Binnie The Barista? The Perfect Advertising Hero~

As promised, here's my cute Binnie post ("cute" refers to Binnie, not my post). It only took one look to convince me to translate this article, and it's none other than the photo below:

Isn't it...bwahaha! He looks so feminine. It's amazing how a different hairstyle changes one from chadonam (brash urban male) to kkotminam (pretty flower boy). He's so purty~

And no it's not his latest CF, as some of you might have already guessed from his wispy 'do, these are stills from one of his latest film, Come Rain, Come Shine.

Totally different from the Hyun Bin in Secret Garden that wouldn't even consider making coffee, in CR, CS he's seen gently brewing filter coffee, a scene depicting that his woman has left home. 


In preparation for this scene, our Binnie would rehearse by using the coffee maker and sometimes got too focus on acting he forgot all about the coffee, thus overspilling it...


However after his tireless efforts, he finally gets recognition by coffee lover director Lee Yoon-ki. Due to most of the scenes that required having Binnie in the kitchen, he was even dubbed "the kitchen steward".


Oh but please don't call him that, 'cause Binnie doesn't like it. He insists to be called a barista, but like all nicknames, they die hard. He grumbles, "Why do I always have to stay in the kitchen?!" Binnie's co-star Im Soo-jung comforted him, saying: "A man that knows how to make such good coffee, I shan't break up with him, ever!"


I second. To all men: If you can't cook, (good) coffee will do. 


Via Baidu's Secret Garden

Binnie's Transformation For Come Rain, Come Shine

The following post is about my Binnie love. Stay clear if you think you might puke (just kidding). 


Hyun Bin: From chadonam (brash urban male) to kkotminam (pretty flower boy)

If you ask me, my sole purpose of watching Come Rain, Come Shine is to see how Binnie's hair moves when the wind sways, but as a blogger one cannot sound too shallow or one will lose credit (sheesh as if I haven't already). But seriously though, being the only South Korean film to be nominated for BIFF's prestigious Golden Bear award has got to mean something, no?

In Come Rain, Come Shine, Binnie shows us a different side of him, unlike his similar-ish roles in My Name Is Kim Sam Soon, Secret Garden and Late Autumn. In CR,CS he plays a thoughtful urban male, "thoughtful" as in "caring-but-I-don't-know-what's-going-on-his-mind". 

If anything, he's too thoughtful: Upon hearing his wife is going to leave him for another man, not only is he NOT upset, he helps her pack her luggage and books her a place at her favorite restaurant for dinner. 


Hmm...his character sounds like an extreme's of that second lead in Oh! My Lady. I don't know about you, but I prefer a chadonam anytime. "Thoughtfulness" of this extent isn't human, it creeps me out and it sounds like he's treating her nice only to murder her later or something (if this were Real Life, but since this is an art film...).


In Secret Garden, he played a "cold" Binnie, a playboy in Late Autumn and now a thoughtful/considerate fellow in this movie. Come Rain, Come Shine is releasing in cinemas on March 3.


Watch the trailer here:


Via Chosun Ilbo

Late Autumn Trailer Unveiled

At first, from the highly stylized posters I thought it would be more of a jun ai movie, with beautiful scenery and subtle romance. But nooooo this looks so romantic!!! Best yet, because it's in English, we don't need NO subtitles (much), bwahahah! 

Nevertheless I think I'll give it some time before I watch this, I don't want to be making comparisons; the Tracksuit Pose doesn't help matters -_-" And, am I sensing a chadonam attitude? 

Before you know it I'll be fantasizing Tang Wei as a long haired Ha Ji Won. Or something. Late Autumn will be in cinemas February 17th.

Hyun Bin's character, Hoon's teaser:


Tang Wei's character, Anna's teaser: 


The trailer (don't you just love the BG music?):

Love is in the air! <3 

Love Knows No Strangers: In Preparation For Late Autumn

Gardeners, does Binnie's pose seems familiar to you?

Eh, I just (belatedly) realize something. Since this is a kmovie, does that mean that Tang Wei's lines will be subbed? Oh wait, that wouldn't be necessary since their real-life nationalities is retain for the movie. Movies of this genre and style is usually a "I won't talk much" movie, where it's mostly emotive and they'll speak English only when necessary (alas, we won't get to hear Binnie's lovely voice). This formula did work well for Japan's Waiting In The Dark, where circumstances prevent them from having the need to speak to each other (she's blind and he's a fugitive seeking shelter in her house. Without her knowing).

