The Korea Herald

‘James Bond’ returns to Istanbul on 50th anniversary

ISTANBUL (AFP) ― James Bond has once again returned to Istanbul for “Skyfall,” the latest film in the longest running series that this year celebrates half a century of the legendary spy in action, its director said Sunday.“We wanted to be here because it is the most magnificent place, it is an incredible city. ... I can’t get enough of it,” said director Sam Mendes, who spoke to the press in Istanbul after more than 100 days of shooting “Skyfall” in Turkey.The 23rd film in the Bond series was s

April 30, 2012

Box Office

Opening May 3Drama. Directed by Moon Hyeon-seong. It is 1991, and South Korean ping pong star Hyun Jung-hwa (Ha Ji-won) is excited about the upcoming World Championships, until she gets surprising news -- she’ll be teamed up with North Korean player Lee Boon-hee (Bae Doo-na) for the women’s doubles. The film is based on the true story of Korea’s first-ever unified Korean ping pong team. Hyun and Lee duo won the gold medal against all odds at the 1991 World Table Tennis Championships.Korea (As On

April 27, 2012

Cusack’s Poe makes ‘The Raven’ never dull

The image of Edgar Allan Poe passed down to us is that of a dour, pale and morbid drunkard, a poet haunted by lovers who died in his arms. But he was also a playful wordsmith, an eviscerating critic, a man fascinated by cryptography (codes) and fond of dissections.That’s the Poe of “The Raven,” a fanciful, witty and suspenseful revision of Poe’s last days that is more entertaining than it has any right to be.Poe wore his hair a little long, and a mustache. But John Cusack gives America’s first g

April 27, 2012

Cusack’s Poe makes ‘The Raven’ never dull

Director’s youth culture obsession continues in ‘contemporary retro’ film

MINNEAPOLIS ― There’s an unmistakable personal stamp to the romantic comedies of Whit Stillman. His esthetic as a writer and director reflects his Harvard Club roots, with a yearning for the sophisticated golden age of the East Coast American establishment. Cocktails are quaffed, urbane characters fence with four-syllable words, young men dress for parties in white tie, and debutantes fret over such One Percent problems as “a severe escort shortage.”Stillman was retro before “Mad Men” made it co

April 26, 2012

‘The King of Pigs’ becomes first Korean animation featured at Cannes

Five Korean films to be presented at upcoming film festival“The King of Pigs,” director Yeun Sang-ho’s feature debut from last year, has been invited to the upcoming Cannes film festival ― becoming the first Korean animated film to be featured at the event. The organizers of the film festival on Tuesday unveiled the full line-up of the Director’s Fortnight sidebar. Yeun’s film “The King of Pigs,” and director Hur Jin-ho’s latest work “Dangerous Liaisons” were among the 21 films selected for the

April 26, 2012

‘The King of Pigs’ becomes first Korean animation featured at Cannes

Lee shares his Hollywood experience

Hallyu star returns as Storm Shadow in ‘G.I. Joe 2’Shooting his second Hollywood film required a number of things of actor Lee Byung-hun, including mastering every script line in a perfect American accent and getting used to the extremely strict shooting schedule.The hallyu megastar is returning as the famously heroic “Storm Shadow” character in his upcoming sci-fi film “G.I. Joe: Retaliation,” which is a sequel to the 2009 picture “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.”“In Korea, things can be flexibl

April 25, 2012

Filmmaker acquires rights to ‘Chinglish’

NEW YORK (AP) ― Plans are in the works to bring David Henry Hwang’s “Chinglish’’ to a movie screen.The filmmaker Justin Lin, who has directed several of the “Fast and Furious’’ movies, announced Tuesday that he has acquired film rights to Hwang’s play about an East-meets-West collision.“Chinglish’’ tells the story of a businessman from Ohio who goes to China to expand his business but struggles to be understood and falls in love with a Chinese woman.Hwang, who won a Tony Award as writer of “M. B

April 25, 2012

Eclectic line-up revealed for Cannes sidebar

PARIS (AFP) ― The 2012 line-up of the Director’s Fortnight sidebar to the annual Cannes Film Festival was unveiled on Tuesday in Paris, an eclectic selection of 21 films of all formats.“This line-up is above all one of enjoyment, and it’s made so that the spectator goes from laughing to tears from one film to another and within the same film,” said the sidebar’s new artistic director Edouard Waintrop.“Deep emotion, that’s what drew me to cinema,” added the former newspaper cinema critic at the P

April 25, 2012

Eclectic line-up revealed for Cannes sidebar

‘The Raven’ reinvents life and work of Edgar Allan Poe as a horror fable

MIAMI ― This much we know is true: Edgar Allan Poe died on Oct. 7, 1849, at the age of 40, after having been found delirious and incoherent in the streets of Baltimore. His exact whereabouts in the few days previous remain unknown. His death has been attributed to everything from alcoholism to rabies to various medical conditions.“The Raven,” the sleek and brooding thriller, offers a different and improbable ― but much less mundane ― solution to the mystery. The movie, which incorporates several

April 25, 2012

‘The Raven’ reinvents life and work of Edgar Allan Poe as a horror fable

Lohan to play Liz Taylor in biopic

NEW YORK (AFP) ― Troubled actress Lindsay Lohan will portray Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor in a television movie about her romance with actor Richard Burton, Lifetime said Monday.Production will begin in June in Los Angeles for the movie “Liz and Dick,” Lifetime said in a statement.“We are thrilled Lindsay will portray beloved Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor,” Rob Sharenow, executive vice president of Lifetime, said in a statement.“She is one of the rare actresses who possesses the talent,

