He's a regular Joe

The second action movie based on the GI Joe toy franchise hits Thailand’s big screens next week but fans in Seoul got their chance to see it last week with director Jon Chu and actors Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, DJ Cotron and Adrianne Palicki attending the world premiere of “GI Joe: Retaliation”.

 However, for South Koreans the brightest star was Lee Byung-hun who is now pursuing his career in Hollywood after debuting as Storm Shadow in 2009’s “GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra”. He reprises his role in the sequel and this time his character has more depth and the reasons behind his coldness are partially explained.

Lee started his acting career in 1991 and made his breakthrough in Park Chan-wook’s 2000 blockbuster “JSA” (“Joint Security Area”). He went on to star in “A Bitter Sweet Life,” “The Good, the Bad, the Weird” as well as TV dramas like “All In” and “Iris”.

Although he’s been concentrating on his career in Hollywood, he still works in his homeland. Last year he starred in the twin roles of King Gwanghae and the humble acrobat Ha-sun, who stands in for the monarch when he faces the threat of being poisoned, in the lavish historical drama “Gwanghae: The Man Who Became King”, also known as “Masquerade”.

“GI Joe: Retaliation” sees the Joes framed for a crime they did not commit. In a bid to clear their names, team leader Duke (Channing Tatum) and Roadblock (Johnson) enlist the original GI Joe, a retired general played by Bruce Willis. Meanwhile, more about Storm Shadow and his allegiance to Cobra is revealed.

Speaking to the Asian press at the Conrad Hotel in Seoul, Lee, 43, paid close attention to every question and thought carefully before answering.

 

Was it always your ambition to work in Hollywood or just something you got into?

I never really aspired to being an actor in Hollywood. For me, it was more of a dream, albeit one I didn’t dwell on. It just happened.

Showing the best of myself on screen is being true to the language that I speak and the emotions of the culture in which I was raised. Obviously acting in a different language and in a culture that I don’t fully understand has its limitations.

 

Has the way fans react to you changed now you’re a Hollywood star?

I don’t think it’s changed all that much though I can see my fans here in Korea and Asia are cheering for me. They are so proud of my work. I’m very happy with that.

“GI Joe 2” has been in the bag for a while and its release was postponed from last year. Did you feel pressured by the delay?

No, there’s no pressure with regard to the release date though I obviously wanted to movie to come out as did GI Joe fans.

The sequel is stronger than the first film and I’m pleased with Storm Shadow’s fight scenes. On top of that he is able to reveal his emotions.

Did you play with GI Joe when you were a kid?

No, I’d never heard of it. When I first got the script, I was like… what is it? It’s must be some kind of stupid animation or something like that.

 

So why did you decide to star in the film?

I realised how famous the stories are. And my agent convinced me that it could be a passage to what I really wanted.

 

What are your goals in your Hollywood career?

I just want to play in every genre just like I do in Korea – action, romance, human drama, anything. So far, Hollywood makes that choice for me. But I want to choose someday.

 

We learn more about Storm Shadow’s past in the sequel and especially the tragedy he has suffered. Who is he really?

Storm Shadow is very selfish, he has his own goals. He doesn’t care about saving the world or defending the world like the other characters in the film. He is alone. He doesn’t belong anywhere. That’s attractive. I need to be cold, that’s the character.

But in “GI Joe 2”,Storm Shadow has to explore his emotions and the secret between Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow is finally revealed.

 

What differences did you find working with directors Stephen Sommers on the first film and Jon Chu on the second?

Well, with the big changes in the cast as well as the crew, the atmospheres were very different. The first film was more like an introduction to the characters and was typically Hollywood with a focus on entertainment aspects.

The second is certainly entertaining but the subject matter is more serious and Jon focused a lot on the acting.

 

You look stronger than in the first film. What did you do to beef up?

I was aiming at bigger muscles and it was tough. I had to eat a large portion of ate chicken breast every two hours, so that’s more than five times a day. And I lifted a lot of weights and went through martial arts training. Sundays I rested and went to the theatre.

 

Did you have culture shock or discipline problems during the shooting?

(A long pause) During the first movie I spent a lot of time on the set with the crew and there was one person who didn’t even make an eye contact with me. I never had a chance to shake hands. So that was the big shock.

During the red carpet premiere for the first “GI Joe,” a camera crew and reporter wanted to interview me. I was going to give the interview when my manager pulled me out. I later realised that the interview wasn’t serious but aimed to make fun of me. These things are really difficult. I’ve never experienced anything like that in Korea so I found it both shocking and surprising.

 

Has the situation improved?

I think I have to adapt.

 

The writer attended the “GI Joe: Retaliation” premiere at the invitation of TrueVisions.

  GO JOE

 

“GI Joe: Retaliation” opens in cinemas on March 27.