News Archive.
This is the news I have collected since I began the website. If you have the time, please have a look.
The Host sells out at Vancouver
Is anyone going to talk about anything else? Well, I will try to, but it keeps popping up.
It
probably won't come as a surprise to you that all the screenings that
were screened during the weekend and the final screening tomorrow (tues
3 October) has SOLD OUT.
"The daily Vancouver Sun introduced
"The Host" as one of 10 "must-see" films of this year's festival,
saying it contained a critique of U.S. diplomatic policy and
environmental problems within the framework of a slick horror film.
Other critics praised Bong for lifting the movie out of the horror/action genre with its humor-coated social messages."
It goes on release in the UK on November 10.
Source: Yonap News
Release Dates for The Host.
There appears to be some clarification regarding when The Host is going to be released in Europe (including the UK) and the U.S.
It
will be released in the UK by Optimum Releasing on November 10. It will
then be released in France and Spain on November 22. Unfortunately
for American residents, The Host won't be hitting the U.S shores until January 26 2007.
It
was released in Japan on 2 September, Thailand and Singapore on
September 7, Hong Kong on September 14 and Taiwan and Malaysia on
September 15.
As you can see below it didn't perform well in
Japan, though it made it to No.2 on its opening week in Singapore. I am
still waiting to hear about the remaining territories.
Source: Screen International (Issue No. 1563)
The Host flops in Japan
I didn't think I would ever have to write this, but following a very disappointing opening weekend, it appears that The Host has failed to ignite in Korea's neighbour Japan. Last weekend it generated $621,738 comparred to its No.1 hit, Tales from Earthsea, which made $1.7 million on its 6th week of release.
It
seems that the main reason for this is the fact that it was only been
released on 215 screens, which is a third of the screens used when it
was released in Korea. But you can't expect it to be released on over
600 screens. That said, however, although Tales From Earthsea was screened on 435 screens, Miami Vice
on the other hand was opened on 291 screens last weekend. Yet it took
just under $1.7 million, which is just short of the domestic hit.
Incedently, Tales From Earthsea was released in Korea on August 11th, shortly after its domestic release and ironically, like The Host it
failed to gather a real momentum with a $600,000 opening weekend. I
might be going out on a limb here, but is there any chance the poor
releases are somewhat connected?
It is also worth mentioning the
Japanese box office is over a two day period, whereas in Korea it is
over a 3-day weekend, which will inevitably mean the weekend totals
will naturally be higher in Korea.
Nevertheless, it is very
disappointing, but it just goes to show although a film might make
history on home soil, foreign territory is a very different story. It
wil be interesting to see how its release in Europe and the North
America pans out.
You can see my review here and you can also see the film at the Firecracker film Festival in London on Friday 22nd September, click here for more details.
Is Kim Ki-duk finished?
Some of you may know about the controversy Kim Ki-duk has stirred following an interview where he is quoted as saying, "The
Host” as the apex where the level of Korean movies meets the level of
Korean audiences” and that this was both positive and negative"
Source: Chosun
He also goes on to say;
모
두 감추고 싶어 하는 치부를 과장해 드러내는 저 자신의 영화가 너무 한심하고 사람들에게 불안한 미래와 사회에 불신을 조장한 것이
너무도 죄스럽고 맛있게 먹은 음식이지만 똥이 되어 나올 때 그 똥을 피하려는 사람들의 마음을 미처 이해해지 못하고 영화를 만들어
온 지난 시간이 너무 부끄럽고 후회스럽습니다.
(My movies are lamentable for
uncovering the genitals that everyone wants to hide; I am guilty for
contributing only incredulity to an unstable future and society; and
I’m embarassed and regretful for having wasted time making movies
without understanding the feelings of those who wish to avoid excrement
though they have eaten well.)
저야말로 한국사회에서 기형적으로 돌출해 열등감을 먹고
자란 괴물임을 알았읍니다 (I’ve realized that I myself am a monster in Korean
society, grown by feeding on an inferiority complex.)
He then
caved into the pressure and announced, '늦었지만 이제라도 한국 관객의 진심을 깨닫고 조용히 한국
영화계에서 물러날 수 있다는 것이 다행이라 생각합니다 (Though late, I think it’s fortunate that
I’ve come to understand the intents of the Korean public and can
withdraw from the Korean movie industry.)
