dvds4u

I am relatively new to foreign movies, however, I am becoming increasingly disappointed with the crap that the US is producing. I am about 98% through with my US collection, so am now looking to expand. As much, as I like Criterions, lets stay away from those (unless it is an amazing can't miss and release # after 110--seen all the others). It doesn't need to be new or a classic, so lets mix them up. My top 5 (very beginner list).

1. Hard Boiled
2. Sex and Lucia
3. Closely Watched Trains
4. Withnail and I
5. Insomnia


Thanks for the assistance in advance.

DVD Smurf

Seven Samurai
Umberto D.
Seventh Seal
Children of Paradise
Les Diabolique

Check my list of brilliant films for more recommendations...

fnordboy

I am not sure if you realize, and if you do sorry, but this forum is for non-region 1 releases. (talk of Criterions made me think R1)

Anyway, top 5 foreign movies (in no order):

City of Lost Children
Shiki-Jitsu
Diary of a Lost Girl
any Peter Greenaway movie


argh too hard I don't know. :P

DVD Smurf

fnordboy - do you know where I could get this one?

Thanks in advance,

DVD Smurf

fnordboy

CDJapan: http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=KIBF-5077

HMV: http://www.hmv.co.jp/product/detail.asp?sku=1976223

Most places that carry japanese dvds should have it. Some list it as Shiki-Jitsu others as Shikijitsu. It is a great movie.

Jaspear

You can't go wrong with movies from the Dannish director Lars Von Trier. A few region two discs to consider:

Dogville
The Kingdom
Breaking The Waves

Also, the region one version of Dancer In The Dark.

Amazing stuff, but of course, YMMV.

marty888

I loved The Kingdom and Breaking The Waves, but watching some of his later work, I felt I had gone about as "wrong" as possible.

DVD Smurf

I think I am getting this one, thanks. I let you know how it was when I seen it.

Cheers

DVD Smurf

sataniko

Malena
Irreversible

dvds4u

I did know this was the non-region 1 room, but when bringing up int'l dvds, a lot of us, beginners at least, got our start with criterions. Thanks for the suggestions guys. I am off to get some of these.

dyerjp

let me throw in a few pics for my top 5 foreign films on dvd---

public enemy--korea r3
memories of murder--korea r1 and 3
lone wolf and cub (any of the series)--japan
in the mood for love--hong kong
high and low--japan

Matthew Chmiel

Not my top five, but a few I can think of off the top of my head....

Japanese films:
Adrenaline Drive - Romantic Comedy - NTSC edition in R1.
Battle Royale - Action/Horror/Thriller - NTSC editions in R0 (Theatrical Cut: UK, Special Version: Korea).
Ring (Ringu) - Horror/Mystery/Thriller - NTSC edition in R1.
Versus - Action/Adventure/Horror - NTSC edition in R1 (single-disc and double disc edition).
Wild Zero - Action/Adventure/Comedy/Horror/Musical - NTSC edition in R1.

Hong Kong Films:
The Eye - Horror/Mystery/Thriller - NTSC edition in R1.
Infernal Affairs - Action/Crime Drama - NTSC edition in R0.
Infernal Affairs II - Action/Crime Drama - NTSC edition in R0.
Infernal Affairs III - Action/Crime Drama - NTSC edition in R0.
Shaolin Soccer - Action/Comedy - NTSC edition in R0 (can't be purchased in America due to legal reasons with the bastards at Miramax).

French Films:
Brotherhood of the Wolf - Action/Adventure/Horror/Thriller - NTSC editions in R1 (Theatrical Cut: America, Three-Disc Extended Cut SE: Canada).
Maelstrom - Drama - NTSC edition in R1 (get the Canadian edition).
NOTE: I hate French films.

German Films (or the "I Love Franka Potente" Category):
Anatomy - Horror/Mystery/Thriller - NTSC edition in R1.
Anatomy 2 - Action/Horror/Thriller - NTSC edition in R1.
The Princess and the Warrior - Drama - NTSC edition in R1.
Run Lola Run - Action - NTSC edition in R1.

hardtack

In no particular order:

Seven Samurai
Hero
Diva
Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Shark Skin Man, Peach Hip Girl

pat00139

Um... Lord of the Rings is a foreign flick... I just thought of this, considering that members come from all over the world, what exactly is a 'foreign movie'? I'm guessing you mean 'non-English-language movie'.

Okay, mine, in no real order, are:

The Killer
The Bicycle Thief
Seven Samurai
Children of Paradise
Akira

Just five... okay, there are my choices.

Giles

- My Life As a Dog
- Das Boot (theatrical cut - can't wait for 5 hour mini series version)
- Ran
- Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
- Arabian Nights (Pasolini)

Favourite English-language (British) Film:
- My Name is Joe

Trigger

is this film really worth 40 bucks?

Yakuza Bengoshi

Considering that fnordboy probably paid just as much for his unsubtitled copy of Love and Pop, I'm gonna go out on a limb here and guess that he's a pretty big Hideaki Anno fan, and he'll say yes it's worth it. Just a guess though.

Trigger

hehe.

fnordboy

I am a big Hideaki Anno fan, so yes I would say it is worth it, but I would recommend this regardless of who directed it.

Shiki-Jitsu is absolutely amazing. I was blown away at how beautifully this film was shot, especially after seeing Love & Pop, which isn't that great (especially cinematography-wise). Love & Pop was very experimental with extreme camera angles (very much like Linklater's film Tape). With Shiki-Jitsu Anno calmed down and composed some very beautiful shots and used color beautifully. It is probably cliche to say, but it reminded me of Greenaway in how you could probably take every frame and it would stand alone as a work of art.

The story is very good too, I won't get into it since you can find that on most sites that sell it. Shunji Iwai does great in it playing "the director"...which I guess really wasn't a stretch for him . And Ayako Fujitani is not only beautiful, but plays her role beautifully, she also wrote the novel the film is based off of.

This site might help your decision Trigger: http://www.evaotaku.com/Anno/shikijitsu.html

Edit: Guess it is cliche...that site talks about the Greenaway comparison too, didn't even realize that.

mljones99

We just watched The Bicycle Thief in film class a couple weeks ago. I really enjoyed it.

pro-bassoonist

My top 5 films (from the last couple of years):

1. Ricordati Di Me (Italy)- if interested I have a review here:
http://www.nicheflix.com/reviews/ricordatidime.html



2. Girl on the Bridge-


3.

4.La Fidelite


5.Betty Blue

FreshOne

Seven Samurai
The Seventh Seal
Cries and Whispers
8 1/2
Breathless

jblackie

CLASSICS
M (by Fritz Lang)
Rashomon
The Third Man
Vampyr
Campanadas a medianoche (Chimes at Midnight)

MODERN
My Sassy Girl
Run Lola, Run
A Chinese Ghost Story
Léon: The Professional
Das Boot

fnordboy

There are still no real good DVD releases of this, correct?

I love this movie, but have not picked it up yet, Is there any word on if there is going to be a decent release of this?