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August 12, 2009
Actress Hwang Returns to Movie
Actress Hwang Soo-jung
Actress Hwang Soo-jung will return to the silver screen for the first time in two years.
Hwang, 37, starred in "A Time to Leave," the first episode of the omnibus movie "Sai'' directed by Eo Il-seon, with actor Ki Tae-young.
She played the role of a wife who falls victim to habitual violence inflicted by her husband. She meets Ki, a seaman and jail-breaker, while traveling and the two fall into love.
In the movie, Hwang shakes off her fixed image of a good-natured woman and shows a much stronger image. The movie is to be released early next year.
Hwang had her acting career suspended in 2001 after being arrested on drug charges. She made a comeback in 2007 with the TV drama "Salt Doll." She starred in the movie "Day and Night'' last year.
Source: koreatimes.co.kr |
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August 12, 2009
Dae-sung of Big Bang Sustains Injury in Car Accident
Dae-sung, a member of the group Big Bang, has sustained injuries in a car accident and needs to undergo four weeks of medical treatment. Dae-sung was involved in the accident on the afternoon of August 11 when he was returning to Seoul after the taping of the SBS TV show "Good Sunday - Family." His car skidded on a slippery highway when it was exiting a tunnel. The rear of the car crashed into the guard rail, according to the singer's agency, YG Entertainment.
A person from the agency said Dae-sung was sitting in the passenger seat at the time of the accident. He has sustained serious injuries on his nose and spine and minor injuries on his face and arms. It will take him about four weeks to recover. Dae-sung's manager, who was driving, injured his arm and has undergone a detailed examination. The singer's coordinator, who was sitting in the back seat, was seriously injured in the leg and was rushed to a nearby hospital in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province where she underwent surgery.
Dae-sung and his manager received emergency care at a hospital in Anseong and returned to Seoul the same night. They were hospitalized at a hospital in Gangnam. Dae-sung will be unable to appear in the musical "Shouting" this month.
Source: KBS Global |
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August 7, 2009
Movie Review
Impressive opening but mediocre ending in psychological thriller 'The Pot'
By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, Aug. 7 (Yonhap) -- The success of the horror genre rests on the dual nature of human beings. While being discomforted by the torment inflicted by ghosts or malefactors, we also tend to take a vicarious pleasure in the proceedings, knowing ourselves safely removed from the ill fortune on screen.
Psychological horror "The Pot (Dok)" forbids viewers such satisfaction. The misfortunes and uncanny incidents in the movie derive not from outside influence or by coincidence, but man's own lust, greed, indifference and fanaticism, leaving the audiences fidgeting at the thought that the story is partly their own.
Everything seems picture-perfect for a family of three -- factory manager Hyeong-guk (Im Hyung-kook), his wife Yeong-ae (Yang Eun-yong) and daughter Mi-ae (Ryu Hyeon-bin). They are about to welcome a second child into their newly purchased home in Seoul, and their business, built on a fortune inherited from Hyeong-guk's mother, is also doing well.
Befriending their neighbors, an elderly Presbyterian couple, the family begins to attend church, praying for more wealth and happiness. But the parents soon becomes uncomfortable with the elderly woman's excessive fondness of their daughter. After the woman dies, Mi-ae starts behaving in a bizarre manner, suddenly carrying a grudge against her mother and creating a weird aura around the house.
Suspicion breeds fear, which in turn breeds tragedy, ending the domestic bliss and bringing the family to the brink of disaster.
Debuting at the 2008 Pusan International Film Festival, "The Pot" was also invited to the 2009 International Film Festival Rotterdam and the Fribourg International Film Festival, building up anticipation as another noticeable independent, low-budget film.
Writer-director Kim Tae-gon's debut feature, unfortunately, appears to rely too heavily on the genre's conventions, and not in a novel way that exploits the audience's now-ingrained expectations.
As a horror-stricken family drama that relies not on brutality or blood but on psychological tension and realistic details, "The Pot" closely resembles Kim Ji-woon's "A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)" which was a surprise hit at the domestic box office and was remade by Hollywood.
But unlike its predecessor, which was pacey, sophisticated and convincing all in one batch, "The Pot" never quite manages to fully explore the fragility of the family, its main theme, scattering itself between too many issues at the same time.
Although the novice filmmaker should be applauded for his attempt to melt issues such as greed of the neo-bourgeois family and religious fanaticism in a horror movie, "The Pot" randomly picks up and drops its plot threads and is more than a half-an-hour too long. More judicious editing could have tightened the narrative and give a needed twist to a familiar material.
Produced in cooperation of the Chung-Ang University's Graduate School of Advancing Image and Science and distributed by Indiestory, the movie will hit the local theaters on Aug. 20.
