Current state of Asian films...

[memetic]

Hey. Well, it's been a while since I've visited, which I think is a product of my general malaise with Asian cinema. I still actively buy and watch Asian films but don't get so excited about the anticipation of them, which was what led to me visiting forums to begin with.

After reading Tom's post in another thread, I was curious as to how other people felt about the current state of Asian cinema?

History has demonstrated that the "waves" have been literally that - cinema operates somewhat cyclically due to the nature of investment and the industry in general. So hopefully there'll be a general renaissance of sorts soon.

Is anyone seeing some exciting stuff from a particular country lately?

To be fair, most asian cinema-related forums have been slowing down during the last two years.
I don't think it's a BnB-specific phenomenon.

-HK cinema is pretty much dead. We just get one or two epic films each year, drowned in a sea of crappy triad films.
-The korean wave is over.
-99% of the films that needed a DVD release HAVE been released.

I guess there's not much left for us to talk about.

*Depressed*

[bradavon]

I don't get excited about buying New Asian films as much as I used to either. The Far East is still one of the strongest regions though. There just doesn't seem to be many decent examples, like there used to be.

South America has been an exciting region for the last few years too but sadly they make far few decent films. You can always rely on Mainland Europe though.

As I said earlier it seems Thailand is the new Hong Kong when it comes to exciting Martial Arts films. If they can get higher production values and stronger stories in place too they could be something really special.

[Yi-Long]

Myeah...

I dont agree about all the movies that we want to see having been released yet. Not properly.
Burning Paradise, Cyclo, Pedicab Driver, Fist of Legend, Drunken Master 2, Young and Dangerous series, Ashes of Time, My Sassy Girl (director's cut korean version), Il Mare, A Dirty Carnival, The Chinese Feast, etc etc.

Korean wave seems to have slowed down a bit, although considering the talent that's there, I'm sure it will pick up again. Not sure if the quality has really dropped, or just that the 'hype' is over a bit, and that we just arent interested in yet another romantic comedy or coming-of-age crime story etc aymore.

HK is fucked up. They are casting teeny popstars instead of actors and martial artists. I hope they'll come to their senses soon.

Thailand is still up and coming, after the succes of Tony Jaa, and is just looking very promising, action-wise.

There are still LOTS of asian classics I havent seen yet. Some are released, some are still unreleased.

I guess 'our' interest has been lost a bit because most of us pretty much got into the 'genre' because of Jackie Chan, or John Woo... and Jackie hasnt made good movies anymore, and Jonh Woo either, and there really havent been people that are stepping in their footsteps, delivering that kind of movies. Yeah, Tony Jaa is wow-ing the world with his action, but he's sure taking his time between movies (which is a good thing, but also makes for less to talk about). Even Stephen Chow has seriously lessened his output.

And I dont see many of us interested in seeing some bullshit HK popsinger in a mediocre movie.

Like I said, I hope HK will go back to making movies with talent instead of with 1-week boxoffice appeal for teens, and that Korea and Thailand will keep maturing and releasing good movies in a wide variety of genres.

[thelostdragon]

Yi, there also is still Donnie Yen in the business who has made some very good films in recent years.

As for Tony Jaa, taking his time, I remember that it always took ages for the new JC film to come out and that I chased after every single movie and karate magazine I could get my hands on to look for new pictures from the set. Ah, those were the days. That's how I got into reading the Impact magazine from the UK by the way.

[bradavon]

and that we just arent interested in yet another romantic comedy or coming-of-age crime story etc aymore.

It does seem that's a big portion of what the Korean public likes.

HK is fucked up. They are casting teeny popstars instead of actors and martial artists. I hope they'll come to their senses soon.

Agreed

I bet it makes sure each film brings in the cash locally though.

and Jackie hasnt made good movies anymore, and Jonh Woo either.

I feel it's exactly the same with Hollywood Action Stars of today, it's all about bums on seats which mean artist merit goes right out the window. Both Jackie Chan and John Woo are getting old which means the artistic flair they once had has pretty much mostly gone.

and that Korea and Thailand will keep maturing and releasing good movies in a wide variety of genres.

I think this is likely, although less so in Korea. Korea film makers (from my limited experience) seem to have learnt how to make easy cash, which means it's best to just copy Hollywood.

Yi, there also is still Donnie Yen in the business who has made some very good films in recent years.

He is getting old though, nothing wrong with that but it just means he cannot give us the same amount of decent films or even the effort he once had.

[Yi-Long]

Yeah Donnie made a few decent movies lately, so hopefully he can keep that up, but he's been in the business for over 20 years now, and most of his movies have been pretty mediocre.
SPL was very good though, and Flash Point was fun as well... so like I said, hopefully he can keep that up.

