We have news today about a promising Korean superhero film called Jeon Woo Chi. We get the following scoop thanks to our friends at Variety:
Choi Dong-hoon, helmer of last year’s breakout hit “Tazza,” and producer Lee Eugene (“Voice of a Murderer”) have greenlit a superhero action movie that is set to be one of the biggest Korean films of the next year. Superhero in the pic, tentatively titled “Jeon woo chi,” is a cursed Taoist magician released 500 years after his imprisonment in a portrait to cure the evils of the modern age. Choi’s script adapts and modernizes an anonymous work from the Chosun Dynasty.
Lee and Choi have assembled a top cast headed by Kang Dong-won (“M”), Lim Su-jeong (“I’m a Cyborg, but That’s OK”) and Kim Yoon-suk in his first major role since this year’s smash hit “The Chaser.” He plays a dangerous, evil spirit. Lee’s Zip Cinema is producing on a budget of $10 million; lensing is set to start in August, with a release tentatively skedded for summer 2009.
The plot synopsis for this film does sound awesome. A taoist magician released from 500 years of imprisonment! Sign me up for this one – imprisoned magicians are too tough to die, so they are put on ice in hopes that someone in the future will be able to defeat them, or that they will live forever in stasis.
The script is adapted from a mysterious work from the Chosun Dynasty!! The origin of the film itself sounds badass. Adapting a story from an unknown author for a modern film is mysterious, intriguing and down right awesome. I will have to get a copy of this on dvd when it’s released, unless I am lucky enough to see the film in a North American theatre.
I am not going to pretend that I am an asian film aficionado. What I will say is that when friends of mine that are, show me action films from the orient – I enjoy them immensely. Asian film seems to excel at violence. From Kung Fu to Police dramas, the action always seems to be top notch. Those of you that are familiar with the work of Choi Dong-hoon, please fill us in on your thoughts on both him, and this upcoming project.
