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The second part, counting down 25 to 1
25. Akira
The ground-breaking Japanese based on the manga about an impending nuclear holocaust. Akira set the benchmark for animation with its killer story.
Country of origin - Japan
24. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Wuxia? Check! Killer moves? Check? Drama? Check? Launchpad for Zhang ziyi’s career? Double check!
Country of origin - Taiwan
23. Xiu Xiu the Sentdown Girl
Still having a hard time looking for the DVD. The story is about a young 15-year old girl who gets sent to the province and “discovers” that she is not returning home to the city.
She gets fooled by government officials, who promise to her return her to the city in exchange for sex. A sad, sad story how corruption can ruin the innocent.
Country of origin - China
22. Triad Election
Peek into the lives of the HongKong underworld, wherein 2 gang leaders strive to lead be the new leader of the Hong Kong Triad. Stars Tony Leung and Simon Yam, this is Johnny To’s best film.
Country of origin – Hong Kong
21. Inang Yaya
How do you balance the love for your child and the one you’re caring for? Heart-warming and very well-acted the kids upstage lead actress Maricel Soriano. Kudos to the new breed of Philippine directors Pablo Biglangawa and Veronica Velasco.
Country of origin – Philippines
20. Il Mare
The Lakehouse. Only way better and understandable.
Country of origin – South Korea
19. Shutter
Probably the most freaky and goose-bumping movie I’ve ever seen. Great, great twist of an ending.
Country of origin – Thailand
18. My Sassy Girl
This Is the Korean movie that established the Korean film market. Stars the amazingly beautiful Jeun Ji Hyun at her wicked best. Bitches rule.
Country of origin – South Korea
17. Spirited Away
Charming and courageous, I could compare this movie to Alice in Wonderland, but this time with spirits and witches.
Country of origin – Japan
16. Seven Samurai
Probably the most influential Asian film by Akira Kurosawa. Spawned Magnificent Seven, The Legend of Zu, Lo Waist Gang kust to name a few.
Country of Origin - Japan
15. Comrades, Almost a Love Story
Based on the title of a famous Teresa Teng song. It revolves around a story of 2 lovers meant for each other. It also works on the insight that wherever there’s a Chinese person in any part of the world, you will always hear a Teresa Teng song.
Country of origin – Hong Kong
14. The Promise
Chen Kaige returns with an Asian all-star ensemble for this fantasy tale. Pure visual candy, see it and judge how far China has gone to claim cinematic superiority in Asia.
Country of origin - China
13. Lust, Caution
This is the movie that made Ang Lee cool again to men after Brokeback Mountain.
A erotic love story and espionage thriller set in the time of war. The love scenes looks realistic and Tang Wei is indeed, a revelation. Also stars the great Tony Leung.
Country of origin - Taiwan
12 House of the Flying Daggers
Another of Zhang Yi Mou’s visual masterpiece, also using colors to tell the story.
Don’t miss the scene where Andy Lau and Takeshi “tests” Zhang Zi Yi whether she is truly blind.
Country of Origin – China
11. A Better Tomorrow trilogy
Asia’s answer to the Godfather. The movie that made Chow Yun Fat into a global superstar. Probably inspired by Lito Lapid.
Country of origin – Hong Kong
10. In the Realm of the Senses
It’s art. It’s porn. Nothing elevates perversion and kinkiness to an art form like the Japanese. Don’t miss the “egg” scene. Banned in most countries, this Is the sex film you must not miss, if you can find the DVD. Country of Origin- Japan
9. Sympathy for Lady Vengeance
Despite the title, this is a movie about forgiveness. Lee Young Ae of Jang Geum fame stars as a newly reformed ex-con yearning to murder Baek. A guy who made her confess to a crime she didn’t commit. Don’t miss the ending
Country of Origin – China
8. Not One Less
Even the strongest of men will shed a tear for this gem of a film. It tells of a barrio teacher who ventures to the city to search for a student who looks went there looking for work. Fact: they didn’t use professional actors for this movie. Also done by Zhang Yimou
Country of origin - China
7. Maynila Sa Kuko ng Liwanag
“My brother is not a pig.” Yes we know, Ate Guy. Lino Brocka’s opus.
Country of origin - Philippines
6. Himala
After all these years, Himala still lives to the hype. It has been parodied gazillion of times, but in the end the story of a barrio lass who suddenly “performs miracles” has made it the benchmark for Asian movies with a cult following. This movie is the Filipino film-making at its best.
Country of origin - Philippines
5. Crying Ladies
My favorite modern Filipino film of all. Check out the cameos of different directors on this Mark Meily masterpiece about ladies hired to cry during Chinese funerals. Immensely entertaining, it never fails to excite me every time.
Country of origin - Philippines
4. Grave of the Fireflies
This film never fails to make me cry. It is about a brother and sister who gets orphaned during the war and is forced to fend for themselves in such a dire situation. It is a film that deeply touches the heart despite being an animated film.
Country of origin – Japan
3. Rashomon/ Hero
This film was ahead of its time. And shows why Akira Kurosawa is a visionary director, probably even greater than the Hollywood directors of his time. It tells of a rape/ murder in flashbacks from different perspectives of 4 witnesses, each of them telling a different story. A must-have in your DVD collection.
Country of Origin - Japan
Hero is a modern retelling of Rashomon. Using the same device of flashbacks in telling how an assassin came close to killing the Emperor. Zhang Yimou used color as a device to differentiate truth from lies.
Country of origin – China
2. Infernal Affairs I
In my honest opinion, probably the best Hong Kong film of all time. This is the movie that The Departed is based from. A cat and mouse game between a “mole” in the triad and a “mole” in the police. The sequel and the prequel is a stretch watch the first.
Country of origin – Hong Kong
1. Old Boy
An orgasmic mindfuck of epic proportions. How much can you bare? How many twists can you turn? Oldboy is a film not to be watched but to be experienced. It is what separates a great film from a good movie. Well written and acted, it is not for the weak and the clueless. Prepare to be blown away.
Country of origin – South Korea
