Asian Cinema
 

The weird and wonderful world of Asian cinema has been getting a lot more attention recently due to the Hollywood machine churning out endless (and the whole;terrible) remakes of Asian films, namely J-Horror but for those of us in the know. Asian cinema has given us some of the very best in cinema. Whether it is the masterful films of Kurosawa (Seven Samurai, Ran), the simplistic yet elegant films of Ozu (The Noriko Trilogy), the exploitation classic 'Guinea Pig' series of films, the recent surge in quality Korean films (The Vengeance Trilogy) or the twisted genius of Takashi Miike (Audition). Asian cinema is in many aspects preferable to American cinema.

Consistently imaginative, visually superlative and in many cases, completely bonkers Asian cinema deserves to be delved into more if you love films but want to watch something that little bit different.

Here are a couple of films to get you started:

Arahan:

This Korean film from 2004 marries aspects of 'The Matrix' ( itself a pilferer of Asian cinema) and comedy succinctly. It focuses on a rookie policeman who may just be the only person to save mankind as he may be in possession of a powerful Qi life force.

In a film that cost just under $5 million dollars, the action and set design look like a film that cost ten times that amount. Featuring some stunning martial arts and some great comedy, Arahan is a good first step into Asian martial arts.

VERSUS

This truly bonkers Japanese movie can only be descibed as a gangster zombie kung fu fantasy film. To describe any more would just confuse the issue! Imagine Sam Raimi (Evil Dead) making a gangster movie, getting bored half way through and then passing the reins to Tarantino. At times it can be confusing but it is also ridiculously gory, eye popping and innovative. The only down side is the DVD print and this applies across the board. I have the 2 disc Media Blasters version which I imported from America and has one of the better prints. No matter in the long run. The film more than compensates for this.

I used to watch a ton of Asian movies.

The Vengeance trilogy is awesome. Oldboy is probably one of my all time favorites. Joint Security Area was good from Chan-wook Park as well.

Joon-ho Bong is cool. The Host and Memories of Murder are good.

Have you seen Save the Green Planet!?

So I am the only member here who likes Asian cinema?

I'm too scared to watch alot of Asian horror films. Anything with ghosts or spirits creeps me out too much. Gore is OK. Zombies are the best. Anything else you can suggest in the way of Asian cinema that meets this criteria?

Edit: "Versus" looks pretty amazing...I'll have to get my hands on it.

My favorite Asian cinematography right now is Korean. Chan Wook Park (previously mentioned Vengeance trilogy), Kim Ki-Duk (3-iron and Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter... and Spring are some of the most beautiful films I've ever seen, the rest of his work varies in quality), Lee Chang-dong (Pepermint candy and Oasis are fantastic films, especially the former).

Anyway, there are loads of great Asian films, I'll throw in a list of my favorites one of these days.

Bio Zombie is pretty cool and The Happiness of The Katukaris is a musical zombie film and mad as a box of frogs!

The Happiness of The Katukaris


Yeah, I have to see this entire movie. So freakin' funny.

Ok so here's a little review tour of the most prominent examples of Asian cinema:

Oldboy - Chan-wook Park - 2004 (S. Korea)
http://www.geekroar.com/film/archive....tie-thumb.jpg
Pretty much the ultimate revenge film, the second part of the Vengeance trilogy (the the first part is Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, the last part Sympathy for Lady Vengeance), it's a story of a man that gets locked up in a room for 15 years for apparently no reason. He suddenly gets released and all sorts of diabolical strangeness ensues...

3-iron - Kim Ki-Duk - 2004 (S. Korea)
http://fredfred.net/skriker/images/f...n/3-iron-4.jpg
This is Ki-Duk's most famous and best film, it revolves around a young "burglar" who breaks into people's houses but steals nothing, and a battered housewife who he encounters while breaking in to her house after which they begin a romantic relationship. The film is almost entirely without dialog, the main actors never speak. Despite this fact, this is one of the most romantic and magical movie experiences I can remember.

Musa The warrior - Sung-su Kim - 2001 (S. Korea)
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...musa_____b.jpg
A semi-historic Korean epic, one of the biggest and most expensive films in Korean history, it's a story of a Korean delegation to China in the 14th century that tries to get back to their homeland after they have been mistaken for spies and chased by the Mongolians. There's not wuxia style fighting in it, but it is brimming with great action (although more rooted in reality).

Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter... and Spring - Kim Ki-Duk - 2003 (S. Korea)
http://www.sdaff.org/img/enewsletter...gsummer21b.jpg
Second best Kim Ki-Duk film, it's set in a Korean Buddhist monastery, located on a beautiful mountain lake, and revolves around a monk and his disciple, and the various life lessons they are taught while the seasons change. An immensely beautiful and meditative piece of film.

Peppermint candy - Lee Chang-dong - 2000 (S. Korea)
http://www.lovehkfilm.com/panasia/aj...mint_candy.jpg
The second feature film from one of the best Korean directors, it starts with the scene of a broken, psychotic man jumping in front of a train screaming that he wants to go back. We are then taken through his life story, in revers chronological order, and slowly find out what has led him to such a tragic ending. It starts off rather slow but if you're willing to stick with it, it will undoubtedly be one of the most powerful viewing experiences that comes to mind. The lead actor pulls one of the most memorable acting performances I've ever seen.

