Exclusive: Netflix’s latest original is a Japanese series adaptation of 2011 French film Les Émotifs Anonymes (Romantics Anonymous).
The project, going under the working title of Romantics Anonymous, will feature talent from Japan and Korea — two of the core countries at the center of Netflix’s strategy in Asia. Shun Oguri (Godzilla vs. Kong), Han Hyo-Joo (Moving), Yuri Nakamura and Jin Akanishi have been cast in the series, with Sho Tsukikawa (Yu Yu Hakusho), who’s also known for numerous romantic films, attached to direct.
Yong Film — the Korean producer behind the likes of Believer 2, The Call, 20th Century Girl and My Name is Loh Kiwan — has developed the project as its first Japanese series.
Lee Ha Jun (Parasite) will lead the production design, including the central chocolate boutique set. Yang Jin Mo (Parasite) will serve as editor, and Dalpalan will work on the music. Production has begun ahead of a 2025 debut,...
The project, going under the working title of Romantics Anonymous, will feature talent from Japan and Korea — two of the core countries at the center of Netflix’s strategy in Asia. Shun Oguri (Godzilla vs. Kong), Han Hyo-Joo (Moving), Yuri Nakamura and Jin Akanishi have been cast in the series, with Sho Tsukikawa (Yu Yu Hakusho), who’s also known for numerous romantic films, attached to direct.
Yong Film — the Korean producer behind the likes of Believer 2, The Call, 20th Century Girl and My Name is Loh Kiwan — has developed the project as its first Japanese series.
Lee Ha Jun (Parasite) will lead the production design, including the central chocolate boutique set. Yang Jin Mo (Parasite) will serve as editor, and Dalpalan will work on the music. Production has begun ahead of a 2025 debut,...
- 5/30/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
“Pleasant Outcast,” a 10-part Korean series that is set to appear at Canneseries next month, is a companion piece to “Concrete Utopia,” the hit film from last year that was selected as South Korea’s Oscar contender.
Both the Lotte Cultureworks series and “Concrete Utopia,” a dystopian drama-thriller set in a post-apocalyptic Seoul, are adapted from best-selling webtoon “Cheerful Outcast,” by Kim Soong Nyung. The film was frequently compared to William Golding’s seminal novel from the 1954 “Lord of the Flies” and its 1964 film adaptation.
Using the first part of the webtoon, the series follows Dong-hyun, a high school junior, who barely survives his day-to-day bullying at school. “When he wishes all were dead, an unexplained powerful earthquake destroys his school. Trapped in isolated circumstances, the hierarchy and power reshuffle as students struggle to survive, while continuous collapses and accidents kill more students. In this collapsed and extreme world, the...
Both the Lotte Cultureworks series and “Concrete Utopia,” a dystopian drama-thriller set in a post-apocalyptic Seoul, are adapted from best-selling webtoon “Cheerful Outcast,” by Kim Soong Nyung. The film was frequently compared to William Golding’s seminal novel from the 1954 “Lord of the Flies” and its 1964 film adaptation.
Using the first part of the webtoon, the series follows Dong-hyun, a high school junior, who barely survives his day-to-day bullying at school. “When he wishes all were dead, an unexplained powerful earthquake destroys his school. Trapped in isolated circumstances, the hierarchy and power reshuffle as students struggle to survive, while continuous collapses and accidents kill more students. In this collapsed and extreme world, the...
- 3/13/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Although the Korean movie industry recently announced that the local box office recovered to 70% of Pre-pandemic Level, largely due to the success of “12.12: The Day” which was released on November 22nd and has earned 7,729,273 admissions by December 14, the situation with local cinema is not exactly hopeful, as a number of key figures and specialists mention. Particularly the fact that the majority of talent, including movie stars and filmmakers seem to move towards the rather more popular dramas, the gap left in the movie industry is felt more than ever. At the same time, though, not everything is all bad, since the mainstream movies still find ways out in festivals, streaming and distribution, while a number of intense social dramas remind of the second reason Korean cinema reached the heights it holds now (apart from crime thrillers).
