Must See Foreign Films: Y Tu Mama Tambien

Our Must See Foreign Films Recommendation for today is Y Tu Mama Tambien. 

I am a big fan of Gael García Bernal and it all started with this film. It is the first movie I have ever seen that literally pulled my mouth open wide in shock. I did not expect the event that happened towards the end. Some of my friends said they saw it coming but by god, I didn't. 

But it's not just the film's ability to shock that takes me. It's the whole film's uncanny ability to make everything feel familiar to me. As strange as the adventures of the three characters may seem, underneath it is a universal emotion, the desire to see something new and something great, the need to be a part of something bigger and the unexpected courage to do something totally unexpected.

Don't forget to visit Amazon for must see foreign films and spanish language films. 

Asian Music Blog Recommendation: LeeSsang

Our Asian Music Blog Feature for this week, LeeSsang.

LeeSsang is a hiphop duo from South Korea. Rapper, Kang Garie (may also be spelled as Gary), and  vocalist Gil Seong-joon started performing together 16 years ago. They used to be a part of a hiphop group called Honey Family. They broke away and formed LeeSsang in 2002. 

They have since released eight albums producing hits like Rush, Run, Clown, Ballerino and many others. 


Visit Amazon for LeeSsang's complete Discography with as much as 75% discount. 

Style and Image

LeeSsang writes and produces all of their songs. Garie is the primary lyricist while Gil takes care of the music. Neither had formal training in music. 

Must See Foreign Films: Sway aka Yureru

Synopsis

When two brothers get involved in an accident and one of them had to take the stand to recall the events, the painful memory of his relationship with his brother starts to muddle the facts. The past becomes one with the present in his head and the truth becomes harder to see.

Amazon for DVDs of Foreign Film with as much as 70% discount.

Academy Award Winning Foreign Films: A Separation

Our Academy Award Winning Foreign Films for this week is A Separation.

A Separation is about how a married couple survived the biggest test in their marriage right before their divorce is finalized. I think it is no less than genius for someone to show how love can really pull through even when two people are about permanently stay apart.

It's a clear message for me, love has nothing to do with marriage and it has nothing to do with whether or not two people are together. If there is love and if love is real, you will always be ready to count on it. It may not be in the way you want it but it will pull through.

Amazon for DVDs of Foreign Film with as much as 70% discount.

Narrative 

Simin has been married to Nader for 15 years. They have an 11-year-old daughter Termeh. When Nader refuses to leave Iran with Simin and Termeh as they originally planned because of his father suffering from Alzheimer's Disease, Simin files for divorce and moves back to her parents house.

Must See Foreign Films: Central Station

Central Station is a must see foreign film and it should have been an academy award winning foreign film. It was nominated in the 52nd Academy Awards.
It follows the story of a middle-aged woman who makes a living writing letters for people who can't read and write and the friendship she developed with a kid who became a customer when he asked her to write a letter to his father which she never mailed. 


Amazon for DVDs of Foreign Film with as much as 70% discount.

Narrative

Dora writes letters for people who can't read and write for pay. However, she sometimes doesn't mail the letters. One of the many letters she didn't mail is that of Josue who wants to see his father. When Josue's mother died, Dora was forced to take him in. She sold the boy but felt guilty afterwards and decides to steal back the kid.

Academy Award Winning Foreign Films: Departures

Departures is one of the many Academy Award Winning Foreign Films you should never miss if you ever want to get a clear glimpse of the culture of Japan.

Departures is a story of how  people tend to find the real meaning of life only when they finally see the faces of death.

Don't forget to visit Amazon for Foreign Films with as much as 75% discount.

 

Asian Music Blog Recommendation: Dir En Grey

Our Asian Music Blog Recommendation for this week, Dir en Grey. 

Dir En Grey is a Japanese metal band that was first formed in 1997. It is composed of :

• Kyo – lead vocals
• Kaoru – guitar, backing vocals
• Die – guitar, backing vocals
• Toshiya – bass, backing vocals
• Shinya – drums, percussion

Kyo's and Kaoru's names are usually written in Kanji. The names they are using are their stage names, not their real names.

They have since released eight studio albums: Gauze (1999), Macabre (2000), Kisou (2002), Vulgar (2003), Withering to Death. (2005), The Marrow of a Bone (2007), Uroboros (2008) and Dum Spiro Spero (2011).

Don't forget to check Amazon for Dire En Grey CDs and other Asian Bands.

Musical Style and Its Evolution

Three things identify the music of Dir En Grey: Kyo's vocal range, their veracity to experiment with different musical genre and their continuous noticeable sound and visual evolution. These are the reasons they deserve to be mentioned on this Asian Music Blog.

Must See Foreign Films: Like Water for Chocolate

Our Must See Foreign Films Recommendation for today is Like Water for Chocolate. Braze yourself for a loooooot of passion.

