Archive
Park Chan-wook retrospective
Tartan films have collaborated with the ICA cinema in London to screen his vengeance trilogy and his latest film I'm a Cyborg as part of a season at the ICA during April. It is a fantastic chance to see these on the big screen. Please see website for further details
Unfortunately
as far as I am aware, this is the only place you can see I'm A Cyborg,
since it is being released on DVD on May 26.
I'm A Cyborg (싸이보그지만 괜찮아)
Director: Park Chan-wook (박찬욱)
Theatrical Release: 4 April 2008.
Tartan
has informed me that I'm A Cyborg (formally known as I'm a Cyborg, But
That's OK - Tartan have renamed it) is to be released on April 4th with
a DVD release to follow on May 26 2008. Presumably, its theatrical
release is part of its marketing campaign for its DVD release. Although
it flopped in Korea, Park Chan-wook has a great deal of reputation in
the UK so this will no doubt help its success here. He does tend to
better abroad, which is illustarted with his win at Berlin last year
where he won the Alfred Bauer Prize and it will be very interesting to see how well this film does here in the UK.
More news on where it will be released will be up nearer the time.
The City Of Violence (짝패)
Director: Ryoo Seung-wan (류승완) Screenwriters: Kim Jeong-min (김정민), Lee Won-jae (이원재) & Ryoo Seung-wan (류승완)
Starring: Ryoo Seung-wan (류승완), Jeong Doo-hong (정두홍), Lee Beom-soo (이범수) & Jeong Seok-yong (정석용)
Running Time: 92 mins
Korean Release Date: 25/05/2006
Korean Box office admissions: 944,507 admissions (18/06/2006)
UK Release: 6th June 2007
OK,
we have a Korean release, that you will find in a cinema in London. As
you can see it is to be released this Friday (6th June). As far as I
can tell at present, the only cinema to screen it, is the Cineworld Trocodero down Shaftesbury Avenue in Piccadilly Circus. You can find a map here.
The Screening times are as follows:
21:10
You can now also see it at the Cineworld, Bristol. You can find a map here - I think the cinema is somewhere along that road (Hengrove Way)..The Screening Times are as follows:
19:00, 21:05
As for the film itself, Aashish has reviewed it,
so please have a look. He provides you with all the useful information.
Essentially he confirms what others have said about this film; visually
it is outstanding, but it lacks significant plot development. Any fans
of Arahan, which is my favourite Ryoo Seung-wan (류승완) film will be
interested in seeing this film, if you haven't already. Although it was
a big disappointment for CJ Entertainment, generating under 1 million
admissions after 3 weeks on release, this is a director and actor worth
checking out, even his weakest films. If you are interested in Crying
Fist, I have reviewed it here.
UK THEATRICAL RELEASE - COME AND GONE
The Duelist ( 형사) 2005
Writer and Director: Lee Myeong-se (이명세)
Starring: Ha Ji-won (하지원), Kang Dong-won (강동원), Ahn Seong-gi (안성기), Song Yeong-chang (송영창) & Yoon Joo-sang (윤주상)
Running TIme: 111 mins
Korean Distributor: Korea Pictures
Korean Release Date: 8 September 2005
UK Distributor: Contender Entertainment
UK Release Date: 9th March 2006 TBC
I
know some of you were expecting to see this, or at least I was on 8th
December 2006. It then came out of nowhere on 9th March 2007, but as
far as I could see, there was no-where screening it. I am sure there
was an outlet somewhere screening it, but I couldn't find it. Sincere
apologies for not bringing you up to speed on its release. Welcome to
Dongmakgol was also released in February at the ICA cinema in London
and is now available on DVD.
Further
releases will be up in due course and since Korean films are currently
seeing a DVD revival, a full preview and review of the releases will be
up shortly. This will include The Host, which was released on 5th
March.
