Dong Bang Shin Ki's Hero Jae Joong recently made his acting debut in the forthcoming Heaven's Postman from the Korea-Japan Telecinema Project, making him the first TVXQ member to jump to acting. He'll have plenty of company soon though as bandmates U-Know Yun Ho and Max Chang Min were recently cast in new TV dramas.

Leader Yun Ho is pairing up with Who Are You?'s Go Ara in the upcoming MBC sports drama Heading to the Ground. Directed by Ruler of Your Own World director Park Sung Soo, the fall mini-series stars Yun Ho as an aspiring soccer player with a mean kick and great passion for the game. Go Ara plays a sports agent and the daughter of a soccer team owner. They meet, fight, and fall in love during their quest to prove themselves in the competitive world of professional soccer. Heading to the Ground also co-stars Lee Yoon Ji from Dae Wang Sejong and Lee Sang Hoon from The Scale of Providence. The drama has already started filming, and is slated to begin broadcast on September 9.

TVXQ's youngest member Chang Min is also reportedly taking the leading role in the new drama "Paradise Meadow" co-produced by SM Entertainment and Samhwa Networks. This youth melodrama from the writers of Coffee Prince and Into the Sunlight is supposedly going to start shooting in Jeju in late August, and be aired at the end of the year. No other casting details have been revealed yet.

Text / Sanwei

Due to great fan request, a third film in the blockbuster Umizaru franchise was announced last summer. The production recently revealed more cast and plot details about Umizaru 3, which is slated for a 2010 release.

Based on the popular manga by Sato Shuho, Umizaru revolves around the high-seas thrills and romance of Coast Guard rescue diver Senzaki Daisuke, played by Ito Hideaki. The first Umizaru feature was released in 2004 to modest success, but it was actually the spin-off 2005 Fuji TV drama that turned Umizaru into a massive hit. In 2006 silver-screen sequel Limit of Love: Umizaru pulled in over 7 billion yen at the box office to become the highest-grossing live-action Japanese film of the year.

Again directed by Hasumi Eiichiro and produced by Usui Hirotsugu, the highly anticipated third film sees Senzaki, now an experienced rescue diver, tying the knot with his girlfriend played by Kato Ai, and becoming a father. Senzaki and his team are sent out on a dangerous rescue mission when there is an accident during an international undersea oil drilling. Rookies' Sato Ryuta will return as a diver, and rising star Miura Shohei from Gokusen has been added to the cast.

Text / Sanwei

In Korea summer is the hottest time for horror films. After Chaw and A Blood Pledge, two more anticipated horror films are hitting Korean theaters in August. Nam Sang Mi, who starred in The Ghost (a.k.a Dead Friend) five years ago, returns to the genre in Living Death which opens on August 13. Written and directed by first-time director Lee Yong Joo, the horror thriller sees Nam Sang Mi trying to save her missing demon-possessed little sister, played by child actress Sim Eun Kyung from Hansel and Gretel, who is connected to a mysterious string of neighborhood deaths. Also co-starring Ryoo Seung Yong, Living Death has been attracting a lot of buzz as it is Nam's first film in four years.

Coming out a week later on August 20, Yoga from Whispering Stairs director Yoon Jae Yeon explores the ugly side of the pursuit of beauty. Taking a break from her usual romantic offerings, popular actress Eugene leads a beautiful lineup of actresses that includes Wishing Stairs' Park Han Byul, Forever the Moment's Jo Eun Ji, Red Eye's Kim Hye Na, and Memento Mori's Lee Yeong Jin. The five girls are all enrolled at a mysterious yoga center that promises eternal beauty to one student after a week of intense training - if they abide by the center's rules including breaking contact with the outside world. As the week wears on, strange things begin to happen, and it becomes increasingly clear that there is something very wrong with the yoga center and its young trainer, played by Beautiful's Cha Soo Yeon.

