Provocative Asian Films
1.
Seven Samurai - 3 Disc Remastered Edition (The Criterion Collection) Spine # 2) (1954)
Starring: Takashi Shimura, Toshirô Mifune, Yoshio Inaba, Seiji Miyaguchi, Minoru Chiaki
Director: Akira Kurosawa
The list author says:
List Price:$49.95 $39.49
Starring: Takashi Shimura, Toshirô Mifune, Yoshio Inaba, Seiji Miyaguchi, Minoru Chiaki
Director: Akira Kurosawa
The list author says:
"Japan - An obvious choice as one of the greatest films ever made. This film shows us leadership and teamwork Japanese-style. We also see village culture. The commentary track is a mini-class on Japanese culture and film history."
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2.
Battle Royale I - Special Edition ()
Starring: Beat Takeshi Kitano, Masanobu Ando, Ai Maeda, Chiaki Kuriyama, Kou Shibasaki
Director: Kinji Fukasaku
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Starring: Beat Takeshi Kitano, Masanobu Ando, Ai Maeda, Chiaki Kuriyama, Kou Shibasaki
Director: Kinji Fukasaku
The list author says:
"Japan - The most provocative film on this list. Action, drama, humor, politics and anger combine in this brilliant statement by Kinji Fukasaku, as high school students are forced to kill each other to stay alive.."
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3.
Bounce Ko Gals ()
Starring: Hitomi Satô, Yasue Satô, Yukiko Okamoto, Jun Murakami, Shin Yazawa
Director: Masato Harada
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List Price:$29.95 $26.99
Starring: Hitomi Satô, Yasue Satô, Yukiko Okamoto, Jun Murakami, Shin Yazawa
Director: Masato Harada
The list author says:
"Japan - High school girls engage in "enjo-kosai" (dating for money) in order to fund their lifestyle, and find more adventure than they bargained for. This film looks at many of the same scenes that "Lost in Translation" did, but observes those scenes and characters without laughing at them."
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4.
Fireworks Aka Hana-bi ()
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Starring:
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"Japan - Takeshi "Beat" Kitano is an icon in Japan. He's Clint Eastwood, Jerry Lewis, and Bill Moyer all wrapped up in one package. This is his finest film, a meditative look at a gangster life gone wrong."
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5.
Audition (Uncut Special Edition) ()
Starring: Ryo Ishibashi, Eihi Shiina, Tetsu Sawaki, Jun Kunimura, Renji Ishibashi
Director: Takashi Miike
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List Price:$14.98
Starring: Ryo Ishibashi, Eihi Shiina, Tetsu Sawaki, Jun Kunimura, Renji Ishibashi
Director: Takashi Miike
The list author says:
"Japan - Torn between watching a romantic comedy and a torture horror film? I didn't think so, but if you are, this is the movie for you. A funny first half that builds your relationship with the characters takes a u-turn in the second half as they get put into danger. This film could only come from Japan (and Takashi Miike)."
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6.
April Story ()
Starring: Takako Matsu
Director: Shunji Iwai
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Starring: Takako Matsu
Director: Shunji Iwai
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"Japan - Slight? Yeah. Trite? Yeah. But if you want to understand how the Japanese feel about Spring and Cherry Blossoms and 'wabi-sabi' and the start of college and love and schoolgirls and rain - this is a one hour crash course. When I want a dose of the drug I call Japan, I turn to April Story."
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7.
Ghost in the Shell (1996)
Starring: Atsuko Tanaka, Iemasa Kayumi, Richard Epcar, Akio Ôtsuka, Tamio Ôki
Director: Mamoru Oshii
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List Price:$14.98 $14.49
Starring: Atsuko Tanaka, Iemasa Kayumi, Richard Epcar, Akio Ôtsuka, Tamio Ôki
Director: Mamoru Oshii
The list author says:
"Japan - The seminal anime that inspired "The Matrix" and a lot more. The sequel "Innocence" and the TV series "SAC - Stand Alone Complex" are also brilliant."