Source: londonkoreanlinks.net.
There
is a great deal of debate surrounding what he said he is subsequent
announcment to retire from the Korean film industry. The concensus does
suggest he was in the wrong for what he said, but I personally think
making a withdrawal is a little drastic.
I am not Korean, so I
can't fully understand what he said. The English translation obviously
suggests his films are more superior intellectually and therefore
implying the Korean minds are somewhat limited. Clearly I don't agree
with what he saying and my review of The Host suggests how the film is quite the opposite.
But
I would of liked to see how the interview was constructed and what he
was asked. Perhaps this would give the statement a little more context.
I do think people have jumped the gun here and have judged Kim very
harshly.
He is not everyone's taste. Meeyeon and most of my
Korean family and friends have great resevations about him, but he has
to be congratulated at least in part for capturing global audiences.
For audiences in the U.K, like Park Chan-wook he delivered a
masterpiece people have come to love, Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring, which arguably put Korean films on the scene.
U.K release date for The Host.
Although
it was scheduled for a release next month, I have now heard it has been
moved back to November. If you are desperate to see it, firecracker have a screening on 22nd September.
You can also see my review of the film.
Have you had enough of the Host?
Well, I hope not because It has broken another record, click here more info
President's Last Bang (그때 그사람들) can now been seen in its entirety, or at least there is no law preventing the film from being shown in full.
Last
year the film that explores the events surrounding the assassination of
Park Chung-hee was prohibited from screening 3mins 50 secs since Park
heirs took MK Pictures to court. They demanded an out-right ban of the
film, but the courts only agreed on a edited version which saw a black
screen and music put in place of the ommited sceens.
Although this decision runs in favour of MK Pictures, “We have no plans at the moment to re-release the film in its original form, or add footage in DVDs.” But, who knows, they may change their minds.
This may also have implications for further controversial films that are to be made in Korea. For years the Korean poliical system has been subjected to corruption and in effect doesn't enjoy the democracy we enjoy in the West. Some may disagree with this assumption, but there is no doubt that the film industry in the West has more flexibility and freedom than Korea has. This is changing, whiich is illustarted in this case, which only has to been good news for those who wish to challenge political opinions deep rooted in Korean society.
Source: ScreenDaily (Jean Noh) Subscription required.
Well suprise, surprise, The Host has gone on to break the all time record for the opening day of a film, previoulsy held by Taegugki. Yesterday it took 449,500, which is massive seeing Taegugki took 324,000 in 2004. With advanced bookings included the number of tickets sold would be 600,000.
Remember the film will be screened in Edinburgh and London next month. Please click here
for more details.
Source: Yahoo (Korean)
Daum (Korean) and Twitch.net
King and the Clown is all dancing at the Korean film awards, Grand Bell (대종상영화제 )
It is hardly surprising that the most successful Korean film of all time went on to take sven awards out of the 15 nominations at the 43rd Grand Bell Awards on Friday 21st July. The awards included best film, best director and best leading actor for Gam Woo-sung.
Lee Joon-ki who played opposite Gam Woo-Sung won the new actor award in addition to the overseas popularity awards.
The leading actress award fell to Jeon Do-yean, who played the AIDS victim in Park Jin-Pyo's You Are My Sunshine, based on a true love story.
Regarded as Korea's equivilent to the Academy Awards, due to the World Cup, the awards were moved to from June to July.
