#jang dong gun

[gizkasparadise]

master list of all PPTs (will link all arthdal ones here)

[dangermousie]

I love this!

[beatrixacs]

I need a Tagon databank with every single gif and every single still of every single scene he is in so I could cure my unhealthy obsession with this man…

Jang Dong-gun, you sexy beast, what have you done to me?

[tifa-and-rinoa]

"Your name can tie you down like a spell".

® Arthdal Chronicles

[passionforfiction]

Arthdal Chronicles

The first season of this fantasy story hits close to home. It depicts the cruelty and greed of villages that have the resources, food and technology to take advantage of others. The story doesn't waist time, the first episode starts with the Arthdal leaders asking the Neanthals to become part of their power. The Arthdal are afraid of the peaceful but strong Neanthals and pretend to negotiate, knowing they are not interested. And what do they do? The Arthdal leaders trick their own people and kill the Neanthals in order to take their lands. Asa Hon learns this when she is in the middle of the attack, and in order to safe Neanthal children, she leaves with a child and Ragaz, with whom she later has children with.

Arthdal continues to annihilate weaker villages, taking them as slaves for hard labor. It is Tagon, an Itgu in hiding, that makes all this possible for Arthdal. And even though he is loved by the village as a hero, his father and other leaders are trying to find ways of killing him, including making Mihol's daughter, Teaelha, into a spy. Even though Tagon is cruel, there is an innocence to his longing to be loved and accepted by the people. His relationship with Teaelha is of a love stronger than their ties to their families and interests. And even though we don't like what he does, some times we do wish him success in his endeavors and fight against the Arthdal leaders for power.

But it is the story of the Wahan Tribe that reminds us that Tagon and all Arthdal are cruel and greedy people that have no respect for others. This is a peaceful tribe in a far away land. They are more like Neanthals in their believes but they are also prejudice against Itgus like Eunseom, whose mother leaves him there before she dies. Eunseom's only true friend is Tanya, the daughter of the priestess and scientist of the village.

It is almost impossible to reach the place but Tagon and the Arthdal leaders find the way to reach the land, it takes them 10 years to reach it and less time to destroy it and take its people as prisoners and slaves. Here we see the struggle of these people who get separated, sold into slavery and fight with each other and their enslavers in order to survive. But it also shows the Wahan people mesmerized by the innovations and way of life in this civilized village.

Tanya ties Eunseom to her by naming him her dream and he will do anything to save her, but destiny takes them into two different paths. These two characters are also very naive, their innocence and sense of justice is what makes others follow them. They both want to forge a world where everyone is equal, no prejudice against people that are different, everyone on equal standing.

Tanya's relationship with Saya is a sad one at best. She is using Saya while Saya genuinely likes her. And even though, at some point she sees him as a friend and cares about him, she still uses his affection towards her. But she is not the only one using Saya, so is Tagon who separated him from his mother when he was a child and Teaelha who became his caregiver for Tagon. Still, Saya is not stupid and he knows how to play the game.

This first half ends with the downfall of the rule of the Arthdal leaders: Daekan, White Mountain, and Hae tribes; giving way to Tagon's rule under the name of Aramun; which damages the relationship he had with Teaelha. Tanya is now the high priest while Eunseom becomes a god for the Ago tribe and starts unifying weak tribes to end fights among them and focus on fighting against their common oppressor.

The second season starts 8 years after the final events of the first one. And the fighting is no longer centered on colonialism, but on taking down a threatening force that is not letting them continue with their expansion of territories. I have heard of people wondering why the change of actors for critical characters. I wouldn't have minded seeing the same actors since they are excellent ones and we got used to them. But I didn't mind the changes, I think that these new actors, brought some darkness to the characters that had been innocent and naive in the first season. They have learned to play the game and they are using what they have learned for their gain.

Tagon and Teaelha are no longer the close couple they had been, but they still love each other and have a son that unites them. Theirs is a tragic and powerful love story, tainted by the struggle for power.

In this half, we see Tagon's fall, and the rise of the ideology that drove Tanya and Eunseom into battle. But we are left with an open ending that promises more blood and restlessness. Saya wants Arthdal for his own since he can't have Tanya's love; and Teaelha wants to take Arthdal back as she promised Tagon; while Eunseom struggles to make Arthdal the land he and Tanya had envisioned.

It is the bloody story of a civilization in this fantasy world that reflects the truth about the history of our world so full of tyranny, blood and inequality.

It is not a story with clear lines and we will switch sides as their goals become twisted, but so is the story of rulers in the past and the present. This is a fantasy story, but it also criticizes what makes a country a country - it's bloody history of greedy men.

