Japanese Live-Action Movie Recommendation Thread

[OL]

Just about anything by Kiyoshi Kurosawa. It all might be an acquired taste, but I haven't seen a single thing by him that I didn't like. Some of it is a bit artistic (like Bright Future or Tokyo Sonata), while others are just great, low-key thrillers or horror flicks (Cure, Pulse/Kairo, Retribution), but all of them share a similar... almost quiet kind of style. I once saw a quote calling his movies hypnotizing; I'd certainly say that's the case for me.

My favorite of his is Bright Future, but it's also a movie that I'd fully understand if someone just didn't like it. For some reason it always manages to tug at the heartstrings for me, yet I can't fully explain why.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mcnvp1yKJo[/youtube]

[Bluecast]

Aliens vs Ninjas
Tokyo Gore Police
Machine Girl
Shinobi
Azumi
Ichi

[ShenmueTree]

I watched モテキ last night and it was pretty great. Didn't quite understand the end of it though...
I tried to watch Kotoko not long ago and I couldn't get into it, maybe I'll try again.

Anyway I'll try to watch some more of these movies, thanks guys!

[mue 26]

I watched モテキ last night and it was pretty great.

^You watched what?

I'd definitely recommend Ikiru to anyone who hasn't seen it.

Can't really think of much else right now, I've quite disliked the more recent Japanese movies I've seen, I couldn't stand Love Exposure and thought Confessions was an overrated load of nonsense.

Some of Kitano's stuff is worth checking out as well, not that I'm his biggest fan either to be honest...but there aren't many who can do "stoney faced psychopath" as well as him.

I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting, so I'll come back if I remember,

[Vyse Hazuky]

I tried to watch Kotoko not long ago and I couldn't get into it, maybe I'll try again.

I tried to give as diverse suggestions as possible. Kotoko spoke hugely to me, however I was already a big Shinya Tsukamoto fan (if the avatar wasn't enough of a giveaway). Even so, I totally understand how his movies, particularly the ones he's made this past decade (Bullet Man excluded, I'm talking the likes of Vital, Haze and this one) can feel disconcerting and benefit from being in a particular state of mind, meaning they're not easy to get into. Nonetheless, keep it in the back of your mind and make sure you revisit it when your mind is set on its wavelength

[ShenmueTree]

I watched モテキ last night and it was pretty great.

^You watched what?

I'd definitely recommend Ikiru to anyone who hasn't seen it.

Can't really think of much else right now, I've quite disliked the more recent Japanese movies I've seen, I couldn't stand Love Exposure and thought Confessions was an overrated load of nonsense.

Some of Kitano's stuff is worth checking out as well, not that I'm his biggest fan either to be honest...but there aren't many who can do "stoney faced psychopath" as well as him.

I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting, so I'll come back if I remember,

Moteki.

[Rakim]

So I watched Install. I didn't realize how good it was until a bit after I watched and I had time to think it over.

While it was funny and entertaining the whole time I kept wondering "where is this going?". We get the big revelation at the end, but even that only made me think it was just alright.

Then I got to thinking.

ATTN ShenmueTree Don't expand this if you haven't seen the movie yet

What if it was all on purpose and we were supposed to feel weird and "lost" just like the main character? If that was the intention the director did his job thoroughly. He was able to maintain the feeling of wandering while at the same time not boring us to tears. And with the revelation that the voice we keep hearing during the movie is not that of a bully but of Aya Ueto's friend who died brings us back to "normal" again at the same time as her character is finally coming to terms with the tragedy. Just my half-baked analysis that made me appreciate the film more.

[shengoro86]

Moon Child is one of my all time favorites.
Gackt and Hyde are awesome in it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_Child_%282003_film%29

[OL]

^^I actually do like that one, despite the fact that it's just an obvious cash-in on their popularity. Some of the action is pretty damn good.
But it does seem like it isn't quite sure what it wants to be. The fact that it's based in the future is totally superfluous, and Hyde being a vampire is just kind of... random. And it does seriously slow down during its latter half.
But yeah, despite its shortcomings, I still enjoy it for just a bit of un-cerebral fun.

[Crimson Ryan]

Jiro Dreams of Sushi

[Cave Johnson]

Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29El4phRPaw[/youtube]
Not alot of action but it's deep.

[Ziming]

I'm adding some Korean films in this topic. I saw these recently on netflix.

War of Arrows (2011)
Bedevilled (2010)
No Mercy (2010)

Some older Korean films I've seen in the past.
The Man from Nowhere
Tale of Two Sisters
The Good, the Bad and the Weird
The Yellow Sea

[RyoHazuki84]

Outside of Battle Royale, I recommend

Versus
Black Belt
High Kick Girl
Karate Girl
Godzilla Final Wars
Sanctuary
Kokuhaku (Confession)
I Give My First Love To You

[Rakim]

I'm adding some Korean films in this topic. I saw these recently on netflix.

War of Arrows (2011)
Bedevilled (2010)
No Mercy (2010)

Some older Korean films I've seen in the past.
The Man from Nowhere
Tale of Two Sisters
The Good, the Bad and the Weird
The Yellow Sea

I am personally offended by this post.

[Ziming]

I am personally offended by this post.

You don't like South Korean movies?