The Awards are as follows:
Best Film
King And The
Clown (dir: Lee Joon-ik / prod: Eagle Pictures)
Best Director
Lee Joon-ik (King And The
Clown)
Best Leading Actor
Gam Woo-sung (King And
The Clown)
Best Leading Actress
Jeon Do-yeon (You Are My Sunshine)
Best Supporting Actor
Yoo Hae-jin (King And The
Clown)
Best Supporting Actress
Kang Hye-jeong (Welcome To Dongmakgol)
Best Script
Choi Seok-hwan (King And
The Clown)
Best Cinematography
Ji Gil-yong (King And The
Clown)
Best Lighting
Yoo Yeol-jong (Typhoon)
Best Editing
Kim Sang-Beom (Murder, Take One)
Best Music
Michael Staudacher (Blue Swallow)
Best Art Direction
Jo Geun-hyun & Lee Hyung-joo (Duelist)
Best Visual Effects
Kang Joon-ik, Shin Jae-ho, Jung Do-an (Typhoon)
Best Sound Design
KOFIC/Eun Hee-soo (Blue Swallow)
Best Planning (Executive
Producing)
Oh Jung Wan & Lee Yoo-jin (You Are My
Sunshine)
Best Costumes
Jung Kyung-hee (Forbidden Quest)
Best New Director
Han Jae-rim (Rules Of
Dating)
Best New Actor
Lee Joon-ki (King And
The Clown)
Best New Actress
Chu Ja-hyun (Bloody
Tie)
Most Popular Actor – Korea
Lee Joon-ki
Most Popular Actress – Korea
Kang Sung-Yeon
Most Popular Actor –
Overseas
Lee Joon-ki
Most Popular Actress –
Overseas
Lee Young-ae
Source: Screendaily.com (Jean Noh)
Fly daddy (플라이대디) sells out before opening.
There is much speculation about The Host at present, but it tooks as if it will face some stiff competition shortly after release.
The two actors will meet with viewers on August 3, the movie’s opening date, at the Daehan Theater (430 seats) and the Seoul Theater (900 seats). With two weeks to go before the movie’s premiere, fans flocked to book tickets, showing an unprecedented response in domestic box-office history. Tickets that went on sale via the Internet on July 21 were sold out immediately, and box-office sales that began the following day closed in just two hours.
Ardent fans stood in lines from 3 a.m. at the Daehan Theater so as not to miss the two lead actors of “Fly Daddy” introducing the movie in person. Those who missed tickets for the timeslot when the two stars are scheduled to appear onstage were frustrated to learn that all tickets had already been sold out. The announcement of additional stage appearances by the two Lees will likely elicit an equally explosive response from viewers.
”Fly Daddy” is a story about an embattled 39-year-old head of a family who receives special training from a skilled 19-year-old brawler and is reborn as a hero.
Slated to open on August 3, the movie is expected to evoke much laughter from viewers.'
Source: engilsh.kbs.co.kr
The film "Dirty Carnival," starring Cho In-sung, has drawn two million viewers just a month after its opening.
The movie's promotion company said July 19 that "Dirty Carnival," which opened June 15 just in time for the World Cup fervor, has made a successful run in the domestic box-office on par with Hollywood blockbusters.
The movie's success can be attributed to the excellent directing skills of its director, Yoo Ha, as well as the superior acting of its cast, which includes Cho, Jin Koo, Nam Kung-min, Chun Ho-jin and Lee Bo-young. Despite a somewhat heavy plot for a summer movie, "Dirty Carnival" captivated viewers' hearts with its heartfelt story about real life. Adding to the movie's popularity was an active promotion campaign that lasted for three weeks after the film's opening. Cho in particular received rave reviews for his true-to-life portrayal of a gangster.
With few successful domestic movies opening in the first half of the year, with the exception of "King and the Clown," the success of "Dirty Carnival" is even more noteworthy. As it continues to draw more viewers, attention is now focused on whether the movie will set another record.
Source: www.english.kbs.co.kr
The King and the Clown is banned in China
The Chinese Government, like the DPRK (North Korea) have a reputation for their controversial human rights laws. So it won't come as a surprise, or it may do, that China have banned the record film, The King and the Clown because of its ' subtle gay themes and sexual explict language.'
The film, which follows two 16th century jesters who mock a tyrannical king (Yeonsangun of Joseon) and then end up being brought before him. The king then ends up falling in love with one of the clowns. Inevitably, there are comparisons to Ang Lee's award winning Brokeback Mountain.
Although it is far from explicit - rather a bizarre and I imagine quite funny exhange of looks between one of the clowns and the King, with homeosexuality more or less outlawed in China, the government took the step in banning it. It may not see a nationwide release, but it will certainly hit the black market. Apparentely copies are already being sold in the major cities.
Source: Guardian (online)
As The Host approaches, it breaks the record for pre-bookings
The film, which is scheduled for a release next Thursday has already hit the Korean record books. It is 'selling more tickets in a shorter space of time than ever before according to producer Chungeorahm Film.
