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K-Movie

Yoo Ah-in and His Supreme Team Take Us On A Drive Back to 1988 with ‘Seoul Vibe’

Seoul Vibe is a car action blockbuster that will be globally released on Netflix this coming August 26th. Boasting a stellar line-up of cast featuring Yoo Ah-in, Park Ju-hyun, Go Kyung-pyo, Lee Kyu-hyung and Ong Seong-wu, who made up the “Sanggye-dong Supreme Team”, this movie is set in the year 1988 and revolves around the investigation of a VIP’s slush fund.

(Photo Cr: Song Kyungsub/Netflix)

The Sanggye-dong Supreme Team

This crew is named the “Sanggye-dong Supreme Team” for a reason. The team consists of the best drifter Dong-wook (Yoo Ah-in), the sentimental DJ John Woo (Go Kyung-pyo), human navigator Bok-nam (Lee Kyu-hyung), versatile biker and president of the National Bike Association Yoon-hee (Park Ju-hyun), and the quintessential genius mechanic Joon-gi (Ong Seong-wu), who is also the youngest of them all.

Each of them play a critical role in the team as they go up against the main money mover General Manager Lee (Kim Sung-kyun), and the right hand of the VIP President Kang (Moon So-ri). Joining this Supreme team will be Prosecutor Ahn (Oh Jung-se), who will carry on the informal investigation under the supervision of the Chief Prosecutor (Jung Woong-in).

“Perfect Ensemble of Cast”

Speaking at the press conference for Seoul Vibe, all five actors of the Supreme Team expressed that the cast was one of the biggest reasons on why they chose to star in this movie.

“When I was reading the script, I was thrilled and hyped up. This is like a dream come true for me. And when I learned of the perfect ensemble of cast, there was no reason not to take up this film. I wanted to become close friends with them even before we film the movie.” — Ong Seong-wu

(Photo Cr: Song Kyungsub/Netflix)

The 1988 Seoul Vibes

Recreating the 1988 Seoul vibes was revealed to be the biggest challenge for Director Moon Hyun-sung, as he’d wanted to create a unique, yet charming concept that could fit in. In this movie, audiences can look forward to seeing classic vehicles from 1988 together with trendy contemporary music, which featured musicians like Mino, DJ Soulscape, and hip-hop artist Gaeko.

(Photo Cr: Song Kyungsub/Netflix)

The fashion of the actors is also something to look out for in Seoul Vibe. The chunky golden necklaces, the old school hip-hop hairstyles and look, and the bright and colourful outfits.

(Photo Cr: Song Kyungsub/Netflix)

Commenting on his character’s fashion in the movie, Yoo Ah-in says, “Dong-wook is very trend-conscious and pretentious, he loves the extra influence from the West and he has fantasies about the Western world. All black is a classic, it looks very chic actually, but I thought about putting on the huge and chunky golden necklace to show how ostentatious Dong-wook is. In the eyes of Dong-wook, it looks very chic.”

(Photo Cr. Song Kyungsub/Netflix)

From popping visuals and music to the unique setting revolving around the 1988 Korean Olympics, Seoul Vibe will be available to watch globally on August 26th, only on Netflix.

“I hope watching this film blows away the summer heat for you, and that you’ll have a great time enjoying the movie. For those who have never experienced the year 1988, I hope you get to experience a bit of nostalgia back in those days.” — Yoo Ah-in

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K-Movie

[K-Movie] Yoo Ah In and Yu Jae Myeong Deal With An Unexpected Kidnap in ‘Voice of Silence’

Yoo Ah-in will be making a comeback to the big screens with his second film of the year, Voice of Silence. 

In this film, he acts alongside actor Yu Jae-myeong, whom both work for crime organisations and one day find themselves having to deal with an unexpected situation.

Playing a character who has lost his voice, Yoo Ah-in naturally has no dialogues at all in this movie. He has also undergone a huge transformation to prepare for this role, where he gained over 33 pounds (15 kg) and shaved his head bald.

However, all that dedication was proven to be worthwhile as the indie film peaked at the Korea box office on its opening day and maintained No.1 on the chart in its first weekend.

Voice of Silence will be opening in Singapore cinemas on 5 November 2020.

Film Synopsis:
Tae-in (Yoo Ah-in) and Chang-bok (Yu Jae-myeong) make their livings cleaning up crime scenes. One day, they are left to take care of a kidnapped girl named Cho-hee (Moon Seung-a), who was raised to be a kind and caring sister, obligated to take care of her brother in a male-orientated family. In fact, she was abducted instead of her brother, because it has always been obvious to stand in for her bother.

