Back when Kim Han-min made “The Admiral: Roaring Currents” in 2014, little did he know that the film would go on to become the highest grossing Korean film of all time, a record still held by it, or that he would go on to make a trilogy of features on its lead character, legendary real-life naval commander, the much loved Admiral Yi Sun-shin. Yet here we are, just under a decade since the release of “The Admiral”, and the final film in the Yi Sun-shin trilogy looks finally set to release, following on from last year’s “Hansan: Rising Dragon”.
Synopsis
In 1598, the seven-year Imjin War nears an end as Wae invaders prepare to withdraw from Joseon. Admiral Yi Sun-shin leads an allied fleet of Joseon and Ming ships to annihilate the Wae army. Joseon, Ming, and Wae forces clash at Noryang Strait, the deadly sea where Admiral Yi fights his last valiant battle.
Synopsis
In 1598, the seven-year Imjin War nears an end as Wae invaders prepare to withdraw from Joseon. Admiral Yi Sun-shin leads an allied fleet of Joseon and Ming ships to annihilate the Wae army. Joseon, Ming, and Wae forces clash at Noryang Strait, the deadly sea where Admiral Yi fights his last valiant battle.
- 9/20/2023
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
Long-awaited indeed — “Noryang: Deadly Sea”, the third part of the trilogy that constitutes “The Admiral: Roaring Currents” and its prequel “Hansan: Rising Dragon”, two epics with the most stunning sea battles ever filmed. The first film has at least 60 mins of non-stop warfare.
The trilogy, directed by Kim Han-min, follows the legendary naval commander Yi Sun-sin, who led the Joseon navy to several victories against the invading Japanese forces during the Imjin War (1592-1598). The first film, The Admiral: Roaring Currents, released in 2014, depicts the Battle of Myeongnyang, where Yi and his 12 ships faced 333 Japanese warships and achieved a miraculous victory. The film became the most-watched and highest-grossing film of all time in South Korea, with 17.6 million admissions and a worldwide gross of US$138.3 million12.
The second film, Hansan: Rising Dragon, released in 2022, is a prequel that portrays the Battle of Hansan Island, which took place five years before Myeongnyang.
The trilogy, directed by Kim Han-min, follows the legendary naval commander Yi Sun-sin, who led the Joseon navy to several victories against the invading Japanese forces during the Imjin War (1592-1598). The first film, The Admiral: Roaring Currents, released in 2014, depicts the Battle of Myeongnyang, where Yi and his 12 ships faced 333 Japanese warships and achieved a miraculous victory. The film became the most-watched and highest-grossing film of all time in South Korea, with 17.6 million admissions and a worldwide gross of US$138.3 million12.
The second film, Hansan: Rising Dragon, released in 2022, is a prequel that portrays the Battle of Hansan Island, which took place five years before Myeongnyang.
- 8/18/2023
- by amalprasadappu
- https://thecinemanews.online/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_4649
In the realms of Asian cinema, where fascination and sadism frequently intertwine, the existence of a legion of unforgettable villains is not exactly a surprise. Menacing yakuza bosses, cruel moguls, serial killers, vengeful parents, trigger happy crime lords and rogue samurais among others have casted their sinister shadows and have left an indelible mark on the silver screen. With their complex motivations, chilling charisma, and uncanny ability to evoke both fear and fascination, these 30 villains have become iconic figures, embodying the depths of human malevolence. Join us as we delve into their twisted minds and explore the mesmerizing realm of Asian cinema's most unforgettable antagonists.
Without further ado, here are 30 of the most iconic villains ever to appear on Asian cinema, in random order.
1. Lee Woo-jin
The case of Lee Woo-jin in “Oldboy” shows the futility of revenge as an action for a man that could do so much with what he had,...
Without further ado, here are 30 of the most iconic villains ever to appear on Asian cinema, in random order.
1. Lee Woo-jin
The case of Lee Woo-jin in “Oldboy” shows the futility of revenge as an action for a man that could do so much with what he had,...
- 7/12/2023
- by AMP Group
- AsianMoviePulse
2022 was finally the year that the Korean box office, after the pandemic, was defibrillated back to life. Producers and distributors were finally confident that the time was right for big budget, blockbuster projects, that had long been queueing up for a release, to start making their way to the theatres. After having to resort to Ott streaming and generally smaller scale films, the audience too was hungry to see high-value productions, entertainment and their favorite stars on the big screen and thronged to the theatres, lapping up these releases. So much so that 2022 saw four new films make their way into the 100 highest grossing Korean films of all tie at the domestic box-office, with Ma Dong-seok’s “The Roundup” even rolling comfortably into the top 10.
2023 too began strongly, with the long-in-production “The Point Men” starring Hwang Jung-min and Hyun Bin and the Sol Kyung-gu led ensemble spy thriller “Phantom” opening the year strong.
2023 too began strongly, with the long-in-production “The Point Men” starring Hwang Jung-min and Hyun Bin and the Sol Kyung-gu led ensemble spy thriller “Phantom” opening the year strong.
- 2/12/2023
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
Exclusive: UTA has signed South Korean filmmaker Na Hong-Jin in all areas, as well as his production company, Forged Films.
The director, producer, and screenwriter is best known for his 2016 horror thriller The Wailing, which debuted at Cannes. Fox International Productions and Ivanhoe Pictures co-produced and co-financed the pic, which grossed 16.5M at open, becoming Fox’s biggest launch in Korea.
The movie centers on the arrival of a mysterious old stranger in an otherwise quiet village. As rumors begin to spread about him, the villagers drop dead one by one, grotesquely killing each other for inexplicable reasons. When the daughter of the investigating officer falls under the same savage spell, he calls for a shaman to assist in finding the culprit.
Na’s other credits include the 2008 action romp The Chaser and the 2010 thriller Yellow Sea, starring Ha Jung-woo, Kim Yoon-seok, and Lee Yoo-Mi.
More recently, Na collaborated as...
The director, producer, and screenwriter is best known for his 2016 horror thriller The Wailing, which debuted at Cannes. Fox International Productions and Ivanhoe Pictures co-produced and co-financed the pic, which grossed 16.5M at open, becoming Fox’s biggest launch in Korea.
The movie centers on the arrival of a mysterious old stranger in an otherwise quiet village. As rumors begin to spread about him, the villagers drop dead one by one, grotesquely killing each other for inexplicable reasons. When the daughter of the investigating officer falls under the same savage spell, he calls for a shaman to assist in finding the culprit.
Na’s other credits include the 2008 action romp The Chaser and the 2010 thriller Yellow Sea, starring Ha Jung-woo, Kim Yoon-seok, and Lee Yoo-Mi.
More recently, Na collaborated as...
- 12/6/2022
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
‘Noryang: The Sea Of Death’ is a sequel to box office smash ‘The Admiral: Roaring Currents’.
Acemaker movieworks has closed a raft of pre-sales on Remember, the Korean remake of Atom Egoyan’s 2015 revenge film of the same title, including to Alibaba for China and Relay Motion for Taiwan.
At the Asian Content & Film Market (Acfm) in Busan, the company is also launching sales on Noryang: The Sea Of Death (working title), the third in the historical action franchise of Korea’s all-time biggest box office hit, The Admiral: Roaring Currents.
Remember has now sold to 75 territories including Hong Kong...
Acemaker movieworks has closed a raft of pre-sales on Remember, the Korean remake of Atom Egoyan’s 2015 revenge film of the same title, including to Alibaba for China and Relay Motion for Taiwan.
