Asian Cinema

James · Post by **James** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 3:26 pm

It could well be that he had given up on the serious roles. When my wife first watched his earlier films (to be released in the west) like Violent Cop and Hana-Bi should couldnâ€™t believe that he was in such a role. I think she described it as someone like Bob Monkhouse playing the role of a gritty cop or tough-as-nails gangster in a film shown outside of the UK. In fact Takeshiâ€™s films are usually quiet affairs in Japan, Zatoichi being the change, so I have the feeling that he is (or at least was) trying to re-invent himself when it came to international audiences. That would make sense if he hated people laughing whenever he came on screen.

You can sort of see it when it makes television appearances in Japan. The audience expects him to be funny, the host expects him to act funny, but he often just sits there, head down, grinding his teeth until the moment has passed.

Post by **RYAN WHITELAW** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 12:01 am

im into asian cinema at the moment and was wondering if you guys can recommend any films in the vein of the vengeance trilogy?

i love the dark moddy shit. oldboy being my favourite film for years.

-Jay- · Post by **-Jay-** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 12:36 am

RYAN WHITELAW wrote:im into asian cinema at the moment and was wondering if you guys can recommend any films in the vein of the vengeance trilogy?

i love the dark moddy shit. oldboy being my favourite film for years.

I really enjoyed A Bittersweet Life. Give that a go?

Bob Syko · Post by **Bob Syko** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 1:00 am

RYAN WHITELAW wrote:im into asian cinema at the moment and was wondering if you guys can recommend any films in the vein of the vengeance trilogy?

Joint Security Area is by the same guy, it's different but well worth a watch, it has most of the same people in as well. Bad Guy is also pretty grim, anything by Takashi Miike is worth a watch as well, always pretty extreme although sometimes his films just fail at being any good, the sequels to Dead or Alive being prime examples, 1 is great, 2 is watchable but a bit rubbish and the third is a complete mess, I couldn't even bring myself to watch it all.

James · Post by **James** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 8:40 am

I'm the same with Takashi Miike. Some of his films are decent enough but others come across as being extreme just for the sake of it and donâ€™t add anything to the actual film other than to put people off watching it. The Neo Japan crowd seem to lap this up though so his films are always floating around top ten lists. Dark and gritty I like but excessiveness can often come across as being childish.

I second what Jay said about A Bittersweet Life though, that was good.

Post by **RYAN WHITELAW** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 10:30 pm

thanks il check that out.

Bionic Commando · Post by **Bionic Commando** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 2:05 pm

My recommendations for anyone interested in Asian film:

Audition
Infernal Affairs
The Killer
Hard Boiled
Tiger on the Beat
Public Enemy
Azumi
Versus
Oldboy

Craymen Edge · Post by **Craymen Edge** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 2:39 pm

Going off in a completely different direction from the Horror, Action and 'Vengence' ones mentioned already, I'd like to recommend:

The Happiness of the Katakuris

Utterly mental, but really enjoyable.

Bionic Commando · Post by **Bionic Commando** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 2:52 pm

Craymen Edge wrote:Going off in a completely different direction from the Horror, Action and 'Vengence' ones mentioned already, I'd like to recommend:

The Happiness of the Katakuris

Utterly mental, but really enjoyable.

I heard that's really good. My housemates who do film studies at uni saw it for a class and really recommended it.

Coyote Smith · Post by **Coyote Smith** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 3:37 pm

yeah i really like it too, its very funny.

Bob Syko · Post by **Bob Syko** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 5:10 pm

Bionic Commando wrote:Azumi

But, that's a piece of poo

Your typical Japanese 'pop video film' as I like to call them. It takes a lot for me to dislike a film that features ninjas but Azumi managed it.

Happiness of the Katakuris is all kinds of awesome though. Anyone seen the Korean version, The Quiet Family? It's not a patch on the Takashi Miike one but it was reasonably enjoyable.

Coyote Smith · Post by **Coyote Smith** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 5:55 pm

what are family 1 and 2 like?

James · Post by **James** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 6:02 pm

Bob Syko wrote:
Bionic Commando wrote:Azumi
But, that's a piece of poo Your typical Japanese 'pop video film' as I like to call them. It takes a lot for me to dislike a film that features ninjas but Azumi managed it.

I take it you never saw Azumi 2 then? Made the first one look like a masterpeice in ninja cinema!

Actually I have to admit to enjoying Shinobi (2005)

Â£5.99 at PLAY

Due to it being nothing more than a live action Ninja Scroll which is alright by me. I usually avoid anything Neo Magazine recommends like the plague but this was a fun no brainer of a film.

djants · Post by **djants** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 10:42 pm

Anyone see the Takeshi Miike episode of Masters Of Horror? Apparently it was banned in the Us, cos of aborted fetii all over the place, but its pretty squirmy stuff. Well worth a watch.

Guinnes1981 · Post by **Guinnes1981** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 11:18 pm

Craymen Edge wrote:Going off in a completely different direction from the Horror, Action and 'Vengence' ones mentioned already, I'd like to recommend:

The Happiness of the Katakuris

Utterly mental, but really enjoyable.

If you liked that you should check out 'save our green planet' (sorry if it's been previously mentioned). Absolutely mental and you'll never hear 'somewhere over the rainbow' again in the same light!

[edit - just saw it mentioned on the previous page - you should check it out - it's awesome]

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