[movie 2009] Secret 시크릿

[Guest kdramafanusa]

White Night HanSeok-Gyu VS Secret Cha Seung-Won

Both 'Eye For An Eye' co-stars play detectives in their new films.

http://www.cbs.co.kr/nocut/Show.asp?IDX=1307725

'White Night' (November 19), 'Secret' (December 3)

http://nownews.seoul.co.kr/news/newsView.p...=20091106603006

http://osen.co.kr/news/Enter_View.asp?gisano=G0911080020

http://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=200911080843521003

http://ent.jknews.co.kr/article/news/20091107/7203519.htm

http://nanumnews.com/sub_read.html?uid=149...p;section=sc208

[Guest kdramafanusa]

CJ Entertainment updated its Secret page.

ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: Korean

OPENING DATE: 2009-12-03

DIRECTOR: YOON Jae-gu

ORIGINAL TITLE: Secret

COUNTRY OF PRODUCTION: Korea

YEAR OF PRODUCTION: 2009

GENRE: Thriller

RUNNING TIME: 110 min.

LENGTH: 9900 ft

SCREEN RATIO: 2.35:1

SOUND: Dolby SRD

ACTOR: CHA Seung-won, SONG Yun-a

~~~~~

Secret

MOVIE OVERVIEW

PROLOGUE

English Subbed Trailer: http://cjent.co.kr/upload/eng/secret.WMV

Presented by CJ Entertainment

Produced by CJ Entertainment / JK Film / Greenfish Pictures

Distributed by CJ Entertainment

CHA Seung-won SONG Yun-a

YOON Jae-gu

December 3, 2009

Thriller, 35mm, 2.35:1, Color, Dolby SRD

SYNOPSIS

Sung-ryeol is a detective in charge of violent crimes. He is an upright man, but is having an affair with his colleague’s wife, and it is the reason he loses his own son in a car accident. Wracked with guilt but unable to explain to his wife, Ji-yeon, what happened on that day and why, he loses her in her grief when she decides to go abroad. Ji-yeon comes home unexpectedly and insecurely one day, peaking Sung-ryeol’s curiosity about his wife’s behavior. The next day, Sung-ryeol finds trace evidence that hints at his wife while investigating a murder scene. He presumes that his wife is connected to the case, and does all he can to keep her from being identified as a suspect. When an unidentified man shows up claiming to know Ji-yeon is involved and asking for money, the situation is made worse by Ji-yeon refusing to offer Sung-ryeol an explanation or tell him any kind of truth.

PRODUCTION NOTE

CAST & CHARACTERS

CHA Seung-won as “Detective Kim”

Having started off as a comic actor, CHA covered a wide spectrum of characters in films such as “Blood Rain”, “Murder, Take One”, “My Son” and “Eye for an Eye” among others. He transforms himself once again, as a detective caught in a dilemma of carrying out his duties as a detective and trying to save his wife as a husband.

Selected Filmography

2008 EYE FOR AN EYE

2007 MY SON, SMALL TOWN RIVALS

2006 SOMEWHERE OVER THE BORDER

2005 MURDER TAKE ONE, BLOOD RAIN

SONG Yoon-a as “Ji-yeon”

SONG Yoon-a has secured her place as one of the most representative actress of Korea for her gentle and feminine beauty. After several years of working in television, she returns to the big screen with a character of a murder suspect. Ji-yeon, the character she plays in the film holds a secret from her detective husband.

Selected Filmography

2009 WEDDING DRESS

2006 ARANG, LOST IN LOVE

2004 FACE

2002 JAIL BREAKERS

DIRECTOR

YOON Jae-gu

With a solid plot, tension and twist, the screenplay of 7Days was sold to US for a record-breaking price, following the film’s commercial success in Korea. Secret is the second thriller by the highly acclaimed screenwriter of 7Days. This time he is not only behind the elaborately structured screenplay but places himself in the director’s chair. YOON created yet another gripping thriller with the help of Korea’s “thriller dream team,” that is guaranteed to provide a breathtaking cinematic experience.

CREDIT

[Copyright@ 2007 CJ Entertainment All rights reserved.]

[Guest kdramafanusa]

The Hollywood Reporter

CJ closes deals on 'Mother,' 'Golden Slumber'

Korean sales banner sells two pics at AFM in Santa Monica

November 09, 2009

By Stuart Kemp

Korean sales banner CJ Entertainment is reporting brisk business on its slate of movies to other Asian territories.

CJ said Joon-ho Bong's "Mother," Korea's entry for a foreign-language Oscar nomination, has been bought by Festive for Singapore. "Mother" details the story of a mother battling to save her son from imprisonment for murder.

Also flying out the door is "Golden Slumber," which went to Filmware for Taiwan, while ECS sealed a deal to take "Haeundae" to the Middle East. The sale of "Haeundae" marks the last piece of the global distribution puzzle for the tsunami disaster movie, which CJ has now sold out. "Golden Slumber," from director Nakamura Yoshihiro, is based on the Japanese novel of the same name about a man framed for the assassination of the prime minister.

CJ also said it sealed a brace of deals with Catchplay in Taiwan for "White Night" and "Secret."

Park Shin-woo makes his directorial debut with "White Night," a thriller based on the Japanese novel of the same name. It details the story of detective investigating a serial murderer linked to an unsolved case 14 years before.

Yoon Jae-gu's "Secret" is about a detective who finds evidence that points to his wife's involvement.

"Golden Slumber" is set to be released in Japan in January 2010 while "White Night" and "Secret" are scheduled to be released in Korea this month and the beginning of December, respectively.

"Secret" made its market debut here in AFM.

[Guest kdramafanusa]

November 13, 2009

VOD:

http://sstv.freechal.com/News/Detail.aspx?...1&pSn=68733

~

Source: Naver

~~

http://www.maxmovie.com/movie_info/sha_new...id=MI0086491861

