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February 7, 2012

"Hanbando" grabs the best ratings yet for a general service drama, 1.649%

Source: Nate l hancinema.net

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For a first episode, TV Chosun's "Hanbando - Drama" took in the highest percentage of viewers that any general service drama has recorded yet.

According to AGB Nielsen Media Research on February 6th, TV Chosun drama "Hanbando" rated 1.649%.

This is even higher than the 1.601% recorded by the first episode of JTBC's "Padam Padam... The Sound of His and Her Heartbeats" on the 5th of December. This is the highest ratings score thus far among first episodes from any general service channel. It is also the highest viewing percentage yet for TV Chosun.

This days episode showed the excellent performances of Hwang Jeong-min and Kim Jeong-eun as North Korean scientist Seo Myeong-joon and South Korean scientist Rim Jin-jae.

Meanwhile, "Padam Padam... The Sound of His and Her Heartbeats", which is ending on February 7th, took in 1.755% of viewers.

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February 6, 2012

"Hanbando" takes out gun while watching South-North Korean soccer match

Source: Nate via hancinema.net

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North Korea confronted the South with a gun while watching a mixed South-North Korea soccer team play a match.

South and North Korean researchers were shown living together on a research and development sea base on the first episode of TV Chosun drama "Hanbando".

While the North Korean team leader went to Seoul for a summit, there seemed to be reconciliation between the South and North Korean teams and there was a single South-North Korean team soccer match at the preliminary World Cup games.

The South and North Korean teams watched and cheered in their own ways and meanwhile a fight had broken out between Kim Yong-soo (Hwang Chan-woo) and Jo Gap-seok (Lee Cheol-min).

The argument grew into a fist fight and Min Dong-gi (Kwak Hee-seong), who witnessed the fight, shot a gun at the ceiling.

Surprised, the researchers got off each other but as Min Dong-gi kept pointing the gun, everyone shivered in fear and finally a South Korean researcher also pointed a gun at him.

The situation was tense and Seo Myeong-joon (Hwang Jeong-min) ran out while hearing a gun shot sound, but still no one moved.

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February 9, 2012

Movie 'Dancing Queen' To Be Released in North America

Source: CJ E&M enewsWorld Choi, EunHwa

The film Dancing Queen starring Hwang Jung Min and Uhm Jung Hwa, has been booked for release in three cities in North America.

CJ Entertainment announced on February 9 that the film earned $15,000 in the three days since its release on February 2 in Los Angeles. The movie will be additionally released in three cities such as New York, Vancouver and Toronto on February 17.

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The movie has drawn 2.5 million moviegoers in two weeks since it has hit theaters in Korea on January 18 and is about to break the three-million mark.

As Sunny became a box office hit, appealing to the public’s retro-sentiments last year, Dancing Queen has been attracting the audience with its cheerful feelings and touching story.

Meanwhile, Dancing Queen covers a story of Seoul mayor candidate and his wife who′s dream is to become a dance singer.

Photo credit: Dancing Queen

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February 7, 2012

"Hanbando" Hwang Jeong-min and Kim Jeong-eun argue over core technologies

Source: Natevia hancinema.net

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On TV Chosun drama "Hanbando - Drama", Hwang Jeong-min and Kim Jeong-eun had a conflict.

The conflict was about the sharing of core technology between South and North Korean researchers Seo Myeong-joon (Hwang Jeong-min) and Rim Jin-jae (Kim Jeong-eun).

On the first episode of the drama Jin-jae tried to take the South's core technology under the orders of her nation. She asked for this from Myeong-joon but was declined.

Jin-jae asked, "Are your thoughts about the technology the same?" and he replied, "I think this conversation is already over, but why are you rushing it? You will find out when the time comes".

However, Jin-jae said, "Do you know what? Later doesn't count. It's now or never".

Meanwhile, the meeting between South Korean president Kang Dae-hyeong (Lee Soon-jae) and North Korean Kim Tae-seog (Seo Tae-hwa) fell apart due to Jo Guk-cheol's (Jeong Seong-mo) plot.

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February 12, 2012

Korean movies reflecting social issues fly high at box office

Source: graceoh@yna.co.kr yonhapnews.co.kr

SEOUL, Feb. 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korean movies on social issues have been heating up the local box office.

