Thanks for your understanding!
CURRENT FILMS
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Masquerade
Showing posts with label helpless. Show all posts
Showing posts with label helpless. Show all posts
Monday, October 1, 2012
WKR: Masquerade and Coverage from MoMA's Yeonghwa Screenings (09/22-09/28, 2012)
Sorry for the delay for this week's Korean review round-up. I'm transitioning from on job to another, moving out of my apartment, and getting ready for Busan. On that note, there will be no weekly updates during the festival, they will be retroactively added later in October.
Thanks for your understanding!
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Thanks for your understanding!
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
The 3rd 'Yeonghwa: Korean Cinema Today' at MoMA - Preview
New York's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is kicking off its 3rd edition of Yeonghwa: Korean Cinema Today tomorrow and the event, which features an eclectic array of arthouse and commerical films until its conclusion at the end of the month. Our US correspondent Peter Gutierrez offers up his views on a trio of featured works below (Helpless, Mirage, and A Fish) while I've chimed in with my own two cents on the new Lee Sang-woo film Fire in Hell.
More reviews will appear over the coming days and anyone in NY should do their best to check out this great event. The wonderful lineup, which includes In Another Country, Blind, Pink, Stateless Things, Jesus Hospital, Poongsan, From Seoul to Varanasi and some Shin Sang-ok films, can be viewed in full by following the below link:
More reviews will appear over the coming days and anyone in NY should do their best to check out this great event. The wonderful lineup, which includes In Another Country, Blind, Pink, Stateless Things, Jesus Hospital, Poongsan, From Seoul to Varanasi and some Shin Sang-ok films, can be viewed in full by following the below link:
Friday, July 27, 2012
Friday, May 25, 2012
Weekly Review Round-up (05/19-05/25, 2012)
A bevvy of reviews this week for Hong Sang-soo's latest as it vies for the Palme d'Or at this year's Cannes Film Festival. Also a lot of great pieces on current Korean films and for Helpless which recently opened on limited in the US.
FUTURE FILMS
In Another Country - Out 03/31
The Emperor's Concubine - Out 06/06
(The Korea Times, May 22, 2012)
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Korean Box Office Update (04/06-04/08, 2012)
Hunger Games Loses Out to Architecture 101 Threepeat
| Title | Release Date | Market Share | Weekend | Total | Screens | |
| 1 | Architecture 101 | 3/22/12 | 29.00% | 454,154 | 2,332,422 | 555 |
| 2 | Hunger Games (us) | 4/5/12 | 17.30% | 273,598 | 317,191 | 511 |
| 3 | Untouchable (fr) | 3/22/12 | 13.70% | 216,085 | 1,291,048 | 343 |
| 4 | Over My Dead Body | 3/29/12 | 12.50% | 195,313 | 704,753 | 353 |
| 5 | Wrath of the Titans (us) | 3/29/12 | 10.80% | 163,299 | 836,105 | 402 |
| 6 | Titanic 3D (us) | 2/20/98 | 12.10% | 119,705 | 140,050 | 271 |
| 7 | Helpless | 3/8/12 | 1.70% | 27,076 | 2,406,861 | 163 |
| 8 | Conan (us) | 4/5/12 | 1.20% | 18,998 | 23,947 | 198 |
| 9 | Space Dog 3D (ru) | 3/22/12 | 0.30% | 4,690 | 40,910 | 41 |
| 10 | The Scent | 4/11/12 | 0.30% | 4,479 | 8,855 | 11 |
The surprise number one was Architecture 101 which claimed its third straight victory with a resounding 454,154 admissions, off a mere 20% despite heavy competition. With over 2.3 million tickets sold already, the three million mark is all but assured and if it stays competitive it will look to overtake Unbowed's 3.4 million total to become the year's third-highest grossing film.
Hunger Games just posted its third straight win at the US box office but in Korea its result was disappointing as it took only 273,598 admissions and failed to stop the streak of domestic first places finishes which now stands at 11. With a lot more big releases slated for the next few weeks don't bet on this hanging around either, it will likely take a big tumble next weekend.Staying strong at number three was the French hit Untouchable which had a very healthy 30% drop for a 216,085 weekend. It is now well over the one million mark and may have another milestone ahead of it.
Korean comedy Over My Dead Body may not have had a brilliant start but it posted a better-than-expected 195,313 in its sophomore stint as it was off only 35%. At this rate it should cross the one million mark which will certainly save it some face. Who knows, maybe word of mouth will settle in.
Wrath of the Titans followed its disappointing start with a huge 70% drop as it fell three places with its 163,299 take. However it will likely have just enough gas left in the tank to make it over the one million mark.James Cameron's 1998 megahit Titanic debuted with its 3D makeover to the tune of 119,705. This result is not as impressive as the brisk business it did in its native market this past weekend but still a decent result for a rerelease.
March hit Helpless is quickly making its way down the chart after a very strong couple of weeks. It added another 27,076 over the frame and may be gone from the chart next week. It will likely fall just short of 2.5 million but it has had a great run.
Hollywood remake Conan started its run with a disastrous 18,998. The film was a big flop when it opened last August in the US and the elapsed time as not been kind. This will probably be the film's only chart position.Russian animation Space Dog 3D slowed 60% to 4,690 as it winds up its decent run. Korean thriller The Scent opened in very limited previews for 4,479 to squeeze into number 10.
