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Two-part extravaganzas have always been huge gambles for their creative teams. Hollywood is no stranger to shooting back-to-back sequels, from “The Matrix” to “The Hobbit” to Netflix’s recent “Rebel Moon” saga, and Asian cinema has followed a similar path. John Woo split his expansive Han Dynasty battle epic “Red Cliff” in two for much of its worldwide distribution, while Bollywood’s “Gangs of Wasseypur“(with its initial 319 minute runtime) has seen many iterations, first as two films, then as eight much shorter episodes for its Netflix distribution. In all of these cases, there is a gravitas that comes with the filmmaker’s vision, bursting with ideas and flourishes that cannot be contained in the average one-off cinema experience. Yet with that comes a crucial hope for the goodwill of the audience, that they’re willing to come back, buy another ticket and sit back down to see the conclusion of the story.

Streaming service Netflix unveiled its lineup of Korean movies scheduled for release in 2025 at a recent event during the Busan International Film Festival. The selection includes both movies from experienced directors and new talent.

One of the highlighted projects is Netflix’s first original Korean animated feature called “Lost in Starlight.” Directed by Han Ji-won, it will be her first full-length film. The movie explores a long-distance relationship through an astronaut voiced by Kim Tae-ri and a musician voiced by Hong Kyung.

Acclaimed director Yeon Sang-ho, known for “Train to Busan” and the Netflix series “Hellbound,” is working on the thriller “Revelations.” Ryu Jun-yeol plays a pastor searching for his missing son alongside detective Shin Hyun-been. Yeon, who co-wrote the script with Choi Gyu-seok from “Hellbound,” notes the changing expectations of audiences. He stated audiences now decide how streaming films differ from those in theaters.

Other anticipated titles include disaster...

Netflix showcased its Korean film slate for the coming year at an event in Busan, including Lost In Starlight, the first Korean-language animated feature to be produced by the streamer.

Directors from seven films set to release on the platform next year attended the event, held during Busan International Film Festival, to discuss their upcoming projects.

Lost In Starlight will mark the feature debut of director Han Ji-won and follows the long-distance relationship between an astronaut, voiced by Kim Tae-ri of The Handmaiden, and a musician, voiced by Hong Kyung of TV’s Revenant.

Also on the slate is Revelations,...

Netflix has unveiled an extensive lineup of Korean films set to debut on the streaming platform in 2025, showcasing the streaming giant’s continued investment in Korean content.

The diverse slate, revealed at an event on the sidelines of the Busan International Film Festival, which opened with Netflix’s “Uprising,” includes projects spanning genres from action and sci-fi to romance and animation, featuring both established and emerging talent in the Korean film industry.

Acclaimed director Byun Sung-hyun, known for his work on “The Merciless” and “Kill Boksoon,” returns with “Good News” (working title), a 1970s-set thriller centered around a hijacked airplane. The film stars Sul Kyung-gu, reuniting with Byun for a fourth collaboration, alongside Hong Kyung and Ryoo Seung-bum. Sul takes on the role of a mysterious fixer, with Hong playing an Air Force lieutenant and Ryoo portraying a government official overseeing a covert operation.

In the sci-fi disaster genre, “The...

The 19th edition of the London Korean Film Festival (Lkff), organised by the Korean Cultural Centre UK (Kccuk) and supported by the Korean Film Council, is proud to unveil its 2024 programme. The London Korean Film Festival will take place at BFI Southbank, Ciné Lumière, and Institute of Contemporary Arts (Ica) from 1 November to 13 November. It will feature two strands; Cinema Now and Women’s Voices, as well as a programme from the BFI Echoes in Time: Korean Films of the Golden Age and New Cinema.

Opening Gala Film: Park Beom-su‘s Victory

Closing Gala Film: E.oni‘s Love In The Big City

Special Screening: Choi Dong-hoon‘s Alienoid: Return To The Future

Victory by Park Beom-su will open the festival on the 6 November at BFI Southbank with the director in attendance. In 1999, two rebellious teenagers start a cheerleading squad for their provincial high school, bringing confidence and solidarity to themselves,...

Pachinko is a sweeping historical drama series created by Soo Hugh. Based on a 2017 novel of the same name by author Min Jin Lee, the Apple TV+ series follows four generations of a Korean family, beginning with Sunja as she leaves her family in Korea under Japanese rule to move to Koreatown, Osaka to start a new life but struggles with discrimination in Japanese society. Pachinko stars Youn Yuh-jung, Soji Arai, Kim Min-ha, Yu-na, Jin Ha, Han Jun-woo, Jeong In-ji, Jung Eun-chae, Lee Min-ho, Kaho Minami, Steve Sang-Hyun Noh, Anna Sawai, Jimmi Simpson, and Kim Sung-kyu. So, if you loved the historical drama, epic romantic stories, and complex characters in Pachinko, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Little America (Apple TV+) Credit – Apple TV+

Little America is an anthology drama series developed by Lee Eisenberg, Emily V. Gordon, and Kumail Nanjiani. Based on true stories of...