[Guest kdramafanusa]

'White Night' VS 'Secret'

captured from http://olv.moazine.com/

[Guest kdramafanusa]

~

November 18, 2009 - Press Screening

Cha Seung-Won

Song Yoon-Ah

Park Won-Sang

Kim In-Kwon

Ryu Seung-Ryong

Cha Seung-Won, Song Yoon-Ah

Cha Seung-Won

Park Won-Sang

Kim In-Kwon

Ryu Seung-Ryong

Cha Seung-Won

Cha Seung-Won, Song Yoon-Ah

director Yoon Jae-Gu

Cha Seung-Won

Song Yoon-Ah

Cha Seung-Won, Song Yoon-Ah

Cha Seung-Won, Song Yoon-Ah, Ryu Seung-Ryong

cast from left to right: Cha Seung-Won, Song Yoon-Ah, Park Won-Sang, Ryu Seung-Ryong, Kim In-Kwon

cast & director from left to right: Cha Seung-Won, Song Yoon-Ah, director Yoon Jae-Gu, Park Won-Sang, Ryu Seung-Ryong, Kim In-Kwon

Source: Edaily

[Guest kdramafanusa]

[Yonhap News]

S. Korean actor Cha Seung-won

Nov. 18, SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korean actor Cha Seung-won, who stars in the new movie "Secret," enters a publicity event in Seoul on Nov. 18. The movie depicts a detective who tries to cover up evidence of a murder believed to have been commited by his wife. The movie will be released in South Korea on Dec. 3. (Yonhap)

S. Korean actress Song Yoon-ah

Nov. 18, SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korean actress Song Yoon-ah, who stars in the new movie "Secret," enters a publicity event in Seoul on Nov. 18. The movie depicts a detective who tries to cover up evidence of a murder believed to have been commited by his wife. The movie will be released in South Korea on Dec. 3. (Yonhap)

Movie 'Secret'

Nov. 18, SEOUL, South Korea -- The stars of the new movie "Secret" -- Cha Seung-won, Song Yoon-ah and Ryu Seung-ryong (2nd from L to R) -- along with director Yoon Jae-kyu (L) greet reporters during a publicity event in Seoul on Nov. 18. The movie depicts a detective who tries to cover up evidence of a murder believed to have been commited by his wife. The movie will be released in South Korea on Dec. 3. (Yonhap)

S. Korean actress Song Yoon-ah and actor Cha Seung-won

Nov. 18, SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korean actress Song Yoon-ah ® and actor Cha Seung-won, who star in the new movie "Secret," greet reporters during a publicity event in Seoul on Nov. 18. The movie depicts a detective who tries to cover up evidence of a murder believed to have been commited by his wife. The movie will be released in South Korea on Dec. 3. (Yonhap)

S. Korean actor Cha Seung-won

Nov. 18, SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korean actor Cha Seung-won, who stars in the new movie "Secret," greets reporters during a publicity event in Seoul on Nov. 18. The movie depicts a detective who tries to cover up evidence of a murder believed to have been commited by his wife. The movie will be released in South Korea on Dec. 3. (Yonhap)

S. Korean actress Song Yoon-ah

Nov. 18, SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korean actress Song Yoon-ah, who stars in the new movie "Secret," greets reporters during a publicity event in Seoul on Nov. 18. The movie depicts a detective who tries to cover up evidence of a murder believed to have been commited by his wife. The movie will be released in South Korea on Dec. 3. (Yonhap)

S. Korean actor Cha Seung-won and actress Song Yoon-ah

Nov. 18, SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korean actor Cha Seung-won and actress Song Yoon-ah, who star in the new movie "Secret," listen to reporters' questions during a publicity event in Seoul on Nov. 18. The movie depicts a detective who tries to cover up evidence of a murder believed to have been commited by his wife. The movie will be released in South Korea on Dec. 3. (Yonhap)

S. Korean actor Cha Seung-won

Nov. 18, SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korean actor Cha Seung-won, who stars in the new movie "Secret," listens to reporters' questions during a publicity event in Seoul on Nov. 18. The movie depicts a detective who tries to cover up evidence of a murder believed to have been commited by his wife. The movie will be released in South Korea on Dec. 3. (Yonhap)

S. Korean actress Song Yoon-ah

Nov. 18, SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korean actress Song Yoon-ah, who stars in the new movie "Secret," listens to reporters' questions during a publicity event in Seoul on Nov. 18. The movie depicts a detective who tries to cover up evidence of a murder believed to have been commited by his wife. The movie will be released in South Korea on Dec. 3. (Yonhap)

S. Korean actor Kim In-kwon

Nov. 18, SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korean actor Kim In-kwon, who stars in the new movie "Secret," listens to reporters' questions during a publicity event in Seoul on Nov. 18. The movie depicts a detective who tries to cover up evidence of a murder believed to have been commited by his wife. The movie will be released in South Korea on Dec. 3. (Yonhap)

S. Korean actor Cha Seung-won

Nov. 18, SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korean actor Cha Seung-won, who stars in the new movie "Secret," responds to reporters' questions during a publicity event in Seoul on Nov. 18. The movie will be released in South Korea on Dec. 3. (Yonhap) The movie will be released in South Korea on Dec. 3. (Yonhap)

S. Korean actress Song Yoon-ah

Nov. 18, SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korean actress Song Yoon-ah, who stars in the new movie "Secret," responds to reporters' questions during a publicity event in Seoul on Nov. 18. The movie depicts a detective who tries to cover up evidence of a murder believed to have been commited by his wife. The movie will be released in South Korea on Dec. 3. (Yonhap)

