What is coming to the UK Cinemas.
A Bloody Aria (구타유발자들)
A Bloody Aria directed by Shin-yun Won is currently being shown at the ICA from today - don't miss it! They are releasing it theatrically before they release it on DVD. Due to my commitments at the Korean Film Festival, I haven't been able to review it, but it is has been recieving strong reviews across the board!
Here is some information on the film and if you want to book tickets or find out more information, please click here.
A Bloody Aria (구타유발자들)
Director: Shin Yun-won (원신연)
Starring: Han Seok-Kyu (한석규), Lee Moon-sik (이문식), Oh Dal-soo (오달수) & Lee Byeong-joon (이병준)
Running time: 115 min
Synopsis
Park Young-sun, a college professor, meets In-jeong, one of the prettiest students in his class, by chance at an audition for a big musical project. A reckless womanizer, he asks In-jeong to take a ride with him. They drive to a riverside and he attempts to become intimate. However, to his surprise, In-jeong declines his advances, and runs away. While waiting for her to return, Young-sun encounters a group of cruel and brutal youths who may have killed In-jeong.
More news on The Chaser Release
With The Chaser hitting cinemas later on this month (September 19), I thought I would give you some more info on its release. It is being released both on 35mm and digital, so it is good to see it being released on both 35mm and digital. With regards to where it will be screened, as of yet I am unshore how many prints Metrodome have ordered, but it will be screened at my local (Shaftesbury Avenue Cineworld), Vue Islington, VUE Shepherd's Bush and key cities. When I know more, I will let you know.
It seems to be very well recieved on the whole. I have just done a search and found this review from view London and thisreview from a website called Shadows on the Wall. I have also noticed from the poster, it has got 5 stars from The Sun. I am not quite sure I agree with these reviews, but they make some really good points. Empire although very short, is probably the more accuarte review, which gave it 3 stars. But film is a subjective medium, so we all see films differently. I liked The Chaser, but I don't think it is a great film - but it did leave thinking for quite a while. You can see my review here. Nevertheless, it deserves to be seen, so please watch it and support Korean cinema.
The Chaser (추격자) is to come to UK Cinemas in September
Some of you will be aware that The Chaser (추격자)was bought by Metrodome in Cannes. Well, they haven't been hanging around and have already secured a theatrical release - it is to be released on September 19th 2008 (it has moved from its initial September 5 release). But for those who can't wait until September, you can see it at the Frightfest Film Festival on 23 August at 4.40pm. You can find more info on the release at Frightfest here. Some of you will remember Frightfest screened The Host (괴물) before it was released theatrically.
It is the biggest grossing film of the year so far in Korea attracting over 5 million admissions - in a year where Korean cinema is experiencing severe problems in the domestic market, this is mighty impressive. And it is also worth noting that Warner Bros have bought the rights for a remake, which will no doubt be complete trash.
Film information
Title: The Chaser (추격자)
Ha Jeong-woo (하정우) (above) plays the chilling serial killer in The Chaser(추격자),
Director: Na Hong-jin (나홍진)
Starring: Kim Yoon-seok (김윤석), Ha Jeong-woo (하정우) & Seo Yeong-hee (서영희)
Running Time: 123 min
Korean Release Date: 14/02/2008
Number of Korean Admissions: 5,131,129
Korean Distributor: Showbox/Mediaplex
UK Release Date: September 5 2008
UK Distributor: Metrodome
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 one who 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: KOFIC
Posted Weds 9 July