THE CLOSET reviewed; currently playing at two Californa venues

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The Closet

Written and directed by KIM Kwang-bin
Starring HA Jung-woo, KIM Nam-gil and HEO Yul

South Korea, 2020, 97 minutes

The South Korean supernatural thriller The Closet, director KIM Kwang-bin's feature film debut, opened yesterday, February 14th, at CGV Los Angeles and CGV Buena Park. My review is based on watching an online screener.

YEON Sang-won (HA Jung-woo) is an architect and a widower with an eleven-year-old daughter, Ina (HEO Yul). His wife died in a tragic accident and since then YEON has been prone to panic attacks. While working on a museum, he and Ina move into a new house at some distance from the work site. The situation is complicated by their strained relationship and Sang-won's inability to secure a nanny for his daughter. Not to mention the strange noises that begin to trickle out of a closet and Ina beginning to exhibit increasingly weird behaviors.

Worst of all is Ina's sudden disappearance without a trace. Fortunately for YEON, a self proclaimed "exorcist hero" named HEO Kyung-hoon (KIM Nam-gil) appears on the scene.Turns out that thirty-two children have similarly disappeared over the previous twenty-or-so years. The parents of one of them, a girl named Hyun-soo, had set up a ritual performed to determine if the child was dead. HEO's mother performed the ritual and died during it, and he has been trying to solve the mysteries of the disappearances for the last ten years.

Initially skeptical, YEON decides to enlist HEO's assistance in trying to locate his missing daughter, before it's too late.

The film is well paced and has some nice "scare moments." I'm not a big fan of this particular genre, but I definitely enjoyed watching The Closet.

I must mention that there is a cute tongue-in-cheek reference made to the Along with the Gods films (Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds and Along With the Gods: The Last 49 Days); HA Jung-woo starred in both films.

AsianCineFest Rating: 3 out of 4 stars; a good, solid supernatural thriller.

The Closet is produced by CJ Entertainment (Parasite) and distributed by capelight pictures.

Watch the official movie trailer here.

South Korean horror mystery THE CLOSET opening at two venues in California on February 14th

capelight pictures

presents

The Closet

Written and directed by KIM Kwang-bin
Starring HA Jung-woo, KIM Nam-gil and HEO Yul

South Korea, 2020, 97 minutes

Mystery and the supernatural lie at the center of The Closet - a hotly-anticipated new thriller from South Korea. The film, which marks the feature film debut of KIM Kwang-bin, will open at CGV Los Angeles and CGV Buena Park on February 14th. His feature film debut.

When a tragic accident leaves Sang-won (HA Jung-woo) and his daughter Ina (HEO Yul) without their wife and mother, he moves to a new home to restore his relationship with his daughter. Despite all his efforts, nothing he does seems to work but she makes a new friend who makes her laugh. This moment of peace doesn’t last long, as strange noises trickle out of their closet and Ina begins displaying strange behaviors.

A few days after Sang-won starts having eerie nightmares, Ina disappears without a trace. While searching for her, Sang-won comes across enigmatic Kyung-hoon (KIM Nam-gil), who seems to know where Ina has disappeared to: the closet. Kyung-hoon tells Sang-won that he’s been looking for whereabouts of missing children for the past 10 years and believes that the key to finding Sang-won’s daughter is inside the closet. Desperate to find his daughter, Sang-won reaches out to open the forbidden closet…

The Closet is produced by CJ Entertainment (Parasite) and distributed by capelight pictures.

Watch the official movie trailer here.

THE BAD GUYS: REIGN OF CHAOS - South Korean Prison Escape Thriller - Hits Theaters in Los Angeles on September 13th and Across the U.S on September 20th

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The Bad Guys: Reign of Chaos

Directed by SON Young-ho

Starring Don LEE, KIM Sang-joong, KIM A-joong and JANG Ki-yong

South Korea, 2019, 114 minutes

Skilled crime director SON Young-ho is back this fall after 2015’s The Deal with The Bad Guys: Reign of Chaos. Based on the hit TV series Bad Guys, this prison escape thriller expands upon the series by bringing viewers even more action and humor than ever before. It keeps the beloved characters and distinct setting, but adds necessary cinematic elements to bring the story to an entirely new level. The film will open tomorrow, Friday, September 13th at CGV Cinemas in Buena Park and Los Angeles and will be available nationwide on September 20th.

