Kick-Ass (Hollywood, 2010)

The story follows a regular guy as he decides to be a hero named "Kick-Ass" to fight crime and do some good. Watch the movie and have a lot of fun specially in the scene where "Hit-Girl" saves Kick-ass from a bunch of drug-dealing thugs. 

It's shocking and funny at the same time. This movie really does live up to it's title. 

RATING: @@@@

Animal House (Hollywood, 1978)

In the late 1970s an American movie classic was born. This film may not be familiar with today's generation but if it hadn't been made back then, there won't be any good screwball comedies being filmed today in Hollywood. 

The movie follows the exploits of the Delta fraternity in a college campus as they wreak havoc while having a lot of fun with toga parties and road trips. Kids today can use this flick as a guide on how to have a good time in college.

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100 Days with Mr. Arrogant (Korea, 2004)

During the height of the Korean new wave, a lot of rom-coms came out of movie theaters in Korea. Some are good, some are bad. This particular film is an interesting mix of the good/bad ratio. It has good-looking Korean stars and it has that brand-new, romantic feel to it. 

The bad part is in the middle when you realize there's nothing more to the film. The story goes like this: rich boy meets not so rich girl and along the way they become annoyed with each other, but sooner or later they fall in love. Case closed. Those looking for something more original should look somewhere else. 

RATING: @

Yellow Tears (Japan, 2007)

Isshin Inudou, the director behind the teen-baseball masterpiece Touch goes for a little trip to memory lane in this flick about four friends who happen to be aspiring artists trying to make ends meet in the 1960s. For some this will be boring, but those who are patient enough to watch it will have a satisfying film experience. 

The sets are well-made and the characters will leave a memorable mark on the viewers. This is a story about the golden color of one's past and the optimism of people in having a bright future.

RATING: @@@

Hail the Judge (Hong Kong, 1994)

Before Stephen Chow made Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle, he starred in many Hong Kong comedies. This one is a prime example of Mr. Chow's comedic talents, where he stars as a corrupt judge in 18th century China who decides to be a good guy and in turn goes through a lot of wacky circumstances. The movie has fantastic pacing and there's never a dull moment. 

You'll be assaulted by sight gags left and right and before you know it, the film is over and you're stomach's hurting from too much laughter. This is one of the best screw-ball comedies to come out of HK in the 1990s. 

Rating: @@@@

The Karate Kid (Hollywood, 2010)

Jaden Smith (son of Will Smith) stars with Asian superstar Jackie Chan in this movie about a kid who learns martial arts to fight back some bullies. 

Despite the predictable outcome of the movie it's still worth watching. Just consider the scene where Mr. Chan and young Jaden shares a moment inside a car, where they become totally honest with each other without really saying much. 

That's great acting and directing right there. This flick is an example of telling a familiar story in a new and refreshing manner. 

RATING: @@@@

One Million Yen Girl (Japan, 2008)

A movie about a young woman that travels across the country taking on different jobs and quitting after she's gained 1,000,000 yen. 

This is an interesting movie that stars Yu Aoi and shows how easy it is to get various jobs in a rich country like Japan. 

If you want to know the reason why she does these things, you better watch the film and enjoy the beauty of the different cities featured in the movie. 

RATING: @@@@

A Better Tomorrow 2 (Hong Kong, 1987)

This explosive sequel to the hit film re-unites Chow Yun Fat with director John Woo for more gun-toting action. 

There's not much on the plot but there are a few surprises along the way. This is the way action film sequels should be made, plenty of slick choreography and a hell of a lot better than the original. 

RATING: @@@@

Date Night (Hollywood, 2010)

Two very talented comedy actors stuck in a crappy little film. This basically sums up this not-so-funny Hollywood flick about a suburban couple who goes out into the city for their "date night". 

They get mistaken for somebody else then ends up on the run from gangsters and crooked cops. Steve Carell (from The Office) and Tina Fey (from Saturday Night Live) are very game in playing their respected roles but the movie doesn't allow them to do much. 