[jgsmile]

tvN drama

아라문의 검> 대본리딩 현장 스틸 공개📸 연기 합 박수👏🏻 비주얼 만세🙌🏻 장동건X이준기X신세경X김옥빈 조합으로 시작부터 기대감 끌어올리는 대본리딩 현장📑 아쉽게 함께하지 못한 신세경 배우는 이후 공개될 떡밥부터 함께 해요😊 <아라문의 검> 9월 tvN 첫 방송 #아라문의검

#ArthdalChronicles_TheSwordofAramoon #장동건 #이준기 #신세경 #김옥빈 #tvN #스트리밍은TVING

[mctna2019]

Have you heard about the new movie that Dohwan is going to act? (Tropical Night)Jang Dong-gun and Hye-ri are also in the cast with him.I'm very nervous about it but as far as I know it's noir and I really love some of the noir stories. since Dohwan never disappoints, I'm looking forward to it. (I've seen Jang Dong-gun in Arthedal chronicle and I really like his acting)

Comments:

ok I decide to reply your comments here till my problem with Tumblr solved. and also it makes me feel happy to talk with you too.

@gigity14 yes me too. I watched 2 series from Lee Yoo-mi and I like her acting(I mean Mr.plankton) but I don't know Lee hye-ri and hope she has good chemistry with Dohwan.

@gigity14 yeah exactly, bc of that I'm very glad he won award for Joseon attorney. He really deserved it. thank you ❤️me too🥲

[justforthoughts]

So, follow up: I did end up watching it even though I knew the ending might disappoint me. Surprisingly, it didn't as much as I thought it would. Yes, I was disappointed that there was no solid ending and I really wanted Tanya and Eun-seom to meet atleast once but well, what can you do, eh?

But, the things I definitely liked were SJK's acting. It was top notch and both the characters he played were so distinct that I could never confuse the two. And that's so so remarkable for me because not once did one character bleed into the other.

Second, Jang Dong Gun is fighting fit.

Third, I heard people didn't like Eun-seom's arc but I absolutely loved it. There is a lot of untapped potential in him and I really liked the way it went. And how he still stuck to some of his core values. I was intrigued by him and was one of the arcs that actually compelled me to finish watching the show.

Fourth, I hate Mung-tae (I think his name is?) I understand where he's coming from but I hate what he did to Eun-seom and gang and I so wanted to see him get his due penance (I get he's a very very side character but he got on my nerves so much).

Saya is someone I was still on the fence about by the end of it. I like his unapologetic ruthlessness and how he understands people's motivations but I didn't really vibe with him. And maybe that was because I was already rooting for Eun-seom but I am yet to understand some aspects of his character which will probably be tied up in the next season. But I enjoyed the show, which I didn't think I would because of all the reviews. But it was good and could've been perhaps better if they tightened the plot points a little and get the main leads to fucking meet. That said, will I watch season 2? Probably not because no SJK but I will probably follow some of it for some of the arcs I want to see completed.

Saya is a revelation, MY GOD! And I'm still on episode 8 and I don't know where it's going to go but my god, I didn't expect this. I had seen a few interviews and SJK always said 'he just reads and stuff' so I didn't expect this. And it may turn out different but right now, FUCK!

Also, I swear, Saya and Eun-seom is played by two different actors. SJK's acting range is brilliant but this is some next level shit.

[k-star-holic]

Karatta Erika Sawajiri, MOMO family Shabara reappeared Lee Joon-gi (Arthdal Chronicles: The Sword of Aramoon)

[kstarvibes]

Lee Joon Gi And Jang Dong Gun Face Off In Poster For “Arthdal Chronicles 2”

tvN’s “Arthdal Chronicles 2” has unveiled its main posters! “Arthdal Chronicles” is an epic fantasy drama about the mythical ancient land of Arth. Four years after the end of the first season, the series will be returning for its second season—entitled “Arthdal Chronicles: The Sword of Aramoon”—this September. “Arthdal Chronicles: The Sword of Aramoon” is set approximately a decade after Season…

[adamwatchesmovies]

Rampant (2018)

I keep track of every movie I watch and make a point to write a review for it to grow my library but also to see how my feelings and tastes change over time. When I saw Rampant four years ago, I gave it 3.5/5. I saw that it received mixed critical reviews and couldn’t understand why. Now, I do.

