Fengshui (2018 film) explained

Fengshui
Native Name:
Hangul:명당
Hanja:明堂
Rr:Myeong-dang
Director:Park Hee-gon
Producer:Lee Kang-jin
Screenplay:Jung Ja-young
Starring:Cho Seung-woo
Ji Sung
Kim Sung-kyun
Moon Chae-won
Yoo Jae-myung
Baek Yoon-sik
Music:Jang Young-gyu
Cinematography:Baek Yoon-seok
Lee Ji-hoon
Editing:Kim Chang-ju
Studio:Jupiter Film
Distributor:Megabox Plus M[1]
Runtime:126 minutes
Country:South Korea
Language:Korean
Budget:10 billion[2]
Gross:[3]

Fengshui (also referred as Feng Shui or Grave Site) is a 2018 South Korean period action drama film directed by Park Hee-gon. It stars Cho Seung-woo, Ji Sung, Kim Sung-kyun, Moon Chae-won, Yoo Jae-myung and Baek Yoon-sik.[4] The film tells the story of a pungsu expert, Park Jae-sang, who can determine the land that bring good fortune and people around him who compete to occupy the land in order to change their fate and become king.

The film is the third and final installment of Jupiter Film's three-part film project on the Korean fortune-telling traditions, following The Face Reader (2013) and The Princess and the Matchmaker (2018). It was released in South Korea on September 19, 2018.[5]

Premise

A period drama about those who struggle to become king and fight over grave sites and a young man who lost his parents attempting to take revenge on the king.[6] [7] [8]

Cast

Main

Supporting

Production

Principal photography began on August 22, 2017. Production ended on January 5, 2018.[13] [14] Filming take place in Hadong, Gyeongnam-do.[15] [16]

Release

The film premiered in South Korea on September 19, 2018, with age 12-rating.[17] The film was released alongside The Great Battle, The Negotiation, and The Nun, which considered as the most competitive week on Korean Box Office this year.[18] In North America, the film was released in limited theaters on September 21, 2018.

The film has been selected to screen at the Spotlight on Korea section of the 38th Hawaii International Film Festival in November 2018.[19]

The film was released in VOD services and digital download on October 15, 2018.[20] [21]

Reception

Critical response

The film received mixed reviews. Praise was given to the acting performances (particularly by Cho Seung-woo, Baek Yoon-sik, and Ji Sung), and cinematography. Most criticisms centered on how the film failed to become a gripping political period-drama despite its solid cast, and some weak performances (particularly by Ji Sung and Lee Won-geun).[22] [23]

Yoon Min-sik from The Korea Herald wrote, "Director Park does a passable job of keeping up the suspense with intriguing characters and depiction of the peril at hand, although this is not an immensely difficult task with the abundance of quality actors. Cho is good as usual, and Baek’s steady tone and solemn look reek of charisma. However, the film relies too much on luck, guesswork and brute force to appeal as a political drama."[22]

Woo Jae-yeon from Yonhap News Agency wrote, "Despite the compelling story peppered with twists and stellar performances by Cho Seung-woo, Ji Sung and Baek Yoon-sik, one might leave the theater, feeling the business is unsolved and more stories are left to be told...[however] the filming locations, boosted by the excellent work of the cinematography, is quite breathtaking and fascinating."[23]

Box office

The film earned from previews and pre-sales.[24]

On its opening day, the film attracted 108,832 moviegoers and grossed, finished second behind The Great Battle which released on the same day.[25] During its opening weekend, the film finished in second place with gross from 548,989 attendance, tailing The Great Battle in the lead.[26] After 6 days of screening, the film surpassed 1 million admissions on September 24, 2018.[27]

The film dropped to third place during its second weekend with gross from 240,449 attendance, 58% lower gross compared to its debut weekend.[28] On October 2, the film surpassed 2 million admissions.[29] During its third weekend, the film dropped to seventh place with gross from 19,969 attendance, 92% lower gross compared to its second weekend.[30]