"Dancing Queen," a comedy about a middle-aged married couple who each pursue their lost dreams, and "Unbowed," a low-budget courtroom drama based on a true story, have both broken the 3-million mark of viewers in less than a month of their release.

According to data compiled by the Korean Film Council, "Dancing Queen" and "Unbowed" attracted 3.09 million and 3 million viewers, respectively, as of Saturday since their release on Jan. 18.

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Local movies on social issues are heating up the local box office, with comedy film "Dancing Queen" and "Unbowed,"

a low-budget courtroom drama bsed on a true story drawing more than 3 million viewers each. (Yonhap file photo)

The film "Dancing Queen," touches upon major current issues such as free school meals and the government's policy measures to boost the country's dwindling birth rate, which are intertwined with the plot in which the main male character leads a mundane life, until he accidentally begins running for Mayor of Seoul, while his wife follows her childhood dream to become a pop singer.

The film "Unbowed," which translates directly as "Broken Arrows," tells the story of college mathematics professor Kim Myeong-ho, who served four years in prison until early last year after undergoing a series of court ordeals for allegedly attacking a judge with his crossbow.

After losing a series of lawsuits he filed for reinstatement after being "unfairly" fired for spotting an error in the school's entrance exam, the professor visited a presiding judge who had rejected his appeal with a crossbow in his hand, demanding a fair judgment.

The movie prompted intense public attention to the case, while highlighting public distrust of the judiciary.

Meanwhile, "Speckles: The Tarbosaurus," a locally produced 3D animation film, drew 745,257 viewers as of Saturday to become the second most popular local animation film in history. The No. 1 was "Leafie, A Hen into the Wild," which was screened in 2011 and drew 2.2 million viewers.

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A multiple answers poll ~

There are 2 sets of list provided, please choose from each list so that the votes will go through

Poll: Which 2012 Korean movies that you are most excited about?

http://www.soompi.com/forums/topic/374847-which-2012-korean-movies-that-you-are-most-excited-about/

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Poll: Which 2012 Korean movies that you are most excited about?

http://www.soompi.com/forums/topic/374847-which-2012-korean-movies-that-you-are-most-excited-about/

As of February 25, 2012, 129 member(s) have cast their votes in the multiple-answers movie fun poll. The tally is not definite as members yet to vote can still pick their favorites. However, this is a one-time poll.. once voted, members will not be able to vote again. Related movie posters and info posted at the poll thread for reference

The current result starting with the highest voted movies rbhcool.gif

1. The Thieves

Lee Jung Jae, Kim Yoon Seok, Kim Hye Soo, Jeon Ji Hyun) (44 votes [25.43%])

2. Miss Conspirator

Go Hyun Jung, Yu Hae Jin. Ko Chang Seok, Sung Dong Il, Lee Mun Shik, Park Shin Yang (42 votes [21.11%])

3. The King of Joseon

Lee Byung Hun, Han Hyo Joo, Ryu Seung Ryong, Shim Eun Kyung (39 votes [22.54%])

4. Coffee

Joo Jin Mo, Kim So Yeon, Park Hee Seon, Yoo Sun (31 votes [15.58%])

5. Introduction to Architecture

Uhm Tae Woong, Han Ga In, Lee Je Hoon, Suzy (31 votes [15.58%])

6. Korea

Ha Ji Won, Bae Doo Na (26 votes [13.07%])

7. Love Fiction

Gong Hyo Jin, Ha Jung Woo (18 votes [9.05%])

8. The Howling

Song Kang Ho, Lee Na Young (16 votes [9.25%])

9. Never Ending Story

Uhm Tae Woong, Jung Ryeo Won (15 votes [7.54%])

10. Soar into the Sky

Jung Ji Hoon, Shin Se Kyung, Kim Sung Soo, Yoo Joon Sang (15 votes [8.67%])

11. Papa

Park Yong Woo, Go Ah Ra, Daniel Henney, Son Byeong Ho (14 votes [8.09%])

12. Dancing Queen

Hwang Jung Min, Uhm Jung Hwa (13 votes [6.53%])

13. Train (aka Helpless)

Lee Seon Kyun, Kim Min Hee, Jo Sung Ha (12 votes [6.94%])

14. The Tower

Sul Kyung Gu, Son Ye Jin, Kim Sang Kyung) (11 votes [6.36%])

