LoLyfe.com

S Korea: Movie Audience Decreases – Sales Soar [3D or Not 3D?]

LoLyfe — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:05:47 +0000

Secret Reunion

Interesting news this week from KOFIC about the state of cinema ticket sales. Whilst the first half of 2010 has seen a decrease in audience attendance, the total ticket sales amount has sky-rocketed compared to the same period last year.
The reason behind this seems to be James Cameron’s fault, though. Apparently since July 2009 the price of tickets has gone up because of the different kind of movies available – mainly 3D. And it was spearheaded by Avatar. The average ticket was 6,600 won and went up to 7,880 won and it’s mainly the blockbuster or imported Hollywood movies that are seeing to the benefit.

I personally abhore the 3D phenomenon that is currently prevalent and killing the enjoyment of full colour films as they should be seen – I can’t see the point in watching a film through a hazy and fuzzy set of sun glasses – I tested this with the latest Harry Potter, and apart from the migraine onset that it caused I thought the effect was pretty over-rated. Now this is just one man’s opinion, so don’t flame me before I’ve had a chance to really test it out in anger, but I’ll be honest and say that if I have an option of a movie in darkened, fuzzy and headache ridden 3D or full colour splendiferousness… well, I know which one I’ll be choosing…

Teaser Trailer for John Woo’s Reign of Assassins

LoLyfe — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 11:26:42 +0000

I’ve been waiting for news on this project since February’s Berlin Film Festival. Well, here’s a little teaser for the up coming movie Reign of Assassins directed by Su Caho-Bin with John Woo as co-director and producer. Not much to go on here apart from a cast list, but I’m still excited..!

Trailer for Yimou’s A WOMAN, A GUN AND A NOODLE SHOP

LoLyfe — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 22:42:06 +0000

Based on the Coen Brothers’ Blood Simple, Zhang Yimou‘s (House of Flying Daggers, Hero) A Simple Noodle Story – being released as A Woman, A Gun And A Noodle Shop – has a US trailer at last.

I’ve been waiting for this one for ages, it’s been too long since a Curse of the Golden Flower faded away and not including his Beijing Olympics opening ceremony credit, Yimou has been a little quiet of late. Although it looks as though by the time we get a release to actually watch, it’ll be available to buy on DVD and Blu-ray from decent overseas stockists… You can already pick up a Thai DVD from Yes Asia, although it doesn’t contain an English subtitle track…

Trailer after the break

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New Beck Trailer

LoLyfe — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 14:31:25 +0000

Further to my post back in February, SHOCHIKU have released another trailer for the Beck movie. This time accompanied by a Red Hot Chili Peppers tune, the trailer shows a bit more and is still looking as though it’s remaining faithful to the manga…

More info can be found at the SHOCHIKU website.

Rebuild of Evangelion Entry Plug Chopsticks

LoLyfe — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 13:02:30 +0000

Eva Unit 00 + Rei Ayanami

CDJapan has these great little items on offer. Much in the vein of the Star Wars Lightsaber Chopsticks I mentioned a while back, these ones are based on the massive anime franchise Neon Genesis Evangelion.
Coming in their suited EVA colours, the chopsticks have the pilots entombed in the uppermost part of the chopstick and whilst they look pretty cool, I’m not sure how ‘usable’ they are… Either way, they are a must have for any serious collector of Evangelion memorabilia…

Preorder Deadline : 2010/09/08
Release Date : 2010/12/31
Series : Neon Genesis Evangelion
Maker : KOTOBUKIYA
Item weight : 100 (g)
Price : ~~1200yen (1260yen Tax incl.)~~
1080yen (1134yen Tax incl.) (10%off)
[GBP 8.81]
[US$ 13.88]

Unit 00 + Rei Ayanami

Unit 01 + Shinji Ikari

Unit 02 + Asuka Langrey Shikinami

Unit 05 + Mari Illustrious Makinami

Mr. Zombie [Korea] Trailer

LoLyfe — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 00:08:13 +0000

I found this one over at Han Cinema and couldn’t resist the share…
You can’t go wrong with Zombie flicks, and this one has a different take on the formula: This time the Zombie is a good guy..!

After getting a job in a restaurant to pay back a loan shark, Young-cheol notices that the locals are starting to act a little strangely. When he is bitten and starts his transformation to one of the undead, he receives a call telling him that his wife and daughter have been kidnapped. He is now on a mission to save his family and he doesn’t care if it kills him in the process – oh wait, it can’t…

Trailer after the break

[Music] BoA: 6집 HURRICANE VENUS

LoLyfe — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 19:49:18 +0000

After a massive five years concentrating on Japanese and US releases, BoA makes a K-Pop comeback with a great new album 6집 HURRICANE VENUS.
I’ve just listened to this album right through and I have to say I’m quite impressed. Usually an CD will have a couple of ‘fillers’ that let the side down, not so here. All tracks are single worthy and I’m even saying that about the ballads… (not a big ballad fan, me).
Highlights are the title track HURRICANE VENUS, Dangerous and probably my favourite Adrenaline. Well worth the price, which is under a tenner from if you order it from Yes Asia (free shipping).

Genius

LoLyfe — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 17:32:26 +0000

Got a digital copy of Star Wars Insider delivered to my inbox today, the inside cover was an ad… this ad… a very cool and nerdy ad…

Site Upgrade

LoLyfe — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 21:11:37 +0000

Hi all,
I’ve spent most of today upgrading the site to a new theme and then realising it wasn’t just the theme that needed upgrading…
A lot of stuff is going to be added and adjusted over the next few days but I’ve left it in a readable state for now. If you have any problems just drop me a line…

[DVD] JEON WOO CHI : The Taoist Wizard [Korea 2009] Trailer

LoLyfe — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 18:47:06 +0000

Jeon Woo Chi

Directed by Choi Dong-hoon (최동훈)

•Action •Comedy
136min | Release date in South Korea : 2009/12/23

Written and Directed by Choi Dong-hoon, JEON WOO CHI : The Taoist Wizard takes us back 500 years when Wizards and Goblins do battle in order to possess an all powerful Pipe. Woochi (Kang Dong-won – Secret Reunion, M, The Duelist) is a Wizard in learning but spends most of his time tricking people (including the King) for his own gain.
When Woochi’s Master is murdered for the Pipe he becomes the prime suspect and locked away in a painting for 500 years by Hwadam (Kim Yoon-seok – Chaser, Running Turtle) and three Taoist wizards…
Now it’s today and Woochi is needed to help restore the Pipe and vanquish the same Goblins that once conspired to possess the Pipe in the past, because if they succeed the world will fall into chaos and disorder!

Over two hours of action and fun with plenty of laughs. I just finished watching this and couldn’t wait to recommend it. It’s a bit of a departure from Choi Dong-hoon usual fare, Tazza: The High Rollers and The Big Swindle, but it delivers a wicked punch up the throat to recent films that have failed dismally to deliver when it comes to action/adventure films.
A stellar cast including Kang Dong Won, Lim Soo Jung (Happiness, A Tale of Two Sisters), Kim Yoon Seok (The Chaser) and Yu Hae Jin (Truck) pull off such a major event that it’s not surprising it held South Korean box office audiences enthralled gathering in a massive six million admits during the Christmas 2009 period.

Available from Yes Asia on Blu-ray and DVD
First Press 2-Disc Edition comes with cast and crew commentary, pre-production (storyboard, casting, training, photo gallery), making of (CG, production design, action, special effects, lighting), out-takes, trailer, and other special features.