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Fantastic Fest XVII Review: HUNT, A propulsive, explosive action-packed directorial debut from SQUID GAME star Lee Jung-jae!

Published September 27, 2022: Set in the ‘80s, Hunt takes place during the disruption of an assassination attempt on the president. Two South Korean agents (Lee Jung-jae and Jung Woo-sung) from different departments are tasked to uncover a North Korean spy within their agency; who threatens to reveal top secret intel. But things escalate when the intel is revealed; leading the two agents to investigate each other. An action-packed directorial debut from renowned actor Lee Jung-jae; Lee takes on multiple duties (director, co-writer, producer and lead actor) to deliver a professionally mounted (many of the crew have worked on numerous Park Chan-wook productions) political thriller that leaves no room for subtlety, nuance or even levity. Entertainment is the name of the game and Lee delivers with tons of frenetic shoot-outs (with striking sound design that makes the gunfire stand out), numerous plot twists and many dramatic mano-a-mano stare-offs between lead […]

NYAFF And KCCNY Present: A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN: HIT KOREAN BASEBALL MOVIES AT HOME For Free This Month!

Lee B. Golden III

Details for the 19th installment of the New York Asian Film Festival remain pending, but the organization is still upkeeping with its commitment to entertain the masses… This month, the organization is partnering up with the Korean Cultural Center of New York (KCCNY) to present a celebratory trio of hit baseball movies, in honor of the progress South Korea has made in sports and film entertainment – particularly with Bong Joon-ho’s Oscar win for Okja, and Korean baseball debuting on ESPN for the first time as of May. Thus, we have A League Of Their Own: Hit Korean Baseball Movies At Home. Details are listed in the gallery below for all three films which will stream for free at koreanmovienight.org from Thursday, July 16 through 26. Tap to enlarge the images below. If opened from Twitter, simply scroll down. FULL LINEUP: MR. GO ( Kim Yong-hwa, 2013, South Korea, 133m […]

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South Korean DRUG WAR Remake Now Underway

Lee B. Golden III

Director Johnnie To’s 2012 film, Drug War, was a staunch and stark crime thriller with a compelling story, riveting characters and haunting finale. The film won a raft of awards and nominations around the world through 2014 next to its rave reviews at the time, now begging to see if its remake value stands with equal merit. That litmus test is now being applied through the lens of Arahan: Jangpung Daejakjeon (2004) scribe, The Silenced (2015) helmer Lee Hae-young with production underway as his fourth feature film set for next year. Actors Cho Jin-woong (A Hard Day) and Ryu Jun-yeol (The King) will reimagine the respective roles as such, per To’s film, intially centered on a Hong Kong drug enforcement whose lead detective successfully captures a key witness – an elusive, conniving drug lord now forced to work with the police to infiltrate a bigger criminal empire or face the death penalty. Also […]

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Kim's WHO IS GOD In Talks To Cast Liu Yi-Fei As China And South Korea Iron Out Geopolitical Missle Drama

Lee B. Golden III

Actress Crystal Liu Yi-Fei (The Four film saga, The Forbidden Kingdom) is reportedly in extensive talks to star in Kim Ki-Duk’s latest, Who Is God, which is currently set to start rolling cameras on in less than a few months. Should she sign the dotted line, she could very well get the gig…that is, if the stalemate between South Korea and China finally wanes. Variety is reporting that the acclaimed director of films such as 3-Iron, Pieta and the highly talked-about Moebius is currently stranded without a work visa to commence his China production, a war film that centers on Buddhism and how politics manipulate religion. The film, to be produced by Film Carnival International and Dick Cook Studios with Yuen Woo-Ping directing the action, is reportedly the biggest film of his career with well over $24 million dollars to boot, marking a major investment for a director largely known […]

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Cam’s Eye Review: THE WAILING (2016) – Whom Do You Trust?

