Korean movie news

Abandon Hope, All Ye Who Enter 'Black House'

2008/06/12 | Source | Permalink |

A robust, grisly horror film boosted by excellent performances

Kyu Hyun Kim (qhyunkim)

A meek but kind insurance salesman Jeon Jun-O (Hwang Jeong-Min, "Happiness") is handpicked by a creepy metalworker, Park Choong-Bae (Kang Shin-Il, "Silmido"), for renewal of the policies on the his family. Visiting Park's spectacularly decrepit adobe, Jun-O ends up discovering the body of Park's young son, apparently a suicide.

Meeting Choong-Bae's wife Yi-Hwa (Yoo Seon, "The Wig" - "Scary Hair"), a pale beauty who has seemingly exhausted her capacity for grief, Jun-O begins to suspect that the boy's death was in fact a murder, and that she is next in line.

What Jun-O does not understand is that his small act of kindness (and breach of professional ethics) over a phone consultation has already ensnared him in a web of deceit, mutilation and murder, spun by a psychopath who makes Norman Bates in "Psycho" look like SpongeBob SquarePants.

A Japan-Korea coproduction, "Black House" is base...| More

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Actor Lee Joon-ki Launches Relief Campaign for Chinese Quake Victims

2008/06/12 | Source | Permalink |

Actor Lee Joon-ki has stepped forward with his fans to help the victims of the devastating earthquake that hit the Sechuan Province in China.

Lee's management agency said the gesture was his way of giving back the love and support he has been receiving from his Chinese fans. The actor--when he read the news that his Chinese fans had launched a campaign to collect 1 yuan coins for the quake victims--decided to begin his own relief campaign to collect one thousand won notes, equivalent to one U.S. dollar, with his Korean fans. All of the proceeds will be donated to the Red Cross.

Lee takes on the role of chivalrous thief Iljimae in the popular SBS drama series "Iljimae"....| More

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I love you Lee Joon-Ki (tooooo much ) ^^ 3weed 2008-06-30 07:57:53 fiza 2008-06-21 10:03:40 feelin so proud to be his fan^_^

Eugene Selected as PiFan Spokesmodel

2008/06/12 | Permalink |

Actress and former K-Pop artist, Eugene (Yoo Jin), has been selected to be the "PiFan Lady" by the organizational committee of the 12th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan).

Last year, Eugene (Yoo Jin) made her silver screen debut with the movie "Unstoppable Marriage", and is currently in the middle of filming "198th Page of That Man's Book" with actor Lee Dong-wook. During the course of the film festival (July 18th-27th), Eugene (Yoo Jin) will participate in its various public and promotional events.

Former "PiFan Ladies" include Bae Doona, Jang Jin-yeong, Ha Ji-won, Kang Soo-yeon, Choo Sang-mi and Jin Hee-kyeong. And from 2006 to 2007, Park Joong-hoon, Lee Joon-ki, Lee Wan and Song Chang-hee have had the honor of becoming "PiFan Guys....| More

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i really adore eugene.. a great actress and i can see she's a very kind person... i saw her on the news when she visited my country (Philippines).. hoping i could meet her in person... Aja all the way!! (*^__^*).v.. Mardigra 2008-06-13 23:47:00

North Koreans depicted with rare realism

2008/06/12 | Source | Permalink |

"Crossing", directed by Kim Tae-gyoon, does not shoot for a box-office jackpot as other mainstream movies do.

The production team, in fact, knows very well that the movie's serious theme - a realistic depiction of North Koreans - is unlikely to translate into big revenues.

But the movie aims high when it comes to the plight of North Koreans. Ranging from perilous border crossings to horrifying gulags to arduous resettlement in the South, the movie's realistic details are sharpened to perfection.

For North Korean defectors here, the movie means something more than a cinematic storytelling. At a special preview event in Seoul last Thursday, about 180 North Korean defectors watched the film, and many of them were crying during the screening. They seemed struck by the powerful images - scenes that inevitably bring back the dark memories of their life in the North.

"I had some doubts about this event because my movie might reopen the painful wounds inflicted on those who have de...| More

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'Delivering Love' ("Beyong All Magic") Doesn't Come Through

2008/06/12 | Source | Permalink |

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

Cinema allows artistry to soar high and far, allowing reality to mix freely with products of far-fetched imagination. However, there exists a marked difference between being surreal and just plain baffling. While visually pleasing, "Delivering Love" ("Beyong All Magic"), the directorial debut of Jo Nam-ho, is, unfortunately, the latter. The movie thoroughly disappoints, particularly since it stars some of South Korea's biggest actresses like Shim Hye-jin and Kim Soo-mi.