Credits: [email protected] via yonhapnews.co.kr |
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August 12, 2009
Big Bang Member Injured in Car Accident
By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
Dae-sung
Dae-sung, a member of popular idol group Big Bang, broke his nose in a car accident Tuesday evening.
The 20-year-old singer was returning to Seoul after shooting SBS television program "The Family is Out!" when the accident happened at the Pyeongtaek Express highway, Gyeonggi Province. The van hit the guardrail as it skidded in the pouring rain, according to YG Entertainment, the group's agency.
"Dae-sung, who was in the passenger seat, broke his nose. He also injured his back, but doctors said it would naturally heal when he rests for about four months. He also has minor bruises on his face and arm,'' the agency said.
YG added that Dae-sung's manager injured his arm, and his stylist hurt her leg, which required surgery.
Dae-sung received first aid treatment at a nearby hospital and is currently hospitalized in Seoul.
A YG official added that the singer will not be able to appear in his upcoming musical "Shouting."
Dae-sung made his debut with Big Bang's four other members ― T.O.P., G-Dragon, Victory and Tae-yang― in 2006. Since their debut, the group has garnered fans with their stylish looks and distinctive sounds. The five members have also pursued their individual paths as well, with Dae-sung and Victory starring in musicals, Tae-yang and G-Dragon releasing solo albums and T.O.P. appearing in television dramas.
Credits: sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr |
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August 13, 2009
Group Calls for 'Neutral' Judges in Beef Case Against Actress
Kim Min-sun
The conservative civic group Freedom Advance Association on Wednesday demanded judges affiliated with progressive organizations should be prevented from handling a damage suit filed by U.S. beef importer A-Meat against the actress Kim Min-sun.
At the height of the mass protests against U.S. beef imports, Kim posted an article on her website saying she would "rather drink potassium cyanide than eat U.S. beef and bones tainted with mad cow disease." A-Meat filed a W300 million (US$1=W1,249) compensation suit with a Seoul court on Monday saying Kim's comments were malicious and led to a drastic fall in sales.
The group said judges who are members of a left-leaning legal study group could be biased and should not handle this case. The group said judges should be screened to see whether they hold "biased ideological views" and plans to recommend A-Meat seek another judge if it feels they are biased.
Credits: englishnews@chosun.com |
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Post Last Edit by katt at 17-8-2009 12:56
News Index Page 34
Aug 13: Chang Seo-hee Publicizes Gwangu Design Biennale
Aug 12: Kim’s Autobiography Takes Life of Its Own
Aug 13: Jecheon International fest kicks off with music, films from 35 countries
Aug 13: Gluttony for Beauty Takes Toll in 'Yoga'
Aug 13: Lee Byung-hun receives hot attention from oversea fans
Aug 13: All packaging and little substance in Korean horror flick 'Yoga'
Aug 14: Korean Actor So Ji-sub to Court Zhang Ziyi Onscreen
Aug 14: TV Show Hosts Park, Choi to Tie the Knot Sept. 11
Aug 14: Won Bin returns to the entertainment industry with a bang
Aug 14: Bong Joong-ho's Mother to be Korea's Foreign Language Entry at Oscars
Aug 14: Su Ae and Cho Seung-woo in royal drama
Aug 14: Bong Joon-ho spearheads PPP
Aug 14: Korean Indie-feature Animal Town to Compete at San Sebastian
Aug 15: 1st Frenchman to Play Lead in a Korean Weekend Soap
Aug 15: Late actress' burial urn found missing: police
Aug 15: Late Actress Choi’s Ash Jar Stolen
Aug 16: Zhang Ziyi sends love to So Ji-sub
Aug 16: 'Sophie,' highlight reel for Zhang
Aug 14: Andy Picked as Ideal Husband in Thailand
Aug 17: Disaster Movie 'Haeundae' Heads for 10-Million Mark
Aug 17: Police Hunt Thief of Actress Choi Jin-sil's Ashes |
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August 13, 2009
Chang Seo-hee Publicizes Gwangu Design Biennale
Actress Chang Seo-hee has been named as honorary PR ambassador for the 2009 Gwangju Design Biennale. She received her appointment certificate on August 12 at the Gwangju Biennale Conference Room in Gwangju. In the photo she speaks to a group of journalists.
Chang Seo-hee named as honorary PR ambassador for Gwangju Design Biennale
Actress Chang Seo-hee, who has been named PR ambassador for the 2009 Gwangju Design Biennale, pledged on August 12 to do her best to publicize the event in Korea and abroad. Receiving her appointment certificate at the conference room of the Gwangju Biennale Foundation, Chang said, "I already knew a lot about the Gwangju Design Biennale but I didn't have a chance to participate so far. I willingly accepted the offer to act as PR ambassador."