And since Binnie and Tang Wei obviously speak different languages, it's even more important they get along together well in order to have a great on-screen chemistry. And that's what they both did - two months prior to the shooting, they stayed in Seattle in an effort to get to know each other better. At first it was Director Kim alone who wanted to go to Seattle for the script altering, but in the end the three of them end up going together. 

After the director finishes his work in the evening, the trio would discuss the movie and their understanding on the roles. Director Kim expressed his gratitude to both of the actors, he said: "Tang Wei's a great person, and also a very good actress. On which angle the roles should take, this issue has been discussed many times, the thing I'm most grateful for is their complete trust in me. Hyun Bin did a good job in his interpretation of an unfamiliar role. He gave the role a lot of thought, some of the thoughts were far beyond the person of his age would think, I was very surprised."

Late Autumn tells the story of Anna and Hoon, from strangers to lovers. She's on parole from her seven-year prison term and he's a fugitive. Bummer, at best it will be one of those hopeful endings, where they'll meet again after both of them finish their respective prison sentence (if this was a jmovie, I can guarantee you Hoon would willingly surrender himself to the police in the end). 

Post SG: Where Are They Now

Gardeners (and perhaps the non-Gardeners), I'm sure you know WHO I mean by 'they'.
Hyun Bin Gets Invited To Two Film Festivals

The two Film Festivals are Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF). Whenever this TIFF and PIFF is, it better not be soon 'cause I want Binnie to have some SLEEP and gain some body fat. How can fans peacefully see him off when he looks like he already did the national service?

Before its release, Late Autumn was invited to TIFF and PIFF, where it set a record for the speediest sellout for a screening. It has received glowing reviews from the media and audiences who have seen it and its release on February 17th is highly anticipated.

Hyun Bin's previous project before Secret Garden was a kmovie Come Rain, Come Shine (literal title: Love Me, Love Me Not) with Im Soo-Jung and is set for release on February 24th.

Not only that, the film is the only kmovie finalist for the Berlin International Film Festival (BIFF). Wowee, so he gets TIFF, PIFF and BIFF! Awesome. The 61st Berlin International Film Festival will take place on 10th of next month and is nominated for Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actress. 


Come Rain, Come Shine is about a couple facing a marital crisis after 5 years of marriage; the wife (Im Soo-Jung) leaves home for another man and Hyun Bin plays the role of her husband and guardian. 


Come Rain, Come Shine is directed by Lee Yoon-Ki (who's previous works include This Charming Girl, Ad Lib Night and Breakfast At Tiffany's). The film is funded by the Film Commission of Gyeonggi and is G-cinema first project. 


Meanwhile...
Ha Ji Won To Attend Prada Fashion Show 

HJW's to attend a Prada Showcase in Beijing, China. Tomorrow! 


Via Baidu

Ha Ji Won Stills From Sector 7

Let's say it together, people: She's COOL. Cool with a capital K. I wished I look half as good sweaty. 


Erm, whatssit about again, this Sector 7? Oh whatever, as if I need anymore convincing to watch this movie. I'll watch it even if it's a horror movie (which I'm pretty sure it's not).

Lalalala, I can't hear you.

I hope no one dies in the movie (except the baddies, if any).

Since she looks this good sweating, you can be sure she'll look just as great for her upcoming sports movie, Korea.

Ha Ji Won's Next Project: Sports Kmovie "Korea"

Anyone heard of "Forever The Moment" a.k.a "The Best Moments Of Our Lives"? Well, that one featured handball and this one is the ping pong version, titled "Korea" (tentative title). 

You know me, I'm not the type who'll go to the cinema and say, "Gee, let's go watch a sports movie." But hey, I know they can be quite addictive once you get into the story, plus: It's HA JI WON we're talking about here. I worship the ground she walks on. And being the hardworking actress that she is, she'll be launching straight into Korea's filming after SG ends. All work and no play for this lady (except play ping pong).

2008's "Forever The Moment"

A Tower Picture film production, Korea is based on a true story of a North and South Korea woman's ping pong team which competed in the 1991 World Table Tennis Grand Prix held in Chiba, Japan. The script was written after some doing some research at the original stadium and conducting some interviews. 


Ha Ji Won's 2009 kmovie Haeundae was one of the few kmovies that managed to break the box office record of passing the 10 million viewer mark; and after her stint in her latest movie Sector 7 (a.k.a. Mining Area 7) she went back into the small screen for her role as Gil Ra Im in Secret Garden. 


At this moment, Ha Ji Won is still busy filming for SG and have not had the time to practice ping pong yet. For her past roles, she has picked up fencing, dance and piano before. This is also one of the reason why Ha Ji Won is frequently favored among the directors. 


It is hoping that this film will also defuse some tension between the North-South Korea relations. 


Via mtime