Top 40 Asian Movies 2017
list for 2018 http://www.imdb.com/list/ls023040313/
List activity
285K views
• 10 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
40 titles
- DirectorSang-il LeeStarsKen WatanabeMirai MoriyamaAoi MiyazakiA grisly unsolved murder links three seemingly unrelated stories in three different Japanese cities.// Rage //
Powerful performances and great music to go with the film.
It is definitely a movie I would put on my top list of Japanese films. Sang-il Lee is definitely also one of the best directors in Japan.
Worth watching!
One of the most engaging powerful Japanese Films - DirectorTakashi MiikeStarsTakuya KimuraHana SugisakiSôta FukushiCursed with a life of immortality, a samurai is tasked by a young girl to help avenge the death of her father. Based on the manga series by Hiroaki Samura.// Blade of the Immortal //
This is a blast for the jaded cinephile, and it manages to be a treat for those who are hardcore fans of Japanese samurai/Ronin swordplay films while also appealing to those who may be relative newcomers.t's thrilling and touching and absurd, sprawling and intimate and severe, and never less than uninhibited. In short: it's a mad Miike film through and through. - DirectorJoo-hwan KimStarsPark Seo-joonKang Ha-neulPark Ha-seonTwo friends who are students at Korean National Police University, find themselves in an endless race against time after they witness a kidnapping and decide to use their knowledge.// Midnight Runners //
It has been a while since such an entertaining buddy action flick came along. An exhilarating, funny, and thrilling ride. - DirectorWei-Hao ChengStarsWei-Ning HsuKaiser ChuangChia-Yen KoThe story about an ambitious journalist who eagerly pursues a long-forgotten accident. When the sole survivor of the accident suddenly disappears, he realizes that nothing is what it seems, and the unimaginable dark truth will haunt him for the rest of his life.// Who Killed Cock Robin //
There are more and more asian movies try to do thriller genre, but most of them fail. Immature scripts, fake acting, or poor special effects make them unable to attract people’s attention. However, "Who Kill Cock Robin" manages to avoid the flaws and cliches of other movies. - DirectorLee Joo-youngStarsLee Byung-hunKong Hyo-jinSoheeA man who has lost everything in his life travels to Australia in search of his family.a kind of movie which there aren't much dialogues going on, but you'll fully understand the situation through the emotions A Single Rider is a gently affecting film that moves from melancholy to acceptance with an honest grace
- DirectorJung Byung-gilStarsKim Ok-binShin Ha-kyunSung JunA female assassin leaves a trail of bodies behind her as she seeks revenge.// The Villainess //
South Korean action movies often marry amazing fight scenes to barking-mad plots. This example, directed by Jung Byung-gil, reaches spectacular heights in its violent combats, yet it keeps deflating itself with its story's conceits. - DirectorHerman YauStarsAndy LauWu JiangJia SongWhen a terrorist who specializes in explosives takes hold of an underground tunnel, he threatens to kill hostages if his demands are not met.// Shock Wave //
All the performance in this movie is good mostly about Andy Lau character and the movie direction.I have so much fun thought out this movie,it never have a dull moment,the tension always high and the action scene is very clear and awesome. Best Andy Lau movie in a long time - DirectorJi-Yeong HongStarsLee Ho-CheolPark Hye-sooJeong In-giA surgeon (Kim Yun-Seok) doesn't have much time left due to a serious illness. His wish is to see his girlfriend who died in an accident 30 years ago. The surgeon gets 10 pills from a mysterious old man. The 10 pills allows him to travel in time to the past.// Will You Be There ? //
An amazing take on time travel movie .The plot was absolutely superb from beginning to end. The writers did a marvelous job thinking this one through, even down to the small, creative intracacies. - DirectorByun Sung-hyunStarsSol Kyung-guIm Si-wanLee Kyoung-youngA young cop finds his loyalties divided after befriending a notorious criminal while undercover in prison.// The Merciless // An accomplished and well-structured South Korean noir thriller about the friendship between two prisoners which boasts an abundance of terrific cinematography , a tough, gaudy entry in the Korean crime cycle
- DirectorHun JangStarsSong Kang-hoThomas KretschmannYoo Hae-jinA widowed father and taxi driver who drives a German reporter from Seoul to Gwangju to cover the 1980 uprising, soon finds himself regretting his decision after being caught in the violence around him.// A Taxi Driver //
Jang Hoon's vision is focused and his delivery is compelling. While the story praises the courage of Peter to tell the story of a massacre that would have otherwise been swept under the rug, the heart of the story is in Mr. Kim's personal transformation. - DirectorHyeon NaStarsKim Rae-wonHan Suk-kyuJeon Bae-sooA troubled ex-cop imprisoned for a hit-and-run accident discovers that the entire penitentiary is controlled by an inmate who has been running a crime syndicate with the help of the warden and guards which provides them 100% alibi."The Prison"...feels like the kind of movie Hollywood will remake in its own image. But adding star power and the English language won't necessarily improve things, as "The Prison" is brutally entertaining just the way it is.
