korean cinema

Promo still from The Seashore Village / Gaenma-eul

KOREAN CINEMA’S GOLDEN DECADE: THE 1960s: Swordsmen, Damsels, Romance And Intrigue And More Make Way Next Month At Film At Lincoln Center

New York City’s Film At Lincoln Center is just a little over a week away from its upcoming retrospective celebrating classic and newly restored Korean films in its new 17-day series, Korean Cinema’s Golden Decade: The 1960s. The series is being organized by Young Jin Eric Choi, Goran Topalovic, and Tyler Wilson, and is co-presented by Subway Cinema in collaboration with the Korean Cultural Center New York and the Korean Film Archive. Long before Bong Joon Ho, Hong Sangsoo, and Park Chan-wook catapulted South Korean cinema onto the world stage, the foundation of their country’s film industry formed in the aftermath of the Korean War. The period kickstarted a wealth of eclectic and innovative filmmaking that culminated in the 1960s. Closer inspection of this decade, now widely considered Korea’s premier film renaissance, reveals the arrival of seminal works from auteurs such as Kim Ki-young, Shin Sang-ok, Yu Hyun-mok, Kim Soo-yong, […]

Now Available: SYMPATHY FOR MR. VENGEANCE (2002)

Lee B. Golden III

CJ Entertainment It’s easy to see why Park Chan-Wook has become such a favorite over the years, particularly with his Vengenace trilogy dating back to the 2002 release of Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance. I had only been familiar with the 2003 release of Oldboy, the second of all three Vengeance titles with each film telling a different tale, and so it’s only a matter of time before I set out to catch Lady Vengeance in the process. For now, I speak of the first film which centers on Shin Ha-Kyun as Ryu, a jobless deaf mute who, after a failed attempt to sell his kidney to the black market to acquire the funds for his ailing sister’s own kidney operation, hatches a plan with his girlfriend, Cha, to get the money he needs. However, secrets be damned, the truth unfolds in a plot that deals in kidnapping, murder, mystery, and […]

EMC Monkeys Presents: 돌려차기 2 (SPIN KICK 2)

Lee B. Golden III

Michael Lehr and Tim Park in the K-drama-infused action short, Spin Kick 2 In 2004, Cinema Service released writer and director Nam Sang-guk’s coming-of-age martial arts drama, Spin Kick, a story about a high school gang forced to join their school’s martial arts team in preparation for the next National Taekwondo Competition at the behest of their principal to avoid jail time. The film is fan fave for many who enjoy their fair share of Korean cinema, including independent filmmaker, martial artist, action director and EMC Monkeys team member Malay Kim who was inspired to attribute his newest shortfilm to Nam’s movie in the form of Spin Kick 2. As usual for the EMC Monkeys, the project brings a little something different and fresh, with Kim‘s adherence to some of the elements that often make Korean cinema what it is. “I have aspirations of becoming a director, so I wanted […]

Everyone Fights For Something In The New Trailer For READY ACTION! VIOLENCE MOVIES

Lee B. Golden III

There’s a lot happening here in this trailer – a film that appears to package what looks like three stories either divided or interwoven into one film, each written to lend some curiosity behind the obscure profanity and view of knives amidst some of the small bits of dark comedy, action and mild tension. It could all mean something much more – either that, or I’m simply overthinking it, but whatever the case is, the film is titled Ready Action! Violence Movies, an anthology film collectively directed by Jung Jae-woong, Choe Won-kyung and Kim Do-kyoung with actors Min Ho-yeol, Lee Ka-young and Oh Sung-guen as the main players. The film releases June 5 in Korean cinemas. SYNOPSIS: 1. Extreme (Min-ho is unbeatable) by Jung Jae-woong ●”Why did you do that to me?” – Min-ho is lost and searching for his way back to Seoul in an isolated village when he gets […]

SNOWPIERCER Director Bong Joon-Ho: "We're Talking A Lot About Keeping The Original Cut."

