John Woo Realizes Dreams Through 'Red Cliff'

Director John Woo, center, and from left, actors Chang Chen, Tony Leung, Takeshi Kaneshiro and Lin Chiling appear at the premiere event for their epic film “Red Cliff” at Seoul’s W Hotel. Before speaking to reporters, they took part in a “gut” or Korean shamanistic ritual praying to the gods. / Yonhap

John Woo (``Mission Impossible 2'') releases a mega-action war epic ``Red Cliff,'' which the director proudly said was a manifestation of his childhood dreams during the movie's premiere event in Seoul Wednesday.

This 80 billion won ($80 million) co-production by South Korea's Showbox/Mediaplex brings together the hottest Asian stars including ``Lust, Caution'' hero Tony Leung and heartthrobs Takeshi Kaneshiro (``House of Flying Daggers'') and Chang Chen (``Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'').

The movie, coming to theaters July 10 across Asia, is about the Red Cliff Battle, a climactic marine conflict in the epic historical novel ``Romance of the Three Kingdoms.'' The 61-year-old director told reporters ``Red Cliff'' took 18 years in envisioning and almost a lifetime of dreaming. ``I was a diehard fan of the novel and I loved all the characters. When I was 10, I used to stay awake at night drawing characters on my window and use a lamp to project them onto the wall,'' he said.

``This is my dream come true, and it is by far my best work,'' said the maestro filmmaker with a smile. Reporters applauded Woo, who spent every cent from his paycheck when the project surpassed its budget just halfway into the shoot. ``All I earned from the movie was two meals per day,'' he said.

The premiere event opened with a ``gut'' performance or Korean shamanistic ritual praying to the gods for good luck. Woo said the event boosted his confidence for the film's success.

While the maker of ``Face/Off'' said he was fortunate to work on many wonderful Hollywood projects, he said he always felt that Western films lacked a true understanding of Asian culture. ``I truly wanted to capture the courage and wisdom of Asians and Asian culture,'' he said, again receiving applause from reporters.

Read the movie review for "Red Cliff" and "Red Cliff 2"

Sul 'Returns' as Kang Cheol-jung

This year has so far marked the return of many screen heroes, such as Indiana Jones and Rambo ― and the antihero Kang Cheol-jung. In ``Public Enemy Returns,'' Sul Kyoung-gu (``Public Enemy,'' 2002; ``Another Public Enemy,'' 2005) brazenly exhibits his sixth sense for acting as the diehard detective. Cheol-jung does not let his boss ― or the audience ― down in this funny, street-smart sequel, which also raises some critical social issues.

With disheveled hair, an unwashed windbreaker and a scar here and there, Cheol-jung is always diving headfirst into crime scenes. After 15 years of close calls with death, he's seen and done it all. The most notorious criminals sheepishly surrender to this thug of a man, who recklessly beats men twice his size, referees duels between schoolboys and openly accepts small bribes.

And of course, when a situation calls for good cop, bad cop tactics, we can guess the role Cheol-jung takes. But it's hard not to develop an affinity for this flawed man, who's seen getting seriously offended by a third grader's joke and submitting to his little daughter.

In ``Return,'' Cheol-jung is the same disheartened man. He decides to quit once and for all when he is unable to get a proper bank loan for his house. His boss, detective Um (Kang Sin-il), files away the resignation form with a dozen more such ``whines'' from Cheol-jung. But he's serious this time.

However, a high school murder case draws Cheol-jung back into the task force ― or more precisely, the promise of a retirement grant does. A 17-year-old boy, the head of a gang of troublemakers, is found dead in his classroom. What appears to have been a skirmish among juvenile delinquents, however, takes an unexpected twist when the dead boy's fingerprints match those found in an unsolved homicide.

While investigating the dead boy's friends, Cheol-jung senses that their new boss, Geoseong Group CEO Lee Won-sul (Jung Jae-young), may be involved. Cheol-jung learns that the convict-turned-businessman brainwashes schoolboys and molds them into little devilish tools of murder. Their underage status prevents their fingerprints in crime scenes from being detected, and when they do get caught, their zeal for Geoseong keeps them quiet.

But Cheol-jung does not back down, and is determined to annihilate the public enemy. Continuing the tradition of the ``Public Enemy'' franchise, ``Returns'' eschews the cat-and-mouse game typical to the detective genre, and the battle between Cheol-jung and Won-sul is more like one between two dogs.

The film is well crafted, with complex layers of narrative unfolding in an organic form, interjected with just the right amount of comic relief. Compared to its rather grave prequels, ``Returns'' is much more determined to make you laugh, particularly by downright making fun of the police.

Yet some might find this movie more disturbing than previous ones as it involves teenage crime. Angst-ridden troublemakers, Cheol-jung says, will become either thugs or cops. Cheol-jung does manage to dissuade a few kids from becoming felons. But what will happen to them for sure, nobody knows. It is a bittersweet reminder of the soaring number of underage offenses in Korea.