15. Berlin

Ha Jung Woo, Han Suk Kyu, Jeon Ji Hyun, Ryu Seung Bum (9 votes [4.52%])

16. Nameless Gangster

Choi Min Sik, Ha Jung Woo (9 votes [4.52%])

17. Unbowed

Ahn Sung Ki, Park Won Sang, Na Young Hee, Kim Ji Ho, Moon Sung Geun, Lee Kyeong Yeong) (9 votes [5.20%])

18. Sansevieria

Dir. Yoo Ji Tae, Bae Soo Bin, So Yoo Jin (7 votes [4.05%])

19. The Taste of Money

Kim Kang Woo, Kim Hyo Jin, Baek Yoon Shik, Yoon Yeo Jung (6 votes [3.47%])

20. Pacemaker

Kim Myung Min, Go Ah Ra, Ahn Sung Ki (5 votes [2.51%])

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March 5, 2012

Box office analysis, Feb. 15 - 28

Source: KOBIZ

YOON Jong-bin’s <Nameless Gangster:Rules of the Time> is still topping the box office chart, without any hint of going down. Released Feb. 2, the film took in over 853,000 admissions and KW6.7 billion (US$6 million) to stay at no. 1 for its fourth week. As of time of writing, <Nameless Gangster> has surpassed an accumulated total of 4 million admissions for distributor Showbox/Mediaplex.

Directed by YOO Ha, starring SONG Kang-ho and LEE Na-young, <Howling>stopped at no. 2 in its first and second week on release. A rather disappointing opening score for CJ E&M considering Song’s reputation as Korea’s top ticket draw. (Of course, his last film, <Hindsight> stopped at a total of 200,000 admissions.) Nonetheless, <Howling> took in more than 861,000 admissions and KW6.4 billion (US$5.75 million) in these two weeks. The film is a thriller about a mysterious series of wolf hound killings.

The Lunar New Year’s box office winner <Dancing Queen> has added more than 330,000 admissions in the past two weeks for CJ E&M. Starring UHM Jung-hwa as the wife of a mayoral candidate with a secret life as a singer/dancer, the comedy-drama is about to go over the 4 million admissions mark in total, too.

<Unbowed>, which had stayed at the top of the charts with <Nameless Gangster> and <Dancing Queen>, has now lost some steam. Meanwhile, Hollywood releases <Man > and <The Grey> have taken the no. 4 and 5 spots with 330,000 and 190,000 admissions respectively.

But without any highly anticipated releases from Hollywood, Korean films are expected to keep rising for the time being. In March, a string of Korean films are going to be on release, including the romantic comedy <Love Fiction>starring HA Jung-woo and KONG Hyo-jin, director BYUN Young-joo’s latest film<Helpless> (March 8), and director CHANG Yoon-hyun’s costume drama <Gabi> (March 15).

In the Top 10 Domestic Films rankings at no. 9 and 10, <King of Pigs> and <The Day He Arrives> are both there with the results of an independent film showcase held by the Korean Film Archives (KOFA).

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March 7, 2012

S. Korean films' market share reaches 76 pct in February

Source: sshim@yna.co.kr yonhapnews.co.kr

SEOUL, March 7 (Yonhap) -- Boosted by such box-office hits as "Nameless Gangster" and "Dancing Queen," the market share of homegrown films rose more than 26 percentage points in February from the previous month, the Korean Film Council said Wednesday.

The market share of domestic films rose to 75.9 percent last month from 49.5 percent in January, the council said in a monthly box office tally.

South Korean films have taken more than a 70 percent share in the local market only twice since 2007 -- in September 2011 when the share was 73.2 percent and in February 2007 with 76.4 percent, according to the council.

Domestic movies swept the top four local box-office rankings last month.

"Nameless Gangster" by director Yoon Jong-bin gathered the largest number of viewers, with some 4.11 million people watching the film in February, followed by "Dancing Queen," "Howling" and "Unbowed."

The overall number of moviegoers decreased to 12.91 million last month, down 8.6 percent from January when demand for movies is traditionally high with winter vacation and the lunar New Year's holiday.