- DirectorGordon ChanStarsWenzhuo ZhaoSammo Kam-Bo HungRegina WanA maverick commander and a young general join forces to battle pirates who pillage small villages in 16th-century China. The violent clash of wits and weapons will ultimately decide who rules the land.// God Of War //
A large-scale adventure , God of War could be the best Asian historical epic since John Woo's Red Cliff
Finally, an action flick that delivers on all levels - DirectorDante LamStarsHanyu ZhangEddie PengBaoguo ChenInspired by the true story known as the Mekong Massacre--two Chinese commercial vessels are ambushed while traveling down the Mekong River in the waters of the Golden Triangle, one of the largest drug-manufacturing regions in the world. 13 sailors are executed at gunpoint, and 900,000 methamphetamine pills are recovered at the scene. Upon discovery, the Chinese government immediately sends a band of elite narcotics officers led by Captain Gao Gang (Zhang Hanyu) to the Golden Triangle to uncover the truth behind the murders. Tea field owner and Golden Triangle-based intelligence officer Fang Xinwu (Eddie Peng) joins the investigation. After it is discovered that the drugs seized on the Chinese ships had been planted by the henchman of a notorious drug cartel leader named Naw Khar, the governments of Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and China launch a joint task force to apprehend the criminal. The road to justice is, however, paved with dangerous and deadly obstacles.// Operation Mekong //
There was a police dog name "XiaoTian" was very smart, brave, and he died at the end trying to protect the lead cop for the operation. Also, there are several undercover agents got killed during the operation. It is one of best chinese films I have seen in years - DirectorAkira NagaiStarsMauro CaiazzaGaku HamadaMieko HaradaYoung mailman finds out he has no time left due to a terminal disease. Suddenly he is approached by a devil that offers him to live more time if he eliminates something from the world. Young mailman then thinks about his relationship with friends, ex-partners, family.// If Cats Disappeared from the World //
Satoh Takeru has delivered mind blowing performance with dual role of the postman and the devil. The movie touches on what makes us human and relate to each other. It has its heart in the right place, and reminds the viewer that we are not alive just because we eat and sleep. - DirectorKimo StamboelTimo TjahjantoStarsIko UwaisChelsea IslanSunny PangUwais plays a young man who washes ashore, an amnesiac with a serious head injury whose past comes back to haunt him shortly after being nursed back to health by a young doctor. Violence ensues. Sweet, sweet violence.// Headshot //
the film being action packed and violently entertaining there's nothing else to it. This film is 100% pure entertainment, that's what it set out to be and that's what it will always be. I will admit the violence in the film was very overwhelming, every 5 or so minutes you had someone get shot in the ear, have their arm snapped in half, or burning alive. And much like "The Raid" films the absurdity and unbelievability of the violence is UNBELIEVABLE, and I love it - DirectorRyu Seung-wanStarsHwang Jung-minSo Ji-seobSong Joong-kiDuring the Japanese colonial era, roughly 400 Korean people, who were forced onto Battleship Island ("Hashima Island") to mine for coal, attempt to a dramatic escape.// The Battleship Island //
There is more than one way to approach wartime movies, as the recent box-office successes of Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk and Ryoo Seung Wan's The Battleship Island prove. - DirectorJunfeng BooStarsFirdaus RahmanWan Hanafi SuMastura AhmadInevitably, a transfer to a maximum security prison will eventually challenge the integrity and ethics of a young correctional officer on his way to become a chief executioner.// Apprentice //
Just see it and you will feel compassion, hate and frustration at the same time. When a movie makes you feel strong feelings, is a good movie. - DirectorHan HanStarsChao DengEddie PengZanilia ZhaoIn the near-death after an accident, a sports car driver time-travelled back to the 1990s to meet his severe father and never-seen mother in a small Chinese town.// Duckweed //
A touching father-and-son story. It's more grounded and heartfelt than Back to the Future. - DirectorWai-Man YipStarsNicholas TseYou GeAnthony Chau-Sang WongA Cantonese street cook and his chief rival, a French-trained Michelin-starred chef, discover they have a lot in common as they prepare for a world-famous culinary competition. An international culinary competition becomes a battleground between rival cooks, but their rivalry takes an unexpected turn when they discover a common foe and combine their skills in a fusion of East and West.// Cook Up a Storm //
The cast is super likable and well defined. I would recommend this to anyone that likes a movie with a bit rivalry and personal growth. I'm quite glad I allowed me to watch it after reading a short summary and seeing the simple poster.
