2018.9.21 Now Playing

The Great Battle (12)

Action / 135 / Korean / Sept. 19

Set during the Goguryeo Dynasty (37 B.C. - A.D. 668), “The Great Battle” opens with Goguryeo warriors, led by Yeon Gaesomun (Yoo Oh-seong), taking on fighters from the Tang Dynasty, led by Emperor Taizong (Park Sung-woong). After a defeat, Yeon retreats, leaving nothing between the Tang army and Ansi, a fortress town located on the northern tip of the kingdom.

At the core of the film is the fierce battle between General Yang Man-chun (Zo In-sung) of Ansi and his troops fighting an army from the Tang Dynasty that far outnumbers them. This epic assault, which lasted for 88 days, shows the reckless fight led by Yang, and his miraculous success.

Directed by Kim Kwang-sik of “My Dear Desperado” (2010), the film co-stars Nam Joo-hyuk, Bae Seong-woo and Um Tae-goo as Yang’s soldiers. Seol Hyun from girl group AOA also appears as Yang’s brave sister.

The Nun (15)

Horror / 96 / English / Sept. 19

The fifth offering in Warner Bros. The Conjuring Universe follows a priest with a haunted past. Father Burke (Demian Bichir) and a young nun, Sister Irene (Taissa Farmiga), are sent to Romania by the Vatican to investigate the death of a nun who is possessed by a demonic being, known a Valak. Set in the 1950’s, the two work together to eradicate the evil spirit.

Directed by Corin Hardy of “The Hallow,” “The Nun” is a spin-off of “The Conjuring 2,” released in 2016.

Monstrum (15)

Action / 105 / Korean / Sept. 12

This fantasy period drama is based on a brief entry in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) about a strange monster that haunted the royal palace in 1527 during the reign of King Jungjong (1488-1544).

Directed by Heo Jong-ho, who was also behind the 2015’s “The Advocate: A Missing Body,” this film revolves around a team that fights against the gigantic monster that spreads a skin-rotting disease and devours people, as well as a faction that takes advantage of the chaotic situation to perturb the public and try to dethrone the king.

The team consists of four people: the king’s loyal subject Yoon Gyeom (Kim Myung-min), his right-hand man Seong-han (Kim In-kwon), Yoon Gyeom’s fearless daughter Myeong (Hyeri) and a military officer (Choi Woo-sik).

They gather forces and make a full use of each of their skills to win the battle against the beast. This movie also marks the silver screen debut for singer-actor Hyeri from K-pop group Girls’ Day.

Luis and the Aliens (G)

Adventure / 85 / German / Sept. 20

“Luis and the Aliens” is about an 11-year-old outsider named Luis who befriends three aliens after they crash their UFO into his house. Luis is a lonely boy who is ignored by his alien-obsessive father at home and is picked on by a bully at school. Even his secret crush at school, Jennifer, ignores Luis.

Through his newly formed relationship with the trio of hapless aliens, Luis’ relationships with the people around him gradually start to change. The aliens offer slapstick fun in the film, as they figure out what a vacuum cleaner does and the consequences of drinking dishwashing liquid.

Co-directed by Sean McCormack, Wolfgang Lauenstein and Christoph Lauenstein, the movie features the voices of actors Callum Maloney and Paul Tylak.

Tasha Tudor: A Still Water Story

Documentary / 104 / English / Sept. 13

This documentary looks into the private and nature-oriented life of late Tasha Tudor, one of America’s most beloved children’s author-illustrators whose works include “Pumpkin Moonshine,” “A Tale for Easter” and “Snow Before Christmas.” Her natural lifestyle and life philosophy - finding happiness through nature - is highlighted in this film through her routines and her interactions with family members.

In Vermont, Tasha, who passed away in 2008 at the age of 92, lived an isolated life. She lived in a simple house surrounded by an enormous garden filled with colorful flowers. Taking care of the garden, making fresh juice out of the apples she picked herself, and most importantly, drawing, Tasha lived a simple yet satisfying life. For Tasha, happiness was simply enjoying the sunshine and spending time with family.

The documentary provides an answer to busy people who are desperately looking for happiness, but struggle to find it.

The Predator (18)

Action, thriller / 108 / English / Sept. 12

Directed and co-written by Shane Black, this is the fourth installment of the “Predator” film series, following the first “Predator,” released in 1987.

The latest in this franchise begins with a young boy named Rory (Jacob Tremblay) from the suburbs, who accidentally triggers an alert that brings a group of violent aliens back to Earth from the dark side of the galaxy. This reintroduces the lethal hunters who have been genetically upgraded from other alien species - they have evolved by taking the most dangerous DNA from their prey. With the human race in jeopardy, the only people who serve as the human race’s line of defense are a group of former soldiers and a science teacher.

Searching (12)

Thriller / 101 / English / Aug. 29

David Kim (John Cho) is the single father of 16-year-old Margot (Michelle La). One night, his daughter goes missing. Worried about her safety, David follows Margot’s online footprint on her laptop and realizes that he knew very little about her.

After the lead detective on the case fails to find a single lead on Margot’s whereabouts, David becomes suspicious of the people around him and decides to take things into his own hands.

The film, directed by Aneesh Chaganty, tells the story of a father’s search using computer screens and smartphones.

On Your Wedding Day (12)

Romance / 110 / Korean / Aug. 22

Directed by Lee Seok-geun, this romantic comedy is a classic boy-meets-girl story, depicting the 10-year love story of two people from their teenage years to adulthood.

In the summer of 2005, Wu-yeon (Kim Young-kwang), a high school senior, falls in love with transfer student Seung-hee (Park Bo-young). Believing that Seung-hee is the one, Wu-yeon constantly follows her around.

Just as they announce that they are officially dating, Seung-hee suddenly transfers to a different school, leaving Wu-yeon devastated.

A year later, Wu-yeon finds a job working part-time at a fried chicken joint and finds out that Seung-hee has enrolled at Hankuk University. Determined to meet her again, Wu-yeon decides to study hard and manages to enroll at the same university.

On the first day of school, Wu-yeon lingers around campus, hoping to bump into Seung-hee, but unfortunately she is already in a relationship with a handsome senior.