Korean Peninsula Challenge - Official; November 2019

[sol]

Korean Peninsula Challenge



Goal
Watch as many Korean movies as you can from November 1, 2019 to November 30, 2019.

Eligible Countries
- South Korea
- North Korea
- Korea (pre-1950s)

Rules
- Each feature film (over 40 minutes) counts as one entry.
- 60 minutes of short films counts as one entry.
- 1 episode of any miniseries counts as one entry.
- 1 entire season of a television show counts as one entry.
- Individual television episodes are not eligible.
- Rewatches are allowed and are good for the soul.
- Please include year of release when listing your viewings.
- Please indicate each film's country when listing your viewings if you want to be included in the bonus challenges.

Fair play (adapted from albajos)
- Remember this is a community event, so participating is not only about listing titles. If you post early, this gives the other participants suggestions for their own viewings and it brings the community closer together.
- If you're in the top 5 please post at least once every three days.
- I will not allow anyone to enter the top 5 during the final three days with their first post.

I reserve the right to exclude participants who intentionally number their viewings incorrectly. If you play the game, you're expected to play properly.

DEADLINE
Final results will be posted between 2:30pm and 3:00pm GMT on December 2 - at which point it will have been December everywhere in the world for more than a whole day. While you are welcome to post updates beyond this point, any such updates will not be included in the final results. Your choice whether you miss the deadline or not; besides, if it's December on your side of the world, shouldn't you be starting on one of next month's challenges?

Stuck for ideas of what to watch? Look no further: (big shout-out to Knalds, whose links I have shamelessly copy-and-pasted)

Official Lists
100 Korean Films (Korean Film Archive)
100 Korean Masterpieces by Film 2.0

Non-Official Lists
iCM Forum's Favourite Korean Films
All-Time Korean Box Office
Korean Film Archive movies on Youtube
Film 2.0's Top 37 Korean Films (2002)
Film Society of Lincoln Center's 60 Years of South Korean Cinema
The Chosun Ilbo's Top 50 Korean Films
Korean Movies (by MonkeyButlerMan)
Motion Pictures Association of Korea - Grand Bell Award - Best Film

This Challenge has been run twice before in an Official capacity:

2014 Challenge - hosted by Knaldskalle and won by mjf314 with 15 points
2012 Challenge - hosted by Knaldskalle and won by aces with 41 points

Fun Stats
Week 1: viewtopic.php?p=609732#p609732
Week 2: viewtopic.php?p=611222#p611222
Week 3: viewtopic.php?p=612443#p612443

This thread will be updated at least once a day (more often if I am around and feel like it). Since I am updating manually, I would appreciate it if you list new films seen in a new post. Happy hunting watching!

@ jd12

Participants

Rank	Korean Tourist	Total # of Watches
1	Traveller	68
2	72aicm	39
3	jeroeno	37
4	sol	26
5	Lonewolf2003	22
6	Knaldskalle	19
7	ororama	17
8	Daviddoes	16
9	mjf314	14
10	jdidaco	12
11	flavo5000	9
12	AB537	7
12	OldAle1	7
14	albajos	5
14	blocho	5
14	max-scl	5
14	maxwelldeux	5
14	sebby	5
19	cinephage	4
19	shugs	4
19	vortexsurfer	4
22	RogerTheMovieManic	3
23	Coryn	2
23	hurluberlu	2
25	allisoncm	1
25	frbrown	1

Bonus Challenge #1: Watch something from Pre-1950s Korea

This is challenge will be won by the person who watches the most films from Korea before the country split. Follow the link in the previous sentence for IMDb's suggestions. In order to play, you need to specify that the film that you have watched is from pre-1950s Korea!

1. Knaldskalle (3 films)
2. 72allinncallme (1 film)
2. jeroeno (1 film)
2. maxwelldeux (1 film)
2. sol (1 film)
2. Traveller (1 film)

Bonus Challenge #2: Watch something from North Korea

This is challenge will be won by the person who watches the most films from North Korea. Follow the link in the previous sentence for IMDb's suggestions. In order to play, you need to specify that the film that you have watched is from North Korea!

1. Knaldskalle (2 films)
2. Traveller (1 film)
2. blocho (1 film)
2. sol (1 film)

[Lonewolf2003]

Here’s another list made by some forum : https://www.icheckmovies.com/lists/icm+ ... ewolf2003/

[shugs]

I am in. Thanks for hosting, sol!

