world cinema

[skibum]

I'm a big fan of quirky films and have watched a few of the better known "foreign" films like [i]city of god[/i], [i]amores perros[/i] and watched John Woo's [i]The Killer[/i] last night which was great.

I've read a few of the recent threads on lesser known films and apologies if I'm repeating the subject, but I'm specifically interested in the non-hollywood/american films. I know that there are some movie buffs out there, any suggestions/recommendations?

The collections available in HMV, Virgin, et al look good but without knowing what I'm looking for, I think it will be a bit hit or miss!

[milfordkong]

Old Boy (Korean)

Ong Bak

Once were warriors (NZ)

to name but a few excellent foreign films, the above 3 really are brilliant movies. Check them out, you won't regret it!

[skibum]

Thanks will do. Remember watching Once Were Warriors a good many years ago but think I was only 16/17 at the time so could be worth a re-visit.

Ong Bak - is that a recent one? seem to recall seeing posters on the tube a while ago???

[tollytuff]

i watched a quirky film at the weekend, 'The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou'.. its bl**dy great! a really nice film, nice pace and odd humour, might even buy it on dvd.

best foreign films ive seen, i think, are:

cinema paradiso
il postino
taxi
delicatessen

end of

[skibum]

Life aquatic is definately on my list of must watches... I think Bill Murray has done some cracking films in the last few years (lost in translation, royal tenenbaums)

Thanks for the suggestions will look out for them tomorrow when I'm mooching through HMV. Taxi is a classic although watching the third one was tricky as its in french with no subtitles.... and I dont speak french!

oh, just remembered that I watched Baise Moi the other week as well. Certainly an eye opening film!

[parrot of doom]

You can't not put La Femme Nikita in this list.

[skibum]

ah... Luc Besson - How could I have missed this one. Think I always assumed it was an american film! I suppose the clue was in the title

Cheers for the suggestions - I feel a movie-a-thon coming on for the weekend!

[pesty]

Old boy is a must.

also

battle royal

[mr_yogi]

I think "Baise Moi" translates as "FK Me", don't speak french

Haven't seen it but was told it was only OK.

I think City of God is fantastic.

Two films you might have seen or not:

Amilie
Dirty Pretty Things

Also but maybe a bit Hollywood:

Momento
Following (same diector as momento but shorter but I thought it was better )
Buba Ho-Tep

Have you watch any David Lynch films, i know they are American but they are hardly Hollywood, I love Mulholland Drive.

[mr_yogi]

Yeah Battle Royal is a classic, just be careful you don't end up with a wrestling DVD

[Iria]

"El espinazo del diablo" (the devil's backbone) is quite cool, if you fancy a good old scary movie.

[NST]

skibum said:

I'm a big fan of quirky films and have watched a few of the better known "foreign" films like city of god, amores perros and watched John Woo's The Killer last night which was great. I've read a few of the recent threads on lesser known films and apologies if I'm repeating the subject, but I'm specifically interested in the non-hollywood/american films. I know that there are some movie buffs out there, any suggestions/recommendations? The collections available in HMV, Virgin, et al look good but without knowing what I'm looking for, I think it will be a bit hit or miss!

amores perros is a fantastic film!
city of god is one of the best films i've seen in the last few years.

[skibum]

Thanks guys - some good stuff here. Have seen Battle Royale - good film, but dont watch Battle Royale 2 which was awful!

Baise-Moi - isnt amazing, but certainly shocking - has the most graphic scenes I have ever seen from on DVD (apart from those "specialist" dvd's and a good smattering of violence in there as well - worth a watch..

>> Edited by skibum on Wednesday 6th July 16:11

[GingerNinja]

French director Jen-Pierre Jeunet has done a few great ones (a couple mentioned already - Amelie & Delicatessen):

The City Of Lost Children (La Cité des enfants perdus)
A Very Long Engagement (Un long dimanche de fiançailles)

Another good French film is Brotherhood Of The Wolf.

Have recently enjoyed a couple of excellent Hong Kong cop movies:
Infernal Affairs
Infernal Affairs 2

Very nice Canadian film called Exotica

The Three Colours trilogy is always worth checking out (Red/White/Blue)

New Zealand: Once Were Warriors, Whale Rider

Spain: Open Your Eyes (Abre los ojos) - Vanilla Skies was a remake of this - Penelope Cruz plays the same girl in both.

Most of the original Japanese horrors that Hollywood have been remaking recently are excellent: The Ring, Dark Water and The Grudge.

>> Edited by GingerNinja on Wednesday 6th July 16:04

[Iria]

"city of lost children" is a fantastic movie. "Brotherhood of the wolf" seemed a bit too long in the end, but did enjoy it for a "french" action movie.

[Vitesse39]

Never actually seen it but, 'The realm of the senses' caused a bit of a stir a while back

[meagain]

Some older films but good all the same

Run Lola Run german film but a great plot

Jean De Florette with Gerrard Depardu... fabulous film but you need to see the sequal as well... Cant think what its called... but dont watch one without the other...

Saw a great french film recently, think it was called Girl on Bridge.. in Black and White...

[Krusty]

I watched Baise Moi this week in a vain attempt to get some culture whilst here in Paris. I got it off the shelf in HMV Champs Elysees.
It's nothing more than a hard core porn film with a vague plot. The interesting thing was that the two girls in the lead role were actually real Prostitutes therfore had no problems with how far they would go in the name of art.

[skibum]

Exactly - its available in the HMV Sale for £4.99! Admit I was shocked at the graphicness of the sexual content but combined with the story it made the film more real life as opposed to proper porn films which are..... well, just porn really!

[option click]

skibum said:

ah... Luc Besson - How could I have missed this one. Think I always assumed it was an american film! I suppose the clue was in the title

Just make sure you get the original, not the terrible (American) remake, 'The Assassin'

>> Edited by option click on Wednesday 6th July 16:26