I was also confused by the labelling... Maybe a month ago I got excited about "My Sassy Vampire" (credit for the cute descriptor goes to an unknown commenter, not me), and I looked up the details, but I couldn't find any connection to "Hollywood." I wish she hadn't said anything about Hollywood now... I hope this story just goes away and people just let it go.

Hollywood 2009 debuts ...

- Lee Byung Heon’s G.I. Joe (as the masked martial arts expert Stormshadow),

- Rain’s Ninja Assassin (as a martial arts expert Raizo),

- Jang Dong Gun’s The Warrior’s Way (as the martial arts expert Yang)....

Well, better martial arts experts... than nothing, right?

hm...OT but I think Laundry Warrior was a more interesting title than The Warrior's Way_>

all of them are such typical 'asian' movies -.- that's all people think about; MARTIAL ARTS and FIGHTING. eh i guess it's a start though at least...

Yeah, I hope people aren't too hard on Jeon Ji-hyun. However, until this post I had no idea her movie was NOT actually produced by Hollywood, so I guess the press has been pretty misleading.

@LadySaotome: Officially, it was. But I think Rain's (excuse me, THE Rain's) management is purposely trying to position Ninja Warrior as his "official" debut since Speed Racer was such an abysmal failure. But if he doesn't succeed this time, his Hollywood debut will be considered irrefutably unsuccessful, since he's the lead. And unfortunately, things do not seem to boding well for the movie, as the release date keeps getting postponed,

I am so glad they changed the name to The Warrior's Way. Laundry Warrior sounded so ridiculous. Looking forward to watching JDG on big screen. Can't wait to see his dark intensity play off against Kate B's delicate blonde beauty.

It is a bit of false advertising, but I don't think it's Jeon Ji Hyun's fault. Anyhow, hope the netizens won't be too harsh on her now that everything's cleared up. Must say I think Jeon looks lovely in the photo, really like her wavy hair there.

i think it's all the same... as long they will release in US...she's sooooo pretty!! ^^

With respect to the three guys above, I think that Rain and Lee Byung Heon are playing Japanese ninjas and Jang Dong Gun (for the Laundry Warrior / The Warrior's Way) is likely to be playing a Chinese guy (given the tinge of historical flavor of this movie to old Westerns with Chinese immigrants running laundries....)

Three of Korea's biggest male stars, and its 2009, and the best that Hollywood can do is suit them up as two ninjas (one entirely masked) and an amorphous "asian" warrior named Yang with tinges of David Carradine roaming the American West as Kwai Chang Caine. To be fair though, I think that Jang Dong Gun is supposed to be the world's greatest swordsman, and so I'm not exactly sure what discipline of martial arts that could be (thereby identifying the country of origin).

***

I really want Blood: The Last Vampire to succeed though, regardless. I hope that the Korean media quietly quietly drops the reference to "Hollywood" and then I hope that everybody just goes out and sees the movie, even if they dislike vampire movies.

I can completely understand them :O

On another note, thank goodness Jang Dong Gun's movie is changed to The Warrior's Way instead of Laundry Warrior (Whoever thought of that title to begin with?)

Hopefully there will be a film about Korea ^^;;

Really would like to know about Jang dong Gun being the 'world's greatest swordsman.' that is quite a statement and would like to know what branch of the art is involved. Does he do all the fighting in the film.?

Must say I was much impressed with JDG in the film 'TYPHOON' with Lee Jung Jae. No swordfighting there but mighty battles between them with knives. Great film I have watched several times.

In Japan Takuya Kimura is a kendo expert and has enough credits to be a teacher. He does a pretty good job of fencing in his drama 'Love and Honour' Worth watching also.

@12, Peggy -

My understanding from scouring the internet for clues, is that JDG is the world's greatest swordsman and he has fled "Asia" as a fugitive with the baby of his most hated rival, the baby which represents the last of the bloodline? (I tried finding out where i got this information, but I can't find it anymore). Is it set in the future? Set in the past? I have no idea anymore. Zhang Ziyi was supposed to play the female role, conflicts made her pass and so the role went to Kate Bosworth and a re-write was done. My current understanding is that JDG ends up in a badlands America small town, meets up with a drunk (Rush) and a circus performer (Bosworth), each with bad secrets and abuse in their past, and together in an unlikely alliance they save the town from invading evil guys?

Am I the only one who looks forward to G.I. Joe? Regardless of the role LBH's plays (cos, you know, it's LBH *insert fangirly squee*), the clichés and the lameness of the plot, I still want to see it. I can't possibly be the only one?

@Samsooki
Netizens are peculiar. If they like the movie, they'll forget ALL about her mentioning Hollywood instantly. If they don't like it and/or it tanks, they're going to bring that up again and again. So I wouldn't get my hopes up, if I were you.

