2010.2.19 NOW PLAYING
Hachiko: A Dog’s Story (G)Family, drama / 93 / English
Based on the true story of a loyal dog, Hachiko, this film is a remake of the 1987 Japanese film “Hachiki Monogatari.” Parker Wilson (Richard Gere) is a professor who has a special friend who accompanies him to the train station every day and returns to greet him after work. After Wilson suddenly dies and never gets back to the station, Hachiko remains devoted, returning to the same exact spot at the station. Every day for the next nine years, he faithfully waits for Wilson. As he waits, Hachiko touches the lives of many who work nearby and commute through the bustling square. He teaches the locals about love, compassion and above all, unyielding loyalty.
The Neighbor Zombie (15)
Horror, comedy / 89 / Korean
This low-budget zombie flick is a series of short films from four different directors, each set in the aftermath of a zombie virus outbreak in Seoul. Each director brings his or her own unique perspective to the zombie genre to create a compelling feature. The film starts off with a solitary geek locked in his apartment with an extensive collection of figures and toys. Strangely, the cracks in the apartment floor and in between the toy boxes are an unseen force that physically prevents the protagonist from escaping. The film weaves in the story of two young lovers racing to find a cure before their transformation into zombies becomes permanent, and a girl who keeps her zombie mother locked up in her home.
Vegetarian (18)
Drama / 111 / Korean
First-time director Lim Woo-seong breathes life into this dark character drama about two sisters. The younger one, Yeong-hye (Chae Min-seo), has a terrible dream that leads her to stop eating meat - she even becomes phobic of it. As her fear grows, she can’t stand to have meat in the house, or even the smell of her husband (Kim Young-jae) if he’s eaten meat during the day. Sang-min (Park Sang-yeon) is an uninspired artist married to Yeong-hye’s older sister (Kim Yeo-jin). He finds himself drawn to Yeong-hye’s mental breakdown as a form of art, but realizes that he loves her as a person as well. After he persuades her to let him paint on her nude body, they begin to find closure in each other and their art.
The Wolfman (18)
Action, thriller / 102 / English
Director Joe Johnston’s remake of the 1941 horror classic is set in the 1880s, with protagonist Lawrence Talbot (Benicio del Toro) reuniting with his father (Anthony Hopkins) after the disappearance of his brother. When his brother’s fiancee, Gwen (Emily Blunt), contacts Lawrence to help find her missing love, he returns home to help.
Upon his return, he learns about a creature that has been killing the villagers in his town, and when an inspector comes to investigate, they discover more about this blood-thirsty creature.
To end the slaughter and protect his loved ones, Lawrence must track down this beast and kill it. But during the hunt he uncovers an unimaginable, primal side to himself.
Parallel Life (15)
Thriller, mystery / 110 / Korean
Kim Seok-hyun (Ji Jin-hee) leads the perfect life in Korea as the youngest appointed criminal court head judge, a man married to a beautiful wife (Yun Se-ah), with one daughter.
But his ideal existence crumbles when his wife is brutally murdered. A man named Jang Su-yeong (Ha Jeong-woo), who held a grudge against Kim for a prior ruling, immediately becomes the primary suspect.
When Kim is approached by a reporter who points out the eerie similarities between a 30-year-old case involving another judge and Kim’s own circumstances, Kim must figure out a way to save his daughter and solve the case.
Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief (12)
Fantasy / 118 / English
Based on a Greek mythological novel by Rick Riordan, this film chronicles the adventures of teenager Percy Jackson (Logan Lerman).
After he discovers that he’s the son of the Greek god Poseidon (Kevin Kidd), Percy and his friends Annabeth (Alexandra Daddario) - a daughter of the goddess Athena - and Grover Underwood (Brandon T. Jackson) embark on a quest across the present-day United States.
Their goal: rescue Percy’s mother and prevent a war between Zeus (Sean Bean), Poseidon and Hades (Steve Coogan).
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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