'Forever the Moment' Wins Best Picture at Blue Dragon Awards

Forever the Moment , The Chaser

My Wife Got Married

Blockbuster 'Forever the Moment,' a film about the nation's women's handball team, won Best Picture at the 29th Blue Dragon Film Awards held Thursday night at KBS.

The film also received the award for best supporting actress.

Best Actor went to Kim Yoon-seok of the action flick 'The Chaser' and Best Actress to Son Ye-jin in 'My Wife Got Married.'

This year's highest grossing Korean movie, 'The Good, the Bad, the Weird' by director Kim Ji-woon, grabbed four awards including best director and best cinematography.

'Crush and Blush' by director Lee Kyoung-mi won for best new director and best screenplay.

Late actress Choi Jin-sil, who took her life on October second, was granted an honorary award.

source: KBS World
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_Cu_detail.htm?No=59281&id=Cu

Tags: Forever the Moment/Son Ye Jin/korean movie/The Chaser

Christmas in August [ Korean Movie 1998 ]

Genre : Romance, Drama
Starring : Han Suk kyu, Shim Eun ha
Release date : January 24, 1998
Runtime :94 min.
Directed by : Hur Jin ho

Synopsis:

The plot follows a portrait photographer, Jung-won (played by Han Suk-kyu) and his developing romance with a parking attendant, Da-rim (Shim Eun-ha). However, the romance never gets a chance to develop into intimacy. Jung-won soon finds out he is suffering from an unnamed illness and has to come to terms with his impending death. He sets out to continue living as usual, going out with his friends and spending time with his family in the small town he has lived for decades.
In the Japanese remake the female character is a teacher.

Gallery:

Tags: Christmas in August/korean movie/Hur Jin ho/korean film

Kwon Sang-woo Makes a Comeback in the 2009 Spring Film

Hallyu star Kwon Sang-woo will be presenting a touching mellow performance in his 2009 spring film A Story Sadder than Sadness. The title of the film explains this sad mellow film as Kwon Sang-woo plays a radio program producer named ‘Kei’, who falls into an affectionate and painful love.

A Story Sadder than Sadness paints a sad love story of two people who have been in love with each other for a long time. Although they aren’t able to ever express their feelings openly, they are there for each other until the end. This production is especially receiving much attention as poet Won Tae-yeon, a poet who represents the sensitivities of Korea’s youth today, will be making his debut as a film director.

All of the film’s actors, along with Kwon Sang-woo, will officially begin filming in mid-December. A Story Sadder than Sadness is scheduled for release on March 14, 2009 in Korea.

source: Korea Sparkling
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/CU/content/cms_view_659600.jsp?...Select=0

Tags: Kwon Sang woo/Story Sadder than Sadness/korean actor/korean film

Two Top Stars Bare It All in New Movie

Korea’s two top male stars, Jo In-sung and Joo Jin-mo, have revealed their hunky physiques in their new film, “Frozen Flower.” The film’s preview showed some very tantalizing scenes involving the two actors in bed.

“Frozen Flower” is a historical film about the love and betrayal among a Goryeo king (played by Joo Jin-mo) at the end of the Goryeo era, his queen from China (Song Ji-hyo) and his bodyguard Hong-rim (Jo In-sung). Based on a song from the Goryeo period, the film depicts the king’s homosexual relationship in an unprecedented manner.

Riding the recent gender-bending trend in Korean movies as in “Antique” and “Portrait of a Beauty,” director Yoo Ha of “Frozen Flower” does not flinch from showing what goes on between gay men behind closed doors. The film is currently waiting for its rating, which is likely to be an R-rating, as it contains sizzling scenes between Joo and Jo. Korean film lovers are eagerly waiting for the film’s release, which is slated for December 30.

source: KBS World
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/entertainment/enter_chart_detail.htm?No=8648

Tags: Frozen Flower/Jo In sung/Joo Jin mo/Korean film/Korean movie

“Antique” Draws 1 Million Moviegoers

“Antique,” a delightful film featuring four hottest actors, has drawn more than one million moviegoers in just 15 days since it was released. Based on a Japanese comic of the same title, the plot involves the relationship among four good-looking guys, who work together in a fancy bakery.