Starting three weeks before its July 27 release, advance bookings for about 100 select theatres have been selling like hotcakes, with the multiplex Megabox COEX site alone selling 2,000 tickets in advance.
Online ticket reservation sites Maxmovie and Yes24 are saying the film is bringing in more bookings in a shorter period of time than any other film on record. The 200 online tickets for The Host Special Package, which included T-shirts and publicity booklets, sold out in a record-breaking 30 minutes after they went on sale.
The film’s ticket sales are also reportedly reaching a wide spectrum of age groups – a key factor behind recent record-breaking hits such as King And The Clown, Taegukgi and Silmido.
A Chungeorahm representative says the company is discussing a wide release on about 500 screens - approximately a third of the screens in the country - with distributor Showbox Mediaplex.' Jean Noh, Screendaily.com
As
you can well see the hype for the film is growing and growing. I am
confident it will do well and perhaps break the record. It will be
great for Korean cinema to break the record twice in one year depsite
the screen quota being reduced.
The second sequel to My Wife is a Gangster seeks Taiwanese talent, Shu Qi (The Transporter)
As
you may know the original was a major hit in 2001, but the sequel,
which was released in 2003 failed to ignite despite starring the
original's class of Sin Eun-Kyeong. The following article looks at the
Hong Kong talent and how the film will be different from the
conventional gangster film.
By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter
NAMYANGJU,
Kyonggi Province _ Local gangster comedy "My Wife Is a Gangster (Chopok
Manura)" was a huge hit in 2001, drawing over 5 million moviegoers. But
as goes with many sequels, the 2003 sequel was disappointing and
commercially unsuccessful attracting less than 2 million viewers due to
its cliched storyline and jokes that did not distinguish it much from
the original.
So what are the makers of its third installment to
do, but attempt to infuse something totally new in the upcoming film.
The first obvious change is Shu Qi, popular actress from Hong Kong,
well known for such films as "City of Glass" (1998), "The Transporter"
(2002) and "Three Times" (2005).
Shu replaces South Korean
actress Sin Eun-kyeong who played the leading character of a housewife
and a tough female boss of a gang. Shin starred as the gangster wife in
the two previous serials.
"When I first read the scenario, I
didn't feel too stressed as it was a totally new movie (compared to its
previous films)", Shu Qi said during a news conference held at the
Seoul Studio Complex in Namyangju, Kyonggi Province, where the film was
being shot. "You will experience something very exciting in the film".
"Basically,
as I can't speak Korean, my role in the film is totally different from
Sin's roles", she answered laughing when asked about the differences
between her and Shin's characters.
Directed by Jo Jin-kyoo, "My
Wife Is a Gangster 3" revolves around Aryong (played by Shu Qi), who
flees to Seoul as her father's gang is engaged in a severe conflict
with another gang in Hong Kong.
The scene she filmed that day
involved Aryong having breakfast in an apartment with Korean gangsters
whose mission was to act as her bodyguard, but they find themselves in
an awkward situation, finding out another night that she is not just a
pretty daughter of a boss of a Hong Kong-based gang but also is good at
martial arts.
Director Jo, who made the original, said that the
film will be like a comic action version of "Roman Holiday", and he
avoided using typical formulas often used in the genre of a gangster
comedy.
"Personally, I really like `Roman Holiday'. This film
will be like its comic action version", Jo said half-joking. "I'd like
to avoid such scenes as gangsters' fighting with scantlings in a
warehouse. I'm trying to create my own styles in the film putting
hilarious jokes and seriousness".
Along with Shu Qi, the film is
full of interesting actors, and they are confident of portraying funny
characters. Lee Beom-soo, who played a cruel gangster in his latest
action film "The City of Violence", is back as a "faithful" and "kind"
gangster, and Hyeon Yeong, popular for her cute voice, plays an ethnic
Korean from Yanbian as the Korean translator of Aryong.
Source : www.koreatimes.co.kr
Success for the Korean film industry.
CJ
CGV, one of Korea's leading exhibitors, reported a 59.5% market share
for Korean films in the domestic market during the first six months of
2006. This amounts to a growth of 3.7% compared to last year. Seven of
the ten best performing films were Korean.
Cinema admissions
grew in the first six months with a 28.7% rise compared to the first
half of 2005, selling 80.8 million tickets, though the success of
Korean cinema and total ticket sales are largely due to the
unprecedented success of the box office hit King and the Clown. The
film sold a record breaking 11.8 million tickets in Korea.