Set during the Joseon dynasty, a plot to overthrow King Lee Jo (Kim Rui-Sung) accidentally releases a plague in a nearby village. The infected turn into highly contagious, flesh-eating 'night demons'. As their numbers grow, Crown Prince Lee Chung (Hyun Bin) and his companion Hak-soo (Jeong Man-sik) must contain this threat while schemers attempt to topple the throne.

I will grant Rampant that the production is first-rate. A lot of zombie films are made on the cheap but not this one. There are A LOT of zombies, with fairly elaborate makeup (no memorable designs, but they’re also not that kind of zombies). The action is set hundreds of years ago, so they couldn’t use any modern costumes or locations. Everything had to be built. The setting automatically makes this film different from most of the ones you’ve seen before. There are primitive guns, but this is not a movie where “Go for the head!” applies. There are bows and arrows but those aren’t as effective either; most combat involves edge weapons. The stakes are also different. A good chunk of the film has the palace overrun with “night demons”, with Prince Lee Chung and his allies trying to keep them contained so they cannot attack the surrounding city and spread to the entire country. Then, there’s the political stuff, which adds some human villains that don’t feel superfluous to the plot - they’re the ones who caused the plague. Even when things get apocalyptic, Minister Kim (Jang Dong-gun) and his cronies aren’t giving up their quest for more power.

I saw all that the first time I viewed Rampant and somehow, it made me overlook the characters. There’s no one to like in this movie. You might think that’s deliberate when we meet Prince Lee Chung, who’s been convinced to leave his womanizing over in Qing (China) to come over. At first, he only cares about someone if he can lure them into his bedroom (don’t get excited, there’s no sex or nudity in this film whatsoever) but over time readies himself to take on the responsibilities he’ll inherit with the throne. No. What I mean is that you won’t like anyone because they’re all boring. Even our protagonist. He essentially turns into a completely different person once he sees the zombies and while his skirt-chasing was annoying, at least it made him stand out. The same can’t be said for the badass survivors he meets when he lands in Jemulpo. You won’t be able to remember a thing about them the second they walk off-camera. That might be better than the worst character in the entire film, Prince Lee Chung’s companion, Hak-Su. Why director Kim Sung-hoon or writer Hwang Jo-yoon decided to include a comedic sidekick in this horror/action/thriller, I have no idea. At one point, he’s being attacked by zombies. It would take a miracle for him to make it out alive, and one of the last things he says to his companion is “Watch out for dog shit on the street”. If the character doesn’t care about his situation, why should we? As for the villains, they're important in theory, but once the plague gets out of control, all of them get wiped out and Minister Kim doesn't matter anymore. The things that interested us at first are all get taken away.

As a zombie movie, Rampant fails because it never does the thing you expect zombie movies to do, the thing that makes them effective: It never has someone meaningful to the main character turn or get bitten so they can feel conflicted about what's about to happen. In theory, the film has high stakes but in execution, everything feels low-key. One of the main reasons being that there are only about three scares in the whole movie and none of them appear past the halfway mark. The pieces to make a great, memorable and unique zombie movie were here but you couldn’t tell by the end result.

And now, I find myself in a strange position. The first time I viewed Rampant, I had a good time. During this second viewing, I just kept getting madder and madder at Prince Lee Chung and Hak-Su. I suddenly noticed all of the movie’s flaws. It just shows that moods and tastes change but can I recommend the film, or can’t I? I'm not sure but let me put it this way: I’m not watching Rampant a third time to get a tie-breaker review. (Original Korean with English subtitles, September 6, 2024)

[movienized-com]

Bo-tong-ui ga-jog

Bo-tong-ui ga-jog (2023) #Jin-hoHur #SolKyung-gu #JangDong-Gun #KimHee-ae #ClaudiaKim Mehr auf:

A Normal Family / 보통의 가족Jahr: 2023 Genre: Drama Regie: Jin-ho Hur Hauptrollen: Sol Kyung-gu, Jang Dong-Gun, Kim Hee-ae, Claudia Kim … Filmbeschreibung: Jae-wans Beruf als Anwalt beinhaltet die Verteidigung von Mördern. Sein Bruder ist ein religiöser Arzt, der seine Patienten ständig über seine eigenen Interessen stellt. Eine Situation, die ihre Kinder betrifft, stellt das Gewissen der Brüder…

[dangermousie]

I ship Tagon and Taealha so much. They fight for control and power within the marriage but also when their kid gets kidnapped, he goes psycho slaughtering anyone in the way but she also loses it because she worries that as he went alone (per kidnapper order) he might get killed and rides after him! And then sees he's bleeding (and his purple blood is a giveaway he's Igutu so populace won't just overthrow him, they'd probably murder him on the spot) and she refuses to have him continue with the rescue tho she loves her child and the child is a path to power to boot. AAAA

I love her!!!

