Return of Iljimae unveils promo poster
by javabeans
How gorgeous is that promo shot or what? It reminds me of the whimsical artwork of old-school Final Fantasy, doesn’t it? Somehow it manages to be fantasy-like, but not too weak or caricaturish.
Talk about changing my mind, both firmly and quickly. MBC’s Return of Iljimae has managed to do that in a really short period of time, and I admit that it’s for totally superficial reasons. But hey, that’s effective marketing (and art direction!) for ya. And image really is a huge component when we’re talking entertainment-industry success. (Also: who could have predicted that pretty-boy Jung Il-woo could pull off such a drastic image shift?)
Based purely on aesthetic, it looks like MBC will be going for a very different feel from SBS’s more overt comic-book-y influences. SBS’s Iljimae was kind of intentionally exaggerated, sometimes jokesy, and I don’t think MBC will be taking that tack. I don’t meant to belabor the comparison, but it’s rare that you get the chance to see such a stark comparison of two very similar things done (probably) very differently — it’s an interesting study in drama production, if nothing else.
Return of Iljimae premieres on Wednesday, November 19.
Yoon Jin-seo (Beastie Boys) plays Iljimae’s first love:
Jung Hye-young (of East of Eden, Lawyers, and Mrs. Sean of Jinusean):
Singer-actor Kim Min-jong (Hyena):
Via My Daily
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Tags: Iljimae, Jung Hye-young, Jung Il-woo, Kim Min-jong, Return of Iljimae, Yoon Jin-seo
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1 Rachael
October 26, 2008 at 8:52 PM
Whoa.
I have to admit that'd be a poster I would clamor for to put on my walls. It really does remind me too of the Final Fantasy artwork. Yet another reason I'd look around for it. This has also lately been changin' my opinion of it. Should be interesting to see hwo this goes, much less how the acting will compare between the two shows.
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2 kamee
October 26, 2008 at 9:06 PM
it looks nice.
but whenever i look at it, i'm reminded of the shinigamis from bleach.. haha.
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3 ed
October 26, 2008 at 9:06 PM
it does look more like Damo plus a romantic flair of Duelist...just based on promo.
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4 Marzy
October 26, 2008 at 9:17 PM
wow sooo cool. i love good art direction and of course visuals. since this is a round 2 of the drama a better aesthetic would be an advantage and exciting for me.
i cant wait to see the actual. il woo looks great too.
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5 nileey
October 26, 2008 at 9:31 PM
love the poster, yeah it reminds me of Final Fantasy too, if only he had some cooler weapons :)
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6 Sue
October 26, 2008 at 9:42 PM
i skipped lee junki's iljimae but i might pick this one up ;)
looks like i'll finally see what jung il woo is all about?
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7 ar
October 26, 2008 at 9:54 PM
wow! the promo poster looks like a graphic novel cover!
i agree with this statement: "but it’s rare that you get the chance to see such a stark comparison of two very similar things done (probably) very differently — it’s an interesting study in drama production, if nothing else."
From some of the shots, i feel like this would be a quieter, darker drama- maybe a more sageuk feel? Lee Junki's version was glossy and hip (though still very enjoyable).
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8 jhoey
October 26, 2008 at 9:57 PM
Il Woo's deginitely hot. I don;t have anything against the lead female but they could've done better like Go Ara maybe...
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9
October 26, 2008 at 10:49 PM
OK i am sold... i love period drama.
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10 Pully
October 26, 2008 at 10:52 PM
That poster reminds me of the Japanese manga "Vagabond" (samurai manga, if you ask, a masterpiece). Anyway, I love it, it does look like a manga cover.
But I bet on this Iljimae for the following reasons: 1, SBS Iljmae's script sucks, I don't think we can find any script worse than that. 2, it looks cooler, lol, hands down. I will watch this for sure.
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11 c_gunawan541
October 26, 2008 at 11:09 PM
hmm...... i always thought he's better looking than Lee Junki and this poster is the evidence. Maybe Junki has that feminine look that make me think he's not good-looking. Feminine guys are just not my type but Ilwoo's iljimae look is so hot!!! I'm totally looking forward to this, although i always have problems with period dramas since i feel weird watching them.
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12 jungilwoo noona
October 27, 2008 at 12:04 AM
OMG! I never though that the promo poster would be like this...It's totally COOL!!
Just look at Il Woo's expression...Totally HOT!!! Surely, i'm looking forward to this drama..Jung Il Woo is really good-looking and he doesn't have that feminime look in this drama..He suits Iljimae character..Saranghanun nam donsaengiya, hwaiting!! I noonaga ni opphe issulgoya!!
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13 anna
October 27, 2008 at 12:25 AM
Reminds me of a manga cover.
I'm not completely sold on him. I need to see him in action because anyone can look pretty with a little touch up.
