Rain takes Hollywood movie The Prince as comeback role

83 November 26, 2013

Rain takes Hollywood movie The Prince as comeback role

by javabeans

Rain is out of the army and heading back to work, skipping Chungmuro to head straight to Hollywood with a movie called The Prince. He’ll get to show off some action moves as he stars alongside Bruce Willis and John Cusack in the Brian A. Miller-directed thriller.

The plot unfolds as a former mob enforcer (Jason Patric) finds himself confronting old enemies when his teenage daughter disappears and he returns to Las Vegas to try to find her. Bruce Willis takes the primary villain’s role as the guy who’s got an old score to settle with Patric, while John Cusack plays the hero’s friend and retired mob guy. Rain plays a character named Mark, but his role has not been described.

The cast also includes 50 Cent, Jonathon Schaech, and Gia Mantegna. For such a list of big names, the film’s budget is a modest $15 million, which is hefty by Chungmuro standards but assuredly not by Hollywood’s.

The Prince will be Rain’s first film since the aviation action movie R2B: Return to Base, which he shot before enlisting in 2011; before that he had his Hollywood debut with a supporting role in 2008’s Speed Racer, then took the lead in the Wachowski brothers’ 2009 action movie Ninja Assassin. I actually think he did his best acting work in his earlier or lesser-known projects (I’m a Cyborg But That’s Okay, Sangdoo Let’s Go to School, and Runaway Plan B, for instance), but I guess once you go Hollywood, that’s all anybody will talk about.

Rain was discharged from military service earlier this summer and was a recent performer at the MAMA awards on Mnet; he announced that he will be making his K-pop comeback in January and has an upcoming album release planned. Filming on The Prince begins next month in Alabama; the film aims to release in 2014.

Via Chosun

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Tags: Hollywood, Rain

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1 pogo

November 26, 2013 at 9:39 AM

Rain+Lee Kyung-hee is always my favourite combination for him, despite the endings of those two dramas.

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2 Mama J

November 26, 2013 at 9:46 AM

My Beloved! Come to me!

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pogo

November 26, 2013 at 10:48 AM

I'm sure there are a few of us on standby to take the, er, excess off JoAnne's hands **coughmecough**

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katmoo

November 26, 2013 at 11:52 AM

You speak the truth, sister!!

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LoveSilents

November 26, 2013 at 12:15 PM

ohmygawd you guys - so funny!

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DayDreamer

November 26, 2013 at 4:56 PM

Especially if the excess includes Lee Jun Ki, Kim Woo Bin, and Lee Jong-suk. *sticks out grabby hands*

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Mama J

November 27, 2013 at 3:03 AM

I love all those boys but have never had grabby hands for Lee Jun Ki (it's ok because my grabby hands for The Woob more than make up for that) - however I have NEVER referred to any of them as My Beloved. That title has always belonged only to Rain.

And yes, I think Lee Jun Ki is a man, not a boy. He just doesn't do it for me, grabby-hands-wise, other than some brief moments in TBDaW.

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kimheami

November 27, 2013 at 1:14 PM

YES!! Time Between Dog and Wolf was probably my favorite Lee Junki that I have watched.

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korazylady

November 26, 2013 at 12:24 PM

JoAnne, I feel a road trip to Alabama is in the making

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GoldenDiva

November 27, 2013 at 3:44 PM

I have the gas money?

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Mama J

November 27, 2013 at 3:00 AM

Rain is my original Beloved. I filled in while he was off doing MS.

and if they all come, well, I am woman: Hear me roar.

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titiwi

November 27, 2013 at 7:14 PM

funny, I have dibs on the overflow.

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3 HeadsNo2

November 26, 2013 at 10:06 AM

Go Rain! It's raining!

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Cynthia

November 26, 2013 at 1:35 PM

True! The magic that is Rain never gets old - watched him at the MaMa Awards doing his pre-army songs and he KILLED it!! Hip Song is stuck in my head and I'm not unhappy....
❇♥❇

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4 charlene

November 26, 2013 at 10:06 AM

Hoorraaay! my two favorite actors are in one movie. what a great treat! Bruce & Rain ! love it!

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5 snow_white

November 26, 2013 at 10:13 AM

I loved Rain in Full House and Fugitive Plan B....I don't know when he'll do his next drama...

Anyway, I like Bruce Willis and John Cusack a lot...and with Rain as well, this movie might be fun.