Korean
films performed mostly well in the first few months of 2006. The King
and the Clown had particularly strong back-up from the comedy My Boss,
My Teacher, which drew 6.1 million admissions (a new record for a
comedy).
However some Korean titles were highly anticipated, but
unable to impress. Big-budget films like "Typhoon" and Daisy
disappeared soon from the cinema circuit due to lukewarm interest from
the public. In May and June, meanwhile, it was Hollywood films which
attracted the most viewers.
More big-budget Hollywood films are
slated for release in the coming months, but a number of strong Korean
films are also lined-up for the second part of 2006; including Bong
Joon-ho's "The Host", Kang Woo-seok's Hanbando, Park Chan-wook's I'm a
Cyborg, But That's Okay.
Yi Ch'ang-ho (KOFIC)
Source: www.koreanfilm.or.kr
A fine Korean meal from Korea's buggest hit, The King and the Clown (왕의 남자), directed by Lee Joon-ik (이준익) - 감독
Im Kwon-taek is accompanied by chaos as the Korean Government cave in to Hollywood pressure.
A few days ago it was Bong Joon-ho who spoke out for the Korean film industry, now it is veteren film director Im Kwon-taek who is currently shooting his 100th film despite funding difficulties. Im Kwon-taek is the 146th person to take a stand to signifier the fact that prior to July 1st, Korean films by law had to be screened 146 days of the year. But this has been cut to half, though the Culture and Tourism Ministry on Thursday said it gave domestic films two-fifths of the possible screening days in the first half, or 73 out of 182 days, and a fifth in the second half, or 36 out of 183 days, to come up with the figure of 109 days. That said, however, there is still some confusion as to how many Korean films they have to show for the remainder of the year.
On the evening of July 3rd, all the other 146 individual protesters, which include directors, actors and other professionals and celebrities in the film industry joined Im Kwon-taek to make a stand. In fact production stopped from July 1st-3rd in an effort to try and persuade the Government to reverse the law.
An estimated 10,000 or so protesters rallied in Seoul in disgust with the Government's decision to cut the quota.
"Protestors marched several kilometers downtown to Gwanghwamun Citizen’s Square where cultural events were held, including a political satire in the manner of hit movie King And The Clown and a martial arts performance choreographed by Jung Doo-hong (The City Of Violence).
Riot police stood by until protestors started to burn effigies of the “Five Enemies [of the country]” who spearheaded the move towards FTA talks. Four effigies, including that of finance minister Han Duck-soo (who resigned over the weekend after a series of scandals within his ministry), were left to burn while police managed to wrest away that of the president.
Yang Gi-hwan, head of the Korean Coalition for Cultural Diversity, stated: “The Screen Quota is an anti-trust law that blocks Hollywood films from monopolising distribution”. Others read statements against the Korea-US free trade agreement (FTA), chanted for President Roh Moo-hyun’s resignation and demanded that the original quota be restored." Jean Noh Screendaily.
It is a real shame. The Korean film industry has offered so much and for the Korean film industry to be intimidated by US is absolutely disgraceful. There are no words to describe the bitterness that many feel including myself towards the individuals who imposed this decision, both from the US and in Korea. I am sure the film industry can come through this and demonstrate to the Hollywood moguls that even a law can't keep Korean films at bay.
Source: Screendaily (Jean Noh)
Park Chan-Wook (박찬욱) has been asked to sit on the Venice Jury.
South
Korea's most famous director has been asked to sit on the Venice Jury,
which takes place from Aug 30th - Sept 9th in Italy. Last year saw his
screening of Lady Vengeance,
which recieved the CinemAvvenire (Cinema of the Future) award, the
Little Golden Lion and the Best Innovated Film Award. This year,
however, if he can get away from his current project Cyborg Girl, he will part of a jury who decides who recieves the awards.
Spanish
director Juan Jose Bigas, Portugese producer Paulo Branco, Hollywood
director and screenwriter Cameron Crowe, Russian actor Chulpan
Khamatova and the Italian actor and director Michele Placido have also
been asked to sit on the Jury.