Next weekend should be interesting as two Korean films open, the aforementioned The Scent and long time in the making Kim Jee-woon and Lim Pil-sung omnibus feature Doomsday Book. Also being released will be Battleship, the Peter Berg-directed Hollywood Blockbuster based on the popular game. Battleship had a premier event in Korea with cast and crew in attendance and will likely launch the summer season (which keeps arriving earlier each year). It should take first place as I don't think either of the new Korean releases will open to huge figures. However, if it misses its chance, Architecture 101 probably won't be too far behind.
Source: kobis.or.kr
The Korean Box Office Update is a weekly feature which provides detailed analysis of film box office sales over the Friday to Sunday period in Korea. It appears every Sunday evening or Monday morning (GMT+1) on Modern Korean Cinema. For other weekly features, take a look at Korean Cinema News and the Weekly Review Round-up. Reviews and features on Korean film also appear regularly on the site.
To keep up with the best in Korean film you can sign up to our RSS Feed, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Korean Box Office Update (03/30-04/01, 2012)
Architecture 101 Weathers the Wrath of the Titans
| Title | Release Date | Market Share | Weekend | Total | Screens | |
| 1 | Architecture 101 | 3/22/12 | 29.30% | 570,915 | 1,609,046 | 579 |
| 2 | Wrath of the Titans (us) | 3/29/12 | 28.80% | 482,485 | 554,488 | 536 |
| 3 | Untouchable (fr) | 3/22/12 | 16.20% | 315,940 | 940,461 | 411 |
| 4 | Over My Dead Body | 3/29/12 | 16.20% | 312,872 | 368,065 | 433 |
| 5 | Helpless | 3/8/12 | 5.70% | 110,312 | 2,339,242 | 326 |
| 6 | This Means War (us) | 2/29/12 | 0.80% | 15,435 | 857,344 | 103 |
| 7 | John Carter (us) | 3/8/12 | 0.60% | 11,427 | 831,555 | 152 |
| 8 | Space Dogs 3D (ru) | 3/22/12 | 0.50% | 11,167 | 35,826 | 89 |
| 9 | Chronicle (us) | 3/15/12 | 0.30% | 6,761 | 381,410 | 109 |
| 10 | Nameless Gangster | 2/2/12 | 0.10% | 2,394 | 4,681,429 | 26 |
Repeating at number one was Architecture 101 which saw a slight increase to 570,915 admissions. Word of mouth seems strong for this romance pic and it could continue to play well though next weekend will be a difficult test for all the films in the marketplace. In any case it will have no trouble crossing the two million mark but looking at the similar trajectory it has had to Helpless, any further milestone is uncertain for the moment. However, while it does have to compete with Hollywood next weekend, the next major Korean release doesn't open until April 11 so this may work in its favor.
The French film Untouchable, which has been breaking all sorts of records in its native country, dropped one spot and slowed only 20% for a strong 315,940 sophomore frame. This may stick around for a little while and with similar declines it could come close to the two million mark which may be the first time a French film has done so at the Korean box office.
The major Korean opener this weekend was Over My Dead Body, the black comedy starring Ryoo Seung-beom and Lee Beom-su. It's 312,872 debut isn't bad but given how recent films have performed this picture may see an early grave. Strong word of mouth could save it but more than likely it will suffer a sharp decline along with most of the marketplace next week.
The rest of the marketplace was negligible as the bottom half of the top 10 took a combined 2.2% market share. At no. 6 This Means War dropped 70% for 15,435 and the one million milestone is now out of reach. John Carter, at no. 7, saw an 87% drop for a measly 11,427 weekend as it exits the chart. Space Dogs 3D jumped up one spot to 8 though it actually saw its business cut in half for a 11,167 frame. Chronicle took 6,761 after a 90% for no. 9. Rounding out the chart was Nameless Gangster which reappeared on the chart with 2,394.
The behemoth Hunger Games opens next week and though I am not sure exactly how it will perform in Korea it will certainly barge into first place. The only question is how big it will be, a one million opening is a distinct possibility and would dominate everything else. The next big Korean film will be The Scent which opens on the 11th but this will have some trouble ascending to first place.
Source: kobis.or.kr
The Korean Box Office Update is a weekly feature which provides detailed analysis of film box office sales over the Friday to Sunday period in Korea. It appears every Sunday evening or Monday morning (GMT+1) on Modern Korean Cinema. For other weekly features, take a look at Korean Cinema News and the Weekly Review Round-up. Reviews and features on Korean film also appear regularly on the site.
