Weekly Review Round-Up (08/06-08/12, 2011)

A variety of films reviewed this week including another pair of broadsheet commentaries for Poetry as it continues to screen across the world.

NEW KOREAN RELEASES

Quick

(hancinema.net, August 6, 2011)

Sector 7

(Seongyeong's Private Place, August 6, 2011)

RECENT RELEASES

Battlefield Heroes

(Variety, August 9, 2011)

Bleak Night

(Beyond Hollywood, August 9, 2011)

Children...

(Modern Korean Cinema, August 6, 2011)

I Saw the Devil

(koreanfilm.org, August 8, 2011)

Hanaan

(indieWIRE, August 9, 2011)

Moss

(Hangul Celluloid, August 7, 2011)

Oki's Movie

(The Reel Bits, August 6, 2006)

Poetry

(Herald Scotland, August 11, 2011)

(The Montreal Gazette, August 11, 2011)

Shotgun Love

(Beyond Hollywood, August 10, 2011)

The Cat

(koreanfilm.org, August 8, 2011)

The Last Godfather

(PopMatters, August 11, 2011)

The Yellow Sea

(pulpcurry.com, August 10, 2011) also cross-posted on VCinema

PAST FILMS

Running Turtle, 2009

(Modern Korean Cinema, August 7, 2011)

The Weekly Review Round-up is a weekly feature which brings together all available reviews of Korean films in the English language (and sometimes French) that have recently appeared on the internet. It is by no means a comprehensive feature and additions are welcome (email pierceconran [at] gmail [dot] com). It appears every Friday morning (GMT+1) on Modern Korean Cinema. For other weekly features, take a look at Korean Cinema News, and the Korean Box Office Update. Reviews and features on Korean film also appear regularly on the site. 

To keep up with the best in Korean film you can sign up to our RSS Feed, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.

Korean Cinema News (08/01-08/07, 2011)

A large amount of trailers this week and lots of news to boot, including a number of box office milestones.

KOREAN CINEMA NEWS

The Unjust Picks Up Award at Fantasia
Scribe Park Joon-hung won the best screenplay award for The Unjust at the close of the 2011 Fantasia International Film Festival which also featured a master class with award-winning director Ryoo Seung-wan. (DreadCentral.com, August 7, 2011)

South Korean Cinema Overview
Korean cinema is once again making waves on the international scene and Richard Gray briefly brings us through its evolution and where it currently stands. (Tresspass Magazine, August 7, 2011)

Fashion Trends in Ten Korean Films
An examination of ten korean films that display forward-thinking or versatile fashion sense. (racked.com, August 7, 2011)

Video Review of Terracotta Far East Film Festival
A video recap of this year's Terracotta Far East Film Festival which featured a number of Korean films and a special guest appearance by Breathless (2009) star Kim Khobbi. (youtube.com, August 6, 2011)

The Rise of Korean B-Movie
With the recent polarization of big-budget and independent cinema in Korea, B-Movies are now also gaining favor. Invasion of Alien Bikini, which was shot for less than $5,000 is leading the fray. (Joong Ang Daily, August 5, 2011)

Rain and Richard Gere to Collaborate on Project
Rain met with Richard Gere last week and announced on Twitter that they would be collaborating on an upcoming project. The results will likely not be seen for over three years as Rain must complete his compulsory military service. (soompi.com, August 5, 2011)

Leafie Breaks Animation Box Office Record
After attracting 500,000 spectators in 8 days, Leafie, A Hen Into the Wild is now officially the quickest selling animation in Korean history. (The Chosun Ilbo, August 4, 2011)

Sector 7 Bursts Out of the Gate
Summer blockbuster Sector 7 got off to a strong start with 230,000 viewers on its first day. It has benefited from the buzz of being the first Korean 3D action film. (hancinema.net, August 4, 2011)

Nicole Kidman Boards Park Chan-wook's Stoker
Park Chan-wook's hollywood debut Stoker is quickly assembling its high profile cast and the latest addition is screen siren Nicole Kidman. (soompi.com, August 4, 2011)

