[movie 2008] The Divine Weapon 신기전 神機箭

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September 12, 2008

Fire arrows, fighting and a great big fib

By Hannah Bae Contributing Writer

“Singijeon (The Divine Weapon)” may end up being more fodder for anti-Korean sentiment among the Chinese.

Ludicrous rumors like “South Korea claims Michael Phelps is Korean” and “South Koreans are taking credit for China’s four great inventions” have been circulating as of late on Chinese Web sites. If Singijeon is any indication, the latter is kind of true.

For those of you who aren’t on Wikipedia yet, gunpowder is one of China’s four great inventions, and it plays a large role in this Korean film.

The story unfolds in the Joseon Dynasty of the 1400s, during a time of great governmental turmoil. China’s Ming Dynasty is encroaching upon Joseon, increasingly demanding more tribute from King Sejong and his court. As a Ming army of 3,000 creeps closer, the Chinese envoy places the entire Joseon court under surveillance. This drives military official Chang-gang (Heo Jun-ho) to seek help elsewhere.

Enter Hong-li (Han Eun-jeong), a tragic, brainy heroine who’s just lost her father to an attack. Hong-li is apparently the only person in Joseon who knows how to craft the state’s secret weapon, the singijeon, or “the divine weapon.”

I’m going off the subtitles here, but in the film, Ming leaders, upon discovery of the convoluted singijeon manual, can only deduce that it’s a “version of our fire arrows - only more powerful.”

Here’s the thing, though: The singijeon, which actually exists in real life, and fire arrows are basically one and the same. The former is a launcher for multiple fire arrows, or gunpowder-fortified projectiles that explode after three seconds of hitting their target.

It’s all very spectacular, but make no mistake - the Chinese had fire arrow launchers, too.

Well, since the Joseon court is under close watch, Chang-gang has the brilliant idea of keeping Hong-li at the home of Sul-ju (Jeong Jae-yeong), the leader of a band of merchants. Of course, the brilliant, beautiful but chaste Hong-li ends up falling for pervy playboy Sul-ju as they work together to save Joseon, which is constantly referred to as “small” and “humble.” Inferiority complex much?

As an action epic, Singijeon features much bloodshed, and at times gets quite touching. But I think I’m with my co-worker, who upon seeing me check out the Singijeon Web site, said, “Oh, it’s yet another nationalistic Korean movie.”

Joseon does see moments of weakness, like when it decides to succumb to Ming’s request for eunuchs by butchering its own boys. But as much as Joseon concedes to Ming, the film still makes sure to note how the latter has “always been a threat.” Hence, in “300”-esque battle sequences (only with more clothing), the tiny band of Joseon warriors succeeds by pure ingenuity.

It’s nationalistic, long and predictable, but Singijeon does provide a peek into the world of Korean film, which few non-Koreans ever get to experience on the big screen. Plus, the splendid costume department does a nice job of bringing the faces on the won notes to life.

But let’s just be clear: The Chinese invented gunpowder ... and fire arrows.

Singijeon (The Divine Weapon)

Historical Drama / Korean with English subtitles

134 min. / Now playing

By Hannah Bae Contributing Writer [hannahbae@gmail.com]

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2894791

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[rubie]

September 16, 2008

CGV Screens Latest Korean Movies With English Subtitles

By John Redmond

Contributing Writer

A scene from 'The Divine Weapon'

Korean cinema has a prolific output of local content. New movies being released on a weekly basis consist not only of blockbusters, but also art house and low budget features that are winning awards even at the international level.

For most foreigners wishing to sample homegrown films with English subtitles, the only alternatives were regular DVD screenings on a large screen at Seoul Selection Bookshop in Seoul, or renting the DVD yourself and watching it at home.

For most movie lovers, watching a movie on the small screen, irrespective of surround sound system, still pails when compared to watching a movie in the way the director intended ― on the big screen.

CGV cinema complex in Yongsan has screened a few Korean new releases complete with English subtitles. The latest is the hit movie "The Divine Weapon." The film is the third English subtitled movie CGV has released at regular show times.

The film tells the story of the world' first rocket launcher developed under the reign of King Sejong (Ahn Sung-ki) in the 16th century during Korea's Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910). After the intervention of Chinese officials, the inventor commits suicide and the inventor's daughter Hong-ri (Han Eun-jeong) guards the national secret. It was used as a key defensive tool against the imperial ambitions of China's Ming Dynasty.

The action-packed film offers great visuals plus elements of romance and tension-filled drama.

A lot of the film's estimated $8 million budget was spent on recreating the Korea that existed at the time of King Sejong's reign. In this respect, the film affords foreign residents and visitors the additional benefit of witnessing Korea as it was at that time.