To keep up with the best in Korean film you can sign up to our RSS Feed, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Korean Box Office Update (03/23-03/25, 2012)
Architecture 101 Finds Its Way to Number 1
| Title | Release Date | Market Share | Weekend | Total | Screens | |
| 1 | Architecture 101 | 3/22/12 | 34.20% | 565,020 | 716,681 | 592 |
| 2 | Untouchable (fr) | 3/22/12 | 23.90% | 393,639 | 443,249 | 454 |
| 3 | Helpless | 3/8/12 | 20.00% | 324,520 | 2,123,853 | 473 |
| 4 | John Carter (us) | 3/8/12 | 5.00% | 82,464 | 803,745 | 258 |
| 5 | Chronicle (us) | 3/15/12 | 3.80% | 63,475 | 359,360 | 288 |
| 6 | This Means War (us) | 2/29/12 | 3.10% | 49,381 | 824,206 | 173 |
| 7 | Russian Coffee | 3/15/12 | 1.90% | 32,084 | 253,711 | 256 |
| 8 | Contraband (us) | 3/22/12 | 1.90% | 30,446 | 37,360 | 179 |
| 9 | Space Dogs 3D (ru) | 3/22/12 | 1.20% | 22,781 | 23,323 | 148 |
| 10 | The Vow (us) | 3/14/12 | 1.40% | 21,712 | 227,764 | 210 |
The new number one this week was the cross-generational romance film Architecture 101, from Lee Yong-ju, the director of the excellent K-horror Possessed (2009). The film took in 565,020 admissions this past weekend and a commanding one third of the total marketplace. Reviews are good so it may stick around but then again that's been the case for most of the recent spat of Korean films so it's hard to predict how this will continue down the line. It will also have a fresh local release to contend with in a few days time.
The surprise opener at number two was the French movie Untouchable, a remarkable little film that has become the most successful in that territory of the past few years. It's 393,639 haul is enormous for a non-US/Korean release although I was told that the marketing push for it was significant. This film has quickly been winning over audiences all around the world so it may catch on here and a week-on-week increase is not out of the question.
Dropping two spots was Helpless as it took a further 324,520 tickets in its third week. It has cleared the two million mark and will now be hoping to take down three before long. I imagine it has a good chance at this but given the last few months, where a number of successful films have suddenly faded away quickly, it will have to remain stable for a few more weeks to secure the milestone.John Carter dropped one spot but nearly 60% for a 82,464 weekend. Disney has already accepted defeat on this picture as it was announced that they were writing it down to the tune of $200 million earlier this week.
In its sophomore week, Chronicle receded a hefty 70% for a poor 63,475. The high concept picture could still land just north of the half million mark but that's not much to write home about.
This Means War, now in its fourth week, actually went up one spot event though it lost 40% of its business. Its 49,381 weekend brings its total to a respectable 824,206.
After a dismal opening Russian Coffee has crumbled. It was off nearly 80% for a 32,084 take and now the $5 million picture will likely end up with less than 350,000 admissions.Mark Whalberg's new action/thriller Contraband was a no-show as it debuted at number eight with a puny 30,446 tickets. Meanwhile Russian animation Space Dogs 3D made little impact at number nine with its 22,781 start. Rounding out the top 10 was the second week of The Vow which tumbled 80% after an already poor opening for a 21,712 frame.
The Ryoo Seung-beom and Lee Beom-su black comedy Over My Dead Body opens next week and stands a good chance of taking over the top spot, though Architecture 101 could hold it or Untouchable might sneak in and grab it. Another contender is Wrath of the Titans which follows Clash of the Titans, a sizable hit in Korea during 2010. I don't think that this one will go over as well but it may still be enough. Should be interesting to see which of these four take next week's crown!
Source: kobis.or.kr
The Korean Box Office Update is a weekly feature which provides detailed analysis of film box office sales over the Friday to Sunday period in Korea. It appears every Sunday evening or Monday morning (GMT+1) on Modern Korean Cinema. For other weekly features, take a look at Korean Cinema News and the Weekly Review Round-up. Reviews and features on Korean film also appear regularly on the site.
To keep up with the best in Korean film you can sign up to our RSS Feed, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Korean Cinema News (03/15-03/21, 2012)
Lots of big sales at the HK Film Market and some interesting casting news. Also many new trailers and posters this week, including one for the hotly anticipated As One.
'Movie Director' Park Joong-hoon is Now a Writer Too
Lost’s Yunjin Kim Gets A Lead In ABC’s Mistresses
Lost alumna Yunjin Kim has landed a lead opposite Rochelle Aytes and Jes Macallan in Mistresses, ABC’s drama recently greenlighted straight to series for a summer 2013 launch. The soap, written by KJ Steinberg and based on the British format, is described as a provocative drama about four women — three of them played by Kim, Aytes and Macallan — with scandalous romantic lives, caught in storms of excitement and self-discovery, secrecy and betrayal. (Deadline Hollywood, March 16, 2012)
Buyers Run Off With Showbox's Thieves
The Thieves, a big-budget heist movie, has been a strong seller for integrated South Korean film giant Showbox/Mediaplex Inc. The company has pre-sold the film to Dream Movie Entertainment Overseas Ltd for Singapore and Malaysia, Queen International Pictures Pte Ltd for Indonesia and Catchplay Inc for Taiwan. (Film Business Asia, March 18, 2012)
Start Date Set and The Host Stars join Bong Joon-ho’s Snow Piercer
A-list director Bong Joon-ho (Mother, 2009) is bringing back a couple of stars from one of his biggest hits, The Host (2006), for his newest project, Snow Piercer, which sounds like quite the large-scale sci-fi/thriller/action venture. In it, Go Ah-sung (God of Study) and Song Kang-ho team up to play a father-daughter duo, as they did six years ago in The Host. The film is set to begin shooting on March 26 and expected to run through to July 1. (dramabeans, March 19, 2012)
Heartthrob Determined to Go Beyond His Image
More than a decade into his career, Joo Jin-mo, 37, is still considered one of the best-looking faces in Korean cinema. He is also a victim of that image, however, incarnating one virile leading man after another. Even in his newest film Gabi that opens today, he plays that tough-guy role again. (The Korea Times, March 13, 2012)
Eungyo
Mother
The Scent
Korean Cinema News is a weekly feature which provides wide-ranging news coverage on Korean cinema, including but not limited to: features; festival news; interviews; industry news; trailers; posters; and box office. It appears every Wednesday morning (GMT+1) on Modern Korean Cinema. For other weekly features, take a look at the Korean Box Office Update and the Weekly Review Round-up. Reviews and features on Korean film also appear regularly on the site.
