Motherhood lets Keri Russell reinvent herself

Keri Russell’s “comeback year” has the feel of a reinvention, a re-branding of the dainty young lovely who burst on the scene with “Felicity” back in the last century. But as different as her flinty mom in the new film “Dark Skies” might seem, as dangerous and “out there” as her Born Again Bolshevik sleeper spy is in TV’s “The Americans,” she refuses to label her return to public view a career makeover.“The great think about disappearing is that people forget about you a little bit,” Russell say

Feb. 22, 2013

Rape case against Park takes new turn

Rape allegations against hallyu actor Park Si-hoo took a new turn Friday as police sent the alleged rape victim’s blood sample for a drug test. The move is interpreted as a sign that police are searching for possible traces of drugs in the woman who claimed to have been raped by Park last Friday.The Seoul Seobu Police Station sent the woman’s hair, urine and blood samples to the National Forensic Service to see if she had been drugged or was simply drunk at the time of the incident.Last Friday,

Feb. 22, 2013

Making of and becoming ‘Stoker’

Following the successful press premiere of famed local director Park Chan-wook’s Hollywood debut “Stoker,” the film’s leading actress Mia Wasikowska made a meaningful first visit to Park’s home country.“It’s something we talked about since our first meeting,” the Australian actress said during a press conference promoting the film in Seoul on Thursday. “Director Park told me when the film is finally made and being released, I should come to Korea. And I always said I’d love to. So it’s exciting

Feb. 21, 2013

TV families show class divide

The popular terms “eomchinddal” and “eomchina” have become a syndrome in the last few years, indicating the “perfect people who have it all” by the Korean standard. Literally translated as “my mother’s friend’s daughter (or son),” they refer not only to a son or a daughter-in-law, but also to the ideal child: An eomchinddal is good looking, a graduate of a top Korean or U.S. college, holds a high-paying job, and on top of everything else, is also popular. Some well-known real-life eomchinddal in

Feb. 20, 2013

Hong blurs dream and reality in ‘Nobody’s Daughter Haewon’

Memories and dreams undoubtedly have been famed director Hong Sang-soo’s favorite subjects in his work. His latest film “Nobody’s Daughter Haewon,” unveiled to the press Tuesday, turned out to be no exception in regards to its subject matter. In many ways, the movie, which deals with a young woman’s troubled relationship with her married teacher, is a typical Hong Sang-soo film; it again includes the pathetic male artist who gives ridiculous post break-up rhetoric; boasts Hong’s signature repeti

Feb. 20, 2013

Arnold is back

After taking a nearly decade-long break from cinema, Arnold Schwarzenegger is making a comeback to the local silver screen in an action flick directed by Korean director Kim Jee-woon.“You always as an actor try to choose a project that you think could be popular not only in America but in all over the world,” said the famed Austrian-American actor during a press conference promoting his film “The Last Stand” in Seoul on Wednesday. “You want a story that is understood by everybody. I think ‘The L

Feb. 20, 2013

Jackie Chan: ‘I’m an actor first, action star second’

Most filmgoers in the world would agree that Hong Kong actor Jackie Chan is multi-talented. He knows how to sing, direct and write film scripts on top of being a stunt performer.His latest film, “Chinese Zodiac,” will convince anyone with doubts about Chan’s abilities. It’s an action film about looted Chinese artifacts, written, co-produced, directed by and starring Chan, which has grossed over $135 million at the Chinese box office since last year. “It took me seven years to make this film,” sa

Feb. 19, 2013

Bae Doo-na and Jim Sturgess rumored to be in a relationship

Rumors have been circulating that Korean actress Bae Doo-na is currently involved in a romantic relationship with her “Cloud Atlas” Hollywood film co-star Jim Sturgess. Photos of the two where they were spotted walking together arm in arm in Venice Beach, California a couple weeks ago have surfaced online. Bae and Sturgess first met during the filming of the 2012 futuristic sci-fi flick where the two had played lovers in the film and shared a steamy on-screen romance, with Sturgess playing the r

Feb. 19, 2013

Titanic II to be built in China

A Chinese shipyard will build an 885-foot-long ship to be named Titanic II -- a replica of the liner that sank in 1912, a spokesman said.The project, which will take the state-owned CSC Jinling Shipyard Co Ltd in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, three years to complete, is financed by Australian billionaire Clive Palmer, China Daily reported.The 173-foot tall Titanic II will make its maiden voyage from England to the United States in 2016 with 900 crew members and 2,400 passengers, officials said.“The

Feb. 19, 2013

Hallyu star Park Si-hoo accused of rape

Park Si-hoo, a well-known hallyu star, has been accused of allegedly raping a 22-year-old woman. According to the Seoul Seobu Police Station, the woman, who is reported to be an aspiring actress, formally lodged a complaint with the police last Friday, reportedly accusing Park of sexually assaulting her on the same day when they were drinking together.Police said Park will be summoned soon for further investigation.Park issued a public statement on Tuesday and admitted that he did have a drink w

Feb. 18, 2013

‘An Ethics Lesson’ delves into the theme of evil

Many would expect to see the good guy and the bad guy ― or the innocent victim and the killer ― in a murder flick, but writer-director Park Myung-rang’s original feature debut breaks all the rules: it is only about the bad guys, all unspeakably bad, with their own excuses and problems.Titled “An Ethics Lesson,” the film deals with the murder of a college student in her apartment. While being an engaging drama about murder, the film also presents an original analysis on anger, violence and ethics

Feb. 18, 2013

Box office

The New WorldOpening Feb. 21Drama. Crime. Thriller. Directed by Park Hoon-jung. Police officer Ja-sung (Lee Jung-jae) goes undercover to infiltrate Gold Moon, the biggest crime organization in Korea. He poses as a loyal member in an attempt to investigate the group under the command of his superior Kang, head of the police department (Choi Min-sik). After spending eight years in the mob, Ja-sung becomes the right-hand man to the gang’s second-in-command, Jung Chung (Hwang Jeong-min). When the Go

Feb. 15, 2013

Josh Duhamel settles into a beach-book tempo for ‘Safe Haven’

There’s a tempting change of life/ change of pace subtext in the books and the movies made from the books of Nicholas Sparks. Things move slower, take on a gentler “beach novel” tempo. And that can be appealing, even to a Hollywood star married to a pop star.“You know, I think about that, from time to time,” says Josh Duhamel, star of “Transformers” movies and a string of romantic comedies, husband to Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas. “What would it be like, to just chuck everything for a while? I

Feb. 15, 2013

Actress recalls being abused, urge action against exploitation

Hollywood actress Thandie Newton revealed on Thursday her personal experience of being sexually abused as a teen, and urged people to take actions against violence against women.Newton, a 40-year-old British native, said in an interview with CNN that as a young actress, she was “objectified to the extremes” through the things she was expected to in auditions.She told of an incident that took place when she was 18. Newton had gone back for a second audition for a part in a movie when the director

Feb. 15, 2013