For the last few months I've been fascinated with foreign films (especially Japanese movies). Netflix might be a little slow at times but they deserve credit for keeping a nice selection of films from across the globe. The movie that sparked my interest in movies from afar was City of God. ( http://imdb.com/title/tt0317248/ ) Initially I was a little annoyed that I had to read through the subtitles, but the story was so engrossing that 20 minutes into the movie you forget that the subtitles are there. I highly recommend this movie for people looking for something different than the same old thing.
The next set of movies that pulled me in even further are by a South Korean director named Chan-woo Park, he directed the films Sympathy for Mr Vengeance (http://imdb.com/title/tt0310775/) and Oldboy (http://imdb.com/title/tt0364569/). These films are somewhat of a loose trilogy dealing with the theme of vengeance, there is a final movie on the way entitled Lady Vengeance (http://imdb.com/title/tt0451094/). I've only viewed the first 2 movies so far and I found them to be extremely beautifully shot movies, I never gave much attention to cinematagraphy before but it's so apparent in these movies that it grabs your attention. The movies can be a bit violent in places but I think it really punctuates what vengeance will drive ordinairy people to do. It's definitely recommended viewing.
Another interesting asian director is Takashi Miike from Japan. I've read in several articles that this guy influenced Tarantino with some of his work. One of my favorites movies from Miike currently is Rainy Dog (http://imdb.com/title/tt0142316/). It's a moody piece involving the life of a yakuza assassin and his young son. It's not your typical guns blazing style movie, but kind of a somber look at a man forced to rethink his priorities when he discovers that he is a father. Some other interesting titles from Miike are Audition (http://imdb.com/title/tt0235198/), this movie makes Fatal Attraction look like Bambi. I'm currently working my way through his Dead or Alive trilogy (http://imdb.com/title/tt0221111), so far the first movie is pure adrenaline. The first 5 minutes of this movie is the most bizarre and twisted piece I've probably ever seen. Just as a teaser part of the opening scene features a guy doing a 6 foot line of coke and an assasination of a gay man and a prostitute in a dirty bathroom. This movie is'nt for the faint of heart but if you like over the top action this one is for you.
There's quite a few other movies I'd like to recommend but I'm tired of typing, I'll add more titles later.
What notable foreign films have you watched?
The next set of movies that pulled me in even further are by a South Korean director named Chan-woo Park, he directed the films Sympathy for Mr Vengeance (http://imdb.com/title/tt0310775/) and Oldboy (http://imdb.com/title/tt0364569/). These films are somewhat of a loose trilogy dealing with the theme of vengeance, there is a final movie on the way entitled Lady Vengeance (http://imdb.com/title/tt0451094/). I've only viewed the first 2 movies so far and I found them to be extremely beautifully shot movies, I never gave much attention to cinematagraphy before but it's so apparent in these movies that it grabs your attention. The movies can be a bit violent in places but I think it really punctuates what vengeance will drive ordinairy people to do. It's definitely recommended viewing.
Another interesting asian director is Takashi Miike from Japan. I've read in several articles that this guy influenced Tarantino with some of his work. One of my favorites movies from Miike currently is Rainy Dog (http://imdb.com/title/tt0142316/). It's a moody piece involving the life of a yakuza assassin and his young son. It's not your typical guns blazing style movie, but kind of a somber look at a man forced to rethink his priorities when he discovers that he is a father. Some other interesting titles from Miike are Audition (http://imdb.com/title/tt0235198/), this movie makes Fatal Attraction look like Bambi. I'm currently working my way through his Dead or Alive trilogy (http://imdb.com/title/tt0221111), so far the first movie is pure adrenaline. The first 5 minutes of this movie is the most bizarre and twisted piece I've probably ever seen. Just as a teaser part of the opening scene features a guy doing a 6 foot line of coke and an assasination of a gay man and a prostitute in a dirty bathroom. This movie is'nt for the faint of heart but if you like over the top action this one is for you.
There's quite a few other movies I'd like to recommend but I'm tired of typing, I'll add more titles later.
What notable foreign films have you watched?
