[Movie Review] ‘The Red Turtle’ is a masterpiece

You don’t need words to create poetry. Without spoken dialogue, the Oscar-nominated “The Red Turtle,” a richly imagined French-Belgian animated drama created with the skillful assistance of Japan’s virtuoso anime enterprise Studio Ghibli, tells an emotionally deep, thematically rich story.Kids and families are all but guaranteed to return home from the theater profoundly touched. And even moody souls whose hearts are three sizes too small must confess that animated films this spellbindingly beau

FilmFeb. 17, 2017

[Movie Review] Glutton for punishment? Then see ‘50 Shades Darker’

In all the kinked knots and twists of satin that adorn “Fifty Shades Darker,” none is more worthwhile to uncoil than the tangled absurdities of its central dominator, Christian Grey.He’s a singularly ridiculous cocktail of money, abs and sex toys. “The right term is sadist,” he says in “Fifty Shades Darker,” the second in a planned trilogy based on E.L. James’ best sellers. He buys companies. He flies helicopters. He’s proficient with nipple clamps. He’s like some kind of humorless combination o

FilmFeb. 17, 2017

Hong Sang-soo admits recent film about affair reflects reality at Berlin Film Fest

Director Hong Sang-soo and actress Kim Min-hee attended the Berlin International Film Festival together on Thursday, marking their first public appearance together since reports of their extramarital affair surfaced last June.The two spoke at a press conference that followed the press screening of their latest film “On the Beach at Night Alone,” helmed and penned by Hong. It is the only Korean film competing in the main competition category of the film fest’s 67th edition.“On the Beach at Night

FilmFeb. 17, 2017

Marc Jacobs rewrites runway rules with hip-hop finale

A model walks the runway for the Marc Jacobs collection during New York Fashion Week on Thursday in New York City. (AFP-Yonhap)Marc Jacobs offered a hip-hop grand finale to New York fashion week Thursday, rewriting runway etiquette in a phone-centric, celebrity-obsessed world with the future of traditional catwalk shows under threat.One of America’s most critically acclaimed living designers sent models down a bare wooden catwalk in silence, striding through the middle of a cavernous room devoid

Arts & DesignFeb. 17, 2017

China goes Hollywood in ‘The Great Wall’

Big Hollywood hits commonly reap half or more of their box office overseas, as “Finding Dory” and “Rogue One” have done. Zhang Yimou’s “The Great Wall,” which opens Friday, will test whether that trick works both ways.“The Great Wall,” a mostly English-language film with a Chinese director, crew and cast, stars Matt Damon as a European mercenary who finds himself caught in a battle between a Chinese army of the Song dynasty (960 -1279) and ravenous monsters on the other side of -- you guessed it

PerformanceFeb. 17, 2017

Director Hong Sang-soo attends Berlin film fest with actress Kim Min-hee

Award-winning Korean filmmaker Hong Sang-soo attended the Berlin International Film Festival together with actress Kim Min-hee on Thursday to promote their latest film nominated in the main competition category. Filmmaker Hong Sang-soo (left) and actress Kim Min-hee attend a press conference held at Berlin Internationl Film Festival on Thursday. (Yonhap)It was their first public appearance after media reports of their extramarital relationship emerged last June. Neither of them have officially c

FilmFeb. 16, 2017

‘The Handmaiden’ stays strong in North America

Director Park Chan-wook’s “The Handmaiden” has surpassed $2 million in ticket sales as of Sunday, according to Box Office Mojo, a ticket sales chart operated by IMDB. The film ranked 65th on the Box Office Mojo list, despite opening at just five theaters in the US in October last year. By the fourth week of its run, “The Handmaiden” was being screened at 123 theaters, gaining moderate popularity. “The Handmaiden” (CJ Entertainment)The acclaimed Korean director has previously showcased works in N

FilmFeb. 16, 2017

Kim Yun-jin, Ok Taec-yeon to star in mystery thriller

Hollywood actress Kim Yun-jin is returning to the big screen in Korea with mystery-thriller “House Above Time,” starring alongside Ok Taec-yeon, as he makes his film debut.The film has been confirmed for an April release. It traces the story of Mi-hee, played by Kim, a housewife whose husband is killed and son goes missing. She returns to her home after 25 years in prison.  Poster for “House Above Time” (Peppermint & Company)The film aims to create tension inside the setting of the house.Kim, 43

FilmFeb. 16, 2017

S.M. Entertainment aims to open K-pop school

S.M. Entertainment has announced plans to open an alternative high school called “K-pop International School” in Seoul in September.  The architectural design for K-pop International School (S.M. Entertainment)The agency, known for its high-profile singers and entertainers, said it expects to get approval from authorities in March, paving the way for the launch of the school before a new semester begins here. The school will teach not only the usual subjects such as Korean, English and mathemati