At the Asian Content & Film Market (Acfm) in Busan, the company is also launching sales on Noryang: The Sea Of Death (working title), the third in the historical action franchise of Korea’s all-time biggest box office hit, The Admiral: Roaring Currents.
Remember has now sold to 75 territories including Hong Kong...
- 10/8/2022
- by Jean Noh
- ScreenDaily
The 20th edition of the festival will return as a full in-person event in July.
The New York Asian Film Festival (Nyaff) has unveiled the full line-up for its 20th edition, which will include honorary awards for Japanese horror director Takashi Shimizu, acclaimed Japanese actor Hiroshi Abe and South Korean rising star Kim Hye-yoon.
This year will mark Nyaff’s fully-fledged return to the big screen, following a virtual 2020 edition and a hybrid event in 2021. More than 60 new and classic titles from Asia, including six world premieres, will be presented as in-person screenings at Film at Lincoln Center (Flc) and the Asia Society,...
The New York Asian Film Festival (Nyaff) has unveiled the full line-up for its 20th edition, which will include honorary awards for Japanese horror director Takashi Shimizu, acclaimed Japanese actor Hiroshi Abe and South Korean rising star Kim Hye-yoon.
This year will mark Nyaff’s fully-fledged return to the big screen, following a virtual 2020 edition and a hybrid event in 2021. More than 60 new and classic titles from Asia, including six world premieres, will be presented as in-person screenings at Film at Lincoln Center (Flc) and the Asia Society,...
- 6/30/2022
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Ryoo Seung-wan’s features have some certainties to them: they will have a high profile star-cast, a high budget that will be utilised for very well-planned and accomplished action set-pieces offering thrills aplenty and, most importantly, they set out to entertain. A box office magnet, his films also tend to do a tidy amount of business and as such, his new projects are looked forward to with great anticipation. His latest, “Escape from Mogadishu”, from its promotional campaign looked set to be in the same grand scale that Ryoo adapted in his previous work “The Battleship Island” and an audience devoid of a similarly grand production over the last few months ensured that it opened to huge numbers in the local theatres.
“Escape from Mogadishu” is screening at Udine Far East Film Festival
It’s 1990 and both the Koreas, still struggling to get membership at the Un General Assembly, have taken to the African continent,...
“Escape from Mogadishu” is screening at Udine Far East Film Festival
It’s 1990 and both the Koreas, still struggling to get membership at the Un General Assembly, have taken to the African continent,...
- 4/23/2022
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
Diplomats from North and South Korea join forces to escape the Somalian capital in 1991, in film version of an amazing true story
This political drama from South Korea tells the amazing true story of a daring escape by North and South Korean diplomats from Somalia in the early 1990s as all hell breaks loose. It was South Korea’s entry for best international feature at the Oscars and has that highly polished, top-quality solid-weight feel (there are echoes here of Ben Affleck’s best picture winning Argo). What makes it worth the price of a download is a muscle-clenchingly thrilling third act, finishing with an action movie car chase through war-zone chaos.
It’s 1991. Diplomats from North and South Korea in Mogadishu have been competing for Somalia’s vote to decide whether South Korea joins the United Nations. Attempts by South Korean ambassador Han (Kim Yoon-seok) to woo Somali dictator...
This political drama from South Korea tells the amazing true story of a daring escape by North and South Korean diplomats from Somalia in the early 1990s as all hell breaks loose. It was South Korea’s entry for best international feature at the Oscars and has that highly polished, top-quality solid-weight feel (there are echoes here of Ben Affleck’s best picture winning Argo). What makes it worth the price of a download is a muscle-clenchingly thrilling third act, finishing with an action movie car chase through war-zone chaos.
It’s 1991. Diplomats from North and South Korea in Mogadishu have been competing for Somalia’s vote to decide whether South Korea joins the United Nations. Attempts by South Korean ambassador Han (Kim Yoon-seok) to woo Somali dictator...
- 3/22/2022
- by Cath Clarke
- The Guardian - Film News
Signature Entertainment has announced the release of the excellent South Korean political thriller Escape from Mogadishu, from acclaimed director Ryu Seung-wan, in UK cinemas and on digital platforms starting on March 25, 2022.
Synopsis: Escape from Mogadishu is a nail-biting political thriller based on a true story and starring Kim Yoon-seok (The Chaser) and Huh Joon-ho (Netflix’s Kingdom). Rival diplomats from North Korea and South Korea become trapped as civil war rages in Mogadishu, Somalia. With no aid from either government, their only shot at survival requires uniting with bitter adversaries to escape. This record-breaking Asian blockbuster is South Korea’s entry for the 2022 Oscars, and was the opening film at this year’s London Korean Film Festival. Escape from Mogadishu was written and directed by Ryu Seung-wan (Veteran) with additional writing from Lee Ki-cheol (Assassination).
Synopsis: Escape from Mogadishu is a nail-biting political thriller based on a true story and starring Kim Yoon-seok (The Chaser) and Huh Joon-ho (Netflix’s Kingdom). Rival diplomats from North Korea and South Korea become trapped as civil war rages in Mogadishu, Somalia. With no aid from either government, their only shot at survival requires uniting with bitter adversaries to escape. This record-breaking Asian blockbuster is South Korea’s entry for the 2022 Oscars, and was the opening film at this year’s London Korean Film Festival. Escape from Mogadishu was written and directed by Ryu Seung-wan (Veteran) with additional writing from Lee Ki-cheol (Assassination).
- 2/17/2022
- by Suzie Cho
- AsianMoviePulse
Since he was young, Oh Dong-gu (Ryu Deok-hwan) wished to become a woman, trying on his mother’s clothes and lipstick, aspiring to resemble his idol, Madonna. Now a high schooler, he lives with his alcoholic father (Kim Yoon-seok) and does odd jobs such as carrying sacks of salt at the Incheon port to collect money for a gender reassignment surgery, so he can confess to his Japanese language teacher (Tsuyoshi Kusanagi). Inspired by his best friend, he joins the school’s sirreum team for an upcoming tournament. Realizing his talent for traditional wrestling, he hopes to win the top prize and realize his dream.
“Like a Virgin” is screening at Hong Kong Arts Centre
Lee Hae-jun and Lee Hae-young tackle very serious topics such as parental abuse and homophobia in very funny and visually inventive ways. That is not to say that they make light of any of them.
“Like a Virgin” is screening at Hong Kong Arts Centre
Lee Hae-jun and Lee Hae-young tackle very serious topics such as parental abuse and homophobia in very funny and visually inventive ways. That is not to say that they make light of any of them.
- 11/24/2021
- by Martin Lukanov
- AsianMoviePulse
Escape From Mogadishu, Korea’s submission to this year’s International Feature Oscar race, tells the harrowing true story of North and South Koreans caught in the middle of a brutal civil war in Somalia in 1991, and how the divided nation worked together to survive the crisis in a foreign land.
Director Ryoo Seung-wan was adamant about making sure the story was told from an authentic perspective. Joined by producer Kang Hye-jung on the film’s panel at Deadline’s Contenders International awards-season event, he talked about why he chose to chronicle this specific moment by explaining the politics leading up to the events in the narrative feature film that stars Kim Yoon-seok, Huh Joon-ho, Zo In-sung, Koo Kyo-hwan, Jeong Man-sik and Kim So-jin.
“Korea was the only divided nation in the world at that time. And at that time, both North and South Korea had not been admitted to the United Nations,...