April 24, 2012

Sex addiction film too hot for Singapore

SINGAPORE (AFP) ― An acclaimed film on sex addiction will not be shown in Singapore after censors ordered a threesome between the main character and two women to be shortened, its local distributor said Monday.“Shame” by British director Steve McQueen was submitted to censors of the Media Development Authority, who rated it suitable only for viewers 21 and above on condition the scene was edited.“They did not request for the entire scene to be cut, just that they felt the scene was too long,” sa

April 24, 2012

Zac Efron brings ‘Lucky One’ to London

LONDON (AP) ― Hollywood heartthrob Zac Efron says it was luck that propelled him to super-stardom, not his acting ability.Speaking at the European premiere of his new romantic drama “The Lucky One,’’ the 24-year-old actor said that he’s had an easy ride so far, but it’s now time to prove he’s a legitimate thespian.“I got into this in a very lucky way, but it wasn’t the actor way, you know what I mean?’’ he said. “I would call what I had very much a lucky break.“So, my goal over the past few year

April 24, 2012

Annual movie bash in culture-rich Jeonju

The 13th Jeonju International Film Fest features 184 films from 42 countriesFamous for its delish bibimbap and beautiful hanok village, Jeonju is making its name as one of the most popular tourist spots in southern Korea.The capital of North Jeolla Province hopes to attract movie buffs from around the world this week ― on top of its regular visitors ― by throwing its famous annual movie bash.A total of 184 films from 42 countries will be featured during the upcoming 13th Jeonju International Fil

April 23, 2012

Annual movie bash in culture-rich Jeonju

One day, many cameras: film shot worldwide debuts

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - “One Day on Earth” -- touted as the first film with footage from every country taken on the same day -- was to be screened for the first time Sunday around the world, including at the UN.Organizers say the documentary, to be shown at the United Nations General Assembly and in more than 160 countries, addresses issues such as cultural diversity, environmental waste, extreme poverty and the status of women.The 105-minute film includes content from both novice and professiona

April 23, 2012

‘Hunger Games’ fever makes archery cool for kids

NEW YORK (AP) ― In schools and backyards, for their birthdays and out with their dads, kids are gaga for archery four weeks into the box office run of “The Hunger Games” and less than 100 days before the London Olympics.“All of a sudden sales of bows have, like, tripled,” said Paul Haines, a salesman at the Ramsey Outdoor store in Paramus, New Jersey.A manager there made a sign for the hunting department: “Quality bows for serious archers and girls who saw the movie,” he said.Archery ranges arou

April 22, 2012

‘Hunger Games’ fever makes archery cool for kids

Box Office

Opening May 17Drama. Comedy. Directed by Min Kyu-dong. Doo-hyeon (Lee Sun-kyun) is unhappily married to Jeong-in (Im Soo-jung), his beautiful yet ill-tempered wife. After enduring Jeong-in’s unpredictable and eccentric behavior, Doo-hyun desperately seeks ways to divorce her. The timid husband is too afraid to bring up the topic of separation to his bad-tempered wife. Instead, he decides to hire a womanizer to romance her -- hoping she will ask for a divorce once she falls in love with the man.E

April 20, 2012

Sparks don’t fly with ‘The Lucky One’

“The Lucky One” is a like a corny old silent movie to which someone made the mistake of adding sound. Based on one of Nicholas Sparks’ overripe romance novels, it’s about a stoic, sensitive man who falls for a beautiful, but wounded woman, who must escape from the iron grip of her violent ex-husband.For good measure, the movie also includes some hambone Hallmark-style narration about destiny and luck and choosing the right path in life, along with a few sun-baked shots of dogs romping through th

April 20, 2012

Arthouse meets glamor in Cannes festival line-up

PARIS (AFP) ― Ken Loach and David Cronenberg will headline the race for Cannes gold at the Riviera festival next month, after organisers Thursday unveiled a line-up studded with stars from Nicole Kidman to Brad Pitt.With a month to go until the May 16-27 event, organizers named the 22 films in the race for the Palme d’Or at the world cinema showcase, 17 in its new talent section, Un Certain Regard and 15 more set for a red-carpet slot out of competition.Canada’s Cronenberg was tipped for “Cosmop

April 20, 2012

Im and Hong’s films in running for Cannes

Films by two Korean directors will compete for a title at the Cannes Festival, the organizer announced. The organizer revealed Thursday the full official selection of films that will screen in Cannes from May 16-27, including Im Sang-soo’s film “Taste of Money,” and Hong Sang-soo’s “In Another Country.”Cannes’ general delegate Thierry Fremaux selected the 22 films from among some 1,700 submissions from the biggest names in film right down to first-time directors from North America, Europe, Asia,

April 19, 2012

Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline play ‘Romeo and Juliet’

NEW YORK (AP) ― Kevin Kline will play Romeo opposite Meryl Streep’s Juliet for a one-night-only staged reading of Shakespeare’s play in Central Park. The Public Theater said Tuesday that Streep and Kline will combine on June 18 to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of its Shakespeare in the Park series. Daniel Sullivan will direct. To make that night even more giddy, Al Pacino will be honored for his body of work with the Public, which includes his playing Shylock in “The Merchant of Venice” in

April 19, 2012

Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline play ‘Romeo and Juliet’