Anyone have any suggestions for movies to watch that are French, Portuguese or Asian?

I've seen a few french, a bunch of asian (Japan, Chine, Korea, and Thailand).

Thanks in advance.

I saw a French film last year or so, it was good, only problem is I don't remember the name. It was weird and kinda funny at the same time. I'll get back to you if I remember the name.

Sounds good. Thanks for the reply

The movie was Amelie (I knew that avater looked familiar ),I just found out the name. Though my reply is not much use as I assume you've seen it.

Anyways, here is the list I used to find it out. link Hopefully this is more useful then the my answer itself.

Yah I've seen Amelie

That's a good list. I like how it does it by year. Thanks!

I've seen some French movies. If you like action movies, the Taxi trilogy might be of interest. The Crimson Rivers 2 was also enjoyable (haven't seen the first one), and City of Lost Children is supposedly good too (I have the DVD but I haven't gotten around to watch it yet), and the infamous Baise Moi. Company of Wolves is also French if I'm not mistaken, and it's highly recommendable.

Russia made the Night Watch and Day Watch movies. The first one, Night Watch, is a relatively OK action movie. Haven't seen the sequel, though. As for Germany, there's Nosferatu, the original version and the Werner Herzog version. Both are quite good, but I prefer the original. You've also got the Salò: 120 days in Sodoma movie from Italy, which is an.. interesting movie, and La vita e bella, which is actually a quite touching movie, is also Italian. And finally, there's the Swedish film Lilja 4-Ever which I recommend.

EDIT: Oh, crap. Didn't notice that you specifically wanted French, Asian and Portuguese movies. Oh well.

I saw an excellent Belgian (french language) film called Calvaire during the summer. It's twisted, very disturbing but excellent.

Kurosawa's films from Japan like Seven Samurai, Yojimbo and Rashomon. My favourite movie of all time is Kurosawa's Red Beard, very touching.

I couldn't suggest any european films because I really dont know many.

The problem with a lot of european films these days is that they're trying to follow in the vein of Man Bites Dog, so they just end up being cheap imitations.

There is a good Samurai movie called Twilight Samurai its about a Samurai who struggles with is samurai way once his wife dies and he is the only one who must take care of his two daughters. this movie did not get much attention internationally because a year later that pile of $hit movie The Last Samurai came out.

I've seen foreign horror films

City Hunter. One of Jackie Chan's earlier Hong Kong movies.
It pretty funny, the Street Fighter scene is so corny, its hilarious.

Dellamorte Dellamore.

Ah, that's a darn good movie! Very funny.

I Have this movie!! Classic

Taegukgi. A very good Korean movie, I got it from a friend who lives in South Korea. It's basically about two brothers who both get recruited in the Korean Civil War (the Korean war).

Good film. IMO better than Saving Private Ryan

Sorry for the late reply. Thanks everyone for the recommendations. I'll start looking for a few of them, as well as maybe post some that are worth watching.

But you don't have to stop recommending

There's one movie that I saw in my Italian class which I liked, called "Io non ho paura" (I'm not scared). Actually, the other one, "Ciao, Professore", was good too, but in a different way. It kind of reminded me of "Freedom Writers".

R-point and the host are good films.

The Host, it's a south korean comedy / drama monster film. I've only got to watch the first twenty minutes so far but I plan on watching the rest this weekend. So far looks good and it got really great reviews.

O sorry didnt see your reply chaoszerg.

some various Asian films I've seen that were really great.

Oldboy ! - what an ending !
With no clue how he came to be imprisoned, drugged and tortured for 15 years -- and no one to hold accountable for his suffering -- a desperate businessman seeks revenge on his captors, relying on assistance from a friendly waitress. Korean director Chan Wook Park -- a former philosophy student and Hitchcock devotee -- uses his influences to create a mesmerizing psychological drama with a resolution that will leave you speechless. ( and it does !)

Audition -creepy
Director Takashi Miike fashions an explosive drama in Audition. Shigeharu Aoyama (Ryo Ishibashi) has lived as a widower for too long and decides it's time to marry again. But how will he find a wife? When a friend suggests he hold a fake audition to pick the right woman, he takes him up on it -- only to realize that his choice may be a better actress than he bargained for.