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8.
Cowboy Bebop - The Perfect Sessions (Limited Edition Complete Series Boxed Set) ()
Starring: Kôichi Yamadera, Unshô Ishizuka, Megumi Hayashibara, Steve Blum, Beau Billingslea
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List Price:$199.98
Starring: Kôichi Yamadera, Unshô Ishizuka, Megumi Hayashibara, Steve Blum, Beau Billingslea
The list author says:
"Japan - My favorite anime series. A funny, rocking series with great music, great action, great art, and great characters. Nothing else to say..."
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9.
Ashes of Time (1994)
Starring: Brigitte Lin, Maggie Cheung, Leslie Cheung, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Jacky Cheung
Director: Kar Wai Wong
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List Price:$29.95
Starring: Brigitte Lin, Maggie Cheung, Leslie Cheung, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Jacky Cheung
Director: Kar Wai Wong
The list author says:
"Hong Kong - A martial arts film like none you've ever seen. Seven of the greatest stars in Chinese film history. The best cinematographer alive (Chris Doyle). My favorite director (Wong Kar Wai). A dream of life and loss among desert and swords. This is the most watched movie in my collection."
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10.
Wong Kar Wai Collection (As Tears Go By / Days of Being Wild / Fallen Angels / Chungking Express / Happy Together) (1996)
Starring: Brigitte Lin, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Siu Chung Mok, Christine Ng
Director: Kar Wai Wong
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List Price:$99.95 $99.95
Starring: Brigitte Lin, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Siu Chung Mok, Christine Ng
Director: Kar Wai Wong
The list author says:
"Hong Kong - More Wong Kar Wai. Chungking Express is the film I turn to whenever I need a lift. The first time I saw it, I grinned like an idiot for 90 minutes, fell in love with Faye Wong, and decided that we HAD to make a trip to Hong Kong. Actually, that happens every time I watch the movie."
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11.
The Infernal Affairs Trilogy (Infernal Affairs 1 / Infernal Affairs 2 / Infernal Affairs 3) (Special Collector's Edition Box Set) (2003)
Starring: Edison Chen, Shawn Yue, Anthony Wong Chau-Sang, Francis Ng, Eric Tsang
Director: Alan Mak
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List Price:$39.99
Starring: Edison Chen, Shawn Yue, Anthony Wong Chau-Sang, Francis Ng, Eric Tsang
Director: Alan Mak
The list author says:
"Hong Kong - I still refuse to watch "The Departed" (the US remake of this trilogy). I don't want to replace Andy Lau, Tony Leung, Anthony Wong, and Eric Tsang with Leo and company. See the original and see how the Chinese cultural take on it is different."
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12.
Once Upon a Time in China (Digitally Remastered Collector's Edition) Trilogy DVD Boxset (1991)
Starring: Donnie Yen
Director: Tsui Hark
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Starring: Donnie Yen
Director: Tsui Hark
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"Hong Kong - Tsui Hark (at his best) and Jet Li (in his prime) are reason enough to watch this martial arts classic. The fact that all of the story lines tie into an important historical period and real events adds another layer."
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13.
The Killer - Criterion Collection (1990)
Starring: Yun-Fat Chow, Danny Lee, Sally Yeh, Kong Chu, Kenneth Tsang
Director: John Woo
The list author says:
List Price:$39.95
Starring: Yun-Fat Chow, Danny Lee, Sally Yeh, Kong Chu, Kenneth Tsang
Director: John Woo
The list author says:
"Hong Kong - John Woo. Chow Yun Fat. Heroic Bloodshed. Male Honor. A true classic of the genre. Compare and contrast with "Dirty Harry" or "The Wild Bunch"."
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14.
Chinese Ghost Story (Collector's Remastered Edition) trilogy boxset (1987)
Starring:
Director: Ching Siu Tung
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Starring:
Director: Ching Siu Tung
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"Hong Kong - Based on famous Chinese legends, this series pits naive scholars, Taoist priests, and beautiful ghosts in a life or death battle over love and soul. Loaded with 'WTF' moments, you'll have a lot to discuss with your Chinese friends."