The film’s production company announced Friday that the film attracted 160 thousand viewers on the opening weekend and 500 thousand in the first week, and has steadily done well in the box office tally.

“Antique” is the third Korean film to break through the million mark, following “My Wife Got Married” and “Portrait of a Beauty.” The Korean film industry has been struggling this summer from a lack of decent movies, but these three works have revived people’s interest in Korean films with their unique plotlines and impressive acting. Also “Antique” is the first film to appeal to teenagers since “The Tale of Two Sisters” and “Temptation of Wolves.”

source: KBS World
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/entertainment/enter_chart_detail.htm?No=8667

Tags: Antique/Japanese comic/Korean film/My Wife Got Married

Lee Dong-wook and Eugene couple up in new movie

Eugene and Lee Dong-wook star in a new film, “Page 198 of that man’s book” (그 남자의 책 198쪽). Although my momma always told me to never judge a book by its cover, this cover just sounds bleh.

The film follows the developing love story between a man named Juno (played by Lee Dong-wook) who rips out only page 198 from books and a librarian, Eun-soo (Eugene).

“Page 198 of that man’s book” will rip into theaters on October 23rd, 2008 in Korea. Check out the still cuts.

source: popseoul

Tags: Lee Dong wook/Eugene/korean movie

Son Ye-jin ‘Marries Two Men’

A press preview for “My Wife Got Married” at Yongsan CGV in Seoul on Wednesday created plenty of buzz, not least because of Son Ye-jin, who plays a woman who breaks the established social framework by marrying two men simultaneously to seek genuine love and happiness.

In a press conference afterwards, Son said, “I think she is a rare character given that she pursues free love. If I hadn’t loved and cared for the character, it would seem unforgivable.”

The film adds a new dynamic to the novel on which it is based. Viewers are drawn deep inside the story, losing their sense of what is right and wrong by conventional standards. The work embraces football as a subject matter like the original novel, where it serves as an important metaphor for love and life.

“In the film it also plays an important role in bringing the main characters together in their first meeting and developing their feelings into love,” Son says. She calls it “a romantic melodrama that will appeal to the taste of young, laid-back people.”

The film is to be released on Oct. 23.

credit: englishnews@chosun.com
source: Chosun
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200810/200810180001.html

Tags: Son Ye Jin/korean movie/My Wife Got Married

The Chaser [ Korean Movie 2008 ]

Genre : Action,Thriller
Starring : Kim Yoon-seok, Ha Jeong-woo
Release date : February 14, 2008
Runtime :123 min.
Directed by : Na Hong-jin

Synopsis :

Ex-cop pimp Jung-ho is irritated because his girls keep disappearing without clearing their debts. One night, he gets a call from a customer and sends Mi-jin. Jung-ho realizes the phone number of the customer matches that of the calls the missing girls got last. As something smells fishy, he searches for her. During his search, Jung-ho dents a car in the alley. When Jung-ho spots blood splattered on the driver’s shirt, he senses the man, Young-min, is the suspect. After an intense chase, Jung-ho catches Young-min. But because of Jung-ho’s pretense as a cop, they are both taken to the police station. At the station, the man bluntly confesses he has killed the missing women, and the last girl, Mi-jin, may still be alive. As the whole police force is obsessed with a random search for corpses, Jung-ho is the only onewho believes Mi-jin is still alive. With only 12 hours left to detain the serial killer without a warrant, Jung-ho’s hunt begins, searching for Mi-jin entrapped in a place nobody knows.

source:http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr

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Tags: The Chaser/korean movie/Ha Jeong woo/korean film

“Old Boy” Cited One of the 500 Greatest Movies of All Time

Director Park Chan-wook’s acclaimed film “Old Boy” was cited one of the 500 greatest movies of all time compiled by the British film journal Empire. Among the illustrious list that includes “The Godfather,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” and “Empire Strikes Back,” Park’s “Old Boy” came in 64th place in the list.

