DoctorBoat's Top 50 Asian Movies
I first got into Asian cinema in around 2010, and ever since I have never been known to turn down the chance to watch something I have never heard of before. It's a great feeling to come across a film that you have never even seen a trailer for and be blown away.
Although I mainly stick with Korea, Japan & China, I'm not against venturing out to check out films from Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong etc. Similar to genres, although my favourites are Dramas, RomDramas and Thrillers.. I will watch anything. And I believe each country has it's strengths.
Japan has Shomin-Geki, great Horror, and is the king of Animation. Korea has some of the best Dramas and Thrillers. Whereas China has brilliant Romance and Action.
Some of my favourite directors from the far-east are Zhang Yimou, Kim Jee-Woon, Sion Sono, Park Chan-Wook, Hirokazu Koreeda, and Bong Joon-Ho.
Actors would be Sol Kyung-Gu, Jackie Chan, Ken Watanabe, Choi Min-Sik, Song Kang-Ho, Jun Kunimura & Lee Byung-Hun.
And for actresses Zhang Ziyi, Chun Woo-Hee, Suzu Hirose, Bae Doona, Han Hyo-Joo, Hikari Mitsushima, Zhou Dongyu & Fumi Nikaido.
Chances are if you like some of the films on my list, you should be able to find something else similar. These are my personal favourites, not necessarily what I believe to be the greatest Asian films ever made.
Although I mainly stick with Korea, Japan & China, I'm not against venturing out to check out films from Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong etc. Similar to genres, although my favourites are Dramas, RomDramas and Thrillers.. I will watch anything. And I believe each country has it's strengths.
Japan has Shomin-Geki, great Horror, and is the king of Animation. Korea has some of the best Dramas and Thrillers. Whereas China has brilliant Romance and Action.
Some of my favourite directors from the far-east are Zhang Yimou, Kim Jee-Woon, Sion Sono, Park Chan-Wook, Hirokazu Koreeda, and Bong Joon-Ho.
Actors would be Sol Kyung-Gu, Jackie Chan, Ken Watanabe, Choi Min-Sik, Song Kang-Ho, Jun Kunimura & Lee Byung-Hun.
And for actresses Zhang Ziyi, Chun Woo-Hee, Suzu Hirose, Bae Doona, Han Hyo-Joo, Hikari Mitsushima, Zhou Dongyu & Fumi Nikaido.
Chances are if you like some of the films on my list, you should be able to find something else similar. These are my personal favourites, not necessarily what I believe to be the greatest Asian films ever made.
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- DirectorLee Joon-ikStarsLee ReSol Kyung-guUhm Ji-wonStory of an 8-year-old girl who faces a horrible rape that damages her internally and affects her emotionally, trying to overcome all the obstacles following the incident with the good support of those around her.Apprently not many have seen this film.. do yourself a favour and watch it right now! Sol Kyung-Gu and Lee Re are outstanding.. they will warm your heart, break it and then fix it up for you in just 2 hours. This is a truly special movie. 10/10
- DirectorKim Jee-woonStarsLee Byung-hunChoi Min-sikJeon Gook-hwanA secret agent exacts revenge on a serial killer through a series of captures and releases.Incredible. Kim Jee-Woon has done some really good films, and this one is right up there. Some masterful shots, top acting from Choi Min-Sik and Lee Byung-Hun and high tension throughout. 10/10
- DirectorYimou ZhangStarsZiyi ZhangHonglei SunHao ZhengPrompted by the death of his father and the grief of his mother, a man recalls the story of how they met in flashback.The Road Home is a Zhang Yimou film so you know it will be visually beautiful.. but has a beautiful story to go along with it. Simplicity is key, but when it is made this well.. you can't have many complaints. 10/10
- DirectorPark Chan-wookStarsChoi Min-sikYoo Ji-taeKang Hye-jeongAfter being kidnapped and imprisoned for fifteen years, Oh Dae-Su is released, only to find that he must track down his captor in five days.In my opinion, Oldboy is pretty much a perfect movie.. I don't think I would change a thing. Incredibly intriguing, Choi Min-Sik is outstanding as the lead.. and because it's so well done, repeat viewings are still a joy. 10/10
- DirectorYimou ZhangStarsZiyi ZhangTakeshi KaneshiroAndy LauA romantic police captain breaks a beautiful member of a rebel group out of prison to help her rejoin her fellows, but things are not what they seem.Zhang Yimou + Zhang Ziyi = awesome film. Great acting, score, setting, choreography, characters. House of Flying Daggers has everything a Martial Arts film needs.. and so much more. 10/10
