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Actress Ha Ji-won
Jan. 28, SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korean actress Ha Ji-won poses at a press conference on her new film "Miracle of Giving Fool" in Seoul on Jan. 28. (Yonhap) (END)
Leading actor and actress of new movie
Jan. 28, SEOUL, South Korea -- Popular actor Cha Tae-hyeon (L) poses with actress Ha Ji-won during a promotional ceremony for their new movie "Miracle of giving fool" in Seoul on Jan. 28. The movie will be released on Feb. 28. (Yonhap) (END)
Source: Yonhap News
http://app.yonhapnews.co.kr/YNA/ ... ticlePhotoMain.aspx |
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January 28, 2008
Major Korean Films Offered With English Subtitles
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
"The Good, The Bad, The Weird"
CGV Yongsan in central Seoul will devote a screen to the exclusive showing of popular domestic movies with English-language subtitles, an unprecedented move by a movie theater.
"It's to serve the many foreigners in Korea who want to watch Korean films. They won't have to wait for DVDs with English-language subtitles anymore," Chong Choe from CJ Entermatinment's International Strategy team told The Korea Times.
The country's largest motion picture studio, CJ Entertainment and multiplex theater giant CGV have teamed up for this long-term project, and will begin with "A Man Who Was Superman," starring high-profile actors Jeon Ji-hyeon ("My Sassy Girl's" Gianna Jeon) and Hwang Jung-min ("Happiness"). Coming to CGV Yongsan Jan. 31, it will have regular showings for the entire duration of the film's run in Korea.
For the time being, there will be seven showings per day through Feb. 4. "That's a lot of showings, and we plan to maintain this for the entire duration of 'A Man Who Was Superman.' This shows how committed we are," said Choe.
"This is just the beginning, not just a one-time deal," he said. The entertainment giants will select movies with mass appeal to show at the exclusive screen throughout the year.
Following "A Man Who Was Superman," this year's line-up include the retro film "Modern Boy," starring Kim Hye-soo and Park Hae-il, due for release in April; "The Good, The Bad, The Weird," with superstar trio Lee Byung-hun, Song Kang-ho and Jung Woo-sung in June; and the historical epic drama "The Divine Weapon" and director Park Chan-wook's upcoming (unnamed) film project later on in the year.
The Yongsan chain will be a pilot program for English-language subtitle project. "We'll have to see how this goes," sad Choe, when asked about the possibility of offering such services at CGV theaters in other parts of the country.
Until now, small independent movie theaters have offered a handful of homegrown works with English-language subtitles, such as the critically acclaimed indie flick "In Between Days" by Kim So-yong last fall.
Large multiplex theaters serve as barometers of the popularity of films, and even highly anticipated works disappear in less than a week if they fail to attract large audiences. To devote an entire screen is significant, especially given that the Yongsan chain is a major location among the CGV chain. Building such a framework is only possible if there is a demand.
It signals the increasing recognition of Korean films' international appeal. By releasing a Korean film subtitled in English, the film is no longer limited to the local market, and may even speed up exports of Korean films to other countries. Entertainment giant CJ seems to have recognized this and taken action, and if other companies follow suit it will considerably affect the Korean film industry and its globalization.
For the time being, expatriates in Seoul may now expand their movie-going habits to include not just Hollywood blockbusters but local films as well.
CGV Yongsan is connected to Yongsan station on subway line 1 and near exit 4 of Sinyongsan station on line 4.
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2008/01/141_18052.html |
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January 29, 2008
"Devil抯 Game" Explores Bet on Money or Youth
Kang Roh-sik is an affluent man who has only a few days to live. Min Hee-do is a healthy but poor artist.
One character longs for youth while the other financial gain, so they make a bet. By making random phone calls, Hee-do can win three billion won from Roh-sik if the person who receives the call is female or vice versa.
The artist loses his youth when the call receiver is a transgender. The assistance of female character Hye-rin, however, who is eyeing Kang抯 wealth, makes the story extremely enigmatic.
揟he Devil抯 Game |
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Popular actor to appear in new film
Jan. 29, SEOUL, South Korea -- Popular South Korean actor Park Yong-woo poses on Jan. 29 in Seoul. Park is one of the stars of "Once Upon A Time," a comic action movie that will be released in South Korea on Jan. 31. (Yonhap)(END)
Source: Yonhap News
http://app.yonhapnews.co.kr/YNA/ ... ticlePhotoMain.aspx |
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29 January 2008
Choi takes part in "Himalayas Project"
Written by Darcy Paquet
SEOUL -- Korean actor Choi Min-shik ("Oldboy") will star in helmer Jeon Soo-il's "Himalayas Project" (working title), which is to be shot in Nepal.