Familiar yet unexpectedly poignant and heartwarming, this culinary-themed drama is the year's best Lunar New Year offering - DirectorKim Sung-hoonStarsHyun BinYoo Hae-jinKim Ju-hyukWhen a crime organization from North Korea crosses borders and enters South Korean soil, a South Korean detective must cooperate with a North Korean detective to investigate their whereabouts.// Confidential Assignment //
If you love suspense, Asian action comedy that to be honest is way better that U.S nowadays. You can enjoy this - DirectorKeisuke YoshidaStarsGô MoritaGaku HamadaAimi SatsukawaGetting two stories in one, Himeanôru depicts the story of co-workers where one of them is gunning to make a cafe's waitress his. When the co-worker visits the said cafe to see the waitress his friend is yearning for, he also meets an old class-mate he has not seen in some time. In a twist and transition the waitress tells the visiting co-worker that she is being stalked by a man. That man is none other than the old class-mate.// Himeanole //
I really enjoyed this from beginning to end. It ranks among the best serial-killer thrillers in the past 5 years in my opinion. - DirectorHayato KawaiStarsSuzu HiroseYûki AmamiAyami NakajôLed by a demanding coach, an unlikely squad of small town girls vie for victory in a major US cheer dance championship. Based on true events.// Let's Go, Jets! //
There is enough charm and earnestness to make this team worth rooting for. Doe-eyed lead actress Suzu Hirose, in turns sweet and goofy, is especially likeable. - DirectorUi-seok JoStarsLee Byung-hunGang Dong-wonKim Woo-binSouth Korea's financial crime unit launches a manhunt for a con man involved in a nationwide financial fraud after he absconds with the money and takes on a new identity.// Master //
I watch it not because of the 3 top actors but I read that it's related to pyramid financial scam. 'Master' is a very cleanly made film. It looks good and it flows well. The story is tightly written, and while a little too stretched out, it has more than enough going for it to keep the viewer attentive and enjoying them self. It can be hard with foreign language films to judge the acting skills, but from what I could tell the actors did a fine job for the most part. - DirectorTae-Yun KimStarsJung WooKang Ha-neulKim Hae-sookHyun-Woo, who is the sole witness to the murder of a taxi driver, is accused of committing the crime and persecuted and prosecuted. He is sentenced to a sentence of ten years. An opportunistic lawyer picks up the case sensing an opportunity, which leads to a struggle to reclaim justice.// New Trial //
I know it for cent percent that south Korean movies have altogether a different flavor. New Trial is yet again a class film with all the shades of emotion. It makes me think that how do Koreans come out so good in film narration. The acting is awesome and the blend of emotion is just perfect. - DirectorLee Joon-ikStarsLee JehoonChoi Hee-SeoWi Ha-joonLife of a upcoming Korean patriot Park Yeol, who formed the anarchist organization "Black Wave" during the Japanese colonial period and attempted the assassination of the Japanese Crown Prince Hirohito.// Anarchist from Colony //
Without wasting even a single second, director Lee Joon-ik connects us to the leading characters, especially Park Yeol and this is his biggest success. The film's pace is another major plus point as it never pulls you into boredom. - DirectorKôji FukadaStarsTadanobu AsanoMariko TsutsuiTaiga NakanoToshio hires Yasaka in his workshop. This old acquaintance, who has just been released from prison, begins to meddle in Toshio's family life.// Harmonium //
Good performances and symbolism (Lady-Macbeth-like washing of hands, white bedsheets and ghost images). - DirectorJeong-woo ParkJong-woo ParkStarsKim Nam-gilKim Joo-HyunJung Jin-youngThe explosion of a nuclear power plant caused by an earthquake leads to a disaster which no one other than its workers can stop from spreading further.// Pandora //
The plot, acting, graphics and ambiance are reasonably realistic. Incredibly sad disaster movie - DirectorAlan MakAnthony PunStarsYihong DuanXuan HuangYueting LangAn undercover police officer attempts to take down a drug trafficking syndicate from the inside.// Extraordinary Mission //
this movie is full of action with a decent plot but director went a little overboard with poor editing . Oldschool chinese action feast - DirectorHan Jae-rimStarsZo In-sungRyu Jun-yeolBae Sung-wooThe story of a young prosecutor who rises swiftly to power, but tumbles even quicker.// The King //
political crime-thriller following a man born in a poor family who, in a quest for power, becomes a prosecutor. - DirectorKae-Byeok LeeStarsYoo Hae-jinLee JoonJo Yun-hieA hapless loser assumes the identity of an amnesia victim without knowing that he is an assassin.// Lucky-Key //
It is a remake of the 2012 Japanese comedy film Key of Life.