The film screens at Yongsan CGV until Sept. 25. The cinema is located at i Park in the Yongsan Station complex.

For more information and screening times, visit the Web site at www.cgv.co.kr or call 02 1330. The site is in Korean only.

Credits: redmond_john@hotmail.com

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/speci.../177_31098.html

[rubie]

Weekly Box Office 2008.09.12 ~ 2008.09.14 3-day Gross/Total Gross (won)

1. The Divine Weapon (South Korea) 3,972,907,000 / 12,037,777,000

2. Mamma Mia! (U.S.) 3,704,808,500 / 10,831,115,500

3. Rough Cut (South Korea) 1,852,041,000 / 2,225,696,500

4. Our School E.T. (South Korea) 1,230,172,000 / 1,407,180,500

5. Bangkok Dangerous (U.S.) 533,869,500 / 641,026,500

6. Twentieth Century Boys (Japan) 447,589,500 / 639,706,000

7. Boys Over Flowers (Japan) 265,235,000 / 341,895,500

8. The Dark Knight (U.S.) 200,926,000 / 26,475,759,000

9. Earth (U.K.) 172,785,500 / 767,265,500

10. Star Wars: The Clone Wars (U.S.) 98,165,500 / 475,312,500

Source: KOFIC

September 17, 2008

Action movie hits the bull's-eye over the holiday period

Singijeon

During Chuseok, “Singijeon (The Divine Weapon)” was top on the list for holiday moviegoers.

Director Kim Yoo-jin’s bloody action film about the world’s first multi-launch rocket system attracted some 597,793 viewers in 597 screens from Sept. 12 to 14, according to the Korean Film Council, Monday.

The musical film “Mamma Mia!” ranked second with 544,332 viewers, “Rough Cut,” third with 265,727 and “E.T. at My School,” fourth with 187,181 viewers.

Source: INSIDE JoongAng Daily

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2894924

[rubie]

World's first rocket launcher recreated for movie

Sept. 17, SEOUL, South Korea -- Students crowd around a replica of a "Shingijeon," which was originally invented in 1448 and is known as the world's oldest multiple rocket launcher, at the National Science Museum in Daejeon on Sept. 17. The weapon was recreated to be used for a film titled "Project 1448."

World's first rocket launcher recreated for movie

Sept. 17, SEOUL, South Korea -- Dr. Chae Yeon-seok of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, who gave consultations in recreating the "Shingijeon," known as the world's oldest multiple rocket launcher, talks about the weapon at the National Science Museum in Daejeon on Sept. 17. The weapon was recreated to be used for a film titled "Project 1448."

Source: Yonhap News

http://app.yonhapnews.co.kr/YNA/basic/Arti...ePhotoMain.aspx

[rubie]

September 15, 2008

“Project 1448” Tops Holiday Box Office

Korean faction film “Project 1448” came out on top over the three-day Chuseok weekend by drawing 600,000 moviegoers. According to the Korean Film Council, “Project 1448” was shown on 597 screens nationwide, attracting 597,793 people during the period from September 12th through 14th. Following “Project 1448” were “Mama Mia,” seen by almost 555 thousand people, and “Just a Movie” with heartthrob So Ji-seop.

“Project 1448” is about a secret weapon development project driven by King Sejong of Joseon Dynasty and China’s attempt to stop its fruition. The highlight of the movie is the actual-size recreation of a weapon designed to shoot explosive arrows in succession much like a rocket or a bazooka. The filmmakers took actual drawings from 1448 to build the weapon all for the sake of adding realism to the movie. The world’s first successive multi-ammunition cannon was so powerful that the largest version had a shooting range of 3 kilometers. The next weaponry with comparable fire power and range came about 350 years later in Europe.

Source: KBS World

http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/entertainme...ail.htm?No=8214

September 17, 2008

Koreans harvest "Divine" box office

Local pic stays on top over holiday weekend, second week at No.1

Written by Han Sunhee

SEOUL -- "The Divine Weapon" topped South Korea's box office for the second consecutive week despite a battery of new releases. The pic added 646,000 admissions or $4 million from 603 screens over the three-day holiday weekend, giving a cumulative gross of $11.4 million from 1,820,000 admissions to date.

International hit "Mamma Mia!" ranked No. 2, with a further $3.6 million from 576,000 admissions on 518 screens in its second weekend pushing its cume to $10.2 million.

Local pics showed strong performances as usual during the Chusok holidays, celebrating the fall harvest.

"Rough Cut," a debut feature by helmer Jang Hoon, opened at No. 3 with 283,000 admissions or $1.6 million for distributor Studio2.0. It's grossed $2 million from 326,000 admissions from its opening on Thursday through the weekend.

