Also from now on you may notice a few more Twitch reviews as I have been taken on as their Korean correspondent.
Enjoy!
FUTURE FILMS
(Twitch, May 12, 2012)
Friday, May 18, 2012
Weekly Review Round-up (05/12-05/18, 2012)
A lot of reviews this week and many of them for a trio of action/war film which are currently making the rounds in North America, either in theatres or on the home video market. I'm thrilled to see such interest in these titles but the fact that they all stem from the same genre doesn't really give me high hopes for expanding English-language consumers interest in the broader Korean film industry. THese titles just confirm that Korean cinema, at present, is still viewed as a niche genre industry abroad, which couldn't be further from the truth. Sigh...
Also from now on you may notice a few more Twitch reviews as I have been taken on as their Korean correspondent.
Enjoy!
Also from now on you may notice a few more Twitch reviews as I have been taken on as their Korean correspondent.
Enjoy!
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Korean Cinema News (05/10-05/16, 2012)
Not a huge news week, the main item being that Snow Piercer is finally underway but some interesting features and tidbits nonetheless, including and a couple of trailers with English subtitles.
In other news I have become the Twitchfilm's Korea correspondent, a position I'm thrilled to take on but no need to worry as nothing will change regarding the day-to-day running of MKC.
Production Begins on Bong Joon-ho's Snow Piercer
Likely the most anticipated project on the horizon from a Korean cineaste, Bong Joon-ho's Snow Piercer has finally begun production, having first been floated as a project back in 2007. New additions to the cast have been made, which now features Song Kang-ho, Ko Ah-sung, Ewen Bremner, Octavia Spencer, John Hurt, Chris Evans, Tilda Swinton, Jamie Bell, Kenny Doughty and Emma Levie.
Some location photography on a glacier in Austria has already wrapped and no they are underway with the main segment of filming which is happening at the Barrandov studios in Prague, Czech Republic. It's wonderful to see this exciting project finally coming to life and hopefully the production will be smooth sailing from here on in. (Modern Korean Cinema, May 16, 2012)
In other news I have become the Twitchfilm's Korea correspondent, a position I'm thrilled to take on but no need to worry as nothing will change regarding the day-to-day running of MKC.
KOREAN CINEMA NEWS
Likely the most anticipated project on the horizon from a Korean cineaste, Bong Joon-ho's Snow Piercer has finally begun production, having first been floated as a project back in 2007. New additions to the cast have been made, which now features Song Kang-ho, Ko Ah-sung, Ewen Bremner, Octavia Spencer, John Hurt, Chris Evans, Tilda Swinton, Jamie Bell, Kenny Doughty and Emma Levie.
Some location photography on a glacier in Austria has already wrapped and no they are underway with the main segment of filming which is happening at the Barrandov studios in Prague, Czech Republic. It's wonderful to see this exciting project finally coming to life and hopefully the production will be smooth sailing from here on in. (Modern Korean Cinema, May 16, 2012)
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Unbowed (부러진 화살, Bureojin Hwasal) 2012
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However, the second star has all the hallmarks of greatness that such a distinction would indicate, and then some. Ahn Sung-ki is a legend in the Korean film industry and is probably its most respected star. One of his earliest roles was in Kim Ki-young’s The Housemaid (1960) and he starred in a series of classics starting in the 1980s, such as A Fine, Windy Day (1980), Im Kwon-taek’s Mandala (1981), Whale Hunting (1984), Park Kwang-su’s Chilsu and Mansu (1988), The Taebaeck Mountains (1994, also Im Kwon-taek), Lee Myeong-se’s Nowhere to Hide (1999) and many, many more. Even now he is still one of the country’s top working actors and earlier this year he proved that he could still draw in the crowds just as well as anybody. He has won the Grand Bell Award (the Korean Oscar equivalent) no less than six times but he seems almost certain to pick up his seventh accolade later this year for his latest performance.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Korean Box Office Update (05/11-05/13, 2012)
The Avengers Easily Threepeats
| Title | Release Date | Market Share | Weekend | Total | Screens | |
| 1 | The Avengers (us) | 4/26/12 | 47.80% | 994,319 | 5,446,891 | 734 |
| 2 | As One | 5/3/12 | 16.90% | 393,323 | 1,227,411 | 512 |
| 3 | Dark Shadows (us) | 5/10/12 | 13.80% | 314,355 | 372,745 | 386 |
| 4 | Snow White (us) | 5/3/12 | 5.00% | 123,381 | 477,859 | 305 |
| 5 | Eungyo | 4/25/12 | 4.50% | 99,840 | 1,226,704 | 310 |
| 6 | All About My Wife | 5/17/12 | 4.20% | 91,426 | 96,751 | 277 |
| 7 | Architecture 101 | 3/22/12 | 2.90% | 67,365 | 4,007,674 | 244 |
| 8 | The Lorax (us) | 5/3/12 | 1.80% | 46,562 | 261,893 | 240 |
| 9 | Crayon Shin-chan (jp) | 4/26/12 | 1.00% | 26,667 | 259,718 | 130 |
| 10 | The Scent | 4/11/12 | 0.40% | 10,214 | 1,234,209 | 70 |
Friday, May 11, 2012
Weekly Review Round-up (05/05-05/11, 2012)
Many reviews for a wide variety of films this week and I've rejigged the subsections to reflect films that have already been released in Korea and those that have played at international festivals but have, as of yet, not secured a Korean release date.