The Way Home - I adored this movie. slow to start , you want to give the kid a good spanking but very touching. ( yes I even cried ) and what is really cool is the part of the grandmother is just a old woman picked by the director who lived in the villiage where it was filmed - she had never acted nor seen a movie !!!! she was outstanding

Night Watch - Russian - if you like Sci fi ! I think Day watch is out too now.

great effects.
This first installment of the trilogy based on the best-selling science fiction novels by Russian writer Sergei Lukyanenko plays upon the tension between light and dark, pitting the superhuman Night Watch patrollers (known as the "Others") against the shadowed forces of the night. But the biggest fear of all stems from the lines of an ancient prophecy, which warns of a renegade Other whose betrayal could bring chaos to the land.


Pan's Labyrinth - spain?
In this fairy tale for adults, 10-year-old Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) stumbles on a decaying labyrinth guarded by Pan (Doug Jones), an ancient satyr who claims to know her destiny. With a new home, a new stepfather (Sergi Lopez) -- a Fascist officer in the pro-Franco army -- and a new sibling on the way, nothing is familiar to Ofelia in this multiple Oscar-winning tale set in 1944 Spain from director Guillermo del Toro.

The Chorus - french
In this gentle French drama from first-time director Christophe Barratier, music teacher Clement Mathieu (Gerard Jugnot) lands a job at a boys' boarding school populated by delinquents and orphans -- and run by a martinet headmaster (Francois Berleand). Sensing potential in the rambunctious ruffians, Mathieu forms a choir to rein in his charges through the transforming power of song … even at the probable cost of his career.

The Magdeline sisters - English but great
This unflinching drama charts several years in the young lives of four "fallen women" who were rejected by their families and abandoned to the mercy of the Catholic Church in 1960s Ireland. While women's liberation sweeps the globe, these women are stripped of their liberty and dignity and condemned to indefinite servitude in The Magdalene Laundries, so that they may atone for their "sins." - based on true stories - after they closed the place down they found bodies of various girls buried in the yard having died from the abuse there.

Iris - English but great
Iris Murdoch was l'enfant terrible of the literary world in early 1950s Britain -- a live wire who thumbed her nose at the conformity of the era via a voracious sex life that included male and female partners. In this snippet of her life, Murdoch (Judi Dench) faces the onset of Alzheimer's disease alongside her adoring husband (Jim Broadbent). Kate Winslet portrays the young, free-spirited Iris in flashbacks.

Vera Drake - another English
Vera Drake (Imelda Staunton, who earned an Oscar nomination for her portrayal) spends her days doting on her working-class family. But Vera also has a secret side: Her family and friends don't know that she visits women and helps them induce miscarriages for their unwanted pregnancies -- an illegal practice in 1950s England. When her crime is discovered by authorities, Vera's world quickly falls apart, deeply affecting both her and her family.

Hotel Rwanda - English but great
Amid the holocaust of internecine tribal fighting in Rwanda that sees the savage butchering of hundreds of thousands of men, women and children, one ordinary man (Oscar nominee Don Cheadle) musters the courage to save more than 1,000 helpless refugees by sheltering them in the hotel he manages. Sophie Okonedo, Nick Nolte and Joaquin Phoenix co-star in this powerful film (sort of an African version of Schindler's List) directed by Terry George.

is that sarcastic?

obviously you haven't seen these

I liked it a lot more then Saving Private Ryan. Especially the ending.

I have Nightwatch. I really liked it. I can't wait to see Daywatch!
Pan's Labyrinth was beautiful to watch.
Hotel Rwanda made me cry so bad.

I thought I'd add Kung Fu Hustle.
Chinese. Action Comedy. I liked it.

Here are some asian films i would reccomend:
Oldboy
Sympathy for Mr Vengance
Infernal Affairs
Battle Royale
Audition
happiness of the katakuris
A Tale of Two Sisters
Dead or Alive

I liked Crimson Rivers (I think Crimson Rivers II was mentioned).

It's french, it's a spy/espionage thriller with Jean Renault (he's hunky! LOL)

It was a pretty fun although somewhat mindless movie.