When a prison bus unexpectedly overturns, releasing dozens of convicted felons, the police only have one option; to reunite the “Special Crime Unit”. The top secret “Special Crime Unit” is unlike the others as it uses current inmates to track down the fugitives who escaped during the bus crash. Chief of the ‘Special Crime Unit’, Oh Gu-tak (KIM Sang-joong), knows exactly which convicts to recruit for this mission. He seeks out an unlikely crew consisting of a former gangster, Park Woong-chul (Don LEE), whom he had worked with before, a con artist, Kwak No-soon (KIM A-joong), and a convicted cop, Ko Yoo-sung (JANG Ki-yong) in the new and improved team. With new blood, the ‘Bad Guys’ are stronger and tougher than ever. As the case progresses, the ‘Bad Guys’ realize something much bigger is at play and must figure out how to bring down the crime ring once and for all.

EXTREME JOB, a South Korean Comedic Action Film, opens January 25th, goes wide on February 1st

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Extreme Job

Directed by LEE Byeong-heon

Starring RYU Seung-yong, LEE Hanee, JIN Sun-kyu,

LEE Dong-hwi, and Gong-myoung

South Korea, 2019, 111 minutes

South Korean director LEE Byeong-heon (“Twenty,” “What a Man Wants”) returns to the big screen with his newest comedic action film, Extreme Job. Director LEE tells the story of five narcotics cops who run a fried chicken restaurant by day and an undercover operation by night. This title releases at CGV Cinemas in Los Angeles and Buena Park on January 25th and in cities across the U.S. and Canada on February 1st. Theater information is available here.

The narcotics team works hard day and night, but their performance remains at an all-time low, leading them to become the ugly duckling of the police department and potentially face dismantlement. Captain KO (RYU Seung-yong) gets intel about an international drug deal and embarks on a risky undercover mission with his entire team. In order to establish around-the-clock and up-close-and-personal surveillance, the team takes over a rundown chicken joint across the street from the drug gang’s safe house.

But things take an unexpected turn when Detective MA’s (JIN Sun-kyu)yet unrevealed culinary talents begins to shine, turning the chicken restaurant famous overnight. Should we chase chickens or criminals? When customers begin to flock in, undercover work gets pushed to the back burner so the detectives can focus on frying chicken. As a result, the team misses the big drug deal, even though it happens right under their nose. Now, with nowhere to go, the detectives launch a desperate mop-up operation.

THE SPY GONE NORTH now available for digital download or rental

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The Spy Gone North / Gongjak

Directed by YOON Jong-bin

South Korea, 2018, 137 minutes

The Spy Gone North, a South Korean espionage film inspired by a true story, releases on Amazon, iTunes, and Google Play today, January 8th, 2019. Director YOON Jong-bin (Kundo, Nameless Gangster) delivers a gripping, fact-based spy saga about a loyal South Korean agent caught in the political vortex plotted by the ruling classes of two Koreas.

In 1993 Korea, the only country where the Cold War continues, tensions surrounding the development of nuclear weapons escalate. Seok-young Park, an army major in the South Korea military intelligence with the code name 'Black Venus' is assigned a mission to infiltrate the North Korean nuclear facility. Seok-young disguises himself as a South Korean businessman working on a collaborative project with North Korea, and approaches Myung-woon Lee, a North Korean high official based in Beijing. After laying down groundwork for years, Seok-young finally manages to win the North Korean ruling class' trust and secure a contract for joint advertising. However, Seok-young soon discovers that both North and South Korea are making secret deals for their own interests in the 1998 South Korean presidential election.

The Spy Gone North stars HWANG Jung-min, LEE Sung-min, CHO Jin-woong, and JU Ji-hoon. It was featured in the Midnight section of the 71st Cannes Film Festival last year.

This film is distributed by CJ Entertainment. The cost is $15.99 to purchase High Definition (HD), $11.99 to purchase Standard Definition (SD), $4.99 to rent High Definition (HD), and $3.99 to rent Standard Definition (SD).

The official movie trailer can be seen here.

South Korean Crime Thriller THE NEGOTIATION opens September 20th in L.A. and Buena Park; wide release to follow on September 28th

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The Negotiation

Directed by LEE Jong-suk

South Korea, 2018, 114 minutes

South Korean crime thriller, The Negotiation, hits the big screens this Fall in Los Angeles and Buena Park on September 20th, followed by a wider release in cities across the U.S. and Canada on September 28. Starring the biggest hit-makers of Korean films, SON Ye-jin and HYUN Bin go head-to-head in this nail-biting movie surrounding a hostage crisis.

HA Chae-youn (SON Ye-jin) is the top police negotiator who keeps a cool head in any situation. However, she spirals into shock when a hostage situation she responded to ends in disaster as she witnesses the hostages getting killed in front of her eyes. Just 10 days after the incident, MIN Tae-gu (HYUN Bin), a notorious arms dealer wanted by the police, kidnaps a Korean reporter and police officer and picks Chae-youn as the negotiator. Tae-gu creates an unprecedented hostage situation for unknown reasons and Chae-youn cannot back down.

