Ten Asian action films you should see, not...
starring Jackie Chan, or directed by John Woo.
Inspired by a post on Lara's blog noting that yesterday, May 1st, was John Woo's birthday, I decided to compile this list. (Not that I dislike John Woo or Jackie Chan, but most people's knowledge of Asian Cinema begins and ends with these two.)
In no particular order:
Battle Royale (2000, Japan) - The final completed film of legendary Japanese cult director Kinji(Message From Space; The Green Slime)Fukasaku, this action and gore packed thriller has achieved near-legendary status due to its taboo subject; high school kids killing each other. It's an amazing piece of cinema based on an equally amazing novel, but you'll probably never see it legally in the US, as no distributor will go near it. Available on Ebay and on your finer grey market websites.
Volcano High (2001, Korea) - You may have seen this one by accident, as MTV bought broadcast rights to it and redubbed it with a cast of hip-hoppers. Surprisingly, the American dub is fairly faithful to the intent of the original, a live action anime with some great visual effects, phenomenal fights, and goofy acting. Available in an import edition that you can find at Suncoast.
Shiri (1999, Korea) - A taut thriller in which an elite team from North Korea infiltrates the South in order to carry out terrorist attacks, including a spectacular edge of your seat sequence set at a soccer stadium. Good performances and lots of action. Available from Columbia DVD pretty easily.
Dead Or Alive (1999, Japan) - God, I could write a column just on Takashi Miike. Suffice it to say that there's more over the top insanity in the first 20 minutes of this one then in three American action movies. Not for the squeamish, but a good time if you're willing to stick with it. Available in both import and domestic versions, spawned two equally insane sequels.
The Stormriders (1998, Hong Kong) - Sonny Chiba, Sonny Chiba, Sonny Chiba. This is a spectacular HK action picture with amazing visual effects, great fights, and Sonny Chiba. Available in an import, though a cut version appears on the cable from time to time with a terrible dub track.
Tokyo Raiders (2000, Hong Kong) - Good twisty action pic that goes from HK to Vegas to Tokyo. Jingle Ma is obviously trying to emulate John Woo(hey, look, doves~!), but throws in his own touches, and the Japanese/Chinese cast works well together. Available from Columbia.
Versus (2000, Japan) - Ryuhei Kitamura's blend of The Matrix, The Killer, and a Fulci film is so over the top and bizarre that he's developed quite a cult following. This movie is over the top fun, as an escaped convict and a not-so-innocent girl battle gangsters and the undead in a "Forest Of Resurrection". Kitamura recently grabbed the brass ring, being chosen by Toho to helm the "final" Godzilla film due at the end of the year. Available from Media Blasters.
Returner (2002, Japan) - A weird blend of sci-fi and action, Returner is about a girl who comes back to 2002 from the future in order to find a UFO and save its inhabitant, thereby avoiding interstellar war. In the process, she gets involved with Yakuza, Chinese gangsters, and a cooler-then-cool hitman who doesn't want to help her but gets sucked in. Great effects and some spectacular fights enliven this one. Available from Columbia.
The Princess Blade (2001, Japan) - Based on a manga, this is less about plot then style, but it's got some spectacular fight scenes, and a few amazingly realistic death scenes. Available from ADV films.
So Close (2002, Hong Kong) - This female-oriented action flick by actor-director-fight choreographer Corey Yuen is certainly the most unusual on the list, but it's one of the more straightforward movies here. Karen Mok is a cop chasing a pair of sisters who make their living as high-tech assassins. Quite a bit of humor and some spectacular fight sequences liven this one up. Available from Columbia.
So there you go, ten movies to check out. I did pass over a few, but these are the best of the best, in my opinion.
Inspired by a post on Lara's blog noting that yesterday, May 1st, was John Woo's birthday, I decided to compile this list. (Not that I dislike John Woo or Jackie Chan, but most people's knowledge of Asian Cinema begins and ends with these two.)
In no particular order:
Battle Royale (2000, Japan) - The final completed film of legendary Japanese cult director Kinji(Message From Space; The Green Slime)Fukasaku, this action and gore packed thriller has achieved near-legendary status due to its taboo subject; high school kids killing each other. It's an amazing piece of cinema based on an equally amazing novel, but you'll probably never see it legally in the US, as no distributor will go near it. Available on Ebay and on your finer grey market websites.
Volcano High (2001, Korea) - You may have seen this one by accident, as MTV bought broadcast rights to it and redubbed it with a cast of hip-hoppers. Surprisingly, the American dub is fairly faithful to the intent of the original, a live action anime with some great visual effects, phenomenal fights, and goofy acting. Available in an import edition that you can find at Suncoast.
Shiri (1999, Korea) - A taut thriller in which an elite team from North Korea infiltrates the South in order to carry out terrorist attacks, including a spectacular edge of your seat sequence set at a soccer stadium. Good performances and lots of action. Available from Columbia DVD pretty easily.
Dead Or Alive (1999, Japan) - God, I could write a column just on Takashi Miike. Suffice it to say that there's more over the top insanity in the first 20 minutes of this one then in three American action movies. Not for the squeamish, but a good time if you're willing to stick with it. Available in both import and domestic versions, spawned two equally insane sequels.
The Stormriders (1998, Hong Kong) - Sonny Chiba, Sonny Chiba, Sonny Chiba. This is a spectacular HK action picture with amazing visual effects, great fights, and Sonny Chiba. Available in an import, though a cut version appears on the cable from time to time with a terrible dub track.
Tokyo Raiders (2000, Hong Kong) - Good twisty action pic that goes from HK to Vegas to Tokyo. Jingle Ma is obviously trying to emulate John Woo(hey, look, doves~!), but throws in his own touches, and the Japanese/Chinese cast works well together. Available from Columbia.
Versus (2000, Japan) - Ryuhei Kitamura's blend of The Matrix, The Killer, and a Fulci film is so over the top and bizarre that he's developed quite a cult following. This movie is over the top fun, as an escaped convict and a not-so-innocent girl battle gangsters and the undead in a "Forest Of Resurrection". Kitamura recently grabbed the brass ring, being chosen by Toho to helm the "final" Godzilla film due at the end of the year. Available from Media Blasters.
Returner (2002, Japan) - A weird blend of sci-fi and action, Returner is about a girl who comes back to 2002 from the future in order to find a UFO and save its inhabitant, thereby avoiding interstellar war. In the process, she gets involved with Yakuza, Chinese gangsters, and a cooler-then-cool hitman who doesn't want to help her but gets sucked in. Great effects and some spectacular fights enliven this one. Available from Columbia.
The Princess Blade (2001, Japan) - Based on a manga, this is less about plot then style, but it's got some spectacular fight scenes, and a few amazingly realistic death scenes. Available from ADV films.
So Close (2002, Hong Kong) - This female-oriented action flick by actor-director-fight choreographer Corey Yuen is certainly the most unusual on the list, but it's one of the more straightforward movies here. Karen Mok is a cop chasing a pair of sisters who make their living as high-tech assassins. Quite a bit of humor and some spectacular fight sequences liven this one up. Available from Columbia.
So there you go, ten movies to check out. I did pass over a few, but these are the best of the best, in my opinion.
posted by Jon M. at
12:33 AM
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