Ahn Seong-gi to Play Lead in Mega Joint Film

Veteran actor Ahn Seong-gi will play the lead role in the 10 billion won mega joint film 'The Song of the String.' The production agency Younghwa Saenggak said director Kim Dae-woo will readapt the same-titled Kim Hoon novel and director Joo Gyeong-joong will produce the film. Ahn will play court musician Wooreuk. Ennio Morricone and Kim Soo-cheol will produce the soundtrack and Japanese producer Satoru Iseki will also participate. The multinational project is partially funded from overseas. The film is scheduled to open in 3,000 screens in Korea, Asia, Europe and North America during next year's latter half. Filming will take place in Korea and China after casting is finalized by early March. Source: KBS Global

LP6’s Top 10 Movies of 2007

I wasn’t even sure if I would make a year end’s list for movies, just because there’s a sizeable list of films that has yet to be released on DVD. If so, films like Masayuki Suo’s “I Just Didn’t Do It,” Ang Lee’s “Lust Caution,” Seong-ho Yoon’s “Milky Way Liberation Front” and others would have vied for place on this list. Also this list is strictly for films released theatrically in 2007. Otherwise Tetsuya Nakashima’s “Memories of Matsuko,” Chan-wook Park’s “I’m A Cyborg But That’s OK” and other films released theatrically in 2006, but on DVD this year would have made the list.

Regardless, this list is what it is and hopefully for people reading this, they may pick up on a film they would not have seen otherwise. So on with the best films of 2007.

01. “Secret Sunshine” - The movie is bleak, dark, and depressing. Yet there’s still hope at the end, however fleeting it may feel. I did think “Secret Sunshine” shared a kindred spirit of sorts with Albert Camus’ novel “The Stranger.” Well deserved best actress award was also given to Jeon Do-Yeon at this year’s Cannes. Her performance was just electrifying.

02. “Ploy” - Pen-Ek Ratanaruang’s “Ploy” takes the dreamy feel of his prior film “Invisible Waves” but wraps it around a far more tangible storyline. On its most basic level the movie deals impressively with the insecurities in a relationship, but from there, Pen-Ek Ratanaruang weaves his own idiosyncratic cinematic magic.

03. “Exodus” - Wacky story that draws you in from the beginning with its surreal “A Clockword Orange” like opening scene, then goes further down an unpredictable satire path. Stanley Kubrick would have loved this film.


04. “Epitaph” - An unexpected surprise for myself. The movie is set during the Japanese occupation of South Korea (how often do you see that?), with three loosely related stories wrapped together in a horror movie veneer. Visuals are second to none.


05. “Black House” - Might not have the most original story, but for sheer thrills “Black House” throws it down wave after wave. I’ve never had as much fun in a cinema than watching “Black House” at a packed theatre in downtown Daegu, South Korea. The audience shrieked and screamed in unison like they were riding a roller coaster.

06. “Happiness” - Jin Jo Hur’s fourth movie dealing with bittersweet relationships, but “Happiness” rightfully stands on its own. Everything from the visuals to the pairing of Jeong-min Hwang and Su-jeong Lim made me feel a bit in awe.


07. “A Gentle Breeze In The Village” - What this movie lacks in plot development is made up in spades by scene after scene of the most charming vignettes on small town life and the coming of age of two precious teenagers.


08a. “Boys of Tomorrow” - Korean indie flick centered around two brothers that grew up on the wrong side of town. Gripping drama, with some harrowing scenes. This could have easily ranked anywhere from #3 - #8.


08b. “A Good Day To Have An Affair” - The topic of illicit affairs is covered in many South Korean films but not many can equal the fun found in “A Good To Have an Affair.” Goofy comedy, that features strong performances all around, highlighted by Hye-Su Kim’s nutty housewife character. There’s a poignant message left in the film as well.


09. “Lost In Beijing” - Strong film centered around an affair, adoption, and money. The movie also brings to light the problems of a burgeoning capitalist system in Beijing.


10. “Sakuran” - This one is all about style and visuals. The movie itself is about as deep as the fish tanks often shown in the film, but so what? Lots of fun to be had in Sakuran, none more so than seeing traditional ideals twisted inside and out.

Source: Lunapark6

Hwang Jung-min shows off musical talent

Not many people know that Hwang Jung-min, now a famous movie star, was once an under-the-radar actor in a number of musical productions. Debuted in a long-running hit musical "Subway Line 1" (1994), Hwang performed in musicals such as "Broadway 42nd" (2004), "Jesus Christ Superstar" (1997) and "Cats" (1999) before he gained popularity with the film "A Good Lawyer's Wife" (2003). Now regarded as one of Korea's A-list film actors, Hwang has earned many awards for his versatility.

Inviting the audience to appreciate his unknown musical talent, the 37-year-old is making a surprise return to the stage with the Korean rendition of the Broadway musical "Nine."

