The premieres in Seoul this Summer keep getting bigger and bigger and this is one of the most star-studded to date what with the melding of Hollywood and a Korean directorial super star. Seoul was the location chosen for the world movie premiere of the upcoming Snowpiercer since its directed by South Korean wunderkind Bong Joon Ho, who has helmed three of the most talked about Korean dramas in the last decade in Memories of Murder, The Host, and Mother. Snowpiercer is his most ambitious large scale movie to date, based on the French graphic novel Le Transperceneige by Jean-Marc Rochette published in 1982. Bong Joon Ho read the graphic novel in 2004 at his local comic book store in Hongdae and it really spoke to him. It’s yet another post-apocalyptic story, this time Earth is frozen over and the only surviving humans reside on a perpetual motion train that circles the circumference of the planet once a year. It’s been eighteen years since the survivors have been living on the train which is highly segregated. The farther away from the sacred engine located at the very front of the train, more dire the poverty and more harrowing the living conditions. Those who live in the back are told to maintain their positions while those in front live in comfort and security. The downtrodden eventually rise up and a rebellion to overtake the front of the train occurs, led by Chris Evans and assisted by Song Kang Ho and his daughter played by Go Ah Sung, while Tilda Swinton plays one of the overlords in the front trying to maintain control. Chris Evans and Tilda Swinton arrived in Seoul over the weekend to participate in press for this movie and attend the VIP premiere held on July 29th. It was a veritable who’s who of Korean entertainment who attended, ranging from top star Lee Byung Hun down to lots and lots of pretty idol boys and girls. The outfits were hit and miss, though with one of the craziest dressers in Hollywood Tilda Swinton around no one could possibly out-weird her. But I have to say that No Min Woo gave it his best shot and got real close. I’m thrilled director Bong Joon Ho has successfully completed his first cross-over movie and the trailer looks absolutely fantastic. Here’s hoping the first reviews for Snowpiercer validate all his talent and hard work. Check out the VIP premiere pictures below and get ready for tons of chuckles. It confirms once again that being pretty does not equal having a sense of style. Continue reading →