In any case, here are the best South Korean films of 2023, in reverse order.
In any case, here are the best South Korean films of 2023, in reverse order.
- 12/16/2023
- by AMP Group
- AsianMoviePulse
Back in 2019, I wrote about “Believer”, a Korean adaptation of Johnnie To's “Drug Wars”: “Believer” is an impressive and quite entertaining action thriller, which highlights the fact that Johnnie To's productions can be very easily adapted to the current style of Korean cinema. I am sure the success of this one will open the way for more, and personally, I cannot wait. As such, I was really eager to watch the sequel, which premiered in Busan this year and started streaming on Netflix a couple of days ago. The result, however, as is frequently the case with sequels, was not exactly as expected.
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The film begins with a sequence showing what happened in the first part, focusing on Brian's incarceration and the insistence of detective Won-ho that Mr Lee, the actual leader of the international drug cartel,...
Click on the image below to follow our Tribute to Netflix
The film begins with a sequence showing what happened in the first part, focusing on Brian's incarceration and the insistence of detective Won-ho that Mr Lee, the actual leader of the international drug cartel,...
- 12/16/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
The sequel to 2018’s Believer has left fans more than dissatisfied. It’s already an established fact that the only good thing about the film is Han Hyo-Joo’s performance, which has taken over social media for her badassery alone. The film attempts to fill the gaps like plastering over the Mona Lisa, making a terrible sequel to a well-received film. What made Believer a big hit was the impressive cast, the action-packed story that kept you on the edge of your seats, as well as the impactful ending. Believer 2 begins before that open ending, leading up to the moments there, and then completely ruins it. We suppose you can’t trust anything with Believer in the title right now. If you’re looking for some fantastic Korean thrillers to make yourself feel better after seeing this blunder, here’s the perfect list for you.
Ballerina
Let’s start...
Ballerina
Let’s start...
- 11/21/2023
- by Ruchika Bhat
- Film Fugitives
2018’s Korean action film Believer, a remake of Hong Kong’s Drug War, received mediocre praise for what it was at the time of its release. Korea has delivered a plethora of gore-filled action thrillers consistently over the years, so it’s quite rare to find something that really stands out. Believer isn’t one that does stand out, but it does warrant some merit with its presentation and praise-worthy performances. Five years later, we get a mediocre sequel that feels extremely pointless and incoherent with the first part. Unfortunately, even replicating specific scenes and tying up loose ends doesn’t help make Believer 2 a decent sequel. To add to the disappointment, Rak, who was played by Ryu Jun-Yeol (a fan favorite) in Believer, was replaced by Oh Seung-Hoon.
Believer follows the story of an elusive drug lord who seems almost mythical because nobody’s ever met him, seen him,...
Believer follows the story of an elusive drug lord who seems almost mythical because nobody’s ever met him, seen him,...
- 11/19/2023
- by Ruchika Bhat
- Film Fugitives
The South Korean remake of Hong Kong’s Drug War was a decent action-thriller boasting of and cashing in on its fantastic cast. 5 years later, we get Believer 2, a contrived and rather unnecessary sequel that tries terribly hard to fill up the (purposely left behind) gaps in the mysterious first film. What was fascinating about part 1 is the desperation with which Won-Ho wants to believe in the existence of Mr. Lee, who at this point appears as a fable rather than a real person. Won-Ho is keen on catching the mind behind the drug “Laika” that has taken over Asia (as we hear). Believer follows his vigorous journey to find the elusive man and shows us who he encounters on the way. Won-Ho is focused, moving ahead with nothing in his peripheral vision. He says to Brian, when he’s impersonating the big man that he knows Mr. Lee...
