Evangelion: 1.11 (Japan, 2007)

The fate of the world is threatened by seemingly monstrous entities known as Angels. NERV is an organisation set up to counter this threat and it is up to young pilots to protect Earth but exactly what are the real motives behind NERV?

If there's one thing in Japan that's so popular it's unhealthy, it's mecha. That's why it comes as no surprise that Japanese people worship the Evangelion-universe as a religion. It's basically mecha-heaven. Evangelion 1.11, 2.22 and 3.33 are the films that has been released up until this point and there's another one on its way. They're insanely good animated and the fighting sequences are just as devastating as you want them to be. 

Genre: Action/Animation/Sci-Fi 

Dearest (Japan, 2012)

Recently widowed Eiji receives a letter from his late wife, Yoko, asking him to take her ashes back to her hometown. Wondering why she had never mentioned this to him in person, he embarks on a road trip in order to fulfill her wishes, meeting people along the way who shed light on her past. All the while Eiji is impelled by the promise of a second letter, which he can only claim once his task is completed.

Dearest, a compelling and melancholy drama, is targeting your tear canals.  Many times during the film viewers is treated to some really gorgeous cinematography and nice melodies, which only make this journey a bit harder. A couple of interesting characters helps making Eiji's trip a more exciting one, including a cameo by director and actor Takeshi Kitano. 

Genre: Drama

Ninja Scroll (Japan, 1993)

Jubei Kibagami has always been the master dealer of death, but in rescuing a ninja woman from a monster he sets loose a chain of events that puts death in his own veins and sends them on a nightmarish odyssey through a surreal and devil infested ancient Japan. How do demonic possessions, an annihilated village and a man Jubei thought safely buried in his past all connect? If Jubei can't piece the blood-soaked clues together, his only consolation will be that he won't live to regret it for very long.

Ninja Scroll immediately shows its true colors as a slaughter fest, with plenty of graphic violence to go around and with lots of supernatural enemies. It's one of those 90's, super violent, animated feature films that you always remember as an awesome experience. 

Genre: Action/Adventure

Railroad Man (Japan, 1999)

A railway stationmaster at a dying end-of-the-line village in Hokkaido is haunted by memories of his dead wife and daughter. When the railroad line is scheduled to be closed, he is offered a job at a hotel, but he is emotionally unable to part with his career as a railroader. His life takes a turn when he meets a young woman with an interest in trains who resembles his daughter.

Railroad Man (a.k.a. Poppoya) is a well-acted and moving film about a dedicated railroad worker who has lost everything, and is about to lose the one thing he has left.  Recommended for those who want a memorable and emotional drama.

Genre: Drama

The Last Tycoon (Hong Kong, 2012)

Set in Shanghais Gangster era of the early 1900s, THE LAST TYCOON tells the tale of Cheng, a young man who is set up by the chief of police and must leave the life he knows and Qiu, the woman he loves, to start again. After escaping prison Cheng quickly and violently moves his way up the ladder of Shanghais criminal underworld to become on the most powerful mob bosses in Shanghais history. But fame and notoriety take their toll when Cheng finds himself stuck between the looming Japanese army and the scheming local secret service. Matters are only made worse when he bumps into the love of his life Qiu, along with her new husband.

The Last Tycoon has all the elements of a big-budget, massive production and it's wildly entertaining to boot. Plus it got a great cast, in the midst of all the clashing enemies is Chow Yun-fat (The Killer, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) in the lead role. Add a couple of well-directed action scenes, some seriously satisfying explosions and an overall interesting period drama-plot and you got yourself a winner.

Genre: Action/Crime/Drama

Funky Forest: The First Contact (Japan, 2005)

Three unpopular brothers, Masaichi, Masaru and Masao, are struggling to be popular among the girls. Luckily enough, they finally get a chance to have a co-ed picnic with some pretty young ladies.

