The Box (2021 South Korean film) explained
The Box |
Native Name: | |
Director: | Yang Jung-woong |
Screenplay: | Yang Jung-woong |
Starring: | Park Chanyeol Jo Dal-hwan |
Music: | Score: Ecobridge |
Studio: | Studio Take |
Distributor: | Cine Pilwoon Co., Ltd. |
Runtime: | 94 minutes |
Country: | South Korea |
Language: | Korean |
Gross: | US$0.84 million[1] |
The Box is a 2021 South Korean musical road film directed by Yang Jung-woong for Yeonghwasa Take Co., Ltd. The film starring Park Chanyeol and Jo Dal-hwan, is about an aspiring singer and a washed-up music producer and their musical journey.[2] The film was theatrically released on March 24, 2021, by Cine Pilwoon Co., Ltd.[3]
Cast
Production
Theme
The film is a road film in which two people an aspiring singer and a washed out music producer embark on a musical journey across the country. It is a jukebox musical containing familiar popular songs from world music as; Coldplay, Billie Eilish, Chet Baker, Mariah Carey, Pharrell Williams and famous Korean songs in the backdrop of South Korean locales.[6]
Casting
On 30 July 2020, the SM Entertainment agency announced that Park Chanyeol was confirmed to appear in musical film.[7]
Filming
Principal photography of the film began in the end of August 2020.
Release
It was announced on March 27, that the film will be released in thirty two International markets.[8]
The Box is scheduled to be released in 11 countries including USA, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan and Australia. It will be released in Singapore on April 1, 2021, in Indonesia on April 7, 2021, and Malaysia on April 8, 2021.[9]
Original soundtrack
The Box |
Type: | Soundtrack |
Artist: | Various |
Released: | [10] |
Length: | 58:35 |
Recorded: | 2020–21 |
Producer: | Echo Bridge |
Genre: | Soundtrack |
60,000 albums of original soundtrack of the film were pre-sold before its release on March 31. The box album debuted at number 4 iTunes global albums, with all songs charting in more than 6 countries.[11]
Reception
Box office
The film was released on March 24, 2021, on 372 screens. It opened at first place on the box office getting more than thirty thousand admissions on its first day.[12]
According to Korean Film Council data, it is at 20th place among all the Korean films released in the year 2021, with gross of US$0.85 million and 122,469 admissions, .[13]
- The system of KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) is managed by KOFIC.
Critical response
Going by Korean review aggregator Naver Movie Database, the film holds an approval rating of 8.63 from the audience.[14]
Brian Tan from Yahoo Style rating the film with 3.5 out of 5 stars, praised Chanyeol for his “beautifully rendered vocals and acoustics throughout the movie” in his review. He praised Chanyeol for his ability to convey the cuteness, introversion, and most vulnerable moments of the main character. Several reviewers have cited the lack of a consistent plot and dialogue as some of the sites of improvement.[15]
Fred Hawson reviewing for ABS-CBN News wrote that the main attraction of the film is the lead performance of EXO member Chanyeol and his song recordings. He opined that making the film a road trip added to the appeal of the director Jung-woong's concept. Explaining the premise behind the story of the film, Hawson wrote, "... simple premise -- a talented musical artist who could not bring himself to perform his music in front of people, and the producer who trusted that talent enough to spend time and money hopefully to bring him out of his shell (or box)."[16]
Korean entertainment news site The Seoul Story praised Chanyeol's baritone singing, stating that it will "trap viewer's hearts". It was pointed out that the storyline was too predictable, but the overall viewing experience was still quite enjoyable and "light hearted."[17]
Notes and References
- Web site: KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) The Box (2021). April 19, 2021. KOFIC. January 21, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220121130904/http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20216673. live.
- Web site: The Box - 2021. HanCinema. April 4, 2021. March 28, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210328071831/https://www.hancinema.net/korean_movie_The_Box.php. live.
- Web site: [톱포토] '더 박스' 조달환, 부드러운 미소]. [Top Photo]'The Box' Cho Joo-hwan, a soft smile. Choi Ji-eun. Top Daily. March 18, 2021. April 4, 2021. ko. January 21, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220121130131/http://www.topdaily.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=98032. live.
- News: SM 측 "엑소 찬열, 영화 '더 박스' 출연 확정". SM's “EXO Chanyeol confirmed to appear in the movie'The Box'” (official position). Kim Na-young. April 4, 2021. July 30, 2020. MK Sports. Naver. ko. April 19, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220419232023/https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/now/article/410/0000715572. live.
