The K-drama world has been taken by the storm that is Netflix’s My Demon. The show is the perfect blend of old-school fantasy tropes and modern K-drama trends, making it exactly right for both old fans and new ones. Many called 2023 the year of K-drama redemption thanks to shows like My Demon, which are loved by all. I suppose it is true in some ways because many who had stopped watching Korean dramas started watching them again because of a sense of nostalgia and fun that the new shows brought with them. Netflix has in many ways hijacked the industry, and for the most part, they have a specific type of K-dramas that work on the platform; however, in 2023, we’ve seen them bring in more and more shows in the Netflix original category that venture into the typical K-drama atmosphere. My Demon is reminiscent of the old fantasy...
- 1/19/2024
- by Ruchika Bhat
- Film Fugitives
South Korean actor Joo Ji-hyun is a star when it comes to K-dramas and their fan base. The actor gained attention for starring as the female lead in one of fantasy romance’s top storylines. But the last time fans saw her was in 2021; reports state she is in talks to make her grand return. Joo Ji-hyun is said to lead the K-drama Polaris.
‘Jirisan’ actor Joo Ji-hyun in talks to star in ‘Polaris’ | via tvN ‘Polaris’ K-drama has Joo Ji-hyun as a spy looking to find herself
According to Soompi, an industry representative said that Joo Ji-hyun and actor Kang Dong-won were positively reviewing starring in Polaris K-drama. The K-drama has a tentative title for now. Jun’s agency Ieum Hashtag commented, “Jun Ji Hyun was offered a role in the drama ‘Polaris’ and is positively reviewing [the offer].”
Kang’s agency also commented similarly about the possibility of the actor joining the K-drama.
‘Jirisan’ actor Joo Ji-hyun in talks to star in ‘Polaris’ | via tvN ‘Polaris’ K-drama has Joo Ji-hyun as a spy looking to find herself
According to Soompi, an industry representative said that Joo Ji-hyun and actor Kang Dong-won were positively reviewing starring in Polaris K-drama. The K-drama has a tentative title for now. Jun’s agency Ieum Hashtag commented, “Jun Ji Hyun was offered a role in the drama ‘Polaris’ and is positively reviewing [the offer].”
Kang’s agency also commented similarly about the possibility of the actor joining the K-drama.
- 3/29/2023
- by Gabriela Silva
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Despite becoming famous on an international level just recently, though the huge success of “Squid Game” which also just netted him an Emmy, Lee Jung-jae has actually been popular in S. Korea for decades, having a career that started in the 90s, and came to include a number of the most successful blockbusters in the country, not to mention a couple of masterpieces. As a tribute to a great actor, and on the occasion of the Emmy, we decided to make a list of 10 of his works that definitely deserve a look, in chronological order.
1. An Affair (1998) by Lee Jae-yong
The story focuses on Seo-hyun, a late-thirties housewife who has a settled life, a successful architect husband and a loving son. Her day is a set of routines, which is all thrown into disarray by the arrival of Woo-in, her younger sister’s fiancé. When her sister misses her flight from LA to Seoul,...
1. An Affair (1998) by Lee Jae-yong
The story focuses on Seo-hyun, a late-thirties housewife who has a settled life, a successful architect husband and a loving son. Her day is a set of routines, which is all thrown into disarray by the arrival of Woo-in, her younger sister’s fiancé. When her sister misses her flight from LA to Seoul,...
- 9/14/2022
- by AMP Group
- AsianMoviePulse
Featuring a very large budget and some of the best Asian actors, Korea’s take on “Ocean’s Eleven” is mainstream cinema at its best, not to mention a title that is still holding its place as ninth highest-grossing film in Korean film history.
The Thieves is screening on New York Asian Film Festival
Popie, Yenicall, Chewinggum and Zampano are a team of professional thieves who are willing to do everything to achieve their goals. After a successful heist, Popie’s former “associate”, Macao Park contacts him and informs him of a very lucrative job that is to take place in Macau. At the same time, Pepsee, the third member of the previous team and Park’s ex-lover is released from prison. Popie’s current team agrees to take on the new job and they take along Pepsee, without informing Park. When they arrive in Hong Kong, a separate team awaits them,...
The Thieves is screening on New York Asian Film Festival
Popie, Yenicall, Chewinggum and Zampano are a team of professional thieves who are willing to do everything to achieve their goals. After a successful heist, Popie’s former “associate”, Macao Park contacts him and informs him of a very lucrative job that is to take place in Macau. At the same time, Pepsee, the third member of the previous team and Park’s ex-lover is released from prison. Popie’s current team agrees to take on the new job and they take along Pepsee, without informing Park. When they arrive in Hong Kong, a separate team awaits them,...
- 7/20/2022
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
It’s only taken 7 years, but Choi Dong-hoon is finally back! The blockbuster hitmaker, both of whose last two releases “Assassination” and ”The Thieves” sit comfortably in the top 10 highest-grossing Korean films of all time, isnt one to shy away from challenges and for his latest work, the two-part “Alien”, he is taking on the sci-fi genre head-on to provide the kind of spectacle so far unseen in Korean cinema.
Synopsis
During the Goryeo dynasty, Taoists try to take a mysterious sword. In the present day, aliens appear on Earth. A time door soon appears between late Goryeo dynasty period and the present day. Due to this, a chaotic situations occur.
Choi has always managed to attract a big-name starcast for his projects and ”Alien” is no different, with Ryu Jun-yeol, Kim Tae-ri and Kim Woo-bin headlining the project. Additionally, the auoporting cast is equally impressive, with So Ji-sub, Lee Ha-nee,...
Synopsis
During the Goryeo dynasty, Taoists try to take a mysterious sword. In the present day, aliens appear on Earth. A time door soon appears between late Goryeo dynasty period and the present day. Due to this, a chaotic situations occur.
Choi has always managed to attract a big-name starcast for his projects and ”Alien” is no different, with Ryu Jun-yeol, Kim Tae-ri and Kim Woo-bin headlining the project. Additionally, the auoporting cast is equally impressive, with So Ji-sub, Lee Ha-nee,...
- 5/3/2022
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
The final few minutes of the last episode of “Kingdom Season 2” saw Ju Ji-hoon’s Crown Prince Lee Chang and Bae Doona’s Seo Bi travel North to find out more about the mysterious flower that brings the dead back to life, only to come face to face with a mysterious woman who keeps zombies as pets in cages, boxes and chains. Since then, fans have been wondering who this woman, played by the amazing Jun Ji-hyun, is and have been looking forward to finding out more about her. While viewers waited for the eventual season 3, Netflix announced that they would instead be doing a special one-off extended episode, a spin-off if you will, called “Kingdom: Ashin of the North” that would answer to the mystery of this character and her bloody, brutal past.
This special episode begins a few decades before the events in “Kingdom”, when trouble was...
This special episode begins a few decades before the events in “Kingdom”, when trouble was...
- 7/25/2021
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
Jun Ji-hyun is one of the most internationally famous actresses in the world, and her life is fascinating. She is not a young woman who grew up hoping and dreaming of becoming a famous actress. In fact, she had a much different path in mind for her life, but things just worked out differently for her. It’s time her fans get to know her better, and we have everything you ever wanted to know about the Korean beauty’s life right here. 1. She Looks Amazing She is not in her early 20s, but she looks like she is this young.
10 Things You Didn’t Know about Jun Ji-Hyun...
10 Things You Didn’t Know about Jun Ji-Hyun...
- 7/4/2021
- by Tiffany Raiford
- TVovermind.com
Romantic movies are not everyone’s cup of tea, surely not mine. However, Korean Cinema has presented few ground-breaking works that, for the originality of the script or for the great onscreen chemistry between the protagonists or for a magic ensemble of elements, managed to crossover the target audience circles and become everyone’s cup of hot chocolate. “My Sassy Lady”, “A Moment to Remember”, “Castaway on The Moon” are only few of those champions and “Il Mare” is a leading star of the group. The film – which also led to an abysmal US remake with Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock – has generated a proper following, with fans belonging to very different demographic pools from the one the film was originally intended for.
