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Asian/Japanese comedies

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C

ChryZ

Member
You might like to check out these korean romcoms/comedies:

432p-image-Medium.jpg

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0395677/

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http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0381716/

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http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0348591/

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http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0262246/

IMHO lovely and highly enjoyable movies, very quirky and funny.
 
C

ChryZ

Member
Fxp said:
Wow, thanks a lot ;>

P.S. Hmm, is it unusual for a guy to like romcoms?
Click to expand...
Nah, especially most korean romcoms got the mix right ... there is something for everyone.
 
F

FnordChan

Member
ChryZ said:
You might like to check out these korean romcoms/comedies
Click to expand...

Those all look to be a hoot. Now the trick is to find them.

I'm not up on current Asian comedies; horror flicks I keep up with somewhat, but comedies have eluded me. However, I can plug a few favorites:

l_p1002483465.jpg


Ping Pong - Yes, it's a movie about Ping Pong. It's also about friendship and the nature of competition, with plenty of surreal moments thrown in to keep things interesting. While very funny, I can't quite peg this as a comedy; of course, those are usually the best ones. The Japanese R2 DVD release has rather good English subtitles, so hopefully finding a translated copy won't be difficult.

6305154880.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg


Tampopo - If you can get past the god-awful DVD cover, this is a truly amazing film. The plot involves a truck driver who helps a single mother transform her ramen shop from a dive into one of the best in Japan. However, that's only a small part of the movie, which wanders off to explore short vignettes about food, cooking, and the way people eat. The results are hysterical, and the ending is both glorious and touching. Warning: Under no circumstances should you watch this film while hungry. In fact, I'd recommend eating a large meal while watching Tampopo; afterwards, you'll still find yourself craving ramen, but at least you won't be tormented for the entire film. Tampopo is readily available in the US and is so fucking awesome it hurts. And, if you like this, check out some of Juzo Itami's other flicks, namely the Taxing Woman series and Minbo, a wonderful film about a hotel fighting back against extortionist yakuza.

6305161615.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg


God of Cookery - If you loved Shaolin Soccer (and, really, who didn't) then you'll want to watch this earlier Stephen Chow flick. Chow plays a total asshole who presents himself as the god of Chinese cuisine. When he's shown to be a hack, he has to struggle to fight his way back to the top, with a bizzare romantic side-story and trips to a shaolin monestary thrown in along the way. Four words: "Exploding Pissing Beef Balls". A vaguely legal R1 edition shouldn't be too hard to track down.

B0002CR08Q.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg


Mr. Vampire - Chinese hopping vampire action a go-go, with a long suffering exorcist and his hapless students trying to prevent a particularly restless spirit from causing completely chaos. Well, they mostly succeed. Goofy martial arts action, sticky rice, ghostly concubines, and all manner of vampires bouncing around make for a vastly entertaining flick. Fox just released it on DVD for all of ten bucks, so go buy it posthaste.

And there you go. I'm not really up on the scene, but those are some favorites - mostly older flicks, but what the hell, they're still funny even if the rest of the world has known about them for years. Check 'em out.

FnordChan
 
F

Fxp

Member
Ahh, they should make movie based on Ping Pong anime :D

FnordChan said:
Ping Pong - Yes, it's a movie about Ping Pong. It's also about friendship and the nature of competition, with plenty of surreal moments thrown in to keep things interesting. While very funny, I can't quite peg this as a comedy; of course, those are usually the best ones. The Japanese R2 DVD release has rather good English subtitles, so hopefully finding a translated copy won't be difficult.
FnordChan
Click to expand...
 
S

shuri

Banned
quietcover.jpg


The parents along with their three children and the uncle, buys a lodge in the forest on a mountain, hoping to make a fortune running their own business. After a few weeks they received their first guest but misfortune strike the family as several of their guests are found dead. To avoid the bad publicity of the deaths in their lodge they decide to bury the bodies in the forest. As the body count increases the family seems to get used to their new way of running the business but unfortunately the police take notice that many people have disappeared in the area.
Click to expand...

Seriously, the funniest asian movie i've ever seen.

edit: the movie is call A Quiet Family
 
F

FortNinety

Member
FnordChan is spot on will all his recommendations. Especially God of Cookery. You don't have to love Iron Chef to like it, but it helps.

Another Stephen Chow film I have recommend is Love in Delivery, another earlier flick.

Oddly enough, I really didn't like Shoalin Soccer. It's pretty overrated IMHO.

As for Korean movies, I have to recommend Barking Dogs Never Bite. It's a shame that it's not mention more often. You can find out more here.

In fact, I recommend Subway Cinema as a good source for info even if you don't live in NYC. Their descriptions alone make any film a must see (thankfully their selection usually warrants it).
 
C

ChryZ

Member
Save The Green Planet is new to me, will check it out soon!

For some suggestions about japanese comedy, I had to fork through my DVD shelf:

-Samurai Fiction (mention before, gotta second that)
http://www.kfccinema.com/reviews/swordplay/samuraifiction/samuraifiction.html

-Red Shadow (same director as Samurai Fiction, the movie is not as good as S.F., but still funny)
http://www.kfccinema.com/reviews/swordplay/redshadow/redshadow.html

-Space Travellers
http://www.kfccinema.com/reviews/comedy/spacetravelers/spacetravelers.html

-Messengers
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0215993/

-Bayside Shakedown 1 ( I didn't like the sequel much)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0210199/

-Tampopo (mention before, gotta second that one too, one of my all time favs, truely a classic)
http://www.kfccinema.com/reviews/comedy/tampopo/tampopo.html
 
S

shuri

Banned
Btw, Fnordchan, I received the Yakuza Papers boxset today. It's damn cool, the presentation is very Criterion, the packaging is great. The restored movies look pristine, thanks for pointing out that it was coming out this week, or else I would have missed it!

