Last seen ASIAN movie [Archive] - Page 8 - Horror.com Forums

psycho d

10-29-2009, 05:57 AM

Master of the Flying Guillotine (1975). Somehow, this martial arts flicks fits in a story between fights. Anyone that likes lots of action and little dialogue will find this Kung Fu movie wonderful. Each fighter has a unique style and uses it to advantage. The ridiculously long fight tournament was superb. The titular weapon- awe-inspiring. All in all worthy of a martial arts cult classic. Ashe.
derek

zwoti

10-29-2009, 08:08 AM

ip man.....

psycho d

10-30-2009, 06:02 AM

Ringu 2 (1999). This sequel had a lot of promise. It starts up a week after Ringu ends, and it attempts to delve into the meaning of what is actually happening. For me, it took on too much and was thereby unable to deliver. The original probably took some of the air out of the sequel's sails, but i still think too much was going on here for to be credible. As well, certain things just seem to come about without much back-plot (does telekinesis run rampant in Japan?). Given that, it was still a very good effort and definitely worth a watch. It may have helped had i watched the two within a week of each other, but i did not. Ashe.
derek

ChronoGrl

11-01-2009, 07:05 AM

Junk (2000)

There are few Asian Zombie films that I have seen so far. This one is decently funny. Thanks to Chrono for the DVD (via HDC Package 2.0):)

>>: B-

Glad you enjoyed it!! :D

psycho d

11-02-2009, 03:14 PM

Samurai Spy (1965). This samurai flick is almost in a league of its own. In fact, it would almost be better to classify it as a classic ninja flick. Though the intrigues in this number are at times difficult to follow, they never quite get lost and only serve to keep one's attention more focused. The acting is pretty good, but it is the direction and cinematography that help drive this brilliant story into its own singular genre. The fight scenes are enough to keep most guys attention, and some of the nija stuff is pretty cool. The way the scenes line up towards the end makes for some wonderfully discombobulating tension. All in all a solid samurai/ninja classic. Ashe.
derek

roshiq

11-04-2009, 12:04 AM

Mother (http://asianmediawiki.com/Mother) (2009)

Another great slow burn thriller with dark humor from the director of acclaimed Asian films like The Host and Memories of Murder.
When her mentally handicapped son is arrested for the murder of a school girl, the boy's over protective mother believes that the police have made a mistake and that he is being made a scapegoat for their lazy, sloppy investigation. When the police, who are convinced they have the right suspect-her son, won't help her, mother takes matters into her own hands, finding potential clues that turn out to be mostly red herrings and dead ends. Director Joon-ho Bong retreads much of the same territory as he did in "Memories of Murder," but in a slower, more straightforward fashion, instead of focusing on the cops' perspective, this time the spotlight is on the mother of the murder suspect.
The film opens with a lyrical shot of a middle aged woman slowly approaching the camera in some seemingly idyllic rural setting. She begins to dance as the credits roll. Then we cut, back to find that woman as a mother in her business & keeping an eye on her errant son in the street. Tracking through the story with her provides thrills and shocks and more than a bit of bone grating violence in the rather graphic fashion. But there's again quite some mastery here in telling the story.
What makes this film stand alone is its tenacity. It doesn't let you go, it keeps on trying in the form of the mother attempting to follow every trail. It's a great premise and you are kept guessing throughout but you can't predict the ending.
Like MOM, all the actors did a great job here too..specially the woman who played the title character gave a top notch performance.

Overall, it may not as great as MOM but surely another very promising & good film from the same maker.

>>: A-

psycho d

11-05-2009, 06:27 AM

The Quiet Family (1998). At first this one seemed like it was going to be a straight "when bad things lead to bad choices lead to more bad things" sorta flick, but then the black comedy side started to shine through. This was a fun story of events that could not have been choreographed any better. Everything about this flick was darkly comical and entertaining. Ashe.
derek

Angra

11-05-2009, 06:49 AM

roshiq

11-05-2009, 11:11 AM

I can guess the ending already.

Mommy is the murderer. ;)

Nope! You are wrong, buddy:D

But you know what?
..
.
.
.
.
.
**Spoilers Ahead**
.
.
.
.
that's indeed a pretty close call!;)

psycho d

11-07-2009, 05:46 AM

Double Suicide (1969). A daring masterpiece of cinema, this film is intimately based on a a Japanese puppet play, and there are obvious elements which are indicative to the guiding hands of fate that remain ostensibly apparent to the viewer. How Masahiro Shinodo pulled this off is itself a miracle. A dark, tragic, and well-crafted love story for sure, there is enough distance between the viewer and character such that the insanely tragic situation that comes to fruition is not too much for the viewer to bear. The acting and set scenes were appositely overdone, once again a daring triumph as it only added to the stroke of cinematic genius found in this immaculate work of art. That the lead actress played both female leads flawlessly was not only superb in its own right, but i would contend that there were some symbolic elements to this casting choice as well. The cinematography was incredible, and that ending, stunningly brilliant!!! This movie was simple a courageous and magnificent work of art. Ashe.
derek

zwoti

11-07-2009, 12:00 PM

last hurrah for chivalry

psycho d

11-09-2009, 05:24 AM

Sword of the Beast (1965). This wonderful though short samurai flick (85 min) is filled with intrigue, plot complexities, and honor, or a lack thereof. The irony here is that the hero, compelled to abandon his samurai code, is one of the few people that is truly honorable in the story. Though a little shy of swordplay, there is one scene that sports such a sudden frenzy of swords a swinging that one cannot but be delighted by the superior skills of the two warriors. This fight scene may be one of my all-time favorites (though nothing compares to the end of Sword of Doom). As stated previously, i only wished that this flick was longer so that i could have enjoyed it for longer. Ashe.
derek

psycho d

11-11-2009, 04:52 AM

Ab-normal Beauty (2004). Oxide Pang again demonstrates ability to make an artistically stylish film. Either ripe or murky with color as dictated by the scene, this visually striking flick is sure to please any retina. The story itself is rather dark, and while it may leave lots to be desired for gore-hounds, it will surely please those appreciative of an morbid art deliciously served up. The acting was solid, the art direction was absolutely stunning, and some of the scenes were brilliantly depicted (the suicide scene was awesome- don't worry, this is not a spoiler). At times, there was even a Requiem of a Dream feel to this wonderful movie. A well-done, dark psychological thriller all around. Ashe.
derek

psycho d

11-15-2009, 04:48 AM

Sword of Doom (1965). Better the second time around. Definitely my favorite samurai movie; probably the darkest one of the bunch. Ashe.
d

roshiq

11-15-2009, 10:14 PM

The Soul Guardians (1998)

>>: C-

zwoti

11-17-2009, 02:56 AM

fearless: dir cut

zwoti

11-17-2009, 01:07 PM

fatal move

roshiq

11-19-2009, 12:28 AM

Youth of the Beast (1963)

I haven't seen any Seijun Suzuki's film before, so this is my first one and believe me..this is an absolute blast for any Yakuza movie fan! Pretty tightly paced story with lots of 60's typical actions & humor that shows through beautiful camera works & settings (particularly the office set up for 2 Yakuza boss were fantastic..one in a sound proof room in a night club with one sided mirror and other one behind the screen of a movie theater!). Loved it.

>>: A-

psycho d

11-21-2009, 10:54 AM

Mongol (2007). An absolutely epic tale of the rise of a Mongolian Khan, this film is intensely enjoyable. The beginning has almost too much action, and the viewer rarely enjoys a breather. After a tumultuous start, it relaxes just enough for one to catch his breath. With cinematography that is spectacular, and some of the fight scenes are epic, the story never strays away from the main characters as the central part of the story. The trials and tribulations that must be endured here would tax away the life out of just about everyone but our hero, but that is what makes the rest of us schmucks so ordinary. i would say this is a must see for just about everybody, save for those that are bothered by a little (actually a lot of) blood. Ashe.
derek

psycho d

11-22-2009, 04:38 AM

Kiru AKA Kill! (1968). Another absolutely incredible Japanese classic by Kihachi Okamoto. This wonderful samurai flick somehow takes all of the cliches of this genre and lightly makes fun of them. While the story is standard fare, this movie is more about the characters and a wonderful balance between humor and gravity than the story itself. Not that the story is weak, with all of the twists and betrayals and codes of honor that are perfectly sprinkled in. What makes this movie so awesome is the shadowy humor that is infused in between the cliches and sometimes heart-wrenching scenes. Tatsuya plays his part as the disillusioned samurai turned vagrant yakuza with much aplomb. After watching this, it would not be a faux pas to place him even above the inimitable Mifune as one of the greatest Japanese actors of his time. This man has scope (his role in The Human Condition also shows this). All in all of of the most enjoyable samurai flicks of all time. Ashe.
derek

Cement

11-23-2009, 01:24 AM

Noroi (2005) aka Noroi: The Curse. Great paradocumental movie with all strong sides of The Blair Witch Project, with addition of very good and complicated plot. The tension, dark atmosphere are amazing and the final is one of the scariest ones I saw recently. Great movie.

psycho d

11-23-2009, 10:18 AM

Kwaidan (1964). Absolutely beautiful in all aspects, this little gem of a ghostly anthology is more an art form than it is a collection of stories. There are no real scares, and some of the endings can be guessed at the outset . Like classical tragedies, these short stories are instead an expose of humanity. The chilling part is how the supernatural world is so naturally integrated into these short films, creating the creepy notion that ghosts are more natural than supernatural. With incredible direction and spectacular colorful sets, they can be viewed as a purely visual treat as well. The acting of course was superb, and the cinematography splendid. Kobayashi has definitely gone to the threshold of storytelling here, and the result is nothing short of brilliant. Ashe.
derek

neverending

11-25-2009, 02:02 AM

Premonition

Great.

psycho d

11-25-2009, 05:42 AM

Goyokin (1969). Labelled as an antisamurai flick, i feel this label to be unfair. To be sure it does not portray the samurai as perfectly noble, but instead portrays them as humans caught in the impossible sitaution of holding true to their morals whilst remaining loyal to the clan, a sitaution made impossible by their corrupt government and its insuperable taxing regimen. The inimitable Tutsuya gives an incredible lead performance, playing the tortured samurai destined to make things right. The rest of the acting falls right in place, with powerful and believable performances by all. The swordplay is wonderful if not realistically brutal. The cinematography is also wonderful, being the first japanese flick to be filmed in Panavision. The opening scene is outstanding in its portrayal that something dark is to be expected. The stark realities of nature, with wickedly muddied streets and frozen landscapes where much of the fighting takes place, is an experience in itself. That the fighters must find ways to keep their hands warm such that they can at least close thier fingers on their sword's handle was a wonderful touch. The story itself was powerful and well crafted. This classic was absolutely incredible in all regards. Why this one gets so little attention is a mystery. Ashe.
derek

psycho d

11-26-2009, 06:12 AM

Save the Green Planet (2003). Blending genres to the point of being a genre of its own design, this was a wonderfully original flick from South Korea. Don't let the DVD cover fool ya as this wickedly humorous flick is not for the light-hearted nor is it a good choice for the whole family. This one is somehow bizarre yet heart-felt, silly while being a study of cultural tragedies, torturous yet darkly comedic. With great direction and acting, and a delicious soundtrack that jumps back and forth between punk and a string section orchestra, this hidden beauty will sure to be both entertaining as well as moving. Ashe.
derek

links03rjean

11-26-2009, 04:46 PM

last asian horror movie i watched is the korean movie in titled 'the doll master'...it's very creepy and scary...i couldn't remember how many times i shout...

