The program for this week looks quite unique, with only two new films, but two independent productions that both have many similarities: they were screened in the Berlinale this month, and propose experiments with narrative. Nothing that could shake the top of the current box office of course, but it will be interesting to see which of these two movies will get the most endorsement from the public.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Divorce, Korean Style: All About My Wife (내 아내의 모든 것, Nae Anaeui Modeun Geot) 2012
(by Rex Baylon)
There used to be a time when America was known as a manufacturing giant. In agriculture, electronics, and automobile design America seemed not to have any contenders. With regards to film, Hollywood was the first and last word when it came to cinema. Even as the US began its slow decline, the soft power of American cinema never seemed to waver even through all the social upheaval of the twentieth century; while presidents came and went, one hit wonders rose and fell, and wars were won or lost, Hollywood never lost its luster in the eyes of foreign and domestic audiences.
Monday, February 25, 2013
For Eternal Hearts (별빛 속으로, Byeolbit Sokeuro) 2007
(by refresh_daemon)
There is an almost early Korean New Wave sensibility to the storytelling of For Eternal Hearts with its loose, observant narrative, that gives it an almost art-film like aesthetic, but the film's rather forced and self-cancelling narrative fails to build any significant dramatic tension, even despite throwing in several twists, to elevate this romance-less supernatural romance film from its murky story and visuals.
It all starts with a German literature professor, Hyeon Suyeong (Jeong Jin-yeong), who runs into a classroom full of students who ask him to recount his first love. He then tells of how as a young man (Jeong Gyeong-ho), he was taken by a spunky fellow student, nicknamed Pippi (Kim Gyu-ri), but shortly after he meets her, she commits suicide following a few cryptic comments about following love into death. However, shortly after her death, Suyeong starts seeing Pippi and she leads him to a job tutoring a high school student, Suji (Cha Su-yeon), who is instantly infatuated by Suyeong, but things are not what they seem.
KBO: Close Race as New World Beats Miracle (02/22-02/24, 2013)
Close Race as New World Beats Miracle
Title | Release Date | Market Share | Weekend | Total | Screens | |
1 | New World | 13/02/21 | 35.50% | 860,754 | 1,038,890 | 671 |
2 | Miracle in Cell No.7 | 13/01/23 | 33.10% | 855,942 | 10,386,785 | 667 |
3 | The Berlin File | 13/01/30 | 12.00% | 303,727 | 6,608,013 | 440 |
4 | An Ethics Lesson | 13/02/21 | 4.30% | 104,494 | 145,437 | 302 |
5 | Delhi Safari (In) | 13/02/21 | 3.30% | 90,837 | 110,358 | 289 |
6 | How to Use Guys With Secret Tips | 13/02/14 | 2.10% | 56,007 | 454,704 | 223 |
7 | The Giant King (us/th) | 13/02/21 | 1.80% | 52,646 | 66,897 | 228 |
8 | A Good Day to Die Hard (us) | 13/02/06 | 1.60% | 40,442 | 1,422,089 | 169 |
9 | The Last Stand (us) | 13/02/21 | 1.40% | 34,220 | 44,280 | 296 |
10 | Marco Makaco (de) | 13/02/14 | 0.80% | 22,656 | 159,640 | 131 |
Friday, February 22, 2013
Park Chan-wook's Stoker (2013)
Hollywood has a history of cherry-picking the world’s greatest filmmaking talents. Though many greats such as Billy Wilder, Fritz Lang, F.W. Murnau and Roman Polanksi have made some of their finest works on American soil, the same can’t always be said of Asian directors. Besides Ang Lee, most Asian cineastes have had trouble adapting their style to the US. This year all eyes are on a few Korean directors making their Hollywood debuts to see if they can buck the trend.
It’s been a longer wait then usual for Park Chan-wook’s new film and the prospect of him working in the States with internationally recognizable faces has meant that expectations for his latest have been sky high. Unlike Kim Jee-woon, who was forced to work on a very controlled project with his Hollywood debut The Last Stand, Park was given much greater freedom for his film.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
New Korean Films: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (2013 Week 8)
(by Fabien Schneider)
This week will be very bloody and will features many deaths, both within these new films and between them at the box office. Two of the largest distributors in Korea, NEW and Lotte, will each propose a thriller full of promise. And although I will not dwell on this film because technically it isn't Korean, CJ Entertainment is also going to unsheathe The Last Stand by Kim Jee-woon. Three films not allowed for children, three films that seem to have each their strengths and weaknesses. Which one will manage to make it out alive?
This week will be very bloody and will features many deaths, both within these new films and between them at the box office. Two of the largest distributors in Korea, NEW and Lotte, will each propose a thriller full of promise. And although I will not dwell on this film because technically it isn't Korean, CJ Entertainment is also going to unsheathe The Last Stand by Kim Jee-woon. Three films not allowed for children, three films that seem to have each their strengths and weaknesses. Which one will manage to make it out alive?
New World (신세계)
Monday, February 18, 2013
KBO: Miracle Stays Flat for 4th Straight Weekend (02/15-02/17, 2013)
Miracle Stays Flat for 4th Straight Weekend
Title | Release Date | Market Share | Weekend | Total | Screens | |
1 | Miracle in Cell No.7 | 13/01/23 | 41.20% | 1,129,726 | 8,867,424 | 721 |
2 | The Berlin File | 13/01/30 | 24.10% | 644,456 | 5,980,252 | 579 |
3 | A Good Day to Die Hard (us) | 13/02/06 | 7.80% | 210,178 | 1,297,703 | 329 |
4 | How to Use Guys With Secret Tips | 13/02/14 | 7.40% | 200,891 | 266,891 | 367 |
5 | Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters (us) | 13/02/14 | 5.70% | 138,407 | 177,571 | 297 |
6 | Marco Makaco (de) | 13/02/14 | 2.90% | 88,766 | 96,848 | 276 |
7 | South Bound | 13/02/06 | 3.00% | 84,070 | 772,586 | 240 |
8 | The Snow Queen (ru) | 13/02/07 | 1.90% | 58,181 | 245,463 | 229 |
9 | Silver Linings Playbook (uk) | 13/02/14 | 1.90% | 48,935 | 70,731 | 223 |
10 | Pororo: the Racing Adventure | 13/01/23 | 1.10% | 30,952 | 867,20 | 102 |
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