Archive for July, 2010

Eclipse of the Twilight series took the top spot this week, which also marked the start of the rainy season which may have contributed to a jump in the number of people attending the theater this weekend.  Percentage-wise, Eclipse did no more than average for a number one release, but total audience count for an opening weekend is quite high.  Maumi 2 came in 1oth in Jeonju–The movie does not receive an official release date until July 21.  It was only tested on 7 screens nationwide. Coming next week is a film that has the potential to land in first and stay for a while–Moss.  Moss is based on a popular, long-running comic book but there are some concerns from fans as to whether or not director Kang can capture the atmosphere and the complexities of the story–especially in a two-hour time frame. Not having read the comic, I am looking forward to the movie without pre-conceived notions of what the story should be.  Below are all the films that are opening this week.

1. Moss (kr)– d. Kang Woo-seok, starring Jeong Jae-yeong, Park Hae-il www.moss0715.co.kr

2. Rebel (vn)– d. Truc Charlie Nguyen, starring Johnny Nguyen, Thanh Van Ngo

3. Refuge (fr)– d. Francois Ozon, starring Isabelle Caire, Melvil Poupaud

4. She’s the One (ch)– d. Xiaogang Feng, starring Qi Shu, You Ge

5. Shortcut to Happiness (us)– d. Alec Baldwin, starring Alec Baldwin, Jennifer Love Hewitt

6. Yuki & Nina (fr/jp)– d. Nobuhiro Suwa, Noe Sampy, Arielle Moutel

Several dramas are being released this week as new DVD sets as KBS Media reaches back in time to some of their more popular programs. Three movies are being released as well including the well-received film Harmony.

Sang-du, Let’s Go to School! (6-disks)  A 2003 KBS2 drama starring Rain (Jeong Ji-hoon) and Kang Hyo-jin.  Subtitles: English/ Rating: All Ages/ Format: 4:3 standard/ Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0/ Region Code: 3/ Running Time: 960 minutes/ Special Features: Actor Interviews, Making, NG/ Recommended Price: 88,000 KRW/ Available: July 12

Sorry I Love You (7-disks)–A KBS2 drama from 2004 starring So Ji-seob, Im Soo-jeong, Seo Ji-yeong  Subtitles: Korean & English/ Rating: Ages 15+/ Format: 1.33:1 full screen/ Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround/ Region Code: 3/ Special Features: Director commentary, Behind the scenes, Interviews, Making, Spotlights on Ji-seob, Park Hyo-shin’s music video, Photo Gallery, Deleted Scenes, Postcards, Trailers/ Running Time: 800 minutes/ Recommended Price: 88,000 KRW/ Available: July 12 

Full House: (9-disks)   Another KBS2 drama from 2004 starring Rain, Song Hye-gyo, Han Eun-jeong, Kim Seong-soo  Subtitles: English/ Rating: Ages 15+/ Format: 1.33:1 standard/ Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0/ Region Code: All Regions/ Special Features: Final shoot, Song Hye-gyo and Rain’s love story, NG, Director Interview, Photo Gallery/ Recommended Price: 88,000 KRW/ Available: July 12

Pick a Star (7-disks)– An SBS drama from early in 2010 starring Kim Ji-hoon, Choi Jeong-won, Shin Dong-wook, Chae Yeong-jin  Subtitles: None/ Rating: Ages 15+/ Format: 16:9/ Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0/ Region Code: 1,3,4,5/ Recommended Price: 88,000 KRW/ Available: July 14

Harmony: (2-disks)– Subtitles: Korean & English/ Rating: Ages 12+/ Format: 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1/ Region Code: 3/ Special Features: Commentary by Director Kang Dae-gyu and actors Kim Yoon-jin, Na Moon-hee, Lee Da-hee, Jang Yeong-nam, Park Joon-hyeon, making of the film, set planning, deleted scenes with commentary, trailers/ Recommended Price: 25,300 KRW/ Available: July 15

