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

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July 20, 2017

[Herald Review] Experiencing Japanese atrocities in ‘Battleship Island’
Star-studded cast battles to escape slave labor island in large-scale film

It is inevitable that Korean cinema frequently retell the story of the Japanese occupation, a defining scar in the country’s history, in various ways. “The Battleship Island” is the most recent of such films, recreating Japanese atrocities on a massive visual scale. 

The film’s message is heavy and clear: it exposes the horrific torture of Koreans on Hashima Island from 1940 to 1945. Records show that around 500 to 800 Koreans were taken captive on the island and forced into slave labor, digging 1,000-meter deep coal mines. Many were children -- their small bodies more easily fit into the dark, narrow tunnels.

There is plenty of detailed description in the film. A huge set was built in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, recreating the island as accurately as possible. It’s jarring to see how sleekly the atrocities have been recreated. Dozens of dirt-covered, emaciated laborers chip away at the mines, with seawater and gas bursting through the walls every now and then. People die with alarming ease when rocks fall from the ceiling, or a cart wheels the wrong way. 

The film was shot with IMAX screening in mind -- it will open in surround-screen 4DX in CGV Yongsan -- by cinematographer Lee Mo-gae as something to experience rather than merely watch. 

That leaves little room for storytelling, unfortunately, and the plot is hurried to fit in all the necessary elements. Yet it is bound to satisfy many as a decent commercial film, with solid performances by a star-studded cast and large-scale visuals. 

Spoiler

(CJ Entertainment)

(CJ Entertainment)

In the film, Hashima Island, dubbed “Battleship Island” because of its shape, is a hodgepodge of Koreans who have either been forced onto the island or lured there under false pretenses. 

Hwang Jung-min plays Kang-ok, the leader of a musical band who has a genial way with people. His daughter is the feisty So-hee, played by Kim Soo-ahn, and the singer of his band. Though the father-daughter storyline is formulaic, it is a delight to watch these two talents perform as the heart of the film, singing, dancing and bickering affectionately amid harsh circumstances. The two set off on a boat to Japan after hearing of money-making opportunities there, only to end up on the island. 

Others on the island include Chil-sung, played by So Ji-sub, a former gang member who was once the most feared man in the Jongno streets. Lee Jung-hyun plays Mal-nyeon, a woman who was sold to the Chinese, then to the Japanese by Korean pimps. 

Song Joong-ki, who rose to pan-Asian fame for his portrayal of an Army captain in last year‘s hit military drama “Descendants of the Sun,” returns as Moo-young, an elite soldier of the Korean Liberation Army and an agent with the US’ Office of Strategic Services, who infiltrates the island to rescue a key Korean independence movement figure.

Spoiler

(CJ Entertainment)

 

Spoiler

(CJ Entertainment)

A photo of the island compelled director Ryoo Seung-wan to make the film.

“I was stimulated by what kind of stories would have taken place in that hellish place,” he said after a press screening in Seoul Wednesday. “The sense of obligation in exposing the history there came afterward, while I was making the film.

“But there were evil Koreans on the island as well as evil Japanese,” he added. “In the end, it comes down to the individual... I wanted to focus on how the strong become weak and how the weak can become strong in the course of war.” 

“The Battleship Island” hits local theaters on July 26. 

By Rumy Doo (doo@heraldcorp.com)

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July 23, 2017

Casting these actors and actresses would guarantee success at the box office!
Korean investment companies in the film industry have selected the 2017 version of [magic potions at the B.O.] or box office champions ~

Source: Korea Star Daily, translated by Barbara at LBH soompi via EverythingLBH.com



Who are the big time actors in the 2017 “Chungmuro” edition that guaranteed box office success? There exists a galaxy of stars in the movie circle that would induce audiences to voluntarily purchase movie tickets. They are named “box office guaranteed success”, “trustworthy actors” or “ magic potions at the box office”. They are the darlings of movie producers and distributors, and they attract large capital investments. Movie Investors like these stars and cast them in their movies because they can assure the investors that they can get back their investments. These major producers: CJ E&M, Lotte Entertaiment, Mega Box Plus M, Showbox and New Entertainment have voted and selected the 2017 edition of “Chugmiro box office magic potions”. The total scores are based on their votes.

