Jason Behr - D-War #6: It's a huge success in Korea! Jason, KaDee & Cast Attend Premiere! - Page 14

LongTimeFan · 09-10-2007, 02:40 PM

While I was at my nephew's yesterday, I saw a couple ads on the G4 channel - it's a video game channel. We only watched the channel for about 20 minutes so obviously, they had that program sold if not more shows on that channel.

from New D-War CLIP comingsoon.net
ARTICLE

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New Tactics Aim to Make Korean Film a Hit in the U.S.

Los Angeles is terrorized in “Dragon Wars,” a movie that is based on a Korean legend.
By BROOKS BARNES
Published: September 10, 2007

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 9 — Korean companies like Hyundai and Samsung started as punch lines but overcame quality and distribution problems to become industry giants. Now, a film producer based in Seoul wants to pull off a similar trick in the movie business.

Freestyle Releasing
Hyung Rae Shim is the producer of “Dragon Wars.”

The producer, Hyung Rae Shim, is aiming a film squarely at American moviegoers, an ambitious and expensive endeavor called “Dragon Wars.” Hissing, computer-generated dragons terrorize Los Angeles as a television reporter unravels a mystery that will stop them.

Mr. Shim, the president of Seoul’s Younggu Art studio, said the proper formula would prompt South Korean pop culture to wash over the United States, as it has done in much of Southeast Asia and China in recent years.

“The secret is to move beyond the melodrama that characterizes so many Korean films,” Mr. Shim said recently through an interpreter at Younggu Art’s Los Angeles offices. “They don’t understand that to be commercial in the U.S., you need great action and effects.”

The film’s $30 million budget, which typically does not buy the kind of special effects that American moviegoers have come to expect, is thought to be the largest ever for a Korean studio. Based on a Korean legend, “Dragon Wars” features American actors (Jason Behr from “The Grudge” plays the lead) and has a large marketing budget, even by Hollywood standards. Unlike most Korean films, “Dragon Wars” was filmed in English and distributed in South Korea with subtitles, a controversial decision.

“Dragon Wars” will have its debut in the United States on Friday on 2,000 screens, a very large number considering most foreign films are lucky if they make it to a few hundred.

“Our goal is to truly establish ourselves here, and a limited release doesn’t get us that,” said James B. Kang, who runs Younggu Art’s Los Angeles operation.

Mr. Shim, however, is not just another foreign movie producer with high hopes of muscling into Hollywood. A well-known television and film comedian in South Korea — he calls himself the Korean Charlie Chaplin — Mr. Shim traded on his fame to secure financial backing from some of the biggest companies in Southeast Asia. He also has promotional support from Samsung and Sony.

Also notable is what Mr. Shim does not have: government money. Most foreign countries with a robust movie industry provide hefty subsidies to producers, and South Korea is no exception. But Younggu Art’s decision to film “Dragon Wars” in English made it impossible to obtain government funding.

Mr. Shim persuaded corporate titans to invest, in part by appealing to their sense of nationalism. Over dinner with a Samsung executive, Mr. Shim asked the company to play trailers for ”Dragon Wars” on its TV sets on display in retail stores.

“Something was going to be playing on those TVs,” Mr. Shim said. “Why shouldn’t it be Korean content?” As a result, Younggu Art’s dragons are roaring on more than 180,000 sets in shopping malls across the United States.

Still, Hollywood is hardly biting its fingernails in fear. While films with Asian themes are a growing business (the Weinstein Company in August announced a $285 million investment fund focused on the niche), South Korea’s recent efforts to export mainstream entertainment to the United States have failed.

Consider the Korean singer Rain. His heavily promoted arrival in America last year was a washout, and his tour was canceled almost before it started.

Some Korean movies have been heralded as successes, but the bar is low. “The Host,” an $11 million monster saga, was considered a success in the United States last year with just $2.3 million in ticket sales.

Eamonn Bowles, president of Magnolia Pictures, which distributed “The Host,” said selling Korean movies here carries significant risk. “Even if you have great reviews, these movies are not an easy sell because the market is so saturated,” he said.

Early reviews for “Dragon Wars” have not been kind. While praising its visual effects, Variety lamented its “Z-grade script.” A review posted on the movie Web site Rotten Tomatoes said, “I will petition for the makers of this movie to crawl under rocks.”

Also not boding well: some of the people working on the movie do not seem particularly proud of it. The Lakeshore Entertainment Group executive hired to market “Dragon Wars” refused to discuss it. The distributor, Freestyle Releasing, did not respond to multiple requests for an interview.