It’s Christmas time and Eun-joo (Jun Ji-hyun) is moving out of a beautiful house on stilts overlooking the sea, called Il Mare that...
It’s Christmas time and Eun-joo (Jun Ji-hyun) is moving out of a beautiful house on stilts overlooking the sea, called Il Mare that...
- 4/27/2021
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
Lee Soo-youn’s mystery thriller stars Cho Jin-woong, Kim Dae-myung and Shin Gu.
South Korea’s Lotte Entertainment has pre-sold thriller mystery Bluebeard to WellGo USA for North America and New Select for Japan
The film has also gone to Hong Kong and Macau (My Way Film Company) and the Philippines (Viva Communications).
Directed by Lee Soo-youn, Bluebeard stars Cho Jin-woong (The Handmaiden, Assassination), Kim Dae-myung (The Last Princess) and Shin Gu, who stars in Korean drama series Dear My Friends. Lee made her feature debut with horror mystery thriller Uninvited, starring Gianna Jun, in 2003.
Cho plays a doctor who, after sedating his landlord before a check-up, hears the old man start to make a convincing murder confession. When a young woman’s severed head is found at a butcher shop run by the same landlord’s son, the doctor begins to suspect that the father and son are serial killers.
The film has...
South Korea’s Lotte Entertainment has pre-sold thriller mystery Bluebeard to WellGo USA for North America and New Select for Japan
The film has also gone to Hong Kong and Macau (My Way Film Company) and the Philippines (Viva Communications).
Directed by Lee Soo-youn, Bluebeard stars Cho Jin-woong (The Handmaiden, Assassination), Kim Dae-myung (The Last Princess) and Shin Gu, who stars in Korean drama series Dear My Friends. Lee made her feature debut with horror mystery thriller Uninvited, starring Gianna Jun, in 2003.
Cho plays a doctor who, after sedating his landlord before a check-up, hears the old man start to make a convincing murder confession. When a young woman’s severed head is found at a butcher shop run by the same landlord’s son, the doctor begins to suspect that the father and son are serial killers.
The film has...
- 2/28/2017
- by hjnoh2007@gmail.com (Jean Noh)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Romantic comedy is a sequel to 2001’s My Sassy Girl.
Mirovision has sold Korea-China co-production My New Sassy Girl to a slew of territories including Hong Kong & Macau (Edko), the Philippines (Pioneer), Thailand (Hollywood Thailand), Malaysia (Clover Films) and Vietnam (Bhd).
A sequel to the watershed romantic comedy My Sassy Girl (2001) - which swept through Asia with Gianna Jun (aka Jun Ji-hyun) in the titular lead launching to stardom, My New Sassy Girl stars Cha Tae-hyun from the original opposite Victoria, a Chinese member of K-pop band f(x).
This time, he is trying to come to terms with newly-wed life with an unconventional girl from China.
Directed by Joh Gun-shik, the film is co-production between Korea’s Shincine and China’s Beijing Skywheel Media.
It opened in China April 22 and earned $5.25m after 10 days. Today (May 12), Little Big Pictures is opening it in South Korea and Clover Films in Singapore.
Mirovision has sold Korea-China co-production My New Sassy Girl to a slew of territories including Hong Kong & Macau (Edko), the Philippines (Pioneer), Thailand (Hollywood Thailand), Malaysia (Clover Films) and Vietnam (Bhd).
A sequel to the watershed romantic comedy My Sassy Girl (2001) - which swept through Asia with Gianna Jun (aka Jun Ji-hyun) in the titular lead launching to stardom, My New Sassy Girl stars Cha Tae-hyun from the original opposite Victoria, a Chinese member of K-pop band f(x).
This time, he is trying to come to terms with newly-wed life with an unconventional girl from China.
Directed by Joh Gun-shik, the film is co-production between Korea’s Shincine and China’s Beijing Skywheel Media.
It opened in China April 22 and earned $5.25m after 10 days. Today (May 12), Little Big Pictures is opening it in South Korea and Clover Films in Singapore.
- 5/12/2016
- by hjnoh2007@gmail.com (Jean Noh)
- ScreenDaily
Assassination
Written by Choi Dong-hoon and Lee Ki-cheol
Directed by Choi Dong-hoon
South Korea, 2015
Assassination is pure entertainment. Director Choi Dong-hoon pulls together an astonishing group of talent both in front and behind the camera to portray a story close to South Korea’s heart with humour, pathos, gorgeous cinematography and a series of impressively bombastic action scenes to create one of the most exciting adventure films in recent years. Comparisons will and have been made with Quentin Tarantino and his similarly set Inglourious Basterds, but where the American filmmaker’s story veers wildly from historical fact, Choi, while still playing fast and loose with history, keeps as close to at least the essence of the facts as much as he can, as he portrays a very important period in South Korea’s history when the Independence Army fought against the country’s Japanese oppressors at the dawn of the Second World War.
Written by Choi Dong-hoon and Lee Ki-cheol
Directed by Choi Dong-hoon
South Korea, 2015
Assassination is pure entertainment. Director Choi Dong-hoon pulls together an astonishing group of talent both in front and behind the camera to portray a story close to South Korea’s heart with humour, pathos, gorgeous cinematography and a series of impressively bombastic action scenes to create one of the most exciting adventure films in recent years. Comparisons will and have been made with Quentin Tarantino and his similarly set Inglourious Basterds, but where the American filmmaker’s story veers wildly from historical fact, Choi, while still playing fast and loose with history, keeps as close to at least the essence of the facts as much as he can, as he portrays a very important period in South Korea’s history when the Independence Army fought against the country’s Japanese oppressors at the dawn of the Second World War.
- 10/12/2015
- by Liam Dunn
- SoundOnSight
The 19th Annual Fantasia Film Festival is only a week away, beginning July 14 and running through August 4. And as promised for today, they’ve revealed their full line-up of films screening at 2015’s festival in Montreal.
This year’s line-up boasts 22 World Premieres, 13 International Premieres, and 21 North American Premieres. Both Marvel’s Ant-Man and the animated Miss Hokusai were previously announced, but now they’ve added the much anticipated Attack on Titan movie as their closing night film. Other highlights include the Sundance darlings Cooties, starring Elijah Wood and Rainn Wilson, Cop Car, starring Kevin Bacon and directed by the upcoming Spider-man director Jon Watts, and a trio of films from horror auteur Sion Sono.
See the full line-up announcement of films below via Fantasia’s Facebook page, and be sure to check out their website at fantasiafestival.com for additional information.
****
Fantasia 2015:
36 Countries, 135 Features, and Nearly 300 Short Films
- Including 22 World Premieres,...
This year’s line-up boasts 22 World Premieres, 13 International Premieres, and 21 North American Premieres. Both Marvel’s Ant-Man and the animated Miss Hokusai were previously announced, but now they’ve added the much anticipated Attack on Titan movie as their closing night film. Other highlights include the Sundance darlings Cooties, starring Elijah Wood and Rainn Wilson, Cop Car, starring Kevin Bacon and directed by the upcoming Spider-man director Jon Watts, and a trio of films from horror auteur Sion Sono.
See the full line-up announcement of films below via Fantasia’s Facebook page, and be sure to check out their website at fantasiafestival.com for additional information.
****
Fantasia 2015:
36 Countries, 135 Features, and Nearly 300 Short Films
- Including 22 World Premieres,...
- 7/7/2015
- by Brian Welk
- SoundOnSight
Exclusive: Korea’s Mirovision has picked up international rights to romantic comedy My New Sassy Girl, the highly-anticipated sequel to 2001 hit My Sassy Girl.