__________________
garden design (http://www.waterfeatures.co.uk)

psycho d

11-27-2009, 05:36 AM

H (2002). A slow burning Korean flick that seems to borrow heavily from Silence of the Lambs and Sevin. While some of the imagery is rather disturbing, this is not a tense flick. This one seems to rely most heavily on the story itself, and while it was was well acted, their characters are not so important in the telling of this story. This is in itself an odd thing because their characters reveal so much history that should have been animated by their tortured pasts. Somehow, they remain pretty flat. Though the story itself was strong enough to carry it this flick, most will probably find the lightness of the characters to be a disappointment. The end was definitely worthy, and the last scene was powerful. For those that appreciate slow burning, rich Korean story-telling might just might really appreciate this one. Ashe.
derek

Angra

11-27-2009, 09:05 AM

[QUOTE=links03rjean;838016]last asian horror movie i watched is the korean movie in titled 'the doll master'...it's very creepy and scary...i couldn't remember how many times i shout...

__________________

Oh yea.

Who can forget the poop scene... really don't remember much else from it. But it was above average yes.

psycho d

11-30-2009, 05:10 AM

Jet Li's Fearless (2006). Packed with some incredible fight scenes, this is more that just a silly story centered around lots of fighting. The story itself was well crafted. It was also an inspiration towards fomenting national pride, especially for a country that at that time in history needed a shot in the arm. I would contend that the antagonist and protagonist were really one and the same, with the moral of the story being that one must conquer oneself to... Many might be bothered with the slightly down your throat life philosophies. Whatever, as that is their loss. The ending was perfect IMHO. Ashe.
derek

zwoti

12-01-2009, 11:14 AM

sick nurses

roshiq

12-02-2009, 12:58 AM

Seven Samurai (1954)

An undeniable treasure of world cinema. Still not a bit less than admirable & amazing as it was on first time viewing.

>>: A+

psycho d

12-02-2009, 04:24 AM

Seven Samurai (1954)

An undeniable treasure of world cinema. Still not a bit less than admirable & amazing as it was on first time viewing.

>>: A+

Absolutely!!!
d

urgeok2

12-02-2009, 05:42 AM

Busty Asians #26

oh wait - is this the horror forum ?

psycho d

12-03-2009, 04:01 AM

Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo (1970). Expecting this to be awesome, it turned out to just be decent. Zatiochi's character was too goofy here to be believable. The fights scenes were overly chaotic, and Zatoichi's fights just seemed unrealistic. Mifune as Yojimbo was the best part, though he definitely wavered a bit from the original Yojimbo character. For comedic relief this was a pretty fun movie, but it is definitely more entertaining that artistic. Maybe that was the point. The story itself was pretty good though a tad complicated. At nearly two hours, they could have easily trimmed it up to better effect. Either way, though not my favorite Zatoichi flick, it is still probably a must see for any Zatoichi or Mifune fan. Ashe.
derek

Angra

12-04-2009, 12:52 PM

"Wild card" 5/10

Boring crime flick.

psycho d

12-05-2009, 04:46 AM

Dragon Tiger Gate (2006). Pretty fun modern Kung Fu flick with some incredible fight scenes. While the story may not be deep, as it was taken from a comic series why should it be? Instead, this was a highly entertaining movie with some stylized action in front of many stunning backdrops. Ashe.
d

psycho d

12-07-2009, 04:34 AM

Thirst (2009). This movie was another top notch flick by Chan-wook Park that just seemed to lack something. While i found every scene to be executed perfectly, and with great acting, nice cinematography, great direction, as well as plenty of sex and gore, i still found myself wondering how much longer it was going to be. The last third picked up a bit in interest and at least held my attention until the end. The ending, while taking a little too long, was pretty decent. Thinking back, it seemed that movie had everything but that subtle force that drives a movie forward. Still a must see for any fan of Asian cinema, this had so much potential but it somehow lost its punch. Ashe.
derek

psycho d

12-08-2009, 04:20 AM

Iron Monkey (1993). Apparently this wonderful Kung Fu flick was retranslated and re-presented at the behest of Tarantino. If so, then thank you, cuz this was one fun movie. Starting out almost too goofy for me, it wound up being a light-hearted yet beautiful Robin Hood Kung Fu comedy with fight scenes that were perfectly over the top. Absolutely enjoyable entertainment. Ashe.
derek

psycho d

12-09-2009, 04:09 AM

Ringu 0 (2000). A little less ambitious than Ringu 2, i went away from this one feeling more competent than confused. More of a psychological thriller than a horror flick, its atmosphere was still genuinely creepy. The story itself was well crafted. The audio was such that some rather mundane sounds were explicitly heard, giving the sense of actually being present in some scenes. Of course the direction was awesome, and the acting was again top notch. In fact, the whole experience was great. i will probably have to watch the whole series again in a serial fashion to fully understand the trilogy, especially the second installment. Ashe.
d

ChronoGrl

12-10-2009, 04:35 PM

psycho d

12-11-2009, 08:08 AM

Bad Guy (2001). Ki-duk Kim has yet to disappoint me as a director, as this wicked film attests. Somehow, the worst of the worst in human nature is used to whip up touching tale of love. That said, this is by no means a chick flick and is about as rugged a love story that i have ever seen. The acting, direction, cinamatography, story,... was all incredible. Discounting a couple of incredulous notions of biological reality, there is nary a complaint to be found in this wonderful offering. Not a movie for everyone, this dark and complex tale of humanity and love is a must see for those that appreciate such things. Ashe.
derek

psycho d

12-13-2009, 07:23 AM

Youth of the Beast (1963). A colorlful and wickedly stylized entry form Seijun Suzuki, this was a treat of film in all aspects. Hip, fun, dark and intriguing, this is a must of any fan of Japanese classic theater. Ashe.
derek

psycho d

12-14-2009, 07:29 AM

The Protector (2005). A simple but endearing story coupled with some furious and brutal fighting. The fight choreography was awesome, even if it did tend towards MTVism at times. Ashe.
d

roshiq

12-14-2009, 09:48 PM

Raging Phoenix (2009)

This is the story of a girl who has been abandoned by everyone in her life, from her mother to her band mates. While drunk one night she is kidnapped and carried off. She gets away only be chased down by the villains. She is then rescued by a group of people who have had their loved ones taken by the kidnappers. She ends up joining them in the fight to stop the kidnapping.

A time passing Thai Drunken Martial Art movie. Not so good as I expected.

>>: C

psycho d

12-15-2009, 06:22 AM

A World Without Thieves (2004). After the first five minutes or so i was was afraid that this film would end too soon. It was that incredible. The rest of the film did not disappoint. The acting was great, the story smart and touching. The action was subtle and smooth. The editing was pretty fun at times, and the cinematography was wonderful. While most of the film took place in a claustraphobic setting, it had a universe within a universe feel to it, masking any sense that a claustraphobic setting can generate. The ending threatened to be almost stupid, but its powerful impact was hidden in its subtlety. Ashe.
derek

roshiq

12-19-2009, 01:11 AM

J.S.A.: Joint Security Area (2000)

Magnificently crafted & beautiful tale of 'brotherhood' over the borderline.

>>: A-

psycho d

12-19-2009, 04:20 AM

Dead or Alive (1999). This one is probably one of my favorites from Miike, though i probably said that about all of them. The frenzied beginning is about as adrenalin pumping as anything i have ever scene. The story then settles down into the perfect Miike Yakuza flick, with incongruent and disturbing scenes that would nonplus the most stalwart of individuals, but that our characters instead accept as standard fare. The scenes are all wonderfully crafted, and the story is driven forward brilliantly. The ending is one that only Miike could get away with, and it somehow worked beautifully.

J.S.A.: Joint Security Area (2000)

Magnificently crafted & beautiful tale of 'brotherhood' over the borderline.

>>: A-

Yeah, that was a great flick, revealing that which hides behind the facade of the uniform is likely no different than you or i. Ashe.
derek

roshiq

12-19-2009, 11:02 PM

Yeah, that was a great flick, revealing that which hides behind the facade of the uniform is likely no different than you or i. Ashe.
derek

Wow. Well said d, pretty well said.:)

psycho d

12-20-2009, 04:32 AM

Branded to Kill (1967). When the back of the dvd cover reads "From a cookie-cutter studio script, Suzuki delivered this brutal, hilarious, and visually inspired masterpiece, and was promptly fired." you know it's gunna be good. This dish From Seijun Suzuki is as crazy as it is splendid. Filled with sex, intrigue, and violence, events are played out in a universe where time warps come to blows with Einstein's theory of relativity. Ashe.
derek

psycho d

12-23-2009, 04:13 AM

Mr. Vampire (1985). This fun and charming classic somehow blends martial arts with a vampire and ghost story, with the end result being an entertaining flick on all accounts. Simply a blast of a movie. Ashe.
derek

neverending

12-24-2009, 02:45 AM

Cavite

I'm not sure what to think of this film.
I'm not sure I understand what happened.

It was certainly very well done though!

psycho d

12-25-2009, 04:16 AM

Tokyo Drifter (1966). Give a basic plot of a gangster story and hand it to Seijun Suzuki, then tell him to calm down a bit, and this is the result. Far from calm, this one uses color like an ADHAD kid uses a single crayon in an empty room that is all white. Each frame is like the kid gets a new crayon to play with. This movie has nothing to do with plot and everything to do with style. Suzuki warps film industry norms and conventions with the adept attention of a brilliant madman. Stunning stuff. Ashe.
derek

psycho d

12-26-2009, 04:21 AM

Infernal Affairs (2002). A great gangster flick flick from Hong Kong that was redone in America as The Departed. More than just a crime drama, this flick allows the lead actors, the yin and yang, to develop quite nicely. This simple yet intriguing story is well crafted, allowing it to be rather tense at times while always digging deeper towards its elemental depth. The acting and direction was wonderful; the cinematography was beautiful. As awesome as The Departed was, Infernal Affairs was even better. Ashe.
derek

psycho d

12-28-2009, 03:45 AM

Legend of the Red Dragon (2004). Pretty decent Jet Li flick. i saw the dubbed version so that may have have brought it down a level. This was a fun comic book style Kung Fu flick, and while i usually don't care for tongue n cheek humor, it was pretty entertaing here. The fight scenes were decent as well. Overall a fun flick. Ashe.
derek

roshiq

01-01-2010, 09:31 PM

Rough Cut aka A Movie is a Movie (http://asianmediawiki.com/Rough_Cut) (2008)

A real gangster is recruited to fill a role and save the production of a crime film.

A pretty interesting drama with a slight touch of dark comedy all over. The directions, action sequences, characterizations & acting all are great. Recommended to all.

>>: B+

Thirst (2009)

A quite different & interesting take on Vampire myth by Chan-wook Park. Loved it.

>>: A-

psycho d

01-02-2010, 05:33 AM

Once Upon a Time in China (1991). The beginning of this one was rough for me. With lots going on and with the threat of being overly corny, i almost ditched it. Glad that i did not. Once it settled down, it turned into a great first instalment of what i hope is a great trilogy. Ashe.
derek

psycho d

01-04-2010, 03:59 AM

Shi gan AKA Time (2006). Ki-duk Kim is quickly becoming one of my all time favorite directors. i love the complaints that are thrown his way, which are basically that he is too this or too that. Sounds like jealousy to me. Time is a wonderful account centering on the self, what it is, how it changes, and how others will accept the change, both physical and mental. It is like an identity crisis that manifests in the material world. S. Koreans definitely have the penchant for taking a twisted concept, one that would serve as the complete story for an American flick, and using it to give a story momentum before getting to the real heart of the story. The acting is wonderful if not painfully and embarrassingly portrayed. The direction was wonderful, and the cinematography was splendid. i am not sure whether Sculpture Park really exists or was a set production, but the sculpture there was intensely wonderful on its own accord. Lastly, i usually detest love stories no matter how they are told, and this turned out to be a love story that i loved, tragic though it may have been. Dark, cerebral, moody, and pretty twisted, Time was a wonderful flick on all accounts. Ashe.
derek

zwoti

01-04-2010, 12:09 PM

zwoti

01-04-2010, 12:10 PM

psycho d

01-05-2010, 04:15 AM

trilogy?