Cho-hee manages to keep clam and swiftly read the situation she is placed in. Even when she sees Tae-in cleaning up brutal crime scenes, she keeps her calm, acting the “good girl” inside her, even taking care of Tae-in’s little sister. Tae-in starts to open himself to Cho-hee, while Chang-bok, who was supposed to come back with Cho-hee’s ransom, becomes uncontactable. Now Tae-in has to go through the situation all alone…

Title: VOICE OF SILENCE (소리도 없이)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Cast: Yoo Ah In, Yu Jae Myeong, Moon Seung-a, Lee Hae Woon, Kim Ja Young
Directed by: Hong Eui Jeong
Singapore Release Date: 5 November 2020
Language: Korean (with English & Chinese subtitles)
Runtime: 99 minutes


(Movie poster & stills: Golden Village)

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K-Movie

Yoo Ah-in and Park Shin-hye’s Zombie Film ‘Alive’ Comes to Netflix on September 8

Following its theatrical run in Korea box offices, South Korean zombie film Alive will be premiering worldwide on Netflix this September 8, 2020.

Starring Yoo Ah-in and Park Shin-hye, Alive tells the story of a mysterious virus outbreak that suddenly spreads throughout modern day Seoul and rapidly grows out of control. People struggle to stay alive when the unknown infection causes victims to eat each other, turning them into zombies.

Oh Jun-u, played by Yoo Ah-in, and Kim Yu-bin, played by Park Shin-hye, struggle to survive in an apartment complex from those infected with the virus. They are trapped alone inside their apartments without access to cellular data, Wi-Fi, text, or phone calls. Their only source of information about the outside world is the news on TV and what they can see from outside their apartment windows.

While they are neighbors, Jun-u and Yu-bin have opposite personalities. Jun-u is a typical middle-class boy who enjoys computer games and social networking. He utilizes technology to survive. Meanwhile, Yu-bin incorporates more traditional items like camping tools and telescopes to survive. With their different specialities, the pair work together to stay alive.

Watch more from the official trailer below and stay tuned to its worldwide premiere on Netflix this September 8!

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K-Movie

[FILM REVIEW] Default: Getting a Better Understanding of the IMF Crisis that Struck Korea in 1997

{Major spoilers ahead!}

Imagine a country where employment is the norm, and where foreign entities owned the local corporations. That was the problem South Korea was facing back in 1997 after encountering a sovereign default. Although South Korea is now a country known for its vibrant and fast-growing economy, things were vastly different back then.

The country’s miraculous transformation after the Korean War has made them global powerhouses, earning them a spot in the coveted OCED. However, many years of prosperity made both people and corporations complacent and when push comes to shove, disaster strikes when you least expect it.

Default” is the first Korean film that features South Korea facing a financial crisis. More specifically, it depicts a series of events that affected Koreans during the IMF crisis. While this crisis shakes the country to its core, the film helps us and allows us to take a peek into the lives of 3 different Koreans, all from different backgrounds and statuses.

Enter Han Si-hyun (played by Kim Hye-soo), the Head of Monetary Policy at the Bank of Korea. A few weeks prior to the national bankruptcy, Si-hyun senses the warning signals of an impending crisis and tries to warn others of the disaster before it is too late. But her efforts seem to be going to waste as her pleas fall into the deaf ears of greedy politicians/conglomerates.

Despite having her abilities belittled because of her gender, I liked how Si-hyun continues to shake off the stereotype of a woman in the workforce. Her force and charisma were so impactful, I found myself looking forward to her scenes throughout the movie. Apart from the scenes Director Choi had placed inside that made her look like an emotionally driven civil servant at times, there was nothing to dislike about the portrayal of her character. She definitely captured the essence of an ethical, headstrong and responsible leader really well for the most part.

We all know an opportunistic person when we see one. They are the ones that always strike while the iron is hot. Excited that this economic disaster is a potential way to get rich, Jung-hak (played by Yoo Ah-in) resigns from his job as a financial consultant to bet against the risky odds. Joined by a team of like-minded investors, he bets on the inefficiency and lack of transparency from the government to work in his favor. Thanks to him, I now know that if your country is collapsing, IT’S TIME TO BUY U.S. DOLLARS.

While Jung-hak hardly interacts with the other casts (it’s a different storyline after all), his character is a bit of a mystery. One minute he is all smiles with his fellow investors from profiting from the crisis, the next minute his face goes hard to no apparent reason. Despite that, Yoo Ah-in does a good job at playing his role really well and he was a joy to watch!

Lastly, there is the everyday husband, Gap-su (played by Huh Joon-ho). The simple, happy-go-lucky family man faces a series of unfortunate turn of events all in a span of a week. After successfully sealing a deal for his factory with a local departmental store, he faces a roadblock after realizing that the promissory note he received is rendered useless thanks to the financial crisis. Stuck with a ton of debt and desperate to find the light at the end of the tunnel, he attempts to resolve the problem only to realize that others are in the same predicament with no way out.

Known for his versatile acting chops, it is nice to see him play the role of a simple family man. Huh Joon-ho integrated into his role really well and his emotional acting allowed us to see and feel how the everyday Koreans were trying to cope with the disaster. Though we did not experience it first hand, just seeing him experience the stages of it was so heartbreaking.

