[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

A Day(Korea)Opened June 15Drama. Directed by Jo Sun-hoJoon-young (Kim Myung-min) is a world-famous doctor who volunteers to work in Third World countries. His busy schedule forces him to neglect his 12-year-old daughter Eun-jung (Jo Eun-hyung), who becomes angry and refuses to answer his calls. It is Eun-jung’s birthday the day Joon-young returns to Seoul after treating patients abroad. After a frenzied press conference at the airport, he rushes over to celebrate his daughter’s birthday when he

June 16, 2017

Bucheon Film Fest to spotlight Jeon Do-yeon, screen ‘Okja’ and more

 The Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, Asia’s largest genre film event, is set to broaden its horizon this year with more programmers and strong films.“We’ve been striving to present diverse programs,” said the festival’s chairman Jung Ji-young, who was appointed to the position last year. “This year especially, a large number of staff and programmers have made great efforts to present new types of events.” 　 A press conference for the Bucheon International Film Festival takes place

June 16, 2017

Ji Chang-wook, Kim So-hyun to dub Japanese film ‘Your Name’

Actors Ji Chang-wook and Kim So-hyun will dub the 2016 animated film “Your Name.”Ji will immerse himself in the role of Taki, a high school boy living in Tokyo who aspires to become an architect. Meanwhile, Kim will play Mitsuha, a high school girl who lives in a rural town and wishes to move to Tokyo.  Ji Chang-wook (left) and Kim So-hyun (Glorious Entertainment/Sidus HQ)“Your Name” tells the story of the two high school teenagers who have never met, but get their bodies swapped and fall in lov

June 16, 2017

Megabox follows CGV, Lotte Cinema in not screening 'Okja'

Megabox has decided not to show internationally acclaimed South Korean director Bong Joon-ho's Netflix film "Okja" following the country's two other major cinema chains, movie industry sources said Friday."We reached the conclusion after much discussion that it's hard to accept a plan to simultaneously release the movie on Netflix and in movie theaters," a Megabox official said. "We informed Next Entertainment World of our final position," it said, referring to the movie's local distributor. (NE

June 16, 2017

Hong Sang-soo’s ‘Day After’ to hold press screening, but no conference

Hong Sang-soo’s “The Day After” will be screened to local press on June 22, but the film’s director and cast will not attend the screening, according to production company Jeonwonsa on Thursday.　“No press conference will take place subsequent to the screening,” the company said in a statement.　The screening will take place at Lotte Cinema near Konkuk University Station in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul.　Jeonwonsa gave no reason for the lack of a press conference. 　 A still from “The Day After” (Jeonwonsa)Th

June 15, 2017

Bong Joon-ho speaks up on ‘Okja’ controversy

Director Bong Joon-ho opened up on the controversy that has been surrounding his film “Okja” and its backer Netflix’s decision to release it simultaneously in theaters and online in Korea, at a press conference in Seoul on Wednesday.　The director assumed responsibility for the kerfuffle in Korea. “I think (this situation) has arisen from my cinematic ambition. Netflix hasn’t tried to push through with theatrical releases (abroad) but Korea is a unique case.“That is because of me. While filming w

June 14, 2017

[Herald Review] ‘Okja,’ a tale with a lot of heart and hurt

Bong Joon-ho’s “Okja” is a delightful coming-of-age story that centers on the warmth between living beings. But the way its little heroine Mija, a free spirit with a big heart, comes to terms with the world is perhaps more brutal and realistic than any crime-ridden thriller.The film begins as the head of a multinational food and research conglomerate, Lucy Mirando, played by Tilda Swinton, announces the discovery of stunning super pigs in the wilderness of Chile.Some 20 of these amazing creature

June 13, 2017

‘Warriors of the Dawn’ to open in North America

“Warriors of the Dawn,” led by actors Lee Jung-jae and Yeo Jin-goo, will hit North American theaters Friday, according to the film’s distributor 20th Century Fox Korea. Fox will be screening the film in some 30 theaters in North America. 　 “Warriors of the Dawn” (20th Century Fox Korea)The film, which hit local theaters on May 31, was presold to the Philippines, Taiwan, New Zealand and Australia at the 70th Cannes Film Market in May. 　“Warriors” is the fifth Korean-language period film to be pro

June 13, 2017

‘Okja’ gets first screening in Korea

Bong Joon-ho’s latest film “Okja,” which has been receiving international attention both for its unique story and the controversy surrounding its backer Netflix, was screened to the press Monday for the first time in Seoul.The film centers on the relationship between Mija, a country girl living in the mountains and played by 13-year-old Ahn Seo-hyun, and Okja, a super pig who boasts remarkable physical capabilities, intelligence and gentleness.Mirando, a multinational food research corporation h

June 12, 2017

Hong Sang-soo’s ‘Day After’ to hit Korean theaters in July

Hong Sang-soo’s latest film “The Day After,” which competed at the Cannes Film Festival in May, is set to hit local theaters on July 6, the film’s producer Jeonwonsa announced Monday.　Hong’s 21st film, the black-and-white dramedy stars Kim Min-hee, Jung Jae-young, Cho Yun-hee in a story about a married publishing company employee and the aftermath of his affair.　 Kim Min-hee stars in “The Day After.” (Jeonwonsa)It is Hong’s fourth film to be invited to the competition category at Cannes, followi

