can anyone recommend some Japanese/Asian films in the same vein as 'Oldboy' or 'Itchi the Killer'

Answer 1

Other films by Takashi Miike, director of Ichi the Killer

Dead or alive 1, 2 + 3 (Nothing to do with the computer game)
Zebraman
Full Metal Yakuza
Blues Harp
Shinjuku Triad Society
Ley Lines
Rainy Dog
Gozu
Audition
MPD Psycho (not a movie but a six hour TV series- MPD stands
for Multiple Personality Detective)

Other films by Chan-Wook Park, director of Old Boy
Sympathy For Mr Vengeance,
Lady Vengeance (aka Sympathy for Lady Vengeance)

There is a film that both of these directors worked on called Three Extremes- it's made up of three self contained sections by three different directors- I can't remember who the third was.)


Other asian films worth a look:
A Bittersweet Life
Save The Green Planet
Public Enemy
The Missing Gun
Infernal Affairs (the film The Departed was based on)

Kinji Fukusaku, director of Battle Royale, made some great gangster movies in the 70's including
Cops vs Thugs,
Yakuza Graveyard
Street Mobster,
Battles without Honour and Humanity
Street Mobster
Graveyard of Honour (this was remade by Miike Takashi- both versions are worth seeing.)

Also from the 70s are the Babycart series and Lady Snowblood, which was part of the inspiration behind Kill Bill.

Plus, from the 60s, cult classic Branded To Kill- the first time I watched this I couldn't tell if it was a brilliant gangster parody or just a terrible film. I'm still not entirely sure.

Answer 2

Logan, this is a list of a variety of foreign films that I really liked (some horror, drama, suspense). Some films are better known than others, but I think all have great reviews: Let the Right One In (Låt den rätte komma in) Hidden (Caché) The Eye (Gin gwai) The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (Le scaphandre et le papillon) Run Lola Run (Lola rennt) Motorcycle Diaries (Diarios de motocicleta) Fermat's Room (La habitación de Fermat) Departures (Okuribito) The Return (Vozvrashchenie) The Grocer's Son (Le Fils De L'epicier) How I Ended This Summer (Kak ya provel etim letom) The Intruder (L'intrus) Knife in the Water (Nóz w wodzie)

Answer 3

I agree with indigo. "Audition" is freaky and it is fantastic!
It is directed by the same director of the two you just mentiones: Takashi Miike. He also did a film called "Visitor Q" Trust me, once you watch that movie, you are going to question some things. From the begining to the end, that movie was unbelievable.
Another movie is "Gozu",that was pretty good, too.
But, the two you name, "Ichi the Killer" (my favorite of all his movies so far) and "Oldboy" are two of his best films, besides "Audition",in my opinion. I hope this helped.

Answer 4

Oldboy is awesome, check out Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance

Answer 5

Lady Vengance

Answer 6

Please tell me you have seen - battle royale 1 &2???? omg you have to!!!!!!!!! also try ebay for a movie called tokyo 10 + 1.
Another is versus - thats really violent.
If violent is the answer for you - any movie starring beat takeshi is a must - hes a gory guy lol
If you like softer films (samurais n stuff) try out twilight samurai or rhapsody in august - or kikujiro.
Akira kurosawa is the biggest name in japan (director) anyrthing by him is a must!!!!!!

if you like war based movies try a korean film called taegukgi - that is awesome!!!!!!
have you seen ong bak yet????? (thai fighting movie)
hope this helps

Answer 7

oldboy top film, have a look at the international film section in your local hmv. Have you considered manga?
uroksukadoje cazy cartoon.

Answer 8

Same actor as Ichi too : "Neighbor Number 13."
I liked it just as much as Ichi.
Check it out.

Answer 9

Try Zatoichi.

Answer 10

try house of flying daggers