HERO - 2007

Official website for 'Hero'

http://www.hero-movie.net/index.html

APRIL 19, 2007

Korean, Japanese stars power 'Hero'

By Julian Ryall

TOKYO -- Two of Asia's biggest male stars will be shoulder-to-shoulder on the set of "Hero" now that South Korean star Lee Byung Hun has signed up to appear alongside Takuya Kimura in the theatrical version of the Fuji Televison Network hit.

"Hero," produced by Fuji's film arm, grew out of a hugely popular miniseries about an unconventional public prosecutor played by Kimura. The show was a ratings monster, earning a 34.3% audience share when it first aired in 2001. A two-hour special in 2006 was equally well received.

Fuji is clearly attempting to spread the appeal of the title to other Asian nations and has guaranteed impressive sales in South Korea by setting the story in both countries and casting local hero Lee as a public prosecutor in the port city of Pusan.

Filming is currently under way with Masayuki Suzuki at the helm. The title will be released in September.

"Since we were set on shooting part of the film on location in South Korea, we felt it was important that we cast opposite Kimura a South Korean actor with a commanding presence and charisma," a Fuji TV spokesman said. "With Lee as a South Korean counterpart to Kimura's public prosecutor character, we're significantly boosting the scale and profile of the film in both countries due to Lee's immense popularity in both nations."

Fuji is gauging interest from overseas markets for the distribution rights to the title, Fuji's Minako Mita said.

Source: TheHollywoodReporter.com, thanks to whitedove-cari.com for pic of Kimura Takuya

Apr 20 2007

LEE Byung-hun Cast in High Profile Japanese Film

user posted image

The cast of the Japanese film Hero has been complemented with Korean leading man LEE Byung-hun. LEE will play a Busan based elite South Korean detective opposite of the Japanese star Takuya Kimura.

LEE has become a favorite of Japanese audiences through the release of his popular and acclaimed films in Japan, including KIM Jee-woon’s A Bittersweet Life (Dalkeomhan Insaeng, 2005) and PARK Chan-wook’s Joint Security Area/JSA (Gongdonggyeongbigooyeok JSA, 2000).

Hero is based on a hit Japanese television drama about a prosecutor with an own particular style for investigating crimes, played by Kimura. Kimura’s character joins forces with LEE’s character to solve a manslaughter case.

Kimura made an impressive feature film debut in last year’s Love and Honour. Masayuki Suzuki is directing Hero. Filming has already started and the project is scheduled for a release in September. The television drama version of Hero holds the highest rating record for a drama in Japan.

Credit: Yi Ch'ang-ho (KOFIC)

Apr 18, 2007

Lee Byung Hun And Kimura Takuya To Make Special Movie Appearance

Top star Lee Byung Hun will meet Japan's most popular star, Kimura Takuya in a film.

Lee Byung Hun's agency, BH Entertainment revealed on the 17th that "Lee Byung Hun will make a pro bono appearance in 'Hero,' a movie starring Kimura Takuya."

"Hero," a popular drama which debuted in 2001 on Fuji TV starred Kimura Takuya and Matsu Takako, and had over 30% of viewer ratings at the time. Even in Korea, it was broadcasted on cable and satellite TV.

This time, the drama "Hero," which will be turned into a movie, will feature the same main characters, and Lee Byung Hun will make a pro bono appearance opposite Kimura Takuya as a Korean police investigator. He will support Kimura Takuya, who plays a Japanese investigator who came to Korea to investigate a case.

About acting together in a film with Lee Byung Hun, Kimura Takuya expressed his expectations: "I think of it as an honor to work together in this world of movies. Even if the language is different, I want to enjoy the filming as we work for the same goal."

The "Hero" filming crew will be in Pusan this month to film on location. Presently, Lee Byung Hun, who is in the middle of filming the movie "Good Guy, Bad Guy, and Strange Guy" by director Kim Ji Woon, plans to have two days available to shoot "Hero."

This movie will also have a new actor Baek Do Bin, who is son of a movie actor Baek Yoon Shik, and will play the role of a Korean assistant who helps the Japanese police's investigation, and Ahn Gil Gang will play a Korean crime syndicate boss.