(END)

S. Korean actor Ryu Seung-ryong

Nov. 18, SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korean actor Ryu Seung-ryong, who stars in the new movie "Secret," responds to reporters' questions during a publicity event in Seoul on Nov. 18. The movie depicts a detective who tries to cover up evidence of a murder believed to have been commited by his wife. The movie will be released in South Korea on Dec. 3. (Yonhap)

Movie 'Secret'

Nov. 18, SEOUL, South Korea -- The stars of the new movie "Secret" -- Cha Seung-won, Song Yoon-ah, Park Won-sang, Ryu Seung-ryong and Kim In-kwon (L to R) -- along with director Yoon Jae-kyu © pose for a photo during a publicity event in Seoul on Nov. 18. The movie depicts a detective who tries to cover up evidence of a murder believed to have been commited by his wife. The movie will be released in South Korea on Dec. 3. (Yonhap)

Nov. 18, SEOUL, South Korea -- The stars of the new movie "Secret" -- Cha Seung-won, Song Yoon-ah, Park Won-sang, Ryu Seung-ryong and Kim In-kwon (L to R) pose for a photo during a publicity event in Seoul on Nov. 18. The movie depicts a detective who tries to cover up evidence of a murder believed to have been commited by his wife. The movie will be released in South Korea on Dec. 3. (Yonhap)

Nov. 18, SEOUL, South Korea -- The stars of the new movie "Secret" -- Cha Seung-won, Song Yoon-ah and Ryu Seung-ryong (L to R) pose for a photo during a publicity event in Seoul on Nov. 18. The movie depicts a detective who tries to cover up evidence of a murder believed to have been commited by his wife. The movie will be released in South Korea on Dec. 3. (Yonhap)

S. Korean actress Song Yoon-ah and actor Cha Seung-won

Nov. 18, SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korean actress Song Yoon-ah and actor Cha Seung-won, who star in the new movie "Secret," pose for a photo during a publicity event in Seoul on Nov. 18. The movie depicts a detective who tries to cover up evidence of a murder believed to have been commited by his wife. The movie will be released in South Korea on Dec. 3. (Yonhap)

S. Korean actor Cha Seung-won

Nov. 18, SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korean actor Cha Seung-won, who stars in the new movie "Secret," poses for a photo during a publicity event in Seoul on Nov. 18. The movie depicts a detective who tries to cover up evidence of a murder believed to have been commited by his wife. The movie will be released in South Korea on Dec. 3. (Yonhap)

S. Korean actress Song Yoon-ah

Nov. 18, SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korean actress Song Yoon-ah, who stars in the new movie "Secret," poses for a photo during a publicity event in Seoul on Nov. 18. The movie depicts a detective who tries to cover up evidence of a murder believed to have been commited by his wife. The movie will be released in South Korea on Dec. 3. (Yonhap)

[Guest kdramafanusa]

~

[PHOTO] "Secret" cast, director attend screening

Photographer : Lee Ki-bum | metro83@asiae.co.kr

기사입력 2009.11.18 17:54 최종수정 2009.11.18 17:54

From left, actor Cha Seung-won and actress Song Yuna. [Lee Ki-bum/Asia Economic Daily]

From left, actor Cha Seung-won and actress Song Yuna pose during a photo session of a press screening for film "Secret" at a CJ CGV theater in Seoul, South Korea on November 18, 2009. The thriller pic, helmed by critically acclaimed screenwriter Yun Jae-gu of "Seven Days", is set for release on December 3.

Director Yun Jae-gu [Lee Ki-bum/Asia Economic Daily]

Director Yun Jae-gu speaks during a press screening for film "Secret" at a CJ CGV theater in Seoul, South Korea on November 18, 2009. The thriller pic is set for release on December 3.

Director Yun Jae-gu [Lee Ki-bum/Asia Economic Daily]

Photographer : Lee Ki-bum metro83@asiae.co.kr

Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr

<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>

~

[PHOTO] Cha Seung-won attends "Secret" screening

Photographer : Lee Ki-bum | metro83@asiae.co.kr

기사입력 2009.11.18 17:46 최종수정 2009.11.18 17:46

Actor Cha Seung-won [Lee Ki-bum/Asia Economic Daily]

Actor Cha Seung-won poses during a photo session of a press screening for film "Secret" at a CJ CGV theater in Seoul, South Korea on November 18, 2009. The thriller pic, helmed by critically acclaimed screenwriter Yun Jae-gu of "Seven Days", is set for release on December 3.

Actor Cha Seung-won [Lee Ki-bum/Asia Economic Daily]

Photographer : Lee Ki-bum metro83@asiae.co.kr

Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr

<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>

~

[PHOTO] Song Yuna poses at "Secret" screening

Photographer : Lee Ki-bum | metro83@asiae.co.kr

기사입력 2009.11.18 17:46 최종수정 2009.11.18 17:46

Actress Song Yuna [Lee Ki-bum/Asia Economic Daily]

Actress Song Yuna poses during a photo session of a press screening for film "Secret" at a CJ CGV theater in Seoul, South Korea on November 18, 2009. The thriller pic, helmed by critically acclaimed screenwriter Yun Jae-gu of "Seven Days", is set for release on December 3.

Director Yun Jae-gu [Lee Ki-bum/Asia Economic Daily]

Photographer : Lee Ki-bum metro83@asiae.co.kr

Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr

<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>

~

[Guest kdramafanusa]

[Chosun]

[Guest kdramafanusa]

[Yonhap News 2009/11/19 09:10 KST]

(Movie Review) Clever scenario, polished production in thriller 'Secret'

By Shin Hae-in

