Asian movie newbie! Help!

Mortis · 09-30-2003, 11:25 AM

I want to get into Asian movies, but I don't really know a damn thing about them. Are there any good R1 movies? I know about Versus and Junk, but are there any others? Give me a list. I'll end up getting a region free player at some point, so tell me what movies I should start off with. I always feel so lost when I come to this forum. Help me become a regular.

09-30-2003, 02:59 PM

Glad to see you're getting away from that crap Romero makes.

Another Heaven, Tomie, Black Angel, Tell Me Something, Shiri, Audition, Biozombie, Evil Dead Trap, The Untold Story, Dr. Lamb, Organ, Chaos, Freeze Me, Uzumaki are some of my personal horror favorites.

I'm partial to Japanese films and anything Beat Takeshi puts out is good and loaded with lots of Yakuza violence such as Violent Cop, Fireworks, Boiling Point and Sonatine. His latest film, a remake of Zatoichi the story of a blind samurai, is great and you can view the trailer at
http://office-kitano.co.jp/zatoichi/ give it time to load and the buttons will switch to English when you move your mouse over them. Two movies that you shouldn't miss are The Seven Samurai, which I think is the greatest film ever made, and Jigoku a great story of one man's journey to hell.

Brother of Darkness and Daughter of Darkness are recommended to sastisfy any deviant cravings you may have. Enjoy.

10-01-2003, 12:33 AM

I'm still inexperienced with Asian horror, but I can easily say that every film I have seen has been at least pretty good. Which is good to know. BATTLE ROYALE is great to start with. It's not horror, but it's a fantastic movie. VERSUS, JUNK, and STACY are also a lot of fun. AUDITION is great, and VISITOR Q has some fucked up moments. And EVIL DEAD TRAP is a lot of fun also.

10-01-2003, 12:38 AM

Some excellent recommendation DevilMan. One of my all time favorites is "Red to Kill", I hightly recommend that one Mortis.

Grim · 10-01-2003, 12:53 AM

Well, I absolutely loved Battle Royale, so I'd suggest seeing that, even though it's not horror.

Mortis · 10-01-2003, 03:59 AM

Thanks for the info, guys.

Is there a R0/R1 version of Battle Royale?

10-01-2003, 04:44 AM

Not particularly horror, but Tetsuo is great. I love that movie. It's like a Japanese Eraserhead, but whacked out on speed and technology.

10-01-2003, 04:49 AM

If we're talking about just Japanese movies, check out Tampopo. That is a funny one. Although not on dvd, Early Spring is a fantastic film. Ozu was a great director, and I cannot wait until Tokyo Story is put out by Criterion in the coming months. Also, if you get the chance, check out Black Lizard (I think that's what it's called). It stars a transvestite that plays a jewel thief or something like that. Psychedelic and very cool, I would highly recommend it.

10-01-2003, 05:27 AM

www.kfccinema.com is your one stop shop for all information related to asian cinema.

Paff · 10-02-2003, 01:07 AM

Actually, I'd avoid going to Asian movie sites like kfc at first, since everyone there already loves Asian flicks and are used to the differences between them and western movies.

As a newbie, I'd throw out a recommendation for the original Ring (aka Ringu), as you'd have an American version to compare to, and you can see the differences to see if you like the Asian style more. And Battle Royale is just fun all around, can't go wrong there.

Avoid something like Versus at first, which you may find a bit repetitive (I like Asian films, and I found it very repetitive). Evil Dead Trap just gets too damn weird at the end.

Remember when you recommend films to a newbie, to consider that newbies may not be familiar with the styles of Asian film, and too much too soon may be more of a turn-off.

10-02-2003, 01:14 AM

When you mean Asian films are you just talking about horror or other kinds as well? There are a whole lot of HK action film out there that you shouldn't miss.

10-02-2003, 03:07 AM

I agree with what Paff said. One of the first Asian horror movies I seen was Untold Story. You should definetly make that one of your first viewings.

Mortis · 10-03-2003, 07:49 AM

I'm on the process of obtaining a few different flicks, but I finished watching Junk last night. I saw the first 45 minutes of it the day before and didn't think it was that great up to that point, but the last 20-25 minutes were a lot better. I like weird movies, so a lot of these Asian films sound like they'll be right up my alley.

10-18-2003, 02:51 AM

BioZombie is one of my favorites.

DVD Connoisseur · 10-18-2003, 10:37 PM

When I started the search for our favourite Asian horror movies, the following (excellent) list was the outcome from this forum (in reverse order):

The Untold Story
Uzumaki
Tell Me Something
Kairo
Evil Dead Trap
The Eye
Ichi the Killer
Battle Royale
Audition
The Ring

You really can't go wrong with any of these films (although some have yet to make their way over to R1...).

09-30-2003, 11:25 AM	#1
Mortis GARBAGE DAY! Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 7,399	Asian movie newbie! Help! I want to get into Asian movies, but I don't really know a damn thing about them. Are there any good R1 movies? I know about Versus and Junk, but are there any others? Give me a list. I'll end up getting a region free player at some point, so tell me what movies I should start off with. I always feel so lost when I come to this forum. Help me become a regular. __________________ Punish!

