Books, blog and other blather

Month: January 2008 (Page 2 of 2)

Random Notes – Vol 3, No. 1

  • There was a potentially interesting story a couple of days ago in the Korea Herald about President-Elect Lee Myung-bak’s transition plans, in particular about PE Lee thinking about getting rid of Korea’s numerous press regulations. Which would be quite welcomed, at least by me. The Korean government’s endless meddling in media (and so much else) is always annoying.

    Not controlling the press. Allowing universities to set their own admissions policies. If PE Lee really going to pull the government back and reduce its clumsy, authoritarian tendencies, I think it would be very good for Korea.

  • My story on AFN getting kicked off of cable here in Korea has finally been published at The Hollywood Reporter. I am not exactly happy about the headline, but the story itself was fun to write (especially tracking down John Lee, AFKN engineer 1958-64).

    As my story says, AFN is being taken off the local cable systems solely because of copyright concerns (unlike a lot of the more conspiratorial and even bizarre theories I have seen floating around). While the American networks are not exactly happy about anyone with an antenna being able to see their programs, what really pissed them off was the cable companies adding AFN to their selection of programming — in effect, getting paid for an unauthorized retransmission.

    Actually, it is quite unusual for AFN to be available on free-to-air TV, in the heart of a bustling metropolis. Most US Military bases are not in such heavily populated areas. Certainly AFKN was not in that sort of situation when the channel went on the air in 1957.

    With a large military and military-related population to serve in Korea (and in particular, a large population that would need evacuating in the event of war), free-to-air AFKN was the most efficient way to make emergency announcements (at least in the pre-Internet era).

    Anyhow, the pics AFN sent me did not make the online version of the story, so here are a couple for you.



  • HANSEL & GRETEL review to come tomorrow.
  • Korea Weekend Box Office – Dec. 29-Jan. 1

    Hi all. Sorry for not mentioning that I was taking some time off for the holidays this year. The time away was much appreciated though. Now I am back and ready for 2008.

    Hollywood is certainly starting off 2008 strong, with nearly 70 percent of the boxoffice. Top film over the holidays was THE GOLDEN COMPASS, which has made over $15 million since it opened on Dec. 18. NATIONAL TREASURE 2 is also doing well, with around $8.2 million since Dec. 20.

    Top Korean movies is SEX IS ZERO 2, with about $12 million since Dec. 13 (with about $1.1 million of that coming over the long holiday weekend).

    Very sad to see HANSEL & GRETEL open so poorly. Just $1 million since it opened on Dec. 27. Very disappointing on a lot of levels. I missed the press screening because I was on holiday, but I hope to get a review up on this site in the next few days.

    This Week Title…………………………………….. Release Date Screens Nationwide Weekend Attendance Total Attendance
    1. The Golden Compass 12.18 397 332,053 2,167,087
    2. National Treasure 2 12.20 338 237,722 1,105,853
    3. Sex Is Zero 2 (Saekjeuk Shigong Sijeun 2 – Korean) 12.13 319 158,320 1,658,665
    4. I Am Legend 12.12 313 145,944 2,274,330
    5. American Gangster 12.27 318 137,895 165,587
    6. Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium 12.19 287 133,782 446,776
    7. My Love (Nae Sarang – Korean) 12.20 293 133,508 749,388
    8. Hansel & Gretel 12.27 245 117,121 140,455
    9. Rainbow Eyes (Gamyeon – Korean) 12.27 261 113,846 142,701
    10. August Rush 11.29 189 98,266 1,894,308

    (Source: KOBIS – Figures represent 97% of nationwide box office)

    Hrm… Looks like KOBIS has updated its website. Looks nice enough, but it still does not work well at all with Safari. More information than ever, though.

    Newer posts »

    © 2024 Mark James Russell

    Theme by Anders NorenUp ↑