- DirectorPark Chan-wookStarsKim Min-heeHa Jung-wooCho Jin-woongA woman is hired as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress, but secretly she is involved in a plot to defraud her.Outstanding. Interesting plot and character development, but the score and cinematography are brilliant too! As well as the chemistry between Kim Min-Hee and Kim Tae-Ri, it all came together masterfully. In my opinion this is Park Chan-Wook's best work since 'Oldboy'. 10/10
- DirectorSion SonoStarsTakahiro NishijimaHikari MitsushimaSakura AndôA bizarre love triangle forms between a young Catholic upskirt photographer, a misandric girl and a manipulative cultist.Sion Sono's films always feel unique and refreshing, But Love Exposure is definitely his masterpiece. The whole premise of the film seems strange at first, But every scene gives more character study and development. With great characters such as Yoko & Koike, at a fast pace makes 4 hours seem closer to 3. Unforgettable. 10/10
- DirectorKim Jee-woonStarsLim Soo-jungYum Jung-ahKim Kap-suAfter being institutionalized in a mental hospital, Su-mi reunites with her sister, Su-yeon, and they return to live at their country home. But strange events plague the house, leading to surprising revelations and a shocking conclusion.A true modern-horror masterpiece. But it's biggest strength is the family dynamic with great chemistry between Lim Soo-Jung and Moon Geun-Young. A Tale of Two Sisters is alot more than your everyday horror movie. 10/10
- DirectorBong Joon HoStarsSong Kang-hoKim Sang-kyungKim Roe-haIn a small Korean province in 1986, two detectives struggle with the case of multiple young women being found raped and murdered by an unknown culprit.Great direction and screenplay from Bong Joon-Ho, acting from Song Kang-Ho, even comic relief in the form of Detective Cho fly-kicking people. Based on true events. With my favourite final scene from any film. 10/10
- DirectorKinji FukasakuStarsTatsuya FujiwaraAki MaedaTarô YamamotoIn the future, the Japanese government captures a class of ninth-grade students and forces them to kill one another under the revolutionary "Battle Royale" act.Incredibly fun.. unforgettable characters such as the psychotic Kitano and Kazuo Kiriyama. I would say this is a modern classic, and one you can watch over and over again. 10/10
- DirectorMakoto ShinkaiStarsRyunosuke KamikiMone KamishiraishiRyo NaritaTwo teenagers share a profound, magical connection upon discovering they are swapping bodies. Things manage to become even more complicated when the boy and girl decide to meet in person.Wow.. is what I said multiple times while watching. 'Your Name' is literal jaw-dropping animation. With 2 loveable lead characters in Taki & Mitsuha, they offer the perfect balance of humour to emotion with an underlying romance. I had high hopes.. but this blew me away. 10/10
- DirectorLee Hae-junStarsJeong Jae-yeongJung Ryeo-wonYeong-seo ParkA failed suicide attempt leads a heartbroken man to live a life in the wilderness.What an awesome way to do a 'stranded at sea' movie. It feels so original.. and the director done a brilliant job. Great characters and performances from Jeong Jae-Yeong and Jung Ryeo-Won, screenplay, and some really funny moments too. 9/10
- DirectorLee Su-jinStarsChun Woo-heeJung In-sunKim So-youngHan Gong-Ju transfers to a new school to escape her past. It takes a long time for her troubled past to catch up with her but when it does, the revelation is devastating.Touching Indie flick from Korea, based on a case from 2004. Chun Woo-Hee is brilliant as Gong-Ju in this award winning performance. If you are a fan of dramas, this might be one you would enjoy. 9/10
- DirectorAng LeeStarsChow Yun-FatMichelle YeohZiyi ZhangA young Chinese warrior steals a sword from a famed swordsman and then escapes into a world of romantic adventure with a mysterious man in the frontier of the nation.A really great all-around film. Acting, direction, visually.. the choreography is also brilliant. The fight between Michelle Yeoh and Ziyi Zhang is my favourite fight scene in cinema. 9/10
- DirectorYimou ZhangStarsJet LiTony Leung Chiu-waiMaggie CheungA defense officer, Nameless, was summoned by the King of Qin regarding his success of terminating three warriors.Incredibly beautiful movie from Zhang Yimou. A visual masterpiece with such vibrant colours, that is truly a feast for the eyes. Along with a great cast with Jet Li, Donnie Yen and Ziyi Zhang. This is a highly entertaining watch. 9/10
- DirectorKang Hyeong-cheolStarsYoo Ho-jeongShim Eun-kyungJin Hee-kyungSeven girls become good friends in high school, then events pull them apart for 25 years. When one of the friends lies dying in a hospital, she wishes to see each of them one last time.A touching comedy about lost friendships that anyone can relate to. With a lot of the film told through flashback, all the ladies from both past and present are well acted. But the girls from the past become the stars of the show. Jin-Hee, Geum-Ok and Jang-Mi stand out for me, they are so entertaining on screen. 9/10