The picture’s strong performance at home provides comfort. After a month in release in South Korea, “Dragon Wars” has sold more than $60 million in tickets, according to Showbox, a movie distribution company in Asia.

The studio also thinks Korean pride will deliver big audiences, at least in cities like Los Angeles that have burgeoning Korean populations. To stoke that pride, Mr. Shim included a written message at the end of his movie, one that underscores his desire to make Hollywood his playground: “D-War and I will succeed in the world market without fail.”

The Philadelphia Inquirer

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Posted on Sun, Sep. 9, 2007
Our critics recommend...

Dragon Wars In this sci-fi fantasy based on a Korean legend, a mysterious force may be unleashed on the human race.

from The Hollywood Reporter

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Looking ahead to the weekend, three wide openers might help fuel interest in the early fall theatrical season. Those include New Line's Billy Bob Thornton starrer "Mr. Woodcock," Freestyle Releasing's Korean actioner "Dragon Wars" and Warners' Jodie Foster-toplined thriller "The Brave One."

from Yonhap News

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D-War to hold U.S. premier in downtown Hollywood

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 8 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's science fiction blockbuster "D-War" will hold its U.S. premier in downtown Hollywood, industry sources said Saturday.

Sources said 400 guests have been invited to the Egyptian Theatre for the screening of the movie on Thursday.

The flick, called "Dragon Wars" in the U.S., will open in 2,000 theatres across the country the day after the premier event, the largest release for a Korean film in the country.

The action movie, which has drawn fire for its weak plot, has nevertheless received enthusiastic support from South Korean moviegoers because of its very detailed computer graphics.

The movie, about a legendary Korean dragon called "Imoogi," stars American actors.

Director Shim Hyung-rae and the cast are to attend a reception after the screening.

from The LA Times

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The fall season heats up Friday with three wide releases: the thriller "The Brave One," starring Jodie Foster; the comedy "Mr. Woodcock," starring Billy Bob Thornton; and the creature feature "Dragon Wars," a big budget South Korean production.

from PE.com

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"Dragon Wars" -- Like "Reign of Fire" without the talented actors, this flick has the mythical beasts return to Earth to create havoc. Next up from these producers: "Unicorn Conflict." Sure, you may think they're not as dangerous as dragons, but you've never been on the wrong side of that horn.

The Dragon Wars site has added a new Jason wallpaper.

There's a much higher res size to download - this is just one of the sizes available.

There's also a little game you can play where you can shoot down one of the dragons. It's called Bulco Hunt.

And I found this site... sorta like a myspace... Flixster

And more about the Sculpture giveaway.

**Crystaline** · 09-10-2007, 05:33 PM

Thanks for the articles and tidbits! The new clip looked interesting. Kinda like a scene in Transformers...which is basically the audience they want to attract.

Nice wallpaper!

Love that shot of Jason's blowing hair.

NightSlash · 09-10-2007, 08:03 PM

I have seen so many commercials for this on USA it's unreal. One every single commercial break of Raw (Wrestling program), and sometimes twice. Unfortunately it was always the same one, so it got a bit boring seeing the same footage, hehehehe.

**Crystaline** · 09-10-2007, 08:13 PM

Tell me about it! They oughtta add some new footage in each TV spot. Spice it up a little.

Btw, how craptastic was the last segment of Raw? Hornswoggle? Seriously?

Punkrocker · 09-10-2007, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crystaline (View Post)

Tell me about it! They oughtta add some new footage in each TV spot. Spice it up a little.

Btw, how craptastic was the last segment of Raw? Hornswoggle? Seriously?

So...Vince had sex with a Leprechaun? Euw. Just, euw.

At least it's getting pushed a lot. But a bit of variety in the footage shown would be nice, in such a short amount of time.

**Crystaline** · 09-10-2007, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Punkrocker (View Post)

So...Vince had sex with a Leprechaun? Euw. Just, euw.

At least it's getting pushed a lot. But a bit of variety in the footage shown would be nice, in such a short amount of time.

Uh, yeah. Ew indeed.

True. The TV advertisements have been plenty. And it started a week ago. That's great.

Sylvia37 · 09-11-2007, 04:51 AM

Interview with Craig Robinson (Ethan's camera man) for Dragon Wars:

MovieWeb Interview with Craig Robinson

Craig Robinson discusses working on his first grand scale, CGI film

Known for his comic turn as the bouncer with a heart in Knocked Up, and TV roles in shows like Arrested Development and Curb Your Enthusiasm, Craig Robinson can now add enormous, CGI disaster movie with his turn as a cameraman in Dragon Wars (D-War).

