Korean Job Discussion Forums

[flotsam]

Is it?

I think Korean films are the bees knees. Lee, Chang-Dong; Park, Chan-Wook; Jang, Sun-Woo--these guys can make movies. Among my favorites are:

Peppermint Candy
Oasis
The Vengeance Trilogy
Christmas In August
Happy End
Chingu
Gojitmal
Gott-Nip
Gangwon-do Eui Him
Oh, Su-jung
Bungee Jumping of their Own
Harmonium in My Memory
Attack the Gas Station
Woman is the Future of Man
und so weiter...

But the last superb movie I remember seeing was Oasis. Yeoja, Jung-Hye, Param-nan Gajok and Woman is the Future of Man were all pretty good, but nothing like the spurt of brilliance that blessed the screens from 1997 to 2003. What happened? Have I been missing something that others can tell me about? Or is Korean Cinema really dead, and the screen quota floating in low, heavy with a thick-ass silver lining?

[Merlyn]

I think the screen quota will be really good for watching movies in Korea. I read the other day in one of the newspapers as well that many movie owners were really looking forward to it too so they could get more foreign blockbusters here which make more money for the theaters. I just think that most Korean movies that come to theaters here would only be straight to DVD releases in most places and aren't worthy of big screen time. Most Koreans I don't think even bother to see them. I can see why Korean actors and directors are protesting, but most of these films that come to theaters these days are crap.

[Juregen]

I agree.

The screen quota will push Korean filmmakers into 2 directions.

The evergrowing movies only intended for the local market will try to protect it's market, and thus will become even more local.

The international movie makers will see that they need to increase the quality of their movies to fend off Hollywood.

I am all for reducing quota's once an industrie has been established. Long live free trade?

[Ya-ta Boy]

The last time the screen quota system was reformed was also the point that marked the beginning of watchable Korean movies. A remarkable coincidence.

At least one Korean agrees with Mr. flotsam that there has been a dearth of good movies lately. I have a friend who shares my taste in movies. He lets me know when there is a good new movie out and we go DVD shopping together. It's been some time since he felt there was a movie worth buying.

[Hater Depot]

When was the screen quota last altered? I was under the impression that the lifting of nearly all censorship in 1998 was the point that Korean cinema really took off. Certainly there are very few good Korean movies from before then.

[mindmetoo]

I agree. The gold rush started and we just got a lot of crap in the last couple years.

[happeningthang]

I remember reading somewhere that Korea had a deluge of good movies all coming out together as a result of film restrictions being lifted.

Even if this accounts for the Korean Wave people go on about there still were some great films out recently....

In 2005...

Marathon, Presidents Barber, Sympathy for Lady Vengence, You Are My Sunshine, Blood Rain...

Of all the 2005/06 releases I saw I enjoyed all of them, except for the Duelist, god only knows wtf that was about.