Song Kang-Ho 송강호 [“Broker”, “Emergency Declaration”]

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November 24, 2016

Who will win the top prize at the 37th Blue Dragon Film Awards?

Source: STARNEWS via Hancinema.net

2016 was full of movies of diverse genres and colors. This year's Blue Dragon Film Awards is expected to be competitive.

Success, cinematic quality and performance are taken into account for The Best Actor prize and it's going to get messy. There are five actors whom we can't possibly compare and they are Lee Byung-hun, Song Kang-ho, Ha Jeong-woo, Kwak Do-won and Jeong Woo-seong.

Spoiler

#1. "The Wailing" Kwak Do-won is a top star now

Kwak Do-won is a top candidate.

He's starred in various movies such as "The Shameless", "The Attorney", "A Company Man", "Ghost Sweepers" and more. "The Wailing" has placed him in line with other top actors.

He was in the center of a mysterious case that happened after a foreign being appeared in a village. Kwak Dong-won's act of fatherly love and realistic living were outstanding.

Kwak Do-won went from 'great actor' to 'greater actor' with "The Wailing" and played an important role in enforcing the middle age group in Chungmuro.

#2. "The Age of Shadows " Song Kang-ho, a trustworthy actor

Song Kang-ho is a trustworthy actor and of course his name is in the list.

"The Age of Shadows" is the first spy movie in Korea. A Japanese cop tracks down a heroic group which brings in a bomb from Shanghai to Seoul in the 1920s.

It was a different approach for a Japanese Invasion movie and it focused on the emotions of people who lived hard times.

Song Kang-ho was outstanding once again and he expressed how a human can change according to circumstances. He was told, 'Song Kang-ho indeed'.

Spoiler

#3. "Inside Men" Lee Byung-hun, more than shocking

We can't forget about Lee Byung-hun.

He was on the verge of risking his career with some private matters but that all went away with his performance in "Inside Men". His visual was just a tip of the iceberg.

Lee Byung-hun's performance in "Inside Men" was so shocking but insanely impressive at the same time. We call him 'acting God' indeed.

Spoiler

#4. "Asura: The City of Madness" Jeong Woo-seong's passion

Jeong Woo-seong played his part this year. Producer Kim Seong-soo and Jeong Woo-seong came together once again with Hwang Jeong-min, Kwak Do-won and Joo Ji-hoon. The performance was great, but he storyline itself wasn't too great.

Although the movie didn't succeed, Jeong Woo-seong deserves an applause for his passion and self development.

Spoiler

#5. "Tunnel" Ha Jeong-woo hits the mark

Ha Jeong-woo was in a blockbuster movie this year. He was strong. He didn't go for 'change' like the others and just did what he did best. His wits and concentration created another 'Ha Jeong-woo movie'.

On the way home, a man gets trapped in the middle of a tunnel that collapses.

Ha Jeong-woo's 'one-man-show' stood out in this movie

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November 24, 2016

SONG Kang-ho Becomes a DRUG KING
INSIDE MEN Director’s 70s Crime Thriller

by Pierce Conran / KoBiz

Top Korean thespian SONG Kang-ho has signed on to play the lead in a new thriller from WOO Min-ho, the director of Inside Men (2015). Drug King, a period thriller, is now one among three upcoming projects for the busy star. 

Drug King will feature SONG playing a man putting together a drug empire in Busan in the 1970s. The project will go before cameras at some point in the first half of next year, after SONG completes principal photography on his new thriller Fifth Column, which is expected to begin shooting this month.

After a big 2013, in which he featured in Snowpiercer, The Face Reader and The Attorney, SONG had a quiet 2014 before returning last year in LEE Joon-ik’s The Throne and this year with KIM Jee-woon’s smash The Age of Shadows. He recently wrapped production on the 1980s-set drama Taxi Driver, in which he plays alongside German actor Thomas Kretchsmann.

WOO’s Inside Men was a major smash last year, drawing 7.07 million viewers on its original release, and a further 2.08 million spectators when a director’s cut was released a few months later. Prior to Inside Men, WOO made the revenge thriller Man Of Vendetta (2010) and the action-thriller The Spies (2012)

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November 30, 2016

THE AGE OF SHADOWS to Open Marrakech Film Festival
KIM Jee-woon’s THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE WEIRD also on Deck in Morocco

by Pierce Conran / KoBiz

KIM Jee-woon’s hit Colonial Era action-thriller The Age of Shadows will serve as the opening film of the 16th edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival, which kicks off on December 2nd. The film, which debuted at the Venice International Film Festival in August, drew 7.5 million viewers (USD 52.38 million) to theaters during the Chuseok holiday in Korea this year, becoming the acclaimed genre maestro’s most successful film to date.

SONG Kang-ho leads the cast as a Korean man working as an officer for the Japanese police during the occupation period in the early 20th century, whose allegiances are put to the test when he is tasked with taking down a group of resistance fighters and enters into a tense game of cat and mouse with one of their charismatic members, played by GONG Yoo.

