ok, you've convinced me to look for tetsuo. i think it's currently in the works for an american remake, but i can't say for sure on that one. the eye has been remade and should be released some time soon. i recommend you see h, it's pretty interesting. and the phone, just cuz the little girl in it is too cool. and st. john's wort stands out in my mind, but it's no where near the top of any list.
that's all i can think of for now. thx for visiting my site again.
barrytown
· 2 years ago
Great list! I should say, people tend to harp on Audition, but I think Takashi Miike's best works are his action films, Dead or Alive, City of Lost Souls, Deadly Outlaw Rekka, Ichi the Killer, all great movies. I love that you put Wong Kar-Wai on the list, he is one of my favorite directors. I would have liked to see Bangkok Dangerous on the list, an earlier Pang brothers film about a deaf hitman. Beautifally gritty visual style. And as far as John Woo is concerned, as much as I love Hard Boiled (it is the quintessential Hong-Kong action flick) I still say a Better Tomorrow is the better film. also would have put at least one film with Tadanobu Asano on the list. But I'm just nitpicking here.
Tina
· 2 years ago
If you liked Audition, you should see Infection. Creepy... but in the good sort of mind games way.
Anonymous
· 2 years ago
Not a bad list, but you should have really dug deeper than Hero, Crouching Tiger, and Seven Samurai. I would have replaced them with; The Maid(http://imdb.com/title/tt0474791/) Suicide Club(http://imdb.com/title/tt0312843/) Ichi The Killer(http://imdb.com/title/tt0296042/)
Karl
· 2 years ago
I'll take a look at Casshern, sounds like a nice post-apocalyptic sci-fi mixed with anime. I saw Audition once... the scene where she slowly inserts the needles while making that sound... I don't like that film.
lamartherevenger
· 2 years ago
wife owns audition. i own hard-boiled. love the baby that puts out the fire! absolutely love battle royale! with the whole torture porn genre in full swing, wouldn't releasing the first BR on american screen really take the country by storm? as long as they don't do a remake. (unless they use the script word for word. and unknown actors and actresses)
Mike
· 2 years ago
If you love Hard Boiled, you have to see John Woo's "The Killer" - Great film.
jakey
· 2 years ago
certainyl, the killer should have been on that list. actually, every one of mr. woo's heroic bloodshed films should have been on that list.
D
· 2 years ago
This shit is fucking stupid.
arbetet
· 2 years ago
I'd definitely add more films by Wong Kar-Wai to the list, particularly Fallen Angels and Chungking Express. Another film I'd add to the list is a Japanese film called Love & Pop, directed by Hideaki Anno. Gojira (Godzilla) is a classic and should be on here as well.
Todd
· 2 years ago
Great list - I've seen them all but "in the mood for love" - you missed some great ones that should've been in your top 20 - for instance - if you haven't seen it - check out "Electric Dragon 80,000 V" - Also - the Eye is being remade - Tom Cruise actually bought the rights years ago - and I saw a movie poster for it last weekend -
nex
· 2 years ago
I personally love "Monday" (very hard to find) and "Save the Green Planet". But I'm weird.
Cevius
· 2 years ago
You need to add Shaolin Soccer to that list.
Kay Connelly
· 2 years ago
The most awesome, shocking, best Japanese film is Harakiri. It's a tale of cruelty, hypocrisy and terrible revenge. The end is stunning.
Um Hard boiled came out in 92, way after Die Hard. nice try though
Jim
· 2 years ago
A great list....would it be dumb to ask if these films are subtitled? I'm afraid my grasp of oriental languages is not what it ever was.
Jenny
· 2 years ago
I liked HERO a lot. I also love (absolutely) Flying Daggers. But I didn't see that on the list.
Gerball
· 2 years ago
Nothing new here all pretty well known world wide, asian movies.
Matt
· 2 years ago
A newer movie that should be on this list is the Korean "Friend" by Kwak Kyung-taek. That thing is a bloody masterpiece.
Otranto
· 2 years ago
Nice overview.
Other great movie I saw recently. It was somewhat big in Europe, not sure bout the U.S. was Bin Jip.
tellos
· 2 years ago
you forgot the host!!! That's a great Korean movie
DAS
· 2 years ago
ok i think you forgot one, and if you havent seen it you really should. Shaolin Master Killer is one of the great kung fu movies ever made if no the greatest. anyone who disagrees has not watched it fully or close enough
Linal Meemow
· 2 years ago
Not a bad list if all you're interested in is action and horror...
If you want to broaden your horizons you should check out "Dare mo Shiranai" (english title "Nobody Knows"). It's about a single mother who abandons her kids in their apartment in Tokyo. Stunning performances from the kids, amazing cinematography and emotionally crushing. There are few films better.
David
· 2 years ago
Thanks for the great post. I have only seen 8 of the 20, but most of them were very good. I would be interested to see the original Ring even though I was not too impressed with the new ones. I will definitely look into these and maybe review review a few on my website. Great blog; keep it up!
eli skipp
· 2 years ago
okay, i have a recommendation for you: if you haven't already watched it, WATCH 3-IRON. this is my favorite asian movie (and i'm a fan of the genre as a whole... if it can be called a genre). it's the most gorgeous romantic movie i've ever seen, it's ingenious. please see it!
