Korean movie news

2008/05/08 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

"D-War", a sci-fi flick directed by former comedian Shim Hyung-rae, will be released in China on May 11 at more than 500 theaters in about 100 cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Shenchen.

The movie was a commercial success in Korea last year, drawing more than 7 million people. It also earned over $11 million in the United States, despite being panned by critics.

The Korean producers of "D-War", as well as the Chinese media, expect the movie to be a huge hit, possibly surpassing the success of "The Host", the most successful Korean movie yet in China.

Yonggu Art, the production company behind "D-War", said the movie was likely to appeal to the Chinese, since it deals with dragons, which are important in Chinese culture, along with other sentiments shared by Asians. The company also said the movie's computer graphics and film technology match those of Hollywood. ...

To participate to HanCinema, you must sign up or log in. Sign up, Why ?

2008/05/08 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

In tune with Family Month comes a heartwarming tale about cherished childhood memories, "Unforgettable". Set in an obscure village during the 1970s, the film captures the beauty of simplicity and signals a return to an age of innocence. The old becomes new ― the retro story will be like a breath of fresh air to computer game-addicted urbanites.

It's a small jewel of a film, where director Song Dong-yoon uses analog film rather than digital to immortalize the breathtaking natural scenery of Sindo. Mellow piano tunes compliment the visuals, though some of the overly dramatic soundtracks for touching moments are a bit cliche. Nevertheless, it shows how computer-generated imagery, no matter how glitzy or high-tech, cannot rival the sight of glistening, rolling hills on a sunny day or a golden sunset by the beach.

Korea's favorite child actor Yoo Seung-ho was much loved as the bratty city boy who learns to appreciate country life and his grandm...

To participate to HanCinema, you must sign up or log in. Sign up, Why ?

2008/05/07 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

Singer Bada, formerly of female pop group S.E.S., has been invited to attend the 2008 Korean Film Festival in Hanoi, Vietnam, held to celebrate the 16th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Vietnam. She will perform in the opening ceremony at the festival to be held at the National Convention Center in Hanoi from May 8th through 10th. She plans to give a powerful and spectacular performance to the Vietnamese fans of Korean culture.

The 2008 Korea Film Festival will open with "Forever the Moment", based on the true account of the Korean women's handball team on their way to win silver in the Athens Olympic Games. Other films to be featured at the festival include "Welcome to Dongmakgol", "Tube", "Marathon", and "Hwangjin-y - Movie - 2007". The presentation of such box office hits is expected to promote cultural exchanges between Korea and Vietnam.

Jointly hosted by the Korea Cultural Center in Vietnam, the Vietnamese Cultural and Information, and the Korean ...

To participate to HanCinema, you must sign up or log in. Sign up, Why ?

2008/05/07 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

Traditional Korean music singer cum actress Oh Jeong-hae is one of the true artists of today. Her refined appearance and heartrending voice embody traditional Korean beauty.

Debuting through the old fashioned Miss Chunhyang pageant and best known for her appearance in the film 'Seopyeonje', she is foremost associated with a tidy image after donning hanbok (Korean attire). But casual Western clothes also suit her well. Any fan of Korean film will remember her in Seopyeonje, a sensational hit of the time, in which she painstakingly acted out her singing role.

Over the years, she has done many different things -- appearing in dramas, films, hosting a radio show and teaching at university -- in places all over the country, including Seoul and the Gyeongsang and Jeolla provinces.

Singer turned Actress Pursues Diverse Activities

Oh was afraid that her distinguished singing talent would limit her acting career, which is why she delved into different activities. For instance, she ...

To participate to HanCinema, you must sign up or log in. Sign up, Why ?

2008/05/07 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

Korean singer Se7en held a preview party for his album debut in the U.S. at Highlands, a famous nightclub in Hollywood, Los Angeles on May 2.

During the party, Se7en showcased his first live performance in the United States, demonstrating his will and desire to challenge the American pop market as an Asian artist. The party was attended by a wide range of ethnic groups, including Asian, African-American, caucasian and Latin American crowds, who danced along to Se7en's music.

"The Far East Movement", American hip-hop trio made up of Chinese-Japanese Kev Nish, Korean-American Prohgress and J-Spliff opened the stage for Se7en.

"The Far East Movement" was in Korea earlier this year in March for a showcase performance. The trio's first album entitled "Audio Bio", which was released through an American indie label in 2005, sold 200,000 copies. "Audio Bio" was featured in the popular CBS series "C.S.I".
...

To participate to HanCinema, you must sign up or log in. Sign up, Why ?