This movie can be categorized as a complete waste of time, so better avoid it like the plague. 

RATING: @

Girl Scout (Korea, 2008)

A movie about four very different women banding together to track down a union leader who stole all their money. Sure, the plot sounds boring but the execution of the film in terms of visuals and acting make it worth your while. 

Kim Seon Ah (from My Name is Kim Sam Soon) leads the pack in this outrageous tale of car chases, bad debt, and unexpected friendships. Funny and touching, this isn't your run-of-the-mill chick flick. 

RATING: @@@

The Ring (Japan, 1998)

Who in Asia isn't familiar with this horror film? A cursed videotape kills whoever views it via a television set. Sounds weird and creepy at the same time? You bet it is. 

This Japanese flick launched the Asian horror genre that includes the ghost of a woman in white with really long hair. 

This is the movie that showed everybody that you don't really need all that blood and gore to make an effective and haunting horror movie. 

RATING: @@@@@

A Better Tomorrow (Hong Kong, 1986)

This is the film that revolutionized the way action flicks are made in Hong Kong. John Woo comes out with guns blazing in this movie that tells the tale of brothers, cops and robbers, and extremely cool shoot-outs. 

Chow Yun Fat stars as a gangster involved in counterfeiting money while Leslie Cheung stars as a cop bent on taking him down. 

This is a movie way ahead of it's time in terms of action choreography and in-your-face violence.

RATING: @@@@

Clash of the Titans (Hollywood, 2010)

This movie is a remake of a 1981 flick with the same title. The original was much better (except for the special effects of that time). 

The story follows the tale of Perseus, who is a bastard son of the god Zeus as he goes on a journey to exact some major payback against the god of the underworld Hades. 

Sam Worthington (from Avatar fame) stars as the head honcho while a bunch of not so famous actors join in on the fun. 

The film starts out strongly but weakens as it progresses towards the end. Even the advanced "3D effects" aren't that good-looking when seen up close. 

RATING: @

The Coast Guard (Korea, 2002)

A Kim Ki Duk film is like sushi, some will be good for your taste buds, while others will just taste weird. But it will still be pretty edible. 

This movie is pretty weird, but still interesting to watch. A Korean soldier guarding the border coast of South Korea unwittingly kills a civilian. The girlfriend of that man goes nuts and the soldier also becomes crazy.

What happens next is a merry-go-round of insane situations that eventually leads to murder. 

RATING: @@@

Dolls (Japan, 2002)

This is a beautifully shot film telling three different stories that intersects along the way. 

A man and his fiancé runaway together to live like hermits on the road. A man becomes obsessed with a Japanese pop star. And finally, an old yakuza boss reminisces about his first love whom he left years ago. 

All this is told in colorful fashion by veteran actor/director Takeshi Kitano. This movie isn't for everybody's taste but those who take the plunge will find a surprisingly good experience. 

RATING: @@@@

The Message (China, 2009)

This movie is about a spy hunt conducted in China during World War 2. 

Five people are trapped inside a mansion by Japanese imperialist troops in order to flush out a spy named Phantom. 

What follows is a thrilling cat and mouse game that will leave audiences guessing to the very end. 

RATING: @@@@

Blood: The Last Vampire (Hollywood, 2009)

This is a live-action adaptation of an anime film back in 2000, which was better than this flick. 

Jeon Ji Hyun makes her Hollywood debut as a vampire/human half-breed out to hunt down bloodsuckers in the 1970s. 

The film has great production values but the special effects are so lame, you're better off watching CGI cutscenes in video games.  

RATING: @

My Little Bride (Korea, 2004)

This film tells the story of a college guy who gets engaged to a 17-year-old high school student. 

Sure, it's cute and a lot of the situational gags are nice, but this flick is just reserved for those who are really in love with photogenic Korean movie stars. 

There are lots of scenes here that won't be plausible in real life. Like having a cute, pretty young thing living alone with a single, horny college student.  