The ReportImage: Amazon

Even if it might be harder to navigate than any of its top-tier streaming peers, Amazon Prime Video still boasts a wide selection of films, including plenty of older movies that places like Netflix simply don’t care to host. That said, its turnover is frequent and subtle.

Two-part extravaganzas have always been huge gambles for their creative teams. Hollywood is no stranger to shooting back-to-back sequels, from “The Matrix” to “The Hobbit” to Netflix's recent “Rebel Moon” saga, and Asian cinema has followed a similar path. John Woo split his expansive Han Dynasty battle epic “Red Cliff” in two for much of its worldwide distribution, while Bollywood's “Gangs of Wasseypur”(with its initial 319 minute runtime) has seen many iterations, first as two films, then as eight much shorter episodes for its Netflix distribution. In all of these cases, there is a gravitas that comes with the filmmaker's vision, bursting with ideas and flourishes that cannot be contained in the average one-off cinema experience. Yet with that comes a crucial hope for the goodwill of the audience, that they're willing to come back, buy another ticket and sit back down to see the conclusion of the story.

"Whatever's inside you, just leave it alone." Well Go USA has revealed the official US teaser trailer for the sci-fi sequel Alienoid: The Return to the Future – Part 2 of this epic Korean production. We posted multiple trailers for the original Part 1 - Alienoid back in 2022 when it first opened in theaters in the US and in Korea. Filming originally began in March 2020. Both first & second part were filmed simultaneously for 13 months. Alien + Human: Part 2, as it's also known, will open in US theaters later in January this winter. This is the second part to Alienoid, which will center on ancient Taoists traveling through time and space in an effort to obtain the Divine Sword. After locating the Divine Blade, a shaman and a modern-day woman race through time to battle a powerful alien commander intent on destroying mankind in this sci-fi follow-up, Part 2 of Choi Dong-hoon's epic action series.

Following the story of a wealthy man in 1945, Netflix’s Gyeongseong Creature is a period drama that combines history with horror and brings about an intriguing show that poses questions about humanity and the perils of survival in a monster-infested world. South Korea has been well known for making some incredible thrillers over the years, and Gyeongseong Creature does not disappoint on that front either. Although it’s a plot that is rather predictable, there are a lot of thrills to keep one occupied. The show is also set in Japan-occupied Korea, a dark time for the country, and does a decent job of representing the time period. Whether you’re looking for something historical or monstrous, this list will serve you well.

Sweet Home

The most obvious choice when it comes to a double feature with Gyeongseong Creature would be Sweet Home, the TV show about a virus that turns humans into monsters.

Choi Dong-hoon unleashed his vision for the future last year with “Alienoid”, a sci-fi time-jumping epic that was his dream project, told in both the present time and the Joseon era. Though the multi-starrer large-scale production, starring Kim Tae-ri, Ryu Jun-yeol and Kim Woo-bin, failed to light up the box-office, Choi did manage to set up his expansive world with the first part of a tale that he shot simultaneously as a two-parter and the second part, now titled “Alienoid: The Return to the Future” is gearing up for release.

Synopsis

Ean and Thunder have become trapped in the distant past while trying to prevent the escape of alien prisoners who are locked up in the human brains. She eventually locates the Divine Blade. which can open a door through time. Meanwhile Moo-reuk who helps Ean escape is unnerved when he begins sensing the presence of a strange being in his body.

The Creator is a sci-drama film directed by Gareth Edwards, who co-wrote the film with Chris Weitz. Set in a dystopian future where a war between the humans and the artificial intelligence rages on, Joshua an ex-special forces agent is recruited to capture and kill the Creator, who is known as the architect of advanced AI. The Creator stars John David Washington, Gemma Chan, Ken Watanabe, Allison Janney, and Madeleine Yuna Voyles. So, if you loved the original sci-fi film here are some similar movies you could watch next.

Space Sweeper (Netflix) Credit – Netflix

Synopsis: Set in 2092, spaceship Victory is one of the many that live off salvaging space debris. Crewed with a genius space pilot Tae-ho(Song Joong-ki), a mysterious ex-space pirate Captain Jang(Kim Tae-ri), an spaceship engineer Tiger Park(Jin Sun-kyu), and a reprogrammed military robot Bubs(Yoo Hai-jin), Spaceship Victory surpasses all other space sweepers. After...

It’s not every day that we get an excellent horror show that is an all-rounder. We have pining romance, family drama, heartbreak, commentary on the class divide, and suicide all in this one show called Revenant that is entertaining (for lack of a better word) from its first minute to its last. San-Yeong is played by the amazing Kim Tae-Ri, who happens to be at her peak in this one for sure. She does an incredible job of switching from the fear of being possessed to being possessed within seconds. It’s probably all her theatre skills working to her benefit. All her life, San-Yeong has struggled with money and, inevitably, everything else that comes with it. She worked hard at part-time jobs from a young age and continued to do so because she couldn’t afford not to and was giving her civil exam. Because of this, San-Yeong...

