Films to Watch out for over Lunar New Year

Published on 2020/01/23 | Source

Many Koreans hit the road to their ancestral hometowns for family reunions and traditional rituals, while other holidaymakers travel overseas over the Lunar New Year.

But for those who prefer to spend the holiday on their own instead of being held up on congested roads traveling to their hometowns or being bothered by stressful encounters with relatives, here are a couple of new films that hit local theaters this week, just in time for the Lunar New Year holiday.

Arguably the most-anticipated film during the year's first holiday season would be actor Lee Byung-hun's political drama "The Man Standing Next", which was released on Wednesday.

Based on the historical backdrop of the assassination of former strongman Park Chung-hee in 1979, the film recalls power struggles among spy agency chiefs to unfold a hidden story surrounding the assassination. It deals with somewhat heavy and dense themes that probably appeal mostly to middle-aged male viewers.

But there are comedies for those looking for something lighter -- "Hitman: Agent Jun" and "Mr. Zoo: The Missing VIP". Actor Kwon Sang-woo's "Hitman: Agent Jun" is about a top intelligence agent who quits his job to become a webtoon writer.

Actor Lee Sung-min's "Mr. Zoo: The Missing VIP" is about a man who suddenly gains the ability to talk to animals after an accident. The film features a diverse range of animals such as a dog, panda, tiger, gorilla, parrot, hamster and horse in some fun and comic scenes.

Disney's animated film "Spies in Disguise" could be a good choice for a family outing, as it seems funny enough to satisfy all family members. It revolves around a spy who transforms into a pigeon after drinking a mysterious liquid. Will Smith and Tom Holland lend their voices to the film.

The film will also please many Korean moviegoers as K-pop girl group TWICE's hit song "Knock Knock" is featured on the soundtrack of the film.