Thursday, August 16, 2012

August 2012 Korean Releases

This monthly features previews the coming month's attractions in Korean cinema. All of these monthly posts are available in an archive on the Upcoming Releases page.


August 2

Plump Revolution

August 8

I Am a King
Tears in the Antarctic
The Grand Heist

August 15

R2B: Return to Base

August 23

90 Minutes
Myselves
Neighbors

August 30

577 Project
The Traffickers
The Ugly Duckling
Wedding Scandal
Young Gun in the Time


Plump Revolution


Director:  Min Doo-sik
Cast:  Lee So-jeong, Lee Hyeon-jin
Synopsis:  A romance about a pin-up girl who decides to gain weight in her quest for love.
Release date:  August 2

A Korean-Japanese co-production.




I Am a King


Director:  Jang Gyoo-seong
Cast:  Joo Ji-hoon, Baek Yoon-shik, Byeon Hee-bong
Synopsis:  A Prince puts a doppelgänger in his place before he ascends to the throne so that he may discover the world that lies outside the palace gates.
Release date:  August 8

The premise is quite similar to the Lee Byeong-hyun starring Masquerade and is also going up against The Grand Heist in its opening weekend.




Tears in the Antarctic 3D


Director:  Kim Jae-yeong, Kim Jin-man
Release Date: August 8

A theatrical of the final episode of MBC's Tears.


The Grand Heist


Director:  Kim Joo-ho
Cast:  Cha Tae-hyeon, Cheon Bo-geun, Kim Hyang-ki, Min Hyo-rin, Lee Chae-yeong, Oh Ji-ho, Seong Dong-il, Ko Chang-seok
Synopsis:  The Grand Heist follows a group of thieves as they get together to plot and break into an ice storeroom during the Chosun times.
Release date:  Second Half of 2012




R2B: Return to Base


Director:  Kim Dong-weon
Cast:  Rain, Shin Se-kyung, Yoo Joon-sang, Kim Sung-soo, Lee Ha-na, Lee Jong-suk
Synopsis:  Tae-hun is a cocky pilot who gets transfered to a combat unit after he pulls a dangerous stunt and immediately starts to butt heads with the straight-laced Cheol-hui.  When a North Korean MIG is found to headed towards the South they must set aside their differences and go on a reconnaissance mission.
Release date:  August 15

A remake of Shin Sang-ok's 1964 film The Red Muffler, R2B: Return to Base is a a big blockbuster, which seems more than a little indebted to Top Gun (1986).  Budgeted at 10 billion won.




90 Minutes


Director:  Kim Dong-weon
Cast:  Rain, Shin Se-kyung, Yoo Joon-sang, Kim Sung-soo, Lee Ha-na, Lee Jong-suk
Synopsis:  A playboy commercials director finds himself with in a race against time to maintain his reputation following an afternoon tryst with a femme fatale.
Release date:  August 23

Had its world premiere at the 16th PiFan. Is also a disaster of a film, steer clear.



Myselves


Director:  Boo Ji-young, Kim Kkobbi, Seo Yeong-joo, Yang Eun-yong
Cast:  Boo Ji-young, Kim Kkobbi, Seo Yeong-joo, Yang Eun-yong
Synopsis:  Four actresses shoot themselves as they go about their daily lives.
Release date:  August 23


Neighbors


Director:  Kim Hwi
Cast:  Kim Yoon-jin, Ma Dong-seok, Kim Sae-ron, Kim Seung-gyoon
Synopsis:  A girl is murdered in a villa and serial killer responsible is among the inhabitants of the building.
Release date:  August 23


577 Project


Director:  Lee Geun-woo
Cast:  Ha Jeong-woo, Kong Hyo-jin
Synopsis:  A documentary following Ha Jung-woo and other actors on their 20-day treck on foot from one side of the Korean peninsula to the other.
Release date:  August 30

Following his Best Actor win for Take Off at the Paeksang Arts Awards in 2010 he said he would embark on a walk across the country if he ever won again. He did so the next year for The Yellow Sea.




The Ugly Duckling


Director:  Kwak Gyeong-taek
Cast:  Kim Joon-goo, Oh Dal-soo, Jo Ji-hwan, Moon Won-joo
Synopsis:  In 1987 a young man begins his military service as a hairdresser but after getting mixed up with the wrong people, will he be able to finish? 
Release date:  August 30


The Traffickers


Director:  Kim Hong-seon
Cast:  Im Chang-jeon, Choi Daniel, Oh Dal-soo
Synopsis:  This thriller takes place on a boat and follows various passengers with different motives..
Release date:  August 30

The main thrust of the film seems to be organ trafficking and with a bigger than usual role for stalwart Oh Dal-su this is one feature I am cautiously optimistic about.




Wedding Scandal


Director:  Sin Dong-yeop
Cast:  Kim Min-joon, Kwak Ji-min, Lee Se-rang, Lee Soo-ho
Synopsis:  A man enters into a fake marriage with a woman but then begins to a realt relationship with her sister. All sorts of complications ensue.
Release date:  August 30




Young Gun in the Time


Director:  Oh Young-doo
Cast:  Hong Yeong-geun, Choi Song-hyeon, Ha Eun-jeong, Bae Yong-geun, 
Synopsis:  A private eye embarks on a mystery involving a time machine.
Release date:  August 30

Oh's follow-up to Invasion of Alien Bikini has been well-received at this year's Yubari and PiFan and has plenty more dates on its calendar including Fantastic Fest.



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