To keep up with the best in Korean film you can sign up to our RSS Feed, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.
KOREAN CINEMA NEWS
Park Joong-hoon is currently writing the scenario for his director-debut movie with a professional writer. He has been officially announcing his debut as a director and the preparation process on his Twitter regularly. He said on his Twitter, "I have officially started filming. I will put my heart into it". Previously, he revealed that he was working with a professional writer on the scenario and truthfully revealed the pain and joy in writing out the story. (hancinema.net, March 14, 20120
Early Works Return to Life at Korean Film Archive
Moviegoers today are accustomed to glossy, high-definition images that indiscriminately reveal slight skin blemishes of actors known for flawless complexions. Bass-heavy, surround-sound audio has also become the norm. (The Korea Times, March 15, 2012)
Jane Birkin Wants to Work with Director Hong Sang-soo
French actress and singer Jane Birkin talked to Yonhap News ahead of her Korean concert at AX-Korea on March 22. During the email interview, the chanteuse wondered if she was too old to give acting a go in Korea. “There’s always a bit of a risk when you start something new, but I think working on a Korean movie would be worth it. The question is though, would Hong Sang-soo want to hire me?” joked Birkin. (Joong Ang Daily, March 16, 2012)
Early Works Return to Life at Korean Film Archive
Moviegoers today are accustomed to glossy, high-definition images that indiscriminately reveal slight skin blemishes of actors known for flawless complexions. Bass-heavy, surround-sound audio has also become the norm. (The Korea Times, March 15, 2012)
French actress and singer Jane Birkin talked to Yonhap News ahead of her Korean concert at AX-Korea on March 22. During the email interview, the chanteuse wondered if she was too old to give acting a go in Korea. “There’s always a bit of a risk when you start something new, but I think working on a Korean movie would be worth it. The question is though, would Hong Sang-soo want to hire me?” joked Birkin. (Joong Ang Daily, March 16, 2012)
Lost alumna Yunjin Kim has landed a lead opposite Rochelle Aytes and Jes Macallan in Mistresses, ABC’s drama recently greenlighted straight to series for a summer 2013 launch. The soap, written by KJ Steinberg and based on the British format, is described as a provocative drama about four women — three of them played by Kim, Aytes and Macallan — with scandalous romantic lives, caught in storms of excitement and self-discovery, secrecy and betrayal. (Deadline Hollywood, March 16, 2012)
The Thieves, a big-budget heist movie, has been a strong seller for integrated South Korean film giant Showbox/Mediaplex Inc. The company has pre-sold the film to Dream Movie Entertainment Overseas Ltd for Singapore and Malaysia, Queen International Pictures Pte Ltd for Indonesia and Catchplay Inc for Taiwan. (Film Business Asia, March 18, 2012)
KOFIC Eyes Global Market at H.K. FILMART
Korean Film Council (KOFIC) announced on Monday that it is currently participating in Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART), to promote local films worldwide and launch more foreign projects in Korea. The Hong Kong-based event, which kicked off Monday and runs through Thursday, is considered one of the biggest film markets in Asia. KOFIC said they will have their own lounge, titled “Korean Film Center,” during the event. (The Korea Herald, March 19, 2012)
Korean Film Council (KOFIC) announced on Monday that it is currently participating in Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART), to promote local films worldwide and launch more foreign projects in Korea. The Hong Kong-based event, which kicked off Monday and runs through Thursday, is considered one of the biggest film markets in Asia. KOFIC said they will have their own lounge, titled “Korean Film Center,” during the event. (The Korea Herald, March 19, 2012)
A-list director Bong Joon-ho (Mother, 2009) is bringing back a couple of stars from one of his biggest hits, The Host (2006), for his newest project, Snow Piercer, which sounds like quite the large-scale sci-fi/thriller/action venture. In it, Go Ah-sung (God of Study) and Song Kang-ho team up to play a father-daughter duo, as they did six years ago in The Host. The film is set to begin shooting on March 26 and expected to run through to July 1. (dramabeans, March 19, 2012)
5 Points to Do Right by CJ
US-based Asian entertainment group Right Stuf Inc has struck a deal to handle seven titles from South Korea's CJ Entertainment Inc in North American home entertainment markets. Titles include Bleak Night (2010), Finding Mr Destiny (2010), Moss (2010), Penny Pinchers, Punch, The Suicide Forecast and Tazza: The High Rollers (2006). (Film Business Asia, March 19, 2012)
Will Park Chan-wook Go to Cannes With Nicole Kidman?
