K-pop singer IU to make film debut through Netflix By Park Jin-haiK-pop singer and actress Lee Ji-eun, a.k.a. IU, poses during a press event for her debut film “Persona” at Conrad Seoul, Wednesday. / YonhapK-pop singer and actress Lee Ji-eun, a.k.a. IU, will make her film debut in Netflix's original ensemble piece “Persona.” Four directors ― Lee Kyoung-mi, Yim Pil-sung, Jeon Go-woon and Kim Jong-kwan ― created four individual films for the ensemble, inspired by the 25-year-old K-pop icon.“I'm a bit bewildered to have my film debut. I tossed and turned last night with excitement, before the press conference,” IU said during the event at Conrad Seoul, Wednesday. “I accepted the offer, thinking it was a fresh experiment. Four directors through their own interpretation created four different characters. And I had to play them in a fairly short period of time. I think this project will remain in my memory for a long time.” IU began her music career as a singer-songwriter in 2008 and had many hit songs including “Good Day,” “You and I” and “Bbibbi.” StartinMar 27, 2019By Park Jin-hai
3 actors of 'Avengers: Endgame' to visit Korea Three main cast members of Marvel's "Avengers: Endgame" will visit South Korea next month to promote the movie ahead of its release in the country, the movie's local distributor said Tuesday.The three actors ― Robert Downey Jr., Jeremy Renner and Brie Larson ― and directors Anthony and Joe Russo will be in South Korea on April 14-15 to attend an Asian press junket in Seoul, Walt Disney Company Korea said.This will be Downey Jr.'s fourth visit to South Korea in four years since one for "Avengers: Age of Ultron" in 2015, and the first for Larson and Renner.The visit will be part of the new movie's world promotional tour. Seoul was chosen to be the place for its Asian press junket, where journalists from 11 Asian countries will be invited."Endgame" is set to be released in North American theaters on April 26, while the date for its South Korean release remains undecided. It depicts the battle between the Avengers' surviving superheros, who became Earth's last hope after the incident in "Avengers: Infinity War," and villain Thanos. (Yonhap)Mar 26, 2019
Park Chan-wook gets out of comfort zone Park Chan-wook poses prior to an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of WatchaFilmmaker talks about UK drama debut By Park Jin-haiAward-winning filmmaker Park Chan-wook, one of the most celebrated Korean directors who has put Korean cinema on the global map through a series of works including “Old Boy”(2003), “Thirst” (2009) and “The Handmaiden” (2016), has made his first small screen debut in the U.K.The British miniseries “The Little Drummer Girl,” an adaptation of John le Carre's 1983 best-selling novel of the same name, set in the late 1970s, is a spy thriller revolving around a young, idealistic actress Charlie, played by Florence Pugh. She is recruited by the mysterious Gadi Becker, an Israeli intelligence officer, whom she is drawn to, and takes on a dangerous mission devised by spy mastermind Kurtz as a double agent who infiltrates a Palestinian terrorist group. Charlie is caught in a love triangle as she falls in love with both Becker and Kurtz. Director Park said he first contacted the novel's aMar 25, 2019By Park Jin-hai
'Money,' easy to follow yet unconvincing Actors Ryu Jun-yeol, left, and Yoo Ji-tae laugh at a news conference for crime film “Money” at a CGV movie theater in southern Seoul on Feb. 11. In the box office hit, Yoo, who plays a client, offers a secret offer to stockbroker Ryu.Crime film tops box officeBy Anna J. ParkThe crime film “Money” topped the nation's box office, grossing over 1.5 million ticket admissions, since its release on Wednesday. During the past weekend, the movie attracted nearly 900,000, followed by “Captain Marvel” with about 330,000 admissions. “Money,” directed by female filmmaker Park Noo-ri and based on the namesake 2013 fiction work, deals with the theme resonates with almost everyone. Park is making her directorial debut with the film. Cho Il-hyun (played by Ryu Jun-yeol) is an entry-level stockbroker at a securities firm. He is ordinary in every sense. He is not outstanding in any fields and has a humble family background. His popular coworker Jeon Woo-sung (played by Kim Jae-young) belittles him. Jeon is the total package ― he is handsome, comes from aMar 25, 2019By Anna J. Park
Filmmaking icon Tim Burton soars to new heights with 'Dumbo' In this file photo taken on March 11, U.S. director Tim Burton arrives for the world premiere of Disney's "Dumbo" at El Capitan theatre in Hollywood. AFPHe has never liked the Big Top, mainly due to the caged animals and freaky clowns, but for legendary director Tim Burton there is no denying the romance of running away to join the circus.And even more so if the adventure involves a flying elephant, says the 61-year-old Californian, who is hitting red carpets with his 26th feature, a remake of the 1941 Disney classic "Dumbo.""The thing I liked about 'Dumbo' was just the idea ― the image of a flying elephant and a misfit ― and all that sort of stuff is very appealing to me," he told AFP.The visionary behind a slew of hits spanning four decades, from Gothic animation to screwball comedy, Burton recalls being something of a misfit himself ― the other kids at school called him "weirdo."But like "Dumbo," Burton's Achilles heel was his superpower. The outsider persona gave him space to grow into one of Hollywood's most sought-after creatives when he might just have been part of the crowd. Mar 24, 2019
