Films are highly anticipated for different reasons. Sometimes for the story and sometimes for the actors. In the case of YOU PET (너는 펫) I feel it was completely both. If you’re a fan of most popular contemporary Korean actors then you can’t beat the combination of self proclaimed Asia prince Jang Geun Seok and comedy queen Kim Ha-Neul. On top of that the story is about a man who agrees to be a house pet to a lonely older woman in exchange for free room and board, something that I was definitely curious to see pan out on screen. I recently watched this movie with all of those expectations in tow and so after watching I have a few things to say but first let me give you a little more background. (more…)

For me there are three types of films. The class ‘A’ executive film, class ‘B’ managerial film and the class ‘C’ administrative film. Each is categorized according to their intent. That intent could be to generate blockbuster income, putting a high cheek-boned-twenty-something with a known veteran or see if an up & coming cast can hold their own as the main stars. Well director Chris Gorak’s new film, THE DARKEST HOUR, definitely falls in the class ‘C’ category while getting a solid ‘A’ for effort.

Emile Hirsh plays Sean, a young software executive who is traveling to Moscow to present a new Smartphone application. However, after being undermined by a trusted partner, he and his co-creator/best friend, played by Max Minghella, decide to indulge in some liquid consultation and blow off steam. The night progressed with pep talks, confrontations, and girl hunting. And who better to aim your sights than the Hepburn-like poise of Olivia Thirlby or the hypnotic grace of Rachael Taylor. But no time was wasted on boyish charms and girly flattery because the aliens came raining down…literally! (more…)

For the past few years I have started to contribute my Best of the Year list and article, something I never used to do because (a) I didn’t write about current cinema and (b) I never saw enough new films from a given year to make a worthwhile list. That has been changing, and this year I’ve already seen well over fifty films and seasons of television. There are two reasons for this. One is the two major festivals that I attend here in Korea, one in May in Jeonju and the other in October in Busan. The other is the greater availability of media in digital form. Of my favorites of the year, most were seen at festivals, and a few of the others through downloads. The regular multiplex is becoming an increasingly rare place to see great cinema, with only one such example for me this year. Of course, I still haven’t seen all of the major releases as they are unavailable here, but overall I think my list is strong, with some films that are otherwise ignored by mainstream critics in North America. With that said, here is the year in film/TV from a Canadian ex-pat in Korea.

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Starting next Thursday, Jan. 12th and continuing until the end of February is one of the best events of the year for Seoul cinephiles: The Cinematheque Friends Film Festival. Every year, numerous Korean directors, actors and other supporters of the institute select a film to screen, and usually arrange a day in which to discuss the film as well. Unfortunately, most of this is in Korean and without translators, but it is still a great chance to see a wide and eclectic selection from cinema history. This year’s festival includes 33 films, many of which are in English or with subtitles. The full list is below, in my order of anticipation, with links and screening dates/times. The link to the cinematheque website is here.

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Coming of age films were a huge part of the Korean breakout hits of 2011.  These dark horses have not only won film critics’ praise for months but have had audiences talking too.  One of the main ones among all the buzz was SUNNY (써니).  SUNNY is officially one of the highest grossing films of 2011 in Korea.  The funny thing is no matter how much I heard about the film’s popularity I could never quite get an idea of what the movie was about.  Some people said it was a musical, some said a comedy and some said a drama.  After seeing it, I would say it’s a mixture of all three but still not the best film as a whole.  I’ll get into that later but now lets talk about the people behind the movie.

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In recent years my love of romantic comedies has waned.  Yes, even us women can get overwhelmed with the unrealistic sappiness, but if the story seems interesting then I may give it a chance.  Especially, if it’s a blending of genres.  You would think that some genres are impossible to blend.  A thriller may occasionally be funny and a comedy can sometimes be sad, but you would never think that a romantic comedy could also be scary.  Even if they could be combined, any attempt of doing so would be a disaster.  Right?  Actually, no.  Let’s look at the current box office sensation CHILLING ROMANCE (오싹한 연애).  Also going by the name SPELLBOUND this movie is the brainchild and directorial debut of scriptwriter Hwang In-Ho.  For an idea that would seem to revolve around shock value, CHILLING ROMANCE turned out to be quite a fun experience. (more…)

“Your mission, should you choose to accept it.”   What would happen if an agent said “NO?” Would they be fired?  Is this an act punishable by death?  Well, like it or not, Tom Cruise accepted and Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol has arrived. Cruise is Ethan Hunt as he leads a new team of agents to save the world from nuclear crisis.  With a notoriously brutal enemy and being framed for the explosion of the Kremlin, the IMF team has to infiltrate and succeed.  They have to do so with limited funding, malfunctioning equipment, and the looming truth that if caught they will be branded as terrorists.

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War. The word alone can evoke images of bombs, gunfire and broken homes. It’s sad that these images also make for some of the most captivating movies. Jang Hun’s THE FRONT LINE (고지전) should go down on record as one of the most captivating of all. Since it’s the winner of South Korea’s Oscar, the Grand Bell Award, for best picture and South Korea’s 2012 Academy Award submission you better believe I started watching this movie with high expectations. Director Jang Hun has only got three films under his belt as director, including this one, and having seen his previous works I knew that there was only a 50/50 chance of me liking this film. He has now made me a fan.
THE FRONT LINE is set during the Korean War in 1953. Although a ceasefire has been in order since 1951 the North and the South continue to battle over Aerok Hill. The piece of land is a strategic point in marking the border between the North and the South and the battles for it become more and more vicious as the ownership of the hill constantly changes hands between the two countries. Soldier Kang Eun-Pyo, played by Shin Ha-Gyun, is dispatched to the the front line partly as punishment for insubordination and partly to investigate a suspicious case. When he arrives he is reunited with his old friend Kim Soo-Hyeok, popular actor Ko Soo, whom he thought was missing in action for 3 years. While he’s there he gets caught up in the fighting frenzy and sees how it’s changed his once sensitive old friend into a cold war machine. (more…)