The Age of Shadows has been very visible on the fall festival circuit this year, playing in Toronto, Busan, Mar del Plata, Sitges and Hawaii, as well as serving as the opening film of the London East Asian Film Festival. In addition, the film picked up the Best Action Film prize from Fantastic Fest in Austin and was awarded the Best Film accolade from the Korean Association of Film Critics Awards.

KIM’s 2008 Manchuria-set action film The Good, The Bad, And The Weird, once again featuring SONG, is also playing in Marrakech. Recent Korean films that have featured prominently at the festival include 2013’s HAN Gong-ju, which picked up the Golden Star which is Grand Prize, and last year’s Steel Flower, which came away with a Special Jury Prize.

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December 5, 2016

THE THRONE Receives Special Jury Prize in Goa
Period Drama Awarded in India

by Pierce Conran / KoBiz

LEE Joon-ik’s hit Joseon Era drama The Throne (2015) came away with a Special Jury Prize from the International Film Festival of India, which wrapped up 47th edition in Goa on November 28th.

Starring SONG Kang-ho, the film was a major hit upon its release in Korea during last year’s Chuseok festivities, when it attracted 6.25 million viewers (USD 41.6 million) to theaters. In addition to its commercial success, the film triumphed at several festivals around the world as well as awards shows within Korea.

Among its many prizes were the Grand Prix at the Black Nights International Film Festival in Tallinn last year, and Best Actor awards for SONG from the Blue Dragon Awards and the Chunsa Film Award.

The film depicts the most famous eight days of King Yeongjo’s reign, when he condemned his son, the Crown Prince Sado, to a slow death within a rice chest. Starring opposite SONG as the prince is actor YOO Ah-in, of Veteran (2015).

Director LEE is known for his hit costume dramas, which also include King And The Clown (2005), and since The Throne he has also released the Colonial Era set black and white, low-budget drama DONGJU; The Portrait of A Poet.

Earlier during the festival, director IM Kwon-taek was given a Lifetime Achievement Award.

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December 7, 2016

Films draw more than 200 million viewers in S. Korea

SEOUL, Dec. 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korean and foreign films drew an accumulated audience of more than 200 million viewers this year, data showed Wednesday.

It marked the fourth straight year that films have surpassed 200 million views in a country of 51 million people, according to data compiled by the state-run Korean Film Council.

Among them, South Korean films drew more than 100 million viewers this year.

The biggest box office hit is "Train to Busan," the first homegrown zombie blockbuster. The movie has surpassed 11.56 million viewers.

"A Violent Prosecutor", a South Korean movie, came next with 9.71 million viewers and "Captain America: Civil War" with 8.68 million viewers. Coming in fourth was South Korea's espionage film "The Age of Shadows" with 7.5 million viewers.

entropy@yna.co.kr

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December 10, 2016

[HanCinema Awards] Best Actor in a Film - Cast Your Vote! HERE 

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December 13, 2016

Jun Ji-hyun stands out on 10 best actors list

Jun Ji-hyun of “The Legend of the Blue Sea” was the only woman who made it on the list of the 10 best actors of 2016, compiled by Gallup Korea. 

The research firm, between Nov. 4 and 25, had run a survey targeting 1,700 Korean men and women above the age of 13 to freely answer their pick of this year’s best two movie stars. 

Actor Hwang Jung-min of “The Violent Prosecutor (2015),” “The Wailing (2016)” and “Asura: The City of Madness (2016)” topped the results.

Following in order were Song Gang-ho of “The Age of Shadows (2016),” Gong Yoo of “Train to Busan,” Ha Jung-woo of “The Handmaiden” and Yoo Hae-jin of “LUCK-KEY.” 

Lee Byung-hun of “Magnificent 7,” Lee Jung-jae of “Operation Chromite,” Jung Woo-sung of “Asura: The City of Madness, Jun Ji-hyun of “The Age of Shadows” and Ma Dong-suk of “Train to Busan” rounded up the top ten. 

Jun, who came in ninth, was the only female in the list.

A local media outlet commented, “Jun is the pride of the Korean actresses in the largely male-dominant field.“

By Lim Jeong-yeo (kaylalim@heraldcorp.com) 

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December 14, 2016

Hwang Jung-min Voted Actor of the Year

Source: The Chosun Ilbo

Actor Hwang Jung-min was voted the actor of the year, according to a recent poll by Gallup Korea.

The poll was conducted on 1,700 people aged 13 or older nationwide for three weeks from Nov. 4 to 25, and asked respondents to choose the two most outstanding actors of the year.

Hwang received 21.2 percent of the votes to top the list.

From left, Hwang Jung-min, Song Kang-ho, Gong Yoo and Ha Jung-woo

He appeared in three films this year, and made a lasting impression each time as a prosecutor in the crime comedy "A Violent Prosecutor," as a shaman in the thriller "The Wailing," and as a corrupt politician in "Asura: The City of Madness."

Song Kang-ho, who starred in "The Age of Shadows," ranked second with 18.4 percent, while Gong Yoo came in third with 12.7 percent, Ha Jung-woo fourth with 11.4 percent and Yu Hae-jin fifth with 10.8 percent.