If you go fishing, do you know what you’ll catch?” This is the line that jumps out at me where you really don’t quite know what is going to happen next, a feeling which continues to a chilling, harrowing climax in The Wailing. A brutal multiple homicide leads an oafish local cop (Kwak Do-won) on the track of something sinister after a new Japanese resident (Kunimura Jun) seemingly affects the community of a small South Korean village, Gokseong, with an unusual outbreak of a skin condition that ultimately drives villagers insane and on a killing spree. After certain “mushrooms” are blamed by the media and police, the cop’s young daughter (Kim Hwan-hee) falls ill while he investigates to solve the murders and others around him. Fresh out of competition from Cannes, The Wailing is written and directed by Na Hong-jin, a favorite of the festival. The supernatural thriller gives us the […]

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Growing Pains Abound In The New Trailer For Romantic Thriller, SWEET SIXTEEN

Lee B. Golden III

It’s been a while since filmmaker Cho Jin-kyu stirred the pot with Korean gangster romp, My Wife Is A Gangster – still a favorite to date. He’s got a few titles under his belt within the crime comedy having last directed Man On The Edge in 2013, but now he’s back and in sprawling fashion with the China/South Korean production, Sweet Sixteen, based on Yue Zi’s 2010 internet novel publication. SYNOPSIS: 28-year-old Shu Yawang is a landscape designer who was born in a military family. When she was 16 years old, her father had her take care of 10-year-old Xia Mu. Xia Mu had witnessed death at a young age, thus becoming estranged with the world, but Shu Yawang’s warmth slowly melted his heart. Shu Yawang’s childhood friend and lover, Tang Xiao Tian, enlisted in the army after high school graduation and met Qu Wei Ran there. After the encounter between […]

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Let The Bullets Fly In The New Teaser For PHANTOM DETECTIVE

Lee B. Golden III

Up for a little revisionist Korean Robin Hood reboot? Look no further than director Jo Sung-Hee who last gained notoriety for his 2012 fantasy romance flick, A Werewolf Boy. Well, Hee is back again now, and with the delightful looking crime noir, Phantom Detective which opens in May. Actor Lee Je-Hoon leads this one, here and now in the latest of several repurposed cinematic approaches to iconic 16th century Korean folk hero Hong Gil-Dong, now in full flatfoot mode with 99% crime solving success rate, and hot on the trail of a new case involving a massive and mysterious cult. The latest teaser trailer has arrived, is unsubbed and lends a few chuckles. It looks pretty slick and invokes enough charm and luster to neighbor next to the moodiness and bullets that fly throughout. Take a look!

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Jeon Pil-Jin's Drama, KKANGCHI Brings The Pain In The New Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

Director Jeon Pil-jin’s latest, Kkangchi, is ready to leave its mark in 2016. Formerly titled “After School” new trailer has surfaced and it looks like a slow-burn coming of age featuee is what we’re in for with quite a few punches thrown amid some of the chaos and boiling drama. SYNOPSIS: Hyeong-soo, a member of the school’s top Judo team, has to give up as a result of his father who does not care about him. With his best friends Jin-ho and Seong-rok, he comes to a decision to start fresh, yet the total thing starts falling apart when he meets the college bully Jin-gyu. In the end, Hyeong-soo decides to transform the faculty gangster and compensate his past. He loses everything from circle of relatives to guests and everything of his he idea helpful the more he fills his passion. He regrets what he is done and tries to […]

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Ryoo Seung-Wan's VETERAN And THE BERLIN FILE Have Sequels In The Works

Lee B. Golden III

Director Ryoo Seung-wan has been hitting major high marks with his latest action flick, Veteran following its domestic release in South Korea on August 5. CJ Entertainment proudly guaranteed its North American base with a limited release as of a few weeks ago, and with well more than $80 million dollars to its current box-office standing, the film is reportedly on par to be the third biggest grossing South Korean film of all time. Thus, talks of a sequel are already brewing and Ryoo‘s own mention of it now lends some worthy acknowledgement following an interview with Diva Velez posted at Twitchfilm, in which Ryoo also confirmed development of a sequel to his 2012 espionage thriller, The Berlin File. “I don’t think [Veteran 2] will be my very next project. I still haven’t decided whom these guys will fight again.” he says. “Currently, I’m working on the sequel to The […]

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Screener Review: ASSASSINATION (2015)

Lee B. Golden III

There is a lot for me to explore in cinema as there are tons of films I still need to see, including those of director Choi Dong-hoon. That said, his latest 1930’s-set war drama, Assassination is very much an introduction to his craft for my own experience as a moviegoer, and there are a ton of moving pieces to this story as it’s full of twists and turns that are sure to keep your attention. The film begins with as Yim (Lee Jung-Jae), a Korean rebel whose failed assassination attempt of a Japanese general leads to his capture and torture prior to having reportedly escaped within an inch of his life. Years later, he is now an interim agent for the incognito Korean government, and is assigned by the vice-president and his cohorts to assemble a team of assassins to mobilize in Shanghai. The team is comprised of Dak-sun (Choi […]

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South Korean Period Drama, THE THRONE Rules With A New Teaser!

