All the films below are English Subtitled or in English unless otherwise noted. Films that are not in English and have no subtitles, a synopsis can be provided upon request. [BA] Denotes that BOX ART is available for that particular title.

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KOREAN MOVIES

A Nightmare: Gawi. Dir. An Byeong-ki. Hye-jin, a psychology student is visited, one day by her old friend, Sun-ae. Hye-jin is shocked by the disturbed appearance of Sun-ae. She explains that she looks this way because she is being tormented by someone who is following her. Their secret past soon catches up with them and the original members of their club called 'a few good men' are gradually and gruesomely killed off one by one. An excellent entry into the Korean teen Horror genre. Subtitled. (2000)

Arahan: Dir. Ryoo Seung-Wan. starring Seung-beom Ryu as Sang-hwan, the mentally questionable hero of this big-budgeted CGI-heavy martial arts/action/comedy. Although a cop, our hero is nevertheless one of the most bumbling, hapless, sad sacks you could ever encounter. After being viciously beaten and humiliated by a local thug, Sang-hwan seeks out the training of Tao Master Ja-woon (Sung-kee Ahn) and his Seven Masters. Even though, as Sang-hwan points out, there are only five of them. Put into training, Sang-hwan proceeds to whine like a baby, begging to learn the art of Palm Blast in an obvious attempt to arm himself so he can avenge his beating. Meanwhile, Heug-un (Doo-hong Jung), an ancient enemy of the Seven Masters, has just been unwittingly unlocked from his prison and released back into the world, determined to rule it at the point of a sword. It's up to Sang-hwan, the man with the untapped reservoir of chi, to somehow put aside his moronic tendencies and stop trying to get into fellow cop, Eui-jin's pants long enough to save the world. God help us all. A superb and visually thrilling film. Widescreen subtitled (2004)

Tale of Two Sisters: Dir. Kim Ji Woon. After spending some time in a mental institution two sisters return home to their dysfunctional parents only to have their recovery hampered by a ghost and other strange goings on. Fantastic and hugely successful Korean Horror. Widescreen Subtitled. (2003)

Attack the Gas Station: Dir. Kim Sang-jin. Excellent recent Korean film that as hugely popular on the international festival circuit. So much more than a simple comedy about a gang of teens that take some gas station staff hostages and then over the day to day running of the station. Excellent Don't miss. Widescreen Subtitled.

Bad Guy: Nabbeun namja. Dir. Kim Ki-duk. Haniki, a thug in a brothel, falls for a college girl, Sunwha. She totally ignores him and in a dsparate attempt to get her to notice him, Haniki kisses her. Soon Sunwha falls victim to Haniki's plot and ends up working as a prostitute in order to repay her debts to him. Gradually Haniki is torn apart, between his love for her and his guilt for tricking her into prostitution. A hard hitting and compelling film from the director of The Isle. Subtitled. (2001)

Beat: Dir. Kim Sung-su. This was taped in Anamorphic so if you have a 16:9 button on your TV it will be more or less fine, if not it will appear a little squeezed. Subtitled. (1997)

Bichunmoo: Superb period film based on a Korean comic book. This is a familiar epic tale of forbidden love across warring clans, played out in superb fantasy/comic book style.  This film is stunningly shot and contains some spectacular martial arts and unbelievable special effects sequences. One of the bigger productions of Koreas growing big budget film industry. Fullscreen Subtitled.

Bloody Beech: Haebyeoneuro gada. Dir. Kim In-soo. A group of internet friends decide to go on a beach holiday. Everything is perfect and idyllic until one of the members receives a threatening e-mail. Not heeding the warning she continues as normal until she is suddenly struch doen by a vicious murderer. Upon checking the other members of the party check their e-mail and discover that they all have the same message! Cool and stylish Hollywood style slasher! Subtitled. (2000)

Bungee Jumping of their Own: Beonjijeonpeureul hada. Dir Kim Dai-seung. (2001)

The Foul King: Special Edition: Starring up and coming Korean superstar Song Kang-ho (a Korean equivalent of Chow Sing Chi) who also starred in Shiri and JSA. Song Kang-ho is Dong-ho, a looser bank worker who is always late for work. His boss takes out his frustrations of the failing bank by physically abusing as well as practicing his headlock technique on Dong-ho. As an outlet for his own frustrations and as an escape from the office hierarchy, Dong-ho takes up Pro-Wrestling and becomes the masked Foul King with hilarious and often touching  consequences. This special edition includes (all non-subtitled but self explanatory) Making of segment, storyboards, music video and picture galleries. Includes trailer, Widescreen Subtitled. (2000)

Friend: Chingu. Dir. Kwak Kyung-taek. Very powerful and biographical story following four young boys as they grow up in Busan. As they develop it becomes clear that they are heading in different directions, despite their strong friendships. One makes good of himself and leaves to study abroad and two others become leaders of rival gangs. This is an excellent film containing moments of both real tenderness and brutal violence, excellently shot and with superb performances from the cast.  Widescreen Subtitled.