Pic, about a Korean company director taking the remains of a Nepalese migrant worker to his family in the Himalayas, is budgeted at under $500,000 and is being produced by Show East.
Pic is expected to shoot for a month in Nepal, and will be completed in time to be considered for Cannes. Jeon's previous film, "A Girl of Black Soil," screened in the Horizons section at Venice in 2007.
Source: Variety Asia, image from daum.net
http://www.varietyasiaonline.com/content/view/5392/ |
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30 January 2008
Film figures gloomy in South Korea
2007 sees sharp drop in dollars earned
Written by Darcy Paquet
SEOUL -- Exports of South Korean films amounted to $24.4 million in 2007, virtually identical to the $24.5 million earned in the previous year.
Nonetheless, the year saw a sharp drop in dollars earned through minimum guarantees amid a broad shift to revenue-sharing deals.
Upfront money paid in minimum guarantees last year amounted to $12.3 million, down 50% from 2006. However, a report issued by the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) estimates the additional income earned through revenue-sharing deals and direct distribution amounts to another $12.1 million.
Information on revenue-sharing income was not included in previous years' reports, as most deals were structured around minimum guarantees.
The weak performance of many high-priced Korean films in foreign markets caused sellers to become much more flexible in 2007, in some cases eliminating minimum guarantees altogether.
Exports to Korea's most important market, Japan, amounted to $3.3 million in minimum guarantees, down from $10.4 million in 2006 and a whopping $60.3 million in 2005. A country-by-country breakdown of revenue-sharing income was not available.
Meanwhile, the annual KOFIC report also sounded further alarms about declining profitability in the Korean film sector.
Production numbers continued to rise last year to 124 films produced and 112 theatrical releases, while admissions to local pics fell by 18% to 80.7 million tickets.
The average budget of Korean films in 2007, excluding independent works costing less than a million dollars and the mega-budget English-language project "D-War," was $3.4 million plus $1.7 million in P&A spend. Both numbers rep a slight drop from the previous year amid an industrywide effort to control costs.
By the report's estimate, the average Korean film lost $1.9 million last year, with theatrical releases accounting for 79.8% of revenues.
Widespread illegal downloading as well as pirated discs sold on the street are blamed for the weakness of Korea's DVD market.
Meanwhile, distributor rankings saw CJ Entertainment take a commanding lead with 29.7% of the market. An output deal with Paramount helped make CJ the top distributor for local films and imports.
South Korea distributor rankings 2007
1. CJ Entertainment (29.7%)
2. Showbox (12.3%)
3. Warner Bros. (11.3%)
4. Sony Pictures-Buena Vista (9.8%)
5. Lotte Entertainment (8.6%)
6. Cinema Service (7.2%)
7. 20th Century Fox (5.6%)
8. UPI Korea (3.5%)
9. Prime Entertainment (3.4%)
10. Studio 2.0 (2.3%)
Source: Variety.com
http://www.variety.com/article/V ... egoryid=13&cs=1 |
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January 25, 2008
'Once upon a Time' shines bright
Director JEONG Yong-ki tried his hand again at comedy and selected a winning leading duo in PARK Yong-woo and LEE Bo-young, aptly complemented by a number of supporting roles. The film is situated during the final days of the Japanese colonization of Korea.
Once upon a Time is a well balanced heist comedy; including fast and dynamic action and fight scenes, glitter and glamour, and plenty of jokes. The humorous scenario is well handled by the director and the actors |
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January 25, 2008
Ryoo Seung-bum and Kim Sa-rang bewitch audiences
Radio Dayz is a feel-good comedy set during the Japanese colonisation of Korea in the early 20th century and revolves around a group of radio employees who develop a radio drama that captures the heart of Korean audiences.
RYOO Seung-bum (Arahan, Crying Fist) plays a laid-back and resourceful radio producer who decides to hire a writer for a radio drama format. However, the radio drama encounters numerous problems before it succeeds in captivating audiences.
A major problem is the character portrayed by KIM Sa-rang (Who Slept with Her), a famous singer with star attitude, who |
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January 29, 2008
Cha In-pyo, Shin Ae-ra Adopt Another Child
Celebrity couple Cha In-pyo and Shin Ae-ra have adopted another child following their first adoption of a baby girl.
