Skykid's Top Asian Movie List

[evil_ash_xero]

This is definitely the best one. It has the Matt Dillon seal of approval.

[Skykid]

Thanks for the list. I will definitely check some of these out. I still can't believe you didn't like Dark Knight though.
I'm surprised there's not a little more Kurosawa on there. Hidden Fortress and Ran were pretty supreme.

Most Kurosawa are, but I just picked two of my faves. I did like the Dark Knight much better on repeat viewings, I just didn't think it was a masterpiece like everyone else.

[xbl0x180]

Kurosawa was putting out good stuff right to the latter period. I thought Dreams was good. I know most viewers didn't like it as much as his other works, but on its own, I thought it had that Indie sense of storytelling that Jim Jarmusch and Richard Linklater (both of whom have made films that I really love) became famous for in the late 80s and 90s

As for Kung-Fu Hustle and Battle Royale, I tend to be pretty lax in standards when it comes to mindless action movies. However, I thought the production values for these went a little beyond the usual B-grade stuff from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Meaning, they actually looked good, nor were they big budget terds - the kind Tarantino and Bay are renown for directing

[lilmanjs]

I gotta say the 2 movies in my collection I've seen a few times are quite good.
The City of Violence http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0821470/:
has sort of a western(like the old wild west) movie feel to it with a modern touch. You really feel for the 2 friends who are trying to find out who killed one of their old buddies.

Natural City http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0378428/:
Great Sci-Fi movie and I love the visuals and how they processed the film itself to make a different look for the movie.

[Skykid]

Meaning, they actually looked good, nor were they big budget terds - the kind Tarantino and Bay are renown for directing

The mind boggles.

[chum]

Why so few pre-90's films? You included two films by Kurosawa, but there were plenty of master directors working in Japan at that time, Mizoguchi had his golden period during the early 50's, and there's Ozu, Naruse, Kobayashi and Kinoshita as well.

Let's not forget about the Japanese New Wave either. Oshima, Yoshida, Teshigahara, Imamura and Matsumoto are all highly acclaimed for good reason.

My personal top (shorts/animation excluded)

Moving
Pastoral: To Die in the Country
With the Girl of Black Soil
Hausu
A Page of Madness
Harakiri
The Taste of Tea
Blissfully Yours
Sansho the Bailiff
Nanami: The Inferno of First Love
Silence has no Wings
Peppermint Candy
Sleeping Man
The Ballad of Narayama
Grass Labyrinth
Woman of the Lake
The Hole
Eureka
Rat-Trap
Early Spring
Song of the Little Road
Rashomon
The Crucified Lovers
Fuck Cinema

[Skykid]

Why so few pre-90's films?

Even though repeating myself is a fond hobby of mine, and I usually jump at the opportunity to do so, I think on this occasion I'll just let the quote box take care of it.

I watch a lot of movies, but even though I handpicked these for variety in theme and ethnicity, it can't be a definitive list: that's a veritable impossibility that would require me to watch everything under the sun. But these are some of the best movies out of Asia I've seen and I wholeheartedly recommend any them.

[chum]

That doesn't explain why you (seemingly) watch almost exclusively new movies.

So a follow up question: have you seen anything by Mizoguchi or Ozu? Because if not, I really think you should.

[xbl0x180]

Meaning, they actually looked good, nor were they big budget terds - the kind Tarantino and Bay are renown for directing

The mind boggles.

It sounds as if the movies you listed in your opening comment are the only ones you have ever seen

That doesn't explain why you (seemingly) watch almost exclusively new movies.

So a follow up question: have you seen anything by Mizoguchi or Ozu? Because if not, I really think you should.

Or Teshigahara and Kobayashi and Imamura

[Skykid]

That doesn't explain why you (seemingly) watch almost exclusively new movies.

I don't watch exclusively new movies, just whatever happens to turn up. It's not like I think, "shit, gotta find something made within the last twenty years."
It's not a complete list of every film I've ever seen, and I definitely don't exclusively watch Asian cinema: but I am always looking for recommendations so I appreciate the list.

So a follow up question: have you seen anything by Mizoguchi or Ozu? Because if not, I really think you should.