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15.
Raise the Red Lantern (MGM World Films) (1991)
Starring: Li Gong, Jingwu Ma, Saifei He, Cuifen Cao, Qi Zhao
Director: Yimou Zhang
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List Price:$14.98 $14.98
Starring: Li Gong, Jingwu Ma, Saifei He, Cuifen Cao, Qi Zhao
Director: Yimou Zhang
The list author says:
"China - The first Chinese film I ever saw. There were no subtitles, but I couldn't take my eyes off the Chinese architecture or Gong Li. The next day, I went to a Singapore LaserDisc store and rented every Gong Li/Zhang Yimou movie they had. Yimou is a very Chinese director. You can't watch any of his films without learning about his views on Chinese culture."
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16.
The Road Home (2001)
Starring: Ziyi Zhang, Honglei Sun, Hao Zheng, Yulian Zhao, Bin Li
Director: Yimou Zhang
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List Price:$29.95 $23.49
Starring: Ziyi Zhang, Honglei Sun, Hao Zheng, Yulian Zhao, Bin Li
Director: Yimou Zhang
The list author says:
"China - Zhang Yimou finds a new muse in Zhang Ziyi, launching her career and restarting his. There aren't a lot of happy, great Chinese films... but this is one."
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17.
Suzhou River (1994)
Starring: Xun Zhou, Hongshen Jia, Zhongkai Hua, Anlian Yao, An Nai
Director: Ye Lou
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List Price:$29.99 $26.99
Starring: Xun Zhou, Hongshen Jia, Zhongkai Hua, Anlian Yao, An Nai
Director: Ye Lou
The list author says:
"China - A look at modern China, this film noir shows the grittier side of Shanghai while giving us a large dose of Zhou Xun"
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18.
Attack the Gas Station ()
Starring: Sung-jae Lee, Oh-seong Yu, Seong-jin Kang, Ji-tae Yu, Yeong-gyu Park
Director: Sang-Jin Kim
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List Price:$29.95 $29.95
Starring: Sung-jae Lee, Oh-seong Yu, Seong-jin Kang, Ji-tae Yu, Yeong-gyu Park
Director: Sang-Jin Kim
The list author says:
"South Korea - One of the funniest movies I've ever seen, it ends in the greatest Mexican standoff in film history. It also practically redefines the phrase "lovable loser". This laugh attack might change the way you look at Koreans."
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19.
The Host (Two-Disc Collector's Edition) ()
Starring:
Director: Bong Joon-ho
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List Price:$14.98 $12.99
Starring:
Director: Bong Joon-ho
The list author says:
"South Korea - This 'kitchen-sink' movie combines horror, sci-fi, family drama, comedy, and politics with success. Like most of the movies on this list, it's a film that could only be made where it was made."
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20.
My Sassy Girl (2001) (2001)
Starring:
Director: Kwak Jae-Kwak
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Starring:
Director: Kwak Jae-Kwak
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"South Korea - This will challenge any remaining view you might have of Asian women as pretty, docile servants. A funny, funny, film."
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21.
J.S.A. - Joint Security Area ()
Starring: Song Kang-ho, Lee Byung-hun, Lee Yeong-ae, Shin Ha-kyun, Kim Tae-woo
Director: Park Chan-wook
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List Price:$24.99 $22.49
Starring: Song Kang-ho, Lee Byung-hun, Lee Yeong-ae, Shin Ha-kyun, Kim Tae-woo
Director: Park Chan-wook
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"South Korea - A tense drama that explores the tension between North and South Korea. Great acting and surprises abound."
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22.
