Tell me your favorite Japanese Movies

Posted on 04. Nov, 2006 @ 10:21 am by in About Views: 315

Now that I am a student again I have an excuse to watch lots of Japanese movies!

Please tell me your favorite Japanese movies! I need more material.
A few of my personal favorites that come to mind are Swallow Tail Butterfly with Cocco, and Kurosawa’s Yojimbo.

Overall I’m not a huge fan of Japanese movies, but there are quite a few gems out there if you know where to look.

Anyway, let me know what’s good! I am probably missing out on a lot!

- Harvey

  • http://becomesilhouettes.blogspot.com/ Vanessa

    NANA was pretty good. There was a recent episodic anime version of it too, but I haven’t seen that. The movie was definitely cool though.

  • K

    after life (Kore-eda Hirokazu) is quite good. My sister gave me an English-subtitled version for Christmas last year and I have watched it several times – interesting concept. Also try Twilight Samurai – Yoji Yamada and starring Sanada-san. Was nominated for an Oscar for best foreign language film in (I think) 2002. And one I saw on a flight over a couple of years ago – Kita no zeronen. Was subtitled in english on the JAL flight but I have been unable to find a subtitled DVD and would love to have it in my collection!!!!

  • http://www.japannewbie.com harvey

    Hey Vanessa, I think I have heard of NANA actually, I’ll have to check out the movie.

    Hey K, I also have heard of Kita no zeronen. I haven’t seen it before though. It’s about how hokkaido became modernized or something right?

    After Life sounds fun, I’ll try to dig that up as well! So many movies, so little… well. Actually I have a lot of time. :-)

  • http://www.japannewbie.com harvey

    Btw, recently I saw WARAI NO DAIGAKU.

    http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B0001M3XGU

    It was good! I was moved.

  • asdfdfg

    casshern. wait from what year onward should we try to think about?

  • Jasper W

    Havn’t seen many japanese movies. I enjoyed The ring and ringu. I watch a lot of korean movies, though.

  • http://ikimashokie.nutang.com Jess

    I think Kikujiro and Tokyo Godfathers are quite cool, as well as Ringu, but a lot of the Japanese movies I watch are animated, because I’m a loser.

  • Okkie

    I love Kikujiro but a must see is ‘The taste of tea’ and ‘Tampopo’.
    Further ‘Bright future’, ‘Visitor Q’ (weird), ‘Densha Otoko’ (Train Man), ‘Swing Girls’ (funny), ‘Shimotsuma monogatari’ (the story of a lolita girl and a bicker girl, ‘A stranger of Mine’ and ‘Vibrator’ (no, thats a phone)
    And the creapy section: ‘Suïcide circle/club’ and ‘Battle Royale’

  • hisaya

    Hey,harvey.

    “Ima Aini Ikimasu” (=Now,I’ll go to see you??) I love it very much.The movie tells us “true love”.

    “Water Boys” is also my favorite in Japanese movie. The movie makes me fine.

  • http://www.japannewbie.com harvey

    Hey Okkie, I have seen Tampopo, and that rocks. But I have never heard of “taste of tea”! Better look that up as well!

    Hey hisaya! Ima Aini Ikimasu. I’ll be sure to find that too. True love… that’s DEEP.

  • Okkie
  • http://pixelscribbles.com/journal Heather Meadows

    I agree with Vanessa; NANA is good! (The anime is even better, imho.)

    Beat Takeshi’s Hanabi is good (action/drama). If you haven’t already seen it, check out Kurosawa’s Rashomon. I also enjoyed Ikiru, Yume, and Kagemusha.

    I’ve heard that the Lone Wolf and Cub series is good, but I haven’t seen any of it. Same for the Zatoichi series.

    That’s about it for the films I’ve seen. I’m really more into series, because they tell a larger story. (I haven’t seen the Densha Otoko movie, but I heartily recommend the series.)

  • http://zensekai.blogspot.com zen

    Zatoichi “old shows”

    The Funeral

  • afdfdh

    Go is a good movie
    and Versus is a pretty cool and funny fighting movie

  • nyuudo

    Pachigi!, After Life, Hana & Alice, Chi to Hone, Cha no Aji, Bashing… to name a few.

  • Anders

    Definitely Koi no Mon, english title Otakus in Love, weird and brilliant.
    Hana and Alice and Densha Otoko are also great movies. If you like David Lynch style “Mulholland Drive” type movies, you’ll enjoy Beat Takeshi’s “Takeshi’s”

  • Clive

    I loved Tampopo – it’s impossible to find on DVD in Australia :(

    Japanese scary films are … different … but quite good. And oldie but a goodie is Rashomon.

    I’ve heard good things about “Death Note” and would like to see it.

  • Clive

    Mmmm now I want Ramen!!!

  • http://www.japannewbie.com harvey

    Ramen, like… THIS Clive??

    http://www.japannewbie.com/2005/03/13/ramen-muteppou/

    A good thing about Ramen is that it’s CHEAP.

    Now that I’m a student again I can’t spend money going out to eat fancy stuff anymore… But Ramen I’ll always be able to afford!

  • Clive

    oh yessssss (you bastard lol).

    We really miss it. There was a great ramen place in the bowels of Nagoya Station.

  • Clive

    Harvey,

    OT, I noticed in your wish list: Vengeance: The True Story of an Israeli Counter-Terrorist Team.

    I have an older, hard copy of this I no longer need just sitting in my desk at work. I can mail it to you if you like. Email if interested

  • ryanb

    If you like Guy Ritchie flicks (“Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels”, “Snatch”), perhaps you chould check out “Survive Style 5+”. (It even has Vinnie Jones!)

  • cris

    i second afterlife and nana.

    and i add to your list “laundry.”

  • http://theblackeslteacher.blogspot.com/ Seoul Sista

    i love Hayao Miyazaki’s “spirited away.” great animation, great story. i watched it so many times, i think i can speak intermediate japanese.

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