Hero - Zhang Yimou - 2002 (China)
http://us.ent4.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.../headband6.jpg
Visually probably one of the most spectacular films ever made. This one is about a group of assassins that plan on killing the emperor and their subsequent road to ruin. It stars some of the biggest names of Asian cinema (Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung, the omnipresent Zhang Ziyi) and was one of the biggest grossing films in Chinese history, plus it has Quentin Tarantino's ceal of approval so you know, quali'ty...

Raise the Red Lantern - Zhang Yimou - 1991 (Hong Kong, China, Taiwan)
http://www.moviecritic.com.au/images...rounded-by.jpg
Another fantastic film from Yimou, it's set in the 1920's and tells the story of a young woman that marries into a rich family and her power struggles with the other two wives. Visually sumptuous and masterfully directed, it's one of the best Asian films of all time.

Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles - Zhang Yimou - 2005 (China, Japan)
http://star-ecentral.com/archives/20...f_pg12yang.jpg
Another Yimou film, although a much more low-key affair than the two previously mentioned, it stars Japanese acting legend Ken Takakura as an elderly, introverted gentleman, who in an attempt to get close to his alienated and ill son, travels to China to record the opera Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles in a remote village. It's an intimate and cathartic journey and a heartwarming drama.


More to follow soon...

Some great choices Marijan. I will add some more of my faves a little later.

I like the sound of Peppermint Candy, might check that out.
I love Oldboy, and i saw half of one of the others from that trilogy, really need to get round to getting the other two.

I absolutely adore this movie! I could watch it over and over again.

Here are some of my favorites:

http://www.simplenomics.com/wp-image...20Fearless.jpg
Jet Li is a just awesome to watch fighting, and the story, to me, was in some places so heart-breaking. The everlasting friendship between Huo Yuanjia and Nong Jinsun was touching, and the respect that Yuanjia and Japanese fighter Tanaka had for each other made me long for the time when people actually respected and honored each other, instead of being completely self-gratifying. It's a must see!

http://www.andyfilm.com/kungfughustle.jpghttp://www.filmcatcher.com/uploads/i...er-Posters.jpg
These movies were great fun, an awesome mix of crazy humor and kick-ass fight scenes, with a touch of drama and romance thrown in. I loved 'em!

^^^

Definitely check Arahan then if you liked these.

Will do! I'm aquiring quite a list of "must-see" movies...

Damn good movie. You are the first person I've heard say they saw it besides myself.

So, I bought Versus today, but I only had a chance to watch the first 2 minutes of it because we had people coming over. Already there is plenty of blood AND samurai zombies...I CAN'T WAIT to finish this movie!!!

No Wong Kar Wai? Easily the best asian filmmaker currently working.

Aye, I was going to get to him eventually. He's probably my favorite Asian director too, although I have to admit that thematically he's not covered much territory in the 10 films he's made; they mostly deal with troubled romantic relationships. Which doesn't really bother me because I love the melancholic feel of his films. He's the author of one of the best gay films of all time, Happy together, a story about the troubled relationship between two guys from Hong Kong set in Argentina.
http://www.moviezine.se/filmbilder/0...y_together.jpg


He's made some wonderful films, apart from Happy together, my favorites would be In the mood for love, Fallen angels and Days of being wild, but My blueberry nights showed a definite decline in his creativity. Not only is the plot an amalgamation of stories from his previous films (especially Chung-king express), but transported into America it loses a great deal of the exotic charm that made his films so special. The dialogs simply don't work, the performances leave something to be desired (Norah is cute and all, but her acting is below par) and it all just feels corny and melodramatic (in a bad way). Here's hoping he recovers soon...

I have faith in my Wong. I also thought My Blueberry Nights was an incredibly solid effort, not up to the level of Chungking Express or In the Mood for Love, but very good nonetheless.

Kinji Fukasaku is one of my favorite directors.http://lh6.ggpht.com/_GbtM-aVze1A/Ro...BA/621938h.jpg
This is a series of 6 movies. It's an amazing series about the Yakuza in postwar Japan.

His most famous film is probably Battle Royale, which is also a great film.http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...e_pochette.jpg

Has anyone seen the Korean movie "A Moment to Remember"? It was recommended to me on a movie forum. I was told that it would be a good movie to watch for people who don't like tear-jerker chick flicks but want to try and watch one. Is it worth it? Adidasss, you seem to have the heads-up when it comes to Korean film...

I haven't seen it actually. I tend to avoid Korean romantic dramas (they seem to produce more than Hollywood), but it's got a decent score on imdb so maybe I'll give it a go. Thanks...;)

No way, dude. I have loved every Korean movie that I have seen so far. Lady Vengeance and Old Boy are insane.

anyone ever seen "kwaidan"?

japanese film from 1964 with four seperate stories in it. from wiki:

really good & eerie... check it out.

Has anyone seen "Shinobi: Heart Under Blade", or "Tai Chi Master" ? I was going to buy them at Best Buy, but didn't want to make the investment without some input.