6 and counting
The reason i called it a trilogy is cuz i got the trilogy boxset from the library, obviously it sounds like there are a double triple of them.

have you seen 3-iron yet?
Naw, its pretty high on the list though. Any good? i have only made my way through four of Ki-duk Kim's works (i am pacing myself).

Last seen:
Once Upon a Time in China 2 (1992). Even better than the first. Ashe.
derek

roshiq

01-05-2010, 11:16 PM

Black House (2007)

>>: B

psycho d

01-06-2010, 04:09 AM

The Grudge 2 (2006). i am thinking this franchise is played out. Hard to be scary when we are all familiar with the main villains in the deal. The darkroom scene was kinda cool though. Ashe.
derek

jenna26

01-06-2010, 05:21 PM

Thirst

An enjoyable vampire film overall with plenty of dark humor, sex and gore. But I did think it was just a bit too long, and some of it I just found kind of annoying. I didn't love it, but I did like it.

psycho d

01-07-2010, 04:02 AM

Public Enemy/Gonggongui jeog (2002). A superbly dark and funny Korean cop story. The beginning dialogue seems a bit much at the beginning, but its purpose is humorously worth it. The story is not your typically convoluted Korean twist upon twist flick, but instead a pretty solid story that is simply well told. Instead of being twisty, it uses dark, and even crass, humor as well as some wonderful side characters to spice it up. There was no dearth of violence as well. The acting was awesome, the direction great, labba labba labba. Overall, this was some pretty good stuff. Ashe.
derek

zwoti

01-07-2010, 02:52 PM

Naw, its pretty high on the list though. Any good? i have only made my way through four of Ki-duk Kim's works (i am pacing myself).

probably my fav, along with spring, summer, autumn, winter...and spring

missmacabre

01-07-2010, 08:27 PM

Noroi: The Curse

It was alright. Kind of long. Some things could have been left out and the movie would have been all the same to me.

psycho d

01-08-2010, 04:30 AM

The Warrior AKA Musa (2001). An epic war story that was kinda long and maybe a little predictable, but the way in which the story unfolds makes for a wonderful watching experience. There are lots of characters to keep track of, but not too many such that it becomes arduously confusing. In fact, many side characters get enough screen time to keep us interested and concerned. Of course, it the main characters that we really care about, despite their flaws, or maybe because of them. The battle scenes themselves are awesome, with some blissful slow motion to better appreciate the blood splattering violence. The villains themselves are not protrayed as scum dogs, but instead just devout warriors on the other side of the battle line. Overall a wonderful though violent movie experience. Ashe.
derek

psycho d

01-09-2010, 05:25 AM

Stacy (2001). At first glance, this appears to be an amateurish take on zombie gore. But something is amiss. As bad as it is, there cannot help but noticed an underlying philosophic message that threatens to be reavealing if the viewer only has a little faith. With camerawork that is almost too awful, and with washed-out film that is like watching your tv with sunlight filtering in the room, this mess of a story relays an underlying message almost as unsettleing as the movie itself. Combining notions of Christian love, zombies and the resultant low-budget gore, dirty old man love, then sprinkled with tributes to American zombie icon Bruce Campbell and George Romero, this flick is somehow entertaining, enjoyable, and endearing. With a goofy love story turned hard rock turned love story score, this sick little venture lures the viewer in and then sucker punches him with its ultimate message, an uppercut to the sexual subconscious brain.

psycho d

01-10-2010, 03:54 AM

The Forbidden Kingdom(2008). A must see if only to watch Jackie Chan and Jet Li together for the first time on film. Too bad the movie was not epic as such an endeavor should have been. The acting was great, as were the fights, especially between the two. The story was pretty good if predictable. There was just something missing that should have been there. Either way it was enjoyable nonetheless. Ashe.
derek

psycho d

01-11-2010, 03:33 AM

Beautiful Boxer (2003). Tough call for a guy that hates most romance or love story flicks, this movie turned out to be beautiful and touching in all of the right ways. Without being in your face, this splendid movie takes very sensitive material and portrays it in a ways that gets the viewer wanting more. The fight scenes themselves are pretty good, but this is not a martial arts flick, but a story in which Thai kick boxing happens to be a central element. The acting was top notch, and i was surprised to read that the lead was played by a real life boxer and this was his first acting role, at least in a film. An amazing movie all around, don't let the genre scare ya away, or you will only be missing out on a great movie experience on the human spirit. Ashe.
derek

newb

01-11-2010, 10:38 AM

Started watching "Voices" from the "8 Films To Die For" series......I can't watch sub-titled movies when I'm tired...puts me right to sleep.

zwoti

01-11-2010, 02:47 PM

sukiyaki western django

psycho d

01-12-2010, 03:49 AM

Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion (1972). A WIP flick that takes Japanese sexploitation to the next level by turning it into art. The lead, played by the beautiful Meiko Kaji of Lady Snowblood fame, plays her coldly erotic part with aplomb. With no lack of boobs (almost every violent scenes begins with the ripping open some gal's shirt) the senseless violence and torture is captured with fun camera angles. Some of the bizarre sounds that are used only help to further the artfully disquieting atmosphere. Smoothly mixing the absurd with surrealism, this movie goes where it wants in style, almost in way comparable to the inimitable Seijun Suzuki. The setup for the prison guards to visually exploit the gals in the "walkover" scene is hilarious. If there is such a thing as Japanese arthouse sexploitation, then this just might be its flagship. Ashe.
derek

Amoto

01-12-2010, 07:19 AM

Ju-On...like a month ago. The stores around here dont carry many Aisian flicks. Been meaning to check out The Eye 2 though, the 1st was great.

you should see Ju-on 2, it pwns

zwoti

01-12-2010, 11:52 AM

prisoner 701 sasori

Amoto

01-13-2010, 10:20 AM

Ringu is also a good asian film, I want to the korean version, and the sequals:D

psycho d

01-14-2010, 03:42 AM

Kill Zone (2005). This pretty much an outstanding flick on all accounts. The story itseslf was intriguing, with many elements moving it forward in meaning and depth. This was also a pleasingly dark and even artsy affair. The direction and cinematography were wonderful. The acting was solid. The ending was sublime. And the fighting was minimal but furious. The knife vs police baton fight was insanity, and the kung fu cum Brazilian wrestling ending was actually pretty cool. All in all an impressive story with some intense fighting sprinkled in. Ashe.
derek

psycho d

01-16-2010, 06:20 AM

Alive (2002). From the guys that did Versus and Azumi, this is quite a departure from their previous work. For people that are looking for an action intensive rollercoaster of a flick, this will fall flat. It starts out light on action, but makes up for it with some pretty good dialogue, unnerving atmosphere, and pretty decent character development. The story itself, based on a comic, is pretty twisted. i love how the Japanese can take something that would be stupid or goofy if done in the states and make it into something worthwhile. The ending is action-filled, and here we can see the comic book feel coming to fruition. Being a cerebral-minded Japanese action flick that is based on a comic, this may not be for everybody; if those characteristics don't scare ya off, then it will likely be a great view. Ashe.
d

psycho d

01-17-2010, 03:46 AM

Once Upon a Time in China 3 (1993). Another great addition to the series. Must have been both a choreagrapher's and costume designer's nightmare. Wong's sidekick really has a penchant for accidental mischief with disasterous results. Ashe.
d

psycho d

01-18-2010, 04:08 AM

Tai-Chi Master (1993). One of Jet Li's best in my opinion, this flick has it all, from a great story sprinkled with a bit of humor to some absolutely spectacular fight scenes. Of course, some of the fighting was a bit over the top, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. Jet Li does a nice job acting here as well, and his character is more than his usual stony self. Michelle Yeoh was also impressive, both as an actor and a fighter. Great stuff. Ashe.
derek

Angra

01-18-2010, 05:23 AM

"Sukiyaki Western Django" 5/10

As i'm not a huge Western fan i'd hoped for Miike to put his signature crazy-touch on this one. Sadly i only saw glimps of that.

friday13thfan

01-19-2010, 03:53 PM

CARVED (The Slit-Mouthed Woman)

psycho d

01-20-2010, 03:59 AM

3-Iron AKA Bin-jip (2004). Kim ki-duk has once again outdone himself, this time with a movie that is not augmented with spectacular landscapes and other outdoor scenes. This one centers indoor and stays mainly within the city. This does not intimate that there are not some incredible imagery here, just that Kim must dig deeper to find it. The story, on paper, would fall flat if offered as a screenplay. With Kim's trademark mute central characters, dialogue is not only unnecessary, but would only clog up this wonderful flick. So what is it about? It is a love story of sorts, but one based on a light, almost dreamlike existence. It is a story about karma. It is of the symbolism of a shadow existence, of ghosts that are not dead. The acting was superb, the cinematography wonderful. Obviously, the story and direction were incredible. Lastly, the feeling that this flick leaves ya with is indescribable in all the right ways. Ashe.
d

psycho d

01-21-2010, 04:20 AM

Violent Cop (1989). Outstanding! This flick is a little disquiting for movie-goers in that there almost seems to be no plot, instead events just unfold. Takeshi is truly a violent cop in this disturbing story. With characters so full of rage that it almost bleeds out in every scene, one almost feels agitated at the end, but then the ending itself almost serves as a catharsis for the viewer. Our cop, and his nemesis, are both portrayed as stone-faced killers, and it becomes difficult to see which one is the worse of the lot. Compared to a Japanese Dirty Harry, this flick is much more than that. The acting was great, and the cinematography was awesome. The walking scenes really give a strange aura to this flick, almost as if we are taking this horrible journey along with our anti-hero. The direction was awesome, and the violence perfect for those that enjoy such things. Overall, a very pleasing movie that takes the viewer into a darkness that he may not really emerge back from. Ashe.
d

Doc Faustus

01-24-2010, 12:01 PM

Just saw Visitor Q last night. Amazing. I think it's the best horror film of the 21st century. The ending was twisted and cathartic in a way that no ending since that of Eraserhead or The Seventh Victim have been.

DP McCoy

01-28-2010, 11:33 AM

Crows Zero

Apart from an oddly positioned ballad,I really enjoyed this,reminded me of a 80's beat em up coin op.

7/10

Crows Zero II

More of the same really,the addition of the rival 'Housen' school recalled The Wanderers,although there was no one quite as formidable as 'Terror' here.

7/10

20th Century Boys

The story started out fairly engaging and initially interesting,but it became dull by halfway and the finale was a bit of an anticlimax.

5/10

20th Century Boys II

A slight improvement on it's predecessor,with regards to the pacing,but still essentially quite dull.Part III will need to pack a whole lot more punch to save the trilogy.

6/10

DP McCoy

01-31-2010, 11:00 AM

DP McCoy

02-01-2010, 12:02 PM

Epitaph

There was much to like about this film,the sense of mood and creeping menace were perfectly created,and the use of sepia tones complement the period settings and contrast against the more vivid colours that are used at several points during the film.There were some genuinely unnerving moments that while not completely original were extremely effective.
The main criticism I have is with the narrative,which became frustratingly confusing.I have no problem with films that don't provide the viewer with easy answers but I felt that in this case the filmmakers efforts to make the story enigmatic were misjudged which left me dissatisfied at the conclusion.

6/10

roshiq

02-02-2010, 02:09 AM

My Girlfriend is an Agent (http://asianmediawiki.com/My_Girlfriend_is_an_Agent) (2009)

Pretty nice romantic-action-comedy from Korea. Worth a watch.

>>: B

DP McCoy

02-03-2010, 02:10 AM

Chanbara Beauty

Bit of a mixed bag this one,the story was flimsy at best and the acting ability is limited (Although expected for the budget) ,but the very worst aspect of this film is the effects.Virtually all the blood letting was poorly rendered CGI,each sword slash an excuse to cover the screen with unconvincing blood spatter.
That's not to say the movie is all bad,it offers some mild entertainment and there are one or two scenes that I found quite visually striking,but they were too few to really elevate the film above it's overall lack of cohesion and quality.