Based on the Korean legend, unknown creatures will return and devastate the planet. Reporter Ethan Kendrick is called in to investigate the matter, and he arrives at the conclusion that a girl stricken with a mysterious illness named Sarah is suppose to help him. The Imoogi makes its way to Los Angeles, wreaking havoc and destruction. With the entire city under arms, will Ethan and Sarah make it in time to save the people of Los Angeles?

Robinson recently called us to discuss the film and his career.

Could you describe your character Bruce in Dragon Wars (D-War)?

Craig Robinson: Yeah, I'm a cameraman who's good friends with the reporter, Ethan (Jason Behr), who's the star of the show. I love him but I do think he's crazy because he believes in this Imoogi legend that he heard as a child. I'm like, "Dude, you should let it go by now, come on. We're grown men, stop thinking about a girl and the snakes and dragons."

What was it that attracted you to Dragon Wars (D-War)?

Craig Robinson: Well, they sent a DVD of some of the CGI that had been completed and some of the battle scenes that had been done. It was just like, wow, how in the world are you going to fit me into that? Hell yeah, I want to be a part of this. It was just an exciting ride from start to finish.

Going back to what you said about the CGI, what's it like having to act with things that aren't really there? Is that where you just let the imagination really take over?

Craig Robinson: You hit the nail on the head, yes, it's all about imagination and timing. The hardest part would probably be the timing, when and where the monster strikes or screams. The imagination was just, you just let go and do what you do, normally, as an actor. I imagine 24 hours a day we're all just going off on different characters and imagining what's going on around us when there's nothing there.

You said you saw the CGI in the early stages, what'd you think when you saw the final film?

Craig Robinson: It was magnificent. You're gonna see some things you've never seen before, monsters fighting each other, it's going to be grand. It's a very grand scale thing.

What is it about disaster films that really seem to be catching fire with people? You have Transformers that did really well... why do you think it seems like people want to see this kind of thing?

Craig Robinson: Who just doesn't want to knock stuff over? Knock the computer off the desk and let out their frustrations? We get some solace in seeing it done before us. Everybody goes to the movies and you get yourself in the character's shoes, you get to go away for a little while. I don't know if it's the timing of it but that's the way I feel.

What was your favorite part of doing this film?

Craig Robinson: It would be... can I get sappy? Can I say making the friendships and getting cool with everyone; Jason Behr is my brother. It was just a great experience all around. Going over to Korea to premiere the movie seeing Seoul, that whole part of it, and seeing how they get down over there. Then there's talk of going to Japan to premiere it. It's just an amazing ride from front to back and I'm looking forward to seeing it do well here in the states and whatever else we've got to do with it.

It seems like you're very comfortable doing comedic material, did you see doing Dragon Wars (D-War) as kind of a nice change of pace to that? Now you have a big, disaster, knock things over film on your resume?

Craig Robinson: It's actually to get some different looks going, you know? Now I have my fantasy, action genre covered. Dragons, snakes and monsters so it was cool. I have some comic relief in there and so do my buddies Billy Gardell and Retta. So it's entertaining all the way through.

What do you have coming up next? I know you're doing The Pineapple Express, that sounds awesome.

Craig Robinson: It is. We've got to wait until August 8 of next year for it to come out but that should be right on time with the way Apatow's productions are going. I got Wild Card coming out around Christmas. I play a singer. I'm on the internet, "Mr. Robinson's Driving School" on MSN.com. You should check it out.

Dragon Wars (D-War) comes to theaters in limited release on September 14 from Freestyle Releasing.

**Dreamer 4 Ever** · 09-11-2007, 08:48 AM

Awwww You gotta love Craig

Jason's girl16 · 09-11-2007, 10:31 AM

I'm so excited

i want to seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee him

**Crystaline** · 09-11-2007, 12:30 PM

Aw, what a sweet thing to say. During the press promotion in Korea, you could really see the camaraderie and great rapport between them.

LongTimeFan · 09-11-2007, 03:28 PM

Good interview, Sylvia! Here's another one.

INTERVIEW - UGO

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Craig Robinson Interview
By Troy Rogers

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"There's also an evil snake that if he connects with the girl, he will turn into an evil dragon and destroy people."