Will director Park Chan-wook step on the red carpet at Cannes with Hollywood actress Nicole Kidman? Director Park Chan-wook's Hollywood project Stalker is likely to be submitted in the 65th Cannes International Film Festival that is opening on the 16th of May. Recent Hollywood reports and movie expert media have been looking positively at the possibilities of Stalker entering Cannes, along with the coming together of a Korean director and famous Hollywood actress. (hancinema.net, March 20, 2012)
US-based Asian entertainment group Right Stuf Inc has struck a deal to handle seven titles from South Korea's CJ Entertainment Inc in North American home entertainment markets. Titles include Bleak Night (2010), Finding Mr Destiny (2010), Moss (2010), Penny Pinchers, Punch, The Suicide Forecast and Tazza: The High Rollers (2006). (Film Business Asia, March 19, 2012)
Will director Park Chan-wook step on the red carpet at Cannes with Hollywood actress Nicole Kidman? Director Park Chan-wook's Hollywood project Stalker is likely to be submitted in the 65th Cannes International Film Festival that is opening on the 16th of May. Recent Hollywood reports and movie expert media have been looking positively at the possibilities of Stalker entering Cannes, along with the coming together of a Korean director and famous Hollywood actress. (hancinema.net, March 20, 2012)
INTERVIEW
More than a decade into his career, Joo Jin-mo, 37, is still considered one of the best-looking faces in Korean cinema. He is also a victim of that image, however, incarnating one virile leading man after another. Even in his newest film Gabi that opens today, he plays that tough-guy role again. (The Korea Times, March 13, 2012)
TRAILERS
As One (via Naver)Eungyo
Mother
The Scent
POSTERS
Doomsday Book
Eungyo
Mother
The Scent
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The Thieves
Doomsday Book
Eungyo
Mother
The Scent
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The Thieves
BOX OFFICE
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Sunday, March 18, 2012
Korean Box Office Update (03/16-03/18, 2012)
Helpless Repeats at the Expense of Russian Coffee
| Title | Release Date | Market Share | Weekend | Total | Screens | |
| 1 | Helpless | 3/8/12 | 36.20% | 561,323 | 1,567,211 | 521 |
| 2 | Chronicle (us) | 3/15/12 | 13.10% | 205,425 | 241,290 | 324 |
| 3 | John Carter (us) | 3/8/12 | 12.50% | 179,449 | 679,630 | 355 |
| 4 | Russian Coffee | 3/15/12 | 8.70% | 139,594 | 170,103 | 339 |
| 5 | The Vow (us) | 3/14/12 | 7.10% | 110,159 | 165,079 | 314 |
| 6 | Love Fiction | 2/29/12 | 5.80% | 89,658 | 1,653,853 | 309 |
| 7 | This Means War (us) | 2/29/12 | 5.30% | 81,900 | 730,029 | 231 |
| 8 | Introduction to Architecture | 3/22/12 | 4.30% | 64,960 | 80,900 | 282 |
| 9 | Nameless Gangster | 2/2/12 | 2.30% | 35,814 | 4,646,361 | 210 |
| 10 | Seeking Justice (us) | 3/15/12 | 1.60% | 24,397 | 29,294 | 142 |
Top of the pile is the sophomore stint of Helpless which raged on with another 561,323 admissions, a huge weekend that was off a minuscule 7%. Clearly word of mouth has caught on for this thriller and it may be another early hit for 2012. It will cross two million admissions before long and unless it suffers a big drop, three million should come along soon after.
The expensive period action drama Russian Coffee, starring Joo Jin-mo, Kim Yo-seon and Park Hee-soon was a no-go as it opened in fourth place with a meagre 139,594. The continued success of Helpless most likely contributed to its disappointing performance but more than that the film presented an awkward image in its marketing and couldn't hope to match the diverse and popular local offerings of the past two months. I don't expect things to get any better for the film further down the line and it may vanish altogether within a fortnight.
Love Fiction dropped three spots and lost almost two thirds of its business as it sold another 89,658 tickets. Last week I said it wouldn't have much trouble crossing two million admissions but now I'm not so sure as it looks to be fading fast.
US action romcom This Means War slowed about 45% for 81,900 in its third weekend. Though it will likely fall short, it does stand a chance of crossing the one million threshold.
Nameless Gangster slipped 60% to 35,814 and will likely fall out the top 10 altogether next week. It won't hit five million but with 4.6 million and counting, it is already by far and away the year's biggest hit.
Rounding out the chart was the new Nicholas Cage revenge pic Seeking Justice as it sold a paltry 24,397 tickets in its opening weekend. I imagine that this will be the last time we hear about it.
Introduction to Architecture goes wide next weekend and should do strong business but I wouldn't be surprised if it can't muster enough to stand up to Helpless. Mark Whalberg action-thriller Contraband will also be opening but will likely be playing third fiddle to the aforementioned Korean duo.
Source: kobis.or.kr
The Korean Box Office Update is a weekly feature which provides detailed analysis of film box office sales over the Friday to Sunday period in Korea. It appears every Sunday evening or Monday morning (GMT+1) on Modern Korean Cinema. For other weekly features, take a look at Korean Cinema News and the Weekly Review Round-up. Reviews and features on Korean film also appear regularly on the site.
To keep up with the best in Korean film you can sign up to our RSS Feed, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Korean Cinema News (03/08-03/14, 2012)
Lots of interesting news this week, including reports of a Korean director being fired from a Chinese produciton, numerous great interviews, a new Lee Hae-jun (Castaway on the Moon) film, and the great fortunes of the Korean box office. Loads more trailers, posters and other tidbits to boot.
