BA:BO (Movie - 2008)

Long Awaited Tsunami Movie "Haeundae" about to Hit Korea

2009/07/24 | 0 comments | Permalink |

For what maybe the longest possible wait for an internationally released movie to hit its own shores, "Haeundae" is about to be released in Korea. Back in April the film sold to a number of territories at the Hong Kong Film Mart. The CJ released film then went on to repeat its success at Cannes. Given its star pull and its sizable success overseas, there is much anticipation for the film here in Korea.

The film headed by director Youn J.K. (Yoon Je-kyoon) is set in the southern tip of South Korea in the city of Pusan. The city which is the name sake of Asia's largest international film festival also boasts the seaside resort of Haeundae a beach which can attract a million people a day at the height of summer. This sets the scene for gigantic tidal wave that is about to engulf the city at just this time – Summer, as it is in Korea now. Ironically the film, which was filmed partly in California, is a more human story focusing on Man-sik, a local who runs a small seafood restaur...| More

Summer Action Flicks Are Coming

Source | 2009/06/30 | 0 comments | Permalink |

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

Every summer, big budget Hollywood movies flow in, and many worry about the potential threat to homegrown films. Recent trends, however, suggest that competition is healthy.

"The fact that such a comparison (between national and international franchises) is even possible is unique; there aren't so many countries around the world where domestic films can compete with American ones", Han Seung-hee, researcher at the Korean Film Council, told The Korea Times.

After the turn of the new millennium, the Korean film industry enjoyed rapid growth, with blockbusters rewriting box office history each year. But the market plummeted for the first time last year, and investment and production hit an all time low. Moviegoers even criticized films that fared well at the box office as being formulaic.

So far, 2009 looks better. The success of "A Frozen Flower" and "Scandal Makers" ("Speedy Scandal") opened up a promising new year. Although February and March...| More

'Soonjeong' Stays True to Its Heart

Source | 2008/12/04 | 0 comments | Permalink |

By Joon Soh
Contributing Writer

Since debuting in 2003, the sweet, wistful online comics by Kang Pool have become a pop culture phenomenon in South Korea, generating countless Internet hits and message board discussions. Their incredible online following, however, failed to translate into box office success, as the first two attempts at bringing the comics to the big screen ("A.P.T" and "Ba:Bo") resulted in commercial flops.

But the third time may be the charm for the popular Internet cartoon. Opening on November 27, "Soonjeong Manhwa" ("Hello Schoolgirl"), based on Kang Pool's first serial, topped the box office in its first weekend. And the popularity is well deserved, as the film version adroitly brings the sweet and poignant love story to life.

Both the online and cinematic versions of "Soonjeong Manhwa" ("Hello Schoolgirl", which translates into "Pure Hearted Comic") revolve around two unconventional romances where age difference plays a role. In one of the relationships...| More

CHA Tae-hyeon returns with comedy

Source | 2008/11/06 | 0 comments | Permalink |

CHA Tae-hyeon's next film Gwasok Scandal (English translation: "Speedy Scandal") will be in cinemas on 4 December. First time feature film director KANG Hyeong-cheol helmed the film which stars young actress PARK Bo-yeong in the female lead.

CHA's character is a former star whose career has dwindled down. Nowadays, he is a DJ at a local radio station. Out of the blue, a young woman shows up and claims to be his daughter. She will tell everyone and everywhere that she had a tough life without a father. While CHA's character is racking his brain whether she could be his daughter, the scandal spreads like oil on water.

CHA rose to stardom opposite of JEON Ji-hyeon (a.k.a Gianna JUN) "My Sassy Girl", his latest film is the winter feel-good film "BA:BO" with HA Ji-won. PARK played in "Our School E.T" starring comedian KIM Soo-ro.

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

YOO Ji-tae and LEE Yeon-hee in romantic film

Source | 2008/11/06 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Director RYOO Jang-ha is adapting the popular internet manwha (Korean equivalent of Japanese manga) Soonjeong Manwha by KANG Pool (real name: KANG Do-young), the English title will be "Hello Schoolgirl". The titular role will be played by LEE Yeon-hee and her love interest is a role by YOO Ji-tae.

The story is about a high school girl (LEE) who every morning sees a shy thirty-year-old businessman (YOO) at the elevator. The girl is not afraid to express her feelings for the man who is the first she feels romantic feelings for.

The young actress LEE is still mostly acting the roles of young women encountering their first love. She is currently also playing a similar assertive young woman in the television drama "East of Eden", and portrayed a headstrong young woman in the teenage drama "A Millionaire's First Love". In her previous film "M" (LEE Myeong-se), her character was a shy young woman whose love defied death.

YOO broke through internationally with his role opposite of ...| More