Theaters to screen “Dong-ju” with English subtitles

Selected theaters around the country will screen “Dong-ju: The Portrait of a Poet” with English-language subtitles, starting Thursday.　The subtitled film will be shown at 12 theaters. In Seoul, it will be shown at Yeongdeungpo Lotte Cinema; Megabox cinemas in Coex, Central, Sinchon and Dongdaemun; and CGV cinemas Yeouido, Yongsan and Sinchon. Elsewhere around the country, it will be shown at CGV Cinema Centum City in Busan and Megabox theaters in Busan, Suwon and Ilsan.　Directed by Lee Joon-ik,

March 22, 2016

Korean filmmakers to boycott BIFF unless autonomy guaranteed

Korean filmmakers will boycott this year’s Busan International Film Festival unless the organizer -- Busan Metropolitan Government -- guarantees its autonomy, a pan-film industry emergency committee announced Monday. 　The emergency committee, formed last year and comprised of local movie producers, directors and screenwriters, requested that the BMG withdraw an injunction filed last Monday to nullify the appointment of 68 new members to the festival’s advisory committee. It further urged the BMG

March 21, 2016

‘Assassination’ might be released in Japan

Last year’s megahit Korean action film “Assassination” might soon hit Japanese screens, an official from the film’s distributor Showbox told local media on Wednesday. 　“It is uncertain whether it will be possible to release the movie in the country (Japan), but we are in talks for an exact release date, aiming for July,” added the official.　July is peak season for the film industry with many moviegoers flocking to theaters then. The movie has proved its immense popularity here, surpassing 12 mil

March 21, 2016

Comedian-turned-director's new movie 'D-War II' due next year

BEIJING (Yonhap) -- Comedian-turned-film director Shim Hyung-rae announced Saturday the production of a sequel to his fantasy movie “D-War” from 2007.　The sequel, “D-War II,” is the first “Hollywood-class” science fiction movie to be produced in China, Shim said at a news conference in Beijing.　Production will begin around June with the movie slated for release worldwide in the summer of 2017, he said. 　With the new movie, Shim said he aims to generate more than 4 billion yuan ($618 million) in

March 20, 2016

Actor Lee Byung-hun wins best actor at Asian Film Awards

Actor Lee Byung-hun won the award for best actor for his performance in “Inside Men” at the 10th Asian Film Awards on Wednesday. 　Lee, who starred as mobster Ahn Sang-goo in the box office hit political thriller, received the prize at the ceremony on March 17 at the Venetian Theater in Macau.　“Inside Men,” which opened to much acclaim in local theaters last November and sold over 9 million tickets, is slated for release in Hong Kong on April 21, according to reports. Actor Lee Byung-hun poses wi

March 18, 2016

[Box Office] Latest movie releases

　Franny　(U.S.)　Opened March 17　　Drama. Directed by Andrew Renzi　A mysterious philanthropist (Richard Gere) begins to show an obsessive interest in a newly married couple (Dakota Fanning and Theo James) and becomes deeply involved in their lives. “Franny,” also titled “The Benefactor,” premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival last April. 　　Risen　(U.S.)　Opened March 17　　Biblical drama. Directed by Kevin Reynolds　When the body of Jesus of Nazareth (Cliff Curtis) goes missing, Pontius Pilate (Peter Fi

March 18, 2016

Upcoming thriller critiques mental hospitalization laws

Soon-to-be released thriller “Come to See Me” revolves around the true-life story of a woman wrongly put into a psychiatric facility.　　Under current law in Korea, a person can be admitted to a mental institution with the consent of two caretakers and the diagnosis of a physician, said film director Lee Cheol-ha at a press conference in Jung-gu, Seoul. 　“I wanted to highlight how there are so many instances of this law being abused,” said the director, whose diverse filmography includes music vid

March 16, 2016

‘Knight of Cups’ is half-empty

Is there a filmmaker more focused on creating eccentric personal tone poems than Terrence Malick? Since his 1970s masterworks “Badlands” and “Days of Heaven,” his focus has been painful paradoxes as faith attempts to adapt itself to the latest challenges of an ever-evolving culture.　“Knight of Cups,” his melancholy, minimalist, perplexing seventh film is, like his recent creations, another case of ethereal navel gazing at the expense of a wider view.　Drawing its title from a tarot card, the film

March 11, 2016

[Box Office] Latest movie releases

Joy　(U.S.)　Opened March 10　Comedy-drama. Directed by David O. Russell　Joy Mangano (Jennifer Lawrence) is a divorced mother of two and clerk for an airline company. Her mother spends all day in bed watching TV while Joy runs the household. One day, Joy decides to pursue her inventing ambitions to become a successful entrepreneur. “Joy” follows her tumultuous journey.　London Has Fallen　(U.S.)　Opened March 10　Action-thriller. Directed by Babak Najafi　Top agent Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) is contem

March 11, 2016

Sequel to ‘My Sassy Girl’ to premiere in China

A sequel to Korean hit film “My Sassy Girl” will be released in Korea and China with a Chinese heroine, local film distributor said on Tuesday. 　Dubbed “My New Sassy Girl,” the rom-com will launch in China on April 22 and in Korea on May 5, according to Korean film distributor Little Big Pictures.　　　The new film stars Korean rom-com star Cha Tae-hyun, who also starred in the original film 15 years ago, and Victoria of K-pop girl group f(x). Directing is Cho Geun-sik. The original “My Sassy Girl”

March 8, 2016