Korea’s angry young men and women in Jeonju cinema competition

The Korean competition at the 19th Jeonju International Film Festival has taken a youthful turn. According to festival organizers, much of the focus of the 10 Korean films competing this year is on the “anger and deprivation of young people,” even as Korean independent cinema itself can be seen evolving and maturing.What you won’t find in this year’s local competition are the dysfunctional -- but still happy, or at least together -- families of previous years. The spotlight has shifted to damage

April 30, 2018

Jeonju International Film Festival to open this week

The 19th annual Jeonju International Film Festival will commence on Thursday showcasing Korea’s largest collection of art-house films from across the world.It will kick off with the screening of “Yakiniku Dragon” directed by Korean-Japanese director Chong Wishing. The film, about a Korea-Japanese family running a small bulgogi (Korean barbecue) joint in Osaka, depicts the hardship and life of ethnic Koreans living in the country. “Yakiniku Dragon” (JIFF)The opening and closing ceremony will be h

April 29, 2018

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Avengers: Infinity War(US)Opened April 25Action, Adventure, FantasyDirected by Anthony Russo, Joe Russo Thanos (Josh Brolin) wants collect all of the Infinity Stones to set what he believes is the perfect balance of the universe, by wiping out half of its population. It is up to The Avenger and their superhero allies to stop him in the deadliest showdown of all time. Dangal (India) Opened April 25Action, Biography, DramaDirected by Nitesh Tiwari Mahavir Singh (Aamir Khan), an ex-wrestler, is for

April 27, 2018

‘Avengers 3’ translator under fire for alleged mistranslation

A Korean translator for “Avengers: Infinity War,” a Marvel superhero flick that has been conquering the Korean box office, has come under fire for the movie’s alleged mistranslations. The controversy surrounding Park Ji-hoon, who is well known for having translated other Marvel series such as “Captain America: The Winter Solider,” “Ant-Man” and “Avengers: Age of Wultron,” escalated Wednesday as netizens flooded social media with complaints claiming that the movie’s Korean subtitle featured sever

April 27, 2018

[Herald Review] ‘Infinity War,’ a gift for loyal Marvel fans

This is it. For 10 years, fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe waited for the heroes to battle Thanos -- the greatest supervillain in the comic book-based superhero franchise. The result? Awesome, but maybe not for those who haven’t been following the MCU.“Avengers: Infinity War” kicks off where things were left off at the end of “Thor: Ragnarok,” when Thanos and his goons came face to face with Thor, Loki, Hulk and a group of Asguardian refugees. I have to stop there because even talking about

April 25, 2018

Lee Sung-kyung to feature as detective in ‘Girl Cops’

Lee Sung-kyung will take the role of a detective in the upcoming film “Girl Cops” (working title).In the comedy-investigative film, Lee co-stars with veteran actress Ra Mi-ran. Taking on the roles of a rookie and a seasoned detective, respectively, the two demoted detectives find themselves accidentally caught up in a major case.  Lee Sung-kyung (YG Entertainment)Rookie director Jung Da-won is to lead the production. He won accolades for “Garak Market Revolution” in 2016, a comedic depiction of

April 24, 2018

‘Burning’ a different kind of mystery: director

The film genre of mystery drama by definition places some of its elements under cover, and that was the tone the people behind “Burning” sought to achieve.“It’s a mysterious movie,” said Lee Chang-dong, master auteur of Korean cinema known best for his award-winning 2010 film “Poetry,” at the promotional press conference for the upcoming film. “We could categorize it under the mystery genre, but it’s not just about that. The mystery could be expanded to a mystery about the world that we live in,

April 24, 2018

'Rampage' wins second weekend in South Korea

The Hollywood sci-fi action flick "Rampage" ruled the South Korean box office for the second consecutive weekend, data showed Monday.Dwayne Johnson's arcade game-inspired "Rampage" sold 363,703 tickets from Friday to Sunday, bringing its domestic total to 1.26 million, according to the real-time based box office tally from the Korean Film Council.A new documentary film on a tragic 2014 ferry sinking jumped four spots to No. 2 in its second weekend, adding 108,961 to its cumulative figure of 385,

April 23, 2018

Another ‘Black Panther’ statue destroyed in Busan

Following the vandalism of a “Black Panther” sculpture at Gwangbok-ro in March, another statue of the Black Panther superhero in Busan near Gwangalli Beach was found toppled over with its head damaged. The Walt Disney Co. had initially sent a pair of Black Panther sculptures to be displayed in Busan, one in Gwangbok-ro and one along Gwangalli Beach, to commemorate the first time for Marvel Studios to shoot at the southern coastal city of Korea. A “Black Panther” statue is seen vandalized at Gwan

April 23, 2018

Things to look out for in ‘Avengers: Infinity War’

Ever since “Iron Man” in 2008 launched the grand adventure that is the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the movie franchise has galloped toward the final show-down between the MCU’s biggest superheroes and the “Mad Titan Thanos.”With the “Avengers: Infinity War” expected to be the culmination of 10 years, 18 movies and numerous tie-in TV products, here are some of the tidbits to consider before viewing the film.(Walt Disneay Company Korea)Who is Thanos? Supervillian Thanos is easily one of the stronge