SEOUL, Nov. 19 (Yonhap) -- A good thriller never reveals the identity of the killer to its audience until the very last moment. An excellent thriller is often more concerned with the "why" factor than the "who" factor.

South Korean thriller "Secret" presents an intriguing -- if slightly overlong -- mixture of the crime and procedural genres with some very convincing ticking-clock elements thrown in for good measure.

Instead of relying on supernatural elements or grisly imageries, "Secret" sticks to grim, human-fueled mayhem and manages to save itself a largely satisfying hook in its final reel that has to do with "why" and "how," instead of "who" and "where."

An underground loan shark is found dead, stabbed three times by a seemingly novice killer. Searching the crime scene, detective Seong-yeol (Cha Seung-won) finds evidence indicating his wife (Song Yoon-ah) met the man on the day he died.

The case becomes more complicated when the dead man is found to be the sibling of a notorious gang leader who is desperate to find the killer before the police do, for a brutal payback.

With gangsters close on his heels, Seong-yeol tries to destroy the evidence and protect his wife while questioning her for the reasons. The wife, Ji-yeon, appears almost nonchalant about the situation and refuses to reveal where she was on the day of the crime.

Creator of the original screenplay of "Seven Days," director Yoon Jae-gu again proves a good story can make up for almost anything. The film should be lauded for many elements including its hyper-charged design, refined cinematography as well as stable acting by all cast, but its forte appears to be in the sophisticated manner it shows in bringing together the vast sprawl of characters and incidents as it winds its way to a conclusion.

"Each character in the movie hides a secret that only makes sense as a whole when all are added together," director Yoon said after the movie's Seoul preview Wednesday.

Yoon Jae-kyun, the director of summer box office hit "Haeundae," said he decided to produce the movie "as soon as" he read the screenplay.

"I personally think story is the key element in all thrillers," he said in an earlier interview. "The scenario of 'Secret' totally blew me a way. I could not figure out why the man was murdered until the very end."

The only problem is that the movie appears a little bit too long as the director apparently strives to squeeze in the stories of more than a few characters into a two-hour movie. Thus Yoon's modes of storytelling may make the movie seem like a drag for impatient audiences when losing viewer attention is poison in a movie that only makes sense when all details are added up.

Actor Cha and actress Song, two of the "most wanted" stars in Korean tinseltown, give "Secret" a nice, anchoring presence, but it is the supporting actors who deserve real credit.

The supporting actors, Park Won-sang, Kim In-kwon and Ryu Seung-ryong, play their roles as if they have been designed for them, breathing in life and even some humor into this dark movie.

Tech credits are also polished and efficient all round with the director and cinematographer giving the movie a modern, shimmering feeling. Director Yoon boasted the movie will seem no less polished than any U.S. crime hit.

"Secret," with a running time of 111 minutes, will hit the local theaters Dec. 3.

hayney@yna.co.kr

(END)

[Guest kdramafanusa]

Box Office Friday 2009-11-13 (showing at)

14. Secret (South Korea)

Release Date : 2009/12/03

Daily Admission / Total Admission : 316 / 316

Screen : 1

Share : 0.1%

Box Office Wednesday 2009-11-18 (press screening)

14. Secret (South Korea)

Release Date : 2009/12/03

Daily Admission / Total Admission : 818 / 1,134

Screen : 3

Share : 0.3%

Source: KOBIS

[Guest kdramafanusa]

[Yonhap News]

S. Korean actress Song Yoon-ah

Nov. 20, SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korean actress Song Yoon-ah who stars in the new movie "Secret," a story of a detective who tries to cover up evidence of a murder believed to have been committed by his wife. The movie will be released in South Korea on Dec. 3. (Yonhap)

[Guest kdramafanusa]

The Korea Herald 2009.11.21

Hollywood dominates winter lineup

"Twilight"

The holiday season is finally upon us. It is a time of family dinners, peace, love, New Year resolutions, and -- most important of all -- excitement for movie buffs.

Korean filmmakers have every right to be complacent about their new offerings toward the end of the year as the market share of local films was a respectable 60-plus percent between August and October, helped by the strong box-office performances of Korean hit films including "Haeundae" and "Take-off."

The hike in ticket prices in June, led by multiplex operators, is also a boon for many cash-strapped local filmmakers, who complained bitterly about the dearth of fresh investment funds.

Korean Film Council data also shows that Korean theaters attracted a total of 66.33 million moviegoers in the first 10 months of this year, generating 458.5 billion won in revenue. These figures already surpassed what the local film industry achieved in all of 2008, when it lured 63.54 million viewers and earned 412.6 billion won.

Despite the upbeat performance so far, the outlook in the November-December period is far from rosy for Korean cinema. Complacency or not, there is no sign yet of a fierce fight between Korean films and Hollywood blockbusters, as most Korean films in the holiday lineup -- except for a highly anticipated "Jeon Woo-chi" -- are unlikely to hold up against the onslaught of Hollywood competitors.

