Did Rain steal Lee Min-ho’s thunder?
by javabeans
It was big news when Lee Min-ho was cast as a womanizing PI in the kdrama adaptation of the famous manga and anime series City Hunter, which was hugely popular in the 1980s. So what has the production team suddenly worried?
Apparently, it’s the similarity of City Hunter’s distinctive Ryo Saeba character to Rain‘s lead character in currently airing drama Runaway Plan B, as well as the storylines of the two projects. When Runaway premiered, a lot of viewers noted the familiarity of Rain’s Ji-woo to the well-known City Hunter hero, with his detective occupation, incorrigible flirting with pretty women, and chic urban style.
The similarity itself isn’t the only issue, though; what makes things stickier is that Runaway, which got off to such a strong ratings start, has nearly halved its audience at the midway point. If it had continued to be a hit, perhaps there’d be less worry — just as one vampire/zombie hit is sure to spawn dozens of imitators — but with the first one faring poorly, there’s concern that the second would meet a similar fate.
There have even been rumors that the production is reconsidering its direction with City Hunter, and is waiting things out before making a final decision. Currently, the series is being planned for an early 2011 broadcast on SBS.
It’s an interesting dilemma. On one hand, there are tons of dramas out there with similar topics that get produced all the time, and sometimes it’s just a matter of certain trends emerging at once. For a while we had a spate of legal and medical dramas, which have since faded. Then you had 2009 as the year of the (failed) sports drama, focusing on everything from boxing to soccer to golf to figure skating. Heck, there were even two versions of Iljimae.
On the other hand, you can see where there is concern that the first drama will steal the thunder from all those that follow — remember Cinderella Man‘s lawsuit with Fashion King, or Style versus Magazine Allo? And even though MBC’s Return of Iljimae was vastly superior to SBS’s Iljimae in writing, directing, and acting, SBS purposely hurried their production in order to scoop MBC, aired first, and brought in the bigger ratings. (They also had the bigger star — Lee Jun-ki — which certainly helped.)
So, you can see the reason for concern. Lee Min-ho was a great “get” for this role despite his youth (at 23, he really is too young to play Ryo, imo), but now there’s a likelihood that everything he does would be compared to Rain’s performance — either he’d be called a copycat, or fall short of the comparison.
Still, Lee is taking an optimistic line, and on October 26 a rep from his management stated, “The character Kang Jin that Lee Min-ho will be playing is different from the original character in a number of aspects, and the script has not yet come out. I think you’ll find that Kang Jin is a fresher and more three-dimensional character than expected. These days, Lee Min-ho is busy preparing to express that character. Please don’t worry and look forward to Lee’s Kang Jin.”
As for me? I’ll be watching both!
Via Hankook Ilbo, TV Report
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Tags: City Hunter, Lee Min-ho, Rain, Runaway Plan B
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51 marni
October 29, 2010 at 1:44 PM
Plan B gets really really fun after the first two episodes. Not a big Rain fan but he is funny and cute and I love the fast paced, light comedy and serious moments.
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52 msau99
October 29, 2010 at 1:47 PM
Those who stopped after 1st few episodes of plan b may wish to continue.
The story line gets less cheesy and more packed and it's really great to watch!
All the best to LMH new drama too!
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53 free
October 29, 2010 at 2:41 PM
Lee Min Ho IS a better actor than Rain.
Why?
because LMH is good looking doing charming character on screen while Rain is ugly doing ummm... different characters as much as i can see him on screen
one question, can LMH pulls Rain's stupid overact expressions??
i would love to see him doing one, just to make sure he's that kind of actor who does not really care about looking good all the time.
i love those who gets ugly and give different character that opposites their original character in real life.
agree about Gong Hyo Jin being underrated, that girl is an amazing actress.
i guess in korea, beauty/good look does matter that much.
good luck to LMH anyway... !!!
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Skye
October 29, 2010 at 4:36 PM
I hope i am wrong but it seems like Lee Min Ho sometime cares a little bit to muchabout his look, the way he touched and fixed his hair during PT behind the sence and interview was very annoying .
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Moon
October 29, 2010 at 5:32 PM
I think Lee Min Ho is very good looking and talented.
I hate to say this but sometimes he looks too perfect and clean and somehow that kills my feeling for him.
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Prissypoo
October 30, 2010 at 7:33 AM
Re 'free':
Have you seen Lee Min-Ho's comical acting in Personal Taste's ep. 4 where he got diarrhea after eating some bad oysters? The drug store and bathroom scenes were hilarious (granted the background music was really cheesy) but it did show a pretty boy like LMH does do stuffs that aren't looking good all the time. In fact, he did some of them already in his early performance in like 'Mackerel Run' but obviously he was way green then.
So, when you asked 'Can LMH pull Rain's stupid overact expressions', I'd say not that he couldn't, LMH could actually make it better by doing it more 'naturally' and 'realistically' without being 'stupid' and 'overact'.