Uhm.. wow. After this film, I just don't know what to say. Funky Forest is a movie that pretty much defies everything you think you know about movies. I have no idea how to categorize it either. I can honestly say it's the weirdest film I've ever seen, and that's saying a lot. Great actor Tadanobu Asano (Last Life in the Universe, Ichi the Killer) somehow agreed to be a part of this infinitely weird film, maybe he knew that never in his career would he ever star in a film stranger than this one. 

Some scenes truly raises the insanity-bar beyond max capacity, and then some. A few scenes have made their way to YouTube where many viewers sighs and wonder what the heck happened to the once great and proud land of the rising sun. Others, like me, are glad that crazy stuff like this exists because if it weren't for Japan, nothing would ever come close to being as nuts as this. 

Funky Forest could be called a gem in the world of freaky Japanese cinema, a savior for the viewers who thought they've seen it all. It could also be called nightmare fuel that makes you want to take a long, cold shower. 

Genre: Com... edy?

Long Dream (Japan, 2000)

Dr. Kuroda's credibility is taxed when his young patient Mukoda Tetsurou claims that his fear of sleep is due to dreams that last for months, though they occur in a single night. As Mukoda's condition worsens, with dreams that subjectively last for years and even decades, Kuroda begins to take an unhealthy interest in the case.

Long Dream is made by the same director who gave us the bizarre horror film Uzumaki (2000), and just like that one, Long Dream is also based on a manga by horror writer Junji Ito. Once again we get a really strange and spooky experience that can seriously draw you in and/or make you wonder if you've fallen asleep and is having a really weird dream. If watched in the right time of the night, Long Dream can be a rememberable, strange and spooky watch.

Genre: Horror. 58min.

Big Man Japan (Japan, 2007)

The film takes the form of a mockumentary that follows Masaru. Masaru is an otherwise normal Japanese citizen except for an inherited ability to grow to a height of approximately 30 meters in response to the application of high voltage electricity. As both his father and grandfather before him, Masaru has accepted the duty to protect Japan against various giant monsters while working for a sub-division of the defence ministry.

Big Man Japan is one of the most unique and strangest take on the giant monster-genre. Just one look at it and you know that only Japan could have come up with this. The special effects could have been a lot better, but it's a movie that foremost lives on its mocking of various topics, such as capitalism, Japanese pop-culture and the whole monster movie-genre. Also, the ending is hilarious. 

Genre: Comedy/Sci-Fi

Dead Leaves (Japan, 2004)

Retro and Pandy, two unlikely renegades, awaken naked on Earth with no recollection of their past, but with superior physical abilities. After embarking on a brief but devastating crime spree for food, clothing and transportation in downtown Tokyo, they are captured by authorities and sent to the infamous prison called Dead Leaves, on the half-destroyed Moon.

Dead Leaves is a 50 minute adrenaline rush with some crazy characters and cool animation. No matter how weird and nuts things get, you'll always know that the next scene will top it and go all out.

Genre: Action/Adventure

New World (South Korea, 2013)

Undercover police officer Ja-sung infiltrates Goldmoon, the biggest crime syndicate in Korea, to investigate them under the command of his handler Chief Kang. After eight years, Ja-sung becomes the right-hand man to the ring's second-in-command Jung Chung, who holds the real power. But when its leader is killed in a mysterious car accident, Goldmoon is thrown into a succession struggle that threatens to tear it apart.

From the writer of I Saw the Devil (2010) comes this highly anticipated gangster thriller with full force and leaves only 10/10 reviews in its wake. Three of South Korea's biggest actors, among them is Choi Min-sik (Oldboy), gives fantastic performances as powerful gangster bosses and undercover cops. 

I saw a review of this in which the writer criticized the lack of guns, and questioned why no one of the characters brought a pistol to a knife fight. I couldn't disagree more with that line of thinking, because that would have made the fights in New World so much more generic and boring. One of the things I love with Korean cinema is that they in most cases doesn't use guns at all. Instead they grab whatever they can find and beat the crap out of their enemies, and when it's done as good as it is here you'll never want anyone to simply start shooting up the place. A satisfying, brutal mafia drama with twists and turns. 

Genre: Thriller