Now a household name in the Korean entertainment industry, Kim Tae-Ri’s humble beginnings may come as a shock to many for the actress, who has an impressive resume for just a seven-year career. While technically, she hasn’t been acting for just 7 years, her mainstream film debut was in 2016, and she was clearly set up for success right from the start. The 33-year-old actress, who is known for looking youthful and even played a 21-year-old just last year, discovered her love for acting back in college. She began as a theatre actress in her second year of university and starred in a couple of music videos thereafter. She auditioned with over 1500 other women to play the important role of an orphan in acclaimed director Park Chan Wook’s erotic thriller The Handmaiden. She hasn’t looked back since, won many awards for the role, and proved her place in the industry.

The question is, was the last episode of Revenant the grand finale we needed? The short answer is yes; it lives up to our expectations and gives us the satisfaction we needed. People may say that Kingdom has got to be writer Kim Eun-Hee’s best work, but I’d like to argue that Revenant is just as good or even better in many ways. She’s especially good at balancing an emotional message that packs a punch with the ridiculous lengths human beings can go to in their greed. In many ways, Revenant has a very simple and straightforward plot, but the way it reaches its conclusion is truly delightful to watch. In terms of the best episode, it’s got to be episode 11, but 12 doesn’t fall too far behind, either. It’s a shame we won’t be waiting for new episodes every Friday anymore, but we...

Revenant, like so many horror stories, begins on a rainy night. Disney+’s latest South Korean drama opens as Professor Gu Kang-mo (Jin Seon-kyu) hurries through his front door, past shelves piled with books, and barricades himself in the study. “What went wrong?” he asks himself, flipping through his notes. Behind him, visible through paper windows, flashes of lightning illuminate a shadowy figure — its hair writhing in a wide halo like snakes.

Moments later, Gu is dead and we cut to what appears to be an unrelated scene. Rushing from...

It’s a shame that there are only 2 episodes of Revenant left when we’re just starting to see some new developments. Of course, we can’t expect any less from writer Kim Eun-Hee; she really knows what thrills. We can say without a doubt that Kim Tae-Ri really might be one of the best in the industry. To play an almost depressed woman who is possessed by an evil spirit who is a teenager is not an easy task, but she does an incredible job of dropping our jaws to the floor. It’s been a while since such a gripping show came our way, and we’re so excited to revisit it again.

Spoilers Ahead

What Happens In The Episode?

San-Yeong gets visited by her mother in the house at night. San-Yeong is really worried and tells her mother that it’s dangerous to be around her at night.

This has got to be the most thrilling episode of Revenant by far. Already, so much has happened in this show, and we’re seeing the full effect of Kim Tae-Ri’s impeccable performance skills. The role is ideal for her, and she’s fantastic at playing both the sheep and the wolf! It’s incredible. A horror show like the Revenant is rare to come by because it’s fast-paced, but it doesn’t feel rushed. In Episode 4, we saw Hae-Sang and San-Yeong visit the village that did the ritual to ward off evil spirits. They’re searching for Jangjin-ri, the place where the little girl Lee Mok-Dan was killed by a shaman for a ritual. This week, we learned a lot more about the ritual and why Mok-Dan is tormenting the people of Seoul.

Spoilers Ahead

What Happens In Episode 5?

Hae-Sang finds the dolls used for the ritual...

If you thoroughly enjoyed the first four episodes of Revenant and need something to fill the void while you desperately wait to know what’s going to happen next with San-Yeong, then here’s a list that’ll do just that. The Korean entertainment industry is fantastic at getting a scream out of viewers and has some really innovative and exciting new ideas to do this. Zombies, ghosts, serial killers, cults, and all, this list will contain some or all of your nightmares to make your July viewing extra terrifying. Let’s quickly get into a list of the best K-horror shows to watch while waiting for Revenant.

Save Me (2017)

The now star-studded Save Me includes superstars like Ok Taec-Yeon, Woo Dohwan, and Seo Yea-Ji in pivotal roles as students who are fighting a religious cult that threatens to destroy the leading lady’s life for good. This one is a slow burn,...

Revenant, literally translated to The Demon, is the new Korean drama with mystery, thrills, and long-haired shadow spirits that are here to occupy your nightmares. The show stars Kim Tae-Ri and Oh Jung-Se in pivotal roles, and we love the detective work done by these two already! Last week, they solved the mystery of a vengeful spirit who had some unfinished business in the earthly realm, specifically to save his young sister from their terrible parents. This week, a new mystery with high heels and a purple coat unfolds, and simultaneously, we continue to learn about the spirit that’s taken over San-Yeong’s body too.

Spoilers Ahead

What Happens In Episode 3?