A co-production between Korea’s Shincine and China’s Beijing Skywheel Media, the sequel stars the male lead of the original film, Cha Tae-hyun, and Victoria, a Chinese member of Korean pop band f(x).
Currently in post-production, the film is directed by Cho Keun-sik (Once In A Summer). The original My Sassy Girl was a huge hit across Asia and launched the career of actress Gianna Jun.
Mirovision has also picked up drama Canola (working title), directed by Chang, whose last film, The Target, played in official selection in Cannes 2014 as a Midnight Screening.
Starring Yoon Yeo-jung and Kim Go-eun, the story follows a grandmother who is reunited with her granddaughter who went missing for 12 years.
In addition, Mirovision is selling several two 40-minute animations, to be released...
A co-production between Korea’s Shincine and China’s Beijing Skywheel Media, the sequel stars the male lead of the original film, Cha Tae-hyun, and Victoria, a Chinese member of Korean pop band f(x).
Currently in post-production, the film is directed by Cho Keun-sik (Once In A Summer). The original My Sassy Girl was a huge hit across Asia and launched the career of actress Gianna Jun.
Mirovision has also picked up drama Canola (working title), directed by Chang, whose last film, The Target, played in official selection in Cannes 2014 as a Midnight Screening.
Starring Yoon Yeo-jung and Kim Go-eun, the story follows a grandmother who is reunited with her granddaughter who went missing for 12 years.
In addition, Mirovision is selling several two 40-minute animations, to be released...
- 5/14/2015
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Korea’s Showbox/Mediaplex has signed a string of pre-sales on Choi Dong-hoon’s Assassination, including North American rights, which have gone to Well Go USA.
The film, which stars Gianna Jun, Lee Jung-jae and Ha Jung-woo, has also been sold to China (Bona Film Distribution), Hong Kong (Edko Films), Taiwan (Moviecloud) and Singapore/Malaysia (Dream Movies).
It has also gone to Indonesia (Pt. Prima Cinema Multimedia), Thailand (Coral Culture Content) and The Philippines (Viva Communications).
Produced by Caper Films, Assassination is an espionage action film set in Shanghai and Seoul during Japanese occupation in 1933.
The story follows an ‘assassination clan’ ordered to kill a Japanese commander by the interim government of Korea.
The film is scheduled for a wide Korean release in July. Showbox only unveiled a teaser poster and short synopsis at Hong Kong Filmart in March and will screen the first trailer here in Cannes.
Choi Dong-hoon...
The film, which stars Gianna Jun, Lee Jung-jae and Ha Jung-woo, has also been sold to China (Bona Film Distribution), Hong Kong (Edko Films), Taiwan (Moviecloud) and Singapore/Malaysia (Dream Movies).
It has also gone to Indonesia (Pt. Prima Cinema Multimedia), Thailand (Coral Culture Content) and The Philippines (Viva Communications).
Produced by Caper Films, Assassination is an espionage action film set in Shanghai and Seoul during Japanese occupation in 1933.
The story follows an ‘assassination clan’ ordered to kill a Japanese commander by the interim government of Korea.
The film is scheduled for a wide Korean release in July. Showbox only unveiled a teaser poster and short synopsis at Hong Kong Filmart in March and will screen the first trailer here in Cannes.
Choi Dong-hoon...
- 5/13/2015
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
South Korea's Choi Dong-hun has arguably become the nation's most reliable purveyor of big time, high gloss popcorn cinema with just enough depth to keep even critics happy. Choi has delivered a string of big time hits in Korea - a string that most recently delivered box office record setter The Thieves - and that string appears very much intact with the upcoming Assassination.Ha Jung-woo, Gianna Jun and Lee Jung-jae star in this period set tale of Korean fighters living in hiding in 1933 Shanghai setting out to assassinate a Japanese military commander. Choi's cast - as per usual - is absolutely top notch and the first trailer promises exactly the sort of big budget entertainment that has become his trademark. Very slick and lots...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 4/30/2015
- Screen Anarchy
Following 2012's blockbuster caper hit The Thieves, director Choi Dong-hoon is back at it with the new period action-thriller Assassination. What's more, he's bringing his The Thieves stars Gianna Jun, Lee Jung-jae and Oh Dal-su with him, along with more star wattage in the form of Ha Jung-woo and Cho Jin-woong. Set in China and Korea during the 1930s, when the peninsula was a colony of Japan, Assassination revolves around a group of killers assembled by Korea's resistance fighters, whose mission is to wipe out targets supporting the Japanese occupation. Fresh off box office hits The Thieves and The Berlin File, Gianna Jun (aka Jeon Ji-hyeon), will lead the assassin's group, while Lee Jung-jae (New World, The Thieves) will be play a resistance fighter and...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 9/5/2014
- Screen Anarchy
This December 24th Ryoo Seung-wan’s The Berlin File is debuting on DVD from Cj Entertainment. The Berlin File stars Jung-woo Ha (winner of the Best Actor award for this performance at the 2013 Baek Sang Art Awards), Suk-kyu Han (Eye for an Eye), Seung-beom Ryu (Perfect Number, Doomsday Book) and Gianna Jun (The Thieves, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan). The bonus materials include deleted scenes and “The Making of The Berlin Files,” a behind-scene scenes featurette.
Synopsis
A tense illegal arms deal in a Berlin hotel suddenly descends into mayhem after a “ghost” agent named Jong-Seong (Jung-woo Ha) appears on the scene. Secretly watching the deal go down is embattled South Korean intelligence chief Jin-soo (Suk-Kyu Han), the North Koreans and the CIA, who are all left trying to decode whether the ghost is a double-agent or taking the fall for a more insidious plot. Myung-soo (Seung-beom Ryu) a young,...
Synopsis
A tense illegal arms deal in a Berlin hotel suddenly descends into mayhem after a “ghost” agent named Jong-Seong (Jung-woo Ha) appears on the scene. Secretly watching the deal go down is embattled South Korean intelligence chief Jin-soo (Suk-Kyu Han), the North Koreans and the CIA, who are all left trying to decode whether the ghost is a double-agent or taking the fall for a more insidious plot. Myung-soo (Seung-beom Ryu) a young,...
- 12/17/2013
- by Nermina Kulovic
- AsianMoviePulse
Plot75% Acting85% Directing80% Music75%Agile, cool spy thriller with great action scenes and interesting story development.A bit too shallow and safe. 79%Overall Score Reader Rating: (3 Votes)98%
I can’t say I’m disappointed in ‘The Berlin File’. Seung-wan Ryoo, its director, did everything I expected… but not everything that I wanted. And I can hardly blame him. Although espionage is nothing more than the dark side of politics, real politics are rarely addressed in spy movies, at least in a non-standardized and meaningful way. But, if you can ignore that, then it’s not a problem, really. So, why take the chance? Nobody expects to see politics in a movie, anyway. For me it was like watching a juggler flip three power saws… without turning them on. You can’t expect him to do it, but then again, why use power saws if not for the added risk? I don’t expect it,...
I can’t say I’m disappointed in ‘The Berlin File’. Seung-wan Ryoo, its director, did everything I expected… but not everything that I wanted. And I can hardly blame him. Although espionage is nothing more than the dark side of politics, real politics are rarely addressed in spy movies, at least in a non-standardized and meaningful way. But, if you can ignore that, then it’s not a problem, really. So, why take the chance? Nobody expects to see politics in a movie, anyway. For me it was like watching a juggler flip three power saws… without turning them on. You can’t expect him to do it, but then again, why use power saws if not for the added risk? I don’t expect it,...
- 11/24/2013
- by Miguel Angel Aijon
- AsianMoviePulse
DVD Release Date: Dec. 24, 2013
Price: DVD $26.98
Studio: Cj Entertainment
Ha Jung-woo goes for the gun in The Berlin File.