The Negotiation is Director LEE Jong-suk’s directorial debut. He previously worked as an assistant director on Ode to My Father, and took part in the screenwriting of The Himalayas. The film is presented by CJ Entertainment and produced by JK Film.

For more information and a list of theaters, click here.

THE PRINCESS AND THE MATCHMAKER to be released on Amazon, iTunes and Google Play on June 19th

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The Princess and the Matchmaker / Gung-hab

Directed by HONG Chang-pyo

Starring beloved actress SHIM Eun-kyung,

K-Drama Star LEE Seung-gi, and more

South Korea, 2018, 110 minutes

The Princess and the Matchmaker, a South Korean historical romantic comedy, will warm audiences’ hearts with laughter. Produced by the team of The Face Reader and Train to Busan, the film is HONG Chang-pyo’s directorial debut and stars Korea’s prized actress, loved by all ages, SHIM Eun-kyung (Miss Granny) and Korea’s all-around actor/entertainer, LEE Seung-gi. It also stars KIM Sang-kyung, YEON Woo-jin, KANG Min-hyuk, CHOI Woo-shik, and JO Bok-lae.

The Princess and the Matchmaker will release on Amazon, iTunes and Google Play on June 19, 2018. The cost is $14.99 to purchase High Definition (HD), $9.99 to purchase Standard Definition (SD), $4.99 to rent High Definition (HD), and $3.99 to rent Standard Definition (SD).

Synopsis:
In The Princess and the Matchmaker, during the wake of the country’s prolonged famine, the Palace arranges Princess Songhwa’s (SHIM Eun-kyung) marriage in hopes to improve the country’s misfortune. A renowned diviner, Seo Doyoon (LEE Seung-gi), is brought in to find the perfect husband that will have the best marital harmony with the princess. Choosing from candidates from all over the country, four prospective husbands with different fate signs are shortlisted. The princess refuses to accept that her life partner will be chosen solely based on fortune reading. She takes it upon herself to meet the candidates before the final decision is made.

THE ACCIDENTAL DETECTIVE 2: IN ACTION in limited North American release starting June 22nd

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The Accidental Detective 2: In Action / Tam jeong 2

Directed by LEE Eon-hie

Starring: KWON Sang-woo, SUNG Dong-il, and LEE Kwang-soo 

South Korea, 2018, 116 minutes

South Korean Action Comedy

Releases in the U.S. & Canada on June 22

The Accidental Detective 2: In Action, South Korea’s newest detective comedy to premiere in North America, will make audiences laugh this summer. The film is a limited release and will be showing in select theaters beginning June 22, 2018. For the full theater list, please visit: www.cj-entertainment.com.

Synopsis:
A comic book storekeeper, Dae-man (KWON Sang-woo), and the legendary homicide detective, Tae-su (SUNG Dong-il), who met on a previous case quit their jobs to open the very first private detective agency in Korea. Despite their high hopes, they soon find themselves with only trivial cases such as spouse infidelity, unpaid debt, and missing cats. Then one day, a woman walks into the office, wanting to find the truth behind the death of her fiancé. Not only that, she also offers them a handsome reward of 50,000 dollars. Dae-man and Tae-su see it as an opportunity to put their true detective skills to work. They bring onboard a third member, Hopper (LEE Kwang-soo), a Mensa genius and a small-time online private eye, and together they launch a full-fledged investigation on the case. As they dig into what initially appeared to be a straightforward case, disturbing new evidence turns up.

South Korean Action Thriller GOLDEN SLUMBER Releases on Amazon, iTunes, and Google Play on June 5, 2018

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Golden Slumber / Gol-deun seul-leom-beo

Directed by NOH Dong-seok

South Korea, 2018, 108 minutes

Golden Slumber is a South Korean action thriller packed with twists, turns and deception as a man fights to stay alive after being framed for murder. It will release on Amazon, iTunes and Google Play on June 5, 2018. The film, based on the novel Golden Slumber by Isaka Kotaro, is directed by award-winning director NOH Dong-seok (My Generation).

After getting his start with two critically acclaimed indie features, Golden Slumber is director NOH’s first mainstream action film. He previously received the Special Jury Award from 2004’s Busan Film Critics Association Awards for My Generation. His second feature film, Boys of Tomorrow won International Competition from 60th Festival del Film Locarno. Golden Slumber stars GA NG Dong-won (Romance of their Own), KIM Eui-sung (Train to Busan), KIM Sung-kyun (The Neighbors), and KIM Dae-myeung (Insignificant Life).