Hong-Sae is on a mission to prove to his senior, Mun-Chun, that he is a great detective and isn’t working just for a promotion. Mun-Chun had told him that he was looking for a connection between suicide cases.

The horror genre is a beloved one in the K-drama industry. We’ve seen many a successful show about ghosts and monsters such as Let’s Fight Ghost and Sweet Home. Kim Tae-Ri returns to the drama world after her successful Netflix show Twenty-Five Twenty-One which was an emotional watch for anyone who saw it. Now, she commands the screen with a ghostly aura in Revenant to unwind a mystery that will connect her to her past and help solve a years-old ghostly encounter. Her long black hair paired with her pale skin and black outfits only add to the eerieness of Revenant and I’m here for it. Oh Jung-Se does yet another unique role where he plays a stoic professor who can see ghosts and wants to figure out how his mother died many years ago. Together they will embark on a journey to get rid of the evil force that is at play.

As the search for the next “Squid Game” continues, South Korea brought out the big guns at MipTV, introducing several scripted and unscripted offerings. These includes FormatEast’s intergenerational game show “Gganbu Race,” inspired by the Netflix smash hit.

“It’s a slang term meaning close friends and companions. Kids would say that when forming teams to play games,” said producer Fay Zhang during the K Formats: The Next Big Hits from Korea session, mentioning “Squid Game’s” episode where the main character joined forces with female and older contestants.

“Everyone thought they would lose. They won, because of an unexpected synergy effect. Our main concept is to overcome prejudice and win through cooperation beyond age.”

The show will see juniors and seniors battling for prize money. They have to choose partners not knowing which games they will play, but there is a twist: the bigger the age difference, the bigger the prize.

Image Source: Everett Collection

Nam Joo-Hyuk is definitely the internet boyfriend we deserve! Though fans are missing him dearly while he serves his mandatory service in the Korean military (as all able-bodied Korean men must by age 28), they're relying on his his dreamy roles in hit K-dramas like "Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo," "Start-Up," and "The Light in Your Eyes" to keep his face fresh in their minds.

Nam took his dreamboat status to a whole new level through his 2022 role as Yi-Jin on Netflix's romance-drama "Twenty-Five Twenty-One." Whether it's his undeniable chemistry with Kim Tae-ri's Na Hee-Do, the way he blushes adorably in the aspiring fencer's presence, his sad eyes whenever they're forced to part ways, or simply his million-dollar smile, Nam is all fans can think about ever since the show aired. And naturally, fans are wondering about the Korean heartthrob's relationship status. Is he still on the market?...

K-drama and K-Pop fans are in for a tough year as many well-known actors and idols enlist to fulfill their military service. Actor Lee Joo-hyuk announced in January that he had set his enlistment date for late March. The day had come as the actor would be away from the spotlight and the small-screen for roughly two years. Thankfully, K-drama fans have a few Nam Joo-hyuk characters to keep them company while he is in the military.

Nam Joo-hyuk as male lead in ‘The Bride of Habaek’ K-drama | via tvN ‘The Bride of Habaek’ is Nam Joo-hyuk’s most popular fantasy K-drama romance roles

In 2017, Nam starred as the male lead, alongside actor Shin Se-kyung as his female co-star. The Bride of Habaek is a fantasy staple for many fans that takes care of all the well-known tropes of the genre. Ha-baek (Nam) is the God of Water and seeks...

One of the most challenging things for K-drama fans is letting go of their favorite male actors as they must fulfill their military service. Over the past few years, many K-Pop and Korean actors have enlisted for their mandatory 2-year service and put their careers on hold. A list of popular K-drama actors like Song Kang are set to enlist. Twenty-Five Twenty-One actor Nam Joo-hyuk officially announced his military enlistment date and what branch.

‘Twenty-Five Twenty-One’ actor Nam Joo-hyuk set to enlist in military | via tvN Actor Nam Joo-hyuk will serve in the Military Police Force

According to Soompi, Nam’s agency, Management Soop, announced the news everyone has been waiting for. The 28-year-old actor is set to enlist on March 20, 2023. In May last year, Nam applied for The Capital Defense Command Military Police Group and was accepted to serve.

The actor will fulfill five weeks of basic training before...

The coronavirus pandemic had a very detrimental effect not just on film production but also distribution and release. Productions with an international shooting schedule in particularly were heavily hit, having to either cancel shoots altogether or wait and change locations to resume production. However, with the ease in movement and the opening of the world, these projects were able to finish and 2022 in particular was a good year for these long-gestating films. Possibly the biggest and longest-delayed project of these is the history-making real-life crime thriller “The Point Men”, which has just released its first trailer and set a January 2023 release date for itself.

Synopsis

Based on the true events of the Korean hostage crisis in Afghanistan.

A group of Korean tourists is taken hostage by an extremist Taliban group in Afghanistan. The Korean government dispatches Jae-ho (Hwang Jung-min), known as one of Korea’s most skilled diplomats, in order to handle the situation.