Hong Sang-soo returns with self-reflective opus Actress Kim Min-hee, center, is seen in Hong Sang-soo's new film “Hotel by the River.” / Courtesy of Contents PandaBy Park Jin-haiHong Sang-soo, the prolific auteur who has been avoiding exposure to local media after he made public his extramarital affair with actress Kim Min-hee in 2017, returns to the local cinema with his latest film “Hotel by the River.”The sixth joint project between the director and actress, like their previous works “On the Beach at Night Alone” and “Claire's Camera,” is self-reflective. Hong's third film in black-and-white starts with the 58-year-old director's low, plain voice narrating the names of the cast and when and where the film was shot, along with the director's hand-written opening credits. The film revolves around two guests at a small provincial hotel on the frozen shores of the Han River and what happens in a single day. Young-whan, played by Hong's regular Ki Joo-bong, is an aged and divorced poet who has earned some fame with a book. Thanks to the courtesy of his fan and the hotel owner, Young-whMar 22, 2019By Park Jin-hai
'Burning' director honored at Asian Film Awards Lee Chang-dongSouth Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-dong received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 13th Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong on Sunday. The auteur also won the best director award at the film festival for his movie "Burning," which was selected for the Cannes Film Festival in May last year and won the best foreign film award from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association in December and the Toronto Film Critics Association and the Best Foreign Language Film Award from the French Union of Film Critics in January."Burning," starring Yoo Ah-in, Steven Yeun and Jeon Jong-seo, depicts the insecurity, helplessness and anger of young Korean people through the story of a part-time deliveryman and aspiring novelist, and two of his friends.Lee grabbed the same award for his "Secret Sunshine" (2008) and "Poetry" (2011).South Korean actors Park Seo-joon and Kim Jae-joong won the Rising Star Award and "Next Generation Award" at the festival, respectively. (Yonhap)Mar 18, 2019
'Captain Marvel' sells 4.6 million tickets in Korean box office "Captain Marvel" has become the most-viewed foreign film to date this year, topping the box office for the second weekend in a row.From Friday to Sunday, the Marvel superhero flick added 1,012,115 admissions to its 12-day cumulative total of about 4.6 million, data from the Korean Film Council showed Monday.The movie has stayed atop the daily box office chart since it opened on March 6. On Sunday, it set the record for most-watched foreign film to date this year.The 21st entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, "Captain Marvel" depicts the birth of a new hero, Captain Marvel, who rises to be the last hope of the Avengers. Its box office total has already surpassed $760 million worldwide.Coming in a distant second was American horror-thriller "The Escape Room," seen by 313,593 people.In third was "Money," a Korean crime thriller starring Ryu Jun-yeol, Yoo Ji-tae and Jo Woo-jin. The film about a young stock broker who would do anything to become rich amassed 58,599 views in paid pre-screenings before its formal release Wednesday.Clint Eastwood's drug courier drama "The Mule" took the foMar 18, 2019
Yum Jung-ah returns with family fiasco movie Yum Jung-ah seen in the film "Another Child" / Courtesy of ShowboxBy Park Jin-haiYum Jung-ah, star of JTBC's hit drama “SKY Castle,” who impressed viewers with her strong mother character, returns to the big screen to play another mother role. In the film with “Another Child,” directed by actor-turned-director Kim Yun-seok, the 46-year-old actress plays the role of Young-ju, whose happy normal life is suddenly turned upside down. The film revolves around two families whose two underage daughters discover their parents' infidelity. While Young-ju's daughter tries to deal with her father's cheating on her own to save the family, Mi-hee, the daughter of her father's cheating partner, spills the beans and things come crashing down. “It is a film that makes people think (about life). If my previous mother roles focused more on motherhood and maternity, my new role depicts more of her 'woman' side faced with the family crisis,” said Yum during a press conference at a local theater in Seoul, Wednesday. “Although it was not an easy role to takeMar 13, 2019By Park Jin-hai
Park Bo-gum returns to movies as human clone By Dong Sun-hwaActor Park Bo-gum will play a human clone in a new movie tentatively titled “Seobok.” Courtesy of Blossom EntertainmentA-list actor Park Bo-gum will return to the big screen as a human clone. Park's agency, Blossom Entertainment, confirmed he would star in a film tentatively titled “Seobok” alongside Gong Yoo. “Park will come back with 'Seobok,' four years after the release of his latest crime movie 'Coinlocker Girl' in 2014,” the agency said. The new film revolves around a former agent from the intelligence agency, played by Gong Yoo. He will be tracked by various parties that aim to catch “Seobok,” the first human clone in history. Park plays Seobok, who possesses the secret of “eternal life.” Award-winning filmmaker Lee Yong-ju will direct the movie. Lee was at the helm of romantic film “Architecture 101” in 2012, which propelled singer-actress Suzy to greater stardom. It is the first time a Korean movie has been based on human cloning. Filming will begin in April. Park debuted in 2011 and was cMar 5, 2019By Dong Sun-hwa