Awesome response Lt_ripley!

I've seen Old Boy, Pans Labyrinth, and Hotel Rwanda.

I've seen a huge list of asian films, now that I look back lol. I'll post a list soon.

I'm trying to get A tale of two sisters, but only have one which isn't a good source. T-T

How has no one mentioned Delicatessen?! Or La Cité des Enfants Perdus?

how about city of lost children? i didn't see anyone mention battle royale either or The Italian horror flick the beyond. How about Danny Deck Chair? I'm not exactly sure where that movie comes from but it's a good one. There is a french movie called Fat Girl which is pretty disturbing.

I've seen Delicatessen & Battle Royale and Lost city of children. They are of the many favorite directors of mine.
Very eerie but great film mamking!

I never liked French films much but you should check out Luis Bunuels Virdiana (spanish) Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (French) and The Phantom of Liberty (french). Bunuel is most famous for The Andalusian Dog which was a film he did with Salvador Dali.

I much prefer Italian films myself. Fellini is by far my favorite filmmaker. If you haven't already you need to see 8 1/2 (very funny) and La Dolce Vita. Those are his most popular films and by far the most accessible.

Well there is Alexander Nevsky and Ivan the Terrible directed by Sergi Eisenstein.
Downfall a german movie about the last days of Adolf Hitler in the bunker in Berlin was good.
Ingmar Bergman's The Seventh Seal with Max von Sydow is good and considered a classic.This has the famous scence of Max playing chess with Death.
Haven't seen many forgein ones lately.
Querelle with Brad Davis ,and directed by Franco Nero is rather interesting.
There is also The King of Hearts,with i think Alan Bates and Adolfo Celi.A very good film . Won't give the ending away, but it makes you wonder
who's really mad and who's really sane.

Fellini also directed La Strada,with Anthony Quinn and Richard Basehart. Quinn plays the strongman,Zampano.
Still want to rent Pan's Labyrinth.The Devil's Backbone from Spain is interesting.
Oh yes,I saw Kung Fu Hustle.

Saving Private Ryan wasn't supposed to be a feel good movie. War films never are. There is also Stalingrad in german about the war in Russia during WW2.
Also there is The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari,with Werner Krauss and Conrad Veidt.Krauss was also in Dr.Mabuse,of which they made a series of films about the character Dr.Mabuse. Pandora's Box starring the American actress Louise Brooks and filmed in german in Germany.

Don't forget the movie "M",directed by Fritz Lang and starring Peter Lorre as a child killer who gets caught by criminals and put on trial because the police can't seem to get this guy.In the film,the letter M is marked with chalk on Lorre's coat by a beggar which is how they catch him.he is being followed by the criminals.In the scene with Peter Lorre and his so called judges and jury,Fritz Lang used real underworld people,hookers,etc.

Ahh finally was able to get A tale of two sisters... Going to watch it now!!!

There is one Italian movie which I thought was really good if you want to watch it. It is called La vita è bella in Italian and Life is Beautiful in English. It is about how a Jew saves his family with his sense of humor while in the Holocaust. A 10/10 for me.

I thought that was ok.

The King of Masks was good

Nearing the end of his life, Wang -- a locally renowned street performer and wizard of the venerable art of mask magic -- yearns to pass on his technique. But custom prescribes that he can only hand down his craft to a male successor. Anxious to preserve his unique art, the heirless Wang buys an impoverished 8-year-old on the black market. When the child divulges a dreaded secret, Wang faces a choice between filial love and societal tradition-

Three... Extremes I liked



Three Asian masters of horror spin twisted tales in this terrifying trilogy. Hong Kong's Fruit Chan directs "Dumplings," in which an aging actress's obsession with recapturing her youth leads to an unnatural diet. In Korean filmmaker Chan-wook Park's "Cut," a movie extra with a grudge torments a successful director. And in "Box," from Japan's Takashi Miike, sibling rivalry and jealousy reach disturbing new heights.



soon I'll be watching

Ichi the Killer (2001) recommended to me
Filmmaker Takashi Miike takes inspiration from Hideo Yamamoto's manga, Koroshiya 1, to tell this bloody and bleak tale about the Japanese yakuza. Blond-coiffed Kakihara's "mentor in crime" disappears, and Kakihara vows to find out who's responsible. He's also on the lookout for Ichi, a sadistic killer who may be able to inflict the level of pain Kakihara so badly craves.