Arirang Confirmed for TIFF
Kim Ki-duk's new film Arirang, which premiered at Cannes earlier this year, has been confirmed in the masters section of this year's Toronto International Film Festival. (indieWIRE, August 3, 2011)

Korean Indie Animation Fest to Present in Australia
In the lead to KOFFIA 2011, the Indie-Anifest will present a special showcase of independent animation from Korea on August 16th. (koreanculture.org.au, August 3, 2011)

Normalization for Online Film Distribution Demanded by Chungmoro
On July 27, 108 companies and organizations, led by the Korean Film Council announced the Declaration for the Normalization for Online Film Distribution. The declaration calls for putting a stop to the illegal circulation of films online. (hancinema.net, August 2, 2011)

Hollywood DMZ Movie in Pre-Production
CJ has partnered with Di Bonaventura Pictures to produce a multi-million dollar blockbuster about Korea's De-Militarized Zone (DMZ). (hancinema.net, August 2, 2011)

New Casting Announcements for Stoker
More casting news for Park Chan-wook's Stoker as Alden Ehrenreich joins the feature. (Variety, August 1, 2011)

The Thieves Completes Location Shoot in Macau
Choi Dong-hoon's fourth feature has wrapped up its location filming in Macau. The Thieves, which stars Kim Yoon-seok, Gianna Jun, Kim Hye-soo, Lee Jeong-jae and Oh Dal-suis set to be released in the summer of 2012. (Film Business Asia, August 1, 2011)

Hollywood Studios Funding and Producing Asian Films
Recently, various Asian films have been partially funded or produced by Hollywood studios. They include Na Hong-jin's The Yellow Sea. (Wildgrounds, August 1, 2011)

Indian Marial Artist to Train in Korea
Salman Khan will be training in martial arts in Korea for his upcoming film Kick, which wil be shot on the peninsula. (movies.ndtv.com, August 1, 2011)

INTERVIEW

PiFan Q&A for Invasion of Alien Bikini
Transcription of a Q&A session following a screening of Invasion of Alien Bikini at this year's PiFan. (Asian Media Wiki, August 1, 2011)

TRAILERS

Lots of trailers this week for upcoming Korean films and various touring independent films.

Elbowroom

Fighting Spirit

Ghastly (clip, no dialogue) 

Hanaan

Invasion of Alien Bikini (eng subs) 

Leafie, A Hen Into the Wild

Marrying the Mafia IV - Family Ordeal

Pong Ddol

Share the Vision

Winter Smells


BOX OFFICE

Sector 7 Posts Cracks 1 Million in Opening Weekend
As expected Sector 7 dominated the box office with an opening of 1.154 million admissions. Quick and The Front Line dipped slightly from last week and are in great shape with 368,000 and 329,000 respectively. With 250,000 Leafie, A Hen Into the Wild is edging closer to its 1.5 million break-even point, currently stands at 880,000. Horror film Ghastly opened poorly with just over 50,000 while Sunny begins to wind up its run with 25,000 in its first week out of the top 10. (hancinema.net, August 7, 2011)


Korean Cinema News is a weekly feature which provides wide-ranging news coverage on Korean cinema, including but not limited to: features; festival news; interviews; industry news; trailers; posters; and box office. It appears every Wednesday morning (GMT+1) on Modern Korean Cinema. For other weekly features, take a look at the Korean Box Office Update and the Weekly Review Round-up. Reviews and features on Korean film also appear regularly on the site. 

To keep up with the best in Korean film you can sign up to our RSS Feed, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.

Weekly Review Round-Up (07/30-08/05, 2011)

This is a brand new feature I am dabbling with which aims to round up all of the reviews published within the week on Korean films. I categorize them as: NEW KOREAN RELEASES, movies that have just or are about to be released in Korea; CURRENT WORLDWIDE RELEASES, new films that are making the rounds at film festivals or being released in foreign territories; and PAST FILMS, reviews for films that are no longer current.

The reviews will come from print sources, major websites, and blogs. If you know of reviews that are current but are not listed below please let me know via twitter or email. The formatting is for the moment very simple and I will likely change it in subsequent editions. I may or may not create a directory of reviews which I will maintain on a weekly basis with his update. Any suggestions or comments are most welcome!

