Box office

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (U.S.)Opening Dec. 13Adventure. Fantasy. Directed by Peter Jackson. Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), a curious young hobbit, is visited by wizard Gandalf the Grey (Ian Mckellen) and offered a quest to reclaim the lost dwarf kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Bilbo finds himself in the company of 13 dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage). The journey leads them from Bilbo’s home through the elven stronghold of Ri

Dec. 14, 2012

Bill Murray talks about playing ‘the guy on the dime’

TORONTO ― Accepting Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln is no stretch. His filmography is thick with serious work, and the actor drips gravitas and immersive artistic commitment befitting a towering historical role. But few knew what to expect when “Hyde Park on Hudson” producer-director Roger Michell (“Notting Hill”) cast Bill Murray as Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Murray’s resume is stronger on off-handed, wiseguy roles than drama. Yet Michell insisted that no other actor could lead his film. Mi

Dec. 14, 2012

Hong Sang-soo to compete at Berlin Film Festival

Korean director Hong Sang-soo will premiere his latest film, “Nobody’s Daughter Haewon,” at the 63rd Berlinale to take place Feb. 7-17 next year, competing for the Golden Bear prize. “Nobody’s Daughter Haewon,” which is regarded as the follow-up to his Cannes entry, “In Another Country,” is included in next year’s preliminary lineup, according to Fine Cut, the international distributor of the film.The film shows a few days in the life of a university student Haewon after being left behind by her

Dec. 14, 2012

Lee wins ‘Star of the Year’ at CineAsia Awards in H.K.

Movie star Lee Byung-hun was selected as the “Star of the Year” at the 2012 CineAsia Awards in Hong Kong on Thursday. Lee is the second Korean to receive the award following pop star Rain in 2007. “I love challenging new things and have tried them without fear. But at the same time I am scared and alone. When I first knocked on Hollywood’s door I felt like I was left in a big sea without knowing what to do or where to go,” Lee said at the awards ceremony. The actor added that the award will give

Dec. 14, 2012

Lohan's probation is revoked

A Los Angeles judge revoked actress Lindsay Lohan's probation Wednesday and scheduled a hearing to determine whether she should go to jail. TMZ said Lohan, 26, could spend as many as 245 days behind bars for allegedly violating her probation in a necklace-theft case by lying to police and driving recklessly when she crashed her Porsche into a truck last June. The hearing is scheduled for Jan. 15.Lohan is a former child star whose once-bright career in films such as "The Parent Trap" and "Mean Gi

Dec. 13, 2012

James Bond not gentleman, but troublemaker

James Bond was not a gentleman but actually a troublemaker in the original novel, the writer of the next official "007" novel has claimed. In Ian Fleming’s "007" series, Bond is originally depicted as an uncontrollable man who drinks several bottles of whiskey in one night. William Boyd, the British writer penning the next story in the series, said that the Bond in Fleming’s novel was more of an interesting, realistic figure than a perfect and upright person, the Radio Times reported.“Bond’s fat

Dec. 13, 2012

Box office

Love 911 (Korea)Opening Dec. 19Romance. Drama. Directed by Jeong Gi-hoon. Kang-il (Go Soo) is an unhappy firefighter who lost his wife to an illness. He suffers from utter guilt for choosing to stay with a fire victim instead of going to his wife who was desperately calling him for help and died before he arrived. Losing his wife only made him work harder, always putting himself out there to save lives in danger. His nothing-to-lose attitude and strong work ethic intrigue Mi-soo (Han Hyo-joo), a

Dec. 7, 2012

With ‘Hobbit,’ Jackson tackles another J.R.R. Tolkien challenge

Peter Jackson has a message for J.R.R. Tolkien: I can’t quit you.Nearly a decade after the New Zealand filmmaker concluded his massively successful “Lord of the Rings” trilogy ― a string of films that grossed more than $2.9 billion worldwide, capped with a best picture Oscar for 2003’s “The Return of the King” ― Jackson is set to launch yet another three-film series from the fantasy novelist’s other famous tome, “The Hobbit.”Unlike his previous trifecta, Jackson wasn’t the original filmmaker beh

