THE ADMIRAL: ROARING CURRENTS doing boffo business in both the U.S. and South Korea

The Admiral: Roaring Currents is doing fantastic business in it's ongoing theatrical runs in South Korea and the U.S. And deservedly so. I watched an online screener of the film, and it was a most compelling drama with one of the greatest naval battles ever depicted on film. I'll have a review posted here soon (been away on vacation and have a lot of catching up to do). Meanwhile, here's some interesting information from a press release I recently received, followed by two links worth checking out.

 Most-Watched Film in South Korean History Lands

in U.S. with Successful Opening Weekend

The Admiral: Roaring Currents Tops Big Blockbusters

Guardians of the Galaxy and Teenage Mutant

Ninja Turtles in Per-Screen Average

Epic Historical War Film Becomes the Most-Watched Film

of All Time in South Korea with over 14 Million Admissions

South Korea’s record shattering epic – The Admiral: Roaring Currents – had an strong opening this past weekend in the U.S., while back in Korea it became the most-watched film in the country’s cinematic history by tallying admissions of over 14 million.

Since opening this weekend on 30 screens, after a one week preview at the CGV Cinema in Los Angeles, The Admiral has earned $687,000 pushing the film in top 20 at the box office. The per screen average for The Admiral: Roaring Currents was $18,744 placing it in 2nd, ahead of mega-blockbusters like Guardians of the Galaxy and Teen Age Mutant Ninja Turtles. The South Korean film is #4 among top engagements in the U.S. and Canada thanks in part to a slew of sold-out showings at the CGV Cinema.

The stateside success of The Admiral follows dominance in its home country. This past weekend in South Korea, it became the most watched film of all time, sailing to 14.22 million in admissions and taking the crown from James Cameron’s Avatar, which held the record at 13.62 million. In South Korea, The Admiral: Roaring Currents opened July 30.

Prior to the debut of The Admiral, the last time the U.S. saw such success from a Korean movie was Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring (2004), from director KIM Ki-duk, which was shown in over 160 theaters with an opening weekend box office earning of $357,495. “The Admiral” is only playing in 30 theaters and has surpassed that record.

The Admiral: Roaring Currents is currently playing at 32 theaters including Fullerton, San Francisco, New York, New Jersey, Boston, Virginia, Baltimore, Chicago, Atlanta, Hawaii, Seattle, Dallas, Houston, Denver, Tempe, and more. The film will open in additional theaters on August 22nd at New York (College Point) and Anchorage. For showtimes please visit www.CJ-Entertainment.com or the official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AsianMoviesNMore.

Critical Acclaim:

“The sea battles are absolutely epic, more realistic and thrilling than John Woo's 2008 Red Cliff or even Peter Weir's 2003 Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World,” writes Martin Tsai of the LA Times.

The Hollywood Reporter’s Justin Lowe writes “Admiral Yi is as likely to achieve mythic status on-screen as he has in historic accounts.”

ABOUT THE ADMIRAL: ROARING CURRENTS:

The Admiral portrays the storied real life battle of Myeong-Nyang, the legendary naval battle that occurred during the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1597. On the 16th of September in 1597, Admiral Yi Sun-shin (Choi Min-Sik) won the battle at Myeong-Nyang Sea with only 12 battleships against 330 Japanese battleships. This battle is considered one of Yi’s most significant victories because he defeated the Japanese without his famous Turtle Ships, which brought him victories in previous battles.

For further information:

THE ADMIRAL: ROARING CURRENTS Claims All Time Korean Box Office Crown

The Admiral: Roaring Currents Breaks Korea All-Time Box Office Record

Korean naval warfare film THE ADMIRAL: ROARING CURRENTS to premiere in U.S. on August 15

CJ Entertainment America

Presents

The Admiral: Roaring Currents / Myeong-ryang - Hoe-o-ri-ba-da

Directed by KIM Han-min

South Korea, 2014, 126 minutes

Choi Min-Sik (Oldboy, Lucy) Takes on Epic Historical War

Action Film About the Naval Battle of Myeong-Nyang

The Admiral: Roaring Currents (a.k.a. Roaring Currents) will make its U.S. debut in major market cinemas on August 15, 2014. The film follows the events of a legendary Korean naval battle, Myeong-Nyang, and the Korean Admiral Yi Sun-shin (Choi Min-Sik) who leads only 12 battleships to victory against 330 Japanese ones.

A large scale production set with eight life-size ships made with authentic materials used in the actual battle was used in the filming of The Admiral. Through deep research director Lee Han-Min strived to recreate the amazing events that took place in 1597. Choi Min-Sik, most known for his lead role in the cult hit Oldboy, has made a name for himself within the international film community to be able to reinvent himself with every role. Now in The Admiral: Roaring Currents, Choi finds himself as yet another intriguing character – a disgraced leader of a small naval fleet, up against all odds.