Director Ryoo Seung-wan was adamant about making sure the story was told from an authentic perspective. Joined by producer Kang Hye-jung on the film’s panel at Deadline’s Contenders International awards-season event, he talked about why he chose to chronicle this specific moment by explaining the politics leading up to the events in the narrative feature film that stars Kim Yoon-seok, Huh Joon-ho, Zo In-sung, Koo Kyo-hwan, Jeong Man-sik and Kim So-jin.
“Korea was the only divided nation in the world at that time. And at that time, both North and South Korea had not been admitted to the United Nations,...
- 11/20/2021
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
As violence erupts in the African nation of Somalia, delegates from both North and South Korea scramble to evacuate the capital city of Mogadishu in Ryoo Seung-wan's action-packed political thriller Escape From Mogadishu. In the late 1980s, South Korea and its contentious Northern neighbour were both lobbying to be admitted into the United Nations. As Africa contained the most member countries at that time, it fell to the Korean ambassadors in those regions to curry favour with local African delegates. Escape From Mogadishu picks up in December 1990, as the South Korean Ambassador to Somalia Han Sin-seong (played by Kim Yoon-seok from The Chaser and The Yellow Sea) is hoping to secure a meeting with President Siad Barre, as is Han's opposite number from North...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 10/20/2021
- Screen Anarchy
Updated: Tarak Ben Ammar’s Eagle Pictures is in talks with “Green Book” director Peter Farrelly to team up on the film adaptation of French author Guillaume Musso’s bestselling novel “Seras-tu là,” Variety has learned.
“Seras-tu là” revolves around Elliott, a 60-year old widowed and renowned surgeon who lives in San Francisco and has a daughter, Angie. Although he leads a successful life, he never totally recovered from the death of his beloved wife 30 years prior. One day, he meets a man who gives him the opportunity to travel back in time. Elliott embarks on a journey to change his wife’s fate and do things differently, traveling back and forth between 2006 and 1976.
Ben Ammar has optioned the 2006 book’s English-language audiovisual rights for a duration of four years and is in negotiations with Farrelly to have him be involved as co-writer and director. Ben Ammar will be producing the film with Mark Burg,...
“Seras-tu là” revolves around Elliott, a 60-year old widowed and renowned surgeon who lives in San Francisco and has a daughter, Angie. Although he leads a successful life, he never totally recovered from the death of his beloved wife 30 years prior. One day, he meets a man who gives him the opportunity to travel back in time. Elliott embarks on a journey to change his wife’s fate and do things differently, traveling back and forth between 2006 and 1976.
Ben Ammar has optioned the 2006 book’s English-language audiovisual rights for a duration of four years and is in negotiations with Farrelly to have him be involved as co-writer and director. Ben Ammar will be producing the film with Mark Burg,...
- 10/7/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Keep track of all the submissions for best international feature at the 2022 Academy Awards.
Entries for the 2022 Oscar for best international feature are underway, and Screen is profiling each one on this page.
Scroll down for profiles of each Oscar entry
The 94th Academy Awards will take place on March 27, 2022 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. This is the first time since 2018 that the ceremony will take place in March, having moved to avoid conflicting with the Winter Olympics.
An international feature film is defined as a feature-length motion picture produced outside the US with a predominantly non-English dialogue...
Entries for the 2022 Oscar for best international feature are underway, and Screen is profiling each one on this page.
Scroll down for profiles of each Oscar entry
The 94th Academy Awards will take place on March 27, 2022 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. This is the first time since 2018 that the ceremony will take place in March, having moved to avoid conflicting with the Winter Olympics.
An international feature film is defined as a feature-length motion picture produced outside the US with a predominantly non-English dialogue...
- 10/5/2021
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
The Korean Film Council has picked Escape From Mogadishu, an action drama from director Ryoo Seung-wan, to represent South Korea at the 2022 Academy Awards in the best international feature category.
The drama, which has been a box office hit in Korea, is based on the true story of South and North Korean diplomats based in Somalia who put aside their political differences and joined forces to try and escape the country when civil war broke out there in the early 1990s. Escape From Mogadishu stars Kim Yoon-seok, Huh Joon-ho, Zo In-sung, Koo Kyo-hwan, Jeong Man-sik and Kim So-jin.
Well Go USA picked up ...
The drama, which has been a box office hit in Korea, is based on the true story of South and North Korean diplomats based in Somalia who put aside their political differences and joined forces to try and escape the country when civil war broke out there in the early 1990s. Escape From Mogadishu stars Kim Yoon-seok, Huh Joon-ho, Zo In-sung, Koo Kyo-hwan, Jeong Man-sik and Kim So-jin.
Well Go USA picked up ...
- 10/5/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Korean Film Council has picked Escape From Mogadishu, an action drama from director Ryoo Seung-wan, to represent South Korea at the 2022 Academy Awards in the best international feature category.
The drama, which has been a box office hit in Korea, is based on the true story of South and North Korean diplomats based in Somalia who put aside their political differences and joined forces to try and escape the country when civil war broke out there in the early 1990s. Escape From Mogadishu stars Kim Yoon-seok, Huh Joon-ho, Zo In-sung, Koo Kyo-hwan, Jeong Man-sik and Kim So-jin.
Well Go USA picked up ...
The drama, which has been a box office hit in Korea, is based on the true story of South and North Korean diplomats based in Somalia who put aside their political differences and joined forces to try and escape the country when civil war broke out there in the early 1990s. Escape From Mogadishu stars Kim Yoon-seok, Huh Joon-ho, Zo In-sung, Koo Kyo-hwan, Jeong Man-sik and Kim So-jin.
Well Go USA picked up ...
- 10/5/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Korean box office hit Escape From Mogadishu has arrived in U.S. cinemas, and it’s gripping stuff. Propelled by a naturally cinematic true story, the thriller blends action with humor and heart to crowd-pleasing effect. Well Go USA handles domestic while the Lotte release recently topped $20M in its home market.
It’s set in the Somalian capital in 1991. South Korea is keen to gain Somalia’s vote for membership in the United Nations, and is competing with North Korea for the President’s attention. South Korean Ambassador Han Shin-sung (Kim Yoon-seok) is joined by Counselor Kang Dae-jin (Zo In-sung), a member of South Korea’s intelligence agency. They’re trying all the tricks in the book, but have more pressing concerns when local protests escalate into civil war. Desperate to return home, they’re cut off from the outside world with their families in the embassy. When the...
It’s set in the Somalian capital in 1991. South Korea is keen to gain Somalia’s vote for membership in the United Nations, and is competing with North Korea for the President’s attention. South Korean Ambassador Han Shin-sung (Kim Yoon-seok) is joined by Counselor Kang Dae-jin (Zo In-sung), a member of South Korea’s intelligence agency. They’re trying all the tricks in the book, but have more pressing concerns when local protests escalate into civil war. Desperate to return home, they’re cut off from the outside world with their families in the embassy. When the...
- 8/19/2021
- by Anna Smith
- Deadline Film + TV
As violence erupts in the African nation of Somalia, delegates from both North and South Korea scramble to evacuate the capital city of Mogadishu in Ryoo Seung-wan's action-packed political thriller Escape From Mogadishu, which was the opening night film at this year's New York Asian Film Festival. In the late 1980s, South Korea and its contentious Northern neighbour were both lobbying to be admitted into the United Nations. As Africa contained the most member countries at that time, it fell to the Korean ambassadors in those regions to curry favour with local African delegates. Escape From Mogadishu picks up in December 1990, as the South Korean Ambassador to Somalia Han Sin-seong (played by Kim Yoon-seok from The Chaser and The Yellow Sea) is hoping to...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 8/11/2021
- Screen Anarchy
Ryoo Seung-wan’s features have some certainties to them: they will have a high profile star-cast, a high budget that will be utilised for very well-planned and accomplished action set-pieces offering thrills aplenty and, most importantly, they set out to entertain. A box office magnet, his films also tend to do a tidy amount of business and as such, his new projects are looked forward to with great anticipation. His latest, “Escape from Mogadishu”, from its promotional campaign looked set to be in the same grand scale that Ryoo adapted in his previous work “The Battleship Island” and an audience devoid of a similarly grand production over the last few months ensured that it opened to huge numbers in the local theatres.