Empire polled 150 film directors, 50 critics and more than 10,000 members of the public for the top 500 picks. The only Korean film to make the list, “Old Boy” was applauded for tenaciously probing the lure of revenge and its futility. The most memorable scene in the award-winning thriller was when the main character played by famed actor Choi Min-shik ate a live octopus.

On the whole, the 500 greatest movies list leans on the pop culture side. The perennial number one, Orson Welles’ “Citizen Kane” ended up in the 28th place, while such commercial films as “Raiders of the Lost Ark” or “Jaws” were placed in the top 10. In spite of some questionable rankings, Empire’s 500 list is rated as a good source of recommendations and for discovering the classics as well as some really good films made outside the U.S.

source:KBS WORLD

Tags:Old Boy/Park Chan wook/Choi Min shik/korean film

The Beast and the Beauty [ Korean Movie 2005 ]

Genre : Romance ,Comedy
Starring : Shin Min ah,Ryu Seung Beom,Kim Kang Wu
Release date : October 27, 2005
Runtime :101mins
Directed by : Lee Gye-byeok

Synopsis:

Hae-ju (Shin Min Ah) is an attractive young woman who maintains good spirits in spite of having lost her eyesight years ago. For the past three years she has been in a relationship with Dong-gun (Ryu Seung-Beom) , a devoted boyfriend.

But when an eye-donor is found for Hae-ju, Dong-gun faces a dilemma: he is seriously disfigured by a facial scar and does not want Hae-ju to see what he looks like. Instead of explaining this to her, Dong-gun leaves a message for her that he has left Korea for Hawaii.

In the meantime, Hae-ju meets Jun-ha (Kim Kang Wu), a lawyer who is smitten with her. He keeps fighting for her attention and affection, but Hae-ju continues to await Dong-gun's return.

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Tags: Beast and the Beauty/korean movie/Shin Min ah/korean film

Su-ae Admits to Passing Out in Film

Su-ae admitted in an interview with Yonhap News that had actually gotten drunk and blacked out for a scene. It was for a scene in her new film “Sunny,” which takes place at a nightclub in a U.S. army base, where she drinks heavily and passes out in the bathroom. She revealed that she really drank more than half a bottle of whisky at the director’s criticism that she didn’t look real enough. As a result of drinking so much alcohol, she became really drunk, adding reality to the scene where she throws up in the toilet and blacks out. Su-ae had won admiration from the director and the rest of the filming crew for her commitment to the film.

Due for release on July 24, “Sunny” is a story of naïve country girl named Sun-I, who goes to war-torn Vietnam during the 1970s to search for her husband. Su-ae has been applauded by film critics that she has played the role of Sunny to perfection, showing Sunny’s seamless transformation from an innocent and frail girl to strong and determined woman.

“Sunny” is also director Lee Jun-ik’s first film to be shot abroad. Director Lee is known for highly acclaimed films “King and the Clown” and “Radio Star.”

Source: KBS World
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/entertainment/enter_chart_detail.htm?No=7881

Tags:Su-ae/korean actress/King and the Clown/korean film

Bong Joon-ho "Won Bin is youthful country style"

Director Bong Joon-ho of the movie " Mother " revealed an episode involving the two leading characters. In a meeting with his acquaintances, he said, "Won Bin was far from his image of a refined city-dweller. He is from Kang-won, so I sensed more of a country style".

Before debuting in 1996, Won Bin worked in a auto service center in Kang-won.

Director Bong said, "There is still a pure innocent image left in his face. He seems more human, for he likes tennis and soccer more than he likes working out or golf". As a director, he was glad that Won Bin still had an innocent image left in him. Won Bin plays a youth who is falsely accused of being a murderer.

