Though based on a 2013 Venezuelan horror film, House of the Disappeared feels Korean through and through, and while the use of numerous familiar horror tropes could easily have resulted in predictable horror fare, the originality of the ultimate ‘reveal’ leaves House of the Disappeared deserving of at least a second viewing. [Read More]
People: Kim Yun-jin
Neighbors (이웃사람, 2012) review: guilt, communal apathy and genre confusion in a serial killer drama
While Korean cinema is well known for its deft ability to merge genres, in ‘Neighbors’ their mixing with a multitude of individual character stories results in a film that, though interesting and well-acted, feels rather cluttered and even schizophrenic on more than one occasion. [Read More]
Harmony (하모니, 2010) review: a discordant blend of humour and pathos
Prison melodrama about an abused woman separated from her newborn and the inmate choir she forms for redemption. Attempting to be a poignant melodrama containing both humorous and uplifting elements, Harmony largely fails due to the disparity of its constituent parts – each detracting from the others’ effectiveness, with none truly mixing harmoniously. [Read More]
Diary of June (6월의 일기, 2005) review: above average serial killer fare let down by poor pacing
Though certainly not a perfect film (if such a thing exists), Diary of June still has much more to offer than standard serial killer fare, detailing, within its story, a fairly taut critique of the school system, bullying and the pressures placed on children by parents, and vice versa. [Read More]
Seven Days screens at the KCC
Everyone’s favourite castaway Kim Yun-jin (above) stars in Seven Days directed by Won Shin-yeon, next week’s screening at the KCC (12 March) Jiyeon (Kim Yun-jin) is a hard working, hot shot lawyer and single mother of a seven-year-old girl. During a school sports day, her daughter disappears. Jiyeon receives an anonymous phone call: the caller … [Read More]
The Asia House festival of Asian Film
Asia House’s first film festival contains one of the big Korean hits from last year, but also has enough to tempt you to try out films from other countries. 5 films, 5 UK premieres. Everyone’s favourite castaway Kim Yun-jin (above) stars in Seven Days directed by Won Shin-yeon: Jiyeon (Kim Yun-jin) is a hard working, … [Read More]
The top 30 LKL pictures of 2007: the top 10
Here’s the top ten. And probably not all that work-safe. #10: The second appearance of LKL’s favourite ex-playboy model, Lee Sabi (806 views): #9: The Chejudo Love Land theme park (884): #8: Sassy girl and last vampire Jeon Ji-hyun displaying her smooth thighs as a rock chick (969): #7: Pop diva, CF queen and all-round … [Read More]
Deadly Elves and other recent tabloid stories
It’s a while since I did a round-up of celebrity news, which means that I’ve almost forgotten all the things I was going to mention, and lost most of the links that I was going to use. So before things get completely out of hand, here’s one of my not-so-regular posts shamelessly plundering the celebrity … [Read More]
Stateside celeb update
Avid blogwatchers will find this particular post surplus to requirements. This post is for my own benefit, just in case I lose the various links which are hot at the moment but which may soon cool off. Rain’s ongoing efforts to achieve the unprecedented feat of winning LKL Man of the Year two years running … [Read More]
Kim Yunjin on UK style mag cover. Or not
K-film fans will know her as the North Korean agent in Swiri. Consumers of American TV drama will know her as the quiet one from Lost, which is where the lads mags discovered her when she was required to wear a bikini one episode. I’m not given to buying such magazines (it always seems to … [Read More]
Jeon Ji-hyun’s smooth thighs
As regular visitors to this site will know, once in a while I like to lower the tone with an unnecessary post. This post is one of them. I’m not sure how the Chosun Ilbo can tell from looking at the video of the cosmetic commercial in question, from which the still above is taken, … [Read More]