Text / Sanwei

In the aftermath of Hong Kong's sex photo scandal last year, Stephen Fung's film Jump, which starred photographer-cum-actor Edison Chen, was banned by the Chinese censors board SARFT (State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television), and the release has been put on hold since. While Edison's other new movie, The Sniper, is still without a release date in Mainland China, Jump opted to jettison Edison in order to see the light of the day. The production spent an extra HK$3 million to re-shoot all of Edison's scenes with Singapore actor Leon Jay Williams (My Lucky Star) in his place earlier this year. The new version has finally got the permission of SARFT to screen in China according to the Mainland media, so an announcement of the film's release can be expected soon.

Jump is Stephen Fung's third feature film as a director after Enter the Phoenix (2004) and House of Fury (2005). The musical comedy, financed by Columbia Pictures and produced by Stephen Chow, is about a farming village girl (Kitty Zhang of CJ7) who goes to Shanghai to pursue her dream of becoming a dancer. Originally Edison played the male lead as a cool, young entrepreneur, but like scandal victim Gillian Chung's fate in Forever Enthralled, his scenes all ended up on the cutting room floor.

Text / dian

The seventies sci-fi anime Space Battleship Yamato, also known in the West as Space Cruiser Yamato and Star Blazers, is returning with both a new animated film and a live-action feature. The classic space opera is set in the distant future when Earth is on its last leg due to alien attacks, and mankind's last hope lies in Space Battleship Yamato and its tenacious crew. Popular throughout the seventies and eighties, the franchise spawned three television seasons and five theatrical films, the last of which, Final Yamato, was released in 1983.

Twenty-six years later, producer Nishizaki Yoshinobu revives the franchise with the new animated film Yamato: Rebirth (a.k.a. Uchu Senkan Yamato: Fukkatsu-hen), scheduled to open in December this year. Set in 2220, 17 years after the events of Final Yamato, the film again calls on Space Battleship Yamato to defend Earth's population as a black hole expands towards the planet and a massive migration mission begins. Extensive CGI is being used for the space battle scenes. Yamato: Rebirth has a strong focus on environmental themes and the damage that humans have inflicted to Earth.

Ishiguro Noboru, one of the animation and episode directors for the original series, also recently announced that a live-action adaptation of Space Battleship Yamato is in the works. SMAP superstar Kimura Takuya has been confirmed for the leading role of Susumu Kodai.

Text / Sanwei

After The Forbidden Kingdom, Jackie Chan will again teach martial arts to another American boy! It has long been rumored that Jackie will star in a remake of the 1984 hit film Karate Kid, and it's now confirmed that he plays the master to the kid played by 11-year-old Jaden Smith (The Pursuit of Happyness, The Day the Earth Stood Still), son of Hollywood superstar Will Smith.

The original, an inspirational story about a Western kid learning karate from a Japanese master, was massively popular at the box office and spawned several sequels. Directed by Harald Zwart (Agent Cody Banks), the updated version trades karate for kung fu and is logically retitled Kung Fu Kid. The co-production from Columbia Pictures and China Film Group has just started shooting in Beijing and principal photography is expected to last three months. Will Smith takes on producing duties, whereas Jackie sports a moustache for his role of Mr. Han, a Chinese janitor who passes on his kung fu skills to Jaden's bullied boy Dre, who has just moved to China with his single mom played by Taraji P. Henson (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button).

Text / dian

The 11th Taipei Film Festival came to a close on July 12. Popular actor-director Leon Dai's No Puedo Vivir Sin Ti won the Grand Prize, as well as Best Actor for Chen Win Pin, Best Supporting Actor for Lin Chih Ju, and the Media's Choice Award. Based on real-life events, No Puedo Vivir Sin Ti, Dai's second directorial effort after 2002's Twenty Something Taipei, is shot in black and white, and follows an impoverished father's great efforts to keep his daughter.

Chung Mong Hong was awarded Best Director and Best Script for his neo-noir black comedy Parking, which screened at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. Peggy Tseng, who played a Mainland prostitute in the film, won Best New Talent. The festival's opening film, Cheng Yu Chieh's coming-of-age drama Yang Yang, also picked up multiple awards including Special Jury Prize, Best Music, and Best Actress for Sandrine Pinna. Another youth film starring Pinna, Miao Miao, was recognized for Best Editing and Best Cinematography. Lou Yi An's ensemble urban allegory A Place Of One's Own took the remaining prizes: Audience Choice's Award, Best Art Direction, and Best Supporting Actress for Lu Yi Ching.