VFM
· 2 years ago
Sergio Leone had nothing to do with The Magnificent Seven. It was directed by John Sturges.
zero
· 2 years ago
What about the anime classic Grave of the Fireflies? One of the best movies I own.
matt
· 2 years ago
don't know if anyone has posted it yet but The Eye is getting an American made version with jessica alba as the main character, fyi
Solar Boy
· 2 years ago
You have forgetten the others Kurosawa movies...
illadel
· 2 years ago
pretty much any kurosawa movie could sit comfortably on this list. i am surprised though, a few excellent jackie chan movies are mentioned but Wheels On Meals; hands-down his most inventive and funny film to date is omitted. the action scenes in Wheels On Meals are simply world class and have never been matched. anyone interested in kung fu films must see this if they haven't already. i suppose you could contend that it isn't an 'asian' movie as it was filmed in spain, but the dialog is in mandarin and it was produced by asian film makers.
Rudy
· 2 years ago
I agree with tellos (#20) on The Host. You gotta see that. The social commentary may have a local tone to it, but the message is universal. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468492/
Matt
· 2 years ago
Love the fact that the entire Vengeance trilogy is on this. Dunno about Tetsuo, its a good movie, its a weird "sci fi/ cinemax after dark" kinda way, but Taegukgi should definitely be on that list. A few i would like to mention for anyone else reading.... - Taegukgi (of course) - Yogen - Koma - Wishing Stairs - Suicide Circle - Memories of Murder - Blood Rain - 2LDK - Dog bite Dog (really brutal) - Re-Cycle - Ichi the killer - Visitor Q - Antarctic Journal - H - R-Point - Shutter - Dorm - the eye 2 (yes it is good, no angelica lee though) - The Victim - Silk - 3 Extreme (both videos, all three stories are good) - The Untold Story - Ghost House (comedy)
I've seen and own a couple of these (the eye, the ring trilogy, audition) totally agree that they are amazing films. but its cool to hear about some others.
Also read the books Ring Spiral and Loop (ring being the basis of the film) by Koji Suzuki and recommend them too although Loop is quite weak Ring is amazing.
Jay
· 2 years ago
Thanks for all your comments - its cool to see others interested in similar movies etc. :)
Kay... I haven't seen Loop... but I've watched Spiral and The Ring Virus - I prefer the original Ring... but they do all add different takes to the premise though. :)
dede
· 2 years ago
I've watched most of these! I was a little disappointed to see mainly horror/action.....but I understand that azn cinema is more known for its movies in these genres...The Vietnamese horror, "Oan Hon" (Spirits) is also very good.
kw
· 2 years ago
I'm with #14. Put Harakiri on your list; as shocking as the ending is, there is a seppuku scene earlier that is, pardon the pun, gut wrenching. A masterpiece by Kobayashi.
Deb
· 6 months ago
hey I've seen all but Infernal Affairs but I'd have to say you need to add 2LDK that movie is 10 times better than Audition it got two (2) girls fighting over a part in a production but they have to live together hence 2 bedroom,living room, kitchen.
All Comments
that's all i can think of for now. thx for visiting my site again.
The Maid(http://imdb.com/title/tt0474791/)
Suicide Club(http://imdb.com/title/tt0312843/)
Ichi The Killer(http://imdb.com/title/tt0296042/)
you missed some great ones that should've been in your top 20 - for instance - if you haven't seen it - check out "Electric Dragon 80,000 V" -
Also - the Eye is being remade - Tom Cruise actually bought the rights years ago - and I saw a movie poster for it last weekend -
cruelty, hypocrisy and terrible revenge. The end is stunning.
On Amazon.com:
Harakiri - Criterion Collection (1964)
Starring: Tatsuya Nakadai, Rentaro Mikuni Director: Masaki Kobayashi Rating UNRATED
reviews (46 customer reviews)
Other great movie I saw recently. It was somewhat big in Europe, not sure bout the U.S. was Bin Jip.
anyone who disagrees has not watched it fully or close enough
If you want to broaden your horizons you should check out "Dare mo Shiranai" (english title "Nobody Knows"). It's about a single mother who abandons her kids in their apartment in Tokyo. Stunning performances from the kids, amazing cinematography and emotionally crushing. There are few films better.
i suppose you could contend that it isn't an 'asian' movie as it was filmed in spain, but the dialog is in mandarin and it was produced by asian film makers.
- Taegukgi (of course)
- Yogen
- Koma
- Wishing Stairs
- Suicide Circle
- Memories of Murder
- Blood Rain
- 2LDK
- Dog bite Dog (really brutal)
- Re-Cycle
- Ichi the killer
- Visitor Q
- Antarctic Journal
- H
- R-Point
- Shutter
- Dorm
- the eye 2 (yes it is good, no angelica lee though)
- The Victim
- Silk
- 3 Extreme (both videos, all three stories are good)
- The Untold Story
- Ghost House (comedy)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crazy_Stone
Also read the books Ring Spiral and Loop (ring being the basis of the film) by Koji Suzuki and recommend them too although Loop is quite weak Ring is amazing.
Kay... I haven't seen Loop... but I've watched Spiral and The Ring Virus - I prefer the original Ring... but they do all add different takes to the premise though. :)