Korean action auteur Ryoo Seung-wan (City of Violence, Crying Fist) delivers his signature style to the East meets West double agent intrigue in the 2012 Korean action thriller film The Berlin File.
Exposed during an illegal arms trade gone wrong in Berlin, a North Korean “ghost” agent (Ha Jung-woo) finds himself in the cross-hairs of an international manhunt. Caught between his love of country and his wife (Gianna Jun), he must quickly prepare to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Along with Jung-woo Ha (winner of the Best Actor award for this performance at the 2013 Baek Sang Art Awards), the cast includes Suk-kyu Han (Eye for an Eye), Seung-beom Ryu (Perfect Number) and Gianna Jun (Snow Flower and the Secret Fan).
Presented in Korean with English subtitles, the DVD includes deleted scenes and “The Making of The Berlin Files,...
Price: DVD $26.98
Studio: Cj Entertainment
Ha Jung-woo goes for the gun in The Berlin File.
Korean action auteur Ryoo Seung-wan (City of Violence, Crying Fist) delivers his signature style to the East meets West double agent intrigue in the 2012 Korean action thriller film The Berlin File.
Exposed during an illegal arms trade gone wrong in Berlin, a North Korean “ghost” agent (Ha Jung-woo) finds himself in the cross-hairs of an international manhunt. Caught between his love of country and his wife (Gianna Jun), he must quickly prepare to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Along with Jung-woo Ha (winner of the Best Actor award for this performance at the 2013 Baek Sang Art Awards), the cast includes Suk-kyu Han (Eye for an Eye), Seung-beom Ryu (Perfect Number) and Gianna Jun (Snow Flower and the Secret Fan).
Presented in Korean with English subtitles, the DVD includes deleted scenes and “The Making of The Berlin Files,...
- 11/6/2013
- by Laurence
- Disc Dish
The 17th Puchon International Film Festival (PiFan) wrapped with Ben Wheatley’s Sightseers bagging the top Best of Puchon Award as well as the Best Actress Award for Alice Lowe.
The UK buzz film scooped up the cash prize of $13,500 (KW15m) which comes with the Best of Puchon Award.
Wheatley in a video message to PiFan said, “I want to thank you for supporting my films over the years and it’s really an honour to get an award from such a prestigious film festival. Thank you.”
Held in the city of Bucheon, about an hour’s drive from Seoul, PiFan holds onto the former official Romanized spelling of the city’s name, Puchon.
Singaporean director Eric Khoo, who headed the Puchon Choice: Feature category jury, said, “We’ve watched many interesting films and have been very inspired.”
His jury awarded Anurag Kashyap the Best Director Award (KW10m) for Indian film Ugly.
Joel Torre took the...
The UK buzz film scooped up the cash prize of $13,500 (KW15m) which comes with the Best of Puchon Award.
Wheatley in a video message to PiFan said, “I want to thank you for supporting my films over the years and it’s really an honour to get an award from such a prestigious film festival. Thank you.”
Held in the city of Bucheon, about an hour’s drive from Seoul, PiFan holds onto the former official Romanized spelling of the city’s name, Puchon.
Singaporean director Eric Khoo, who headed the Puchon Choice: Feature category jury, said, “We’ve watched many interesting films and have been very inspired.”
His jury awarded Anurag Kashyap the Best Director Award (KW10m) for Indian film Ugly.
Joel Torre took the...
- 7/26/2013
- by hjnoh2007@gmail.com (Jean Noh)
- ScreenDaily
Brontis Jodorowsky, Shinji Higuchi, Choi Yong-bae and Benjamin Illos also on jury
The 17th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan) has announced today its Puchon Choice feature competition jury will be headed by Singaporean director Eric Khoo (Tatsumi).
Khoo is joined by actor Brontis Jodorowsky (El Topo), son of Alejandro Jodorowsky who is the focus of a retrospective this year; Japanese filmmaker Shinji Higuchi, best known for his writing and storyboard art on Evangelion films, Korean producer Choi Yong-bae (The Host), and Benjamin Illos, member of the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight selection committee.
The Puchon Choice jury will award a total of $22,200 (KW25m) in six categories including best film, director, actor and actress.
PiFan also announced that this year’s Producers’ Choice awards will go to actor Lee Byung-hun (G.I. Joe, Masquerade) and actress Gianna Jun, a.k.a. Jun Ji-hyun (The Berlin File), upon the festival’s opening on July 18.
Launched last year, the annual...
The 17th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan) has announced today its Puchon Choice feature competition jury will be headed by Singaporean director Eric Khoo (Tatsumi).
Khoo is joined by actor Brontis Jodorowsky (El Topo), son of Alejandro Jodorowsky who is the focus of a retrospective this year; Japanese filmmaker Shinji Higuchi, best known for his writing and storyboard art on Evangelion films, Korean producer Choi Yong-bae (The Host), and Benjamin Illos, member of the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight selection committee.
The Puchon Choice jury will award a total of $22,200 (KW25m) in six categories including best film, director, actor and actress.
PiFan also announced that this year’s Producers’ Choice awards will go to actor Lee Byung-hun (G.I. Joe, Masquerade) and actress Gianna Jun, a.k.a. Jun Ji-hyun (The Berlin File), upon the festival’s opening on July 18.
Launched last year, the annual...
- 7/12/2013
- by hjnoh2007@gmail.com (Jean Noh)
- ScreenDaily
The Thieves (2012) Blu-ray Review, a movie directed by Choi Dong-Hoon, written by Choi Dong-Hoon, Lee Ki-Cheol, and starring Gianna Jun, Kim Hye-Su, Kim Soo Hyun, Kim Yun-Seok, Angelica Lee, Lee Jung-Jae, Oh Dal-Su, Kwok Cheung Tsang, and Simon Yam. Release Date: February 12, 2013 Film Review The Thieves is a fun crime caper well-deserving [...]
Continue reading: Blu-ray Review: The Thieves (2012): Choi Dong-Hoon, Simon Yam...
Continue reading: Blu-ray Review: The Thieves (2012): Choi Dong-Hoon, Simon Yam...
- 2/16/2013
- by Romney J. Baldwin
- Film-Book
Cold War Kids: Seung-wan’s Latest a Sprawlingly Plotted Encounter with Communism
For his first non-Korean set film, top notch action director Ryoo Seung-wan’s latest film, The Berlin File, still distinctly reflects his trademark style while reflecting a unique international focus of modern political intrigue. Once the protégé of Park Chan-wook in the 90s, Seung-wan has gone on to foster a successful reputation as one of the most notable new directors from South Korea, already having established his trademark as a master visualist, especially when it comes to some impressively staged action sequences. After the success of his 2010 film, The Unjust, which was one of the biggest moneymakers in South Korea that year, his latest shows an impressive shift in scope. However, like his last title, Seung-wan’s narrative also suffers from an overly intricate plot which sometimes hinders the otherwise kinetically paced narrative.
In a Berlin hotel,...
For his first non-Korean set film, top notch action director Ryoo Seung-wan’s latest film, The Berlin File, still distinctly reflects his trademark style while reflecting a unique international focus of modern political intrigue. Once the protégé of Park Chan-wook in the 90s, Seung-wan has gone on to foster a successful reputation as one of the most notable new directors from South Korea, already having established his trademark as a master visualist, especially when it comes to some impressively staged action sequences. After the success of his 2010 film, The Unjust, which was one of the biggest moneymakers in South Korea that year, his latest shows an impressive shift in scope. However, like his last title, Seung-wan’s narrative also suffers from an overly intricate plot which sometimes hinders the otherwise kinetically paced narrative.
In a Berlin hotel,...
