Black Belt (Japan, 2007)

The events take place in 1932 in Japanese-occupied Manchuria, in which the corrupt leaders of the Japanese army are trying to take over all the Karate dojos for their own personal benefit. Amidst these circumstances the master of one of these dojos dies before choosing his successor, leaving three of his pupils Taikan, Giryu and Choei the task of deciding amongst themselves who deserves it most.

A super powerful knuckle buster of a martial arts film. The main characters are played by real karate experts, and it shows in every bone breaking punch. No special effects were used, and the film is free from the slapstick that often can be seen in other fighting movies. All for a more realistic, more painful display of karate. 

Genre: Action/Drama

Silmido (South Korea, 2003)

In 1968, the Korean Republic Army plan to assassinate North Korean president Kim Il-Sung. 31 criminals and death row inmates are recruited into secret training on the island of Silmido; for two years they are subjected to maximum mental and physical abuse until the long awaited day slowly closes in...

Based on the true story of Unit 684, Silmido tells the story of a group of soldiers who refuses to be the politicians pawns. Knowing that it's based on true events, the conclusion becomes ten times more emotional and thought provoking. 

Highly recommended. 

Genre: Action/Drama

Sad Vacation (Japan, 2007)

Kenji, abandoned by his mother, scrapes out a meager existence doing odd jobs including driving bar hostesses and their customers home. Besides this he takes care of the sister of an old friend in jail and a young illegal immigrant. But his life reaches a turning point when he happens to meet Chiyoko, his long lost mother. She is now married to Mamiya, the owner of an express package delivery service. 

Tadanobu Asano (Last Life in the Universe) gives a great performance as usual in this great drama written by Shinji Aoyama, who also directed Eureka (2000). Centers around a family whom all got their own problems. Nothing new really, but it features a likeable cast and fans of Asano should check it out.

Genre: Drama 

Mind Game (Japan, 2004)

The film follows Nishi, a loser who has a crush on his childhood girlfriend. After an encounter with the yakuza, the film follows Nishi as he journeys to heaven and back, and ends up trapped in an even more unlikely place. Nishi and his friends attempt to break out of their trap, and discover what it truly means to be alive along the way.

Oh, boy... how do I explain this one. Mind Game is most likely like nothing you've ever seen before. It was produced by Studio4°C, who also created the wonderful Tekkonkinkreet (2006). With this one, they made a big name for themselves, and delivered an animation fest like no other. I feel like it should say on the cover that you can't watch this film while under the influence, or while taking heavy medication because you will most likely go insane and sail into a world beyond ours. Imagine being on a drug that's been dipped in every crazy, over-the-top anime in existence, multiply the weirdness by a thousand, and you got yourself a trippy ride to another world.

Genre: Animation/Adventure/Comedy

Once Upon a Time in High School (South Korea, 2004)

The year is 1978. Hyun-su transfers to a new school in Seoul. He is sent to a bottom-rank class and experiences violence by a group of gangsters in his class. Surrounded by  bullies, Hyun-su befriends Woo-shik, a strong man who's the only one who dares to fight the gangsters, and Hamburger, a chubby but kind student who sells naughty magazines. From amidst all the gang rivalry, violence and abuse from teachers, Hyun-su sees the beautiful Eun-ju; a student from an all-girls school. Welcome to JungMoon High.

Definitely one of the best school dramas I've seen. It depicts all the trials and tribulations a South Korean student could encounter in the harsh year of 1978. If you like it, be sure to check out Blue Spring (2001), another masterpiece with school environment.

Genre: Drama/Romance

Freeze Me (Japan, 2000)

Chihiro is raped by three men and it is captured on video. She leaves her hometown, prepares to marry a colleague five years later and tries to live a normal life. However, one day she's visited by her three rapists in her apartment...

Freeze Me (a.k.a. Freezer) is made out of two themes: rape and revenge. You may get frustrated over how the main character first acts when she's faced with the horrors of her past, but trust me, the solution is brutally satisfying. 

Genre: Drama/Thriller

A Dirty Carnival (South Korea, 2006)

Byung-du is a 29-year-old career criminal, working for the middle-rank enforcer Sang-chul. Burdened with a terminally ill mother and taking care of younger siblings, Byung-du is feeling financial pressure as a substitute patriarch. When the big boss President Hwang is cornered by a corrupt prosecutor, Byung-du volunteers for an assassination and wins the big man's trust. However, this only makes more people turn against him...

Step into a world of small time mobsters, gang violence and one man's rise to power. A Dirty Carnival never treads water, the focus remains on Byung-du and he faces one problem after another that he must deal with, often in a bloody manner. Features some great fighting sequences and tight mob drama. 

Genre: Action/Drama/Thriller