The Korea Herald

Box Office

Jul 6, 2012

The Thieves (Korea)Opening July 25Crime. Action. Directed by Choi Dong-hun. Anycall (Gianna Jun), Popeye (Lee Jung-jae), Chewing Gum (Kim Hae-sook) and Zampano (Kim Soo-hyun) are professional thieves who work together. After their success in a gallery heist, the group hears that Popeye’s old partner and mastermind of robbery Macao Park is back for another job after many years of missing. Pepsi (Kim Hye-soo), a genius safecracker and old flame of Macao Park, decides to join the group to settle th
Hollywood tour bus driver knows what fans pine for: celebrity sightings

Jul 6, 2012

Behind the wheel of his tour bus, Don Baisa prays.Please. Give me George Clooney today, he thinks as tourists scramble aboard the 12-seat, open-top van marked “City Tours!”Or Charlize Theron. Or Jennifer Aniston.Will Ferrell. He’d take Will Ferrell.Baisa, a 61-year-old veteran of the tour bus scene with a neatly groomed, salt-and-pepper mustache, knows what his passengers want during their two-hour journey through Hollywood and Beverly Hills. Spotting stars means big tips. One day, after Ryan Se
Beloved U.S. actor Griffith dies at 86

Jul 4, 2012

RALEIGH, North Carolina (AP) ― Andy Griffith, who made homespun Southern wisdom his trademark as the wise sheriff in “The Andy Griffith Show” and the rumpled defense lawyer in “Matlock,” died Tuesday. He was 86. Griffith died about 7 a.m. at his coastal home, Dare County Sheriff Doug Doughtie said in a statement. “Mr. Griffith passed away this morning at his home peacefully and has been laid to rest on his beloved Roanoke Island,” Doughtie told the Associated Press, reading from a family stateme
Stone picks 5 films about strong women

Jul 4, 2012

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Some of Oliver Stone’s best-known and most-celebrated films ― including “Platoon,’’ “Wall Street,’’ and “Born on the Fourth of July’’ ― focus on complicated men. But his latest, the violent drug thriller “Savages,’’ has a couple of formidable females at its center: Salma Hayek as the stylish, ruthless leader of a Mexican drug cartel and Blake Lively as an Orange County princess who must find a resourcefulness she never knew she had.In that spirit, Stone was kind enough to pick
Seoul festival to show best of world animation

Jul 4, 2012

SICAF 2012 to feature 300 animated films, diverse cartoon exhibitionsSome 300 animated films, diverse cartoon exhibitions and business workshops for anime-artists are to take place in Korea’s capital this month, offering entertainment for viewers and market opportunities for artists.The annual Seoul International Cartoon and Animation Festival (SICAF) opens on July 18 in several locations in Seoul, the festival’s organizing committee announced last week. The festival this year is divided into t
Mel Gibson being accused by his stepmom

Jul 4, 2012

Actor Mel Gibson’s stepmother Teddy Gibson, 78, accused him of terrorizing her with verbal abuse, citing “acts of domestic violence” by the 56-year-old movie star.She requested a restraining order, while Mel Gibson didn’t comment on the issue.Teddy Gibson and John Gibson married in 2001 but the two are now divorcing. She claims his son was behind the estranged relations with her husband.Prior to the latest brawl, the actor was involved in another domestic violence case against his ex-girlfriend
Korean films drew record audiences in first half: ministry

Jul 3, 2012

South Korea saw a record-high number of audience members going to see homegrown films in the first half of 2012, the culture ministry said Tuesday.A total of 44.18 million people saw local films in the first half, the highest number since 2006, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said in a statement.The number represents a year-on-year increase of 34.6 percent, or 11.36 million, it said.Boosted by the strong performance of Korean films, their occupancy rate in the local movie market also
'Spider-Man’ tops the box office

Jul 2, 2012

“The Amazing Spider-Man” topped the Korean box office with some 1.69 million tickets sold at the weekend.This puts it ahead of “The Avengers,” which sold 1.60 million tickets on its release in April. “The Amazing Spider-Man” made up 71.4 percent of ticket sales, showing at more than 1,100 theaters.“The Concubine,” which has sold 2.45 million tickets since June 6, was second. It recorded 122,703 tickets over the weekend.“Madagascar3: Europe’s Most Wanted” ranked third with 120,476 tickets, and “A
Scientologists 'creepy,' says Murdoch on Tom Cruise

Jul 2, 2012

Media mogul Rupert Murdoch weighed in on the Tom Cruise-Katie Holmes divorce story Sunday, saying he thinks Scientologists are "creepy" and possibly even evil.The News Corporation chief urged his Twitter followers to watch the story, which broke on Friday when Holmes announced she was filing from divorce from Hollywood A-lister Cruise, a prominent member of the Church of Scientology."Watch Katie H
Cruise, Holmes split after 5 years

Jul 1, 2012

LOS ANGELES (AFP) ― Fairytale Hollywood couple Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes announced Friday they were calling it quits after five years of marriage, ending an unexpected love story dogged by tabloid rumors.“Kate has filed for divorce and Tom is deeply saddened and is concentrating on his three children,” Amanda Lundberg, Cruise’s representative, said. “Please allow them their privacy to work this out.”“This is a personal and private matter for Katie and her family,” said Jonathan Wolfe, the atto
Alec Baldwin marries 28-year-old yoga instructor in NYC

Jul 1, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) ― Alec Baldwin and his yoga instructor fiancee tied the knot Saturday in a New York City church, with a guest list that included family and famous Hollywood pals.Baldwin, 54, and Hilaria Thomas, 28, married at St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral in a Catholic ceremony performed by the Rev. George Deas. His “30 Rock” co-star Tina Fey, as well as director Woody Allen and Baldwin’s actor-brother, Stephen, were in attendance.Thomas wore a silk magnolia Amsale gown with cap sleeves and a keyhol
Box Office

Jun 29, 2012

The Amazing Spider-Man (U.S.)Opened June 28Action. Thriller. Directed by Marc Webb. Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) lives with his uncle and aunt after his parents disappeared when he was little. One day, Peter discovers a mysterious suitcase his father used to carry. He decides to find the secret behind his parents’ disappearance. Peter encounters his father’s former partner Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans) and acquires special powers by accident. With Peter’s help, Dr. Connors completes his resear
‘People Like Us’ a movie in search of an identity

Jun 29, 2012

“People Like Us” is a well-acted weeper that walks an unsteady line between the emotional and the darkly comical.It’s about a guy who realizes he has a half sister, and who injects himself into her life without explaining who he is. He befriends her kid, encourages her through substance abuse recovery and sets up to help her financially.Since he’s the handsome and charming Chris Pine and she’s the fetching and approachable Elizabeth Banks, somebody is sure to get the wrong idea. Which is the “da
Five South Korean short films to be screened at NY film festival

Jun 29, 2012

Five South Korean short films, including four that are currently showing at a festival in Seoul will be screened at this year's New York Asian Film Festival(NYAFF) from Friday to July 15. Four of the films are "Hideout," an action-thriller directed by Lee Chang-hee; "Heart," an animated film by Erick Oh; "Finis Operis," a comedy by Mun Byong-gon; and "The Lucky Gumboy," a documentary by Choi Shin-
Harrelson, Chastain named sexy vegetarians

Jun 29, 2012

Jessica Chastain Woody HarrelsonHollywood stars Woody Harrelson and Jessica Chastain have been named People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrities for 2012.Chastain, whose film credits include "The Tree of Life" and "Take Shelter," has been a vegetarian for 15 years and a vegan for five, and ev