Arahan (Movie - 2003)

HAF Selects 4 Korean Project

Source | 2009/01/09 | Permalink |

The Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) has chosen 4 South Korean projects, including the latest by director NA Hong-jin ("The Chaser"), for its high-profile project market, taking place March 23 – 25, 2009 alongside the Hong Kong International Film Festival (March 22 – April 13).

NA will present his new project, titled "The Murderer", the tale of a man who is forced to become a murderer through physical necessity. The director's debut film "The Chaser" was an unexpected hit at the Korean box office, becoming the second-highest grossing film of 2008.

Korea's top action director RYOO Seung-wan will bring "The Enforcer", his seventh feature project to HAF. The director is known for such popular hits as "Arahan" (2004), "Crying Fist" (2005) and "The City of Violence" (2006).

Also invited were LIM Pil-seong with a project called "The Flower of Evil" and LEE Jeong-beom with "A Secret Boy". LIM debuted with 2005 feature "Antarctic Journa"l followed by fairy-tale horror ...| More

Top Actors Cast in the Controversial '29 Years'

Source | 2008/09/04 | Permalink |

Actress KIM Ah-joong, who rose to national celebrity status last year with her debut role in "200 Pounds Beauty", will star alongside RYOO Seung-beom ("Arahan", "Bloody Tie") in '29 Years', a film adaptation of a controversial comic series by Kang Pool ("A.P.T").

The story centers on a former soldier with a guilty conscience after his taking part, 29 years earlier, in the Gwangju Massacre, a real-life tragic episode in Korean history, in which state troops were ordered to open fire on civilians in the city, killing thousands. The former soldier, played by RYOO, sets out to assassinate the person suspected of ordering the massacre, namely former Korean president CHUN Doo-hwan.

The US $6.5 million film is to be directed by LEE Hae-yeong, who debuted in 2006 with the critical and commercial success, "Like a Virgin". LEE also penned the screenplay for the new project. Korean shingle Chungeorahm, the production force behind all-time local box office king, "The Host" (2006), will p...| More

Korea-Japan Business Campus Takes Place in Jeju

Source | 2008/07/10 | 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

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

Source | 2008/02/05 | 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

Ryoo Seung-beom and Kim Sa-rang bewitch audiences

Source | 2008/01/25 | 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