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6 spazmo

November 26, 2013 at 10:30 AM

i have to put in a SQUEEEE...

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7 dany

November 26, 2013 at 10:33 AM

I like Bi the actor better than Bi the singer or dancer. I think he is really talented but Hollywood does not seem like the best idea. He can not pronounce English very well so he will mostly be chosen for action movies. Anyway, I wish him good luck.

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pogo

November 26, 2013 at 10:50 AM

I know, he gets far better roles in Chungmuro/dramas. Hollywood doesn't really seem to give him that same scope to really show off his acting talent.

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iamdeb

November 26, 2013 at 8:48 PM

Hollywood goes full on derp when it comes to utilizing non-white actors. It's a very prejudiced industry.

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pogo

November 27, 2013 at 6:57 AM

American tv does MUCH better than Hollywood with allowing non-white actors to play more than the token minority, though it isn't perfect by any means.

But I do think foreign actors, esp. those without fluent American accents, are at an even greater disadvantage when it comes to Hollywood derp.

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titiwi

November 27, 2013 at 7:37 PM

Rain, who use to be my fantasy candy is a big fish in his little pond, no one is forcing him to go anywhere that will discriminate against him. Money talks, cronyism only take you so far in Hollywood, if you cannot bring in the crowds you will be dropped like a hot potato, hiring the best actors that will result in the highest returns is not bigotry. Can you see Americans sitting through 90-120 minutes in a theater to listen to dialogue that they cannot understand. The majority will not watch a subtitled film. because it is too much of an effort to read the text. One should criticize fairly. Hollywood is America's movie center, no one can fairly criticize them on the foreign actors they hire, I am certain that we all see the caliber of the roles given the non-Asians in Asian productions. Most Caucasians women are portrayed as loose, loud women, shall I go on. really.

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pogo

November 28, 2013 at 11:56 AM

If you want to be 'fair', then consider the fact that the American population is a lot more ethnically/racially diverse than Korea, and that is not even close to being accurately reflected in their films and television (better in tv than film, but still). Money talks, but there is racism behind the logic too, and it applies to non-white American actors more than anyone else.

windsun33

November 29, 2013 at 1:19 AM

I agree - for all the surface talk about how wide open Hollywood is to minorities, if you look at what they actually play.. well not so much. Maybe I have a bit of a jaundiced eye, but way too much I see all blacks in gangs or as cops, all Asians as martial artists, all Indians as running a Circle K, and all American Indians as mystical beings that are expert trackers. Anyone from the South is a redneck, anyone from California is a scatterbrain... (that may not actually be a stereotype :D).

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8 Shadow-chan

November 26, 2013 at 10:35 AM

Hehe, I always thought that I had never seen Rain in anything... then I found out that he actually played the main character in Ninja Assassin xD
(Which I enjoyed, I confess. And damn, he was hot.)

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Mama J

November 27, 2013 at 4:59 AM

Scorching. Ninja Rain is not a sustainable option though - his body can't take it indefinitely, and neither could ours.

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9 Z

November 26, 2013 at 10:53 AM

So, I'm in the minority of people who saw Ninja Assassin just for Rain and ended up loving it. The only other person i know who liked out was the guy I saw it with. That said, I think I'll be skipping this film. John Cusak as an ex mobster? 50 Cent as anything? No thanks. I'll about 87% sure that Rain's character description will boil down to Token Asian Guy. Most likely he'll be the Silent Muscle who coldly kills while "Fitty" monologues in broken street lingo. If I want to see bad acting and horrendous stereotypes, I'll rewatch the first two episodes of Heirs.

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Adal

November 26, 2013 at 11:17 AM

Hey...

Don't knock John Cusack. I happen to be a huge fan of his and I think he'll be good in anything he does. I'm looking forward to witty reparte between Cusack and Willis. I also think the exposure will do Rain some good, maybe pave the way to do a comeback in Korea, when people's ire dies down....

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Z

November 26, 2013 at 2:43 PM

As a child of the 80s, I am required to love John Cusack. Still, I'm never excited about him in any kind of tough guy role. If he and Willis were on the same side and got to bromance it up, I might be interested. But mobster revenge films (isn't that redundant? what mobster film isn't about revenge?) have never been my thing. Still, I'm happy for Rain to be getting Hollywood roles. I would love to see more crossover in both directions!