In the Non-Narrative Feature categories, Chiang Hsiu Chiung's Golden Horse-winning short Hopscotch added another accolade, the Jury Prize. Other winners include Lai Meng Jie's Panic House (Best Short Film), Lu Wen Chung's Ketchup (Best Animation Short), Liu Soung's Yellow Sheep River (Best Documentary), and Teen Patron (Documentary Special Prize).

The 2009 Taipei Film Festival was held from June 26 to July 12. Hong Kong director Ann Hui headed the festival's nine-member jury which included Taiwan directors En Chen and Wan Jen and award-winning actress Lu Hsiao Fen.

Text / Sanwei

John Woo returned to form with his Chinese blockbusters Red Cliff 1 and 2. For his next project, he is again going to the well of historical war epics for ideas. The world-renowned director is making a film about the American Volunteer Group and their exploits in China during the Second World War. What's most exciting is that Woo has managed to one-up himself in terms of budget, as this China-US co-production is budgeted at US$100 million, beating Woo's own Red Cliff movies to be the most expensive Chinese film ever.

The American Volunteer Group, which used a "flying tiger" as its insignia, was formed by Claire Lee Chennault in 1941 to assist the Chinese in fighting back the Imperial Japanese forces. In four years, the American pilots made great contributions by shooting down hundreds of enemy aircrafts. Written by Lan Xiaolong (one of the screenwriters of Red Cliff), the story portrays the heroism of the American Volunteer Group and the friendship between the two countries.

According to Woo, the film is already in its final stage of pre-production, and is set to begin shooting in Yunnan Province in December with the participation of famous Hollywood and Chinese actors. Furthermore, he promises that the film will feature the most spectacular battle scenes in the history of Chinese Cinema.

Text / dian

Miyazaki Hayao's Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea, which topped Japan's box office in 2008, adds another record to its billing. Released in the first week of July, the Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea DVD sold over 500,000 copies in its first week, turning into the best-selling DVD of 2009. It topped by a wide margin the sales of last year's #1 DVD, Transformers, which sold 365,000 copies in its first week, and this year's previous bestseller ARASHI AROUND ASIA 2008 in TOKYO which has accumulated sales of 367,000 copies.

Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea is also the first DVD to break the 500,000 benchmark since Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End in December 2007. As far as animated DVDs are concerned, Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea follows up the success of Miyazaki's 2005 work Howl's Moving Castle.

Miyazaki's other titles also moved upward on the DVD charts, led by My Neighbor Totoro which lept from its earlier #72 position to #25. Following suit, Laputa: Castle in the Sky moved from #131 to #50, Kiki's Delivery Service from #157 to #69, and Princess Mononoke from #211 to #96. As a result, there were five Miyazaki Hayao titles in the top 100 DVD sellers.

Adding to this success is Miyazaki Hayao's regular composer Hisaishi Joe whose DVD and Blu-ray releases of Joe Hisaishi in Budokan - Miyazaki Anime to Tomo ni Ayunda 25 Nenkan celebrating his longtime collaboration with Miyazaki were released on the same day. The DVD was ranked #15, while the Blu-ray was at the #5 spot.

Text / Snoopy

The triumph of singer-songwriters was the main theme at the 20th Golden Melody Awards held in Taipei on June 27. At his fourth nomination for Best Mandarin Male Singer, Mando-pop king Jay Chou finally broke his duck in the category, beating favorites Eason Chan and Khalil Fong to win the much coveted award. The big winner despite his absence from the ceremony, Chou also won Best Song of the Year (for "Rice Fragrance") and Best Music Video (for "Mr. Magic").

Better known as an award-winning producer and songwriter, Sandee Chen won her first Best Mandarin Female Singer for her album If There is One Thing That is Important. Further proof that singer-songwriters are hot right now came in the shape of Crowd Lu. The highly acclaimed pop sensation is loved for his style and versatility shown in debut album 100 Ways For Living, and he withstood fierce competition from the One Million Star alumni to win Best Newcomer. He also netted Best Composer for the title song, evoking memories of a younger Jay Chou.