“Escape from Mogadishu” is screening at New York Asian Film Festival
It’s 1990 and both the Koreas, still struggling to get membership at the Un General Assembly, have taken to the African continent,...
“Escape from Mogadishu” is screening at New York Asian Film Festival
It’s 1990 and both the Koreas, still struggling to get membership at the Un General Assembly, have taken to the African continent,...
- 8/7/2021
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
If North Korea and South Korea ever reunite and hold a celebratory film festival, “Escape from Mogadishu” is a sure thing for selection. Based on the amazing true story of embassy staff from both countries joining forces to escape probable death in the civil war-ravaged Somali capital in 1991, this propulsive and intelligently written South Korean adventure thriller casts partisan politics aside and celebrates what can be achieved when adversaries come together. Energetically directed by Ryoo Seung-wan (“Veteran”) and very well performed, “Mogadishu” has stormed to the top spot at the Korean box-office with more than a million admissions in the week since its July 28 release. The outlook is bright when it opens in limited North American cinemas on Aug. 6.
“Escape from Mogadishu” is a fascinating addition to the body of South Korean screen productions featuring North Korean characters in prominent roles. In light of the National Security Law, producers must...
“Escape from Mogadishu” is a fascinating addition to the body of South Korean screen productions featuring North Korean characters in prominent roles. In light of the National Security Law, producers must...
- 8/6/2021
- by Richard Kuipers
- Variety Film + TV
The Korean writer and director team of Choi Suk-kwan and Lee Joon-ik had already established themselves as box office smashers with “Radio Days” and “The King and the Clown”, when they decided to shoot “The Happy Life”, and with actors like Kim Yoon-seok, Jung Ji-young and Kim Sang-ho the result was predefined as highly entertaining, a prediction it fulfilled utterly.
Gi-yeong is an unemployed slob that owes money due to a number of unsuccessful investments in the stock market, has utterly leaned upon his wife for financial support and has trouble with his adolescent daughter. However, when he is informed that Sang-woo, the leader of his college band has died, he attends a funeral where a drunken reunion among the former band members takes place, which gives him the idea to reinstate the band, Active Volcano. His former comrades though are not so eager, due to their business and financial engagements.
Gi-yeong is an unemployed slob that owes money due to a number of unsuccessful investments in the stock market, has utterly leaned upon his wife for financial support and has trouble with his adolescent daughter. However, when he is informed that Sang-woo, the leader of his college band has died, he attends a funeral where a drunken reunion among the former band members takes place, which gives him the idea to reinstate the band, Active Volcano. His former comrades though are not so eager, due to their business and financial engagements.
- 7/27/2021
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Every story has two sides to it. Injo, the sixteenth King of the Joseon dynasty is generally known to be a weak and indecisive ruler, mostly widely disliked for his surrender of Joseon to the Qing dynasty. His Minister, Choi Myeong-gil is equally regarded as a traitor for spearheading the deal that eventually led to the surrender.
Four years after the vastly popular “Miss Granny”, director Hwang Dong-hyuk attempts to tell the side of Injo and Choi’s story of what truly transpired for the King to take such a step in his latest film “The Fortress”. With its star-studded cast and rich production values, “The Fortress” went on to win Best Film, Best Director, Best Cinematography as well as Best Music at the Korean Critics Choice Awards in 2017.
It’s 1636. The Qing have invaded Joseon, driving King Injo and his ministers into the mountains to the fortified city of Namhansanseong.
Four years after the vastly popular “Miss Granny”, director Hwang Dong-hyuk attempts to tell the side of Injo and Choi’s story of what truly transpired for the King to take such a step in his latest film “The Fortress”. With its star-studded cast and rich production values, “The Fortress” went on to win Best Film, Best Director, Best Cinematography as well as Best Music at the Korean Critics Choice Awards in 2017.
It’s 1636. The Qing have invaded Joseon, driving King Injo and his ministers into the mountains to the fortified city of Namhansanseong.
- 7/26/2021
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
"The people in Seoul don't even know what's happening to us, right?" Well Go USA has released an official US trailer for a Korean film called Escape from Mogadishu, originally known as just Mogadishu. This is debuting in early August in the US in select theaters, just a few weeks after it opens in Korea first, which is a quick turnaround for a Korean film. Based on a true story: as civil war rages in Mogadishu, rival North and South Korean diplomats are left trapped. With no aid from either government, their only shot at survival may require uniting with bitter adversaries to escape. The cast of Escape from Mogadishu includes Kim Yoon-seok, Huh Joon-ho, Zo In-sung, Koo Kyo-hwan, Joung Man-sik, and Kim So-jin. This is an intense trailer, with brutal shots of civil war violence included uncensored, as they try to make it out safely. Here's the official US...
- 7/19/2021
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
The New York Asian Film Foundation and Film at Lincoln Center are delighted to unveil further highlights of the 2021 New York Asian Film Festival (Nyaff), including the Opening film, lifetime award honorees, the competition lineup, the inaugural Asian American Focus and additional films. The Festival will screen over 60 films, both virtually and in person, to audiences in New York and across the country from August 6 – 22, 2021.
Nyaff’s 20th edition will kick off at Film at Lincoln Center on August 6 with the in-person international premiere of Ryoo Seung-wan’s tense action thriller “Escape from Mogadishu,” starring Kim Yoon-seok (Nyaff Star Asia winner 2018) and Zo In-sung. The film is dramatically constructed based on real events that took place in 1991 at the onset of the Somali Civil War, and depicts the perilous escape attempted by North and South Korean embassy workers who were stranded during the conflict. (Well Go USA is releasing the...
Nyaff’s 20th edition will kick off at Film at Lincoln Center on August 6 with the in-person international premiere of Ryoo Seung-wan’s tense action thriller “Escape from Mogadishu,” starring Kim Yoon-seok (Nyaff Star Asia winner 2018) and Zo In-sung. The film is dramatically constructed based on real events that took place in 1991 at the onset of the Somali Civil War, and depicts the perilous escape attempted by North and South Korean embassy workers who were stranded during the conflict. (Well Go USA is releasing the...
- 7/18/2021
- by Grace Han
- AsianMoviePulse
International and indie film distributor Well Go USA Entertainment has acquired North American rights to Korean film Escape From Mogadishu. It will open in theaters in the U.S. and Canada August 6 following a July 28 release in Korea.
The film is based on true events and chronicles the harrowing experience of bitterly opposed North and South Korean diplomats trapped in the city of Mogadishu at the advent of the Somalian civil war in 1991. The dramatic years-long conflict, which exploded following the rebel-led ouster of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre, was introduced to American audiences through blockbuster film Black Hawk Down, which picks up the narrative in war-torn Mogadishu in 1993.
“The film portrays this almost unfathomable event that throws the horrors of war into sharp relief,” said Well Go CEO Doris Pfardrescher. She noted the production team’s careful study of surviving embassy records and historical accounts to create the most realistic possible depiction.