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Pirie

November 26, 2013 at 11:22 AM

LOL... you are sooo accurate about "token asians" in Hollywood movies. Until Asians join Hollywood with lots of money and power, there will continue to be stereotyping Asians as only KungFu guys, dragon ladies, and FOBs... Asian-American actors still have it tough, although Lucy Liu is opening the doors a tiny crack now.

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Z

November 26, 2013 at 2:50 PM

I saw an awesome documentary about this very issue on PBS some time ago. Can't remember the name, though. It's so hard for any minority to get a non-token role in any kind of mainstream movie or television show. Actors and actresses have to walk that line between taking whatever jobs are available and avoiding being continuously typecast.

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Kiara

November 26, 2013 at 3:41 PM

Ken Watanabe is very much respected and loved in Hollywood but it took him a while to get to where he's at. He's got Nolan and Eastwood, David S. Goyer etc on his side and have worked with some of Hollywood's best actors.

Out of the FOBs, I think Bae Doona has a future there.
I hope Lee Byeong-Heon will take the Watanabe route and get into the Hollywood circle, making connections with the right people.
I think Jeon Ji-hyeon is better off doing K-movies. She was awesome in Thieves and Berlin File. Blood: The Last Vampire did not do well.
Rain, I'm not a fan of his acting but he does action well so I don't know /shrug.

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Z

November 27, 2013 at 9:49 AM

Ah yeah, I forgot about Ken Watenabe. BUt still... he gets very "Asian" roles.

Lucy Lui is one of the few Asian actors who can get non-Asian roles (what I mean by that is characters who's main trait is not that they are Asian). The only other ones I can think of are maybe Kal Penn and that dude from the Hangover movies... and Mindy Kaling, but that is because she writes her own material.

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Kiara

November 27, 2013 at 11:49 AM

Not sure if I can explain this but as for Ken its different. Take his character in Inception as an eg. Nolan basically wrote it for him so if Ken was an American his character would be an American and if he was a German his character would be a German business man. He gets roles because he is Ken Watanabe not just because he is Asian.
Goya is the writer for the Godzilla remake and he is doing the same thing that Nolan did by creating a character especially for Ken.
Martin Scorsese and writer Cook wrote Silence back in the late 1990s with Ken in mind. Its still in preproduction
but it's set for a 2015 release.

I think that kind of success is amazing where he is being recognized for his acting abilities and Hollywood is writing Asian roles that doesn't always involved action.

windsun33

November 29, 2013 at 1:30 AM

The Japanese actress (Rinko Kikuchi) in Pacific Rim was not a stereotype, but that is one of the few I can think of where they were not.

windsun33

November 29, 2013 at 1:27 AM

There are a few Korean actors that are actually American or at least were raised there, and speak perfect English. But their chances of getting some non-stereotype role is pretty low.

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AnotherFan

November 26, 2013 at 12:26 PM

LOL. And agree with everything you said there..

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10 The Real CZ

November 26, 2013 at 11:01 AM

This is probably the best decision for him to make. Koreans are still pissed off at him for taking time off to go and bang Kim Tae Hee while in the military, and there have been plenty of people clamoring for Rain to have to do another two years in the Army like Psy did. I figure that this may have factored into his decision to do something in Hollywood as opposed to doing something in Korea and facing that backlash.

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11 queencircles

November 26, 2013 at 11:10 AM

Ong if they all came to her at the same time ... that might be what heaven is .

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12 cc101

November 26, 2013 at 11:38 AM

anyone know where in Alabama he is going to be filming and when, i can't believe a Kpop star is coming to my state

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Lightrain

November 26, 2013 at 12:20 PM

Omo... it looks like they're going to filming in Mobile (according to the article Eva Lee linked below), which is right near me. O.O

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cc101

November 26, 2013 at 6:28 PM

i just started college in mobile, when???? omg i'm freaking out now where did you find this info

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TerriKR

November 26, 2013 at 6:54 PM

The Hollywood Reporter reported the locations. At some point I guess it will end up in Vegas, because it's about a Vegas mob enforcer.

Very excited for Rain.

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TerriKR

November 26, 2013 at 6:53 PM

Yes, Mobile, Alabama. I think the film will be in New Orleans at some point too.

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Stacy

November 27, 2013 at 5:28 AM

I live about 70 miles from Mobile, so you can bet your sweet *&(*^^ I'm gonna find a way to sta...er, try to see him in person. I might even try to see Bruce Willis and John Cusack too, ya know, since they'll be there. :)

My friend in Pensacola is a bigger Rain fan than me and she's been freaking out for 3 days since she found out the news LOL.

