Hwang Jung-Min 황정민 [Upcoming Movies: “12.12: The Day”, “Mission Cross”, “Veteran 2”, “Hope”]

[rubie]

December 2, 2016

CJ CGV to co-produce first Hollywood title for ScreenX format

By Shim Sun-ah

SEOUL, Dec. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's largest multi-screen cinema chain CJ CGV said Friday it will collaborate with a Hollywood studio to co-produce the first English film for providing the ScreenX immersive experience.

The company announced that it will work with the American film production company "Let It Play" to make the ScreenX version of "We Kill Death." Developed with South Korean technology, ScreenX delivers a 270-degree experience by using two side screens in addition to the cinema's existing main screen.

Since its launch in December 2012, ScreenX technology has been adopted for a total of 15 Korean and Chinese films. But this would the first commercial Hollywood title that adopts the technology.

"We Kill Death" by executive producers Alex A. Ginzburg, Tony Lee and Inga Smith centers around death-defying amateur stuntmen Mustang Wanted, Oleg Cricket and duo Vitaliy Raskalov and Vadim Makhorov, who scales high-rise structures to pose for stunningly scary photographs.

It will be directed by Eric Brevig, best known for "Journey to Center of the Earth" and "Yogi Bear." He was the visual effects supervisor of "Total Recall", "Men in Black," "The Lost Boys" and "Pearl Habor" and "The Maze Runner."

"As a filmmaker, what I try to do is engage the audience in the stories that I'm telling. And I feel that ScreenX is a technology that allows me as the storyteller to immerse the audience better in the film that we're telling. I fell in love with the ScreenX process when I saw a demonstration of it in Los Angeles and really wanted to see if that was something that we could use as we develop our next movie," Brevig said during the 2016 CGV Movie Industry Media Forum at the CGV-Yongsan theater in Seoul.

He expressed hope that the audience would really feel like they're experiencing the adventure and suspense of the film's characters as they watch it in ScreenX.

The Hollywood film will be simultaneously produced in 2D, 4DX and ScreenX formats for release in 2018.

CGV said it, with the film's production as an occasion, will continue to expand the immersive technology to the United States and China.

The multi-screen theater unit of the Food and Entertainment giant CJ screened eight films at 107 ScreenX theaters in South Korea, China, the United States and Thailand to date in 2016.

"We'll increase the numbers of ScreenX theaters and titles to 1,000 and 40 by 2020," said Choi Byung-hwan, CEO of CJ 4DPlex, during the forum.

The company said it plans to co-produce and release some 20 ScreenX titles at home and abroad next year. They include the Hollywood film "The Great Wall" directed by Zhang Yimou and starring Matt Damon, Jing Tian, Pedro Pascal, Willem Dafoe and Andy Lau; "Kungfu Yoga," a Chinese movie starring Jackie Chan; and the Korean star director Ryu Seung-wan's latest, "Gunhamdo." It will star Hwang Jung-min, So Ji-seop and Song Joong-ki of the runaway hit TV series "Descendants of the Sun.

sshim@yna.co.kr

[rubie]

December 7, 2016

Films draw more than 200 million viewers in S. Korea

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

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

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

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

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

entropy@yna.co.kr

[rubie]

December 10, 2016

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

[rubie]

December 13, 2016

Jun Ji-hyun stands out on 10 best actors list

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[rubie]

December 14, 2016

Hwang Jung-min Voted Actor of the Year

Source: The Chosun Ilbo

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

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

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

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

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

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

[rubie]

December 15, 2016

Hwang Jung-min and Yoon Jong-bin's "Duke", CJ steps out

Source: Naver via Hancinema.net

One of the most anticipated movies of 2017 is at risk.

Several sources claimed that the movie was just about to crank in when this happened.

"Duke" requires more than 13 billion won in production costs and CJ Entertainment was responsible for investment and distribution but it suddenly called it quits due to internal matters.

4 billion won has already been used in the process of pre-production and that is more than what they thought would be needed in the beginning. CJ must have thought the same, resulting in a break.

"Duke" is based on the true story about the secret encounter between North and South Korea involving a special project.

The cast includes only the best in Chungmuro: Hwang Jeong-min, Jo Jin-woong and Joo Ji-hoon, while the movie is directed by Yoon Jong-bin.

This major blockbuster movie is now on a cliff. With only a couple months left before crank-in, it now doesn't have an investor. Officials are talking to Lotte Entertainment and Showbox but no good news so far.

[rubie]

December 16, 2016

Top 10 Korean film actors of 2016 named

By: Jonathan Hicap Manila Bulletin Entertainment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[rubie]

December 18, 2016

Korean movies tops for action

By Lee Han-soo The Korea Times

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

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

The scenes were:

Spoiler

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

"The Age of Shadows"

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

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

 
A scene from "The Wailing" / Korea Times file

"The Wailing"

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

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

Spoiler

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

"Train to Busan"

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

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

corea022@ktimes.com

[rubie]

December 21, 2016

Stars boycott Daejong Film Awards again

By Kim Jae-hun The Korea Times

 

Hwang Jung-min

Jun Ji-hyun

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

jhkim@ktimes.com

[rubie]

December 22, 2016

'Battleship Island’ wraps up month-long filming

(CJ Entertainment)

Upcoming period film “Battleship Island” ended six months of shooting Tuesday, according to news reports Thursday. 

