CJ CGV stays in red in Q3 An image of CJ CGV's Tempur Cinema which provides a new level of luxury with reclining beds and full concierge service. Courtesy of CJ CGVCJ CGV Co. on Thursday reported its third-quarter net loss of 7.1 billion won (US$ 6.1 million).The company said in a regulatory filing that it posted 31 billion won in operating profit for the quarter, compared with 32.7 billion won a year ago. Revenue rose 5.2 percent to 497.5 billion won over the cited period.The operating profit was 20.5 percent lower than the average estimate, according to the survey by Yonhap Infomax, the financial data firm of Yonhap News Agency. The estimate of net profit was not available. (Yonhap)Nov 7, 2019
'This year has been miracle,' actress Lee Ha-nee says Actress Lee Ha-nee has been having a blissful year with the success of the smash-hit film “Extreme Job,” followed by TV series “The Fiery Priest.” Courtesy of Acemaker Movie WorksBy Lee Gyu-leeWinning fame in one field is difficult and to achieve it in three different fields is rare. But Lee Ha-nee is one of these rare people, recognized for her achievements as a professional musician, beauty pageant winner, and prominent actress. “This year has been more than a gift, it has been a miracle,” said the actress during an interview with The Korea Times, Thursday, at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Seoul. She has been having a blissful year making herself more known to audiences as an actress with the success of the smash-hit film “Extreme Job,” which became the second-highest ticket-selling film in Korean history. Shortly after the success of her film, the comedy TV series “The Fiery Priest” brought her another success, drawing a 22 percent viewership. Lee was first brought into the spotlight as Miss Korea 2006, and third runner-up inNov 5, 2019By Lee Gyu-lee
ANNIVERSARY Korean cinema diversifies with changing needs from moviegoers The comedy film “Extreme Job” (2019) was an unexpected hit at the local box office amid big-budget blockbusters, achieving the second-highest ticket sales of all films since 2004. Korea Times fileThis is the fifth and last article highlighting the centennial of Korean cinema ― ED. By Lee Gyu-leeIn the first half of this year Koran cinemas attracted over 56.9 million moviegoers, according to the Korean Film Council. The total number of movie tickets sold in the first half was 193 million, which is a record for the first two quarters, an increase of 14.9 million from last year. Watching movies has become one of the most popular leisure activities among Koreans. With their growing popularity, the genres that draw moviegoers have diversified. Amid Hollywood films and big-budget blockbusters, Korean films have shown more diverse offerings that can compete at the local box office.The unexpected hits Entering the 21st century, Korean cinema began an era of big-budget local blockbusters. Two multi-billion won budget films "Silmido" (2003) and “Taegukgi: The BrotherhoodNov 5, 2019By Lee Gyu-lee
Actress Lee Young-ae returns to silver screen with thriller 'Bring Me Home' Director Kim Seung-woo, left, actress Lee Young-ae, and actor Yoo Jea-myung pose for pictures during a press conference for new thriller film “Bring Me Home,” held in Apgujeong-dong, Seoul, Monday. YonhapBy Lee Gyu-leeTop actress Lee Young-ae is returning to the silver screen with the new thriller “Bring Me Home” this month, nearly 14 years after her last film, “Lady Vengeance.”“When I read the script I felt like I was reading a tightly knit, perfect script for a play…. I was convinced this would be the film that could reward me for the time I waited,” she said, referencing her long hiatus, during a press conference in Apgujeong-dong, Seoul, Monday.Lee plays a dedicated mother, Jung-yeon, who has spent six years looking for her missing son. She receives an anonymous call about him which leads her to a small fishing village where she fights to solve a mystery that the village people seem to be hiding. The return of Lee has been highly anticipated as this is the first film role she has taken on since her iconic performance as protaNov 4, 2019By Lee Gyu-lee
'Terminator: Dark Fate' is No. 1, but it's no winner This image released by Paramount Pictures shows Mackenzie Davis, left, and Linda Hamilton in "Terminator: Dark Fate." APDespite generally favorable reviews and the return of star Linda Hamilton and producer James Cameron, “Terminator: Dark Fate” has opened well below expectations at the box office. Studios on Sunday estimate that “Dark Fate” earned only $29 million from over 4,000 North American locations. The film from Paramount Pictures cost a reported $185 million to produce. It was enough to win the top spot at the box office, but it's a weak victory for the franchise. Although “Dark Fate,” which was directed by “Deadpool's” Tim Miller, received much better reviews (currently at 69% on Rotten Tomatoes) and was praised for being a return to form to Cameron's original films, it opened just slightly ahead of 2015's roundly derided “Terminator: Genisys.” “These big brands carry with them huge expectations, often unrealistic expectations,” said Comscore senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian. “It wasn't fNov 4, 2019