Parallel Life (1-disk)–Sutitles: English & Korean/ Rating: Ages 15+/ Format: 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1/ Special Features: Commentary with director Kwon Ho-yeong, actors Ji Jin-hee, Lee Jong-hyeok and producer Jang Won-seok, making, Kwon Hyo-yeong’s short film “His Wedding”, rehearsals, trailers/ Recommended Price: 25,300 KRW/ Available: July 15

Happy Killer (2-disk)– Subtitles: Korean & English/ Rating: Ages 15+/ Format: 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1/ Special Features: Optional commentaries, making, deleted scenes with commentary, making of OST, poster shoot, Woo-seong and Dong-wook spotlight, music video, trailer/ Recommended Price: 25,300 KRW/ Available: July 15

Here are the next 15 films produced in Korea in 1971.  Click th thumbnail to view the full image or access the images by director through the tab at the top of the page marked Movies of the 70s

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Yul-rin cannot sleep and it is littl wonder. Two years earlier, her parents were involved in a hit-and-run accident and the now-16 year old was left to be the sole caretaker of her pre-school aged sister. Judging by a friends comment, who does not know Yul-rin’s situation, her family was well-off however, hospital bills prior to her parents apparently lingering deaths have eaten the family’s money. She and her sister do not go hungry–Yul-rin even has enough money to buy a camera, but they clearly are not rolling in cash either as indicated by the fact that she cannot afford to bury her father or claim her mother’s body from the hospital. This might seem overwhelming for any teen, but Yul-rin seems, on the outside, to be handling things just fine. Whenever asked “Are you ok?” or “How are you doing?” by anyone, be it doctor, uncle or school counsellor, Yul-rin always answers with a pleasant smile and says, “I’m fine.”  Whenever someone offers any help, even when a boy who has a crush on her offers to carry her bookbag, Yul-rin is relecutant to relinquish her control and accept the offer. There are only a few times the viewer glimpses her internal struggles, for example, after visiting the school counsellor, she leans up against a window and whispers to herself, “I lied” but otherwise there are few hints the other characters in the movie had to help them realize how much Yul-rin is struggling with her grief and burdens. At one point, her younger sister asks to be carried because her legs are tired, and Yul-rin repies, with no hint of annoyance or resentment in her tone or expression, “Why don’t you carry me too?”  But her sister, Da-rin, is too young. She doesn’t understand fully what has happened or the sacrifices Yul-rin is making to keep Da-rin with her.

Yul-rin is unwilling to give up her sister to someone else’s care. That means she must be the one to pick her up from the daycare, to prepare meals for her and to take care of her on weekends and at night. Because of her duties, she is spending less and less time with her friends, who chalk it up to snobbery. Yul-rin’s life becomes a little more complex when she meets a boy who likes her and in whom she is also interested. However, she keeps her hardships and her life a secret from all her peers and makes numerous rules to ensure that secret remains safe. These rules, directed mostly at her boyfriend, include ‘I will call you. You must never call me,’ and ‘Don’t try to contact me or meet me.’   Later, as the burdens she has shouldered begin to wear her down, she tells her boyfriend, Joo-go, ‘Don’t be so nice to me. Don’t smile. And never try to see me again.’ These are warning signs, but because her charcter is so controlled emotionally and difficult for her friends to understand, Joo-go does not worry. After all, her behavior and words have often been a little odd when compared to her classmates.

Perhaps Joo-go would be worrying if he knew about her sleeping problem. At the beginning of the movie, we see Yul-rin visiting a doctor to get sleeping pills to help her with her insomnia. The doctor tells her that this is the last time he will write a prescription for her–that she must learn to sleep again without the pills. But that seems unlikely. Despite telling the doctor that she only takes them occasionally, we know that she is taking more than the prescribed dosage because just taking one or two does not work anymore.  This is frustrating for Yul-rin who says at one point in the movie, “I am happiest when I sleep” setting up a feeling of dread about a possible future path for her.