Chang is a Korean Wave star who is very popular in Taiwan, China and Mongolia. Her popularity has soared recently for her role in the SBS series "Cruel Temptation," which has been exported to 10 countries. The actress has been busy promoting the series abroad. She pledged to publicize the Gwangju Biennale in Korea and overseas, saying that it is more popular abroad for its artistic and traditional aspects and that she wants to contribute to improving its status through her overseas activities.
Meanwhile, appointment certificates have been also given to interpreters, management agents and volunteers. The 2009 Gwangju Design Biennale will kick off September 18 and will run through November 4. Apart from Chang, other PR ambassadors of the event include comedian Kim Yong-man and Japanese beauty expert Ikoshi.
Source: KBS Global |
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August 12, 2009
Kim’s Autobiography Takes Life of Its Own
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
A scene from “Treeless Mountain,” which features two non-professional children
/ Courtesy of CJ Entertainment
Director Kim So-yong has only two feature films under her belt, but both works have already hot-wired the international film festival circuit, including the Pusan (Busan), Berlinale and Sundance events, and picked up prizes along the way.
Her second piece, "Treeless Mountain,'' coming to theaters here Aug. 27, is another autobiographical piece about growing pains. Existential struggles, family crises and raw human emotions speak across different languages and cultures ― so it is no mystery why Kim's films are so well received near and far.
"I wanted to understand more about what happened when I was young. People do it differently; some people see a therapist or write. I tell a story through characters,'' Kim told The Korea Times in an interview, Tuesday, in Seoul.
Kim's first work, "In Between Days,'' delves into her experience as an immigrant teenager adapting to her new American home, while "Treeless'' goes further back into her childhood days.
"'In Between Days' didn't take long to write because as teenagers we all go through the same existential crisis and question whether `I am an adult.' But `Treeless' was a long process. I wanted to make this film before `In Between Days,' but I didn't feel ready yet. Childhood days are more intense. It's very personal and you start forming your own sense of self, of `I am a person,''' she said.
Kim was born in Busan. Her grandmother raised her there for a while before she and her sister were able to join their mother in the United States. "Treeless'' is dedicated to her grandmother.
The movie is about seven-year-old Jin and her four-year-old sister Bin, who are left in the care of an alcoholic aunt while their mother searches for their missing father. They wait for their mother in earnest while busily filling the piggy bank she gave them. But the mother does not keep her promise to return once the piggy bank is full, and Jin and Bin are again forced to move, this time to their grandparents' house.
It was the strong autobiographical nature of the film that made her wait to make it ― she had to separate herself from it. "That's when I know when a script is ready. It's intimate and personal when you write it, but it's not ready if I can't give it its own life,'' she said. "I knew that Jin was not like me, and that Bin was not like my sister. I had to find my actors,'' she said.
What differentiates her works is that they aren't simple mirrors of memory. They may have been inspired by individual experiences and be products of a certain heritage and culture, but ultimately they become something new.
This is achieved through Kim's unique audiovisual language ― telling a story by extracting raw emotions from non-professional actors, capturing spatial relationships within the frame and forgoing superfluous background music to set the mood.
In her 2007 interview about ``In Between Days,'' she asked The Korea Times to print a notice seeking two non-actors for "Treeless.'' She visited one school after another and auditioned numerous children, but when she saw Kim Hee-yeon (Jin) and Kim Song-hee (Bin), she knew right away that she had found the right children.
"Hee-yeon is very straightforward and direct, and she even corrected my Korean. But I thought she was too pretty. Amy (from `In Between Days') is not very pretty but she is very compelling and her face reflects everything. I doubted whether Hee-yeon had the charisma,'' she said. But she gained confidence in her judgment thanks to her husband, producer and fellow director Bradley Rust Gray.
Kim first met Song-hee through photographs. "I saw a close-up picture of her smiling and another of her in a group. She was super interesting, and almost looked like an old lady ― her soul has a certain gravity,'' she said.
But Kim hesitated. Song-hee was an orphan under foster care, and Kim worried about the emotional and psychological impact of having to play a character that is abandoned by her mother. ``But everyone, including the head of the orphanage, was positive about it, saying it would be a great chance for the child to build confidence and feel a sense of achievement,'' she said.
She would tell the children the lines before shooting each scene. ``The process was similar to `In Between Days' but I had to simplify and analyze everything I had to explain before giving directions. It made me much more efficient. You become analytical as you get older but these kids just accepted it,'' she said.
But the children weren't simply like parrots; Kim kept the camera rolling ― even though the budget was doubling with the use of so much film ― so that the children could make the lines their own and act like themselves. She used a lot of close-up shots of the children's faces and created a very limited frame to reflect the frustrations of the characters.
She needed professional actors for the adult roles ― Kim Mi-hyang (``Secret Sunshine'') as the aunt, and strong screen persona Lee Su-a (``Poison'') as the mother. ``I needed them to set the mood for scenes in order for the kids to react,'' she said.