[ororama]

How should K-dramas be counted? As far as I know, they almost all are single season shows that are planned to be a certain number of episodes, so they are like mini-series. However, it seems that most are 16 episodes, which some might consider to be long for a mini-series, while other common episode counts seem to be 24 and sometimes 10. My wife has become a big K-drama fan, when we finish one she asks which one we are going to watch next.

[72aicm]

I’m in. Thanks for hosting sol.

[sol]

How should K-dramas be counted? As far as I know, they almost all are single season shows that are planned to be a certain number of episodes, so they are like mini-series. However, it seems that most are 16 episodes, which some might consider to be long for a mini-series, while other common episode counts seem to be 24 and sometimes 10. My wife has become a big K-drama fan, when we finish one she asks which one we are going to watch next.

I don't have a strong opinion on this. If everybody else is happy with you including these as miniseries, I won't be the one to object. I just don't want this to become one of those "watch as much TV as you can" challenges.

[albajos]

I do wonder if I should watch Ang-ma-reul bo-at-da for the horror challenge or just wait for the korean challenge. Two choices are one too many!

It's 140 minutes so I'll probably wait.

[blueboybob]

Start watching at 11pm on October 31st. Watch into November!

[albajos]

also an option, if it wasn't my birthday

but the challenge runs until dawn, so maybe I can manage

[3eyes]

I have a little list.

For North Korea fans: Boy partisans is standard WW II b-movie fare, only with the Americans as Nazis. Great fun!

[Traveller]

Thanks for hosting, sol. The link for the extra info for one of the official lists does not seem to work anymore, unfortunately.

I'm in – goal is to reach 350 korean films (at 299 at the moment) which should be doable.

[RogerTheMovieManiac88]

I have several recent Korean films recorded. I imagine that my main focus for November will be elsewhere with Noirvember, the Unofficial challenge (which will act as a kind of mop-up for me), and the ICMFF. I'll aim for 10 to 15 here and see how I get on.

Thanks for hosting, sol!

[Knaldskalle]

In. I need to watch 14 movies on the 100 Korean Films list to reach gold (and a personal goal for the year). I hope I can do it.

[sol]

First in.

It starts!

1. Ta-weo / The Tower (2012) South Korea



South Korea's answer to The Towering Inferno, the action crux here is pretty solid with some amazing special effects, a remarkably intense crossing a cracking glass bridge scene and some curious politics as the firefighters are ordered to save the richer guests. There is over 30 minutes of third-rate comedy to endure before the fire though, and from awkward first dates to a prank that has a rookie firefighter running out nude, it is all way too silly.

[ororama]

How should K-dramas be counted? As far as I know, they almost all are single season shows that are planned to be a certain number of episodes, so they are like mini-series. However, it seems that most are 16 episodes, which some might consider to be long for a mini-series, while other common episode counts seem to be 24 and sometimes 10. My wife has become a big K-drama fan, when we finish one she asks which one we are going to watch next.

I don't have a strong opinion on this. If everybody else is happy with you including these as miniseries, I won't be the one to object. I just don't want this to become one of those "watch as much TV as you can" challenges.

I intend to watch enough K-drama to satisfy my wife, no matter how the episodes are counted. I watched the first 8 episodes of Piano last month, which she hated, so I have 8 more to go, then we'll start Happy Together. Looking forward to seeing Parasite this weekend, which is playing at a theater that we go to often, about 10 miles closer than the one that is usually the only theater that shows Korean movies.

[sol]

How should K-dramas be counted? As far as I know, they almost all are single season shows that are planned to be a certain number of episodes, so they are like mini-series. However, it seems that most are 16 episodes, which some might consider to be long for a mini-series, while other common episode counts seem to be 24 and sometimes 10. My wife has become a big K-drama fan, when we finish one she asks which one we are going to watch next.

I don't have a strong opinion on this. If everybody else is happy with you including these as miniseries, I won't be the one to object. I just don't want this to become one of those "watch as much TV as you can" challenges.

I intend to watch enough K-drama to satisfy my wife, no matter how the episodes are counted. I watched the first 8 episodes of Piano last month, which she hated, so I have 8 more to go, then we'll start Happy Together. Looking forward to seeing Parasite this weekend, which is playing at a theater that we go to often, about 10 miles closer than the one that is usually the only theater that shows Korean movies.

Parasite is absolutely amazing, especially with the way it shifts and changes genre. Some parts are shocking and sad; at other times, I couldn't control my laughter and was giggling for minutes after certain darkly comic scenes had already finished.