RATING: @@@

Goemon (Japan, 2009)

This big budget action/fantasy film is about the legendary Goemon Ishikawa who can be considered as the Robin Hood of Japan. 

In the movie he's a highly trained ninja brought to protect the daughter of a shogun, to whom he eventually falls in love with. 

This film is visually arresting even though the special effects are a bit weak. 

RATING: @@@

Kung Fu Mahjong 2 (Hong Kong, 2006)

Wong Jing returns for a second helping in this outrageous follow up to the 2005 film. This time we have a female protagonist in the form of the lovely Cherrie Ying.

She stars as Fanny, a mahjong genius that suddenly ends up with marital problems due to her cheating bastard of a husband. 

She then joins a high stakes mahjong game to win her hubby back. This sequel is just as good as the first one and there are plenty of funny scenes to keep things going.

RATING: @@@@

The Uninvited (Korea, 2003)

This flick starts a little boring but eventually builds up into a surprisingly good thriller. 

Jeon Ji Hyun stars in this unconventional Asian horror romp as a woman with unnatural psychic powers. 

Along the way she meets a guy with the same condition, only he doesn't want his unexpected gift. 

Those looking for a different kind of supernatural horror movie will find what they're looking for in this one. 

RATING: @@@@

Swing Girls (Japan, 2004)

This almost-perfect summer blockbuster is the ultimate cure for afternoon boredom. 

The story follows a group of high school girls stuck with summer classes who then ends up building a jazz band. 

Juri Ueno turns in a terrific performance as the crazy but funny band leader. 

RATING: @@@@

Kung Fu Mahjong (Hong Kong, 2005)

An excellent slapstick comedy from HK, this time it focuses on the game of mahjong mixed with kung fu.

The movie follows a mentally challenged guy that has a super photographic memory as he goes around Hong Kong trying to win mahjong competitions. 

RATING: @@@@

Iron Man 2 (Hollywood, 2010)

Robert Downey Jr. returns in this kick-ass sequel that will leave your body rushing with adrenaline. 

Joining in the fun is Mickey Rourke as a Russian mad scientist bent on revenge against Tony Stark aka Iron Man. 

Not only that, but the organization known as SHIELD also wants to recruit him to join a new league of superheroes called the Avengers. 

RATING: @@@@

Radio Star (Korea, 2006)

This is a nice little film made in the ending days of the Korean new wave. 

The story follows a washed-up singer and his manager as they go through life reminiscing about the past while trying to survive in the present. 

One day opportunity knocks on their door to work at a rural radio station and then the magic begins. Enjoyable and entertaining but not surprising.

RATING: @@@

Love Exposure (Japan, 2008)

A masterpiece of epic proportions, this movie is four hours long and you'll be loving every minute of it. 

The story is simple: A high school student makes a promise to his dying mom to find himself a good girl to marry. 

Along the way he meets the babelicious girl of his dreams and all hell breaks loose. 

I won't say anymore because in the first 30 minutes you'll be mesmerized by the way the movie presents itself. 

RATING: @@@@@

Eye in the Sky (Hong Kong, 2007)

An interesting film about surveillance operatives in Hong Kong and how they do their job. 

The movie follows two groups of people: a gang of thieves led by Tony Leung Ka-Fai and the surveillance unit led by Simon Yam. 

Overall, the movie is a watchable and satisfying experience. 

RATING: @@@@

Iron Man (Hollywood, 2008)

Robert Downey Jr. plays Tony Stark, a hi-tech weapon maker that almost got whacked by one of his inventions. 

This movie starts slow then builds up into a character-driven story of one man's journey into becoming a really cool superhero. 

Mr. Downey fits perfectly into the role of Tony Stark, which makes him watchable even if he's not wearing his iron suit. 

RATING: @@@@

Robokon (Japan, 2003)

This is a surprisingly terrific, feel-good down to earth film about a high school robot competition held in Japan. It starts off as a quiet, meditative movie then builds up into an exciting robot contest. 

