The Korea Herald

Washington, Blanchett accept Women in Film awards

Jun 12, 2014

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Kerry Washington stepped back into the spotlight for the first time since becoming a mom last month to accept an award from Women in Film.The "Scandal'' star, along with fellow actresses Cate Blanchett, Eva Longoria, Rose Byrne and "Frozen'' writer-director Jennifer Lee were honored by the nonprofit group Wednesday for their career achievements.Washington and Blanchett each said women must be willing to take risks and reveal imperfections to tell authentic stories about their
Lovely visuals, smart writing in ‘Dragon’

Jun 12, 2014

You thought it was tricky to train a dragon? It’s even trickier to take a much-admired animated film and make a sequel that feels satisfying and worthwhile. And it’s harder still to balance the competing needs of stretching the story in new directions but retaining the guiding spirit of the original enough to make fans happy. It’s nice to be able to report that “How to Train Your Dragon 2,” written and directed by Dean DeBlois, does all that tricky stuff pretty darned well. And you’ll be happily
[Herald Interview] Creating a world of imagination

Jun 11, 2014

Richard Taylor, CEO of Weta Workshops, talks about his inspiration for creatures and characters from blockbuster movies
[Herald Review] Between life and death lies ‘Gyeongju’

Jun 10, 2014

Korean-Chinese director Zhang Lu explores the meaning of life and death in his new movie
‘Fault in our Stars’ soars at North American box office

Jun 9, 2014

LOS ANGELES, June 08, 2014 (AFP) ― Romantic drama “The Fault in our Stars” ― a love story about teenagers who meet at a cancer support group ― soared at the North American box office, industry estimates showed Sunday.The movie, based on a popular young adult novel by John Green, raked in $48.2 million in its opening weekend, pushing last week’s number one “Maleficent” down to the number two slot.“Maleficent” ― starring and produced by megastar Angelina Jolie ― is a modern retelling of the life o
[Herald Review] Gender identity quest, noir or comedy

Jun 8, 2014

‘High Heel’ portrays detective’s coming out, while ‘Me, Myself and Mum’ explores young man’s counter-coming out
‘Godzilla’ director in Japan feels like ‘surrogate mother’

Jun 8, 2014

TOKYO (AFP) ― As excitement builds in Japan for a Hollywood reboot of “Godzilla,” the new film’s director said on Thursday he felt like a “surrogate mother” who was returning a baby to its home. Hollywood giant Warner Bros put the fate of the classic behemoth ― originally a Japanese film ― in the hands of Briton Gareth Edwards, who made independent sci-fi flick “Monsters” in 2010. Godzilla’s latest incarnation has been appearing on screens in the United States and 60 other countries and territor
Hendrix’ ex-girlfriend says new movie ‘made up’

Jun 5, 2014

Sydney (AFP) ― An ex-girlfriend of guitar legend Jimi Hendrix has lashed out at a new biopic about his life, claiming some of it was “completely made up.”Kathy Etchingham, Hendrix’s girlfriend from 1966-69, said she was not consulted about the movie directed by John Ridley, who won an Oscar in March for writing the “12 Years a Slave” screenplay. Although yet to see the film, she is particularly incensed about a scene that depicts their relationship as so turbulent that he beats her up. Director
When music meets film

Jun 4, 2014

KT&G Sangsang Madang kicking off annual music film festival on Friday
Hollywood hosts China’s Huading Film Awards

Jun 3, 2014

HOLLYWOOD (AFP) ― China’s Huading Film Award ceremony was held for the first time in the United States on Sunday, with Hollywood celebrities like Halle Berry and Orlando Bloom receiving honors. While the Chinese awards are little known in the United States, western film celebrities understand the importance of the burgeoning Chinese market and many were present at the event.The bilingual show, hosted by Chinese TV personality Olivia Xu and Chinese-American actress Lucy Liu, was held in the city’
Man who accosted Brad Pitt pleads no contest to battery

Jun 1, 2014

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― A man who accosted Brad Pitt on a red carpet pleaded no contest to battery and was ordered to stay away from the actor and Hollywood red carpet events. Vitalii Sediuk entered the plea during a court appearance Friday afternoon, two days after he leaped from a fan area and made contact with Pitt at the “Maleficent” premiere. He was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to attend a year’s worth of psychological counseling. Sediuk, 25, was also ordered to stay away fr
Box office

May 30, 2014

High Heel (Korea)Opening June 4Noir, action. Directed by Jang JinYoon Ji-wook (Cha Seung-won) is a homicide detective whose macho looks match his undisputed ability to nab violent criminals. He is revered as a legend in the police force and at the same time feared among the mafia for his brutality in cracking down on crime. But deep inside, his identity is quite different. Ji-wook has desired to become a woman ever since his teenage days. He tries to suppress the inner desire -- in vain. He fina
‘Fed Up’ finds tragedy, scandal, comedy in U.S. obesity epidemic

May 30, 2014

Joe, a 180-kilogram Latino boy from Houston, weeps in fear and frustration. He’s not alone. Maggie, a 96-kilogram 12-year-old from Oklahoma, joins him. Wesley, an overweight 13-year-old in Houston, is desperate.But Brandon, 15, a 98-kilogram South Carolinian headed toward diabetes, morbid obesity and being a member of “the first American generation to not live as long as their parents,” is documenting his struggle on videolife, reading up on his diet and the causes of his problem, determined to
Eyelike: IU returns with Korean classics

May 30, 2014

Old classics never get oldIU“A Flower Bookmark” (LOEN Entertainment)In her new covers album “A Flower Bookmark,” IU leads listeners down memory lane through calm and acoustic reinterpretations of hits from the 80s and 90s.For every track, IU keeps a careful balance between preserving the song’s original sentiments and altering the original with her own color and arrangements. Age does not seem to preclude the 21-year-old singer from reviving old classics released even before she was born.The lea
International women’s film festival opens in Seoul

May 30, 2014

The 16th International Women’s Film Festival in Seoul opened on Thursday at Megabox Theater in Sinchon with the overarching theme of “the visions of 99 percent for another world.” Organizers adopted the motto to highlight the importance of women’s diverse views in interpreting the multiple layers of life around the world. “The theme focuses on the lives of 99 percent of the world’s population (as opposed to the privileged 1 percent),” said festival director Lee Hye-kyung at a press conference he