The result was something like a documentary ― natural and utterly believable, with the viewer feeling everything through the gestures of the children.
``I didn't intend that, but it's a great compliment. I had people in Berlin or the United States get angry and ask, why don't Korean social workers come and take care of the kids, and I had to explain that this was fiction,'' she said.
Did the director relive her memories while shooting in her hometown? "I was just immersed in my work, and busy taking care of Sky,'' she said, referring to her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter.
"Everything was the same, and I did reconnect with the past as I went through the emotional script of the children every morning. It put everything in perspective. But it wasn't a self-searching thing. Instead I made fond memories with my hometown as an adult, drinking coffee and working every morning at this bakery,'' she said, adding with a smile, "Now I feel nostalgic."
Kim said she plans to work on another family drama, about an immature young father learning life lessons from his seven-year-old daughter.
Credits: hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr |
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August 13, 2009
Jecheon International fest kicks off with music, films from 35 countries
By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, Aug. 13 (Yonhap) -- The fifth Jecheon International Music and Film Festival kicked off its six-day schedule Thursday in the central Korean province featuring cinema and music from 35 different countries.
The annual festival, Asia's first music-oriented film event, will feature some 90 films and 30 music performances through Aug. 18 at major theaters and art houses in Jecheon, located some 168 kilometers from Seoul in North Chungcheong Province.
Data picture
The event opens with "The Soloist" by Joe Wright, which tells the real-life story of a homeless Julliard trained musician starring Oscar winner Jamie Foxx and Oscar nominee Robert Downey Jr.
World Music Film Today, the event's sole competition section, will present 10 films from around the world this year.
Five jury members, including Korean director Lee Myeong-se, Japanese producer Iseki Satoru, Taiwanese composer Lim Giong, and French director Dominique Brenguier, will award two outstanding films with the grand prize and special jury prize among a selection of contemporary works of all genres that share music as a main theme.
"Anvil's Heavy-metal Story" and "Dancing Zoo" are among the candidates this year, with the winner to be screened as the closing film. The grand prize winner will receive 10 million won (about US$ 7,700).
Sections also include Music Shorts on Track, which screens 14 Korean and 14 international short films, and Cinema Concert, which will feature German silent film classic "The Golem" and Austrian string quartet "Naked Lunch."
Family Fest will feature films for younger audiences such as "Sergeant Keroro," while 16 music documentaries will be screened in the Music in Sight section.
The Korean Music Film Now section revisits four features and five documentaries portraying local indie bands. The Theme and Variations section will offer five music films featuring classical music composers and orchestras including "Kurt Mazur: A Life in Music" and "El Sistema."
Korean music director Chung Sung-jo will receive the Jecheon Film Music Award, established to honor the accomplishments of local film music masters who have had significant influence on the film and music culture of Korea. Three of Chung's representative works -- "Yeong-Ja's Heydays," "Deep Blue Night" and "Lee Jang-ho's Baseball Team" -- will be screened during the event.
The opening ceremony, hosted by TV series "Boys over Flower" heroine Koo Hye-sun and singer Alex, will be attended by several big names in the local film industry including directors Im Kwon-taek, Lee Jang-ho, Kim Ji-woon, actresses Han Chae-young, Kang Soo-yeon, and actors Ahn Sung-kee and Park Joong-hoon.
Credits: [email protected] via yonhapnews.co.kr |
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August 13, 2009
Movie Review
All packaging and little substance in Korean horror flick 'Yoga'
By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, Aug. 13 (Yonhap) -- Only a rare few are gifted with natural beauty. For the majority, the quest for stunning beauty could mean just about anything from starving oneself for days to jabbing needles in one's face: an insidious, at times deadly, obsession that often goes ignored by the general public.
Taking a well-timed stab at South Korea's excessive social emphasis placed on female beauty, "Yoga (Yoga Hakwon)" attempts to come up with something original in the horror genre.
Beneath its grandeur -- encapsulated by six lean, yoga-fit beauties -- however, the movie lacks the acumen to penetrate the underlying issues driving hundreds of thousands to go under the needle each year in this beauty-making promise land.
Threatened by a younger and prettier newcomer at work, Hyo-jeong (Eugene), once a popular hostess at a local home shopping channel, visits a secluded yoga institute recommended by an old classmate who supposedly transformed herself from an ugly duckling into a gorgeous swan after completing the institute's special program.
Signing up for a one-week course, Hyo-jeong meets four other young women -- all insecure and obsessive about their looks -- hoping to get a tip on "everlasting beauty" promised by yoga master Nani (Cha Soo-yeon).
Explaining that only one among the five will be given the secret of ultimate and immortal beauty, the expressionless Nani lays out five rules the women must not break during the course: No eating after mealtime, no showers within an hour after class, no looking in the mirror, no leaving the building and no phone calls.