@14, Sere -

You are not the only one looking forward to GI Joe. That movie and Star Trek are the two movies that I have to see this year. GI Joe might not break any box office records, but my guess is that it will hit $150M gross, and, with commercial tie-ins, action figures, lunch boxes, McDonald's GI JOE happymeals, etc., GI JOE revenue might hit $500 million even before Blu-ray and DVD special edition sales. Having LBH being part of that, even if he is entirely masked, is a good thing. So I hope they don't kill Storm Shadow in the first movie. Maybe LBH can remove his mask at some point in a sequel.

With respect to Blood: The Last Vampire, I don't want to put any more pressure on Jeon Ji Hyun's movie than is already being heaped on this project (not that I can do anything regardless), but I really hope it does well.

Thanks god not only me who thought this. I think korean's media exaggerate in all their star who play in hollywood or in production which one of the maker ever been something in hollywood. Sorry not being harsh. They should see other asian nation which has their star that famous in hollywood AND REALLY PLAY in hollywood With MAJOR ROLE but they not overreact like korea. Just think this name Slumdog millionaire, Freida pinto, Dev pattel, Last samurai, Ken Watanabe with his golden globe nominee, Gong Li, Aishwarya Rai etc. If those actor who will "debut in hollywood" already at least as famous as them you can exaggerate them. It bit ironic why nobody exaggerate their star which their skill already "well known " Outside. Like Jeon do yeon, Seol kyoung goo , Song Kang ho etc. Too bad

What a lovely picture of JJH. She looks so pretty.

Speaking of azn reprezent, I'm looking forward to Up. I believe that adorable looking boy scout is asian? Anyway, that and Okuribito (Departures) with Masahiro Motoki. For those who liked Flowers for My Life, you might like Okuribito too.

i am looking forward to this movie...don't like the vampire concept movie that much...somehow i think this movie will gather a cult following hope it will be release soon in the states...oh..also, looking forward to "Thirst"

Last Blood already has quite a big cult following behind it, if the film is in fact very good then it could be a surprising hit.

Just put it Hollywood is run by very small minded people. Oh btw GI:Joe not going to watch it. They got rid of A Real American Hero and changed it to UN. So not going to watch that crap. Damn you Hollywood!

The film has an official US website (http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/bloodthelastvampire/) and I've seen a massive poster for it in 2 UK cinemas. I liked the anime and one of my favourite actors is in a supporting role, so it's on my to do list for June!

I think that Rain and Lee Byung Heon are playing Japanese ninjas and Jang Dong Gun (for the Laundry Warrior / The Warrior’s Way) is likely to be playing a Chinese guy

Nice to know Hollywood thinks all Asians are the same....

and the best that Hollywood can do is suit them up as two ninjas

.....And that we're all Ninjas!

Right before I came to your site I saw a trailer for it on the t.v, so the movie is being promoted in the States.

Also IMBd has it being released in July....

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0806027/releaseinfo

@ Samsooki
Maybe they should rename JDG's film to "The Last Cowboy" :)

@ Kobe
I actually don't mind casting Asians of one ethnicity to play another. I feel this type of thing might help foster a pan-Asian unity.

* * *

To be honest---and this will seem harsh---I really start to lose interest in the Asian actors who stay in Hollywood too long.

Since I'm used to seeing them as dynamic, amazing actors, but once they go to Hollywood, they become so one-dimensional and flat.

Chow Yun Fat is the biggest example. In his Chinese films he is such amazing actor. And even when he acts "cool" he has these great and intense moments that convey a lot of emotion. But all of his Hollywood stuff is just so painful to watch.

So whenever I hear of an Asian star trying to "change their career path" I feel saddened by it.

"Three of Korea’s biggest male stars, and its 2009, and the best that Hollywood can do is suit them up as two ninjas (one entirely masked) and an amorphous “asian” warrior named Yang with tinges of David Carradine roaming the American West as Kwai Chang Caine. To be fair though, I think that Jang Dong Gun is supposed to be the world’s greatest swordsman, and so I’m not exactly sure what discipline of martial arts that could be (thereby identifying the country of origin)."

@Samsooki

Did you really expect any better (granted, the whole English-speaking thing doesn't help)?

The bigger travesty is the continued lack of opportunity for Asian-American male actors in Hollywood films (tho, it has improved slightly).

*******
"Thanks god not only me who thought this. I think korean’s media exaggerate in all their star who play in hollywood or in production which one of the maker ever been something in hollywood. Sorry not being harsh. They should see other asian nation which has their star that famous in hollywood AND REALLY PLAY in hollywood With MAJOR ROLE but they not overreact like korea. Just think this name Slumdog millionaire, Freida pinto, Dev pattel, Last samurai, Ken Watanabe with his golden globe nominee, Gong Li, Aishwarya Rai etc. If those actor who will “debut in hollywood” already at least as famous as them you can exaggerate them. It bit ironic why nobody exaggerate their star which their skill already “well known ” Outside. Like Jeon do yeon, Seol kyoung goo , Song Kang ho etc. Too bad."