Hollywood will offer the big and bombastic -- with 10-foot tall aliens, teenage werewolves, British detectives and even ninjas poised to invade cinema screens in the coming months.

Here are some of the most hyped films scheduled this holiday season.

Secret

"Secret," directed by Yoon Jae-gu, focuses on grim, human-fueled mayhem, prompting audiences to weigh several intriguing questions as "why" and "how" instead of "who" and "where."

The film starts with the death of an underground loan shark, a sloppy job by a novice killer. Detective Seong-yeol (Cha Seung-won) swoops on the crime scene, only to find a clue that his wife (Song Yoon-ah) met the man on the day he died.

The plot attempts to add layers when the dead man turns out to be the sibling of a notorious gang leader who embarks on a furious hunt to find the killer before the police do. Seong-yeol's efforts to protect his wife from the whirlwind of chases help maintain a dramatic tension and suspense, while the wife's nonchalant attitude offers a puzzling contrast.

The real secret for the director's success in keeping the suspense at an optimal level is the solid performances of supporting actors including Park Won-sang, Kim In-kwon and Ryu Seung-ryong. "Secret," with a running time of 111 minutes, will hit the local theaters Dec. 3.

Actresses

Korean Wave star Choi Ji-woo, veteran actress Ko Hyun-joung, and "Thirst" heroine Kim Ok-vin might not have been powerful enough for director Lee Jae-yong. For his latest film "Actresses," he has decided to sign on more, and three more top-rated actresses -- Yoon Yeo-jeong, Lee Mi-sook, Kim Min-hee -- have joined the project.

No wonder that when there was a press conference for the film on Nov. 17, more than 300 reporters and photographers rushed to capture the famous actresses on a single stage -- a rare photo op for star-hungry media outlets.

But the result of such high publicity has been mixed at best. There are tons of photos showing the six actresses on major portal news sites, but few articles are devoted to explaining what the movie is about.

What has been revealed so far is that the six actresses will show off "many things," which involve self-respect, charisma, complexes, jealousy, style and desires. They are also locked in "some conflicts" with each other. The setting is a Christmas photo shooting session arranged by the Korean edition of "Vogue," which will be inspiring if you are an avid watcher of silly style programs on cable channels.

But the movie is not about great cinematography -- the point here is that six famous actresses have agreed to spare some time to chat together in the same film. "Actresses" is scheduled to hit local theaters on Dec. 10.

Jeon Woo-chi

Director Choi Dong-hoon is a good, if not great, storyteller. He knows how to manipulate scenes in a way that keeps the audiences on edge almost to the last minute, when all things begin to unravel to strong dramatic effect. His previous films "The Big Swindle" and "Tazza: The High Rollers" were huge box-office hits and his latest film "Jeon Woo-chi" is also widely expected to perform well when it gets released nationwide on Dec. 23.

Director Choi has already sold his film to distributors from 13 different countries at the American Film Market, where he played a five-minute promotional clip. The unprecedented sales result underscores the market potential of storytelling set in Korea in particular and Asia in general.

The film is based on traditional Korean characters. Back in the Joseon Dynasty, Jeon Woo-chi (played by Kang Dong-won) is trapped into a painting due to false charges concerning a murder case, and he gets released into modern Korea after a 500-year-long sleep, with a mission to fight against goblins.

No Mercy

"No Mercy," directed by Kim Hyung-joon, is a thriller that will wrap up the Korean movie lineup in 2009, with its release date set on Dec. 31. The casting is notably high-profile: Sul Kyoung-gu, who proved his box-office appeal with a lead role in "Haeundae," and Ryoo Seung-bum, a talented actor known for tweaking conventions on the big screen.

The key storyline involves the confrontation between Lee Seong-ho (Ryoo Seung-bum), a killer, and Kang Min-ho (Sul Kyoung-gu), a renowned autopsy specialist. The plot takes off when Lee kidnaps Kang's daughter and leaves a disturbingly mysterious message.

Lee wants Kang to pull strings and break rules so that the murder can escape within three days. In return, Kang's daughter will be saved in his murder spree. But a number of crucial details -- motive, background, repercussions -- remain carefully guarded until the make-or-break climax, a nice touch for the final day of 2009.

Avatar

Of the various high profile Hollywood releases rolling into local cinemas, there's no doubt the must-see-film this winter is James Cameron's long awaited "Avatar."

The hotly anticipated movie marks the return from his 12-year hiatus in this Dances with Wolves meets Joseph Conrad sci-fi epic to be released Dec. 17.

The Academy Award-winning director of the highest grossing box office smash of all time, "Titanic," has been missing in action since 1997 when the big-budget epic -- also at the time the costliest film ever made -- tugged at the heartstrings of millions of adolescent girls and made international stars out of Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.

The film went on to sweep the Academy Awards winning 11 of its 14 nominations.