5/10

Chanbara Beauty - Vortex

Take what I said above,remove the positives and make everything that was poor even poorer,and that about sums up this sequel.
The Director and actors from the first film must be sensible people because none of them have any involvement in this turkey.

3/10

psycho d

02-03-2010, 04:02 AM

Flashpoint AKA Dou fo sin (2007). In a breath, this flick was worth it for the Donnie Yen fight scenes alone. The story was fine, but nothing really fresh here. The acting and direction were competent. The camera work was pretty awesome on its own accord. After the initial bruising, this flick makes the action fan wait for it. But the patient fan is rewarded as the end fight scene is nothing if not phenomenal. Ashe.
d

zwoti

02-06-2010, 05:26 AM

the good the bad the weird

psycho d

02-08-2010, 03:26 AM

Samaritan Girl AKA Samaria (2004). Once again, Ki-duk Kim has gone and constructed a magnificent piece of work. This one threatened to be insipid, but low and behold he pulls ahead at the first turn. This is a story that revolves around child prostitution, but that is not the main focus. Instead, it is a story of friendship and love, consequences and redemption. The story was powerful, the direction perfect. The cinematography sprinkles in the occasional inspirational expanse characteristic of Kim. The score was touching, and the symbolism effective. All and all another solid entry from what is probably my fav director. Ashe.
derek

zwoti

02-08-2010, 08:09 AM

All and all another solid entry from what is probably my fav director. Ashe.
derek

good to hear, which others have you yet to see?

death note 2: the last name
death note: l change the world

roshiq

02-08-2010, 10:34 PM

Tom yum goong (2005)

>>: B+

psycho d

02-09-2010, 03:41 AM

The Hidden Fortress (1958). Not your typical Akiro Kurosawa flick, this wonderful entry is no slouch. One departure from usual was his use of comic relief of our two peasant characters. Told through their eyes, these crazy peasants are forced to become heroes, not because of any inherent attributes that they may engender, but instead due to their penchant to get themselves into trouble. Of course our true hero is the inimitable Toshiro Mifune. His presence more than anything else announces his cyclopean capacity as a hero warrior, though i doubt that he could even cook for himself. The heroine is not some feeble woman but is a strong silent type whose few words match her intense character and importance. The acting, direction, and cinematography are all strong, and this great film by Kurosawa is another demonstration of how film can be brought to life. Ashe.
derek

Angra

02-09-2010, 08:48 AM

Tom yum goong (2005)

>>: B+

You just insulted Tony Jaa, Thailand and a little bit of Australia with that rating. HEATHEN!!!

roshiq

02-09-2010, 09:51 AM

You just insulted Tony Jaa, Thailand and a little bit of Australia with that rating. HEATHEN!!!

Muhahahaha!

what do you expect? A- or A...naah! This modern Haathi Mere Sathi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haathi_Mere_Saathi) with great That martial arts is good enough for a B+, which is actually a pretty good grade though;)

Angra

02-09-2010, 10:28 AM

Muhahahaha!

what do you expect? A- or A...naah! This modern Haathi Mere Sathi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haathi_Mere_Saathi) with great That martial arts is good enough for a B+, which is actually a pretty good grade though;)

You OBVIOUSLY don't care for martial arts flicks and over-the-top stunts.. :mad:

roshiq

02-09-2010, 10:39 AM

Yes, stunts were over-the-top indeed and obviously I care...that's why I gave it B+. Again...it's actually a pretty good grade, buddy; better than "B" & very close to "A-".:)

Angra

02-09-2010, 10:46 AM

Yes, stunts were over-the-top indeed and obviously I care...that's why I gave it B+. Again...it's actually a pretty good grade, buddy; better than "B" & very close to "A-".:)

Well, not as good as my 10/10..

But i also looove this kind of martial arts flicks. And especially this kind skilled martial artists. Tony is simply the best i've ever seen.

Only other movies i've given top ratings are "Fellowship of the ring" & "Return of the king", if i'm not mistaking.

roshiq

02-09-2010, 10:53 AM

I understand. I like to admit I loved his flying kicking style with the knee...that was awesome.

Angra

02-09-2010, 11:01 AM

I also thought the coreography and camera work were over the top, all thanks to the director.

Pinkaew and Jaa should keep on working together. They need each other.

roshiq

02-09-2010, 11:15 AM

Pinkaew and Jaa should keep on working together. They need each other.

Ditto 100%. I'll love to see more collaborate works from them in future. There should be more total Martial art movies need to be made these days.

roshiq

02-10-2010, 11:35 PM

Like a Dragon (http://asianmediawiki.com/Like_a_Dragon) (2007)

Somewhat Pulp fictional version a video game with many sub plots; this Takashi Mike film also covers many of his signature themes as Yakuza, bloodlust and cartoon like violence. But delivered an average entertainment ride. Though the baseball bat-wielding character of psycho mob Majima Goro was pretty funny. Above all, here the dvd comes with poor subtitles and mainly the English translation of those character names were hilarious...such as From Beautiful, One Horse, The Living, Water Wood.

>>: C+

Angra

02-11-2010, 12:48 PM

"Raging Phoenix" 4-5/10

Slow story and laughable choreography.

Disappointing as the movie stars JeeJa Yanin (Chocolate) and has both Pinkaew (Ong-Bak, Tom Yum Goong) and Rittikrai (Born to Fight) as producers.

psycho d

02-12-2010, 05:16 AM

Matango: Attack of the Mushroom People (1963). Think Gilligan's Island meets Japanese horror meets an incredible knack to take an over-the-top silly idea and make it credible and you have Matango. At first glance, this might seem a silly Japanese B movie. Look again. This is a great character study on human nature, the desperation that starvation brings about, and the paranoia that becomes the human creature when the chips are down. The acting was fine, the direction solid. It's 1963 so for the time the effects were what you'd expect. The story itself was pretty good. The atmosphere was genuinely creepy. Had i seen this as a kid i probably would have been terrified. Overall a great Japanese horror classic. Ashe.
derek

DP McCoy

02-13-2010, 12:04 PM

Thirst

An interesting and intelligent take on the vampire genre. 8/10

sportlow

02-13-2010, 05:02 PM

Onibaba
Creepy & Atmospheric!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058430/

recommended for everyone

DP McCoy

02-15-2010, 01:22 PM

Hansel & Gretal

A curious,melancholy fantasy that is effectively imagined. 7/10

roshiq

02-15-2010, 11:30 PM

Shadows in the Palace (http://asianmediawiki.com/Shadows_in_the_Palace) (2007)

A beautiful historic piece--part murder mystery, part horror--in the time of the Josean dynasty in Korea. Although there were little too much going on, but its wonderfully shot and costumed with a fine twisted ending.

>>: B+

psycho d

02-16-2010, 04:34 AM

The Bird People of China (1998). More incredible fare from the inimitable Takashi Miike. This guy is the master of, well, everything. How he blends fantasy, indecency, sucker-punch violence, and a wicked story-telling capacity is beyond me. But it works. This is probably one of his more approachable movies, at least here in the west. But that does not take anything away from this flick. In fact, i would contend that this is one of his most moving ventures. The cinematography was resplendent, the story solid, and the acting competent. of course the direction was incredible. All in all a wonderful movie-going experience. Mercie beaucoup.
d

dkwrtw

02-17-2010, 06:10 PM

Hanzo The Razor: Who's got the Gold?

Angra

02-18-2010, 05:04 AM

"Somtum" 5/10

Had a few nice fights, but the story was ridiculous and Nathan Jones was just too goofy looking and acting that he quickly became Somtums worst flaw.

horrorsniped

02-18-2010, 07:11 AM

"Epitaph" 9.5/10

Love horror movies....got bored with the US horror so to spice my fright I moved to asian horror. I've seen MANY asian horro movies but this one was pretty screwed up. Make sure to TURN UP YOUR SURROUND SOUND and definitly WATCH IN THE DARK :)

Angra

02-18-2010, 07:55 AM

zwoti

02-18-2010, 12:20 PM

ong bak: the beginning

psycho d

02-19-2010, 06:27 AM

Seven Swords (2005). This is a wonderful flick whose only flaw is the Western viewer. By that i mean that it was hard for me to keep up with events and subtitles, but that is no reason to poo poo this great flick. The story itself is decent enough, but there is more here than just a story. The characters are all wonderfully flawed, and villain and hero alike were portrayed with marked aplomb. A little long to be sure, it probably could have even been more so. The fighting was stylish, brutal, and awesome. Spiced up with honor, sacrifice, and treachery, this incredible flick should probably bee seen twice to catch all the stuff the occidental eye missed in the first go around. Mercie beaucoup.
derek

horrorsniped

02-19-2010, 04:42 PM

This thread is too long for me to read....but can anyone quickly recommend a REAL SCARY asian horror movie? I am game for anything!

I recently watched Lady In White which was AWESOME and gets a 8.5/10.

Drew_Deranged86

02-19-2010, 07:41 PM

Wicked City.
Showed my mate Audition, i just looked at his face the whole time was heaps better than watching it again, the ahhh slop slop slop bit (everyone whos seen it knows what im on about), made him cringe like someone stuck something in his dick hole, it was golden!!!! LOL

Angra

02-20-2010, 12:35 AM

I recently watched Lady In White which was AWESOME and gets a 8.5/10.

Is that asian???

The scariest asians, imo:

Ju-on
Kairo
Tale of two sisters
One missed call

Another one i'll recomment is "The Park". Not as scary and the actors all play like crap, but the scenery is awsome and the director Wai-keung Lau (Infernal affairs 1,2&3) has a lot of nice ideas/scares up his sleeves.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0385598/

horrorsniped

02-20-2010, 05:13 AM

Is that asian???

The scariest asians, imo:

Ju-on
Kairo
Tale of two sisters
One missed call

Another one i'll recomment is "The Park". Not as scary and the actors all play like crap, but the scenery is awsome and the director Wai-keung Lau (Infernal affairs 1,2&3) has a lot of nice ideas/scares up his sleeves.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0385598/

Whoops....my bad. I meant "Old Lady in White". Here: http://www.filmai.us/uploads/covers/2009-12/1261153093_pagieza-baltoji-sene-the-grudge-old-lady-in-white.jpg

Angra

02-20-2010, 07:11 AM

Whoops....my bad. I meant "Old Lady in White". Here: http://www.filmai.us/uploads/covers/2009-12/1261153093_pagieza-baltoji-sene-the-grudge-old-lady-in-white.jpg

Where the hell do you find these movies??? :confused:

horrorsniped

02-20-2010, 07:55 AM

Where the hell do you find these movies??? :confused:

Well....I was getting bit**ed at by some forum members when I told people to check out my site so I guess if I post the site to get info from I'll get bit**ed at again. Just send me a pm and I'll give you a good site to get all the info for Asian horror movies. Also it's like 50/50, some of the movies you find on that site are very good and give you a a hard time to sleep at night while other times the movies just suck and leave you to your imagination :).

Angra

02-20-2010, 09:59 AM

Are you talking about asian-horror-movies.com?

horrorsniped

02-21-2010, 03:41 PM

Are you talking about asian-horror-movies.com?

*Lol*....yeah thats the site I check on from time to time now, haven't seen too much new stuff there. But check out the movies I recommended because they are tight

Angra

02-22-2010, 02:22 AM

"The Grudge: Girl in Black" 5/10

Like the case was with "Ju-rei", "Girl in black" perfectly proves that Only Takashi Shimizu can make Ju-on-scares (the cuts right before climaxes), and a story that constantly jumps back and forth in time, successfully work. This movie also lacks Shimizus flair for creative scares.