Another highly contested big prize, Best Mandarin Album, went to Eason Chan for his album Don't Want to Let Go. It was his second win of the award after Special Thanks To... in 2002, and this time, he was presented the award by Jacky Cheung and Jody Chiang. The duo were themselves winners of the fan-voted "Favorite Song in 20 Years" special award. The Taiwanese diva then added another trophy to her cabinet with her Holding You Tight being named Best Taiwanese Album.

Poetry of The Day After... gave Mayday their third Best Band Award to become the most-decorated band in Golden Melody Awards history. HoneyVoices was the surprise that night with three awards - Best Group Vocal, Best Aboriginal Language Album, and Best Album Producer.

This year, the absence of several big-name contenders at the ceremony was partly compensated by the presence of some overseas guest performers and presenters, including top Korean group Super Junior, Japan-residing legend Ouyang Fei Fei, Hong Kong pop king Jacky Cheung, and veteran dance trio the Grasshoppers.

Text / dian

Fahrenheit's Wu Chun and award-winning Mainland actress Zhou Xun have been cast as the leads for the Taiwan remake of the 2004 Korean drama Full House. Based on the same comic that inspired the popular Korean series starring Rain and Song Hye Kyo, the Taiwan version of Full House is being helmed by Doze Niu, the director of popular idol dramas like Wayward Kenting and Toast Boy's Kiss. The big-budget romantic comedy will be shot in both China and Taiwan, and touch on cross-strait issues. Taking on her first TV drama in six years, Zhou Xun plays a Beijing woman who travels to Taiwan to settle her grandfather's inheritance, only to find the house she's supposed to inherit has been rented out to a Taiwan superstar played by Wu Chun.

Also in production right now is the Chinese remake of Korean youth sitcom Nonstop. Known as a star-making vehicle during its six seasons in Korea, the Chinese Nonstop, titled Qing Chun Jin Xing Shi ("When Youth Is Happening"), revolves around the romance, friendship, and hijinks of a group of energetic college students played by idol duo BOBO, gag duo Backdorm Boys, and actresses He Zhuoyan, Cao Yuan, and Zhang Xinyu. One of the original Korean directors of the MBC sitcom is onboard to direct this 100-episode remake which begins airing on Dragon TV on July 6.

Text / Sanwei

Korea's top pop stars are hitting the tour circuit this summer. Pop rock band F.T Island kick off their Asia tour on June 27 with a concert showcase in Singapore. The band will perform in Japan, Thailand, China, and Taiwan in July before returning to Korea to release a new album. K-pop icon Seo Tai Ji is also in the midst of his nationwide live tour which began on June 14 in Seoul, and lasts until the end of July.

Super Junior will open their 2nd Asia Tour ~ Super Show 2 the same way as their first tour, with three consecutive shows at the Olympic Fencing Stadium in Seoul from July 17 to 19. The boy band will then go on to hold concerts in Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei, Bangkok, and two other Asian cities. Though he appears in the concert promotion material, Super Junior's elusive 13th member Kim Ki Bum, who was absent from all third album promotion activities, recently confirmed that he will not be participating in the Seoul concerts because of a foot injury.

SS501 are launching their 1st Asia Tour at Seoul's Olympic Gymnastics Stadium on August 1 and 2. The Persona concert tour will also take the boy band to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, China, Singapore, Malaysia, and Japan where they're set to perform at the Tokyo Budokan on August 13. Dong Bang Shin Ki are heading to the Tokyo Dome for the first time on July 4 and 5 for the final leg of their 4th Live Tour 2009 The Secret Code.

Gearing up for their US debut, the Wonder Girls are touring in North America from June to August as the opening act for American pop sensations Jonas Brothers. The girls will give their first performance in Portland, Oregon on June 27, which is also the release date of their first US digital single, the English version of their K-pop megahit Nobody.