[thelostdragon]

Yi, there also is still Donnie Yen in the business who has made some very good films in recent years.

He is getting old though, nothing wrong with that but it just means he cannot give us the same amount of decent films or even the effort he once had.

I disagree. In my book "SPL" and "Flash Point" belong to the best films he ever made, both actionwise and filmwise. Filmwise they are even his best films (if you don't count "Hero" due to his short appearance). And actionwise they more than keep up with the likes of "In the Line of Duty" and "Iron Monkey" because with each of the two films he introduced new types of fight scenes (brilliantly shot as well), which is one of the most difficult things to do in the action movie business these days. Come up with something new AND make it look good... I'd hire Donnie Yen at the moment.

And there is also another type of fight scenes that I love which is the direct and brutal style, very often performed by Jung Doo-Hong from Korea. "A Bittersweet Life" anybody? The fight scenes in this film were just intense and although they were over the top, they seemed realistically brutal.

[bradavon]

Interesting thanks LD. I didn't say he didn't "still have it", just that he doesn't have it as much as he used to.

Even then he is getting older so what when he gets too old to do it? Like Hollywood action stars none of the current crop could replace him.

[Lourdes]

Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles was the last decent Asian film I saw.
Oldboy was the last good Korean film, from Japan Zatoichi, Taiwan died with the New Wave with the exception of Yiyi, and HK I've never really cared for besides WKW and and a select few action films. I suppose I'm forgetting Innocence and Paprika from Japan though, they're a bit more recent than Zatoichi.

[EvaUnit02]

Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles was the last decent Asian film I saw.
Oldboy was the last good Korean film, from Japan Zatoichi, Taiwan died with the New Wave with the exception of Yiyi, and HK I've never really cared for besides WKW and and a select few action films. I suppose I'm forgetting Innocence and Paprika from Japan though, they're a bit more recent than Zatoichi.

Yeah, I'd also consider animation a separate entity from the rest of Japanese cinema. You still have the prolific auteur at work like Kon, Oshii and Makoto Shinkai.

[Killer Meteor]

I dont agree about all the movies that we want to see having been released yet. Not properly.

Yi for fucks sake this isn't the point of this thread and you know it. You only the other day already said exactly the same thing, repeating yourself doesn't mean more people will read it.

.

You're a real jerk, you know that?

[Shingster]

Shhh, you're not supposed to mention Japanese cinema in threads like these. Everyone knows Asian Cinema consists of HK, Korea and Thailand.

[Yi-Long]

I dont agree about all the movies that we want to see having been released yet. Not properly.

Yi for fucks sake this isn't the point of this thread and you know it. You only the other day already said exactly the same thing, repeating yourself doesn't mean more people will read it.

.

You're a real jerk, you know that?

I think he mentioned it as a joke this time

[Shingster]

I don't detect much humour in that post, just smug self satisfaction at his witty comment about Eva.

[thelostdragon]

Shhh, you're not supposed to mention Japanese cinema in threads like these. Everyone knows Asian Cinema consists of HK, Korea and Thailand.

Oh, I love Japanese cinema. However, I was talking about films that contain great fighting scenes, which quite frankly Japanese films aren't popular for. The last Japanese film I watched was "Fireflies: River of Light". Absolutely sweet film. The thing about Japanese movies is that they are mostly quite expensive when you get their JP DVD release.
I just got "Memories of Matsuko" and am probably gonna watch it today.

[Yi-Long]

I dont watch much japanese cinema. I loved Ping Pong, and Battle Royale, and a few others, but I dont know... it hasnt really grabbed me (yet?)

[tom2681]

@Yi:
You should try Dororo. it's an Azumi-like swordplay flick, except it's quite funny and the fight choregraphy is handled by Ching Siu-Tung.

Want light drama? try "Always sunset on third street", "Linda Linda Linda" or "Hinokio".
Want comedy? try "Swing Girls", "Kamikaze Girls" or "Survive Style +5".
Want cheese? try "Devilman".

They've got some good stuff over there.
You gotta dig deep to find it, that's all.

[Yi-Long]

I'm in Hong Kong end of next month, so I might pick up some japanese movies...
I dont order many dvds anymore lately.

Thanks man

[Shingster]

Shhh, you're not supposed to mention Japanese cinema in threads like these. Everyone knows Asian Cinema consists of HK, Korea and Thailand.

Oh, I love Japanese cinema. However, I was talking about films that contain great fighting scenes, which quite frankly Japanese films aren't popular for.

I'm trying to think of recent Japanese action films that have the kind of martial arts mayhem you tend to like, but i'm struggling at the moment! The only titles that come to mind would be the old Chiba flicks; in particular Shogun's Ninja, which was probably the closest Chiba ever got to making a straight HK kung fu film.

