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Thursday, August 20, 2015

Thursday Movie Picks #58: Non-English Language Movies - Asian Language Movies Set in East Asia (Non-Horror)



Hello there and welcome to Thursday Movie Picks a weekly series where you share three movie picks each Thursday. The rules are simple simple: Each week there is a topic for you to create a list of three movies. Your picks can either be favourites/best, worst, hidden gems, or if you're up to it one of each.For further details visit the series main page here.
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This week's Thursday Movie Picks is Non-English Language Movies - Asian Language Movies Set in East Asia (Non-Horror)

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If you think the title of today's theme looks a bit different, it's because I change it from Foreign Language to Non-English Language. Now that that is out of the way, today it's movies set in East Asia. As usual a little caveat: it must not be horror. Why? Because horror is possibly the region's biggest export so we're here to share other interesting titles from other genres. Plus I already have Asian Horror as a theme for the TMP Halloween edition. If you are not too sure what countries are part of East Asia, please Google it :).

Curse of the Golden Flower (2006)
The movie centers on a 10th century Chinese royal family (fictional?) that probably rivals that of the Romans with its mix of betrayal, murder, revenge and infidelity. Visually, Curse of the Golden Flowers is a feast for the eyes. It has gorgeous, extravagant, over the top sets and costumes that are just dripping in gold. The story goes a little opera-ish but overall it really is a fun watch, so just sit back and watch as this family implode.

Hana and Alice (2004)
Oh I'm having trouble picking a Japanese movie. I've probably watched more than I can now remember and the ones I do remember, I've already picked before, don't like or can't remember much of. So I'm going to go with quiet and odd but charming movie Hana and Alice about two girls who have a crush on a boy the see at a train station. When the boy suffers temporary memory loss after a little accident, one of them pretends she's his girlfriend.
 
Hwang Jin Yi (2007)
Yes another period drama. This time it's 16th century Korea and centers around the title character, Hwang Jin Yi, a noblewoman who chose to become a gisaeng (a female entertainer/courtesan). I don't quite understand the world it depicts but it is fascinating to watch and of course there's the gorgeous costumes.


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 So that's it...my picks. What three movies made your list today?

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13 comments:

  1. Big Screen Small WordsAugust 20, 2015 at 10:24 AM

    I haven't seen any of your picks but I've been meaning to watch Hana & Alice. I've always been intrigued by it and would want to see how it all unfolds.

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  2. Brittani BurnhamAugust 20, 2015 at 7:37 PM

    Hana and Alice sounds like something I would enjoy. I'll have to check that out. I haven't seen the other two, but I've heard of Curse of the Golden Flower. I remember that being in theaters here.

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    1. WandererAugust 27, 2015 at 3:09 AM

      Oh yes I'd imagine the movie would have been well exported; it had both Yun-Fat Chow and Gong Li who have been in Hollywood movies.

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  3. krhhAugust 20, 2015 at 9:59 PM

    I think that there's a Korean drama version of Hwang Jin Yi.

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  4. AnonymousAugust 20, 2015 at 11:58 PM

    I've only seen Curse of the Golden Flower, and I really love that one, and Gong Li's performance.

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  5. BirgitAugust 21, 2015 at 12:02 AM

    I have to say I have not seen any of these. but the first one sounds pretty good-love the poster

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    1. WandererAugust 27, 2015 at 3:12 AM

      Ahh...the poster is ok. There were other better ones but it didn't fit the image layout.

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  6. Katie HoganAugust 21, 2015 at 7:12 AM

    I;ve not seen two of these films - I'm showing up my lack of asian film knowledge... I have seen Curse of the Golden Flower, it was part of world film challenge I did a few years ago. Beautiful film but the story irritated me.

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  7. DellAugust 21, 2015 at 9:21 AM

    I've only seen Curse of the Golden Flower. It was pretty, but I found it lacking. Haven't seen the others, but they do sound interesting. Cool picks!

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  8. Kevin PowersAugust 23, 2015 at 10:07 PM

    I have only seen Curse of the Golden Flower as well. Great pick! Though I prefer the previous two from Yimou.

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    1. WandererAugust 27, 2015 at 3:19 AM

      This I think is the only Zhang Yimao film I've seen.

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