Kang Woo-seok (강우석)

[Talk of the town] "Kung Fu Panda" kicks his way into the spotlight

2008/06/25 | Source | Permalink |

Po (Jack Black), the obese and lazy panda in Mark Osborne and John Stevenson's animated film, "Kung Fu Panda", is now a star.

According to the Korean Film Council, the film attracted some 3.31 million Korean viewers as of last weekend, since its release on June 5.

Past animated films that attracted as many viewers were "Shrek 2" (2006), with some 3.3 million, and "Howl's Moving Castle" (2004), with 3 million.

While Kung Fu Panda ranked second at the box office last week, Kang Woo-seok's action-thriller "Public Enemy Returns", released last Thursday, ranked first. It attracted 1.3 million viewers in three days, according to the council.

Meanwhile, for those moviegoers hoping to see more Korean films on the big screen among Hollywood blockbusters like "Incredible Hulk" and "Sex and the City", wait till next month.

These films are on standby director Kim Jee-woon's "The Good, the Bad and the Weird", Lee Joon-ik's "You Are Far Away" and Gwak Kyung-taek's "Eye for an Eye, Too...| More

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Romance missing from Korean films

2008/06/25 | Source | Permalink |

Two genres - the melodrama and the romantic comedy - used to do very well at the box office.

"200 Pounds Beauty" is a case in point. It deals with plastic surgery, but it is deeply rooted in the romantic comedy tradition in which love ultimately conquers all.

But Korean theaters in recent months have had few, if any, offerings that stir people to talk about the triumph of romance. The summer lineup continues the paucity of romantic flicks.

What happened?

Last week, "Public Enemy Returns", directed by Kang Woo-seok, rose to the No. 1 slot, offering a much-anticipated reprieve to the protracted slump in the local film industry. But the film, starring Seol Kyeong-gu and Jeong Jin-yeong, does not have any elements that can be categorized as romantic.

"Crossing", a film about North Korean defectors which is also getting a lot of attention, is about to hit theaters this week, but there is no room in that story for romance.

"The Good, The Bad, The Weird", a big-budget Korean...| More

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"Public Enemy Returns" to Shake up the B.O.

2008/06/24 | Source | Permalink |

The first Korean blockbuster of the summer, "Public Enemy Returns", opens June 19th, just in time to shake up a national box office that has been dominated by Hollywood fare for several weeks. Director KANG Woo-seok brings forth his third installment in the successful franchise that began with "Public Enemy" in 2002.

Star actor SEOL Kyeong-gu ("Oasis", "Silmido") reprises his original role as Chul-joon, a quick-tempered, tenacious detective on the prowl. SEOL also starred in the 2005 installment, "Another Public Enemy" ("Public Enemy 2"), yet playing a completely different character in that film. The new film was penned by writer-director Jang Jin, bringing his trademark humor and wit to the action feature.

The latest film pits detective Chul-joon against Lee Won-sul (played by JEONG Jae-yeong) the chairman of Geo-seong Group. Lee, an affectionate family man running several seemingly legitimate businesses, is really a longstanding mafia boss at the helm of a criminal ente...| More

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Public enemy #1 swaggers back to cinema box office

2008/06/17 | Source | Permalink |

'The action scenes might be less impressive, as I tried to emphasize character and drama more'.

Cheol-jung, the stubborn detective from "Public Enemy" (2002) is back.

But this time, he is even more tenacious in hunting down vicious villains.

"Public Enemy Returns", the sequel to Public Enemy by director Kang Woo-seok gets released tomorrow.

Kang is also well known for "Silmido" (2003), a blockbuster based on a botched assassination attempt on the late North Korean leader Kim Il Sung in the 1970s.

In Public Enemy Returns, Cheol-jung (Seol Kyeong-gu), seeks a career change.

He feels his job isn't secure enough and he wants to buy a decent house for his daughter and mother.

But quitting his job isn't easy. Just in time, his squad uncovers a murder that involves the team's longtime enemy Won-sul (Jeong Jae-yeong), the chairman of the Geo-seong group.

Even though Won-sul appears to be benevolent toward his family, he is in fact a malicious thug who recruits high sc...| More

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LEE Hae-joon castst JEONG jae-yeong

2008/05/30 | Source | Permalink |

LEE Hae-joon, half of the directing duo of "Like a Virgin", announced the casting of his next film mr. Kimssineun Pyoroogi. JEONG Jae-yeong and actress JEONG Ryeo-won will be the lead actors.

The film seems likely to be financed by director/producer KANG Woo-seok. They are still preparing the shoot.

LEE directed "Like a Virgin" together with LEE Hae-yeong. Kimssineun Pyoorogi is about a man and a woman meeting at the Han river in Seoul it will be LEE's first time directing alone.

JEONG's filmography includes, "Someone Special" and "Welcome to Dongmakgol". JEONG starred in the film "2 faces of My Girlfriend".

Yi Ch'ang-ho (KOFIC)...| More

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