And then, when he does the more serious scenes that involve deep emotions, he does act those parts well too without being JUST a pretty boy. Sure, he can still hone his acting skills even more (like the way he walks which I do have some issues with), yet he's already showing tons of potentials and depths at this young age. It'll just get better when the wine ages with the right conditions. Obviously, being an 'eye-candy' never hurts either, right?
Yes, best of luck to LMH anyway!
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54 Pela
October 29, 2010 at 10:55 PM
Here's the thing about Rain in Plan B. He pulls of being that chessy, sleazy, goofball quite welll but when he spouts of his little factoids and explain how he deduced things, he is still believable. I think it's pretty talented to able to play ridiculous and smart at the same time.
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55 LizzyDy
October 30, 2010 at 7:07 AM
While everyone is busily discussing their acting skills and the merits of their respective dramas, I'll provide the shallow talk. Mr. LMH is very very hot and I would happily watch him peel potatoes (carrots are fine too, not picky over here) for 1 hr and 5 min twice a week. If he did this shirtless, I'd watch the reruns and buy the dvd as well. If his drama happens to be a good one too, that's just a bonus. heehee
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56 LizzyDy
October 30, 2010 at 7:18 AM
@free, did you just ask them to make Mr. LMH look ugly? Why? There are so many naturally unattractive ppl out there (some of them are on tv too), why can't we just appreciate the goods? I enjoy seeing pretty ppl on my tv screen. :)
On a serious note though, too often attractive stars who aren't particularly good actors make themselves ugly for a role and suddenly everyone is praising their "impressive acting skills". Beneath the bad hair/makeup, it's still the same actor who can't act, in my opinion. Whereas some amazing actors slip into their roles so easily that they get no credit for it. Just because it looks easy doesn't mean they don't have to work at it.
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Prissypoo
October 30, 2010 at 7:41 AM
@LissyDy:
Totally agreed!!! And like I pointed it out to 'free' earlier already, LMH actually did that those 'ugly' but funny scenes already and did it well, IMO.
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Prissypoo
October 30, 2010 at 7:42 AM
@LissyDy:
Totally agreed!!! And like I pointed it out to 'free' earlier already, LMH actually did those 'ugly' but funny scenes already and did it well, IMO.
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57 MsRetta
November 2, 2010 at 3:37 PM
ok I'll give this a shot.
In full house I was too busy looking at Kim Song Soo...the rest of the cast just got on my nerves most of the time. I found the story line just a bit much...anyway.....
BOF...I liked it but enjoyed the Japanese version much better..
and that's all I will say.
As for LMH..kudos for attempting to stretch yourself and take a role that goes beyond BOF genre. I think he wants to really be an actor not just a pretty boy...again kudos.
I will watch both, after all .....that's entertainment!
oooh..one last thing...aside from military duty where the hell ARE the actors? dont get me wrong the 'youngins' are cute and have potential but holy macaroni where's the 'beef'? the handsome, sweet, hot ( dare I say it) tried and true older men!!????
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58 grace, the one from Jersey, USA
November 3, 2010 at 2:51 PM
Excuse me......
But it's gotta be written on the paper ~ FIRST.
Could LMH, or anybody for that matter, agree to play
a role before the final script was (uh) finalized?
Why does Korean TV do this to itself?
Writing scripts.....AS.....a series is filming and airing?
Shouldn't people write "X" number of episodes with
possible extension episodes.....BEFORE.....they crank
up the cameras? And if unforseen accidents occur,
the whole story line goes kerbluey and/or the injured
actor has to return to filming before a full recovery?
Yeah, this sounds to me like a good plan,
as a way to run an important industry.
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59 Heethi
November 6, 2010 at 2:39 AM
I still wait Lee Min-ho in City Hunter....
Although there are some problems, but I hope the drama can be true....
I want watch Lee Min-ho in his transformation later in City Hunter. And, I really want to know who the girl will become Lee Min-ho's partner. I can't predicty whom, but I hope she is a unique and the cool girl.
I hope, City Hunter can be success and has high ratings...
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60 korean princess
January 14, 2011 at 6:53 PM
lee min ho is the best and great actor rather than rain...And Lee min ho is most handsome...saranghaeyo oppa min ho...ur the best..i love the way you smile you lokk and everything!!
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61 korean princess
January 14, 2011 at 6:57 PM
Since i watch Boys Over Flowers and personal taste..I like Lee Min Ho...He's acting are very unique...he's so handsome and tall..and he's a very simple korean actor...i like the most is lee min ho... not rain at all..
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62 Annn
March 20, 2012 at 11:37 PM
Is Lee Min HO's name in the City Hunter drama "Lee Kang Jin" Was it change to something like Lee Yun Sung?
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63 robin young
July 9, 2012 at 5:47 AM
i like lee min ho and rain but i like me also hihiih
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64 robin young
July 9, 2012 at 5:48 AM
and also korean movie songs
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