Source: BROASIA.com

VOD credits to PlanetBH0712

LBH and Takuya Kimura (arrival & press conference in Busan, for Hero 2007)

MBC (07.04.27)

PUSAN Press Conference 26 April 2007

Movie stills

Media relates
Apr 17, 2007 Innolife.net: Lee Byung Hun will make a friendship appearance in 'HERO' starring Takuya Kimura
Apr 17, 2007 Sankei Sports: Lee Byung-Hun added to 'HERO' cast
Apr 19, 2007 Variety.com: Lee Byung Hun signs up for "Hero"
Apr 20, 2007 KOFIC: LEE Byung-hun Cast in High Profile Japanese Film
Apr 23, 2007 BROASIA.com: Lee Byung Hun and Kimura Takuya to attend press conference in Busan on the 26th
Apr 26, 2007 BROASIA.com: Interview With Lee Byung Hun and Kimura Takuya About "Hero"
Apr 29, 2007 Chosun Ilbo: Copyright acquisition competition for movie co-starring Takuya Kimura and Lee Byung Hun has started in Asia
May 02, 2007 JoongAng Ilbo: Talk of the town - Japanese wave
May 22, 2007 Japan Zone: Kitano, Matsumoto, SMAP at Cannes
Jun 18, 2007 Movie 'Hero' featuring Lee Byung Hun cranks up
Aug 6, 2007 » 5,000 fans come out to see Kimura Takuya and cast for “HERO” press conference » original article » article at EverythingLBH

Aug 7, 2007 » 'Hero' starring Kimura Takuya, to change Japanese movie history » original article » EverythingLBH

Aug 31, 2007 » Time for heroes » press review at Japan Times

Sep 2, 2007 » HERO to be released in various Asian countries in October » original article » translated article at EverythingLBH

Sep 3, 2007 » HERO gets wide Asian release » original article » also at EverythingLBH

Sep 3, 2007 » Hero set to open in Japan Sept. 8th » highlight at Lunapark6 » also at EverythingLBH

Sep 5, 2007 » "Hero" Lee Byung Hun's 5 minutes of Guest Appearence » original article » translated article at EverythingLBH

Sep 10, 2007 » "Hero" faces no challengers at Japanese B.O. » report at Variety Asia

Sep 11, 2007 » 'Hero' film adapatation a hit in Japan » report at Hollywood Reporter

Sep 26, 2007 » "HERO" still shows its strength » report at Tokyograph

Sep 28, 2007 » Japanese Heartthrobs to Attend PIFF » original article

Sep 28, 2007 » Four stars on the brink of global success » 12th PIFF article at Hollywood Reporter

Oct 1, 2007 » Japanese idol to meet Korean fans » original article » posted at EverythingLBH

Oct 4, 2007 » 'Hero' to open big in South Korea » report at Variety.com » EverythingLBH

Oct 5, 2007 » Kimura at Pusan Film Festival » original article » translation at GakinMe

Oct 5, 2007 » Actor Kimura Takuya Reigns in Busan » original article » EverythingLBH

Oc 5, 2007 » Kimura Takuya in Busan, Korea » original article

Oct 6, 2007 » Hero Review by Variety.com at 12th PIFF

Oct 9, 2007 » He didn't lose his cool » original article

Oct 11, 2007 » Lee Honey Charms 'Hero' Hero » original article

Oct 16, 2007 » Toho celebrates sweetest ever September » report at Variety Asia

Oct 17, 2007 » "Hero" Strikes Box Office Gold » original article

Oct 25, 2007 » 'Hero' offers a captivating tale for Korean moviegoers » review at Korea Herald » posted at EverythingLBH

Nov 5, 2007 » Asian Movies Dominate Theaters This Week » report at Arirang

Nov 22, 2007 » Kimchi vs Sushi » interesting report at original source

Dec 4, 2007 » Suzuki Masayuki’s “Hero” Review » original report at TwitchFilm
Thanks to highlight & sharing by ylin

Behind the scene - Hero

VOD featuring a much clearer and longer version of BH's appearance in the movie

mms://vod.cine21.com/cine21.com/movie/making/2007/10/HERO_mf_700K.wmv

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=J2Z4YSJA

Source: CINE21
Screencaps by ylin

Suzuki Masayuki’s “Hero” Review
Posted by JMaruyama at 9:17pm.