Since nobody else has offered an opinion or perspective, I'll let you go with what you think feels right re: the "is it a TV show or miniseries" call.

[Daviddoes]

1. Choyonghan kajok (1998) (The Quiet Family) 6.5/10

2. Geomi sup (2004) (Spider Forest) 4/10

3. Yeogo goedam (1998) (Whispering Corridors) 6/10

[jeroeno]

01. Jangmibit insaeng (1994)
02. Ja-yugyeolhon (1958)
03. Seoului hyuil (1956)
04. Gamja (1968)

[Traveller]

01. A Single Spark (1995) - 7/10
02. Romance Papa (1960) - 5/10

[hurluberlu]

1. A Taxi Driver / Taeksi Woonjunsa (Hun Jang, 2017) 7

[albajos]

1. Ang-ma-reul bo-at-da (2010) South Korea 2 official lists 6 037 checks

!seen 1

[72aicm]

1. Gipgo puleun bam / The Deep Blue Night (1985)
2. Bam gua nat / Night and Day (2008)

SpoilerShow

1. Gipgo puleun bam / The Deep Blue Night (1985)
2. Bam gua nat / Night and Day (2008)

[3eyes]

Just found this, which might yield some triples:

https://crimereads.com/korean-noir-a-gu ... -classics/

[sebby]

Oooh time for me to bust through Hong Sangsoo's filmog. That + polish film scouting will probably be my entire november at the cine.

[mjf314]

- 1 episode of any miniseries counts as one entry.
- 1 entire season of a television show counts as one entry.

Is 16 episodes a mini-series or a television show? There are a lot of 16-episode Korean series.

If 16 is too long, then what about 8 or 10? I have both an 8-episode series and a 10-episode series on my watchlist.

[ororama]

- 1 episode of any miniseries counts as one entry.
- 1 entire season of a television show counts as one entry.

Is 16 episodes a mini-series or a television show? There are a lot of 16-episode Korean series.

If 16 is too long, then what about 8 or 10? I have both an 8-episode series and a 10-episode series on my watchlist.

My argument for mini-series is that most of these series were produced with the intention that they run in a single season with a specific number of episodes. They are therefore planned to tell a specific story like a mini-series, rather than being open-ended like a TV series. It seems that they generally show an episode on 2 consecutive nights each week, and 16 episodes seems to be the most common length, although 10 and 24 episode series seem fairly common. I think I've watched 6 16 episode series and 1 10 episode series so far, and am half way through another 16 episode series.

[albajos]

Is it one story divided into 16 parts? It's the easiest way to define a mini-series. Amount and length defs. are a bit outdated because of streaming services. Defenders are almost 8 hours long f.ex.

If something new (monster of the week) would happen every week. like Firefly or Futurama, then it's not.

[sol]

- 1 episode of any miniseries counts as one entry.
- 1 entire season of a television show counts as one entry.

Is 16 episodes a mini-series or a television show? There are a lot of 16-episode Korean series.

If 16 is too long, then what about 8 or 10? I have both an 8-episode series and a 10-episode series on my watchlist.

My argument for mini-series is that most of these series were produced with the intention that they run in a single season with a specific number of episodes. They are therefore planned to tell a specific story like a mini-series, rather than being open-ended like a TV series. It seems that they generally show an episode on 2 consecutive nights each week, and 16 episodes seems to be the most common length, although 10 and 24 episode series seem fairly common. I think I've watched 6 16 episode series and 1 10 episode series so far, and am half way through another 16 episode series.

Mjf - as I said to ororama upthread, my main concern is that this does not turn into one of those "watch as much TV as you can" challenges.

According to IMDb (source), anything with more than four episodes is listed as a television series rather than a miniseries on their site. That seems like a pretty low limit to me, so IMDb's info in this case might not be the best thing to go by to determine whether K-dramas are miniseries or TV.

So yeah, feel free to include anything that you genuinely believe to be a miniseries.

[mjf314]

So yeah, feel free to include anything that you genuinely believe to be a miniseries.

Then I suppose I'll be watching as much mini-series as I can.

I usually don't watch more than 1 episode per day, so I don't have much chance to win anyway.

