Cloud USA

— Written by Stephe Thornton, Managing Editor ^@@^

Hi, Clouds and Rain fans! What’s shakin’ in your part of the world? Let me tell you what’s shakin’ in mine.

Ever since the Shot Heard Across North America (the wonderful news of Korean blockbuster R2B: Return to Base coming to select theaters in the U.S. and Canada) and the various R2B movie promotions for English speakers that have hit the Internet, we’ve been moving about in a fog of ecstatic disbelief. Truly, we did expect Rain’s film to make its way to our shores at some point, but never this soon, and certainly not outside of L.A. or perhaps New York City. That we’re going to get to watch Jung JiHoon/Rain getting his Top Gun-on in Atlanta, beginning this Friday, August 24 (along with 12 other cities, so far), though confirmed, still seems the stuff of wildest dreams.  But that didn’t mean I could just sit on my duff and wait around, oh no. I had to hit the road.

It was time for a (mini) Road Trip for Rain and R2B. Oh, yeah!

Round One. Video 집으로 가는길. The weather cooperated beautifully this past Saturday afternoon. It was gorgeous. So I hopped in the RainBuggy and took a leisurely ride out to Buford Highway, several suburbs over by expressway. It’s always a pleasure shopping at On The Way Home Video (Video 집으로 가는길)(jib-eulo ganeungil). It’s neat and clean, and stocked to the brim with everything you could ever think of on disk. There’s always something playing on the Big Flatscreen—Gag Concert, Vitamin, or whatever K-Drama is on TV at the time. And they’re really nice folks, as helpful as can be, despite the language barrier. Our broken Korean + their broken English = Both Sides Win! And so the conversation when I blew into the door went a little something like this:

Me: “안녕하세요! Hello there! How are you today?”

Them: “안녕하세요!” (annyeonghaseyo/hello/good day/hi, how are you) Young Guy and Ajumma look up and see me. Their eyes get wide. Young Guy practically leaps from behind the counter and towards me. “Can I help you? Can I help you?”

Me: “Yes. I’m looking for 도망자 (Domangja). The Fugitive Plan B. You know 비? Rain?”

Young Guy: “Sub… title?”

Me (nodding): “네.” (neh/yeah)

He shows me where it is on the shelf, waits for my nod of approval, grabs the 20-disk *no-frills set lickety-split, and voilà, I’m at the counter to pay for my little bit of heaven. While I’m paying:

Young Guy: ” You like 비 ?”

Me: “Oh, yes. I’ve been a fan for six years. Very talented entertainer. 몸짱.” (momjjang/athletic body) Don’t laugh, y’all. I had no idea how to say The Sexiest Asian Man of This Decade And The Next, so momjjang had to suffice. Young Guy runs off, and brings Ajumma an extra *no-frills item to put in my bag.

Ajumma: “Rain. Last Concert, for you.” It took me a moment to realize it was a complimentary gift. And when I did, before I knew it, I had done a couple of little leaps in the air.

Me (clapping and laughing and all silly): “Oh my god. 감사합니다 ! (gamsahabnida) 고맙습니다 ! (gomabseubnida) Thank you! 고마워요! (gomawoyo)”

They looked mighty pleased with themselves, and laughed and nodded.

Me (catching my breath): “Did you know Rain’s movie is coming here? 알투비, 리턴 투 베이스?” (R2B, Return to Base)

Them: “Yeah, Rain. 영화 ! (yeonghwa) Movie!”

Me: “At the AMC Colonial in Lawrenceville. Starts August 24. Friday.”

Them: “Okay!”

Me: “Have a good Saturday. Bye-bye now!”

Them (waving): “Bye! Thank you!”

The last time I dropped by On The Way Home, before this visit, I bought period K-Drama Il JiMae, and movie Sector 7, and got a complimentary gift of the movie The Chaser, subtitled. Running your business like that will keep folks like me and Terri coming back for more. Trust. 🙂

(*no frills: Direct from the producer/distributor without all the bells, whistles, and pretty packaging. They do have that, if you want it, but it costs a pretty penny.)

Round Two. It’s a bird… it’s a plane… it’s Rain in the newspaper! I left the store as happy as a clam. It’s a wonder I remembered to pick up a few newspapers to check for R2B ads. And I tell you, I could not believe my luck. The very first one I looked at, The Chosun Daily News Atlanta (one of the major publications) had an article about R2B right on the front page.

“Korean ‘Top Gun’ invites you to thrilling aerial action.” I’ll say! LOVE that headline. — ^@@^

Round Three. R2B is going to land where? From there, I went one exit up on the expressway, hit the 316 going east, and after three exits was right at the AMC Colonial 18 theater in Lawrenceville. Altogether, it’s a little over an hour from my home. Not bad! Make no mistake, though, I would have driven longer and farther. This is an opportunity that I shall not miss but for an Act of God. Believe it.

The AMC general manager told Terri last week that they couldn’t officially advertise R2B until Tuesday the 21st, so I didn’t expect to see anything about the movie posted anywhere. I just wanted to make sure I knew where it was, take a quick look around the joint, and revel in the knowledge of what was to come.  The theater is in a nice, open suburban area where there are plenty of places to eat and shop, and isn’t hard to find at all.

Terri, Jim, and I and our party will be shooting for the 7 PM showing on opening night. I do hope that some of you will join us in Atlanta on this very special occasion.

I’ll be road-tripping again on Tuesday the 21st, to see if any other R2B goodies are to be had. I’ll let you know what I find. For you PSY (싸이) fans out there, of which I am one, I found Mr. Gangnam Style on the cover of Kstarnews.  🙂

Until next time, peeps. For right now, I’m going to relax with a cold beverage and Rain’s Last of the Best.

— Stephe @cloudusa.wordpress.com / CloudUSA.org

~ by Cloud USA on August 21, 2012.

Posted in Bi Rain, Bi Rain movie, Bi Rain News, Bi Rain R2B: 리턴투베이스, Bi Rain R2B: Return To Base, Cloud USA, Jung Ji Hoon, Rain stuff, Rain Topics
Tags: Bi Rain movie, Bi Rain R2B: 리턴투베이스, Cloud commentary, Cloud USA, Cloud USA article, Cloud USA News, Cloud USA roadtrip, Hangul student Stephe, Jung Ji Hoon, R2B North American opening, R2B: Return To Base, rain bi