Driven by their desire to win the coveted prize, the women endure the rigorous training and strive to keep the rules despite a growing sense that something out of the ordinary is going on in the center.
The training ultimately becomes a life and death struggle, however, as those found breaking the rules begin to disappear one by one and strange visions and voices envelope the building.
Directed by Yun Jae-yeon, the creator of high school horror "Memento Mori 3: Wishing Stairs (2003)," "Yoga" does succeed in capturing audiences' attention, particularly through the performances of the stunning actresses who went through real yoga training and strict dieting during the one-year filming period.
"The hardest part was not eating," actress Park Han-byeol, who plays former idol star Yeon-ju in the film, said during the press conference after the movie's preview Wednesday. "I felt sorry for the character and was drawn closer to her as I was to really live her life during the filming."
Actress Kim Hye-na, who played cosmetic surgery-addict Yu-gyeong, said she "felt extremely saddened" over the women's effort to become beautiful. "The movie might not be bloodcurdlingly scary, but it conveys a chilling message on what obsession to become beautiful can lead to," she said.
The movie also deserves credit for its eerie sound effects, a combination of deep yoga breathing and piercing screams that manages to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Still, the overall story falls short of either scaring or drawing empathy from most audiences.
"Yoga," with a running-time of 98 minutes, will hit local theaters beginning Aug. 20.
Credits: [email protected] via yonhapnews.co.kr |
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August 13, 2009
Gluttony for Beauty Takes Toll in 'Yoga'
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
A scene from the domestic thriller "Yoga"
The intention of the horror movie-wannabe "Yoga" seems sound enough. Misled desire for eternal beauty and youth leads a group of already perfectly gorgeous women to a sinister place where they all end up screaming and running for their lives.
But beauty has its price, and a horror movie that focuses only on looking good certainly forfeits its scare factor.
Director Yoon Jae-yeon, who made a fantastic feature film debut with "Wishing Stairs," the third in the blockbuster high school horror series, tries to create a ``this could happen to you'' scenario in an urban setting. But she thoroughly disappoints, delivering instead a pitiful B-movie spoof that may, at best, be granted a spot at a minor fantasty film festival.
Singer-turned-actress Eugene stars in the lead role as Hyo-jeong (a.k.a. the one who shrieks the most in the film). Hyo-jeong had been the star host of a home shopping channel until a young beauty pageant queen came along and stole her spot. To add insult to injury, her vain friends dismiss her sweet but penniless boyfriend Dong-hun as ineligible husband material.
One day, Seon-hwa, an old classmate whom Hyo-jeong had shunned for being poor and homely, magically appears looking ― and acting ― like a marble-cut goddess (played by model-turned-actress Lee Yeong-jin). Her secret, she confides, is an intense yoga class run by the retired movie star Gan Mi-hi (played by model Lee Hye-sang, who is strikingly gorgeous in the caricatured role).
Hyo-jeong finds her way to the obscure location of the class, where the equally eerie yoga master Nani greets her (Cha Soo-yeon takes her edgy allure to a near-creepy level).
The protagonist proclaims her wish to trade in her life for a new one, and, as it turns out, a histrionic display of desperation is precisely the way to get into the exclusive class. Such was the case for the other participants: a narcissistic pop singer seeking to reclaim her fading stardom (Park Han-byul), a young woman who lost 20 kilograms but not her obsession with food (Cho Eun-ji), a bitter divorcee with a nose job gone awry (Kim Hye-na), and a quiet girl who isn't as nice as she seems, at least when it comes to becoming pretty (Hwang Seung-eon).
There are strict rules that must be followed: no showering for an hour following training, no eating without permission, no looking in the mirror, no contact with the outside world and no telling about what happens in the institute.
The one-week session is clearly no sorority gathering, especially since only one of the five women will achieve undying beauty through it. This sets the stage for a catty skirmish in the claustrophobic space, with the viewer by this point having a pretty good idea of who's going to break which rule. But any hint of suspense ends there.
The film fails to thrill and instead attempts to distract with a string of poorly rendered reels that are like a cross between cheesy haunted house rides and the noir comedy "Death Becomes Her" ― even though it is not meant to be funny at all. "Yoga" seems to warn that eternal beauty and youth do not necessarily mean immortality: Just because you turn heads on the street does not mean you can jaywalk without getting run over.
Believability, rather than realism, is expected in horror films ― if it has a solid frame of internal logic, then it can persuade, no matter how bizarre or surreal the plot elements are. "Yoga" spins out messy doses of drama and slasher horror without bothering to weave them into anything tangible, and even the striking contrast between beauty and blood fails to compel.
Credits: hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr |
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August 13, 2009
Lee Byung-hun receives hot attention from oversea fans
By Hyun Ji-hyang
Korean actor Lee Byung-hun is drawing popularity overseas by ranking in the top 30 in a worldwide movie website.
