I saw two Korean films I really liked at the International Buddhist Film Festival last month - "Beyond the Mountain" and "Festival"
Not being particularly knowledgeable about Korean Cinema, I was wondering if any of you would be willing to share your top 5 (or more) Korean Films to help me round out my education....
Thanks in Advance!
Jim in SF
Not being particularly knowledgeable about Korean Cinema, I was wondering if any of you would be willing to share your top 5 (or more) Korean Films to help me round out my education....
Thanks in Advance!
Jim in SF
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SF Bay Area
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Re: Top 5 Korean Films
Tue, March 8, 2005 - 1:21 PMIt's some what difficult to choose your favorite movies, but one movie that I enjoy watching everytime is, "Attack the Gas Station" I don't know why, but it makes me laugh. -
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Re: Top 5 Korean Films
Tue, March 8, 2005 - 4:11 PMThanks Claire!
I'll try and find a copy... -
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Re: Top 5 Korean Films
Tue, March 8, 2005 - 11:09 PMA great film is "Joint Security Area" directed by Park Chan-wook
it's available on DVD at amazon.
I think it was the first Korean film I really liked because it wasn't melodramatic.
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Re: Top 5 Korean Films
Fri, March 25, 2005 - 9:41 AM1) 'Attack the Gas Station' is definitely a weird and funny film. Worth catching if you can. It was on Reg 3 dvd but it's kind of difficult to find anymore.
2) "Marrying the Mafia" is kind of funny. I don't hesitate to recommend it as a mindless comedy.
3) "Bad Guy" was pretty unsettling. I was abhorred but glued to the screen.
4) "The Isle" remains one of my favorite disgusting films. Admittedly a small category for me.
5) "Arahan" is okay too.
5a) "Sassy Girl" was decent, if overrated.
Another film that might soon be in my Top 5 is "Horror at Girls School II". It was interesting and compelling and I think there's a new bonus dvd version coming out soon. When I watch it I might have to re-rate it more highly. -
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Unsu...
Re: Top 5 Korean Films
Sun, March 27, 2005 - 8:05 PMI haven't seen a ton of Korean movies, but certainly enough to begin categorizing and rating them....
My top 5 (in arbitrary order):
1)"JSA" (Joint Security Action)
2)"Memories of Murder"
3)"Taeguki"
4)"Slimido"
5)"Old Boy"
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Re: Top 5 Korean Films
Sun, March 27, 2005 - 10:48 PMI think Musa was very cool :) -
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Re: Top 5 Korean Films
Mon, March 28, 2005 - 9:35 AMHave any of you seen "Ah neun yu jah" (maybe the english title would be "a woman I know"?)
It's about this Korean professional baseball player who meets a woman he'd known since childhood and they fall in love. Actually, the movie is a lot better than I'm making it sound, and there's much more to the plot.
I was really impressed by how polished and non-linear its format was, compared to the few Korean movies I'd seen in the past. Also, the director managed to weed out the hypersentimentality I've grown used to (and hated) in old Korean flicks. Are most recent Korean movies this well made, or would you consider this an exception? -
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Re: Top 5 Korean Films
Wed, April 20, 2005 - 8:56 PMyes...i like the movie ah neun yu jah..(funny to spell like this..) cause it doesn't have a drastic drama nor overtouching story..it is just the common life story told by director, jang-jin, and his small imagination
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Re: Top 5 Korean Films
Mon, July 4, 2005 - 12:34 PMI never heard of 'ah neun yu jah'...is there an English or Chinese title for this? If not, can you tell me whose in the cast or the director so maybe I can track it down and watch it? Thanks!
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Re: Top 5 Korean Films
Thu, June 2, 2005 - 10:20 PMCan I throw my vote behind Musa? Just finished watching it for the third time..... wow, do I love movies like this.........
Good plotline, great cinematography and finely acted.....
Gonna have to buy this one I'm afraid... :) -
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Re: Top 5 Korean Films
Mon, July 4, 2005 - 12:30 PMIs that 'Musa - The Warrior' with Zhang Ziyi or some other film? -
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Re: Top 5 Korean Films
Thu, July 28, 2005 - 10:50 PMYep, that's the one................ Zhang Ziyi makes for a good princess :)
I enjoyed this movie, watched it several times so far, closing fight scenes when the outpost is overrun remind me of those Alamo movies....
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Re: Top 5 Korean Films
Wed, April 20, 2005 - 9:08 PMmy top 5 movie?
i don't put the rank though..
old boy (i think it's great..but definately not a korean thing)
empty house(by kim ki-duk)
die or bad (by Ryu Seung-whan)
marriage is to be crazy
JRS
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Re: Top 5 Korean Films
Wed, April 20, 2005 - 9:09 PMOPPS...