Craig Robinson is best known to most fans as Darryl Philbin on the American version of The Office. When the Korean monster movie Dragon Wars: D-Wars hits theaters on September 14, a new crop of fans will be introduced Craig as Bruce, Jason Behr's wisecracking cameraman. As the buzz for this latest Asian import picks up speed, we took a call from Craig to get the lowdown on Korean dragons, the story, how fans can avoid the comparisons to Godzilla, and his upcoming role in Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen's Pineapple Express.

UGO: What did you think when you first read the Dragon Wars script?

CRAIG ROBINSON: Wow, you're taking me back now. It was like three years ago. The first thing we saw... they sent this little demo of what they had been shooting with the CGI. That's what initially attracted me to the project, because I was like, "Whoa, this is some crazy stuff. Where do I fit into this?" I liked the story, you know, so it was cool to be dealing with a 500 year-old story and tradition.

UGO: The traditional story is fairly complex. How would you describe it for those who don't know?

CRAIG: This is a story about a gigantic snake, 500 feet long, that once he connects with this girl he blossoms into a beautiful dragon, a good dragon that protects the universe. There's also an evil snake that if he connects with the girl, he will turn into an evil dragon and destroy people. So an evil general wants the evil snake to get the girl and that's where we come in. I'm Ethan's cameraman. Ethan is a reporter for a news station played by Jason Behr. He's ordained to protect this girl from the evil snake so that the good snake can get to her and she can be sacrificed.

UGO: As far as creatures go, fans will see Dawdlers, Bulcos, Imoogis, and Dragons. How do you see them all from a story standpoint?

CRAIG: They're the evil general's minions and he calls them out to wreak havoc.

UGO: How can fans avoid the obvious comparisons to Godzilla?

CRAIG: It's hardly a rip-off of Godzilla. First, with the look we're using Eastern dragons and I don't think it's the same as what we've seen before. It's also a complete story. It's a tradition story, a love story, and then we have the snakes and all of the other monsters chasing people through downtown L.A.

UGO: Do you have a favorite type of dragon, either Eastern or Asian?

CRAIG: You know, when I grew up all of my dragons were fire-breathing and the mission was always to slay the dragon. So this was different for me because I was actually cheering for the good dragon to win.

UGO: How tough was it to work with all of the models and animatronics, or was it mostly green screen?

CRAIG: Green screen, and it's really about using your imagination. The toughest part is the timing of where the beast yells and you want to be right on top of it, but the toughest part for me was imagining a 500 foot snake.

UGO: What was it like working with Shim Hyung-rae? Is he different from most American directors?

CRAIG: Absolutely in the fact that he doesn't speak a whole lot of English. But he had a lot of passion like a lot of American directors. He just took the thing on his back and from the first meeting he was always 100% positive about the project.

UGO: Since the film did so well in Korea, is there talk of a sequel?

CRAIG: I would say, yes, since that's usually the way things go and I don't see why not. We always joke about it, but we've been joking about it for three years now. As far as officially hearing about a sequel, I haven't heard anything.

UGO: Why do you think Asian monster movies are so successful? I mean, we have a hard time doing them on this side of the ocean.

CRAIG: I think they're just way more into it than we are, because a lot of people ganged up to see this movie in Korea. It's going to be interesting to see how it does over here because people are saying they can't wait for D-Wars to come out, but I just don't know how many are anxious to see what we've done.

UGO: Dragons with rocket launchers on their backs is a pretty cool sight. What else can fans get excited about?

CRAIG: Well, did you see the part where the flying serpent flips under the street sign and gets the helicopter? It's a cool sight and the battle scenes in Korea and the two snakes fighting, it's crazy. I don't want to give too much away, but you're definitely going to see really cool stuff that you haven't seen before outside of the trailer.

UGO: Outside of Dragon Wars, your character in Knocked Up was awesome. You're teaming up with Seth Rogen and Judd Apatow again on Pineapple Express. What can you tell me about that movie?

CRAIG: Pineapple Express is a thrill ride from front to back and it's going to be crazy. I don't even know what to say because it's unlike any other movie. There are shades of Scarface and Cheech and Chong, it's that wild. It's a wild, action-weed comedy. Actually, I'm also doing another project called Mr. Robinson's Driving School. It's at Mr. Robinson's Driving School, you should check it out.

**Crystaline** · 09-11-2007, 06:48 PM

Thanks for the article!

