Korean Cinema is Awsome! Pt. 1.
This year, many of us have gone to the movies, but the movies we may have enjoyed, one could counton one hand. Zootopia, Captain America: Civl War, and Deadpool, plus maybe one or a couple of others. Otherwise nothing has felt, good or memorable. Well I found an alternative. Down my street, a couple of blocks is CGV Cienmas, which is a Korean owned theater chain, with this theater in a small mini-mall, and having three screens and digital projection. They also have a $6.00 matinee price before 12 noon, and $8.00 after, until 2pm, where the full price of $11.00 is charged. Digital 3D is $15.00 with no matinee discounts.
On the whole I am liking Korean Cinema maybe a littl more than American cinema. The films are straight forward, cleanly photographed, well edited, and paced, and fairly well acted. Now the selection of the films at CGV may be biased due to them being "The best sellers" of Korea, but what I have seen recently has been quite good.
"Train to Busan"
This film is a "Fast Zombie" horror film, when a biological agent gets loose and starts to infect the people of Seoul. the story concerns a businessman, who has promised to take his young daughter to visit his estranged wife in Busan, from Seoul. In the movie you are introduced to several other passengers, and the signs of things going wrong start subtly and build slowly (The initial scene if an agricultural truck flattening a fawn, and then the fawn getting to it's feet a minute or two later as a zombie sets the tone.) The film is economical, very well acted, with the appealing characters remaining appealing through the film. the little girls is a standout as an authentically worried child. The photography is the antithesis of your standard horror movie, with everything shot with the bright, clean clarity of a French Perfume Commercial. editing is crisp, and the effects are integrated well, adding to the disturbing feeling. All in all, a very satisfying horro film.
"Operation Chromite"
Korean made war Movies are usually rather Kinetic. This movie doesn't get to the kinetic part until later. This movie is a tense spy thriller, until the guns come out. The story is about a Korean special Ops team performing reconnaissance upon Inchon harbour, and trying to get the lay of the mine fields in advance of General Douglas MacArthur's amphibious invasion. Since seeing the film "Taigukji" several years ago, I have been impressed with the action and the authenticity of korean made war movies. Plot wise, this film was straightforward, and not as complex as Taigukji, however there were several American actors playing officers, and they chose Liam Neeson to play MacArthur and he does a splendid job. He really looked the part. The acting on whole was first rate throughout the film. and the Effects, while a little overblown here and there, did serve to keep the film firmly in it's 1950 time period.
I would reccomend taking a look at Korean films in your preferred genre. You may be pleasantly surprised.
--Scott
On the whole I am liking Korean Cinema maybe a littl more than American cinema. The films are straight forward, cleanly photographed, well edited, and paced, and fairly well acted. Now the selection of the films at CGV may be biased due to them being "The best sellers" of Korea, but what I have seen recently has been quite good.
"Train to Busan"
This film is a "Fast Zombie" horror film, when a biological agent gets loose and starts to infect the people of Seoul. the story concerns a businessman, who has promised to take his young daughter to visit his estranged wife in Busan, from Seoul. In the movie you are introduced to several other passengers, and the signs of things going wrong start subtly and build slowly (The initial scene if an agricultural truck flattening a fawn, and then the fawn getting to it's feet a minute or two later as a zombie sets the tone.) The film is economical, very well acted, with the appealing characters remaining appealing through the film. the little girls is a standout as an authentically worried child. The photography is the antithesis of your standard horror movie, with everything shot with the bright, clean clarity of a French Perfume Commercial. editing is crisp, and the effects are integrated well, adding to the disturbing feeling. All in all, a very satisfying horro film.
"Operation Chromite"
Korean made war Movies are usually rather Kinetic. This movie doesn't get to the kinetic part until later. This movie is a tense spy thriller, until the guns come out. The story is about a Korean special Ops team performing reconnaissance upon Inchon harbour, and trying to get the lay of the mine fields in advance of General Douglas MacArthur's amphibious invasion. Since seeing the film "Taigukji" several years ago, I have been impressed with the action and the authenticity of korean made war movies. Plot wise, this film was straightforward, and not as complex as Taigukji, however there were several American actors playing officers, and they chose Liam Neeson to play MacArthur and he does a splendid job. He really looked the part. The acting on whole was first rate throughout the film. and the Effects, while a little overblown here and there, did serve to keep the film firmly in it's 1950 time period.
I would reccomend taking a look at Korean films in your preferred genre. You may be pleasantly surprised.
--Scott