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13 Eva Lee

November 26, 2013 at 11:38 AM

Okay, so sad that I live in Mississippi, not Alabama, but for you fans who live in Alabama...
11/25/2013

CASTING CALL

Seeking actors of all different types for a feature-film to be shot in the Montgomery area on December 2nd through December 18th.

Interested parties can submit their headshots and phone numbers to [email protected]

AND...

http://www.projectcasting.com/casting-calls-and-auditions/the-prince-starring-bruce-willis-and-50-cent-open-casting-call-in-alabama/

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Lightrain

November 26, 2013 at 12:28 PM

This is so tempting...

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14 Carinne

November 26, 2013 at 11:47 AM

Hollywood likes the great distinction in characters. Happy for Bi as always.

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15 LangitBiru

November 26, 2013 at 11:58 AM

Oppa can do no wrong! Anyway, I love his acting as much as his 'Hip Song'.

I still remember when I watched Ninja Assassin in the cinema. My and my friend the only people that laughed when the scene he been captured and the other guy said he is too pretty and can be idol instead...

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16 howforwardsale

November 26, 2013 at 12:26 PM

Reporting, from Birmingham here. I just want to see Rain in person. Is that too much to ask? Thanks for the heads up dramabeans, you're making dreams come true.

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cc101

November 26, 2013 at 6:41 PM

i just moved to mobile because of college and this is the best news ever.

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17 Ann

November 26, 2013 at 1:39 PM

I love Mobile, I used to live there. But how are they going to make it look like Vegas?

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18 Quiet Thought

November 26, 2013 at 2:25 PM

Goodness, I'd forgotten there was actually a movie by that name and thought it was a running Internet gag. Well, I wish the guy luck.

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19 Kiara

November 26, 2013 at 2:33 PM

I hate it when Asian actors are being type-cast in Hollywood. It's always the freaking action roles.
I hope this is just a stepping stone to something greater.

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20 Abbie

November 26, 2013 at 2:38 PM

I've never been a big fan of Rain for whatever reason, probably because the first thing I ever saw him in was Ninja Assassin and that movie sucked. To me, anyway. I probably should check out more of his films and dramas. This movie sounds okay, and I like Bruce Willis a lot. I'll check this out when it's released, but I get the feeling Rain won't be in it much. Overall, the story doesn't sound like something I would normally watch, but I'll see it anyway to support Rain and because Bruce Willis is awesome.

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21 Noelle

November 26, 2013 at 3:16 PM

I will watch anything with Bruce Willis so consider me on board. See you soon Rain and heres to hoping Mark is a character that will stand his own.

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windsun33

November 29, 2013 at 1:33 AM

Yeh, but he is the bad guy this time. That is not supposed to happen.

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22 ok

November 26, 2013 at 3:57 PM

maybe Rain will play an undercover cop... I love Rain but will not watch any of his Hollywood movies. maybe I'll make an exception for this one since Bruce Willis is in it. (I just rented Red 2 with bruce willis and LBH tonight. just wanted everyone to know) Anyways, I hope he practices his English more and that he'll have a translator when doing interviews. Anyways, Go RAIN!

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JoJo

November 26, 2013 at 4:07 PM

Rain's English is ok...heard him on a few interviews. At least he's not afraid to speak it, like some others.

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Ok

November 27, 2013 at 6:27 AM

I saw rain's interviews too and even though he can speak it okay it was hard for me to watch because he didn't understand what the interviewer was asking and just answered the questions. So the answere were off and made no sense. I felt bad for him because it is a bit embarrassing.

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23 myra do

November 26, 2013 at 4:27 PM

We're waiting for HIS comeback on KOREAN drama, he is one of the great Korean Actor we would always looking forward to. Hope it will materialize soon.

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24 DayDreamer

November 26, 2013 at 5:02 PM

I liked Rain in the two dramas I saw him in (Full House, Fugitive Plan B) so I'd like to see him in more Korean dramas than in Hollywood. I guess in the meantime, I should watch his other works like A Love to Kill. Is that any good? I feel tempted to watch it but I something's putting me off.