Our friends at Texas-based specialty distrbutor Well Go USA have been gracious enough to provide Screen Anarchy with three copies of Korean sci-fi action gem, Alienoid, for giveaway this week! Somehow the film managed to slip through our fingers when it released a few months back, so we don't have a review handy, but here's what they have to say about it: Written & directed by Choi Dong-hoon and starring Ryu Jun-Yeol, Kim Woo-bin (Friend 2), and Kim Tae-ri (The Handmaiden), the time-traveling sci-fi action epic Alienoid debuts on Digital, Blu-ray™ and DVD December 6 from Well Go USA Entertainment and will land on martial arts action streaming channel Hi-yah! on December 23. The first in a...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

Written & directed by Choi Dong-hoon and starring Ryu Jun-Yeol, Kim Woo-bin (Friend 2), and Kim Tae-ri (The Handmaiden), the time-traveling sci-fi action epic Alienoid debuts on Digital, Blu-ray and DVD December 6 from Well Go USA Entertainment and will land on martial arts action streaming channel Hi-yah! on December 23. The first in a planned series of two epic sci-fi action time-warpers, the film is a tale of two eras, following two Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) shamans seeking a legendary, time-bending blade as they unexpectedly cross paths with modern-era people hunting down a dangerous alien concealed inside a human’s body. Bonus features include trailers, character trailers, making-of materials and an all-new English dub.

Synopsis:

While seeking a legendary, time-bending blade, two Goryeo-era shamans cross paths with modern-era people hunting down a dangerous alien concealed inside a human’s body.

Cj Enm, which includes Korea’s largest film producer and distributor, is using the Asian Contents & Film Market this week to launch a handful of new titles while basking in its recent box office and festival successes.

“The Boys” gets its premiere as a special screening withing the Busan International Film Festival’s expanded Korean Cinema Today section. This crime drama delves into the lives of three teenage boys, falsely accused and jailed for a brutal robbery-murder case. Fifteen years later, they seek a retrial in a bid to prove their innocence.

The veteran cast line-up includes Seol Kyung Gu (“Kingmaker”), Yu Jun Sang (“Along With The Gods: Two Worlds”), Jin Kyung (“Beasts Clawing At Straws”), Heo Sung Tae and Yeom Hye Ran (“Special Delivery”). “The Boys” was directed by Chung Ji Young, whose notable works include “National Security” and “Black Money.”

History has proven freedom comes at a price.

The world’s longest-running film festival dedicated to Korean cinema, the London Korean Film Festival (Lkff) returns with its 17th edition. Lkff will run from 3 November – 17 November 2022 in cinema venues across London.

With the biggest programme dedicated to Korean cinema outside of the country itself, the festival is proud to return with an exciting programme of 35+ films across strands including Cinema Now, Special Focus, After Dark: K-Horror, Indie Talents, Women’s Voices, Documentary, Shorts and Artist Video.

Korean Sci-fi film, Choi Dong-hoon’s Alienoid opens the festival on 3rd November at the Institute for Contemporary Arts (Ica) with the director in attendance. A box office hit in Korea starring leading talent including Ryu Jun-yeol, Kim Woo-bin and Kim Tae-ri, the Lkff Opening is the film’s UK premiere.

The programme includes a Special Focus strand dedicated to internationally celebrated, acclaimed actress Kang Soo-yeon. Beloved within Korea as a young actor,...

Format

HBO Max in Hungary will stream a local version of hit survival reality format “The Bridge.” The competition sees participants tasked with building a 250-metre-long bridge to an island for the chance to win a large cash prize. Presented by Csaba Magyarósi, “The Bridge Hungary” is produced locally by Free Monkeys Production. This is the sixth adaptation of the format, which was created in Spain by Zeppelin, part of Banijay Iberia and has U.K., Brazil and Australia versions..

Banijay Rights struck multiple deals for the U.K. version with broadcasters in the Netherlands and across Africa and Latin America. The U.K. series also aired on HBO Max in the US, Latin America, and Asia.

The Hungarian agreement was negotiated by Veronique Verges, senior VP German territories, Poland and Hungary, Banijay Rights.

***

LA and London based production company The Ats Team have launched competition series “Clash of Trades.

Cohen Media Group hopes a Spanish film can dent the tough market for foreign language fare, Bleecker Street is out with a hostage drama and A24 presents Owen Kline’s directorial debut about a teenage cartoonist as the arthouse market flexes more muscle than it has in weeks.

The dearth of new releases itself nudged some distributors to grab a window now before a more crowded fall, including Uar’s supersized specialty opening of the Idris Elba, Tilda Swinton-starring Three Thousand Years Of Longing on 2,436 screens, considerably wider than originally anticipated.