Tell Me Something (2001)
Starring: Suk-kyu Han, Eun-ha Shim, Hang-Seon Jang, Jung-ah Yum, Seok-Hwan An
Director: Yoon-Hyun Chang
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List Price:$14.95 $13.49
Starring: Suk-kyu Han, Eun-ha Shim, Hang-Seon Jang, Jung-ah Yum, Seok-Hwan An
Director: Yoon-Hyun Chang
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"South Korea - Serial murders and plot twists done South Korean style. You'll jump at least three times. I guarantee it."
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23.
The Scent of Green Papaya - with ENGLISH subtitles (Import) (1993)
Starring: Tran Nu Yen-Khe, Man San Lu, Thi Loc Truong, Anh Hoa Nguyen, Hoa Hoi Vuong
Director: Anh Hung Tran
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Starring: Tran Nu Yen-Khe, Man San Lu, Thi Loc Truong, Anh Hoa Nguyen, Hoa Hoi Vuong
Director: Anh Hung Tran
The list author says:
"Vietnam - Let me warn you, this is an art film. It moves deliberately, with long periods of silence. But if you've ever fallen in love with the slow rhythm of a tropical, humid place - "Green Papaya captures that feeling perfectly. This film captures much of how I remember Vietnam."
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24.
6ixtynin9 ()
Starring: Black Pomtong, Lalita Panyopas, Sirisin Siripornsmathikul, Tasanawalai Ongarittichai
Director: Pen-ek Ratanaruang
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List Price:$24.99 $22.49
Starring: Black Pomtong, Lalita Panyopas, Sirisin Siripornsmathikul, Tasanawalai Ongarittichai
Director: Pen-ek Ratanaruang
The list author says:
"Thailand - Thailand is fast, fun, noisy, beautiful, with a hint of danger. So is this movie. That's all I'll say, the rest should be a surprise."
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25.
Last Life in the Universe ()
Starring: Tadanobu Asano, Sinitta Boonyasak, Takashi Miike, Laila Boonyasak, Yutaka Matsushige
Director: Pen-Ek Ratanaruang
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List Price:$24.99 $22.49
Starring: Tadanobu Asano, Sinitta Boonyasak, Takashi Miike, Laila Boonyasak, Yutaka Matsushige
Director: Pen-Ek Ratanaruang
The list author says:
"Thailand - What happens when you combine "6inxtynine", with a Japanese actor and the cinematography of Chris Doyle? You get humor and danger, but you also get a large dose of mystery and a sense of what might lie below the surface. A great companion to "6ixtynin9"."
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26.
Kamikaze Taxi ()
Starring: Kôji Yakusho, Kazuya Takahashi, Mickey Curtis, Reiko Kataoka, Taketoshi Naitô
Director: Masato Harada
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List Price:$29.95 $26.99
Starring: Kôji Yakusho, Kazuya Takahashi, Mickey Curtis, Reiko Kataoka, Taketoshi Naitô
Director: Masato Harada
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"Japan -"
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27.
Shaolin Soccer ()
Starring: Stephen Chow, Wei Zhao, Yut Fei Wong, Man Tat Ng, Yin Tse
Director: Stephen Chow
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List Price:$14.99 $13.49
Starring: Stephen Chow, Wei Zhao, Yut Fei Wong, Man Tat Ng, Yin Tse
Director: Stephen Chow
The list author says:
"Hong Kong -"
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28.
So Close ()
Starring: Qi Shu, Wei Zhao, Karen Mok, Seung-heon Song, Yasuaki Kurata
Director: Corey Yuen
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List Price:$19.94 $17.49
Starring: Qi Shu, Wei Zhao, Karen Mok, Seung-heon Song, Yasuaki Kurata
Director: Corey Yuen
The list author says:
"Hong Kong -"
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29.
Stephen Chow: A Chinese Odyssey Series (HD Remastered Special Edition) DVD Boxset (1995)
Starring:
Director: Jeffery Lau
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Starring:
Director: Jeffery Lau
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"Hong Kong - I recommended "Journey to the West" in my Asian Bookshelf. Here is a funny, crazy remix of the story, Stephen Chiau-style."
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