There aren’t that many “talento” in Japan that can genuinely be regarded as superstars but Kimura Takuya is definitely one of them. From J-pop idol (as a member of 90s boy band SMAP) to model, to TV drama hot throb to movie star, “Kimutaku” has done it all. With his boyish good looks, charming charisma and decent acting talents he can easily be compared to Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio and has just as many adoring female Japanese fans. And now he can also add the title of “box office king” to his resume as his recent movie “Hero” (the theatrical follow up to his immensely popular 2001 TV drama) dominated the Japanese box office for six consecutive weeks this past month and earned over $70 million in ticket sales to date.

"Hero: Gekijou Ban/ Movie Version” (not to be confused with the NBC TV series “Heroes” or the Jet Li 2002 movie) is a sequel to the hit Fuji TV series “Hero” which revolved around the character of Kiryu Kohei (Kimura), a former juvenile delinquent in a rural town in Aomori who turned his life around by studying to become a Public Prosecutor. While he didn’t have the elite Todai (Tokyo University) degrees of his peers nor their stoic character, he none-the-less distinguished himself as a caring, honest attorney who despite his unconventional quirks (he refuses to wear a suit and tie in court or to cut his hair) was well respected for his dogged determination, sharp intellect and for never giving up on his clients. In further contrast to his partners, he also had a willingness to take whatever case, however small or trivial.

Along with Kimutaku most of the series’ stellar cast returns including fellow Ministry of Justice prosecutors Egami (Katsumura Masanobu), Endo (Yashima Norito), Shibayama (Abe Hiroshi), Suetsugu (Kohinata Fumiyo), Nakamura (Otsuka Nene), Ushimaru (Kadono Takuzo) and boss Nabeshima (Kodama Kiyoshi). Popular J-Dorama actress Matsu Takako is also back as conservative Paralegal Amemiya Maiko who pines for Kiryu but is unable to let him know how she feels, even after six years.

Series director Suzuki Masayuki (GTO, Long Vacation, Shomuni) does the directing duties again for the movie and his visual flair and dramatic storytelling style is once again in full effect. I had a hard time however believing in the complex scandal at the center of screenwriter Fukuda Yasushi’s story which involved a mugging incident that went horribly wrong and which surprisingly leads up to a political cover-up involving bribery and intimidation.

Kiryu’s latest legal opponent comes in the form of the brilliant former Deputy Prosecutor, Harvard Law school graduate and now high priced Defense Attorney Gamo (great character actor Matsumoto Koshiro who is also Matsu Takako’s real life father) who is mysteriously hired to defend the mugging suspect. When the true villain is revealed to be a corrupt politician (portrayed by Morita Kazuyoshi AKA the comedian “Tamori") one can’t but laugh. With his trademark sunglasses firmly in place, I couldn’t believe Tamori to be the villain even with his uncharacteristic serious character’s tone and demeanor (it’s like asking Jay Leno or David Letterman to appear in a movie as a villain).

The whole side trip to Korea, while interesting seemed also to be out of place with the rest of the movie. Although I liked seeing Byung-hun Lee (J.S.A.-Joint Security Area) in a small cameo role, it would have been nice if he had more to do. Nakai Kiichi is wasted in his cameo as well as a former client who is serving time in a penitentiary.

“Hero” is basically a movie made for Kimutaku fans. With his cool fashion sense and looks, he carries the film and is its main draw and focus. While he is good in his scenes in court, it’s his comedic moments that are the most enjoyable, especially the running gags involving all the “junk” he has purchased through a cable TV shopping network (a “Let’s Learn Spanish” language set, a torso/stomach exercising gizmo and a balancing exercise device).

Kimura and Matsu have great on-screen chemistry together and their scenes are fun to watch, especially their brief trip to Korea. Their love-hate relationship is reminiscent of Bruce Willis/Cybill Shepherd in “Moonlighting” although not as antagonistic.

Abe, Katsumura, Yashima and Kohinata also supply funny comedic moments but it’s Masana Bokuzou’s “Barney Fife-like” capitol security guard and Tanaka Yoji’s mean-looking but good hearted bartender who are the standouts.