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Photo: leeyoungae_710131

The JSA team missing a member when the movie premiered in Berlinale 2001.

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December 16, 2016

Top 10 Korean film actors of 2016 named

By: Jonathan Hicap Manila Bulletin Entertainment

Gallup Korea conducted its year-end poll to pick the top 10 Korean film actors who shone in 2016.

(Clockwise from top left) Hwang Jung Min, Song Kang-ho, Gong Yoo, Ha Jung-woo, Yoo Hae-jin, Lee Byung Hun, Jun Ji Hyun, Lee Jung-jae and Jung Woo Sung. (Photos courtesy of the Korean Film Council)

The poll was conducted among 1,700 Koreans aged 13 years and above from November 4 to 25.

Actor Hwang Jung-min topped the survey, garnering 21.2 percent. He starred in three films this year. “A Violent Prosecutor” and “The Wailing” became box office hits while “Asura: The City of Madness” was a moderate success.

Placing second is Song Kang-ho of “The Age Of Shadows” who got 18.4 percent while Gong Yoo of the No. 1 Korean film “Train To Busan” placed third with 12.7 percent.

They were followed by Ha Jung-woo of “The Handmaiden,” 11.4 percent; and Yoo Hae-jin of “Luck-Key,” 10.8 percent.

Lee Byung-hun starred in “Magnificent 7,” “The Age Of Shadows” and “Misconduct” this year and placed sixth with 9.6 percent.

He was followed by Lee Jung-jae of “Operation Chromite,” 6.3 percent; Jung Woo-sung of “Asura: The City Of Madness,” 6.2 percent; Jun Ji-hyun of “The Assassination,” 5.4 percent; and Ma Dong-seok of “Train to Busan,” 5 percent. Jun Ji-hyun is the only woman in the top 10.

Yoo Ah-in, who topped the poll last year, is not on the list this year.

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December 18, 2016

Korean movies tops for action

By Lee Han-soo The Korea Times

The Playlist, a U.S. online independent filmmaking review, on Friday named three Korean films as having the best action sequences of 2016.

An article titled "The 25 Best Action Sequences of 2016,"included scenes from "The Age of Shadows," which was ranked fourth, "The Wailing," sixth, and "Train to Busan," 15th.

The scenes were:

 
A scene from "The Age of Shadows" / Courtesy of Twitter

"The Age of Shadows"

Directed by Kim Jee-won, the review selected an action-packed train scene.

Comparing the scene to Russian nesting dolls, the reviewer wrote that the whole scene had threads of six plots, including a fight and chase scene that left a strong impression.

Spoiler

 A scene from "The Wailing" / Korea Times file

"The Wailing"

Directed by Na Hong-jin, the review selected an exorcism scene.

Although the scene may not be packed with intense action scenes, the review gave high points to the alternating exorcism rituals between one by a Korean shaman (Hwang Jung-min) in an attempt to exorcise a little girl and the other by a Japanese man (Jun Kunimura) to resurrect the dead.

Spoiler

 A scene from "Train to Busan" / Korea Times file

"Train to Busan"

Directed by Yeon Sang-ho, the review selected a Daejeon Station scene.

The review noted that the nail-biting scene was similar to a zombie-packed scene in the U.S. zombie movie "World War Z," but more effective. 

corea022@ktimes.com

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December 20, 2016

Kim Tae-ri, "I drank with Song Kang-ho and Lee Byung-hun after the Blue Dragon Film Awards"

Source: Newsen via Hancinema.net

Kim Tae-ri recalled the time she won an award at the Blue Dragon Film Awards.

SBS "Celebrity News" interviewed Kim Tae-ri.

She mentioned the time she passed the audition which 1,500 applied for the movie "The Handmaiden".

About director Park Chan-wook who was one of the judges, she said, "He asked me what role suited me better, Sook-hee or Hideko and I told him I couldn't say because I hadn't got the part yet, then he said "I'm going to make the movie with you"."

Kim Tae-ri took this year's Rookie Award for her performance in "The Handmaiden". She received a lot of calls after that and apparently they took her trophy away so that they could carve her name on the plate.

After the Blue Dragon, Kim Tae-ri had some drinks with Song Kang-ho and Lee Byung-hun at the after party.

About her income after "The Handmaiden", she said, "Now I order coffee without looking at the price".

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December 21, 2016

Stars boycott Daejong Film Awards again

By Kim Jae-hun The Korea Times

Top stars Hwang Jung-min and Jun Ji-hyun said Monday they will not participate in the 53rd Daejong Film Awards next week.

Both have been designated as ambassadors of Korea's oldest film awards, as Hwang won the best actor award last year with "Ode to My Father" (2014) and Jun won the best actress award for "Assassination" (2015). The two actors said they will not attend the festival due to their busy schedules but their move is seen as joining other actors in boycotting the event.

The Daejong Film Awards saw its worst awards ceremony last year when half of its candidates missed the event following the festival organizers' decision not to award those who do not show up.

Cho Geun-woo, the director of the committee, argued his "no show, no award" policy strengthens fairness, during a press conference last year. "Korean actors are no different to those in developing countries," he said in a media interview. "They are no stars, it's a national loss."