But first, the final round-up of the Korean Cinema Blogathon which was an enormous success and accumulated almost 200 posts. A treasure trove of Korean cinema content!
Mixed Reaction for Fox’s Foray Into Local Market
Following Fox International Productions’ announcement of its foray into the Korean film market as a distributor and investor last month, there are mixed reactions here to the possible changes to be brought to the scene. An international production umbrella unit of America’s major film production house Fox Filmed Entertainment, FIP produces and distributes local language films around the globe. (The Korea Herald, March 6, 2012)
Kanryu Currents in Japan, Past and Present
Tokyo-based journalist, translator and filmmaker Jason Gray examines the ebb and flow of the Korean Wave (Kanryu in Japanese) in Japan over the past ten years, pinpointing the highs and lows. (Korean Cinema Today, March 6, 2012)
Why Can't Korean Films Ever Break Into the Academy Awards?
On February 27, The Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film went to an Iranian film, A Separation. The Academy Awards started giving out Best Foreign Language Film awards in 1956. South Korea has been submitting films for nomination every year since 1963. Korea's first submission was Mother and the Houseguest by director Shin Sang Ok. However, Korea has been unlucky all those years as no Korean films have ever been a final nominee for the Academy awards. (soompi.com, March 7, 2012)
Cha Tae-hyeon Attempts at Historical Gone With the Wind
Cha Tae-hyeon has completed 5 months or so of making the movie The Grand Heist, the film will be released within the year. The Grand Heist is the story of thieves who get together to plot and break into an ice storeroom in the Chosun times. The cast of this movie includes: Cheon Bo-geun, Kim Hyang-ki, Min Hyo-rin, Lee Chae-yeong, Oh Ji-ho, Seong Dong-il, Ko Chang-seok and more. (hancinema.com/daum.net, March 8, 2012)
New Lee Hae-jun, Jeon Soo-il and Kim Baek-jun projects get Financing in Hong Kong
Carrying on a tradition that includes directors such as Bong Joon-ho, Park Chan-wook and Im Sang-soo, this year three Korean projects will be participating in the 10th Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF). The three Korean projects - Jeon Soo-il’s Another Country, Kim Baek-jun’s Monsters and Lee Hae-jun’s My Dictator, will be at HAF looking for co-producers, financiers, sales agents and pre-sales. (Korean Cinema Today, March 8, 2012)
Kwak Jae-yong Fired From Yang Gui Fei
The film production team of Yang Gui Fei has fired South Korean director Kwak Jae-yong (My Sassy Girl, 2001), confirming earlier media speculation about his departure during the filming of the historical drama, Sina Entertainment reports. (china.org.cn, March 9, 2012)
Korean Film The Man From Nowhere To Get American Remake
Remaking foreign films for the American market is no new dance, and it continues with the announcement by Dimension Films that they will be remaking the South Korean hit The Man From Nowhere (2010). The movie tells the story of a quiet, reclusive pawn shop owner with a dark, painful past. (Geeks of Doom, March 10, 2012)
Korean Indie Films Beckon Fans
Local independent cinema has not seen many blockbuster hits like 2009’s Old Partner lately but smaller films have slowly yet surely been receiving wider exposure. This month sees a particularly strong lineup of low-budget movies in theaters across the country, including international film fest-verified pictures. Indie flick enthusiasts and moviegoers looking for alternatives to mainstream fare can appreciate this genre, not only in local arthouses, but also at larger venues. (The Korea Times, March 12, 2012)
Out of Jail, Ex-Professor and His Crossbow Fight South Korea’s Judiciary
On Monday, Kim Myung-ho, holding his book, revisited the scene of the 2007 crossbow shooting that landed him in prison: the judge’s apartment building. Judge Park Hong-woo emerged from the elevator, and the two shared eye contact for a second. Mr. Kim’s outrage has resonated with South Koreans, with a movie about his dispute with the South Korean judicial system selling more than 3.5 million tickets since it was released in January. (The New York Times, March 12, 2012)
Silent Film Narrator Returns to Modern Stage
What would it have been like to watch a silent film with live narration and music? Today’s moviegoers were given an opportunity to watch Korea’s oldest surviving silent film, Crossroads of Youth, last week, accompanied by live music and narration – all in the 1930s style. Just like the “silent era” in the 20s and 30s, they saw and heard a “byeonsa” – Korean term for silent-film narrator – “performing” each and every action of the histrionic piece first released in 1934. (The Korea Herald, March 12, 2012)
Emma Watson Picks a Korean Film Among Her Favorites
Harry Potter actress Emma Watson recently named a 2008 Korean film as one of her favorite movies. According to reports from local news agencies, the actress best known for playing Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films picked Breathless as one of her favorites in an interview with Vogue Magazine. (soompi.com, March 13, 2012)
Tribeca Film Festival Takes Planet of Snail
The 8th Tribeca Film Festival has announced its upcoming selection to include South Korean director Yi Seung-jun’s Planet of Snail, a documentary about a deaf and blind man, his wife with a spinal disability, and their unique story. Planet of Snail has been selected to Tribeca’s World Documentary Feature Competition. The film will be making its North American premiere there. The festival will be held in New York City, April 18 – 29, 2012. (KoBiZ, March 14, 2012)
Finecut Dials Up Love 911