- 2/15/2013
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
The Thieves Contest Giveaway Sweepstakes. This The Thieves Blu-ray contest, giveaway, sweepstakes illustrates The Thieves‘ release on DVD and Blu-ray on February 12, 2013. Dong-hoon Choi‘s The Thieves stars Simon Yam, Jeon Ji-hyun (aka Gianna Jun), Kim Yun-seok, Kim Hye-Soo, Lee Jung-Jae, Kim Hae-Suk, Oh Dal-Su, Kim Soo-Hyun, Angelica Lee, and Kwok Cheung [...]
Continue reading: Contest: The Thieves (2012) Blu-ray: Dong-hoon Choi, Simon Yam...
Continue reading: Contest: The Thieves (2012) Blu-ray: Dong-hoon Choi, Simon Yam...
- 2/13/2013
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
The Berlin File Trailer. Ryoo Seung-wan‘s The Berlin File (2013) movie trailer stars Gianna Jun, Ha Jeong-woo, Werner Daehn, John Keogh, and Numan Acar. The Berlin File‘s plot synopsis: “Exposed by their government, a North Korean spy and his wife attempt to escape pursuing Korean agents as they flee Berlin.” We previously published The Berlin [...]
Continue reading: The Berlin File (2013) Movie Trailer: Ryoo Seung-wan, Gianna Jun...
Continue reading: The Berlin File (2013) Movie Trailer: Ryoo Seung-wan, Gianna Jun...
- 1/29/2013
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
If you want a Bourne Identity-type thriller with a Korean twist, you’ve come to the right place. Cj Entertainment has released the trailer for the blockbuster spy thriller The Berlin File arriving in the States next month.
Ryoo Seung-wan’s latest film was shot on location in Berlin and Eastern Europe, starring Jung-woo Ha, Han Suk Kyu, Ryoo Seung-bum and Gianna Jun.
From the director of Arahan and City of Violence, Ryoo comes back to the genre with his most ambitious project yet and intends to deliver the twisty tale of political intrigue and personal redemption.
The Berlin Files is expected to make a big splash when it opens in South Korea on January 31st and will hit U.S. and Canadian theaters February 15th, 2013.
Check out the official Us trailer for Ryoo’s first film since 2010s The Unjust including trademarks like crazy violence and neo-noirish elements like...
Ryoo Seung-wan’s latest film was shot on location in Berlin and Eastern Europe, starring Jung-woo Ha, Han Suk Kyu, Ryoo Seung-bum and Gianna Jun.
From the director of Arahan and City of Violence, Ryoo comes back to the genre with his most ambitious project yet and intends to deliver the twisty tale of political intrigue and personal redemption.
The Berlin Files is expected to make a big splash when it opens in South Korea on January 31st and will hit U.S. and Canadian theaters February 15th, 2013.
Check out the official Us trailer for Ryoo’s first film since 2010s The Unjust including trademarks like crazy violence and neo-noirish elements like...
- 1/29/2013
- by Nick Martin
- Filmofilia
"A ghost?" Thanks to a tip from Quint on AICN, there's a trailer to watch for a spy-action-thriller film called The Berlin File, directed by Seung-wan Ryoo of films like The City of Violence, Crying Fist and No Blood No Tears. It pretty much looks like an action-packed Korean mix of Jason Bourne and James Bond in the tone of Infernal Affairs, which they sort of briefly make fun of anyway with that line about "arms deals, spying, assassination, deception." The cast includes Jung-woo Ha, Han Suk Kyu, Ryoo Seung-bum and Gianna Jun. It looks good, but the funniest part is the "revenge is a dish best served cold" line. Enjoy! Watch the official Us trailer for Seung-wan Ryoo's The Berlin File, on YouTube (via AICN): Action auteur Seung-wan Ryoo (Die Bad, No Blood No Tears, Crying Fist, The City of Violence) comes back to the genre with...
- 1/29/2013
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Korean action filmmaker Ryoo Seung-wan's "The Berlin File" will hit U.S. and Canadian theaters Feb. 15 via the American wing of Cj Entertainment, Korea's biggest entertainment firm. Indiewire has the exclusive trailer for the spy thriller below. In "The Berlin File," intelligence forces from North Korea, South Korea and the U.S. get pulled into an international conspiracy when an illegal arms deal goes bad in a Berlin hotel and a ghost agent appears in the middle of it. Han Suk-Kyu, Ryoo Seung-bum and Gianna Jun ("Blood: The Last Vampire") star. Ryoo Seung-wan co-wrote and directed "The City of Violence" in 2006.
- 1/28/2013
- by Jay A. Fernandez
- Indiewire
[Update: Added second trailer containing character spotlight and two making-of video.]Cj Entertainment has released the trailer for Ryoo Seung-wan's spy thriller The Berlin File, promoting it as Korea's most anticipated action blockbuster of 2013. From the director of Arahan and City of Violence, Ryoo intends to deliver a realistic and fast-paced espionage film reminiscent of The Bourne Identity. It's interesting to note that 40% of the dialogue is in English, and the film was shot almost entirely in Europe.The cast include Ha Jung-woo, Han Suk-kyu, Ryoo Seung-bum, and Gianna Jun. Stationed in Berlin, North Korean secret agent and weapons trader Pyo and his embassy staffer wife Ryon lead risky lives. When an arms deal with an Arab organization is exposed, Pyo's intuition tells him that...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 1/15/2013
- Screen Anarchy
“Arahan” and “Crying Fist” director Seung-wan Ryoo hops into the deadly spy game with the new South Korean actioner “The Berlin File”, starring some of South Korea’s powerhouse actors. The action doesn’t look too bad, either. Check out a brief 30-second teaser trailer for the film, which is set on location in Berlin, Germany, and from the looks of it, is going to be one intense thrill ride. The plot goes something like this: Exposed by their government, a North Korean spy and his wife attempt to escape pursuing Korean agents as they flee Berlin. The film stars Gianna Jun (of “Blood: The Last Vampire” fame, though she’s still much more famous worldwide for the romcom hit “My Sassy Girl”), Jung-woo Ha, Seung-beom Ryu, and Han Suk Kyu (no stranger to spy movies himself with hits like “Shiri” and “Double Agent” under his belt). South Korea gets...
- 1/14/2013
- by Nix
- Beyond Hollywood
The Berlin File Trailer. Ryoo Seung-wan‘s The Berlin File (2013) teaser trailer stars Ha Jeong-woo, Gianna Jun, Werner Daehn, John Keogh, and Numan Acar. The Berlin File‘s plot synopsis: “Exposed by their government, a North Korean spy and his wife attempt to escape pursuing Korean agents as they flee Berlin.” The Berlin File was “shot [...]
Continue reading: The Berlin File (2013) Teaser Trailer: Ha Jeong-woo, Ryoo Seung-wan...
Continue reading: The Berlin File (2013) Teaser Trailer: Ha Jeong-woo, Ryoo Seung-wan...
- 12/13/2012
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
The Thieves
Directed by Dong-Hoon Choi
South Korea, 2012
Philadelphia Film Festival
The second-highest grossing film in South Korean film history, Dong-Hoon Choi’s The Thieves is a fast-paced heist film in the recent American ensemble tradition of Ocean’s 11.
A group of Korean thieves led by Popeye (Jung-Jae Lee) are brought alongside a group of Chinese thieves with Chen (Simon Yam) at their helm to steal the famous “Tear of the Sun” diamond. Macau Park (Yun-seok Kim) is the mastermind behind it all, but he, Popeye, and Pepsi (Hye-su Kim), recently released from prison, have a history that will be sorted out.
The Thieves has a huge cast and nearly each individual crook receives his or her own share of screentime. Yenicall (Gianna Jun), Chewingum (Hae-suk Kim), and Zampano (Soo Hyun Kim) round out Popeye’s gang, playing the beautiful acrobat, the seasoned impersonator, and the handy technician respectively. On...