June 12, 2017

Tilda Swinton lands in Korea

Actress Tilda Swinton was spotted entering the country at Incheon Airport on Monday morning.Dressed comfortably in a beige cap and navy frock, Swinton was accompanied by her husband, German visual artist Sandro Kopp.  Tilda Swinton lands at Incheon Airport on Monday morning. (Herald Pop) Tilda Swinton lands at Incheon Airport on Monday morning. (Herald Pop)Swinton, along with other cast members of the upcoming film “Okja,” will participate in various promotional events for the film during her st

June 12, 2017

Film about Korea’s last princess to open in Japan

A Korean period drama film tracing the life of the Korean empire‘s last princess, Deokhye, will be released in Japan on June 24, Lotte Entertainment said Friday. Son Ye-jin stars in “The Last Princess.” (Lotte Entertainment)“It is very rare for a film set during the Japanese occupation of Korea to be released in Japan,” according to an official at Lotte Entertainment, the film’s local distributor. “It will be shown in some 20 to 30 theaters throughout Japan.” Titled “The Last Princess,” the film

June 9, 2017

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

The Villainess(Korea)Opened June 8Action. Directed by Jung Byung-gilAfter losing her father as a child, Sook-hee (Kim Ok-vin) is raised and trained to be a ruthless killer by a group of lethal gangsters. She becomes pregnant after marrying gangster boss and mentor Joong-sang (Shin Ha-kyun), only to be captured and recruited by the Korea Intelligence Agency to work as a spy. Sook-hee undergoes yet another fierce training process to be reborn with a new identity, and a desire for vengeance. Wonder

June 9, 2017

[Movie Review] ‘My Cousin Rachel’ is juicy, gothic melodrama

Director Roger Michell has tackled many different genres in his long career, including romantic comedies, dramas and thrillers. “My Cousin Rachel” offers the chance to sink his teeth into a juicy, gothic romantic melodrama, based on a 1951 novel by Daphne Du Maurier. The story was adapted to the silver screen in 1952 with Olivia de Havilland and Richard Burton in the lead roles, and now Rachel Weisz and Sam Claflin tackle the story of passion and paranoia. In this tale, impetuous, distrustful ma

June 9, 2017

[Movie Review] ‘The Mummy’ can’t quite wrap things up

There is so much riding on “The Mummy,” far more than its skeletal shoulders should have to withstand. The studio behind the summer horror-adventure flick, Universal, is kicking off its “Dark Universe,” with the film, its answer to the Marvel or DC cinematic universes. So they’re dusting off the familiar names that have graced cinemas for nearly a century now, like “Bride of Frankenstein” and “Creature from the Black Lagoon.” Those, and other monsters, were popularized in the 1930s with the Val

June 9, 2017

Time-loop film ‘A Day’ repeats same accident in different ways

The upcoming mystery drama “A Day” is about people who wake up to find themselves locked in what seems to be an eternal time loop.“It’s a painful day that you hope will end but never ends,” said director Jo Sun-ho (“Killer Toon,” 2013) at the film’s press screening in Seoul Wednesday.“It’s a day where you have to watch your loved one die over and over again, where someone has to kill over and over again.”The film has been invited to screen at the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival, set

June 8, 2017

‘Battleship Island’ sold to 113 countries

The upcoming historical film “The Battleship Island” starring Song Joong-ki has been sold to 113 countries, its distributor CJ Entertainment said Thursday.The film has been sold to North American countries as well as France, Italy, Russia, Turkey, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand, among others, following its promotion at the European Film Market in February. “(The film) is a war film, prison film and escape film,” said Cyril Burkel, acquisitions executive at French distributor Metropolit

June 8, 2017

‘Okja’ stars Tilda Swinton, Steven Yeun to visit Korea despite Netflix controversy

The cast of “Okja” is coming to Korea next week despite the controversy surrounding its theatrical release in Korea.　Hollywood actors Tilda Swinton, Steven Yeun, Giancarlo Esposito and Daniel Henshall will be present at the red carpet event for “Okja” at Seoul’s Yeongdeungpo Times Square mall Tuesday at 7 p.m., Netflix announced Tuesday. 　The film’s Korean cast members Ahn Seo-hyun, Byun Hee-bong and Choi Woo-sik will also attend the event.　Swinton, Yeun, Esposito, Ahn and Byun will participate

June 6, 2017

Bucheon Film Fest to spotlight actress Jeon Do-yeon

This year‘s Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival will feature a special exhibition focusing on the works of actress Jeon Do-yeon, BIFAN announced Monday.　“The exhibition will screen the major works from Jeon Do-yeon’s 20 years of acting onscreen. It will feature a press conference, a discussion with viewers, an exhibition of posters and stills from her films, and a booklet of Jeon‘s acting career,” said BIFAN in a statement. 　 Poster for Jeon Do-yeon’s special exhibition at BIFAN (BIFAN

June 5, 2017

Future of ‘Okja’ uncertain in Korea

The future of Bong Joon-ho’s much-anticipated Netflix-backed fantasy flick “Okja” has become murky in Korea, as the local cinema industry begins to mirror the conflict between online streaming and theatrical screenings that took center stage in Cannes last month. Last Friday, Korea’s largest cinema chain CGV announced it would not show “Okja” in its theaters unless Netflix agreed to postpone online streaming until after the film’s theatrical debut. Other major cinema chains, Lotte Cinema and Meg

June 5, 2017