Traumatic Korean cinema history on view From left, curator Cho So-yeon, directors Kim Soo-yong and Lee Jang-ho and film critic Kim Jong-won attend a press conference for the exhibition on censorship in Korean cinema, held at the Korean Film Archive in western Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Korean Film ArchiveBy Lee Gyu-leeThe Korean Film Archive is holding a special exhibition on censorship in Korean cinema history at the center in Sangam-dong, Seoul, which will run until next March.Since the birth of the industry in 1919, Korean films have faced substantial government scrutiny. Through Japanese rule (1910-1945) and the 1950-53 Korean War, which was followed by a military regime, films were subject to strict government censorship. “Korean cinema would be half a century or so ahead from where it stands today if there had been no censorship,” director Kim Soo-yong, 90, a prolific filmmaker, said during a press conference for the exhibition at the Korean Film Archive in western Seoul, Oct. 29. “We would've had a Cannes-winning director 50 years earlier than Bong Joon-ho. Though unfortunate, it's the history thaNov 3, 2019By Lee Gyu-lee
'Black Money' tells story of government corruption in financial scandal Actor Cho Jin-woong, from left, director Chung Ji-young and actress Lee Ha-nee pose for pictures during a media conference for new crime drama film “Black Money,” held at Yongsan CGV in Seoul, Monday. YonhapBy Lee Gyu-leeThe new white-collar crime film, “Black Money” aims to reignite dialogue about a prominent financial scandal that hit Korea in the early 2000s.“The purpose of this film is to share the story of the case so we can discuss and debate what happened to make this society better,” director and writer Chung Ji-young said during a press conference for the film held at Yongsan CGV in Seoul, Monday. The film is based on the financial scandal triggered by the U.S.-based private equity firm Lone Star Funds' investment in Korea. The firm acquired Korean Exchange Bank (KEB) in 2003 by taking a 51.02 percent stake. It exited Korea in 2012 after making a profit of 4.9 trillion won. The legality and procedure of the firm's acquisition stirred a debate as Korea's fifth-largest bank was approved to be sold, despite a local law limiting private firms Oct 30, 2019By Lee Gyu-lee
EXO's Suho returns to big screen Actor Shin Ha-kyun, from left, Suho, Kim Seul-gi, Yoo Soo-bin, and director Hur Jin-ho pose for pictures during a media conference for the film “The Present,” held at Lotte Cinema in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Monday. YonhapBy Lee Gyu-leeLeader of K-pop group EXO, Kim Jun-myeon, who performs under the stage name Suho, returned to the big screen on Monday with short film “The Present,” which tells the story of young startup founders and their struggles. Aside from his singing career with the popular boy band, Suho has been building his acting career. Starting with online series “EXO Next Door” in 2015, he has since taken lead roles in several dramas and films.A year after his last film “Student A” (2018), he took on the role of a young entrepreneur Ha-neul who attempts to invent small-sized thermal imaging cameras for firefighters and starts his own business.“I was drawn to the story because it's a story of youth and sends a positive message to them,” Suho said during a media conference held at Lotte Cinema in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, MoOct 28, 2019By Lee Gyu-lee
Wes Studi to make Oscars history for Native American actors Wes Studi. Capture from Facebook (@WStudi)When Cherokee actor Wes Studi was thinking about moving to Los Angeles to take a shot at being an actor in the 1980s, he asked a friend if it was a good idea. The friend replied, ``Why not? There aren't many Native American actors.''Instead of taking the remark as a deterrent, Studi took it as a plus.``I thought, `Okay, so not a whole lot of competition then,''' Studi, 71, said laughing. ``I thought why not take a leap and I did. And things turned out well.''Although there was no way he could have known it at the time, the Tulsa, Oklahoma native came at the perfect time, too. Hollywood had started to move beyond its deplorable past of casting white actors in indigenous roles and was looking for more authenticity. Some of his first films included ``Dances with Wolves,'' `'The Last of the Mohicans'' and ``Geronimo: An American Legend'' that would lead to a fruitful 30-year career that is still very active.This Sunday, Studi will make history as the first Native American Oscar recipient at the 11th annual Governors Awards, alongside fellow honorOct 27, 2019
London festival sheds light on Korean cinema Launched four years ago with only seven movies, the London East Asia Film Festival (LEAFF) has now established itself as a key platform to introduce the region's vibrant cinema to Britain.The fourth annual festival kicked off Thursday with the European premiere of South Korean disaster action comedy film "Exit." Over 60 titles from 11 countries will be screened around London until Nov. 3 under the theme of "crisis, chaos and survival."Jeon Hye-jung, festival founder and director, attributes its success to an ever increasing interest among Britons in emerging cinematic powerhouses in Asia including South Korea. "There is a growing interest in Asia among Britons, and an increasing number of people like Korean movies," Jeon said during the opening ceremony at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in the city's West End."There are not many Asian movies opening in Britain, so many people await our film festival."Korean films figure prominently in this year's festival, including K-cinema 100, a special section marking the 100th anniversary of Korean cinema.LEAFF has offered a series of monthly sOct 27, 2019