George Miller’s fantasy fairytale, written by Miller and Augusta Gore, is based on the 1994 A.S. Byatt short story ‘The Djinn in the Nightingale’s Eye’. Swinton is a complacent academic, Elba is the Djinn (a kind of spirit genie) she encounters at a conference in Istanbul in the 2022 Cannes Film Festival out-of-competition entry. Deadline review here.

The Good Boss...

"The great Controller is locked inside you. Ready to break free?" One last look! Well Go USA has revealed a final official US trailer for the Korean epic action sci-fi movie Alienoid, opening in US theaters this week (starting August 26th). We already posted three other trailers for this movie before, but they keep hyping it up with more more more. A tale of two eras, Alienoid follows two Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) gurus seeking a legendary, time-bending blade as they unexpectedly cross paths with modern-era people hunting down a dangerous alien concealed inside a human's body. This sounds and looks awesome. The sci-fi action fantasy features a cast including Ryu Jun-yeol as the master swordsman, Kim Tae-ri as "a woman who shoots thunder", Kim Woo-bin, So Ji-seob, Yum Jung-ah, Kim Eui-eung, Lee Ha-nee, and Jo Woo-jin. I totally want to bring everyone I know to the theater to watch this when it plays this week.

Alienoid International Trailer 2 — Well Go USA Entertainment has released the second movie trailer for Alienoid / Oegye+in 1bu (2022). View here the first Alienoid international movie trailer. Cast and crew Choi Dong-hoon‘s Alienoid stars Ryu Jun-yeol, Kim Tae-ri, Kim Woo-bin, So Ji-seob, Yum Jung-ah, Kim Eui-eung, Lee Ha-nee, and Jo Woo-jin. Choi Dong-hoon [...]

Continue reading: Alienoid (2022) International Movie Trailer 2: Aliens Place Prisoners in Human Bodies in Choi Dong-hoon’s Sci-Fi Film...

"That blade can wake up prisoners, and it can move you through time." Sounds like one powerful blade! Korea's Cj Entertainment has revealed another official trailer for the epic sci-fi Alienoid, which is finally set for a US release. Well Go USA will drop this one in US theaters at the end of August. We already posted two other trailers for this movie before, but there's always more footage to see. During the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), Taoists try to take a mysterious holy sword. Meanwhile in present day (in 2022), aliens appear on Earth. A time door soon connects the late Goryeo period and the present day. The two parties cross paths when a time-traveling portal opens, causing chaos and confusion. The science fiction action fantasy features a cast including Ryu Jun-yeol as the master swordsman, Kim Tae-ri as "a woman who shoots thunder", Kim Woo-bin, So Ji-seob, Yum Jung-ah, Kim Eui-eung,...

Tickets go on sale July 1 for the fully in-theater 20th anniversary edition of the New York Asian Film Festival (Nyaff), presented by the New York Asian Film Foundation and Film at Lincoln Center (Flc), running from July 15–28, 2022 at Flc, as well as on July 23 and July 28–31 at Asia Society, which will be co-presenting a selection of key films and a Hong Kong marathon day. International stars and acclaimed filmmakers will return in-person to grace the Nyaff red carpet at Flc, receive awards, speak at Q&a sessions, and impart wisdom during masterclasses and special talks.

Hong Kong cultural icon Josie Ho will headline Nyaff 2022 with her latest project as producer of the inspiring musical documentary Finding Bliss: Fire and Ice—The Director’s Cut, in which she travels with musicians and students from Hong Kong to Iceland for a transcendent collaboration. As a tribute to the acting superstar, the festival...

The 20th edition of the festival will return as a full in-person event in July.

The New York Asian Film Festival (Nyaff) has unveiled the full line-up for its 20th edition, which will include honorary awards for Japanese horror director Takashi Shimizu, acclaimed Japanese actor Hiroshi Abe and South Korean rising star Kim Hye-yoon.

This year will mark Nyaff’s fully-fledged return to the big screen, following a virtual 2020 edition and a hybrid event in 2021. More than 60 new and classic titles from Asia, including six world premieres, will be presented as in-person screenings at Film at Lincoln Center (Flc) and the Asia Society,...

"For many years, aliens have kept their prisoners locked inside human bodies." Cj Entertainment in Korea has debuted another new "teaser" trailer for an epic sci-fi movie titled Alienoid. We posted a trailer for this a few weeks ago, but this teaser has even better footage. During the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), Taoists try to take a mysterious holy sword. Meanwhile in present day (in 2022), aliens appear on Earth. A time door soon connects the late Goryeo period and the present day. The two parties cross paths when a time-traveling portal opens, causing chaos and confusion. The science fiction action fantasy features a cast including Ryu Jun-yeol as a master swordsman, Kim Tae-ri as "a woman who shoots thunder", Kim Woo-bin, So Ji-seob, Yum Jung-ah, Kim Eui-eung, Lee Ha-nee, and Jo Woo-jin. It was shot all together but will be released in two sequential parts, instead of one big movie, which...