Seoul-based sales company Finecut has announced it will be selling the upcoming film Love 911 starting at the Hong Kong Filmart next week. Starring Ko Soo and Han Hyo-joo, the film is about an unlikely romance between a dedicated firefighter with a painful past and a cold-hearted emergency room (ER) doctor who is solely focused on her career. (KoBiZ, March 14, 2012)
Kang Woo-suk Returns with Legend Punch
Director Kang Woo-suk is prepping a new film, his first since last year's GLove. Legend Punch is based on a webcomic and follows a man who enters a reality fighting show. Him and other conttestants vie for the 20 million won prize. Filming is scheduled to commence in July and this likely means that the next installment in the Public Enemy franchise will be delayed until 2014 unless Kang hands the reigns of the franchise to someone else. In any case Sol Kyeong-gu is busy shooting Lee Myung-se's new film Mister K. (Asian Wiki, March 2012)
INTERVIEWS
Planet of Snail Director Yi Seung-jun
Top prize winner at the 24th International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), director Yi Seung-jun’s Planet of Snail is a documentary about deaf and blind husband Cho Young-chan and his wife Kim Soon-ho, who has a spinal impediment. The film will soon be screened at the Tribeca Film Festival and head of its March 22 release in Korea, Kim Seong-hoon met with Yi to talk about Planet of Snail for Korean Cinema Today (KCT). (Korean Cinema Today, March 7, 2012)
HAF Feature Interview with Lee Hae-jun, My Dictator
Set to participate in the 10th Hong Kong – Asian Film Financing Forum (HAF), director Lee Hae-jun’s My Dictator is about three dictators. One is Park Chung-hee in the South and the other is Kim Il-sung in the North – the two dictators who ruled the split Korean peninsula in the 1970s; the other dictator is a father and the main character of this film. Lee's previous film was Castaway on the Moon (2009). (Korean Cinema Today, March 8, 2012)
HAF Feature Interview with Jeon Soo-il, Another Country
Director Jeon Soo-il is due to participate in the upcoming Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) with the project Another Country. At the time of writing, he was shooting his latest film El Condor Pasa in Busan and Peru. Another Country will be his next film after El Condor Pasa. Produced by Dongnyuk Film, Jeon’s Another Country has a budget of KW1 billion (US$889,000), with plans for half of that to come from Korea and half from a foreign partner. (Korean Cinema Today, March 8, 2012)
HAF Feature Interview with Kim Baek-jun, Monsters
Director Kim Baek-jun (born in 1970) is preparing his third film Monsters with production company JK Film (Haeundae). The project’s budget is set at about KW 800 million (US$711,000). He made his directorial debut with My Dear Diary, which was invited to the Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) competition. Monsters will be taking part in the 10th Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) this month. (Korean Cinema Today, March 8, 2012)
Home Sweet Home
My Way
The Scent
Korean Cinema News is a weekly feature which provides wide-ranging news coverage on Korean cinema, including but not limited to: features; festival news; interviews; industry news; trailers; posters; and box office. It appears every Wednesday morning (GMT+1) on Modern Korean Cinema. For other weekly features, take a look at the Korean Box Office Update and the Weekly Review Round-up. Reviews and features on Korean film also appear regularly on the site.
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KOREAN CINEMA NEWS
Mixed Reaction for Fox’s Foray Into Local Market
Following Fox International Productions’ announcement of its foray into the Korean film market as a distributor and investor last month, there are mixed reactions here to the possible changes to be brought to the scene. An international production umbrella unit of America’s major film production house Fox Filmed Entertainment, FIP produces and distributes local language films around the globe. (The Korea Herald, March 6, 2012)
Tokyo-based journalist, translator and filmmaker Jason Gray examines the ebb and flow of the Korean Wave (Kanryu in Japanese) in Japan over the past ten years, pinpointing the highs and lows. (Korean Cinema Today, March 6, 2012)
On February 27, The Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film went to an Iranian film, A Separation. The Academy Awards started giving out Best Foreign Language Film awards in 1956. South Korea has been submitting films for nomination every year since 1963. Korea's first submission was Mother and the Houseguest by director Shin Sang Ok. However, Korea has been unlucky all those years as no Korean films have ever been a final nominee for the Academy awards. (soompi.com, March 7, 2012)
Cha Tae-hyeon has completed 5 months or so of making the movie The Grand Heist, the film will be released within the year. The Grand Heist is the story of thieves who get together to plot and break into an ice storeroom in the Chosun times. The cast of this movie includes: Cheon Bo-geun, Kim Hyang-ki, Min Hyo-rin, Lee Chae-yeong, Oh Ji-ho, Seong Dong-il, Ko Chang-seok and more. (hancinema.com/daum.net, March 8, 2012)
Carrying on a tradition that includes directors such as Bong Joon-ho, Park Chan-wook and Im Sang-soo, this year three Korean projects will be participating in the 10th Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF). The three Korean projects - Jeon Soo-il’s Another Country, Kim Baek-jun’s Monsters and Lee Hae-jun’s My Dictator, will be at HAF looking for co-producers, financiers, sales agents and pre-sales. (Korean Cinema Today, March 8, 2012)
Kwak Jae-yong Fired From Yang Gui Fei
The film production team of Yang Gui Fei has fired South Korean director Kwak Jae-yong (My Sassy Girl, 2001), confirming earlier media speculation about his departure during the filming of the historical drama, Sina Entertainment reports. (china.org.cn, March 9, 2012)