Lee B. Golden III

It was intially reported back in August that film distributors over at The Weinstein Company were going to release a version of director Bong Joon-Ho‘s latest science fiction action epic, Snowpiercer, which would have twenty minutes of the film removed. The initial report from IF Magazine quoted writer and film festival programmer Tony Rayns who said “TWC people have told Bong that their aim is to make sure the film ‘will be understood by audiences in Iowa… and Oklahoma,’”, further adding that TWC’s treatment of the film for the U.S., which would unnecessarily add opening and closing voice overs and remove a lot of the character development that was so elemental for the film’s success, was also reflection on other English-speaking areas for which they pre-bought the rights to the film earlier on. At this point, the film was already generating favorable reviews which only increased between its South Korean […]

Korean Assassin Thriller COMMITMENT Comes To The U.S. This December

Lee B. Golden III

Following previous reports in October that director Park Hong-soo‘s latest Korean action thriller, Commitment, was picked up for North American distribution, Well Go USA has a new minute-long trailer for the film set for a limited theatrical release on December 6 in select cities. Formerly titled The Alumni, Commitment stars Korean hip hop artist and Big Bang frontman Choi Seung-hyun (a.k.a. T.O.P.) making his first debut role in a feature film, along with Han Ye-ri, Kim Yoo-jung, Jo Sung-ha, Yoon Je-moon and Dong Hyun Bae. Committment is also set for distribution in Europe (Splendid Film), Singapore (Golden Village), Hong Kong (Golden Scene), Taiwan (Serenity Entertainment), Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia and Japan. For a listing of theaters and cities and ticket information, head over to the official website. SYNOPSIS: After his father’s botched espionage mission, North Korean Myung-hoon and his young sister Hye-in are sent to a labor prison camp. In […]

Gao Yoon Leaps Into Action In A New Trailer Featurette For Korean Thriller, THE SUSPECT

Lee B. Golden III

Garnering some notable comparions on tone and pacing with the Bourne movie franchise, the Korean action cinema scene continues to leave a buzzing impression with the upcoming December release of The Suspect. After wrapping up a late Autumn 2012-June 2013 shoot, a stunt/action featurette was recently unveiled online showcasing a non-CG infused minute’s taste of what will come for film fans eager to see director Won Shin-Yeon‘s latest thriller, featuring lead actor Gong Yoo in what is said to be his pending debut lead role for an action film. The Suspect also stars Park Hee-soon, Cho Seong-ha and Yoo Da-in, and is produced by Shin Chang-Hwan from a script by Lim Sang-yoon, with stunt coordination by O Se-young and cinematography by Lee Sung-Jae. SYNOPSIS: Dong-chul was the best special field agent in North Korea, but he’s abandoned by his government during a mission. While on the run, he looks for […]

China And Korea To Co-Produce THE FIST This Year

Lee B. Golden III

The Hollywood Reporter states this week that director Park Kwang-hyun (pictured left) best know for his work on the 2005 blockbuster, Welcome To Dongmakgol, is helming what is being described as the largest-ever film co-production between Korea and China. CJ E&M’s latest project, The Fist, will share co-backing with China Film Group, and privately owned Pegasus & Taihe Entertainment. Twitch’s Pierce Conran delivers a bit more on the backstory regarding the project, stating the film was originally titled Kwon Bob with actor/model Zo In-sung tapped to star as the lead before CJ pulled the plug on the film upon the 2011 release of Ji-hun Kim‘s 3D sci-fi action flick, Sector 7. Apparently due to the success of director Oh ki-hwan‘s latest romantic comedy A Wedding Invitation, it appears that after waiting patiently for the last two years, Zo will likely get his chance. Zo’s most recent films include the 2006 drama, […]

FILM OF THE WEEK-5/6/13: ARAHAN (2004)