Dec. 7, 2012

‘Love 911’ heartwarming and touching

After enjoying diverse genres of movies throughout the year, Korea’s film scene is seeing the arrival of a feel-good romance just in time for Christmas.Titled “Love 911,” the film features top stars Go Soo (“The Front Line”) and Han Hyo-joo (“Always,” “Gwanghae: Who Became the King”) as a firefighter and a medical doctor who both struggle to come to terms with their past. While the film pivots around the romance between Go and Han, the movie also manages to successfully deal with some serious ma

Dec. 4, 2012

Anne Hathaway trained hard for ‘Dark Knight Rises’ role

Hollywood actress Anne Hathaway admits she underwent a “complete transformation” to play the villainous vixen Selina Kyle in the big-screen blockbuster “The Dark Knight Rises.”Starring Christian Bale as Batman and Tom Hardy as his nemesis Bane, the movie is the third and final installment in director Christopher Nolan‘s Dark Knight trilogy. Returning for the final movie are “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight” cast veterans Gary Oldman, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman. Best known for her roles

Dec. 4, 2012

Kate Winslet appears in a documentary for legalizing drug use

Hollywood star Kate Winslet unknowingly played a role in a documentary endorsing the legalization of drug use. The video was produced by an organization in which her boyfriend and his uncle were involved, and Winslet asked the organization to remove the documentary from public view.The documentary, posted on YouTube, is associated with the “Sundog Pictures” film company owned by Winslet’s boyfriend, Ned Rocknroll and with his uncle’s “Virgin Unite” foundation. This short movie argues for the dec

Dec. 3, 2012

‘Pieta’ wins top prize at Blue Dragon Awards

Director Kim Ki-duk’s Venice-winning film “Pieta” won the top prize at the 33rd Blue Dragon Film Awards on Friday.“I wanted to talk about capitalism and its problems with this movie,” said Kim after receiving the Best Picture prize during the ceremony held at the Sejong Center in Seoul. “I hope to see the kind of society that values people first, not money.”The film, a bleak morality tale about a cruel debt collector running into a woman who claims to be his mother, won the top prize at Venice I

Dec. 2, 2012

Box Office

My P.S. Partner (Korea)Opening Dec. 6Comedy. Drama. Romance. Directed by Byun Sang-hyun. Yoon-jung (Kim A-joong) is a beautiful young woman with only one unbearable flaw -- she craves attention. To get her boyfriend’s attention, she calls him for phone sex. But she accidentally calls a complete stranger. Meanwhile, Hyun-seung (Ji-sung), an amateur in relationships, hears that his ex-girlfriend has a new boyfriend and becomes consumed by jealousy. Suddenly, he gets an odd call from a mysterious w

Nov. 30, 2012

Helen Mirren shows us the genius behind the genius: Mrs. Hitchcock

It’s been 30 years since Alfred Hitchcock died, and more than 50 years since his most famous film ― “Psycho.” So while his name, reputation and image remain in the public consciousness, generations have grown up not knowing much more than that about him.And if casual film fans don’t know Sir Alfred well, they certainly know even less about his wife, Alma Reville. His one-time boss, his editor, confidante and sounding board, Alma steps into the spotlight in the glamorous form of Dame Helen Mirren

Nov. 30, 2012

Mikhail Pletnev to lead new KBS orchestra today

Friday evening will be a historical moment for the 56-year-old KBS Symphony Orchestra as it will stage its very first performance as an incorporated foundation at Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul. The transition was made in September. Russian conductor, Mikhail Pletnev, has a heavy load on his shoulders as he is expected to lead the orchestra, which suffered an internal dispute over the former chief conductor Hahm Shin-ik and other members for nearly a year. The orchestra management hinted th

Nov. 29, 2012