Asian films old and new: recommendations, discussion and appreciation

[FirstAscent]

Hlynur,

Donald Richie has always been a guy worth listening to. Sadly he passed away recently. Always read his essays and listen to his commentaries when given the chance.

http://criterioncast.com/news/japan-society-to-hold-two-part-tribute-to-donald-richie/

[Singlebyte]

But you must understand that it's what everyone watches, and doesn't indicate any real familiarity with Asian cinema.

I totally understand your point.
But let me say here that Oldboy was the movie that lit up my whole obsession with asian cinema in the first place more than 10 years ago. (out of chan-wook's bubble i then started to look what else is around)
I know your problem, but sometimes you have to commit yourself that you like something although if it irradiates a commercial touch every whole-hearted fan despises.
That's the problem of commercialism, it blurs the borders of what's designed to be consumed like everydaytrashtv and what's the real innovation that expands your perception.
This is a movie where these lines are not visible. Chan-Wook did a much more westernized and commercial film with "JSA", just because he needed the money to make it good.
it's like biting into the poisoned apple to just get the seeds out and grow your own tree.
directly after he continued with his vision of the trilogy where he began, without any influence of JSA from my perception. (there's just an amazing increase of visual perfection and intensity in the chronology of all three movies)

I'm not making any statements about the film and how excellent it might be. I bought the Blu-ray months ago because I consider it essential and a movie to watch. Please have no concerns that I don't want to watch it.

My real point is only that it is typically one of the first Asian films that people watch, and it's been my experience that when someone brings it up, it's not possible to tell if that person has truly sampled many of the great films in Asian cinema.

Conversely, if someone brings up Equinox Flower, Yi Yi, Center Stage (The Actress), Days of Being Wild, The Face of Another, Spring in a Small Town, Woman of the Lake, Sansho the Bailiff, Floating Clouds, With Beauty and Sorrow, The Vertical Ray of the Sun, What Time is it There?, and Platform all in the same breath, then my ears prick up!

I'm only trying to discern Singlebyte's level of immersion into Asian cinema, and how far he wants to go.

For the record, some of the films I just listed, I haven't even seen yet, but they're representative.

Don't really have time to respond too much because I am typing on an Ipad and getting ready to go out for the evening.  That being said,

I am not familiar with very many Asian films, nor would I be able to recommend one over another.  I do enjoy movies (of all cultures) and would enjoy watching some of the other recommended flicks members have posted.  I would really be curious to see how others compare Oldboy to the other posted movies because I feel this was a great (mind twisting) movie.  Usually I am not in favor of subtitled movies, but there are a few great ones out there. (Like DownFall!) 

It's a shame that lots of people are really closed minded and will not take the time to watch movies of another culture.  Foreign produced films have contributed a lot of quality films over the years.  I will at some point try to watch some of these Asian titles posted in this thread!

Anyhow, have to run..   have a great night everyone.   

[FirstAscent]

Usually I am not in favor of subtitled movies, but there are a few great ones out there. (Like DownFall!) 

Some of the most important films ever made are foreign and subtitled, among them many Asian films. I've been mentioning them.

[Singlebyte]

Usually I am not in favor of subtitled movies, but there are a few great ones out there. (Like DownFall!)

Some of the most important films ever made are foreign and subtitled, among them many Asian films. I've been mentioning them.

FirstAscent,

Recommend ONE Asian film that you feel is as good as Downfall or Oldboy (and as highly rated on imdb.com) and I will take the time to watch it over the weekend if I can get a hold of it.  I enjoy great movies and will gladly watch anything rated higher than either of those two.  Pick me out a great one and I will report back my review.

[hlynur]

Usually I am not in favor of subtitled movies, but there are a few great ones out there. (Like DownFall!)

Some of the most important films ever made are foreign and subtitled, among them many Asian films. I've been mentioning them.

i think it just takes some exercise for your brain. when I can't find german subtitles and watch a japanese movie with english subs as a foreign speaker it feels exhausting after some time and I can't concentrate as much to the scene arrangement as I want to.
on the other side asian language is simply too hard to be synchronized well enough for western intonation and conversations always sound like they're "pasted" onto the atmo.

[FirstAscent]

Usually I am not in favor of subtitled movies, but there are a few great ones out there. (Like DownFall!)

Some of the most important films ever made are foreign and subtitled, among them many Asian films. I've been mentioning them.

FirstAscent,

Recommend ONE Asian film that you feel is as good as Downfall or Oldboy (and as highly rated on imdb.com) and I will take the time to watch it over the weekend if I can get a hold of it.  I enjoy great movies and will gladly watch anything rated higher than either of those two.  Pick me out a great one and I will report back my review.

Yi Yi
The Face of Another
When a Woman Ascends the Stairs
2046
Sansho the Bailiff
Late Spring

But they may not be what you are looking for in cinema. But tastes evolve as you become more familiar with the cinematic landscape. I can assure you that those are all masterpieces.

[FirstAscent]

I just watched Mikio Naruse's Scattered Clouds. Lovely movie.

That makes nine Mikio Naruse films that I've watched now:

Repast
Wife
Sound of the Mountain
Late Chrysanthemums
Floating Clouds
Flowing
When a Woman Ascends the Stairs
Yearning
Scattered Clouds

[flagel8]

FirstAscent, what do you feel about 3-Iron? Have you ever seen its like?

[FirstAscent]

FirstAscent, what do you feel about 3-Iron? Have you ever seen its like?

