It’s the weekend again, and that means Film Focus. Here’s Mike Laidman with what’s new in local theaters.



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The end of the year, particularly the time between Christmas and New Year’s, often means a pretty slow time for new movies in theatres. This year is much the same as always, with only one new wide release in Korea. We’ll be looking to next week, yes, the first week of the new year, in order to find our second movie.

Opening this week is Wonder, based on the new York-times bestseller of the same name, which is sure to tug at your heartstrings. And then, looking ahead to next week, is the animated romp Ferdinand, looking to take you for a wild ride.

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Mike Laidman

Welcome to another edition of Film Focus. I’m Mike Laidman.

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Wonder (2017, Stephen Chbosky)
A boy with facial differences starts at a new school.

Wonder tells the incredibly inspiring and heartwarming story of August Pullman. Born with facial differences that, up until now, have prevented him from going to a mainstream school, Auggie becomes the most unlikely of heroes when he enters grade five at a local school. As his family, his new classmates, and the larger community all struggle to discover their compassion and acceptance, Auggie's extraordinary journey will unite them all and prove you can't blend in when you were born to stand out.

Heartwarming stuff, for sure, but does it earn it? Or is it just another attempt to feed audiences candy-coated melodrama and then send them on their way?

Luckily, Wonder lives up to its name, and features strong performances, especially from young Jacob Tremblay as Auggie, and a charismatic, warm and positive lesson about friendship, family ties, and the search for personal acceptance.

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Ferdinand (2017, Carlos Saldanha)
A warm-hearted bull is mistakenly taken from his home.

Opening next week is Ferdinand, the story of a giant bull with a big heart, and based off a classic tale originally published over 80 years ago.

After being mistaken for a dangerous beast, he is captured and torn from his home in Spain. Determined to return to his family, he rallies a misfit team on the ultimate adventure.

It’s hard these days for an animated children’s movie to really stand out from the crowd, what with the consistency of Pixar’s offerings, but Blue Sky Studios has had a string of hits,as well, and it looks like Ferdinand will be another.

John Cena, in the title role, is wonderful,and the rest of the cast that fill out this bright, funny, yet slightly overlong, do all their jobs to a ‘T.’ At its best when it focuses on its main character, Ferdinand is the kind of animated movie that isn’t going to go down in history like Toy Story or Frozen, but it’s a perfectly fun way to while away a lazy afternoon.