To Live (China, 1994)

Fugui and Jiazhen endure tumultuous events in China as their personal fortunes move from wealthy landownership to peasantry. Addicted to gambling, Fugui loses everything. In the years that follow he is pressed into both the nationalist and communist armies, while Jiazhen is forced into menial work. They raise a family and survive, managing "to live" from the 40's to the 70's in this epic, but personal, story of life through an amazing period.

To Live is an epic drama that spans over many years, portraying a China in turmoil. Caught up in all this is a family that struggles to survive, and along the way, they encounter many people who will have a huge impact on their lives. Directed by Zhang Yimou, who is famous for movies like Hero (2002) and Raise the Red Lantern (1991), shows once again that he's one of the most competent directors ever. 

Genre: Drama 

Masquerade (South Korea, 2012)

The confusing and conspiratorial 15th ruler of Korea's Joseon Dynasty King Gwang-hae orders his councilor, Heo Gyun, to find him a double in order to avoid the constant threat of assassination. Heo Gyun finds Ha-sun, a lowly acrobat and bawdy joker who looks remarkably like the king, and just as feared, Gwang-hae is poisoned. Heo Gyun proposes Ha-sun fill the role as the king until Gwang-hae recovers fully and grooms Ha-sun to look and act every bit the king. While assuming the role of the king at his first official appearance, Ha-sun begins to ponder the intricacies of the problems debated in his court.

Masquerade features an A-list cast with Lee Byung-hun (A Bittersweet Life, I Saw the Devil)) in the front and here he does some of his best work to date. It's a brilliant film with a great balance of humor, political schemes and charm. 

Genre: Drama/History

Berserk Golden Age Arc III: Descent (Japan, 2013)

A year has passed since Guts parted ways with Griffith on that snowy day. Led by Casca and constantly on the run from the Midland army, the Band of the Hawk is plotting a rescue mission to save Griffith from his captors. One night, a group of assassins catches them off guard, and a bloody battle for survival begins. Just as things are beginning to look grim for Casca, Guts reappears and saves the day. With the Band of the Hawk in shambles and Casca determined to return things to normal, Guts rejoins his friends and embarks on a mission to save Griffith.

Descent (a.k.a. Advent) is the third entry in the Berserk film series, and ends the first arc of the popular manga. Luckily there's not as much awful CG as in the first two films, so we can drool even more over the superb animations. Fans of the series knows how Descent ends, but to newcomers the last scenes will stun them without a doubt, as it is one of the most violent and insane moments in animation history and first feels like a cruel, brutal joke. Dark, epic fantasy to say the least.

Genre: Animation/Action/Fantasy

Unbowed (South Korea, 2011)

Kim Kyung-ho is a math professor who was fired by his university in 1995, after he questioned the validity of a math question in its entrance exam. Kim files a lawsuit for wrongful dismissal but it is ruled in favor of the university. In 2007, after his appeal was dismissed, Kim out of frustration confronts the presiding judge outside his apartment with a crossbow. A physical struggle ensures and Kim is arrested but maintains that he did not shoot the judge, while the judge claims he was shot by an arrow. Meanwhile Park Jun, a lawyer with a drinking problem and heavily in debt, is approached by Kim's wife to take on the case.

Unbowed is based on a gripping, true story and challenges the legal system in South Korea. It's a compelling court room drama with great actors who had to work for very little pay due to the limited budget of the film, but it became a huge deal on its release and brought up a serious problem with Koreas court system to millions of people.

Genre: Drama

Lesson of the Evil (Japan, 2012)

A teacher named Seiji Hasumi is loved by his students and respected by his peers. However, his outward charm masks his true nature. In reality, Hasumi is a psychopath who is unable to feel empathy for other human beings. Specifically, he has a severe antisocial personality disorder. Because of his mental condition, Hasumi chooses to deal with problems like bullying and overbearing "monster parents" the easy way, by systematically murdering his students.

My God,  I haven't seen this many students get killed since Battle Royale (2000). The man responsible for this bloodbath is none other than Takashi Miike (Ichi the Killer), and he really goes nuts with this one. In the second half of the film the character development pretty much goes out the window and is replaced by a killing spree, but it's such a insane sequence that you'll likely to enjoy it (in a sick way, to be honest) to the fullest. 

Genre: Thriller

The Last Supper (China, 2012)

The story of two warring generals, Liu Bang and Xiang Yu, fighting for control of China at the end of the Qin Dynasty.

That's the easiest way of summing up the complex and rich plot of The Last Supper. Lu Chuan, who also directed the fantastic City of Life and Death (2009), is back with this historical drama based on true events. The production value is sky high and the sets looks stunning, there's something about Lu Chuan and having beautiful settings. Because of the huge cast and all the flashbacks, visions and double-crossings, it really will gain a lot by watching it a second time. But that's fine, it's a great, chinese epic and deserves your time.

Genre: Action/History

The Hidden Blade (Japan, 2004)

Munezo has lived modestly with his mother and sister Shino after his father was forced into suicide after the failure of a bridge project. Kie, a farm girl serves them as a maid in their house. As time passes, Munezo's sister marries Samon, his mother dies, Kie is married into a merchant family, and he is required to learn western methods of warfare such as the use of artillery and firearms from an official sent from Edo. Learning that Kie is ill due to abuse, he rescues her from her husband's family.

The Hidden Blade is part of Yoji Yamada's Samurai trilogy, the others being The Twilight Samurai and Love and Honor. Just like The Twilight Samurai, The Hidden Blade is a perfect example of how a samurai movie doesn't have to revolve around action and bloodshed to be interesting. The director creates a drama around the samurai morals and teachings that is suspense enough to keep you more than happy.

Genre: Drama/Romance