of the scenes. LBH is great in less serious roles, too, so I really liked the back story of his bromance in the special forces training thing (whatever it was). But the explosive and dramatic start and well, pretty much rest of the episode didn't fit together at all! I'm not sure if it was the abrupt change from one to another, but it felt like thay had taken two parts in different genres and just glued them one after the other. I'm not really good at explaining what I mean, my English fails me! It just didn't flow well.
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Episode 6 - What happened????
All of a sudden the last scene of ep 6 takes a huge leap - how did thinhs end up this way? It feels like they left a whole scene or two out and just jumped the storyline!
Re: Episode 6 - What happened????
The scene you are talking about will be explained/shown in Episode 7. In case you didn't know, it's a ploy to get at people with little patience and at people who hate cliffhangers or any sorts of confusions. That makes people tune in next week again to find out the truth and if they do that, the ratings will stay constant and probably even rise which seems to be the case with IRIS.mowgwie wrote:All of a sudden the last scene of ep 6 takes a huge leap - how did thinhs end up this way? It feels like they left a whole scene or two out and just jumped the storyline!
Chinese Subtitled Episodes
* Those with 2 links together need to be joined with HJ Split*
In ascending order of episodes:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/bmzv77
http://www.sendspace.com/file/6y15id
http://www.sendspace.com/file/2aq8t3
http://www.sendspace.com/file/5ju01f
http://www.sendspace.com/file/50o22w
http://www.sendspace.com/file/9ufxwn
http://www.sendspace.com/file/f96vl8
http://www.sendspace.com/file/s1d0uo
http://www.sendspace.com/file/qshbsd
http://www.sendspace.com/file/ynadi8
http://www.sendspace.com/file/fbulf4
* Those with 2 links together need to be joined with HJ Split*
In ascending order of episodes:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/bmzv77
http://www.sendspace.com/file/6y15id
http://www.sendspace.com/file/2aq8t3
http://www.sendspace.com/file/5ju01f
http://www.sendspace.com/file/50o22w
http://www.sendspace.com/file/9ufxwn
http://www.sendspace.com/file/f96vl8
http://www.sendspace.com/file/s1d0uo
http://www.sendspace.com/file/qshbsd
http://www.sendspace.com/file/ynadi8
http://www.sendspace.com/file/fbulf4
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I think the premise is exciting, but as SSpiegel said, it seems to me the 1st episode's pacing didn't fit too well. The assassination part, and the bros-in-the-army flashback setting thing seemed great to me, but as soon as both guys get taken away, it's a major WTF? Where did that come out of...it just doesn't seem well polished
also, something that's always a turnoff for me...When Movie/TV directors have bad medical couselors.
He gets injected twice with a barbiturate and then he's all stressed out and shaking, his muscles are super tense and his heart rate is like 230 bpm... barbiturates are CNS depressants you could use to knock a friggin horse out, he'd be totally stoned if he was injected with that twice. They're muscle relaxants, also it doesn't make your breathing harder, it just depresses your respiratory stimulation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_thiopental
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNS_depressant
also, something that's always a turnoff for me...When Movie/TV directors have bad medical couselors.
He gets injected twice with a barbiturate and then he's all stressed out and shaking, his muscles are super tense and his heart rate is like 230 bpm... barbiturates are CNS depressants you could use to knock a friggin horse out, he'd be totally stoned if he was injected with that twice. They're muscle relaxants, also it doesn't make your breathing harder, it just depresses your respiratory stimulation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_thiopental
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNS_depressant
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