April 20, 2018

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Intensions(Korea)Opened April 12Documentary Directed by Kim Ji-yeongFour years have passed since the Sewol ferry sank on April 16, 2014, leaving 304 dead or missing. A documentary team tracks down and analyze records from the day of the sinking -- including the ship’s AIS record -- to come up with their own answer to why the ship went down.Rampage(US)Opened April 12Action, Sci-Fi, AdventureDirected by Brad PeytonPrimatologist Davis Okoye (Dwayne Johnson) shares an unshakable bond with silverback

April 20, 2018

Kim Joo-hyuk’s energetic performance to be a factor in ‘Believer’

It has been half a year since Kim Joo-hyuk passed away in a car crash, but the Korean actor’s character acting has left a lasting impression via his filmography.“Believer,” directed by Lee Hae-young, is a crime action film that will give the audience one of the last -- and supposedly the most impressive -- glimpse of his talents.“He is the most heated character, and it is impossible to know what his boiling point is. He makes the others nervous as he is impossible to predict,” said director Lee

April 20, 2018

[Herald Review] Putting perspective on reality through ‘Claire’s Camera’

A camera is a curious thing. One may think he or she is making a copy of reality, but it is in fact a modified version of it. A photograph may show a happy couple, but they could be smiling to cover their animosity toward each other. It is only through a person’s perspective that a photograph takes meaning.“Claire’s Camera,” directed by Hong Sang-soo, is a film emblematic of the Korean auteur’s style, conjuring up a vague air of mystery for what is captured through the titular character’s lens.

April 19, 2018

Funeral held for late film icon Choi Eun-hee

The funeral for Choi Eun-hee, the late South Korean actress who was once kidnapped by North Korea to create propaganda films before escaping, was held on Thursday and attended by her family and close friends.Choi, a South Korean film icon of the 60s and 70s, died on Monday while receiving kidney dialysis treatment at a hospital in Seoul. She was 92. A portrait of late actress Choi Eun-hee at her funeral procession at the Catholic University of Korea`s St. Mary`s Hospital in Seoul on Thursday. (Y

April 19, 2018

Legendary actress Choi Eun-hee dies aged 91

Legendary actress Choi Eun-hee, one of Korea’s leading classic film stars, died at the age of 91 Monday.According to local media reports, Choi passed away Monday afternoon when she went to hospital for kidney dialysis. She had been suffering from a kidney condition for years. Choi was widely known for being a doyenne of the Korean cinema in the 60s and 70s, but her life off the screen has been far more tumultuous and dramatic than a movie, including an abduction by North Korean agents, reunion w

April 17, 2018

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

What a Man Wants(Korea)Opened April 5ComedyDirected by Lee Byoung-heonLegendary playboy Seok-geun (Lee Sung-min) introduces Bongsu (Shin Ha-kyun), who is married to his younger sister Mi-yeong (Song Ji-hyo) to a world of womanizing.Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum(Korea)Opened March 28Horror, MysteryDirected by Jun Bum-shik Ha-jun (Wi Ha-jun) who runs a YouTube channel that deals with the supernatural, leads a team of youngsters to the Gonjiam asylum and the mysterious room No. 402, which is supposed to

April 13, 2018

Korean films ‘Burning,’ ‘The Spy Gone North’ to screen at Cannes

One of the most recognized film festivals worldwide, Cannes Film Festival announced its official selection list for this year Thursday, including two Korean films.Director Lee Chang-dong’s “Burning” has been invited to the festival’s main competition category, going up against 17 other films. The film features Yoo Ah-in and Hollywood actor Steven Yeun as the main leads. “Burning” (CGV Arthouse)The thriller, an adaptation of Japanese writer Haruki Murakami’s short story “Barn Burning,” revolves a

April 13, 2018

Sewol resurfaces on screen in documentary

A documentary film on the Sewol ferry tragedy of 2014 opened in local theaters Thursday, with the creators tracking down what they say is the real reason behind one of the worst maritime disasters in Korea’s history.“Intention” was directed by Kim Ji-yeong and produced by journalist Kim Eo-jun. It analyzes the data of the ship’s automatic identification system, and comes up with what they claim is the real reason the cruise ferry sank on April 16, 2014. Moviegoers attend the premiere of “Intenti

April 12, 2018

'Avengers' cast excited over ‘Infinity Wars’

To say “Avengers: Infinity Wars” is the most anticipated superhero film of the 2018 would be an understatement: Ever since the highest-grossing film franchise of all time launched in 2008 with the iconic “Iron Man,” the 18 movies, numerous tie-in TV series and comic books have been building up for the final show-down between the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s mightiest heroes and the “Mad Titan Thanos.”“It’s a huge privilege to be part of this ensemble. It is quite astonishing, to mark the 10-year

April 12, 2018

Choi Soo-young to star in novel-based film

Actress and singer Choi Soo-young has been cast in a film based on a novel by Japanese novelist Yoshimoto Banana, which started filming in Japan on April 1.According to Zoa Films, Choi will play the protagonist Yumi and her co-star Tanaka Shunsuke will play another main character Nishiyama in the upcoming film “Memories of a Dead End.” Choi Soo-young (Zoa Films)Yoshimoto, one of the most popular Japanese writers in Korea, is well-known for works such as “Lizard” and “Kitchen” -- her debut work w

April 11, 2018