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March 8, 2012

Korean Movies Dominate Domestic Market in February

Arirang News via chosun.com

Korean movies dominated the domestic box office last month where three out of four moviegoers saw a Korean film. The Korean Film Council said Korean cinematic hits took 75.9 percent of the market in February, up 26 percent from January's ticket sales.

The last time Korean films took over 70 percent of the domestic box office since the nation relaxed a screen quota to allow more foreign movies was in September 2011.

"Nameless Gangster," a gangster flick set in the 1980s, topped the charts, followed by Uhm Jung-hwa's "Dancing Queen," the thriller "Howling" and the political drama "Unbowed."

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March 6, 2012

Top 10 Koreans Films of 2010

Posted by Pierce Conran at Modern Korean Cinema

2010 was a great year for Korean cinema and as here at Modern Korean Cinema I'm going back through Korean film to get a sense of what were the best and most important films through the years. I'm thrilled to present my top 10 for the year to coincide with the Korean Cinema Blogathon. I have seen a lot of films from 2010 and the only major omission is Cafe Noir which has yet to find a DVD release, here's hoping there'll be one!

This follows on from January's Top 10 Films of 2011 and I hope to make my way back through to the 90s.

Without further ado, the top 10, followed by some honourable mentions and the year's biggest turkeys:

TOP 10

10. Secret Reunion

Jang Hoon followed one of Korea's best debut films, the exceptional Rough Cut (2008), with a big tale of intrigue chronicling agents and spies from both sides of Korea's DMZ. Established star Song Kang-ho and up and coming heartthrob Kang Dong-won electrify the screen in this surprising tale of unexpected camaraderie which explores many big questions of Korean identity and separation anxiety. Secret Reunion is at the same time an engaging thriller, a buddy comedy and a weighty drama and true to Korean style, the combination of its many elements is very successful. Jang, a former Kim Ki-duk protege once again crafts an intense and fascinating exploration of the male id in contemporary South Korea.

9. Rolling Home With a Bull

One of the year's most surprising efforts, Lim Soon-rye's fifth feature is an extraordinary road movie with a concept that comes dangerously close to being labeled as quirky but instead winds up being heartfelt and meditative. Kim Young-pil and Kong Hyo-jin excel in Rolling Home With a Bull, their performances throughout are fresh and natural. The low-budget film offers a unique view of Korea, far from the concrete jungle of Seoul or the vibrant harbor of Busan. Instead we wind through roads, regions and mountains as we contemplate how notions of family and responsibility have changed in the modern era. A great antidote to the sometimes overly familiar terrain of commercial modern Korean cinema.

8. Oki's Movie

Hong Sang-soo's 11th feature is one of his slightest not to mention quickest at a brief 80 minutes. Oki's Movie demonstrates Hong's growing skill wringing naturalistic humor out of common occurrences. As with his other films, structure and repetition are key as we follow a woman's dalliances with two men, a student and a professor, as they frequent the same locations. The return to black and white photography adds another element to the proceedings as it reinforces and further questions notions of nostalgia and selective (and often duplicitous) memory. One for the fans and for uninitiated viewers, Oki's Movie may be short but it is another big entry into Hong's ever-fascinating oeuvre.

7. The Servant

Korean period dramas are often a mixed bag but every so often the genre yields an excellent film and such is the case with The Servant, an erotic period drama from first time director Kim Dae-woo who previously penned Untold Scandal (2003) and Forbidden Quest (2006). The film is a twist on the famous Korean pansori tale Chunhyang, charging the classic story with eroticism and intrigue. One of the most beautifully shot Korean films of recent years and featuring some great performances, including a superb supporting turn from Ryoo Seung-beom, The Servant is everything a period drama should be, wonderfully crafted and engaging. Not to be missed for any fan of the genre.

6. Saw the Devil

A controversial film from Kim Jee-woon which polarized filmgoers, I Saw the Devil is a deliberate attempt to make a streamlined and yet subversive revenge thriller. The concept, which pits a federal agent (Lee Byung-hun) on a hunt for the psychopath (Choi Min-sik) who killed his fiance, is exceedingly simple and yet turns the genre over on its head. Lee Mo-gae's cinematography is beautiful and the script by Park Hoon-jung (also behind The Unjust) is clever, macabre and darkly humorous. I Saw the Devil is brutal, relentless, and can come off as simplistic and just as easily be viewed as pointless, but scratch beneath the veneer and you will come away with something more. Let's hope that Kim Jee-woon still makes them like this soon to be cult classic when his first Hollywood offering, the Arnold Schwarzenegger vehicle The Last Stand, will be released early next year.

