'La La Land' is perfect marriage of style, story

In relationships, and in music, it’s all about the timing. So Damien Chazelle’s “La La Land” is the perfect marriage of style and story -- a good old fashioned musical about the ups and downs of one love story that struggles to stay in tempo. It’s also a sealed-with-a-kiss love letter to the city where it’s set, and the unabashed dreamers who inhabit the environs of Los Angeles.Written and directed by “Whiplash” wunderkind filmmaker Chazelle, “La La Land” is a meticulously crafted and choreograp

FilmDec. 9, 2016

‘Pandora’ tops local box office

Director Park Jung-woo’s latest thriller “Pandora” is off to a strong start. Since opening in local theaters on Wednesday, the film has attracted a total of nearly 338,000 moviegoers, topping the local box office, according to recent data from the Korean Film Council on Friday morning. Currently trailing behind “Pandora” is the romantic musical “La La Land” by US director Damien Chazelle with nearly 69,000 viewers, and local comedy blockbuster “My Annoying Brother” with over 48,000 people.  The

FilmDec. 9, 2016

Actress Sofia Vergara sued on behalf of own embryos

CHICAGO (AFP) -- TV star Sofia Vergara is facing a bizarre lawsuit brought on behalf of two frozen embryos she created with an ex-boyfriend, the subject of a year-long legal battle. The embryos are listed as plaintiffs “Emma” and “Isabella” in papers filed with a Louisiana court, the New York Post reported. Louisiana is a pro-life state where embryos are given rights as people. The surprise filing by a trust apparently established for the embryos comes as Vergara’s ex-fiancee Nick Loeb this week

TelevisionDec. 9, 2016

Katie Holmes probes mom-daughter bond in directorial debut

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Katie Holmes is a single mom raising a daughter and that's the subject of her feature film directorial debut, “All We Had.”The 37-year-old actress stars alongside 18-year-old Stefania Owen in the film about a mother who finds herself living in a car with her daughter and looking for a new start. Holmes said it’s a specific story but one she can relate to.“I think the universal theme of that love you have for your daughter and that love you have for your mother is so powerful.

FilmDec. 9, 2016

18th-century Buddhist painting returned to home soil

As a lover of Korean art and an avid collector, American Robert Mattielli often visited Mary’s Alley, known for its hole-in-the-wall antique shops, in Insa-dong, Seoul during his more than 30 years in Korea. On one of his regular visits to the neighborhood in the early 1970s, he discovered and purchased a Buddhist painting with notable wear and tear for a mere $10.  Unknowingly, Mattielli -- director of the arts and crafts program for the US military in Korea at the time -- had become the owner

PerformanceDec. 8, 2016

BTS’ ‘Wings’ ranked among 20 best albums of 2016 by Fuse

This has been a big year for boy band Bangtan Boys, otherwise known as BTS. After topping music charts at home and abroad upon its release in October, the group’s latest studio album “Wings” was chosen as among the top 20 albums of the year by Fuse -- a US-based music media outlet -- this week. Noting that the album encompasses “the seven different personalities that make up BTS,” Fuse said the boy band is a rare find in K-pop.  “BTS has garnered a wholly passionate fan base around the world, th

PerformanceDec. 8, 2016

Gaumont to helm US remake of 'Train to Busan'

This year’s hit Korean zombie flick “Train to Busan” is heading to Hollywood. The French studio Gaumont -- responsible for feature productions such as “Point Blank,” “The Fifth Element” and “Leon: The Professional” -- will be remaking the film into English, according to the local production and distribution company Next Entertainment World on Thursday.“We hope this opportunity will get Korean films more attention and become familiar with audiences all over the world,” said Kim Woo-taek, the CEO

FilmDec. 8, 2016

‘The Underdog’ musical explores social hierarchies

In a dog-eat-dog world, “The Underdog” musical employs the life of everyday canines to expose the dark, seedy underbelly of the social class systems of humankind.Rife with political and socioeconomic references, “The Underdog” opened its curtains in the theater district of Daehangno last week as part of Uniplex’s three-year anniversary celebration. The musical follows the life of a Korean Jindo dog, an indigenous breed known for its hunting skills and loyalty, named Jin. Mistreated, abused by hi