The film is based on true events and chronicles the harrowing experience of bitterly opposed North and South Korean diplomats trapped in the city of Mogadishu at the advent of the Somalian civil war in 1991. The dramatic years-long conflict, which exploded following the rebel-led ouster of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre, was introduced to American audiences through blockbuster film Black Hawk Down, which picks up the narrative in war-torn Mogadishu in 1993.
“The film portrays this almost unfathomable event that throws the horrors of war into sharp relief,” said Well Go CEO Doris Pfardrescher. She noted the production team’s careful study of surviving embassy records and historical accounts to create the most realistic possible depiction.
- 7/13/2021
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Korea Theater Association to forgo ticket sales split until box office reaches 50% of budget.
South Korean exhibitors and broadcasters are offering major incentives to two local big-budget films – Lotte Entertainment’s Escape From Mogadishu and Showbox’s Sinkhole – that have delayed their releases due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Members of the Korea Theater Association – including leading multiplex chains Cj Cgv, Lotte Cinema and Megabox – have declared they will forgo the usual 50:50 split of ticket sales between theatres and distributors until box office reaches 50% of each of the film’s respective total budgets including production costs and P&a.
The...
South Korean exhibitors and broadcasters are offering major incentives to two local big-budget films – Lotte Entertainment’s Escape From Mogadishu and Showbox’s Sinkhole – that have delayed their releases due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Members of the Korea Theater Association – including leading multiplex chains Cj Cgv, Lotte Cinema and Megabox – have declared they will forgo the usual 50:50 split of ticket sales between theatres and distributors until box office reaches 50% of each of the film’s respective total budgets including production costs and P&a.
The...
- 6/17/2021
- by Jean Noh
- ScreenDaily
Amazing script, great direction, two opponents that give a true acting recital, a little girl who steals the show at times, action, comedy, drama, agony and everything one could ask from a crime thriller can be found in “The Chaser”. Evidently, the film deserved both the awards it netted and the its ticket revenue.
Eom Joong-ho is an ex-cop who currently operates a prostitution ring. Recently, some of his “girls” have mysteriously disappeared, while they still owe him money, putting him in a difficult financial position. Due to the lack of girls, he is forced to send the sick Mi-jin to a customer, despite her strong objections and her having to leave her little daughter alone. However, a little later, he realizes the other two girls that disappeared had a “date” with the same customer, named Je Yeong-min. Assuming the particular individual resells the girls, she orders...
Eom Joong-ho is an ex-cop who currently operates a prostitution ring. Recently, some of his “girls” have mysteriously disappeared, while they still owe him money, putting him in a difficult financial position. Due to the lack of girls, he is forced to send the sick Mi-jin to a customer, despite her strong objections and her having to leave her little daughter alone. However, a little later, he realizes the other two girls that disappeared had a “date” with the same customer, named Je Yeong-min. Assuming the particular individual resells the girls, she orders...
- 4/3/2021
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
After the true masterpiece that was “The Chaser”, the sole question regarding Na Hong-jin was if he could continue as well with his next film. “The Yellow Sea” provided an answer.
Gu-nam is a truly weather-beaten ethnic Korean who lives in China and works as a taxi driver. His obsession with gambling has led him to owe a large sum to the local mafia, who takes a big proportion of his already mediocre income. His wife, who has gone to work in South Korea with the ulterior motive of sending him money, has not contacted him in a long time and he thinks she has abandoned him. Not being able to provide for their daughter, he has left her with his mother, a foul-mouthed woman who constantly curses at him. Eventually, he is fired and the mafia takes the largest part of his compensation. Being utterly desperate,...
Gu-nam is a truly weather-beaten ethnic Korean who lives in China and works as a taxi driver. His obsession with gambling has led him to owe a large sum to the local mafia, who takes a big proportion of his already mediocre income. His wife, who has gone to work in South Korea with the ulterior motive of sending him money, has not contacted him in a long time and he thinks she has abandoned him. Not being able to provide for their daughter, he has left her with his mother, a foul-mouthed woman who constantly curses at him. Eventually, he is fired and the mafia takes the largest part of his compensation. Being utterly desperate,...
- 4/2/2021
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Welcome back to Let’s Scare Bryan to Death, where this month I have a very interesting treat. Those who remember my interview with Alexandra West about the movie Pyewacket know we both loved it, so this month I’m thrilled to have a chat with the film’s director, Adam MacDonald, who you might also know from his film Backcountry and the third season of Slasher.
For this month’s film, we’re taking a look at MacDonald’s favorite of all time, a South Korean thriller from Hong-jin Na called The Chaser (2008). Now, I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical based on the synopsis provided by IMDb: A disgraced ex-policeman who runs a small ring of prostitutes finds himself in a race against time when one of his women goes missing.
From that synopsis I was expecting something overly stylized and action-oriented like Taken,...
For this month’s film, we’re taking a look at MacDonald’s favorite of all time, a South Korean thriller from Hong-jin Na called The Chaser (2008). Now, I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical based on the synopsis provided by IMDb: A disgraced ex-policeman who runs a small ring of prostitutes finds himself in a race against time when one of his women goes missing.
From that synopsis I was expecting something overly stylized and action-oriented like Taken,...
- 3/11/2020
- by Bryan Christopher
- DailyDead
It’s finally out! A few images and bits of information had been trickling out from the sets of this much-anticipated period epic, but the makers have finally decided to unveil the first trailer of Namhansanseong Fortress. And it looks spectacular.
The film is directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk, who makes his foray into yet another new genre after 2011’s dark and challenging The Crucible (Silenced) and 2013’s comedy Miss Granny. Starring in key roles are Lee Byung-hun (Inside Men, I Saw the Devil), Kim Yoon-seok (The Priests), Park Hae-il (The Last Princess), Go Soo, Park Hee-soon and Jo Woo-jin.
Lee Byung-hun in Namhansanseong Fortress (2017)
The film is set during the Second Manchu invasion of Korea of 1636, when the newly established Manchu Qing dynasty invaded Korea’s Joseon kingdom. During the invasion, King Injo, the 16th Joseon king, and his retainers were forced to seek refuge in the fortress located in the mountain city of Namhansanseong.
The film is directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk, who makes his foray into yet another new genre after 2011’s dark and challenging The Crucible (Silenced) and 2013’s comedy Miss Granny. Starring in key roles are Lee Byung-hun (Inside Men, I Saw the Devil), Kim Yoon-seok (The Priests), Park Hae-il (The Last Princess), Go Soo, Park Hee-soon and Jo Woo-jin.
Lee Byung-hun in Namhansanseong Fortress (2017)
The film is set during the Second Manchu invasion of Korea of 1636, when the newly established Manchu Qing dynasty invaded Korea’s Joseon kingdom. During the invasion, King Injo, the 16th Joseon king, and his retainers were forced to seek refuge in the fortress located in the mountain city of Namhansanseong.
- 7/27/2017
- by Arnav Sinha
- AsianMoviePulse
Originally released back in 2014 on the festival circuit where it was a huge success, Sea Fog aka ‘Haemoo’ is finally coming to Blu Ray and On Demand from August 2nd 2016 .
The award winning film is also notable for being the Korean selection for the 2014 Oscars (Best Foreign Film ) .