Perhaps burdened with the pressure to follow up with a film that was just as big as his record setting film, Cameron has kept a low profile in the past decade, flying under the radar directing various documentaries and such dubious-quality yet lucrative fare like the Universal Studios Terminator 2 ride.

With "Avatar" the 55-year-old veteran filmmaker returns to his science fiction roots -- a genre that catapulted him into the A-list with such revolutionary blockbusters as "Aliens," "Terminator," "Terminator 2," and "The Abyss."

"Avatar" promises to be at the forefront of cutting edge technology by revolutionizing 3-D filmmaking just as "The Abyss" and "Terminator 2" popularized the use of CGI.

The film stars Sam Worthington as a disabled ex-marine who gets a second chance at serving the corp. when new technology enables him to take on the form of a Na'avi -- a 10-foot tall alien species on the planet Alpha Centauri.

As an Avatar, a human mind in an alien body, he is ordered to infiltrate, scout, and befriend the Na'avi as a spy to help his fellow humans colonize their world.

The planet holds valuable mining resources that are coveted by a government-sponsored corporation and as he becomes more and more assimilated into the Na'avi's way of life, his loyalty becomes torn between the two worlds.

More than ten years in the making, the film is reported to have incorporated new CGI technologies to transform the environments and characters of the planet Alpha Centauri into photorealistic 3-D imagery that will place moviegoers smack dab in the middle of alien world.

New Moon

No, it's not the sequel to the Michael J. Fox film, "Teen Wolf."

But if you're a teenaged girl, no doubt, you've been eagerly awaiting the continuation of the Twilight saga since the first film grossed over $380 million worldwide.

"The Twilight Saga: New Moon" is the sequel to last year's runaway box-office smash, and like its predecessor, is based on the hugely popular best-selling vampire romance novels by American novelist Stephenie Meyer.

The two leads from the first film -- Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart -- return to portray the lovelorn vampire/human couple Edward Cullen and Bella Swan.

The franchise has now become the new Harry Potter, but more sinister, and with more teenage angst than a John Hughes flick.

Lots of talk has been made of one of the film's newest leads, Taylor Lautner, who plays the leader of the pack of werewolves who vows to protect Bella from evil vampires.

Most of that talk, howeverk, has been tossed at the 18-year-old's washboard abs which teenaged girls will undoubtedly go gaga over come Dec. 3.

"New Moon" is projected to be a surefire hit that will bring home the bacon.

Ninja Assassin

It's violent, it's bloody, and it's got Korean pop sensation Rain slicing and dicing limbs off of ninjas in this bloody ode to the martial arts genre.

Written specifically for the 28-year-old Asian superstar and produced by the Wachowski Brothers, "Ninja Assassin" looks to do what "Enter the Dragon" did for Bruce Lee -- to introduce him to a global audience outside of continental Asia.

Directed by James McTiegue, who scored a critical and box-office hit with the 2005 film "V for Vendetta," the film stars Rain as Raizo, one of the world's deadliest assassins, who is trained by the Ozunu Clan, an underground band of killers who have for generations hidden behind mythology to protect themselves from being exposed.

Stripped of his childhood and his innocence, Raizo is transformed into a merciless Katana-wielding killing machine that plans to exact revenge on the clan for killing his first love after breaking free from their base -- a hidden fortress deep in the crest of an unknown mountain.

To portray a hardened assassin, Rain had to endure a grueling six-month training session with the fight and stunt team that trained the actors of "300."

The film is set for a Nov. 26 nationwide release.

Sherlock Holmes

Director Guy Ritchie looks to inject some hip and edginess into the fabled British detective, starring Robert Downey Jr. as the film's title character and Jude Law as his trusty partner-in-crime Professor Watson.

Ritchie and Downey Jr. is the unlikeliest of pairings and the last people most would think of to tackle the story of the legendary British sleuth, but reception to the film's trailer have sparked huge anticipation for the film since its announcement last year.

Downey Jr. has had a rollercoaster of a career stemming from countless arrests over substance abuse, but after the phenomenal success of "Iron Man" he's gone through something of a career renaissance.

With "Sherlock Holmes," the acclaimed actor looks to continue his stellar box-office drawing power with this contemporary interpretation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic detective novels.

The film is scheduled to hit local theaters on Dec. 24.

(kws@heraldm.com)

By Song Woong-ki and Yang Sung-jin

[Demen]

thanks kdramafanusa, SYA is pretty in that news from Yonhap

let's count down for Dec 3 keke

[Guest kdramafanusa]

Secret VIP Premiere (November 23, 2009)

director Lee Joon-Ik, Baek Sung-Hyun

Han Ji-Hye

Kim Hee-Seon, Park Eun-Hye

Hong Seok-Cheon

Uhm Ji-Won

Cha Tae-Hyun

Kang Ji-Hwan

Song Hye-Kyo

Jung Hye-Young, Sean

Kwon Sang-Woo

Kim Sung-Soo

Shin Dong-Wook

Lee Soo-Kyung

Lee So-Yeon

Park Yong-Ha

Source: Edaily

[Guest kdramafanusa]

[Chosun / Yonhap News]

Cha Seung-Won

Song Yoon-Ah

Seol Kyung-Gu

Park Yong-Ha, Cha Tae-Hyun

Kim Hee-Seon

Song Hye-Kyo

director Lee Joon-Ik, Baek Sung-Hyun

Shin Dong-Wook

more pictures here ->

http://www.cyworld.com/_kairos/2720645