In Golden Slumber, Gun-woo (GANG Dong-won) is an honest and hardworking courier who even won a Model Citizen Award for saving a singer from a robbery incident. Out of the blue, his old friend Moo-yeol comes to visit him at work. With just a short moment to enjoy the pleasant surprise, Gun-woo witnesses a bombing incident that kills a presidential candidate right before his eyes. Moo-yeol tells Gun-woo that he is responsible for the bombing and that everyone will come after him as it is the agency’s plan to make him the prime suspect.

Gun-woo manages to flee from the scene but all evidence, including security camera footage, witness testimonies and fingerprints point toward him as the suspect. Teaming up with former secret agent Mr. Min (KIM Eui-sung), who is an old friend of Moo-yeol, they work to clear Gun-woo’s name as he fights with all his strength to stay alive.

Golden Slumber is distributed by CJ Entertainment. The cost is $14.99 to purchase High Definition (HD), $9.99 to purchase Standard Definition (SD), $4.99 to rent High Definition (HD), and $3.99 to rent Standard Definition (SD).

Korean period drama THE FORTRESS to be released on Amazon, Google Play and iTunes on May 1, 2008

International Poster Courtesy CJ Entertainment

The Fortress / Namhansanseong

Directed by HWANG Dong-hyuk

Starring LEE Byung-hun

South Korea, 2017, 140 minutes

CJ Entertainment will be releasing The Fortress, a period drama featuring popular South Korean actor, LEE Byung-hun, best known for Magnificent Seven and Terminator Genisys on Amazon, Google Play, and iTunes on May 1, 2018. This title played in 18 cities across the U.S. and Canada last Fall. It was the main feature of Korean Film Days at the Asian World Film Festival in Los Angeles, and also opened at the London East Asia Film Festival (LEAFF) in London last year. The cost is $14.99 to purchase High Definition (HD), $9.99 to purchase Standard Definition (SD), $4.99 to rent High Definition (HD), and $3.99 to rent Standard Definition (SD).

The Fortress is set in 1636, when the Chinese Qing Dynasty has invaded Korea with 150,000 troops. The Korean court flees the capital to take shelter in the Namhan Fortress, located in treacherous mountains outside the city. The Qing army, led by General Yong Gol Dae, quickly surrounds the fortress, leaving the king and the court stranded in a prolonged standoff. For a truce, the Qing general makes a humiliating proposal that they send the Crown Prince out as hostage. Unable to move forward or fight the enemy they are outnumbered by, the people of the fortress start dying from cold and hunger. The king now faces an impossible choice between protecting his people and standing up to those looking to destroy them.

This film is directed by esteemed director HWANG Dong-hyuk (Miss Granny, Silenced, My Father). His 2014 hit Korean comedy, Miss Granny (Chinese version) reached $55M in the box office and has been remade for Japan, Vietnam, and several other countries. It was remade in English with Tyler Perry’s 34th Street Films and in Spanish with Eugenio Derbez’s 3pas Studios.

HWANG’s new period drama also stars KIM Yoon-seok (Will You Be There?, The Priests, Haemoo), PARK Hae-il (The Last Princess, Eungyo, War of the Arrows) and GO Soo (The Royal Tailor, Way Back Home, The Front Line).

THE SPY GONE NORTH invited to the 71st Cannes Film Festival; will be released in the U.S. Summer 2018

Official Poster courtesy CJ Entertainment

The Spy Gone North / Gongjak

Written and directed by YOON Jong-bin

Starring HWANG Jung-min, LEE Sung-min,

CHO Jin-woong, and JU Ji-hoon

South Korea, 2018

CJ Entertainment has announced that its highly anticipated espionage film, The Spy Gone North (Gongjak), is releasing in the U.S. this Summer. The film has been invited to the Midnight section of the 71st Cannes Film Festival, which is taking place May 8-19. Directed by YOON Jong-bin, this is his second invitation after The Unforgiven in 2006. Starring HWANG Jung-min (“The Battleship Island, The Wailing), LEE Sung-min (The Sheriff in Town, A Violent Prosecutor), CHO Jin-woong (“The Handmaiden,” “Bluebeard), and JU Ji-hoon (“Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds, Asura: City of Madness). This is HWANG and CHO’s second invitation to the festival as well. CJ E&M now has a total of nine titles that have been invited to the Cannes Film Festival.

