Comedy film 'Secret Zoo' tops box office on opening The poster for the comedy film “Secret Zoo,” which topped the local box office on its opening day Wednesday/ Courtesy of Acemaker MovieworksBy Lee Gyu-leeNew comedy film “Secret Zoo” topped the local box office on its opening day Wednesday, beating two Hollywood blockbusters ― “Bad Boys for Life” and “Dolittle” ― which were second and third. According to Korean Film Council (KOFIC) data, the film had over 100,000 ticket sales, grossing about 850 million won ($732,400).The action flick “Bad Boys for Life,” which also premiered on Wednesday, sold over 60,000 tickets the same day. Robert Downey Jr.'s fantasy film “Dolittle” fell to third after topping the chart for a week since its release on Jan. 8. The film has sold 1.13 million tickets as of Wednesday. “Secret Zoo” revolves around the concept of a zoo with no real animals. Lawyer Tae-soo (Ahn Jae-hong) takes on the job of reviving a bankrupted zoo to secure his job at the firm. To save the zoo, he and zookeepers put on animal costumes to play a polar Jan 16, 2020By Lee Gyu-lee
'Parasite' earns six Oscar nominations, including best picture This image released by Neon shows Jo Yeo-jeong in a scene from "Parasite." On Monday, Jan. 13, the film was nominated for an Oscar for best picture. APBong Joon-ho's sensation "Parasite" earned six nominations, including best picture, for the upcoming Academy Awards on Monday, becoming the first South Korean movie to compete at the world's biggest film event.The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences unveiled its final list of nominations for the 2020 Oscars Awards, to be held on Feb. 9."Parasite" was up for best picture, best directing, best original screenplay, best international feature film, production design and film editing.It is the first time that a South Korean-made film made it to the final nominees list of the Academy Awards. (Yonhap)Jan 13, 2020
'Beasts Clawing at Straws' is nail-biting crime film From left, actors Jung Woo-sung, Youn Yuh-jung, Jeon Do-yeon, Shin Hyun-been and Jung Ga-ram pose for a picture during a press conference for new film “Beasts Clawing at Straws” in Seoul, Monday. / YonhapBy Kwak Yeon-sooAward-winning actors Jeon Do-yeon and Jung Woo-sung teamed up to take on a new challenge with a chilling two-sided transformation in crime thriller film “Beasts Clawing at Straws.” In the upcoming film, the two will exhibit how ordinary people turn into hard-hearted beasts for a lump sum of money. It is an adaptation of Japanese detective novel “Wara nimo Sugaru Kemonotachi” by Keisuke Sone, although the ending of the film differs from that of the book.“I loved the script, and the film does not conform to the generic conventions of the typical crime genre,” Jeon said during a press conference for the film in Seoul, Monday.“Beasts Clawing at Straws” by rookie director Kim Yong-hun is a crime film that revolves around eight distinctive characters who chase after a mysterious money bag. Instead of all roads leadJan 13, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
Disney reveals Korea-exclusive Mulan poster Walt Disney has released the first Korean poster for the live-action remake of 1998 animation Mulan, Monday, and announced its premier in March. Courtesy of Walt Disney Korea.By Lee Gyu-leeWalt Disney has unveiled Korean poster art for the live-action film Mulan, Monday, and announced that the film will make its local premiere this March. Directed by Niki Caro ― the director of “The Zookeeper's Wife” ― the action blockbuster follows the journey of a fearless young woman, Mulan, disguised as a man to become a warrior during the Northern Wei dynasty (386―534). The animation of the first Asian Disney heroine in 1998 was a hit towards the end of a decade-long Disney Renaissance, grossing over $304 million worldwide in the box office. Its live-action remake drew much attention from the public since the lead casting of Chinese actress Liu Yifei (Crystal Liu) who won the role by beating over 1,000 candidates in auditions in 2017. Along with Liu, actors Donnie Yen and Jet Li also took leading roles. However, the high anticipation of Mulan fans around the world hit a setback when Jan 13, 2020By Lee Gyu-lee
Actor Ahn Jae-hong plays polar bear in film 'Secret Zoo' Actor Ahn Jae-hong plays Tae-soo who is assigned to revive a bankrupted zoo to get his permanent position at a prestigious law firm, in the upcoming comedy film “Secret Zoo.” Courtesy of J,WIDE-CompanyBy Lee Gyu-leeActor Ahn Jae-hong says he grasped what it feels to be a “caged animal” when he played a human disguised as a polar bear in the upcoming comedy film “Secret Zoo,” which hits local theater on Jan. 15.“I worked with over 200 background actors, and when I stood in front of them as a polar bear, it felt very strange,” Ahn told The Korea Times. “We often use the expression 'animal at a zoo' and when I really became one, I had mixed feelings.”Known for his appearance in the 2019 TV series “Be Melodramatic,” the actor, 35, took on the role of temporary zoo owner and a lawyer in this upcoming movie with a unique concept: a zoo without animals. Based on the webcomics of the same name by HUN, the comedy revolves around Ahn's character Tae-soo who is a temp lawyer at a prestigious law firm. To get his permanent pJan 13, 2020By Lee Gyu-lee
