I posted my first WTF ASIA article here on the 20th of April, 2018. A day shy of the fifth anniversary, the final movie in my series asks whether it is okay to just give up completely. Well, apparently, my … Continue reading WTF ASIA 261: Fortress (2017)

Jet Li turns 60-years-old in a couple of weeks. So, here is Once Upon a Time in China. Available in France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and perhaps a few other countries…wait…NOT the United States? His 60th birthday is on the 26th of April. … Continue reading WTF ASIA 260: Once Upon a Time in China (1991)

Departures is a magazine about exceptional places, people, and things for American Express Platinum Card® and Centuri…erm…oh, wait. Nevermind, this is a movie about preparing dead people for their coffins. Available in Canada, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and perhaps a few other … Continue reading WTF ASIA 259: Departures (2008)

The human computer wants to party party party. Available in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, and perhaps a few other countries. Approximately 127 minutes.   Whoa whoa whoa. Calm down, Aaron Sorkin. I get it. Okay. It is 2001. London. As Anupama … Continue reading WTF ASIA 258: Shakuntala Devi (2020)

When the writer-director of Squid Game wrote and directed a movie based on a true story about abuse at a school for deaf children. Uh…I probably should have put content warnings more often in these write-ups. Well, here is one. … Continue reading WTF ASIA 257: Silenced (2011)

It’s hard being a stepmother.   Available in Canada, the United States, and perhaps a few other countries. Approximately 121 minutes.       Four adults are eating watermelon while a couple of boys goof around. It takes a little while to … Continue reading WTF ASIA 256: Kuei-Mei, A Woman (1985)

The heck? How many Japanese movies featuring death and horrible fathers are called First Love? Oh, wait. This one is also called Hope? All right, fine. Available in Canada, the United States, and perhaps a few other countries. Approximately 119 minutes.   Slow … Continue reading WTF ASIA 255: First Love (2021)

Come to Tamil Nadu. Lovely beaches. Beautiful scenery. Lots of smuggling.   Available in Australia, Canada, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States, and perhaps a few other countries. Approximately 117 minutes. The movie starts out with a narration. The state of Tamil Nadu has … Continue reading WTF ASIA 254: Buffoon (2022)

As the people on the street chant Death to the Dictator, one man steps in. Available in Canada, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States, and perhaps a few other countries. Approximately 113-114 minutes.           It is the 26th of … Continue reading WTF ASIA 253: The Man Standing Next (2020)

And now, grasshopper, you shall learn the ancient art of hitting someone in the head with a wooden pole. Available in Canada, France, the United States, and perhaps a few other countries. Approximately 110 minutes.       Outside of town, four soldiers approach … Continue reading WTF ASIA 252: The Sword Identity (2011)

The movies from the previous weeks have all featured romantic love and some level of violence. In preparation for Valentine’s Day, I give you a story about…love? Well…maybe a love of violence. This is Takashi Miike, after all. Available in Australia, Canada, France, the … Continue reading WTF ASIA 251: First Love (2019)

Another movie about love and family. Available in Australia, Canada, the United States, and perhaps a few other countries. Approximately 106 minutes. Van, or Nau, has been living in the United States for several years, but is finally returning to Vietnam to visit his … Continue reading WTF ASIA 250: Goodbye Mother (2019)

What better way to celebrate Chinese New Year than with a movie called…Slit Eyes? Erm…well, at least I did not post this on Sunday. Approximately 102 minutes, if you can watch this video: Or…103 minutes if you can watch this … Continue reading WTF ASIA 249: Sepet (2004)

Oh, hey. Another movie about the friendship between two girls and a guy. Let’s hope that there is not too much death this time around. Available in Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, the United States, and perhaps a few other countries. Approximately 95 minutes.     … Continue reading WTF ASIA 248: Bulbul Can Sing (2018)

How many people would you kill to save a loved one? How many people would you kill to save a loved one who is already dead? Available in Canada, the United States, and perhaps a few other countries. Approximately 86 minutes. The movie … Continue reading WTF ASIA 247: A Record of Sweet Murder (2014)

It is a new year and a new…um…this is Yi Yi. Available in Canada, France, the United States, and perhaps a few other countries. Approximately 174 minutes.       It is the wedding of Xiao Yan and A-Di. And…Xiao Yan is kind … Continue reading WTF ASIA 246: Yi Yi (2000)

Another movie taking place a long time ago about a fighter out for revenge and stealing stuff. Available in Canada, the United States, and perhaps a few other countries. Approximately 163 minutes.       It is the Spring of 1722 in Edo. … Continue reading WTF ASIA 245: Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron (1978)

What’s that? Historical propaganda made under sketchy political circumstances? Wow wow wee wah. Available in Canada, France, the Netherlands, the United States, and perhaps a few other countries. Approximately 155 minutes.   Well, this is encouraging. We start out with a framing device. It … Continue reading WTF ASIA 244: Tomiris (2019)

To celebrate the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act in the United States, I present a nice day for a…uh…lavender wedding…okay, my timing could have been better, but I scheduled this months ago. Available in Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United … Continue reading WTF ASIA 243: Badhaai Do (2022)

Just one more fight about your leadership. Available in Australia, Canada, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States, and perhaps a few other countries. Approximately 143 minutes.       Once again, we get some textual context for the movie and…oh…boy… Ah, yes. That true … Continue reading WTF ASIA 242: My Way (2011)

Would you like to see Donnie Yen make a horse disappear? Available in Australia, Canada, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States, and perhaps a few other countries. Approximately 139 minutes. Class is out, but Professor Yang is still talking to enraptured students. He is … Continue reading WTF ASIA 241: Bodyguards and Assassins (2009)