My Sassy Girl (South Korea, 2001)

Based on a series of true stories posted by Ho-sik Kim on the Internet describing his relationship with his girlfriend. These were later transformed into a best-selling book and the movie follows the book closely. It describes the meeting of Kyun-woo and an unnamed girl. Kyun-woo is shamed into assisting the girl because the other passengers mistakenly think she is his girlfriend. Once he helps her, Kyun-woo develops a deep sense of responsibility for her which enables him to tolerate (somehow) the girls abuses.

One of the highest grossing films of all time in South Korea, and also a blockbuster in all of Asia, My Sassy Girl won millions of people over with its mix of comedy, drama and romance. Recommended to everyone who wants a movie full of heart and joy, but also one that takes itself seriously and shows every step and every up and down of a relationship.

Genre: Comedy/Drama

Ashes of Time (Hong Kong, 1994)

Ou-yang Feng lives in the middle of a desert, where he acts as a middle man to various swordsmen in ancient China. One of those swordsmen is Huang Yao-shi, who has found some magic wine that causes one to forget the past. At another time, Huang met Mu-rong Yin and under the influence of drink, promised to marry Mu-rong's sister Mu-rong Yang. Huang jilts her, and Mu-rong Yin hires Ou-yang to kill Huang. But then Mu-rong Yang hires Ou-yang to protect Huang. 

Directed by one of my favorites, Wong kar-Wai, Ashes of Time is a complex story about swordsmen in a desolate world.  Very stylish, yet it's been deemed somewhat underappreciated due to its limited success. 

A fun fact is that during its long and exhausting editing process, the director took a break and shot Chungking Express and Fallen Angels to 'clear his head', which today are regarded as two of his best films.

Genre: Drama/Action

Rurouni Kenshin (Japan, 2012)

In 1868, after the end of the Bakumatsu war, the former assassin Kenshin Himura promises to defend those who need without killing and wanders through Japan with a sword with inverted blade during the transition of the samurai age to the New Age. When Kenshin helps the idealistic Kaoru Kamiya from the gangsters of the powerful opium drug lord Kanryuu Takeda that wants her school for his production of opium, Kaoru invites Kenshin to stay in the school. But the drug chemist Megumi escapes from Kanryuu and seeks shelter in the school. Meanwhile the killer Battosai is murdering police officers and leaving messages attached to their bodies. 

Rurouni Kenshin is based on the manga of the same name, so already there's a huge fanbase that's both hyped and worried about this film. However, there's no need to worry any longer, due to how excellent this film is. Thankfully it's made by a proper director who were actually aiming to make a great samurai action film, and not just a shallow adaption of its manga counterpart. 

Genre: Action/Drama/History

House (Japan, 1977)

Gorgeous is excited about spending summer vacation with her father, until she finds out that his beautiful, freakishly serene girlfriend Ryouko would be going as well. Gorgeous decides she will be going to her aunt's house in the country instead. She brings with her her friends from school - Fantasy, Kung Fu, Prof, Sweet, Mac, and Melody. However, the girls are unaware that Gorgeous's aunt is actually dead and the house is actually haunted. When they arrive at the house, crazy events take place and the girls disappear one by one while slowly discovering the secret behind all the madness.

A super weird and insane classic, House manages to make you raise your eyebrows every other minute or so. Bizarre music ques, unconventional editing and a surprisingly catchy soundtrack. This is a film that MUST be seen at least once in your life.

Genre: Comedy/Horror