Directed by Dong-Hoon Choi
South Korea, 2012
Philadelphia Film Festival
The second-highest grossing film in South Korean film history, Dong-Hoon Choi’s The Thieves is a fast-paced heist film in the recent American ensemble tradition of Ocean’s 11.
A group of Korean thieves led by Popeye (Jung-Jae Lee) are brought alongside a group of Chinese thieves with Chen (Simon Yam) at their helm to steal the famous “Tear of the Sun” diamond. Macau Park (Yun-seok Kim) is the mastermind behind it all, but he, Popeye, and Pepsi (Hye-su Kim), recently released from prison, have a history that will be sorted out.
The Thieves has a huge cast and nearly each individual crook receives his or her own share of screentime. Yenicall (Gianna Jun), Chewingum (Hae-suk Kim), and Zampano (Soo Hyun Kim) round out Popeye’s gang, playing the beautiful acrobat, the seasoned impersonator, and the handy technician respectively. On...
- 10/30/2012
- by Neal Dhand
- SoundOnSight
The Thieves is a pleasant diversion that heaps on the twists, reaching a crescendo by the middle, but eventually crashes in a pileup of threadbare plot resolutions and sappy melodrama. Crashes of course can prove irresistible to look at, and such is the case with The Thieves. Director and co-writer Choi Dong-hun manages the feat of making even a ludicrous ending look rather sleek.
The movie opens on a heist squad led by Popeye (Jung-Jae Lee), who boosts an artifact from a tycoon smitten by conwoman Anycall (the gorgeous and capably comedic Gianna Jun, also of My Sassy Girl). The beginning sequence functions as the typical sort of hook that establishes how edgy and cool this movie will be – and there are enough antics with grappling hooks and a skintight uniform (set to a brassy, swinging soundtrack) to convince the audience. The main plot develops once Popeye unveils the next...
The movie opens on a heist squad led by Popeye (Jung-Jae Lee), who boosts an artifact from a tycoon smitten by conwoman Anycall (the gorgeous and capably comedic Gianna Jun, also of My Sassy Girl). The beginning sequence functions as the typical sort of hook that establishes how edgy and cool this movie will be – and there are enough antics with grappling hooks and a skintight uniform (set to a brassy, swinging soundtrack) to convince the audience. The main plot develops once Popeye unveils the next...
- 10/16/2012
- by Eric Wang
- JustPressPlay.net
It's like Ocean's Eleven. Only, in Korea.
Foreign movies are a tough sell for American audiences, we know. But that won't be a problem for The Thieves, Korea's highest-grossing movie of all time. After all, The Thieves stars Jung Jae Lee, Kim Yun Seok, and Gianna Jun (Snow Flower and the Secret Fan), and director Dong Hun Choi's last movie was the highly successful (in Korea) Juon Woo Chi!
Okay, so maybe The Thieves lacks a little name recognition here in the States, but consider The Raid: Redemption, an Indonesian action flick that was beloved by critics stateside and now has a sequel and an American remake in the works (and, if you like action movies and haven't seen it, you should probably correct that). We're not saying that The Thieves will have the same success, but after watching the movie's first trailer, it looks like it has potential.
Foreign movies are a tough sell for American audiences, we know. But that won't be a problem for The Thieves, Korea's highest-grossing movie of all time. After all, The Thieves stars Jung Jae Lee, Kim Yun Seok, and Gianna Jun (Snow Flower and the Secret Fan), and director Dong Hun Choi's last movie was the highly successful (in Korea) Juon Woo Chi!
Okay, so maybe The Thieves lacks a little name recognition here in the States, but consider The Raid: Redemption, an Indonesian action flick that was beloved by critics stateside and now has a sequel and an American remake in the works (and, if you like action movies and haven't seen it, you should probably correct that). We're not saying that The Thieves will have the same success, but after watching the movie's first trailer, it looks like it has potential.
- 10/14/2012
- by Ryan Gowland
- Reelzchannel.com
Thanks to our friends at Dream Movie Australia, we have Five double passes for the latest South Korean blockbuster The Thieves to give away to our Australian readers! Directed by Choi Dong-hoon, The Thieves has broken the box office record previously held by Bong Joon-ho's The Host to become the highest selling South Korean film of all time. It boasts an all-star cast including Gianna Jun, Kim Hae-suk, Kim Yun-seok, Kim Hye-su, Lee Jung-jae, Simon Yam and Oh Dal-su. How to win: It's really simple. All you have to do is email your name and postal address to me at: hugo@twitchfilm.net. The competition will close at midnight on Sunday October 14. The Thieves is distributed in Oz by Dream Movie Australia. The film is scheduled for release in...
- 10/12/2012
- Screen Anarchy
A casino heist film The Thieves, basically South Korea’s version of Ocean’s Eleven, with edge-of-your-seat moments has become the highest-grossing South Korean film in history.
With U.S. debut right around the corner we’re getting a look at the trailer and poster. The most successful South Korean filmmaker Choi Dong-hun’s (The Big Swindle) latest blockbuster, The Thieves features a ton of exotic locations, huge set pieces, and also a lot of double-dealing.
A gang of 10 thieves panning a heist to steal a precious necklace is played by the likes of Yun-seok Kim, Hye-soo Kim, Hye-su Kim, Gianna Jun, Jung-jae Lee, Simon Yam, Hae-sook Kim, Dal-soo Oh, Kwok Cheung Tsang and Soo Hyun Kim.
A U.S. release is scheduled in limited theaters for this week, October 12th, 2012.
Let’s see if The Thieves can break into America’s imagination as well as it done into Korea’s.
With U.S. debut right around the corner we’re getting a look at the trailer and poster. The most successful South Korean filmmaker Choi Dong-hun’s (The Big Swindle) latest blockbuster, The Thieves features a ton of exotic locations, huge set pieces, and also a lot of double-dealing.
A gang of 10 thieves panning a heist to steal a precious necklace is played by the likes of Yun-seok Kim, Hye-soo Kim, Hye-su Kim, Gianna Jun, Jung-jae Lee, Simon Yam, Hae-sook Kim, Dal-soo Oh, Kwok Cheung Tsang and Soo Hyun Kim.
A U.S. release is scheduled in limited theaters for this week, October 12th, 2012.
Let’s see if The Thieves can break into America’s imagination as well as it done into Korea’s.
- 10/8/2012
- by Nick Martin
- Filmofilia
Watch the trailer and see the poster for Dong-hoo Choi's The Thieves, starring Yun-seok Kim, Hye-soo Kim and Gianna Jun The Dong-hoo Choi film (Woochi, The Big Swindle, Tazza: The High Rollers) film is making Korean box office history; selling half a million ticktes on the first day, and over 10 million within the first three weeks.The film had the best opening day ever amd is the highest-grossing movie in Korea to date. Also in the cast of the Well Go USA release which opens in theaters on October 12, 2012, are Jung-jae Lee, Simon Yam, Hae-sook Kim, Dal-soo Oh and Angelica Lee.
- 10/8/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Watch the trailer and see the poster for Dong-hoo Choi's The Thieves, starring Yun-seok Kim, Hye-soo Kim and Gianna Jun The Dong-hoo Choi film (Woochi, The Big Swindle, Tazza: The High Rollers) film is making Korean box office history; selling half a million ticktes on the first day, and over 10 million within the first three weeks.The film had the best opening day ever amd is the highest-grossing movie in Korea to date. Also in the cast of the Well Go USA release which opens in theaters on October 12, 2012, are Jung-jae Lee, Simon Yam, Hae-sook Kim, Dal-soo Oh and Angelica Lee.
