[New on the scene] Martial arts director-turned-filmmaker confident of Don Lee’s international appeal

The post-apocalyptic action film "Badland Hunters," which topped the Netflix global chart immediately after its release on Jan. 26, is a work by director Heo Myeong-haeng and his longtime partner, actor Don Lee, also known as Ma Dong-seok. “We were looking for something to do together and because he (Lee) works often on new scenarios, he discovered this story and suggested we do it together,” Heo told The Korea Herald in an interview in Seoul on Tuesday. Having spent more

Feb. 1, 2024

More Korean actors debut in Hollywood, changing Asian representation there

In recent years, the Hollywood debuts of Don Lee and Park Seo-joon in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Blackpink's Jennie starring in the HBO drama “The Idol,” were feted as huge feats in Korea, never mind that their appearances lasted just minutes. Recent wins at major film festivals by creators and actors of Korean descent -- Korean Canadian director Celine Song of “Past Lives” and Korean American director Lee Seong-jin and actor Steven Yeun of “Beef”

Jan. 31, 2024

[Herald Review] Unclear message of 'Dog Days' disappoints, but fine acting saves the day

A heartwarming tear-jerker with cute, adorable dogs might just be enough to chase away the February cold. In "Dog Days," the different stories of the characters gradually converge as the plot progresses. Renowned architect Min-seo (played by Youn Yuh-jung), who has lost her only family, her beloved dog, embarks on a journey to find the dog. Seon-yong (played by Jung Sung-hwa) and Jeong-ah (played by Kim Yun-jin), a couple who struggle to connect with their newly adopted daughter, fin

Jan. 31, 2024

[Herald Review] Awesome action lifts dull plot of 'Badland Hunters'

For a popcorn flick this weekend, Netflix original film “Badland Hunters,” Don Lee’s first project with the global streaming platform, might be the ideal answer. Set in a post-earthquake Seoul where society has collapsed, fearless hunter Nam-san (Lee, better known in Korea as Ma Dong-seok) goes out to rescue Soo-na (Roh Jeong-eui), a teenager who has been kidnapped by Yang Gi-soo (Lee Hee-joon), a crazy doctor. “D.P” and “Mask Girl” star villain Lee Jun-

Jan. 30, 2024

Jason Yu’s ‘Sleep’ wins top prize at Gerardmer Fantastic Film Festival

South Korean director Jason Yu’s mystery thriller “Sleep” won the top Grand Prix award at the 31st Gerardmer Fantastic Film Festival in Gerardmer, France. Yu’s win marks the first for a Korean film in 20 years, after Kim Jee-woon’s “A Tale of Two Sisters” won the prize in 2004. “Sleep,” which opened in domestic theaters in September last year, is Yu's feature-length directorial debut. The late actor Lee Sun-kyun and Jung Yu-mi star as ne

Jan. 29, 2024

Korea Film Archive recovers movies from 1960s, 70s

The Korean Film Archive said Friday that it recovered 16 Korean movies from the 1960s and 70s that were previously unavailable for viewing due to lost sound and deleted scenes. These movies are meaningful as they are from the Korean film industry’s so-called “first renaissance,” KOFA explained. “Recovering Korean films produced in the 1960s and 70s is a remarkable feat considering that it was when renowned filmmakers like Kim Ki-young and Shin Sang-ok actively produced mo

Jan. 26, 2024

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Wish” (US) Opened Jan. 3 Animation Directed by Chris Buck, Fawn Veerasunthorn Seventeen-year-old Asha interviews for an apprentice job to King Magnifico in the Kingdom of Rosas on the day of her grandfather Sabino's 100th birthday. The interview goes well until Magnifico declines Asha's request for Sabino's wish to be granted, seeing the wish as a potential threat to his power. “Alienoid Part 2” (South Korea) Opened Jan. 10 Action Directed by Choi Dong

Jan. 26, 2024

[Herald Review] ‘Wonka’ is sweetest take on a childhood dream

Timothee Chalamet piles on the charm in “Wonka” to provide a mesmerizing back story of one of Roald Dahl's most famous characters. Throughout the 116-minute runtime, it’s hard to take your eyes away from the fantasy-like journey Wonka (Chalamet) takes to open a chocolate shop and become the world-renowned chocolatier, a promise that he made his mother. The movie begins with Wonka pompously stepping into a town in Europe with 12 sovereign coins in his pocket and an old hat.

Jan. 25, 2024

‘Past Lives’ receives 2 nods at 2024 Academy Awards

Korean Canadian director and playwright Celine Song’s directorial debut “Past Lives” has been nominated in two categories -- best picture and original screenplay -- at this year’s Academy Awards slated to take place on March 10. At the 96th edition of the world’s top film festival, also known as the Oscars, eyes are on whether “Past Lives” could repeat the success of Lee Isaac Chung's heartwarming family drama “Minari," which was nominate

Jan. 24, 2024

Lee Min-ho, Ahn Hyo-seop to lead movie adaptation of ‘Omniscient Reader’

Actors Lee Min-ho and Ahn Hyo-seop have been cast as lead actors in the movie adaptation of “Omniscient Reader,” a popular web novel that has garnered 200 million views since 2018. “Omniscient Reader” follows the story of Kim Dok-Ja (Ahn), whose world turns upside down when the novel he’s reading comes to life. In the new world, Kim is the only one who knows the story’s ending, which is why he must do everything in his power to change the course of the outco

