Thursday Movie Pick by Wandering Through the Shelves goes East now. The quest is: Non-English Language Movies – Asian Language Movies Set in East Asia (Non-Horror). My kind of movies.
I’m a fan of East Asia thriller, and therefore, I must put aside Park Chan-wook’s movies (except for one) also Bong Joon-ho’s (except for one movie); otherwise, I would not be able to pick any.
So, below is my special picks for this theme.
01. Infernal Affairs (2002)
Very much intriguing, but sympathetic. Infernal Affairs, which inspires Scorsese’s The Departed, is a police thriller you cannot miss.
FYI, Hong Kong crime-thriller is hype at that time; and among other intriguing crime movies, Infernal Affairs is on the top.
02. Mother (2009)
Mother (“Madeo” in Korean) is a very uncomfortable thriller. Won Bin was terrific, but Kim Hye-ja’s at her finest here in picturing the love of a mother in a way which I cannot even digest.
FYI, the Korean title itself is a play of word; it might sound like “Mother” or “Murder” at the same time. Clever, Joon-ho.
03. Thirst (2009)
Oldboy might be Park Chan-wook’s most controversial and most notorious work, but I personally love Thirst among all Chan-wook’s wild work.
Thirst revolves around the life of a priest, who was infected by a virus that turned him into a vampire. I love the idea of celibate life, sexuality, and repentance are depicted in this beautifully orchestrated blood-bathing vampire erotic black comedy.
Honorable mentions
If I could, I’d state all my favorite East Asian movies, ranging from:
- Park Chan-wook’s finest works (Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Oldboy, Lady Vengeance, I’m A Cyborg But That’s OK)
- Bong Joon-ho’s (Memories of Murder, The Host)
- Kim Jee-won’s (Two Sisters, I Saw the Devil, The Good The Bad The Weird)
- Kwak Jae-yong’s My Sassy Girl
- John Woo’s Red Cliff
But, most importantly, this is the ultimately honorable mention, Zhang Yimou’s Hero (2002)
Well, that’s my picks for this week. Hit the comment button, please.
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