| 2010 Korean Cinema Lineup (Source) |
2009/12/27 |
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
The past year represented hope and revitalization for Korean cinema. While problems such as piracy linger on, the forecast for 2010 cinema appears promising with diverse projects in the making.
Cineastes are finding inspiration from the past and are bringing remakes of Korean classics as well as unique period movies. Big action flicks are gearing up for the 60th anniversary of the Korean War (1950-53) while much-anticipated sequels will cater to fans. Furthermore, a couple of Hollywood projects will head here for shoots.
2009 in Review
Both commercial blockbusters and unique indie films pulled the industry out of a three-year slump and cineastes made their mark near and far.
Kim Choung-ryoul's documentary "Old Partner" rewrote box-office history for the genre, while Yang Ik-joon's "Breathless" made waves by sweeping almost two dozen prizes at international festivals. Park Chan-ok's low-budget drama "Paju" was well-received among critics an... |More
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| Movies to Watch in 2010 (Source) |
2009/12/07 |
The film industry is already preparing for next year. Many renowned filmmakers have returned to Korea to produce movies about war and sequels to hit movies.
Director Im Kwon-taek will produce his 101st movie "Scooping Up The Moonlight". Directors Kim Tae-yong and Lm Sang-soo will produce remakes of "Late Autumn" ("Manchu") by Lee Man-hee and "The Housemaid" ("The Housemaid - 2010") of Kim Ki-young, respectively. Films about war will also be introduced to mark the 60th anniversary of the Korean War.
◇The return of maestros
"Scooping Up The Moonlight", which will be produced under the auspices of the Jeonju City government, is Im Kwon-taek's first film to be shot with digital cameras. It is a story about seventh-grade public servant Jong-ho, who wants to become a fifth-grade official. To achieve his dream, he takes charge of the traditional Korean paper "hanji" at the municipal government and becomes completely mesmerized by it. Jong-ho is played by actor Park Joong-hoon... |More
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| 'If You Were Me 4', Omnibus Treat (Source) |
2009/05/28 |
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
For its sixth omnibus feature film "If You Were Me 4", the National Human Rights Commission of Korea has brought together five directors to capture the magic and complexities of being a teenager. The closing film for the 2008 Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) makes a promising theatrical release June 4 despite tough competition with big Hollywood flicks.
Along with JIFF's popular digital franchise, the human rights project continues to positively contribute to the omnibus genre. In past years, directors such as Park Chan-wook participated ("If You Were Me", 2003), and this time Bang Eun-jin, Jeon Gye-soo, Lee Hyeon-seung, Yoon Seong-ho and Kim Tae-yong each offer a small gem of a piece.
Bang, who debuted with the bloody thriller "Princess Aurora", offers something bright in "Blue Birds on the Desk". The story itself is rather typical of 1990s TV dramas on growing pains, but cheerful melodies, school uniform-clad dance sequences and slight... |More
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| [TALK OF THE TOWN] Haunting tale of mother's death gets Hollywood makeover (Source) |
2009/01/20 |
Keep your eyes wide open for "The Uninvited", a Hollywood remake of the Korean horror film, "A Tale of Two Sisters" (2003).
The remake, directed by Charles Guard and Thomas Guard, and starring Emily Browning and Elizabeth Banks, will be released next Friday in U.S. theaters.
The story revolves around Anna (Browning) who suffers mentally after her mother's tragic death.
Anna returns home after receiving treatment in the hospital, but she suffers even more after she finds out that her father (David Strathairn) is dating Rachel (Banks), a hospital nurse who looked after her mother.
Every night, Anna is constantly awakened by her mother's ghost who warns her anxious and vulnerable daughter about Rachel.
There have been several successful Hollywood remakes of Korean films: "The Lake House" (2006), a remake of the Korean drama film "Il Mare" (2000); and "Mirror" (2008), a remake of the horror thriller "Into the Mirror" (2003).... |More
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| LEE Jeong-jae fights over KIM Ok-bin (Source) |
2008/11/20 |
Young actress KIM Ok-bin plays a gisaeng (female entertainer) in the historic action comedy "The Accidental Gangster and the Mistaken Courtesan" (English working title; Korean title: 1724 Gibang Nandong Sageon). LEE Jeong-jae plays a skilled fighter who somehow attracts fights. His character falls in love with KIM's character and takes on her boss, a notorious criminal leader, to free her.
LEE told reporters that he wanted to try his hand at playing a different kind of character, a comical loose cannon type of character like in "The Accidental Gangster and the Mistaken Courtesan". The action comedy will mark LEE's first film since 2005's "Typhoon". In 2000, he was seen in "Il Mare" with JEON Ji-hyeon (aka Gianna JUN).
KIM said that she found acting in historical films more difficult, but she was helped by director YEO Gyoon-dong's consultations. KIM practiced traditional dances for two months in preparation of the film. She will next star in PARK Chan-wook's highly anticipated ... |More
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