Over on the VCinema Show website, which I am a contributor for, Adam Hartzell has embarked on a week-long consideration of Hong Sang-soo's The Day He Arrives as he posts his thoughts after seeing it every day during its week long engagement in San Francisco. Below are the links to his special feature with only the final day outstanding, which will likely be posted this evening:
Over on the VCinema Show website, which I am a contributor for, Adam Hartzell has embarked on a week-long consideration of Hong Sang-soo's The Day He Arrives as he posts his thoughts after seeing it every day during its week long engagement in San Francisco. Below are the links to his special feature with only the final day outstanding, which will likely be posted this evening:
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Dangerously Excited (나는 공무원이다, Naneun Gongmoowonida) 2012
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After being in the doldrums for a few years, Korean cinema seems to have regained its stride as it rebuilds its reputation abroad. However, as much as I’m thrilled to see new Korean film festivals, on-demand ventures and a free classic Korean film youtube channel, when it comes to Korean entertainment, the word on everyone’s lips these days is k-pop.
Hollywood’s Rihanna, Beyonce, Jay-Z, Usher and co. are getting some serious challenges from the likes of 2NE1, Girls Generation, Big Bang and BoA with their sharp moves, fresh threads and slick videos. The industry has featured in many recent Korean films, like the k-pop themed drama Mr. Idol (2011) and horror White:The Melody of the Curse (2011) and its stars are also making strides to the silver screen, such as Big Bang’s Top in 71: Into the Fire (2010). Personally I don’t really listen to pop music so k-pop tends to fall just outside my radar though even I am aware when someone like Rain goes to do his military duty! The sector is so big that it’s hard to ignore it.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
KOFA's 'Classic Korean Film Theatre' Youtube Channel Goes Live!
I'm dying to get stuck into the many I haven't seen but I highly recommend Im Kwon-taek's Sopyonje (1993), Kim Ki-young' Ieoh Island (aka Iodo, 1977) and the aforementioned Aimless Bullet. Truly a phenomenal resource from KOFA and cause for celebration for all Korean film fans!
Enjoy!
Full list of films after the jump:
Korean Cinema News (05/03-05/09, 2012)
UPDATE 1:50pm (GMT+1) - The KOFA Classic Korean Film youtube channel goes live! More details below.
More developments on upcoming features Mister K and Remember O Goddess this week as well as a strong selection of interviews and a free one-day Korean film seminar in London.
KOFA's Classic Korean Film Youtube channel goes live!
The Korean Film Archive has launched its much anticipated "Korean Classic Film Theater" Youtube channel which features 70 different hard to find titles, all free and with English subtitles. The films range from 1949's A Hometown in My Heart to Hong Sang-soo's 1996 debut The Day a Pig Fell Into the Well. Numerous classic Im Kwon-taek, Kim Ki-young and Shin Sang-ok films are featured as well as many of the most important Korean films of the past decades, including Yu Hyun-mok's Aimless Bullet (aka Obaltan, 1961), Park Kwang-su's Chilsu and Mansu (1988), or the original hostess film, Yeongja's Heyday (1976).
I'm dying to get stuck into the many I haven't seen but I highly recommend Im Kwon-taek's Sopyonje (1993), Kim Ki-young' Ieoh Island (aka Iodo, 1977) and the aforementioned Aimless Bullet. Truly a phenomenal resource from KOFA and cause for celebration for all Korean film fans!
