| Korean films, stars nominated for U.S. Green Globe Awards (Source) |
2010/03/12 |
Korean movie "Thirst" and "Mother - 2009" [CJ Entertainment]
Some of the biggest names in the South Korean film industry, as well as its most noted productions, have been nominated in multiple categories at this year's Hollywood-based Green Globe Film Awards.
According to the event's official webpage, a number of Korea's top movie stars and films will compete in this year's "International Film Awards Theme: Asia" segment of the event which recognizes movies, actors and directors in the Eastern region of the globe.
Noteworthy nominees include Song Kang-ho for film "Thirst", Ha Jeong-woo for "Take Off" and Kim Myeong-min for "Closer to Heaven" in the categor... |More
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| Film Mother receives nominations at overseas film festivals (Source) |
2010/03/03 |
Director Bong Joon-ho's movie "Mother - 2009" (2009) continues to receive favorable reviews at international festivals abroad.
A thriller about a mother's quest to free her handicapped son from a false charge of murder was recently awarded the Best East Meets West Cinema Award at the 25th Santa Barbara International Film Festival in the United States in mid-February.
The movie already won two other international awards last year: for the best screenplay in the Asia-Africa film category at the 6th Dubai International Festival (Dec. 9 - 16) in the United Arab Emirates and the Signis Grand Prix (granted by the World Catholic Association for Communication) at the Mar del Plata International Film Festival in Argentina (Nov. 7-15).
At the above-mentioned Argentine film festival, "Mother - 2009" was praised "For being a complete work, which explores what a mother is capable of doing when she is determined to protect her son. The director questions it, and he does it from an ethical ... |More
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| 'Secret Reunion" Offers Bittersweet 'Bromance' (Source) |
2010/01/21 |
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
A story about North and South Korean spies called "Secret Reunion" may initially seem like mawkish cliche capitalizing on the tragic divide of the peninsula.
But pleasantly surprising, bona fide entertainment is on offer ― an incisive observation of modern Korea that is tastefully packaged as a humorous and gripping story of a budding "bromance" between foes.
North Korean secret agent Ji-won (Kang Dong-won) crosses the 38th Parallel on a big mission to assassinate a comrade who has betrayed the regime. When the National Intelligence Service (NIS) led by Han-gyu (Song Kang-ho) intervenes, a shooting rampage ensues in the heart of Seoul.
Both parties suffer losses but the adept Northerner completes his assignment and escapes, while Han-gyu, having failed miserably, is fired. Ji-won, however, is suspected as having manipulated the operation and is also deserted by his agency.
Six years have passed and Han-gyu makes a living running a th... |More
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| 'Woochi' Marks Birth of Korean Superhero (Source) |
2009/12/17 |
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
He might be offended if you call him the Korean Harry Potter, and pull a Taoist magic trick on you.
Jeon U-chi's genealogy can be traced back to the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) but he comes to life onscreen, with a modern edge, as "Woochi" ("JEON WOO CHI : The Taoist Wizard")― an exciting new superhero everyone's been waiting for.
Novel character-driven films have recently made their mark in South Korean cinema such as "Private Eye" starring an accidental Joseon-style Sherlock Holmes or "Descendants of Hong Gil-dong" featuring modern-day descendants of the Korean Robin Hood, Hong Gil-dong.
Director Choi Dong-hoon, who demonstrated a knack for creating lively characters in "Tazza: The High Rollers" ("The War of Flower"), brings a superhero who, though quintessentially Korean, can inspire laughter and exhilarating adventure even in those who didn't grow up eating kimchi.
The movie takes viewers back 500 hundred years when a magic flute ... |More
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| Film Council Names Most Popular Movies of 2009 (Source) |
2009/12/07 |
Korea's most popular film of 2009 is the disaster blockbuster "Haeundae", the Korean Film Council said yesterday.
Released July 22, the film opened at 753 screens nationwide and drew 11.3 million spectators. Many more, however, are expected to watch the movie via online video download or DVD or videotape rental.
The DVD of the movie will see a February release.
According to a council report on the film industry's performance in the first 11 months of the year, the popularity of a movie differs by distribution channel. That means each movie has different numbers of spectators at the theater, online video download, and DVD and videotape rental.
The popularity of movies between July and November through three distribution channels is follows:
○ Most popular movies online: "A Frozen Flower" and "Portrait of a Beauty"
GOM TV, the largest video clip portal service in Korea, said "A Frozen Flower" was first in the number of paid downloads, followed by "Take Off (comple... |More
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