No (at least I don't think so). I've been so incredibly put off by Japanese cinema I don't actively seek it unless it comes with must-see recommendations... but even some of those end up ruining my day.

I have three Ming-liang Tsai films in the pipeline, with Goodbye Dragon Inn for tonight; but if you guys want to turn the thread into a resource for good recommendations I'm all for it.
I wasn't sure if xbl0x180 was kidding about that romcom film Shall We Dance, but I watched a bit of it and it actually looked really good.

It sounds as if the movies you listed in your opening comment are the only ones you have ever seen

Ha ha, yeah right. Good one.

[xbl0x180]

I warn't kiddin' about Shall We Dansu? I thought it was earnestly good, but it is a Rom-Com in the style of The Seven Year Itch. Tsai Ming-Liang and Hou Hsiao-Hsien direct slow movies, so I would proceed with caution if you disliked Iwai Shunji's Lily Chou Chou. I think it would be best to stick with pre-1990 Japanese films, which are more traditional and grounded in slice-of-life themes. Try Itami Juzo's "A Tax Woman" and Tampopo after Shall We Dansu?

[Skykid]

Just marathoned three movies back to back.

Tsai Ming-Liang and Hou Hsiao-Hsien direct slow movies, so I would proceed with caution if you disliked Iwai Shunji's Lily Chou Chou.

I have no issue with slow movies as long as they're good. As Obiwanshinobi pointed out, Chou Chou is just a bad film; pace has nothing to do with it.

Evidently:

Started with Tsai Ming-Liang's Goodbye Dragon Inn. This one redefines the meaning of slow, you weren't lying! But I liked it very much. It's always interesting to feel out a director's style, especially when you first encounter their work. At the beginning of this I was eyebrow raising. I was wondering why he was holding his takes so long. But the film had an internal rhythm: on one hand just a night in a cinema, on the other filled with splinters of peoples lives for the attentive viewer to discover. I liked the way each static shot was almost like a puzzle; there was always an element of the scene that told some back story. I couldn't help but laugh at one point - not at the film in particular, but because my girlfriend was absolutely convinced the film had frozen on one shot and kept asking me to fix it. If anyone's wondering just how long the takes are in this, there's a good indication.

To folks who like art house or experimental film-making, this one has a beautiful atmosphere about it that lingers in the memory without being abstract; but it's not going to be accessible to people with short attention spans.

Film 2: CJ7

Stephen Chow is just great, I wish he would make more movies. Despite being a kids film with a very obvious merchandising hook, it still managed to be a little bit wonderful. Chow just knows how to nail humor, drama and action whenever its required, and his casting and characterisations are second to none. The leading kid was superb for several reasons, but don't read the wiki until you've seen the film.
If you like Stephen Chow, just go for this. It's short, light-hearted, and yes, definitely for kids; but it has all of his hallmarks of quality.

Film 3: The Hole (Tsai Ming-Liang)

This was absolutely terrific. Engrossing and atmospheric with a simple narrative but a complex psychology. Slow, but more accessible than Dragon Inn. Its pacing shouldn't put you off though, the relationship between its two lead actors is riveting stuff, and I loved the Grace Chang musical numbers; although I'm yet to figure out their relevance beyond nods toward the character's mood? Feel free to enlighten me if you know.
He shot this beautifully too, I liked the way the flat ended up in as much despair as its inhabitant.

None of the above would make the front page list, but The Hole is only out by a whisker. Maybe that's poor logic, since it's better than Departures by a long shot, but I feel bad to replace a Japanese movie as there are so few on there already.

Anyway, really good stuff.

Neon God literally came down right at the end of this one, so I'll probably watch it tomorrow.

[Drum]

Godzilla vs Mothra
Godzilla vs Hedorah

[drauch]

^Yes!

[Skykid]

Last night's biz:


Shower (Zhang Yang 1999) -

A light-hearted movie about a Northern small town bath house, its community and its family owners. A very endearing film, often funny and sometimes sad, but very well put together. There's a touch of melodrama at times, but the performances are excellent and it's got a real sweetness about it. Recommended if you're in the mood for something with heart.


