Number of moviegoers in S. Korea exceeds 220m in 2019

The aggregate number of moviegoers in South Korea set a new annual record in 2019, surpassing 220 million, industry data showed Sunday.Cinemas across the nation drew around 225 million people between Jan. 1 and Dec. 28, according to the ticket sales tally system of the Korean Film Council. The previous record was set in 2017 with 220 million moviegoers. The number of moviegoers in South Korea first broke the 200 million mark in 2013.This year, five films screened here attracted more than 10 mill

Dec. 29, 2019

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Ashfall(Korea)Opened Dec. 19Drama, ActionDirected by Lee Hae-jun, Kim Byeong-seoPaektusan, the highest mountain on the Korean Peninsula and a dormant volcano, comes out of its slumber and undergoes the biggest eruption in recorded history. South Korean operative Capt. Jo In-chang (Ha Jung-woo) and North Korean spy Lee Jun-pyeong (Lee Byung-hun) are sent on a covert operation to save the peninsula.Cats(US)Opened Dec. 24Comedy, Drama, Family Directed by Tom HooperA tribe of cats called the Jellicl

Dec. 26, 2019

[Herald Interview] Han Suk-kyu discusses finding the man within the great monarch

“Forbidden Dream” is a period piece about King Sejong of Joseon and his inventor Jang Yeong-sil that focuses on the personal relationship between the two that share a dream.Han Suk-kyu, playing King Sejong for the second time in his career, said he approached the role by looking at how he was brought up.“I thought a lot about how his mother would have been, because parents have immense influence over how someone turns out,” Han said during a joint interview in Seoul on Mo

Dec. 23, 2019

Same-sex kiss cut from Star Wars Singapore release: reports

SINGAPORE (AFP) -- A brief kiss between two women in the new "Star Wars" movie was cut from the version released in Singapore, local media said."The Rise of Skywalker", the conclusion to the nine "Star Wars" films that stars Daisy Ridley, was released in the Asian city-state on Thursday.The film contains a brief scene where two minor female characters share a kiss -- but the moment is omitted in the version screened in Singapore, according to Yahoo Lifestyle SEA. Th

Dec. 22, 2019

Director, actor of Cannes-winning 'Parasite' awarded cultural medal

Director Bong Joon-ho and actor Song Kang-ho of Cannes-winning film "Parasite" were awarded national cultural medals for their contributions to the promotion of the Korean film industry, the South Korean government said Thursday.The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that it gave the Eungwan Order of Cultural Merit, the second highest class of the South Korean cultural decoration, to Bong and the fourth-highest Okgwan medal to Song during a ceremony held at the National Theat

Dec. 19, 2019

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Frozen 2(US)Opened Nov. 27Animation, Adventure, Comedy Directed by Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee Anna (Kristen Bell), Elsa (Idina Menzel), Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), Olaf (Josh Gad) and Sven leave Arendelle to travel to an ancient forest in an enchanted land. They set out to find the origin of Elsa’s powers in order to save their kingdom. Jumanji: The Next Level(US)Opened Dec. 11Action, Adventure, Comedy Directed by Jake Kasdan In “Jumanji: The Next Level,” the gang is back but

Dec. 19, 2019

[Herald Review] Korea finally has quality disaster film in ‘Ashfall’

South Korean cinema has always been strong on drama, but it has never really managed to produce a decent big-budget disaster film. “Exit” earlier this year was a pleasant surprise, but it was more of an action-comedy hybrid than a disaster film.“Ashfall” is not a masterpiece by any standard, but directors Lee Hae-jun and Kim Byeong-seo managed to create a decent disaster film that is up to standard in every way, from good acting and character-building to a solid storyline

Dec. 19, 2019

‘Beasts Clawing at Straws’ to get premiere at Film Festival Rotterdam

Korean film “Beasts Clawing at Straws” has been invited to International Film Festival Rotterdam to screen early next year, marking its world premiere at the film festival. The film is one of 10 films to have its world premiere at the film festival, as it also competes for the top honor of the film festival, the Tiger Award, according to IFFR.  The annual film festival, which is scheduled to for Jan. 23-Feb. 2, focuses on recent works by talented new filmmakers and unveils a lin

Dec. 19, 2019

[Herald Review] ‘Forbidden Dream’ tells of beautiful friendship between two dreamers

Oscar Wilde once said, “A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.” These words echo through the story of King Sejong of Joseon and his trusted inventor Jang Yeong-sil, who aspired to that which was beyond the realm of their reality, and believed in their dreams despite what the world said.Director Hur Jin-ho’s “Forbidden Dream” is a period piece about the two great men and the b

Dec. 18, 2019

‘Parasite’ short-listed for best international film Oscar

Director Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite” has been short-listed for the Oscar for best international feature film, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Monday.The Palme d’Or-winning black comedy has now advanced to the next round of voting in the category -- formerly known as foreign language film -- to compete with nine other films: the “The Painted Bird” by Vaclav Marhoul from the Czech Republic, “Truth and Justice” by Tanel Toom fr