Only the face-in-the-stomach scene was nice and new.

This movie WASN'T directed by Takashi Shimizu. Only the story was Shimizus work, but both screenplay as well as direction was done by Mari Asato (That's right. Some nobody).

psycho d

02-22-2010, 03:27 AM

Sonatine (1993). This Yakuza flick from "Beat" Takeshi is not your standard fare, even by Tokyo standards. Somehow, it takes the humdrum of being a Yakuza and turns it into art. These guys somehow balance their lives as gangsters, which is portrayed as an almost fatalistic affair where they are born to die, and their more playful and silly inclinations where their cultural expressions come to fruitition in a beautiful fashion. With some occasional violence sprinked in, this one is dominated by at time wonderful though prosaic camerawork accompanied by some rather touching and brilliant scenes. And whilst the viewer partakes in the fun at no time do we forget the pointlessness of our protagonist's lives.

roshiq

02-23-2010, 02:28 AM

Strange Circus (http://asianmediawiki.com/Strange_Circus) (2005)

A very disturbing and twisted film from Sion Sono, the writer-director of "Suicide Club". Sion Sono deals this time a difficult and dark subject matter in a horrific and bizarre way. Besides the poetic imagery (like class rooms filled with bloody walls and a coffin filled with flowers that is set on fire), Sono treated all the sensitive moments with a twisted sense of genius. You will eventually cope yourself in every level of this nightmarish & sexually surreal experience but for a price of unfolding an extremely sad story. You have seen Takashi Miike's AUDITION & VISITOR Q or Chanwook Park's OLDBOY...now if you can dare, then prepare yourself for another weird, devastating & uncomfortable tale of losing innocence & everything!

>>: A

Angra

02-23-2010, 02:51 AM

psycho d

02-23-2010, 03:33 AM

roshiq

02-23-2010, 03:35 AM

Yep. This movie was perfectly and ingeniously disturbing. Great blurb!
d

Mercie beaucoup:)

missmacabre

02-27-2010, 07:04 PM

Death Note live action.

sgambino

02-28-2010, 02:22 AM

Infection 2004 Japanese movie. This movie was very eerie! I did not mind reading the subtitles. Only thing I was not so crazy about was the ending.

sgambino

02-28-2010, 02:26 AM

I almost forgot about another Asian movie that I watched recently and loved. Blood The Last Vampire 2009.

A vampire named Saya, who is part of covert government agency that hunts and destroys demons in a post-WWII Japan, is inserted in a military school to discover which one of her classmates is a demon in disguise

Doc Faustus

02-28-2010, 08:04 AM

Infection 2004 Japanese movie. This movie was very eerie! I did not mind reading the subtitles. Only thing I was not so crazy about was the ending.

Yup. That was one lazy, confusing ending.

sgambino

02-28-2010, 09:27 AM

Yup. That was one lazy, confusing ending.

Ok then it just wasn't me. :)

Doc Faustus

02-28-2010, 01:39 PM

And this is from a Bizarro author.

zwoti

03-01-2010, 01:51 PM

sword of vengeance
baby cart at the river styx

zwoti

03-03-2010, 02:37 PM

baby cart to hades
baby cart in peril

psycho d

03-04-2010, 06:29 AM

Exte: Hair Extensions (2007). Having shied away from this silly sounding title, i finally realized that it was helmed by the inimitable Shion Sono of Strange Circus fame. What a bizarre and fun ride it turned out to be. The story itself was a parody of J-horror, but it was not just an exercise in silliness. It bravely depicts some rather ugly notions of child abuse as well as self-centered vanity. The range of characters were wonderful, ranging from the sweet Yoko to the bizarre Gunji, a demented and psychotic hair-loving coroner freak. The story itself was as solid as it needed to be. As a side note, it is worth taking note of and, if necessary, looking up the name of the salon. Occassionaly scary, this was more on the creepy and fun side of horror. The effects were reminiscent of stop-motion animation, and beautifully so. As as cheesy as this could have been, instead the production value was high. Overall it was simply another great entry from an EER point of view. Mercie beaucoup.

Angra

03-04-2010, 01:51 PM

"Epitaph" 7-8/10

Visually beautiful and surreal at times. Even had some scary moments later on in the story.

Liked it quite a bit.

zwoti

03-04-2010, 02:40 PM

baby cart in the land of demons

zwoti

03-06-2010, 04:07 PM

white heaven in hell
shogun assassin

zwoti

03-09-2010, 01:34 PM

spl (aka kill zone)

psycho d

03-10-2010, 04:12 AM

Fireworks (1997). This is a flick that is simply haunting, a movie that blurs the line between film and abstract art. Everything about this one is wonderful, from the story to the use of flashbacks to the literal artwork to the score. The story itself is a harrowing account of a cop's life, of mistakes made and chances lost. This is a sad tale, but not one that spirals out of control. In a sense, control is what is eventually achieved, but in a defeatist fashion. The acting was sublime, the direction supreme, the cinematography incredible, and the score befitting. All in all a majestic piece of art. Mercie beaucoup.
d

psycho d

03-15-2010, 03:43 AM

The Legend of Suriyothai (2001). An epic movie set in the historically turbulent 16th century Siam. Unfortunately, i saw the cut down version, which was still long for American eyes at 2 hours and 20 some minutes. The original clocks in at around 185 minutes. Still, this was a well researched epic that came across well, with no lack of political maneuvering and intrigue, backstabbing and sacrifice. The fight scenes are incredible-seeing elephants in battle is just something that must be seen to be appreciated. The costumes are a visual delight that are historically accurate. Hopefully i can track down the original an give it a go...
d

Empress_Of_Drac

03-16-2010, 11:30 PM

Sick Nurses aka Suay Laak Sai - This one reminds me of the movie “Pathology”.

Reincarnation aka Rinne - I dunno, but his one reminds me of that hollywood movie the title I forget. The title actually is a room number. I just can’t remember the exact number combination. Tsk…tsk…I’m too bad in memorizing numbers.

Angra

03-17-2010, 12:49 AM

sick nurses aka suay laak sai - this one reminds me of the movie “pathology”.

reincarnation aka rinne - i dunno, but his one reminds me of that hollywood movie the title i forget. The title actually is a room number. I just can’t remember the exact number combination. Tsk…tsk…i’m too bad in memorizing numbers.

1408?

.....................

roshiq

03-17-2010, 01:41 AM

Rokkk (http://www.funrocker.com/blog/first-look-of-new-indian-horror-movie-rokkk.html) (2010)

A new Indian horror. Very disappointing.

>>: D

zwoti

03-22-2010, 08:07 AM

the shinjuku incident

Putoems

03-23-2010, 01:24 AM

3 Extremes, the Korean, Japanese and Chinese Colabo... Very intense, specially the "Dumplings" Part.

psycho d

03-23-2010, 03:21 AM

The Uninvited (2003). Please have a little caffeine on board before taking this trip. This wonderful movie is slow slow slow. But in this case it is not a bad thing. This dark and brooding tale just takes its sweet time as it meanders through the world of the supernatural, the psyche, and the everyday world. This is more like art house horror, but there are no outright scares, just a slowly brewing story that just keeps getting darker and darker. The acting was fine. The direction and camera work were solid. The scant score was perfect. Some of the imagery was just plain chilling in the causal way that it was portrayed. Overall a perfectly convoluted piece of South Korean film. Merci beaucoup.
derek

neverending

03-24-2010, 05:41 PM

Hausu (House)

I had the great fortune to see this unique movie in a fine theatre last night. Even though I've read a bit about it, the movie was quite unlike any of my expectations. As a comedy/horror hybrid the emphasis is squarely on the comedy.

The film is told in broad strokes. The characters are not characters per se, but characatures of standard Japanese movie fare. There are six young Japanese school girls who get caught up in an unexpected adventure. The smart one wears glasses and is named "Prof." The heavy one is named "Mac" and is always hungry. The one named "Fantasy" is always lost in thought. "Melody" can play the piano. "Kung Fu" - well, she knows kung fu. The pretty one is named "Gorgeous" and she always is putting on makeup.

Gorgeous is angry she can't spend Summer vacation with her dad, so she takes all of her friends to visit her Aunt in another town. Her Aunt is a bit odd, and her cat is even stranger. They both live in a decrepit old house that is said to be haunted...

There is a lot of double entendre involving sexual jokes about Japanese school girls- incest, lesbianism, pedophilia- it's all hinted at. There are a number of very strange J-Pop musical numbers, and every kind of editing and special effects tricks ala the 1970s are thrown in- several styles of animation, including what looks to be drawing directly on the film, matte shots, various kinds of wipes, jump cuts, double exposures, polarization, model work, puppetry, sped up & slowed down camera work...

Stylish & stylized this is a wild ride of a film experience, and if you can see it in a theatre DO SO.

The theatre ran previews for the 25th anniversary theatrical release of Kurosawa's RAN!

psycho d

03-25-2010, 03:18 AM

Dead or Alive 2 (2000). Apparently there were some disappointment by the lack of violence and shock in this movie, not that it is is a children's flick. Obviously these folks do not see the powerful imagery and subtle symbols that define humanity in Miike's flicks. This is a tale of childhood lost and regained, of redemption, and the tenacity of childhood friendships. The main characters are portrayed wonderfully, and we come to care for them though we know what they do as well as their fate. Miike does not lack his bizarre flair here, and he even sneaks in some rather shocking elements. But more than a shocker, this is more of an intimate tale, endearing and playful, violent and remorseful. In short, another winner from the acclaimed mind that is Miike. Ashe.
d

psycho d

03-28-2010, 04:20 AM

Takeshi Kitano's Zatoichi (2003). When i realized that this remake of the Japanese samurai classic was to be directed by Beat Takeshi, who also stars, i was thrilled. My expectations were in fact exceeded. This enchanting flick stays true to form, with thrilling fight sequences, beautifully timed humor, and acting that was solid. The story itself was a simple one that was nonetheless infused with some apposite and intriguing side stories. Like the old days, there are copious amounts of blood in the fights scenes, and Takeshi marvelously blends technology with the old school to capture the essence of the era. Added to this was the wonderful score and the lovely dance scenes in the field and towards the end, where we are blessed with some traditional Japanese tap dancing. All in all a wonderful event. Merci beaucoup.
derek

psycho d

03-31-2010, 04:30 AM

The Bow (2005). Threatening to be a pooper, this minimalist piece by the vanguard director Ki-duc Kim can be seen as one of two things, a minimalist study of sexual human nature, desire, and possessiveness, or a metaphor of the transition of childhood innocence into adulthood. Why not both? This rather slow-paced flick was not only saved by the arresting conclusion, but in retrospect turned out to be a powerful sleeper of a movie. The acting was great, with sparse dialogue employed as a Ki-duc trademark. The cinematography is remarkable, especially since the whole piece takes place on a boat. Of course the direction is stellar, and Ki-duc again does not disappoint. For those with patience, this brilliant flick will eventually deliver. Merci beaucoup.
d

missmacabre

03-31-2010, 07:33 AM

Perfect Blue. What a mindfuck. Created such a great sense of how the main character must be feeling. About two thirds into the film I was even having a hard time figuring out what was or was not happening, what was dreaming, what was awake. Plus I'm a sucker for animation, so this ranks high on my list of recently seen movies. If you like anime, you should definatly check this one out.

missmacabre

04-02-2010, 07:43 AM

Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.-

This movie was really great. I love the Millennium Series of Godzilla movies. So much fun, without being too kitsch. Lots of laughs, and the fairies are back.

missmacabre

04-05-2010, 08:24 AM

Paprika- Cute little anime with some really fantastic animation. The plot was so surreal, and a few of the dream sequences freaked me out with their sheer japanese-ness. Derek loved it because it was so full of psychology jargon. I give it a 9/10 for being a fairly short movie. Everything else was perfect.

horrorsniped

04-05-2010, 10:52 AM

Dang....watched one a week ago. It had the word "Toilet" on the cover *lol*...but yeah it was an Asian horror movie. Was preeetttyyy wierd..

neverending

04-06-2010, 11:51 PM

horrorsniped

04-08-2010, 04:36 AM

Bloody Reunion

Wow- amazing film. Quite bloody for a Korean film. Story involves a group of former students who visit their childhood teacher at her home by the sea. It's revealed each one has a reason to hate her... and there's the matter of the deformed child she bore and raised in the basement. On top of that nothing is really what it seems.