Leading the pack among actors is Song Kang Ho absolutely. 



The number 1 “Box Office Magic Potion” is Song Kang Ho. Four out of the 5 giant production companies selected him and the remaining company voted him second. He is the current highest paid Korean actor, commanding KRW1,000,000,000 per movie. This high salary reflects his popularity, To put it bluntly, he is the first “go to guy” for all scripts that require an actor over 40 years oid. Investors said: “Song Kang Ho remains number one over many years because he possesses all the qualities that the Korean audience like in an actor: humor, sensitivity, dominance and acting skills that no one can match. 



Comprehensive ranking for the runner-up is Ha Jung Woo. Among the five giant production companies, one even voted him for the first place. His biggest attraction is his affinity with the audience. Investors said: “No matter what role he is given, he is able to portray the character is his own distinctive style. In addition, he has a special relationship with the audience. His success in the movies ”Terror Live” and “The Tunnel” which were adapted from webtoons elevated even more the trust audience has in him.



Comprehensive ranking for third place is Lee Byung Hun. With “Inside Men” , he earned the investors’ trust. They feel that “Lee Byung Hun has amazing acting skills which are very attractive. Whenever a Lee Byung Hun movie is mentioned, everyone looks forward to it. Furthermore, he has uncanny vision in choosing scripts. Therefore whether it is the script or his acting are worthy of trust.”



Comprehensive ranking for 4th place is Hwang Jung Min. He acts at least in one movie per year. By virtue of “Ode to My Father” and “Veteran” he became an actor with audience surpassing 10,000,000 in each of the two movies. Furthermore, most of his works return easily the capital to his investors, making him naturally the darling of investors. 



Comprehensive ranking for fifth place is Gang Don Won. Among actors in their 30s, his appearance, acting and box office strengths are the most balanced. His work ethic is serious and his crew loves him. Professional revealed: "Although his box office results have not been good lately, but he possesses a distinctive aura and is widely accepted as an actor by the film industry.



The number 1 female actress “Box Office Magic Potion” is Son Ye Jin. 

The Leading lady that guarantees success at the box office is absolutely Son Ye Jin. Her appearance in “The Last Princess” last year gave her a big hand. Two of the five giant production companies voted her number one. The remaining three companies voted her in second place. She received a total of 22 points. Although there is a big price gap between actors and actresses, Son Ye Jin is the highest paid actress. Investors said: “ Let us say that Son Ye Jin has very few failures in her works; her work ethic is great, her image is good. If you take into account her looks and acting skills, she is absolutely the champion.” 

Kim Hye Soo received comprehensive ranking for the runner up. She is a very balanced actress. Most of the professionals in the business considered that her dominance in acting is what attracts her to her audience. They praised her: “From the moment Kim Hye Soo decided to act in a movie, the value of the movie rises.” 



Comprehensive ranking for third place is Jun Ji Hyun. As her works are not numerous, there is a huge ripple effect whenever there is an announcement that she will act in a movie. Professionals analyzed as follows: “She does not act in too many movies, but every appearance is enough to release public curiosity. Her popularity will rise to heated levels. However what is uncertain is whether the movie would be successful, unlike Son Ye Jin who has been proven in her works. Her image and popularity are really good, but the feeling of stability is lacking. 



Han Hyo Joo ranks fourth. Although investors put a lot of emphasis on the age and sex on their analysis, but strictly from the acting point of view, Han Hyo Joo is trusted by her audience. Investors said: “Whenever Han Hyo Joo is casted in a lead role, there is never any objection. She is steadfast, and steady actress. Her looks, acting skills, friendliness, positively striving image are very balanced. 



Comprehensive ranking for fifth place is Jeon Do Yeon who received Best Actress in the Cannes Film Festival. Professionals have this to say: “ Although her acting skills are very solid, but her choice of scripts are very different. Rating for her works has wide margins. She received praises for her acting, but her box office disappoints and is regretful. 

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July 26, 2017

'The Battleship Island' headed towards big opening at box office

SEOUL, July 26 (Yonhap) -- "The Battleship Island," a new South Korean World War II blockbuster film, is set to make an opening day splash on Wednesday, with nearly 600,000 tickets having been reserved on the release date.

According to the computerized tally from the Korean Film Council, the number of ticket reservations for the film stood at 594,370 as of 7 a.m. Wednesday, accounting for 70.1 percent of all movie reservations for the day.

The film, directed by Ryoo Seung-wan and starring Hwang Jung-min, Song Joong-ki and So Ji-sub, is expected to overtake "Dunkirk," the current No. 1 film at the box office.

"The Mummy," a Hollywood film starring Tom Cruise, holds the record for the biggest opening day performance in South Korea, drawing in 872,965 moviegoers on its premiere day. "Roaring Currents," the biggest-grossing film in the country to-date, was watched by 682,701 viewers on release day.

"The Battleship Island" is one of the more expensive South Korean films to-date. Against a budget of 25 billion won (US$22.3 million), the movie has to sell more than 7 million tickets to break even.

The movie has attracted huge attention since it was first announced for its inspiration from the atrocities and ordeals faced by hundreds of forced Korean coal miners and sex slaves at Japan's Hashima Island, nicknamed "Battleship Island" after its resemblance to a warship, during World War II.

odissy@yna.co.kr

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July 27, 2017

'The Battleship Island' sets new opening day box-office record

SEOUL, July 27 (Yonhap) -- "The Battleship Island," a South Korean World War II blockbuster film, set a new opening day record at the Korean box office, attracting more than 970,000 moviegoers, data showed Thursday.

The action drama movie starring Song Joong-ki, So Ji-sub and Hwang Jung-min was seen by 970,352 on Wednesday, according to the computerized tally from the Korean Film Council. The film accounted for 71.4 percent of all ticket sales.

Factoring in special pre-release screenings, the film has accumulated a combined 991,811 viewers.

"The Mummy," a Hollywood film starring Tom Cruise, was the previous record holder for the biggest opening day performance in South Korea, drawing in 872,965 moviegoers on its premiere day. "Roaring Currents," the biggest-grossing film in the country to date, was watched by 682,701 viewers on its release day.

The huge opening day performance was attributed to the massive number of screens dedicated to the movie. The film was shown on 2,027 screens, or 37.1 percent of total movie theater screens in the country. It was more than the previous record high of 1,991 screens allotted for "Captain America: Civil War" last year.

"The Battleship Island" is one of the more expensive South Korean films ever made. Against a budget of 25 billion won (US$22.3 million), the movie has to sell more than 7 million tickets to break even.

On social media, film industry insiders have voiced their concerns of a single film hogging up movie screens, especially in light of the movie's investor, CJ E&M, using its movie distribution arm CJ CGV to promote the film.

"Let alone monopoly, this is madness. We don't even expect a symbiosis but at least you should have the slightest feeling of conscience," said filmmaker Min Byung-hoon in a social media post aimed at CJ E&M.

The movie has attracted huge attention since it was first announced for its inspiration from the atrocities and ordeals faced by hundreds of forced Korean coal miners and sex slaves on Japan's Hashima Island, nicknamed Battleship Island after its resemblance to a warship, during World War II.

A poster for "The Battleship Island" provided by CJ E&M (Yonhap)

odissy@yna.co.kr

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Photos: cjenmmovie

Stage Greeting 28/7(?)

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July 28, 2017

Most Anticipated Korean Film of 2017 "The Battleship Island" Debuts in the USA and Canada August 4

Source: CJ Entertainment via Hancinema.net

CJ Entertainment's highly anticipated summer blockbuster, "The Battleship Island", a historical war film, is set to release on July 26 in Korea and on August 4 in over 40 cities across the U.S. and Canada. The title was featured at the Cannes Film Festival last month and was pre-sold to 113 territories worldwide.

"The Battleship Island" is based on a true story during WWII when Korea was under the colonial rule of Japan. In 1944, 400 conscripted Korean civilians head out to Hashima Island. Nicknamed ""The Battleship Island"" after its resemblance to a war vessel, many were lured by false promises of high wages. Upon arrival, they found that workers are forced into slave labor. As the U.S. launches a massive counterattack on Japan, the Japanese decide to blow up the island in order to bury the truth about their awful treatment of the Korean slave labors. A Korean independence activist discovers the plan and works with others on the island for a mass escape.

The film is directed by Ryoo Seung-wan ("Veteran", "The Berlin File"), and stars Hwang Jeong-min ("Ode to My Father", "The Himalayas"), So Ji-sub ("Always", "Sophie's Revenge"), Song Joong-ki ("Descendants of the Sun", "A Werewolf Boy"), and Lee Jung-hyun ("Alice In Earnestland", "The Admiral: Roaring Currents").

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July 28, 2017

'The Battleship Island' tops 2 million in admissions on 3rd day

SEOUL, July 28 (Yonhap) -- "The Battleship Island," a big-budget South Korean movie, surpassed 2 million in attendance in South Korea on Friday, the third day of its run, the film's local distributor said.

The action drama movie written and directed by Ryoo Seung-wan hit the milestone on Friday, according to CJ E&M.

The pace is one day faster than the Hollywood film "Spider-Man: Homecoming" in surpassing 2 million viewers.

"The Battleship Island" with a budget of 25 billion won (US$22.3 million) is inspired by atrocities and ordeals faced by hundreds of forced Korean coal miners and sex slaves at Hashima Island, located off the coast of the Japanese city of Nagasaki.

Many South Koreans still harbor deep resentment against Japan for its harsh colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945 when many young Korean women were forced to serve as sexual slaves for Japanese soldiers. Several million Koreans were forcibly taken to Japan as laborers during the period.

entropy@yna.co.kr

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July 29, 2017

[HanCinema's Film Review] "The Battleship Island"

Source: HanCinema.net

The black and white opener of "The Battleship Island" focuses on a part of wartime economy rarely seen in film- the support staff. Specifically, the miners, who come up with the raw material that is later purposed into shiny toys for the military. The work is dangerous, especially under the stress of wartime quotas. But it's especially bad for the Korean characters of "The Battleship Island", who labor for the Japanese near the end of the doomed effort that was World War II in the Pacific.

Don't mistake "The Battleship Island" for mere torture porn about how the Japanese Empire was bad. I mean, it was bad, don't get me wrong. Director Ryoo Seung-hwan reminds us that while the men worked in horrible conditions, the women had it even worse- they became comfort women. Rather paradoxically, they were comfort women for the male Korean miners in addition to the Japanese soldiers, because everyone's actions for the war effort were considered, legally at least, to be equal.

There's the irony that defines the film. The high ranked Japanese officers we see believe that Japan is the greatest civilization in the world, and that supporting the Japanese war effort this way enobles the spirit of lowborn Koreans. They beam with sincere reverence when official Japanese anthems play. Yet the actual people whose welfare the Japanese government is supposed to be improving are miserable. The Koreans are on the constant point of mutiny. When they're not fighting with each other anyway.

The leads in "The Battleship Island" are defined less by long-term goals as they are by their constant opposition to each other. Usually for petty reasons. Chil-seong (played by So Ji-sub) is a military man who's used to being obeyed. Moo-yeong (played by Song Joon-ki) is a freedom fighter who's used to being right. Mal-nyeon (played by Lee Jung-hyun) has been a comfort woman so long she's cynical about everything. Hak-cheol (played by Lee Kyeong-yeong) sees it as his task to keep order in the camp.

It's Kang-ok (played by Hwang Jeong-min) who unexpectedly proves to be the bridge between these disparate interests. As a skilled musician in Imperial Japanese standards, Kang-ok is a definite collaborator. I was expecting Kang-ok to learn that the Japanese consider all Koreans trash, but his role in the story is much more nuanced than that. Kang-ok wants his daughter So-hee (played by Kim Su-an) to live. While everyone else is constantly obsessing over immediate, more viscerally satisfying objectives, Kang-ok alone realizes that this singular desire to live is what should be the priority.

That much is easy to lose in the moment, because "The Battleship Island" is incredible spectacle. The adrenaline in every scene is palpable, of the variety that makes you want to cheer when the bad guy of the moment gets what's so badly coming to him. But then, contrast that sense of excitement with the bleak sense of horror that is the final shot- that powerful visual demonstration of what happens when both sides keep one-upping another with increasingly gruesome violence, forever. It makes me glad, at least, that Kang-ok was able to find another way.

Review by William Schwartz

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Photos; cjenmmovie

Stage Greeting 29/7(?)

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July 30, 2017

July Movie Actor Brand Reputation Rankings Revealed

Source: Soompi by D. Kim   

Spoiler

Movie actor brand reputation rankings have been released for the month of July.

The Korean Business Research Institute analyzed 139,284,258 pieces of big data from June 28 to July 29, looking at interaction, media, communication, and community indexes.

Song Joong Ki topped the list with a total brand reputation index of 23,494,489. Song Kang Ho followed up in second place with a total score of 11,510,210, while Gong Yoo came in third place with a score of 10,810,929.

Check out the top 25 rankings below:

1. Song Joong Ki
2. Song Kang Ho
3. Gong Yoo
4. Kim Soo Hyun
5. Lee Jung Hyun
6. So Ji Sub
7. Im Siwan
8. Jun Ji Hyun
9. Hwang Jung Min
10. Yeo Jin Goo
11. Yoo Hae Jin
12. Ahn Jae Hong
13. Lee Kyung Young
14. Jung Woo Sung
15. Lee Byung Hun
16. Kim Ok Bin
17. Hyun Bin
18. Yoo Ah In
19. Han Ji Min
20. Park Hyo Joo
21. Han Hyo Joo
22. Lee Jung Jae
23. Jo In Sung
24. Kim Hye Soo
25. Ha Jung Woo

Source (1)

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Photos: cjenmmovie

Stage Greeting 30/7

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Photo: CJ Entertainment @cjenmmovie

August 2, 2017

'The Battleship Island' tops 5 million in admissions on 8th day

SEOUL, Aug. 2 (Yonhap) -- "The Battleship Island," a big-budget South Korean movie, surpassed 5 million in attendance in its home country Wednesday, the eighth day of its run, the film's local distributor said.

The historical action written and directed by Ryoo Seung-wan hit the milestone at 9:30 a.m. in the fastest pace among all films that opened this year, according to CJ Entertainment.

The pace is three days faster than the Hollywood film "Spider-Man: Homecoming" in surpassing 5 million views and two days faster than Ryoo's previous box office hit "Veteran." It, however, is three days slower than "Train to Busan," seen by more than 10 million people last year and two days slower than "Roaring Currents," the most-viewed film ever in South Korea.

"The Battleship Island" is inspired by atrocities and ordeals faced by hundreds of forced Korean coal miners and sex slaves on Hashima Island, located off the coast of the Japanese city of Nagasaki.

Many South Koreans still harbor deep resentment against Japan for its harsh colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945, when many young Korean women were forced to serve as sexual slaves for Japanese soldiers. Several million Koreans were forcibly taken to Japan as laborers during the period.

sshim@yna.co.kr

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August 3, 2017

HWANG Jung-min Wraps NK Action-Drama BLACK VENUS
YOON Jong-bin Directs Latest from Sanai Pictures

by Pierce Conran / KoBiz

After kicking off on January 24th, HWANG Jung-min and his co-stars LEE Sung-min, CHO Jin-woong, PARK Sung-woong and JU Ji-hoon wrapped six months of production on July 25th for director YOON Jong-bin’s fifth film Black Venus. A North Korea-themed action-drama set in the 1990s, the project, which will be produced by hitmaker SANAI Pictures, was previously referred to by its Korean titles Duke or Operation.

HWANG plays a South Korean spy on a mission north across the border, where he must gather intelligence on North Korea’s nuclear weapons plans. His actions inadvertently kick off a skirmish between both nations.

Box office star HWANG, seen in Ode to My Father (2014) and Veteran (2015) among a slew of recent hits, is currently in theaters with RYOO Seung-wan’s The Battleship Island. Both LEE and CHO were seen earlier this year in The Sheriff In Town while JU was last seen in Asura: The City of Madness (2016) both recent SANAI titles. PARK featured in The Tooth and the Nail earlier this summer.

Director YOON, who debuted with the indie film The Unforgiven in 2005, has made a name for himself as a major commercial filmmaker with Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time (2012) and KUNDO: Age of the Rampant (2014).

CJ Entertainment is on board as the main investor and distributor. Producer SANAI Pictures has worked with HWANG several times, on titles such as New World (2013), Man In Love (2014), A Violent Prosecutor (which was produced by YOON, 2016) and Asura: The City of Madness.

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Clip: cjenmmovie

Source: TimeOut

The Battleship Island

TIME OUT SAYS    3 out of 5 stars

Korean cinema’s action maestro Ryoo Seung-wan has gone from strength to strength in recent years (The Berlin File, Veteran), with bigger budgets along the way. Unfortunately, The Battleship Island, his most audacious work yet, buries several strong elements in an overstuffed narrative, fueled by a tad too much nationalist sentiment.

Set on Japanese mining island Hashima (you may recognize it as the villain’s lair from Bond outing Skyfall) during WWII, Korean characters from different backgrounds fight for their survival and eventually plot a daring escape. The setting is mostly drawn from history—though the climax is an invention—but parts are included purely to provoke a reaction, including a horrific flashback to the torture of comfort women.

The film is notable for its superstar wattage (Song Joong-ki and So Ji-sub), yet it’s young actress Kim Su-an who steals the show as the daughter of the bandmaster played by a genial Hwang Jung-min; She’s the only person whose fate we become invested in during a story bogged down by too many characters.

Sublimely shot and designed, and terrifically choreographed by long-time Ryoo collaborator Jung Doo-hong—especially in one tile-crunching bout of bath fisticuffs—The Battleship Island is a technical marvel. It all comes to a close in a rousing climax choke full of striking images, but the film’s narrative machinations scupper the fun, never delivering their intended emotional punch.

Written by Pierce Conran

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Source: Pierce Conran‏ @pierceconran

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August 10, 2017

HWANG Jun-min Joins 100 Million Viewer Club
THE BATTLESHIP ISLAND Star Is 3rd Actor to Pass the Mark

by Pierce Conran / KoBiz

Top star HWANG Jung-min has become the second leading man (and third actor overall) to enter the 100 million viewer club with the release of his latest box office titan The Battleship Island. 

Continuously active on the silver screen since the late 1990s when he appeared in the original, modern Korean hit, 1999’s Swiri, HWANG was a familiar face long before becoming a box office name, appearing in notable roles in films such as KIM Jee-woon’s A Bittersweet Life (2005). 

However, his genial, everyman performances eventually put him on to one of the most successful box office runs of all time in Korea, after appearing in Ode to My Father (14.26 million viewers), Veteran (13.41 million viewers), The Himalayas (7.76 million viewers), A Violent Prosecutor (9.71 million viewers), THE WAILING (6.88 million viewers) and Asura: The City of Madness (2.6 million viewers) prior to The Battleship Island.

HWANG joins beloved supporting actor OH Dal-su, who founded the club during the release of Ode to My Father in early 2015, and SONG Kang-ho, who hit the mark during last year’s The Age of Shadows run during the Chuseok holiday. 

Next for HWANG is a leading role in YOON Jong-bin’s upcoming NK action-thriller Black Venus, which completed principal photography last month. As far as the 100 million club is concerned, HWANG may be joined by his The Battleship Island co-star LEE Gyoung-young before long.

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August 17, 2017

What is The Battleship Island all about?

BY WONG LI ZA Star2.com

Spoiler

The Battleship Island depicts the hardship of Korean labourers who had to mine for coal 1,000m below sea level at Hashima Island during World War II. Photos: GSC Movies

During the press conference in Kuala Lumpur, veteran South Korean actor Hwang Jung Min’s sense of humour was evident.

He playfully lamented how unfair it was that his on-screen daughter (played by Kim Su An, Train To Busan) would reserve the best candies for his co-star Song Joong Ki and not him!

However, her acting skills are no laughing matter, as Hwang had unreserved praise for the 11-year-old’s talent.

Hwang was in KL recently with other A-listers Song Joong Ki and So Ji Sub, accompanied by acclaimed director Ryoo Seung Wan, to talk about their latest historical-based action film.

The Battleship Island is set in 1945 during Japan’s colonial era, when hundreds of Koreans were sent to work as forced labour in a Japanese-run coal mine on Hashima Island. Also known as Battleship Island due to its aerial resemblance to one, Hashima is an abandoned island about 15km off the coast of Nagasaki and the site of Japan’s first major undersea coal exploitation.

The movie centres on smooth-talking band leader Lee Gang Ok, played by Hwang, who is sent to the island with his daughter and band members after being duped by corrupt officials.

Hwang, 46, who won Best Actor in the 2015 Grand Bell Award, is known for hit movies that include The Himalayas, Veteran (currently the 3rd highest grossing film in South Korean cinema’s history) and Ode To My Father.

Song plays Park Moo-young, an elite soldier with the Korean Liberation Army and a US Office of Strategic Services agent, who infiltrates the island to rescue a key independence movement figure.

On the island, Park teams up with Lee and street fighter Choi Chil-sung (played by So) to carry out a daring escape plan to lead all the 400 prisoners on the island to freedom.

Band leader Lee and his daughter So-hee get sent to Hashima Island as forced labour.

According to Korea’s Yonhap News, The Battleship Island is the fastest movie to reach five million tickets sold in South Korea – within eight days of its release – and one of the biggest local releases this year. The movie is set to screen in 155 countries.

Since its release in South Korea on July 27, there has been some criticism, including historical distortion, of how the movie’s description of forced labour details were inaccurate, and how it also seemed to downplay the level of cruelty and injustice shown by the Japanese towards the Koreans during that time.

However, Ryoo defends the film by calling it a “fact-based fiction”, saying it took four years of careful research and shooting to put it together.

At the press conference, Ryoo, 43, said he was curious to see the response of audiences outside of Korea to his latest work.

“I really wonder what foreign audiences’ feedback will be like for our movie. I know that Malaysia has also suffered pain during the Japanese colonial era,” he said, via a translator.

Spoiler

Song Joong Ki plays an elite soldier who infiltrates the island to rescue a key independence movement figure.

The Battleship Island is also Ryoo’s costliest production yet – largely due to the massive set built to recreate the coal mines – with a budget of US$19.5mil (RM82.5mil) according to Korea Herald.

Filming took slightly over six months to complete, with a set two-thirds the size of the actual island built in Chuncheon, 85km east of Seoul, South Korea.

Ryoo was inspired to make the film after seeing an aerial photo of the island in 2015 and becoming curious about how the Koreans lived there.

Being a movie depicting the hardship of labourers who had to mine for coal 1,000m below sea level, the cast and crew had to put in some long gruelling hours.