- 10/8/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Every thief for himself. Today's trailer comes from South Korea, a heist film called The Thieves, basically South Korea's version of Ocean's Eleven, with some fun little modern character twists. This one is set mostly in Macau, another casino city, and involves one big diamond and a gang of 10 thieves, played by the likes of Yun-seok Kim, Hye-soo Kim, Hye-su Kim, Gianna Jun, Jung-jae Lee, Simon Yam, Hae-sook Kim, Dal-soo Oh, Kwok Cheung Tsang and Soo Hyun Kim. This looks kind of fun, and interesting, but not necessarily to the levels of Ocean's Eleven. Nonetheless, it's still worth watching today - take a look! Watch the official Us trailer for Dong-Hoon Choi's The Thieves, in high def from Apple: It's the score of their lives--if they can pull it off. Five thieves at the top of their game, and the crew is assembling for their biggest job yet. Popie's...
- 10/7/2012
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
South Korea has a population of 48 million people*, and clearly, many of them are movie lovers.
Fans have been packing Korean theaters to see The Thieves, an action heist by director Dong-hoo Choi, making it the highest-grossing film in South Korea’s history, beating out Bong Joon-ho’s 2006 monster fable The Host. The Thieves, which premiered in North America last month at the Toronto International Film Festival, hits American theaters on Oct. 12, distributed by Well Go USA Entertainment.
Check out this exclusive poster, below, featuring nine key players in the movie, including South Korean known names Gianna Jun and Jung-jae Lee,...
Fans have been packing Korean theaters to see The Thieves, an action heist by director Dong-hoo Choi, making it the highest-grossing film in South Korea’s history, beating out Bong Joon-ho’s 2006 monster fable The Host. The Thieves, which premiered in North America last month at the Toronto International Film Festival, hits American theaters on Oct. 12, distributed by Well Go USA Entertainment.
Check out this exclusive poster, below, featuring nine key players in the movie, including South Korean known names Gianna Jun and Jung-jae Lee,...
- 10/4/2012
- by Solvej Schou
- EW - Inside Movies
Wendy Murdoch's sophomore film as producer close to landing at Sony Journey of a Thousand Miles is based on the memoir by Lang Lang, chronicling his climb to become the top pianist as well as the challenges he faced within the Chinese culture as well as his family. This marks the second film from Murdoch and producer Florence Sloan after 2011's Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, which Fox Searchlight Pictutres distributed. That film starred Bingbing Li, Gianna Jun, Vivian Wu and also included Hugh Jackman. Pic earned $1.3 million domestically, but overseas, it made over $10 million.
- 6/18/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Wendy Murdoch's sophomore film as producer close to landing at Sony Journey of a Thousand Miles is based on the memoir by Lang Lang, chronicling his climb to become the top pianist as well as the challenges he faced within the Chinese culture as well as his family. This marks the second film from Murdoch and producer Florence Sloan after 2011's Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, which Fox Searchlight Pictutres distributed. That film starred Bingbing Li, Gianna Jun, Vivian Wu and also included Hugh Jackman. Pic earned $1.3 million domestically, but overseas, it made over $10 million.
- 6/18/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
The Thieves Trailer, Poster, Photo. Choi Dong-hun‘s The Thieves (2012) teaser trailer, movie poster, movie photo stars Simon Yam, Jeon Ji-hyun (aka Gianna Jun), Kim Yun-seok, Kim Hye-Soo, and Lee Jung-Jae. The Thieves‘ plot synopsis: “Once Macau Park (Kim Yun-Seok) and Pepsi (Kim Hye-Soo) pulls off their next big heist the couple plans marry. But, while [...]
Continue reading: The Thieves (2012) Teaser Trailer, Poster, Photo: Choi Dong-hun...
Continue reading: The Thieves (2012) Teaser Trailer, Poster, Photo: Choi Dong-hun...
- 4/21/2012
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
Korea's Choi Dong-hoon proved beyond any doubt that he could turn out slick crime flicks with the best of them when he released Tazza: The High Rollers in 2006. But just in case you need a reminder he's back now with The Thieves.A country-hopping heist flick that features a gang of Korean criminals hitting a casino in Macau the cast features My Sassy Girl lead Jeon Ji-hyun (aka Gianna Jun) and Hong Kong star Simon Yam. Comparisons to Oceans Eleven began as soon as the concept of this one was announced and the just released teaser isn't going to discourage that one bit. Choi is aiming for pure big screen entertainment here and it looks like he's hitting his mark dead on....
- 4/19/2012
- Screen Anarchy
Previously going by the international name of ‘The Professionals‘, Kim Yun-seok’s new film ‘The Thieves‘ finally as a international teaser trailer.
Directed by Choi Dong-hoon
This is only the 4th film from director Choi , but with Woochi The Wizard and Tazza already on his CV, one can only expect this to be another highly entertaining romp from a man quickly going up the directing ranks.
Release Date: Summer 2012
Synopsis
Once Macau Park (Kim Yun-Seok) and Pepsi (Kim Hye-Soo) pulls off their next big heist the couple plans marry. But, while pulling off their heist, there is a mysterious crash. Pepsi winds up going to prison, while Macao Park leaves for Macau. Pepsi is then released from prison on a special pardon given on a special day.
Pepsi, Popeye (Lee Jung-Jae) and Anycall (Gianna Jun) then travel to Macau to steal a diamond worth 42 billion Won ($37 million Usd). In Macau,...
Directed by Choi Dong-hoon
This is only the 4th film from director Choi , but with Woochi The Wizard and Tazza already on his CV, one can only expect this to be another highly entertaining romp from a man quickly going up the directing ranks.
Release Date: Summer 2012
Synopsis
Once Macau Park (Kim Yun-Seok) and Pepsi (Kim Hye-Soo) pulls off their next big heist the couple plans marry. But, while pulling off their heist, there is a mysterious crash. Pepsi winds up going to prison, while Macao Park leaves for Macau. Pepsi is then released from prison on a special pardon given on a special day.
Pepsi, Popeye (Lee Jung-Jae) and Anycall (Gianna Jun) then travel to Macau to steal a diamond worth 42 billion Won ($37 million Usd). In Macau,...
- 4/19/2012
- by Tiger33
- AsianMoviePulse
From Zhang Yimou to Wayne Wang and Ang Lee, film-makers are playing a key part in reshaping China's relationship with its past
If history could be converted into stock options, China would have plenty to cash in: more than 4,000 years' worth. But the first round of big-budget films since the country's emergence as a 21st-century power have, mostly, taken the narrow view of those four millennia: unfailingly epic and hoarsely patriotic. 2002's Hero set the mould – shockingly, as it was directed by the former dissenter Zhang Yimou. Jet Li's nameless swordsman ultimately decides to abandon the film's central assassination because he realises that the king of Qin's dream to unify the whole of China is more important. It's not hard to detect the Communist party's beatific smile behind that plotline. As the noughties wore on, the martial arts in Yimou's films grew ever more formalised and claustrophobic, closer to...
If history could be converted into stock options, China would have plenty to cash in: more than 4,000 years' worth. But the first round of big-budget films since the country's emergence as a 21st-century power have, mostly, taken the narrow view of those four millennia: unfailingly epic and hoarsely patriotic. 2002's Hero set the mould – shockingly, as it was directed by the former dissenter Zhang Yimou. Jet Li's nameless swordsman ultimately decides to abandon the film's central assassination because he realises that the king of Qin's dream to unify the whole of China is more important. It's not hard to detect the Communist party's beatific smile behind that plotline. As the noughties wore on, the martial arts in Yimou's films grew ever more formalised and claustrophobic, closer to...
- 11/8/2011
- by Phil Hoad
- The Guardian - Film News
Weekend (18)
(Andrew Haigh, 2011, UK) Tom Cullen, Chris New. 97 mins
You could easily label this a gay Before Sunrise or suchlike, with its 48-hour, boy-meets-boy premise, but it deserves to be judged on its own merits. There's a beautiful naturalism to the way these two Londoners progress from random one-night stand to something deeper, through sex, drugs and revealing conversation. Despite the narrow focus, it speaks volumes about love, art and gay identity.