As of October 30, 2018, the film attracted 2,084,811 moviegoers with gross.[3]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: M-Line Adds ZOMBIE ON SALE and FENG SHUI to Cannes Slate. 25 May 2018. Korean Film Biz Zone.
  2. Web site: 추석 극장가, 韓영화 3편 동시 개봉..공멸? 한편만 살아남기?. September 10, 2018. Naver. Star News. ko.
  3. Web site: FENGSHUI (2018) . Korean Film Biz Zone . en.
  4. Web site: CHO Seung-woo and JI Sung Meet at GREAT SITE. July 5, 2017. Korean Film Biz Zone.
  5. Web site: 명당. Naver. 21 August 2018. ko.
  6. Web site: Feng Shui (Korean Movie). HanCinema. 21 August 2018.
  7. Web site: Story of land that made a king to unfold on screen. 13 August 2018. Kpop Herald.
  8. Web site: Land determines one's fate in 'Feng Shui'. 13 August 2018. The Korea Times.
  9. Web site: 조승우·지성·김성균, 영화 '명당' 출연. . 21 August 2018. ko.
  10. Web site: Moon Chae-won joins cast of 'Myeongdang'. 24 August 2017. Korea JoongAng Daily.
  11. Web site: [인터뷰] 이원근, "'명당'으로 첫 사극 도전 '헌종' 역...과분한 역할"]. Seoul Kyungje. 21 August 2018. ko.
  12. Web site: Moon Chae-won, Kim Min-jae join film. Korea JoongAng Daily. 14 July 2017.
  13. Web site: Production Begins on GREAT SITE with CHO Seung-woo, JI Sung and More. 7 September 2017. Korean Film Biz Zone.
  14. Web site: MYEONG-DANG Wraps 4 Months of Filming. 15 January 2018. Korean Film Biz Zone.
  15. Web site: 조승우X지성 '명당', 첫촬영 시작…'관상'·'궁합' 잇는 역학 3부작. Herald Pop. 21 August 2018. ko.
  16. Web site: [공식입장] 조승우X지성 '명당' 크랭크업 "웰메이드 명품 사극 탄생"]. Sports Chosun. 21 August 2018. ko.
  17. Web site: [국내영화] 명당]. Korea Media Rating Board. 14 September 2018. ko.
  18. Web site: 조승우 vs 손예진 vs 조인성, 이 대결 실화? 자존심 걸렸다[개봉DAY]]. Newsen. 20 September 2018. ko.
  19. Web site: '명당', 북미 개봉에 하와이 국제 영화제 초청까지. Star News. 22 September 2018. ko.
  20. Web site: '명당', IPTV 서비스 오픈…안방서 열기 잇는다. Joy News 24. 15 October 2018. ko.
  21. Web site: [쿡리뷰] '명당' 탄탄한 추석영화, 하지만 신선하지는 않은]. www.kukinews.com. ko. 2019-06-14.
  22. Web site: [Herald Review] 'Feng Shui' pretty solid, but not riveting as political drama]. The Korea Herald. 14 September 2018.
  23. Web site: (Movie Review) 'Feng Shui' resonates but lacks gripping power. Yonhap News Agency. 14 September 2018.
  24. Web site: FENGSHUI (2018) . https://web.archive.org/web/20180918225811/http://koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20172204 . dead . September 18, 2018 . KOFIC . September 18, 2018.
  25. Web site: [NC스코어]'안시성', 개봉 첫날 1위…추석 극장가 흥행 이어갈까]. News Culture. September 20, 2018. ko. September 20, 2018. September 20, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180920161120/http://www.newsculture.asiae.co.kr/sub_read.html?uid=143389&section=sc155. dead.
  26. Web site: [무비:스코어] '안시성' 개봉 첫 주말 112만 동원…140만 돌파 '1위']. Xports News. September 25, 2018. ko.
  27. Web site: [박스오피스IS] 조승우X지성 '명당' 추석 당일 100만 돌파(공식)]. Sports Daily. September 25, 2018. ko.
  28. Web site: [무비:스코어] '안시성' 452만 돌파, 1위 수성…'협상' 역주행 2위]. Xports News. October 2, 2018. ko.
  29. Web site: '명당' 200만 돌파..조승우부터 이원근까지 '훈훈 인증샷'. Star News. October 2, 2018. ko.
  30. Web site: [DA:박스] 주말 1위 '베놈', 200만 넘었다…'암수살인'도 160만 돌파]. Dong-ah Sports. October 8, 2018. ko.