Remaking foreign films for the American market is no new dance, and it continues with the announcement by Dimension Films that they will be remaking the South Korean hit The Man From Nowhere (2010). The movie tells the story of a quiet, reclusive pawn shop owner with a dark, painful past. (Geeks of Doom, March 10, 2012)
Korean Indie Films Beckon Fans
Local independent cinema has not seen many blockbuster hits like 2009’s Old Partner lately but smaller films have slowly yet surely been receiving wider exposure. This month sees a particularly strong lineup of low-budget movies in theaters across the country, including international film fest-verified pictures. Indie flick enthusiasts and moviegoers looking for alternatives to mainstream fare can appreciate this genre, not only in local arthouses, but also at larger venues. (The Korea Times, March 12, 2012)
On Monday, Kim Myung-ho, holding his book, revisited the scene of the 2007 crossbow shooting that landed him in prison: the judge’s apartment building. Judge Park Hong-woo emerged from the elevator, and the two shared eye contact for a second. Mr. Kim’s outrage has resonated with South Koreans, with a movie about his dispute with the South Korean judicial system selling more than 3.5 million tickets since it was released in January. (The New York Times, March 12, 2012)
What would it have been like to watch a silent film with live narration and music? Today’s moviegoers were given an opportunity to watch Korea’s oldest surviving silent film, Crossroads of Youth, last week, accompanied by live music and narration – all in the 1930s style. Just like the “silent era” in the 20s and 30s, they saw and heard a “byeonsa” – Korean term for silent-film narrator – “performing” each and every action of the histrionic piece first released in 1934. (The Korea Herald, March 12, 2012)
Harry Potter actress Emma Watson recently named a 2008 Korean film as one of her favorite movies. According to reports from local news agencies, the actress best known for playing Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films picked Breathless as one of her favorites in an interview with Vogue Magazine. (soompi.com, March 13, 2012)
The 8th Tribeca Film Festival has announced its upcoming selection to include South Korean director Yi Seung-jun’s Planet of Snail, a documentary about a deaf and blind man, his wife with a spinal disability, and their unique story. Planet of Snail has been selected to Tribeca’s World Documentary Feature Competition. The film will be making its North American premiere there. The festival will be held in New York City, April 18 – 29, 2012. (KoBiZ, March 14, 2012)
Seoul-based sales company Finecut has announced it will be selling the upcoming film Love 911 starting at the Hong Kong Filmart next week. Starring Ko Soo and Han Hyo-joo, the film is about an unlikely romance between a dedicated firefighter with a painful past and a cold-hearted emergency room (ER) doctor who is solely focused on her career. (KoBiZ, March 14, 2012)
Kang Woo-suk Returns with Legend Punch
Director Kang Woo-suk is prepping a new film, his first since last year's GLove. Legend Punch is based on a webcomic and follows a man who enters a reality fighting show. Him and other conttestants vie for the 20 million won prize. Filming is scheduled to commence in July and this likely means that the next installment in the Public Enemy franchise will be delayed until 2014 unless Kang hands the reigns of the franchise to someone else. In any case Sol Kyeong-gu is busy shooting Lee Myung-se's new film Mister K. (Asian Wiki, March 2012)
INTERVIEWS
Top prize winner at the 24th International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), director Yi Seung-jun’s Planet of Snail is a documentary about deaf and blind husband Cho Young-chan and his wife Kim Soon-ho, who has a spinal impediment. The film will soon be screened at the Tribeca Film Festival and head of its March 22 release in Korea, Kim Seong-hoon met with Yi to talk about Planet of Snail for Korean Cinema Today (KCT). (Korean Cinema Today, March 7, 2012)
Set to participate in the 10th Hong Kong – Asian Film Financing Forum (HAF), director Lee Hae-jun’s My Dictator is about three dictators. One is Park Chung-hee in the South and the other is Kim Il-sung in the North – the two dictators who ruled the split Korean peninsula in the 1970s; the other dictator is a father and the main character of this film. Lee's previous film was Castaway on the Moon (2009). (Korean Cinema Today, March 8, 2012)
Director Jeon Soo-il is due to participate in the upcoming Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) with the project Another Country. At the time of writing, he was shooting his latest film El Condor Pasa in Busan and Peru. Another Country will be his next film after El Condor Pasa. Produced by Dongnyuk Film, Jeon’s Another Country has a budget of KW1 billion (US$889,000), with plans for half of that to come from Korea and half from a foreign partner. (Korean Cinema Today, March 8, 2012)
Director Kim Baek-jun (born in 1970) is preparing his third film Monsters with production company JK Film (Haeundae). The project’s budget is set at about KW 800 million (US$711,000). He made his directorial debut with My Dear Diary, which was invited to the Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) competition. Monsters will be taking part in the 10th Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) this month. (Korean Cinema Today, March 8, 2012)
TRAILERS
Home Sweet Home
My Way
The Scent
(Modern Korean Cinema, March 11, 2012)
Domestic movies dominated the South Korean box office last month. The Korean Film Council said domestically produced films captured a 75-point-nine percent market share in February, up 26-point-four percentage points from 49-point-five percent in January. (KBS, March 7, 2012)
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