Lee B. Golden III

SYNOPSIS: A naive yet passionate Sang-hwan becomes a downtown policeman to help the good and punish the bad. But when it comes to gang crime, he is nothing but a coward. One day he gets discovered by a martial arts master and his training to unleash the true power within him begins. Meanwhile, the Ultimate Evil, Black Cloud, is set loose. Now Sang-hwan, who possesses the absolute power, becomes ‘ the one’ who must save the world. Jong Doo-hong is one of the most beloved and well respected martial arts action directors in Korean cinema history. The first film in which I caught onto his work as an actor and fight choreohrapher was director Ryu Seung-wan’s 2004 science fiction martial arts fantasy action comedy, Arahan: Urban Martial Arts Action. By this time, lead actor Ryu Seung-bum had already appeared in a few other films, including one I still haven’t seen […]

The New Trailer For SECRETLY GREATLY Is Online

Lee B. Golden III

Twitchfilm has an amazing new update for the upcoming trailer for the June 5, 2013 release of Jang Cheol-soo’s new action spy dramedy, Secretly Greatly, produced by Kim Bang-hyun and based on an award-winning webtoon written by Choi Jong-hun called “Covertness”. Actors Kim Soo-hyun, Lee Hyun-woo and Park Ki-woong star as three North Korean spies sent undercover to live under different aliases in a poor hillside neighborhood in South Korea until they receive new orders. Rounding out the cast are Son Hyun-joo, Kim Sung-kyun, Park Eun-Bin and Lee Jae-young. SYNOPSIS: As a North Korean sleeper cell agent, Ryu-han infiltrates the South and assumes the role of a village idiot in a rural town. He observes the townsfolk and waits patiently for his mission. One day, after 2 years of playing the role of the village idiot, fellow elite spies Hae-rang, posed as a rock star and Hae-jin, posed as an […]

It's All-Out Korean Gang Warfare In NEW WORLD

Lee B. Golden III

As of this weekend, one month after the South Korean premiere of writer/director Park Hoon-jung’s latest film, New World , Well Go USA is theatrically distributing the new Korean gangster thriller, starring Lee Jung-jae, Choi Min-shik and Hwang Jung-min and produced by Min-jung Park, Hyun-woo Kim, Jae-Duk Han and Woo-Taek Kim. MOVIECLIPS recently shared a Red Band clip of the film, to give viewers a taste of the action other than what has been previously seen in trailers. The clip is pure taste of classic Korean cinema with gang warfare, with suited henchmen locked in fisticuffs, vehicular manslaughter and katanas. SYNOPSIS: The head of the Goldmoon crime syndicate is dead, leaving his top two lieutenants. Seizing the opportunity, the police launch an operation called “New World,” with the perfect weapon. The boss’ right hand man, Ja-sung (LEE Jung-jae, THE THIEVES), has been a deep-cover operative for 8 years, closely watched […]

New Trailer For GOOD FRIENDS

Lee B. Golden III

A new trailer was released online last week for director Jin Hyoung-tae’s upcoming noir Korean gangster action thriller, Good Friends (tentatively titled “Sweet Dream” earlier in production). The film stars Yeon Jeong-hun, Kazuki Kitamura, Lee Ji-hoon and Kim Young-hoon in a story about a mysterious murder takes place amidst upheaval among the local gangs and the yakuza, and the ultimate search for the truth, and the mole within their ranks. The film also stars Sung Hyuk and actress Choi Jung-won, and is slated for a South Korea theatrical release on March 28, 2013. SYNOPSIS: K (Yeon Jeong-Hun), Tatsuya (Kazuki Kitamura), Joon-Oh (Lee Ji-Hoon) and Yuuji (Kim Young-Hoon) are best friends. They work for Sung-Ho’s gang in a Korean neighborhood in Japan. A power struggle over their territory erupts between their gang and the yakuza.K, Tatsuya, Joon-Oh and Yuuji try to revenge the death of a gang member, but they are […]