Asian films old and new: recommendations, discussion and appreciation

FirstAscent

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Quote from: spndr7 on September 26, 2013, 10:55:09 AM

Why is Indian kept out of Asian League ? Asian means East Asian (China/Taiwan/Japan/Korea) ?

It means what one wants it to mean. Did I specify some constraint earlier in the thread? I do not recall. In my case, I have much more knowledge, experience and interest in the four you mentioned, plus, perhaps Vietnam and the Philippines.

spndr7

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Why is Indian kept out of Asian League ? Asian means East Asian (China/Taiwan/Japan/Korea) ?

FirstAscent

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A directrospective of Wong Kar-Wai: http://inreviewonline.com/inreview/home/Entries/2013/8/13_Directrospective_11_-_Wong_Kar-Wai.html

FirstAscent

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Who has watched some films from the Taiwanese New Wave or the Taiwanese Second Wave?

FirstAscent

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Quote from: dragonkid on September 15, 2013, 05:50:26 PM

It will have to be In the Mood for Love

Can you elaborate, as if you were actually a fan of the movie, or Wong's work?

dragonkid

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It will have to be In the Mood for Love

FirstAscent

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Quote from: dragonkid on September 15, 2013, 02:39:23 PM

Quote from: FirstAscent on September 15, 2013, 01:28:06 PM

The Eagle Shooting Heroes was produced by Wong though. He didn't direct it. Same with Chinese Odyssey 2.

Really I didn't know that but I like both of them still. I have read the books, so it is good to see it in movie.

Wong Kar-Wai is an auteur. His style is very recognizable. Which Wong Kar-Wai film(s) do you like the best, not including The Grandmaster?

dragonkid

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Quote from: FirstAscent on September 15, 2013, 01:28:06 PM

The Eagle Shooting Heroes was produced by Wong though. He didn't direct it. Same with Chinese Odyssey 2.

Really I didn't know that but I like both of them still. I have read the books, so it is good to see it in movie.

FirstAscent

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Quote from: dragonkid on September 15, 2013, 01:23:44 PM

I have seen:

The Grandmaster
In the Mood for Love
2046
Chungking Express
My Blueberry Nights
Ashes of Time
Days of Being Wild
Fallen Angels
The Eagle Shooting Heros <-- Actually I like this one a lot
Chinese Odyssey 2002

Ahh. A comprehensive list. More than me. I see that Eros and As Tears Go By are missing from your list.

I have seen:

Days of Being Wild
Ashes of Time Redux
Chungking Express
In the Mood for Love
2046

I have the Blu-ray for Fallen Angels and expect to watch it soon. I'm going to take a pass on My Blueberry Nights, given what I've heard of it. As for the ones I've seen, I've seen them two to four times each. I love Wong Kar-Wai.

The Eagle Shooting Heroes was produced by Wong though. He didn't direct it. Same with Chinese Odyssey 2.

dragonkid

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I have seen:

The Grandmaster
In the Mood for Love
2046
Chungking Express
My Blueberry Nights
Ashes of Time
Days of Being Wild
Fallen Angels
The Eagle Shooting Heros <-- Actually I like this one a lot
Chinese Odyssey 2002

FirstAscent

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Quote from: dragonkid on September 15, 2013, 12:45:46 PM

Quote from: FirstAscent on September 13, 2013, 07:37:58 PM

Quote from: dragonkid on September 13, 2013, 06:21:52 PM

Quote from: FirstAscent on September 13, 2013, 03:46:53 PM

Quote from: dragonkid on September 13, 2013, 03:34:21 PM

Infernal Affairs Part 1 - 3 - Very good film
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infernal_Affairs

Fighter In The Wind - A true story of a martial art legend
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0416499/

I will list some more later.

Are you familiar with Tony Leung in his most famous roles - notably in Wong Kar-Wai films? Also, he was in Ang Lee's Lust, Caution, which I really want to see, and Tran Anh Hung's Cyclo, which I really want to see.

I actually met Tony Leung in person, once when I was a little kid. He just started to get famous. Most of Tony Leung's film is quite good. Have you seen his newest film? The Grandmaster http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1462900/. Ziyi Zhang is also in it, too.

I have not seen Wong Kar-Wai's latest, but I definitely want to. I'm torn, because the American cut is in the theaters, yet the Chinese cut is the one that most reflects Wong Kar-Wai's muse. Which Wong Kar-Wai films have you seen? Which ones did you like?

I think you should watch the Chinese Cut. The ending in the American cut should be different. Actually I think his latest The Grandmaster is the best.

Sounds good. My suspicions are that the Chinese Cut is the one to watch. But you didn't answer my other question. Which Wong Kar-Wai films have you seen?

dragonkid

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Quote from: FirstAscent on September 13, 2013, 07:37:58 PM

Quote from: dragonkid on September 13, 2013, 06:21:52 PM

Quote from: FirstAscent on September 13, 2013, 03:46:53 PM

Quote from: dragonkid on September 13, 2013, 03:34:21 PM

Infernal Affairs Part 1 - 3 - Very good film
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infernal_Affairs

Fighter In The Wind - A true story of a martial art legend
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0416499/

I will list some more later.