http://blog.daum.net/sac_art/8941857

[Guest kdramafanusa]

The Korea Times 11-26-2009 16:33

Yoon’s 'Secret' Provides Fresh Thrills

By Lee Hyo-won

Staff Reporter

Cha Seung-won stars in Yoon Jae-gu's thriller "Secret'' as a detective who tries to conceal, rather than uncover, clues when he finds traces of his wife at a crime scene. / Courtesy of CJ Entertainment

There's no such thing as a secret, especially a big bad one, that's bound to come out in the end and slap you in the face. Mix in some Agatha Christie-style suspense, and you get an unconventional whodunit film where the detective is trying to cover-up clues rather than find them.

Yoon Jae-gu, who penned the script for Won Shin-yeon's 2007 hit thriller "Seven Days'' starring "Lost'' actress Kim Yun-jin, grabbed the megaphone this time for his second thriller "Secret.''

The writer-director humbly said he would be happy if "Secret'' does as well as "Seven Days,'' which was sold to American buyers for a record price at the time among local thrillers. And he's right.

The new film also offers heart-thumping thrills and a shockingly unexpected finale; though it is not as uniquely visionary as "Seven Days,'' and at times pays more attention to cinematography. But it still manages to provide an edge-of-the-seat experience with fine details and intriguing characters.

The movie absorbs the viewer like a mystery novel from the opening scene, intensifying the intrigue by confounding facts and figures.

Detective Seong-ryeol (Cha Seung-won) finds himself in a great predicament when he spots traces of his wife Ji-yeon (Song Yun-a) at a homicide scene. But he immediately starts covering up the evidence, despite being someone who does things by the book; he had his good buddy-and-colleague Choi suspended from duty for two years by reporting a pretty understandable misdemeanor. (To add to the thrills of Seong-ryeol's quest to furtively hide evidence such as his wife's blouse button, Choi, recently back on the job, is naturally out for revenge.)

To complicate matters, the murder victim turns out to be none other than the brother of a powerful gang boss by the name of Jackal (Ryu Seung-ryong), who is more eager than the police to catch the killer. Seok-jun (Kim In-kwon) emerges as a suspect but Seong-ryeol still has his doubts about his wife. And it doesn't help that Ji-yeon refuses to tell him anything.

Seong-ryeol and Ji-yeon, a musician, seem like a glamorous yuppie couple with their good looks, expensive wardrobe and marble-floored flat. (Here however, you may become rather sidetracked as the 1.88-meter-tall former model plays the highly atypical detective ― perhaps Seung-ryol has inherited a sizable trust fund because, unlike the other disheveled workaholic types toiling on a puny salary, he looks like he has stepped out of a fashion magazine).

"Secret'' is essentially about an estranged couple dealing with the loss of their child. The distance between them can also be traced back to the fact that Seong-ryeol had an affair with Ji-yeon's best friend, but our protagonist still clearly loves his wife enough to compromise his professional integrity.

At work there's cause for more migraines, though Seong-ryeol never seems to lose his sense of style on the brink of a meltdown, as the charismatic Jackal comes in to give him a lesson about knifing people to explain why Seok-jun isn't the prime suspect.

Meanwhile, footage from a security camera is about to give away the fact that Ji-yeon had been at the crime scene, and an anonymous caller who seems to know a big secret starts blackmailing Seong-ryeol.

The film can be relished in full by appreciating the details, such as the colorful characters.

Cha, despite his unnaturally perfect coif, is compelling, while Song plays her role with crafty restraint. The fiercely talented Ryu as Jackal perfects anything that goes amiss in the movie. Korean cinema has seen its fair share of idiosyncratic gangster personas but Ryu's grip on his character suggests that there's always room for more.

In theaters Dec. 3. Distributed by CJ Entertainment.

hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr

[Guest kdramafanusa]

JoongAng Daily

Thriller lays bare the secrets that we keep

November 27, 2009

Director Yoon Jae-gu and actors Park Won-sang, Cha Seung-won, Song Yoon-a, Ryu Seung-ryong and Kim In-kwon, from left, speak about the upcoming movie “Secret” at a press event held last week at CGV Wangsimni in eastern Seoul. Provided by the organizer

“Secret,” a Korean thriller that will be released next week, is already drawing attention for the fact that it was written and directed by Yoon Jae-gu, who wrote the script for the 2007 movie “Seven Days.”

The film is the screenwriter’s directorial debut, and the second in what is to be a four-part series revolving around the theme of “saving.” Seven Days, the first film in the series, received good reviews from critics and audiences and drew over 2 million viewers nationwide.

“Seven Days, which tells the story of a mother who saves her child from kidnapping, was the first in a four-part series under the theme of ‘saving’ that I’ve had on my mind,” Yoon said at a press event in Seoul last week. “Secret, which tells the story of a husband trying to save his wife in extreme circumstances, is the second in the series, while the third and fourth films in the series will deal with saving friends and saving the earth.”

Yoon noted, however, that the audience will be more likely sympathize with the first two films, which both involve a protagonist saving a family member, because it is a misfortune that could happen to anybody.