- News: 영화 '더 박스' 조달환…이병헌·송강호가 롤모델 프로의 섹시함 보여주고파. The movie'The Box' Cho Joo-hwan... Lee Byung-hun and Song Kang-ho want to show the sexy role model pro. Han Hyun-jung. April 4, 2021. April 1, 2021. MK Sports. ko. January 21, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220121154938/https://m.mk.co.kr/news/business/view/2021/04/312003/. live.
- News: Lee Seung-mi . [공식]엑소 찬열 주연 '더 박스' 3월 24일 개봉…입대前 마지막 활동 ]. [Official] EXO's Chanyeol starring'The Box' will be released on March 24th... Last activity before enlistment . Sports Chosun . Naver . March 25, 2021 . March 5, 2021 . ko . April 25, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220425072906/https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/076/0003699527 . live .
- Web site: [톱포토] '더 박스' 조달환, 부드러운 미소]. EXO's Chanyeol, starring in'The Box'... August crank-in. Choi Ji-eun. Top Daily. July 30, 2021. April 5, 2021. ko. January 21, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220121125719/https://m.edaily.co.kr/news/Read?newsId=01705606625839768&mediaCodeNo=258. live.
- Web site: [HanCinema's News] "The Box" to Be Released in Thirty-two International Markets]. HanCinema. William Schwartz. April 4, 2021. March 27, 2021. en. March 17, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220317043919/https://www.hancinema.net/hancinema-s-news-the-box-to-be-released-in-thirty-two-international-markets-150135.html. live.
- Spackman Entertainment Group's Upcoming Musical Film THE BOX, Starring EXO'S Chanyeol, Set To Release On 24 March In Korea And Debut In 11 Countries Including USA, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan And Australia. Media Outreach. April 5, 2021. March 22, 2021. en. March 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210322165608/https://www.media-outreach.com/View/69930/spackman-entertainment-groups-upcoming-musical-film-the-box-starring-exos-chanyeol-set-to-release-on-24-march-in-korea-and-debut-in-11-countries-including-usa-singapore-indonesia. live.
- Web site: 더 박스 THE BOX OST. THE BOX OST. 5 April 2021. Melon. January 21, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220121130838/https://m2.melon.com/album/detail.htm?albumId=10583131. live.
- News: 엑소 팬덤 무섭다…찬열의 '더 박스' OST 음반, 예약판매 6만 돌파[공식]]. EXO's fandom is scary... Chanyeol's'The Box' OST album exceeds 60,000 pre-orders [Official]. The Daily Economy Star Today. Han Hyun-jung. April 5, 2021. March 30, 2021. en. January 21, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220121135842/https://m.mk.co.kr/star/film/view/2021/03/302279/. live.
- Web site: [HanCinema's News] "The Box" Opens in First Place at the South Korean Box Office]. HanCinema. William Schwartz. April 4, 2021. March 25, 2021. en. April 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220425164527/https://www.hancinema.net/hancinema-s-news-the-box-opens-in-first-place-at-the-south-korean-box-office-150090.html. live.
- Web site: KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) Year 2021. December 12, 2021. KOFIC. March 24, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210324104951/http://koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/news/boxOffice_Yearly.jsp?mode=BOXOFFICE_YEAR&selectDt=2021&category=ALL&country=K. live.
- Web site: 더 박스 The Box, (2021). 15 April 2021. Naver 영화. March 20, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210320015050/https://movie.naver.com/movie/bi/mi/basic.nhn?code=202901. live.
- Web site: The Box review: A heartwarming movie that shows off Chanyeol's musical and acting charms. 2021-06-07. sg.style.yahoo.com. April 8, 2021 . en-SG. April 7, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220407102122/https://sg.style.yahoo.com/the-box-review-heartwarming-movie-chanyeol-musical-acting-charms-021553797.html. live.
- Web site: Movie review: EXO's Chanyeol and his music are the main draws of 'The Box'. Fred. Hawson. June 4, 2021. June 5, 2021. ABS-CBN News. June 5, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210605083323/https://news.abs-cbn.com/amp/entertainment/06/04/21/movie-review-exos-chanyeol-and-his-music-are-the-main-draws-of-the-box. live.
- Web site: 2021-04-21. [FILM REVIEW] THE BOX (2021)]. 2021-06-07. The Seoul Story. en-US. June 7, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210607053645/https://theseoulstory.com/film-review-the-box-2021/. live.