'Pilot,' 'Despicable Me 4' and other movies to see in cinemas

Pilot Han Jung-woo gives up on life until a wacky idea comes into to his head. He decides to completely change his identity.

Still cut from film ″Pilot″ [LOTTE ENTERTAINMENT]

Pilot (12)Comedy / 111 mins. / Korean / July 31

How does one survive a tanked career? With cross-dressing.

Life is extraordinary for Han Jung-Woo, played by Cho Jung-seok. He is the star pilot of an airline, well-respected by peers and juniors alike. His uniform fits him perfectly, and his winning smile is often captured by cameras. Jung-woo is flying high both figuratively and literally. But then it all comes crashing down when he loses his job.

Jung-woo can’t believe what has happened to him. He tries to get back up, trying different jobs in his field only to figure out that he has been blacklisted from the industry. He gives up on life until a wacky idea comes into his head. He decides to completely change his identity.

One day he uses the name of his sister, Han Jung-mi, played by Han Sun-hwa, on his resume to get a job. Not willing to let go, he puts on makeup, a dress and accessories to gain another chance at life.

“Pilot” is directed by Kim Han-gyul, who debuted in 2009 with the short film “A Perfect Sight.” She also directed other short films including "Chatter" (2010) and "Make Peace" (2015). Her first feature-length debut was with the 2015 film “Crazy Romance.”

Still cut from film ″Despicable Me 4″ [UNIVERSAL PICTURES INTERNATIONAL KOREA]

Despicable Me 4 (ALL)Animation / 94 mins. / English / July 24

The Minions are back and cuter than ever.

The Minions have dialed down the evil for this new film. The creatures are still eager to serve the will of their master Gru, voiced by Steve Carell, but Gru has decided to give up villainy and become virtuous. Now a proud member of the Anti-Villain League and a father of his kid, Gru Junior, the villain suits up to catch some bad guys with his Minions.

The bad guy in question is Gru’s old pal from high school, Maxime Le Mal, voiced by Will Ferrell. Maxime has been seeking revenge against Gru for a long time, for some reason. Gru really tries to live a new and good life, but his world comes crashing down around him. Will Gru be able to manage both his new occupation as a villain catcher and family life?

“Despicable Me 4” is the fourth installment of the “Despicable Me” franchise. The "Despicable Me" film series kicked off with its first installment in 2010, becoming the ninth-highest grossing film with $543 million in sales the same year. The new installment introduces a new character, Poppy Prescott, voiced by Joey King, a wannabe villain and also a member of the BTS fandom, ARMY.

Still cut from film ″Shine″ [SEOUL INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL]

Shine (12)Drama / 129 mins. / Korean / July 31

Hope is lost, found, and then lost again in Jeju.

Ye-sun, played by Jang Hae-gum, is a 16-year-old girl living in Jeju. Ye-sun has recently lost her grandmother, and she was not taking the loss particularly well. She closed herself off from everyone, preferring to grieve in solitude. However, the loneliness and sense of being lost takes its toll on her, prompting her to make a phone call.

Ye-sun links up with nuns Stella, played by Jang Sun, and Rafaella, played by Jeong Eun-kyung. Ye-sun meets six-year-old Sae-byeol, played by Song Ji-on, who she befriends, and they have a great time together. Just as they are spending the time of their lives together, Sae-byeol’s mother, who previously abandoned her, shows up. What will Ye-sun and Sae-byeol do?

“Shine” is directed by Park Suk-young, who debuted with the 2012 film "Kreutzer Sonata." Park won the Grand Prize at the 41st Seoul Independent Film Festival with his 2015 film “Steel Flower.”

Still cut from film ″Project Silence″ [CJ ENM]

Project Silence (15)Thriller / 96 mins. / Korean / July 12

The bridge has fallen and the dogs are out.

Cha Jung-won, played by Lee Sun-kyun, is a single father and government security administrator. The day starts off rather terribly with foggy weather, and Cha is going to send off his daughter, played by Kim Su-an, to study abroad. But the day just reaches another level of distress when the airport bridge he is on collapses. Even worse, in an almost freakish turn of events, there are lethal military dogs ravaging the people caught under the debris.

Amid all this chaos, the people around Cha are not exactly friendly to him either. Tow-truck driver Jobak, played by Ju Ji-hoon, chased Cha onto the bridge after not receiving payment from him for gas fees earlier. Will Cha safely make it through the horrific disaster with his daughter?

“Project Silence” was co-written and directed by Kim Tae-gon, who debuted in 2008 with the full-length film “The Pot.”“Project Silence” was originally screened at the 76th Cannes Film Festival. Significant edits were made to the film by director Kim after its Cannes screening, aiming to enhance its pace and tension.

“Project Silence” is also a posthumous work for Lee. Lee died in December last year while under investigation for illegal drug usage.

Still cut from film “Deadpool & Wolverine” [WALT DISNEY COMPANY KOREA]

Deadpool & Wolverine (19) Action / 128 mins. / English / July 24

Seething anger meets chaotic madness, with claws slashing and bullets flying everywhere.

Unbridled madness will clash with ferocious intensity on July 24 when antihero assassin Deadpool, played by Ryan Reynolds, and clawed superhero Wolverine, played by Hugh Jackman, exhibit their reluctant yet explosive chemistry in the latest installment of the Marvel antihero series, “Deadpool” (2016-).

True to its title, “Deadpool & Wolverine” will feature the erratic assassin teaming up with the ruthless, clawed superhero to save the world from a multiverse threat, spanning adventures across different timelines. The trailers released for “Deadpool & Wolverine” included numerous easter eggs related to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and alluded to cameos, building up anticipation for the film.

Directed by Shawn Levy, the film arrives six years after “Deadpool 2” (2018). “Deadpool & Wolverine” is the third installment in the “Deadpool” franchise following “Deadpool” in 2016 and “Deadpool 2” in 2018. It is also the first “Deadpool” film to be released under Marvel Studios and its fictional universe, the MCU.

"Deadpool & Wolverine" actors Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman visited Korea in July to meet fans, alongside the film's director Shawn Levy.

BY KIM MIN-YOUNG [kim.minyoung5@joongang.co.kr]