A Dutch romance film about a man and his beautiful wife fighting breast cancer is hitting local theaters later this month.The film, titled “Stricken,” is an adaptation of celebrated Dutch author Ray Kluun’s novel of the same title. The writer wrote the 2003 novel based on his personal experience ― his wife Judith died of breast cancer in 2000, at the age of 36. The movie follows the life of its protagonist, Stijn, who seems to have it all. He is an accomplished advertising executive who lives wi

Korea Media Rating Board hit for ‘practically banning’ target audience from watching acclaimed directors’ work

NEW YORK (AP) ― Following crowdfunding campaigns from “Veronica Mars’’ and Zach Braff, James Franco is seeking to raise $500,000 to bankroll a trilogy of movies.Franco on Monday night started a campaign on IndieGogo, a crowd-funding site that allows people to keep the money they raise even if the project doesn’t come to fruition. Franco isn’t trying to direct the films; he is raising money so that a collection of young filmmakers can adapt his 2011 short story collection, “Palo Alto.’’Franco ple

A growing number of Korean films are borrowing storylines from webtoons -- and “Killer Toon” is bringing the simple webtoon-based movie genre to a new level. The film, directed by Kim Yong-geun, takes a webtoon itself as the key motif. In the movie, Jiyoon, a horror webtoon artist played by Lee Si-young, submits her manuscript to an editor, barely meeting the deadline. What‘s scary is that Jiyoon’s episodes involve the editor‘s private. Then, a murder takes place. Detective Kicheol, played by Eo

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― In the span of American pop music, few performers have gone as unrecognized as the backup vocalists who harmonize and contextualize the songs of many a heralded lead musician. With “20 Feet From Stardom,’’ some of the most notable finally get their due, but more than a tribute, the film is a recognition of the talent and sacrifice that many of these vocalists have invested in often challenging careers.With a documentary career that’s richly profiled the likes of Muddy Waters,

White House DownOpening on June 27Action. Drama. Directed by Roland EmmerichCapitol policeman John Cale (Channing Tatum) has just been denied by the Secret Service a job protecting President James Sawyer (Jamie Foxx). Although he was rejected, he takes his young daughter on a tour of the White House to avoid disappointing her. Then the place gets attacked by a heavily armed paramilitary group and Cale faces a situation where he needs to save the president, his daughter and the nation at the same

When most filmmakers in Los Angeles feel frustrated by the movie business, they pick up a pen to write out their anxiety ― or pick up the phone and call their therapist.Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij took a different approach.Upset by a series of Hollywood rejections four years ago, the then-aspiring actress and would-be director decided to spend the summer train-hopping with a group of idealistic drifters they’d never met. For nearly two months, they criss-crossed America, encountering strange

A film directed by Korea’s art house favorite Jeon Soo-il has been invited to the upcoming Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, according to the film’s local production house.The film, titled “El Condor Pasa,” tells the story of a Catholic priest (played by Cho Jae-hyun) who gets involved with a rape and murder case of a teen who used to attend his church. The priest, whose last name is Park, feels extremely bad for the young victim and gradually forms a special bond with her grieving older

Zhang Ziyi arrived in Korea Friday, kicking off her visit to participate in the Chinese Film Festival in Seoul.The actress arrived through Incheon International Airport on Friday afternoon. Zhang is to participate in the opening ceremony of 2013 Chinese Film Festival on Sunday. Chinese actor Tony Leung and acclaimed Chinese director Wong Kar Wai will also take part in the festival.Zhang and Leung are starring in Wong’s martial arts film “The Grandmasters,” which has been selected as the opener o

Emirati filmmaker Jamal Salim speaks about his experience making a romance film in his country

“The Bling Ring”Given that the film currently ruling the box office is about Americans encouraged by their government to indulge their homicidal urges one night a year ― we’re talking about “The Purge’’ ― it’s tempting to hail the clueless young burglars in “The Bling Ring’’ as veritable humanitarians. After all, they’re not out to kill or even hurt anyone. All they want is your designer shoes, your cute tops, your Rolex watches, your cash. And if you’re not a hot young celebrity they’ll leave

A growing number of Hollywood stars make trips to South Korea to promote their films or boost the image of global brands. In 2013 alone, a dozen well-known celebrities flew to the country, and here‘s a list of the top figures. 1. Fanning sisters (Jan. 5)Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning were the first Hollywood celebrities to visit Seoul this year. The sisters reportedly came to Seoul to promote local jewelry brand J. Estina, which is also promoted by figure skater Kim Yu-na. Other than their prom

Korean film distributor CJ E&M has announced the release date for director Bong Joon-ho’s upcoming thriller, “Snowpiercer.”Bong’s English-language debut, starring Song Kang-ho, Tilda Swinton and Chris Evans, will hit local theaters on Aug. 1 and open later in North America, France, Japan and Russia, CJ E&M officials said in a statement on Wednesday.The sci-fi film is based on the French graphic novel “Le Transperceneige” by Jacques Lob and Jean-Marc Rochette. Set mostly on a train in a post-apoc