Lee B. Golden III

The Joseon dynasty remains evermore a staple for directors to build off of in film, leaving plenty of actors to leave quite the impression as well. Leave that to Blades Of Blood helmer, acclaimed director Lee Joon-Ik whose new period drama, The Throne is gearing up for a release in September in the good company of actor Yoo Ah-In, and beloved actor Song Kang-Ho at the center of a compelling period drama with political upheaval, intense conflict, and inner turmoil that puts this a royal family on the brink. SYNOPSIS: In the year of 1762, when King Yeongjo of the Joseon dynasty’s been ruling for 35 years already, Crown prince Sado is accused of plotting treason by his biological mother lady Yi. Yeongjo falls into a dilemma since he could not penalize his own son as a traitor as it would mean that he would become the father of a […]

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Watch The Full Trailer For Park Seung-Hik's MEMORIES OF THE SWORD

Lee B. Golden III

Writer and director Park Heung-sik‘s latest period actioner, Memories Of The Sword, is gearing up for a theatrical release on August 13, which is less than a month away as of this write-up. The film had been in limbo late last year but with things picking up since then, trailers are now circulating and we now have a first full trailer for fans and those interested to sample Park‘s enchanting vision for a story of vengeance and catastrophic fate. SYNOPSIS: Three warriors, Poong-chun, Wol-so, and Yu-baek pleadge to fight against the incompetent king. However, the betrayal of Yu-baek leads to Poong-chun’s death, and Wol-so disappears with Poong-chun’s young daughter – Hong-yi – as stricken by guilt. 18 years later, Hong-yi leaves Wol-so and plans to get revenge on both Yu-baek and Wol-so. It’s a story of one young woman’s destiny written in blood, headlined by a stellar cast with a […]

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Go Behind The Scenes In A New MEMORIES OF THE SWORD Featurette

Lee B. Golden III

The most recent teaser for director Park Heung-sik‘s new period revenge thriller, Memories Of The Sword, is a dazzling feat with tons of visual glossiness to show for its efforts, and well worth basking in for as long as it’s taken to release since late last year. Since then, the teaser has garnered an international version with English subs, and a promo campaign presenting the first of several behind-the-scenes looks you can check out at the bottom of the page ahead of the film’s August release. SYNOPSIS: This is a story of three swordsmen, Jongul, Sullang, and Dukgi, who led an uprising during the era of the Koryo Dynasty. When their desire for freedom and justice is about to be fulfilled, Dukgi betrays them, leading to the death of Jongul, and to Sullang disappearing along with Jongul’s daughter Hong-ee. When Sullang leaves, she intones the prophecy that “You, no, not […]

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Martial Arts Gang Warfare Erupts In New Stills For Park Sang-Hyeon's KWON BOB: CHINATOWN

Lee B. Golden III

It was on Thursday that City On Fire forwarded news of an upcoming martial arts action thriller, Kwon Bob: Chinatown (you’re forgiven if the title adheres to some sort of title character – it actually translates to “martial arts”). The film marks the directorial debut of stunt professional Park Sang-Hyeon whose most recent and notable credit includes working under action director Jong Doo-Hong for last year’s Kundo: Age Of The Rampant, and here it appears that we are going to get something quite special for our money’s worth. via HanCinema: A rebirth of Korean traditional martial arts. The battle between action masters is about to begin! Chinatown is a place where crime and betrayal are rampant. Violent crime detective Ko Jeong-hyeok (Seo Joon-yeong) can’t rest a day. He tries to rid the streets of criminals but he’s too busy cleaning up his own mess because of his habit of using […]

Watch The New Trailer For Well Go USA's South Korean Epic, NORTHERN LIMIT LINE

Lee B. Golden III

Its been thirteen years since anyone watching the news witnessed the unfolding events taking place between warring vessels on the Yellow Sea. It’s an event in human history well noted in director Kim Hak-Soon‘s latest return to the director’s chair, Northern Limit Line, which released in South Korea last month on June 24 commemorating the lives of those lost in the unfortunate tragedy that ensued as a South Korean patrol ship was ambushed by the North along the disputed demarcation line. Actors Gim Mu-yeol, Jin Goo, and Lee Hyun-woo lead the principle cast for the film’s story which centers on those very lives with segments by survivors of the incident itself engaging the viewer with exclusive perspective. It’s a very powerful tool in invoking the importance of a film like this and acknowledging what goes on in the world as we go about our day to day lives, and thankfully, Well Go […]

A HARD DAY Gets A July Release From Kino Lorber!