The couple adopted a 100-day-old baby girl earlier this month.
Cha said he and his wife didn't publicize their adoption because it was their second adoption and they were sure the news would spread naturally.
The couple married in 1995 and had a son before they adopted a daughter. They named their first adopted child Ye-eun and their second daughter Ye-jin.
Both babies were adopted via the Social Welfare Society.
Source; KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/mconten ... /1504635_11692.html
Celebrity Couple Adopts Another Girl
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff Reporter
Cha In-pyo, left, and Shin Ae-ra
Celebrity couple Cha In-pyo and Shin Ae-ra adopted a three-month-old baby girl, Jan. 2.
The baby, named Ye-jin, is the third for the couple ― they already adopted a one-month-old baby girl in December 2005 in addition to their first child, a boy born to them. The news was a surprise for Korean society where domestic adoption is still rare.
They have said that they gave birth to their adopted daughter not though their body but through their mind.
"We announced our first adoption to the public. But this is the second time and we expected the news to spread naturally," said Cha in a telephone interview with Yonhap News.
The two first met in the MBC soap opera "Love in Your Arms" (1994), where they starred as a couple. Married in 1995, the couple is known for their volunteer work.
Both of their adoptions were through the Social Welfare Society, where Shin is a volunteer. She is also a goodwill ambassador for Compassion Korea, one of the world's largest relief organizations.
Cha is waiting for the release of his latest movie "Crossing," while Shin stays at home for bringing up the kids.
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/special/2008/01/139_18169.html |
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January 29, 2008
3 New Weekend Dramas to Air
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff Reporter
A scene from new KBS weekend drama written by Kim Soo-hyeon, "Mom's Dead Upset"
All three major television networks will start new weekend dramas for the entire family in February.
KBS will air "Mom's Dead Upset," which deals with four-generations living together and the various incidents resulting from generation gaps. MBC will air "A Beauty Unmatched, Park Jeong-geum," about a divorced single mom, while SBS will air "I Am Happy," about a happily married couple.
The first episode of "Mom's Dead Upset" will air at 7:55 p.m., Feb. 2. Written by Kim Soo-hyeon, the hit maker who wrote for dramas such as "My Man's Woman" (SBS, 2007), "Love and Ambition" (SBS, 2006) and "Trap of Youth" (SBS, 1999), the drama's expectations are high.
The drama features powerful actors and actresses. Lee Soon-jae, who currently plays King Yeongjo on MBC's "Lee San," Baek Il-seob, Kim Hae-ja and Kang Bu-ja are the grandfather, father, grandmother and mother of the family respectively while Shin Eun-kyung, Kim Jung-hyun and Lee Yoo-ri will play the younger characters.
"Everyone is someone's father or mother, daughter or son, or brother or sister. This drama will show the relationships among people," said Kang, who plays a single mother in her 60s.
MBC will start airing "A Beauty Unmatched, Park Jeong-geum" on the same day, at the same time. However, Park, the protagonist of the soap played by actress Bae Jong-ok, is far from being beautiful. She is a tough detective who fights and arrests criminals. At the same time, she is a divorced housewife who is raising a son.
Bae starred in "My Man's Woman," which was a hit drama written by Kim Soo-hyeon. Now, she has to compete with another Kim drama but she doesn't seem to be worried. "(Rivaling with Kim's drama) is not an obstacle for me. Many soap operas are produced now and I choose what I can do best," Bae said at a press conference Monday.
"Park is a divorcee, and her job is a dangerous one. Ostensibly, she is not happy. However, Park is a very bright and healthy character, just like a neighborly auntie. That's why I decided to play the character," said Bae.
Sohn Chang-min will play a handsome and unmarried 38-year-old doctor who is a friend of Park from elementary school. Han Go-eun will play Park's stepsister.
Last but not least, SBS launches "I Am Happy" at 8:45 p.m., Feb. 9. As it starts about an hour later than the two other dramas, it is not in competition with them. The station hopes this will bring about the high ratings of its predecessor, "Gold Bride," which will end this weekend.
Known as the writer of commoners, Kim Jeong-su is famous for her realistic depiction of daily life. This drama depicts the story of two families interweaving through the marriage of a minor entrepreneur's daughter with a food wholesaler's son.