After a four-year hiatus on the stage, Hwang takes the role of Guido Contini, a film director facing a midlife crisis. Based on an Italian play by Mario Fratti, which was inspired by Federico Fellini's autobiographical film "8 1/2," the musical tells a story of a 40-year-old man entangled in a web of romantic difficulties in early-1960s Venice.

The Broadway production, directed by Tommy Tune and choreographed by Tommie Walsh, opened in May 1982. It eventually won five Tony Awards, including for best musical of the year. In 2003, the remake of the musical, which starred Antonio Banderas as Guido, hit the stage. The performance earned him a Tony Award nomination.

Hwang Jung-min is surrounded by a cast of 15 actresses in the Korean rendition of the Broadway musical "Nine." [OD Musical Company]

Hwang was confident and attractive enough on the stage when he sang two songs for critics and reporters last week. But he said he still feels pressure. "I am under great pressure because I am playing the only male character which leads the rest of the cast on the stage," said Hwang. "And I also feel pressure because there are a lot of people watching me over the show, who don't initially recognize me as a stage actor but as a movie star."

David Swan, the producer of the musical, encouraged Hwang, saying that he is the right one for the role.

"The role of Guido requires an actor a great range and he's just a perfect actor for the show, like the rest of the cast," said Swan.

Hwang is to lead a cast of 15 women in the Korean production of "Nine." In this story, the women in the Italian director's life include his wife, mistress, leading lady, mother, first sexual encounter and producer. The cast of women characters draws attention as the show features the award-winning musical actress Kim Sun-young who takes the role of Guido's wife Luisa, Yang So-min as protege Claudia and Chung Sun-ah as mistress Carla.

Feeling lucky to play with a group of attractive and talented actresses, Hwang said: "I heard a lot of people saying that I am very fortunate to work with so many beautiful actresses like Jeon Do-yeon and Jun Ji-hyun. But I guess this musical is the best."

It seems like the musical is offering a moment of reflection for Hwang who wanted to stimulate his acting career.

"A child grows up but an adult also transforms himself or herself by looking back upon the past. I think the musical is good for me because it allows me to take a backward glance at my life," said he.

The musical "Nine" hits the stage on Jan. 22 for a seven-week run at the LG Arts Center in Yeoksam-dong, southern Seoul.

Source: Korea Times

[Year-end Review (1): Movies] 'Sunshine' offers hope to Korean cinema in 2007

The Korean movie industry got off to a shaky start this year, due to the weakened market position of local flicks versus Hollywood blockbusters, but it received a big shining ray of hope from director Lee Chang-dong's thought-provoking drama, "Secret Sunshine."

Jeon Do-yeon, the heroine of "Secret Sunshine," grabbed the prestigious Best Actress award at the 60th Cannes Film Festival in May, setting the upbeat tone for the domestic film industry.

The 34-year-old actress won international acclaim for her brave and inspiring depiction of a grieving Korean woman struggling to rebuild her life in a new city in "Secret Sunshine," the first picture in four years by Lee Chang-dong, a former Korean culture minister.

Despite the positive turn on the filmfest front, the local movie market faced increasing pressure this year. Although the market volume of the Korean film industry remains relatively solid, with 104 films released between January and November this year, the number of moviegoers is steadily declining, and the profitability of major production houses is worsening, leaving a slew of projects stranded.

Secret Sunshine

The number of Korean movies with box-office influence is going down, and the campaign to export Korean films to foreign markets is nowhere near the target level," said Shim Young-seop, a leading movie critic. Meanwhile, Hollywood blockbusters led by "Transformers" and "Pirates of the Carribean: At World's End" made a strong comeback this year, mounting a strong competition against Korean counterparts at the box office.

Meanwhile, "D-War," a graphics-rich monster flick directed by Shim Hyung-rae, created plenty of ripples both in Korea and the United States. The film sold a whopping 8.43 million tickets here, setting a record as the biggest hit this year, thanks largely to director Shim's unabashed efforts to stress that it is the first-ever Korean film to achieve a wide release in the U.S. market.

Starring Jason Behr and Amanda Brooks, the English-language film revolves around a Korean legend about a huge snake-like creature known as "imoogi." The serpent-like monster smashes its way to downtown Los Angeles in the hope of finding a girl destined to transform it into a dragon.

Film critic Kang Yu-jeong said, "The so-called 'D-War' phenomenon was a great chance to discuss the important issues facing the Korean movie industry, but it quickly fizzled out amid frivolous disputes about the movie's quality and national pride."

Another landmark was that Korea's top filmmaker Im Kwon-taek received the title of knight in the Order of the Legion of Honor by the French government, a recognition for his lifetime contribution in the field of visual arts. Im has already won numerous awards, including the Best Director award at the 53rd Cannes Film Festival, but he achieved another milestone by putting out his 100th film, "Thousand-Year Crane," this year.