Unfolding in a rural village with scenic fruit plantations and quaint traditional houses, the film is a visual delight. A painter character does wonders to an old truck and other mundane spaces. But the film fails to keep the narrative on track and viewers will ultimately find themselves lost. If not, then you will be most likely be distracted by the intolerably cliched and corny script, which breaks the flow of the drama by inspiring giggles at all the wrong moments.

Nam-hui (Sh...| More

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Randall Duk Kim Voices Master Oogway in "Kung Fu Panda"

2008/06/11 | Source | Permalink |

Randall Duk Kim, an Asian-American actor of Korean and Chinese descent, lends his voice as Ancient Master Oogway in the newly released full length, 3-D animation feature "Kung Fu Panda". The movie was released in theaters across the US on June 6, 2008, and during the first weekend of its release, ranked number one at the North American box office.

In the film, Master Oogway is a 1000-year-old tortoise Kung Fu master who appoints the main character Po the panda, as the Dragon Warrior. Master Oogway supports Po and inspires his student Shifu to teach the panda to fight the evil warrior Tai Lung. Along with Kim, many movie stars lent their voices to the movie, including Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, and Angelina Jolie.

A seasoned theatre actor in the realm of theatre, Kim had spent 20 years crafting his art on the stage. In 1994, he began to appear in small roles on television as well as films. His resume includes the role of Uncle Lau in three episodes of the short-lived TV series "T...| More

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Celebrities Attend Anti-U. S. Beef Rally

2008/06/11 | Source | Permalink |

Acclaimed actress Moon So-ri and famed singers Yang Hee-eun and Ahn Chi-hwan took part in Tuesday's massive rally against the import of U.S. beef. Citizens at the candlelight vigil greeted them with loud cheers and warm applause.

Moon, who came to the rally with her husband Jang Joon-hwan, director of "Save the Green Planet", encouraged the crowd by saying that many more in the film industry are watching and supporting the civic demonstration. She was cheered on by the crowd when she urged the Lee Myung-bak administration to listen to the people and accept public opinion.

Singer Ahn Chi-hwan, who has already attended many rounds of candlelight vigils, sang his songs "In the Wild Plain" and "Freedom", as well as "The Will", written just for the candlelight protest. Once known for her anti-establishment songs, noted singer Yang Hee-eun sang her greatest hit "Morning Dew" with the protestors.

Citizens at the rally were very positive toward the participation of celebrities. They s...| More

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[Talk of the town] Seoul becomes a cinema city as hit movies hit the town

2008/06/11 | Source | Permalink |

If you're a moviegoer, expect some fun in Seoul. Starting Friday, the city will turn into a massive theater.

"The 13th Seoul Good Movie", a festival organized by Seoul City, is showing 220 films for free at various venues including Seoul Plaza, World Cup Stadium and community centers.

Some films include "D-War" (2007) "Le Grand Chef" (2007), "The Forbidden Kingdom" (2008), "With a Girl of Black Soil" (2007), "Different Tastes" (2006), "Down in the Valley" (2005) and "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (2007).

The event continues until Sept. 30. For more information, visit http://www.seoulgoodmovie.com.

By Lee Eun-joo...| More

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[Talk of the town] Hungarian hit for Korean TV drama hints at future hallyu in Europe

2008/06/11 | Source | Permalink |

The "Jewel in the Palace" ("Dae Jang Geum", 2003), the Korean drama about royal cuisine, is a hit in Europe.

AGB Nielsen Media Research in Hungary announced that the drama attracted some 37 percent of the viewers watching television, according to the South Korean Embassy in Budapest, Hungary. The episodes aired from March to May on MTV, a national broadcasting station in Hungary.

The drama will re-air in fall ? anticipating hallyu or Korean wave in Europe....| More

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No pain, no gain for the streetwise ajumma squad

2008/06/11 | Source | Permalink |

Life is tough for four ajumma, or housewives, in "Girl Scout", an action comedy directed by Kim Sang-man.

The film was released last Thursday. It is the only Korean film that was included among the top five ranking, as of Monday.

The film takes place in Bongcheon-3 dong, a deprived area in Seoul where this aggressive middle-aged squad lives.

The squad members are I-man (Nah Moon-hee), a woman in her 60s working at a supermarket to look after her unemployed son; Bong-soon (Lee Kyeong-sil), a widow who lives with an ill child; Mi-kyung (Kim Seon-ah), a divorcee; and Eun-ji (Ko Joon-hee), a caddie.

The four women are determined to raise the money to open up a store in their neighborhood.

It is their sole hope and dream.

Though they try their best, they are hit by a piece of news that comes at them like a bolt from the blue.

Hye-ran (Lim Ji-eun), who used to be one of the squad members and who is in charge of their collective savings, runs away.

The four ajumma, ran...| More

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