Baseball movie Glove releases to strong box office numbers
by javabeans
The baseball film Glove released this week and enjoyed the top spot at the box office, setting itself up for a strong theatrical run. And looking at the trailer and description, I can add yet another film to my growing list of MUST SEE NOWs.
Glove, which is based on a true story, unfolds around the neglected baseball team at a high school for the deaf. Jung Jae-young (Moss, Castaway on the Moon) plays a former pro ball player who comes to the school and takes on the challenge of coaching them to #1.
Glove opened on Thursday and beat out the second-place finisher by nearly double, which was Hollywood animated feature Megamind, last week’s No. 1. In third place was Cha Tae-hyun’s comedy Hello Ghost, while fourth and fifth were Hollywood films Love & Other Drugs and Season of the Witch. Within its first two days, Glove has drawn more than 160,000 admittances.
Its director is no stranger to box-office successes — Kang Woo-seok directed Silmido, Public Enemy Returns, and last year’s crime drama Moss — but this movie is in a different vein than those darker thrillers. Instead, Glove is a heartwarming human drama that has been drawing positive word of mouth with its humor and poignant moments, and has drawn some comparisons to another hit sports movie, Forever the Moment.
Here’s the trailer:
The preview starts out with the narration: “In our world, there is no sound. We can’t hear the referee’s voice, either. We don’t know the kind of sound a ball makes when it hits the bat. However, we can still shout, Fighting! We are Chungju’s Sungshim High School baseball team, ranked 53rd in the nation.”
Later as Jung gives his impassioned speech, he declares, “Our most frightening opponent is not an impossibly strong team — it’s the team that pities us. Don’t keep yourself turned inward any longer, but let loose!”
Oh man, the tears, they’re ready to let loose. Seriously, with that premise and cast? Hook, line, sinkered.
I’m not a huge fan of sports films, but when they’re done right, they have that magical ability to tap into our collective desire to root for the underdog — it gets me EVERY. Damn. Time. And you don’t get much more underdog-y than a motley team of deaf country boys without a baseball coach, who’ve been neglected and just wanna play ball, handicap aside.
The young team includes Kim Hye-sung (Boy Meets Boy, Unstoppable High Kick) as the eldest hyung on the team who plays catcher, and 17-year-old Lee Hyun-woo (God of Study). Others include Kim Dong-young (Mi-pung’s friend in Sons of Sol Pharmacy, the teenage father) and Jang Ki-bum (Jungle Fish), along with a host of new faces. Teachers at the school include Yoo Sun and Jo Jin-woong, both of Sons of Sol Pharmacy.
(I’m just glad they decided to drop the earlier nonsense about spelling the English title “G-Love,” which was meant to connote “great love” or “give love.” Considering how strong the movie looks without a gimmick like that, I’m relieved they left it alone.)
Via Mk.co.kr
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Tags: Jo Jin-woong, Jung Jae-young, Kim Hye-sung, Lee Hyun-woo (2), Yoo Sun
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1 Katey B
January 22, 2011 at 5:16 AM
After that intro I want to see it too:)
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2 peanut butter
January 22, 2011 at 5:28 AM
Forget the movie, I had tears watching the trailer. I am a true sucker for underdog movies.
So don't worry jb, they get me every time too!
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3 lovepark
January 22, 2011 at 5:58 AM
AHH! I'm so glad it's doing well! There are so many movies that are coming out that I want to see, but this one is definately near the top of the list! Jung Jae-young looks cool, and the baseball team is so cute! It's times like these that I wish I lived in Korea. sigh...
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4 crysalide
January 22, 2011 at 6:03 AM
The tears just starts flowing while reading the summary. loved Yoo Sun in Son's Pharmacy. And Kim Hye Sung + Lee Hyun Woo just addorable!
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5 Crit
January 22, 2011 at 6:06 AM
Funny how sports movies do so well... but sports TV dramas do so poorly. Off topic, just reedit Birdie Buddy and make it into a 190 minute movie.