Plot
Kang, a long time captain of the Junjin, is disheartened to learn that his ship has been sold by its owner, leaving Kang’s entire crew in danger of losing their livelihood. Swallowing his pride, Kang pays a visit to Yeo, a human trafficking broker, and decides to take on the dangerous job of smuggling illegal migrants into South Korea. When the Junjin arrives at the pickup point, a violent storm forces the boat to stall in the open waters, inevitably pitting Kang’s crew against the migrants. As tension and unrest spread throughout the Junjin, a dense sea fog envelops the boat,...
The award winning film is also notable for being the Korean selection for the 2014 Oscars (Best Foreign Film ) .
Plot
Kang, a long time captain of the Junjin, is disheartened to learn that his ship has been sold by its owner, leaving Kang’s entire crew in danger of losing their livelihood. Swallowing his pride, Kang pays a visit to Yeo, a human trafficking broker, and decides to take on the dangerous job of smuggling illegal migrants into South Korea. When the Junjin arrives at the pickup point, a violent storm forces the boat to stall in the open waters, inevitably pitting Kang’s crew against the migrants. As tension and unrest spread throughout the Junjin, a dense sea fog envelops the boat,...
- 7/15/2016
- by The Tiger
- AsianMoviePulse
For some, the name Bong Joon-ho is enough to garner interest, whether he is directing, producing, or scripting. He has handled the latter two in Sung-bo Shim‘s (who co-penned Bong’s Memories of Murder), which has now been given its first U.S. trailer ahead of a domestic release. The trailer shows a fisherman down on his luck who once again engages in human smuggling between China and Korea. An official selection at Tiff back in 2014 and now finally landing in the U.S. this summer, the trailer promises a taut, beautifully shot thriller.
We said in our review: “Both atmospheric and claustrophobic, the thriller is expertly lensed by cinematographer Hong Kyung-pyo (Mother, Snowpiercer) and tensely paced by editors Kim Sang-bum and Kim Jae-bum. The influence of Bong is apparent throughout the film, yet Shim’s direction is top notch and a text book example of misdirection. While the...
We said in our review: “Both atmospheric and claustrophobic, the thriller is expertly lensed by cinematographer Hong Kyung-pyo (Mother, Snowpiercer) and tensely paced by editors Kim Sang-bum and Kim Jae-bum. The influence of Bong is apparent throughout the film, yet Shim’s direction is top notch and a text book example of misdirection. While the...
- 7/12/2016
- by Mike Mazzanti
- The Film Stage
By nature of its title this film may conjure up comparisons to other nautical flicks, but your preconceived notions about its theme or plot will be quickly up-ended while viewing Sea Fog. Is it a disaster film like The Perfect Storm? Not really. Is it a horror/fantasy thriller like John Carpenter original The Fog? No, but you might suspect this from the film’s producer and co-screenwriter Joon-ho Bong, the acclaimed filmmaker of The Host and Snowpiercer. Well, there’s no futurist vehicles or mutated monsters here. There are, however, lots of human monsters. Oh, and it comes from South Korea, set in 1998. The movie begins with a riveting credits sequence, showing a near-fatal accident that will be familiar to fans of TV’s “Deadliest Catch”. This is all business as usual to the men that work on the creaking, rusted-out fishing boat, the Junjin. Moments later Captain Kang...
- 11/9/2015
- by Jim Batts
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Given the strong presence of Christianity in South Korea along with that nation'shistory of horror film it's really quite surprising that there haven't been more angels and demons popping up in K-horror offerings over the years. But that looks to be changing with the arrival of Jang Jae-hyun's The Priests.A young girl is in coma after a hit-and-run accident. Father Kim (Kim Yoon-seok) believes that she is possessed by an evil spirit, and seminarian Choi (Gang Dong-won) gets involved in the case as his assistant. But as they're trying to investigate the case, Choi becomes suspicious of Father Kim, and the faith of the two priests starts to be tested.Kim Yoon-seok - familiar from The Thieves and The Yellow Sea - plays opposite Gang Gong-won...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 10/27/2015
- Screen Anarchy
Neil Armfield.s Holding the Man, Simon Stone.s The Daughter, Jeremy Sims. Last Cab to Darwin and Jen Peedom.s feature doc Sherpa will have their world premieres at the Sydney Film Festival.
The festival program unveiled today includes 33 world premieres (including 22 shorts) and 135 Australian premieres (with 18 shorts) among 251 titles from 68 countries.
Among the other premieres will be Daina Reid.s The Secret River, Ruby Entertainment's. ABC-tv miniseries starring Oliver Jackson Cohen and Sarah Snook, and three Oz docs, Marc Eberle.s The Cambodian Space Project — Not Easy Rock .n. Roll, Steve Thomas. Freedom Stories and Lisa Nicol.s Wide Open Sky.
Festival director Nashen Moodley boasted. this year.s event will be far larger than 2014's when 183 films from 47 countries were screened, including 15 world premieres. The expansion is possible in part due to the addition of two new screening venues in Newtown and Liverpool.
As previously announced, Brendan Cowell...
The festival program unveiled today includes 33 world premieres (including 22 shorts) and 135 Australian premieres (with 18 shorts) among 251 titles from 68 countries.
Among the other premieres will be Daina Reid.s The Secret River, Ruby Entertainment's. ABC-tv miniseries starring Oliver Jackson Cohen and Sarah Snook, and three Oz docs, Marc Eberle.s The Cambodian Space Project — Not Easy Rock .n. Roll, Steve Thomas. Freedom Stories and Lisa Nicol.s Wide Open Sky.
Festival director Nashen Moodley boasted. this year.s event will be far larger than 2014's when 183 films from 47 countries were screened, including 15 world premieres. The expansion is possible in part due to the addition of two new screening venues in Newtown and Liverpool.
As previously announced, Brendan Cowell...
- 5/6/2015
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
The 39th Toronto International Film Festival has announced its initial slate of galas and special presentations, which includes 37 world premieres and several films with Oscar ambitions. The Judge, which stars Robert Downey Jr. as a big-city lawyer who reluctantly returns home and ends up defending his revered father (Robert Duvall) against criminal charges, will have its world premiere in Toronto. His Avengers pal, Chris Evans, will unveil his own directorial debut in Toronto, titled Before We Go.
Also noteworthy: James Gandolfini’s final film, The Drop, which also stars Tom Hardy and Noomi Rapace; another Jason Reitman Toronto world premiere,...
Also noteworthy: James Gandolfini’s final film, The Drop, which also stars Tom Hardy and Noomi Rapace; another Jason Reitman Toronto world premiere,...
- 7/22/2014
- by Jeff Labrecque
- EW - Inside Movies
The Toronto International Film Festival announced its initial wave of 2014 premieres and galas this morning and it features some familiar awards titles, some big stars and some unexpected studio titles. Among the major studio films, David Dobkin's "The Judge" with Robert Downey Jr. and Antoine Fuqua's "The Equalizer" each received gala slots and should premiere over the festival's opening weekend. Other announced galas so far include Bennett Miller's acclaimed "Foxcatcher," which debuted at Cannes, and Mike Binder's "Black and White" starring Kevin Costner, Octavia Spencer and Anthony Mackie. Toronto has also scheduled special gala screenings for David Cronenberg's "Map to the Stars" with Julianne Moore and Robert Pattinson, François Ozon's "The New Girlfriend," Ed Zwick's "Pawn Sacrifice" with Tobey Maguire, Lone Scherfig's "The Riot Club," Jean-Marc Vallée's "Wild," Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano's "Samba" and Shawn Levy's "This is Where I Leave You...
