Ha Ji-wonActress Ha Ji-won was appointed the honorary ambassador of the nongovernment organization Operation Smile on Tuesday.Following the appointment ceremony held at the office of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion agency, a partner of Operation Smile, the actress became the second Asian honorary ambassador of the children’s charity after Hong Kong movie star Jackie Chan. Ha is the first Asian female to represent the group. The action blockbuster queen will begin her promotional mission Nov

Nov. 12, 2014

WASHINGTON (AP) ― Everybody knows Bill Cosby’s humor, but the comedian has kept his artistic tastes close at home. Now the extensive art collection of Bill and Camille Cosby is opening to the public for the first time Sunday at the Smithsonian Institution, revealing some works by African-American artists that until now have been seen only by family and friends. The exhibition not only celebrates African-American heritage, it also provides a glimpse at works the Cosbys have enjoyed intimately, wi

Nov. 11, 2014

Two distinctive and artistic films that have won acclaim at recent international film festivals will appear in local cinemas in November.The compelling independent movies are grabbing viewers’ time and attention in the blockbuster-filled market thanks to their thought-provoking and heartwarming plots. ‘Set Me Free’The first on the list is “Set Me Free,” a coming-of-age film centering on a 17-year-old boy who grew up in a group home, neglected by his irresponsible parents and by society. Director

Nov. 10, 2014

The much-anticipated space epic “Interstellar” nabbed the top spot on Korea’s weekend box office chart in its opening week. Christopher Nolan’s film garnered more than 1.25 million viewers in the four days after its release on Thursday and dominated 1,310 of the 2,599 screens nationwide, according to the state-run Korea Film Council. The film, starring Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway, is an end-of-days sci-fi flick, which takes place at a time when humanity is facing extinction as a result

Nov. 9, 2014

Judging strictly from the title, it might seem safe to assume that “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies,” the concluding installment in Peter Jackson’s latest trilogy of films based on the writing of J.R.R. Tolkien, would arrive as something of a war film, Middle-earth style.But Jackson insists that the blockbuster fantasy, which opens in theaters Dec. 17, is far more interested in charting the descent of proud dwarf Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) into a crippling madness than it is

Nov. 7, 2014

Cart (Korea)Opening Nov. 13Drama. Directed by Boo Ji-youngThe film depicts temporary employees of a mega supermarket chain who are facing unfair layoffs. They are ordinary women, including Sun-hee (Yum Jeong-ah), a mother of two, Hye-mi (Moon Jung-hee), a single mother, and Soon-rae (Kim Young-ae), a janitor. When their jobs are at risk, the three and junior manager Dong-jun (Kim Gang-woo) gather with other employees to fight against the company’s exploitative practices.Interstellar (U.S.)Opened

Nov. 7, 2014

In her new movie “Cart,” director Boo Ji-young depicts temporary employees of a mega supermarket chain who are facing unfair layoffs. They are ordinary women, including a mother of two kids, a single mom and a college grad. They gather to fight against the company’s exploitative practices.It takes guts for a novice director to tackle a touchy and complex current issue like that of temp workers. The number of such workers here exceeded 6 million this year, an all-time high. The English poster for

Nov. 6, 2014

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Shirley MacLaine pulled no punches when asked about her take on life at age 80.“Well, I’m a lot closer to dying,” she said, with a chuckle.Maybe so, but there still seems to be a lot of life left for both the vibrant woman and her Oscar-winning career.MacLaine is among the very few octogenarians who still get name-above-the-title billing, which she shares with 84-year-old co-star Christopher Plummer in the big-screen dramedy “Elsa & Fred,” the upcoming American remake of the 2

Nov. 2, 2014

Interstellar (U.S.)Opening Nov. 6Sci-Fi. Directed by Christopher NolanChristopher Nolan’s new end-of-the-world space epic takes place at a time when humanity is facing extinction as a result of drought and famine. A mysterious wormhole is discovered in space that will enable mankind to survive. A group of explorers, which includes Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) and Amelia Brand (Anne Hathaway), is given the mission of saving humankind by finding an inhabitable new planet. The Truth Shall Not Sink

Oct. 31, 2014

Since his breakthrough with the backward-running “Memento,” Christopher Nolan has made a plaything of time. In “Interstellar,” he slips into its very fabric, shaping its flows and exploding its particles. It’s an absurd endeavor. And it’s one of the most sublime movies of the decade. As our chief large-canvas illusionist, Nolan’s kaleidoscope puzzles have often dazzled more than they have moved, prizing brilliant, hocus-pocus architecture over emotional interiors. But a celestial warmth shines t

Oct. 31, 2014

LOS ANGELES (AFP) ― “The Big Bang Theory” actress Kaley Cuoco was joined by fellow cast members from the hit TV sitcom as she received a star on Hollywood’s storied Walk of Fame.Jim Parsons (Sheldon), Johnny Galecki (Leonard), Simon Helberg (Howard) and Kunal Nayyar (Raj), as well as the show’s cocreator Chuck Lorre, were on hand for the star-unveiling ceremony on Tinseltown’s famous sidewalk.“This cast has changed my life in many ways,” said the 28-year-old, who plays Penny in the series, which

Oct. 30, 2014

Dongchimi is a cold water-based kimchi made with white radish. Its tangy, refreshing liquid and crunchy radishes help with digestion, and it’s a perfect match for meat or starch-heavy foods such as rice cakes or sweet potatoes. For first-timers, this clear watery kimchi may look a bit insipid. Yet this humble side dish has been a part of Korean cuisine for as long as anyone can remember. Actress Kim Min-jung, with a prolific career spanning five decades in theater and TV, is in a sense like dong

Oct. 30, 2014

Im Kwon-taekMaster director Im Kwon-taek will receive a lifetime achievement award during this year’s Singapore International Film Festival, organizers said Wednesday.The South Korean was chosen for his lifelong contribution to the development of film industries, they said.Debuting with “Farewell Duman River” in 1962, Im has produced more than 100 films over the past 50 years with many exploring Korean themes in an artistic way. He received the Best Director Award at the Cannes Film Festival 200

Oct. 29, 2014

Nanci Ryder has been Renee Zellweger’s publicist for 20 years. She stayed in the waiting room when the actress had dental surgery and has walked her down the red carpet on Oscar night.“She’s been a mentor, a big sister ― a little sister,” Zellweger says. “She’s my favorite bad influence.”So when Ryder, 62, confided that she’d been having vocal trouble ― hoarseness, slurring her words ― Zellweger didn’t waver. After seven months of MRIs, PET scans and doctors visits proved inconclusive, the two f

Oct. 27, 2014