Director Bong said, "In the early 1990s, there was a time when I was preparing an independent film with an underground cafe as my hideout. I heard that Kim Hye-ja lived next to the cafe, and I remember staying near the house every morning and evening". He wanted to use fate as an excuse and ask her to star in his independent film.

At that time, Director Bong filmed short films, such as "White Person" and "Incoherence". He wasn't in the condition to divide the labor, so for "Incoherence", he directed, starred, wrote, and edited.

He said, "From my early 20s when I had the dream of making movies, I wanted to work with Byeong Hee-bong and Kim Hye-ja, and that dream has been fulfilled". While filming "Barking Dogs Never Bite" and "Memories of Murder", he approached Kim Hye-ja and asked her to be in his works some day.

"Mother", starring Kim Hye-ja and Won Bin, is a story of a mother who goes to extremes for her wrongly-accused son. It starts filming this fall, and premieres next year.

Original Article: news.naver.com/main/r...
English Translation Credit: Hancinema

Tags:Won Bin/korean actor/Bong Joon-ho/korean movie

Song Hye-kyo Teams Up with Michelle Yeoh

Hallyu star Song Hye-kyo teams up with Michelle Yeoh from "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Memories of a Geisha" fame to target the Asian public.

According to the film magazine "Variety," Song recently signed a contract with Stella Entertainment, located near Taiwan, for her work overseas.

Stella Entertainment was established by Yeoh, Terrance Chang (who produced "Mission: Impossible 2" and "Face-Off") and entertainment agent David Tang.

Variety magazine wrote that "Song Hye-gyo became extremely popular [with the Asian public] after co-starring with Rain in the TV drama, 'Full House.' She also starred in 'My Girl and I,' as well as 'Hwangjinyi.' She was also cast in the director Sohn Su-beom's independent film which was also his U.S.A. debut, 'Fetish.'"

Song also signed a new contract with Eden Nine, the Korean agency representing Won Bin. Won Bin and Song both plan on more active participation in the Asian entertainment industry.

source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/entertainment/news/1532644_11858.html

Tags: Song Hye kyo/korean actress/Michelle Yeoh/Full House/Won Bin

Virgin Snow [ Korean Movie 2007 ]

"Virgin Snow" is coproduction between Japan and South Korea.
Genre : Romance Starring : Lee Jun Ki,Aoi Miyazaki
Official Site : http://www.firstsnow2007.co.kr/
Release date : November 1, 2007
Runtime :102min
Directed by : Han Sang-hee

Synopsis:
Min moves to Japan following his professor father. One day at a local shrine, he meets a beautiful Japanese girl with innocent eyes. Her name is Nanae, and she is an aspiring painter. Min falls for her at first sight, and soon learns that Nanae attends the same school to which Min has just transferred. They become friends, and despite the culture and language barriers it is an intense friendship. When his grandmother suddenly falls ill, Min hastily returns to Korea but can’t get in touch with Nanae beforehand. After his grandmother regains her health, he hurries back to Japan to reunite with Nanae, but she is nowhere to be found. Had his true feelings for Nanae not been apparent to her? Why has Nanae disappeared without a word?

source:http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/

Gallery:

Tags: Virgin Snow/korean movies/Lee Jun Ki/Aoi Miyazaki

'New husband' Jang Hyeok, Crazy about pictures after getting role of photographer

'New husband' Jang Hyeok is coming back to the screen after four years and is crazy about pictures.

Jang Hyeok is studying photography, for he will play a photographer in the movie "Penthouse Elephant", which starts filming in June.

In order to fully get into the role, he has been receiving private tutoring in photography.

He is showing his passion for photography, for the pictures he took himself will appear in the movie.

The movie "Penthouse Elephant" is about the friendship and the love of three men, and will reveal it in a fantastical and sensational sense. Lee Sang-woo and Jo Dong-hyeok were also cast.