The movie is definitely lightweight, but it has something of an edge in the writing you don't normally see in this kind of movie. It tells about the true value of love and happiness through the lives of the two men. - DirectorJing WuStarsJing WuFrank GrilloCelina JadeChina's deadliest special forces operative settles into a quiet life on the sea. When sadistic mercenaries begin targeting nearby civilians, he must leave his newfound peace behind and return to his duties as a soldier and protector.// Wolf Warrior 2 //
This was stupid fun, crazily over-the-top, experience. And if you have been raised on Hollywood fare, it's unsettling to see the good-versus-evil match-up from the Chinese perspective. - DirectorKiyoshi KurosawaStarsHidetoshi NishijimaYûko TakeuchiToru BabaTakakura is a former detective. He receives a request from his ex-colleague, Nogami, to examine a missing family case that occurred six years earlier. Takakura follows Saki's memory. She is the only surviving family member from the case. Meanwhile, Takakura and his wife Yasuko recently moved into a new home. Their neighbor, Nishino, has a sick wife and a young teen daughter. One day, the daughter, Mio, tells him that the man is not her father and she doesn't know him at all.// Creepy //
Despite the faults in the film, the overall affect leaves one feeling and thinking something more than they did before seeing the film. That is what film at its best does. - DirectorJee-woon KimStarsLee Byung-hunGong YooSong Kang-hoKorean resistance fighters smuggle explosives to destroy facilities controlled by Japanese forces in this period action thriller.// The Age of Shadows //
Tremendous Korean epochal drama about life and resistance under the oppressive Japanese occupation in the early decades of the century. - DirectorEon-hie LeeStarsUhm Ji-wonKong Hyo-jinSeo Eun-ahA struggling divorcee discovers her infant daughter and Chinese nanny have gone missing.// Missing //
The movie delves deep into the anxiety of modern working single moms who have to leave their babies to nannies as caretaker. A very good Thriller with dramatic elements - DirectorWon Shin-yeonStarsSol Kyung-guKim Nam-gilKim Seol-hyunA former serial killer with Alzheimer's fights to protect his daughter from her psychotic boyfriend.Taut, intriguing, and engrossing. A cross between Seven, Memento, Heat and Insomnia.
- DirectorJoji MatsuokaStarsTamae AndôToshiki AyataMansaku FuwaFollow the stories of ordinary individuals with a lot on their plates. As they pore over their worries, Master serves up homely delights and timely life advice. And as other customers begin to console one another, a family is born.// Midnight Diner 2 //
Japanese sequel serves up another heart-warming human drama - DirectorStephen FungStarsAndy LauShu QiJingchu ZhangThe world's top thieves join forces to pull off the heist of a lifetime. But when they find themselves pursued across Europe by a legendary French detective, they'll have to take their game to the next level.// The Adventurers //
Poor scripting and a serious lack of energy make this passable fun at best. The movie is almost a throwback to 1950's big American studio productions set in Europe - DirectorIn-je ParkStarsChoi Min-sikKwak Do-wonShim Eun-kyungFor the first time in Korean history, the mayor of Seoul attempts a third term in office.// The Mayor //
Despite its flaws, I will admit that “The Mayor” does have some entertainment value, though again only at a surface level. Thus, it’s not completely surprising the film topped South Korea’s box office upon its release, because let’s face it: most people pay to be entertained, not enlightened. - DirectorYang LuStarsChang ChenMi YangYi ZhangIn the Ming dynasty of China, Shen Lian (starring Chang Chen), a secret police of corrupt government, is trapped by the conspiracy on a mission. To prove the innocence, he seeks the truth with a girl called Bei Zhai (starring Yang Mi).// Brotherhood of Blades II //
Overall, the story could’ve been a little tighter, though Brotherhood of Blades II is still a clear stand out among the recent crop of Chinese films.
solid prequel - DirectorYoshihiro FukagawaStarsShûhei NomuraYuina KuroshimaYûna TairaIn Sakurada, Misora is a high school student who has the power to reset the world by 3 days and Kei is able to remember everything. Using their powers together, they can go back in time by 3 days and retain their memory.// Sakurada Reset // Overall, the first live-action Sagrada Reset was and entertaining ride, but felt very tame and normal—or as tame and normal as stories about super-powered teens can get.