Exclusive: Well Go USA Entertainment has expanded its slate of Korean films, acquiring North American rights to titles including Alienoid, Hansan: Rising Dragon, Gangnam Zombie, The Ghost Station and The Assassin. While the international and indie distributor has set theatrical releases in place for Alienoid and Hansan, plans for the other three films have not yet been finalized.

Alienoid is the first in a series of two big-budget sci-fi films from director Choi Dong-hoon. Ryu Jun-Yeol, Kim Woo-bin and Kim Tae-ri star in the pic, which is being distributed in Korea by Cj Enm.

Directed by Kim Han-min and starring Park Hae-il, Byun Yo-han and Ahn Sung-ki, Hansan: Rising Dragon is a follow-up to 2014’s The Admiral: Roaring Currents—the most-watched film in Korean cinema history—which brings to life the historic Battle of Hansan Island. Its Korean distributor is Lotte Entertainment.

In the horror film Gangnam Zombie, from director Lee Soo-sung,...

Alienoid Trailer — Choi Dong-hoon‘s Alienoid / Oegye+in 1bu (2022) international movie trailer has been released by Cj Entertainment and Media. The Alienoid trailer stars Ryu Jun-yeol, Kim Tae-ri, Kim Woo-bin, So Ji-seob, Yum Jung-ah, Kim Eui-eung, Lee Ha-nee, and Jo Woo-jin. Crew Choi Dong-hoon wrote the screenplay for Alienoid. Caper Film produced this film. Plot Synopsis Alienoid‘s [...]

Continue reading: Alienoid (2022) International Movie Trailer: Swordsmen vs. Space Aliens in Choi Dong-hoon’s Scifi Film...

"How long do we have to stay on Earth?" Cj Entertainment in Korea has revealed the first international trailer for an epic sci-fi movie called Alienoid. Actually it's two movies! This "Part 1" will be out in July in Korea, though no US date is set yet. During the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), Taoists try to take a mysterious holy sword. Meanwhile in present day (in 2022), aliens appear on Earth. A time door soon connects the late Goryeo period and the present day. The two parties cross paths when a time-traveling portal opens, causing chaos and confusion. The science fiction action fantasy features a cast including Ryu Jun-yeol as a master swordsman, Kim Tae-ri as "a woman who shoots thunder", Kim Woo-bin, So Ji-seob, Yum Jung-ah, Kim Eui-eung, Lee Ha-nee, and Jo Woo-jin. It was shot as one but will be released in two sequential parts; Ryu Jun-yeol & Kim Tae-ri star in...

The movie images that haunt my mind are rarely from places you would expect. For instance, there is a scene in Park Chan-wook's incredible film "The Handmaiden" where Kim Tae-ri's character shares a powerful intimate moment with Kim Min-hee's character by filing her tooth. The intention is clear. One character literally has the other's fingers in her mouth. Their urges coming to the forefront without anything explicitly sexual happening. However, I was horrified by this, as the thought of someone filing my tooth makes me break out into a cold sweat. Park Chan-wook has created plenty of cinematic moments where he wants to unnerve me, but this...

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It’s only taken 7 years, but Choi Dong-hoon is finally back! The blockbuster hitmaker, both of whose last two releases “Assassination” and ”The Thieves” sit comfortably in the top 10 highest-grossing Korean films of all time, isnt one to shy away from challenges and for his latest work, the two-part “Alien”, he is taking on the sci-fi genre head-on to provide the kind of spectacle so far unseen in Korean cinema.

Synopsis

During the Goryeo dynasty, Taoists try to take a mysterious sword. In the present day, aliens appear on Earth. A time door soon appears between late Goryeo dynasty period and the present day. Due to this, a chaotic situations occur.

Choi has always managed to attract a big-name starcast for his projects and ”Alien” is no different, with Ryu Jun-yeol, Kim Tae-ri and Kim Woo-bin headlining the project. Additionally, the auoporting cast is equally impressive, with So Ji-sub, Lee Ha-nee,...

Image Source: Everett Collection

The finale of "Twenty-Five Twenty-One" is nearly here, and fans are still wondering whether Na Hee-Do (Kim Tae-Ri) and Baek Yi-Jin (Nam Joo-Hyuk) will end up together. The series, which primarily takes place between the years 1998 to 2001, focuses on the pair's relationship as they go from friends to lovers. However, since their love story takes place in the past and we learn about it from Hee-Do's present-day daughter, Kim Min-Chae (who obviously has a different family name than Yi-Jin), fans can't be sure how things will ultimately play out.

There are a couple of theories to help explain how Yi-Jin could still be Min-Chae's father (and Hee-Do's husband), but just when fans were starting to believe Hee-Do and Yi-Jin were definitely endgame, episode 14 of "Twenty-Five Twenty-One" threw a curveball. During the episode, Min-Chae searches Hee-Do and Yi-Jin's names online and finds a YouTube clip from 2009 that...