@ Clarice

Uhh, Slumdog was not a Hollywood production, but an indie British production.

Jet Li, Jackie Chan and Chow Yun Fat are all limited to kung fu/wuxia/action flicks.

Watanabe is limited to playing playing roles in films set in Japan (or w/ a historical take) or the typical Asian male "bad guy" role.

I'd hardly consider Aishwarya Rai appearing in the crappy "Pink Panther 2" (a film which LOST $$) to be any big breakthrough - and as usual per Hollywood, she was coupled w/ a WM character.

Same goes for Gong Li who in her few Hollywood roles has either played the typical AF love interest part or some semblance of it.

Now, I'm certainly not saying the fare for Korean actors are/have been any better - it's all pretty much the same old martial arts or love interest of a WM character.

She looks soooo pretty in that picture!!! Whatever the buzz is, i hope she does well. Ill watch this movie. ^-^

Re: Martial Arts....
I really dont mind if Asian actors play the role of any Martial Arts guru, as long as it's a juicy part.... not just a 1-minute scene shot (i hate that!)....

Asians and Martial Arts.....Yeah!!!! We are good at it and we look superbly awesome doing it!!! Really!

Ninjas?! Cool!!!!

The Hallyu Wave, though all good and mighty, is getting a bit out of control. It seems Korea is obsessed with getting Korean celebrities and products big in America, as if it were some ultimate stamp of approval. I wish it wasn't as superficial as that.

@25, bd -

Have I expected any better? No, I guess not. I'm more or less just shouting at the rain. To be clear though, male Asian stars and male Asian-American "stars" are really two separate species entirely, and have two different issues... even if they end up in the same types of roles over and over.

Asian stars don't necessarily translate well, because culturally, what makes them popular in Asian may not make them popular here.

Jessica brought up Chow Yun Fat, and like many Asian-American guys, I grew up on The Killer, Hardboiled, A Better Tomorrow, City On Fire, God of Gamblers.... (my gosh, how many great movies has this guy done...) and Chow Yun Fat's characters in these movies tended to be flawed, extremely intense, brutal, blind to everything but his own code, and therefore ultimately, tragic. Not really translatable into the type of hero that American audiences would cheer on.

That cultural divide, and the omni-present language barrier, really makes for a hard sell for Asian mega-stars to make the leap, even though these stars have enough juice and carry-over starpower to overcome image issues.

...which is why martial arts characters are the easiest and biggest pigeon-hole to stick them in, if and when they do cross-over.

***

On the other hand, Asian American actors have no cultural divide, and have no language barrier, but have been thus far unable to overcome the image issue, except again, in martial arts roles...

(sometimes, though, it's a good thing. Like, I am a huge fan of Al Leong, an Asian-American actor who has played the same role for more than 20 years - starting with his role as an "Asian-looking-thug" in two episodes of the A-Team, to "Endo" in Lethal Weapon and "Uli" in Die Hard, then again as an "Unnamed Asian gangster" in Big Trouble in Little China, as Genghis Khan in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, and as an "Asian weapons master" in the Scorpion King....)

I guess what I want is an Asian-American to push through and play a normal guy doing normal things, and not have that be anything interesting. Make him have a love interest, doesn't matter what ethnicity, and make him likeable, strong, smexy and successful.

When I see that... well, I'll be happy(er).

@bd : i don't care whatever role their takes, even if it only kungfu, wuxia or Bad Guy if their acting Superb so What!!!.. i mean being Fame in Hollywood.. Seems they ( korean Star ~ or the agency ) are obsessed with " Fame " that kind You know Those Actors and Actresses Have in Hollywood

but from the very start i read somewhere that they announce this is a jp-hk-france production that will be distributed in us. (argentina i have no idea). i think the pr is to blame

"i don’t care whatever role their takes, even if it only kungfu, wuxia or Bad Guy if their acting Superb so What!!!.."

@ clarice

You may not care, but other people do, since the images they portray affect how Asian-Americans are viewed by society (i.e. - the "perpetual foreigner", the "sneaky Asian", etc.).

As for "fame" - I don't think Korean actors are seeking fame as much as a bigger paycheck. The same reason why so many British and Aussie actors leave home and go to Hollywood.

@ Nadia

JJH was never marketable in the US - no one outside of a very small group which watches Korean/Asian films have ever heard of JJH.

And uhh, JJH's film career started 10 yrs ago and in that span, she has done 7 films (8 if you count "Blood"), w/ 2 of them being quite recent in 2006 and 2008.

JJH could have done 20 films in that span and it wouldn't have mattered - most Americans would still have no idea who she is, since only a very small portion watch foreign films (and for those who watch Asian films, it's even smaller).

"Blood" likely doesn't have a release date in the US probably b/c it's not very good or it's the type of film only hardcore manga fans would like (the fact that it's been continually delayed does not bode well).

the trailer
http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/news/topnews.php?id=10444