Secret revolves around a murder case in which the brother of a notorious gang leader is found after having been brutally killed. In his investigation of the crime scene, Detective Seong-yeol (Cha Seung-won) finds evidence indicating that his wife, Ji-yeon, (Song Yoon-a) is involved in the murder.

With the gang and police chasing after the killer, Seong-yeol tries to protect his wife, taking actions that conflict with his duty as the detective in charge of the case. In the process of searching for the truth, however, Seong-yeol finds himself in unexpected situations and discovers long-held secrets.

“I always think that a well-made movie comes from a well-written script,” Cha, who plays Seong-yeol, said. “Secret has such an in-depth script that I’m confident it will be a first-rate movie.”

Song, who plays the detective’s wife, shares Cha’s opinion. “I think Secret is a very ‘cinematic’ movie with a superb screenplay. It was a difficult task to express myself within such a well-made frame, but it was a great experience,” said Song.

Yoon underlined that although there are similarities between Seven Days and Secret, the two thrillers are different in terms of the complexity of the plot.

“While Seven Days was a thriller with a rather simple plot involving two parties - a kidnapper and the mother of the kidnapped child - Secret has a more complicated plot involving a detective who finds evidence of his wife at a crime scene and there are five other people wrapped up in the case,” Yoon said. “Each character has their own hidden cards to play, and only when all of the cards are assembled is the truth unveiled and the story complete.”

Actor Ryu Seung-ryong, who plays the villain Jaekal in the movie, shared his impressions of the film. “What I found impressive about this movie is the way it shows how people who are close, like a couple, for example, get to know each other better. What rings in my heart is not a particular scene or line, but the way the plot highlights the tug of war people go through when they are getting to know each other and how they come to understand what they mean to each other.”

Secret hits local theaters on Dec. 3.

By Park Sun-young [spark0320@joongang.co.kr]

[Guest kdramafanusa]

The Korea Herald 2008.11.28

[bOXOFFICE] Into Great Silence (France, Germany)

Into Great Silence (France, Germany)

Opening Dec. 3

Drama. Directed by Philip Groening. In this documentary, the Grande Chartreuse monastery opens its doors to the public for the first time since being founded by St. Bruno to give the public an intimate look at a lifestyle rarely known by those outside of the brotherhood. Located in the French Alps, near the Dauphine Alps, the Grande Chartreuse is the top monastery of the Carthusian order. The lives of the pious monks of Grande Chartreuse are captured on film as the filmmakers adapt to their lifestyle for a span of six months and captures their daily life.

The Matrimony (China)

Opening Dec. 3

Horror. Directed by Hu-Tao Teng. This gothic horror film from director Hu-Tao Tenf is set in Shanghai during the 1920s when the fiancee of wealthy Junchu is killed in a bizarre accident. Junchu allows his mother to talk and pressure him into marrying Sansan, another woman all but unknown to him. He agrees -- begrudgingly -- but in time Sansan's body is occupied by Junchu's dead fiancee's vengeful spirit, which drives Sansan over the edge and sends her plummeting into insanity and homicide.

Secret (Korea)

Opening Dec. 3

Thriller. Directed by Yoon Jae-gu. In this neo-noir starring go-to-guy for dark and brooding characters Cha Seung-won and popular Hallyu star Son Ye-jin Song Yoon-ah, the two play a couple whose marriage is put to the test after a brutal homicide. Cha plays a hardened detective that discovers his wife (Son Song) is somehow tied to the murder of a loan shark for an organized crime syndicate. As he attempts to unravel the mystery behind his wife's involvement with the seedy underworld, he begins to fall deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole.

Actresses (Korea)

Opening Dec. 10

Drama. Directed by Lee Jae-yong. Korean Wave star Choi Ji-woo, veteran actress Ko Hyun-joung, and "Thirst" vixen Kim Ok-vin might not have been powerful enough for director Lee Jae-yong. For his latest film "Actresses," he has decided to sign on three more top-rated actresses -- Yoon Yeo-jeong, Lee Mi-sook, and Kim Min-hee -- in an intertwining story involving themes concerning self-respect, personal complexes, jealousy and desires.

Good Morning, Mr. President (Korea)

Opened Oct. 22

Comedy-Drama. Directed by Jang Jin. "Good Morning, Mr. President" stars Jang Dong-gun as Korea's youngest head of state in a fictional film that chronicles the political lives of three presidents. It is an inspiring tale about the struggle to make moral choices while serving a country. The three are: the older President Kim Jung-ho at the end of his term, the young President Cha Ji-wook, a determined and skillful manipulator of foreign policy, and the country's first female President Han Kyuong-ja, who is constantly at odds with her bumbling husband. Kim is at a moral crossroads when he wins a 24 billion won ($19 million) lottery jackpot. Cha, the youngest Korean president in history, must choose whether he should commit himself to a medical procedure that would save the life of an elder citizen. And, finally, Han struggles with a disintegrating marriage.

[Guest kdramafanusa]

Cine21 issue No. 731 (2009.12.01 ~ 2009.12.08)

cover star <Secret> Cha Seung-Won