HanCinema's Korean Blog - Korea's Diary, Pictures, Reviews

HanCinema's Korean Box Office Review

(2011.02.17 ~ 2012.02.19)

Yoo Ha's new movie "Howling" was released last Thursday and managed to be the top film of this past weekend with 530,774 admissions. In its opening weekend it had to compete with "Dancing Queen" and "Nameless Gangster", but Yoo Ha's latest edged out these popular offerings with the help of veteran actor Song Kang-ho and his co-star Lee Na-young. The two play detectives as they attempt to puzzle out the mystery behind a series of murders involving human combustion...More

At the end of September last year a controversial and disturbing film hit the Korean cinema circuit that triggered a wave of public outrage. Petitions were signed, investigations were reopened, and even the Korean government stepped in and voiced their concern over the matter in question. Hwang Dong-hyeok's "The Crucible" (aka "Silenced") was the cause of it all as his unadulterated telling of the sexual abusive that occurred at a school for the disabled, pierced the public's consciousness and started the movement for change and awareness...More

In case some of you missed it, there was some pretty exciting news that came out from KOFA this past week. The Korean Film Archive, in partnership with Google, will launch a YouTube channel in May that will showcase 70 classic Korean films. This is fantastic news for Korean cinephiles that would not otherwise have access to some of these rare and classic pieces of Korean film literature...More

HanCinema's Korean Box Office Review

(2011.02.10 ~ 2012.02.12)

"Nameless Gangster" enjoys another weekend at the top as 829,307 flocked to watch Chung Ji-young's gangster film. Since its release on Feb 2nd, the film has accumulated the support of some 2,485,464 spectators and is on the verge of outshining  "Dancing Queen" in the race for the top Korean film of 2012 so far...More

Now, I am not usually the type to gorge myself on such things, but when I came across Jeong Yong-ki's 2011 film "Couples" I just had to see what he had in store in the romantic comedy department. I am happy to report that I enjoyed Yong-ki's offering and it is definitely worth a watch for anyone looking for a light-romantic comedy that, while still playing on a tried and tested structure, manages to feel fresh and enduring. With Valentines Day just around the corner, this might just be the romantically inclined cinematic candy to mark the occasion...More

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and to celebrate I wanted to share a wonderfully atmospheric and relaxing spot to celebrate it. Massages in Korea can range from the morally questionable to luxurious and self-indulgent. Through a recommendation, my better half and I decided to explore Itaewon's "Healing Hands" to see if we could treat ourselves to an afternoon of pampering and relaxation. From the moment we step into its modest holdings, the aromatic pleasures began to work a number on our senses as we prepared ourselves for, what was to be, a most memorable and repeatable experience...More

HanCinema's Korean Box Office Review

(2011.02.03 ~ 2012.02.05)

Korean films held the top five spots as the local hits dominated the box office this past weekend. Chung Ji-young's "Unbowed" surprised with its thus far successful entry into the commercial circuit, but was trumped by Yoon Jong-bin new crime drama "Nameless Gangster". Korea's latest gangster flick stars Choi Min-sik and Ha Jeong-woo as a corrupt customs official and a gangster with ties to the Yukuza. Their mutually beneficial relationship begins to fall apart as the government declares its war on crime. The film held 38.90% of the tickets sales, which amounted to just under a million admissions...More