One of the more successful K-drama stars to have crossed over to Hollywood, Lee Byung-hun, has just released his new Korean film "Masquerade."
Lee has starred in international hits "A Bittersweet Life"; "The Good, the Bad, the Weird"; "I Saw the Devil"; and the American-made "GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra" and the upcoming sequel "Retaliation." The actor was last in Honolulu in 2005 when "Bittersweet Life" was shown at the Hawaii International Film Festival, and says he wants to come back for a visit.
Originally titled "Gwang-hae: The Man Who Became King" in South Korea, the historical film stars Lee in dual roles as the bizarre titular king and the acrobat Ha-sun, who stands in for the monarch when the king becomes poisoned. Ha-sun is groomed by the king’s counselor, Heo Kyun, to look and act every bit like the king.
While assuming the role of the king at his first official appearance, Ha-sun begins to ponder the intricacies of the problems debated in the king’s court. Being fundamentally more humanitarian than Gwang-hae, Ha-sun’s affection and appreciation of even the most minor servants slowly changes morale in the castle for the better.
Over time, Ha-sun finds his voice and takes control of governing the country with real insight and fair judgments. Even Heo Kyun is moved by Ha-sun’s genuine concern for the people, and realizes he is an infinitely better ruler than Gwang-hae. But then the king’s chief opposition, Park Chung-seo, notices the sudden shift in the king’s behavior and starts to ask questions.
"Masquerade" will open Friday at the Consolidated Pearlridge multiplex as part of the ongoing "Spotlight Asia" series.
"Tasty Life"
Episodes 19 and 20
Today, 6:45 p.m.: Jae-hyuk can’t believe what he’s hearing when Sung-joo tells him she wants to marry him. When he takes her home and tells his parents that they’re getting married, his mother is livid. Jae-bok is back at the restaurant, but some people are treating him differently because of his past. When Tae-hyung doesn’t call Jung-hyun to tell her to come back to work, she stalks out fuming.
Today, 7:45 p.m.: When In-chul threatens to tell Sung-joo’s father about his relationship to Jae-hyuk, she calls his bluff and tells him that she truly loves Jae-hyuk now. Jae-hyuk manages to wear his mother down and he gets permission from his parents to marry Sung-joo. Tae-hyung’s father gets his mother to apologize to Jung-hyun so that she can get back to work. Jung-hyun assures Tae-hyung’s mother that she has no interest in him.
"Faith"
Episodes 1 and 2
Monday, 7:45 p.m.: The series depicts the love between an ancient warrior and a present-day doctor transported back in time. It is 1351 during the Goryo Dynasty. Choi Young is a warrior who’s put in charge of escorting the young king and his queen back to Goryo from Yuan. But the king’s entourage is attacked by a group of assassins and the queen suffers a fatal wound. Choi Young is ordered to go through the heavenly gate to bring a doctor to save the queen.
Tuesday, 7:45 p.m.: The doctor Eun-soo is confused and scared. She thinks she was kidnapped to a movie set so the movie crew could cover up an accident from the authorities. Nonetheless, she performs surgery on the queen’s wound with Jang Bin’s help.
"Phantom"
Episodes 19 and 20
Wednesday, 7:45 p.m.: Hyuk-joo arrests Gi-young for failure to render aid in Nam Sang-won’s murder case. Director Moon tells Hyun-min not to worry, that nobody would believe Gi-young, and that they’ll win the fight.
Thursday, 7:45 p.m.: Hyun-min seems unshaken as he’s being interrogated by Hyuk-joo and demands that he present evidence to incriminate him.
"Five Fingers"
Episodes 1 and 2
Friday, 7:45 p.m.: Yoo Ji-ho is the newly appointed chairman of the Buseong Group. He draws attention to himself by holding his inauguration ceremony in a concert hall. There he challenges In-ha, his half brother, to the battle of the pianos.
Saturday, 7:45 p.m.: In-ha is not able to enter the competition because of the cast on his wrist and blames his brother Ji-ho for it. Feeling guilty for his younger brother, Ji-ho tells Man-se that he won’t enter the competition either. Ban-weol is suspicious of Young-rang, who’s too good to the son her husband had with another woman.
Jeff Chung is general manager of KBFD TV, which televises Korean dramas with English subtitles. Reach him at 521-8066 or jeffchung@kbfd.com.