The Admiral: Roaring Currents is presented and distributed by CJ Entertainment and produced by Big Stone Pictures. The film will premiere in major market theaters across the country. Check your local listings or visit www.cj-entertainment.com for more details.

Look for a r3eview here at AsianCineFest on or close to the release date.

ACF 1515: OLDBOY at MoMI

Oldboy

Directed by Park Chan-wook

Starring: Choi Min-shik, Kang Hye-jung, and Yu Ji-tae

South Korea, 2003, 120 minutes

When: Sunday July 1, 2012

Where: The Museum of the Moving Image

35th Avenue at 37th Street, Astoria, Queens, NY

Travel directions here

Free with Museum admission

Director Park Chan-wook’s flamboyant colors and giltzy cinematography and Choi Min-shik’s unforgettable performance have made Oldboy an international hit. 

In this visually entrancing revenge thriller, Choi plays Oh Dae-su, an ordinary businessman who survives fifteen years of captivity in a single room only to be released and further tormented by his captor. As Dae-su uncovers the mysteries of his kidnapping, he leaves behind a trail of horrific vengeance. An international box office success, Oldboy cemented director Park’s reputation as a master of cruel pulp, and demonstrates Choi’s agility at split-second pivots from brutal emotion to heartless violence.

Oldboy is the final film in the mini-retrospective of Choi's works presented by The Korea Society as part of their ongoing “Korean Cinema Now” program with MoMI, the newly renovated Museum of the Moving Image.

This tribute is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

ACF 1481: CHIHWASEON at MoMI

 Chihwaseon

Directed by IM Kwon-taek

South Korea, 2002, 120 minutes

With Choi Min-Shik, Ahn Sung-kee, Ho-jeong Yu

When: Sunday, June 3, 2012 at 3:00 PM

Where: The Museum of the Moving Image

35th Avenue at 37th Street, Astoria, Queens, NYC

Travel directions here

Film free with museum admission at MoMI

The Korea Society's mini-retrospective of three works starring Choi Min-shik, one of Korea’s most recognizable contemporary actors, continues this coming Sunday afternoon with this screening of Chihwaseon (Painted Fire in English; a.k.a. Stroke of Fire).

Winner of the Best Director Award at Cannes, this period portrait stars Choi as a nineteenth-century painter known as Ohwon. Born a commoner and discovered as a boy, Ohwon captivated and scandalized his country's ruling class and spent his long career in and out of favor, and in and out of trouble. Choi dazzles as the petulant, manipulative, and melancholy painter—whose behavior forecast the archetypal tortured artist of the 20th century

Chihwaseon info at The Korea Society's website here.

Chilwaseon info at MoMI's website here.

Also note that, in association with the Korean Cultural Service New York, the upcoming New York Asian Film Festival (June 29 - July 15) will present a series of new and classic Choi Min-Sik performances.

ACF 1467: CHOI Min-Shik Tribute

The Korea Society, as part of its ongoing "Korean Cinema Now" program with the Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI), will be presenting a three film tribute to Korean actor CHOI Min-Shik (also spelled CHOI Min-sik or anglicized as Min-sik CHOI).

The films to be shown are:
Failan - Sunday, May 20th, 2012 at 3:00 PM
Stroke of Fire / Chiwaseon, Sunday, June 3rd, 2012 at 3:00 PM
Old Boy, Sunday, July 1st, 2012 at 4:00 PM

Choi Min-shik had numerous television roles, but his big break came in 1999 when he played a cold-blooded North Korean soldier in Swiri (directed by Kang Je-gyu) and suddenly gained a reputation as one of Korea’s finest actors. His acting dominates the silver screen, but his characters have more than charisma. In Failan, he played a thug, married to a Chinese woman out of convenience, but who sheds tears of regret when his “fake” wife dies. In Strokes of Fire, which won the Best Director Prize at the 55th Cannes Film Festival, he played the famous nineteenth-century Korean painter Jang Seung-up. In 2004, Choi returned to Cannes when director Park Chan-woo’s bloody revenge epic, Old Boy, won the Grand Prix-award. Choi's impassioned and robust acting can seize an audience's heart, and he is now known to film buffs worldwide.

This Choi Min-shik tribute will be presented at the newly renovated Museum of the Moving Image, home to New York City’s finest, state-of-the-art screen. MoMi is located at 36-01 35th Avenue (at 37 Street), Astoria, NY. Travel directions here. Films are free with museum admission.

This tribute is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

In related news, the 11th New York Asian Film Festival (June 29 - July 15) will be bringing CHOI to New York as a guest and will be screening his latest film, Nameless Gangster. NYAFF will also be showing a fistful of his classics, including Oldboy, and his underseen and heartbreaking boxing film, Crying Fist.