2014.7.17 Now playing

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2014.7.17 Now playing

Bunshinsaba 2 (19)

Horror, Thriller / 94 / Chinese

The Chinese-Korean co-production based on the Bunshinsaba curse, which brings back the spirit of the dead, was released in 2004 as “Bunshinsaba.” Fast forward 10 years later and the second movie has come out, with a bigger budget and cast.

Actress Park Han-byul, who previously starred in horror films such as “Yoga Academy” and “Whispering Corridors,” takes to the screen as Song Chi-en, who retraces a friend’s suicide from two years ago.

Ahn Byeong-ki, who also directed the last “Bunshisaba,” is at the helm of this movie, which became a big hit when it was released in China last year. It was Ahn’s only film to come out in China before Korea.



Addicted Love (19)

Romance, Drama / 89 / Korean

Dong-hyun, who often suffers from delusions, wakes up from a mysterious death one day. Just as he tries to figure out what happened, a woman he has never met approaches him and claims to have loved him for a long time.

The movie attempts to dive into the inner struggles of its characters as they ride the risky line between love and obsession in intimate scenes and themes of lust.

With a very provocative poster that claims to aim to be pornographic, it will be interesting for viewers to see whether the film will balance out the sexy scenes and the plot.

“Addicted Love” is the debut of director Han So-joon, and only time will tell if it will be his make-or-break film.



JU-ON: The Beginning of the End (15)

Horror / 91 / Japanese

If air-conditioners aren’t cold enough for you, why not try to cool yourself down with the spooky story “Ju-on” this summer? The famous Japanese ghost Toshio makes a comeback in this movie to scare audiences once again.

Elementary school teacher Yui (Nozomi Sasaki) visits her student Toshio’s house out of concern about his long period of absence. Yui enters the home, which is rumored to be haunted, but quickly leaves after sensing something eerie about Toshio’s mother.

But after her visit, strange things start happening to her.

As the seventh film in the “Ju-on” franchise, this movie goes back to the beginning to explain what happened to the Saeki family 10 years ago.

Though it was not created by the director Takashi Shimizu, who made the previous films in the series, the movie is still guaranteed to send chills down your spine.



Frances Ha (15)

Drama, Romance / 86 / English

The 27-year-old Frances (Geta Gerwig) lives in a small apartment in Brooklyn but doesn’t let her dreams shrink to fit her surroundings. Frances hopes to become a famous dancer one day by impressing New York with her skills. However, her life begins to crumble as her friendship with her best friend breaks down and the chance of making it big seems as slim as her thinning wallet.

Noah Baumbach, who was born and raised in Brooklyn, directed the film, and doesn’t let it become a stereotypical movie that creates a fantasy about New York. Instead, he uses his own style and shows the film from the point of view of a true New Yorker.

Geta Gerwig has previously starred in “No Strings Attached” and “To Rome with Love,” and her charming character is bound to shine through this film as well.



Thanks for Sharing (19)

Comedy, Drama / 110 / English

With a secure job and a handsome face, Adam (Mark Ruffalo) seems like the perfect man. But he is actually a sex addict who has joined an anonymous club to overcome his addiction.

Adam seems okay with controlling himself until he meets Phoebe (Gwyneth Paltrow), whom he wants to date. But Phoebe doesn’t date addicts, and Adam struggles with their relationship as a result.

Set in New York, this movie could seem like a recipe for another romantic comedy. But director Stuart Blumberg doesn’t just focus on romance and flirtation, he instead brings in other elements such as friendship and family to make us reflect on what it means to be with someone else.



Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (12)

Drama, Sci-fi / 130 / English

Against the backdrop of an all-but-destroyed San Francisco, genetically enhanced apes and humans coexist in segregation.

It’s only been a few years since a deadly virus (simian flu) killed millions and resulted in the apes’ escape into the wilderness, away from the cruel clutches of the humans that had mistreated them for centuries.

Deep in the jungle the apes have a neat little commune, complete with a social hierarchy and civic duty. Alpha-male Caesar (Andy Serkis) calls the shots, and although he is the sole ruler, his judgements are wise, selfless, and despite his demeanor, he is an advocate for peace - much to the annoyance of his underling Koba (Toby Kebbell).

Meanwhile out of the human clan, Malcolm (Jason Clarke) shows a tender side toward the apes. But with so much mistrust already between the two sides, a war seems to be brewing and when the one encroaches on the other’s turf, the inevitable happens.



The Divine Move (19)

Crime, Action / 118 / Korean

Based on the intricate game of baduk, or Go, director Jo Bum-goo admitted that his project was an ambitious one. Firstly, there’s all the lingo to tackle, and then there are the countless characters.

But with those two things under control, the plot is simple enough.

The movie plays out around Jung Woo-sung, or Tae-suk, a former professional baduk player who was framed for his brother’s murder.

Once he does his time in prison, Tae-suk is out to get gangster Sal-su (Lee Beom-soo), who operates an illegal gambling facility and is also responsible for Tae-suk’s brother’s demise.

But to find Sal-su, Tae-suk must play a game against each of the lesser pawns that work under the gangster while learning some invaluable lessons from the blind master of baduk, Ju-nim (Ahn Sung-ki).



The Signal (12)

Sci-fi, Action, Thriller / 94 / English

Three MIT students, Nic (Brenton Thwaites), Jonah (Beau Knapp) and Haley (Olivia Cooke), are on a road trip to California when they realize they are being tracked by a hacker called NOMAD. Feeling excited and yet confused about why the hacker would contact them, they follow NOMAD’s signals only to find themselves in a situation they never expected.

The film’s director, William Eubank, who studied cosmology at UCLA, makes good use of his major as he usually incorporates space and the cosmos in his films.

Having previously worked as a cinematographer, Eubank is famous for his use of scenes and this movie is no exception.
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