Samurai Fiction is a comedy? It looks pretty damn good. Is seems to be a spoof of older samurai movies right? 20$ at yesasia from the korean edition dvd. Hmm tempting
 
0

0wn3d

Member
I don't know if this was mentioned yet, but Windstruck is the prequel to Sassy Girl if I remember correctly. So if you liked Sassy Girl, you might like Windstruck too.
 
karasu

karasu

Member


Sex is Zero. It's a loose remake of The Last American Virgin. It is hilarious.

2443g0hn.jpg


Once Upon a time in High School: Spirit of Jeet kune Do. It's a drama, but it's great.

arahanp1os.jpg


Arahan. It's a Martial Arts comedy, you might dig it. I thought it was mediocre, but it's pretty popular.
 
A

Asbel

Member
La Brassiere Romedy, very funny for most of the movie with the ending being sappy. How can the idea of two guys working in an all girl office not be funny?

B000067J0Q.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg



Any Stephen Chow movie is good but some may have more culture related jokes. With that, I recommend King of Comedy. The ending is sloppy but it's a hilarious ride there. (also Cecilia Cheung's movie debut)

B0000541U7.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg


Gonna check out those other suggestions myself now.
 
T

tree fiddy

Member
My Sassy Girl rules
King of Comedy rocks
God of Cookery rocks
Once Upon a Time in HS rocks(but it's not a comedy)
Windstruck rocks(I don't care what the critics say and no, it's not a prequel to My Sassy Girl)
Arahan was alright
My Wife is a Gangster is fucking horrible

Whatever I didn't mention I didn't see. I heard good things about Save the Green Planet but haven't seen it yet.

I recommend Golden Chicken, City Hunter, Lawyer Lawyer and Fantasy Mission Force(it's so horrible, it's good)

There's my 2 cents.

EDIT: I forgot to mention, La Brassiere is alright but the ending is sappy.
 
C

ChryZ

Member
Naked Shuriken said:
Samurai Fiction is a comedy? It looks pretty damn good. Is seems to be a spoof of older samurai movies right? 20$ at yesasia from the korean edition dvd. Hmm tempting
Click to expand...
Good fun, great cinematographics, fast cuts, rockin' soundtrack ... its a classic b/w samurai movie just, well ... its the 1998 remix of an old one ;)
 
J

Jim Bowie

Member
Samurai Fiction and Red Shadow aren't comedies, but the are pretty damn awesome. If you count those as comedies, then the new Zatoichi by Takeshi Kitano is a comedy as well.

Look up Shark Skin Man and Peach Hip Girl. It's awesome, super awesome! Also hillarious is Tokyo 10+01. If you like Battle Royale, it's a spoof of that movie. In my version, they use WTF as an actual subtitle. :lol
 
J

Jason

Member
Asbel said:
La Brassiere Romedy, very funny for most of the movie with the ending being sappy. How can the idea of two guys working in an all girl office not be funny?
Click to expand...

Good stuff. Has some very funny moments.


FATCHOISPIRITDVD.JPG

This one isn't the greatest but still good for some laughs.
 
F

FnordChan

Member
Naked Shuriken said:
Btw, Fnordchan, I received the Yakuza Papers boxset today. It's damn cool, the presentation is very Criterion, the packaging is great. The restored movies look pristine, thanks for pointing out that it was coming out this week, or else I would have missed it!
Click to expand...

Fantastic! The Criterion comparison is apt - Home Vision Entertainment are distributors for Criterion and have put out some really superior releases. Their edition of Kiyoshi Kurosawa's Cure was quite nice. Alas, I have to wait until after Christmas to snag my own Yakuza Papers set, and I'm positively jonsing for the gangster goodness.

Meanwhile, I'm reminded of a terrific Japanese comedy I saw a while back: Kishiwada Bad Boys (Kishiwada Shônen Gurentai, aka Boys Be Ambitious) (1996), the saga of punk teenagers running rampant in the 1970s. It was generally very funny, with the occasional kick in the teeth as the characters realize they're doomed to never leave town and grow old as minor hustlers at best. Then it's back to glorious thug violence. I saw a print with English subtitles that appeared to have made the festival circuit a while back, but beyond that have been unable to find a translated copy on home video. If anyone has any leads, I'd love to hear them.

FnordChan
 
C

ChryZ

Member
FortNinety said:
Yeah, I loved the movie. Never saw part two. Isn't Space Travellers by the same director? A friend said it sucked, but it looks pretty cool to me.
Click to expand...
Just realised it myself, indeed both are directed by Katsuyuki Motohiro. I've bought the HK DVD, engl subtitles and quite cheap ... the current price at my fav asian dvd import shop is 11.50 euro|$ :D
 
F

Fifty

Member
Miike's Zebraman is a great movie, I'm not sure if it's out on DVD (in any region) yet, but it's totally worth checking out. Not as great as Kung Fu Hustle, but still a hilarious movie.
 
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