Blu-ray Community Top Asian Films [Read OP--due Feb 16]

[Al_The_Strange]

Good news everyone! I took a preliminary count and everything looks smashing so far. There's already 300+ films nominated.

Just a few things to bring to everyone's attention:

• I have a vote for Babel. Even though it has scenes set in Japan and the Middle East, it is listed as a US/French/Mexican production. Unless somebody can point to a source that shows its Asian connection behind the scenes, it would not count in the final tally.
• Many folks have listed Mother, which I assume refers to Madeo, the 2009 S. Korean film by Joon-ho Bong. But there may be other Eastern films by that title, so if you do mean to vote on anything other than Madeo, please make sure you indicate this in some way, either with the year of production or original foreign title. If you don't specify, I'll assume you mean Madeo.
• Red Cliff was released in two parts originally. If you voted on this one, please indicate which part. If you don't, I'll count these towards Part I only. If you haven't seen the full International Cut, you're missing out.
• A Better Tomorrow has been made in Hong Kong and S. Korea, and both have had sequels. If you don't indicate which series you're voting on, I will assume you mean the original 80s versions.

[Jasonic]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Red Cliff was released in two parts originally. If you voted on this one, please indicate which part. If you don't, I'll count these towards Part I only. If you haven't seen the full International Cut, you're missing out.

Personally I think it should all count toward the same singular film. Whether you see the cut version or full nearly 5 hour two parter, it's truly one film experience. Splitting it up would deplete each part's points and lesser chance for higher placement.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Jasonic

Personally I think it should all count toward the same singular film. Whether you see the cut version or full nearly 5 hour two parter, it's truly one film experience. Splitting it up would deplete each part's points and lesser chance for higher placement.

I've been sticking to the same standard that made us split up things like LOTR and Kill Bill in the past. For Red Cliff, I can see myself posting it in the results as one whole entity, given that it had an abridged release, but that was outside of Asia.

What do y'all think, should RC be treated as one or two films?

If we do count it as one, this would be an exception--other series like The Human Condition would still need to be split up.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by P-Rock

Tokyo Gore Police?

That's definitely the one I'm looking at.

Seriously, though, Woman in the Dunes should arrive in a few days. Definitely lookin forward to that, and from the sounds of it, it very well may make my list.

[Al_The_Strange]

I've been thinking over the Red Cliff issue some more, and I think I will go ahead and allow both parts to count as one whole film. If for no other reason than I've made the same allowance for animes (Samurai X: Trust and Betrayal has a vote as one whole movie, for example).

I'd just ask that other multi-part films that were not intended to be one continuous movie continue to be broken up (such as the Human Condition, Battles Without Honor or Humanity, Lone Wolf and Cub, Tai Chi Zero/Hero etc). If you think a certain selection should be combined into one, let me know.

I really should have treated Die Nibelungen as one whole movie back in the Fantasy poll. Thank you for all your replies and keep on voting!

[Grethiwha]

^I know IMDb is user-edited, and not a perfect resource, but if the rule is, any movie with an asian country (as listed in the wikipedia article for Asia that Al linked) listed on IMDb qualifies, then it's black-or-white – there can be no disagreeing on what qualifies, and it's up to the individual voters to omit qualifying films they don't think are 'Asian enough'. I think that's a good and simple solution and that seems to be Al's thinking as well.

But whatever. It doesn't much matter to me. I'm going to Peru tomorrow. Do what you want. I won't be around to change my list if y'all change your mind about Snowpiercer being allowed though.

[kiwiphile]

I list three New Zealand co-productions for your consideration, that are on Blu-ray.
Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence (NZ/JP)
The Tattooist (NZ/SK)
The Warrior's Way (NZ/SK)

[imsounoriginal]

This list could probably change at any given time depending on my mood, but here's my best shot as of right this very instant:

Top 25 Asian Films

1. Swades: We the People (2004)
2. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)
3. Pather Panchali (1955)
4. Rashomon (1950)
5. Seven Samurai (1954)
6. Sholay (1975)
7. Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001)
8. Hum Tum (2004)
9. Delhi Belly (2011)
10. Aparajito (1956)
11. Dil Se.. (1998)
12. Devdas (2002)
13. Baazigar (1993)
14. Apur Sansar (1959)
15. Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013)
16. Talaash (2012)
17. Jalsaghar (1958)
18. Branded to Kill (1967)
19. Dabangg (2010)
20. Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na (2008)
21. Highway (2014)
22. Late Spring (1949)
23. Dil Toh Pagal Hai (1997)
24. Lootera (2013)
25. Piku (2015)

[Joeyseven]

Rough Draft.Movies are going to move up and down.