Rebels of the Neon God (Ming-liang Tsai 1992) -

As recommended on the previous page. This being the third of this director's movies I've seen, I realise I started with the slowest and gradually worked my way up to the fastest, since this was a lot pacier than Dragon Inn or The Hole.

This was terrific though, I loved it. A slice of life film, but from a teenage perspective and with a look at the psychology from different sides of the coin. The city life is great and it's really nostalgic too, since it's stuffed with arcades running all manner of shmups and rows of Street Fighter! Arcade PCB's even make up a pivotal plot avenue

Great stuff, I'm adding it to the top list.

[Last Guardian]

Shower is indeed pretty sweet, love that film. But two pages and no mention of Sharkskin Man PeachHip Girl ? Come on man...

[Skykid]

Shower is indeed pretty sweet, love that film. But two pages and no mention of Sharkskin Man PeachHip Girl ? Come on man...

Good is it? (Are you sure? ) I passed this one up when I used to work in a video rental store after having too many evenings cruelly ruined by randomly renting Japanese movies.

At the moment I'm much more drawn to Shall we Dansu, I think I'm going to try to watch it tonight.

[hzt]

Sharkskin Man Peach Hip Girl is not a bad film but there is absolutely no way it belongs in a list of the top Asian movies ever. It's also very much a wilfully quirky Japanese film, although more low key than the really weird stuff.

I haven't seen Rebels of the Neon God yet but it sounds like I need to move it up to the top of my "to watch" list. The first film I saw by him and maybe my favourite so far was Vive L'Amour, the title turned me off at first and then I found out it's supposed to be ironic. It ends with a 5+ min shot of one of the characters crying and it made me feel really depressed for days. Recommended!

[Skykid]

It ends with a 5+ min shot of one of the characters crying and it made me feel really depressed for days. Recommended!

Ha ha!

Have you seen Goodbye Dragon Inn? He holds all the takes for about 5 minutes each.

Neon God was great, loved it and I think you will too. Finding it is a different matter tho. I'll PM you the link and seed for a bit. You'll also need to grab an English srt file unless your Chinese has suddenly become fluent... I'll send you the link for that too.

Thanks for the Shark Man info, had a feeling I could comfortably avoid that one from the stuff on Youtube.

[hzt]

I've seen Goodbye Dragon Inn and I am a known fan of long still takes and minimal dialogue so... yeah. I like it just a bit.

[Skykid]

I've seen Goodbye Dragon Inn and I am a known fan of long still takes and minimal dialogue so... yeah. I like it just a bit.

You must be a Kubrick fan too then?

[Skykid]

~ Shall We Dansu ~

Stone me, what did I just watch?

A Japanese film that didn't have any desperate angst, clumsy acting, OTT emoting, abstract waffle, sterile atmosphere, clinically insane behaviour, lack of substance, intended confusion, faux profundity and hopelessly directionless plot?

Didn't think possible?

By virtue of meta filtering, this is one of the best Japanese films I've seen. And yes, it was commercial, formulaic and at times predictable: but it had heart and soul, and was directed to a fine point. Brilliant characters and great performances all round, it was totally absorbing and wasn't without a basic social commentary since dance is considered an embarrassing pastime for Japanese people.
Half the time I was shocked, I kept thinking what's so fundamentally different here? I realised it's because the people in it were totally relaxed and down to earth, sharing the same difficulties as anyone else in the world. They weren't the Japanese you get with a bout of Kitamura, Miike or modern Seijun Suzuki; or the people tiresomely seeking death and pain as some kind of retribution against the world and their parents, a'la Confessions.

I smiled, laughed and felt good about life at the end. This was a good Japanese movie.

It was better than Departures I think. Chalk up another for Japan, and thanks xbl0x180 for the recommendation.

[xris]

Shark Skin Man, Peach Hip Girl is okay. I prefer a different movie from the same director, Party 7, very quirky, very funny. Captain Bannana!
Chocolate is mega dope.
I have a seriously soft spot for Kamikaze Girls.
Gamera 3 is the best of the big monster movies.
My favorite silent film is a Japanese one from the 20's, The Dragon Painter.
Isn't Bio Zombie the one with the two guys that work in a bootleg cd booth in a run down mall? That one is pretty good.
Iron Monkey. Edit: Actually, scratch that, my favorite kung fu movie is Buddihist Fist by Woo Ping.