And she is all, I will go fight a whole armed mob for our son, you stay and don't come out aaaaaa!

She kills a metric ton of people but eventually she's surrounded and about to be killed and Tagon, a man who is obsessed about ruling, a bona fide bad guy, someone who was actually plotting to strip her influence away, who actually is of an age where he can easily take another wife and make more kids, comes out his kingship and life ending secret be damned, because he will not let her or their son die.

Cat's out the bag...

They may be monsters but monsters with family values :)

They (and Eunsom who arrives soon) slaughter everyone but then the army arrives and the secret it out...

Tanya to the rescue! I loved that she did what Eunsom said she would not be able to - about Igutu.

[beatrixacs]

Me, watching Arthdal Chronicles (Season 1): Why is Tagon so damn pretty? 😍

[khuantru]

07/03/2024: 2nd one for this evening Thursday. I just re watched it again, it still holds up for todays viewing. An action thriller with Jang Dong-gun in 'No tears for the Dead' Software: Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator CS3 Tools: wacom pen

ref: Movie - No Tears for the Dead (2014) actors: Jang Dong-gun (張東健) & Kim Min-hee (김민희)

15/03/2020: Updated 2020 for this Sunday. Enjoy 

12/08/2014: a fan drawing of Dong Gun Jang from the action movie 'no tears for the dead' , have I seen it yet, not yet - but those action uncut trailer looks crazy, it has 'the raid' impact on it.. so i a definitely looking forward to this action flick, my only problem with south korean action movies, is that its mostly like a drama movie, one of those slow build movies, wish they can change that format one day, maybe this movie is one that will break that format.

[passionforfiction]

Arthdal Chronicles (Part 1)

Human greed that destroys innocence and harmony among different tribes and Neanthals. Destruction, slavery and death. . .

The Arthdal Union is made up of four tribes that understood that in strength is in the coming together for a common goal. These tribes are: Daekan tribe led by Sanung (the greediest of all leaders), White Mountain tribe led by Asa Ron (the religious leader), Hae tribe led by Mihol who holds the key to building arms and other useful objects, and the Bachidoore represented by Hae Rim, who - together with his family - who was a doctor.

The story begins on the night when Arthdal leaders ask the Naenthals (who are very strong and fast) to become part of the union. These people were feared among the people of all human tribes, but they were peaceful beings who only used violence to defend themselves. And the night they refuse, is the night Sanung orders his army to kill all Naenthals. Asa Hon, finds herself among the Naenthals when the destruction begins and she helps Ragaz save one of the Naenthal children, while Daekan army murders everyone in sight.

On the night Asa Hon has Ragaz's twin sons, Tanya was being born in Lark by the priestess and leader of the Wahan tribe. These three children have different paths all connected by their fate. . .

It is heartbreaking and frustrating to see how greed brings so much pain to the victim of those who become blinded by this insatiable desire to possess all. Sanung, Asa Ron and Mihol were constantly stabbing each other on the back in the cold war they had in order to have power over the Union. Sanung had the strongest army, and he used his son, Tagon as a weapon, destroying tribes, and taking peaceful people away from their homes to make them slaves. Meanwhile, Mihol uses his daughter, Taealha, as spy against Tagon and Sanung.

But mistreated children rebel against their parents and Tagon and Taealha hold on to each other and their love as they fight against their fathers and destroy the union to form a kingdom they can rule over. By the end of this part of the chronicle we see the transformation of these two characters: Tagon, who wanted to be loved by his people and who wanted to rule in a peaceful way, becomes a tyrant, feared by his people. Taealha, who was always calculating her next step, gave her all for Tagon, only to resent him for not sharing his power and going behind her back.

But these two would not had been able to accomplish this rebellion if they hadn't used Tanya who gave into her true path as priestess, Saya who was separated from his parents and grew as Tagon's son, and Eunseom, who in his efforts to save his people from slavery captured Sanung, giving Tagon the opportunity to kill his father.

We also see the transformation of these three young people as they become entangled in the Arthdal political struggle in their desire to save themselves and the people they love.

I liked how the story explores the creation of empires through conquering, destruction and slavery. It also presents the pain and negative side of fear as it blindly kills the Other because of their differences. The need to hide who they really are can also trigger the need to destruct blindly.

I loved the series and will start watching the second part this weekend.

Poster from the Korea Herald - https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20190908000107