Nam Joo-Hyuk has stolen fans' hearts with his portrayal of Baek Yi-Jin in the hit K-drama, "Twenty Five Twenty One." In the series, Nam takes on the role of a kind and hardworking young man who's struggling to make ends meet due to his family going bankrupt. Just when he begins to lose hope that his situation will get better, he meets a high school fencer named Na Hee-Do (Kim Tae-ri), who teaches him how to dream big again.

Over the course of the series, the two develop feelings for each other. Their love story is told through a series of flashbacks when Hee-Do's daughter, Kim Min-Chae, learns about their relationship by reading her mother's old journal in the present-day.

If you're one of those fans who eagerly awaits new episodes each week, you're probably curious about what the "Twenty Five Twenty One" cast is like behind the scenes. Scroll...

Nothing can get us quite in our feelings like "Twenty-Five Twenty-One." The hit K-drama, which is currently streaming on Netflix, centers around high school fencer Na Hee-Do (Kim Tae-ri) befriending a hardworking college dropout named Baek Yi-Jin (Nam Joo-Hyuk). Over the course of the series, the two grow closer and begin to catch feelings as they help each other deal with their own personal struggles. With every episode, viewers also fall deeper in love with Yi-Jin, since he's basically the definition of a perfect boyfriend: kind, caring, and always there for Hee-Do during her toughest moments.

Besides "Twenty-Five Twenty-One," Nam has also portrayed the leading male love interest in other romantic K-dramas like "Start-Up" and "Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo." The actor has never failed to make fans swoon with his roles. If you've become a big fan of Nam as well, scroll through the slideshow to see 20 of his best photos through the years.

Netflix's latest Korean romance drama "Twenty-Five Twenty-One" has us hooked already! The series follows Na Hee-Do (Kim Tae-Ri), an 18-year-old high-school fencer, and her budding love story with Baek Yi-Jin (Nam Joo-Hyuk), a diligent 22-year-old college dropout who's struggling amid a sudden financial crisis that bankrupted his formerly ultra-rich family.

The story begins in 2021 as a present-day Hee-Do's teenage daughter, Kim Min-Chae (Choi Myung-bin), learns about her mother's high-school life in 1998 through her old journal. While there's a lot we don't know about the present-day Hee-do, the biggest question on fans' minds is who's Kim Min-Chae's father? Did Hee-Do and Yi-Jin make it throughout the years, or did "the times" pull them apart? Is Baek Yi-Jin still in the picture?! Tell us already!

While we might have to wait a few episodes (or even until the end of the series) to get the full picture here, we have some...

One of the most popular films streaming on Netflix is the live-action, science fiction feature "Space Sweepers" directed by Jo Sung-Hee:

"...the space crew of the 'Victory', living off salvaging space debris in the year 2092, include genius pilot 'Tae-ho' (Song Joong-Ki), ex-space pirate 'Captain Jang' (Kim Tae-Ri), engineer 'Tiger Park' (Jin Sun-Kyu), and reprogrammed military robot 'Bubs' (Yoo Hai-Jin). 

"Earth is nearly destroyed by pollution and a group of upper-class people build a new habitable world in outer space. Surpassing other space sweepers and successfully snatching a crashed space shuttle in the latest debris chase, the crew finds a 7-year-old girl inside who is later revealed to be a human-like robot wanted by 'Space Guards'.

"Seeing it as an opportunity to make more money, the crew demands a ransom in exchange for the girl..."

Click the images to enlarge... ...

Serial killer thrillers are common fodder for South Korean cinema, with some of the best features in the sub-genre coming from the country and indeed, some of the best features from the country being in this sub-genre. Every year sees a number of releases about psychotic killers to varying responses from the audiences and critics. While 2020 was a tepid year from films in general, 2021 has so far fared much better and thus of course serial killer films would also make a return. One such release is “Midnight”, which saw a hybrid release both in theatres and on the local streaming platform Tving. A release which was pretty much swept under the radar due to a lack of a strong marketing campaign, it benefited from a strong word of mouth upon release.

“Midnight” is screening at Fantasia International Film Festival

Hearing impaired Kyeong-mi lives with her mother and works in a customer service centre.

Park Chan-wook’s return to S. Korea from Hollywood, where he directed “Stoker”, also signaled his return to masterpieces, with “The Handmaiden” reaching the standards of his best films, like “Oldboy”. His passage from Hollywood did not have the same success his previous works had; however, Park seems to have implemented the aesthetics usually associated with American films in “The Handmaiden.” In the process, he has created a completely new amalgam, which seems to have taken the best from his unique style and Hollywood aesthetics, particularly regarding maximalism in terms of image and dialogue. The outcome is magnificent, a truly impressive film in all aspects. The awards it has already received from festivals and competitions all around the world is a testament to the fact.

Please take caution, before reading, because the list contains many spoilers.

The script is based on the novel “Fingersmith” by Sarah Waters...