The beauty of the movie lies in the unforgettable glances, grimaces and gestures of the actors. The magical casting does not end with Sul and Jung, but includes other eccentrically talented actors such as Lee Mun-sik, Kang Sin-il, and Yoo Hye-jin, and charismatic veteran Moon Sung-keun also makes a brief appearance. Fresh young actors also dazzle the silver screen with their uninhibited acting.

Great expectations for the film are reflected by the crowded press screening and overbooked public previews, where at one Seoul theater, people were willing to sit on the aisle steps to catch the flick before its box office release. High anticipation is of course displayed by the palpable PPL (product placement) ― advertisements ranging from drinks and restaurants to cell phones.

``Returns'' currently tops the online reservation ranking ― the first Korean movie in 11 weeks to do so since ``The Guard Post'' (``GP506''), according to major portal site Maxmovie and the Korean Film Council. Big Hollywood movies trail behind, including Dreamworks animation ``Kung Fu Panda'' and ``The Incredible Hulk.'' This may be an auspicious sign for the struggling Korean film industry, which marked a record low in May.

Now showing in theaters. 15 and over. 125 minutes. No English subtitles. CJ Entertainment.

Young Maestros Yannick Nezet-Seguin, Li Yundi to Take Center Stage

Conductor Yannick Nezet-Seguin /Photo courtesy of CMI

This is the 14th in a series of interviews with the next generation of classical musicians ― ED

Youthful musicians are making their way to Korea. Thirty three-year-old conductor Yannick Nezet-Seguin and Chinese ``superstar'' Li Yundi, 26, will perform in Seoul June 25.

``I am 33. Working with the best orchestras and going to all the great countries, including Korea, I mean, I am living my own dream,'' said Nezet-Seguin in an e-mail interview. He knew he wanted to become a conductor at age 10, and he is visiting Seoul as the new principal conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra.

``This is my first big tour. Rotterdam Philharmonic is an orchestra that is very, very special in the European landscape. (It possesses an) extraordinary energy and you don't find this always in other orchestras. It's important to show the world what we are able to do,'' he said.

The concert will be a rare treat for local concertgoers, as it features Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 2. Li recently recorded a deeply affecting, lyrical rendition of the concerto with the Seiji Ozawa-led Berlin Philharmonic (Deutsche Grammophon).


Pianist Yundi Li/Photo courtesy of CMI

``(Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 2) is different and special. Not so many people play it, unlike Prokofiev 3rd,'' said Li in an email. ``Yet, it is a wonderful work. The technique side especially is challenging and different, with two cadenzas in the first and last movements.''

Maestro Ozawa hailed the pianist for his technical brilliance and rare display of poeticism. Nezet-Seguin, a concert pianist himself, also gave his compliments. ``The concerto is known for its difficulty. Prokofiev composed this piece when his friend committed suicide. Yundi made it easy to listen to, exhibiting a great sense of energy throughout. He is able to sustain the energy and transmit it to the audience,'' he said, adding how he's happy to have a new friend as well.

``I performed with (Nezet-Seguin) in Canada and he surely is a special conductor,'' said Li. ``Both being young artists, I want to try some special project with him in the future.''

At 18, Li became the world's youngest and China's first winner of the 14th Frederick Chopin International Piano Competition. But that would be his last competition. ``Competition is a challenge for a young artist to start as a musician. After (Chopin) I was able to start my professional career, such as recording,'' he said. Li went on to make critically acclaimed Chopin and Liszt albums (Decca and Deutsche Grammophon). He has a solid fan base here and gave two Romantic concerts. The Prokofiev signals a new repertoire.

Also included in the program is Ravel's ``La Valse.'' The French music reflects a new direction for the Rotterdam Philharmonic under Nezet-Seguin, a French-Canadian. Called a ``young Simon Rattle'' (the maestro also conducted the Rotterdam Philharmonic in his youth), he succeeds Valery Gergiev.

About succeeding ``the master and genius Gergiev,'' he said, ``I am now responsible but I try to keep the great tradition of this fantastic orchestra. But I will also try to broaden the repertoire.'' >>More

Ensemble Ditto Storms Across Korea

The ultimate boy band of the classical music world.

Members of the ensemble Ditto from left: pianist Lim Dong-hyek, 24; violinists Stefan Jackiw, 23, and Johnny Lee, 29; cellist Patrick Jee, 30; double bassist DaXun Zhang, 28; and violist Richard Yongjae O'Neill, 29. This photo is also part of their modeling campaign for Theory Korea. / Courtesy of Credia

Last year, a group of young men took the local music scene by storm. At chamber group Ditto’s Seoul concerts, die hard fans darted for the door before the last song came to an end so they could line up for autographs. They’re like the Shinhwa of the classical music scene.