5. HaHaHa

The first of Hong Sang-soo's 2010 films may be his funniest as well as his most accessible. Anyone looking for a way into Hong's oeuvre should look no further. Besides its humour throughout, HaHaHa also exhibits all of the traits that Hong has become known and loved for. Once again reveling in repetition and everyday minutiae, the film carefully lays bare two intellectuals' neurosis during a trip to a small town. As with many of his other films it employs a fascinating structure that is at once prosaic and inspired. HaHaHa cleverly leads us to doubt the protagonists accounts of their sojourn in the seaside town and this coupled with some La Jetee-style scenes bring to mind some larger questions of the authenticity of our own memory. One of Hong's best and a good second chance for anyone who has not previously connected with his work.

4. The Yellow Sea

Na Hong-jin burst onto the scene in 2008 with The Chaser, one of Korean cinema's most vital films of the past few years. All eyes were on him and his new film The Yellow Sea, which reunited his debut's stars Kim Yun-suk and Ha Jug-woo (though their roles as protagonist and antagonist are swapped), when it opened in December. A big film with a large scope, Na's second feature is a slow-burning crime film that builds into a heart-pounding action vehicle. I did not see the original, lengthier cut, which many had reservations about but I was mightily impressed by the pacing with sucked me more and more into the film as it progressed. One of the most exciting cinema releases of 2010, The Yellow Sea cemented Na Hong-jin as a major international talent, not to mention its excellent stars Ha and Kim, who keep going from strength to strength.

3.
The Unjust

One of the enduring themes in Korean cinema is the representation of the corruption and ineptness of authority, namely the police departments. There have been many great films that have expounded almost exclusively on the phenomenon such as Jang Jin's uproarious Going By the Book (2007). However, Ryoo Seung-wan's latest feature is perhaps the most blunt and vicious attack on the system yet. The Unjust takes a step back from Ryoo's previous action films but harnesses the same energy as it seeks to attack authority. Worlds collide, egos clash, collateral damage abounds and the constant tension keeps the heart racing. Ryoo outdoes himself by showing us that he is much more versatile than his previous films hinted at while still playing to his strengths. A breathlessly paced film with big performances from Hwang Jeong-min, Ryoo Seung-beom and Yu Hae-jin, The Unjust is a thriller not to be missed.

2. Poetry

People talk about event pictures like a summer blockbuster or an adaptation of a very popular book but for me when a new Lee Chang-dong film comes along this is a real cause for celebration as I know it will likely shake me to my foundation and challenge the way I look at the world. His latest Poetry is no exception and has been cited by many as his finest work. Besides the film's magnificent script and its fascinating musings on life and certain philosophical concepts, it has also been singled out for the performance of Yun Jeong-hee. Absent from the screen for 20 years, Yun's return is nothing short of a marvel and for my money's worth the best performance by any actor worldwide in 2010. Lee has surpassed himself yet again.

1. Bedevilled

A good genre film is one of the greatest joys that cinema has to offer. Completely immersed in the medium it seeks to provide raw entertainment, its purpose is solely to please. So what happens when a genre film transcends its limitations ? You end with a film like Jang Cheol-min's Bedevilled, a film so unique and so vital that it sent a chill down my spine, while at the same time being remarkably astute in its understanding of generic coding. Beautiful, austere, intimate and harrowing all at the same time, Jang crafts a microcosm on an island with scant characters that is teeming with crises and conflict, far mo so than the vast majority of films set in some of the world's most populous metropolises. Bedevilled works because it is founded on solid ideas and though it is incendiary and brutal in its climax, it is remarkably layered and convincing in its buildup.