It's on my watch list. Rated fairly highly. I definitely want to watch it. It seems to be fairly popular, like Oldboy. 2046 is popular too. There is nothing wrong with such films, although people think I might be looking down my nose at such films. I am not! Heck, you know I love 2046.

I'm just trying to point out that the best way to discover these great movies is to apply different methods together. The methods are:

- Follow the essays and commentaries of Asian film scholars, such as Donald Richie, Tony Rayns, David Bordwell, Audie Bock, etc.
- Get intimate with the Criterion Collection over at criterion.com, and use the Explore section
- Build a familiarity with the directors and their filmography
- Build a familiarity with the actors, and follow their filmography
- Get familiar with the different film movements, and learn how to differentiate them
- Discover the films being discussed at Mubi.com
- Use a film social networking site to see what others like
- Pay attention to the Sight & Sound directors and critics polls
- Get familiar with Roger Ebert's list of "Great Films"

Speaking of Korean films, I recommend Secret Sunshine and Poetry, both by Chang-dong Lee. I have only seen Secret Sunshine, but Poetry is rated highly.

[FirstAscent]

So I watched Mikio Naruse's Mother last night, starring Kinuyo Tanaka. So that now makes ten Naruse films for me!

[dragonkid]

Infernal Affairs Part 1 - 3 - Very good film
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infernal_Affairs

Fighter In The Wind - A true story of a martial art legend
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0416499/

I will list some more later.

Are you familiar with Tony Leung in his most famous roles - notably in Wong Kar-Wai films? Also, he was in Ang Lee's Lust, Caution, which I really want to see, and Tran Anh Hung's Cyclo, which I really want to see.

I actually met Tony Leung in person, once when I was a little kid. He just started to get famous. Most of Tony Leung's film is quite good. Have you seen his newest film? The Grandmaster http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1462900/. Ziyi Zhang is also in it, too.

I have not seen Wong Kar-Wai's latest, but I definitely want to. I'm torn, because the American cut is in the theaters, yet the Chinese cut is the one that most reflects Wong Kar-Wai's muse. Which Wong Kar-Wai films have you seen? Which ones did you like?

I think you should watch the Chinese Cut. The ending in the American cut should be different. Actually I think his latest The Grandmaster is the best.

[FirstAscent]

Infernal Affairs Part 1 - 3 - Very good film
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infernal_Affairs

Fighter In The Wind - A true story of a martial art legend
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0416499/

I will list some more later.

Are you familiar with Tony Leung in his most famous roles - notably in Wong Kar-Wai films? Also, he was in Ang Lee's Lust, Caution, which I really want to see, and Tran Anh Hung's Cyclo, which I really want to see.

I actually met Tony Leung in person, once when I was a little kid. He just started to get famous. Most of Tony Leung's film is quite good. Have you seen his newest film? The Grandmaster http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1462900/. Ziyi Zhang is also in it, too.

I have not seen Wong Kar-Wai's latest, but I definitely want to. I'm torn, because the American cut is in the theaters, yet the Chinese cut is the one that most reflects Wong Kar-Wai's muse. Which Wong Kar-Wai films have you seen? Which ones did you like?

I think you should watch the Chinese Cut. The ending in the American cut should be different. Actually I think his latest The Grandmaster is the best.

Sounds good. My suspicions are that the Chinese Cut is the one to watch. But you didn't answer my other question. Which Wong Kar-Wai films have you seen?

[dragonkid]

I have seen:

The Grandmaster
In the Mood for Love
2046
Chungking Express
My Blueberry Nights
Ashes of Time
Days of Being Wild
Fallen Angels
The Eagle Shooting Heros <-- Actually I like this one a lot
Chinese Odyssey 2002

[FirstAscent]

I have seen:

The Grandmaster
In the Mood for Love
2046
Chungking Express
My Blueberry Nights
Ashes of Time
Days of Being Wild
Fallen Angels
The Eagle Shooting Heros <-- Actually I like this one a lot
Chinese Odyssey 2002

Ahh. A comprehensive list. More than me. I see that Eros and As Tears Go By are missing from your list.

I have seen:

Days of Being Wild
Ashes of Time Redux
Chungking Express
In the Mood for Love
2046

I have the Blu-ray for Fallen Angels and expect to watch it soon. I'm going to take a pass on My Blueberry Nights, given what I've heard of it. As for the ones I've seen, I've seen them two to four times each. I love Wong Kar-Wai.

The Eagle Shooting Heroes was produced by Wong though. He didn't direct it. Same with Chinese Odyssey 2.

[dragonkid]

The Eagle Shooting Heroes was produced by Wong though. He didn't direct it. Same with Chinese Odyssey 2.

Really I didn't know that but I like both of them still. I have read the books, so it is good to see it in movie.

[FirstAscent]

The Eagle Shooting Heroes was produced by Wong though. He didn't direct it. Same with Chinese Odyssey 2.

Really I didn't know that but I like both of them still. I have read the books, so it is good to see it in movie.

Wong Kar-Wai is an auteur. His style is very recognizable. Which Wong Kar-Wai film(s) do you like the best, not including The Grandmaster?

[dragonkid]

It will have to be In the Mood for Love

[FirstAscent]

It will have to be In the Mood for Love

Can you elaborate, as if you were actually a fan of the movie, or Wong's work?

[FirstAscent]

Who has watched some films from the Taiwanese New Wave or the Taiwanese Second Wave?

[FirstAscent]

A directrospective of Wong Kar-Wai: http://inreviewonline.com/inreview/home/Entries/2013/8/13_Directrospective_11_-_Wong_Kar-Wai.html