Movies for the masses
Ebonbird was asking for suggestions re. movies and here are some of mine.
This is the slightly updated list:
Korean:
301/302 (excellent movie about bodies/food)
Chunhyang (wonderful story based on a classic pansori peice)
Sopyeonjae (angsty but good pansori drum/singing)
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring
Why the Bodidharma has left for the East (I think that's the name)
3 Iron
Take Care of my Cat
Shiri (or Swiri): Korea's first block buster. Mostly memorable for hot North Korean secret agent (female) and various K-star beefcakes and a really vicious "evil North Korean training sessions" segment.
The Way Home
Chinese:
Not One Less
King of Masks
The Shower
Yellow Earth
Red Sorghum
The Day the Sun Turned Cold
Beijing Bicycle
The Uniform (actually a bit long and "Wong Kar Wai does Bergman" for me but interesting nonetheless)
Infernal Affairs
Chungking Express
Kungfu movies:
Kungfu Hustle
Come Drink With Me
Iron Monkey 2 (the one with Donnie Yen in it)
Dreadnaught (just for the lion dancing)
Once Upon a Time in China 1, 2 and 3
also a really self-indulgent doco called "The Red Trousers" which is about HK stunt performers but there's some great footage of kids in performing arts schools.
Japan:
Onmyoji 1 and 2 (1 is a bit better imo)
The Twilight Samurai
Ikiru
Kagemusha
Mishima
A Taxing Woman
Tampopo (this is a classic. You HAVE to see this if you haven't already)
The Funeral (only if you understand Japanese customs)
South Asian (I know almost nothing about Bollywood, but these two I definitely liked and yes I know Mira Nair doesn't really count as Bollywood):
Lagaan
Monsoon Wedding
Thai:
Beautiful Boxer (this is based on the true story of a man who competed to win the Muay Thai national championship so that he could win enough money to become a woman). Fascinating performances as well as subject matter.
West African:
Moolade
La Genese (Genesis)
Guimba the Tyrant
La Petite Vendeuse du Soleil
Faat Kine
Chocolat
Carmen Gueye
Kirikou and the Sorceress (you HAVE to see this one)
Xala
Hyenas
Life on Earth (modern rural Senegal)
random movies about Africa that don't totally suck:
A Dry White Season (an excellent exploration of white privilege under apartheid)
Nowhere in Africa
Missisippi Masala
British TV series everyone should see:
The Office
House of Cards
Cracker
Prime Suspect
Bleak House
Finally, this is just too good not to share: http://www.salon.com/ent/video_dog/ads/2006/05/02/sugar_baby_love/
knock yourselves out. I was singing this damn song all morning.
This is the slightly updated list:
Korean:
301/302 (excellent movie about bodies/food)
Chunhyang (wonderful story based on a classic pansori peice)
Sopyeonjae (angsty but good pansori drum/singing)
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring
Why the Bodidharma has left for the East (I think that's the name)
3 Iron
Take Care of my Cat
Shiri (or Swiri): Korea's first block buster. Mostly memorable for hot North Korean secret agent (female) and various K-star beefcakes and a really vicious "evil North Korean training sessions" segment.
The Way Home
Chinese:
Not One Less
King of Masks
The Shower
Yellow Earth
Red Sorghum
The Day the Sun Turned Cold
Beijing Bicycle
The Uniform (actually a bit long and "Wong Kar Wai does Bergman" for me but interesting nonetheless)
Infernal Affairs
Chungking Express
Kungfu movies:
Kungfu Hustle
Come Drink With Me
Iron Monkey 2 (the one with Donnie Yen in it)
Dreadnaught (just for the lion dancing)
Once Upon a Time in China 1, 2 and 3
also a really self-indulgent doco called "The Red Trousers" which is about HK stunt performers but there's some great footage of kids in performing arts schools.
Japan:
Onmyoji 1 and 2 (1 is a bit better imo)
The Twilight Samurai
Ikiru
Kagemusha
Mishima
A Taxing Woman
Tampopo (this is a classic. You HAVE to see this if you haven't already)
The Funeral (only if you understand Japanese customs)
South Asian (I know almost nothing about Bollywood, but these two I definitely liked and yes I know Mira Nair doesn't really count as Bollywood):
Lagaan
Monsoon Wedding
Thai:
Beautiful Boxer (this is based on the true story of a man who competed to win the Muay Thai national championship so that he could win enough money to become a woman). Fascinating performances as well as subject matter.
West African:
Moolade
La Genese (Genesis)
Guimba the Tyrant
La Petite Vendeuse du Soleil
Faat Kine
Chocolat
Carmen Gueye
Kirikou and the Sorceress (you HAVE to see this one)
Xala
Hyenas
Life on Earth (modern rural Senegal)
random movies about Africa that don't totally suck:
A Dry White Season (an excellent exploration of white privilege under apartheid)
Nowhere in Africa
Missisippi Masala
British TV series everyone should see:
The Office
House of Cards
Cracker
Prime Suspect
Bleak House
Finally, this is just too good not to share: http://www.salon.com/ent/video_dog/ads/2006/05/02/sugar_baby_love/
knock yourselves out. I was singing this damn song all morning.