His remark resulted in the absence of all nine best actor/actress award nominees, including Hwang and Jun, plus Ha Jung-woo, Yoo Ah-in, Kim Hye-soo and Han Hyo-joo, at the awards ceremony.

The awards don't seem to show any improvement this year as organizers confirmed the final schedule only last Thursday and began to contact candidates about participating in the award ceremony. But high-profile actors like Choi Min-sik, Kwak Do-won, Ha Jung-woo and Lee Byung-hun have expressed uncertainty of their attendance. Another best actor award nominee Song Kang-ho replied that he will not join the event along with best actress award nominee Shim Eun-kyung.

This year's box office hits ― including "Train to Busan" and "The Handmaiden" ― also did not submit their entries to the awards ceremony. The committee confirmed five nominees at the last minute ― "The Wailing" (2016), "Inside Men" (2015), "The Age of Shadows" (2016), "The Last Princess" (2016) and "The Tiger" (2015).

The Daejong Film Awards will take place at the Sejong University's Convention Hall, Seoul, next Tuesday and will air live through online platforms like YouTube and Facebook.

jhkim@ktimes.com

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December 22, 2016

Son of actor Song Kang-ho joins pro football club

SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- The son of the popular actor Song Kang-ho joined a South Korean professional football club Thursday.

Suwon Samsung Bluewings in the top-flight K League Classic said they drafted right fullback Song Jun-pyung out of Yonsei University.

The 20-year-old previously played on Maetan High School based in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, some 45 kilometers south of Seoul. Song was a winger early in his high school career but switched to defense in college.

In this photo provided by Suwon Samsung Bluewings football club, Song Jun-pyung (top row, second from R), son of the popular actor Song Kang-ho, poses with other rookies drafted by the K League Classic team on Dec. 22, 2016. (Yonhap)

Song was one of four ex-Maetan High players selected by Suwon Thursday. Yoo Jue-an, former striker on the national U-17 team, was the only one to be drafted straight out of high school.

Suwon, which won the Korea Football Association Cup this year, will open their camp on Jan. 9, and will travel to Malaga, Spain, on Jan. 13, for overseas training.

jeeho@yna.co.kr

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December 25, 2016

Korean cinema of 2016: Women, politics, horror

Women, female relationships and political intrigue were the hallmarks of Korean cinema this year. A number of films that delved into the world of the occult, driven by unfathomable forces of evil, also stood out in a year that saw the return of some of Korea’s most renowned directors, including Park Chan-wook and Na Hong-jin, who each added significant pieces to their idiosyncratic oeuvre. 

Spotlight on women 

Arguably the most globally lauded Korean film of the year, Park Chan-wook’s “The Handmaiden” took on the subject of a lesbian thriller romance, featuring two female lovers against a world of demented male figures. Provocative scenes were portrayed against a flat, fairy tale-like backdrop.

Spoiler

Kim Tae-ri (left) and Kim Min-hee star in “The Handmaiden.” (CJ Entertainment)

“Handmaiden” has nabbed various international accolades since its screening at the Cannes International Film Festival in May. Vogue.com named it among the “10 Most Fashionable Movies of 2016” for its lavish mise-en-scene, while the Los Angeles Film Critics Awards gave it a best production design award. 

The New York Times listed Kim Tae-ri, who stars as Hideko’s earthy, unabashed handmaiden Sook-hee, in a September article titled “Four Actresses Everyone will be Talking About this Fall.” 

Female romance was also given a stage in Lee Hyun-ju’s indie film “Our Love Story,” a subtle, realistic tale of an encounter between an art student and a stranger. 

Antagonistic relationships between women were explored in films like Kim Tae-yong’s “Misbehavior,” which draws on the jealousy and pride between two female teachers fighting for the affections of a male student. Both Kim Ha-neul and Yoo In-young are excellently cast in their roles: One is reticent and downtrodden, while the other is vivacious, young and self-absorbed.

Director Lee Eon-hee’s “Missing,” meanwhile, saw the unlikely reconciliation between two women -- a mother and the nanny who kidnapped her daughter, played by Uhm Ji-won and Gong Hyo-jin. 

In a mature tale of womanhood, “Bacchus Lady” explored the world of Korea’s elderly prostitutes and the universal solitude of growing old. 

Veteran actress Youn Yuh-jung portrayed the feisty protagonist, who, at 65, turns tricks for a living. Directed by E J-yong, the film offers an emotional reflection on life and death as Korea advances into an aging society. It was screened at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival. 

Scandalous politics

This year also saw a number of films portraying disasters and authorities’ damnable responses. 

Director Park Jung-woo’s “Pandora,” set to be streamed globally on Netflix, depicted a nuclear power plant meltdown and the lack of an emergency response system, resulting in the preventable deaths of nuclear power plant workers and residents of surrounding areas. 

Spoiler

Hwang Jung-min (left) and Jung Woo-sung star in “Asura: City of Madness.” (CJ Entertainment) 

Kim Seong-hun’s “Tunnel” saw actor Ha Jung-woo trapped inside a collapsed tunnel for weeks on end, the rescue squad wringing their hands at the ineffectual orders from those higher up in the government. 

