Wednesday, March 25, 2009

50 Must-see Asian Movies part 1


Everybody's coming out with their must-watch movies nowadays.
Here's my list of the finest in Asian cinem
a.
The 50 rankings are not final. Any comment would be apprec
iated.

50. 5 Deadly Venoms

I watched this movie so many times as a child because its my fath

er’s favorite. Directed by Hong Kong Kung fu auteur Chang Cheh, its about five kung-fu fighters with unique animal styles: The Centipede, The Snake, The Scorpion, The Lizard and The Toad.

Country of origin – Hong Kong

49. Kung Fu Hustle

You already probably seen this film but it borrow a lot of punchlines from classic Stephen Chow movies but still a fun, fun movie to watch. A parody of the Matrix

Country of origin – Hong Kong


48. Jenny, Juno

How do you deal with teen pregnancy? Make it look ok and treat it with kids gloves. Yep, the movie where Juno is based. This is the real deal, folks.

Country of origin – South Korea

47. Jan Dara

Peek into mystical Thai culture with this film about sex, coming of age, weird parents, an eye-popping breastfeeding scene, and more sex. Also stars the divinely sexy Christie Cheung.

Country of origin - Thailand


46. Samurai Fiction

The film that “inspired” Kill Bill. Well, Tarantino sort of “copied” the black and white hacking scene where in the screen flashes red when someone is killed.

Country of origin – Japan


45. Fist of Fury

Who can forget Bruce Lee with nun chucks and that trademark yellow jumpsuit? Yep.

Country of origin – Hong Kong


44. Dark Water

Eerie and scary. About a child ghost looking for her mother.

Country of origin - Japan


43. Muro Ami

A movie about the plight of child reef divers and how they are exploited and forced to live in subhuman conditions.

Country of origin – Philippines


42. The Soong Sisters

An epic about the 3 legendary sisters who influenced and change the course of power in China . One is married to Gen. Chiang Kai Shek of the Kuomintang. One is married to Dr. Sun Yat Sen (China’s Rizal) One married one of China’s wealthiest. Trivia: This movie is very political, because during the time of release Hong Kong was getting ready for the handover to China.

Country of origin – Hong Kong


41. Untold Story

Anthony Wong stars as a serial killer who makes women into meat buns (siopao).

A deeply disturbing journey into the macabre. My fave scene: He stuck a chopstick into the girl’s privates.

Country of origin – Hong Kong


40. One Armed Swordsman

This is the cult wuxia film that started it all, starring Jimmy Wang Yu as a warrior who’s arm got cut off by his master’s daughter. Don’t miss the scene where his arm got cut-off, bloodbath galore.

Country of origin – Hong Kong


39. Drunken Master

The movie that launched Jackie Chan to a worldwide icon.

Country of origin – Hong Kong


38. Bullet in the Head

This is the undiscovered gem in John Woo’s treasure trove of masterpieces. It tells of a story of 3 friends who discover money, power, and betrayal in the Vietnam War. Stars Tony Leung and Jackie Cheung.

Country of origin –Hong Kong


37. Lies

A film about sadomasochistic sexual relationship between a sculptor and an 18 year old female student. If you didn’t cringe at 2 Girls, One Cup, this movie will not disappoint.

Country of origin: South Korea

36. Farewell, My Concubine

A period film during the China’s Cultural Revolution starring Gong Li and Leslie Cheung. This movie launched both of them to fame.

Country of origin - China


35. A Chinese Ghost Story

Leslie Cheung sta

rs as a debt collector who falls in love with a beautiful female ghost. Excellent fight scenes and a haunting soundtrack makes this movie a must-watch.

Country of origin – Hong Kong


34. Scorpio Nights

I love the original and the remake. They don’t movies as good as this anymore.

Country of origin - Philippines


33. Temptation Island

How can something so campy be so cool. It c

an only be from the twisted minds of Joey Gosengfiao and legendary producer Mother Lily. I hope they release a re-mastered version soon.

Country of origin - Philippines


32. Ringu

Japan’s most famous horror movie and also its best that launched Sadako to fame. Scary and original. This movie reinvigorated the Asian horror genre.

Country of origin - Japan

31. In The Mood for Love

Don’t watch this movie for the narrative, watch it for the treatment.

Country of origin – Hong Kong


30.Battle Royale

Banned in Japan.

Why? It’s about high school students killing each other creatively. By the twisted mind of Kinji Fukasaku who didn’t live to finish the sequel. Good thing his son’s mind is twisted as him.

Country of origin: Japan

29. Audition

This is the most shocking and disturbing horror film I’ve seen in years. Helmed by the great horror master Takashi Miike, you just have to see it or you die.

Country of origin: Japan

28. Raise the Red Lantern

One of Zhang Yimou’s early works about concubines in China starring Gong Li. Raising the red lantern meant in Chinese terms meant somebody was getting married.

Country of origin - China

27. The Eye

What if you’re blind and get a chance to

see again but you inherit the eyes of a person with third eye? Catch the scene in the Chinese restaurant where the ghosts lick the food.

Very, very creepy.

Country of origin - Hong Kong


26. Curse of the Golden Flower

Another visual masterpiece from Zhang Yimou. Very Shakespearian. And they didn’t scrimp on the details of every scene. This is Zhang Yimou’s answer to Chen Kaige’s The Promise.

Country of origin - China

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