Recommendations for all Genres
If you visit my profile you can clearly see that I’m a movie freak. I just started watching dramas few months ago but I've been watching Asian movies since childhood. It was hard to pick only three movies from my top rated ones, but here are 3 movies I’d like to recommend for this weekend!
Country: South Korea Year: 2008 Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
Plot: A guksu western. Three Korean gunslingers are in Manchuria circa World War II: Do-wan, an upright bounty hunter, Chang-yi, a thin-skinned and ruthless killer, and Tae-goo, a train robber with nine lives. Tae-goo finds a map he's convinced leads to buried treasure; Chang-yi wants it as well for less clearer reasons. Do-wan tracks the map knowing it will bring him to Chang-yi, Tae-goo, and reward money. Occupying Japanese forces and their Manchurian collaborators also want the map, as does the Ghost Market Gang who hangs out at a thieves' bazaar. These enemies cross paths frequently and dead bodies pile up. Will anyone find the map's destination and survive to tell the tale?
Cast: Song Kang Ho, Lee Byung Hun, Jung Woo Sung
What’s special about this movie?
Top talented actors from current Korean entertainment industry! If you know the three lead actors very well then their names are enough to watch this movie. These three together in one movie = total awesomeness! Even if you don’t know them, this movie is still a total blast! It has a good Western touch to it, and its adaptation of Western music is undoubtedly great and catchy. The Good, The Bad, The Weird was shot in superb filming location and there are plenty of seamless action scenes with the right amount of comedic touch. I guarantee complete fun! So enjoy its goodness, badness and especially weirdness!
Country: South Korea Year:2000 Genre: Thriller, Drama
Plot: In the DMZ (demilitarized zone) separating North and South Korea, two North Korean soldiers have been killed, supposedly by a South Korean soldier. But the 11 bullets found in the bodies, together with the 5 remaining bullets in the assassin's magazine clip, amount to 16 bullets for a gun that should normally hold 15 bullets. The investigating Swiss/Swedish team from the neutral countries overseeing the DMZ suspects that another, unknown party was involved - all of which point to some sort of cover up. The truth is much simpler and much more tragic.
Cast: Song Kang Ho, Lee Byung Hun, Lee Young Ae
What’s special about this movie?
This is yet another movie of Song Kang Ho and Lee Byung Hun. J.S.A. is a magnificent movie about friendship and brotherhood of four border guards of two nations – South Korea and North Korea. It’s a murder mystery and little political thriller. There are many bittersweet and humorous moments. At first, it may only seem a murder mystery and it is but later, as it unfolds, it makes you realize its humanity, the strongest point of story. The final few seconds are quite moving and it has one of the best ending scenes I've ever seen! The story and its ending can be slightly confusing so you must be keen on the little details to solve the mystery. Plus this movie has a strong message of anti-war.
Country: Japan Year: 1995 Genre: Romance, Drama
Plot: Hiroko Watanabe's fiance Itsuki died two years earlier in a mountain climbing accident. While looking through his high school yearbook, Hiroko in a fit of grief decides to write a letter to him using his old school address. Surprisingly she receives a reply, not from the dead Itsuki, but from a woman with the same name whom had known Hiroko's fiancé in school. A relationship develops between the two women as they continue to exchange letters and share memories of the dead Itsuki.
What’s special about this movie?
Love Letter, in my opinion, it best movie among these three. Hardcore romance fans will definitely like Love Letter. This is an unconventional romantic movie; the center of romance, Itsuki, is already dead. The story revolves around two women, who are related with Itsuki. The storyline can be confusing for some people but stick with it and you’ll be amazed by it! Other strong points of this movie are its beautiful music and some stunning snowy visuals of Japan. Love Letter is moving but not sad, it has funny moments too. Overall, Love Letter is an earnest, pure, sentimental and undeniably moving film. Get ready to feel true love!