Kim Sung-su’s “Asura: The City of Madness” depicted a bloodstained web of criminals and politicians. 

The latest political thriller “Master,” helmed by Jo Eui-seok, stars actor Lee Byung-hun as a con artist who amasses astronomical wealth and bribes government officials to exert power in state affairs. The flick which opened last week, rang an eerily familiar bell in Korea, currently swept up by an influence-peddling political scandal surrounding President Park Geun-hye. 

Ride into the occult

Two of this year’s most striking films were in the horror genre, ruminating on morality and human nature.

Yeon Sang-ho’s apocalyptic zombie thriller “Train to Busan” showed everyday characters -- from students to office workers -- fighting for their lives, trapped on a torpedoing train swarming with flesh-hungry zombies. It premiered at the Cannes International Film Festival’s Midnight Screenings section and has been picked up for a US remake by Gaumont, a French film studio. 

Spoiler

Hwang Jung-min stars in “The Wailing (Goksung).” (20th Century Fox Korea)

Na Hong-jin’s occult thriller “The Wailing (Goksung),” which also screened at Cannes’ Out of Competition section, took viewers on a terrifying journey toward unreasoning evil. Fourteen-year-old actress Kim Hwan-hee delivered a chilling performance as a possessed child. 

A period in time 

As usual, a number of period pieces also sought to reinterpret historical events from the Japanese occupation era. 

Kim Jee-woon’s “The Age of Shadows” transformed the story of Korean independence fighters smuggling in bombs from Shanghai to Korea into a stylish noir.

Gong Yoo stars in “The Age of Shadows.” (Warner Bros. Korea)

In “The Last Princess,” director Hur Jin-ho focused on the early stages of the Japanese occupation of Korea through the eyes of Joseon princess Deok-hye, weaving the historical into a personal tale. 

“The Portrait of a Poet” by Lee Joon-ik offered a moving portrait of poet Yun Dong-ju, in colonial Korea where the Korean language was banned. 

By Rumy Doo (doo@heraldcorp.com) 

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December 29, 2016

Top 10 Korean Films of 2016

By Jason Bechervaise The Korea Times

It has been a monumental year for Korean cinema. The quality has been exceptionally high, admissions to Korean films have surpassed 100 million for the fifth consecutive year, and on the international stage Korean films have attracted widespread attention.

Park Chan-wook's "The Handmaiden" has received numerous awards from various critic circles in the U.S. for Best Foreign Film, along with other accolades including Best Screenplay, Cinematography and Production Design.

The high concept zombie thriller "Train to Busan" meanwhile became a gargantuan box office hit, not just in Korea, but also in parts of Asia such as Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore where it secured more ticket sales than any other Korean film in history.

Then there is "The Wailing" and "The Age of Shadows," which were both produced by Hollywood studios, and became critical and commercial hits.

Top ten lists are inevitably subjective, and this one is no exception. The fact that it has been the most challenging one I have put together since arriving in Korea six years ago reflects what a strong year it has been for both commercial and independent cinema.

The Wailing

I have been to a number of press screenings, but this one was the first where I physically became so hot I thought I was coming down with a fever. The sheer intensity of Na Hong-jin's third feature sent shivers down my spine. Being a critic, I naturally went back for a second viewing to confirm what I thought: this was the best Korean film in years. It has its detractors, of course, but the manner in which Na subverts audiences' expectations, delves into shamanism and satanic themes, mixes genres, and not to mention its outstanding visual aesthetic, is the work of a cinematic genius.

The Age of Shadows

One of the reasons this year has been so fruitful for Korean cinema is because it has seen the return of Korea's most famous auteurs on top form. Kim Jee-woon who is one of Korea's most renowned genre filmmakers brings his stylistic flare to a Japanese colonial period setting but refusing to allow set-pieces to fuel the narrative. Sharing similarities to Tomas Alfredson's "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy," Kim's intelligent use of pacing through a layered but coherent narrative about espionage was in some ways a courageous move. It paid off. The film was a box office hit accumulating more than 7 million admissions.

Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet

Also set in the colonial period is Lee Joon-ik's low-budget hit about the famous poet Yun Dong-ju scribed by director and screenwriter Shin Yeon-shick. Beautifully shot, written and performed by its leads Kang Ha-nuel and Park Jung-min, it is a complex film, especially for those unfamiliar with the poet and history. Yet, looking back at this year's films, "Dong-ju" continues to resonate demanding further viewings.

The World of Us

2016 has also been a notable year for Korean female filmmakers. Yoon Ga-eun's "The World of Us" that premiered at the Berlin Film Festival is a rare film because it focuses on the life and struggles both inside and outside the classroom of two young students told from their perspective. Refusing to let the narrative boil over, Yoon utilizes her storytelling talents along with her proven ability to work with young actresses bringing out natural performances from the excellent leads Choi Soo-in and Seol Hye-jin.

