Asian movie newbie! Help! - Page 2

Mortis · 10-18-2003, 11:50 PM

I've been gathering up some flicks, and so far I have Uzumaki, Evil Dead Trap, Evil Dead Trap 2, Battle Royale, Wild Zero, Versus and Junk. I've only watched Junk so far, but it was pretty cool. I'll get around to checking out the others. I love checking out new stuff. I really appreciate everyone giving me their recommendations.

11-08-2003, 11:04 PM

Good thread Mortis.I have been wondering the same thing about asian movies.The only one I have is Biozombie wich is comedy horror,but I really enjoyed it.I have been tempted to pick up some other ones like Junk,Stacy,audition etc but havent yet.Maybe I will pick up a couple and venture into the bliss that is asian horror.If the movies suck,everyone here is buying me beer.

slinker · 11-09-2003, 07:23 AM

Well i really enjoyed the following :

Audition
Shaolin Soccer (wild but non-horror obviously!)
The Eye
Ring 2 (yes the sequel rocks!!)
Evil Dead Trap
A Chinese Torture Chamber Story 1 & 2
Dark Water
Kairo
The Ebola Syndrome
The Untold Story

And anything by Takeshi Kitano!

11-15-2003, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mortis

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.

I would also reccomend http://www.kfccinema.com/ to you. I found that board and asked the exact same question you are asking and got a ton of reccomendations. You can see that thread at:

http://www.kfccinema.com/temple/viewtopic.php?t=5437

That site also has some pretty great reviews. You can also check out jpreview.com and http://www.midnighteye.com/.

As far as recommendations, it really depends on what you're into. The two films that made me want to explore Asian cinema were Battle Royale and Visitor Q. Battle Royale is definately the more recommendable of the two - very fun movie that has some good action, drama and dark humor. Visitor Q you have to be a little patient with as its rather absurdist in nature and has some VERY bizarre scenes. If you like weird over the top scenes then I would DEFINATELY see Visitor Q. It's worth seeing for the hysterical necrophilia sequences alone. Also, if you have a fetish for lactation you should see it as well

Hope that helps

Hoodoo Operator

11-17-2003, 07:04 AM

I personally don't consider Junk a great movie. My picks are:

Battle Royale
Audition
Ichi the Killer
Cure
Pulse
Tetsuo
Ringu

Really just about anything from Takeshi Kitano, Shinya Tsukamoto, Takeshi Miike or Kiyoshi Kurosawa.

Actually, the BEST place to learn about Japanese cinema (they don't cover Chinese, Korean, etc) is http://www.midnighteye.com The articles are very well written, not like most of the fanboy e-zines out there (no offense to 'em, many are quite good) and they've intruduced me to movies I might've never found otherwise.

11-17-2003, 07:09 AM

Oh, damn, Hoodoo! I somehow missed the last four posts before mine, so I didn't notice you linking Midnight Eye!

I'll just second your recommendation.

11-17-2003, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rainbowthief

Oh, damn, Hoodoo! I somehow missed the last four posts before mine, so I didn't notice you linking Midnight Eye!

I'll just second your recommendation.

It's all good. I rely on kfccinema.com more than anything but you're right the material on Midnight Eye is very well written. As I'm new to the Asian films as well I have a rather short list of faves but here's mine so far:

Visitor Q (so, so wrong..

)
Happiness of Katakuris
Tetsuo
Battle Royale
Heroic Trio (mainly for the final battle scene - soooo much fun)
Versus (drags in parts but pretty damn fun overall)
Chinese Ghost Story (GREAT fantasy/swordplay/humor/romance film with slight horror overtones..LOVED this)

I still have to watch Flirtong Scholar and Ichi the Killer (saw parts of Flirtong Scholar on tv a decade ago and loved it) but will probably love those. I'm excited to see Tricky Brains and Uzumaki (just ordered from sensasian.com).

I thought The Eye was very well made but a bit slow and dont really understand the hype where Evil Dead Trap is concerned. I found it kinda boring, with some stupid characters and didnt find the gore scenes as plentiful or disturbing as had been promised.

Hoodoo Operator

Paff · 11-19-2003, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoodoo Operator

Heroic Trio (mainly for the final battle scene - soooo much fun)

Is there something strange that I actually like Executioners more?

The fight scenes aren't half as good in Executioners, but a lot of Heroic Trio is pretty silly. I thought the sequel was more consistent throughout. Well, that or just the idea of Michelle Yeoh, Anita Mui, and Maggie Cheung taking a bath together...

11-19-2003, 10:52 PM

My favorites are UZUMAKI, RINGU, RINGU 2, GHOST ACTRESS and DARK WATER (Except for the ending, which goes too far over the top).

11-19-2003, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slinker

Well i really enjoyed the following :

Audition
Shaolin Soccer (wild but non-horror obviously!)
The Eye
Ring 2 (yes the sequel rocks!!)
Evil Dead Trap
A Chinese Torture Chamber Story 1 & 2
Dark Water
Kairo
The Ebola Syndrome
The Untold Story

And anything by Takeshi Kitano!

Re: DARK WATER. What did you think of the ending? I felt it went too far. The final scene, I felt was unnecessary.

11-29-2003, 02:40 PM

Hoodoo Operator or anyone, any chance you could give us just a little more on Chinese Ghost Story? Is it scary, action/adventure, or all of the above perhaps? I can't really tell from reading the descriptions. I have had a lot of folks recommend that too me of late and am very close to picking that baby up but want just a tiny bit more information first.

Thanks in advance.