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Jensredshoes

November 26, 2013 at 8:12 PM

Watch Sang-Doo, Lets go to school! His acting in that role was heartbreaking! Love his acting first, the singing and dancing are like added fun. :)

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Mama J

November 27, 2013 at 5:02 AM

He was fantastic in that drama, which remains the benchmark for breaking my heart.

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a_diva

November 26, 2013 at 8:13 PM

rain was actually quite good in A Love to Kill, and WAY too sexy for his own good, especially in the beginning. in the beginning, he had this dirty, scruffy, five o'clock shadow look going on that was much more attractive than it sounds, lol. his performance, though, was excellent.

the drama was too melo for my taste (i'm personally not all that fond of kdrama melos--the misery is a bit too intense for me) and it was a pre-2007 drama, which tend to have a different vibe than more recent dramas (imo). but having said all that, i managed to sit through all 16 episodes & enjoy them. the girl from Secret Garden who played oska's ex-girlfriend was in a love to kill and she was much more likeable there. shin mina is in it too & the cute second lead from Flower Boy Ramyun Shop was in it as well and both gave ok performances.

rain was the clear stand out though so if you want to see him flex his acting chops, i'd recommend you watching A Love to Kill!

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DayDreamer

November 27, 2013 at 7:30 AM

Thanks guys, for the recommendations. I'll get started on them then. :)

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spazmo

November 27, 2013 at 11:39 AM

i highly recommend I'm a Cyborg, But That's Okay -- rain isn't afraid of doing kooky characters. he was adorable in this...

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TerriKR

December 10, 2013 at 5:20 AM

Yes. A Love to Kill is Rain's best drama, as far as I'm concerned, with Sangdoo Let's go to School being a very close second.

Be prepared for a terribly sad ending though. Gut-wrenching, in fact.

Terri :-}

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25 eny

November 26, 2013 at 6:06 PM

I like full house but not really like his acting, i guess he could do action because he's dancer. I always see asian actor just gat small role in hollywood except the big name from china like jacky chan, Chow yun Fat n Jet lee. I guess the problem is not because of their english but their filmografi. That chinese actor already make many popular good movie before they go to hollywood.

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26 Barbara Starks

November 26, 2013 at 6:34 PM

Ninja Assassin for me confirm that Rain can be very successful in Hollywood once he nail down English the sky is the limit it not about acting because he has a lot of growing but he has the other key point such as hotness.

There is not one movie that Bruce Willis made I didn't love! I also think that Jay Park should try acting I find him to be funny and sexy, it that swagger that makes him sexy....

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27 a_diva

November 26, 2013 at 8:21 PM

is it bad that if i could manage to drive to alabama & make it home in time to get the kids from school & the sitter, i'd be on location every single day stalking, i mean visiting, bi?!

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Peeps

November 26, 2013 at 8:31 PM

No. At least you still remembered your kids.

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hanie

November 26, 2013 at 8:35 PM

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28 hanie

November 26, 2013 at 8:35 PM

After his MAMA performance, I'm actually excited for his comeback in January.

This movie, I'm thinking it is the standard action movie, lots of fights, explosion with so-so plot. I'll watch it. I mean, I watched ' a good day to die hard', so ..... yeah...

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29 emma

November 27, 2013 at 1:40 AM

i must say rain must hv made some good friends in us when he was there.i am amazed at e speed that he got offered a hollywood film.good for him.

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30 Rose

November 27, 2013 at 2:15 AM

so happy and looking forward!^_^

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31 Ok

November 27, 2013 at 6:29 AM

That's it im quitting my job and going down to alabammy!

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32 TIma

November 27, 2013 at 6:58 PM

I love Rain. He is a very good dancer. but I hate full house and most of his dramas .I will watch anything he is in anyway!

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33 OPN

November 28, 2013 at 1:58 AM

Yeah, USD15M is actually an indie budget.

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windsun33

November 29, 2013 at 1:39 AM

The budget for Catching Fire was $130 million.

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34 Stephanie

November 28, 2013 at 5:47 AM

I was at the MAMA awards (front row!) and I didn’t go crazy when I saw BIGBANG and the other acts because... well. I don’t know - they were ok but their performances felt kinda rehearsed and.. bah. But Rain.. dear Lord. When he came on, I went totally crazy! And out of all the performers that were there that night, the very best was Rain! I am actually a big BIGBANG fan but they have no charisma on stage.. it’s all MV special effects. Whereas Rain... is just something else! The original, non-imitatable and only!
(off to watch Full House for the 3rd time)