Dec. 17, 2019

'Parasite' wins four awards from Chicago Film Critics Association

South Korea's black comedy film "Parasite" bagged four trophies, including best picture from the Chicago Film Critics Association, continuing its award-winning rally in the United States in the runup to the Oscar ceremony early next year.According to the announcement by the CFCA released Saturday (US time), "Parasite," directed by Bong Joon-ho, won best picture, best foreign language film, best director and best original screenplay."Little Women" by Greta Gerwig als

Dec. 16, 2019

[Herald Review] ‘Start-up,’ a loveable disappointment that fails to take off

[Honestly, Choi Jeong-yeol’s “Start-up” is a film that I would’ve loved to like. The film had such loveable characters and felt so likeable, yet both the narrative and comedy kept falling short.Perhaps the best way to describe it is that it is a poor-man’s version of “Exit,” a 2019 action comedy which blended just a hint of drama with three tablespoons of suspense, two cups of laughter, awesome characters and a whole bunch of creative settings to conjure

Dec. 15, 2019

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Frozen 2(US)Opened Nov. 27Animation, Adventure, Comedy Directed by Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee Anna (Kristen Bell), Elsa (Idina Menzel), Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), Olaf (Josh Gad) and Sven leave Arendelle to travel to an ancient forest in an enchanted land. They set out to find the origin of Elsa’s powers in order to save their kingdom. Jumanji: The Next Level(US)Opened Dec. 11Action, Adventure, Comedy Directed by Jake Kasdan In Jumanji: The Next Level, the gang is back but the game has

Dec. 12, 2019

‘The Man Standing Next’ a film about final weeks leading to dictator’s death

Former President Park Chung-hee, a man who ruled over South Korea with an iron fist for 18 years, is a highly divisive figure in the country’s history. So is his right-hand man and eventual assassin, Kim Jae-gyu. The upcoming film “The Man Standing Next,” starring Lee Byung-hun and directed by Woo Min-ho, offers what its creators say is a faithful depiction of the 40 days leading up to the president’s death. “I was pumped up after reading the script and felt that it

Dec. 12, 2019

[Herald Review] ‘Jumanji: Next Level,’ plays it safe in funny, unoriginal sequel

Years back when it was announced that a sequel to “Jumanji” would be made, there were skeptics. While the 1995 adventure film had received mixed reviews upon release, its legacy grew over time to claim a place among nostalgic family films.Despite some concerns the sequel would fail to recapture the imagination and spectacle of the original, “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” was a pleasant surprise with a creative premise, lighthearted fun and plenty of visual effects.Its u

Dec. 11, 2019

With Golden Globe nominations under its belt, ‘Parasite’ eyeing more

It was recently announced that Bong Joon-ho’s Palme d’Or-winning “Parasite” was nominated for the upcoming 77th Golden Globe Awards, vying for best motion picture screenplay, best foreign-language motion picture and best director of a motion picture. As this is the first time a South Korean film has been nominated for one of the most prestigious film awards in the US, local fans are wondering how deep a mark the satirical black comedy will make in cinematic history, and i

Dec. 10, 2019

'Parasite' earns three Golden Globe nominations

South Korean director Bong Joon-ho's black comedy "Parasite" was nominated in three categories for the upcoming 2020 Golden Globe Awards, organizers said Monday.In the nominations for the 77th Annual Golden Globe Awards to be held at Beverley Hills on Jan. 5 next year, "Parasite" was listed in the categories of Best Foreign Language Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay. It is the first time that a South Korean film has made it to the final list of the Golden Globe Awards,

Dec. 10, 2019

'Parasite' named best film by LA film critics

South Korean auteur Bong Joon-ho's family satire "Parasite" has been awarded three prizes, including Best Film, by the film critics association in Los Angeles, the association said Monday.The LA Film Critics Association said it chose "Parasite," the winner of this year's Cannes' Palme d'Or, as the best film of the year, with Martin Scorsese's crime film "Irishman" coming in next.Moreover, Best Director was given to the film's director Bong Joon-ho, while actor Song

Dec. 9, 2019

Disney's 'Frozen 2' becomes biggest animation hit in S. Korea

Walt Disney's "Frozen 2" continued its bullish mode in the South Korea box office over the weekend to become the most successful animated film in the country's history, data showed Monday.Released Nov. 21, "Frozen 2" had attracted a cumulative 10.7 million moviegoers as of Sunday, slightly surpassing the 10.3 million tallied by its prequel "Frozen" in 2014, according to the data by the Korean Film Council. It became the most-viewed animated film in South Korea, rele

Dec. 9, 2019

[Herald Review] ‘Killed My Wife’ shows why webcomic-based films rarely work

After watching the thoroughly boring “Killed My Wife,” I checked out the webcomic on which it is based. Surprisingly, it was pretty good. The story was intriguing, the style was tasteful and the presentation was effective in building suspense. Why, then, was director Kim Ha-la’s thriller such a flop? While Lee Si-eon does a fairly good job in his first leading role, the film fails to understand that storytelling methods of a webcomic and a movie are very different, ultimately f

Dec. 8, 2019