This film marked the return of Lee Myeong-se, who directed the critcally acclaimed Nowhere to Hide
in 1999. Visually stunning and arguably one of the finest Korean films
to emerge out of the close of the last millenium, though it does have
its shortfalls, which I won't go into now.
As for Duelist (literal translation to 형사/ hyeong sa
is 'detective') , the narrative takes place in a historical context,
where Lee Myeong-se takes the audience back to the Joesun era . Female
detective Namsoon (Ha Ji-won (하지원)) is put on the case alongside detective Ahn (Ahn
Seong-gi (안성기)) to investigate counterfiet money. In order to find out
who is behind the money laundering, Nam-soon goes under cover using a
variety of different identities ranging from a man at a tavern to a
beautiful Kisaeng - something like a geisha. As she investigates
undercover, she comes into contact with a handsome swordman, Sad Eyes (Kang Dong-won (강동원))
but like her, all is not as it seems. As they come more attracted to
each other, they begin to discover they are on different sides of the
coin.
So what has been the reaction - well like two sides of a coin. Some have praised the film and some have heavily criticized it. Giovanna Fulvi from the Toronto film festival praises the film for its 'beautifully choreographed
duels' and "Lee's great care
for details and his stylish control of the camera take the viewer into
a varlegated cinematic archiecture of captivating elegence". But he is
going to praise the film, seeing he will want tickets sold.
Adam Hartzell from koreanfilm.org also points to the stylish choreography and visuals:
"But
if you were fascinated with how Lee orchestrated emotions out from
hiding behind the shells of bodies in Nowhere To Hide, you will be
equally treated to a visual concert that will send you home with dreamy
images of bodies in chaos and control. Most striking is the crane-like
mating ritual between Nam-soon and Sad Eyes"
But he also
notes the fact that the narrative lacks "breadth". In other words, it
is not really thought provoking, or ar least story wise. Todd from twitch was 'intensely unsatisfied'
after watching it. He struggles with the lack of balance between
beautiful choreography and slapstick comedy. But he does admit the
directors gifting when it comes to shooting martial arts sequences.
Grady Hendrix from Kaiju S'hakedown (Variety's.com Asian Film blog) can't stop raving about the film. "This mutagenic masterpiece isn't happy unless it's at least two or three different movies at once." On the contary to Todd from Twitch argues there is a strong balance even to the extent of suggesting,
"There's not a convention of moviemaking, from how to shoot a love
scene to how a plot unfolds, that he doesn't question and undermine."
So,
like I said, there is a mixed repsonse to the film, but reviews are
very subjective, so the only way is to go and see it for yourselves. It
is released in cinemas on December 10 (subject to conformation) and a
review will be up on its release. I will also put up links, so you can
find out where and when it is showing.
UK RELEASE - THE HOST
Where to see The Host.
With The Host being
released today, I thought I would let you know where you can see it. I
have probably missed areas where you can see it, but please check your
local press. Unfortunately time is not permitting me to put down times,
so please click on the approapiate links to ascertain times.
LONDON
Cineworld:
Trocadero (Shaftesbury Avenue)
Wandsworth
Chelsea
West India Quay
Enfield
VUE:
Islington
Shepherds Bush
Fulham Broadway
Croydon Purley Way
Odeon:
Covent Garden
Camden Town
Kingston
Greenwich
Independent:
Curzon Soho
Ritzy Picture House
Outside London:
Cineworld:
Ashford
Birmingham Broad Street
Bradford
Brighton
Cambridge
Cardiff
Cheltenham
Crawley
Didsbury
Dublin
Edinburgh
Milton Keynes
Nottingham
Renfrew Street (Glasgow)
Sheffield
Stevenage
Odeon:
Gateshead
Lee Valley
Manchester
Norwich
Southampton
Surrey Quays
VUE:
Bristol Cribbs Causeway
Leeds Kirkstall Road
Portsmouth
Independent:
Showroom Sheffield
Cameo Edinburgh
Irish Film Institute
Manchester Cornerhouse
PLEASE NOTE: PLEASE CHECK WITH THE RELEVANT WEBSITE OR LOCAL PRESS TO CONFIRM.