NEW KOREAN RELEASES

Arrow, the Ultimate Weapon

(The Korea Times, August 4, 2011)

Blind 

(Film Business Asia, August 4, 2011)

Quick 

(Film Business Asia, July 30, 2011)

Sector 7 

(The Korea Times, July 28, 2011)

CURRENT WORLDWIDE RELEASES

Battlefield Heroes 

(Montreal Gazette, August 1, 2011)

Come Rain, Come Shine 

(The Bourne Cinema Conspiracy, August 1, 2011)

I Saw the Devil 

(Rockstar Weekly, August 4, 2011)

Poetry 

(The Independent, July 31, 2011)

(Front Row Reviews, August 2, 2011)

(The Case for Global Film, August 3, 2011)

(Sight & Sound, August 2011)

Sunny 

(Film Business Asia, July 31, 2011)

(Init_Scenes, August 2, 2011)

The Unjust 

(Sounds Like Cinema, August 5, 2011)

The Yellow Sea 

(Sounds Like Cinema, August 5, 2011)

PAST FILMS

Aimless Bullet, 1962 

(New Korean Cinema, August 3, 2011)

Ghost Theatre, 2006 

(Hangul Celluloid, August 1, 2011)

Murder, Take One, 2005 

(Modern Korean Cinema, August, 2, 2011)

The Restless, 2006 

(Modern Korean Cinema, August 3, 2011)

The Weekly Review Round-up is a weekly feature which brings together all available reviews of Korean films in the English language (and sometimes French) that have recently appeared on the internet. It is by no means a comprehensive feature and additions are welcome (email pierceconran [at] gmail [dot] com). It appears every Friday morning (GMT+1) on Modern Korean Cinema. For other weekly features, take a look at Korean Cinema News, and the Korean Box Office Update. Reviews and features on Korean film also appear regularly on the site. 

To keep up with the best in Korean film you can sign up to our RSS Feed, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.

Korean Cinema News (07/04-07/10, 2011)

A lot of box office news this week as well as some festival news. Now that I'm back from holiday the Korean Cinema News updates will return to a regular cycle.

KOREAN CINEMA NEWS

Independent Films Making Waves in Korea

Numerous indie films are doing well at the box office while supposedly hot 3D movies losing traction. The Journals of Musan, with its troves of awards, and others are performing strongly at home and abroad. (The Hankyoreh, July 4, 2011)

Crossing Gains in Popularity in the North

Korea's 2008 oscar entry Crossing, which depicts a family's struggles in the border region of the North, is a big hot among movie fans in North Korea. (Daily NK, July 5, 2011)

Spike Lee to Remake Oldboy

After passing through many hands, the remake of Oldboy (2003) is set to be made by acclaimed director Spike Lee. Mark Protosevich is writing and the film is getting ready for production at Mandate. (Twitch Film, July 5, 2011)

Sector 7 Will Be First Korean IMAX 3D Film

Upcoming blockbuster Sector 7 will be Korea's first 3D IMAX film, it is set for release on August 4. (MarketWatch, July 7, 2011)

The Yellow Sea Picked for Sitges Film Festival

Na Hong-jin's sophomore feature The Yellow Sea has been selected for the 44th Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival. (hancinema.net, July 7, 2011)

Rookies Directors on the Rise, Stars Lack Drawing Power

New trends seem to be affecting the Korean box office as rookie directors and independent films are generating more revenue while vehicles with supposedly reliable box office draws are disappointing at the charts. (The Chosun Ilbo, July 8, 2011)

Box Office Dips Sightly but Korean Releases up First Half of 2011

While overall revenue was down 2.3%. Korean films upped their market share to 48% and saw their revenue rise by 9.9% in the first two quarters in 2011. Given that the back half of the year is packed with promising films this bodes well for the industry. (KOFIC, June 8, 2011)

CJ Buys Vietnam Cinema Chain

Megastar Media Company, Vietnam's largest exhibition company, has been purchased by CJ Entertainment for $73.6 million. CJ is aggressively expanding to foreign markets with 7 screens already operational in China as well as one in the US. (Screen Daily, July 8, 2011)