Moving away from asian cinema for a second though, have you seen Contour yet LD?

The thing about Japanese movies is that they are mostly quite expensive when you get their JP DVD release.
I just got "Memories of Matsuko" and am probably gonna watch it today.

Yup, but the good news is that more and more Japanese films are out on HK DVD not long after they've been released in Japan, and many older films are also getting released. The bad news is that Japan's output in 2007 was almost as shite as HK & Korea's!

[thelostdragon]

I'm trying to think of recent Japanese action films that have the kind of martial arts mayhem you tend to like, but i'm struggling at the moment! The only titles that come to mind would be the old Chiba flicks; in particular Shogun's Ninja, which was probably the closest Chiba ever got to making a straight HK kung fu film.

I mean it's not like Japan doesn't produce any good action films, but these films are rather an exception, like "Versus" or "Azumi", which happen to be directed by the same guy. As Tom noted, "Dororo" should be good as well.

Moving away from asian cinema for a second though, have you seen Contour yet LD?

Not yet. Will do as soon as I can, though. Where can I buy the DVD by the way?

Yup, but the good news is that more and more Japanese films are out on HK DVD not long after they've been released in Japan, and many older films are also getting released.

True! I recently bought the HK DVDs of "Never Give Up" with Ken Takakura, which really looks great.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0326436/

As for newer films, I am thinking of buying the HK DVD of "Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad".

[Shingster]

DVD Pacific have it fairly cheap here. I reckon the film was made for about $200, basically little more than a tongue-in-cheek home made video, but it's a lot of fun and the action is very, very good indeed.

[Lourdes]

Yeah, I'd also consider animation a separate entity from the rest of Japanese cinema. You still have the prolific auteur at work like Kon, Oshii and Makoto Shinkai.

Indeed. The big animation studios just carry on regardless, not really related to the film industry as a whole who makes movies in months as opposed to the years it takes for animations.

[bradavon]

You're a real jerk, you know that?

Why are you repeating yourself? I understood the first time you told me I was a jerk.

Oh, I love Japanese cinema.

Me too. It's one of the best countries in the world for great films.

[HungFist]

True! I recently bought the HK DVDs of "Never Give Up" with Ken Takakura, which really looks great.

Hiroko’s first film! Also see the excellent Sailor Suit and Machine Gun and Legend of the Eight Samurai from her. For even more idol madness check Ninja Wars (Noriko Watanabe). Myself I just discovered Momoe Yamaguchi but haven’t seen any of her films yet.

As for newer films, I am thinking of buying the HK DVD of "Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad".

Me, too. I’m not expecting much from the film, but at least it should come with some great Odagiri cuteness.

Maybe you’d like Sakuran, too. I haven’t seen it myself, but on average twice a month I get a feeling I might enjoy it. At least the Shiina Ringo soundtrack. Can’t be that bad?

I also recommend introducing yourself to Nobuhiro Yamashita. His new films aren’t as amazing as his older ones, but I’ve still greatly enjoyed all the recent films I’ve seen from him (Linda 3, Matsuhane ransha jiken, Tennen kokekko). Some other great semi-recent dramas include at least Tokyo . Sora, Tokyo Marigold, Su-ki-da and Eureka.

Let me know if you want recommendation on 70's martial arts and chambara films. Perhaps I could come up with something interesting that you haven't seen.

[thelostdragon]

The German disc of "Sakuran" is really good. Might get it when it is cheap. It's 20 Euros at the moment and Rapid Eye Movies DVDs seldomly drop in price.

Thanks Hung, but at the moments I have a lot of Japanese films I still nedd to watch.

List of Japanese films I have on DVD and not seen, yet:
9 Souls
Be With You
Bird People in China
Black Angel: Director's Cut
Black Angel 2: Director's Cut
Boiling Point
The Call
Chaos
Drive
Fighting Elegy
The Gift
Gohatto
Hana & Alice
The Happiness of the Katakuris
Heaven's Bookstore
The Hidden Fortress
Ikiru
Jam Films 2
Kamikaze Girls
Kichiku Dai Enkai
Ley Lines
The Spear of Longinus
Lost Paradise
Love and Honor
The Lower Depth
Moonchild
The Naked Island
The Neighbor No. 13
Never Give Up
One Wonderful Sunday
Ping Pong
Postman Blues
Rainy Dog
Red Beard
Roningai
The Samurai Trilogy
Samurai Resurrection
Score
Sky High
Space Travelers
Sukeban Deka 1 + 2
Tales of the Unusual
The Waterboys
Wild Life
A Yakuza in Love
The Yin Yang Master
Young Thugs: Nostalgia
Zatoichi: The Festival of Fire

As you can see, I still have a lot to watch. Sigh! Time... all I need is time.