As a follow-up to the recent news that Korean filmmakers want local audiences to pay higher ticket prices, I took a look at what's currently playing in cinemas there. Of last weekend's box office top 10, three are from the US (I Am Legend, August Rush, Hairspray), one is from Japan (Kiki's Delivery Service), and one is multi-national (Lust, Caution), leaving five South Korean films to consider. Pretend language isn't a barrier and react on instinct. Would you pay more at a cinema to see these movies?

Sex is Zero II (pictured). Sequel to popular, crude teen comedy. I thought the original -- a sideways Korean take on American Pie -- was boisterously funny. Still, this is a sequel that looks intriguing but not compelling. Answering my own question: No.

Venus and Mars. Romantic comedy. Far from my favorite genre, which disinclines me to start with. If I was seriously dating someone who wanted to see it, I'd pay without (public) complaint. Otherwise? No.

Seven Days. Suspense thriller. Lost's Yunjin Kim stars as a lawyer who must free a convicted killer or her daughter will be killed. Even though remake plans have been announced, I'd love to see the original. Yes, I'd pay more.

Le Grand Chef. Kitchen flick centering on "a cooking contest between rival chef families both related to former royal chefs." The biggest hit in the latter part of the year; they must have done something right. Yes, please.

My 11th Mother. Heartwarming, realistic family drama. Appropriate for the season, but not my cup of tea. No.

If none of these titles tickle your fancy, never fear: South Korea's first disaster film is in the development stage. Reportedly, "the disaster will center on a tsunami that hits Korea's most popular resort, Haeundae Beach, in the southern port city of Busan. The beach is home to Korea's world-famous Pusan International Film Festival, adding an extra dimension of thrill to the scenario." Oh boy, I'd pay more to see that!

First came Daniel Waters with the cult classic, Heathers. Then, brother Mark Waters followed suit with his own cult take -- The House of Yes. In the ten years since the dysfunctional, Kennedy-obsessed family hit the screen, he's only helmed four other films. Now, however, he's doubling that number. Three have already been announced, The Spiderwick Chronicles, The Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, and Will Sebastian. For the fourth, The Hollywood Reporter has announced that he'll direct Joshua Ferris' comedic drama, Seven Days.

The premise is sounding pretty interesting. The film will focus on "seven pivotal days in a man's life during the course of 20 years, with each segment of the film beginning as he wakes up that day." Ferris has been developing the project for a while (pre-strike, of course), and says: "I can't remember large periods of my life that well, but certain days stick in my mind, for good reasons and bad. At the end, hopefully it will be a portrait of a life as its lived." Which days will end up as the magical seven remains to be seen. Unfortunately, Ferris didn't finish the script before the strike, and is waiting for it to end so that he can finish it up and finalize which days pop up in the final version. (Fodder for DVD extras? False scenes to throw off rumors?)

I imagine Waters could make a pretty good flick from this, especially if it has some of the spark and spunk that helped get him to where he is today. As for Ferris, he's really interested in the whole process of looking back on life. He's also got another script in need a producer, called The Life and Death of Jimmy Katz, which focuses on a murderer-for-hire's real life, the fantasy life he could have lived if he chose a different path, and his time in purgatory to make up for it. In the meantime, it's almost Thanksgiving, so it's time to baste the turkey, hide the kitchen knives, and put in The House of Yes.

No, this isn't a remake of the remake of The Ring, which was once titled Seven Days. (Although these days, a move like that wouldn't surprise me.) In step with the current trend, this English-language remake is coming from a fresh film from South Korea. In fact, they should have just waited a week to share this news -- the original just opened there on Wednesday. The Hollywood Reporter has announced that Seven Days has been picked up by Summit Entertainment for a Hollywood remake. The original (which feels strange to type since the film is currently on the screen) stars Lost's Yunjin Kim "as a lawyer who must free a convicted killer in just one week or else see her kidnapped daughter murdered." Where's Alan Shore when you need him?

Summit is feeling pretty confident about this -- they've made the deal for a low six figures, and they plan to begin filming in 2008. Now, either Summit expects the strike to end soon, or they are going to tap some non-WGA writer. Or, maybe a direct translation? Now that would be interesting. On the acting side of things, considering the fact that Kim has a career stateside, I imagine there's a chance she could reprise this role for the remake as well, kind of like Penelope Cruz revisiting Abre los Ojos with Vanilla Sky. Whatever the case, we'll have to see how the strike pans out, and just when this flick actually gets cast and heads into production.