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'.
The Story of Ricky (1993)
7.1/10
Director: Nam Nai Choi
Starring: Fan Siu-Wong, Fan Hoi Sang, Ho Kar Kui, Yukari Oshima, Tetsuro Tanpa, Gloria Yip
Aka 'Riki-Oh'. This over-the-top number has won a cult following for its deliberately outlandish martial arts violence, in which Riki displays the rem... Read more
Born to Defend (1986)
Director: Jet Li
Starring: Jet Li, Kurt Roland Petersson, Jia Song, Paulo Tocha
Jet Li's first and last film as a director tells a story of foreign oppression as American G.I.s invade China, ganging up on kickboxing champ, Jet. W... Read more
Zatoichi 26: Darkness Is His Ally (1989)
Director: Shintaro Katsu
Starring: Shintaro Katsu, Kanako Higuchi, Takanori Jinnai, Yudai Okumura
This 26th instalment capped one of Japan's most loved and enduring movie franchises. With a gap of more than 15 years between this and number 25, Ich... Read more
Legendary Weapons of China (1982)
7.2/10
Director: Liu Chia-Liang
Starring: Tiet Wo Chu, Liu Chia-Liang, Alexander Fu Sheng, Chia Hui Gordon Liu, Hsiao Hou
In the history of kung fu, dozens of weapons have been developed to meet practically any combat need. 18 primary weapons include basics like the staff... Read more
One Take Only (2001)
Director: Oxide Pang
Starring: Pavarit Mongkolpisit, Wanatchada Siwapornchai
From the director of 'The Eye' comes this fast-paced and dizzyingly stylish film about a Bangkok street urchin (Pawalit Mongkolpisit from 'Bangkok Dan... Read more
Kill! (1968)
7.6/10
Director: Kihachi Okamoto
Starring: Tatsuya Nakadai, Etsushi Takahashi, Akira Kubo, Naoko Kubo
A samurai satire, equal parts sword-play and jet-black comedy this is full of Japanese cinema inside jokes, double crosses and fast-paced action. Tat... Read more
Yakuza Apocalypse (2015)
5.5/10
Director: Takashi Miike
Starring: Hayato Ichihara, Yayan Ruhian
From acclaimed cult director Takashi Miike (13 Assassins, Ichi The Killer, Audition). In the ruthless underground world of the yakuza, no one is more... Read more
Retribution (2006)
4.8/10
Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Starring: Koji Yakusho, Tsuyoshi Ihara
Detective Yoshioka is called to the site of an ususual homicide. A woman in a red dress has been mysteriously drowned in a pool of shallow water. As c... Read more
The Machine Girl (2008)
5.9/10
Director: Noboru Iguchi
Starring: Minase Yashiro, Asami , Kentaro Shimazu, Honoka , Nobuhiro Nishihara
When gangsters murder her brother, and hack off her left arm, sweet Japanese schoolgirl Ami takes matters into her own...er, hand, and gets her stump... Read more
Headshot (2016)
6.3/10
Director: Timo Tjahjanto, Kimo Stamboel
Starring: Julie Estelle, Chelsea Islan, Iko Uwais, Sunny Pang
The indomitable Iko Uwais ('The Raid') stars in this fast and furious actioner as an amnesiac whose mysterious past as a killing machine comes to the... Read more