Second Korean Film Spotlight at Fantasia

Fantasia is to feature a Korean spotlight section that will feature five films: Bleak Night, Haunters, Hello Ghost, Invasion of Alien Bikini, and Petty Romance. (hancinema.net, July 8, 2011)

Leafie Set to Revitalize Korean Animation

Hopes are high for Leafie, A Hen Into the Wild, as it courts foreign buyers and may bring about a renaissance for Korean animation. (hancinema.net, July 8, 2011)

Isabelle Huppert Will Star in Next Hong Sang-soo Project

Hong Sang-soo's next film will feature none other than the revered French actress Isabelle Huppert, who had previously expressed an interest in collaborating with the acclaimed filmmaker. (hancinema.net, July 10, 2011)

New Sensory Experiences in Korean Cinema

4D theaters are enticing viewers in Korea with fog, water, shaking seats, and smells. A multiplex with this technology is expected to be built in New York and could take off in Europe if successful. (METRO.co.uk, July 10, 2011)

Darcy Paquet's Contribution to Korean Cinema

An esteemed figure in Korea, Darcy Paquet is well known to anybody with a serious interest in Korean film. In this Korea Herald profile, his contributions to the expansion of Korean cinema are lauded. (The Korea Herald, July 11, 2011) 

INTERVIEW

Cha Seung-won Profile

A piece on actor Cha Seung-won, who has been very busy of late, on his process for creating characters and his day to day routines. (hancinema.net, July 10, 2011)

TRAILERS

Lots of english subbed trailers this week, including for some highly anticipated summer blockbusters.

Champ

My Heart Beats (Eng Subs)

Quick (Eng Subs)

Sector 7 (Eng Subs)

BOX OFFICE

Transformers Dominion Continues

Transformers 3 pulled in another 1,670,000 million viewers this weekend to come within a hair's breath of the 6 million mark. Sunny grew again to 270,000 while The Cat had a strong opening with 300,000. Poongsan also grew while White dipped slightly, both are performing well. (Hancinema.net, July 10, 2011)


Korean Cinema News is a weekly feature which provides wide-ranging news coverage on Korean cinema, including but not limited to: features; festival news; interviews; industry news; trailers; posters; and box office. It appears every Wednesday morning (GMT+1) on Modern Korean Cinema. For other weekly features, take a look at the Korean Box Office Update and the Weekly Review Round-up. Reviews and features on Korean film also appear regularly on the site. 

To keep up with the best in Korean film you can sign up to our RSS Feed, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.

Korean Cinema News (06/27-07/03, 2011)

Not picking up too much news as I'm off on holiday but a few items concerning the NYAFF (which I attended), including a great, and also a little sad, interview with co-founder Grady Hendrix.

KOREAN CINEMA NEWS

Fantasia 2011 to Feature Masterclass with Ryoo Seung-wan

Director Ryoo Seung-wan, whose current film The Unjust is impressing viewers around the world, will host a masterclass on action film staging and choreography. (Twitch, June 27, 2011)

Journals of Musan Wins Festival Award in Italy

The Journals of Musan as added yet another award to its pedigree as it picked up the Grand Prize at the 47th Pesaro Film Festival. (Yonhap News Agency, June 29, 2011)

Fashion 3D Glasses from LG

Famed UK designer Giles Deacon, known for his prints, has teamed up with LG, the Korean electronics manufacturer, to create a pair of designer 3D glasses which are available now on a limited basis. (HDTVtest, June 29, 2011)

5 Films To Watch Out for in Second Half of 2011
Davdi Teszar of The Korea Blog picks 5 Korean films to watch out for in the back half of 2011: My Way, The Front Line, Sector 7, Only You, and La Quotidienne. (The Korea Blog, June 30, 2011)

New Hiring at CJ

Kim Hee-jeon has been named international sales executive responsible for the US and Europe by CJ E&M. (Film Business Asia, July 1, 2011)

NYAFF Begins

The New York Asian Film Festival kicked off on the 1st and will feature a slew of Asian films, including 12 Korean titles, and numerous guests until it comes to a close on the 14th. (indieWIRE.com, July 1, 2011)

INTERVIEWS

The Many Projects of Producer/Director Yun Je-gyun

A discussion with the producer of the upcoming Sector 7 and director of Haeundae (2008) of the many projects he has going at the moment. (The Dong-a Ilbo, June 28, 2011)

Conversation with NYAFF Co-Founder Grady Hendrix
A great interview with one of the co-founders of the NYAFF in which he discusses the origins of the festival and how hard it is to keep it going. (Cinespect, June 28, 2011)

TRAILER

Just one this week and due to the amount of unsubbed trailers, I will instead mark those that have them in future.