2008/05/07 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

'You Are My Destiny', a brand new drama series on KBS 1TV has kicked off to a great start.

According to AGB Nielsen Media research, 'You Are My Destiny', which debuted on May 5 after the previous drama series 'Likeable or Not' ended, recorded 24.8 % nationwide viewer ratings. The viewer ratings in the Seoul area alone were 29.1%.

KBS explained that the viewer ratings of the new drama series is in the same range as 'Likeable or Not' on its debut date. 'Likeable or Not' maintained a stable viewer rating of 35.4% throughout the past eight months, topping the list of the most successful drama series on KBS 1TV since 2000.

Yoona, a member of the popular female vocal group Girls' Generation, stars in 'You Are My Destiny' as the heroine who finds herself happily adjusting to a new family after a life-changing corneal transplant surgery. Park Jae-jeong, Lee Ji-hoon, Kong Hyeon-joo, Lee Pil-mo and Kim Jeong-nan are the co-stars of the new drama series.

Viewers have commented on the ...

To participate to HanCinema, you must sign up or log in. Sign up, Why ?

2008/05/07 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

A film depicting the misery faced by North Korean defectors struck a chord with the audience gathered for a screening at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. last month. Scheduled for release on June 5 here in Korea, the movie starring actor Cha In-pyo is produced by Patrick Cheh, the Korean-American president of Unity Media, who gave a presentation about the film's genesis at the event.

In an interview with the Chosun Ilbo, Cheh said he wanted to show the reality of North Korean refugees. Perseverance, he says, allowed the work to be completed although there is little hope of box-office success. "The movie criticizes the North Korean reality, that its regime violates the clear proposition that the family should live together, and breaks it down when it even fails to meet the basic need for clothes, food and shelter for its people", he said.

It was four years ago that Cheh decided to make a movie on the subject. His father, Cheh Eung-pyo, the head of the Korean American Fre...

To participate to HanCinema, you must sign up or log in. Sign up, Why ?

2008/05/07 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

"Hallyu" seems to be on the wane. It is ebbing in China, Japan, and Southeast Asia, where the fascination with Korean TV dramas, pop music and films known as the Korean Wave, peaked in the last few years.

However, the Korean Wave is still flourishing in Mongolia. Several Korean TV dramas are broadcast every day at prime time. The number of people learning the Korean language is increasing remarkably, with many Mongolians rushing to Korea in search of the "Korean Dream".

"Jewel in the Palace" ("Dae Jang Geum") has been a big hit. The drama has fascinated Mongolians so much that it has been aired five times here. Other dramas such as "Autumn in My Heart" "Winter Sonata" and "Stairway to Heaven" have also been popular. These dramas have kept Mongolian viewers glued to their screens and have become daily topics of conversation.

Korean pop singers have been also immensely famous in the country. Songs by "Rain", Big Bang, Shinhwa, BoA and Jang Nara all top the charts and keep young ...

To participate to HanCinema, you must sign up or log in. Sign up, Why ?

2008/05/07 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

The Grand Bell Awards, Korea's major movie award ceremony, will announce this year's winners at the COEX Convention Hall in southern Seoul on June 27, organizers said at a news conference yesterday.

A total of 56 Korean movies have so far joined the competition, and the jury will whittle the list down to about 30 in the preliminary stage, with the remaining films to compete for the top prizes.

As part of the ceremony, the Grand Bell Film Festival will be held June 24-28, offering a variety of events such as free screenings, meetings with directors and actors, and concerts.

The Grand Bell Awards has 25 categories, including best director, best actor and best actress. Leading actors Ahn Seong-gi and Kim Ah-joong are the honorary ambassadors of the award ceremony. ...

To participate to HanCinema, you must sign up or log in. Sign up, Why ?

2008/05/07 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

Korean filmmaker Kim Moon-saeng ("Wonderful Days") will head the movie adaptation project for "Empire of the Ants", a best selling book by French author Bernard Werber.

Studio 3303, a local production house, said yesterday that it will share half of the production budget, estimated at about 10 million euros (16 billion won), while the remaining half will come from a French production partner.

About two-thirds of the movie will be three-dimensional animations, while the remainder will incorporate conventional shootings of real objects and actors.

Werber visited Korea last month and met with director Kim to finalize the movie project. The French author, who is highly popular with Korean readers, began discussing the movie adaptation with the Korean filmmaker after watching Kim's "Wonderful Days". ...

To participate to HanCinema, you must sign up or log in. Sign up, Why ?