Film Spot

So, I have decided to compile a list of pretty awesome foreign films (or at least ones I have enjoyed) that are conveniently available on Netflix Instant Play. Hope you all find this list helpful, especially during this Hurricane Irene!

• This is England
• The Man from Nowhere (Ajeossi)
• Fish Tank
• Mother (Madeo)
• Oldboy (Oldeuboi)
• The Secret in Their Eyes (Los Secretos en sus Ojos)
• 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days (4 luni, 3 saptamâni si 2 zile)
• Y Tu Mama Tambien
• I Saw the Devil (Akmareul Boatda)
• The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Män som hatar kvinnor)
• Sin Nombre
• The Good, the Bad, the Weird 
• Dogtooth (Kynodontas)
• Let the Right One In (Låt den rätte komma in)
• Ils (Them)
• La Horde
• 13 Assassins
• Ichi the Killer (Koroshiya)
• Happy Together (Chun Gwong Cha Sit)

I just recently watched Christopher Nolan’s remake about a week ago and really enjoyed it. I almost wish I had watched Erik Skjoldbjaerg’s original first, which I normally do, but I will have to deal with seeing it tonight! I have heard great things about this Norwegian film and I’m curious as to how similar Nolan’s remake is to the original. In reading the synopsis, it seems identical. In most cases, I favor the original much more, or well, in all cases I favor the original more. Speaking of foreign films and remakes, did anyone hear that Spike Lee might be doing an Oldboy remake? Hmm..

As of late I have found myself watching more and more foreign films, most notably Asian films. To recap, in the last few weeks, I have watched A Tale of Two Sisters, Let the Right One In, Biutiful, The Lives of Others, Memories of Murder, Infernal Affairs, Sin Nombre, Y tu Mama Tambien, The Man from Nowhere, I Saw the Devil,and Wong kar-wai’s Chungking Express, Fallen Angels and In the Mood for Love, most of them recommended by you, the great people here on Tumbler, which I am thoroughly grateful for. I’m not sure as to what it is that draws me to foreign films, but they all seem so much more poignant, more stimulating and more intense than American films. They’re always more obscure, unconventional and daring, and that I guess is what draws me to them. I’m rarely let down. You’re always guaranteed that subtle beauty, visual depth, and raw emotion. Now I’m not at all downgrading American cinema, it just seems foreign films have that shock-value and flare American films don’t. I’ve always enjoyed experiencing, witnessing, and learning unfamiliar cultures, settings, and perspectives, and through film is a great way to achieve that.

Chungking Express (1994)

One of my favorite scenes from one of my favorite films-

Let the Right One In (Låt den rätte komma in) 2008

Let the Right One In (Låt den rätte komma in) 2008

Continuing my Asian cinema marathon tonight and watching Wong Kar-Wai’s Fallen Angels.

Mother (Madeo) (2009) Dir. Joon-ho Bong

Mother (Madeo) (2009) Dir. Joon-ho Bong

As of late, not only have I found myself deeply interested in foreign films, but watching more and more foreign films. I’m on this tireless rant of watching them. Recently, my Netlifx queue has been bombarded with foreign films, most of them recommended by you, the great people here on Tumblr. I’m not sure as to what it is that draws me to foreign films, but they all seem so much more poignant, more stimulating and more intense than American films. They’re always more obscure, unconventional and daring, and that I guess is what draws me to them. I’m rarely let down. You’re always guaranteed that subtle beauty, visual depth, and raw emotion. Now I’m not at all downgrading American cinema, it just seems foreign films have that shock-value and flare American films don’t.

Dean Snow (Død snø) (2009) Dir. Tommy Wirkola

Another memorable fight scene from the Norwegian film Dead Snow. Anything that involves a chainsaw, nazi zombies, intestines strewed out everywhere, and a snowmobile with a machine gun attached to it is appealing to me.