- 7/22/2014
- by Gregory Ellwood
- Hitfix
A number of Sound On Sight editors and contributors are geographically fortunate enough to make the Fantasia Film Festival an annual must-attend event. I have never been to the festival, but have followed it from afar since it landed on my radar years ago when a well-received short film I had a major acting role in called My Sweet Satan, played there.
This year’s lineup of films strikes me as substantially more intriguing than the programs of the last couple of years. Given Fantasia’s staggering breadth of programming spread across multiple weeks, the challenge is in trying to narrow a ‘most anticipated’ list down to just five films. My picks, in alphabetical order, are as follows.
****
Among the Living
Written and directed by Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury
France, 2014
Also known as Aux yeux des vivants (The Eyes of the Living), the third feature film from the outstanding...
This year’s lineup of films strikes me as substantially more intriguing than the programs of the last couple of years. Given Fantasia’s staggering breadth of programming spread across multiple weeks, the challenge is in trying to narrow a ‘most anticipated’ list down to just five films. My picks, in alphabetical order, are as follows.
****
Among the Living
Written and directed by Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury
France, 2014
Also known as Aux yeux des vivants (The Eyes of the Living), the third feature film from the outstanding...
- 7/15/2014
- by Terek Puckett
- SoundOnSight
The Host director Bong Joon-ho slides into the producer's chair for his Memories Of Murder co-writer Shim Sung-bo's directorial debut, Sea Fog (HaeMoo), the based-on-a-true-story tale of a fishing vessel whose attempt to transport illegal immigrants ends very badly, indeed.With Bong's latest directorial effort, Snowpiercer, hitting Us screens this week the first teaser for this new producing effort has arrived in Korea and it's not hard to feel the pedigree. Kim Yoon-seok, Park Yu-chun and Han Ye-ri anchor the cast. Check out the teaser below....
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 6/27/2014
- Screen Anarchy
Korea’s most bankable star, Kim Yoon-seok made his stage debut in 1988 with A Streetcar Named Desire. His theater background led him to be cast in minor roles on film and television. One of the first of which was a supporting part as a rural cop chasing down a scammer in director Choi Dong-hoon’s 2004 film The Big Swindle. After several years of minor roles, his breakthrough role came as a ruthless gambler with a scarred face and charismatic swagger in Tazza: The High Rollers (2006). He then played as a pimp and ex-cop on the trail of a prostitute murdering serial killer—played by Ha Jung-woo—in The Chaser (2008) directed by Na Hong-jin that brought him stardom and acting awards.
He has since become an acclaimed leading actor in Korean cinema, in films such as Running Turtle (2009), The Yellow Sea (2010), Punch (2011), and The Thieves (2012).
He played a toothless detective who...
He has since become an acclaimed leading actor in Korean cinema, in films such as Running Turtle (2009), The Yellow Sea (2010), Punch (2011), and The Thieves (2012).
He played a toothless detective who...
- 3/7/2014
- by Jane Youm
- AsianMoviePulse
South Korean sales agent also sells Red Family to Japan and Rough Play to Japan and Malaysia.
South Korean sales agent Finecut has announced a raft of deals led by thriller Haemoo (a.k.a. Sea Fog) [pictured], executive produced by Bong Joon Ho, which has pre-sold to Wild Side Films for French-speaking Europe and Twin for Japan.
Bong’s Memories Of Murder co-writer Shim Sung-bo is making a feature directorial debut with Haemoo, starring K-pop boy group Jyj member Park Yu-chun and top actor Kim Yoon-seok from The Chaser. Currently in production, the film is scheduled for a late summer release in Korea.
Russian Novel director Shin Yeon-shick’s action thriller Rough Play, written and produced by Kim Ki-duk, sold to Klockworx for Japan and Hwa Yea Multimedia for Malaysia. The film stars Lee Jun from Ninja Assassin.
Another film written and produced by Kim, Red Family - Lee Ju-hyung’s feature directorial debut which won the...
South Korean sales agent Finecut has announced a raft of deals led by thriller Haemoo (a.k.a. Sea Fog) [pictured], executive produced by Bong Joon Ho, which has pre-sold to Wild Side Films for French-speaking Europe and Twin for Japan.
Bong’s Memories Of Murder co-writer Shim Sung-bo is making a feature directorial debut with Haemoo, starring K-pop boy group Jyj member Park Yu-chun and top actor Kim Yoon-seok from The Chaser. Currently in production, the film is scheduled for a late summer release in Korea.
Russian Novel director Shin Yeon-shick’s action thriller Rough Play, written and produced by Kim Ki-duk, sold to Klockworx for Japan and Hwa Yea Multimedia for Malaysia. The film stars Lee Jun from Ninja Assassin.
Another film written and produced by Kim, Red Family - Lee Ju-hyung’s feature directorial debut which won the...
- 2/7/2014
- by hjnoh2007@gmail.com (Jean Noh)
- ScreenDaily
South Korean sales company Finecut has announced two new additions to their Afm slate, including a foggy thriller set at sea and executive produced by Bong Joon-ho.
The two titles are Haemoo (Sea Fog) and Obsessed, a Vietnam War-era tale of erotic romance starring Song Seung-heon.
Haemoo marks the Snowpiercer director’s first film as executive producer and features Kim Yoon-seok from The Yellow Sea and The Chaser.
Bong will be working for the second time with Shim Sung-bo since they co-wrote the 2003 hit thriller Memories Of Murder.
Shim is making his feature directorial debut with the $6m film based on a theatre production, itself based on true events.
The story is about a ship’s crew of desperate fishermen smuggling illegal migrants who get caught up in tragedy and chaos in the midst of a heavy sea fog.
The youngest crew member Dong-sik - to be played by K-pop group Jyj member Park Yu-chan - tries...
The two titles are Haemoo (Sea Fog) and Obsessed, a Vietnam War-era tale of erotic romance starring Song Seung-heon.
Haemoo marks the Snowpiercer director’s first film as executive producer and features Kim Yoon-seok from The Yellow Sea and The Chaser.
Bong will be working for the second time with Shim Sung-bo since they co-wrote the 2003 hit thriller Memories Of Murder.
Shim is making his feature directorial debut with the $6m film based on a theatre production, itself based on true events.
The story is about a ship’s crew of desperate fishermen smuggling illegal migrants who get caught up in tragedy and chaos in the midst of a heavy sea fog.
The youngest crew member Dong-sik - to be played by K-pop group Jyj member Park Yu-chan - tries...
- 10/30/2013
- by hjnoh2007@gmail.com (Jean Noh)
- ScreenDaily
‘Save the Green Planet!’ director Jang Joon-hwan is back, after a fairly heft hiatus, with a - very dark - action thriller Hwayi, and we thought it worth a mention that the official site for the flick has is now live. Nothing overtly special on there to shout about, but it does have the gritty trailers (featuring a fave actor around these parts, Yun-seok Kim) in high definition. Hwayi opens in Korean October 9. Synopsis: Hwayi is a boy living in a farm village, who was raised by 5 fathers who are famous criminals. One day, the group is commissioned to kill a man named Lim and his wife. While the rest of the group feel something odd about this particular contract, Suk-tae is adamant to carry out this job with Hwayi in tow. During the job Hwayi discovers a photograph of a child in Lim’s house. Eventually, Suk-tae hands his...