- 11/19/2023
- by Ruchika Bhat
- Film Fugitives
It’s interesting how much we like a negative female character who is wholly violent and has not an inch of empathy but is bogged down by something like daddy issues or raging Ptsd. Maybe this is today’s manic-pixie dream girl. The signs are all there; she’s not like the other girls; no, really, never mind doing her nails; she probably doesn’t even shower every day; and she’s always hungry… for blood. Specifically, in the K-world, there’s a special attachment that fans have to intense female characters with superpower-level physical strength and the ability to fight for themselves, whether they are positive or negative. This is, presumably, a direct reaction to having female leads who are docile, caring, fragile, and in need of protection. They’re independent, career-driven women, but they’re still desperate for love and need their Prince Charming. No, there are female...
- 11/19/2023
- by Ruchika Bhat
- Film Fugitives
“Believer 2” is an action South Korean movie directed by Baek Jong-Yeol starring Cho Jin-woong, Cha Seung-won, Han Hyo-joo, and Oh Seung-hoon.
“Believer 2” is an Asian action flick that, staying true to its genre, presents a gritty tale of drug trafficking, gangs, gunfights, and various cruelties surrounding a mysterious character, the enigmatic Mr. Lee, who eluded capture in the first installment.
Let’s see what happens in this one.
Believer 2 Plot Believer 2
The unyielding detective relentlessly pursues the truth hidden behind the largest drug syndicate in Asia and its enigmatic and formidable leader, with whom he has unfinished business.
Movie Review
Impressive? Not really. It doesn’t surpass other action movies in terms of its script, characters, or action scenes. Entertaining? Yes, quite, almost on par with the first one.
Cinematographically, it is a sequel that fails to live up to its predecessor or establish its own...
“Believer 2” is an Asian action flick that, staying true to its genre, presents a gritty tale of drug trafficking, gangs, gunfights, and various cruelties surrounding a mysterious character, the enigmatic Mr. Lee, who eluded capture in the first installment.
Let’s see what happens in this one.
Believer 2 Plot Believer 2
The unyielding detective relentlessly pursues the truth hidden behind the largest drug syndicate in Asia and its enigmatic and formidable leader, with whom he has unfinished business.
Movie Review
Impressive? Not really. It doesn’t surpass other action movies in terms of its script, characters, or action scenes. Entertaining? Yes, quite, almost on par with the first one.
Cinematographically, it is a sequel that fails to live up to its predecessor or establish its own...
- 11/18/2023
- by Martin Cid
- Martin Cid Magazine - Movies
The new Korean action-flick Believer 2 has just dropped on Netflix, and it’s quite a disappointment for fans of the original. Still, it delivers a conclusion to the many unanswered questions from Part 1. Believer 2 begins with the call Won-Ho receives from Rak, pretending to be Mr. Lee. Detective Won-Ho finds Brian severely injured, with his back burned up by Rak and his people. Rak escapes with his dog, leaving Won-Ho high and dry. Rak is on a mission to find the real Mr. Lee, and Brian somehow survives his tryst with a welding gun to take revenge on Rak.
Spoilers Ahead
What Happens In The Film?
Rak escapes with his associates Manko and Rana, as well as his dog Laika. Rak seems to be on a personal mission to catch the man behind it all, even though he was working for the guy until a little while ago.
Spoilers Ahead
What Happens In The Film?
Rak escapes with his associates Manko and Rana, as well as his dog Laika. Rak seems to be on a personal mission to catch the man behind it all, even though he was working for the guy until a little while ago.
- 11/18/2023
- by Ruchika Bhat
- Film Fugitives
As it is, Believer was not a fantastic movie; in fact, it’s a grain of sand on the shore that is the Korean action film industry. It’s not unusual to have great expectations from a country that has given us action-packed spectacles like Oldboy, I Saw the Devil, or most recently, Ballerina, and it’s equally fair to be disappointed. Personally, Believer wasn’t anything special on its own, and in an attempt to make a twisted film, the story got lost within itself, making for a convoluted film with an open ending. Now, we get Believer 2, a (very unnecessary) sequel to a rather mediocre movie. At least the first part had a decently cohesive story, though. Believer 2 follows Detective Won-Ho (again) as he continues his search for Asia’s (supposed) biggest drug-ring mastermind, Mr. Lee, along with looking for Rak, the inside man who got away.