Friday 10th November 11:39am
The Host hits the
UK on Tuesday & Wednesday ( 7th & 8th November) for previews
and goes on genreal release two days later.
That's
right - the Host has arrived... I wasn't aware of previews until today,
but at least I know. It literally is being released all over the UK.
The preview venues, dates & times are as follows:
LONDON
Cineworld Chelsea - Weds 20:45
Cineworld Shaftesbury Avenue - Weds 20.15
Cineworld Wandsworth - Weds 20:50
Cineworld West India Quay - TO BE CONFIRMED
Cineworld Enfield - Weds 20:15
Odeon Kingston - Tues 20:30
Other Areas
Cineworld Ashford - Weds 20:15
Cineworld Birmingham Broad Street - Weds 20:40
Cineworld Brighton - Weds 20:35
Cineworld Cambridge - Weds 20:50
Cineworld Cardiff - Weds 20:15
Cineworld Cheltenham - Weds 20:45
Cineworld Crawley - Weds 21:15
Cineworld Didsbury - Weds 20:15
Cineworld Edinburgh - Weds 20:15
Cineworld Milton Keynes - Weds 20:15
Cineworld Nottingham - Weds 21:20
Cineworld Sheffield - Weds 20:15
You can book tickets via their websites; Cineworld & Odeon.
It will be released on more screens, but at present this is all I know. When I know more, I will let you know.
Please note that these times are subject to change and as a result
please check with your local cinema to confirm date(s) and times.
Like I said, it will be released on the following Friday (10th), which
will mean it will be screened all day and all week. These times will
be up when they are available.
UK THEATRICAL RELEASE - COMING TO A CINEMA NEAR YOU
괴물 (The Host)
Director: Bong Joon-ho
Starring: Song Kang-ho, Byun Hee-bong, Park Hae-il, Bae Doo-na, Ko A-sung.
Running Time: 119 mins
Distributor: Showbox/Mediaplex
Production Company: Chungeorahm Film Productions
Korean Release Date: 27 July 2006
UK Release Date: 10 November 2006
Cert: 12
This
site has dedictaed alot of space and time for Mr. Bong and his film,
The Host, but there is good reason for this - it is a brilliant film.
Have a look at my review, if you haven't already.
As you can see
it is released in UK cinemas on November 10. This is finalised and I
have had word directly from the distributor that it is to be released
on November 10. Optimum releasing are quite good, so it should see a
release nationwide. It won't make every cinema, but it will hopefully
be showing in a cinema near you. It will also see a DVD release some
time next year. When I find out the DVD release date, as always I will
inform you.
You can watch a trailor put together by Optimum releasing here.
I will also provide you with links for dates and
times The Host will be showing. Below is an interview with director
Bong Joon-ho
Interview with Bong Joon-ho by Yang Seung-cheol
Introduction
We
all have dreams, but not everyone has the chance to realize theirs.
Bong Joon-ho, 37, is one of the lucky few: He's been waiting to make
his latest film, "The Host", since he was a high school student who
looked out his apartment window and swore he saw a monster climbing up
Jamsil bridge.
It may have been no more than a momentary fantasy
produced by an overworked mind (he says he had been studying for exams,
enough to stress out any teenager), but Bong decided that day that he
would make it into a movie.
Nearly 20 years and leaps in film
special effects later, "The Host" is set to open July 27. The movie is
a fascinating combination of a monster flick, Korean comedy and a
family love story.
Key: I - Interviewer (Yang Seung-cheol)
B - Bong Joon-ho
I: How did the production come about?
B:
In 2000, Albert L. Mcfarland, a civilian official with the U.S. Army,
ordered the disposal of 470 bottles of formaldehyde in the Han River.