As with other TV shows turned movies “Unfair”, “Tokyo Friends”, “Bayside Shakedown” and “GTO”, fans of the TV series will probably enjoy the movie a bit more than non-fans but “Hero” does what it sets out to do and does it competently but don’t expect the film to go beyond what was already done on TV.

Credits: TwitchFilm.net

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HERO - 2007

Korean, Japanese stars power 'Hero'

Source: TheHollywoodReporter.com, thanks to whitedove-cari.com for pic of Kimura Takuya

Lee Byung Hun And Kimura Takuya To Make Special Movie Appearance

Source: BROASIA.com

PUSAN Press Conference 26 April 2007

Movie stills

Media relates

Apr 17, 2007 Innolife.net: Lee Byung Hun will make a friendship appearance in 'HERO' starring Takuya Kimura

Apr 17, 2007 Sankei Sports: Lee Byung-Hun added to 'HERO' cast

Apr 19, 2007 Variety.com: Lee Byung Hun signs up for "Hero"

Apr 20, 2007 KOFIC: LEE Byung-hun Cast in High Profile Japanese Film

Apr 23, 2007 BROASIA.com: Lee Byung Hun and Kimura Takuya to attend press conference in Busan on the 26th

Apr 26, 2007 BROASIA.com: Interview With Lee Byung Hun and Kimura Takuya About "Hero"

Apr 29, 2007 Chosun Ilbo: Copyright acquisition competition for movie co-starring Takuya Kimura and Lee Byung Hun has started in Asia

May 02, 2007 JoongAng Ilbo: Talk of the town - Japanese wave

May 22, 2007 Japan Zone: Kitano, Matsumoto, SMAP at Cannes

Jun 18, 2007 Movie 'Hero' featuring Lee Byung Hun cranks up

Thanks to highlight & sharing by ylin

Behind the scene - Hero

VOD featuring a much clearer and longer version of BH's appearance in the movie

mms://vod.cine21.com/cine21.com/movie/making/2007/10/HERO_mf_700K.wmv

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=J2Z4YSJA

Source: CINE21

Screencaps by ylin

Fan Club Info

Goodies

Filmography

BH mode

Happenings

Covers n Features

Fabulous Sharing

Media Box

Interviews

Cool adVentures

Active & Achieve

Galleria

HERO - 2007

Korean, Japanese stars power 'Hero'

Source: TheHollywoodReporter.com, thanks to whitedove-cari.com for pic of Kimura Takuya

Lee Byung Hun And Kimura Takuya To Make Special Movie Appearance

Source: BROASIA.com

PUSAN Press Conference 26 April 2007

Movie stills

Media relates

Apr 17, 2007 Innolife.net: Lee Byung Hun will make a friendship appearance in 'HERO' starring Takuya Kimura

Apr 17, 2007 Sankei Sports: Lee Byung-Hun added to 'HERO' cast

Apr 19, 2007 Variety.com: Lee Byung Hun signs up for "Hero"

Apr 20, 2007 KOFIC: LEE Byung-hun Cast in High Profile Japanese Film

Apr 23, 2007 BROASIA.com: Lee Byung Hun and Kimura Takuya to attend press conference in Busan on the 26th

Apr 26, 2007 BROASIA.com: Interview With Lee Byung Hun and Kimura Takuya About "Hero"

Apr 29, 2007 Chosun Ilbo: Copyright acquisition competition for movie co-starring Takuya Kimura and Lee Byung Hun has started in Asia

May 02, 2007 JoongAng Ilbo: Talk of the town - Japanese wave

May 22, 2007 Japan Zone: Kitano, Matsumoto, SMAP at Cannes

Jun 18, 2007 Movie 'Hero' featuring Lee Byung Hun cranks up

Thanks to highlight & sharing by ylinBehind the scene - HeroVOD featuring a much clearer and longer version of BH's appearance in the moviemms://vod.cine21.com/cine21.com/movie/making/2007/10/HERO_mf_700K.wmv http://www.megaupload.com/?d=J2Z4YSJASource: CINE21

Screencaps by ylin

Thanks to highlight & sharing by ylin

Behind the scene - Hero

VOD featuring a much clearer and longer version of BH's appearance in the movie

mms://vod.cine21.com/cine21.com/movie/making/2007/10/HERO_mf_700K.wmv

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=J2Z4YSJA

Source: CINE21