The first of April is the 100th birthday of legendary Japanese actor Mifune Toshirō. Born and raised in the Japanese-occupied…Chinese province…uh…you know what, never mind. To commemorate the birthday of Toshiro Mifune, I look at one of the films that he … Continue reading WTF ASIA 101: High and Low (1963)

Fight and you may die. Run and you’ll live — at least a while. And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, … Continue reading WTF ASIA 100: Heneral Luna (2015)

Uh…so…you know about Narendra Modi, right? The current Prime Minister of India? Quite controversial? Considered very anti-Muslim? Thought to have helped instigate and encourage the Gujarat Riots on 2002? Well, this movie is about that last part. Well, it is … Continue reading WTF ASIA 99: Parzania (2005)

What would you do when faced with impending death? Would you cower in terror? Or would you kick death in the nuts, steal its gun, and demand its money? Also known as Grandma Gangsters. Available online. Approximately 109 minutes.   Jung-Ja, Young-Hee, and … Continue reading WTF ASIA 98: Twilight Gangsters (2010)

I was maybe fifteen or so when I came across a book called Sex and Zen & a Bullet in the Head . Not only did it have some sexy ladies on the cover, it also had a picture of two men pointing … Continue reading WTF ASIA 97: A Better Tomorrow (1986)

A beach party movie. Available in the United States and…uh…is that it? Well, maybe some other countries. Approximately 94 minutes.   Murakawa is the leader of a Yakuza branch. He has been running a successful loan shark operation in his … Continue reading WTF ASIA 96: Sonatine (1993)

Get your kicks.   Available in Canada, the United Kingdom (I think?), the United States, and maybe some other countries. Approximately 93 minutes.     The movie starts with a man speaking in Japanese…eh? Is this the right movie? Well, anyways, he is … Continue reading WTF ASIA 95: Chocolate (2008)

Last week’s movie was about how the rich and poor suck the life out of each other. This week’s movie is about how everyone who comes into the life of a wealthy woman ends up dead. Continue reading WTF ASIA 94: 7 Khoon Maaf (2011)

As ushering in the Year of the Metaphorical Rat comes to a close, WTF ASIA presents Elon Musk’s favorite film of 2019. Oh, and the Oscar Winner for Best Original Screenplay, Best Foreign Film, Best Director, and BEST PICTURE!  RESPECT! In … Continue reading WTF ASIA 93: Parasite (2019)

Between the Museum of Chinese in America catching fire and the whole Coronavirus, this has been a rather nasty Lunar New Year. So, how about something a little nice this week? A movie about…uh…accepting one’s mortality? Available in Canada, the United … Continue reading WTF ASIA 92: A Simple Life (2011)

This Lunar New Year, I present a Lunar New Year Miracle…from a country that no longer celebrates it at this time. Available in Canada, the United States, and maybe some other countries. Approximately 118 minutes.     So, if the title of … Continue reading WTF ASIA 91: Death By Hanging (1968)

Small village values don’t change easily. Available in Canada and the United States. Approximately 117 minutes.   Rani had left her village at age 14 to marry a man from another village. Her husband was unfaithful and abusive until he died … Continue reading WTF ASIA 90: Parched (2015)

Politically and socially, South Korea and Japan seem to have a chilly relationship. When it comes to crime, though, everything is chill. This WAS on Amazon a few years ago, but no more. It is online, though. Approximately 115 minutes. … Continue reading WTF ASIA 89: Boat (2009)

Lucky Episode 88. Think of all of the jokes that you can regarding this movie’s title and discard them, for they are not in this movie. Erm…sort of available online? Approximately 113 minutes.   Young Master Liu is to be … Continue reading WTF ASIA 88: The Wooden Man’s Bride (1994)

I have made twenty WTF ASIA articles about Japanese movies and not one featured Takeshi Kitano, let alone one of his gangster movies. That ends now with perhaps the least accessible entry point to his work.     Available in Canada, the … Continue reading WTF ASIA 87: Outrage (2010)

JOBS! JOBS! JOBS! JOBS! JOBS! JOBS! JOBS! JOBS! Available online. Approximately 105 minutes.   The movie starts out with a dead man and his grieving widow. It suddenly focuses on a young man looking all ominous, as if he were … Continue reading WTF ASIA 86: Pratidwandi (1970)

STRIKE! STRIKE! STRIKE! STRIKE! STRIKE! STRIKE! This WAS available on Netflix, but now it is just…online. Approximately 104 minutes.   The Customer is King. Service for the Customer’s Satisfaction. If the company survives, we survive. We love the customers. This … Continue reading WTF ASIA 85:  Cart (2014)

A movie where a Hong Kong cop is a criminal? Who could imagine that? Available in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, and maybe some other countries. Approximately 101 minutes.     After five years of building up his gang and getting it … Continue reading WTF ASIA 84:  Infernal Affairs (2002)

The holiday season is here and so…uh…um…hmmm… Available in Canada, the United States, and maybe some other countries.    Approximately 99 minutes. A girl…I will call her N…has recently turned 18 and has just got dumped. So, she is single and ready to…have … Continue reading WTF ASIA 83:  Japanese Summer: Double Suicide (1967)

Money matters in Mumbai make men miserable. Available in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, and maybe some other countries. The stated running time varies, but the movie that I have seen on DVD and Amazon Prime is approximately 92 minutes.   Three … Continue reading WTF ASIA 82: Barah Aana (2009)

Apparently, the notion of calling dibs does not exist in the world of bank robbers. Available…online. Approximately 90 minutes. Two men and a woman make their way through the sewers to an area by a bank vault and start making … Continue reading WTF ASIA 81: Jakarta (2000)