1. The Sword of Doom (1966)
2. The Human Condition I: No Greater Love
3. Red Beard (1965)
4. Ichi the Killer (2001)
5. Samurai Fiction (1998)
6. Rashomon (1950)
7. Mother (Madeo) (2009)
8. The Chaser (2008)
9. Memories of Murder (2003)
10. The Wailing (2016)

11. Farewell My Concubine (1993)
12. 13 Assassins (2010)
13. Oldboy (2003)
14. Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles (2005)
15. Yojimbo (1961)
16. The Villainess (2017)
17. The Seven Samurai
18. Harakiri (1962)
19. The Host
20. Battle Royale

[MercurySeven]

1. Samurai Rebellion
2. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
3. The Seven Samurai
4. Enter the Dragon
5. Harakiri (1962)
6. Sword of Doom
7. Red Cliff
8. The Killer
9. Snowpiercer
10. Police Story
11. The Legend of Drunken Master
12. Battle Royale
13. Hard Boiled
14. Brotherhood (2004)
15. The House of Flying Daggers

[imsounoriginal]

Finished my list, I'm sure they're all eligible but just in case any of them aren't, let me know and I'll fix it. Thanks

Looking forward to the results, even though I doubt many of mine will make it the final cut

[P-Rock]

What idiot picked Samurai X: Trust & Betrayal?

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by P-Rock

What idiot picked Samurai X: Trust & Betrayal?

I swear it was there a few days ago. Somebody must have updated their list.

[P-Rock]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

I swear it was there a few days ago. Somebody must have updated their list.

I found the idiot:

Originally Posted by P-Rock

04. Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal (1999) Kazuhiro Furuhashi

Oh, wait...

[Al_The_Strange]

Forgot to look it up by the proper title: Rurouni Kenshin.

[AaronJ]

Lol!

[Kedrix]

Alright, this is just a list for now since i'm liable to forget a few in doing this off the top of my head. If I didn't include your favorite, chances are I haven't seen it .

1 Seven Samurai (1954)
2 Akira (anime) (1988)
3 Hard Boiled (1992)
4 Red Cliff (2008)
5 Killer, The (1989)
6 Vampire Hunter D (anime) (1985)
7 Ip Man (2008)
8 Ran (1985)
9 Yojimbo (1961)
10 Redline (anime) (2009)
11 Three Outlaw Samurai (1964)
12 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
13 Bullet Train (1975)
14 Ghost in the Shell (anime) (1995)
15 Sanjuro (1962)
16 The Legend (Fong Sai-yuk) (1993)
17 Hero (2002)
18 Police Story (1985)
19 Man from Nowhere, The (2010)
20 Ip Man 2 (2010)
21 Kung Fu Jungle/Killer (2014)
22 New World (2013)
23 Flashpoint (2007)
24 The Protector (Tom-Yum-Goong) (2005)
25 Kill Zone (SPL: Sha Po Lang) (2005)
26 Legend of the Black Scorpion (The Banquet) (2006)
27 Ninja Scroll (anime) (1993)
28 Police Story II (1988)
29 Blood: The Last Vampire (anime) (2000)
30 Stool Pigeon (2010)
31 Space Pirate: Captain Harlock (anime)(2013)


1/9 Edit: Added titles, years (and alternate name where applicable) and sorted them. I'm not sure I'm 100% happy with this, but it's pretty close.

1/25 Edit: Added New World (2013), finished it last night. Wow, impressed, and a little saddened that it sat on my unwatched pile for so long.

[Al_The_Strange]

One month remaining!

[esteban²]

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring are two movies I would like to check out before the end of the voting period. But they are nowhere available through services I use. They have been on my list forever, though. Might throw in an animated movie too. Then there's also the fact I'm trying to catch up for 2017 first. I might be smart and combine that by renting Your Name, if it's available before the deadline.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by esteban²

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring are two movies I would like to check out before the end of the voting period. But they are nowhere available through services I use. They have been on my list forever, though. Might throw in an animated movie too. Then there's also the fact I'm trying to catch up for 2017 first. I might be smart and combine that by renting Your Name, if it's available before the deadline.

That reminds me, I gotta check out Your Name ASAP too. Been on a Shinkai kick anyway--recently picked up Garden of Words and I'm thinking about hunting down a copy of 5 Centimeters Per Second next. If I place an order for that, I'll probably add YN to the cart too.

Glad to hear you're motivated to explore more titles. I hope everybody else is too. Personally, there are loads of films in this thread I need to see.