Director YOON (Kundo, Nameless Gangster) delivers a gripping, fact-based spy saga about a loyal South Korean agent caught in the political vortex plotted by the ruling classes of two Koreas. In 1993 Korea, the only country where the Cold War continues, tensions surrounding the development of nuclear weapons escalate. Seok-young Park, an army major in the South Korea military intelligence with the code name 'Black Venus' is assigned a mission to infiltrate the North Korean nuclear facility. Seok-young disguises himself as a South Korean businessman working on a collaborative project with North Korea, and approaches Myung-woon Lee, a North Korean high official based in Beijing. After laying down groundwork for years, Seok-young finally manages to win the North Korean ruling class' trust and secure a contract for joint advertising. However, Seok-young soon discovers that both North and South Korea are making secret deals for their own interests in the 1998 South Korean presidential election.

BATTLE FOR INCHEON: OPERATION CHROMITE reviewed; debuts today on Blu-ray and DVD

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 Battle for Incheon: Operation Chromite / In-cheon sang-ryuk jak-jeon

Directed by John H. Lee

South Korea, 2016, 111 minutes

Battle for Incheon: Operation Chromite , an exciting action film set during the Korean War, debuts on Blu-ray and DVD today, Tuesday, January 24th from CJ Entertainment.The film hit North American theaters last August. At that time it was simply titled Operation Chromite.

The titular operation was the audacious invasion by sea of Incheon, far behind the North Korean front line. The plan was the brainchild of General Douglas MacAuthur (Liam Neeson), commander of the U.N. and South Korean forces, who overcame the objections of more conservative military leaders.  The decisive victory by the U.N. forces resulted in a strategic reversal of fortune for the previously beleaguered Allied forces.

At the beginning of the film there is a notice that what follows was "inspired by true events." This is one step further removed from the "based on true events" designation. Basically, "inspired by" means that the film takes something that happened as its springboard and dramatizes it in a way that has little concern with historical accuracy.

Here, the heroes of the invasion are a small group of South Korean soldiers who impersonate a North Korean inspection team so that they can obtain information essential for the success of the invasion. The group is led by Captain Jang Hak-Soo (Lee Jung-Jae, seen in Assassination and The Thieves) of the South Korean Naval Intelligence Bureau. His group is aided by members of the Korean Liaison Office (KLO) in Incheon, a group of resistance fighters.

Leading the defense of Incheon is Lim Gye-Jin (Lee Bum-Soo, The Divine Move). He is depicted as being the only person in the North Kor4ean political and military leadership who believes that MacAuthur's attack will be at Incheon. Lee Bum-soo, it deserves to be mentioned, makes an outstanding villain.

The movie is well-paced and the cinematography is commendable. There are numerous action sequences that vary in nature, from shoot-outs to a vehicular chase through the streets of Incheon.

All-in-all, a good Korean War action film. Sit back and enjoy; just don't expect much in the way of an accurate history lesson.

Disc Specs:
-- Audio/Subtitles
   -- English 5.1 or 2.0
   -- Korean 5.1 or 2.0 with English Subtitles
-- Bonus Features
  -- "Making Of" featurette (note that this featurette is marred at times by incomplete subtitling (resulting in incomplete sentences) and by some statements not having subtitles at all)
  -- Trailers
     -- Battle for Incheon: Operation Chromite
     -- Five other CJ Entertainment films

AsianCineFest Rating: 3 out of 4 stars; a good, solid action film.

BATTLE FOR INCHEON; OPERATION CHROMITE coming to Blu-ray & DVD on January 24

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Battle for Incheon: Operation Chromite / In-cheon sang-ryuk jak-jeon

Directed by John H. Lee

South Korea, 2016, 111 minutes

The adrenaline-fueled, true story of a squad of unsung heroes sacrificed to turn the tide of the Korean War during its darkest days, the epic war drama Battle for Incheon: Operation Chromite will becoming to Blu-ray and DVD next Tuesday, January 24th from CJ Entertainment.

In this suspenseful, action-packed, military adventure based on death-defying, real-life events, U.S. Army General Douglas MacArthur (Liam Neeson, the Taken trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises, Star Wars: Episode I, Batman Begins, Schindler's List) is appointed head of the United Nations Command at the height of the Korean War and conducts a covert operation to infiltrate North Korean headquarters far behind enemy lines.

Led by Navy Lieutenant Jang Hak-soo (Lee Jung-jae, Assassination, New World, The Thieves, The Housemaid), the courageous X-Ray intelligence unit finds themselves pitted against not only ruthless North Korean commander Lim Gye-jin (Lee Bum-soo, The Divine Move, IRIS: New Generation, The City of Violence) and his men, but the Russian and Chinese troops supporting them.