Ghost Taxi: Gongpo Taeksi. Dir. Heo Seung-jun. Korean Horror/Comedy. Bizarre but brilliant tale of flying demon taxi's that have a beating heart for an engine and run on blood. The taxi's pick up innocent victims in order to replenish their thirst for fuel. Subtitled. (2000)

Guns and Talks: Dir. Jang Jin. Excellent Gangster comedy and a perfect follow-up to his 1999 film Spy Lee. A group of contract killers go about their daily business of fulfilling contracts to their customers specific requirements until one of them is ordered to kill a pregnant woman and rather than kill her, falls in live with her to absolutely hilarious effect. Excellent violent, funny and heartwarming all at the same time!  Widescreen Subtitled. (2001)

H: Dir. Lee Jong-hyuk. A serial killer named Shin-Hyun gives himself up to police. He confesses to committing a series of particularly horrifying murders of exclusively female victims. He is imprisoned, awaiting the death sentence for his crimes. Yet the killings do not stop. They continue with all the same characteristics trademarks of the Shin-Hyun serial killings. The case is re-opened when two more bodies are discovered, both pregnant women. One is found in the city's landfill site, and the other is horrifically murdered on a public bus. Detective Mi Yun (played by Yum Jung-Ah), and her newly appointed partner, Detective Kang (played by Ji Jin-Hee), are assigned to the case. Subtitled. (2002)

Hi Dharma: Dalmaya nolja. Dir. Park Cheol-kwan. A group of hard nosed gangsters get them selves in to a spot of trouble with a rival gang and go on the run. It is then that they decide that a remote monastery would be an ideal place to disguise themselves and lie low for a while... With hilarious consequences in their confrontations with the monks. A huge hit in the summer of 2001 and another superb entry into the gangster comedy that South Korea is making its own! Widescreen Subtitled. (2001)

The Humanist: Dir. Lee Mu-yeong. Possibly one of the darkest and most insane comedies to have ever come out of Korea. A rich young playboy accidentally knocks down a cop one night whilst out cruising with his friends. The cops partner blackmails them and in order to raise the cash they hatch an incredible plot that goes disastrously wrong. Fantastic, highly recommended. Subtitled Widescreen. (2000)

The Isle: Seom. Dir. Kim Ki-duk. Causing waves on the International circuit at the moment! Widescreen Subtitled.

Jail Breakers: No. 815. Dir. Kim Sang-jin. Fantastic comedy in Kim Sang-jin's typically chaotic and mad-cap style. Two longterm and impeccably behaved inmates at a Korean state prison are mortified to find out that they are not included on an independence day list of prisoners that are to receive an official pardon. Luckily one of the two has been digging a tunnel for the past six years with a spoon! needless to say they escape and things go from bad to worse when the discover that they WERE on the list and there had been a mistake. There challenge now is to get back to their cell without being seen so that they can officially receive their pardons. As always with Kim Sang-jin's films there are a multitude of hilarious subplots heaps of slapstick comedy and plenty of digs at the establishment. If you liked Attack the Gas Station and Kick the Moon you'll love this! Superb and very highly recommended. Widescreen Subtitled. (2002)

Jakarta: Dir. Jeong Chi-shin. Excellent and highly entertaining heist movie. Three rival teams of criminals arrive at the same bank simultaneously to rob it of millions and then aim to escape to the Indonesian capital of Jakarta in order to have performed the perfect crime. Problems arise when the three teams not only have to battle the bank staff and the Police to get to the money, but also each other. Amusing, violent and entertaining all at the same time. This was taped in Anamorphic so if you have a 16:9 button on your TV it will be more or less fine, if not it will appear a little squeezed. Subtitled. (2000)

