The South Korean film industry has been taking a hit.

There are fewer blockbuster releases compared to three years ago. Still, there is hope that this year's most anticipated film — a spaghetti western of sorts — will give the industry a boost.

Director Kim Jee Woon, who was at the Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival in 2005 to showcase his film "A Bittersweet Life" along with megastar Lee Byung Hun, is taking on the spaghetti western classic "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly." Add a little kim chee and you got "The Good, the Bad and the Weird."

In the mid-1960s, the term "spaghetti western" came about because most of the westerns were produced by Italian studios. The films were primarily shot in an arid region of Spain that resembles the American Southwest. One of the best- known spaghetti westerns is "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," by director Sergio Leone.

"The Good, the Bad and the Weird" is set in the 1930s in Manchuria. Japanese imperialists have taken the Korean Peninsula, and Koreans have flocked to Manchuria to escape. The three main characters are played by three Korean megastars, two of whom have been to Hawai'i to attend the HIFF.

Tae-gu, played by Song Kang Ho ("The Host," "Memories of Murder," "JSA," "YMCA Baseball Team"; HIFF Opening Night film in 2002) is the Weird, who is a thief robbing a train of Japanese military officers and comes across a map from the Qing dynasty showing a treasure buried somewhere in Manchuria. The map is also sought by Chang-yi (the Bad) played by Lee Byung Hun ("JSA," "All In," "Beautiful Days," "A Bittersweet Life"; HIFF 2005 with Lee in attendance). The Bad is a cold- blooded assassin. There is a big gunfight on the train as the Weird and the Bad are robbing the train at the same time. The Weird is saved by the Good, Do Won played by Jung Woo Sung ("A Moment to Remember," "The Restless," "Daisy," "Sad Movie"; HIFF Opening Night film in 2005 released the same day as in Korea). The Good is actually a bounty hunter trying to arrest Tae-gu (the Weird) for a reward. The treasure map attracts the attention of Russian, Chinese and Japanese characters, and a showdown ensues.

Director Kim Jee Woon has several Korean box-office hits; "The Foul King" (2000), "A Tale of Two Sisters" (2003), and "A Bittersweet Life" (2005). The rights for a U.S. remake of "A Tale of Two Sisters" have already been purchased by Dreamworks.

Kim Jee Woon was in Hawai'i for the screening of "A Bittersweet Life" in 2005 at the Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival. The theater was sold out to fans who arrived to take snapshots of Kim Jee Woon and Lee Byung Hun. The director enjoyed his Hawai'i stay and promised to return with future films. "The Good, the Bad and the Weird" was initially budgeted for $10 million but is rumored to be over budget, with a price tag of $12 million to $15 million.

Song Kang Ho has also visited Hawai'i. Jung Woo Sung almost made it here for the opening-night screening of "Sad Movie" in 2005, but had to be in Japan. Jung Woon Sung did, however, send a videotape with greetings for his fans. It would be ideal to have this film at the HIFF this year, with Jung Woo Sung in attendance.

THIS WEEK'S K-DRAMA SYNOPSES

'BRIDE FROM VIETNAM'

Episodes 57 and 58

Tonight at 7: Ji-young asks Jin-ju to help her win the second test, and Jin-ju declines. Ji-young tells Bok-ryu that she wants to be judged more fairly and confronts her about Sung-il being Jin-ju's father. Jin-ju overhears the conversation and learns who her father is.

Tonight at 8: Jin-ju and Ji-young take the second test. During the judging, Jin-ju collapses and ends up in an emergency room. Sung-il hears the news from Bok-ryu and visits Jin-ju at the hospital, but Jun-wu turns him away.

'KING & I'

Episodes 41 and 42

Tomorrow at 7:45 p.m.: The king chides So-hwa for her jealousy against Eol-Woo-Dong. But So-hwa tells him not to forsake his duties for a woman. Chuh-sun tells the king So-hwa lowered herself in front of Eol-Woo-Dong for the king's sake, but the king chides him for taking the queen's side.

Tuesday at 7:45 p.m.: The queen mother orders So-hwa to seek a grand pardon for inflicting a cut on the king's face, but So-hwa refuses. Chi-gyeom tells the king and the queen mother that he'll resolve the conflict within the eunuch department.

'BAD GUY'

Episodes 9 and 10

Wednesday at 7:45 p.m.: Dal-lae finds out that Oh-joon only wanted her initially for her $30,000. Oh-joon promises to turn over a new leaf and be reborn as a new man. Through Dal-lae's lessons, Jin-goo realizes that he likes her, and starts to pursue her. Oh-joon visits his former boxing coach and uses the gym to start a boxing exercise program.

Thursday at 7:45 p.m.: Oh-joon is deeply saddened by the news of Yun-ha's death. On a lighter note, Ho-jin finally confesses his love to Soon-sum, and they start to run the cafe together. Man-doo, Dal-lae and Oh-joon's sister get together for the first time. Oh-joon gets called into the police station for fraud, and Man-doo and Dal-lae are called in.

'SCARY GIRL'

Episodes 37, 38 and 39, 40

Friday at 7:45 p.m.: Next morning, Young-rim and Chairman Baek come out of his house together. The news reaches Eun-ae, Kyung-pyo and Jung-jin who are on an overseas business trip. Jung-jin's mother tells Jung-jin that the chairman is helping Young-rim because of the kidnap incident.

Saturday at 7:45 p.m.: Joon-chul offers to tell Chairman Baek everything about Young-rim under the condition that he promises to protect her. Chairman Baek tells Young-rim to cut all contact with the outside world until he tells her otherwise, and she obeys.