I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK (Movie - 2006)

Park Chan-wook's Films to Be Screened at KOFA

Source | 2009/07/27 | 0 comments | Permalink |

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

A special retrospective of the films by award-winning director Park Chan-wook will be held at the Cinematheque, Korean Film Archive (KOFA) next month.

The retrospective is part of the Cinematheque KOFA's monthly Replay program. There will be special screenings of Park's films, starting from his directorial debut "The Moon Is … The Sun's Dream" (1992) to his latest film "Thirst". "Thirst", a film about a priest who becomes a vampire, won the Jury Prize at this year's Cannes International Film Festival.

Also to be screened are Park's so-called vengeance trilogy films, "Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance", (2002), "Old Boy", (2003) and "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance", (2005). Park won the Grand Prix at Cannes in 2004 for "Old Boy".

There will also be film screenings of "JSA - Joint Security Area" (2000), and "I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK" (2006).

Tickets are free. The Cinematheque KOFA is located in Mapo, Sangnam-dong. Visit http://www.koreafilm...| More

Bong Joon-ho's Latest Challenge in 'Mother - 2009'

Source | 2009/07/04 | 0 comments | Permalink |

By Kyu Hyun Kim

Kim Hye-ja marvels in an overwhelming thriller

Small country town, Korea. Do-joon (Won Bin, returning to the screen after four years of military service) is a pretty-faced young man, treated as a village idiot and perpetually causing minor havoc with his ne'er-do-well friend Jin-tae (Jin Goo). Do-joon's devoted mother Hye-ja (Kim Hye-ja) is left to clean up the aftermath.

Then one day everyone is stunned to find Do-joon arrested for the murder of a high school girl Ah-jung (Moon Hee-ra). The evidence seems incontrovertible, but Hye-ja launches her own awkward investigation into the murder case, hoping to nab the real culprit. However, everyone in the town, including Hye-ja and Doo-jun themselves, seems to harbor some dark secret, threatened to be uncovered by her sleuthing.

While the film's plot and set-up superficially resemble Bong's based-on-real-life police procedural "Memories of Murder", "Mother - 2009" is even more emotionally shocking and devilishly ...| More

World Beware: The Wizard is Coming this Summer

Source | 2009/06/05 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Korea's own super hero movie "JEON WOO CHI : The Taoist Wizard" is set for release this summer. The movie is highly anticipated not just because of its colloquial superhero themes but its super star cast and director. Choi Dong-hoon known for the colourfully large "War of the Flower" (2006) and "The Big Swindle" (2004) helms this ambitious Taoist action film feat. Equally as well known as Choi are its actors who are mainstays in Korean cinema. Kang Dong-won, young star of 'M' (2007) and The "Duelist" (2005) plays the mischievous time transported hero fighting against Kim Yoon-seok the detective anti hero in last year's surprise hit, thriller "The Chaser" (2008). Im Soo-Jeong from Kim Jee-woon's "A Tale of Two Sisters" fame and Park Chan-wook's "I'm a Cyborg, But That's Ok" also appears in the film along with Yoo Hae-jin who worked with Choi on "War of the Flower" and a host of other films.

Even though a superhero flick, Cho Dong-hoon has taken the familiar family genre, fu...| More

Park Chan-wook of 'Thirst' Receives Jury Award at Cannes Festival

Source | 2009/05/27 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Park Chan-wook has been given an award at the Cannes Film Festival. He said, "I felt like I had already received an award when I was invited to compete with the world's best filmmakers, but after I received big applause at the gala screening and then a real award, it's like I've received three awards in all". His movie "Thirst" earned him the jury award at the 62nd Cannes International Festival.

In an interview on May 25 at a hotel in Cannes, he said that of all the ovations he has received so far the ovation that he received in Cannes this time was the greatest. "Awards aside, I just prayed that viewers won't ridicule my movie or leave the theater during the middle. I was happy to see them like my movie", said Park.

Park, who received the first jury award in 2004 for his movie "Old Boy", snatched another one five years later, strengthening his status as a world-renowned filmmaker. On the question on whether or not he was upset because he didn't receive a more prestigious award, ...| More

Korean Movie "Thirst" Wins Cannes Award

Source | 2009/05/25 | 0 comments | Permalink |

The new movie "Thirst" by Korea's renowned director Park Chan-wook won one of the three main awards of the 62nd Cannes Film Festival.
The film a dark story about a priest-turned-vampire who struggles against his bloodthirsty instincts won the jury prize at the Cannes on Sunday being praised as a "unique noir film" by jurors.
This marks Park Chan-wook's second Cannes award after he took home the Grand Jury Prize with the revenge thriller "Old Boy" in 2004.
This win represents his third prize at an international film festival as his science fiction comedy "I'm a Cyborg, But That's Ok" garnered him the Alfred Bauer Prize at the Berlin Film Festival in 2007.
In his acceptance speech Park said that for him the joy of creating is the main engine that enables him to make movies adding that he wants to share the honor with his close friend and colleague Song Kang-ho who starred in the movie.
Eight Korean movies have been entered as candidates at the Cannes Film Festival and "Thirst" has b...| More