BATTLE FOR INCHEON; OPERATION CHROMITE coming to digital download on January 10, 2017, Blu-ray & DVD on January 24

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Battle for Incheon: Operation Chromite / In-cheon sang-ryuk jak-jeon

Directed by John H. Lee

South Korea, 2016, 111 minutes

The adrenaline-fueled, true story of a squad of unsung heroes sacrificed to turn the tide of the Korean War during its darkest days, the epic war drama Battle for Incheon: Operation Chromite explodes on digital download Jan. 10 and DVD/Blu-ray Jan. 24 from CJ Entertainment.

In this suspenseful, action-packed, military adventure based on death-defying, real-life events, U.S. Army General Douglas MacArthur (Liam Neeson, the Taken trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises, Star Wars: Episode I, Batman Begins, Schindler's List) is appointed head of the United Nations Command at the height of the Korean War and conducts a covert operation to infiltrate North Korean headquarters far behind enemy lines.

Led by Navy Lieutenant Jang Hak-soo (Lee Jung-jae, Assassination, New World, The Thieves, The Housemaid), the courageous X-Ray intelligence unit finds themselves pitted against not only ruthless North Korean commander Lim Gye-jin (Lee Bum-soo, The Divine Move, IRIS: New Generation, The City of Violence) and his men, but the Russian and Chinese troops supporting them.

Korean War pic OPERATION CHROMITE coming to North American theaters on August 12th

CJ Entertainment

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Operation Chromite

Directed by John H. Lee

South Korea, 2016

Liam Neeson Stars in Film Following the True Story of the

Unsung Heroes Who Turned the Tide of the Korean War

CJ Entertainment will distribute the film Operation Chromite in North America on August 12, 2016. From Taewon Entertainment, Operation Chromite is poised to be the largest Korean summer blockbuster this year, telling the true story of the heroes whose lives were sacrificed in order to turn the tide of the Korean War. Liam Neeson stars as General MacArthur, who led the attack against the North Koreans in the Battle of Incheon, forcing them to retreat out of Seoul.

“Operation Chromite is already attracting attention in mainstream Hollywood, and is the next great film from John H. Lee,” said Angela Killoren, COO, CJ Entertainment. “We are proud to be the company to bring this true, but often over looked story of unsung heroes and the American hero General MacArthur during a time when South Korea and the United States banded together in war against North Korea.”

The major attack would not have been successful if it weren’t for a group of South Korean Navy Special Forces, led by Captain Jang Hak-soo, and the KLO (Korean Liaison Office) unit. Before the battle, this team is tasked with a covert operation to successfully infiltrate the North Korean army command center. To do so they will need to go undercover, disguising themselves as a North Korean inspection unit. Time is not on their side as the attack will begin with or without the success. To complete their risky mission, the team must make incredible sacrifices to ensure the freedom of South Korea.

Operation Chromite is directed by John H. Lee (The Third Way of Love, Into the Fire, Sayonara Itsuka and A Moment to Remember) and is produced by Chung Tae-Won (the upcoming film Mulgae, The Triangle, 71-Into the Fire and IRIS).

In addition to Liam Neeson, Operation Chromite also stars Lee Jung-Jae as South Korean Captain Jang Hak-soo (Assassination, New World, The Thieves and The Housemaid), Lee Bum-soo as North Korean Commander Lim Gye-Jin (The Divine Move, IRIS: New Generation and The City of Violence), and Jin Se-Yun as Han Chae-sun (Enemies In-Law and Doctor Stranger).

PHANTOM DETCTIVE reviewed

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Phantom Detective / Tamjung Hong Gil-dong: Sarajin Ma-eul

Directed by JO Sung-hee

Starring: LEE Je-hoon, KIM Sung-kyun, PARK Geun-hyung, GO A-ra

South Korea, 2016, 125 minutes

In Korean with English subtitles 

Hong Gil-dong (LEE Je-hoon, from Architure 101 and Bleak Night) is the head, and apparently only field operative, of HBD, a private detective agency. The agency is owned by Hwang Gye-sook (actress GO A-ra) who also uses her vast wealth for philanthropic work. Her father had taken in Hong as a young orphan; because he wished for justice in this world, Madame Hwang started the PI agency and put Hong in charge.

Hong really has only one goal in life: namely, to find the one-eyed man who murdered his mother and exact revenge on him. Having learned that person is Kim Byung-duk (PARK Keun-hyung), Hong sets out for him but arrives two late, as Kim has been taken by two other individuals. Hong uses Kim's two grandaughter, fifth grader Kim Dong-yi (ROH Jung-eui) and first grader Mal-soon (KIM Ha-na) to help locate the old man. His efforts are frequently thwarted by Mal-soon, who has a knack for revealing the lies and deceptions Hong employs to gain information.