The Beast

BOX OFFICE

Transformers 3 Dominates
Transformers 3 broke a lot of records this weekend as it raked in 3 million admissions by the end of Sunday. Sunny still going strong as it breaks the 6 million mark with 200,000 new admissions. Both Poongsan and White are showing a little staying power as they post decent numbers. (Hancinema.net, July 3, 2011)



Korean Cinema News is a weekly feature which provides wide-ranging news coverage on Korean cinema, including but not limited to: features; festival news; interviews; industry news; trailers; posters; and box office. It appears every Wednesday morning (GMT+1) on Modern Korean Cinema. For other weekly features, take a look at the Korean Box Office Update and the Weekly Review Round-up. Reviews and features on Korean film also appear regularly on the site. 

To keep up with the best in Korean film you can sign up to our RSS Feed, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.

Korean Cinema News (06/20-06/26, 2011)

As we roll into Summer, the news cycle is slowing slightly but there were still some interesting stories this week, including some on theater monopolies and the huge success of Sunny.

KOREAN CINEMA NEWS

A Look at Asia's Take on Spaghetti Westerns

Based on the spaghetti westerns that emanated from Europe in the 60s and 70s, Asia has recently taken to shifting what is chiefly an American genre to the East. Korea's The Good, the Bad and the Weird (2008)is the most popular example thus far. (Bleedingcool.com, June 20, 2011)

Kim Ki-duk's Latest Selected for Karlovy Vary Film Fest
The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival has invited Kim Ki-duk's latest film, the documentary Arirang to screen in its 'Another View' section. (Yahoo! News, June 21, 2011)

New Character Posters for Sector 7
The much anticipated Sector 7 has released some new posters, they are characters shots for the main stars of the picture. Sector 7 will be released on August 4. (Film Smash, June 21, 2011)

Upcoming Blockbuster Quick Promises Speedy Thrills
Quick, a summer action film focusing on motorcycle will be released on July 21 in Korea and producers are promising that it will be the fastest Korean blockbuster ever. (The Korea Times, June 21, 2011)

Seoul Begins Showing Local Films with Japanese Subtitles
The City of Seoul, with the help of CGV Theaters, will begin to exhibit Korean films with Japanese subtitles. This follows the increasing popularity and viability of English subtitles being added to local films in Korea's capital. (The Korea Herald, June 21, 2011)

Poongsan Readying for Big Splash
The Kim Ki-duk scripted Poongsan, directed by his protege Jeon Jae-hong, was just released this past weekend in Korea, and its producers have high expectations that their low-budget film will make a big impact on the marketplace. (Joong Ang Daily, June 22, 2011)

Korean Stars Owed 2.2 Billion Won in Backpay
The Korean Entertainment Management Association (KEMA), is claiming that various stars are owed a total of 2.2 billion won in backpay. Affected screen talent includes Hyeon Bin and Song Hye-kyo. (Manila Bulletin, June 23, 2011)

Quick Presold to 7 Countries
Incoming blockbuster Quick has been presold to 7 countries, including France. The film is reported to have cost around 8 million dollars. (hancinema.net, June 23, 2011)

Outcry from Independent Producers as Multiplexes Monopolize Screenings
Following previous complaints, the Korean Film Producers Association (KFPA) has outlined new grievances against multiplexes which continue to exhibit monopolistic tendencies. The main problem is that in Korea the main exhibitor are also the main film producers, thus they control access to their films and smaller, independent features are often squeezed out of the marketplace. (Joon Ang Daily, June 24, 2011)