The Bird People in China (1998)
A lyrical, visually stunning work that deviates considerably from Takashi Miike's signature gorefests, Bird People in China explores many of his unifying themes; these include that of outsiders in pursuit of happiness in a foreign land, and a complex and unlikely relationship, played out this time between a mobster and a quiet businessman.

Elling (2001)
Per Christian Ellefsen and Sven Nordin play the shy, retiring Elling and the imposing Kjell in this Norwegian movie about two mentally challenged friends who battle adversity and find their place in the sun. The two room together and attempt to create a life for themselves outside the confining, but protective, walls of the hospital. Directed by Petter Naess, Elling was nominated for an Academy Award in the Foreign Language Film category.

The Motorcycle Diaries (2004) recommended to me
This film tells the incredible true story of a 23-year-old medical student from Argentina, Che Guevara (Gael Garcia Bernal), who motorcycled across South America with his friend Alberto Granado (Rodrigo de la Serna) in 1951-52. The trek became a personal odyssey that ultimately crystallized the young man's budding revolutionary beliefs. Walter Salles's film is based on Che's own diaries of the trip.

that's some of the foriegn coming up on my netflix list. A friend who is really great at picking out foriegn drama's I rely on. Horror I look out for myself. Like the movie hostel - was gory yet very cheesy in it's gore . didn't really like it. plus it was horribly written. Where as the Saw movies were better.

I'm waiting for them to remake From Beyond and Logans Run. and I see From Beyond is finally in dvd release !! creepy film yet also campy.

very good film.

Must see:

Les Liaisons Dangereuses

One of my favorite movies, although it's a Danish film (the main character is French though) was Babettes Gæstebud. Or "Babettes Feast"

It was an oscar winner in 1987 (best foreign film) and it's a lot of fun, and very charming. I'd recommend seeing it if you haven't already.

oo, and I see Ripley mentioned Bird People in China... that's one of my daughters favorites. I only watched part of it, but would like to take the time to sit down and watch it all carefully. It is a visually stunning movie as Ripley's description suggests.

Here is the list of asian movies I suggest.

Last Life in the Universe (Ruang rak noi nid mahasan)
Bangkok Dangerous
Buppha Rahtree (recommend if you like The Exorcist)
Ong-bak (recommend if you like action movie)
Tom yum goong (The Protector)
Shutter (recommend if you like asian horror)
The Eye (Gin gwai) (recommend if you like asian horror)
Chaiya
Fung wan: Hung ba tin ha (The Storm Riders)
Mou gaan dou (Infernal Affairs)
Mou gaan dou II (Infernal Affairs II)
Mou gaan dou III: Jung gik mou gaan (Infernal Affairs III)
Ying xiong (Hero)
Huo Yuan Jia (Jet Li's Fearless)

That's enough for now..

Great list of films.
Another one to add to your "English but good" list is Empire Of The Sun one of the most underrated English films ever, i never understood why it didn't do well in America

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Bej9Pmx7U0c&...feature=related

French, Portuguese, Asian??? Les Liaisons Dangereuses (1959), Les Biches, Last Year At Marienbad, Love Letters Of A Portuguese Nun, Raise The Red Lantern, Central Station, Gate Of Hell (japanese), Markova, Burmese Harp, Donkey Skin, so many.

One, however, should expand one's horizon to include other foreign language films, such as German cinema, tons of great German films.

Dobermann..... Tarantini with style and panache and yes it is 2 ns at the end

Saw a cracking Korean film set in Vietnam about a platoon being sent into some strange area where a load of troops have disappeared... I wish i could remember the title, really well done and damn creepy... I dont want to give any more details as it would ruin the plot..Think Apocalypse Now, meets The Haunting and you have a good idea...

R-POINT (2004), perhaps?

That's the film....R-POINT but dont read the synopsis as it probably gives away one of the key plot devices though...