Love doesn't end... it doesn't change... and it prevails. It doesn't bend... it doesn't go away... it stays and it grows stronger through time. That's essentially what Like Water for Chocolate is. It's all about how two people managed to stay in love and grew that love even when they were forbidden to ever be together.

Check out Amazon for Foreign Films DVD and Rentals. You can buy or pay to stream movines. 

Must See Foreign Films: C.R.A.Z.Y.

Synopsis

It is a story of how the mix of love and expectations in a family can compel people to refuse to acknowledge truths about their emotions and identities.

Amazon for DVDs of Foreign Film with as much as 70% discount.

Narrative

Zach is the fourth of five male children of Gervais and Laurianne. Growing up, he knew that his father's sole desire is to make all his children a man's man. This desire has made the dynamic of their family a odd. Sibling weren't particularly close to each other despite the obvious small moments that shows they actually love each other.

Best Foreign Action Films: The Raid

Everyone keeps on using the word "raw" when describing best foreign action films. It has been used so many times that I am now confused what it actually means... until I saw The Raid. 

If you want an action film that is so badass that it's going to make you grow some chest hair and miraculously have a tattoo appear on you neck just by watching it, this is the movie for you. It's non-stop, d@mn the special effects let's break each others' skull kind of action. 

Don't forget to visit  Amazon for Best Action Foreign Films. 

Narrative

The story is pretty simple. An 20-man elite police task force assaults a building to arrest a crime lord, Tama Riyadi. A newbie, Rama, is a one of them. They were able to infiltrate the building but was soon detected by a lookout. Apparently, the building houses some of the most ruthless criminals in Indonesia. When Tama Riyadi announces on the PA system that he will provide free residence to anyone who kills the police, it was chaos. The criminals was able to finish the police except Rama and his boss. 

Must See Foreign Films: Paradise Now

Paradise Now is one of the must see foreign films for all those who dare to, at the very least, understand why suicide bombers die for their faith.

Paradise Now is a story of how two suicide bombers are forced to reflect on their faith, principles and life when something happened that prevented them from carrying out their mission they have prepared for all their life.

Amazon for DVDs of Foreign Film with as much as 70% discount.

Narrative

There are so many ways the movie could have gone the wrong way.

For one, the subject it chose to deal with is one of the most controversial a movie can ever talk about. It essentially forces the viewers to understand the principles and reasons that suicide bombers have that justifies the need to kill innocent people to serve their cause and their God. It is almost unthinkable. After all, why would we even want to understand something that sides in the belief that killing others may be acceptable?

Asian Music Blog Recommendation: Stylish Nonsense

Asian Music Blog recommendation for this week is Stylish Nonsense. 

Stylish Nonsense is duo from Thailand. Wannarit “Pok” Pongprayoon and Yuttana "June" Kalambaheti are considered the leader of Thailand's electronic movement.

It's easy not to take them seriously because watching them makes you feel like you are watching... well... nonsense... or two guys that are high on drugs. BUT if you listen to their records and listen to the words, you'd realize that they do make a lot of sense. They deliver it in an unconventional manner but there's a lot of seriousness and pensiveness behind the insanity. 

Don't forget to go to Amazon to check out the music of Stylish Nonsense and other Asian Music Blog Recommendations.

 

Must See Foreign Films: Rec 2

This week's Must See Foreign Films Recommendation is REC 2.
 

REC 2 opens with Ángela Vidal (Manuela Velasco) being pulled towards darkness. The whole of Barcelona is almost wiped clean by some human monster. Each medical unit sent has never returned so a SWAT team is sent to accompany the government Health officials. The group makes it to their destination only to find out that the health official they accompanied is actually a priest and is there to investigate demonic possessions.

Don't forget to visit Amazon for Must See Foreign Films for as low as $2. 

The priest wants to get blood samples from the Medeiros girl who he believes to be the sources of the devil spirit. Before they could do anything though, they realize it’s not demons but some kind of a virus that turns everyone into zombies who attach uninfected humans. The team struggles to stay alive but situation is made worse when a group of thrill seekers arrive only to realize no one might leave the building alive.

Must See Foreign Films: Let The Right One In

Our must see foreign films recommendation for the week is Let The Right One In from Sweden.

Oskar is a loner and is the favourite subject of school bullies. He has fantasies of violent revenge but never had the guts to do put do it. Then a girl moved in next door, Eli. Both social recluses, Eli and Oskar form a special bond despite their vow not to become friends. Things start going well especially when Eli gives Oskar the courage to fight back against the bullies. And then violent attacks and murders start terrorizing their town. Oskar can't help but wonder if his new friend has anything to do with it.

Don't forget to visit Amazon for a DVD copy of Let The Right One In and Other Must See Foreign Fillms. 

Narrative and Direction 

Let The Right One In is visually and narratively cool and hot, timidity and passion, strange and common, remarkable complication and astonishing simplicity.