Joo Sang-wook and Yang Dong-geun face off in The Punisher
by javabeans
Joo Sang-wook has a new movie coming out this week, and he’ll once again take a sharp departure from his most recent role as an ultimately warm-hearted doctor in Good Doctor (well, he was friendly underneath the curt, professional surface) to go darker for the new project, titled The Punisher. I do think Joo’s pattern of alternating nice roles with hard-edged ones (Giant, Feast of the Gods, TEN, Good Doctor) is a solid career strategy, and one that keeps him from getting stuck in any one type of role.
The Punisher is about two men who were once bully and victim in high school, who then meet again twenty years later. Yang Dong-geun’s (Hero, I Am Sam) character was the cruel antagonist in youth, growing up wealthy and fiercely antagonizing the poor kid. Despite the harassment, that poor kid grows up fine into adulthood, until the chance encounter with his tormentor stirs up old feelings—the former bully is now a successful businessman with a doctor fiancée, while the victim had to struggle to get where he is. Thus Joo Sang-wook opts to avenge his old wrongs.
It’s an interesting setup that makes both characters victims and instigators, and blurs the lines between antagonist and target, good guy and bad guy—or maybe they’re both bad guys? Caught up in a world amidst violence, crime, drugs, and murder, both men are described as “turning into two monsters.”
More than anything this kind of movie is dependent on an equal (and intense) match-up between the two leads, and I think the actors are up to the task. Their characters are certainly drawn as direct opposites, which is also reflected in the posters. The first two are flipped images of the two leads, with Joo Sang-wook’s tagline reading “It has to torment him to death to be revenge!” while Yang Dong-geun’s reads “It feels like [expletive] to run into me again, doesn’t it?”
In the second set of mirrored posters, Joo’s says “Some memories never erase” while Yang’s reads “I have to cut out the things I don’t want to remember.” The movie’s subtitle tells us: “2013’s most violent duet.” So… I’m going to guess bromance and tears aren’t in the cards for these two, then.
The Punisher opens on October 30.
Via FNNews
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Tags: Joo Sang-wook, Yang Dong-geun
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1 ricky
October 28, 2013 at 2:16 PM
This is probably the best hairdo Yang Dong-geun has ever had in a drama. Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. I'm a fan of his music and acting; I'll be sure to check this out.
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ricky
October 28, 2013 at 2:17 PM
excuse me *movie
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Bengbeng
October 28, 2013 at 10:58 PM
i totally agree!!! I was about to say, i never saw YDG this handsome and spiffy =). Yeah, it must be the hair, thanks for pointing it out, Ricky.
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S
October 29, 2013 at 5:56 PM
I thought he reminded me of someone...and it just clicked.. PSY! hahaha
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2 Angélina Eang
October 28, 2013 at 2:21 PM
So, that's why they were guesting together in Running Man :)
Well, gotta say that most movies that were promoted there, ended up doing pretty well (it's a coincidence though but still !)
And yeah, when JSW guested in Happy Together, he talked about his acting and said that he acted for 15 years but has become known for only 3 years. When he was still a nobody, he was doing acting gigs the week and part time jobs the week-end. But because he played manager/CEO/execute so many times, he felt he was typecasted and so decided to take new role like in TEN or Good Doctor which is great for an actor. At least for me, I wasn't a fan but seeing his passion for acting, you just can't help but respect and admire him ;D
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Angélina Eang
October 28, 2013 at 2:26 PM
Gosh', so many movies to add on a list which is already HUGE. Plus, I have to wait for the subs to come out. Being an international fan is sure hard but so grateful to all the hardworkers out there :D
I like the storyline. In a way, I thought that their future would be the complete opposite that when they were bully and victim but it does look interesting.
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Ivoire
October 28, 2013 at 2:43 PM
I agree! The storyline and the trailer look and sound interesting. I like that the guy who was victimized seriously wants revenge, and he means it. YDG looks very scary, but in a good way. Quite an intense movie, to say the least.
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Kiara
October 28, 2013 at 2:30 PM
I didn't notice him until Queen Seon Deok. It helped that he played the Prince Charming Wolya. I have seen all his work since then and I'm glad he is having success.
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Elise
October 28, 2013 at 5:51 PM
Speaking of typecasting, there's this grey haired ahjussi that's always a member of the board! I mean call a board meeting and he's sure to be present! Its like a running gag, though nobody's laughing!
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rhienz
October 29, 2013 at 2:38 AM
yes, i agree with u about this grey hair ajushi.. recently he casted as one of the board who attended a meeting with
Kim Tan's father, KT n KW in ep 6 of Heirs. and i noticed it immediately :)
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3 Kiara
October 28, 2013 at 2:24 PM
Yang is scary good here. I'm happy for Joo Sang-wook, he seems to know how to pick great projects.
I need a warm fuzzy drama to watch so I'll watch these two next year lol.