Masami Nagasawa turns in another wonderful performance as a high school student who ends up going into the "Robokon" contest. Shun Oguri also stars as a robot engineer going through personality problems. Near the end of this flick, you'll be cheering for both of them to win the trophy. 

Rating: @@@@

God of Cookery (Hong Kong,1996 )

This is a nice little film from Stephen Chow, the king of supreme non-sense comedy. In this movie he stars as a con artist pretending to be a gourmet cook to bring in millions of HK dollars into his bank account. 

But when he gets upstaged by a real "cooking master", he goes on a quest to become a powerful cook to dish out some righteous payback. 

RATING: @@@

The Road (Hollywood, 2009)

In the not too-distant future, the apocalypse has arrived and what's left of Earth is just a barren landscape. 

There's hardly any sunlight and there are no more plants and animals. Viggo Mortensen plays a father who journeys across America with his son in order to find a better place to survive.

For some people it will be boring due to the slow pacing of the film, but even so it's still a pretty decent movie. 

RATING: @@@

Nana (Japan, 2005)

Aoi Miyazaki stars as Nana and the film follows her as she goes to Tokyo to be with her boyfriend and along the way she meets the character of Mika Nakashima who happens to be named Nana as well. 

One of them is a cute "princess-type" while the other is a Gothic punk rocker. They may be worlds apart in the personality department, but they have a lot more in common than they think. 

The story is a bit simple and straight-forward but the acting and the direction of the film is handled quite well. The musical score is also kick-ass. 

RATING: @@@@

Election 2 (Hong Kong, 2006)

This sequel is as dark and moody as the first film. The story continues where the last Election movie ended. Two years has passed and it's time to pick a new triad leader. 

But this time it's all-out war since the current head of the Wo Sing crime syndicate doesn't want to relinquish his power. Election 2 is a visually stunning dark triad picture. 

RATING: @@@@

Daybreakers (Hollywood,2010)

Ethan Hawke stars as a vampire scientist in a world where vampires rule and what's left of the human race is being used as living blood suppliers. 

Near the ending of the film it becomes too gory and might be a turn-off for some viewers. Still, this is a good vampire/sci-fi action film. 

RATING: @@@

The Classic (Korea, 2003)

Son Ye Jin plays the lead in this movie which made her into a bankable star in Korea. The Classic is a true classic in a sense that it's as close as it gets to being the perfect romantic-drama film. 

The story starts in the present day when a girl finds a collection of her mother's love letters and finds them "classical" in their writing. Then the movie goes into flashback in the 1960s to re-live the mother's love story.

RATING: @@@@@

Touch (Japan, 2005)

One of the best teen-drama movies to come out of Japan. The story is about twin brothers who grow up with the girl next door and how they fall in love with the sport of baseball.  

Masami Nagasawa ends up in a star-making role in this flick, playing the girl who has to choose between the two brothers. 

This is the kind of movie that makes you want to be in high school all over again. 

RATING: @@@@@

Mr. Vampire (Hong Kong, 1985)

This is a very original and entertaining film from Hong Kong that manages to be scary, funny, and action-packed all at the same time. 

The movie follows a Taoist master and his assistants as they go against naughty earth-bound spirits and jumping corpses. 

This film produced a slew of sequels but the first one will always be remembered as the very best. 

RATING: @@@@

Legion (Hollywood, 2010)

The story is simple: God has lost faith in mankind and now He wants to wipe out everybody on the planet and sends angels to do the extermination. 

But the archangel Michael doesn't think that this is the right course of action, so he goes against God's will and tries to save us. 

Nothing new to see in this film but the same old action flick with average special effects.

RATING: @

The Bow (Korea, 2005)

Another magnificent film from the weird yet original filmmaker Kim Ki Duk. This time it's about an old man and a young girl living together in a boat in the middle of the ocean. 

The old man's plan is to marry the girl when she turns 18. As always the movie boasts eye-catching cinematography which is so beautiful in its simplicity.   

