| 'Fortune' Shows Crude Depiction of Love/Fate (Source) |
2009/10/29 |
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
Funnyman Im Chang-jeong returns opposite yet another screen beauty, Park Ye-jin, in the slapstick "Fortune Salon". It appears difficult for the "Sex Is Zero" star to shed his typecast character in this half-way sex (rather than romantic) comedy, which rather strenuously tries to show that love (or lust) can prevail in the face of cruel destiny.
But more often than not, fate laughs at chance.
It's a shame because the movie could have done so much more with the classic premise of fate versus free will set against the exotic shamanist subculture that exists in modern Korea. Instead, it makes a disgrace out of one of the oldest traditions/religions here.
South Korea has long been rooted in shamanist beliefs. The fortune-telling market here amasses up to 3 trillion won annually. "Saju" (reading one's fate using one's birth date), physiognomy and, most recently, Western tarot-card reading booths and parlors can be easily spotted around town.
The f... |More
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| 'Haeundae' Director Set for International Shores (Source) |
2009/10/16 |
"Haeundae" writer and director Yoon Je-kyoon will direct an English language adventure comedy. The project will be produced by Youn's JK Film which also produced the mega-hit tsunami film that went on to screen at a number of territories around the world as well as pulling in 12 million admissions at home. To further guarantee a Western audience the film will come complete with an American cast and a (U.S) $10 million budget; big by Korean standards but hardly recognizable by Hollywood's.
The unique American/Korean story focuses on children who stay at a temple where ancient Korean ghosts come to visit and statues of Buddha come to life. This true, family film has been compared to other similar films such as Jumanji and the Night at the Museum franchise.
Director Yoon follows the footsteps of other Korean directors like KIM Ji-woon, who after the success of "The Good, The Bad, The Weird" has been recruited to direct an English version of Max et les Ferrailleurs in Philadelphi... |More
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| 'Haeundae' Hits 7-Million-Viewer Mark (Source) |
2009/08/09 |
By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter
Local summer blockbuster "Haeundae", directed by Yoon Je-kyoon, has been seen by 7 million viewers in 18 days since its premiere July 22.
The film is expected to break the 10-million-viewer mark soon with its present pace. Currently, only four domestic movies ― "Silmido" (2003), "TaeGukGi: The Brotherhood of War" (2004), "The King and the Clown" (2005) and "The Host" (2006) ― have drawn more than 10 million viewers.
"Haeundae" attracted 180,000 viewers on opening day and reached 1 million viewers July 25, four days after its release.
The film has continued to draw an average 300,000 viewers a day during the weekdays and 500,000 viewers a day on the weekends. If the film reaches the 10-million-viewer mark, it will be the fifth film to do so, three years after "The Host", the last film to do so.
The movie's popularity is attributed to the wide range of audience members it appeals to, from teens to the middle-aged, due to its co... |More
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| A disaster film, five years in the making (Source) |
2009/08/07 |
'I learned through making "Haeundae" that nothing in the world is impossible'.
The Korean blockbuster "Haeundae" has taken audiences by storm ? or perhaps it's more apt to say by tsunami, which happens to be the main focus of the movie.
As of yesterday, the film had drawn an impressive 6 million moviegoers since its release on July 22.
Many critics and viewers attribute the film's success to a gripping story line and its use of eye-catching advanced computer-generated graphics, which accounted for a big part of the movie's 13 billion won ($10.6 million) budget.
The story is told through the human relations between various characters played by seasoned actors such as Seol Kyeong-gu, Ha Ji-won and Park Joong-hoon, presenting audiences with a good mix of humor and touching, emotional scenes throughout the two-hour ride.
Director Yoon Je-kyoon, who also wrote the film, said he was staying in his hometown of Busan when he first heard about the tsunamis that hit Southeast Asia i... |More
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| Actor Kim Dies in Motorcycle Accident (Source) |
2009/06/26 |
By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
Actor Kim Tae-ho-I died in a motorcycle accident Thursday morning. He was 30.
The former model was driving toward Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, when he crashed into a truck that was parked near the road.
"We were heading to Chuncheon to have lunch after leaving Seoul and stopping by the Soyang Dam", his fellow motorcycle club members told the police.
According to police, Kim's driving license was revoked due to penalty points until Aug. 1.
Kim, who started out as a model and moved on to become an actor, appeared in the movie "Sex is Zero 2" and dramas "You Are Not Alone" (2004, SBS) and "Blue Fish" (2007, SBS). He was set to appear at a charity fashion show next month.
Kim is the latest in a long line of celebrities who have died in motorcycle accidents. Kim Min-soo, a member of pop group Monday Kiz, passed away last April when he crashed into a tree, while model-turned-actor Lee Eon ("Coffee Prince", MBC) also died in August the same ... |More
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