[sol]

Gangnam StyleShow

1. Ta-weo / The Tower (2012) South Korea

2. A Tale of Two Sisters (2003) South Korea



There are several effective scares here - most notably involving what may or may not be under a kitchen sink and a ghostly presence that ascends a bed at night. The story is, however, a mess. The grief and regret themes are pretty nifty, but the film introduces a predictable and formulaic twist in the second half that does not stack up to close scrutiny, and then becomes even more convoluted, while all the grief and regret stuff takes a back seat.

[Knaldskalle]

1. Crossroads of Youth (aka. Turning Point of Youngsters) (Jong-hwa Ahn, 1934). So, this was something different. No intertitles apparently survive for this, Korea's oldest surviving movie. And there was no score of any kind either, so if I hadn't had the synopsis from IMDb, I'd have been completely lost as to what was going on. I have to confess that sitting through this was a chore, I need something to accompany the images (but our cd's are still packed away). At least I got to see 1930s Koreans play golf. BONUS CHALLENGE #1

2. Pursuit of Death (Kwon-taek Im, 1980). Somewhat exaggerated drama about two 'broken' men, enemies from the Korean War who have been playing cat and mouse for 30 years, finally ending up in an asylum for old war vets, so the final confrontation can begin. It's peppered with flashbacks to the war and the time after, so we learn that they've largely led parallel lives. Unfortunately, one of the two leads overacts terribly and the melodrama is laid on a bit thick (something that's not unusual in Korean film, but it bothered me a little bit more here than it usually does).

[allisoncm]

I'm in.

[Traveller]

2. A Tale of Two Sisters (2003) South Korea

Interested what you think of 3-Iron tomorrow.

03. Come Come Come Upward (1989) - 7/10
04. Gagman (1989) - 6/10

[sol]

2. A Tale of Two Sisters (2003) South Korea

Interested what you think of 3-Iron tomorrow.

Wouldn't be a half-bad idea if I actually had 3-Iron in my movie collection. It's okay. I have at least one more coincidental number film lined up for later on...

[sol]

Gangnam StyleShow

1. Ta-weo / The Tower (2012) South Korea
2. A Tale of Two Sisters (2003) South Korea

3. Memories of Murder (2003) South Korea



From police brutality to goading confessions to planting evidence, this South Korean drama looks at how the emotional attachment of three detectives to a serial killer case interferes with their judgment. There are also some darkly comical touches as the detectives keep wanting to elaborate restage events for publicity shoots. Kang-ho Song is excellent as ever in the lead role too (great final shot) though none of the detectives are really likeable.

[jeroeno]

05. Sorum (2001)
06. Whispering Corridors b(1998)

[shugs]

1. Busanhaeng [Train to Busan] (Sang-ho Yeon, 2016) - 7/10
2. Snowpiercer (Bong Joon Ho, 2013) - 7/10
3. Ah-ga-ssi [The Handmaiden] (Chan-wook Park, 2016) - 8/10

[sol]

Gangnam StyleShow

1. Ta-weo / The Tower (2012) South Korea
2. A Tale of Two Sisters (2003) South Korea
3. Memories of Murder (2003) South Korea

4. The Insect Woman (1972) South Korea



It is over an hour in before the horror really ignites here with some creepy moments involving rat nightmares and a toddler who seems to have a taste for mice (see above), and while the first hour benefits from creative shots (a close-up of a screaming mouth; the wife's face partially obscured by a glass bowl), the tone is all over the place, jumping from comedy to melodrama and everything in between. The film has an okay second half though.

[maxwelldeux]

1. J.S.A.: Joint Security Area (2000, SK)
This was nice - only tangentially a war film, this was more about the bonds of friendship. A moving story entrenched within a thriller, the tension was built slowly throughout the whole film while still focusing on the humanity of the situation. Pretty nice film and will earn an entry to my favorites list.

[Knaldskalle]

3. Homeless Angels (aka. Angels of the Street) (In-kyu Cho'e, 1941). Okay movie about some street kids that end up in a "boys home," run by a benevolent man, that they help build. The movie, however, takes a bizarre twist right at the end (last 5 minutes or so) where it pivots, extremely incongruously, to saluting the Japanese Empire. That ending is very out of place, but I suppose it was necessary, given the time and place it was made in. BONUS CHALLENGE #1

SpoilerShow

1. Crossroads of Youth (aka. Turning Point of Youngsters) (Jong-hwa Ahn, 1934) BONUS CHALLENGE #1
2. Pursuit of Death (Kwon-taek Im, 1980)
3. Homeless Angels (aka. Angels of the Street) (In-kyu Cho'e, 19410 BONUS CHALLENGE #1