SM SineAsia tells the story of Gangnam in Lee Min Ho starrer "Gangnam Blues"

A tale of two brothers who came from nothing, yet played crucial roles in developing what is now known as South Korea’s richest areas.

Korean superstar Lee Min Ho proves that he is more than just a pretty face -in Gangnam Blues, which opened at No. 1 in Korea early this year.

A film by star maker director Yoo Ha, it is the final installment in what is called Yoo Ha’s “Street Trilogy”, which began with Spirit of Jeet Keun Do in 2004, and followed by A Dirty Camival in 2006.

Just like its predecessors, Gangnam Blues is heavy on action. It shows Lee Min Ho doing difficult stunts and exhibiting hostile expressions.

From Boys Over Flowers this heartthrob has come a long way indeed with his first full length film.

Lee Min Ho takes on the role of Ragmen Jong-dae, an orphan who grows up in poverty, together with Yong-gi (played by Kim Rae-Won of the hit Koreanovela Love Story in Harvard), a friend who is more like an older brother to him.

When a new construction at their shantytown leaves them homeless, the two friends are recruited by a local gang for a sabotage plot, but
they get separated in the midst of chaos. Determined to leave behind his impoverished life, a more mature Jong-dae teams up with a local madame who has powerful political connections. The new partners are out to amass paddy fields in Gangnam before they become the new hub city of Korea. When their plan is discovered by another gang, Jong-dae meets his toughest rival — his long lost blood brother, Yong-gi.

“No matter what kind of film it is, action must exist to support the drama,” says director Yoo Ha about his method for directing action. In Gangnam Blues, the action sequences come out of the characters‘ need for survival. What can be considered a cut above the rest is the mud gang warfare scene which was created because Yoo Ha wanted ”to portray the fate of the two characters and their desperation as they fight and struggle in the mud. ”

For this scene, the crew members scouted for the right spot and covered the area with dirt. Importance was given to the scene’s authenticity, so it was shot with a steady camera, in long continuous takes.

For 12 hours a day for one whole week, 150 actors and stuntmen poured their hearts and souls into shooting this scene out in the rain. As the rain turned into mud, the shoot was excruciating for all involved. Without a stunt double, Lee Min Ho had injured his toe in the scene, and had to take morphine shots to be able to finish it.

To play the role of Yong-gi, Kim Rae Won had to lose 15kg, and successfully used his full body to express the sense of danger that his character exudes. The last time he starred in a gangster film was 8 years ago, in the movie Sunflower.

As Gangnam Biues hits Philippine theaters, viewers need not worry about language barrier because the movie is wonderfully dubbed in Tagalog.

Gangnam Blues is the first offering of “SineAsia, a joint project of‘Viva Entertainment, Inc. and SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Inc. to provide filipinos with premiere and never-before-seen Asian films that are Tagalized for a more enjoyable, viewing experience.

Aside “from exclusive features -in SM Cinemas and ‘Walter Mart Cinemas, SineAsia will take on various platforms to present‘ its‘ newest and ‘most unique line-up of Tagalized films from South Korea, Japan, _China, Taiwan and other‘ partsof‘ Asia.

Moreover, a SineAsia Theater will open in SM branches, beginning with SM Megamall, SM Sta. Mesa, SM Fairview, SM Manila, and SM North EDSA on March 4, to be followed soon by SM Bacoor, SM Iloilo, and SM Cebu. Especially designed for SineAsia—-films,” the SineAsia Theater will have an exterior that will emanate the authenticity of the oriental flicks to be played on the big screen. This is the first’ Asian Tagalized theater in the country.

From ‘Viva International Pictures, MVP Entertainment, and SM. Lifestyle Entertainment Inc. Gangnam Blues opens on March 4, exclusively in SM Cinema and WM Cinemas. Don’t miss this chance to see a completely different Lee Min’Ho and find a new reason to admire him even more.