PerformanceFeb. 16, 2017

Risque four-hands piano fires up winter-weary souls

PYEONGCHANG, Gangwon Province -- The PyeongChang Winter Music Festival got off to a rousing start at Alpensia Concert Hall on Wednesday evening with an eclectic program that played on the theme of this year’s festival -- a mix of classical and jazz.Pansori singer Ahn Sook-sun, cellist Chung Myung-wha, who is the co-artistic director of the festival alongside violinist Chung Kyung-hwa, pianist Son Yeol-eum and Jun Kye-youl on the buk, or Korean drum, started the evening with a performance of “Thr

PerformanceFeb. 16, 2017

Amateur artists leap for fame via YouTube

In 2008, a talent manager discovered a Canadian teenager singing cover songs on YouTube and signed him to Raymond Braun Media Group. Then-14-year-old went on to take the world by a storm with mega hits. His name is Justin Drew Bieber.Since Bieber’s rise to superstardom, a flurry of YouTube stars looking to move beyond their 15 minutes of fame have been flocking to the largest video-streaming website in the world. Amateur artists broadcasting their content on YouTube pose in this photo taken Wedn

PerformanceFeb. 16, 2017

Ha Jung-woo debuts as producer in ‘Single Rider’

Ha Jung-woo has been credited as a movie producer for the upcoming film “Single Rider,” expanding the scope of his fame beyond being one of the most influential actors in Korea.It marks the first time the 38-year-old actor has produced a movie, despite having acted in and directed multiple flicks during the course of his career. Ha Jung-woo (Yonhap)“This is the first feature-length flick of the Perfect Storm Film -- which produced the movie -- and as Ha is involved in the company, he came to par

FilmFeb. 16, 2017

Former T-ara member speaks against netizens on ‘bullying controversy’

Ryu Hwa-young, formerly a member of K-pop group T-ara, spoke out on Thursday against netizens posting malicious comments about her and her twin sister concerning the bullying controversy in 2012.The 23-year-old singer-turned-actress was rumored to have been bullied by her bandmates, which include being forced to perform despite an injury. She appeared in a local TV show last Wednesday with her twin sister to discuss the incident. Ryu Hwa-young (Ryu Hwa-young’s instagram page)But a recent interne

PerformanceFeb. 16, 2017

BigBang's new album tops Japanese music chart

South Korean boy band BigBang has cruised to the top of Japan's Oricon chart with its new album "Made," its agency said Thursday.The band rose to the top of Oricon's Daily Albums Chart on Thursday, a day after the Japanese release of its latest album, YG Entertainment said. (YG Entertainment)The album consist of three new songs -- "Fxxk It," "Last Dance" and "Girlfriend" -- and 11 repackaged songs from its previous "Made Series" album, including "Bang Bang Bang," "Loser" and "If You."Earlier thi

Feb. 16, 2017

Isabelle Huppert: ‘I’m not an artist, I’m the canvas’

She’s made more than 100 films over 45 years, not to mention her frequent stage work, and is recognized as not only one of the best actresses to come out of France, but as one of the leading actresses in the world.And yet, Isabelle Huppert won’t call herself an artist.“No,” she said in an interview, quickly brushing off the title. “I don’t think actors are artists. We use that word too much. I am an interpreter -- someone’s universe is being expressed through me.”OK, so are you the paintbrush?Sh

FilmFeb. 16, 2017

Lee Young-ae's 'Saimdang' rating plummets to single digit

SBS TV's high budget series "Saimdang, Memoir of Colors" saw its ratings drop below 10 percent despite efforts to salvage the much-hyped Lee Young-ae show, data showed Thursday.Episode seven of "Saimdang," which aired Wednesday night, recorded 9.7 percent nationwide viewership, according to Nielsen Korea. KBS 2TV's "Good Manager," aired during the same time slot, stood at 16.1 percent and MBC TV's "Missing 9" picked up 4 percent. Poster for "Saimdang, Memoir of Colors" (SBS)The 30-episode fantas

TelevisionFeb. 16, 2017

‘New Trial’ tops box office on release day

The crime drama film “New Trial,” released Wednesday, is quickly rising to the top of the box office. It topped the box office on the day of its release, according to the Korean Film Council.Directed by Kim Tae-yun and starring Jung Woo and Kang Ha-neul, the film traces a man who is framed and imprisoned for 10 years after witnessing a murder. Kang plays the framed man, while Jung plays a lawyer who is intent on uncovering the truth.“New Trial” is based on the true story of the murder of a taxi

FilmFeb. 16, 2017

B.A.P releases image for new album

Boyband B.A.P has released an image for the upcoming release of its new album.The band, slated to release the album in March, revealed the image via its official social media accounts. It showed a puzzle reminiscent of an old painting, with all but one piece set in place.New concept image for B.A.P (TS Entertainment)B.A.P (TS Entertainment)B.A.P is scheduled to kick off its world tour with a three-day concert at the Blue Square Samsung Electronics Hall from March 24-26. By Yoon Min-sik(minsikyoo

PerformanceFeb. 15, 2017