The shooting, which involved some 200 staff, took place in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province. The filming lasted for about six months. The final take was taken in a mine in Chuncheon.

(CJ Entertainment)

Hwang Jung-min, Song Joong-ki and So Ji-sub play the protagonists in the film which is based on the Japanese occupation of Korea. 

The movie centers on a bandmaster, Lee Kang-ok, played by Hwang, who is duped into a job offer in Japan but was sent instead to a forced labor camp on Battleship Island, also known as Hashima Island. 

An independence fighter, Park Moo-young, played by Song, engages in a covert operation to rescue people from the island. The movie will be released next year.

By Son Ji-hyoung (json@heraldcorp.com)

[rubie]

December 25, 2016

Korean cinema of 2016: Women, politics, horror

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

Spotlight on women 

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

Spoiler

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Scandalous politics

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ride into the occult

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

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

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

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

A period in time 

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

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

Spoiler

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

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

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

By Rumy Doo (doo@heraldcorp.com) 

[rubie]

December 29, 2016

Top 10 Korean Films of 2016

By Jason Bechervaise The Korea Times

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

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

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

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

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

The Wailing

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

The Age of Shadows

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

Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet

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

The World of Us

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

The Truth Beneath

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

The Handmaiden

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

Our Love Story

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

Worst Woman

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

Yourself and Yours

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

Train to Busan

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

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

[rubie]

 

December 31, 2016

December Film Actor Brand Reputation Rankings Revealed  

Source: Soompi by C. Hong 

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

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

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

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

The full list of rankings is below:

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

Source (1)

[rubie]

 January 2, 2017

BATTLESHIP ISLAND Ends 6-Month Shoot
Escape Drama Reunites RYOO Seung-wan and HWANG Jung-min

by Pierce Conran / KoBiz

After a six-month shoot, RYOO Seung-wan’s Battleship Island, one of next year’s most anticipated films, wrapped production on December 20th on the Chuncheon set in Gangwon-do Province. The film stars HWANG Jung-min, SO Ji-sub, SONG Joong-ki, LEE Jung-hyun and KIM Su-an.

Set on the Japanese Island Hashima, known as ‘Battleship Island’ for its distinctive shape, RYOO’s latest movie takes place during the Japanese Occupation Era when thousands of Korean and Chinese civilians were forced to work in underground mines under terrible conditions. The film follows an escape attempt by 400 Korean workers, including a working man (HWANG Jung-min) trying to protect his daughter (KIM Su-an), a rowdy street brawler (SO Ji-sub) and an independence fighter (SONG Joong-ki).

Director RYOO experienced his greatest ever success in 2015 with the release of the action-thriller hit Veteran, which scored 13.41 million admissions, making it the third most successful Korean film of all time.

HWANG worked with RYOO on Veteran in 2015 and has featured in several recent hits, including Ode to My Father (2014), The Himalayas (2015), A Violent Prosecutor and THE WAILING. SO returns to cinemas for the first time since A Company Man (2012). Meanwhile SONG, also a major star on TV, was last seen on the silver screen in A Werewolf Boy (2012).

Now in post-production, the film, which is being produced by Filmmaker R & K and will be distributed by CJ Entertainment, will hit screens next year, with a summer bow looking likely.

[rubie]

January 6, 2017

Spy film ‘Gongjak’ reveals star-studded cast

Source: INSIDE Korea JoongAng Daily

Upcoming film “Gongjak” (working title) will feature an all-star cast, starring actors Hwang Jung-min, Yi Seong-min, Cho Jin-woong, and Ju Ji-hoon.

The film, directed by Yun Jong-bin, will be about an intelligence operative during the mid-1990s infiltrating the North Korean government amid suspicions of nuclear weapons development.

The lead role of the spy who takes on this mission will be played by Hwang. The actor has come to be one of the most trusted names in the industry. His latest projects, “Ode to My Father,” “Veteran,” and “The Wailing” were some of the most critically acclaimed films in recent history.

Opposing Hwang’s character is a key figure from the North Korean government, played by Yi, and the head of defense, played by Ju. Cho will play the mastermind of the operation, the only one who knows the spy’s identity.

The star-studded film is the second to be produced by the creative team behind the 2016 comedy “A Violent Prosecutor,” which also starred Hwang. Production is set to begin on Jan. 25.

By Chung Jin-hong

[rubie]

January 6, 2017

The most anticipated films of 2017 :

The upcoming year is filled with political thrillers and exciting adventures

Source: INSIDE Korea JoongAng Daily

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

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

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

V.I.P.

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

Okja

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

With God

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

Taxi Driver

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

Battleship Island

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

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

[rubie]

January 6, 2017

HWANG Jung-min Infiltrates YOON Jong-bin’s DUKE
North Korea Thriller Co-Stars LEE Sung-min, CHO Jin-woong & JU Ji-hoon

by Pierce Conran / KoBiz

The production of director YOON Jong-bin’s new film Duke is now set to begin on January 25th with CJ Entertainment on board as the main investor and distributor. YOON will be joined on set by HWANG Jung-min, LEE Sung-min, CHO Jin-woong and JU Ji-hoon.