Jan. 24, 2024

Hong Sang-soo’s 'A Traveler's Needs' invited to 74th Berlinale

South Korean filmmaker Hong Sang-soo’s upcoming “A Traveler’s Needs,” the auteur director's 31st film, will compete in the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, which is slated to take place Feb. 15-25. This marks the 63-year-old filmmaker’s fifth consecutive invitation to one of the world’s three largest film festivals. “A Traveler’s Needs” revolves around a woman from France who relies on makkeolli – Korean rice wine – f

Jan. 23, 2024

Director Hong Sang-soo's film to compete in upcoming Berlin Int'l Film Festival

South Korean director Hong Sang-soo's new film, "A Traveler's Needs," will compete in the upcoming Berlin International Film Festival next month, the event's website showed Monday. The film by Hong was among the 19 full-length titles announced on the website to compete in the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, scheduled to take place from Feb. 15-25. The 31st feature film by Hong stars French actress Isabelle Huppert, alongside Korean actors and actresses such as K

Jan. 22, 2024

[Herald Interview] ‘Citizen of a Kind’ shows power of film based on true story

Director Park Young-ju’s upcoming commercial film debut, “Citizen of a Kind” is based on true events from 2016 in which Kim Seong-ja, a middle-aged laundry shop owner, helped lead to the arrest of a criminal organization boss after a gang member had asked her to rescue him in a phone call. The film revolves around Duk-hee (Ra Mi-ran), who travels to Qingdao, China, to capture the boss of a criminal organization after she falls victim to a voice phishing scam. It was Son Jae-min

Jan. 21, 2024

[Herald Interview] Ra Mi-ran expresses story of self-esteem, personal growth in "Citizen of a Kind"

Ra Mi-ran, best known for her comic relief roles in a slew of hit Korean dramas such as "Reply 1988" (2015) and "Dr. Park's Clinic" (2022), said her new comedy film "Citizen of a Kind" tells story of the personal growth of an individual and what it means to maintain one's self-esteem through hardships. "Citizen of a Kind" is the story of an ordinary individual named Duk-hee, who falls victim to a voice phishing scam and travels to China to captur

Jan. 19, 2024

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Alienoid Part 2” (South Korea) Opened Jan. 10 Action Directed by Choi Dong-hoon Lee Ahn (Kim Tae-ri) accidentally falls back in time to the late Goryeo Kingdom, and all she needs to do to come back to 2022 is to find the divine sword, which happens to also be sought by several different stakeholders for various reasons. “Wish” (US) Opened Jan. 3 Animation Directed by Chris Buck, Fawn Veerasunthorn Seventeen-year-old Asha interviews for an apprentice job to King Magnifi

Jan. 19, 2024

Director Jang Jae-hyun’s ‘Exhuma’ invited to Berlinale

Occult thriller "Exhuma" by Jang Jae-hyun, known as a master of Korean occult films, has been invited to the 74th Berlin International Film Festival. The film's distributor, Showbox, said Thursday that the movie will be presented in the Berlinale’s Forum section, dedicated to “avant-garde and experimental” film genres and discovering “fascinating new faces,” according to the festival organizer. Berlinale opens Feb. 15 for a 10-day run. Previously invi

Jan. 18, 2024

'Argylle' actors say director Matthew Vaughn's new spy action thriller 'feels at home here'

Actors Henry Caville, Bryce Dallas Howard and Sam Rockwell from English filmmaker Matthew Vaughn’s upcoming spy action thriller, “Argylle,” began a promotional tour in Seoul, Thursday. Director Vaughn, well-known here for his “Kingsman” spy franchise, was absent due to health reasons. “Argylle” follows Elly Conway (Howard), a reclusive author who writes best-selling espionage novels in which an agent, Argylle (Caville), unravels a global spy syndicate. B

Jan. 18, 2024

Choi Min-sik returns with “Exhuma,” his first-ever occult flick

Veteran actor Choi Min-sik of “Old Boy” who gained huge popularity last year with Disney+ series “Big Bet” stars in his first-ever occult flick, “Exhuma,” directed by "K-occult master" Jang Jae-hyun. “I personally don’t watch scary films. I suffer after watching them. But I not only had curiosity in the occult genre, I wanted to know more about how the director would delve into this superstitious, abstract concept in a cinematic way,&rdqu

Jan. 17, 2024

Post-apocalypse Netflix original ‘Badland Hunters’ packed with Don Lee action

A household name in South Korea for crime-action franchise flicks, actor Don Lee – also known as Ma Dong-seok here – has joined hands with his long-time partner, martial arts director Heo Myung-haeng, for Netflix original film “Badland Hunters." The dystopian action film, which opens on Jan. 26, is Heo’s directorial debut film. Set in a post-earthquake Seoul where society has completely collapsed, fearless hunter Nam-san (Lee) goes out to rescue Soo-na (Roh Jeong-eui

Jan. 16, 2024

Hit foreign films reopen at local theaters

Hit foreign films with large fan bases are reopening at local theaters. Japanese animation “The First Slam Dunk” began its second round of screening on Jan. 4 to celebrate the first anniversary of its theatrical release at cinemas nationwide. The film adaptation of the popular Japanese basketball comic book series "Slam Dunk" topped 4.7 million tickets sold in just two months after it hit local theaters in January last year. Following the movie’s success, special scre

Jan. 15, 2024