- 11/18/2023
- by Ruchika Bhat
- Film Fugitives
Lee Hae-young did in 2018 what many thought impossible when he successfully remade Johnnie To's much loved thriller “Drug War” into “Believer”, an accomplished thriller that boasted of a strong starcast, excellent visuals, an impressive score and the final on-screen appearance from the late-great Kim Joo-hyuk. While the story didn't really need a sequel per se, Netflix thought otherwise and here we are in 2023, with “Believer 2” ready to release imminently in the streaming platform.
Synopsis
A crime action film on the nerve-wracking war between Won-ho, who is still pursuing Mr. Lee's organization and the disappeared “Rak” after the bloody fight at Yongsan Station, and Brian, who has reappeared, and a new character “Big Knife.” “Believer 2” follows Won-ho's investigation of looking for “Rak,” who disappeared after Brian's incarceration, while getting to the core of the elusive drug cartel. Baek Jong-yeol, who has already received praise for sophisticated cinematography and...
Synopsis
A crime action film on the nerve-wracking war between Won-ho, who is still pursuing Mr. Lee's organization and the disappeared “Rak” after the bloody fight at Yongsan Station, and Brian, who has reappeared, and a new character “Big Knife.” “Believer 2” follows Won-ho's investigation of looking for “Rak,” who disappeared after Brian's incarceration, while getting to the core of the elusive drug cartel. Baek Jong-yeol, who has already received praise for sophisticated cinematography and...
- 11/4/2023
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
The latest feature from David Fincher, a big-budget drama series from Steven Knight and Shawn Levy, and an Oscar hopeful starring Annette Bening and Jodie Foster are among the standout new additions hitting Netflix in November.
With The Killer, Fincher reteams with Seven writer Andrew Kevin Walker to adapt the graphic novel written by Alexis Nolent. The film, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival this year and debuts on Netflix on Nov. 10, stars Michael Fassbender as a shadowy unnamed assassin and features a cast that includes Arliss Howard, Charles Parnell, Gabriel Polanco, Kerry O’Malley, Emiliano Pernía, Sala Baker, Sophie Charlotte and Tilda Swinton.
The Hollywood Reporter‘s review of The Killer described the film as “a satisfyingly retro, location-hopping genre exercise with fisticuffs, gadgets (albeit ones bought from Amazon) and smooth-talking antagonists that all plays like a tongue-in-cheek spoof of James Bond movies.”
All the Light We Cannot See...
With The Killer, Fincher reteams with Seven writer Andrew Kevin Walker to adapt the graphic novel written by Alexis Nolent. The film, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival this year and debuts on Netflix on Nov. 10, stars Michael Fassbender as a shadowy unnamed assassin and features a cast that includes Arliss Howard, Charles Parnell, Gabriel Polanco, Kerry O’Malley, Emiliano Pernía, Sala Baker, Sophie Charlotte and Tilda Swinton.
The Hollywood Reporter‘s review of The Killer described the film as “a satisfyingly retro, location-hopping genre exercise with fisticuffs, gadgets (albeit ones bought from Amazon) and smooth-talking antagonists that all plays like a tongue-in-cheek spoof of James Bond movies.”
All the Light We Cannot See...
- 11/2/2023
- by Abid Rahman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
November on Netflix is peppered with curiosities for just about everyone. This month will see the long-awaited adaptation of Anthony Doerr’s award-winning novel All the Light We Cannot See hit the streamer. Directed by Shawn Levy (The Adam Project) and starring Mark Ruffalo, the limited series will tell the emotional story of a blind French girl who meets a German soldier in the final days of WWII.
Elsewhere, Netflix will unveil its first expansion of its planned Squid Game universe with an actual competition show that will challenge 456 players to be the final winner of no less than $4.56 million. Squid Game: The Challenge will feature games recreated from the hit 2021 show, hopefully with a comparatively zero chance of death for the contestants!
For those who are awaiting the return of their favorite Netflix shows in a more fictional capacity, however, we can confirm that Selling Sunset season seven, The Tailor season three,...