Scripted by the helmer Kim Ki-duk, pic follows the story of a gangster who is involved with a movie star. Korean Wave star So Ji-sub (TV's "Sorry, I Love You") as the gangster has drawn critical and public acclaim.

Another local opener, "Our School's E.T." took fourth place with $1.2 million from 202,000 admissions in a 386-screen release handled by distributor SK Telecom. The K.C. Park-helmed comedy features Kim Su-ro ("Big Bang") as a clumsy English teacher who struggles to survive in a high school.

Nicolas Cage starrer "Bangkok Dangerous" only managed fifth place, taking 87,000 admissions, or $548,000, for distributor SidusFNH and a total of $623,000 from 99,000 admissions to date.

Two new Japanese movies also made the chart. "20th Century Boy" opened in sixth place, adding 70,000 admissions, or $441,000, on 270 screens during the holiday period. It is handled by NEW, a collaborative distributor working with restructured buyer Megabox. That took its cume to $661,000.

Japanese megahit "Boys Over Flowers: Final" ranked seventh with $283,000 from 45,000 admissions for Lotte Entertainment. Pic was lifted by the enduring popularity of the original Japanese comics and a Taiwanese TV series in South Korea.

Source: Variety Asia

http://www.varietyasiaonline.com/content/view/6951/

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source : http://www.arirang.co.kr/News/News_View.as...&category=7

with VOD clip to watch

Korean Movies Bring Period Pieces to Life

Korean movie makers are digging into the past for inspiration.

The recent trend in the film industry is all about transforming historic facts and events into fictional stories.

Director Jung Jiwoo tries to bring Seoul to life during the 1930s in his latest movie "Modern Boy".

The filmmakers say they had a difficult time finding remnants of the past which was crucial for recreating the capital during Japanese Imperial rule which was then called, Kyungsung.

In the end the crew turned to modern-day technology such as three-dimensional computer graphics to fill in the details.

Award-winning director Kim Yoojin goes back to the Chosun Dynasty era in his latest film "Project 1448".

The highlight of the movie is the actual-size recreation of a weapon designed during the era ruled by King Sejong the fourth king of the 500-year dynasty best remembered for creating the Korean alphabet hangul.

Records on the weapon are considered to be one of the oldest in the world with its ability to shoot arrows in succession almost like a bazooka.

The filmmakers took actual drawings from 1448, to build the weapon all for the sake of adding realism to the movie.

Their hard work and effort certainly won't go unnoticed as it will be donated to the National Science Museum after the film is completed.

The Korean western "The Good, The Bad, The Weird" by director Kim Jiun is action-packed with scenes being shot on location in China's Gobi Desert.

The makers of the film say shooting took more than one-hundred days in the sandy wind-blowing desert which despite the hardships made it all the more worthwhile.

Sam Len, Arirang News.

SEP 16, 2008

Reporter : samlen@arirang.co.kr

[jinkzzmec]

For those who are living in Los Angeles, Ca area, you can catch this movie at mpark4 theater located between Wilshire and New Hampshire Sts...I think this movie will run until next week... their website url is:

http://www.mpark4.com/

address/ phone no. :

3240 Wilshire Blvd 3층 LA, CA 90010

PHONE: 213 - 384 - 7080

***saw this movie today...the first 15 mins was a little boring and draggy for me but gets better after that...storyline , action sequences , special efects were really good.

[Guest huangsy]

5 Nov 2008

촬영상=변희성('신기전')

변희성 Byun Hee Sung won Best Cinematography Award for this movie at the 28th Association of Korean Film Critics Awards.

[Guest huangsy]

Source : http://spn.edaily.co.kr/entertain/newsRead...mp;curtype=read

year-end round up : 2008 Movies (by month)

Jan Forever the Moment

Feb The Chaser

Mar Fate / Destiny

Apr Taken

May Iron Man

Jun Public Enemy

Jul Good, Bad, Weird

Aug Dark Knight

Sep Divine Weapon

Oct Modern Boy

Nov Portrait of a Beauty

Dec Overspeed Scandal

[Guest xshurri kurrix]

i saw this movie, and i have to say, it was pretty good...what surprised me especially was the ending...

[Guest funkindagirl]

This would usually be my kind of film.

But after watching it (which took about 3 days to get through), I really disliked it.

Overall the story was good but it was executed badly with nothing very well developed.

I didnt care for any of the characters, and especially the main female and male lead, I thought they lacked chemistry and their romance was so unconvincing and unmoving.

The plot was slow and boring, nothing much actually happens. They spent the entire movie just basically working on the weapon and the minor fight scenes were disappointing because they all occurred at night with bad lighting so you could barely see what was going on at all.

The last 20 minutes was probably the only great part of the film where we see 'the devine weapon' finally put to action in battle...and that did look really awesome and epic. And the music during it was perfect.