This summer, the movie 'Omniscient Reader: The Prophet' (directed by Kim Byung-woo, produced by Lotte Entertainment and Smilegate, distributed by Lotte Entertainment, produced by Realize Pictures Co., Ltd., co-produced by MYM Entertainment, Smilegate Realize and The Present Company) has raised expectations in theaters with its overwhelming spectacle and has received immense acclaim following its first public screening.
'Omniscient Reader: The Prophet' is a fantasy action film in which the world of the novel becomes reality on the day the novel, serialized for over 10 years, is completed, and the only reader, 'Kim Dok-ja,' survives in a devastated world alongside the novel's protagonist 'Yu Junghyuk' and his companions. It finally unveiled at the press screening held at Megabox COEX on July 15 (Tuesday). At the press screening, actors Ahn Hyo-seop, Lee Min-ho, Chae Soo-bin, Shin Sung-ho, Nana, and director Kim Byung-woo were present, receiving intense spotlight from reporters.
Ahn Hyo-seop, who made his first screen debut as 'Kim Dok-ja,' said, "Kim Dok-ja's greatest weapon is his ordinariness. He was a very typical character that I had not played before, and I was curious how I could persuade many people about Kim Dok-ja's ordinary aspects. Kim Dok-ja is a character that starts from a zero base. I wanted to create a more realistic and relatable character and thought a lot about how a human would act if placed in this situation." Lee Min-ho, who plays 'Yu Junghyuk,' the protagonist whom 'Kim Dok-ja' has long admired, said, "I started with the question, 'if I were in the same situation as Yu Junghyuk.' I think Yu Junghyuk would always have been there without knowing the answer to when the savior would appear to bring an end to the story. Rather than fear, I think he waited with hope that the end would be another beginning."
'Omniscient Reader: The Prophet' pulls audiences into its unique world, which is the reality of the novel. The characters that break the script in their own ways blossom in an unprecedented setting, with actors who expressed their passion at the center. The actors performed action scenes without limits in front of a blue screen. Ahn Hyo-seop remarked, "It was so fun. When else would I experience being inside a dragon's belly and fight a blaze dragon, or rescue my companions while flying? I had a huge expectation about how the things I had only imagined on the set would turn out as CG, and the thrill was immense when I saw the actual movie." Lee Min-ho noted, "I thought the imagination and creative thinking would become more important in the actor's domain, and this work has become an opportunity to gain more enriched emotions through imagination."
Chae Soo-bin, who plays 'Yu Sang-a,' stated, "Using threads instead of weapons like swords or guns made me contemplate a lot with the director and the action team about how to perform the action. It was not an action by just one person, but a piece created together, so it was a work full of learning." Shin Sung-ho, who plays 'Lee Hyun-seong,' mentioned, "Filming in a situation where there is no actual entity to confront in front of you made me think and calculate a lot about what the scene would look like when the movie is completed and comes to the screen. The director created many details and accurately set the direction, so I enjoyed filming while learning a lot." Nana, who perfectly transformed into the character 'Jung Hee-won,' shared, "It was my first experience acting in front of a blue screen. I pondered a lot about whether I could express entirely real emotions. When I actually went to the set, everything like costumes and makeup was prepared, and everyone on site was extremely focused and immersed. I was able to act more freely by adding movements that I had practiced with my imagination. The director provided sufficient explanations and communicated the storyboards accurately, which was a very enjoyable experience."
Director Kim Byung-woo emphasized, "While the original work contains many good values, what I focused on more was the concept of 'togetherness.' The messages about how Kim Dok-ja uses the known abilities to help everyone survive resonated with me. I wondered how I could make this one story sharper." He also expressed his desire for audiences to leave the theater feeling, "Oh, this movie has such meaning," and created the story with the expectation that viewers would feel an unexpected aftertaste after leaving the cinema.
Meanwhile, positive reviews from media outlets continue to pour in right after the movie's release. "A refreshing Korean-style fantasy blockbuster reminding us why we need to go to the theater this summer," said Kim Bo-young of Edaily. "An unprecedented explosion of CG and action thrill," reported Park Jin-young of Joy News 24. "Offers a mesmerizing cinematic experience, proving the reason for theaters' existence," said an image reporter from Herald POP. "Vibrant creatures and scale of special effects exceeding expectations," reported Jung Rae-won from Yonhap News. "Evolved Korean fantasy, a 117-minute time killer," stated No Gyu-min from News Culture. These colorful reviews continue to raise the anticipation of potential viewers.
Audiences who first watched the movie at the premiere screening that evening are also raising expectations for the film with their enthusiastic praise. "Despite knowing some of the stories already from the webtoon, the combination of the actors' performances, direction, visuals, and other elements created an ultimate immersion," one viewer said. "The scenes I imagined as a fan of the original work unfolded before my eyes, making me hold my breath. From start to finish, it felt like a continuous climax, and this is something you absolutely need to see in theaters. I want to watch it in IMAX again for the immersive experience," another remarked. "The fantasy visuals paired with the chemistry of Lee Min-ho and Ahn Hyo-seop are insane. For 'Omniscient Reader' fans, it's a must-watch on opening day; those who don't know will probably enjoy it even more. How did they do such a great job?" another said. "So, so, so fun. Even after leaving, I still felt like I was in the movie," a viewer commented. "The acting by the cast, the solid script, and the CG were all perfect," another added, supporting the emergence of this must-see movie filled with entertainment across all areas like visuals, action, and characters.
The movie 'Omniscient Reader: The Prophet,' which is garnering explosive acclaim simultaneously from the press screening and the premiere, will be available in theaters nationwide on July 23.
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