Honourable Mentions

There were so many great film in 2010, here are a few more and to be honest there are still some strong features beyond this:

71: Into the Fire

Cyrano Agency

Eighteen

Harmony

Haunters

Hello Ghost

My Dear Desperado

Passerby #3

The Man From Nowhere

The Quiz Show Scandal

Bottom 5

I love Korean cinema but I'll be the first to admit that the industry can put out some atrocious films, here are 2010's worst:

1. A Little Pond

2. Yosul (aka Magic)

3. Natalie

4. Hero

5. Grand Prix

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August 23, 2011

The Unjust (Bu-dang-geo-rae) 2010

Posted by Pierce Conran at MKC

(Opening film for KOFFIA 2011)

Ryoo Seung-wan is already a popular and respected filmmaker who has pleased fanboys (The City of Violence, 2006) and critics alike (Crying Fist, 2005), but with his new film The Unjust, he has elevated himself to a new level, from which he can now comfortably tower over the majority of his peers. Principally known for his exceptional action sequences and choreography, Ryoo is a technical wizard who has the ability to inject vitality into just about any subject. What he has done here is namely to use his strengths in action filmmaking and apply those techniques laterally into different elements of the film. While The Unjust may be a film about cops and murder, there is much less action than you would imagine from Ryoo, although it is to his credit that it never feels that way.

With a blistering pace, a cool head, and intense focus Ryoo has fashioned a film that has successfully built on its most accomplished predecessors. It feels like a Korean and slightly more stylized version of a New Hollywood film from the 1970s. In particular I’m reminded of Serpico (1973) and The French Connection (1971) but also many others. The paranoia from that era’s conspiracy thrillers and the composed, organized, and yet organic framing and juxtaposition of those tempered filmmakers like Sydney Lumet and Billy Friedkin’s mise-en-scene, are all on evident display in this simultaneously old school and progressive masterclass of filmmaking.

The Unjust is probably the most richly conceived film to come out of Korea in 2010, although The Yellow Sea comes in as a close second. The busy, cluttered, and yet highly precise production design is more than amply matched by the constantly angled cinematography which is so richly composed and sequenced to highlight the proliferate characters in all their physical and psychological states. In essence mirroring the deliberately convoluted and tense narrative, the mise-en-scene is dense and mesmerizing. The sound is exceptionally well-crafted and carefully orchestrated with the tight editing, and some key sequences employ parallel editing while also taking advantage of the intense and powerful music, especially the recurring, sinister horns.

The story involves a great number of characters but at the heart of the plot there is a stoic and gruff police captain Cheol-gi (Hwang Jeong-min) who has been passed over for promotion one too many times, Joo-yang a young prosecutor (Ryoo Seung-beom), ruthlessly ambitious in his profession but conflicted by his frequently compromised ethics, and Jang, a cagey gangster (Yu Hae-jin) who wears a suit and pretends to inhabit the business world despite being more comfortable stabbing someone in the back with his knife. The narrative begins with the manhunt for the killer of a young girl which has a lot at stake for the police department. Its conflict arises from the higher-ups enlisting of Cheol-gi to cover up a death and make a conviction stick to a patsy while Jang harbors ambitions to take down his rival who has Joo-yang in his pocket. As the story gets more complicated they get more entangled together.

My primary misgiving with The Unjust is that like a great number of the New Hollywood filmmakers, Ryoo Seung-wan doesn’t seem to have strong or relatable female characters in most of his work. The film is a prime example of a male-driven thriller that makes no effort to portray the opposite gender. In one sense this is sort of a blessing in disguise as all the males and therefore all the protagonists in this narrative are shown to be corrupt, ruthless, and/or motivated purely by personal gain. Moral fiber figures in some of the characters ideals but this veneer is swiftly peeled away to show the moral turpitude of everyone associated with the system and then some.

The main theme of the day is police corruption which is something that is so frequent and dare-I-say blasé in modern Korean film that the proposition could potentially seem a little risky. I don’t know if it has ever been so pronounced and vociferous though, everyone is a very dark shade of grey in this film and the corruption is so all-consuming, depraved, and simply conducted that it kind of takes your breath away.

The performances are among the cast’s best, the script (from I Saw the Devil scribe Park Hoon-jung) is tight and menacing, the sparse choreography by Jeong Doo-hong will blow your socks off, and Ryoo’s expert and thrilling direction will keep you on the edge of your seats all throughout. This film noir is one of the best Korean movies of the last few years and I suggest that you don’t miss it!

