Young love lives or dies with one decision in ‘If I Stay’

Manipulative, contrived, melodramatic ― all labels we slap on that most perfectly titled movie genre, “the weeper.” All fit “If I Stay” like original packaging. Teenage girls and the boys who want to date them need to discover the pleasures of a well-executed teen weeper for themselves, and this film fills the bill.Chloe Grace Moretz takes on her first real star-vehicle romance in this adaptation of Gayle Forman’s novel. Moretz is Mia, a Portland, Oregon, high school cello prodigy who, 12 minute

FilmAug. 22, 2014

Box Office

The Letters (U.S.)Opened Aug. 21 Drama, Directed by William RieadBased on Mother Teresa’s letters to her spiritual mentor, Father Celeste van Exem, over a 50-year period, “The Letters” is a biopic of her life in Calcutta, India. The film reveals that Mother Teresa had struggles with faith and doubts about God despite being a woman of strong faith. She was distressed when she left home in Albania at a young age to become a nun and felt agony over the hardships of the abandoned and the dying on th

FilmAug. 22, 2014

Eyelike: Amy Grant shows another side with remixes

Amy Grant shows another side with remixesAmy Grant“In Motion -- The Remixes”(Sparrow/Capitol)Amy Grant never has shied away from experimentation and change. Having transformed herself from devout singer-songwriter to upbeat pop star more than 20 years ago, she now leaps from the reflective tone of recent work to the electronic dance music beat of “In Motion -- The Remixes,” which gives a glow-stick tweak to her catalog of hits. A Christian music star who balances sensitive reflection with positi

PerformanceAug. 22, 2014

Last colony standing

When I told people I was going to Macau over a long weekend, I got some strange looks. To explain myself, I said I was a fan of Portuguese egg tarts, but they weren’t convinced. I could tell that they suspected me of being a compulsive gambler.In truth, I was intrigued by the fact that Macau had been the last remaining colony in Asia, only being taken over officially from Portugal in 1999. Currently, it fits into the megalithic Chinese state as one of two SARS ― Special Administrative Regions. T

TravelAug. 22, 2014

Museum of Gasoline Pumps an homage to a father

BUELLTON, California ― He may not self-identify as a philosopher, being a proud gearhead and gas-station grease monkey at heart, but Mark Mendenhall was nothing if not profound when he looked around and took stock of all he surveyed.“You can have 4,000 signs,” he said, a quick head nod left and right to walls covered floor-to-ceiling with what collectors call petroliana, “but if you don’t got a place to display ’em, you just gotta garage full of junk.”Junk? At the Mendenhall Museum, freeway clos

TravelAug. 22, 2014

Plenty of protein and beer at Bana 1924

Bana 1924, which opened in Sinsa-dong on July 25, serves up craft beer and rib-sticking fare from its quiet, posh nook. It is the kind of watering hole for folks who want to linger over a cold glass or two in a spot that feels more like an old neighborhood haunt than an establishment smack dab in the bustling heart of Seoul. Sporting a terrace and olive-and-beige accented interior, the new gastropub is neither casual nor formal but somewhere pleasantly in between. Several craft beers are availab

FoodAug. 22, 2014

Kkaennip kimchi (perilla kimchi)

Kkaennip kimchi (perilla kimchi) (Korean Bapsang)Kkaennip is a fragrant herb that is widely used as a vegetable in Korean cuisine. It is a variety of perilla, which is a member of the mint family, and has a distinct, robust flavor. The fresh leaves are usually used as ssam (wraps) for grilled meat or fish, or added to other dishes such as bibim guksu (spicy noodles), savory pancakes or jjigae (stews) for extra flavor. However, pickling kkaennip, either as jangajji or kimchi, is hugely popular in

FoodAug. 22, 2014

Around the hotels

Chuseok holiday feast at Sheraton Seoul D Cube City HotelSheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel’s buffet restaurant Feast presents Korean traditional Chuseok cuisine in celebration of the holiday from Sept. 7-8. The hotel chefs will present Chuseok holiday menus such as galbijjim braised beef rib, japchae noodles and various kinds of jeon pancakes. The dessert section will present a wide variety of traditional Korean desserts, including rice cakes, persimmon, soojeonggwa cinnamon punch and sikhye, a s

