Today

‘Burning’ a different kind of mystery: director

The film genre of mystery drama by definition places some of its elements under cover, and that was the tone the people behind “Burning” sought to achieve.“It’s a mysterious movie,” said Lee Chang-dong, master auteur of Korean cinema known best for his award-winning 2010 film “Poetry,” at the promotional press conference for the upcoming film. “We could categorize it under the mystery genre, but it’s not just about that. The mystery could be expanded to a mystery about the world that we live in,

Apr 23, 2018

'Rampage' wins second weekend in South Korea

The Hollywood sci-fi action flick "Rampage" ruled the South Korean box office for the second consecutive weekend, data showed Monday.Dwayne Johnson's arcade game-inspired "Rampage" sold 363,703 tickets from Friday to Sunday, bringing its domestic total to 1.26 million, according to the real-time based box office tally from the Korean Film Council.A new documentary film on a tragic 2014 ferry sinking jumped four spots to No. 2 in its second weekend, adding 108,961 to its cumulative figure of 385,

Today

Another ‘Black Panther’ statue destroyed in Busan

Following the vandalism of a “Black Panther” sculpture at Gwangbok-ro in March, another statue of the Black Panther superhero in Busan near Gwangalli Beach was found toppled over with its head damaged. The Walt Disney Co. had initially sent a pair of Black Panther sculptures to be displayed in Busan, one in Gwangbok-ro and one along Gwangalli Beach, to commemorate the first time for Marvel Studios to shoot at the southern coastal city of Korea. A “Black Panther” statue is seen vandalized at Gwan

Apr 21, 2018

Things to look out for in ‘Avengers: Infinity War’

Ever since “Iron Man” in 2008 launched the grand adventure that is the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the movie franchise has galloped toward the final show-down between the MCU’s biggest superheroes and the “Mad Titan Thanos.”With the “Avengers: Infinity War” expected to be the culmination of 10 years, 18 movies and numerous tie-in TV products, here are some of the tidbits to consider before viewing the film.(Walt Disneay Company Korea)Who is Thanos? Supervillian Thanos is easily one of the stronge

Apr 21, 2018

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Intensions(Korea)Opened April 12Documentary Directed by Kim Ji-yeongFour years have passed since the Sewol ferry sank on April 16, 2014, leaving 304 dead or missing. A documentary team tracks down and analyze records from the day of the sinking -- including the ship’s AIS record -- to come up with their own answer to why the ship went down.Rampage(US)Opened April 12Action, Sci-Fi, AdventureDirected by Brad PeytonPrimatologist Davis Okoye (Dwayne Johnson) shares an unshakable bond with silverback

Apr 21, 2018

Kim Joo-hyuk’s energetic performance to be a factor in ‘Believer’

It has been half a year since Kim Joo-hyuk passed away in a car crash, but the Korean actor’s character acting has left a lasting impression via his filmography.“Believer,” directed by Lee Hae-young, is a crime action film that will give the audience one of the last -- and supposedly the most impressive -- glimpse of his talents.“He is the most heated character, and it is impossible to know what his boiling point is. He makes the others nervous as he is impossible to predict,” said director Lee

Apr 20, 2018

[Herald Review] Putting perspective on reality through ‘Claire’s Camera’

A camera is a curious thing. One may think he or she is making a copy of reality, but it is in fact a modified version of it. A photograph may show a happy couple, but they could be smiling to cover their animosity toward each other. It is only through a person’s perspective that a photograph takes meaning.“Claire’s Camera,” directed by Hong Sang-soo, is a film emblematic of the Korean auteur’s style, conjuring up a vague air of mystery for what is captured through the titular character’s lens.

Apr 19, 2018

Funeral held for late film icon Choi Eun-hee

The funeral for Choi Eun-hee, the late South Korean actress who was once kidnapped by North Korea to create propaganda films before escaping, was held on Thursday and attended by her family and close friends.Choi, a South Korean film icon of the 60s and 70s, died on Monday while receiving kidney dialysis treatment at a hospital in Seoul. She was 92. A portrait of late actress Choi Eun-hee at her funeral procession at the Catholic University of Korea`s St. Mary`s Hospital in Seoul on Thursday. (Y

Apr 17, 2018

Legendary actress Choi Eun-hee dies aged 91

Legendary actress Choi Eun-hee, one of Korea’s leading classic film stars, died at the age of 91 Monday.According to local media reports, Choi passed away Monday afternoon when she went to hospital for kidney dialysis. She had been suffering from a kidney condition for years. Choi was widely known for being a doyenne of the Korean cinema in the 60s and 70s, but her life off the screen has been far more tumultuous and dramatic than a movie, including an abduction by North Korean agents, reunion w

Apr 14, 2018

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

What a Man Wants(Korea)Opened April 5ComedyDirected by Lee Byoung-heonLegendary playboy Seok-geun (Lee Sung-min) introduces Bongsu (Shin Ha-kyun), who is married to his younger sister Mi-yeong (Song Ji-hyo) to a world of womanizing.Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum(Korea)Opened March 28Horror, MysteryDirected by Jun Bum-shik Ha-jun (Wi Ha-jun) who runs a YouTube channel that deals with the supernatural, leads a team of youngsters to the Gonjiam asylum and the mysterious room No. 402, which is supposed to

Apr 14, 2018

Korean films ‘Burning,’ ‘The Spy Gone North’ to screen at Cannes

One of the most recognized film festivals worldwide, Cannes Film Festival announced its official selection list for this year Thursday, including two Korean films.Director Lee Chang-dong’s “Burning” has been invited to the festival’s main competition category, going up against 17 other films. The film features Yoo Ah-in and Hollywood actor Steven Yeun as the main leads. “Burning” (CGV Arthouse)The thriller, an adaptation of Japanese writer Haruki Murakami’s short story “Barn Burning,” revolves a

Apr 13, 2018

Sewol resurfaces on screen in documentary

A documentary film on the Sewol ferry tragedy of 2014 opened in local theaters Thursday, with the creators tracking down what they say is the real reason behind one of the worst maritime disasters in Korea’s history.“Intention” was directed by Kim Ji-yeong and produced by journalist Kim Eo-jun. It analyzes the data of the ship’s automatic identification system, and comes up with what they claim is the real reason the cruise ferry sank on April 16, 2014. Moviegoers attend the premiere of “Intenti

Apr 13, 2018

'Avengers' cast excited over ‘Infinity Wars’

Tom Hiddleston, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Holland and Pom Klementieff share stories on shooting ’Avengers: Infinity Wars‘

Apr 11, 2018

Choi Soo-young to star in novel-based film

Actress and singer Choi Soo-young has been cast in a film based on a novel by Japanese novelist Yoshimoto Banana, which started filming in Japan on April 1.According to Zoa Films, Choi will play the protagonist Yumi and her co-star Tanaka Shunsuke will play another main character Nishiyama in the upcoming film “Memories of a Dead End.” Choi Soo-young (Zoa Films)Yoshimoto, one of the most popular Japanese writers in Korea, is well-known for works such as “Lizard” and “Kitchen” -- her debut work w