Jang Hyeok had a private wedding with ballerina Kim Yeo-jin, two years his senior, on June 2, at Imperial Palace Hotel in Seoul.

Original Article: kr.news.yahoo.com/ser...
English Translation Credit: Hancinema

Tags: Jang Hyeok/korean actor/Penthouse Elephant/korean movie

Lee Wan, Cast as main character for movie "Goose's Dream" - transformation into a boxer

Actor Lee Wan was cast as the main character for "Goose's Dream" after the movie "Boys Don't Cry", set to come out this fall.

"Goose's Dream" is about the life and dream of a boy Jeong-woo (Lee Wan) who has gambled his life on boxing. It will be a low-budget film, produced by the Korean Film Council, KBS, and the Chonbuk Provincial Government as a HD movie.

Lee Wan plays Jeong-woo, who has been obsessed with boxing since he was young. After meeting Ki-chul (Im Kyeong-eob) who has an inborn talent for boxing, Jeong-woo gives up boxing and lives his own life.

The theme of this movie is that the achievement of a dream starts with not giving up that dream. It is to embrace the hearts of those who have difficulties because of the separation between their dreams of youth and dreams of reality.

Lee Wan is showing his passion by receiving training every day from a former national boxer. He said, "There is a lot of pressure but I want to learn so I don't look awkward as a boxer".

Lee Wan worked so hard that his trainer asked him if he had any thought of seriously pursuing boxing.

The movie that contains the transformation of Lee Wan into a boxer and the story of dreams that will unite generations will start filming on May 29.

Original Article: www.mydaily.co.kr/new...
English Translation Credit: Hancinema

Tags: Lee Wan/korean actor/korean movie

East-Meets-Western Offers Hope for Korean Film Recovery

A poster for the film 'The Good, the Bad,
the Weird.'

Invited to the Out of Competition section of the 61st International Cannes Film Festival, the Korean movie "The Good, the Bad, the Weird" screened at the Grand Theater Lumiere on Saturday (local time), giving the world its first glimpse at the potential of a bold new genre -- the Korean Western.

Warmly received, a reporter from U.S. film industry magazine Variety wondered why a U.S. distributor had yet to be decided for the movie, while Hollywood actor and director Mel Gibson's Icon Entertainment International snapped up the U.K. distribution rights.

"While In Competition puts an emphasis on the spirit of the times, Out of Competition can be considered the 'flower' of the festival in terms of popular films," the film's director Kim Jee-woon said at a press conference at the Palais de Festival earlier Saturday. "I think the invitation of my movie proves that Cannes recognizes the new experiments being made in Korean commercial cinema."

The Korean movie was in good company in the Out of Competition section, screening alongside Steven Spielberg's "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull", DreamWorks Animation's "Kung Fu Panda", and Woody Allen's "Vicky Cristina Barcelona", suggesting that Korean adventure and comedy movies may have finally overcome the crisis of confidence they have suffered.

From left, director Kim Jee-woon and actors Jung Woo-sung,
Lee Byung-hun and Song Kang-ho pose as they arrive
for the screening of their film 'The Good, the Bad, the Weird'
at the 61st International Cannes Film Festival
on Saturday in Cannes. /AFP

Reminiscent of Sergio Leone's 1966 classic "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," "The Good, the Bad, the Weird" follows three men hounding each other across the Manchurian desert in the 1930s in pursuit of a treasure map. It has drawn attention since production started as it stars three of Korea's top actors -- Song Kang-ho (the Weird), Lee Byung-hun (the Bad), and Jung Woo-sung (the Good).

"The movie reflects Koreans' desires to advance into the Chinese continent beyond the narrow Korean Peninsula," Kim said, brought to life in the wild chase scene on the open Manchurian plain.

The W20 billion (US$1=W1,048) movie is expected to rescue Korea's film industry, currently suffering a dismal slump. The screening at Cannes gave grounds to those expectations, serving as a first step to a recovery of confidence.