JSA..not a JRS
^^;; -
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Re: Top 5 Korean Films
Fri, April 29, 2005 - 7:29 PMJRS stands for Jack Rabbit Speaks. Google that and be prepared for the results!_! -
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Re: Top 5 Korean Films
Sun, May 22, 2005 - 4:55 PMi'm surprised nobody mentioned "oasis," a very beautiful film by chang-dong lee. it's the story of a social outcast and a severely physically-handicapped woman who fall in love, against the wishes of their families and society. it's difficult to watch, but magical. the female lead's performance is stunning.
to that i'd add "samaritan girl" and "the isle", both by kim ki-duk. i'm looking forward to "3-iron" and "old boy."
clearly, US distributers need to give us more korean product, because what's out there is great.
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Re: Top 5 Korean Films
Sun, May 22, 2005 - 9:56 PMOasis is very good.
Old boy sucks. -
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Unsu...
Re: Top 5 Korean Films
Sun, May 22, 2005 - 10:09 PMWhy does "Old Boy" suck?
I think it's great...sure, it's not for everyone, (bloody, violent, graphic) but I think it's a pretty spectacular film for a variety of reasons. I just recently watched "Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance" ("Old Boy"s unofficial prequel) and it's a right-on movie too. -
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Re: Top 5 Korean Films
Mon, July 4, 2005 - 12:52 PMI like a lot of those mentioned and I would add "The Quiet Family" which I felt had some great subtext that was lost when it was re-made (by Miike.)
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Re: Top 5 Korean Films
Wed, September 12, 2007 - 6:55 AMi think
1. Bungee Jumping Of Their Own
2. Failan
3. JSA
4. Old Boy
5. King And The Clown
was really impressive.
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Re: Top 5 Korean Films
Wed, March 12, 2008 - 4:51 PMSorry to get in so late on this, but my top five would include these seven:
- Memories of Murder (2003) ( koreanfilm.org/kfilm03.html#memories )
- The Host (2006) ( koreanfilm.org/kfilm06.html#thehost )
(best monster ever)
both of the above were directed by Bong Joon-ho
- Untold Scandal (2003) ( koreanfilm.org/kfilm03.html#scandal )
- Virgin Stripped Bare by her Bachelors (2000) ( koreanfilm.org/kfilm00.html#soojung )
(with Woman is the Future of Man as a followup, but not as good)
unfortunately, the actress Lee Eun-ju killed herself a few years later.
- A Tale of Two Sisters ( koreanfilm.org/kfilm03.html#janghwa )
- Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring (2003) ( koreanfilm.org/kfilm03.html#springsum )
especially if you like Buddhist-oriented films, Jim in SF
- My Sassy Girl (2001) ( koreanfilm.org/kfilm01.html#yupki )
(but the final act was really sappy)
Taegukgi was way too melodramatic and Hollywood blod-and-gore for me,
and Shiri just seemed too contrived, but entertaining anyway. Attack the Gas Station was
pretty funny. Old Boy and Musa are supposed to be really good, but I haven't seen them.
I haven't seen a lot more, and I'm sure there are plenty of other deserving ones,
but those I really liked.
PS - The absolute best site to check for reviews is
koreanfilm.org -
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Re: Top 5 Korean Films
Tue, April 22, 2008 - 3:02 AMI agree that koreanfilm.org is an excellent site.
I would add these films:
I would add "Chingu" (friend)
www.koreanfilm.org/kfilm01.html#friend
"Guns and Talks"
www.koreanfilm.org/kfilm01....gunstalks
"The Wedding Campaign" stars one of my favorite Korean actors
www.koreanfilm.org/kfilm05....gcampaign
"My Boss, My Teacher" and "Marrying the Mafia" are fun movies as well. -
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Re: Top 5 Korean Films
Tue, April 22, 2008 - 3:07 AMyou can watch Korean movies (Japanese and Chinese too) with English subs for free and streaming at:
www.crunchyroll.com/
go to drama index and movies will say movies and the others are TV dramas which are also great if you have 16 hours to spare to watch one drama.
and
www.mysoju.com/ scroll down for list of Korean movies. -
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Re: Top 5 Korean Films
Tue, July 1, 2008 - 10:59 PMThank you JAE for the links !
- The Vengence Trilogy ( Mr. Vengence, Oldboy, Lady Vengence )
- The Isle
- Spring, Summer...
- Oasis
- Tale of two sisters
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