The Truth Beneath

Also directed by a female filmmaker, Lee Kyoung-mi's "The Truth Beneath" is bold and brilliant in its depiction of the dark side of Korean politics. But unlike political thriller "Inside Men" the film focuses on a female lead played by the superb Son Ye-jin as she searches for her missing daughter shedding light on the impact political ambition has on one's family leading to catastrophic consequences. 

The Handmaiden

Park Chan-wook returns to form in his riveting and twisted tale of love in the lesbian thriller "The Handmaiden" set in the colonial era inspired by Sarah Waters' novel "Fingersmith." His strongest film since the Vengeance trilogy, Park displays both visual and thematic mastery, while the cast, especially the two female leads Kim Min-hee and Kim Tae-hee, are sublime.

Our Love Story

 Premiering at the Jeonju International Film Festival, which also had an excellent year; Lee Hyun-ju's "Our Love Story" does not dwell on the prejudices of homosexuality in Korea as it follows two young women who fall in love. Instead, this engrossing feature focuses on their relationship that is beautifully crafted. 

Worst Woman

Also bowing in Jeonju in May was "Worst Woman" directed by Kim Jong-kwan, an emerging talent in the local film industry. Reminiscent of Hong Sang-soo but in somewhat less of a formal approach, it centers on an actress who meets three different men. Whimsical and endearing, it stars Han Ye-ri on top form despite having to deliver many lines in English.

Yourself and Yours

Although not at his best, Hong Sang-soo's "Yourself and Yours" continues to explore relationships over conversations and alcohol about a couple who have a fight and the woman played by Lee You-young then disappears. It feels less like a narrative puzzle, especially compared to "Right Now, Wrong Then" but the film's optimistic denouement is a surprise and welcome departure from his earlier work.

Train to Busan

Smart in its simplicity, "Train to Busan" was an easy film to market, but beneath the surface, its critique of society and politics paints a more complex picture of a society fractured by social and political division sharing much in common with Bong Joon-ho's "Snowpiercer" and "The Host." Weakened by some poor acting, it nevertheless is a fun ride and this year's biggest box office hit.

Other notable films released this year that couldn't quite make it on the list but deserve a mention are Kim Dae-hwan's understated melodrama "End of Winter", Jung Ji-woo's engaging drama about Korea's competitive society "Fourth Place", Kim Seong-hun's disaster film "Tunnel", Kim Sung-soo's gritty crime noir "Asura: The City of Madness", KoHee-young's documentary "Breathing Underwater", Choi Seung-ho's political documentary "Spy Nation" and Zhang Lu's whimsical "A Quiet Dream."

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December 31, 2016

December Film Actor Brand Reputation Rankings Revealed  

Source: Soompi by C. Hong 

After announcing brand reputation rankings for drama actors earlier this month, the Korean Business Research Institute announced the rankings for film actors.

From November 30 to December 30, the institute gathered over 72 million pieces of data to evaluate film actors in the areas of branding, media, communication, and community.

Gong Yoo, who starred in the hit film “Train to Busan” and is currently appearing in tvN drama “Goblin,” topped the list with a score of 7,705,239.

Second and third were Kang Dong Won (7,472,214) and Lee Byung Hun (6,871,074).

The full list of rankings is below:

1. Gong Yoo
2..Kang Dong Won
3. Lee Byung Hun
4. Han Hyo Joo
5. Yoo Hae Jin
6. Kim Yoon Suk
7. Jung Woo Sung
8. Kim Soo Hyun
9. Hwang Jung Min
10. Han Ji Min
11. Song Kang Ho
12. Jun Ji Hyun
13. Ha Jung Woo
14. Son Ye Jin
15. Cha Seung Won
16. Oh Dal Soo
17. Kim Hye Soo
18. Lee Beom Soo
19. Jung Jin Young
20. Lee Jung Jae
21. Yoo Ah In
22. Choi Min Sik
23. Jeon Do Yeon
24. Ryu Seung Ryong 

Source (1)

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January 6, 2017

The most anticipated films of 2017 :

The upcoming year is filled with political thrillers and exciting adventures

Source: INSIDE Korea JoongAng Daily

A new year usually fills moviegoers with anticipation and excitement. This year will be a particularly appealing one for film fans, as a number of big name directors such as Bong Joon-ho and high profile actors, including So Ji-sub and Song Joong-ki, are slated to return to the big screen for the first time in several years. 

Some of the most awaited films in 2017 are still in production and still have working titles, including “Special Citizen”, which is about an ambitious man that makes a third attempt to run for Seoul mayor, and “Single Rider,” which questions what true happiness is. Among the Korea JoongAng Daily’s picks are “V.I.P.,” “Okja,” “With God,” “Taxi Driver” and “Battleship Island.” 

 
Some highly anticipating local movies slated for release this year include “V.I.P.,” “Battleship Island,” “Okja” and “Taxi Driver.” [WARNER BROS. KOREA, CJ ENTERTAINMENT, NETFLIX, SHOWBOX]

V.I.P.