11-29-2003, 05:17 PM

Visitor Q
Tetsuo: Iron Man
Tetsuo: Body Hammer
Ringu
The Eye
Dark Water (not THAT awsome, but still)
Ichi the Killer
Kairo
Versus
Uzumaki

11-29-2003, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onebyone

Hoodoo Operator or anyone, any chance you could give us just a little more on Chinese Ghost Story? Is it scary, action/adventure, or all of the above perhaps? I can't really tell from reading the descriptions. I have had a lot of folks recommend that too me of late and am very close to picking that baby up but want just a tiny bit more information first.

Thanks in advance.

Believe it or not Chinese Ghost Story is a love story. It's got your typcial HK action/flying and bad but good SFX. Overall I enjoyed it, I can't say the same for the 2 sequels.

11-29-2003, 09:22 PM

Chinese Ghost Story is definately a love story but not your typical love story. It has some fun martial arts, some silly slapstick-ish comics and elements of horror. There's NOTHING scary about the movie at all (except maybe the Clash of the Titans level special effects for the skeletons) but there are a few evil spirits that make the romance difficult. It's a Chinese Romeo and Juliet where the difficulties are caused by the living/nonliving status and the fact that the ghost the main character is in love with is bound to an Evil Tree Spirit that is 1000s of years old and uses her to lure men to their deaths.

It's hard to describe but trust me its a very cool movie.

Hoodoo Operator

11-30-2003, 12:04 AM

Thanks for the information guys. I am glad you told me it was a love story, I would have been taken aback had I watched it thinking scares and gotten love. It still sounds really good though, because any movie that melds love, martial arts, silliness, and a little horror sounds like something I want to see. No wonder everyone and their brother was recommending that to me. I think I will try and procure it this week.

10-18-2003, 11:50 PM	#16
Mortis GARBAGE DAY! Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 7,399	I've been gathering up some flicks, and so far I have Uzumaki, Evil Dead Trap, Evil Dead Trap 2, Battle Royale, Wild Zero, Versus and Junk. I've only watched Junk so far, but it was pretty cool. I'll get around to checking out the others. I love checking out new stuff. I really appreciate everyone giving me their recommendations. __________________ Punish!

11-09-2003, 07:23 AM	#18
slinker Un-Holy Force. Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: London Posts: 914	Well i really enjoyed the following : Audition Shaolin Soccer (wild but non-horror obviously!) The Eye Ring 2 (yes the sequel rocks!!) Evil Dead Trap A Chinese Torture Chamber Story 1 & 2 Dark Water Kairo The Ebola Syndrome The Untold Story And anything by Takeshi Kitano! __________________ My DVD Collection

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11-08-2003, 11:04 PM	#17
drown021 Guest Posts: n/a	Good thread Mortis.I have been wondering the same thing about asian movies.The only one I have is Biozombie wich is comedy horror,but I really enjoyed it.I have been tempted to pick up some other ones like Junk,Stacy,audition etc but havent yet.Maybe I will pick up a couple and venture into the bliss that is asian horror.If the movies suck,everyone here is buying me beer.

11-17-2003, 07:04 AM	#20
Rainbowthief Guest Posts: n/a	I personally don't consider Junk a great movie. My picks are: Battle Royale Audition Ichi the Killer Cure Pulse Tetsuo Ringu Really just about anything from Takeshi Kitano, Shinya Tsukamoto, Takeshi Miike or Kiyoshi Kurosawa. Actually, the BEST place to learn about Japanese cinema (they don't cover Chinese, Korean, etc) is http://www.midnighteye.com The articles are very well written, not like most of the fanboy e-zines out there (no offense to 'em, many are quite good) and they've intruduced me to movies I might've never found otherwise.

11-17-2003, 07:09 AM	#21
Rainbowthief Guest Posts: n/a	Oh, damn, Hoodoo! I somehow missed the last four posts before mine, so I didn't notice you linking Midnight Eye! I'll just second your recommendation.

11-19-2003, 10:52 PM	#24
etale Guest Posts: n/a	My favorites are UZUMAKI, RINGU, RINGU 2, GHOST ACTRESS and DARK WATER (Except for the ending, which goes too far over the top).

11-29-2003, 02:40 PM	#26
onebyone Guest Posts: n/a	Hoodoo Operator or anyone, any chance you could give us just a little more on Chinese Ghost Story? Is it scary, action/adventure, or all of the above perhaps? I can't really tell from reading the descriptions. I have had a lot of folks recommend that too me of late and am very close to picking that baby up but want just a tiny bit more information first. Thanks in advance.

11-29-2003, 05:17 PM	#27
Ichi Guest Posts: n/a	Visitor Q Tetsuo: Iron Man Tetsuo: Body Hammer Ringu The Eye Dark Water (not THAT awsome, but still) Ichi the Killer Kairo Versus Uzumaki

11-29-2003, 09:22 PM	#29
Hoodoo Operator Guest Posts: n/a	Chinese Ghost Story is definately a love story but not your typical love story. It has some fun martial arts, some silly slapstick-ish comics and elements of horror. There's NOTHING scary about the movie at all (except maybe the Clash of the Titans level special effects for the skeletons) but there are a few evil spirits that make the romance difficult. It's a Chinese Romeo and Juliet where the difficulties are caused by the living/nonliving status and the fact that the ghost the main character is in love with is bound to an Evil Tree Spirit that is 1000s of years old and uses her to lure men to their deaths. It's hard to describe but trust me its a very cool movie. Hoodoo Operator

11-30-2003, 12:04 AM	#30
onebyone Guest Posts: n/a	Thanks for the information guys. I am glad you told me it was a love story, I would have been taken aback had I watched it thinking scares and gotten love. It still sounds really good though, because any movie that melds love, martial arts, silliness, and a little horror sounds like something I want to see. No wonder everyone and their brother was recommending that to me. I think I will try and procure it this week.