When asked about this, Ryoo reflectively said, “During filming, we experienced many difficult moments, but whenever we thought of the real victims and the hardship they went through back then, ours was nothing compared to theirs.”

Song, 31, said the movie incorporated many dangerous scenes but praised Ryoo for being experienced and professional, leading to a smooth filming process.

“Since the movie was based on true accounts, I am also touched by the level of detail put into the movie by our director,” said Song, who shot to fame after the 2016 hit drama Descendants Of The Sun.

The beginning of the film sees an intense fighting scene that involves So in the common bathing area (clad in nothing but umm, a loincloth).

Known for movies that include Always and Sophie’s Revenge, So, 39, said he took one and a half months to prepare for that scene.

The Oh My Venus actor also accepted the role of Choi without first reading the script.

“As soon as I knew that the director was Ryoo, I said OK because I have always wanted to work with him,” related So with a smile.

The Battleship Island marks the third time that Hwang has worked with Ryoo (after Veteran and Unjust). The talented artiste, who started his career as a stage actor, shared that one of the key challenges while making the movie involved the escape sequence.

“The escape scene was only about 20 minutes long in the movie but it took about one month to shoot. Maintaining that same energy throughout the scene was a bit difficult,” said the Gallup Korea 2016 Actor of the Year.

However, it was that scene which struck a chord with the actors with its strong message of hope.

Said So, “The movie also ends with a powerful expression that represents pain, fear and hope, and I like that scene the most.”

[rubie]

August 21, 2017

'The Battleship Island' grosses $1 million at U.S. box office

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 20 (Yonhap) -- "The Battleship Island," a Korean film about the dark history of Japan's Hashima Island off the coast of Nagasaki during World War II, has grossed more than US$1 million at the U.S. box office, its distributor said Sunday.

The film reached the milestone on Friday, 15 days after its Aug. 3 opening in American theaters, according to CJ Entertainment America.

"Even in its second week of release, we are getting an enthusiastic response here, with various organizations asking us for information about screenings," the distributor said.

Directed by Ryoo Seung-wan, the movie is one of about a dozen Korean films to surpass the $1 million mark, along with "Ode to My Father," "Assassination" and "Train to Busan."

It has been screened across the North American continent, including in New York, Washington, Toronto and Vancouver.

Posters of "The Battleship Island" (Yonhap)

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Published on August 18, 2017 by K STAR 생방송 스타뉴스

 

 

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August 26, 2017

August Movie Actor Brand Reputation Rankings Revealed

Source: Soompi by DY_Kim 

Spoiler

On August 27, the Korean Business Research Institute announced the August brand reputation rankings for movie actors.

The results are based on the analysis of interaction, media coverage, communication, and community indexes for 165,104,765 pieces of big data on 50 actors from July 25 to August 26. This is a 16.53% rise from the 139,284,258 pieces of big data for the July ranking.

Park Seo Joon took first with a total brand reputation score of 9,716,059. Song Kang Ho placed second with a score of 8,815,009, and Jang Dong Gun followed closely behind with a score of 8,174,818. All three actors star in popular movies that are currently in Korean theaters, with Park Seo Joon in “Midnight Runners,” Song Kang Ho in “Taxi Driver,” and Jang Dong Gun in “V.I.P.”

Check out the top 25 of the ranking below:

1. Park Seo Joon
2. Song Kang Ho
3. Jang Dong Gun
4. Song Joong Ki
5. Kang Ha Neul
6. Gong Yoo
7. Ryu Jun Yeol
8. Kim Myung Min
9. Han Ji Min
10. Lee Jong Suk
11. Lee Jung Hyun
12. Kim Nam Gil
13. Yoo Hae Jin
14. Park Hee Soon
15. Lee Byung Hun
16. Hwang Jung Min
17. So Ji Sub
18. Jun Ji Hyun
19. Kim Soo Hyun
20. Lee Jung Jae
21. Kim Yun Seok
22. Go Soo
23. Han Hyo Joo
24. Yeo Jin Goo
25. Im Siwan

Spoiler

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