Credit:englishnews@chosun.com

source : Chosun
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/...0805260009.html

Tags: korean movie/Lee Byung hun/Jung Woo sung/Song Gang ho

[ Korean movie 2008 ] Fate ( Destiny )

Producers : MKDK Entertainment
Director : KIM Hae-gon
Genre : Action
Starring : Song Seung Heon , Kwon Sang Woo, Ji Sung , Park Han Byul
Official Site : www.fate2008.co.kr
release: 20th March, 2008
Length: 123 mins

Synopsis

In the dark criminal world of Seoul, U-min (Song), Cheol-jung (Kwon), Do-wan (Kim In-kwon) and Yeong-hwan (Ji Sung) are close friends in a gang. One day, with the help of an older member Gang-seop (Ahn Nae-seong), U-min, Cheol-jung and Do-wan attack the gang's casino so they can start new lives. But their plan goes awry when Cheol-jung betrays them, and U-min goes to prison. He becomes the scapegoat to save his friends' lives.

After serving his time, U-min wants to stay out of trouble but is drawn back into the underworld when he sees what has become of his friends: money and power-hungry Cheol-jung continues to betray others as he climbs up the gang ladder; Do-wan is a drug user; Gang-seop is missing; and his girlfriend Eun-yeong (Park Han-byul) has left him to run a bar as the boss' mistress.

As U-min tries to solve the situation, however, unfortunate twists of fate set off one misunderstanding after another. To make matters worse, the mob boss and right-hand man Yoeng-hwan get them involved in a huge drug deal. Once again thrown into a game with high stakes and big cash, the once best friends must fight one another for their lives.

source: www.koreanmovie.com/The_Fate_km605/

Gallery

Tags: Kwon Sang Woo/Song Seung Hun/Park Han Byul/korean movie/Fate

Ha Ji-won comes back with 8 billion won (US$ 8 million) project

In the midst of sighs that there are no more females in leading roles, Ha Ji-won will challenge this.

Ha Ji-won will start filming "Seven Remedies" in New Zealand in June and will be coming back from a one-year hiatus.

After "Miracle on 1st Street" last February, she only appeared in cameos in "Last Present" and "Sex Is Zero 2". Now, she will be spending the summer with "Seven Remedies".

"Seven Remedies" is about a monster that is transformed through viruses and a female character who tries to fight it.

It's drawing more attention because there are few movies with female lead roles, and those few fail to succeed. Most movies have male leads, but this one has put a female in the lead.

A representative of the production company said, "Ha Ji-won will be showing action like Angelina Jolie in 'Tomb Raider". Her fighting scene with the monster will be the highlight". He said that she received the lead role because of confidence in her.

After the filming of "Seven Remedies", she will be busy filming Director Yoon Je-kyoon's 15 billion won (US$ 15 million) project "HaeUnDae" early next year.

Original Article: news.naver.com/main/r...
English Translation Credit: Hancinema

Tags: Ha Ji won/Seven Remedies/Miracle on 1st Street/korean actress

Happiness [ Korean Movie 2007 ]

Release date : Oct 03, 2007
121min
Genre : Romance,Drama
Official Site : http://www.happiness2007.co.kr/
Main cast: Im Soo jung, Hwang Jeong min
Directed by : Heo Jin ho

Synopsis

When stricken with a terminal disease, Young-su leaves his careless high life in the city, live-in girlfriend and dwindling business. He retreats to a sanatorium in the countryside in order to treat his illness, where he meets a young woman who is a resident patient there. Soon they develop feelings for each other and leave the sanatorium together to live in a small but cozy farm house. Their health improves dramatically but when Young-su’s friends from the city come for a visit, he starts to wonder if he should abandon mundane rural village and return to his former lifestyle.

Source http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr

Gallery

Tags: Im Soo jung/korean movies/Happiness/Hwang Jeong min/Heo Jin ho