Extremely well done and recommended.

I shall definitely check that out. As for me, I just watched two Asian horror movies in the past two days.:

Creepy Hide and Seek

If you like movies like Ringu and The Grudge, you'll like this. Ya ya I know a lot of Asian horror movies are like the ones I just mentioned, but theres always something fresh...

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0fpdTQyIhrM/S2Nr_l9oM5I/AAAAAAAABxI/E6MzI2fYojk/s400/704183CHS+poster.jpg

Face

As mentioned before, one of those grudge movies but this ones pretty spooky. Check it out:

psycho d

04-10-2010, 04:54 AM

L: Change the World (2008). Before thinking about this movie, be sure to watch Death Notes 1 and 2 first, and make sure that you absolutely have to see more of the enigmatic character L, or you will surely be left confused and disappointed. That said, where this story did not have the creative and stylish punch of the Death Note series, it more than made up for it by sharing more of the idiosyncrasies and character of L. He is absolutely fascinating. That said, the story varies from amusing to comic book absurd, which was just fine with me. Hideo Nakata of "The Ring" helms the direction of this flick, but again this one is all about the nearly sociopathic and likable L. Merci beaucoup.
d

missmacabre

04-11-2010, 11:48 AM

zwoti

04-12-2010, 12:45 PM

fist of legend

roshiq

04-13-2010, 01:37 AM

Ju-On: White Ghost & Black Ghost (2009)

Nice addition to the Ju-On saga. Both the new director did a decent job with Takashi Shimizu's original concept and created 2 totally different fine creepy tale with its regular eerie & dark atmosphere. Glad to have them in one single disc & liked them both.

>>: B+

Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl (http://asianmediawiki.com/Vampire_Girl_vs._Frankenstein_Girl) (2009)

I really enjoyed Machine Girl and haven't seen TGP yet. But this one is too much packed with bloody lunacy & sometimes that made me bore. As it's based on a comic book so it's may be worth watching for a particular group of young audience who love to see mindless cheesy blood splatter flicks like this anytime.

>>: C

psycho d

04-14-2010, 04:15 AM

Fudoh: The New Generation (1996). Fudoh, as with other Miike flicks, is simply a bizarre work of art. Miike takes what should be taboo and boldly shoves body fluids and the sexually ambiguous right into the face of is viewers, and he does so with a style that more than works. The story is a simple one of revenge, of misunderstandings of tradition, and the corruption of good old boys. The acting was solid enough, the direction of course was exceptional. All in all a classic Miike flick that catapulted him into the limelight. Ashe.
derek

psycho d

04-15-2010, 04:08 AM

ChronoGrl

04-16-2010, 09:28 AM

Wow. It's been a WHILE since I've posted here... Definitely need to catch up on my Asian Horror viewing (been busy trudging through After Dark Horrorfest I'm afraid)...

Tried to watch Whispering Corridors (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0241073/), but honestly I found it a bit boring. Also, stylistically it's more like a Giallo than your traditional ghost/haunting Asian film, and I'm not a huge fan of Giallo - A lot of sound and close ups, but not a lot of suspense. I didn't make it through it. :o

2/5

...

Bakjwi (Thirst) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0762073/) - Another disappointment. I LOVE director Chan-wook Park and Actor Kang-ho Song, but, to tell you the truth, this movie was L O N G and B O R I N G. Good story, but boring narrative spotted with the usual Park brilliance, but unfortunately not enough to keep me entertained throughout. In terms of Park's take on the vampire genre - LOVED IT. I thought that it was unique and I really liked the character Priest Sang-hyeon's struggle as he deals with being a vampire. That said, Song's portrayal of the Priest was REALLY over-the-top and I found the character too pathetic to really sympathize with... Ok-bin Kim as his female counterpart was BRILLIANT, though (she appeared in the movie Arang as well, which was pretty good) and she brings some fantastic life to the film.

I think the problem is that Park tried to do TOO MUCH with the movie... There are a couple of different story lines that drag the movie out. I think if he had focused a little bit more, the movie would have been more bearable. DEFINITELY could have used some editing. Would have been BRILLIANT if it was at least 45 minutes shorter. I REALLY wanted to like this more than I did.

2.75/5 (GOD it pains me to give Park less than a 3 on something...)

...

Bumping Bloody Reunion up in my queue now... Thanks for the rec!

neverending

04-16-2010, 10:29 AM

I agree with psycho d about Bloody Reunion- I was left at the end with a "What the heck?" feeling- but the ride made it worth it.

jenna26

04-16-2010, 01:23 PM

Epitaph

I loved this, the look and the feel of the film is fantastic, though it is a bit confusing. I also wasn't crazy about the use of the Psycho music, which was more distracting than anything.

missmacabre

04-17-2010, 01:39 PM

Bloody Reunion (2006). While this was a nice change form the typical ghost story, the story itself seemed kinda messy towards the end, with bungled twists and turns. Too bad because the initial build-up and story complexes seemed to portend a wicked ending. The visuals were quite stylish, and the scares were effective if not brutal. That said, i was left thinking "So what in the heck happened?" Worth a watch for sure, and there is certainly a chance that i simply could not keep up, but i still think that things did not add up. Late.
d

My take on it had everything making sense more or less.

Spoilers. The entire story we see in the first place with the caretaker being all sweet, and people dying from gruesome deaths in the basement simply did not happen. The students weren't the flawed people they were portrayed as, just good people who came once a year to visit their former teacher. The character of the shy boy who was made fun of never existed, but was in fact the painful situations that the "caretaker" went through. She made up the story of the shy boy killing everyone to distract the police while she escaped. Basically the teacher made fun of her in school, and was the reason behind her mom getting hit by a car, and she wanted revenge. In stead of getting it by hurting the teacher, she came to town when she knew the reunion was going to happen and poisoned the students that the teacher loved. Then explained what happened to leave the teacher feeling guilt for what she did.

fuglystick

04-19-2010, 11:00 PM

Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl--One of these days I'll grow out of Japanese gore films, but not today.

psycho d

04-20-2010, 04:15 AM

Gojira (1954). Though not the one that started it all, this atomic skyscraper of a monster is the one to be remembered. Gojira is the walking, screeching hydrogen bomb manifest, a force that denies even mankind's ability to control nature. The story's message could not be more clear, with the seemingly serene scientist that only wants to to study the monster, the crazed public that only wants the monster dead, and the mad scientist whose understanding of human nature underscores the rest. The destruction unleashed by the creature was of course based on history and a cry to never have such a thing repeated, and Gojira does not shy away from the devastating imagery of such destruction. The message, though heavy-handed, is merely based on the realities of humanity, and has at its core merely the want to save mankind. A pretty lofty endeavor to say the least. Ashe.
d

ChronoGrl

04-20-2010, 11:12 AM

Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl--One of these days I'll grow out of Japanese gore films, but not today.

Have you seen Tokyo Gore Police? How does it compare?

fuglystick

04-20-2010, 12:27 PM

Have you seen Tokyo Gore Police? How does it compare?
It's actually lighter in tone than TGP; it has a lot of 50's Beach Blanket Bingo/teen romance vibe to it (if Annette Funicello was run through a meat grinder).

missmacabre

04-20-2010, 12:49 PM

It's actually lighter in tone than TGP; it has a lot of 50's Beach Blanket Bingo/teen romance vibe to it (if Annette Funicello was run through a meat grinder).

Oh God, I have to see this now. Actually I will convince my friend to see it with me using your quote. :D

psycho d

04-26-2010, 04:42 AM

Tokyo Story (1953). This Japanese classic is just too powerful to be ignored. Tokyo Story is a slow-burning and seemingly boring story of an elderly couple's visit to Tokyo to see their busy children. With pained subtlety and insinuation, this wonderful flick expounds upon the alienation of the elderly with aplomb, and it does so without accusations or villains, but instead a simple truth of a complicated civilization. Nearly 60 years later, this film has not lost it punch. Be ready to stick out the first 30 minutes or so, for it really was a slow buildup that threatens to go nowhere. Once this lovely drama has sucked ya in, you will be blessed by some brilliant performances, incredibly subtle imagery, as well as believably heart wrenching scenes. Merci beaucoup.
d

psycho d

04-28-2010, 03:51 AM

Perfect Blue (1998). Beginning a little slow and drab, this lovely anime suckers the viewer into the madness that becomes Mima's world. As things move forward, nothing is as it seems, and her existence becomes a jumbled mess of insanity. Any more info would likely ruin the experience, so let's just say that Perfect Blue transmogrifies itself into a brilliant piece of psycho-horror. Ashe.
derek

psycho d

04-29-2010, 04:13 AM

Ikiru (1952). Death sparks the living to live. This might just be the master's greatest film. Sans samurais and any hint of an action figure, our hero, yes he is a hero, in a prosaic bureaucrat that has pretty much amounted to nothing in life, and he is in good company with the rest of his cohorts. But the painful consideration of impending death elicits Watanabe to search for life, though he knows not how to begin the search. Empty clichés of life are frantically attempted, but to no avail. The secret to living eludes our hero. The imagery here was sublime at times, giving credence to Kurosawa and crew for such a magnificent endeavor. Takashi Shimura deserves high mention for his astounding role as our protagonist. The story itself, simple yet told with supreme aplomb. The ending hints of the origins of South Korea's movie making style. In a word this flick was glorious. Merci beaucoup.
derek

Cement

04-30-2010, 02:23 AM

Re-Wind (1988) - another pinku eiga from Hisayasu Sato, the director of ''Lolita Vibrator Torture'' and ''Naked Blood''. It's very climatic and brutal, espacially the explosion of violence in the final scenes left me speechles. Together with cleverly used motive of snuff video showing the murder of the woman it has to be considered as another great Sato's film.

roshiq

05-04-2010, 01:12 AM

Darah aka Macabre (http://sg.movies.yahoo.com/Darah/movie/15427/) (2009)

A time passing Indonesian gore-fest, worth a watch.

>>: B-

roshiq

05-07-2010, 10:12 PM

Coming Soon (http://www.movieposterdb.com/posters/09_03/2008/1307057/l_1307057_4fbd4118.jpg) (2008)

>>: C

Angra

05-07-2010, 11:05 PM

"Hansel & Gretel" (2007) 7/10

Delightfully weird horror movie.

psycho d

05-08-2010, 04:08 AM

Evil Dead Trap (1988). Wacky and brutal gore dominates this twisted Japanese offering whose influences are splendidly obvious. There is no lack of insane kills, brutality, and some gratuitous and mean sex thrown in for good measure. This one definitely deserves to be a classic. The story is simple but takes a wicked little twist towards the end. The acting is fine for the occasion, with the doe eyed, perpetually freaked-out lead almost looking like an American with her incessantly popped eyes. The direction was spectacular, with a disturbing sense of art and dementia brilliantly weaved together. The score was wonderfully playful. Merci beaucoup.
derek

zwoti

05-09-2010, 12:11 PM

tai chi master

Angra

05-12-2010, 02:59 PM

"High Kick Girl" 1-2/10

Probably the worst martial arts story i've ever seen.

