179. Crossroads (1928)

Country: Japan
Directed by Teinosuke Kinugasa

Althouth the plot is nothing much of interesting and it's often over melodramatic , this expressionistic avand guard film is quite important and, together with the 'Page of madness' of the same director, unique for the Asian cinema of the silent era. Very beautiful visually, having incorporated many modern and daring cinematic techniques, is a landmark of Japanese cinema even if today looks a bit tired and even comical on its dramatic exaggeration

You can watch the full movie here: https://youtu.be/te2dEhpwCHo

178. The eye (2002)

Country: Hong Kong
Directed by Pang brothers

A solid blending of supernatural, mysticism, visual and phsycological terror, 'The eye' is somehow in the borders of a standard commercial horror movie and of an alternative horror movie. Many years passed since I watched the film, so my review in general can't be that accurate but for sure it was something fresh at the time of its release and is among the films that were highly influencial for its genre the following years. Nothing too great but is a film that can't pass unoticed

177. Wonderfull town (2007)

Country: Thailand
Directed by Additya Assarat

A quiet , modest film with some tender inned beauty, Wonderfull town depicts a love that blooms slowly in a place that is still haunted by the tragic experience of tsunami. It's true that the director missed the opportunity for something much greater, as he touched subjects that finally hesitated to fully explore and is a bitter feeling when you sense that a decent movie could be a great one instead. Anyway the film has certaintly a quality and a originallity so it will not let you disappointed

You can watch the full movie here ( is watchable even without subtitles as is sort of quiet film) : https://youtu.be/BreiDk1tlWA

176. The big durian (2003)

Country: Malaysia
Directed by Ammir Muhhamad

In 'Big durian'Muhhamad , as he likes to do often, explores the complex political and social reality of his country, with humor, irony, criticism , but more than anything else, with deep love for the Malaysian people. Taking as excuse an incident of the country's history he writes a kind of visual essay about the racial politics that were implied by the state all these years in a country with apopulation who has impressive diversity. The Big durian works often as a documentary, as a fictional documentary, as a comedy, as a musical. This is the style that made Mohhamad an unique director in Malaysia and his movies always interesting

You can watch the full movie here: https://youtu.be/uT-kSfYuvEw

175. Memories of murder (2003)

Country: South Korea
Directed by Bong Joon-ho

Crime films usually are not my cup of tea but this one is so vivid, so realistic, so well and with imaginative way made that I include it without second thought to my list. 'Memories of murder' is a flawless film, exemplary for its genre , with a a plot that has complexity and depth, incorporating somehow lot of comments for the Korean society, the human nature, our fears and desires, our dark side. The kind of movie that when you watch it the time flies

174. The perfumed nightmare (1977)

Country: Philippines
Directed by Kidlat Tahimik

A simple childish story, narrated with innovative but still primitive ways but at the same time a genial blending of documentary, fictional autobiography and essay using magical realism with unique way, 'The perfumed nightmare' more than anything else is a loud voice against imperialism and capitalist commercialization and globalization. Tahimik defends strongly his people, his culture, his country as post colonial Philippines suffered heavily (stil they suffer) a cultural and economical occupation under the United States been far from be independed. A rare masterpiece of independed Filippino cinema, with a difficult to describe powerful beauty

173. Sisters of Gion (1936)

Country: Japan
Directed by Kenji Mizoguchi

Mizoguchi in his entire career explored almost systematically the position of women in Japanese society , presenting strong female characters but with lives that always were ruled by men. Sisters of Gion is is a great example of they way that the director was thinking about the subject having a semi-feminjsf approach but also probably his finest pre-war work, a beautiful and high quality film in any detail that it looks still modern after 80 years from the time that was shot

You can watch the full movie here: https://youtu.be/_ORqGVIK7-M

172. Spirited away (2001)

Country: Japan
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki

Spirited away is the highest grossing film in Japanese history but at the same time is one of the most critically aclaimed animation of all time : most critics consider that it's the best work of Miyazaki and studio Ghibli. Even if all this praise seems a bit exaggerative, is no doubt that we talk about a great film , very imaginative, having blended well elements from the Japanese folk tradition with outside traditions, visually beautiful, poetical, almost magical (although I would like it more artistical and less commercial at times). It's a nice fairy tale that can be seen and give pleasure to people of all ages

171. Bedevilled (2010)

Country: South Korea
Directed by Jang Cheol-soo

Althouth 'Bedevilled' somehow fails to meet at the end the expectations that itself created earlier,  still is an very interesting film to watch, the type that never makes you feel bored or indifferent for the fate of its characters. It's an intense and dark revenge film that gives you mainly phychological fear at the first half to explode in violence to the second. However, both violence and revenge are not only well legitimized but even more are welcomed: the amount of pleasure that the killing gives you is almost surprizing and this is an interesting side of the film. A promising debut film by Jang Cheol-soo

You can watch the full movie here: https://youtu.be/CqIg_uSA2lE