On the artistic front, maverick director Kim Ki-duk showcased his talent with "Breath," a peculiar story about love, starring Park Ji-ah and Chang Chen. Kim, who received numerous awards for his unique perspective, drew keen interest from critics and audiences with his softened approach in "Breath."

Another representative Korean stylist, Lee Myung-se, recently released "M," a psychodrama that featured top-rated stars such as Gang Dong-won. At the box office, much attention was given to Gang, a heartthrob who is highly popular in Korea, and critics also showed great interest in director Lee who has built up his fame through stylized features like "Nowhere to Hide" and "Duelist," but it was not a commercial success, suggesting that Korean audiences are still inclined to favor friendlier dramas like "Le Grand Chef," a cook-oriented drama that is based on a popular comics series. Directed by Jun Yoon-soo, "Le Grand Chef" secured a solid spot, in terms of ticket sales.

Other notable films include "Voice of a Murderer," director Park Jin-pyo's sophisticated kidnapping drama that hit it big at the box office early this year. "Our Town," directed by Jeong Gil-young, handles a similarly gruesome topic with a style that accentuates the talent of Oh Man-seok, former musical actor.

Daniel Henney also proved his commercial appeal with his role in "My Father," a drama that pulled at the heartstrings of audiences by focusing on the universal theme of father-son affection that goes beyond borders and prison walls.

"Gold Digger Miss Shin," starring Han Ye-seul, a bilingual actress, is also jockeying for position in the domestic film market toward the end of the year, highlighting Han's versatility and sex appeal.

Source: Korea Herald

Actor Kim Works to Enjoy His Calling

Kim Kang-woo, in a scene in his latest film ``Mask'' / Korea Times

``Enjoy One's Calling'' is the phrase written on actor Kim Kang-woo's cell phone. ``Talented people cannot beat people who know how to enjoy life. I went through hard times when I first started acting. But one day, I realized I was doing something I wanted to do and earning money for it. The point is to take pleasure in what I do ― acting,'' Kim said in an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Samcheong-dong in Seoul, Monday.

Kim, 29, debuted through ``The Coast Guard'' (2002), directed by Kim Ki-deok, when he was a senior at Chung-Ang University. ``The only role I could get without any acting experience was a soldier,'' said Kim.

He was then noticed when he played Mu-cheol in the MBC drama ``Breathless'' (2003) and starred in SBS's ``Three-Leaf Clover'' (2005). Kim has been known as ``Mr. Right'' since then for the honest and diligent characters he played. ``It's funny. I didn't know that I had that kind of sincere image in me,'' he said.

Kim also appeared in the films ``The Aggressives'' (2005) and ``The Beast and the Beauty'' (2005), but popularity was still elusive. Though he cranked up his last movie in spring, he had to wait longer than usual for the movie's release. In 2007, Kim's three movies were released consecutively. ``The Railroad'' received favorable reviews but failed to draw a large audience.

Fortune, at last, smiled on him. ``Le Grand Chef,'' a film remake of a popular cartoon, became the biggest hit of the second half of 2007. It drew an audience of more than 3 million and Kim shot to instant stardom.

Moreover, he won the Best Actor award for his role in ``The Railroad'' at the 25th Turin Film Festival in Italy on Dec. 1. ``I went to Turin as if I were just backpacking with director Park Heung-sik.'' However, he won the award, beating out 14 other actors. ``Of course I was excited to received the award. But I was also scared how this was going to affect my career,'' Kim said. ``I won't act much better all of a sudden because of the prize. However, people will anticipate better performances, and I have to live up to those expectations.''

Now, Kim is waiting for the release of mystery thriller ``Mask,'' which is to be released Thursday. Directed by Yang Yun-ho, ``Mask'' chases a serial killer related to an assault case in the army 10 years earlier. Kim plays the role of Jo Gyeong-yun, a tough detective. ``Detective Jo has a complex personality. He hides his gentle side and homosexuality and instead emphasizes a macho character. I focused on expressing the contrast of his two sides,'' explained Kim. ``Seong-chan (the lead character of `Le Grand Chef') was another solid and decent character I played. I wanted to break out of that image and that's one of the reasons I chose this movie.''

``Before shooting `Mask,' I was an ordinary, conservative Korean man who was not well-informed and ambivalent about homosexuality. To get to know more, I met transsexuals and talked with them. I now know that it is just their destiny, not a choice they made,'' Kim spoke frankly about the homophobia described in the movie.

Kim has not decided what his next project will be, but left the possibilities open. ``I don't have any specific characters that I want to play. I am still young and I will just do my best in whatever role that comes to me, whether it is a protagonist or villain in any genre.

