Essential Asian Cinema

J.R. Hudson

J.R. Hudson

Spirit Animal
I am starting to take an interest in Asian Cinema; whether it be the horror films or the martial arts films or the work of Akira; so that being said ?


Can you guys give me (us) a primer on how to get started in Asian Cinema ?
 
As cheesy as it sounds, what got me really into the whole Asian cinema thing were the kung fu films. A good way to get started on those are the big ones: Hero and House of Flying Daggers. From that point I just got into a bunch of Jet Li films and then got into some other directors.

It's good stuff. That being said, I am getting ready to watch Hostel because a friend of mine works at Blockbuster so I got it early.

Jeremy
 
MY FAVS...

In the mood for love
Old Boy
Nobody Knows
Ichi the Killer
Crouching Tiger
Raise the Red lantern
(the opening shot of )Breaking News
2046
Hero

Theres a ton of great ones but everything on this list is a sure thing.

-rook
 
Here's a few to get you started, all are excellent.

Martial Arts- (Go with Import Jackie Chan DVDs)

Supercop 3
Operation Condor Pt. 2 0 The Armour of God
Drunken Master 2
Iron Monkey (available everywhere)

others..

Minbo
Raise the Red lantern
Yojimbo (1961) been remade a couple times (A Fist Full of Dollars & Last Man Standing) Yojimbo is the best.

I.
 
Korea:

Attack the Gas Station (Ah, urban youth, will you ever stop destroying things)
The Foul King (Awesome, awesome South Korean wrestling movie -- starring Song Kang-Ho from Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance)
Friend (Basically a Korean Scorcesse Film)
Nowhere to Hide (a crazy deconstruction of the action film. Really amazing)
Swiri (The film that started the whole Korean film resurgence)
Kick the Moon (a pretty good Korean romantic comedy)

Hudson, check out this great site: www.koreanfilm.org -- It's a great resource for Korean films and it's run by a American working in the Korean film industry.

North Korea:

Pulgasari (North Korean Godzilla film; the hilarious communist propaganda makes this film a campy treat -- it was actually directed by a South Korean director who was abducted by Kim Il Song. The South Korean director later escaped and went on to produce the Three Ninjas movies here in the US. He died two days ago)

Japan:

Sonatine
Tokyo Drifter
Branded to Kill
Gamera 3 (The Best of the Series. Seriously, it's awesome)
 
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I REALLY loved Old Boy!

But I also like the comedic ventures of asian cinema. The first one I ever saw (and still one of my favorites) is Tampopo. Their tribute to the spaghetti westerns. :)
 
This is mine baby

Samurai Fiction
Stereo Future
Hard Boiled
In the Mood for Love
Izo
2046
Yojimbo
Zatoichi (2004)
Brother
Chungking Express
The Road Home
Hero
JSA
OldBoy
Ran
Versus
Sympathy For Mr. Vengence
Sympathy For Lady Vengence
All About Lily Chou Chou
Ikiru
Lone Wolf and Cub(s)
Police Story
Police Story 2
Drunken Master
Drunken Master 2
Infernal Affairs
Infernal Affairs II
Infernal Affairs III
Once Upon A Time In China
Tetsuo The Iron Man
Rhapsosy in August
Ring
Samurai 2
Seven Samurai
Slow Fade
Shaolin Soccer
Shiri
Shogun's Samurai
Battle Royale
36th Chamber of Shaolin
Audition
Kagemusha
The Quiet Family
The Happiness Of The Katakuris
Ichi The Killer
A Bittersweet Life
A Tale of Two Sisters
Shaolin Soccer
My Sassy Girl
Sword of Doom
Visitor Q
Lady Snowblood
The Hidden Fortress
The Twilight Samurai
The Hidden Blade
Kung Fu Hustle
Sword of Doom
Tokyo Drifter
Gojira (1954)
Last Life In The Universe
Tai Guk Gi
Rashamon
Farewell My Concubine
Blue Spring
3-Iron


(Animated)
Spirited Away
Ghost In The Shell
Akira
Steamboy
My Neighbor Totoro
Cowboy Bebop Series
Princess Monoko
Grave of The Fireflies
Lupin The 3rd
Dragonball Series
Ninja Scroll
Valley of the Wind

thats all i can think of at the moment when I think Asian cinema and Animation off the top of my head.
 
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Damn Spidey, did you forget one or two?

When you say "Lone Wolf and Cub(s)" you better talk about all 6, the 7th weird movie, and the 3 season tv series. LWC is a corner stone.

"Assassin" is bad ass.
"Azumi" 1 and 2
"Natural City"
"Casshern"
"Beach of the War Gods"
"SEVEN SWORDS!!!!!!!!"

As for Animated...
Vampire Hunter D

Nice list Spidey. You pretty much nailed it
 
I'm getting into asian cinema big time. Recently i've seen and would highly recommend,

Made in Hong Kong
Three Extremes
Throwdown
Breaking News
Failan
Oldboy
One night in mongkok
Lady Snowblood(definitly watch this!)
Legend of the fighter
Visitor Q(infact anything by Mikke)
 
A few have been mentioned already, but the films of Wong Kar-Wai are real art. All of the style of the epic films (Hero, Flying Daggers), but on a street-level, gritty personal character-driven level. Unrequited love and sentimentalism.

My favorites, in order:

Fallen Angels
Happy Together
In the Mood for Love
Chungking Express
Days of Being Wild
 
Let me chime in by recommending the work of tran anh hung. A French Vietnamese director with some of the best set design cinematography you'll experience.
I recommend his movie Cyclo.
 
It appears I have my viewing cut out for me ....

I have rented:

Crouching Tiger
Kung Fu Hustle
House of Flying Daggers
Hero

For the next few days viewing.
 
Spidy jeeze, john said he wanted to get started not see every asian film ever made.

just playin'. I like the list there's a few on there I haven't seen.

bigups.

-rav-
 
yeah got the more commerical successfully worldwide ones John.

like I said those are off the top my head.
 
Takeshi Kitano is rad.
Sono otoko, kyôbô ni tsuki (violent cop)
Sonatine
3-4x juugatsu (boiling point)

you may have seen those but if not be sure to check him out.

you should also check out Wong Kar Wai's stuff. im not sure you would like... but worth seeing Christopher Doyle's camera work.
 
doyle, old white guy who own asian cinema. darn bloke. hes good though. he seems to shoot every asian film it seems now and days.
 
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