03 Aug 10+ asian movies you should watch
Hooray! Another movie list!
Have you already seen my list of 10+ visually influential movies?
Many of these movies on the list are exquisitely over the top and this is exactly why I love asian cinematography. Here you will find the most dramatic, most scary and most weird movies I’ve ever seen!
They are arranged alphabetically to make it easier for me.
Avalon
What happens if an anime director of one of the best cyberpunk animated movies (Ghost in the Shell, Mamoru Oshii) makes a live action movie in Eastern Europe? Love the tone and aesthetics of this movie, all these old trams made in the Czech Republic are exactly like they were in my home city. And this atmosphere is perfect for such sci-fi dystopia.
Battle Royale
Probably the most famous movie on the list, because it is Quentin Tarantino’s favorite. So it is really violent, graphic and controversial. Like Lord of the Flies set up in the futuristic dystopia. Also a great performance by Takeshi Kitano!
Dolls
Speaking of Takeshi Kitano… Here’s his masterpiece based upon traditional Japanese Bunraku puppet theater. It consists of three classic stories joined together. Also this is one of the most beautiful movies I’ve ever seen!
The Happiness of the Katakuris
And back to the weird stuff! This is one of my favorite directors, famous for his creativity and delightfully weird, funny, terrifying movies. I chose this movie as the top one just because it is so messed up and crazy. This is a comedy/drama/musical about a little hotel on the road and it’s visitors… In some way it reminded me of the first season of Misfits TV show.
Also consider watching his other movies:
- Visitor Q — seriously weird.
- Dead or Alive — criminal action drama with the best film ending in history.
- One missed call — funny parody on The Ring movies, also the scariest movie I’ve ever seen.
In the Mood for Love
Sweet and beautiful romantic drama from Hong Kong by . I don’t remember much of the plot, but still remember the feeling from this movie.
Kung Fu Hustle
This movie holds two very special places in my heart.
Of the best comedy and the best martial arts movie. Just watch it already!
Oldboy
This film is so good that Spike Lee recently made a big budget remake of it. Remake flopped, but you definitely must see the original! It is one of the most intense and dramatic movies on a scale of a Greek tragedy and may be the best movie on this list. And that scene with a hammer will stay in the history of filmmaking forever.
Oldboy is a part of Park Chan-wook movie trilogy about revenge.
Robot
The only Indian movie on the list. The fan edit of this movie with all the crazy scenes was a big hit on youtube and in social media. But really this movie is a little bit more than just a crazy and funny ride with all that indian ridiculousness… It explores the classic cyberpunk question: “What it is to be human?”. And it really touched me.
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring
Elegant and simple Korean movie by Kim Ki-duk. Subtle and unforgettable.
Ran
Of course there must be Akira Kurosawa movie on this list. Ran is also one of the most beautiful movies, deliberate and epic. It is based on the Shakespeare’s King Lear, but set up in the medieval Japan.
Bonus: Three… Extremes
Three short disturbing horror films by asian directors, two of them were in this list.