The Jury president is French
actress Catherine Deneuve. The panel of judges will be responsible for
awarding the Golden Lion and other awards. Park is the second Korean to
be asked to sit on a jury at a major festival after Lady Vengance and JSA's Lee Young-ae fulfilled jury duty at the Berlin Film festival in May.
Source: www.english.chosen.com
The Host is to be released in Japan
One the subject of Bong Joon-Ho, his latest film The Host will
begin its venture into International territory with a release date of
September 2nd 2006. It will also be released on 250 screens throughout
Japan. Currently Japan is the most successful country for Korean films
so it is little surprise the The Host ends
up going to Japan, but with a sale of US$4.7 million at the Hong Kong
Film Market in March, there is much to celebrate. In fact Happinet
bought the film without previewing any footage, instead relying on a
script and some character sketches.
The UK release date for The Host remains unknown, though it shouldn't be too long since it was sold to Americas Magnolia Pictures at this years Cannes Film Festival for 2.3 million Dollars.
The film will be released in Korea on the 27th July.
Source: www.koreanfilm.or.kr
Bong
Joon-ho (봉준호) is the latest to put his confidence in the Korean film
industry despite the screen quota being reduced to half.
From July 1st the screen quota was reduced by half. It was cut from 146 days a year to half. However at the discretion of the Culture Minister it can change depending on the supply and demand of Korean films. This year will see the quota reduced to 109 days. The Culture and Tourism Ministry on Thursday said it gave domestic films two-fifths of the possible screening days in the first half, or 73 out of 182 days, and a fifth in the second half, or 36 out of 183 days, to come up with the figure of 109 days.
Prior to July 1st Korean films had to be screened for 146 days a year, which has been of invaluable benefit to the Korean film industry. When the Government caved into Hollywood pressure last year, the Korean film industry went crazy and understandably so. Korea was and still is a tough spot for Hollywood films despite the fact that they are somewhat flourishing at the moment. As a result studios had to act, which has angered many, including myself. Despite the current change being implimented many cinema outlets have vowed to keep the current quota regardless of the law.
Bong Joon-ho, director of Memories of Murder and the upcoming The Host says The screen quota for Korean movies will be halved from 146 days a year from July 1, but there are many good Korean movies waiting to be released, including 'Fly, Daddy, Fly', 'Dasepo Naughty Girls' and 'Hanbando'. I have high expectations that these movies will do well although the film industry is institutionally at stake due to the screen quota cut", Bong said in front of the Kyobo Building in Gwanghwamun, Seoul on Wednesday when he staged a one-man protest against the screen quota cut. He is the 141st person to stage the protest being carried out by a series of actors and directors. Other directors have included Park Chan-Wook who in a Q & A session at the premiere of Lady Vengeance expressed his concen for the change in law.
Source: www.english.kbs.co.kr
'The Tale of Two Sisters' (장화, 홍련) remake is driving forward
Remakes are certainly on the agenda at present with the release of the first Korean film remake released in cinemas this Friday, The Lake house.
It has emerged that the remake of the Tale of Two Sisters will begin shooting in the Autumn. Why it has taken 3 years from the point of selling the rights to Dreamworks studios to production is beyond me.
The film will be directed by Tom and Charlie Guard who recieved critical acclaim for a series of innovative commercials will make their Hollywood debut with this remake. The brothers who graduated from Cambridge should provide an interesting take on Kim Jee-Woon's compelling film.
As for the narrative, it follows two sisters, Anna and Alex who return home from a mental hospital only to find problems with their stepmother. Their father isn't much help and a ghost provides further issues.
Assuming it begins shooting this Autumn and encounters few problems it should see a release during the Autumn/Winter season next year.
Sometimes a combination of Asian horror and Western culture provides an interesting prospective as it did in the remake of The Grudge, which was far better than the original. Having said this however, Kim Jee-Woon's A Tale of Two Sisters take some real beating!
The other remakes that are on the agenda are Oldboy and My Sassy Girl.
