Summer Blockbusters Heat Up Box Office

Four Korean blockbusters are expected to set up a box office war as many filmgoers try to beat the summer heat in cinemas.

"KUNDO : Age of the Rampant: Age of the Rampant" was released on Thursday, and "Roaring Currents" will be released on July 30,"Pirates"on Aug. 6 and "Sea Fog" on Aug. 13.

"KUNDO : Age of the Rampant", "Roaring Currents" and"Pirates"all cost as much as W15 billion to produce, while "Sea Fog" had a slightly lower budget of some W10 billion.

But it remains to be seen whether each of these films can draw enough viewers to make the break-even point.

"KUNDO : Age of the Rampant" had fans' attention even before release due to the star power ofHa Jeong-wooandKang Dong-won. Interesting plot details will keep fans entertained, and it attracted 550,000 on its first day in theaters. But disappointingly, it lacks a solid clincher.

"Roaring Currents" focuses solely on the main character, whose story should be popular with middle-aged to senior citizens and parents with children. It is a serious affair for much of its 128-minute running time, including a realistic but drawn-out 61-minute battle scene.

Son Ye-jinandKim Nam-gilcontribute almost nothing to"Pirates", which seems to try to earn laughs from viewers from beginning to end. The film will only appeal to teenagers or others interested in a couple hours of fluffy entertainment.

"Sea Fog" has received relatively little attention, but it is drawing the spotlight recently as it has become known that directorBong Joon-hoof"Snowpiercer"was involved in its production.

"It is a well-made movie.Micky Yoochun's debut performance has beat expectations", one film critic said. But the film is rated R, restricting its potential fan base.