Directed by Park Hoon-jung of “I Saw the Devil” (2010), the upcoming political thriller “V.I.P.” is a star-studded film that features actors Jang Dong-gun, Park Hee-soon, Kim Myung-min and Lee Jong-suk. The movie unfolds as a V.I.P. from North Korea (Lee) is suspected to be a serial killer. Different people, including a cop (Kim), a National Intelligence Service agent (Jang) and a North Korean spy (Park) all work to become the first to catch the suspect. It will not be the first political film from the filmmaker. “The Unjust” (2010), which he wrote the script for, dealt with politics between a cop, a prosecutor and the mafia, and his “New World” (2012) depicts the internal politics among gangsters. The release date hasn’t been determined.

Okja

Highly-regarded filmmaker Bong Joon-ho, whose well-known movies include “Snowpiercer” (2013), “The Host” (2006) and “Memories of Murder” (2003), will release a new science-fiction adventure drama “Okja.” Funded by Netflix with a budget of $50 million, the film depicts the friendship of a girl named Mi-ja who lives deep in the mountains of Gangwon and a mysterious creature named Okja. The story develops as Okja suddenly goes missing. The movie will delve into the strange adventures of the girl and the creature. “Okja,” which features big Hollywood stars such as Tilda Swinton, is slated to drop in the early part of the year at local theaters, and will also be available in 190 countries through Netflix. 

With God

“With God” is a fantasy drama that depicts the 49-day journey of afterlife messengers in the human world while trials of dead people are being held in the underworld. Helmed by Kim Yong-hwa of the 2006 romantic comedy “200 Pounds Beauty,” the upcoming film is an adaptation of the webtoon that goes by the same title. Around 80 percent of the film, in which actors Ha Jung-woo, Cha Tae-hyun and Ju Ji-hoon appear, has been completed as of last month. The release date, however, hasn’t been decided. 

Taxi Driver

Those who wish to learn more about the Democratization Movement in 1980s Gwangju, where students clashed with soldiers to protest the authoritarian rule of military junta leader Chun Doo-hwan, should check out “Taxi Driver,” when it drops in summer. The film depicts the journey of a German journalist named Peter who heads to Gwangju to report on the shocking news that was suppressed from being covered by the mass media in Korea. The movie unfolds from the perspectives of two outsiders: the foreign journalist and his taxi driver that had no idea about what was happening in Gwangju (as the event wasn’t shown on the news). It is helmed by Jang Hun of the award-winning “The Front Line” (2011), and stars actor Song Kang-ho and German actor Thomas Kretschmann.

Battleship Island

Last year saw a number of historical films such as “The Last Princess” and “The Age of Shadows.” The trend will continue with director Ryoo Seung-wan’s “Battleship Island,” which refers to Hashima Island, where Korean forced labor was used. Set during the Japanese colonization of Korea (1910-45), the movie looks into the social hierarchy and relationships through the journey of 400 Koreans that strive to escape from the Japanese island, where victims had been forced to work. Starring actors Hwang Jung-min, So Ji-sub and Song Joong-ki, the film is scheduled to be released this summer.

BY JIN MIN-JI [jin.minji@joongang.co.kr]

[rubie]

January 6, 2017

Big-budget movies to highlight 2017

By Jason Bechervaise The Korea Times

Looking back at 2016, it was without doubt the best year for Korean cinema in recent memory. Various factors were attributable to its success including the return of some of the most revered Korean auteurs including Park Chan-wook and Kim Jee-woon, while Hollywood studios also played a part given the critical reception and popularity of "The Wailing" and "The Age of Shadows." 

Glancing ahead, 2016 is a difficult act to follow but over the coming 12 months, there are a number of projects that are set to attract attention.

‘Battleship Island'

This has the potential to be the biggest hit of the year. The cast is huge: Hwang Jung-min, Song Joong-ki, So Ji-sub and starlet Kim Soo-an. Director Ryoo Seung-wan previously helmed "Veteran" that amassed a whopping 13 million admissions in 2015. 

Set on Hashima Island during the Japanese occupation where about 400 workers attempt to escape from forced labor, it's part of a trend over the past 18 months to explore this period of history in films such as "The Age of Shadows," "Assassination," "Dong-ju: The Portrait of a Poet" and "The Last Princess." 

What worked so well in Ryoo's "Veteran" was an attempt to scale back and keep things straightforward in terms of the storytelling following the over-convoluted "The Berlin File" (2013). If Ryoo can continue to adopt his audacious set pieces while ensuring the script remains tight and focused, this could strike a chord with audiences both home and abroad. It is scheduled to hit local screens this summer.

‘The King'

Although Han Jae-rim has not quite established his filmmaking career in the same way as directors such as Park Chan-wook and Bong Joon-ho, he remains a notable figure in the local industry. Han experienced financial success with the sumptuous period drama "The Face Reader" (2013), but it is his excellent dark romantic comedy "Rules of Dating" (2005) and the terrific gangster noir "The Show Must Go On" (2007) that really demonstrate his wealth of talent. 

His new crime-drama "The King" starring Jung Woo-sung and Jo In-sung about a prosecutor in his quest for power appears to share similarities to films such as "Inside Men" and "A Violent Prosecutor." It also deals with the judicial system and politics. Given the current political climate in Korea where the Choi Soon-sil scandal continues to dominate the headlines, this could resonate with audiences. It is to be released in local cinemas on Jan. 18.