Will Sector 7 Be the Next Hit to Crack 10 Million?
This summer sees the return of potent Ha Ji-won/Yoon Je-kyoon team, who previously collaborated on Haeundae (2009). Many are wondering if they will again have a hit on their hands that will cross the 10 million viewer mark. (Hancinema.net, June 26, 2011)

TRAILERS

Dr. Jump (no subs)

Pain (no subs)

Quick (no subs)

BOX OFFICE

Sunny Back on Top
After 4 weeks coming in behind Kung Fu Panda 2, Sunny saw its weekend take increase by 50% (330,000) and handily took first place, it has no accrued an enormous 5.7 million admissions. Kung Fu Panda is still going strong and looks set to cross 5 million next week. Poongsan was the big new release and did well with 240,000 while holdover White added 100,000 to its total, which stands at 615,000. (Hancinema.net, June 26, 2011)



Korean Cinema News is a weekly feature which provides wide-ranging news coverage on Korean cinema, including but not limited to: features; festival news; interviews; industry news; trailers; posters; and box office. It appears every Wednesday morning (GMT+1) on Modern Korean Cinema. For other weekly features, take a look at the Korean Box Office Update and the Weekly Review Round-up. Reviews and features on Korean film also appear regularly on the site. 

To keep up with the best in Korean film you can sign up to our RSS Feed, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.

Korean Cinema News (05/23-05/29, 2011)

Lots of news this week, including, festival news, castings, features, and much more.

KOREAN CINEMA NEWS

Director Jang Hun Preps Upcoming War Film The Frontline
Following on from his brilliant debut Rough Cut (2008) and his extremely successful sophomore effort Secret Reunion (2010), Kim Di-duk's former protege Jang Hun is readying The Frontline for release this summer. The big budget blockbuster stars Sin Ha-kyun and tells the story of the final jockeying over final borders in the closing moments of the Korean war, after a truce had been agreed upon. The film is set to hit multiplexes in July. (Twitch Film, May 23, 2011)

Kim Ki-duk picks up award at Cannes

After competing in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival, Arirang, Kim Ki-duk's first directorial effort in three years has earned him the best film prize which he will share with German helmer Andreas Dresen whose film Stopped on Track was also in competition. (Joong Ang Daily, May 23, 2011)

Details and Poster Released for New K-Horror Ghastly

Plot details have emerged regarding Yang Yun-ho's follow-up to Grand Prix (2010), the horror film Ghastly. Horror-movies.ca has a look at the poster. (horror-movies.ca, May 23, 2011)

The Journals of Musan Triumphs at Tribeca

Park Jung-bum's The Journals of Musan has won yet another award, this time at the illustrious Tribeca Film Festival in New York. It was named the winner in the best new narrative competition and was awarded a $25,000 cash prize as well as a further $50,000 towards post-production costs. (KOBIZ, May 24, 2011)

Final Details from the Cannes Film Market

As the Cannes Film Festival packed up last week, details emerged regarding the final sales from the film market, which included more international sales of Na Hong-jin's The Yellow Sea this time to Scandinavia and the Baltic region. (Film Business Asia, May 25, 2011)

Joint Venture Between Korean and Japanese High School Students
A new project, funded by the Processing Together Charity, will bring eight Japanese students to Seoul where they will collaborate with eight Korean students to make a film dealing with their cultures and histories. (The Korea Herald, May 25, 2011)

Korean Entertainment Dictates Fashion Trends in China
Korean entertainment is massively popular across Asia. In China, as well as other countries, hallyu has become so pervasive that it has begun to influence local fashion trends. Many young Chinese consumers who are hooked on Korean TV drama and movies are keen to adapt their lifestyle and consumption choices in order to emulate their Korean idols. (The Korea Times, May 25, 2011)

Kim Ki-duk Produced Film Set for June

A new film dealing with the North is set to open domestically in June. Poongsan is produced by Kim Ki-duk and directed by Juhn Jai-hong. It tells the story of a mysterious man whose job is to transport goods across the border in three hours. (The Korea Times, May 26, 2011)

