"Is he somebody I can trust?" Disney+ in Korea and Hulu in the US (and Star elsewhere around the world) have just premiered another sneaky sci-fi series from Korea titled Blood Free. The original Korean title is actually Dominant Species, but had to drop that for the English title. A former bodyguard is recruited to protect the CEO of a lab-grown meat company who's also a survivor of an attack that changed his own life. Humans have consumed animal meat for millions of years. Bf, a bio-technology company that started the era of artificially cultured meat, dominates the market, and people who doubt the Bf CEO's actions begin to appear one after another, both inside & outside. The series tells of a world of superior genes & viruses where all food is consumed in the form of a pill. Following those who harbor suspicions on the whereabouts of the CEO of Bf,...
- 4/14/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Quite an unusual production, Kim Jong-kwan’s fifth movie, after a hiatus of 3 years, is a distinctly art-house production that also functions though, as a road movie, an omnibus, and a melodrama.
“Shades of the Heart” is available from Echelon Studios
After getting divorced overseas, and still in pain from the death of his child, Chang-seok returns to Seoul after 7 years of absence, having a vague idea in his mind to write a new novel, about his own life. Upon his return he stumbles upon four people. In a subway station, he meets Mi-yeong who recollects their meeting and their past together. His editor, Yoo-jin, who was actually his “student” in the past, also reminisces about it, while smoking with him in a rural-like location. Next, he meets photographer Seong-ha, who is taking care of his ill wife, and his despair has led to some extreme thoughts. Lastly, Joo-eun, who...
“Shades of the Heart” is available from Echelon Studios
After getting divorced overseas, and still in pain from the death of his child, Chang-seok returns to Seoul after 7 years of absence, having a vague idea in his mind to write a new novel, about his own life. Upon his return he stumbles upon four people. In a subway station, he meets Mi-yeong who recollects their meeting and their past together. His editor, Yoo-jin, who was actually his “student” in the past, also reminisces about it, while smoking with him in a rural-like location. Next, he meets photographer Seong-ha, who is taking care of his ill wife, and his despair has led to some extreme thoughts. Lastly, Joo-eun, who...
- 1/9/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Oscar-winning director Bong Joon-ho was on hand to present an award to Im Kwon-taek as part of the Wednesday night opening ceremony of the Busan International Film Festival. The in-person event included many of the trappings of past ceremonies, but it was smaller due to reduced numbers and ongoing social distancing precautions.
Held at the huge open-sided Busan Cinema Center venue, proceedings kicked off with a lengthy parade of celebrities and dignitaries along an L-shaped red carpet that resembled an oversized fashion runway.
Ambassadors for Korean fashion brand Artistry were first up, setting the mood for a still glamorous event. They were followed by the directors and cast of selected Korean independent films, by an obviously delighted Japanese director Hamaguchi Ryusuke and three actors from his recent film “Drive My Car.” A smattering of overseas visitors included Sabrina Baracetti from the Udine festival of Asian films in Italy. The New...
Held at the huge open-sided Busan Cinema Center venue, proceedings kicked off with a lengthy parade of celebrities and dignitaries along an L-shaped red carpet that resembled an oversized fashion runway.
Ambassadors for Korean fashion brand Artistry were first up, setting the mood for a still glamorous event. They were followed by the directors and cast of selected Korean independent films, by an obviously delighted Japanese director Hamaguchi Ryusuke and three actors from his recent film “Drive My Car.” A smattering of overseas visitors included Sabrina Baracetti from the Udine festival of Asian films in Italy. The New...
- 10/7/2021
- by Rebecca Souw
- Variety Film + TV
Festival’s 26 th edition runs October 6-15.
South Korea’s Busan International Film Festival (Biff) is launching its On Screen section which will carry premieres of high-profile drama series that will later be streamed on Ott video platforms.
Biff, whose 26th edition will be held October 6-15, said the section “aims to precisely reflect the current state of the market, which is expanding multi-directionally, while embracing the extended flow and value of cinema” and should be “able to present more diverse and higher-quality works to the audience, whose range of fandom is expanding”.
The inaugural On Screen Section will launch...
South Korea’s Busan International Film Festival (Biff) is launching its On Screen section which will carry premieres of high-profile drama series that will later be streamed on Ott video platforms.
Biff, whose 26th edition will be held October 6-15, said the section “aims to precisely reflect the current state of the market, which is expanding multi-directionally, while embracing the extended flow and value of cinema” and should be “able to present more diverse and higher-quality works to the audience, whose range of fandom is expanding”.
The inaugural On Screen Section will launch...
- 8/26/2021
- by Jean Noh
- ScreenDaily
“Hellbound,” the TV series debut of “Train to Busan” director Yeon Sang-ho, is one of three shows to be showcased in the new On Screen section of the Busan International Film Festival. The festival also announced that its Asian Contents & Film Market will operate in similar fashion to last year in a hybrid format.
The On Screen section is intended to “showcase highly anticipated drama series on Ott platforms as either world premieres or Asia premieres,” the festival said. This “precisely reflects the current state of the market, which is expanding multi-directionally, while embracing the extended flow and value of cinema.”
The two other new shows are “My Name,” from Kim Jin-min (Netflix’s “Extracurricular”), and youth drama “Forbidden,” which was co-directed by Thailand’s Anucha Boonyawatana and Korean-American, Josh Kim.
“Hellbound” and “My Name” are both Korean dramas set to play out on Netflix, while “Forbidden” is an HBO Asia original series.
