Muoi : The Legend of a Portrait (2007) - 므이 (Meu-i)

Cinema Bridges Korea, Vietnam

2008/05/19 | Source | Permalink |

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

In celebration of the 16th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Vietnam, the Second Korean Film Festival took place May 8-10 in Hanoi, drawing hordes of local fans. The pop culture exchange is expected to thrive even more with a possible joint project to build a huge studio in Vietnam as well as the establishment of a major Korean multiplex movie theater's first Vietnamese branch.

The three-day film festival featured five popular Korean movies: "Forever the Moment", based on the dramatic women's handball game at the 2004 Athens Olympics; "Marathon", a tearjerker about a disabled man championing marathons; "Hwangjin-y - Movie - 2007' starring hallyu star Song Hye-kyo as a ravishing Joseon (1392-1910)-era entertainer and artist; "Over the Rainbow", a melodrama starring top actors Lee Jeong-jae and Jang Jin-yeong; and "Cube".

Some 40,000 tickets for the screenings were sold before the inauguration, according to Seoul Daily Newspape...| More

Little Prince offers second chance

2008/01/09 | Source | Permalink |

Debuting director CHOI Jong-hyeon's "Little Prince" is a drama with a feel-good factor which unfolds at a quiet pace. TAK Jae-hoon portrays an alcoholic who is traumatised by the loss of his wife and son, and he is ridden with guilt since he wasn't much of a father or husband.

Through circumstances, the man comes into the life of a chronic ill little boy who was abandoned at an orphanage by his mother when she started a relationship with a new man. The man is reluctant, but after a few meetings, the kind and brave boy melts the man's heart. The little boy is played by KANG Soo-han.

Actress Jo An features as an energetic young woman who works at the orphanage. She has a close relationship with the boy. Jo-an previously acted in "Muoi : The Legend of a Portrait" and "Makeover Project" ("Go Go Sister"). TAK played in "Marrying the Mafia 3: Family Hustle" (""Marrying the Mafia III"").

CHOI directed short films and worked as a scenario writer. His first feature film "Little Princ...| More

Horror Film Season Kicks Off in Korea

2007/07/20 | Source | Permalink |

Tis' the season in Korea when moviegoers expect to see spine-chilling horror films as a respite from the sweltering heat.
Son Heekyung takes a look at some of the summer's most horrific Korean productions.
Summer!
For many in the country it means barbecues, beaches and bone-chilling horror flicks.
This season's horror lineup has taken on a medical theme.
In the film "Return", a 10-year-old boy kills a child after awakening unexpectedly during surgery.
The mystery is why his life has turned for worse after the operation.
Another horror flick with a medical element is "Epitaph".
Here, a medical intern's arranged marriage is called off when his fiancee commits suicide.
Twenty years later, the man, now an elite doctor, is haunted by a bizarre series of events.
The chilling tale, set in the 40s, revolves around the doctor who runs the best Western-style hospital in Gyeongseong - what is now Seoul.
Besides the frightful elements, the film adds a touch of class in its portrayal of ...| More

Films Beautify the Grotesque

2007/07/12 | Source | Permalink |

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

"Beautiful " may be the last word that comes to mind when one thinks of scary movies. But appalling zombies and grotesque images are very much last season, as the horror genre has had a big makeover.

The shocking juxtaposition of beauty with creepiness, rather than pure gore, is luring viewers.

In "The Cut", currently in theaters and drawing large audiences despite the tough competition with films such as "Harry Potter 5", a group of medical students begin their anatomy class, and a series of mysterious murders ensues.

The idea of dissecting cadavers evokes gore, but the students are presented with a cadaver of a young woman who was once gorgeous. Choi Hye-jeong, a former model, plays the role of the mysterious lady. Korea's first cadaver dummy wears a rose tattoo on her breast, retaining a perfect figure beyond death.

The film's core chills are derived from haunting images of bloody red rose petals falling from the sky and the juxtapositio...| More

Why Do Koreans Watch Horror Flicks in Summer?

2007/06/16 | Source | Permalink |

Summer is the season when moviegoers in Korea see spine-chilling horror films at cinemas to escape the sweltering heat.
Our Son Heekyung has the latest on this genre and its popularity during the season.
Domestic directors hope to scare the sluggish movie industry back on track by releasing eight horror films this summer.
The release of the film "Evil Twin" late last month kicked off the horror movie season in Korea.
So why is summer considered the best season to release scary cinema in the country?

"The trend of watching horror films at the hottest time of the year in Korea began around five years ago. That's when Korean directors started producing more horror movies in time for a summer release to satisfy moviegoers. An obvious reason for watching such flicks in the summer is to cool off from the heat".

One of the most awaited horror films this year is "Black House".
The story is about a string of mysterious deaths, which itself will be relatively new to Korean audiences.
...| More