Many of the settings and environments are digitally rendered, sometimes giving the film an artificial look. This is not meant as a criticism: I happen to really like this approach, It reminded me of Sin City, another film noir that I love, although Phantom Detective is in color and of course has Korean actors.

There are some very fine twists and turns in the plot. The acting is uniformly good. Special mention must be made about the two child actresses. ROH Jung-eui is both lovely and talented; this is particularly evident in one touching scene near the end of the film. As for Kim H-na as Mal-soon, well, she practically steals the movie every time she upsets Hong's plans by revealing the truth.

AsianCineFest Rating: 3.5 out of 4 stars; very highly recommended

Phantom Detective had its East Coast Premiere at Korea Cultural Center's Korean Movie Night New York on May 18th and opened theatrically two days later, on Friday, May 20th.

Phantom Detective official website

Ryoo Seung-wan's VETERAN reviewed; coming on DVD & Blu-ray

Well Go USA

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 Veteran / Beterang

Written and directed by Ryoo Seung-wan

South Korea, 2015, 123 minutes

Veteran is the latest offering from the highly talented South Korean director Ryoo Seung-wan (The City of Violence, The Berlin File). It's a policier with plenty of action that also has a lot of deft comic touches. It is being release on Blu-ray and DVD this coming Tuesday, April 5th by Well Go USA. This review is based on watching the Blu-ray version.

The film, which did great business in South Korea (where it topped the box office for several weeks), made its North American debut as an official selection at the 40th Toronto International Film Festival last fall and subsequently made over $1M in the U.S. box office.

Hwang Jung-min (New World, Ode to My Father) stars as Seo Do-cheol, a veteran detective who works out of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. He's about as straight an arrow of a law enforcement officer as you'll ever come across. He also moonlights as a consultant for a detective drama on television.

We first meet him as he brings down an auto theft ring, in an action scene somewhat reminiscent of the premiere episode of Sammo Hung's American television series Marshal Law. Do-cheol is quite adept at dealing out a fistful of whoop-ass. But he also has a serious and tender side, especially when it comes to friends, such as Bae, a truck driver who assisted in bringing down the higher ups in the auto theft operation.

Hwang Jung-min as Detective Seo Do-cheol

After Bae is victimized by a sub-contractor of a huge corporation, Do-cheol comes up against Cho Tae-oh (Yoo Ah-in, Tough as Iron). Tae-oh is the son of the chairman of the corporation (Song Yung-chang, The Attorney and The Good, the Bad, the Weird). With daddy under investigation, Tae-oh is likely to take over the business. His only problem is that he's a violence-prone psychopathic drug user! But having well-connected friends in politics and the upper echelons of the police force, he seems all but immune to arrest and prosecution.

The confrontation between the irresistible force of detective Seo Do-cheol's righteousness and Cho Tae-oh's immovable object of a protected, crazed corporate maniac makes for great viewing. And the numerous comic touches really make the mix all the more enjoyable.

Cho Tae-oh (Yoo Ah-in), seated, gets advice from his main advisor

Hwang Jung-min gives a wonderfully modulated performance. He's tough in the action scenes, funny when called for, and touching when need be. He's supported by a wonderful cast that includes: Oh Dal-su (Oldboy, A Bloody Aria, Hindsight) as Team Leader Oh; Jang Yoon-ju, who makes her film debut as Miss Bong, a high-flying police officer; and Yoo Hae-jin (Tazza: The High Rollers, The Pirates) as Choi Sang-moo, Tae-oh's cousin and chief adviser.

Disc Specs
-- Audio and Subtitle Options:
  -- English 5.1
  -- English Stereo
  -- Korean 5.1 with non-removable English Subtitles
  -- Korean Stereo with non-removable English Subtitles
-- Trailers:
  -- Veteran trailer
  -- Trailers for five other CJ Entertainment offerings

AsianCineFest Rating: 3.5 out of 4 stars; very, very, very highly recommended. I previously watched an online screener of Veteran for my review of its North American theatrical release (posted September 14, 2015), and can say that it was every bit as wonderful a watch the second time around. If CJ Entertainment had only seen fit to include some meaningful extras (which I have to believe are available on the Korean discs) instead of just a few trailers, the release definitely would warrant a 4 out of 4 star rating.