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March 20, 2012

Hanbando’s blockbuster budget can’t make it a hit

by javabeans dramabeans.com

hanbando_21.jpg

Oy, another show gets the axe. Cable action-thriller Hanbando (Korean Peninsula) had boasted a sizable production budget (10 billion won, or roughly $9 million USD) and a name cast (Hwang Jung-min, Kim Jung-eun) with lots of notable veterans, but it hasn’t been enough to stir much interest, and ratings have remained low.

Those low numbers have led TV Chosun to cut the run down from a planned 24 episodes to 18, according to a rep from the station. The station informed the production team of the cut last week, which turned in the script for the final episode yesterday.

The drama premiered with a promising rating of 1.649%. (In the cable realm, anything over 1% is safe; below 1% is when you start splitting hairs, depending on what kind of show it is, when it airs, and what its expectations are.) And while Hanbando’s slide down to 0.798% (for its most recent episode) still leaves it higher than other cable shows that haven’t gotten cut, you can look at it in two ways: (1) It halved its already small audience, and (2) it also has one of cable’s largest budgets, in fact rivaling (and outstripping) the costs of some dramas on the big 3 broadcasters.

Honestly, I think the cable stations are being entirely too precipitate with their decisions, especially given the newness of much of the cable landscape to begin with. Some of these general-programming stations, including TV Chosun, are barely four months old, but they’re being held to standards established by people who have been on the air for decades.

I say this having no particular sadness for seeing Hanbando go — I was never intrigued by the spy-action-North-and-South plotline, and kaedejun’s coverage of Episodes 1-2 confirmed my initial impressions. But personal interest aside, this just seems like the most foolish type of knee-jerk reaction. Have a little patience, will you? We all know the cliched saying about marathons versus sprints; this is a case of taking one runner out of the race based on a bad first two steps.

That means Hanbando will wrap on April 3 with Episode 18.

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March 20, 2012

Dancing Queen: Filmart Review

by Elizabeth Kerr THR

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The Bottom Line

Dancing Queen is polished entertainment with a subtle message, anchored by an engaging (if physically awkward) performances and a suitably pulsating empowerment anthem.

Venue

Hong Kong Filmart, March 20, 2012.

Cast

Hwang Jung-min, Uhm Jung-hwa, Ra-Mi-ran, Lee Han-wi, Jeong Seong-hwa, Lee Dae-yeon

Director

Lee Seok-hoon

Director Lee Seok-hoon makes light of South Korean pop culture and politics in this comedy-drama.

In the intensely Korean comedy-drama Dancing Queen, Uhm Jung-hwa plays Jeong-hwa, a housewife that chooses to rekindle her dormant pop star aspirations by entering an American Idol-style contest just as her husband, Jeong-min (Hwang Jung-min), becomes an accidental mayoral candidate. The film benefits from extreme currency, hence its domestic box office success, but the enduring appeal of all things K-Pop in the region could result in moderate success in Asia and for targeted festivals and distributors overseas.

Director Lee Seok-hoon juggles comedy with heady issues ranging from sex and age discrimination, and tackles Korea’s subtle regionalism and hierarchical nature along with new policies encouraging people to have babies. Dancing Queen is polished entertainment with a subtle message, anchored by an engaging (if physically awkward) performance by Uhm as Bruni to Hwang’s Sarkozy and a suitably pulsating empowerment anthem.

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March 26, 2012

Hong Kong FilMart

Dancing Queen (Daensing kwin)

By RUSSELL EDWARDS Variety.com

A CJ Entertainment presentation of a CJ Entertainment, JK Film production. (International sales: CJ Entertainment, Seoul.) Produced by Yun Je-gyun, Lee Han-seung. Executive producers, Katherine Kim, Jay Gil. Co-producer, Gil Young-min. Directed, written by Lee Seok-hoon. With: Hwang Jung-min, Eom Jeong-hwa, Ra Mi-ran, Lee Han-wi, Jeong Seong-hwa, Lee Dae-yeong, Chun Bo-geun, Ahn Eung-jung. (Korean dialogue)

With comic pirouettes and surprise flips, South Korean romantic comedy "Dancing Queen" is a buoyant Capra-esque venture that sometimes stumbles but never fails to dazzle. Frequent laughs adorn the script's depiction of a drifting married couple -- a lawyer and an aerobics instructor -- trying to stay committed while he takes a "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington"-style crack at politics, and she chases a dream of dancing fame. Pic's early January release scored points with local auds to the tune of $26.4 million, and Stateside producers seeking remake material should line up for a look.