FoodAug. 22, 2014

Ice Bucket Challenge drenching Korea

Suzy (JYP Youtube)Yoo Jae-suk (Actor Lee Kwang-soo’s Facebook)K-pop idol Suzy, “Roaring Currents” actor Choi Min-sik and comedian Yoo Jae-suk are among the many Korean celebrities who have had buckets of ice water poured over their heads, joining the viral worldwide sensation to raise funds and awareness for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease. The Ice Bucket Challenge asks people to make a recording of themselves getting drenched with ice water, post it onli

Aug. 22, 2014

Kim Hyun-joong to hold concert despite assault controversy

South Korean singer and actor Kim Hyun-joong, who has been sued for assaulting his girlfriend, will hold a concert in Thailand as scheduled despite the controversy over the alleged charges. 　Kim is flying out to Bangkok, Thailand, on Aug. 23 to participate in the concert slated for the following day as part of his world tour. 　 (OSEN)“Regarding the concert, it is difficult for us to (cancel) concert schedules due to terms and conditions with local agencies. We will hold the concert as scheduled,

Aug. 22, 2014

Winner’s debut EP tops Billboard chart

K-pop boy band Winner has topped the Billboard World Albums chart with its debut album on Friday, becoming the fastest Korean rookie group to take No.1 on the chart.The quintet’s debut EP “2014 S/S” rose to the top of the chart, and ranked No. 6 on its Heatseekers Albums chart the same day, proving the new group has been receiving global attention.　 (YG Entertainment)Winner is creating a frenzy at home as well. Shortly after the group dropped its debut EP on Aug. 12, the title track “Empty” swep

Aug. 22, 2014

Yoochun spotted at airport

K-pop idol band JYJ’s Yoochun was sighted at Incheon International Airport before flying out to Beijing, China for an upcoming concert to be held on Aug. 23. JYJ is now on its Asia concert tour “The Return of The King” that kicked off in Seoul on Aug. 9 shortly after the release of its second studio album “Just Us” on July 29.　The trio will head to Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand after China.　(laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)

Aug. 22, 2014

Kim Hyun-joong accused of attacking girlfriend

Actor and singer Kim Hyun-joong has been accused of using violence against his girlfriend, Dispatch reported Friday.According to the report, Kim is suspected of having committing physical abuse from May to July. His girlfriend recently filed assault charges against him at the Songpa Police Station in southeastern Seoul.“The two had been a couple since 2012. Since last May, Kim has fought with his girlfriend over his women issues. During their fights, Kim used severe physical violence against her

Aug. 22, 2014

Comedy-action movie 'The Pirates' tops 5 million viewers

The comedy-action film "The Pirates" has topped 5 million in attendance, helping lead Korean movie sales along with the mega hit history film "Roaring Currents," according to its distributor Friday.The action film with the subtitle "Bandits Going to the Sea" reached the mark early Friday morning, Lotte Entertainment said.Friday was the 17th day since the movie's release.With the latest feat, the film exceeded the break-even point with profits fully covering all investments.It also became the thi

Aug. 22, 2014

Researchers come across trove of Buddhist artifacts

South Korean researchers said Thursday they have uncovered dozens of artifacts used in Buddhist ceremonies nearly a millennium ago, as they begin to unravel the mystery behind an ancient shrine where they were discovered.The 77 artifacts include a vajra, a type of club with ribbed spherical heads, bells and censers thought to be from the Joseon era (1392-1910), or possibly even earlier.Researchers at the Seoul Institute of Cultural Heritage were wrapping up an archaeological field survey on Dobo

CultureAug. 21, 2014

‘Love Is Strange’ is tender, meandering

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― A gay couple who have been together for almost four decades are separated ― at least physically ― by factors beyond their control in “Love Is Strange,” the latest tender and meandering exploration of human relationships from indie darling Ira Sachs (“Keep the Lights On,” “Forty Shades of Blue”). Set in the Big Apple, this is a sprawling yet intimate narrative, constructed almost entirely of in-between moments rather than the big turning points and tragedies. The starting point

FilmAug. 21, 2014

Korean minimalism on view in Beijing

“Slow, Same, Slow #2205” by Moon BeomMoon jar by Lee Ki-joKorean minimalist abstract paintings and white porcelain moon jars are on exhibit at the Korean Culture Center in Beijing, offering an insight into the spirit and materials that form the basis of Korean modern art. The exhibition “Empty Fulfillment: Materiality and Spirit of Korean Contemporary Art” showcases 11 Dansaekhwa paintings, minimalist abstract paintings and five moon jars ― white porcelains dubbed as such for resembling a full m

PerformanceAug. 21, 2014