- DirectorKang Je-kyuStarsJang Dong-gunWon BinLee Eun-juWhen two brothers are forced to fight in the Korean War, the elder decides to take the riskiest missions if it will help shield the younger from battle.One of the better War films that I have seen. Set during the Korean War, we see what it is like for two brothers drafted to fight.. and also what it is like for the family. This film has good characters and action scenes along with some very well made emotional scenes. 9/10
- DirectorNobuhiro YamashitaStarsBae DoonaAki MaedaYû KashiiA music group of girls need to learn to play a song before the school festival.What a fun film and what a great soundtrack! Plus Maeda learning drums, Kashii learning guitar and Bae for singing in Japanese for this film (Sekine was already a bassist in a band). Any music fan should get some enjoyment out of this, especially if you were in a school band. The depiction of band practice is 100% spot-on. 9/10
- DirectorBong Joon HoStarsKim Hye-jaWon BinJin GooA mother desperately searches for the killer who framed her son for a girl's horrific murder.Another awesome film from Bong Joon-Ho. Great direction and screenplay along with a great performance from Won Bin as the protagonist, Do-Joon. Interesting from the beginning and it doesn't disappoint at it's conclusion. 9/10
- DirectorTetsuya NakashimaStarsKyôko FukadaAnna TsuchiyaHiroyuki MiyasakoMomoko, a strange and seemingly emotionless girl obsessed with 18th century France, befriends a Yanki biker and the two experience the ups and downs of their unusual lives in a rural Japanese town.I was not expecting Kamikaze Girls to be as funny as it was, No film has made me laugh out loud this much in years. With a unique style, especially visually. This is such a fun film, hats off to Mr. Nakashima, you made one hell of a film. 9/10
- DirectorKore-eda HirokazuStarsHaruka AyaseMasami NagasawaKahoThree sisters who live in their grandmother's home invite their thirteen-year-old half sister, whom they have just met, to join them.A glimpse into the lives of 4 sisters, all acted superbly and they feel extremely human. Well directed and beautifully shot.. but a basic plot with no big payoff. Some will certainly not enjoy this, but if you like character driven films with ordinary people living ordinary lives, this is a very heart-warming one. 9/10
- DirectorWilson YipStarsDonnie YenSimon YamSiu-Wong FanDuring the Japanese invasion of China, a wealthy martial artist is forced to leave his home when his city is occupied. With little means of providing for themselves, Ip Man and the remaining members of the city must find a way to survive.Donnie Yen is the perfect man to portray Ip Man. And the first in the franchise is certainly the best. A highly entertaining Martial Arts movie with outstanding choreography, that evolves throughout and turns into more than your everyday action movie. 9/10
- DirectorHideo NakataStarsNanako MatsushimaMiki NakataniYûko TakeuchiA reporter and her ex-husband investigate a cursed video tape that is rumored to kill the viewer seven days after watching it.A classic in modern-horror. One that gives you a much more interesting story than most films in the genre do nowadays. Also has one of the better endings to a horror film, as a lot of others fail in the third act. 9/10
- DirectorJong-Yeol BaekStarsHan Hyo-jooPark Seo-joonJuri UenoA South Korean has a different person's body, changing every morning to a body "borrowed" for a day - man, woman, old, child and sometimes a foreigner. "He" works as furniture designer. He loves a girl. She loves him for the beauty inside.Wow.. such a beautiful film in every aspect. Han Hyo-Ju is so unbelievably likeable, she was perfect for this role. I'm so impressed with the character of Woo-Jin too, being portrayed by 20 odd different actors, but it always felt like it was the same person underneath. Sweet, fun and charming. A must for any fan of romantic dramas. 9/10
- DirectorNa Hong-jinStarsJun KunimuraHwang Jung-minKwak Do-wonSoon after a stranger arrives in a little village, a mysterious sickness starts spreading. A policeman, drawn into the incident, is forced to solve the mystery in order to save his daughter.Intense, Creepy, Funny.. Good performances all-around, especially from Kim Hwan-Hee as the protagonists young daughter, Hyo-Jin. Other than a couple of scenes which could have been shorter, it keeps you guessing what is going to happen next and entertained throughout its 2:30 run-time. 9/10