Howling (South Korea, 2012)

Detective Jo Sang-Gil gets handed a case of suicide involving self-immolation, but soon the clues start to point to homicide. Meanwhile he's forced to work with Eun-Young, who's not only has to deal with being the only woman on the squad but also with harassment from the other policemen. So while being opposed by the police force, the two detectives must try to find out why more and more people show up dead with bite marks on their throats...

Howling has been one of my most anticipated movies for a long time. A mystery thriller with my favorite actor Song Kang-ho (Memories of Murder, Thirst) just sounded too exciting to pass up on, and I wasn't disappointed at all. The plot goes in quite a surprising direction and it avoids being just another uninspired cop thriller, so check it out if you want something that feels fresh and enthralling. 

Genre: Thriller/Mystery

Wu Xia (Hong Kong/China, 2011)

Liu Jinxi and his wife Yu are an ordinary couple with two sons, living together in Liu Village. One day two bandits enter the village and attempt to rob the general store. Jinxi happens to be in the shop and fights them when they turn violent towards the shopkeeper, ending up killing them both. During an autopsy, detective Xu Baijiu, who is sent to investigate the case, discovers that one of the dead bandits was among the government's ten most wanted fugitives.

Wu Xia (a.k.a. Dragon) is a beast of a martial arts film, and an interesting take on the genre. Beautiful cinematography and slow-motion fist fights is the perfect match, and director Peter Chan does a great job of developing an intriguing plot. Wu Xia has just as much elements of a detective mystery as it has of martial arts, which makes it one hell of an entertaining movie.

Genre: Action/Drama

Kids Return (Japan, 1996)

Two friends visit the schoolyard of the high school they used to attend, and remember their young and carefree days. They used to be the bullies in the school, until they find their own ways of life; one as a boxer, and the other as a member of the yakuza. 

Around the time director/actor Takeshi Kitano (Battle Royale, Kikujiro) had his near-fatal motorcycle accident where he damaged most of his face, he directed Kids Return. Many thought that he wouldn't be able to ever direct again, but he did. He wrote a fantastic film about two guys who find themselves at a crossroad in life. The character development is amazing here, and at the end of the film you can't help but think back of all the things they've gone through and how small events became huge stepping stones on the road to something else. 

My Way (South Korea, 2011)

In colonial era Seoul, 1938, two young men have had a strong sense of rivalry since they were young. Joon-sik is a Korean man who dreams of becoming the Olympic marathon gold winner. Tatsuo is a top Japanese marathon runner and lived with Joon-sik as his family worked for Tatsuo's as servants. One day, Joon-sik falls into trouble and is conscripted into the Japanese army. One year later, Joon-sik faces Tatsuo who is now a captain for the Japanese Imperial Army. 

What it lacks in plot, My Way makes up for in epic warfare. It contains a ton of huge scale battle scenes which are all very well-done, but the plot is rather thin and doesn't exactly break new ground with its story about two rivals who go into war together. But it's still a very enjoyable and touching movie that definitely will appeal to fans of war films.

Genre: Action/Drama/History

A Moment to Remember (South Korea, 2004)

A Korean love story about a young couple's enduring love, which is tested when 27-year old Sun-jin is diagnosed with a rare form of Alzheimer's disease.

A Moment to Remember can easily be dismissed by some for being a chick flick. Others might have low tolerance against its melodrama and frequent attempts at making you cry. But instead of rolling my eyes, I totally gave in to its heartbreaking story about a man who tries to hold on to his wife who's slowly being destroyed by a horrible disease. It was a nice paus from all the martial art/war/action-films I've plowed through lately, and I know there's many more who might appreciate a tragic love story.

Genre: Drama/Romance

Violent Cop (Japan, 1989)

Kitano plays sociopathic detective Azuma, a Dirty Harry-type whose single-mindedness leads him to self-destruction. After the suicide of his friend and colleague Iwaki (a vice cop who was involved with drugs), and the kidnapping of his sister by yakuza gangsters, Azuma breaks all the rules of ethical conduct. He responds to every situation with violence, and resorts to unethical methods if they produce results.

Violent Cop is the directorial debut by now famed actor and critically acclaimed filmmaker Takeshi Kitano, who starred in films such as Battle Royale (2000) and Hana-bi (1997). Violent Cop is in many ways the type of movie he would continue to make for years to come; whether it's the Yakuza, young thugs or a corrupt police force, Kitano is up against them all by himself and everyone standing in his way is about to have a really bad day.

Genre: Action/Crime/Drama