Lee's agency, BH Entertainment, said "Lee titled top 30 in a ranking of a world movie database website, IMDB.com."
In 2008, his ranking stayed below the 1,000 mark, then started to skyrocket since the release of the actor's starring movie, "G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra," in August 2009, according to the agency.
The position, top 30, is the highest amongst Korean actors in a weekly ranking of actor search, "STARmeter," on the IMDB website. Also, the ranking outstrips that of some Hollywood top stars, including Adam Sandler, Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Aniston, Scarlet Johansson, and Robert John Downey Jr.
Along with Lee's rapidly rising popularity, the actor's Hollywood debut movie, "G.I Joe" is enjoying its heated attention, topping a movie search chart, "MOVIEmeter," of IMDB.com.
Credits: Hyun Ji-hyang ([email protected]) via koreaherald.co.kr |
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August 13, 2009
Movie Review
All packaging and little substance in Korean horror flick 'Yoga'
By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, Aug. 13 (Yonhap) -- Only a rare few are gifted with natural beauty. For the majority, the quest for stunning beauty could mean just about anything from starving oneself for days to jabbing needles in one's face: an insidious, at times deadly, obsession that often goes ignored by the general public.
Taking a well-timed stab at South Korea's excessive social emphasis placed on female beauty, "Yoga (Yoga Hakwon)" attempts to come up with something original in the horror genre.
Beneath its grandeur -- encapsulated by six lean, yoga-fit beauties -- however, the movie lacks the acumen to penetrate the underlying issues driving hundreds of thousands to go under the needle each year in this beauty-making promise land.
Threatened by a younger and prettier newcomer at work, Hyo-jeong (Eugene), once a popular hostess at a local home shopping channel, visits a secluded yoga institute recommended by an old classmate who supposedly transformed herself from an ugly duckling into a gorgeous swan after completing the institute's special program.
Signing up for a one-week course, Hyo-jeong meets four other young women -- all insecure and obsessive about their looks -- hoping to get a tip on "everlasting beauty" promised by yoga master Nani (Cha Soo-yeon).
Explaining that only one among the five will be given the secret of ultimate and immortal beauty, the expressionless Nani lays out five rules the women must not break during the course: No eating after mealtime, no showers within an hour after class, no looking in the mirror, no leaving the building and no phone calls.
Driven by their desire to win the coveted prize, the women endure the rigorous training and strive to keep the rules despite a growing sense that something out of the ordinary is going on in the center.
The training ultimately becomes a life and death struggle, however, as those found breaking the rules begin to disappear one by one and strange visions and voices envelope the building.
Directed by Yun Jae-yeon, the creator of high school horror "Memento Mori 3: Wishing Stairs (2003)," "Yoga" does succeed in capturing audiences' attention, particularly through the performances of the stunning actresses who went through real yoga training and strict dieting during the one-year filming period.
"The hardest part was not eating," actress Park Han-byeol, who plays former idol star Yeon-ju in the film, said during the press conference after the movie's preview Wednesday. "I felt sorry for the character and was drawn closer to her as I was to really live her life during the filming."
Actress Kim Hye-na, who played cosmetic surgery-addict Yu-gyeong, said she "felt extremely saddened" over the women's effort to become beautiful.
"The movie might not be bloodcurdlingly scary, but it conveys a chilling message on what obsession to become beautiful can lead to," she said.
The movie also deserves credit for its eerie sound effects, a combination of deep yoga breathing and piercing screams that manages to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
Still, the overall story falls short of either scaring or drawing empathy from most audiences.
"Yoga," with a running-time of 98 minutes, will hit local theaters beginning Aug. 20.
Credits: [email protected] via yonhapnews.co.kr |
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August 14, 2009
Korean Actor So Ji-sub to Court Zhang Ziyi Onscreen
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
South Korean heartthrob So Ji-sub is shyly knocking on the hearts of Chinese fans through "Sophie's Revenge" opposite superstar Zhang Ziyi.
The 31-year-old's first Chinese language film comes not long after completing the mandatory two-year military service and making a strong rebound with the 2008 box office success "Rough Cut" and hit TV series "Cain and Abel."
"After getting out of the military I wanted to challenge myself as an actor with new projects, and China is a new start," So told a packed press conference room in Seoul, Thursday.
"A lot of Korean actors are debuting overseas, but I hope people won't judge them by their debut piece, since it is a stepping stone," he said. "People say that my role is smaller than they expected but I'm not well known in China, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked on a great project with a great cast and crew."
The actor appeared chic in a simple black suit and a diamond stud sparkled on his left ear. He said starring in a lighthearted romantic comedy was a fresh relief from his usual hardboiled roles, but having to deliver lines in Chinese was a great challenge.
