Asia Extreme
For the uninitiated, the most ground-breaking, unpredictable and inventive films are being made in the Far East. Alice opens Pandora's Box unleashing an astonishing world of cinema from Korea, Thailand, Hong Kong and Japan; introducing cinema-watchers to the stylish and often violent world of Miike Takashi, Hideo Nakata, Takeshi 'Beat' Kitano and the Pang Brothers amongst others. While films such as 'Battle Royale', 'Ring', 'The Eye', 'Dark Water' and 'Audition' continue to satisfy the ever increasing hunger for astounding cinematic style and outrageous shock moments, Alice is committed to the development of the most exciting and unique of all contemporary genres. Stay tuned...
Right: The hills are alive with the sound of screaming in Miike Takashi's 'The Happiness of the Katakuris'.
Dumplings (2004)
6.8/10
Director: Fruit Chan
Starring: Bai Ling, Miriam Yeung Chin, Tony Leung (Ka Fai), Pauline Lau
Originally featured as a short in the anthology '3 Extremes', director Fruit Chan has expanded the concept into this feature-length, satirical treatis... Read more
Lone Wolf and Cub 6: White Heaven in Hell (1974)
Director: Yoshiyuki Kuroda
Starring: Tomisaburo Wakayama
In this, the final film, the evil Lord Yagyu Retsudo, having failed in his previous attempts to eliminate Ogami, deploys his ultimate weapons; his dau... Read more
The Bride with White Hair (1992)
7.1/10
Director: Ronny Yu
Starring: Leslie Cheung, Brigitte Lin
Hong Kong fantasy at its most amazing is on display in this tale of a woman raised in the mountains by wolves and in the service of an evil cult led b... Read more
Lone Wolf and Cub 5: Baby Cart in the Land of Demons (1973)
Director: Kenji Misumi
Starring: Tomisaburo Wakayama
Five retainers of the Kuroda clan seek out Ogami to enlist his aid in saving the Clan. But first, they must ensure that he is capable of helping them.... Read more
The Ghost ( aka Dead Friends ) (2004)
7.1/10
Director: Tae-gyun Kim
Starring: Ha-Nuel Kim, Nam Sang-mi, Bin , Yi Shin
Ji-won (Kim Ha-Neul) is a bright young student with a promising future, but her past is a blank beyond a mysterious incident from some time ago. Hard... Read more
Ninja in the Dragon's Den (1982)
7.5/10
Director: Corey Yuen Kwai
Starring: Conan Lee, Hiroyuki Sanada, Tai Bo, Hwang Jang Lee
Conan Lee plays a smug martial artist who comes to the aid of his teacher when the old man is attacked by a ninja assassin (Hiroyuki Sanada). Turns o... Read more
A Better Tomorrow 2 (1987)
Director: John Woo
Starring: Chow Yun-Fat, Ti Lung, Leslie Cheung, Dean Shek
This dynamite sequel focuses on the original's leading characters' exploits and pays homage to Sam Peckinpah and the American gangsters in intoxicatin... Read more
Tears of the Black Tiger (2000)
7/10
Director: Wisit Sasanatieng
Starring: Chartchai Ngamsan, Stella Malucchi, Supakorn Kitsuwon, Arawat Ruangvuth
One of the most elaborate productions ever mounted in Thailand, this is a candy-coloured Western made in the high-energy style that characterizes much... Read more
Machete Maidens Unleashed! (2010)
7.4/10
Director: Mark Hartley
Starring: R Lee Ermey, Sid Haig, Judy Brown, Margaret Markov, Roger Corman, Joe Dante, Joh...
With real jungle locales, no pesky unions or safety rules, and a dictator's army on call, the Philippines became a hot spot for American and local low... Read more
I Don't Want to Sleep Alone (2006)
7/10
Director: Tsai Ming-Liang
Starring: Pearlly Chua, Lee Kang-Sheng, Norman Bin Atun, Chen Shiang-Chyi
Shortly after he is robbed, beaten and left for dead on the streets of Kuala Lumpur, homeless Hsiao-kang is taken in by kindly immigrant Rawang and nu... Read more