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6 Kender
January 22, 2011 at 6:21 AM
Hate sports, love sports movies. (As long as they're about the team and not just one player, anyway.) They rank right up there with war movies on the bromance scale for me. ♥
And what a good trailer. I started doing the I'm-gonna-cry-omg-omg squealing towards the end. ㅠㅠ
I can't wait to see this, it sounds amazing.
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7 zaff
January 22, 2011 at 6:39 AM
this movie anywhere near TAKE OFF?? ; my fav sports movie of all time ...
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8 annie
January 22, 2011 at 6:57 AM
Is this the same actor from Someone Special? I LOVED him in that.
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9 crazedlu
January 22, 2011 at 9:55 AM
i just EAT this stuff UP. i love myself some underdog stories. the first mighty ducks. =D! and the cast and trailer.. amaaaziing.
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10 xylophonic
January 22, 2011 at 10:45 AM
Bring on the training montages :D I love those.
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11 f1yh1gh10
January 22, 2011 at 12:06 PM
oh my god..i wanna fly to korea just to see this! these are one of my favorite type of movies!!!! AHH!!!
LEE HYUN WOO I LOVE YOU!
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12 Ani
January 22, 2011 at 1:09 PM
They dropped the G-Love title, but the poster still has it spelled out as GLove. HAHA. I guess they were still trying to sneak it in. But yeah, Glove looks good and I will definitely be waiting to watch it. And I liked Kim Dong-young in Sons of Sol Pharmacy. There was something about him that made me wish he had more screen time. And looky! Brutus/Bruce FTW! Can't wait.
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Ani
January 22, 2011 at 1:17 PM
Oh yeah, and I like sports movies if they are done right, and especially if its about underdogs (which it mostly is). I mean there was: Remember the Titans with Denzel, Pride with Terrence Howard (and which was disliked because people didn't like hearing the use of the N-word and the cop booting Terrence's character... Here, this is the scene people couldn't stomach. WTH?! What? It's the truth ain't it? It's annoying for people to dislike a movie that has truth to it. Judge for yourselves guys: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxZ9SZnpauc), Angels in the Outfiled (1994), etc.
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13 keke
January 22, 2011 at 1:42 PM
GAH looks GOOD!!!
me wannnna seeeee^^
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14 tambok
January 22, 2011 at 2:08 PM
Jung Jae-young!!! My second favorite after Ahn Sungki. Can't wait to see this.
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15 Daniela
January 22, 2011 at 3:30 PM
I want to see this. I love this kind of movies.
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16 Anon106
January 22, 2011 at 3:55 PM
On board with you with feel-good underdog sportsmanship movies. I'll be looking for this!
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17 anais
January 22, 2011 at 6:11 PM
jung jae young - sexy beast
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18 favegirl13
January 22, 2011 at 8:22 PM
omg so heartwarming
the trailer gave me goosebumps
makes me want to see it more
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19 cancerb
January 22, 2011 at 11:23 PM
Take Off and A Barefoot Dream were the 2 sport movie that i give thumbs up,. and i think this one will make it to 3 :-D
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20 anagoshiki
January 23, 2011 at 5:11 AM
I watched Showbiz Extra's segment on this just this afternoon and I was crying so hard even my little boys were consoling me while throwing their own version of a glare at their father. I was happy (at the affirmation) and sad (for my husband) at the same time.
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21 anagoshiki
January 23, 2011 at 5:43 AM
After A Barefoot Dream, we have this. Ahhhhhh!
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22 Rexy
January 23, 2011 at 8:00 AM
That trailer left me teary-eyed, even before I read your little translation. Oh my....
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23 steph
January 23, 2011 at 8:30 AM
i watched this featured in Arirang tv's Showbiz Extra and i was tearing up already. This kind of movie gets me everytime too. On my must-watch list.
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24 Dani
January 23, 2011 at 4:03 PM
Watching an underdog sport film in theater is the worst. I cried at every little thing. It's embarrassing. Though it did teach me to avoid mascara when watching one.
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25 Cockle Doodle Doo
January 24, 2011 at 4:06 AM
Love LEE HYUN WOO!
A tad "tanner" here bcos of the powder sprayed (bronzer?) that's always used to spray in athletic movies... I prefer him with the just nice skin tone in God of Study more!! LHW HWAITING<3
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