Text / Sanwei

Released on June 17, Imawano Kiyoshiro's posthumous single Oh! Radio has turned into the late Japanese rock singer's biggest solo hit. Imawano, who passed away on May 2 at the age of 58, wrote Oh! Radio as the spring campaign song for Osaka radio station FM802. His solo demo version of the song was originally not scheduled for a CD release, but after the song was played at his funeral, many fans requested that the song be put on CD.

Oh! Radio passed sales of 20,000 copies in its first week, debuting at #5 on the Oricon weekly chart. It is Imawano's first top 10 single since he released Day Dream Believer with his band The Timers in 1989, and the biggest hit of his 13 solo singles. Previously, Imawano's highest-charting solo single was the 1991 release Papa no Uta which reached #12 on the Oricon chart. Counting the singles he released with Sakamoto Ryuichi and his bands RC Succession and The Timers, Oh! Radio is Imawano's fifth top 10 hit overall.

Text / Snoopy

Leon Lai and Richie Jen were spotted on location in Hong Kong yesterday, shooting new film Foh Lung ("Fire Dragon") for director Dante Lam. The 14-hour shoot lasted from morning until evening in Kowloon's Tsimshatsui district, with Lai and Jen working alongside co-stars Michelle Ye (Vengeance), Wilfred Lau (Lady Cop and Papa Crook) and Liu Kai Chi, who recently won a Best Supporting Actor Hong Kong Film Award for his work in Lam's Beast Stalker.

Foh Lung is the latest action-thriller from the very busy Lam, whose Beast Stalker and Sniper were both released theatrically within the last year. If Lam's recent films seem to fit together, that's no coincidence. Besides featuring recurring cast members (aside from Leon Lai, the principal cast for Foh Lung all appeared in Sniper), Lam's new film reunites him with writing partner Jack Ng Wai Lun. This past spring, their script for Beast Stalker earned a nomination for Best Screenplay at the Hong Kong Film Awards.

Featuring Lai and Jen as cops, the film is described by Lam having action on a level "between Beast Stalker and Sniper". The film is being shot entirely in Hong Kong and will likely be released before the end of 2009. This fall, Lam will reunite with Nick Cheung, recent recipient of the Best Actor Hong Kong Film Award, on Beast Stalker 2. Afterwards, Lam will begin production on his highly anticipated remake/reimagining of The Flying Guillotine in collaboration with producer Peter Chan (Protégé).

Text / Koh So

Overheard

Summer 2009's film to beat looks to be Overheard, which evokes the winning formula of Infernal Affairs, assembling an all-star cast brimming with hunk appeal and supported by some of Hong Kong's best filmmaking talents. Produced by Derek Yee (Protege) and helmed by the Infernal Affairs's writer-director team of Alan Mak and Felix Chong, this highly anticipated crime drama stars Lau Ching Wan, Louis Koo and Daniel Wu as elite agents of the Hong Kong Police's Criminal Intelligence Bureau. Their latest mission is to infiltrate a listed company suspected of illegal insider trading, and to intercept their communications for further investigation. The wiretapping trio overhears important financial secrets during their surveillance, but when their personal greed gets in the way, they are blinded from the danger that lies ahead. Besides female lead Zhang Jingchu, the testosterone-filled cast includes Alex Fong, Michael Wong, Waise Lee, Dominic Lam, and singer William Chan.

McDull Kung Fu Ding Ding Dong

Swine flu is a real bummer, but "swine fu" could be the surprise of the summer! Hong Kong's favorite homegrown cartoon character returns in McDull Kung Fu Ding Ding Dong, the latest silver-screen adventure of the cutesy, clumsy and dim-witted piglet. Following the seriously funny tradition of My Life as McDull (2001) and McDull, Prince de la Bun (2004), the third chapter of the animated series has McDull learning Tai Chi at Wudang (his mom sent him) in preparation for the worldwide kindergarten martial arts tournament. Voice talents include Anthony Wong, Sandra Ng, alternative singer Wan Kwong, and popular stage artist Jim Chim.