It's 1982, and democracy is experiencing its first rumblings in South Korea when Jung-min (Chun Bo-geun), who hails from Busan, moves to Seoul and runs afoul of "sophisticated" schoolgirl Jung-hwa (Ahn Eung-jung). The pair's childhood antipathy morphs into romance years later, when Jung-min, now played by Hwang Jung-min ("The Unjust," "Shiri"), has become an uptight student activist who meets good-time girl Jung-hwa, now played by Eom Jeong-hwa ("Haeundae," Insadong Scandal"), and finds himself emotionally liberated.

When love fades, reality sets in, and the now-married couple's former antagonism returns: Jung-min is a lawyer often working pro bono on behalf of poor, elderly and/or socially disadvantaged clients, leaving the financial burden of the household to fall on Jung-hwa, who teaches aerobics classes. But when the Seoul government begins looking for an honest man to clean up the mess left by entrenched corrupt politicians, Jung-min's fortunes start to turn; around the same time, Jung-hwa lucks into an opportunity to be a singer and dancer with a risque K-pop group, the Dancing Queens.

The script's major drawback is its lengthy exposition; it takes more than an hour for the story to nudge up against its ultimate dilemma about whether Jung-hwa will follow her dancing dreams and destroy her husband's chances of political success. Fortunately, the pic boasts abundant laughs that offset its draggy progress.

While regular guy Hwang is a deliberate mismatch for the sexed-up Eom, the pair's characterizations are note-perfect. In addition to displaying comedic flair, both thesps nail the emotional intensity the story's climax requires without betraying the pic's primarily humorous thrust. Supporting thesps transcend their broad stereotypes with exuberance and professionalism, with Ra Mi-ran a standout as Jung-hwa's Rosie O'Donnell-like best friend/hairdresser, Myeong-ae.

Eschewing fancy moves, writer-director Lee Seok-hoon ("See You After School") exhibits a functional, uncluttered approach to directing, always working in service of his script. Although shot on film, the pic has the washed-out look of overlit video; regardless, when it comes to Eom's dance numbers, the visuals glitter and sparkle like a disco ball. Score by Hwang Sang-jun is a little trite, but does the job; for the record, the Abba song referenced by the title is conspicuously absent here. Other tech credits are solid.

Camera (color, widescreen), Choi Jin-ung; editor, Lee Jin; music, Hwang Sang-jun; production designer, Gang Seung-yong; costume designer, Kim Eun-suk; sound (Dolby Digital), Lee Seung-yup. Reviewed at Hong Kong Filmart, March 19, 2012. Running time: 119 MIN.

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March 22, 2012

6 of the most distinguished and extraordinary movies to be expected in 2012

Source: Daum via hancinema.net

Art theater Cinecube has carefully selected movies that are to be expected this year in 2012 and is presenting fans with a mega-exhibition called "Cinecubes Choice: Movies To Be Expected In 2012". This mega-exhibition will open on the 22nd until the 29th for 8 days with 6 movies that will brightly decorate 2012 with their significant qualities and shocking topics.

Movies with armed productions will be presented here such as; known for his previous works of art, director Min Gyoo-dong's "In My End Is My Beginning", man of issue at the last Busan International Film Festival Lee Sang-woo-IV's "Barbie", Ruslan Park's "Hanaan", Kong Quee Hyun's "U.F.O". and many other movies with various topics and original productions. Boo Ji-young's "Nanana: An Actress' Naked Face Project", Tae Joon-sik's "Mother - 2011" and other documentaries that were favored last year at the Seoul Independent Film Festival can also be seen here. Screening time, other functions and events can be seen at the Cinecube homepage (www.icinecube.com).

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"In My End Is My Beginning"

After her husband died in a car accident, his lover comes to meet her and the two start living together with all the complicated feelings towards each other. Min Gyoo-dong who also directed "Antique", "My Lovely Week", "The Last Blossom", "Momento Mori" and more has the megaphone and the cast includes Uhm Jung-hwa, Hwang Jeong-min and Kim Hyo-jin. This movie shows the complicated thoughts of the cast under a situation where a woman has to live with her dead husbands lover.

Related excerpt only, full article at links provided ~

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