Source: www.koreanfilm.or.kr
The Hollywood Remake 'The Lake House'
The original starred My Sassy Girl star, Jeon Ji-Hyeon (전지현) and was directed by Lee Hyeong-seung (이형승). For those who have not seen it, or indeed don't know what the film is about - it follows two characters, Eun Joo (Jeon Ji-Hyeon - 전지현) and Sung Hyun (Lee Jeong-jae - 이정재) who exchange letters, but are seperated in time by exactly two years. They finally agree to meet, but obviously with a 2 year time difference, how will they meet? You can get a copy from www.yesasia.com or www.dvdfromkorea.com. It was released in 2000 and has been recieved well by critics and audiences alike. Not quite as successful as My Sassy Girl (엽기적인 그녀), but it proved to be a success nevertheless.
As for the remake, it follows a very similar narrative. In fact it looks the same. Sandra Bullock plays a lonely Doctor, whereas Reaves plays the artitect. The main difference is that Eun Joo is a voice over actor in the original, but Reaves remains the same. I just hope and I mean, I really hope this doesn't turn in to film like the remake of Psycho, which reconstructs every scene as it was in the original. Complete nonsense, but I trust Hollywood have now leant their lessons!
More news on The Host
Well, it is official, The Host has now been sold to Magnolia Pictures, which means it will have the rights to release the film in the US, UK and Australia. It has also been sold to France's Ocean Films, Spain's Notro Films and Discovery for former Yugoslavia in addition to Brazil, Argentina (Providence), Mexico (Gussi) and Thailand (J-Pics).
Cineclick will distribute directly in Singapore and Malaysia and Chungeorahm Film, the Korean production company behind the film, will handle distribution in China.
Magnolia will line up sub-distributors for the film in the UK and Australia.
The total sale has come to around 2.3 million dollars.
Source. Screen Daily
Latest Poster (English Version) Source: Hancinema.net
Review/Article of 'The Host' by Paolo Bertolin.
"The Host" is a real masterpiece and Bong Joon-ho is one of the greatest directors in the world. That is how Olivier Père, the director of the Cannes Film Festival selection Quinzaine des Realisateurs (Directors' Fortnight), introduced director Bong at his meeting with the audience, right after a triumphal screening of his film.
"The Host" (Korean title Goemul, i.e. Monster) was by far the most eagerly awaited film selected at Quinzaine, and the two sole screenings, a midnight show on Sunday and an afternoon presentation on Monday, both played to a Full House, leaving a large number of critics and people outside. In a festival that reserved more than a few burning disappointments, especially from ambitious Hollywood fare (such as curtain-raiser "The Da Vinci Code" or competing entries like Sofia Coppola's "Marie Antoinette" or Richard Kelly's "Southland Tales"), Bong's follow-up to international cult hit "Memories of Murder" was one of the few works that met the high expectations of the press and audience.
"As a director, I always try to break the conventions and rules of genre, as I myself as a viewer have mixed feelings about genre movies: I love them, but at the same I hate them because of their predictable conventions", declared Bong on his approach towards filmmaking. His third feature film is no exception to that pattern. As Derek Elley from Variety observed, "On almost every level, there's never quite been a monster movie like `The Host'".
Hugely satisfying and entertaining, Bong's film centres on the fight of the Park family to rescue its youngest member, Hyeon-seo, who has been kidnapped by a mutant monster emerging from the waters of the Han River in Seoul. However the film detaches itself from being a mere horror movie as burlesque and drama aptly contaminate the formula. "Egregiously subverting its own genre while still delivering shocks at a pure genre level, and marbled with straight-faced character humour that constantly throws the viewer off-balance", epitomizes Elley, "The Host is a bold game that looks headed to instant cult status".
"The slapstick comedy elements in my film contribute to giving rhythm, but perhaps they also provide a more realistic side to the whole story", commented Bong on the genre-bending of his film, adding "Slapstick humour in my films is never intended in the first place, as some gags just come out naturally, during the shooting". The French left-wing newspaper Liberation stressed this remarkable feature of Bong's style, as Didier Peron wrote, "Contrary to Hollywood productions, the film allows itself relevant stylistic deviations and does not forcibly search for a happy ending".
"In `The Host' I have worked mostly with actors with whom I had already worked in previous movies, such as Song Kang-ho, Park Hae-il and Bae Doona", said Bong on his cast, "therefore, it was easier to share with them my ideas: when I was writing the script, I already thought of whom would play the roles; on set we had grown a strong relationship, with just one look they knew what I wanted, and vice versa". Song's mature performance drew special praise. "He's the only contemporary Korean actor capable of playing with such conviction a character who seems to be permanently on the verge between ordinariness and slightly retarded".