09-30-2003, 02:59 PM	#2
Deaddevilman Guest Posts: n/a	Glad to see you're getting away from that crap Romero makes. Another Heaven, Tomie, Black Angel, Tell Me Something, Shiri, Audition, Biozombie, Evil Dead Trap, The Untold Story, Dr. Lamb, Organ, Chaos, Freeze Me, Uzumaki are some of my personal horror favorites. I'm partial to Japanese films and anything Beat Takeshi puts out is good and loaded with lots of Yakuza violence such as Violent Cop, Fireworks, Boiling Point and Sonatine. His latest film, a remake of Zatoichi the story of a blind samurai, is great and you can view the trailer at http://office-kitano.co.jp/zatoichi/ give it time to load and the buttons will switch to English when you move your mouse over them. Two movies that you shouldn't miss are The Seven Samurai, which I think is the greatest film ever made, and Jigoku a great story of one man's journey to hell. Brother of Darkness and Daughter of Darkness are recommended to sastisfy any deviant cravings you may have. Enjoy. Last edited by Deaddevilman; 09-30-2003 at 03:04 PM.

10-01-2003, 12:53 AM	#5
Grim HackMaster Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 7,277	Well, I absolutely loved Battle Royale, so I'd suggest seeing that, even though it's not horror. __________________ AIM: MrGrim132002

10-01-2003, 03:59 AM	#6
Mortis GARBAGE DAY! Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 7,399	Thanks for the info, guys. Is there a R0/R1 version of Battle Royale? __________________ Punish!

10-02-2003, 01:07 AM	#10
Paff Moderator Join Date: May 2000 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,537	Actually, I'd avoid going to Asian movie sites like kfc at first, since everyone there already loves Asian flicks and are used to the differences between them and western movies. As a newbie, I'd throw out a recommendation for the original Ring (aka Ringu), as you'd have an American version to compare to, and you can see the differences to see if you like the Asian style more. And Battle Royale is just fun all around, can't go wrong there. Avoid something like Versus at first, which you may find a bit repetitive (I like Asian films, and I found it very repetitive). Evil Dead Trap just gets too damn weird at the end. Remember when you recommend films to a newbie, to consider that newbies may not be familiar with the styles of Asian film, and too much too soon may be more of a turn-off. __________________ CINEMA PAFF - Your BB-Movie Showcase * * - The extra B is for BYOBB Paff's Laserdiscs

10-01-2003, 12:33 AM	#3
Andrew Guest Posts: n/a	I'm still inexperienced with Asian horror, but I can easily say that every film I have seen has been at least pretty good. Which is good to know. BATTLE ROYALE is great to start with. It's not horror, but it's a fantastic movie. VERSUS, JUNK, and STACY are also a lot of fun. AUDITION is great, and VISITOR Q has some fucked up moments. And EVIL DEAD TRAP is a lot of fun also.

10-01-2003, 12:38 AM	#4
Atmims Guest Posts: n/a	Some excellent recommendation DevilMan. One of my all time favorites is "Red to Kill", I hightly recommend that one Mortis.

10-01-2003, 04:44 AM	#7
Numania Guest Posts: n/a	Not particularly horror, but Tetsuo is great. I love that movie. It's like a Japanese Eraserhead, but whacked out on speed and technology.

10-01-2003, 04:49 AM	#8
Numania Guest Posts: n/a	If we're talking about just Japanese movies, check out Tampopo. That is a funny one. Although not on dvd, Early Spring is a fantastic film. Ozu was a great director, and I cannot wait until Tokyo Story is put out by Criterion in the coming months. Also, if you get the chance, check out Black Lizard (I think that's what it's called). It stars a transvestite that plays a jewel thief or something like that. Psychedelic and very cool, I would highly recommend it.

10-01-2003, 05:27 AM	#9
Mr.Vengance Guest Posts: n/a	www.kfccinema.com is your one stop shop for all information related to asian cinema.

10-02-2003, 01:14 AM	#11
Trout Guest Posts: n/a	When you mean Asian films are you just talking about horror or other kinds as well? There are a whole lot of HK action film out there that you shouldn't miss.

10-02-2003, 03:07 AM	#12
Atmims Guest Posts: n/a	I agree with what Paff said. One of the first Asian horror movies I seen was Untold Story. You should definetly make that one of your first viewings.

10-03-2003, 07:49 AM	#13
Mortis GARBAGE DAY! Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 7,399	I'm on the process of obtaining a few different flicks, but I finished watching Junk last night. I saw the first 45 minutes of it the day before and didn't think it was that great up to that point, but the last 20-25 minutes were a lot better. I like weird movies, so a lot of these Asian films sound like they'll be right up my alley. __________________ Punish!

10-18-2003, 02:51 AM	#14
Parasite4202 Guest Posts: n/a	BioZombie is one of my favorites.

10-18-2003, 10:37 PM	#15
DVD Connoisseur Moderator Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: The UK - Home of Censorship Posts: 2,309	When I started the search for our favourite Asian horror movies, the following (excellent) list was the outcome from this forum (in reverse order): The Untold Story Uzumaki Tell Me Something Kairo Evil Dead Trap The Eye Ichi the Killer Battle Royale Audition The Ring You really can't go wrong with any of these films (although some have yet to make their way over to R1...).

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode