'Mulan' faces boycott in Korea after Chinese actress Liu Yifei's 'support' for Hong Kong protester crackdown By Dong Sun-hwaActress Liu Yifei stars in Disney's live-action movie “Mulan.” Courtesy of Walt Disney StudioDisney's new live-action flick “Mulan” faces growing calls for a boycott in South Korea after its star Liu Yifei shared a controversial image on social media that critics see as her tacit support of China's bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong. Liu, a naturalized U.S. citizen from China, plays Mulan in the movie that will have worldwide release in March. The image she shared on Weibo on Aug. 14 reads: “I support Hong Kong's police, you can beat me up now. What a shame for Hong Kong.” The quote ― apparently against the protesters ― is said to have been from Fu Guohao, a Global Times reporter from mainland China, while allegedly being assaulted by protesters at Hong Kong airport on Tuesday. The image was made by the Chinese government's mouthpiece the People's Daily. “She is enjoying freedom as an American citizen, while forcing Hong Kong people to make sacrifices,” a Korean netizen wrote. “I wilAug 18, 2019By Dong Sun-hwa
'The Battle: Roar to Victory' passes 3 million admissions A scene from "The Battle: Roar to Victory." Korea Times fileHistorical blockbuster "The Battle: Roar to Victory," directed by Won Shin-yeon, surpassed 3 million admissions on the ninth day of its theatrical run on Thursday, the film's distributor said.The film had brought a cumulative total of 3 million viewers to theaters as of 2:35 p.m., according to the film's distributor Showbox.Starring Yu Hae-jin and Ryoo Joon-yeol, the film revolves around a fierce battle between Korean independence militias and Japanese forces that took place at Fengwudong in Manchuria, China, in 1920.The two-day battle was the first victory by a Korean independence unit against Japanese regulars.South Korea celebrated Liberation Day on Thursday, commemorating the 1945 end of Japan's colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. (Yonhap)Aug 15, 2019
German film festival highlights female directors A Still cut from the film “Locked Up Time” /Courtesy of DEFA Stiftung and Michael Loewenberg. By Kim Se-jeongThe Goethe-Institute Korea will feature 13 female German film directors who made themselves stand out during periods of political turmoil at a film screening event from Aug. 20 to Sept.1 at the Korean Film Archive (KOFA) in Seoul. KOFA is the co-organizer of the event. Twelve films, including documentaries, were chosen for the occasion. They were filmed between 1968 and 1999, a period when Germany was divided between the democratic West and communist East and reunified in 1990. The political situation affected the female directors in one way or the other and their professional and personal experiences are reflected in their works.In the documentary “Locked Up Time (1991)”, for example, director Sibylle Schoenemann investigates what happened when she was detained in 1984 in East Berlin after applying for a permit to move into Hamburg in West Germany. She attempts to find the reason for her detention, visiting the prisoAug 13, 2019By Kim Se-jeong
Actor Oh cleared of sexual harassment accusation Oh Dal-soo. Korea Times fileBy Park Si-soo Veteran actor Oh Dal-soo will return to the big screen after police cleared him of a sexual harassment accusation.Oh is planning to star in a small-budget independent film for his return. The film's title, shooting and release plans are not yet known. “Oh has maintained a low profile even after he was cleared of the (sexual harassment) accusation early this year,” C-JeS Entertainment said in a belated announcement of his innocence. “The National Police Agency informed us early this year the accusation against Oh was groundless.” C-JeS Entertainment said Oh had been wary of his comeback but recently decided to make it because “acting is his calling that he wants to carry on throughout his life.” Oh's last work before the accusation was the crime/action “Detective K: Secret of the Bloodsucking Demon,” released in February 2018. Aug 13, 2019
Universal Pictures pulls movie 'The Hunt' after backlash In this Aug. 23, 2016, file photo, the entrance to the Universal Studios lot is pictured in Universal City, Calif. Universal Pictures has canceled the planned September 2019 release of its controversial social thriller "The Hunt" in the wake of recent mass shootings and criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump. APU.S. President Donald Trump launched a scathing attack on "racist" Hollywood Friday, appearing to single out an upcoming film in which liberal elites hunt down "normal folk" for sport."The Hunt," due to be released next month, has been billed as an ultra-violent satire about America's deep political divide.Its plot sees people who have been kidnapped from traditionally Republican bastions such as Wyoming, Mississippi and Orlando, Florida waking up in a field surrounded by "elite" hunters, who proceed to gun them down.The movie had already attracted controversy after adverts for the film were pulled in the wake of recent mass shootings in Texas, Ohio and California."Liberal Hollywood is Racist at the highest level, and with great Anger and Hate!" tweeted Trump."The movie coAug 11, 2019
Gambling film series 'Tazza' comes back with poker From left, actor Park Jung-min, actress Choi Yu-hwa, director Kwon Oh-kwang, actress Lim Ji-yeon, and actor Lee Kwang-soo pose holding a banner reading “Give Your All to Tazza This Chuseok” at a media conference for the film “Tazza: One-Eyed Jack,” held Thursday in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. / Courtesy of Lotte EntertainmentBy Lee Gyu-leePopular gambling-themed film series “Tazza” is making its way back to the silver screen, this time with poker. “Tazza: One-Eyed Jack,” the third installment of the crime drama series, will deviate from the Korean card game Hwatu to focus on poker.“Hwatu cards are small so [scams] involve a lot of hand-tricks, whereas poker cards are larger and thinner, making it harder for those tricks. From what I've researched, [scams in poker] are usually carried out by teams to divert other players' attention,” director Kwon Oh-kwang said Thursday at a media conference held in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul.“This film would be fun to watch if you understand how the characters team up, each contributing differently, tAug 11, 2019By Lee Gyu-lee
For Zack and Shia, a buddy movie becomes a real friendship In this Friday, Aug. 2, 2019 photo, Shia LaBeouf, left, and Zack Gottsagen, cast members in the film "The Peanut Butter Falcon," pose together for a portrait at the London West Hollywood, in West Hollywood, Calif. The movie opens in the U.S. on Aug. 9. APShia LaBeouf is trying to show how different he is from his co-star in ``The Peanut Butter Falcon,'' Zack Gottsagen. ``Hey, Zack,'' says LaBeouf. ``Are you a good opera singer?'' ``Yes!'' replies Gottsagen with a smile. ``Hey, Zack. Are you good scuba diver?'' ``Yes!'' responds Gottsagen, just as quickly, just as brightly. LaBeouf shakes his head in awe. Like the 33-year-old LaBeouf, Gottsagen, is an actor. He's one year LaBeouf's senior and he has Down syndrome. Truth be told, he can't sing a lick of opera and isn't much for scuba diving. But that's never stopped Gottsagen. ``No matter what you ask him, he's good at it. He was raised a special, magical kid since he was young. There's no self-doubt in him,'' says LaBeouf. ``You ask me if I'm a good actor and I'll tell you I'm s―-.'' Six years ago, Gottsagen met Tyler Nilson and MiAug 11, 2019
Oddly tough times for Korean cinema An image of a battle scene from “The Battle: Roar to Victory,” which has been accused of damaging endangered plants during filming in a conservation area in Gangwon Province. Courtesy of Showbox'Roar to Victory' wary of fallout from environmental damage allegation By Lee Gyu-leeNot long after the historical film “The King's Letters” disappeared from the box office with disappointing ticket sales following accusations it distorted history, another historical film has been facing accusations that the crew damaged the environment and some endangered plants while shooting the film. “The Battle: Roar to Victory” caused a stir among the public for allegedly causing severe damage to the plants on set during the filming of its battle scenes in a conservation area near Dong River in Gangwon Province, last November. The allegation was raised when an internet user started a petition on the presidential office website, Monday, calling for harsher punishment for those who harm endangered plants. The user claimed the production team harmed the endangered plant hAug 7, 2019By Lee Gyu-lee
Angelina Jolie's son to become Yonsei student Maddox Jolie-Pitt, right, with his mother Angelina Jolie and siblings. / AP-YonhapBy Kim Se-jeong Hollywood star Angelina Jolie's eldest son Maddox Jolie-Pitt will start classes at Yonsei University in September, the school confirmed, Tuesday.The confirmation followed a report in People magazine the previous day.According to the university's communication office, Jolie-Pitt, 18, has been admitted to the Underwood International College to study life science and biotechnology. The lectures there are given in English.He will spend his first year at the university's Songdo campus along with his classmates, according to the school.The son and mother toured Yonsei last November when she came here as a special envoy of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, raising speculation that he would enroll at Yonsei. Jolie-Pitt is the Hollywood star's adopted son from Cambodia and is said to be a big K-pop fan. According to the magazine, Jolie-Pitt is still in the U.S. getting ready to move to Korea and studying the Korean language intensively to prepare for his stay in Korea. The magaziAug 6, 2019By Kim Se-jeong
'The Rookie' star alleges sexual harassment, discrimination Afton Williamson. Capture from Afton Williamson's InstagramAfton Williamson, co-star of the ABC crime series ``The Rookie,'' says she is quitting the show because of sexual harassment and racial discrimination she experienced during the first season. In an Instagram post Sunday, Williamson said that throughout the filming of the show's pilot, ``I experienced racial discrimination/racially charged inappropriate comments from the hair department.'' Williamson said the treatment worsened when she was sexually harassed by a recurring guest star, bullied by executive producers and ultimately sexually assaulted by a crew member at a wrap party. ABC Studios responded later Sunday with a statement, largely referring to its production partners, Entertainment One. ``The allegations involve a production from Entertainment One,'' the network said. ``In late June, eOne made us aware and informed us that they launched an investigation that is ongoing. The safety of working environments is a top priority for us, and we take this matter very seriously.''Entertainment One, in a statement of its own, Aug 5, 2019