Story:

A girl is fighting black belts to prove she's the strongest karate girl in the world. Or maybe it's just in Japan, who knows? Who gives a shit. (First 20 minutes)
She gets contacted by someone who wants to test her to see if she's good enough to join a gang of mercenaries. She does the test (lame ass kicking) only to find out the gang is not really interested in her skills as much as to find and get revenge over her karate master. (next 20 minutes)
They find the master, fail to kill him and instead kidnaps the high-kick-girl to lure him into an, obviously, abandonned school building. There he has to fight the entire gang to save the girl. (last 20 minutes)

First thing that came to mind watching this shitfest was... film school project.

Not only was the story bad and the main character a cocky annoying bitch, but the overuse of slow-motion replays was beyond ridiculous.
Now, if this movie had starred Tony Jaa or someone almost as talented i would have loved the slow-motion-replay idea. But this girl and her "master"... geez!
Give me half a year of training and i'll bet i could could kick higher than both of them. In other words, there was NO reason for slow-motion replays in this movie. The action just wasn't that good.
Then again, when you look at the running time (60 minutes) THAT could explain the need of constant slow replays..

Yea, I pretty much hated every minute of it.

roshiq

05-18-2010, 12:16 AM

Necromancer (http://www.fullhalloween.com/blog/705/necromancer-thai-2005-poster-synopsis-plot-and-trailer-official/) (2005)

A supernatural Cop thriller from Thailand. It was kinda interesting with good production value & effects at the beginning but the story lacks in some parts and overall disappointing.

>>: C-

ChronoGrl

05-19-2010, 12:28 PM

"Hansel & Gretel" (2007) 7/10

Delightfully weird horror movie.

Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally want to see this one - Been waiting for it to become available on Netflix for a while now...

Angra

05-19-2010, 01:05 PM

Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally want to see this one - Been waiting for it to become available on Netflix for a while now...

Well, it's not a perfect horror movie. But i'm sure most people will love the first half. :)

roshiq

05-20-2010, 02:37 AM

Ishqiya (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1345777/) (2010)

A great Indian Spaghetti roller coaster! Beautifully written, directed and got the perfect cast. Surely looking forward to see more films from this new director who already worked as assistant director in such great films like Omkara & Maqbool.

>>: A-

psycho d

05-29-2010, 05:17 AM

When the Last Sword is Drawn (2003). A convoluted and wonderful samurai flick set during the tumultuous modernization of Japan. The story itself was a little difficult to follow at first, but the commitment was worth the effort. In hindsight it unraveled in a remarkable fashion. The protagonists were superbly complex and true to themselves. This was a splendid drama with lots of great swordplay interspersed though out. The acting was top-notch, with quite a few familiar faces adorning the screen. The direction and camera work were perfect, with much attention paid to shot composition. The end tended to meander a bit, but the emotional soliloquy towards the end was simply brilliant. Overall a nice little modern Japanese samurai drama. Ashe.
d

_____V_____

06-02-2010, 11:53 PM

Ugetsu .

psycho d

06-03-2010, 04:17 AM

Dolls (2002). From the opening scene to the last, Kitano's Dolls is a visual splendor. Unlike his other work, Kitano seems on the same page as Ki-duk Kim here, with astounding visuals and imagery and minimalist dialog; and this is not a bad thing. Definitely art house, this flick is not for everyone. But for those inclined towards the angst of unfair love as presented through a relentless series of symbolic and colorful visuals, then this will be quite the treat. The acting was sublime. The story itself is solid, and the direction is of course exceptional. The camera work is off the charts wonderful. This work might even challenge Hana-bi for Kitano's most powerful work to date. Ashe.

psycho d

06-06-2010, 03:43 AM

Face (2004). This South Korean entry seems to be plagued with an identity crisis. It was not only predictable, but it could not figure out if it was horror, romance, or a story driven drama. Pretty weak for our friends from the Asian peninsula. LAte.
d

roshiq

06-07-2010, 10:50 PM

Audition (1999)

Special viewing for my hundred horror 'project'.:)

HG666

06-10-2010, 11:13 AM

Meat Grinder

psycho d

06-11-2010, 05:42 AM

High and Low (1963). Kurosawa was at the height of his wondrous career when he made this crime drama. Made in two distinct movements with an incredible transition scene, this fabulous flick is Law and Order meets theatre proper. A simple story, it unravels with aplomb, revealing a paradox which has no simple solution sans tragedy, either financial or ethical. The procedural process of police work is painstakingly evinced to glorify not the excitement of the work, but instead the attention to detail. The ending will leave the viewer looking to lift his jaw back into its proper place. The acting is sublime, with Mifune and Nakadai the star of the first and second movement, respectively. The direction is of course masterful, with camera angles and editing that makes for such a wonderful production. An absolute treat to the serious fan of cinema. Merci beaucoup.
derek

HG666

06-11-2010, 09:03 AM

Attack Girls' Swim Team Vs The Undead. Pretty low budget, but it was still fun.

roshiq

06-12-2010, 12:49 AM

4bia (2008)

An average Thai Horror anthology.

>>: C-

rsmalinoski

06-13-2010, 08:24 PM

last one was probably Uzamaki. Personally, the manga was better, but very interesting visuals

zwoti

06-14-2010, 12:28 PM

house (hausu)

VanSaint

06-30-2010, 07:33 PM

Three Extremes is excellent. Anthology of 3 short films. You know you're in for a treat when you're watching something in this genre entitled Dumplings. Although "Cut" was really good too.

Black_Brain

06-30-2010, 11:38 PM

Battle Royale
I have seen it a few times and I love it every time. The character development and the teenage attitude is very well done in my opinion. My only problem with it (besides one of the over acted deaths) was the convenient unexplained cheating at the end. 9/10

tried to watch BR 2, BIG BIG MISTAKE. The dialogue went on unneeded tangents and the character development was horrible in comparison and the hair was ridiculous. Not to mention, why would they be on the same island? I could go on a huge rant of what was wrong with the film. 2/10

psycho d

07-02-2010, 05:23 AM

Tokyo Sonata (2008). This movie is an exploitation of the mystery of Japanese culture. The story revolves around a rather mundane, middle class family as it comes up against economic tragedy. The result reveals a family that is anything but mundane as the cultural dogma of how one is to behave comes into conflict with common sense and human nature, culminating into chaos, despondency, and a rather comedic subplot that disrupts what might have been a dark spiral into the abyss. The acting was quite solid, with Kyoko's portrayal of the strong and subservient wife a compelling piece of work. The direction by the incredible Kurosawa was wonderful as he moves away from the horrors of chronic lassitude into the horrors of everyday domestic life in Japan. The ending was appropriate and gorgeous. Ashe.

roshiq

07-10-2010, 12:22 AM

Womb Ghosts (http://delirium-vault.com/nekoneko/2010/05/23/womb-ghosts-2010-chinese-ghost-horror/) (2010)

A time passing, mediocre Horror film from Hong Kong. For first half n' hour I was bit confused about the female leads (it happened once before while I was watching the movie called Dead Friend)...as more or less they all looked kinda same. Later on as the story progress then able to recognized them.:)

>>: C

roshiq

07-12-2010, 02:51 AM

Dark Water (2002)

psycho d

07-18-2010, 04:26 AM

Curse of the Golden Flower (2006). Jade and gold on the outside, rot and decay on the inside. This was the basic element upon which this epic sized tragedy was erected, a la Chinese. With the hoards of extras used, I kept wondering where they got all of those people, until I realized that China has no lack of extras. This story was a basic Greek-style tragedy told with the backdrop of the Tang Dynasty. The acting was spectacular, with heavies such as the beautiful Gong Li and puissant Yun-Fat Chow leading. The emotional tug of war of intrigues and heroics are wonderfully expressed in facial and body language. These are good people driven by destiny and human nature. With Yimou Zhang at the helm, the story unravels flawlessly amidst sets whose opulence is only challenged by the splendor of color. The hoards of people are expertly choreographed, leading the eye to seek out CGI'd excesses that do not exist. Overall, this is an epic tale that the Chinese got right. Ashe.

roshiq

07-19-2010, 11:33 PM

Phobia 2 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1521846/) (2009)

In this sequel of Thai anthology 4bia this time it comes with 5 stories. Liked the 1st, 3rd & 4th (Novice, Backpackers, Salvage) story for the plot & story premise. Last one (In the end) was decently funny. Overall, it's a better package of horror than 4bia.

>>: B

roshiq

07-20-2010, 11:54 PM

Inner Senses (2002)

Yan, a young woman haunted by fleeting images of what she believes to be dead people. Told that it is all in her mind by her psychologist Jim, Yan still cannot find any other explanations for her visions. Soon, her suspicions are confirmed when Jim begins seeing the same things she does and the two begin to unravel a mystery that leads to a forgotten past.

A slow burn but decent romantic horror from Hong Kong with nice characterizations & few jump scares. Worth a watch.

>>: B

urdevil

07-21-2010, 06:43 AM

Finally saw Mother last night. It doesnt fall into the horror category. Its more of a thriller/mystery movie. A mom becomes a sleuth after her son is arrested for a murder. Its quite complex, definitely worth your time.

zwoti

07-24-2010, 01:46 AM

vampire girl vs frankenstein girl

mrajan

07-26-2010, 04:35 AM

Macabre aka Darah
I loved this movie! Now this is what I call horror. That woman was so weird with the faces she made. It scared the crap out of me. Thank you for such a great variety of films. There is something for everyone at this website! I love you guys since the beginning, keep up the good work.;)

roshiq

07-28-2010, 01:56 AM

Best Seller (http://www.dongdrama.com/korean-movie-best-seller-will-be-in-hollywood-remake.html) (2010)

Hee-Soo (a young writer) moves to a small house in a rural area after becoming involved in a plagiarism scandal. Hee-Soo then hears a horrifying story from her daughter who hears it from an invisible friend in that house and she writes a new novel based on those stories.
Her novel becomes another best seller, but Hee-Soo's success is short lived. The stories in the novel are discovered to have been published 10 years ago. To prove her innocence, she goes back to the house to uncover the mystery that lies there.....

The 1st half of the movie was pretty decent & the story evolved in an interesting way but then it become pretty predictable in the 2nd half, though I was expecting more twists as the 1st(?) one came almost in the middle of the movie. The plot seems had potential at the beginning but in the end it turned out just an ok horror-thriller from Korea.

>>: B

zwoti

07-28-2010, 12:22 PM

the mysterians
force of five

roshiq

07-29-2010, 01:50 AM

Evil Dead Trap (1988)

A nice tribute to the 70's & 80's American & European genre films. Specially loved that GOBLIN-esque soundtrack.

>>: B+

psycho d

07-29-2010, 04:48 AM

Evil Dead Trap (1988)

A nice tribute to the 70's & 80's American & European genre films. Specially loved that GOBLIN-esque soundtrack.

>>: B+

Agreed. This one was an unexpected treat...
d

psycho d

08-01-2010, 05:13 AM

The Chaser (2008). This incredible psycho-thriller has reinvigorated my love of Korean cinema. Just about every aspect of this flick was perfect. The story itself was a wonderful ride, but not as confusing as some Korean flicks tend to be. It also shied away from the usual Korean tendency to weave together a story so abstruse that needs an explicit visual explanation towards its denouement. Instead, this is simply a driving movie that never lets up, with side-stories constantly interfering with our players best intents to motor on with their nefarious deeds, whether they be pimping their chicks or bashing their brains in. Heroes and villains alike are thick in character, some being richly complex and unlikeable, others hiding their filth behind a wall of believably simplicity. The action is so wonderfully authentic, spiced with occasional bumblings, that we come to appreciate each and every blow with with some well earned flinching. At times a tad gruesome and brutal, a Hollywood ending is definitely not in the cards. Merci beaucoup.
d

neverending

08-06-2010, 08:53 PM

roshiq

08-07-2010, 03:24 AM

The Wig

Using a hunk of cursed hair as a focal point for a metaphorical tale dealing with sickness, loss, bereavement and what we will do to avoid those things, this film weaves a wonderful spell. Really enjoyed this.