Actress Kim Hyo-jin returns to the TV screen after three years of starring in the movies "Barefoot Gi-bong" (2006) and "Mr. Wacky" (2006).
All these weekend dramas have something in common. They all mainly focus on different styles of "family."
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2008/01/135_18114.html |
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January 29, 2008
Korean Singer in Studio for Olympic Song
South Korean singer/actress Jang Nara (right) and Chinese singer Liao Changyong are seen
in a recent photo in a Beijing studio recording "Our Dream," a song dedicated to Beijing Olympics.
[Photo: ent.sina.com.cn]
South Korean actress and singer Jang Nara is working with Chinese baritone Liao Changyong in producing a tribute song for the Beijing Olympics.
The duet, "Our Dream," will be a hybrid of pop and opera and will feature both Chinese and English lyrics.
Jang, who wowed her fans with Chinese songs in previous concerts, will sing the Chinese part, while Liao will take care of the English part.
The song will be featured in Jang's new album to be released soon in February.
Source: Crienglish.com
http://english.cri.cn/3086/2008/01/29/[email protected] |
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January 29, 2008
Cha, Ha To Bring Tears, Laughter
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
Actors Cha Tae-hyun, left, and Ha Ji-won appear in a press event
to promote their upcoming film "Miracle of a Giving Fool," Monday,
at a Seoul hotel. This heartwarming drama will open in theaters Feb. 28.
/ Courtesy of Doughnuts Media
As Spring draws near, star actors Cha Tae-hyun and Ha Ji-won will warm up the season with director's Kim Jung-kwon's ("Ditto," "A Letter From Mars") latest movie "Miracle of a Giving Fool," a heart drenching drama slated for release Feb. 28.
"Fool" is a film adaptation of the explosively popular online cartoon "Babo" (which means "fool" or "oaf" in Korean) by Kang Full. It had millions of Netizens in tears, and the director, also a big fan, describes the movie version as being faithful to the original.
"I cried my eyes out when I read the cartoon," Cha told reporters during a promotional event at a Seoul hotel Monday. "After I was cast for the movie, I thought long and hard about how I would act out the role, said the face of romantic comedies like "My Sassy Girl" and "My Crazy First Love."
Cha takes his goofy guy-next-door image to play the town's jester, Seung-ryong. Once a bright young boy, he suffers a fatal accident, and at age 27 he has the intelligence of a six-year-old.
"I've filmed about three or four films that were based on other work, but I felt that for 'Fool' I had to give life to the book as it is," he said. The actor did not look to other "babo" or mentally challenged movie characters. For example, unlike most "babo" personas, he would speak intelligibly but stutter slightly.
His character is pitifully forgetful and has zero sense of hygiene, but is much loved, particularly by his childhood sweetheart Ji-ho (Ha Ji-won).
Ha comes back to the big screen after the hit TV series "Hwang Jin Yi." The actress had pulled off a wide spectrum of roles ranging from a sexy college girl ("Sex Is Zero") to a tough boxer ("Miracle on 1st Street"), and returns as a talented but stage fright-struck pianist. In the film, she plays the piano herself.
"I stopped playing the piano at Czerny's etude no. 30 back in grade school, and I had forgotten everything, and just started from the songs Ji-ho plays," she said. "Although I'm not a great performer, I wanted to transfer my character's emotions through the piano."
Ha received piano lessons from veteran singer/songwriter No Young-shim, who also taught her subtle gestures and postures. She tuned into learning the right amount of pressure in pressing the piano keys and the slight facial grimaces. "I also learned how difficult it is to be in a slump as a musician," she said.
Ha's character Ji-ho returns home after a long hiatus and finds comfort in looking after Seung-ryong. Regarding the emotional tension between the two childhood friends, Ha said it was more a familial type of love.
"The Seung-ryong character Cha played was more like an adorable younger brother than a fool," said Ha. "Ji-ho cares for Seung-ryong wholeheartedly rather than with romantic feelings _ I tried hard to be faithful to the cartoon character."
Despite his disabilities, Seung-ryong manages to make a living for himself and his younger sister by selling "the world's tastiest toast" on the roadside. Now having practically mastered the art of making toast, Cha provided the breakfast for the cast and crew.
But gastronomic concerns were not limited to the set. The actor put on eight kilograms for his pudgy character. "It was great. I went to shoot without showering in the morning, and washed at night so I could wake up with a messy hair-do," he said, drawing laughter from the crowd.
