Taegukgi Director: Gang Je-gyu Cast: Jang Dong-geon, Won Bin, Lee Eun-ju Genre: Drama, Action Running Time: 140 min. Rating: 15+ Releasing Date: Feb. 8

  Four years after the crowning success of his spy-action movie "Swiri" (1999), Gang Je-gyu has again unleashed daring directoral skills, taking on the delicate combination of epic war story and heart-rending drama. Named after South Korea's national flag, "Taegukgi" is set to premiere Feb. 6, 2004, nearly a half century after the armistice that halted its backdrop, the Korean War. The movie delves into the lives of two brothers torn apart by forces beyond their control. Postings generated by its official Korean-language site show high expectations among Koreans and American vets that the movie's authenticity will stir collective consciences more than any Korean War film to date with graphic, high-intensity battle scenes shot on location rather than the hills of southern California.
The movie avoids the standard focus of Korean War films; ideological confrontation, the fellowship of soldiers. It centers around brotherly love and conflict. When Jin-tae (Jang Dong-geon)'s younger brother Jin-seok (Won Bin) is conscripted into the army to fight the North Koreans, Jin-tae enters the fighting. Not patriotism but a desperate attempt to save his brother pushes him from one heroic struggle to another until he loses touch with reality. The movie's depiction of war on a grand scale will likely jar viewers' senses as well. Produced with a record Korean film budget of 13 billion won, it vividly shows major battles like those on Dumillyeong Hill, the Nakdong River and the streets of Pyeongyang. Director Gang opened the realm of fantasy in Korean cinema with his debut "The Gingko Bed" (1996) and set box office records with "Swiri."






It will be screened with English subtitles at three theaters in Seoul on Feb. 8, two days after the beginning day of its screening in Korea. Those included theaters are Cine Core in Jongno, CGV in Myeongdong and ZOOOOZ in Gangnam.

Please be informed that "Taegugki" is not screened on two theaters, Megabox and Hollywood Plus as we mentioned before through our monthly magazine "SEOUL" and here. We are sorry for confusing you.

Film Timetable

1. Cine Core

Hall 3 between Feb. 8 and 18 - 11:30 a.m. / 2:10 p.m. / 4:50 p.m. / 7:30 p.m.

Hall 4 on Feb. 19 - 11:30 a.m. / 2:10 p.m. / 4:50 p.m. / 7:30 p.m.

Hall 5 between Feb. 20 and 25 - 11:30 a.m. / 2:10 p.m. / 4:50 p.m. / 7:30 p.m.

2. CGV's Hall 1 in Myeongdong

Between Feb. 8 and 11
- 9:40 a.m. / 12:30 p.m. / 3:20 p.m. / 6:10 p.m. / 9 p.m. / 11:50 p.m.

Between Feb. 12 and 18
- 8:40 a.m. / 11:35 a.m. / 2:30 p.m. / 5:25 p.m. /
8:20 p.m. / 11:15 p.m. / 4:10 a.m.

3. ZOOOOZ's Hall 2 in Gangmam

Betweeen Feb. 9 and 19
- 11 a.m. / 1:40 p.m. / 4:30 p.m. / 7:20 p.m. / 10:10 p.m.

Kindly be informed that screening schedules will be updated regularly.

How to Get There

Cine Core in Jongno: See the map below.
(www.corecine.co.kr ; Korean only)

CGV in Myeongdong: A five-minute walk from Exit 6 of Euljiro 1-ga Station, Line 2.
(www.cgv.co.kr / 1544-1122 ; Korean only)

ZOOOOZ in Gangmam: A five-minute walk from Exit 7 of Gangnam Station, Line 2.
(www.zooooz.com / 555-5088 ; Korean only)


For ticket reservations, contact Jinna (2285-2096 or coolkamjh@hotmail.com) at Cine Core. (On Saturday, she is at the office until 3 p.m., and is not on Sunday.)

For more information, contact Yeongmi Yu at Seoul Selection (734-9539, 011-9947-4177 or reporter@seoulselection.com).








  http://www.taegukgi2004.com

  mms://www.seoulselection.com/files/movie/20040209_th_trailer-300.wmv

Feb. 21, Natural City (2003) Director: Min Byeong-cheon Cast: Yu Ji-tae, Lee Jae-un, Seo Rin Genre: SF, Fantasy Subtitles: English Running time: 113 min. Rating: 15+ Min Byeong-cheon, the director of Phantom The Submarine (1999), has once again shown his talent for visual effects. "Natural City" depicts a love story set in Seoul in 2080 with surreal and cybernetic gloomy images forming the backdrop. It is the first Korean movie to deal with love between a human and an android. As challenging as the photographic technique was, director Min says it was the essence of the film. Agent R is a policeofficer who terminates androids that flee their assigned boundaries. While tracking a female android named Ria, R falls in love with her and begins to search instead for a way to give her a human life.

»» Every Saturday at noon

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