Elsewhere, Netflix will unveil its first expansion of its planned Squid Game universe with an actual competition show that will challenge 456 players to be the final winner of no less than $4.56 million. Squid Game: The Challenge will feature games recreated from the hit 2021 show, hopefully with a comparatively zero chance of death for the contestants!
For those who are awaiting the return of their favorite Netflix shows in a more fictional capacity, however, we can confirm that Selling Sunset season seven, The Tailor season three,...
- 11/1/2023
- by Kirsten Howard
- Den of Geek
Stars Acting Up At Busan
Oscar-winning Korean actor Youn Yuh-jung will headline the Actors’ House section of the upcoming Busan International Film Festival, it was announced on Thursday.
Introduced in 2021, Actors’ House is a special series that connects audiences and film enthusiasts with iconic actors from the current generation through its in-depth discussions. “There’s much anticipation to hear her words of wisdom, as she’s known for her insightful observations,” said the festival.
Others this year include: Han Hyo-joo, Song Joong-ki and Korean-American actor and author John Cho. Han is known for performances in 2015’s “The Beauty Inside,” “W” (2016), “Happiness (2021), and last year’s “The Pirates: The Last Royal Treasure.” She will be in Busan with Netflix-backed “Believer 2” and recently appeared in the Disney+ original series, “Moving.”
Song, who hosted the 2021 Busan festival’s opening ceremony, was recently seen in “Hopeless,” one of the handful of Korean films in Cannes this year.
Oscar-winning Korean actor Youn Yuh-jung will headline the Actors’ House section of the upcoming Busan International Film Festival, it was announced on Thursday.
Introduced in 2021, Actors’ House is a special series that connects audiences and film enthusiasts with iconic actors from the current generation through its in-depth discussions. “There’s much anticipation to hear her words of wisdom, as she’s known for her insightful observations,” said the festival.
Others this year include: Han Hyo-joo, Song Joong-ki and Korean-American actor and author John Cho. Han is known for performances in 2015’s “The Beauty Inside,” “W” (2016), “Happiness (2021), and last year’s “The Pirates: The Last Royal Treasure.” She will be in Busan with Netflix-backed “Believer 2” and recently appeared in the Disney+ original series, “Moving.”
Song, who hosted the 2021 Busan festival’s opening ceremony, was recently seen in “Hopeless,” one of the handful of Korean films in Cannes this year.
- 9/14/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
The Busan International Film Festival has unveiled its selections for the popular Korean Cinema Today – Special Premiere and On Screen strands.
The On Screen section, introduced in 2021, showcases series and this year boasts six world premieres – five from Korea and one from Indonesia.
Tving show “I Am a Running Mate,” about an ordinary student trying to become student president marks the directorial debut of Han Jin-won, winner of best original screenplay as a co-writer for Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite.” The series merges the coming-of-age genre with elements of a political drama, and stars Yoon Hyun-soo, Lee Jung-sic, Choi Woo-sung, Hong Hwa-yeon and Lee Bong-jun. Three of the nine episodes will screen at the festival.
“The Deal,” a Waave original series, is a tale of criminal intrigue in which two young men kidnap their friend and demand KRW10 billion ($7.5 million) as ransom. The cast features Yoo Seung-ho’s streaming debut alongside Kim Dong-hwi,...
The On Screen section, introduced in 2021, showcases series and this year boasts six world premieres – five from Korea and one from Indonesia.
Tving show “I Am a Running Mate,” about an ordinary student trying to become student president marks the directorial debut of Han Jin-won, winner of best original screenplay as a co-writer for Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite.” The series merges the coming-of-age genre with elements of a political drama, and stars Yoon Hyun-soo, Lee Jung-sic, Choi Woo-sung, Hong Hwa-yeon and Lee Bong-jun. Three of the nine episodes will screen at the festival.
“The Deal,” a Waave original series, is a tale of criminal intrigue in which two young men kidnap their friend and demand KRW10 billion ($7.5 million) as ransom. The cast features Yoo Seung-ho’s streaming debut alongside Kim Dong-hwi,...
- 8/24/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
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