"Our director was happy every time I binged. I ate ramyeon (instant noodles) with cheese in the middle of the night. He loved it when I showed up puffy-faced from drinking heavily the night before."
"I couldn't take off all of the weight for the wedding, so I look a lot like Seung-ryong in my wedding picture," said the actor, who tied the knot last year and recently became a father.
"My wife cries every time she sees Seung-ryong, not so much because it's moving but because of how much we suffered," he said, referring to the film's much prolonged delay.
Meanwhile, Park Heui-soon, a late bloomer who made a name for himself through "Seven Days" opposite Kim Yun-jin, also stars in the movie as Seung-ryong's one and only friend. Currently appearing in a string of films including "Hansel and Gretel," Park said the frequent appearance was a treat.
But because his films were released out of chronological order, he expressed a bit of regret in not being able to show his progress, though it's nice for him to see himself two to three years younger.
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2008/01/141_18111.html |
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January 29, 2008
Actress Sohn Praised
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
Actress Sohn Tae-young
European directors are praising Korean actress Sohn Tae-young as one of the world's most beautiful actresses.
Sohn recently filmed a music video for new singer Revi in the United Kingdom, Yonhap News said Tuesday. Directors Nikita Diakur and Jonas Lund worked on the video, along with art director Thorbjorn Ankerstjerne and photographer Patricia Niven.
The foreign directors praised Sohn for having beautiful Asian eyes and lips and "rich, beautiful and sophisticated facial expressions." Sohn was the first Asian actress they have worked with.
Lund is an Amsterdam-based photographer known for his stark photography. Niven has worked as a photographer for the ad campaign of top lingerie line Agent Provocateur.
Sohn recently appeared with Kim Kang-woo in the critically acclaimed film "The Railroad," directed by Park Heung-sik. The film won a special award given by the International Federation of Film Critics, during the 25th Torino Film Festival in Italy.
"The Railroad" is about two lost souls (played by Kim and Sohn), who find themselves stranded at the last railroad stop before the DMZ on a snowy night. As they spend the night together, they reveal their inner pain to each other.
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2008/01/135_18117.html |
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January 30, 2008
Handball 'Sleeper' Tops Box Office for Third Week
揊orever the Moment |
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January 30, 2008
Handball Match Records Viewer Ratings of 15%
Viewer ratings for the Korea-Japan women's handball repeat match, in which Korea beat Japan and advanced to the Beijing Olympics, recorded 15 percent according to the viewer ratings survey company TNS Media. The game was broadcast by MBC TV on Jan. 29.
Another polling company, AGB Nielsen Media Research, says the game recorded ratings of 14.9 percent. The majority of viewers turned out to be women in their 30s.
The game took place in Tokyo. The Korean team defeated Japan 34-21, securing a berth at the Beijing Olympics.
The match drew so much attention largely thanks to the movie "The Best Moment of Our Lives," which drew 2.5 million viewers nationwide and which deals with handball.
Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/society/news/1504724_11773.html |
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January 30, 2008
KBS TV Drama "Hwangjinyi" to Air in Japan
The KBS TV drama "Hwangjinyi" starring actress Ha Ji-won will air in Japan in April.
The drama's production firm said Japan's NHK will air the drama from April 6 on the satellite channel NHK BS2 during prime time every Sunday, and that NHK zeroed in on the drama for its potential to boost the Korean Wave.
"Hwangjinyi" depicts the life of ancient artist Hwangjinyi. The lead actress, Ha Ji-won, has been praised for her superb acting skills in the drama.
Another KBS TV drama, "Hong Kil-dong," which is airing in Korea currently, has also drawn attention in Japan.
The firm said it has received numerous inquiries about "Hong Kil-dong" and that its lead actor, Chang Keun-seok, is to hold a fan meeting in Japan next month.
Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/mconten ... /1504722_11692.html |
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January 30, 2008
[Photo News] 'Dynamic Korea' joins in the cheers for handball victory
Two Korean actresses, Moon so-ri (left) and Kim Jeong-eun joined in the cheers for Asian qualifying rematch between Korea and Japan in Tokyo抯 Yoyogi National Gymnasium with balloon sticks labeled 揇ynamic Korea |
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January 30, 2008
Ha Ji-Won, Do I Look Like a Pianist? 'Babo' Film Preview
Wire-to-Wire Films, together with director Kim Jeong-Gwon and cast, held a press conference at Gangnam抯 Imperial Palace Hotel to promote their latest release on January 28.