More developments on upcoming features Mister K and Remember O Goddess this week as well as a strong selection of interviews and a free one-day Korean film seminar in London.
KOREAN CINEMA NEWS
The Korean Film Archive has launched its much anticipated "Korean Classic Film Theater" Youtube channel which features 70 different hard to find titles, all free and with English subtitles. The films range from 1949's A Hometown in My Heart to Hong Sang-soo's 1996 debut The Day a Pig Fell Into the Well. Numerous classic Im Kwon-taek, Kim Ki-young and Shin Sang-ok films are featured as well as many of the most important Korean films of the past decades, including Yu Hyun-mok's Aimless Bullet (aka Obaltan, 1961), Park Kwang-su's Chilsu and Mansu (1988), or the original hostess film, Yeongja's Heyday (1976).
I'm dying to get stuck into the many I haven't seen but I highly recommend Im Kwon-taek's Sopyonje (1993), Kim Ki-young' Ieoh Island (aka Iodo, 1977) and the aforementioned Aimless Bullet. Truly a phenomenal resource from KOFA and cause for celebration for all Korean film fans!
Monday, May 7, 2012
Korean Box Office Update (05/04-05/06, 2012)
The Avengers Grows, Korean Releases Lag
| Title | Release Date | Market Share | Weekend | Total | Screens | |
| 1 | The Avengers (us) | 4/26/12 | 53.50% | 1,430,595 | 4,001,858 | 918 |
| 2 | As One | 5/3/12 | 16.80% | 509,444 | 596,793 | 535 |
| 3 | Snow White (us) | 5/3/12 | 7.80% | 248,377 | 285,620 | 385 |
| 4 | The Lorax (us) | 5/3/12 | 6.50% | 194,935 | 202,348 | 462 |
| 5 | A Muse | 4/25/12 | 6.30% | 182,261 | 1,021,437 | 402 |
| 6 | Crayon Shin-chan (jp) | 4/26/12 | 3.60% | 121,192 | 230,929 | 293 |
| 7 | Architecture 101 | 3/22/12 | 3.30% | 102,765 | 3,879,029 | 248 |
| 8 | The Scent | 4/11/12 | 0.90% | 27,044 | 1,206,640 | 120 |
| 9 | Battleship (us) | 4/11/12 | 0.30% | 10,779 | 2,230,317 | 62 |
| 10 | Untouchable (fr) | 3/22/12 | 0.20% | 5,102 | 1,709,560 | 19 |
Friday, May 4, 2012
Weekly Review Round-up (04/28 - 05/04, 2012)
More review this week for My Way, various films screened at the Udine Far East Film Festival and Song Il-gon features from the KCCUK's retrospective.
FUTURE RELEASES
Dangerously Excited
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Korean Cinema News (04/26-05/02, 2012)
I had a lot of news in my mailbox when I returned from Italy this week so there's plenty of big announcement in this Korean Cinema News update! Also a huge amount of exciting trailers below, including As One, In Another Country, Taste of Money and The Thieves. Remember if you have any news relating to Korean film feel free to email me and I'll be happy to include it in the nest update.
Enjoy!
Ahn Sung-ki and Lee Byung-hun to Cast Handprints in Hollywood
The inaugural Look East: Korean Film Festival will be taking place this June, on the weekend of the 23-24, at the famed Grauman's Chinese film theatre in the heart of Hollywood. Numerous Korean films, old and new, will be showcased but the focal point of the event will the casting of the hand and foot prints of two major Korean actors. This marks the first time that any Asian performers have been honoured in such a fashion in Los Angeles.
Enjoy!
KOREAN CINEMA NEWS
The inaugural Look East: Korean Film Festival will be taking place this June, on the weekend of the 23-24, at the famed Grauman's Chinese film theatre in the heart of Hollywood. Numerous Korean films, old and new, will be showcased but the focal point of the event will the casting of the hand and foot prints of two major Korean actors. This marks the first time that any Asian performers have been honoured in such a fashion in Los Angeles.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Udine Far East Film Festival - Final Thoughts, Top 10 and Awards
Ongoing reports on the 14th Udine International Film Festival which Modern Korean Cinema will be covering onsite.