SIFF Launches Mobile Film Competition

50 films shot on smartphones will compete in the first ever Mobile Film Competition as part of the Shanghai International Film Festival. Park Chan-yu's Lofty Waves will be in competition. (CNN, May 26, 2011)

Sector 7 Presold to 46 Countries

CJ's much anticipated 3D monster film Sector 7 has presold its distribution rights to 46 countries. The film is Kim Ji-hoon's follow-up to May 18 (2007). (hancinema.net, May 26, 2011)

Korean Film Emerging in US Market
A great article about how Korean cinema and filmmakers are becoming more prominent in the United States. The new CGV cinemas were packed for screenings during the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival of Late Autumn and others. Korea auteurs Park Chan-wook and Kim Jee-woon are prepping their Hollywood debuts while others, such as Jennifer Yuh, have already gained a foothold. (The Korea Herald, May 27, 2011)

Winners Announced for Baeksang Awards
Last Thursday, Lee Byun-hun won the prestigious Daesang grand prize at the 47th Baeksang awards. The Man From Nowhere came way with best film while Ha Jung-woo of The Yellow Sea and Tang Wei of Late Autumn walked away with the best actor and actress prizes respectively. Lee Chang-dong was also awarded best Director for Poetry. (Manila Bulletin, May 27, 2011)

Kim Ki-young's First Film Discovered

After being thought lost for more than half a century, Kim Ki-young's debut feature The Boxes of Death (1955) has been found. It was discovered in a US archive and screened in Seoul last Thursday. (The Korea Times, May 27, 2011)

Korean-American at the Helm of Kung Fu Panda 2
Hollywood latest blockbuster animation, the much-anticipated Kung Fu Panda 2, was shepherded to the screen by Korean-American filmmaker Jennifer Yuh. She started out as an assistant at Dreamworks in 2003 and she is the first Asian woman to direct at the studio. (Joong Ang Daily, May 27, 2011)

Kwon Sang-woo Set for Chinese Debut
Korean heartthrob Kwon Sang-woo is currently filmin Repeat, I Love You with Cecilia Cheung in China and will next be seen in Jackie Chan's Chinese Zodiac. (The Washington Post, May 27, 2011)

Seven Films to Get You Well Versed in Korean Cinema
Hancinema.com presents seven films that should get you well acquainted with Korean cinema. The list spans from 1999-2006 and includes, multiplex (The Host, 2006), arthouse (Peppermint Candy, 1999), and cult fare (Oldboy, 2003). (hancinema.net, May 28, 2011)

Next Hollywood Role for Lee Byung-hun
Lee Byung-hun is set to reprise his role in the sequel to G.I. Joe (2009) which will begin filming later this year. (hancinema.net, May 29 2011)

New 3DTV Breakthrough from LG
Korea's electronics manufacturer LG is set to heighten the 3-dimensional home entertainment experience with a new innovation which does not require the purchase of bulky and expensive 3D glasses. (Inquirer Technology, May 29, 2011)

TRAILERS

A couple of new trailers this week, sadly with no subtitles. Quick doesn't really need them however.

Hoichori (no subs)

Quick (no subs)

BOX OFFICE

Kung Fu Panda Knocks Out the Competition
The weekend was won by Kung Fu Panda 2 which amassed an enormous 1.5 million admissions, no doubt spurred by the fact that it was directed by Korean-American Jennifer Yuh. Pirates 4 saw half its loot disappear in its sophomore stint at the Korean box office but still managed nearly 600,000 admissions, it has 2.4 million to date. Meanwhile, Sunny didn't let up with nearly half a million tickets sold, bringing its total close to 3.5 million. Head opened small with 33,000 admissions and all other local fare was relegated to the bottom of the chart. (hancinema.net, May 29, 2011)


Korean Cinema News is a weekly feature which provides wide-ranging news coverage on Korean cinema, including but not limited to: features; festival news; interviews; industry news; trailers; posters; and box office. It appears every Wednesday morning (GMT+1) on Modern Korean Cinema. For other weekly features, take a look at the Korean Box Office Update and the Weekly Review Round-up. Reviews and features on Korean film also appear regularly on the site. 

To keep up with the best in Korean film you can sign up to our RSS Feed, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.