Metallic Attraction: Kungfu Cyborg

Jeff Lau (A Chinese Odyssey, A Chinese Tall Story) is an undisputed master of whimsical ideas, which is why his films never fail to excite. This summer, he returns to direct Hu Jun, Sun Li, Alex Fong, Ronald Cheng, and Wu Jing in Metallic Attraction: Kungfu Cyborg, his first film in four years. The sci-fi comedy features expensive Transformers-esque special effects, human-cyborg romance, adrenaline-pumping fight scenes (courtesy of Wu Jing), and of course, the director's trademark offbeat humor. If Jeff Lau's track record is anything to go by, then Kungfu Cyborg will either be a masterpiece or an interesting failure - either way his film is certainly worth looking out for.

Kung Fu Chefs

The cast and crew of 2007 action comedy Kung Fu Fighter are back with another Stephen Chow tribute, Kung Fu Chefs. Playing a cocky cook savvy in the martial arts, Taiwan pop idol Vaness Wu reunites with Fan Siu Wong, Lam Chi Chung, and veteran kung fu star Leung Siu Lung. The cast gets strong reinforcement from action legend Sammo Hung, Cherie Ying, and Japanese singer Kago Ai (formerly of Morning Musume), who signed up for a role in the movie to kick-start her showbiz comeback.

Happily Ever After

No summer holiday is complete without a sappy teen pic starring the hottest young pop idols. Fitting the bill is Happily Ever After, a romantic drama with EEG stars-in-the-making Ken Hung (Love is Elsewhere), Michelle Wai, and Carlos Chan playing high school students yearning for love. With producer Ivy Kong (Love Undercover, Diva Ah Hey, Super Fans) making her directorial debut alongside film editor Azrael Chung (Look for a Star, Happy Funeral, Moments of Love), the film looks to be in safe hands.

Text / dian

Murderer

Aaron Kwok headlines the psychological thriller Murderer by Ang Lee's apprentice Roy Chow, who serves up a stylish dish of suspense and mystery in his directorial debut. Advance word on the film has been very positive, particularly for the smart script from in-demand screenwriter To Chi Long (Secret, Jiang Hu), and the tour-de-force performance from Kwok. Two-time winner of the prestigious Golden Horse Best Actor Award, Kwok stars as Ling, a Police Chief Inspector whose perfect life takes an abrupt turn when he wakes up from a crime scene with his memory fading away, and his best friend gruesomely murdered. In his heated pursuit of the elusive killer, Ling realizes that he himself is the prime suspect. Kwok's onscreen accomplices include Eddie Cheung, Janine Chang, Wong Yau Nam, Josie Ho, and veteran action star Chen Kuan Tai.

On His Majesty's Secret Service

Possibly inspired by the success of All's Well Ends Well 2009, veteran filmmaker Wong Jing has mustered his laugh-making best in On His Majesty's Secret Service, his unofficial sequel to Stephen Chow's 1996 blockbuster Forbidden City Cop, on which he served as the producer. Without Chow, Wong Jing brings together an ensemble of popular Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Mainland China actors. Taking center stage in the royal court is Louis Koo, who flexes his comedic muscles alongside his Connected co-star Barbie Hsu, and actress Sandra Ng. Koo plays Dog, a crazy scientist and one of the 12 secret agents protecting the Emperor, who must thwart the evil plans of the treacherous eunuch played by action star Fan Siu Wong.

Herman Yau's "Laughing Gor" Project

Plans are underway for the Shaw Brothers to begin making movies again after lying dormant for over 20 years. The legendary studio has greenlighted several new film projects, and the first to come is the big-screen prequel to E.U., the TVB cop drama that became the talk of Hong Kong when it aired in February/March 2009. Herman Yau is onboard to direct the film, and Michael Tse reprises his star-making role of the titular hero "Laughing Gor", an underworld leader who is actually an undercover cop. The film reveals Laughing's backstory not depicted in the TV series, as the talented but inexperienced police cadet is assigned to infiltrate a triad gang. Adding luster to the film is the involvement of big-name actors like Anthony Wong, Francis Ng, Felix Wong, and recent TVB phenomenon Wayne Lai.