At one point during the press conference, actress Ha Ji-Won revealed, 揑 am actually a beginner when it comes to playing the piano. I had to take intensive training from composer/pianist Noh Yeong-Shim for the film. |
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January 30, 2008
Epic Chinese Films Will Come Onscreen
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
The big-budget war movie "Assembly" by Feng Xiaogang will be released here in March
Moviegoers can look forward to action-packed epic films from China ― but forget about martial arts warriors flying through the air with long swords. Two celebrated directors from the Chinese-speaking world present ambitious film projects that break conventions: "The Warlords" ("Myeongjang" in Korean) by Peter Chan and "Assembly" ("Jipgyeolho" in Korean) by Feng Xiaogang.
Coming to theaters Jan. 31 is the highly anticipated period piece "The Warlords," co-produced by Hong Kong and China. Set during the late 19th century Qing Dynasty, the movie seems to signal a sharp turn away from Peter Chan's romantic turf (pan-Asian hits like "Tian mi mi," 1996).
"The movie has the looks of a big budget action movie, but like my previous works, it is essentially marked by strong characters and drama," the director said in a statement.
What sets the movie apart is its departure from typical Chinese-language films filled with fantastic, sky-soaring martial arts heroes in the style of Zhang Yimou's works. While martial art is integral to "The Warlords," the screen is stripped of highly stylistic action sequence and is filled with gritty, bitter realities of war. To create the large-scale battle scenes, the makers employed some 150 thousand extras and 280 cameras.
"The Warlords" is the talk of the town as it stars not just one ― but three ― Asian superstars: Andy Lau, Jet Li and Takeshi Kaneshiro, who all have a large fan base here. They appear as three sworn brothers whose relationship goes sour in the midst of warfare and political intrigue.
Unlike a lot of epic films, the characters can't be clearly labeled as good or evil. The three main characters are realistic sketches of the human condition as they are constantly torn between virtue and sin.
Chan visited Korea earlier this month and stopped by the set of Kim Ji-woon's "The Good, The Bad, The Weird," which, like "The Warlords," is filmed in China and stars three big actors. Chan and Kim became buddies when they met for the 2002 Korea-Hong Kong-Thailand joint-produced omnibus film "Three." The two talked about the difficulties of working under harsh weather conditions as well as how wonderful it was to work with talented actors.
Simultaneously released in parts of Asia last December (except Korea and Japan), "The Warlords" was an instant box office hit in China, drawing 22 million yuan (43 billion won) on the first day. This is striking considering the relatively expensive price of movie tickets there and the presence of a large black market of pirated DVDs. Opening in time for Seollal here, it is expected to draw large audiences.
Another big project moviegoers can expect to see is China's first-ever "blockbuster"-scale film, "Assembly," coming to theaters in March. It was the center of media attention as the opening piece at last year's Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival (PIFF).
Martial arts are but non-existent in this movie. Set in 1948, the movie traces the physical and spiritual survival and journey of a soldier amid the war between the Nationalists and Communists. "Assembly" is packed with intense battle sequences but is marked by strong human drama as the main character struggles with inner conflict.
Like Peter Chan, director Feng Xiaogang conquers new territory. For Feng, the action-packed drama marks a departure from his smash comedies like "Dream Factory." Feng also has special relations with Korea, for he turned to the special effects team of the Korean blockbuster "Taegeukgi: Brothers of War."
"I consider 'Taegeukgi' as a great model for our movie," Feng told reporters here last October. His good friend, director Kang Je-gyu, provided his crew for the make-up, computer graphics, artistic direction and sound effects of the movie.
"Assembly" received positive reviews as being a well-made period piece, particularly for realistically depicting the horrors of war without being political. It could be seen as the Asian version of Hollywood flicks like "Saving Private Ryan" ― far from what first comes to mind when one thinks of Chinese action movies.
Both films are in Chinese with Korean subtitles.
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2008/01/141_18170.html |
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Actor Kim Yun-seok in new movie
Jan. 31, SEOUL, South Korea -- Popular South Korean actor Kim Yun-seok, one of the stars of "The Chaser," poses in Seoul on Jan. 31. The thriller will be released on Feb. 14. (Yonhap) (END)
Source: Yonhap News
http://app.yonhapnews.co.kr/YNA/ ... E=3&AGINGPAGESIZE=5 |
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Author