The full-blown achievements of "The Host triggered praising comparisons, such as Isabelle Regnier's of the leading French newspaper Le Monde: "Its author displays a brilliant critique of the contemporary epoch with inventiveness and exuberance that remind those of Kubrick's "Doctor Strangelove"'.
"When I make a movie I never really calculate whether it is commercial or artistic", asserted Bong when asked about his ability to bridge mainstream formulas and creativity, "to me there is no distinction between the two categories, I just try to make movies that I would like to watch as a spectator".
The response in Cannes proved that Bong's method works, and might be taken as good premonition for The Host's commercial and critical future. Concluding his review on Screen Daily, Allan Hunter even conjectured that "Someone is bound to consider 'The Host' as remake potential for a wider Western audience". In the meantime, the Korean release of Bong's film is scheduled for July, while international sales proceed at a brisk pace.
Source. koreantimes.co.kr
The Host - Cannes Film Festival 2006
As you may know I am a big fan of Bong Joon-ho and his film, Memories of Murder. Well his latest film premiered in Cannes a couple of days ago and has caused an absolute stir. Western journalists have been raving about this film. Philip Gowman from www.londonkoreanlinks.net has found this article from the New York Post.
Another offering from South Korea — and the best film I’ve seen to date at this year’s festival — is “The Host,” which for some reason is screening outside the main festival program in a parallel section called the Directors’ Fortnight. Directed by Bong Joon-ho, who made the policier “Memories of Murder,” this terrific hybrid-genre fantasy about a mutant creature with a lotuslike mouth and a steady appetite has been alternately described as a monster movie and a science fiction thriller, but is also a comedy, a family drama, a political critique and, at times, a seriously scary freak-out. Mr. Bong can shift moods and tones on a dime, and when the loudly appreciative audience wasn’t laughing at the witty dialogue it was shrieking at tensely wound scenes as effective as any in Steven Spielberg’s “War of the Worlds.” MANOHLA DARGIS
Unsuprisingly the Korean press has gone mad and so have I!! it is released in Korea next month (June). Although it has yet to hit the screens, it seems we have a real beauty on our hands!
London Korean FIlm Festival.
This year has been and still is a major success, with hundreds of people turning up to this years festival. It isnt over yet so you still have time. Other cinemas in Leicester Square have been in awe because of the amount of people that have turned up...... See Festivals for further details.
Screen International
Not news as such, however I strongly recommend anyone who lives in the UK to get a copy of Screen International 'May 12-18 2006. Jean Noh and her collegues have comprised a FANTASTIC AND EXTENSIVE feature on Korean cinema as part of the Cannes film Festival.
Since it is a trade journal, you can't just buy it anywhere, but one place I know that does sell is WHSMITH in Selfridges, London.
Alternatively you can contact them on 020 7505 8080/8099 and find somewhere nearer to you... Hurry..... The last feature like this was when Darcy did a feature for the Pusan Film Festival last year, but this time it is an actual pull-out...
'I'm a Cyborg but that's OK'
Sounds quite omnious, but this is the title of Park-Chan-Wooks (박찬욱) new film. It has begun shooting in the southern city of Pusan last Wednesday. It stars Singer Bi (Rain, far L) and Im Soo-Jeong. Siding away from his revenge and violent narratives, Park Chan-wook has turned to the romantic genre with a little edge.
Source: www.english.yna.co.kr
Shiri is being re-made for TV
In 1998 Shiri (쉬리) revived Korean cinema, not just for Korea, but for the whole world. It is now reported that it will be remade as a 20 part TV Drama in Japan.
MK Pictures has signed a contract with GDH Group
of Japan in Tokyo on Mar 28 to plan and expand Shiri as a TV Drama.
They have agreed to produce a total of 20 episodes of 'Shiri' for a
Television Drama.
MK Pictures wil take charge of planning and
developing the project, while the two companies will equally share the
total production cost.
It certainly looks quite
interesting. Kind of like a Japan/Korean Band of Brothers, though not a
war time drama, it has a similar feel to it. At the very least, it is
certain to be a success in Japan, where there is a clear obsession with
Korean dramas.
Source: www.english.kbs.co.kr