Ditto is back for their second season, which is expected to be ``bigger and better,’’ said violinist Johnny Lee, 29, at the opening night performance Wednesday in Seoul’s hip Hongdae area.

The chamber group has certainly gotten bigger, with pianist Lim Dong-hyek, 24, violinist Stefan Jackiw, 23, and double bassist Daxun Zhang, 28, joining Lee, violist Richard Yongjae O’Neill, 29, and cellist Patrick Jee, 30.

Mozart’s Duo for Violin & Viola K.423 and Beethoven’s ``Razumovsky’’ String Quartet No. 9 filled the small hall where indie rock bands usually perform. Dressed comfortably in jeans, the young musicians conversed afterward with their mostly female fans. When asked if they had girlfriends, Jackiw exposed his single status and the crowd shrieked with excitement.

Jackiw, who, apart from being an up and coming artist in the United States, is noted here for being the grandson of celebrated writer Pi Chun-duk. ``I’ve read both his essays and his poems and spent a lot of time with him in the summer. He was a fan of classical music and we talked a lot about literature and paintings… Spending time with him and talking about music influenced my music,’’ he said, adding that he learned about great musicians like Herbert von Karajan and Anne-Sophie Mutter through him.

Outside the hall, large posters and stationary featuring the youthful members were on sale _ rather than CDs. While there is sharp criticism about the overly commercial ``star’’ marketing tactics, the group’s public appeal is incontestable. Au contraire to stereotypes that chamber music is boring, the group secured a tour across nine cities, beginning with Daejeon on Sunday all the way down to Busan (June 20), then back in Seoul (June 28) and finally Inchoen (July 2).

Ditto is recognized for reaching out to a wider audience, and the tour includes stopovers at elementary schools in Busan and Daegu. Many non-classical music fans learned to appreciate the genre because of these Korean and Asian-American musicians, indicated by the group’s online fan community. Fans flocked to Hoam Art Center for Lee and Jee’s recitals Thursday and Friday, and concertgoers kept glancing back during breaks as other Ditto members were seated at the rear.

Chamber music seems to invigorate the members’ lives as well. ``I usually get really nervous about going onstage, but chamber music relieves me of that kind of stress. In addition to making great music, I’m just excited about working and hanging out with guys my age,’’ said Lim, who is receiving positive feedback on his newly released album (Bach’s ``Goldberg Variations,’’ EMI). ``Plus, I don’t have that many guy friends so this is very nice,’’ he laughed. The pianist cooked doenjang jjigae (bean curd stew) for the members in his New York apartment.

Lee, the only ethnic Korean member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, said although June is vacation for him, playing with Ditto ``doesn’t feel like working.’’ Jee also expressed his excitement about collaborating with good friends.

The highlight of the group’s program this year is Schubert’s Piano Quintet ``The Trout.’’ The Austrian composer wrote it when he was 22, and classical music legends like pianist Daniel Barenboim, violinist Itzhak Perlman, violist Pinchas Zukerman, cellist Jacqueline du Pre and double bassist Zubin Mehta jammed onstage together for the piece in their youth.

O’Neill said he thought long and hard about deciding on a piece that would be satisfying for a diverse audience, including both fans and people who don’t know much about classical music.

The Seoul performances will take place at 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., June 28, at the Seoul Arts Center near Nambu Bus Terminal station on subway line 3. Call 1577-5266.

``Ditto'' is also the title of the book violist O'Neill wrote.

Korea, ASEAN to Launch Folk Orchestra

Korea and 10 member nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN) signed an agreement Friday to establish an international folk music orchestra during the 2008 ASEAN-Korea Meeting on Cultural Collaboration Projects in Seoul and Gwangju.

Korea and ASEAN countries ― Brunei Darussalem, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam ― will form an ensemble that harmonizes instruments ethnic to each culture, bringing together the gayageum (12-string zither) from Korea, the Serunai (pipe) from Brunei and the ozi (long drum) from Myanmar, among others.

``We are seeking to further strengthen our friendship and cooperation through cultural coexistence, so as to increase mutual understanding and create stronger ties for the future,'' said Kim Jang-sil, vice minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, at the Seoul meeting, Thursday.

President of Chung-Ang University Park Bum-hun, who founded and conducted the world's first Asian music ensemble, the Orchestra Asia, in 1993, gave congratulatory remarks.

``I believe that today's meeting is the first step in realizing my dream,'' said Park. ``Unfortunately, unlike Western music, Asian music is not as well known or loved among people in other parts of the world. The reason is probably because we still bind Asian music in the name of tradition, and fail to make Asian music more accessible to the general public,'' he said, adding that the ASEAN-Korea orchestra will be a stepping stone in developing traditional music, helping it to become more in line with changing global trends while still preserving the values unique to each music culture.

One way to facilitate this process of globalization is industrializing the digitalization of traditional Asian music, said Choi Sang-wha, Chung-Ang University professor and president of the Korean Classical Music Digital Research Association. >>More