But can someone who has seen this film tell me who the boys with the belts were, and who they were beating?

As far as I can recall that it left a pretty good impression on me too when I watched it on youtube almost a year ago but your question my friend, reminds me an extreme need of a 2nd viewing asap. :o

The Chaser (2008). This incredible psycho-thriller has reinvigorated my love of Korean cinema. Just about every aspect of this flick was perfect. The story itself was a wonderful ride, but not as confusing as some Korean flicks tend to be. It also shied away from the usual Korean tendency to weave together a story so abstruse that needs an explicit visual explanation towards its denouement. Instead, this is simply a driving movie that never lets up, with side-stories constantly interfering with our players best intents to motor on with their nefarious deeds, whether they be pimping their chicks or bashing their brains in. Heroes and villains alike are thick in character, some being richly complex and unlikeable, others hiding their filth behind a wall of believably simplicity. The action is so wonderfully authentic, spiced with occasional bumblings, that we come to appreciate each and every blow with with some well earned flinching. At times a tad gruesome and brutal, a Hollywood ending is definitely not in the cards. Merci beaucoup.
d

Oh, though haven't give it a watch yet but after reading your review, at the moment I'm feeling very glad that at least I have the dvd in my collection.:o

Last seen:

Hausu aka House (1977)

Weird, magical and hilarious (even the name of the characters: Mac, Sweet, Fanta, Kung Fu!:D); that makes a totally different & wonderful addition to the sub genre of Haunted House films. Loved it.

>>: A-

neverending

08-09-2010, 09:11 PM

VOICE

Interesting Koean ghost story set in a girl's school. Might be a bit slow for people not into Asian horror.

neverending

08-10-2010, 12:51 AM

Restless

Romantic epic martial arts fantasy. The title doesn't really fit the film, which was certainly grand in scope.

bloody_ribcut

08-10-2010, 09:50 AM

Choclate which was pretty cool, and the first fifteen minutes of Tokyo Zombie.

Ghostdude

08-12-2010, 07:23 AM

Ghost lantern

neverending

08-12-2010, 08:33 AM

Tazza: The High Rollers

The lives of high stakes card players in Korea. Stylish, at times violent, a fascinating portrayal.

ProfondoXxRosso

08-12-2010, 08:50 AM

Ecchi - and it was terrible...

Spookhouse

08-16-2010, 06:10 AM

Last Asian horror film I watched was Secret Sunday. Its Thai. Its rather good, a pretty unique storyline. Gets a 4 out of 5.

You can watch it here. http://www.asian-horror-movies.com/sunday.php

_____V_____

08-16-2010, 10:52 AM

Cyber Ninja (aka) Mirai Ninja

http://www.superheroeslives.com/internationals/cyber_ninja_(1988)/poster.jpg

Zwoti & Angra, see if you can track this one down. A real hoot to watch, mixing sci-fi with old school ninja fighting. Watched it once a long time ago on VHS, and boy am I glad I found it after all these years.

missmacabre

08-16-2010, 08:24 PM

Hard Revenge Milly

This is what I like to see in a revenge/ultra-gore flick. The gore was over the top, but not silly. I like the ultra-gorey Japanese movies that have been coming out in the last 3 years or so, but some of them are so bent on being kinky that it's more silly than fun. For example Machine Girl 2's butt machine gun, or Robogeisha's vehicle transformations. I though Hard Revenge Milly would be the same, just too much silly action jammed into a 44 minute movie but I was pleasently surprised.

8/10. Recommended for fans of TGP etc. etc.

roshiq

08-17-2010, 08:43 AM

Help (http://www.fullhalloween.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/help-350x494.jpg) (2008)

Jiang Yan a psychology grad student, is growing more aware of her own mental status, as sheï¿½s been seeing ghostly images and hearing mysterious voices. She believes these eerie occurrences are caused by the spirit of her boyfriend, whom she has killed accidentally. Confused and hopeless, Jiang asks the professor whom sheï¿½s been sleeping with for comfort. Jiang suspects the professor & her friend Xiao Lin all are platting against her. However, what she is about to find out is far more serious and complicated than she can ever imagineï¿½.

An average low budget psychological horror from China.

>>: C

Rule # 1 (http://www.beyondhollywood.com/rule-number-one-2008-movie-review/) (2008)

Rookie Sergeant Lee (Shawn Yue) is injured in a shoot-out and is assigned to the dubious-sounding Miscellaneous Affairs Department (MAD). There, he is paired up with Inspector Wong (Ekin Cheng), a jaded and alcoholic veteran who explains that MAD's role is to answer supernatural calls. Wong explains MAD's rule number one - there are no ghosts. For every seemingly inexplicable phenomenon, there is a corresponding scientific and rational explanation. MAD begins investigating a string of bizarre teenage suicides - impossible suicides, unless the victims were possessed. As Lee and Wong follow the clues, they realise something sinister is heading their way.

A good entertainer where mainly the number one rule was the ghost is contagious...it possess its next victim by merely a touch. But this isn't the main issue in this film, the solid part comes through the good characterization, decent flow of the story & the twist at the end.

>>: B+

Spookhouse

08-17-2010, 09:14 AM

I watched No Mercy last night. Its a cop thriller. With a some excellent twists and turns through out the whole movie. It had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Though some of it can be long and dragged out, but thats expected with most Asian films I suppose. 4/5

You can watch it here. http://www.asian-horror-movies.com/nomer.php

_____V_____

08-23-2010, 02:14 AM

Battlefield Baseball & Shaolin Soccer back to back.

fuglystick

08-27-2010, 09:49 AM

Hard Revenge Milly--Not really horror--more "action/gore"--and at 45 minutes long, not really a movie. But worth the watch, for the direction and editing of the action sequences. Hollywood could learn a lot from well shot low budget films; slow-mo and "bullet time" are not nearly as effective as proper camera angles and editing when it comes to putting together an exhilarating action sequence.

Onechanbara: The Vortex--Not as good as the first. But, hey, still has a hot bikini clad chick slaying zombies with katanas, so I didn't really care.

roshiq

08-28-2010, 01:05 AM

The Eye 2 (2004)

Not scary/creepy at all but a decent story.

>>: B-

fuglystick

08-28-2010, 10:32 AM

The Big Tits Dragon (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1642252/)(or, The Big Tits Zombie, Kyonyû doragon: Onsen zonbi vs sutorippâ 5, etc. etc.)

Saw this without dubs or subs, so I didn't understand a word of dialog.

But who needs dialog, when there's a fire breathing vagina?

roshiq

08-29-2010, 12:07 AM

Death Bell (http://asianmediawiki.com/Death_Bell) (2008)

Some elite students of a prominent Seoul high school attending a sudden special exam on a Saturday. The bell rings through the speakers and the television monitor displays images of one missing student trapped in an aquarium slowly filling up with water. The rest of the students in the class has to solve the puzzles in order to save their classmate. The exits are sealed, the contact with the outside world is cut off and the group finds themselves subjected to the lethal and perverted games of a deranged killer. But who is he and what are his motives?

A fast paced gruesome Asian School Campus horror thriller that comes with a good entertainment value. I pretty much enjoyed it and it didn't bothered me at all whether or not the inspiration came here in the vein of international renowned franchise like SAW or Battle Royal.

>>: B+

zwoti

08-29-2010, 02:47 PM

the butcher

Erika_Knight

08-30-2010, 01:02 AM

I really should watch more Japanese films.

DP McCoy

09-02-2010, 11:38 AM

Ong Bak 3

I found this all very dull and boring.The fight scenes were entertaining enough,but they were too few and far between to prevent me from becoming disinterested. 5/10

psycho d

09-07-2010, 04:33 AM

Late Spring (1949). The first of Ozu's Noriko "trilogy," it seems more its conclusion that its opener. No matter, this flick is yet another example of the mastery of Ozu's film making prowess. The story itself is a slow burner, and the magic derives from the gentle unraveling of the plot. Life does not just go on, but life must be lived though its changes, and to stifle change is to disrupt life itself, even if grief and loneliness loom under the threat of change. The acting was subtle and understated, and wonderfully so. The direction and camera work together in unity to allow the story to flow at its own paced, slow and methodical, artistic and highly symbolic. The ending- and unavoidable and noble tragedy that is the living of life. Merci beaucoup.
Genruk'

roshiq

09-07-2010, 05:28 AM

Kairo aka Pulse (2001)

A pretty unique & excellent ghost story where the journey of the ghostly spirits begins & ends on our loneliness...yeah, the spookiest part of their existence is they can make us dead lonely. And this totally different perspective on this prime sub genre of horror slowly takes full control of the screen & its audience with the help of its one of the brilliant works in sound editing, mixing & background scores ever done in our beloved genre films in years.

A superb horror film for what I have missing for years but finally able to watch for the first time last night.

>>: A

roshiq

09-09-2010, 08:36 AM

Sion Sono's Suicide Club & Noriko's Dinner Table

I have seen Suicide Club before, which is undoubtedly one of the most powerful thought-provoking films of last decade. Couldn't help myself to go for the 2nd viewing after watching NDT.

Noriko's Dinner Table is more a companion film to the first film than a solid sequel. It's more personal approach to certain themes about family and its lasting effect on youngsters, the generation gap on modern families, the nature of happiness, the lack of understanding or real communication, the alienation it causes and how the Internet & pop culture is used in an attempt to mend it, and the concept of identity & family to certain age groups.

The thing is generation gaps, the connectivity concept in defining happiness or the social detachments are very human & universal theme in modern world and can be distinguished in matter of different social & cultural perspectives also. Sono deals the issues here as both the films are like Japanese allegories, meditation on issues like urbanization and the impact of family in a country where relatively high suicide rates somewhat signifies 54 cheerful teenagers throwing themselves in front of a train or a business concept called Family Rental.
Both the films are definitely not for everyone, some may just find them films about utterly confused & screwed youths of Japan; where you may actually find a this kinda rare celluloid treat with this level of complexity & disturbing structure once in a lifetime.

>>: A

psycho d

09-10-2010, 05:36 AM

Running Out of Time (1999). Johnny To takes what would be a painfully laughable movie in Hollywood's hands and makes it endearing and enjoyable. The story itself is riddled with holes, but that is easily smoothed over by the perfect interaction between the two leads. Blending humor with fateful melancholy, this flick which threatens gratuitous violence never quite makes that step and remains a heartfelt story of cat and mouse. With fun and believable acting, solid direction, and a competent hand on the camera, this flick defines simple entertainment. Merci beaucoup.
Genruk'

roshiq

09-11-2010, 11:30 AM

Neighbor No. 13 (2005)

It was okay but disappointed with the ending.

>>: C+

ChronoGrl

09-12-2010, 01:08 PM

FINALLY got around to watching Ringu (1998) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0178868/) :eek:

And, wow. WOW.

The American remake doesn't even come CLOSE to doing it justice... I had seen the remake when it first came out and thought it was pretty awful - Couldn't understand the buzz around it (though in hindsight it's because DUM'ERICANS don't watch foreign films so I'm sure there was some kind novelty wrapped around it)...

But now I watch the original and even though I'm pretty sure I know how it's going to end, I am STILL creeped out by it. Amazing direction - Slow, suspenseful and amazingly moody, there's a reason why this film is so incredibly iconic - It's fucking scary. Well, maybe "creepy" is more accurate, but still - I found myself holding my breath a few times out of suspense and tension.

Fantastic fucking film.

Fuck you Hollywood for thinking you could do better (and fuck you mass audience who thought that the remake "WUZ SO FUKING GUD.")

And also, FUCK YOU every single FUCKING n00b who starts threads around here saying, "MAN HORROR MOVIES AREN'T WHAT THEY USED TO BE EVERYTHING POST 80s SUCKS." FUCK YOU.

End rant.

5/5. HIGHLY recommended (though I'm pretty sure I'm the last person on this forum who has yet to see this film).