Tower Heist (12A)
(Brett Ratner, 2011, Us) Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Alan Alda. 104 mins
With Murphy's coaching, an all-star cast storms the high-rise fortress of Ponzi tyrant Alda in what could have been a great comedy for our times, but ends up just a mildly enjoyable one.
In Time (12A)
(Andrew Niccol, 2011, Us) Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, Cillian Murphy. 109 mins
Stylish, if logic-stretching, adventure set in a future where time is money and nobody looks older than 25.
The Future (12A)
(Miranda July,...
(Andrew Haigh, 2011, UK) Tom Cullen, Chris New. 97 mins
You could easily label this a gay Before Sunrise or suchlike, with its 48-hour, boy-meets-boy premise, but it deserves to be judged on its own merits. There's a beautiful naturalism to the way these two Londoners progress from random one-night stand to something deeper, through sex, drugs and revealing conversation. Despite the narrow focus, it speaks volumes about love, art and gay identity.
Tower Heist (12A)
(Brett Ratner, 2011, Us) Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Alan Alda. 104 mins
With Murphy's coaching, an all-star cast storms the high-rise fortress of Ponzi tyrant Alda in what could have been a great comedy for our times, but ends up just a mildly enjoyable one.
In Time (12A)
(Andrew Niccol, 2011, Us) Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, Cillian Murphy. 109 mins
Stylish, if logic-stretching, adventure set in a future where time is money and nobody looks older than 25.
The Future (12A)
(Miranda July,...
- 11/5/2011
- by Steve Rose
- The Guardian - Film News
Stilted English and a lack of basic human chemistry sink this gloopy, soft-focus film based on a Chinese-American novel about sisters past and present
Here is a very self-conscious attempt to bridge the Us-China divide through the medium of glossy, handsomely mounted cinema. Lisa See's Chinese-American novel about a laotong relationship, "sworn sisters" in 19th-century imperial China, has been given a contemporary spin by the addition of a parallel gal-pal friendship in modern-day Shanghai, played out by the same actors. You have to say that the period scenes are much more effective and, indeed, plausible, than the ponderous stuff set in the present which, among other things, makes the mistake of largely being conducted in uncomfortably stilted English. Li Bingbing does pretty well as the born-poor-but-ambitous Lily, who contracts with rich but doomed Snow Flower (Gianna Jun); but the message of empowerment in the face of male strictures is rather too obviously pointed up,...
Here is a very self-conscious attempt to bridge the Us-China divide through the medium of glossy, handsomely mounted cinema. Lisa See's Chinese-American novel about a laotong relationship, "sworn sisters" in 19th-century imperial China, has been given a contemporary spin by the addition of a parallel gal-pal friendship in modern-day Shanghai, played out by the same actors. You have to say that the period scenes are much more effective and, indeed, plausible, than the ponderous stuff set in the present which, among other things, makes the mistake of largely being conducted in uncomfortably stilted English. Li Bingbing does pretty well as the born-poor-but-ambitous Lily, who contracts with rich but doomed Snow Flower (Gianna Jun); but the message of empowerment in the face of male strictures is rather too obviously pointed up,...
- 11/4/2011
- by Andrew Pulver
- The Guardian - Film News
Rank the week of November 1st’s Blu-ray and DVD new releases against the best films of all-time: New Releases Cars 2
(Blu-ray & DVD | G | 2011)
Flickchart Ranking: #2213
Win Percentage: 48%
Times Ranked: 3502
Top-20 Rankings: 35
Directed By: John Lasseter
Starring: Larry the Cable Guy • Owen Wilson • Michael Caine • Emily Mortimer • Eddie Izzard
Genres: Action Comedy • Adventure • Adventure Comedy • Animation • Comedy • Family • Family-Oriented Adventure • Family-Oriented Comedy
Rank This Movie
Water For Elephants
(Blu-ray & DVD | PG13 | 2011)
Flickchart Ranking: #3022
Win Percentage: 51%
Times Ranked: 2226
Top-20 Rankings: 17
Directed By: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Reese Witherspoon • Robert Pattinson • Christoph Waltz • Paul Schneider • Hal Holbrook
Genres: Animal Picture • Drama • Romance • Romantic Drama
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Crazy Stupid Love
(Blu-ray & DVD | PG13 | 2011)
Flickchart Ranking: #816
Win Percentage: 57%
Times Ranked: 3830
Top-20 Rankings: 19
Directed By: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa
Starring: Steve Carell • Ryan Gosling • Julianne Moore • Emma Stone • Marisa Tomei
Genres: Comedy Drama • Comedy of Manners • Drama • Romance • Romantic Comedy
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Snow Flower And The Secret Fan...
(Blu-ray & DVD | G | 2011)
Flickchart Ranking: #2213
Win Percentage: 48%
Times Ranked: 3502
Top-20 Rankings: 35
Directed By: John Lasseter
Starring: Larry the Cable Guy • Owen Wilson • Michael Caine • Emily Mortimer • Eddie Izzard
Genres: Action Comedy • Adventure • Adventure Comedy • Animation • Comedy • Family • Family-Oriented Adventure • Family-Oriented Comedy
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Water For Elephants
(Blu-ray & DVD | PG13 | 2011)
Flickchart Ranking: #3022
Win Percentage: 51%
Times Ranked: 2226
Top-20 Rankings: 17
Directed By: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Reese Witherspoon • Robert Pattinson • Christoph Waltz • Paul Schneider • Hal Holbrook
Genres: Animal Picture • Drama • Romance • Romantic Drama
Rank This Movie
Crazy Stupid Love
(Blu-ray & DVD | PG13 | 2011)
Flickchart Ranking: #816
Win Percentage: 57%
Times Ranked: 3830
Top-20 Rankings: 19
Directed By: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa
Starring: Steve Carell • Ryan Gosling • Julianne Moore • Emma Stone • Marisa Tomei
Genres: Comedy Drama • Comedy of Manners • Drama • Romance • Romantic Comedy
Rank This Movie
Snow Flower And The Secret Fan...
- 11/1/2011
- by Jonathan Hardesty
- Flickchart
Snow Flower & The Secret Fan is released on 04 November 2011 on Blu-ray and DVD. We have 3 copies of the DVD to give away courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures.
Inspired by the bestselling novel Snow Flower And The Secret Fan by Lisa See, the film is a timeless portrait of female friendship. In 19th-century China, seven-year-old girls Snow Flower and Lily are matched as laotong – or “old sames” – bound together for eternity. Isolated by their families, they furtively communicate by taking turns writing in a secret language, nu shu, between the folds of a white silk fan.
In a parallel story in present day Shanghai, the laotong’s descendants, Nina and Sophia, struggle to maintain the intimacy of their own childhood friendship in the face of demanding careers, complicated love lives, and a relentlessly evolving Shanghai. Drawing on the lessons of the past, the two modern women must understand the story of their ancestral connection,...
Inspired by the bestselling novel Snow Flower And The Secret Fan by Lisa See, the film is a timeless portrait of female friendship. In 19th-century China, seven-year-old girls Snow Flower and Lily are matched as laotong – or “old sames” – bound together for eternity. Isolated by their families, they furtively communicate by taking turns writing in a secret language, nu shu, between the folds of a white silk fan.
In a parallel story in present day Shanghai, the laotong’s descendants, Nina and Sophia, struggle to maintain the intimacy of their own childhood friendship in the face of demanding careers, complicated love lives, and a relentlessly evolving Shanghai. Drawing on the lessons of the past, the two modern women must understand the story of their ancestral connection,...
- 10/19/2011
- by Matt Holmes
- Obsessed with Film
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