Lee B. Golden III

Writer and director Kim Seong-hun‘s recent suspensful thriller, A Hard Day, was one of the most excellent films brought into the fray back in 2014, hitting loads of high-notes among critics and festivalgoers alike after its run in South Korea. Thankfully, a more commercial response for audiences in the U.S. isn’t too far off with a select theatrical release date on July 17, and as such, we now have a trailer to accomodate you at the very bottom. SYNOPSIS: Driving back from his mother’s funeral, homicide detective Gun-soo runs over a man in a dark rural street. In a moment of desperation, he dumps the body in a coffin alongside his mother. A few days later, Gun-soo flips through a listing of open cases and finds his accident victim. His colleague is on the accident case and is slowly making progress. Making matters worse, a witness steps forward, a detective […]

MEMORIES OF THE SWORD Wields A Stunning New Teaser

Lee B. Golden III

Last year was a great year for Korean action cinema, and director Park Heung-sik‘s latest period revenge flick, Memories Of The Sword would have had a place at the time for its late 2014 release were it not for certain headlines and a bit of rabblerousing involving the film’s stars, namely actress Jeon Do-yeon and actor Lee Byung-hun. Thankfully, it’s a new season in a new year and the important thing is that the film is finally on deck for an August release, and a teaser finally circulating with some astonishing luster and beautiful ambience to accommodate its wuxia centerpiece. SYNOPSIS: This is a story of three swordsmen, Jongul, Sullang, and Dukgi, who led an uprising during the era of the Koryo Dynasty. When their desire for freedom and justice is about to be fulfilled, Dukgi betrays them, leading to the death of Jongul, and to Sullang disappearing along with […]

Choi's ASSASSINATION Gets A U.S. Release Date!

Lee B. Golden III

Director Choi Dong-hoon‘s new period espionage thriller, Assassination, is getting a leg up this week with new character posters which you may view at the bottom of the page. The film is poised for a release in South Korea this July while the promotional campaign rolls on with its fair share of the usual trailers and featurettes, and other gems pertaining to the new movie which reunites Choi with a handful of notable actors. As for the film’s exposure elsewhere, it is only a matter of time before audiences abroad get to check out the film for themselves, especially for North America and Canada where Well Go USA continues to provide a sure service for Asian movie fans stateside. And as such, Assassination is getting a limited theatrical release on August 7, 2015 with locations pending. SYNOPSIS: Early 1900s Korea was under Japanese occupation and many Korean resistance activists were […]

Love Doesn't Cost A Thing In The Latest Trailers And Promos For INTIMATE ENEMIES

Lee B. Golden III

The action genre in South Korea has been slow to pick up, but it’s getting a pulse lately and a while it might not be as big as it was last year, a few titles have begun circulating including Im Sang-soo‘s latest, Intimate Enemies. Several trailers and featurettes have arrived welcoming the film’s release this month with actress Go Joon-hee and Ryoo Seung-bum starring and the two look absolutely amazing in this one as a power couple taking on the powers that be. SYNOPSIS: In an empty street, a car secretly delivering a moneybag encounters an unexpected accident. Jinu, following after the car, Nami, a tow truck driver patrol around the scene, and Yakubu from an auto junkyard chance upon the money bag and decide to split the money. While they get chased by the ruthless money bag owner, the Jinu and Nami get attracted to each other. Now thrilling […]

Ryoo Seung-Wan's VETERAN Takes Its Chase To The Streets In The New Teaser

Lee B. Golden III

It’s been a minute since we’ve heard from The Berlin File and The City Of Violence helmer Ryoo Seung-Wan, but he’s back and making some waves this week with the fresh new crime comedy, Veteran. Ryoo rejoins with the lead star of his 2010 suspense thriller, The Unjust, actor Hwang Jung-Min and looks toward becoming spectacular treat at the cinema when released in July, judging by the latest teaser which you may now view below. Yoo Ah-In and Jung Woong-In also star. SYNOPSIS: After an international auto theft sting, veteran detective Do-chul is treated to a night at a club where he meets Tae-oh, the tyrannical heir to an untouchable mega corporation. Convined Tae-oh is a drug addict, he tries to investigate, but is stopped by his boss. Meanwhile Tae-oh runs into Mr Bae – a truck driver who helped Do-chul with his auto theft case – protesting to get […]