Are you familiar with Tony Leung in his most famous roles - notably in Wong Kar-Wai films? Also, he was in Ang Lee's Lust, Caution, which I really want to see, and Tran Anh Hung's Cyclo, which I really want to see.

I actually met Tony Leung in person, once when I was a little kid. He just started to get famous. Most of Tony Leung's film is quite good. Have you seen his newest film? The Grandmaster http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1462900/. Ziyi Zhang is also in it, too.

I have not seen Wong Kar-Wai's latest, but I definitely want to. I'm torn, because the American cut is in the theaters, yet the Chinese cut is the one that most reflects Wong Kar-Wai's muse. Which Wong Kar-Wai films have you seen? Which ones did you like?

I think you should watch the Chinese Cut. The ending in the American cut should be different. Actually I think his latest The Grandmaster is the best.

FirstAscent

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So I watched Mikio Naruse's Mother last night, starring Kinuyo Tanaka. So that now makes ten Naruse films for me!

FirstAscent

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Quote from: flagel8 on September 14, 2013, 03:42:44 AM

FirstAscent, what do you feel about 3-Iron? Have you ever seen its like?

It's on my watch list. Rated fairly highly. I definitely want to watch it. It seems to be fairly popular, like Oldboy. 2046 is popular too. There is nothing wrong with such films, although people think I might be looking down my nose at such films. I am not! Heck, you know I love 2046.

I'm just trying to point out that the best way to discover these great movies is to apply different methods together. The methods are:

- Follow the essays and commentaries of Asian film scholars, such as Donald Richie, Tony Rayns, David Bordwell, Audie Bock, etc.
- Get intimate with the Criterion Collection over at criterion.com, and use the Explore section
- Build a familiarity with the directors and their filmography
- Build a familiarity with the actors, and follow their filmography
- Get familiar with the different film movements, and learn how to differentiate them
- Discover the films being discussed at Mubi.com
- Use a film social networking site to see what others like
- Pay attention to the Sight & Sound directors and critics polls
- Get familiar with Roger Ebert's list of "Great Films"

Speaking of Korean films, I recommend Secret Sunshine and Poetry, both by Chang-dong Lee. I have only seen Secret Sunshine, but Poetry is rated highly.

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FirstAscent, what do you feel about 3-Iron? Have you ever seen its like?

FirstAscent

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I just watched Mikio Naruse's Scattered Clouds. Lovely movie.

That makes nine Mikio Naruse films that I've watched now:

Repast
Wife
Sound of the Mountain
Late Chrysanthemums
Floating Clouds
Flowing
When a Woman Ascends the Stairs
Yearning
Scattered Clouds

FirstAscent

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Quote from: Singlebyte on September 13, 2013, 11:27:12 PM

Quote from: FirstAscent on September 13, 2013, 11:06:19 PM

Quote from: Singlebyte on September 13, 2013, 11:00:58 PM

Usually I am not in favor of subtitled movies, but there are a few great ones out there. (Like DownFall!)

Some of the most important films ever made are foreign and subtitled, among them many Asian films. I've been mentioning them.

FirstAscent,

Recommend ONE Asian film that you feel is as good as Downfall or Oldboy (and as highly rated on imdb.com) and I will take the time to watch it over the weekend if I can get a hold of it. I enjoy great movies and will gladly watch anything rated higher than either of those two. Pick me out a great one and I will report back my review.

Yi Yi
The Face of Another
When a Woman Ascends the Stairs
2046
Sansho the Bailiff
Late Spring

But they may not be what you are looking for in cinema. But tastes evolve as you become more familiar with the cinematic landscape. I can assure you that those are all masterpieces.

hlynur

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Quote from: FirstAscent on September 13, 2013, 11:06:19 PM

Quote from: Singlebyte on September 13, 2013, 11:00:58 PM

Usually I am not in favor of subtitled movies, but there are a few great ones out there. (Like DownFall!)

Some of the most important films ever made are foreign and subtitled, among them many Asian films. I've been mentioning them.

i think it just takes some exercise for your brain. when I can't find german subtitles and watch a japanese movie with english subs as a foreign speaker it feels exhausting after some time and I can't concentrate as much to the scene arrangement as I want to.
on the other side asian language is simply too hard to be synchronized well enough for western intonation and conversations always sound like they're "pasted" onto the atmo.

Singlebyte

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Quote from: FirstAscent on September 13, 2013, 11:06:19 PM

Quote from: Singlebyte on September 13, 2013, 11:00:58 PM

Usually I am not in favor of subtitled movies, but there are a few great ones out there. (Like DownFall!)

Some of the most important films ever made are foreign and subtitled, among them many Asian films. I've been mentioning them.

FirstAscent,

Recommend ONE Asian film that you feel is as good as Downfall or Oldboy (and as highly rated on imdb.com) and I will take the time to watch it over the weekend if I can get a hold of it. I enjoy great movies and will gladly watch anything rated higher than either of those two. Pick me out a great one and I will report back my review.

FirstAscent

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Quote from: Singlebyte on September 13, 2013, 11:00:58 PM

Usually I am not in favor of subtitled movies, but there are a few great ones out there. (Like DownFall!)

Some of the most important films ever made are foreign and subtitled, among them many Asian films. I've been mentioning them.

Topic: Asian films old and new: recommendations, discussion and appreciation (Read 3770 times)