The above description may make this movie seem like a tear-jerker, but in reality it is a very matter-of-fact, straightforward story. The emotions of the film are as contained and controlled as Yul-rin’s own. You can feel them below the surface and there is a tension I felt while watching the film of wanting something to break..or of having some release. Director Im Seong-chan has created a film which can be noted for its lack of palatable, definable emotions but beneath the images and between the lines, the emotions are boiling, begging to be given voice. Two decades of directing short films has given Im the experience he needed in directing this movie, his first feature length film and that experience has really paid off.  I hope to see more of his work, and of acters Choi Ah-jin (Yul-rin) and Yoo Chan (Joo-go) in the near future.

I watched Shrek 3 on tv a couple of weeks ago and, frankly I am surprised that was not the end of the franchise. However, Shrek Forever wound up in number 1 this past weekend nationally and in every province with the sole exception of South Jeolla where 71: Into the Fire continues to reign. Pagwedwen Sanai–which still hasn’t been assigned an official English title as of this writing (though the web address is ‘Vendetta’)– failed to meet expectation and opened with a lukewarm reception, landing in 4th.  Only four new films are opening this week..these are listed below.

1. Arthur and the Revenge of Maltazard (fr)– d. Luc Besson, starring Freddie Highmore, Mia Farrow

2. Eclipse (us)– d. David Slade, starring Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart www.eclipse2010.co.kr

3. Kick Off (ir/iq)–Shawkat Amin Konki (director and lead)

4. Killer Inside Me (us)– Michael Winterbottom, starring Jessica Alba, Katie Hudson www.killer2010.co.kr

This is going to be an expensive week for me and I couldn’t care less.  I am so excited about what is being released and I am going to wind up buying everything seen in the post with the exception of the drama.  It’s almost as if someone out there had access to my wish list and started to put the films on dvd.  I am a little disappointed that the 60s/70s films being released on the 9th have not been given English subs which would have given them a wider audience…but I will take what I can get. 

First up is the fully subtitled Romantic Comedy Collection of the 1950s.  Sutitles: Korean, English/ Rating: Ages 12+/ Audio: Dolby Digital Mono/ Region: 3/ Recommended Price: 39,600 KRW/ Available: July 6 – The set includes: (1) Holiday in Seoul (1956), directed by Lee  Yong-min, starring No Neung-geol, Yang Mi-hee–sthe story about a doctor and her husband, a reporter, who decide to vacation in Seoul. While there, her husband is called away to cover a murder case and the doctor comes to suspect that he is actually meeting another woman. (2) Love Marriage (1958), directed by Lee Byeong-il, starring Choi Eun-hee, Lee Mi-ja– Three sisters experience problems with the men they love. The eldest sister’s husband abandons her on their honeymoon when she confesses she had a boyfriend prior to meeting him. The second sister has fallen in love with a poor teacher of whom the parents disapprove and the youngest daughter, who does not seem to care about marriage at all, chooses her father’s cold assistant as her future husband despite the fact their is a man who truely loves her nearby.(3)  The Female Boss (1959)–Han Hyeong-mo, starring Jo Mi-yeong, Lee Soo-ryeon– A jab at the budding modern woman, the story is about a strong young woman who runs her own magazine. A man insults her over the phone because of her liberal ideas but later, that man comes to apply for a job at the magazine, unaware that he has offended the boss who wants revenge.  However, his masculinity and tough guy attitude starts to weaken her resolve and makes her fall in love.

Jejungwon–  A SBS-tv drama that ran from January 4, 2010-May 4, 2010 and starred Park Yong-woo and Han Hye-jin.  It is being released as two volumes. Each volume contains six disks.  Vol.1 holds episodes 1-18, Vol. 2 has episodes 19-36.  Subtitles: English/ Rating: All Ages/ Format: 16:9 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0/ Region Code: 3/ Recommended Price: 88,000 KRW each set. Available:  July 8.