Featuring a narrative set in the mid-1990s, Duke follows a South Korean spy played by HWANG who infiltrates the North in a bid to gain intelligence on the hermit state’s nuclear weapons plans. The agent’s actions launch an intelligence skirmish between the two nations.

HWANG has been on an unprecedented run of box office hits, which have included Ode to My Father (2014), Veteran (2015), The Himalayas (2015), A Violent Prosecutor and THE WAILING. He recently wrapped RYOO Seung-wan’s Battleship Island and partners here with director YOON for the first time.

Actors LEE Sung-min (Broken, 2014) and CHO Jin-woong (A Hard Day, 2014) recently worked together on the upcoming thriller Sheriff. Meanwhile, JU Ji-hoon featured alongside HWANG Jung-min in Asura : The City of Madness and is currently shooting the fantasy drama Along with the Gods.

Director YOON is responsible for hits such as Nameless Gangster : Rules of the Time (2012) and KUNDO : Age of the Rampant (2014). Duke, his fifth work, marks his first film without HA Jung-woo in the lead.

The project is the latest from production house Sanai Pictures, which have worked with HWANG four times before (New World, 2013; Man In Love, 2014; A Violent Prosecutor; Asura : The City of Madness) and which is also behind Sheriff.

[rubie]

January 6, 2017

Big-budget movies to highlight 2017

By Jason Bechervaise The Korea Times

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

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

‘Battleship Island'

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

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

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

‘The King'

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

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

‘Taxi Driver'

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

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

‘With God -- Part 1'

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

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

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

‘VIP'

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

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

‘Okja'

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

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

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

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

[rubie]

January 18, 2017

'The Wailing' named best film by Korean film reporters

By Shim Sun-ah

SEOUL, Jan. 18 (Yonhap) -- "The Wailing," a supernatural thriller, was named best film of 2016 by an association of South Korean film journalists Wednesday.

Na Hong-jin was chosen best director for the tense drama which features a tranquil rural village embroiled in mysterious serial murders after the arrival of a stranger.

The movie, whose original Korean title is "Goksung," stars Kwak Do-won, Chun Woo-hee and Hwang Jung-min. Since its premiere at last year's Cannes Film Festival, it has been invited to even more international film festivals. In South Korea, it attracted 6.8 million viewers.

The best actor and actress awards went to Song Kang-ho of "The Age of Shadows" and Son Ye-jin of "The Last Princess."

Ma Dong-seok scored best supporting actor for his performance in "Train to Busan," while Ra Mi-ran won best supporting actress for her role in "The Last Princess." Jung Ga-ram of "Fourth Place" and Kim Tae-ri of "The Handmaiden" picked up the best rookie actor and actress awards.

"The World of Us" by director Yoon Ga-eun was named the best independent film of the year. "La La Land," the Hollywood musical that scooped up seven trophies at the 2017 Golden Globes, was chosen the best foreign film.

Director Park Chan-wook of "The Handmaiden" won the title of best film industry figure for his contribution to the Korean film industry.

The awards ceremony was held at the Korea Press Center in central Seoul. The Korea Film Reporters Association, with members from 50 media companies, choose the winners for the "Film of the Year Awards" every January from all the domestic films that opened in the previous year.

sshim@yna.co.kr 

[rubie]

January 24, 2017

THE WAILING Triumphs at Korean Film Reporters Association Awards
SONG Kang-ho and SON Ye-jin Take Home Acting Honors

by Pierce Conran / KoBiz

The Korean Film Reporters Association handed out their awards for 2016 during their 8th annual ceremony on January 16th. They gave their ‘Film of the Year’ main prize to NA Hong-jin’s THE WAILING, adding to the film’s successful awards run. NA also received the Best Director prize for his Cannes-invited hit, which drew almost seven million viewers to Korean multiplexes during the spring.

Meanwhile, the Best Actor prize went to SONG Kang-ho for his portrayal of a Korean officer working for the Japanese police in KIM Jee-woon’s Colonial Era spy thriller The Age of Shadows and SON Ye-jin received a nod for Best Actress for playing the titular role in HUR Jin-ho’s The Last Princess, another Colonial Era title. 

Don LEE was triumphant in the Best Supporting Actor category for his role in YEON Sang-ho’s zombie hit TRAIN TO BUSAN while SON’s The Last Princess co-star LA Mi-ran took the Best Supporting Actress accolade. The Best New Actor award went to JUNG Ga-ram in JUNG Ji-woo’s Fourth Place and KIM Tae-ri won the Best New Actress prize for her part in PARK Chan-wook’s The Handmaiden. 

YOON Ga-eun’s feature debut The World of Us earned the Best Independent Film prize while Damien Chazelle’s La La Land was recognized as the Best Foreign Film. The Korean Film Reporters Association Awards, which were handed out in the Korean Press Center in Central Seoul, were selected by 50 Korean film journalists.