South Korean film recommendations?

[cinemaphile]

I need to tap into the knowledge of members more versed in Asian cinema than I am.

This past year or so I have been trying to dip by toes a little further into foreign films. I've really been digging some of the stuff out of South Korea. There are so many films, though, that I am looking for some recommendations on the must-see's or even just which ones are worth my time and which to skip.

And actually, any Asian film recommendations in general are welcome as well. (note: I am not really a fan of anime, John Woo, or stuff like Crouching Tiger)

Here are some of the Korean films that I have already seen and enjoyed, to give you an idea of my tastes:
I Saw the Devil
Train to Busan
The Handmaiden
Oldboy
Doomsday Book
The Good, The Bad, and the Weird
Tunnel
The Host

A few of the non-Korean ones I have enjoyed:
The Raid 1 & 2
Infernal Affairs
Kung Fu Hustle
Shaolin Soccer
Why Don't You Play In Hell?
Journey to the West
This Girl is Bad-Ass!
Let the Bullets Fly
Jackie Chan flicks

And here are the ones already on my potential watchlist (thoughts on these?):
The Villainness
Bittersweet Life
Assassination
The Wailing
Thirst
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance
Sympathy for Lady Vengeance
The Man From Nowhere
Chocolate
Barking Dogs Never Bite
The Front Line
Infernal Affairs 2 & 3
No Tears for the Dead

Thanks in advance!!

[odditie]

Memories of Murder is an incredible film. If you liked The Host, you should definitely see it. It's my favorite Bong Joon-ho film.

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by odditie

Memories of Murder is an incredible film. If you liked The Host, you should definitely see it. It's my favorite Bong Joon-ho film.

Definitely second Memories of Murder!

[Foggy]

Memories of Murder is fantastic!

A Bittersweet Life is ace. I didn’t particularly care for The Villainess but maybe give it a shot, at least it’s opening and ending is good fun.

I think you would like Joint Security Area as well that isn’t listed. One of Park Chan Wook’s first efforts so it’s less flashy than his stuff that followed. The Yellow Sea, by the same director as The Wailing, is also quite a good little thriller about an assassination attempt gone wrong.

[odditie]

Originally Posted by Foggy

Memories of Murder is fantastic!

A Bittersweet Life is ace. I didn’t particularly care for The Villainess but maybe give it a shot, at least it’s opening and ending is good fun.

I think you would like Joint Security Area as well that isn’t listed. One of Park Chan Wook’s first efforts so it’s less flashy than his stuff that followed. The Yellow Sea, by the same director as The Wailing, is also quite a good little thriller about an assassination attempt gone wrong.

JSA is also great! I really need to rewatch that film.

I'm a sucker for anything Song Kang-ho is in to be honest.

[Hucksta G]

Memories of Murder
The Chaser
New World
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring [though might not fit in with your tastes]
Brotherhood of War

[cinemaphile]

Originally Posted by Foggy

I think you would like Joint Security Area as well that isn’t listed. One of Park Chan Wook’s first efforts so it’s less flashy than his stuff that followed. The Yellow Sea, by the same director as The Wailing, is also quite a good little thriller about an assassination attempt gone wrong.

Originally Posted by odditie

JSA is also great! I really need to rewatch that film.

found JSA on Amazon Prime, and Wailing on Netflix! Thanks guys, keep em coming!

[P-Rock]

Confession of Murder (and the 2017 remake).
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring
The Quiet Family (and the Takashi Miike remake Happiness of the Katakuris)
Seoul Station (animated prequel to Train to Busan)
I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK
My Beautiful Girl, Mari
My Sassy Girl
Welcome to Dongmakgol
Hansel & Gretel (2007)
The Wailing
Howling
Bin-Jip

[odditie]

Originally Posted by P-Rock

I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK

Another one I love. So bizarre and creative.

[Jasonic]

I'll order these by genre and my most preferential.

Crime
Memories of Murder
A Bittersweet Life
New World
Man from Nowhere
Sympathy for Lady Vengeance
Cold Eyes
Sea Fog
The Merciless
The Unjust
Veteran
Mother
A Hard Day
The Chaser
Nameless Gangster

Comedy/Romance
Sunny (2011)
My Sassy Girl
Castaway On the Moon
A Werewolf Boy
Spellbound

Military
JSA
71: Into the Fire
Tae Guk Gi
The Front Line
Silmido

Horror
The Wailing
A Tale of Two Sisters
Thirst
Bedevilled
The Quiet Family (comedy/horror)
Whispering Corridors

Drama/Tragic
A Moment to Remember
Han Gong Ju
Way Back Home
Once Upon a Time in High School
Silenced
Bleak Night
Peppermint Candy
My Dear Enemy
Oasis
Hope

Period Piece/Historical
Age of Shadows
Masquerade
War of the Arrows
Assassination
The Last Princess
The Servant
The Tiger
The Throne

Others
Tazza: The High Rollers
The Terror Live
Moebius
Monster
Midnight FM
Miracle in Cell No. 7
26 Years
As One

[Al_The_Strange]

I'm a fan (maybe the only fan) of Doomsday Book--an anthology sci-fi film. Three bizarre and interesting stories, and I think it's worth a rent at the least.

Memories of Murder is a must. I'd also say 2009's Mother is a must--it's an excellent story told well.

I loved The Wailing, and it deserves to be watched.

1960's The Housemaid is also a must. It's classy and quite intense.

I really liked The Man From Nowhere when I saw it. Not sure how it holds up on rewatches though.

The Good, The Bad, and the Weird is the most action-packed western I know of.

Secretly, Greatly is a movie I mostly liked, but would recommend caution. It's half of a slapstick comedy and half of a serious spy thriller with action. Very strange and bipolar film.

Bedevilled starts slow but builds up to an awesome last hour or so. Rent it.

Traffickers and Suddenly in the Dark are okay, worth renting maybe.

If you want to push the envelope a little, Moebius is a pretty messed-up film. It's also entirely wordless, which makes it even more weird.

Some other good films to see beyond Korea would be: Drug War, The Protector, SPL (Kill Zone), the numbered Ip Man films, Chocolate, and anything by Sion Sono.

[Ben_C]

Plenty of decent recommendations already, so I’ll just add The Foul King. Song Kang-ho plus wrestling = a winner.

[ikhon]

A bit over the top but, worth a watch. Ichi the killer..

[Gerby]

Originally Posted by ikhon

A bit over the top but, worth a watch. Ichi the killer..

It's Japanese, not Korean.

[Mothravka]

Originally Posted by Gerby

It's Japanese, not Korean.

Of course, but the one who started the thread wrote that any Asian recommendations are welcome.

[prkchopexpress]

if you can find

I'm a cyborg, but that's ok

it is awesome.

as for japanese... can't go wrong with the madman by the name of takashi miike.

[levcore]

Mr. Go 3D, about a baseball playing gorilla. It's awesome.

[Gerby]

Originally Posted by Mothravka

Of course, but the one who started the thread wrote that any Asian recommendations are welcome.

Sorry, i didn't read that bit.
In that case...
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=300730
Lots of good suggestions in there.

[scarletlion]

Some amazing films in this thread already. Korean cinema really is awesome. Park Chan Wook's entire filmography is worth watching. Although I've not seen 'Thirst.'

Nice to see Peppermint Candy mentioned. That one often gets overlooked.

Top 5:

I saw the devil
Oldboy
Memories of Murder
A Tale of Two sisters
The Handmaiden

[D00mM4r1n3]

South Korea
Snowpiercer
Save the Green Planet!

Japan
Big Man Japan
Sukiyaki Western Django