'Parasite' picks up 2 titles at Critics' Choice Awards This image released by Neon shows Choi Woo-sik, from left, Song Kang-ho, Jang Hye-jin and Park So-dam in a scene from "Parasite." APBong Joon-ho's black comedy thriller "Parasite" has clinched two titles at this year's Critics' Choice Awards, continuing its rally during the U.S. awards season.At the ceremony held by the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA) in Santa Monica, California, on Sunday (U.S. time), director Bong tied with Sam Mendes of "1917," the top winner of this year's Golden Globe Awards, for best director, while his seventh feature film also won best foreign-language film.In the best direction section, Bong took the prize over Noah Baumbach of "Marriage Story," Greta Gerwig of "Little Women," Josh Safdie and Benny Safdie of "Uncut Gems," Martin Scorsese of "The Irishman" and Quentin Tarantino of "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood."For the best non-English-language film award, "Parasite" competed with "Atlantis" by Valentyn Vasyanovych, "The Farewell" by Lulu Wang, "Les Miserables" by Ladj Ly, "Pain and Glory" by Pedro Almodovar and "Portrait of a Lady on Fire" by CeliJan 13, 2020
'Holy Grail' digital effects rewinding the clock for actors This combination of photos shows actor Robert De Niro, left, during the filming of "The Irishman" and the younger version of De Niro created by Pablo Helman, visual effects supervisor at Industrial Light and Magic. Helman and his team spent two years looking through old movies and cataloging the targeted ages that De Niro would appear in the film. APThis combination of photos shows actor Joe Pesci, left, during the filming of "The Irishman" and the younger version of Pesci created by Pablo Helman, visual effects supervisor at Industrial Light and Magic. Helman and his team spent two years looking through old movies and cataloging the targeted ages that Pesci would appear in the film. APWith Martin Scorsese's ``The Irishman'' expected to battle ``Once Upon a Time in. Hollywood'' and ``1917'' for the best picture Oscar in February, all eyes are on the special effects team that made the sprawling crime epic possible. ``The Irishman'' unfolds over decades, with the 76-year-old Robert De Niro and his co-stars playing their characters from their 30s into retirement age, a feat that's made Jan 12, 2020
Bong, McKay team up to dramatize award-winning 'Parasite' at HBO There are moves to make the hit movie “Parasite” into an HBO miniseries. Korea Times fileBy Park Ji-wonDirectors Bong Joon-ho and Adam McKay are in talks to dramatize Bong's award-winning film “Parasite,” according to CJ ENM, Friday. They are largely expected to co-produce the thriller series, sources said.“Bong and McKay had a meeting in person and shared the understanding of making the drama together after the film's release in the North American market,” an official of CJ ENM, the investor and distributor of the film, told The Korea Times, Friday.“Before the release of the film in the North American market, Adam McKay watched the movie and was attracted to it and contacted us for its dramatization first … But no contract has been signed yet. It isn't clear as of yet whether the series will be a sequel or prequel of the film. They are planning to discuss further details after Academy campaigns.”Another company official said they are in talks to co-produce the miniseries. The prospective series is largely expected to be co-produJan 10, 2020By Park Ji-won
'Dolittle' storms to top in local box office A scene from the fantasy adventure film “Dolittle” / Courtesy of Universal PicturesBy Kwak Yeon-sooFantasy adventure film “Dolittle” has dominated the local box office for three consecutive days since its Jan. 8 premiere. It saw 107,986 in ticket sales on the opening day, and had accumulated 210,915 as of Thursday.“Dolittle just opened in its first market on earth. Guess what? Korea. No.1…also opened at No.1. Together we can do anything. Grab a friend or a family member, it's a great movie…Korea is the best,” Robert Downey Jr., who plays Dr. John Dolittle, said in a video posted on Instagram.Directed by Stephan Gaghan, the film revolves around Dolittle, a famed doctor and veterinarian with the ability to talk to animals, embarking on an adventure in search of the Eden tree in a bid to find a cure to save a young queen who falls gravely ill.Based on Hugh Lofting's book “The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle,” the story opens at a point where Dolittle is hding away behind the high walls of the Doolittle Mansion after losing his wifJan 10, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
VIDEO 'Parasite' director Bong Joon-ho's interpreter in limelight for being 'best in class' “Parasite” director Bong Joon-ho gives his acceptance speech at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards. YonhapBy Lee Min-young"Once you overcome the one-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films," Golden Globe-winning Korean movie director Bong Joon-ho said through his Korean interpreter Sharon Choi.Bong, director of the dark comedy-thriller “Parasite,” won Korea's first Golden Globe award for Best Foreign-Language Film. It was the first Korean film to be nominated. While Bong's Golden Globe speech made headlines for sending a message to audiences that miss out on non-English movies, Choi was also the one in the limelight for acting as a mouthpiece for Bong with her smooth, punchy interpretation.Choi, 25, is also a filmmaker. She is now working as an interpreter in Seoul. Choi has been working with Bong since last May at the Cannes film festival, where she was praised for her ability to perfectly carry in her interpretation even the smallest nuances of the director's words.The video of Bong on U.S. talk show "Tonight Show StarrJan 8, 2020By Lee Min-young
