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Cinema Openings in Coming Lunar New Year

by Eun-Ryung Chong ( ryung@donga.com)

Realization of Justice vs. a Marathon that Delivers Hope-

The movie "Another Public Enemy", which has brought ardent public interest from the beginning of the shooting, finally opens in the theater this coming Thursday, January 27. The movie is Director Kang Woo-suk's recent work since his milestone record of mobilizing 10 million in audience viewers with his movie, "Silmido". Also aiding its popularity is that it's a sequel of "Public Enemy" (2002), and the title has become a popular term. Director Kang's prominent previous works have definitely elevated audiences' expectations of his movies, which is honestly a burden to him. In the first movie, the public enemy was set as a gangster who broke social rules. In the sequel, Kang differentiates the target by featuring a poignant public enemy who threatens the existence of Korean social structure through assassination, assassination instigation, embezzlement, illegal dollar transfers abroad, bribery, illegal military duty exoneration and so on. Public enemy Han Sang-woo (played by Jung Joon-ho), who ostentatiously acts as if he were high class but is insensible to his heinous crimes, and prosecutor Gang Cheol-jung (Sol Kyung-gu), a super hero responsible for keeping the justice of Korea, will stand fiercely against one another in the movie.

The movie "Marathon" chose to compete fairly with "Another Public Enemy" as it planned to be launched to audiences on the same day. If "Another Public Enemy" appeals to the audience with its catharsis effects, the other film attempts to touch the audiences' hearts and emotions with a human drama about overcoming struggles. The movie shows how 20-year-old Yoon Cho-weon (acted by Cho Seung-woo) suffers with autism but still succeeds at knocking on the door of the world by devoting himself to a marathon. The strong point of the movie lies on the perfect combination of its casting of Cho Seung-woo, a big star in the musical arena, and a dramatic code that can strike multiple chords with the audience. It involves fortitudinous maternal love, the process of curing family conflicts, success after dogged struggling, as well as showcasing a recent popular sport, the marathon. With a high-toned voice, Jo naturally acts as an autistic patient, and his performance will make you laugh hard and cry deeply.

After breaking its low profile during the filming period, the movie "The President's Last Bang" (opening February 3) has appeared like a comet and has become the center of a social issue even before confronting the audience. This movie deals with an unforgettable event in Korean modern history, the assassination of President Park Jung-hee on October 26, 1979 at Gungjeong-dong. Consequently, the ex-President Park's son has filed a provisional disposition to the movie. It seems the movie will not escape controversy whether it is a realization of fact or a satire once it opens in theaters.

"My boyfriend is type-B" (opening February 3) stars two young celebrities Lee Dong-gun, who gained enormous popularity from female fans through his performance in the Seoul Broadcasting System's soap, "Lovers in Paris", and Han Ji-hye who played a partner of Lee in the Korea Broadcasting System's soap, "Sweet 18". It brings to the surface trendy issues among youth such as character tests and the prejudices of blood type "B" men, and develops fun episodes featuring the young stars. Lee Dong-gun plays a B-type young businessman, who puts high priority in looking stylish; although he lives in sweat-rooms (Jjimjilbang), he insists on driving a sports car. This movie is the only romantic comedy that can bring such a varied audience, from teenagers to the elderly, to the theater among the opening movies during the Lunar New Year.

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