[Skykid]

~ Millenium Mambo ~

This movie is an advert for teenage lung cancer.



I wasn't quite sure what to make of this in the beginning. I liked the soundtrack but felt it was a little overused initially; less-so toward the end.
It was ultra realistic. It reminded me of people I knew - wasters for the most part - from my teens, and the stylish documentary style camerawork accentuated its visceral qualities. It also had a nice ambience and atmosphere (owing to the soundtrack) and I'd totally knock the dust off of Shu Qi.
Predominantly improvised, it wasn't clear what the director was actually doing apart from nice lighting and wavy cameras, but I think that probably belies his obvious talent. I've heard the critics dumped Hou Hsiao-Hsien for this movie, proclaiming he'd lost his mastery, but it seemed pretty damn good to me.

I liked it; quite a lot in retrospect. It was a slice of life film, highly stylised, yet very real. Recommended if you want to see teenage Taiwan without any forced performances or bullshit plotlines.

[Skykid]

~ Summer Palace ~

Ye Lou schooling his colleagues on how to make movies. This one near took my head off.

Worth every second in celluloid of the five-year filmmaking ban he got for making it. Shot with the same stylish movement present in Suzhou River, but with even more accomplished artistry and vibrant editing, Summer Palace is a victory for the power of cinema.

Beginning in Deng Xiaoping's China of '87, at the start of its economic progress and newfound freedoms, it follows a group of teens through a lyrical and harsh coming-of-age story. This one got me at the very core: its realism makes it almost unbearable at times, since the self-destructive nature of its female lead hit so close to home. She wasn't a 'realistic character', she was a real person. I've known people exactly like her, struggling to find love for themselves and wounding so many others in the process. I'm sure plenty of people found connections with the emotional paths of the film's ensemble cast. Her performance, incidentally, deserves to sweep the entire Oscar ceremony under the rug, and what Ye Lou does in the absence of dialogue is nothing short of remarkable. Every telling glance, enigmatic expression and pregnant pause is profoundly affecting. It's films like these that remind me what a joke the Hollywood industry is. And with the film being absolutely packed with nudity, even its actors went out on a limb against the iron idiocy of the Chinese censors.

A word of warning, this is heavy stuff. It's not light-hearted in the slightest, and at times it's painful and harrowing.
But shit, is it powerful.

[ancestral-knowledge]

I'll add:

- University of Laughs (2004)
- Ikiru (1952)


both are very good.

[Skykid]

I'll add:

- University of Laughs (2004)
- Ikiru (1952)


both are very good.

They look good, thanks for the recommends. I know Ikiru is considered by some to be Kurosawa's best, but I never got around to watching it.

[lilmanjs]

Café Lumière


If you've not seen the movie, I dunno what is wrong with you! I bought this used last week and finally got around to watching it last night. I really felt like I was not watching a movie, but really watching for a couple of hours somebody else's life! I've not seen anything else from the director, so since I liked this, what else should I be checking out?

[CMoon]

I know Ikiru is considered by some to be Kurosawa's best, but I never got around to watching it.

One Kurosawa film a lot of people don't see is Stray Dog; it's rather early for him and I it could be argued there are a few pacing problems, but it is a rather magnificent little hard boiled cop story with amazing visuals, acting and script.

[BIL]

I recommend Stray Dog too. Like a lot of Kurosawa's movies it's a considerable time investment worth making - the development of Mifune and Shimura's rookie/veteran partnership really gripped me as the sense of danger picked up. (and I love Magnum Force, so noticing the plot element that was re-used in that was a treat) High and Low is another great police procedural of his, a real epic. The 1948 crime drama Drunken Angel is good too, with a terribly engrossing performance by Mifune as a self-destructing Yakuza, and a memorably grimy postwar Japan setting.

Can't go too wrong with anything involving Kurosawa, Mifune and Shimura from around those years, really.