Vietnam's SWEET 20 opens today in North American locations

South Korea’s CJ Entertainment

and

Vietnam’s HK Film

present

Sweet 20 / Em là bà noi cua anh

Directed by Phan Gia Nhat Linh 

Vietnam, 2015, 127 minutes

Premiering in Garden Grove, San Jose, Vancouver and Toronto today, March 11th

Followed by Houston and Dallas on March 18th

What happens when a 70 year-old granny gets a second chance at youth? She follows her dream of becoming a singer of course! Vietnam’s box office hit “Sweet 20” is a sentimental comedy following a grandmother who magically turns into a beautiful 20 year-old girl and decides to make the most of her second chance at being young again. Sweet 20 is Vietnam’s highest-grossing film of all time, beating the previous record holder “Let Hoi Decide” (another CJ Entertainment produced Vietnamese film), and has made a record-breaking $4.76 million at the box office since its December 2015 release. This remake of the popular Korean film Miss Granny will make its North American debut on March 11, 2016 in Garden Grove, San Jose, Vancouver, and Toronto, and will be available in Houston and Dallas on March 18, 2016.

CJ Entertainment’s Miss Granny, the original Korean version of this story, was also previously released in China and the U.S. as “20 Once Again” to huge success. Miss Granny is making its way around the world with additional remake deals in discussion including in the U.S.

In Sweet 20, Mrs. Dai, a foul-mouthed 70 year-old widow lives with her only son and his family. She is very proud of her son (Quang) and indulges her grandson (Tung), but is very strict with her depressed daughter-in-law (Vy). After Vy’s sudden heart attack, Mrs. Dai is shocked and saddened to discover that her son partially blames her for the incident and wants to send his mother away to the countryside in order to give his wife some space. Heartbroken, Mrs. Dai wanders the streets and stumbles upon a mysterious photo studio. She decides to go in to take a photo that can be put on her altar after she dies. Stepping out of the studio, Mrs. Dai soon realizes that she has magically turned into a beautiful 20-year-old girl. Mrs. Dai takes a new name, Thanh Nga, after her favorite pop idol, and decides to make her dreams come true.

“The movie reminded me of my grandmother and how she sacrificed her whole life for my family,” Director Phan Gia Nhat Linh shared.

Sweet 20 is co-produced by South Korea’s CJ Entertainment and Vietnam’s HK Film. The film will be available in the following theaters:

March 11:
· Garden Grove, Garden Grove Stadium 16
· San Jose, East Ridge Mall 15
· Vancouver , Cineplex Odeon Int. Village
· Toronto, Cineplex Yonge & Dundas

March 18:
· Houston, AMC Loews Fountains 18
· Houston, AMC Studio 30
· Dallas-Ft. Worth, AMC Firewheel 18

For more information, visit www.cj-entertainment.com.

South Korean hit VETERAN coming to Blu-ray and DVD on April 5th

CJ Entertainment

Presents

Veteran / Beterang 

Directed by RYOO Seung-wan

South Korea, 2015, 123 minutes

South Korean box office sensation Veteran releases on DVD and Blu-ray on April 5, 2016. The film is a hard-hitting crime thriller with a comedic touch from award-winning director Ryoo Seung-wan (The Unjust). Veteran is the 6th highest grossing film of all time in Korea tallying $85M at the domestic box office. It made its North American debut as an official selection at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival last fall, and made over $1M in the U.S. box office.

Veteran follows Do-cheol – played by Hwang Jung-min (Ode to My Father) – as an irascible detective with a good heart as he seeks revenge and tries to take down the twisted but untouchable scion of a mega-corporation, Jo Tae-oh played by Ah In Yoo (Tough as Iron). In South Korea, Veteran has hugely resonated as a cathartic ride-along with a true-blue cop, personally delivering justice in a system where the rich and powerful always seem to have the upper hand.

Veteran is presented and distributed by CJ Entertainment, Asia’s leading studio and signature film division of major media and content company CJ E&M, and produced by Filmmakers R&K.

REMEMBER YOU opens in L.A. today and in Dallas on January 22nd

CJ Entertainment

Presents

CJ Entertainment’s new romance/mystery film, Remember You, is opening at CGV Cinemas in Los Angeles toady, January 15 and at Cine Oasis in Dallas on January 22. The drama is directed by LEE Yoon-jung.

Synopsis:

After losing 10 years of his memories in a car accident, Suk-won (JUNG Woo-sung) is trying to rebuild his career and more importantly his love life. Fighting to uncover the mysteries in his past, Suk-won is unable to trust anyone around him as he tries to put his life back on track. With his family, friends and even his own identity now just a blur, he encounters a woman, Jin-young (KIM Ha-nel). Although he has no recollection of knowing her, this encounter triggers a relationship between the two and brings a newfound happiness into Suk-won’s life.