Shim Cheong (1972)  1-Disk–Director Shin Sang-ok, starring Yoon Jeong-hee, Kim Seong-won– I wrote a review of this film a couple of years ago that is on this site in the 70s review section. I beleive I called it the most watchable of the Shim Cheong stories and Iam happy to see it here. Suntitles: None/ Rating: All ages/ Format: 4:3 full screen/ Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0/ Region Code: All Regions/ Recommended Price: 22,000 KRW/ Available: July 9

Court Lady (1972)-1-Disk—Shin Sang-ok, starring Shin Yeong-gyun, Yoon Jeong-hee- the story of Bok-nyeo who becomes a pawn during a political struggle when the Queen Mother declares Bok-nyeo’s child the heir over the rightful heir to the throne. Subtitles: None/Rating: Ages 15+/ Format: 4:3 full screen/ Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0/ Region Code: All Regions/ Recommended Price: 22,000 KRW/ Available: July 9

Cool and Cold (1962)–1-Disk– directed by Lee Kang-cheon, starring Choi Eun-hee, Lee Sang-gyun.  Moon Ok flees the north at the start of the Korean War with her wounded brother and young sister. But without relatives or friends in the south, she has to be prepared to do what it takes to support her family.  Subtitles: None/ Rating: Ages 18+/ Format: 4:3 full screen/ Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0/ Region Code: All Regions/ Recommended Price 22,000 KRW/Available: July 9

Asshi (1970)– d. Choi In-hyeon, starring Kim Hee-joon, Kim Chang-se Subtitles: None/ Rating: Ages 12+/ Format: 4:3 full screen/ Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0/ Region Code: All Regions/ Recommended Price: 22,000 KRW/ Available: July 9

Installment Secretary (1969)– d. Shim Woo-seob, starring Ku Bong-seo, Kim Ji-soo  The wife of a company CEO suspects her husband is having an affair so she hires a bumbling salesman to be her husband’s secretary to spy on him for her. Subtitles: None/ Rating: All ages/ Format: 4:3 full screen/ Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0/ Region Code: All Regions/ Recommended Price: 22,000 KRW/ Available: July 9

Farewell (1977)– d. Shin Sang-ok, starring Kim Ji-mi, Shin Seong-il (I actually prefer Farewell 2 to this movie) Yeong-ok cannot accept the fact that she is divorced and that her ex-husband is about to remarry. She goes to Paris to stop the wedding and beg him to return to her. Subtitles: None/ Rated: Ages 18+/ Format: 4:3 full screen/ Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0/ Region Code: All Regions/ Recommended Price: 22,000 KRW/ Available: July 9

Day Dream (1969)– d. Shin Sang-ok, starring Shin Seong-il, Yoon Jeong-hee  Long ago, Soon-ae had promised Su-il that she would marry him but winds up married to someone else. Both are desperately unhappy and long to be reunited.  Subtitles: None/ Rating: Ages 15+/ Format: 4:3 full screen/ Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0/ Region Code: All Regions/ Recommended Price: 22,000/ Available: July 9

Jang-hwa and Hong-ryeon (1972)–d. Lee Yoo-seob, starring Kim Ji-soo, Lee Yeong-ok.  Two sisters are murdered by their stepmother and stepbrother but their spirits return seeking justice or, if need be, revenge. Subtitles: None/ Rating: Ages 12+/ Format: 4:3 full screen/ Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0/ Region Code: All Regions/ Recommended Price: 22,000 KRW/ Available: July 9

Righteous Fighter Kim Du-han (1975)– director Kim Hyo-cheon, starring Lee Dae-geun, Dok Go-seong   Kim Du-han fights to keep the streets safe and resist Japanese colonial rule in 1930’s Seoul. Subtitles: None/ Rating: Ages 18+/Format: 4:3 full screen/ Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0/ Region Code: All Regions/ Recommended Price: 22,000 KRW/ Available: July 9

Inner Circle Line (2006)- 1 Disk  Subtitles: Korean, English/ Rating: Ages 18+/ Format: 16:9 Letterbox/ Audio: Dolby Digital Stereo/ Region Code: 3/ Special Features: Deleted Scenes, Photo Gallery, movie intro, trailer/ Recommended Price: 22,000 KRW/ Available: July 9——————————————————————————Closer to Heaven (2-disk)- Subtitles: Korean, English/ Rating: Ages 12+/ Format: 1.85 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1/ Special Features <on disk 2>: Pre-production, Making Documentary,Director’s Choice, Wedding Ceremony, Making of Promo, Music Video, Trailer/ Recommended Price: 27,500 KRW/ Available: July 9