"Sophie's Revenge" marks a new adventure for his co-star as well. Zhang trades in her martial arts moves and period costumes for slapstick, romance and producing skills.
The film is the "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" star's debut as a producer. Directed by Chinese helmer Evan Jin, the movie is about a feisty cartoonist Sophie (Zhang), who is heartbroken when her perfect fiance Jeff (So) leaves her for another woman ― not just any woman but the glamorous movie star Anna. She meets a photographer Gordon (Peter Ho), who is apparently Anna's ex, and she persuades him to be her accomplice in undertaking the perfect revenge.
Zhang said that producing was tough but enjoyable, and spoke about the reasons for casting So. "So Ji-sub is obviously incredibly handsome. He was always diligent and hardworking, making commendable efforts to work in a foreign language. I've worked on English and Japanese lines before so I know how hard it is," she said. "Even though his role wasn't very big I think it's the beginning of something. I would love to work with him in the future."
She added that So was well received in China, and fans, including elderly female fans in their 60s and 70s, cheered for him at press events in Beijing and Shanghai, among other cities.
The project, moreover, was exciting for the 30-year-old actress since it marks her first romantic comedy in her 10-year acting career.
"It was a big change," she said, but also said her new character hit home base. "Sophie's character coincides with my real personality about 60 to 70 percent. I can be bright and adorable, even though I played a lot of strong personas before," said the screen beauty, who was pretty in cotton candy pink like her cheerful character.
So, like many people, had to forget Zhang's onscreen charisma. "I have seen most of her works so I had the impression that she would be strong and kind of rough, but she is very much like her character Sophie ― down-to-earth, cute and lovely in demeanor,'' he said, "but she was charismatic as a producer."
Zhang also showered her co-stars with compliments. When told that So is known as "So ganji" among Korean fans for being able to pull off any fashion style, she said that he was stylish in all his outfits in the film, in tuxedos to casual outfits, and in particular when he is wearing only a towel.
So, meanwhile, said it was regretful that his kissing scene with Zhang ended in one cut.
"Sophie's Revenge" is coming to theaters Aug. 20. Distributed by CJ Entertainment.
Credits: hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr, image from daum.net |
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August 14, 2009
TV Show Hosts Park, Choi to Tie the Knot Sept. 11
Park Ji-yoon, left, and Choi Dong-seok
TV show hosts Park Ji-yoon, 30, and Choi Dong-seok, 31, will marry next month after four years of dating.
De Chocolate E&TF, agent of Park, said that the two TV show hosts will tie the knot at 1 p.m., Sept. 11, at the church they both attend.
"The couple, who were admitted to KBS TV together in 2004, formally confirmed their relationship in early 2007 and have showed their love each other at every public appearance," the agency said in a press release.
"In particular, Park has been very active in the broadcasting field after she declared that she would work freelance, away from KBS TV. They have dated more without being conscious of others, showing deep affection for each other," it said.
"Park cultivated her relationship with Choi while going to the church Park first attended during the earlier stages of dating," the agency said. "As a result, the couple are scheduled to hold the wedding ceremony at the church privately."
Meanwhile, Park is the host of the news program of music cable channel Mnet, Wide Entertainment News, and Choi hosts "Living Show, Your 6 p.m." on KBS 2TV.
Source: koreatimes.co.kr |
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August 14, 2009
Won Bin returns to the entertainment industry with a bang
After Korean actor, Won Bin, recently completed his 2-year national service to the Korean military, he picked up his first project as a mentally-challenged son in the movie Mother. The movie opened big with a box office record when it was first released in Korea. It was also sent to represent Korea in the Oscar's under the Best Foreign Film category.
Mother tells the story of a determined mother (Kim Hye-Ja) who painstakingly searches for the real offender that instigated her mentally-challenged son (Won Bin) to commit a criminal offence. Known for her acting prowess, the film was brought to greater heights with Kim Hye-Ja's moving depiction of a loving mother.
The film's opening was dampened with devastating news of the ex-president's suicide, and casted a cloud of gloom over the people as the nation mourned the passing of a respected leader. Nonetheless, Mother triumphed against its Hollywood contenders, Terminator Salvation and the Tom Hanks vehicle Angels and Demons to clinch the top spot at the box office.
Mother also beat Thirst, which represented the country in the Cannes Film Festival and the highly acclaimed and controversial A Frozen Flower, to Korea's entry for the Best Foreign Film award at the Oscars.
Judges of the panel revealed that it was important for the film to strike a chord and leave an impressionable note in the minds of the American judges. Mother was not only chosen for its stellar acting and storyline, but also because it was directed by the reputable Bong Jun-Ho, best known for his previous smash hit, The Host.
