Bloodstained ‘Asura’ depicts criminal world with no room for justice

In the ferocious new crime thriller “Asura: The City of Madness,” director Kim Sung-su wanted to depict the “weary lives of powerless villains.”　The film is a raw action flick teeming with blood and subterfuge, and one that director Kim had wanted to make for “a very, very long time,” he told reporters after a press screening Wednesday in northern Seoul.　The 54-year-old filmmaker, known for works like “The Flu” (2013) and “The Restless” (2006), aimed to tell the story of “the countless (sidekick

Sept. 22, 2016

‘The Age of Shadows’ still No. 1 at box office

The recent blockbuster “The Age of Shadows” attracted over 6 million moviegoers in the less than two weeks since it opened here, making it the seventh most-watched film of the year in Korea. 　Over 3.3 million people watched the film in theaters during the Chuseok holiday from Wednesday to Sunday, according to the Korean Film Council on Monday. 　Starring actors Gong Yoo and Song Kang-ho, the historical thriller follows a group of Korean independence fighters as they attempt to take back the count

Sept. 19, 2016

‘Magnificent Seven’ against Trump, says Hawke

SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain (AFP) - US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump might well enjoy “The Magnificent Seven” movie remake, but the film’s characters would join forces to defeat him, actor Ethan Hawke quipped Saturday.“I bet Donald Trump would like the film, but he doesn’t know that what the film is actually about is people gathering together to defeat him,” Hawke told reporters at the San-Sebastian film festival in northern Spain.“I like to say that Peter Sarsgaard plays Donald Trump in

Sept. 18, 2016

Kevin Bacon loves Baconfest invite, is sorry he can't attend

The town has struck out in its attempt to bring home the bacon -- Kevin Bacon, that is.Brattleboro wanted the actor to visit for its third annual Baconfest, a celebration of all things related to the fatty cured pork strips.But he tweeted his regrets Monday, saying in a video that he won't be able to make it to Baconfest because he’s filming in Vancouver. He said he appreciated the “hilarious effort” that went into trying to get him there. The Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce launched a soci

Sept. 13, 2016

Lee Byung-hun recalls filming alongside Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke on ‘Magnificent Seven’

According to actor Lee Byung-hun, his character on the latest rendition of Western flick “The Magnificent Seven” is both “stylish and weighty.” 　While it is not every day that an Asian actor stars as one of the main protagonists in a Hollywood blockbuster, Lee says that he was not too preoccupied with the nature of the role.“I don’t necessary prefer playing a villain or a protagonist,” he said at the press screening for the film, directed by Antoine Fuqua (“Southpaw”), on Monday in southern Seou

Sept. 12, 2016

Hollywood is dead, festivals more needed than ever: Kidman

TORONTO (AFP) -- Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman warned Sunday that Hollywood was facing new challenges in the era of online streaming, and needed festivals more than ever to get films noticed.“I don’t think there is a Hollywood anymore,” the Aussie star told a press conference in Toronto following the world premiere of “Lion,” from director Garth Davis.“We’re all scattered around the world and we make films all around the world and Hollywood is of some bygone era now, which is sad in a way,

Sept. 12, 2016

James Cameron talks ‘Avatar’ sequels, Cirque du Soleil show

The first “Avatar” sequel is still years away from hitting movie theaters, but fans of the blue-hued Na’vi can get their fix at a touring Cirque du Soleil show that James Cameron helped create -- without his having to reveal too much of what is up his cinematic sleeve.Cameron, who plans four sequels starting in 2018, served as a consultant on “Toruk -- The First Flight,” a stadium show that opened in Montreal in November and has since toured North America.The writer and director suggested to the

Sept. 11, 2016

‘Magnificent Seven’ remake kicks off Toronto film fest

TORONTO (AFP) -- Double Oscar-winner Denzel Washington and a motley band of gunslingers opened the Toronto film festival Thursday, blazing trails in a much-anticipated remake of the 1960 Western “The Magnificent Seven.”The film festival, which runs through Sept.18, is the largest in North America and has become a launchpad for Oscar-conscious studios and distributors, attracting hundreds of filmmakers and actors to the red carpet in Canada’s largest city.Nearly 400 feature and short films from 8

Sept. 9, 2016

[Movie review] ‘Sully’ gets lift from Tom Hanks, Clint Eastwood and strong script

Films based on real events and characters have not drummed up much box office business. For example, look at how little interest moviegoers showed in the story about miners trapped underground in “The 33” or boxer Roberto Duran in “Hands of Stone.”The majority of films based on real events are not like “Titanic,” where the sinking of the ship was the backdrop for a love story that lured millions. When audiences know how the story ends, they are hesitant to plop down the price of admission to wat

Sept. 9, 2016

[Box Office] Latest movie releases

The Age of Shadows(Korea)Opened Sept. 7Thriller, action. Directed by Kim Jee-woonA group of independence fighters led by Kim Woo-jin (Gong Yoo) attempt to smuggle bombs into Korea’s capital during the Japanese occupation era when they detect a mole who has infiltrated their organization.The Map Against the World(Korea)Opened Sept. 7Drama. Directed by Kang Woo-suk Cartographer Kim Jeong-ho (Cha Seung-won) dreams of mapping the entire Korean Peninsula and distributing the maps to people for their

Sept. 9, 2016

Portman plays Jackie Kennedy, her ‘most dangerous’ role

VENICE, Italy (AFP) - Natalie Portman said Wednesday that portraying a grief-stricken Jacqueline Kennedy was her “most dangerous” film role, as the piercing bio-drama “Jackie” entered the race for the Venice film festival‘s prestigious Golden Lion.Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larrain’s first English-language feature is an intimate look at the woman who shaped her famous husband‘s legacy, offsetting public images and audio recordings with an exploration of Jackie’s private side.The glossy drama starts

Sept. 8, 2016

Controversy-ridden Busan film fest to open next month as scheduled

Busan International Film Festival, Asia’s largest film fest which has for the past two years been mired in controversy with the Busan Metropolitan Government, is set to take place Oct. 6-15 in Korea’s southeastern port city of Busan.The festival’s organizers announced this year’s lineup and addressed the latest developments in the festival’s fight for autonomy at press conferences in Busan and Seoul on Tuesday. “My main focus was that (BIFF) must open this year, and that we must preserve its ide

Sept. 7, 2016

Brooks to introduce ‘Young Frankenstein’

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- “Young Frankenstein” will come alive in theaters once again on Oct. 5, with a live introduction from writer-director Mel Brooks, who will pay tribute to the classic spoof’s late star Gene Wilder. The intro will be broadcast from the 20th Century Fox Lot in 500 theaters nationwide, according to an announcement by Fathom Events on Tuesday.  In addition to touring the studio lot, where much of the movie was filmed, Brooks is expected reminisce about his friend and collaborator W

Sept. 7, 2016