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4 ida
October 28, 2013 at 2:43 PM
kyaaaa - Yang Dong Geun~
I fricking love that man (as an actor of courseee!)
back to the movie set up - i agree, what an interesting thing to play with. I admit I haven't seen anything that has managed to compltely successfully achieve that wonderful blur of a line between the identities/positions characters hold in terms of the plot. (p'haps that's just cos I'm pretty much a film newbie...)
at any rate, it's perked my interests, and also really got me at the feelers to watch Ruler of Your Own World again.. :')
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5 Arhazivory
October 28, 2013 at 2:44 PM
Dayum. I wanna see this one so bad.i love these two and the posters are bloody fantastic.
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6 Quiet Thought
October 28, 2013 at 3:01 PM
Further proof, as I was saying last week, that it is HELL to be rich in Korea. I'm surprised most Chaebol don't give all their money away and become monks.
Looks like a good flick, though.
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soprection
October 28, 2013 at 6:03 PM
Well, to be fair, being rich anywhere brings its own set of problems. Obviously not having to worry about money is a great burden off of one's shoulders but it's always bothered me how so many people seem to assume that rich people can't/don't have legitimate problems just because they don't have to worry about money. Financial concerns are only one (admittedly widespread) type of problem in the world. And many rich people often do worry about money - just in a different way from most regular folks.
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Quiet Thought
October 28, 2013 at 6:53 PM
Yep. And along with everything else, you can hire someone to play the violin while you tell people all about how unhappy you are.
I'm going to keep repeating that line until someone in Korea steals it and uses it as a blurb on a movie poster. It's a natural.
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7 Perrie
October 28, 2013 at 5:29 PM
I literally just finished watching them on running man! Can't believe Yang Dong Gun is the same guy from Heros (didn't recognize him in RM) he looks so handsome in hero and here as compared to his shaggy hair, lololol
I have a confession to make. I am completely in love with Joo Sang Wook, lol. The first time I saw him was in Thorn Birds but didn't really pay attention to him till recently (I'm thinking of watching giant so I can see him, HJE (my fave actress) and lee beom soo in one drama)
Anyway, he's just so...cool and funny and has a really charming personality. I love how he takes up serious roles and then when you see him on variety shows he's so talkative, lmaoo!! I really enjoy seeing him and wishing his future endeavors the very very best!
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Perrie
October 28, 2013 at 5:30 PM
I could do without the mustache though
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Momo
October 28, 2013 at 5:59 PM
awww I know how you feel. He is just so friendly and funny and cute on Variety dramas/interviews, it is just LOL everytime I see him breaking his serious roles with his funny personality.
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DayDreamer
October 28, 2013 at 6:00 PM
He is AMAZING in Giant. That's all I will say because anything else will spoil it for you. And of course, Lee Beom Soo is a major plus. So really, go watch it. It's long but excellent.
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nina01
October 28, 2013 at 6:36 PM
He was. He made that character so believable.
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nova611
October 29, 2013 at 5:48 AM
i really really him him in GIANT
Yang Dong Gun is also good in I am Sam
makes me remind off of the old Lee Min Ho & Park Min Young
before they become big, become couple and broke off
lol~
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8 eny
October 28, 2013 at 7:01 PM
interesting story, wanna watch it
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9 jam
October 28, 2013 at 8:37 PM
the RM episode with them was really funny! hoping their movie is gonna be good. too much of a waste if it isn't.
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10 korfan
October 28, 2013 at 8:57 PM
Joo Sang-wook! ...... He has this way of making whatever he's in quite interesting.
He also has a talent for picking roles ..... whether it's a small role or the main character, you watch him when he appears on screen. I'm glad he mixes it up.
Wishing him all the best with this movie!
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11 Lily
October 28, 2013 at 11:58 PM
I love Joo Sang Wook.
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12 Deliane
October 29, 2013 at 1:38 AM
Absolutely loved Joo Sang Wook in TEN so am super excited for this movie. If only they were subbed consistently...
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13 kitto
October 29, 2013 at 2:24 AM
JSW is so awesome!! I love watching him in variety show. He's totally different from the characters that he potrayed in his movie/drama. <3 <3
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14 gaeinalee
October 29, 2013 at 6:58 AM
JSW ♥♡♥ YDG ♡♥♡
I dream to see JSW face off WB in dark movie.. I would be ecstatic, over the moon, if they could act together in such movie.
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15 Cam
October 29, 2013 at 9:13 AM
Oooo, it's impressively interesting & I love these pictures of 2 sizzling, handsome men ~ DAEBAAAAAAK!!
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16 sisiorchid
October 29, 2013 at 10:47 AM
Woah! This is intense, man!
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17 kakashi
October 30, 2013 at 3:12 AM
oh!!!! I so want to see this ....... and then, I want to see Joo Sang-wook in TEN3, thank you
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18 Marilyn
December 24, 2013 at 12:55 PM
Joo Sang Wook is a fabulous actor. I hope and hope and hope he'll get more and more wonderful lead parts in movies and that his career will continue to soar. He's an excellent actor and multi-talented too ~ I adore him in the variety shows where his personality comes out. Adore his laugh, his frankness and just about everything about him. This is one person I look forward to watching every time. Hotness personified in a very nice way!
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