Tracing Shadow

In Tracing Shadow, Francis Ng pays homage to the classics of Chinese martial arts movies - by turning their conventions on their heads! Allegedly akin to Kung Fu Hustle in style, the costume action comedy marks Ng's second collaboration with co-director Marco Mak after Dancing Lion. Taiwan model/actress Pace Wu and Hong Kong singer/actor Jaycee Chan join Ng in this tongue-in-cheek tale surrounding the martial world's fight for a national treasure during the end of Ming Dynasty.

Written By

Wai Ka Fai goes without Johnnie To to direct the supernatural drama Written By, penned by himself and Au Kin Yee, the Best Screenplay Award-winning team behind Mad Detective. Like that groundbreaking psychodrama, Written By blurs the boundary between reality and the imaginary, with Lau Ching Wan playing a lawyer who is killed in a traffic accident, but gets a second chance at life in the novel written by his wife (Kelly Lin) and daughter (Yan Qing). The formidable creative force from Milkyway Image inspires confidence, as does the film's selection as the opening film of the 10th New York Asian Film Festival.

Text / dian

Several new live-action manga adaptations were announced in June. After NANA and Detroit Metal City, another popular rock music manga, Harold Sakuishi's BECK, is getting a live-action big-screen makeover from hit-making 20th Century Boys director Tsutsumi Yukihiko, who is of course no stranger to manga adaptations. BECK, which was previously adapted into an anime series in 2004, revolves around the making and rise of the eponymous rock band formed by some of Japan's hottest young actors. Heartthrob Mizushima Hiro from Drop stars as slick bandleader and guitarist Ray, and Sato Takeru from baseball mega hit Rookies plays young budding vocalist Koyuki. The rest of BECK is filled out by Kiritani Kenta as rapper Chiba, Nakamura Aoi as drummer Yuji, and Mukai Osamu as bassist Taira. Mizushima, Sato, and Mukai earlier co-starred together in the hit 2009 winter drama Mei-chan no Shitsuji. Shooting for BECK begins in July, with a target release in fall 2010.

Rookies star Hayato Ichihara plays a silver-haired teen lock-picking prodigy in the upcoming NTV mini-series Saru Lock based on Naoki Serizawa's manga. Set to begin airing in July, Saru Lock is about a locksmith's son and unremarkable high school student who uses his lock-picking skills to help crack cases with his police officer friend played by Rookies teammate Takaoka Sousuke. Other than the TV drama, NTV is also planning on releasing a Saru Lock film in spring 2009.

The live-action movie adaptation of Sakuragi Yukiya's comedic pet manga Inubaka: Crazy for Dogs, which doesn't star any member of Rookies (yet), is coming to theaters this fall. Well known from the variety program Quiz! Hexagon II, Suzanne of Pabo makes her leading lady debut as a small-town girl with an uncanny talent for dealing with dogs. She moves to the big city with her trusty canine, and ends up working at a pet shop.

Text / Sanwei

Director Kwak Kyung Taek's highly anticipated television remake of his classic gangster blockbuster Friend will begin airing on MBC on June 27. Friend, which broke Korean box office records when it was released in 2001, starred Jang Dong Gun and Yoo Oh Sung in a rough-and-tumble tale about four childhood friends coming of age in the tough streets of Busan in the 1970s and 80s. Kwak Kyung Taek expands and retells his semi-autobiographical story in the new 20-episode drama Friend, Our Legend, produced by the same production company that made the film. Friend, Our Legend is one of the few Korean dramas in which shooting for the entire series was completed before the first episode's broadcast.

Hyun Bin of My Lovely Sam-Soon fame takes the Jang Dong Gun role of Dong Soo while Tazza's Kim Min Joon, who hails from Busan, plays Yoo Oh Sung's role Jun Seok. The two actors last collaborated in the 2004 mini-series Ireland. Friend, Our Legend also co-stars Seo Do Young (Spring Waltz) and Min Ji Hye (How To Meet a Perfect Neighbor). The film's original lead Jang Dong Gun makes a cameo appearance in the drama, as do Ju Jin Mo and Park Si Yeon who starred in Kwak Kyung Taek's A Love and Cha Seung Won from An Eye for an Eye.

Text / Sanwei