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14 Shaenna
October 27, 2008 at 12:38 AM
I think I'm actually going to put fourth effort to watch this now.... Hahaha. My view is now in the opposite direction, from which it was(If that makes sense?). I also get to add Jung Il-woo on my hottie list. Not to mention my weakness for art..... I can't wait.....
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15 Angela
October 27, 2008 at 2:41 AM
This now made my "must watch list". Since I never watched the first one, maybe I'll wait till the subs come out and watch them both at the same time. That may be fun! ^_^
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16 abe
October 27, 2008 at 3:46 AM
I'm always surprised at how young Jung Hye-young looks. I've seen a couple of dramas now, that complexion.
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17 Amelia
October 27, 2008 at 4:58 AM
Oh...this looks way cool. Much better than the images from the SBS version. Looking forward to it!
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18 Sere
October 27, 2008 at 6:10 AM
Nice shot, nice pose, nice composition, but...what's that brown smudge around his shoulder? *scratches head* Ah well. The drama looks promising, though.
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19 haezi
October 27, 2008 at 8:35 AM
like some others, i skipped lee junki's highly touted iljimae because i couldn't stand the mask...it's something that may have worked when i was little and into the teenage mutant ninja turtles (did i just date myself?) but i just couldn't suspend my disbelief enough to buy the mask for a drama targeted to teens and adults. sometimes drama ratings can't account for taste (east of eden, anyone?).
so, yeah, i'm all into image and aesthetics as well (if one doesn't get how ridiculous something looks, then it's hard to have faith that he/she will see quality in the bigger picture).
anyway, jung ilwoo appears to have made a good career choice by going with this project rather than triple. sure, triple will probably be amazing, but this is a drastic image shift for jung that triple probably didn't provide. plus, can't complain about the new triple cast. hopefully, this drama lives up to the stills/posters.
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20 Bored..
October 27, 2008 at 8:36 AM
I got a feeling this will turn out better than the SBS version :D
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21 eclipse
October 27, 2008 at 9:09 AM
He`too hot!! And the actresses not so much...I just hope their chemistry will work...
So it seems this version`s costume don`t involve face mask, good! It would be such a waste to cover that handsome face,haha...
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22 MoreStuffFromUs
October 27, 2008 at 9:15 AM
You know, I'm with you. I'm really liking that promo poster
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23 puela
October 27, 2008 at 9:29 AM
I have to admit it looks darn good.. cant wait for it.. hope its the same in the drama.. and not so much ps hehehe
Junki u will always be my pretty Iljimae .. but why does Jung Il-woo makes me ... ... :P
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24 Bradamante
October 27, 2008 at 2:26 PM
@ haezi:
Your speech is very interesting, haezi.
The concept of suspension of credulity, within the visual language, is a double-edged sword, because not always the recipient is able to perceive what you have described the sense of ridiculous shape. If that happens, however, most likely a "mask" could not attract so irresistible to convince everyone to look at and admire. Personally, I have not watched the drama of Junki, despite the "mask", because I have not managed to find interesting development of the script. And I do not know even if I watch this drama in which Jung Il-woo will act, despite the attractive "mask" of poster. When I saw the poster, this morning, I felt a strong connection with the sense of the trapped soul who rises from the original paper, but this connection is not enough, so I could love a story... I live with a strong sentiment to the contrary, what you have defined as the sense of ridiculous, so I wonder, continuously, the sense of an image. This solitary Vagabond will be a naked soul, as white space that contrasted with his form, then he will understand the truth of his character? If so, then another bird will leave his cage and fly in the sky. Freely.
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25 Gloria
October 27, 2008 at 7:32 PM
While the visuals for the MBC version of Iljimae look interesting and are aesthetically pleasing, I still think that the SBS version will be better.
The SBS Iljimae had a strong cast (except for Han Hyo Joo, who while lovely, is lacking in her acting ability.. not that her character gave her much to work with), especially Lee Junki! For sure, Jung Il Woo's hot (I like him a lot too), but I don't know if he's quite at the level as Lee Junki, in terms of acting anyway.. > w >;;
Like that'll stop the fangirls from watching it because the lead's hot.
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26 Gloria
October 27, 2008 at 7:35 PM
Forgot to mention this though. The SBS Iljimae version's script was a little weak, like mentioned before (though the action scenes were pretty cool * D *). <- The first episode just made me think "what???" the whole time. :D
In terms of plot, MBC may do better.
Eh. We'll have to see.
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27 sarah
October 28, 2008 at 2:05 AM
WOW
the poster totally blew me away...
we'll have to wait and see if MBC's version can beat SBS's version.
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28 iljimae1
November 10, 2008 at 2:05 PM
looks so good...cant waiiiiit! he looks good as iljimae!
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