While watching this film, I think my brain died a little 30 minutes into the show. As much as it was inevitable, there were a lot of economic terms and jargons being thrown around during the entirety of the film. Even for someone who undertook an economics module a few years back, I still find myself confused at some points just because the film was paced a little too quickly. But one thing I really liked about “Default” was the fact that the film touches on various social topics that people then and now struggle to overcome.

There were scenes that touched on workplace gender discrimination, media manipulation, political corruption and income inequality, and watching this made me realised that there was just no end of human greed. If there is something I hope all viewers would take home with them after watching the film, it would be that people are not created equal but even so, we must strive to overcome our differences for the greater good.

Movie-wise, Director Choi did a good job of gathering a team that brought the past to life. Not only was the cinematography effective in capturing the vibes of the 1990s, the attention to detail to the wardrobe, filming and even casting made the film even more realistic. But if there was one thing I found unlikable, it was the scene which depicted Gap-su 20 years later. In this scene, he was seen shouting to a foreign worker named “Hassan”, berating him for working too slowly. To be honest, that particular scene was unnecessary because it did not help the plot in any way. If anything, it just reminds me of how some Koreans continue to see people of color differently and continue to discriminate them without any thought.

But overall, it was a nice film and a gentle reminder to us all that disaster can strike us at any moment. While we are enjoying the fruits of our ancestor’s labor, it is always important to take a step back and not be too complacent.

Actor’s Appeal: ★★★★★
Plot: ★★★★☆
Cinematography: ★★★★☆
Sense of Satisfaction: ★★★☆☆

Total: 4/5

Default” opens in GV cinemas 3 January 2019. Watch the official trailer and find out more about the film here:

https://www.hallyusg.net/2018/12/21/kmovie-default/


(Photos: Golden Village)

Categories
K-Movie

[K-Movie] Experience the Crisis that shook Korea with “Default” – Coming Soon 3 January

In this cruel world where it’s either you eat or be eaten, people will do whatever it takes to be successful, even if it means that they have to overstep boundaries. The film “Default” depicts a series of happenings that took place in the year 1997, a year that shook this Asian Tiger to its core.

Known for its bustling economy and financial stability, Korea joined the league of OCED regions earlier in 1997, only to face a sudden economic downturn that tore the country and its people apart. As uncertainty and chaos invade the citizens and as the country faces an imminent bankruptcy that threatens to cut off their livelihoods, join the lives of 3 very different people as they maneuver their way in this unsettling period.

This is the first Korean film that touches on how Korea suffered from the head-on collision with the Asian Financial Crisis. With immersive acting and an enthralling storyline, “Default” managed to claim the #1 spot the day it debuted on the Korean box office charts, with admissions surpassing more than 315,000 on the day itself.

Featuring a lineup of world-class actors from Korea and France, such as Kim Hye-soo, Yoo Ah-in, Huh Joon-ho and Vincent Cassel, this film is set to dominate the world stage as well.

Known for his award-winning directing abilities, “Default” is spearheaded by Director Choi Kook-hee, the same person behind the film “Split” (2016). As the film progresses, be amazed at how meticulous the attention to details in this film are.

With carefully sourced locations and wardrobes that retain the nostalgic feel of the 1990s, the team behind “Default” were successfully able to capture the atmosphere of that tumultuous year, bringing the past to life.

Film Synopsis:

“Investors, leave Korea. Right now.”

Si-hyun (KIM Hye-soo), the monetary policy manager at the Bank of Korea, predicts a massive national financial crisis and reports it to the Director. The Director doesn’t schedule an emergency summit until 10 days later but does it without notifying the public of the situation. Si-hyun urges for the crisis to be announced in order to warn people of the looming disaster, but her plea is ignored. The summit is held behind closed doors.

Jung-hak (YOO Ah-in), a financial consultant, notices Korea is suddenly hemorrhaging foreign funds, and he learns the reason is that international finance firms have ordered an all-out investment withdrawal from the country, which has caused the credit rating to plummet. He hands in his resignation and decides to play the odds on what he’s sure is a coming crisis. He secretly starts gathering investors willing to do the same.

Gap-su (HUH Joon-ho), a family man who runs a small tableware factory, has a big break and wins a contract with a department store. The fact that the price settlement terms equal to little more than a promissory note concerns him only briefly, and oblivious to the looming financial upheaval, Gap-su signs the contract.

The Managing Director of IMF (Vincent CASSEL) comes to Korea just one week before the country goes bust, and that is when those who try to prevent the crisis, those who seek to take advantage of it, and those only trying to protect their livelihood are caught in the wake of a national bankruptcy

Title: Default <국가부도의날>
Genre: Drama
Cast: Kim Hye-soo, Yoo Ah-in, Huh Joon-ho, Vincent Cassel
Directed by: Choi Kook-hee
Singapore Release Date: 3 January 2019
Runtime: 114 Minutes

Watch the official trailer and stay tuned to our Facebook page (here) to find out how you can win yourself a pair of preview screening tickets to catch the film ahead of its release!


(Photos: Golden Village Pictures)