PerformanceDec. 8, 2016

Shop for unique Christmas items at Herald Design Online Market

Herald Design, a subsidiary of The Korea Herald’s publisher Herald Corp., is holding an online Christmas market until Dec. 18. In collaboration with a number of craft brands, the online market is offering an eclectic collection of items perfect for gifting to family, friends and acquaintances. There’s an array of items available for the holiday season, from soy candles, mobile phone cases, planners and stickers to interior ornaments, pajamas and more, all handmade by artisanal designers.  Many o

Arts & DesignDec. 8, 2016

Math explored in new London gallery by Zaha Hadid

LONDON (AFP) - London's Science Museum called upon the genius of late architect Zaha Hadid for the “huge challenge” of bringing life to its new gallery dedicated to mathematics, which opens on Thursday.The Winton Gallery highlights the importance of mathematics through 120 objects, including a cash dispenser, the Enigma encryption machine, a model of a supertanker, a revolutionary aircraft and a 19th-century instrument for measuring tides.Located in a regenerated old wing of the famous museum, t

PerformanceDec. 8, 2016

Chailly avenges Puccini with original Butterfly

MILAN (AP) -- Principal conductor Riccardo Chailly has avenged Giacomo Puccini’s memory with a successful staging of the composer's original version of “Madama Butterfly” for La Scala's gala season-opener Wednesday, 112 year after its hotly contested world premiere on the same stage. The VIP crowd showered Chailly, lead singers, orchestra and chorus with a quarter hour of applause and a cascade of roses for the bold choice of reviving the opera for the first time at La Scala as Puccini originall

PerformanceDec. 8, 2016

Climate change battle heats up for Australian winemakers

ORANGE, Australia (AFP) -- When an unprecedented heatwave hit South Australia state, home to the world-renowned Barossa Valley winemaking region, viticulturists fretted about the impact on their grapes.The crops survived, but the extreme weather last year was a reminder of how climate change can hurt a resurgent AU$2 billion (US$1.5 billion) export industry boosted by Chinese thirst for Australian premium red wine.“I've been here for 20 years ... and we’re seeing more severity in the weather,” w

FoodDec. 8, 2016

Carolina Herrera says it's an honor to dress Melania Trump

NEW YORK (AP) - While a few designers have made news saying they would not dress the future first lady, Carolina Herrera said she'd be honored if Melania Trump wore one of her outfits.The famed designer spoke about Trump on the red carpet before she got an honor of her own Monday night from the Women’s Leadership Council at Lincoln Center.Who might dress the wife of President-elect Donald Trump has become an issue after designers Sophie Theallet and Tom Ford, who have both dressed first lady Mic

Arts & DesignDec. 8, 2016

Mexico's ancient beverage pulque makes a comeback

SANTIAGO CUAUTLALPAN, Mexico (AP) - Mexicans have been brewing pulque from the juice of cactus-like maguey plants for centuries, but the viscous, beer-like beverage fell out of favor starting in the 1970s as pulque got a bad reputation as a peasant's drink. The number of producers, consumers and bars known as "pulquerias" dwindled.But now, the nutrient-rich drink is making a comeback among a new generation of Mexicans. The Aztecs of Mexico’s central highlands revered pulque, pronounced “POOL-kay

FoodDec. 8, 2016

Top translators awarded for promoting Korean literature overseas

The Literature Translation Institute of Korea has announced the winners of translation awards that recognize their role in the promotion of Korean literature worldwide. The awards, which will be given out during a ceremony Thursday, include the LTI Korea Translation Awards, the LTI Award for Aspiring Translators and the LTI Korea Outstanding Service Awards.The translation awards went to Deborah Smith, an English translator and joint winner of this year’s Man Booker International Prize, for her w

BooksDec. 7, 2016

Eating together at ‘Midnight Diner’

The latest eating-related trends in Korea highlight the value of “alone” time. More people are now dining out or drinking solo than ever before and “meokbang” videos -- watching others eat -- continue to attract a huge audience. In the drama series “Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories,” however, a motley crew of night owls -- on-duty policemen, transvestites, bar waitresses, businessmen working overtime -- flock to a tiny restaurant that only opens after dark, to eat together. Located in a hidden corn

TelevisionDec. 7, 2016