- 9/25/2013
- 24framespersecond.net
‘Save the Green Planet!’ director Jang Joon-hwan is back, after a fairly heft hiatus, with a - very dark - action thriller Hwayi, and we thought it worth a mention that the official site for the flick has is now live. Nothing overtly special on there to shout about, but it does have the gritty trailers (featuring a fave actor around these parts, Yun-seok Kim) in high definition. Hwayi opens in Korean October 9. Synopsis: Hwayi is a boy living in a farm village, who was raised by 5 fathers who are famous criminals. One day, the group is commissioned to kill a man named Lim and his wife. While the rest of the group feel something odd about this particular contract, Suk-tae is adamant to carry out this job with Hwayi in tow. During the job Hwayi discovers a photograph of a child in Lim’s house. Eventually, Suk-tae hands his...
- 9/25/2013
- 24framespersecond.net
Special Mention: The Fake Trailers from Grindhouse (2007, USA): The four fake trailers featured in the otherwise disappointing Robert Rodriguez/Quentin Tarantino double-feature: Machete by Robert Rodriguez, Werewolf Women of the SS by Rob Zombie, Thanksgiving by Eli Roth and Don’t by Edgar Wright-are all very entertaining trips down horror/exploitation film memory lane and are easily the best part of the film.
****
2) Other Notable Horror Films Of The 2000’s:
This list focuses on films that are partially successful and even touch on brilliance at times but ultimately don’t pull everything together to fully deliver on their promise.
Intacto (Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, 2001, Spain):
This film about a group of people blessed with supernatural good luck has a great premise, several great scenes-the revelation of the plane crash early in the film, the blindfolded race through the trees and the Russian roulette climax-plus the welcome presence of...
****
2) Other Notable Horror Films Of The 2000’s:
This list focuses on films that are partially successful and even touch on brilliance at times but ultimately don’t pull everything together to fully deliver on their promise.
Intacto (Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, 2001, Spain):
This film about a group of people blessed with supernatural good luck has a great premise, several great scenes-the revelation of the plane crash early in the film, the blindfolded race through the trees and the Russian roulette climax-plus the welcome presence of...
- 11/4/2012
- by Terek Puckett
- SoundOnSight
The 7th annual London Korean Film Festival opened with an appropriate bang last night at the Odeon West End with box office behemoth, the high octane heist action comedy The Thieves, chosen as the gala presentation. Star Kim Yoon-seok and director Choi Dong-hun were also in attendance to introduce the film and particulate in a post-screening Q&A.
The packed cinema audience was clearly enraptured by the film itself (our review is here) and even if the cinema’s muted Pa system left much be desired during the opening speeches and Q&A , Yoon-seok and Dong-hun’s affable and humorous discussion about the making of process (delivered via a translator) proved to be an enjoyable half hour for those who remained behind after the screening.
Drinks and canapés were served next door at the Radisson Blu Edwardian after the Q&A, where a representative from London’s Korean Cultural Centre...
The packed cinema audience was clearly enraptured by the film itself (our review is here) and even if the cinema’s muted Pa system left much be desired during the opening speeches and Q&A , Yoon-seok and Dong-hun’s affable and humorous discussion about the making of process (delivered via a translator) proved to be an enjoyable half hour for those who remained behind after the screening.
Drinks and canapés were served next door at the Radisson Blu Edwardian after the Q&A, where a representative from London’s Korean Cultural Centre...
- 11/2/2012
- by Adam Lowes
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
South Korean cinema has been making an indelible mark over in the west for a good decade or so now, with a number of enthusiastically received genre films whose visual scope and richness in storytelling has positioned them on a par with the best English-language counterparts out there. It was only a matter of time before the hallowed hills of Hollywood came a-knocking, and Oldboy helmer Park Chan-wook has gothic horror Stoker due for release early next year, while The Good, the Bad, the Weird’s Kim Ji-woon makes his debut with the forthcoming Arnold Schwarzenegger comeback vehicle, The Last Stand.
Another filmmaker who is undoubtedly destined to join his homegrown contemporaries on the strength of his work here is Choi Dong-hun. The director has fashioned a fun and sprightly heist caper here – a film which feels tailor-made for an international audience. There are definite shades of Ocean’s 11 and...
Another filmmaker who is undoubtedly destined to join his homegrown contemporaries on the strength of his work here is Choi Dong-hun. The director has fashioned a fun and sprightly heist caper here – a film which feels tailor-made for an international audience. There are definite shades of Ocean’s 11 and...
- 11/2/2012
- by Adam Lowes
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The Thieves
Directed by Dong-Hoon Choi
South Korea, 2012
Philadelphia Film Festival
The second-highest grossing film in South Korean film history, Dong-Hoon Choi’s The Thieves is a fast-paced heist film in the recent American ensemble tradition of Ocean’s 11.
A group of Korean thieves led by Popeye (Jung-Jae Lee) are brought alongside a group of Chinese thieves with Chen (Simon Yam) at their helm to steal the famous “Tear of the Sun” diamond. Macau Park (Yun-seok Kim) is the mastermind behind it all, but he, Popeye, and Pepsi (Hye-su Kim), recently released from prison, have a history that will be sorted out.
The Thieves has a huge cast and nearly each individual crook receives his or her own share of screentime. Yenicall (Gianna Jun), Chewingum (Hae-suk Kim), and Zampano (Soo Hyun Kim) round out Popeye’s gang, playing the beautiful acrobat, the seasoned impersonator, and the handy technician respectively. On...
Directed by Dong-Hoon Choi
South Korea, 2012
Philadelphia Film Festival
The second-highest grossing film in South Korean film history, Dong-Hoon Choi’s The Thieves is a fast-paced heist film in the recent American ensemble tradition of Ocean’s 11.
A group of Korean thieves led by Popeye (Jung-Jae Lee) are brought alongside a group of Chinese thieves with Chen (Simon Yam) at their helm to steal the famous “Tear of the Sun” diamond. Macau Park (Yun-seok Kim) is the mastermind behind it all, but he, Popeye, and Pepsi (Hye-su Kim), recently released from prison, have a history that will be sorted out.
The Thieves has a huge cast and nearly each individual crook receives his or her own share of screentime. Yenicall (Gianna Jun), Chewingum (Hae-suk Kim), and Zampano (Soo Hyun Kim) round out Popeye’s gang, playing the beautiful acrobat, the seasoned impersonator, and the handy technician respectively. On...
- 10/30/2012
- by Neal Dhand
- SoundOnSight
The Thieves is a pleasant diversion that heaps on the twists, reaching a crescendo by the middle, but eventually crashes in a pileup of threadbare plot resolutions and sappy melodrama. Crashes of course can prove irresistible to look at, and such is the case with The Thieves. Director and co-writer Choi Dong-hun manages the feat of making even a ludicrous ending look rather sleek.
The movie opens on a heist squad led by Popeye (Jung-Jae Lee), who boosts an artifact from a tycoon smitten by conwoman Anycall (the gorgeous and capably comedic Gianna Jun, also of My Sassy Girl). The beginning sequence functions as the typical sort of hook that establishes how edgy and cool this movie will be – and there are enough antics with grappling hooks and a skintight uniform (set to a brassy, swinging soundtrack) to convince the audience. The main plot develops once Popeye unveils the next...
The movie opens on a heist squad led by Popeye (Jung-Jae Lee), who boosts an artifact from a tycoon smitten by conwoman Anycall (the gorgeous and capably comedic Gianna Jun, also of My Sassy Girl). The beginning sequence functions as the typical sort of hook that establishes how edgy and cool this movie will be – and there are enough antics with grappling hooks and a skintight uniform (set to a brassy, swinging soundtrack) to convince the audience. The main plot develops once Popeye unveils the next...
- 10/16/2012
- by Eric Wang
- JustPressPlay.net
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