RATING: @@@@

Cyborg She (Japan, 2008)

The film stars Haruka Ayase as a super-advanced android from the future (like in the Terminator films) who goes back in time to save the guy who will eventually invent her someday. 

Most of the film deals with the cyborg and her young master going through different misadventures and eventually falling in love with each other. It's nothing original, but a lot of fun to watch. 

RATING: @@@@

Chungking Express (Hong Kong, 1994)

This is a so-called "new wave" Hong Kong film from the early 1990's which was directed by the great Wong Kar Wai. 

The movie consists of two stories involving cops and their love lives. The first part stars Takeshi Kaneshiro as a lonely police officer with an upcoming birthday.

The second part has Tony Leung meeting Faye Wong at a diner in the Chungking district. 

Sparks don't necessarily fly between the characters but the movie soars thanks to the combination of great music and visuals. 

RATING: @@@@

Avatar (Hollywood, 2009)

Twelve years after James Cameron made Titanic, he comes back with a vengeance with Avatar. 

The film follows a young marine as he uses an avatar to infiltrate an alien tribe in a distant moon. 

The visual effects is simply amazing and James Cameron did a great job creating a whole new world.

RATING: @@@@@

A Bittersweet Life (Korea, 2005)

This is one of the best gangster flicks to come out of South Korea. 

The story is a simple tale of revenge and stars Lee Byeong Hun as a gang enforcer who gets punished by his boss for making a couple of mistakes in his gangster career. 

Little do the boss know that this act will turn Lee into a revenge-obsessed killer. The breathtaking action and visuals is a knockout.

RATING: @@@@@

Battle Royale 2 (Japan, 2003)

This is a bland sequel to the bad-ass first film which was one of the best high school kill-spree movies to ever come out of Asia. 

Following the events of the previous flick, a new batch of kids is sent to the battleground island to do some nasty killing. 

Only this time their targets aren’t each other, but the terrorist group known as “wild seven” who are composed of previous survivors of different battle royales. 

RATING: @

A Tale of Two Sisters (Korea, 2003)

This flick has a plot and cinematography that will get your attention right from the start. 

The story is a psychological mind-bender that will show a superb twist in the end.

Satisfaction is guaranteed to viewers who are interested in a different variety of the Asian horror genre. 

RATING: @@@@

The Hangover (Hollywood, 2009)

It’s your typical American screwball comedy where almost anything goes, and a lot of stuff happens along the way that doesn’t make any sense. 

In this film the characters try to make sense of what happened during a very wild bachelor party in Las Vegas. 

Director Todd Philips of Old School and Road Trip fame tries his best to subdue the unintentional silliness, and he succeeds thanks to a perfectly assembled cast. 

RATING: @@@@

Windstruck (Korea, 2004)

Windstruck is a whole new ball game for Jeon Ji Hyun, this time playing a cutie pie police officer in one of the districts of Seoul. 

When she meets a goody two shoes school teacher, sparks fly in true Korean rom-com fashion. 

RATING: @@@@

In the Mood for Love (Hong Kong, 2000)

This movie is hailed as one of the best that came out in the turn of the new millennium. 

Thanks to Wong Kar Wai’s stylistic filmmaking, this movie became an instant classic of Hong Kong cinema. 

It features a lot of cool cinematography and moody romantic music that only a master filmmaker like Wong Kar Wai can show. 

RATING: @@@@

Joint Security Area (Korea, 2000)

The story is mostly set on the DMZ of Korea (Demilitarized Zone) which is between the border of the north and south. 

A couple of soldiers from both sides end up being friends and discover that North Koreans and South Koreans have a lot in common with each other. 

A good movie from Old Boy director Park Chan- Wook. 

RATING: @@@@

Battle Royale (Japan, 2000)

In the not too distant future of Japan, kids in high school have become incredibly violent and disrespectful to grown-ups. 

So in turn, the government came up with a nasty solution to the problem: pick the worst class section in random high schools and put them on an island with one instruction: kill each other. 

This is a Japanese classic that showcases great acting and extremely violent action.

RATING: @@@@