Last week was my first time at the Udine Far East Film Festival and straight off the bat the only negative point I can think of was that I wasn't there earlier to participate in the entire event. Regardless it was still a packed week during which I saw nearly 30 films, ate some great food and made a lot of new friends. I look forward to coming back soon but I'm sure it won't be in 2013 as I'll be making my way to Seoul next month. That said I do hope to meet up with many of the same people later this year at the Busan International Film Festival.
Just like last month's Fribourg International Film Festival (which was also covered by MKC) one of the prevailing themes of the festival's program was filmmaking itself. Romancing in Thin Air (2011), The Woodsman and the Rain (2011), Vulgaria (2012) and The Woman in the Septic Tank (2011) all featured films within a film and each had their own novel take on the industry. Despite the global glut of awards bestowed on The Artist (2011), and to a lesser extent on Hugo (2011), I'm still finding that the past year's best films that cast an eye on the medium are those that sadly won't be seen by many. Although considering the cinephile-ready content, perhaps it's just as well that they feature strongly on the festival circuit above all else.
The great thing about the FEFF was its atmosphere: it's accessible, centralized, friendly and a lot of fun. There was lots of events and special deals in restaurants for anyone attending the festival. The Teatro Nuovo Giovanni, the single theater of the festival, was a wonderful venue with four levels. I stayed down in the pit for all of my screenings and I don't think I would have liked to be seated too high up (some seats were above the screen) but the projections were all top notch. Udine is also a wonderful little town with numerous restaurants, historic architecture, beautiful squares and everyone's favorite, gelato! I didn't have much opportunity to visit beyond the town's centre but what I saw was very charming.
Anyone interested in Asian cinema should definitely make their way to Udine at some point in the future and if you do, hopefully I'll see you there!
Below are my favorites of the festival and the FEFF 2012 award winners.
Festival Picks
Top 10
1. Iodo (South Korea, 1977) - Day IV
=2. Punch (South Korea, 2011) - Day V
=2. Sunny (South Korea, 2011) - Day I
=2. The Woodsman and the Rain (Japan, 2011) - Day VI
=2. Unbowed (South Korea, 2012) - Day IX
6. Pollen (South Korea, 1972) - Day IV
7. Splendid Outing (South Korea, 1978) - Day VIII
8. One Mile Above (China, 2011) - Day VI
9. The Woman in the Septic Tank (Philippines, 2011) - Day IX
10. Vulgaria (Hong Kong, 2012) - Day VII
14th FEFF Awards
Audience Award
1. Silenced 4.4
2. One Mile Above 4.2
3. The Front Line 4.16
Black Dragon Award
Silenced 4.24
My Movie (Online) Award
Thermae Romae
FEFF Preview
Day IV Report
Day V Report
Day VI Report
Day VII Report
Day VIII Report
Day IX Report
Blind (블라인드, Beulraindeu) 2011
Dangerously Excited (나는 공무원이다, Naneun Gongmoowonida) 2012
Disney, Nostalgia, and Politics in Sunny (써니, Sseo-ni) 2011
Moby Dick (모비딕, Mo-bi-dik) 2011
Penny Pinchers (티끌모아 로맨스, Ti-kkeul-mo-a Ro-maen-seu) 2011
The Front Line (고지전, Gojijeon) 2011
Unbowed (부러진 화살, Bureojin Hwasal) 2012
14th FEFF Awards
Audience Award
1. Silenced 4.4
2. One Mile Above 4.2
3. The Front Line 4.16
Black Dragon Award
Silenced 4.24
My Movie (Online) Award
Thermae Romae
FEFF Preview
Day IV Report
Day V Report
Day VI Report
Day VII Report
Day VIII Report
Day IX Report
Blind (블라인드, Beulraindeu) 2011
Dangerously Excited (나는 공무원이다, Naneun Gongmoowonida) 2012
Disney, Nostalgia, and Politics in Sunny (써니, Sseo-ni) 2011
Moby Dick (모비딕, Mo-bi-dik) 2011
Penny Pinchers (티끌모아 로맨스, Ti-kkeul-mo-a Ro-maen-seu) 2011
The Front Line (고지전, Gojijeon) 2011
Unbowed (부러진 화살, Bureojin Hwasal) 2012
Reviews and features on Korean film appear regularly on Modern Korean Cinema. For film news, external reviews, and box office analysis, take a look at the Korean Box Office Update, Korean Cinema News and the Weekly Review Round-up, which appear weekly on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings (GMT+1).
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