MyrnaLynne · 09-12-2007, 07:08 AM

Finally saw some 'Dragon War' commercials - you would think they'd at least mention/show Jason and the girl briefly, instead of just the CGI!

I told Mr ML that movie we have to see is coming out this weekend, and showed him the commercial, and he actually was psyched about it - finally a Jason Behr movie that's his kind of film!

LongTimeFan · 09-12-2007, 08:15 AM

Another new CLIP. Looks like it's toward the end of the movie so beware of it being spoilerish!

And another CONTEST GIVE-AWAY... looks like two more sculptures are available from moviesonline.ca.

Quote:

Dragon Wars Collectible Contest!
Movie D War Posted By: Michael / Source
Related News : Action Movie News , Movie Contests , Fantasy Films , Horror Movie News ,

We have a brand new super cool contest for the upcoming sci-fi monster flick Dragon Wars. We have 2 collectible hand crafted sculptures! Specially commissioned for Dragon Wars, the Imoogi limited edition collectible sculptures were all be completely handmade and given a special tag number. The Imoogi, a majestic Korean creature, is the embodiment of holy spirits before they turn into dragons. To enter this contest is simple. Email us at contests@moviesonline.ca your name / address and we will pick 2 winners.

A brand new exclusive clip for Dragon Wars went online earlier this week. Dragon Wars Good vs Evil is a new clip that is pretty darn cool. Go check it out. This film is set in the Chosun dynasty, 500 years ago, and New York City in the 21st Century. One special girl was born in the Chosun dynasty with the power of the Dragon Ball. The villain, Imugi, attacks the land in an attempt to get the Dragon Ball and to possess its power, but a fighter appears to protect the girl. 500 years later, the girl and the fighter are reborn in 21st Century New York, and a new fight is about to begin.

FROM IGN

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Babe of the Day: Amanda Brooks
Putting the D-licious into D-War.
by IGN Babes

September 12, 2007 - 500 year-old dragons won't be the only things heating up Los Angeles when the South Korean film Dragon Wars hits American theatres this weekend; director Shim Hyung-Rae's fantasy-action film will introduce American audiences to Amanda Brooks, a twenty-five year-old beauty from London, England. Brooks plays Sarah Daniels, the female lead and love interest of star Jason Behr (of TV's Roswell.)

Veteran actor Robert Forester (Jackie Brown) also stars alongside Brooks and Behr in Dragon Wars, which is reportedly the biggest budgeted South Korean film of all time. The film has already been released in South Korea, where it has grossed over 44 million dollars, and movie analysts are expecting this magnum opus to be that country's most successful film export of all time.

You can also catch Amanda Brooks in 2008's Stiletto, which will costar Tom Berrenger, Tom Sizemore, and William Forsythe, among others. Her first major American film role came in 2005's Flightplan, starring Jodie Foster.

You know, I saw Flight Plan, and looked for Amanda because I knew she was supposed to be in it, but I never did see her...

Dragon Article - mentions D-War too

And an unkind (P)REVIEW.... I don't think this guy actually saw the movie - just the trailer. He should watch the film first and give it a chance.

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‘Dragon Wars’ Trailer: Like Michael Bay, But Cheaper!

The Tagline: "On September 14, something extraordinary will turn our world into a battlefield."

The Translation: All expense has been spared to bring you this sci-fi/action hybrid.

The Verdict: You know when you're at the grocery store, and you're about to buy some salsa, and your eye wanders from the big names of Pace or Paul Newman's to the dusty store-brand salsa that costs $1.79 a jar? Well, Dragon Wars looks to be the action-movie equivalent of Safeway Salsa. This Korean import, about mythological dragons on the loose in contemporary L.A., shows in its trailer that it offers everything you might find in, say, a Michael Bay movie, except cheaper.

Where Bay would cast Shia LaBeouf and Anthony Anderson as the hero and his wisecracking black buddy, D-War (as it's called) stars Roswell's Jason Behr and The Office's Craig Robinson. Where Bay would spend $100 million on impeccable special effects, D-War seems to have created its dragons and explosions on the director's kid brother's laptop. And where Bay would have hired a half-dozen writers to hammer out a laughable, superfluous screenplay, D-War's director Hyung-rae Shim does it himself. In a way, D-War is honorable in its total chintziness, but — as with store-brand salsa — we'd be awfully nervous about dipping in.

**Crystaline** · 09-12-2007, 04:15 PM

Thanks for the new clip! It was pretty cool. As for the review...nothing new. Granted, Shim is no Michael Bay, but I think he'll prove himself.