‘Taxi Driver'

Another film that could also feed into political sentiments is Jang Hoon's ("The Front Line") latest film that stars Song Kang-ho as a taxi driver who smuggles a German journalist played by Thomas Kretschmann ("Avengers: Age of Ultron") into the city of Gwangju in 1980 during the Gwangju Democratization Movement.

Scheduled to hit screens this summer, it is another interesting casting choice for Song Kang-ho who starred in Yang Woo-suk's 2013 box office smash hit "The Attorney" that was also set in the 1980s during the Chun Doo-hwan regime (1980-1988).

‘With God -- Part 1'

Also released this summer is Kim Yong-hwa's star-studded "With God" based on the webcomic of the same name. Featuring the likes of Ha Jung-woo, Cha Tae-hyun, Lee Jung-jae, Ju Ji-hoon and Ma Dong-suk, it is poised to at least open well.

Produced by Realize Pictures who were behind the hit "Masquerade" that was embraced by local critics in 2012, the film is set in the afterlife where the deceased have seven trials over a period of 49 days.

The film's visual effects are being orchestrated by Dexter Studios, while the film is to be released in two parts -- an unusual move for a Korean production. It is a risky project, not least given how poorly the studio's "Mr. Go" performed at the box office in 2013, but the high profile cast and interesting story should arouse interest.

‘VIP'

Directed by Park Hoon-jung ("New World," "The Tiger"), his next film about a hunt for the son of a high-ranking North Korean official who is suspected of being a serial killer is being produced and distributed by Warner Bros. Korea. The film stars Jang Dong-gun, Kim Myung-min, Lee Jong-suk and Park Hee-soon.

The Hollywood studio made an impact with their first Korean-language film, "The Age of Shadows," which together with 20th Century Fox Korea's "The Wailing" demonstrated that bold projects can be commercially viable. Going ahead, the local industry will be watching closely how projects such as "VIP" along with Warner Bros' "Single Rider" starring Lee Byung-hun also to be released in 2017 will perform.

‘Okja'

Also attempting to enter the local market is the American streaming giant Netflix, optimized by their $50 million project "Okja" directed by Bong Joon-ho. Shot both in Korea and North America, the cast includes names such as Jake Gyllenhaal, Tilda Swinton, Lily Collins, Bong Joon-ho's regular collaborator Byun Hee-bong, and young Korean actress Ahn Seo-hyun.

Following a girl who will do anything to prevent a multinational company from kidnapping her best friend, a large animal called Okja, the film is reported to feature both English and Korean dialogue. It is indeed interesting that "Okja" comes four years after Bong's English-language project "Snowpiercer" that was funded by a Korean studio.

"Okja," of course, is not technically a Korean film, but given the pedigree behind the camera and conception of Bong's latest feature, it would seem unfair to not include it in what is arguably one of the most anticipated projects of the year.
 

Jason Bechervaise is a movie columnist for The Korea Times. He can be reached at jase@koreanfilm.org.uk. 

[rubie]

Watched Jan 09, 2017

Review by Jianne Soriano Letterboxd

The Age of Shadows 2016 ★★★★½

Renowned South Korean director, Kim Jee-woon returns after a 3-year hiatus in the country's Best Foreign Film entry, "The Age of Shadows". Like Woon's other films, (I Saw the Devil, A Bittersweet Life), Shadows is an action-packed cat-and-mouse thriller extravagant.

Shadows has an amazing line up: Sang Kang-ho (Memories of Murder, Thirst), Gong Yoo (Train to Busan, A Man and a Woman) and cameo appearance from Lee Byung-hun (A Bittersweet Life, Inside Men) whom Kim has worked previously and Um Tae-Goo (Coin Locker Girl, Veteran).

Pulled at the edge of your seat from start to finish, Kim doesn't disappoint tossing action sequences and twists that he carefully crafts and builds in suspense, only to laid them out with the greatest satisfaction, it leaves you hungry for more.

Just like "I Saw the Devil" and "A Bittersweet Life", Kim starts Shadows with little-to-nothing description of what's going out, only to follow it up with an action-filled chase scene, an amputated toe nail and blood splashed across the wall.

Shadows' 30 minutes train sequence is one of the best I've ever seen. This is the juice. It builds the plot as much as it shapes it and moves it, that includes the characters too. Accompanied by a more menacing version of Ravel's Bolero, the adrenaline just doesn't stop. I, for one, had to pause the film just so I could breathe. Kim brings us from compartment to compartment from character to character from discoveries to discoveries.

Cinematographer Kim Ji-Young does a fine job of transporting us to a 1920s setting of South Korea and Shanghai (the accuracy may be question but it looks beautiful nonetheless) with retro-like colors and saturated tones. Kim ravishes in extremism at times, with loud shoot outs, dialogues delivered in sinister whispers, loud slapping sounds, to torture scenes that likens to his other film, "I Saw the Devil".

Kim channels his narrative into powerful loyalty that seems like The Age of Shadows take a patriotic approach but ultimately, this thrill-filled film is entertaining as much as it is greatly crafted.