R2B: Return to Base

By filmmaker Mark Gadia

Today I went to see Rain’s last film before he entered military service RTB: RETURN TO BASE. I saw a mid-afternoon showing at AMC Mission Valley in San Diego. Despite the disappointment that me and my younger brother were the only one’s who saw it during that screening, we still had a great time. Ever since I saw the action packed trailer a few months ago I had been dying to see the film on the big screen. Now that I’ve seen it I can honestly say that it was worth the wait. Despite its very cliche story, the film is saved by it’s earnest acting performances, flashy production values, and impressive aerial combat sequences. RTB is great popcorn entertainment, and Rain gives a charmingly goofy, but charismatic performance as a hot shot fighter pilot who slowly learns what duty and friendship really mean. And the supporting cast, which includes Shin Se-kyung and Yoo Jun-sang, put in sincere performances that elevate an otherwise by-the-numbers script. There are obvious nods to TOP GUN, but also references to another action film, BEHIND ENEMY LINES. Small trivia fact: This is a very loose remake of a 1964 Korean film RED SCARF.

Mark Anthony Gadia, San Diego filmmaker and co-producer of the upcoming Korean style variety web show “MISSION… COMPLETE!!”

Did you know?

R2B was released in AMC Mission Valley on September 6th! This is not the first time that a Korean film was released in a mainstream theater in San Diego. Back in March, Nameless Gangster was released in AMC La Jolla. Please support the Korean films whenever they get released! The greater the response, the more films we can bring to the big screen.

 

 

The Thieves

By Jacklin Lee

The Thieves steal audiences’ hearts! Not even summer vacation can break up UCSD’s Korean American Literature Club. This summer, the KALC members took a field trip to South Korea! When the six members got together, there was no time to sit around – except to watch the number one movie in Korea, The Thieves. The Thieves became one of the only six movies in Korean cinema history to have attracted more than 10 million viewers. Currently, it stands as the second biggest grossing movie in the Korean Box Office. The Thieves is a movie that portrays the twists and turns as a group of thieves go to Hong Kong to work on their most lucrative project yet.

KALC treasurer Benjamin Weon states that the movie The Thieves is a vibrant movie with each character being a different color. “This movie had a lot of characters and each character had their own style and personality. They were so real without being tied to just a single characteristic.” Member Hilary Kim added, “ I can’t wait for KALC to watch a movie like The Thieves again together!”