``I want to be on stage someday. Plays require much time for rehearsals and the reaction from the audience is immediate. However, if I wait too long, I might not be able to do it, so I'll go for it anyway,'' Kim said.

While every other actor tries to bolster his or her individuality, this actor is a rather reserved character. ``I am not a very charismatic person with a unique personality. Rather, I want people to remember the characters I portrayed, not me,'' he said. ``I think it's better to be a little flexible as an actor since I don't know what kind of person I will have to represent.''

Kim secretly visited movie theaters to check what the audience thought about the movie. ``When I saw audiences smiling after the movie (Le Grand Chef), my heart felt full because I did something meaningful for them.''

Source: Korea Times

`My Love’ Is Loathsomely Sweet

Karm Woo-sung and Choi Kang-hee play the role of a sweet but odd couple in the film ``My Love.''

``My Love'' (working title) is a montage film that weaves together four different love stories like the popular romantic comedy ``Love Actually.'' If the British flick is like a mosaic of thoughts on love, this homegrown family drama is more like a hand-knit scarf ― fuzzy, warm and a bit tickly. Those who are in the mood for something sappy will love it, whereas humbugs will find it loathsomely sweet.

Set during summertime, ``My Love'' brings together characters from different parts of Seoul in time for a solar eclipse. Ju-won (Choi Kang-hee) is an eccentric ― and slightly sadistic ― artist who takes pleasure in teasing her subway engineer boyfriend Se-jin (Karm Woo-sung): At one point, a wardrobe malfunction has poor Se-jin standing, boxers-exposed, while giving Ju-won a piggyback in the subway. A few years later, Ju-won has left him, but he discovers that traces of their love remain.

For college student So-hyeon (Lee Yeon-hee), it was love at first sight when she meets Ji-wu (Jeong Il-wu). A rather embarrassing incident at a party enables So-hyeon to finally converse with Ji-wu, and she jumps at the opportunity to ask him to help build her alcohol tolerance. Meanwhile, Ji-wu, who had taken a semester off from school to nurse a broken heart, is slightly baffled by the new blooming romance with So-hyeon.

Hippie-like activist Jin-man (Uhm Tae-woong) finally returns home after six years of traveling around the world to give free hugs to strangers (he basically stands around with a sign that reads ``free hugs''). He tries to trace back his former girlfriend ― ``the second half of my incomplete heart'' ― and the only way he can reach her is to retrieve his old cell phone number. The new user of his old number is Su-jeong (Im Jung-eun), a hotshot worker at an advertisement firm.

Although Su-jeong has an excellent career, things aren't going so well in the love department. She is constantly being rejected by Jeong-seok (Ryu Seung-ryong), a gifted copywriter and single father suffering from the loss of his beloved wife. She learns to persist as she tries to pave a way into the heart of Jeong-seok and his young son.

``My Love'' does offer some genuinely endearing characters and stories. The subway lovebirds ― Ju-won and Se-jin ― picnic on the train, play hide-and-seek and demonstrate every possible way to spend an entire day and night on line 2 via Seongnae station (although there are parts that should read ``do not imitate''). Newcomer Lee Yeon-hee, who debuted opposite Gang Dong-won in ``M,'' gives a charming performance that strikes a comparison to Jun Ji-hyun in ``My Sassy Girl.''

``Love Actually'' became an international hit because it pieced together heartwarming tales in a natural way. It justifies its use of the montage genre by demonstrating six degrees of separation, how we are all connected one way or the other. Characters crisscross one another's lives in a way that is crafty but not too contrived, and the film made a spot for itself as an ultimate Christmas classic.

``My Love,'' on the other hand, seems more like a collection of those sentimental anecdotes and quotes you find in feel-good mass e-mails. Ji-wu, for example, desperately misses his ex-girlfriend and has a message on his cell-phone that reads ``you're tattooed onto my heart and I can't erase you.'' Another cheesy attempt to tug at the viewer's heartstring is when he asks So-hyeon some important questions ― but viewers can be distracted by their own question as to why he calls her on the cell phone when she's standing right next to him in the first place.

``My Love'' does cater to the mood of the year-end season, but the sweet factor is overwhelming and artificial like a Krispy Kreme donut, and its heavy glaze is only for those with a big sweet tooth.

Source: Korea Times

Director Im Kwon-taek Awarded at Dubai Film Festival

Korean film director Im Kwon-taek has received a Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's Dubai International Film Festival.

Im is one of the most successful filmmakers in Korea and has made 100 films during his half-a-century career. The festival committee praised his numerous and experimental works in diverse genres.

Director Im's 100th film "Beyond the Years" as well as "Chihwaseon " otherwise called in English "Drunk on Women and Poetry" were screened at the ceremony.

Im was one of three laureates who were honored with the festival's prestigious award.

Source: Chosun Ilbo