Source: Yahoo Singapore |
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August 14, 2009
BONG Joong-ho's Mother to be Korea's Foreign Language Entry at Oscars
The Korean Film Council has selected BONG Joong-ho's Mother as the country's next Foreign Language entry at the Oscars. Although not hitting the box office highs of the director's previous film The Host (2006) with its 13 million admissions record, Mother still managed to pull in 3 million admissions and premiered to critical acclaim at Cannes. Compared to the black, bloody ravages of PARK Chan-wook's vampire thriller Thirst, the parochial sentiments of the farmer-and-cow documentary Old Partner and the violence of indie drama Breathless, the other Korean films considered, Mother walked the fine line between being colloquially Korean and yet universal enough to appeal to international audiences and judges.
Although deemed as a thriller the movie examines wider social issues and ramifications when a mother, who loves her son too much, will do anything for him. Mother stars veteran Korean TV actor KIM Hye-ja as a woman in a small Korean town who has to look after her mentally challenged son played by actor WON Bin. When he is charged with murder she sets about on a path to prove his innocence. Along the journey even as complications mire her own investigation and original ideas of the truth, she stops at nothing to free her son.
Korea has yet to win a foreign language Oscar. Last year's entry was KIM Tae-kyun's Crossing about a North Korean man who attempts the dangerous crossing into China in order to aid save his family. As well as the Oscars, Mother will also screen again at Toronto this September. The 82nd Oscars award ceremony will take place March 7.
KOFIC |
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August 14, 2009
SU Ae and CHO Seung-woo in royal drama
Director KIM Yong-gyun cast SU Ae as Chosun era queen Myeong-seong in his period drama The Sword With No Name. CHO Seung-woo will play the queen’s bodyguard.
The film is a combination of action, drama, and romance. The film is scheduled to enter Korean cinemas in September this year.
SU Ae lead the cast of LEE Joon-ik’s Sunny and starred alongside LEE Byung-hun in Once in a Summer. CHO played the lead in box office hit Tazza: The High Rollers and played a mentally challenged man in Marathon. KIM previously directed horror film The Red Shoes and Wanee and Junah.
Yi Ch’ang-ho (KOFIC) |
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August 14, 2009
BONG Joon-ho spearheads PPP
Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) unveiled the line-up of Pusan Promotion Plan (PPP). Korean directors BONG Joon-ho, HUR Jin-ho, ROH Gyeong-tae, SON Jae-gon, HAN Jae-rim, and LEE Myung-se are among the influential names in cinema who will present their upcoming project at the 2009 edition. PIFF calls this year’s selection the “toughest ever due to the many quality projects”.
BONG will attend PPP with his French comic adaptation Le Transperceneige which will be produced by PARK Chan-wook.
LEE Myung-se’s next film is titled Youth is Reckless. The film chronicles Japanese legendary samurai Miyamoto Musashi.
HUR Jin-ho will be present with his Chinese co-production Season of Good Rain. SON Jae-gon returns with Villain and Widow, HAN Jae-rim presents Trace, and ROH Gyeong-tae is to showcase his third yet untitled film.
Furthermore, Korean JEONG Jae-eun is part of PPP with a Japanese produced film, while Korean producer KO Young-jae (Old Boy) participates with a film to be directed by Chinese Jin Guang Hao. JEON Soo-il also turns to producing in collaboration with Ounie Lecomte and Eric Khoo.
PIFF also named an impressive list of international filmmakers who have been selected for PPP out of approximately 200 hopefuls. The final thirty participants include renowned directors like Aoyama Shinji and Pang Ho Cheung.
Pan Nalin (India) who is well known for Samsara, Pandora’s Box director Yesim Ustaoglu (Turkey), and Bakhtiar Khoudojnazarov (Kazachstan) of Luna Papa, are more eye-catching PPP names highlighted by PIFF.
Since its inauguration in 1998, PPP has steadily grown in influence. PPP offers an important platform for talented Asian filmmakers to present their projects to the international film industry to secure financing and/or co-production deals. The event will take place during PIFF from 11 to 14 October.
Yi Ch’ang-ho (KOFIC) |
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August 14, 2009
Korean Indie-feature Animal Town to Compete at San Sebastian
Director JEON Gyu-hwan’s second film Animal Town is to premiere at Spain’s San Sebastian International Film Festival. The film will screen at the ‘Zabaltegi New Directors’ Section competing against seventeen other films for 90,000 euros (160,000,000 Korean Won). Director JEON’s first film, Mozart Town (2008) also travelled the film festival route screening at the Tokyo International Film Festival amongst others. Korean director KIM Ki-duk’s Dream screened at San Sebastian in 2008.
Including Latin America, San Sebastian is the biggest film festival out of all Spanish speaking countries. Beginning in 1953 it has also become one of the world’s biggest festivals and this year runs from the 18th to the 26th of September.
David Oxenbridge (KOFIC) |
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