That was the start. Most monster films have a setting for the creation
of the monster, and I thought that this was an incident I could use to
develop a story about a monster coming out of the Han River. However, I
wanted the main theme to be centered on "family".
I: After the monster kidnaps the student character, Hyeon-seo, the people who have to deal with it are just normal people.
B:
Right. Unlike many other monster films, the characters aren't
scientists and soldiers. They're ordinary family members, or perhaps a
little less than ordinary families. In some ways, they are pathetic. In
most movies, mothers are wise and fathers are vain and full of bravado.
Hyeon-seo's father, played by Song Kang-ho, is even more pathetic than
other father characters. Even still, the grandfather, played by Byeon
Hee-bong, backs his son up. The uncle, played Park Hae-il, is a college
graduate without a job and is always complaining. For the aunt, played
by Bae Doona, I used archers as a reference point. Just as archers have
the ability to tune out everything else going on around them, the aunt
is always daydreaming and can't pay attention to what other people are
saying. I tried to highlight Hyeon-seo's boldness, and Jo A-seong [who
plays Hyeon-so] is quite gutsy in real life, too.
I:
In the movie, the monster, which cost 5 billion won ($5.2 million) to
create, runs along the riverside very naturally, and pulls off some
great-looking stunts, like popping from one side of the river to the
other. But it has no real character. It doesn't even have a name.
B:
I wanted the audience to focus on the family, who in their struggle to
fight the monster get no help from the world and are isolated. I did
actually consider naming it for a while, maybe with a female name, like
they do for Typhoons. But I didn't want the monster to be defined by
its name.
There are a lot of rather unexpectedly humorous
scenes, with many of the laughs coming from the dialogue. In one scene,
the grandfather asks, "Do you know how a father who lost his child
feels?" It should be heartbreaking, but because the children are dozing
off, it's funny.
The humorous dialogue was made possible by the
actors' excellent performances. I was well aware of their habits and
mannerisms, and I actually wrote the scenes with them in mind. I can't
stand endless scenes in which stone-faced characters ramble on
sententiously.
I :In a movie
with such state-of-the-art technology, you depict government
authorities as buffoons, who even try to take bribes amid the chaos.
B:
Are you asking why I added some sordid reality into a cutting-edge
sci-fi film? Perhaps it's because that kind of discord fits my taste.
If the situation and characters aren't something we could encounter in
reality, it's just not interesting.
I: In "The Host", the monster not only appears as soon as the move begins, but in broad daylight, too.
B:
It is a monster movie, but I wanted break the rules. I would have hated
it if it took half an hour just to see the monster's tail in dark
sewage. The monster shows itself early on, and it's what happens next
that is important.
I: Despite costing a lot of money to create, the monster is actually quite small.
B:
Jang Hee-cheol [who designed the monster] said it had to be something
even Song Kang-ho could fight. The size of the monster could change the
tone of the whole film. It's not supposed to be able to destroy the
Banpo bridge and the 63 Building.
I : What was the most difficult part of creating the monster?
B
: Initially I wanted to commission the work to Weta Digital, in New
Zealand. We discussed the computer graphics for almost a year, but in
the end they asked for too much money. Fortunately, I had discussed the
project with the Orphanage [a special effects company in the United
States], and gave the work to them instead, and they did the job with
great passion. They even organized a weekly "Korea Day" at their studio
and drank soju. Each monster shot cost 30 million won, meaning I had to
take the cost of each scene into account while preparing the filming.
It was very difficult.
I: Why didn't you show the monster's face?
B:
Never. Still shots of monsters [in which the face can be seen] are
always a let-down. The audience should see a moving image with sound.
I: Are you going to show the monster in another movie?
B:
I won't, but other young directors could make a sequel, I suppose.
There are a lot of other films I want to make. But Hollywood has
expressed interest in remaking "The Host".
by Yang Seung-cheol
Source : joongangdaily.joins.c... ( English Korean ) - can also be accessed though www.hancinema.net