The On Screen section is intended to “showcase highly anticipated drama series on Ott platforms as either world premieres or Asia premieres,” the festival said. This “precisely reflects the current state of the market, which is expanding multi-directionally, while embracing the extended flow and value of cinema.”
The two other new shows are “My Name,” from Kim Jin-min (Netflix’s “Extracurricular”), and youth drama “Forbidden,” which was co-directed by Thailand’s Anucha Boonyawatana and Korean-American, Josh Kim.
“Hellbound” and “My Name” are both Korean dramas set to play out on Netflix, while “Forbidden” is an HBO Asia original series.
- 8/25/2021
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
The Korean writer and director team of Choi Suk-kwan and Lee Joon-ik had already established themselves as box office smashers with “Radio Days” and “The King and the Clown”, when they decided to shoot “The Happy Life”, and with actors like Kim Yoon-seok, Jung Ji-young and Kim Sang-ho the result was predefined as highly entertaining, a prediction it fulfilled utterly.
Gi-yeong is an unemployed slob that owes money due to a number of unsuccessful investments in the stock market, has utterly leaned upon his wife for financial support and has trouble with his adolescent daughter. However, when he is informed that Sang-woo, the leader of his college band has died, he attends a funeral where a drunken reunion among the former band members takes place, which gives him the idea to reinstate the band, Active Volcano. His former comrades though are not so eager, due to their business and financial engagements.
Gi-yeong is an unemployed slob that owes money due to a number of unsuccessful investments in the stock market, has utterly leaned upon his wife for financial support and has trouble with his adolescent daughter. However, when he is informed that Sang-woo, the leader of his college band has died, he attends a funeral where a drunken reunion among the former band members takes place, which gives him the idea to reinstate the band, Active Volcano. His former comrades though are not so eager, due to their business and financial engagements.
- 7/27/2021
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Kingdom Trailer Netflix‘s Kingdom (2019) teaser trailer stars Ji-hoon Ju, Doona Bae, Seung-ryong Ryu, Sang-ho Kim, and Joon-ho Heo. Kingdom‘s plot synopsis: “The deceased king rises and a mysterious plague begins to spread. The prince must face a new breed of enemies to unveil the evil and save his people.” Seong-hun Kim‘s Kingdom also stars Seok-ho Jeon [...]
Continue reading: Kingdom (2019) Teaser Trailer: Chosun Dynasty Crown Prince Ji-hoon Ju Battles a Zombie Outbreak [Netflix]...
Continue reading: Kingdom (2019) Teaser Trailer: Chosun Dynasty Crown Prince Ji-hoon Ju Battles a Zombie Outbreak [Netflix]...
- 11/9/2018
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
Fabricated City Review Fabricated City (2017) Film Review from the 16th Annual New York Asian Film Festival, a movie directed by Kwang-Hyun Park, and starring Chang-wook Ji, Sang-Ho Kim, Eun-Kyung Shim, Jeong-Se Oh, Jae-Hong Ahn, Min-Jung Bae, Ha-Nui Lee, Min-gyo Kim, Seul-gi Kim, Won-cheol Shim, and Ho-jung Kim. Fabricated City opened with a bang, and ended with a bang; but was at [...]
Continue reading: Film Review: Fabricated City: Trippy Journey, Comedown Destination [Nyaff 2017]...
Continue reading: Film Review: Fabricated City: Trippy Journey, Comedown Destination [Nyaff 2017]...
- 8/1/2017
- by Sam Joseph
- Film-Book
Ordinary Person Review Ordinary Person (2015) Film Review from the 16th Annual New York Asian Film Festival, a movie directed by Kim Bong-Han, starring Hyeon Ju-Son, Sang-Ho Kim, Hyuk Jang, Dal-Hwan Jo, Seung-Hyeon Ji, Man-Sik Jeong, Yoon-So Choi, Ji-il Park, and Mi-ran Ra. Ordinary Person was a creeping political thriller, that may lull some viewers into not recognizing it as such, at first. [...]
Continue reading: Film Review: Ordinary Person: The Slow Blade that Cuts Deep [Nyaff 2017]...
Continue reading: Film Review: Ordinary Person: The Slow Blade that Cuts Deep [Nyaff 2017]...
- 7/15/2017
- by Sam Joseph
- Film-Book
For some, the name Bong Joon-ho is enough to garner interest, whether he is directing, producing, or scripting. He has handled the latter two in Sung-bo Shim‘s (who co-penned Bong’s Memories of Murder), which has now been given its first U.S. trailer ahead of a domestic release. The trailer shows a fisherman down on his luck who once again engages in human smuggling between China and Korea. An official selection at Tiff back in 2014 and now finally landing in the U.S. this summer, the trailer promises a taut, beautifully shot thriller.
We said in our review: “Both atmospheric and claustrophobic, the thriller is expertly lensed by cinematographer Hong Kyung-pyo (Mother, Snowpiercer) and tensely paced by editors Kim Sang-bum and Kim Jae-bum. The influence of Bong is apparent throughout the film, yet Shim’s direction is top notch and a text book example of misdirection. While the...
We said in our review: “Both atmospheric and claustrophobic, the thriller is expertly lensed by cinematographer Hong Kyung-pyo (Mother, Snowpiercer) and tensely paced by editors Kim Sang-bum and Kim Jae-bum. The influence of Bong is apparent throughout the film, yet Shim’s direction is top notch and a text book example of misdirection. While the...
- 7/12/2016
- by Mike Mazzanti
- The Film Stage
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