Arahan (2003) - 아라한-장풍 대작전

Korea-Japan Business Campus Takes Place in Jeju

2008/07/10 | Source | Permalink |

KOFIC is hosting a 4-day business campus for Japanese and Korean producers at a resort on the balmy island of Jeju, south of the Korean mainland. Taking place July 8 – 11, the campus brings together 5 Korean and 5 Japanese producers each with projects in development.

Highlights of the itinerary include intensive seminars for the producers on Korea-Japanese co-productions, along with expert guest speakers, such as CJ Entertainment's foreign investment manager who will speak on co-production financing.

Among the 5 Korean participants are Jonathan KIM, a leading producer in the industry with films such as "Lies", "Silmido", "Monopoly", and several co-productions including "Virgin Snow" behind his belt. Also attending is KIM Mi-hee of production house Sidus FNH. She has produced such films as the sci-fi action hit "Arahan" and the Chosun mystery "Blood Rain".

KOFIC plans to take the campus a step further in 2009 when it launches a Co-Production Project Market, with the aim...| More

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[DVD Review] 'The City of Violence': Lean and Mean

2008/02/05 | Source | Permalink |

Ryoo Seung-wan's action extravaganza draws upon classics of the genre

Kyu Hyun Kim (qhyunkim)

A Seoul cop, Tae-su (Korea's top action choreographer/stunt artist Jeong Doo-hong), receives the shocking news that his childhood friend Wang-jae (a Ryoo Seung-wan regular, Ahn Kil-gang), a retired wise guy, has been stabbed to death by a handful of punks. Tae-su goes back to his hometown, On-sung, to attend Wang-jae's funeral. He immediately smells a rat.

The town is under the thumb of their old buddy Pil-ho (Lee Beom-soo, "Oh! Brothers", "Superstar Mr. Gam"), now a big shot gangster and involved in a citywide real estate development scheme. Tae-su reluctantly teams up with the short-tempered Seok-hwan (director Ryoo Seung-wan) to avenge Wang-jae's murder.

Ryoo Seung-wan, one of the most talented Korean directors and an action film maven, hit the jackpot last time by branching out into the sports drama in "Crying Fist". For the latest endeavor, he consciously returned to his cinem...| More

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Ryoo Seung-beom and Kim Sa-rang bewitch audiences

2008/01/25 | Source | Permalink |

"Radio Dayz" is a feel-good comedy set during the Japanese colonisation of Korea in the early 20th century and revolves around a group of radio employees who develop a radio drama that captures the heart of Korean audiences.
Ryoo Seung-beom ("Arahan", "Crying Fist") plays a laid-back and resourceful radio producer who decides to hire a writer for a radio drama format. However, the radio drama encounters numerous problems before it succeeds in captivating audiences.

A major problem is the character portrayed by KIM Sa-rang (Who Slept with Her ("Sexy Teacher")), a famous singer with star attitude, who – while broadcasting live – decides to create some more lines for herself whenever she feels she isn't quite in the spotlight; resulting in a plot turned upside down and everybody else confused.

KIM's character envies HWANG Bo-ra's character who has the female lead role in the radio drama. KO Ah-seong – the girl captured by the monster in "The Host" – plays a quirky girl who helps ...| More

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Independent Film Fest Offers an Alternative Take

2007/11/13 | Source | Permalink |

Seoul Independent Film Festival's (SIFF) 33rd edition will open on November 22 and run until the 30th. The festival will highlight independent films from around the world and awards several awards to support independent filmmakers financially.

SIFF's opening ceremony will feature short films by Korean directors. The festival also includes director RYOO Seung-wan's "Modern People", the winner of the 25th SIFF. RYOO also directed "Arahan", "Crying Fist", and "The City of Violence".

Another prominent program will be Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul's retrospective, including his 2004 Cannes winner "Tropical Malady".

The festival will be held at Indie Space, recently opened in Myeongdong, Seoul. Indie Space is unique because it's the first cinema to exclusively cater to independent Korean cinema. The theater is financially supported by KOFIC.

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

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KIM Ah-joong, RYOO Seung-beom and JO Seung-woo in Music Film

2007/09/13 | Source | Permalink |

Director CHOI Ho assembled an all-star cast consisting of KIM Ah-joong, RYOO Seung-beom and JO Seung-woo for his next film "Gogo 70". The music film will be centered around a band and the first gogo club in Korea in the seventies.

Director CHOI and RYOO join forces again after their collaboration on last year's crime film "Bloody Tie". RYOO also featured in his brother RYOO Seung-wan's acclaimed boxing drama "Crying Fist" and popular martial arts comedy "Arahan".

KIM rose to fame last year through another music film, "200 Pounds Beauty". KIM Yong-hwa's music comedy instantly turned her into a pan-Asian star. She portrayed an overweight singer who chooses drastic cosmetic surgery.

JO starred in the blockbusters "Tazza: The High Rollers" ("The War of Flower") and "MARATHON". He also played in IM Kwon-taek's "Chunhyang" and "Low Life".

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

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