JSA: Joint Security Area: Dir. Park Chan-wook. Either side of the Bridge of No Return which straddles the North and South Korean border, are two guard posts. One night two North Korean soldiers are found dead in their guard house and an injured South Korean soldier if found collapsed over the border line. An impartial Swiss/Korean investigator is sent in to discover what exactly happened on that fateful night. What emerges is a truly heartwarming, hysterical, farcical, tragic and utterly shocking story. Make no mistake this is (in my opinion) one of the best films of the last few years. A genuinely brilliant piece of filmmaking. Includes Trailer and Music video. Widescreen Subtitled. (2000)

Kick the Moon: Dir. Kim Sang-jin. Superb follow up to Attack the Gas Station. Subtitled Widescreen. (2001)

Legend of Gingko: Park Je-hyun. Subtitled Widescreen. (2000)

Lies: Directed by Jang Sun-Woo. This is a scathing criticism of Korean societies duplicitous tendencies. The film based is on an infamous novel which is currently banned in Korea. Jang Sun-Woo basically aims to press buttons and provoke outrage from conservative Koreans. The film does so by exploding taboos surrounding sex and contemporary society. The film most certainly worked in Korea and was heavily cut as a result. Very controversial! This is an average quality, uncut festival screener in Widescreen and Subtitled. (2000) [BA]

Lies: Dir Jang Sun-woo. This is one of, if not THE most controversial film to come out of Korea within the last couple of years. Heavily censored in its native Korea and entirely uncut here, the story revolves around a relationship between a married  middle-aged sculptor and a young school girl who's sexual relationship becomes increasingly sadomasochistic with each torrid encounter. As the bizarre relationship continues it becomes clear that the man and girl relate and react differently to the sadomasochistic goings on and it therefore causes a massive strain on the relationship...Subtitled Fullscreen. UPGRADE. (2000) [BA]

Libera Me: English translation: Save Me. Fantastic NEW action film from KOREA directed by Yang Yoon-ho. The story revolves around a group of Firefighters in a battle of wills with a mentally unbalanced arsonist. As is to be expected from the new wave of Korean blockbusters, excellent and taught action and drama. Don't miss this rare opportunity! Includes Trailer, Making of and a music video. Subtitled.

Memento Mori: Whispering Corridors 2. Dir. Kim Tae-yong & Min Kyu-dong. A beautifully shot film that plays out like a lingering memory. Three young girls that attend an all girls school happen across an old diary that seems to have been written by a previous student. The diary reveals the story of two young outcasts. What follows is a series of mesmerizing flashbacks involving the two girls detailing revealing revelations, supernatural goings on and hints of lesbian feelings between the two. This is most definitely a new breed of horror film! Widescreen Subtitled. (1999)

Musa: The Warrior: Dir. Kim Sung-su. Fantastically epic period tale of a group of Korean warriors, sent to China to make peace with the new government. However the group are charged as spies and exiled to the remote desert. In the desert they come across a band of Chinese warriors who have kidnapped a princess, the Korean warriors see their ticket home and set about rescuing the young princess. Superb drama as well as battle scenes. Subtitled Widescreen. (2001)

My Boss, My Hero: Dir. Yun Je-kyun. Doo-sik is a gangster, he went straight into the gangster world without graduating high school, but the gangster world has changed. Gangsters now need qualifications and to be computer and Internet literate too! After a series of comical mishaps on Doo-sik's part, his boss orders him to enroll in high school and graduate. Obviously Doo-Sik receives a hard time back at school to hilarious effect, but also ironically uncovers corruption at the school! A fantastic entry into the gangster comedy genre that took South Korean cinema by storm in the Summer of 2001. Widescreen Subtitled. (2001)

My Wife is a Gangster:  Dir. Cho Jin-kyu. This superb and extremely stylish Gangster comedy was the fourth biggest grossing Korean film of 2001. A ruthless female gangster grants her dying sister her last wish of marrying before she dies. What fallows is her hilarious attempts to become a 'normal' woman by hiding her true identity in order to attract an unsuspecting young man. this film was also bought for a Hollywood remake Excellent! Includes Trailer. Widescreen Subtitled. (2001)

No.3: Number 3. Dir. Song Neung-Han. Fantastic and rare Korean gangster comedy starring Song Kang-Ho in an early role before his superstar days. Tae-Ju is a third rate gangster who is not very good at what he does. Nobody has ever been sacked from the gangster underworld, but Tae-Ju is intent on being the first. Excellent film with some superb performances with hilarious send-ups of criminal underground stereotypes. This tape is below average picture quality, but is still perfectly watchable. Widescreen Subtitled. (1997)

No. 3: Dir. Song Neung-Han. This is a Hong Kong DVD upgrade of the above SBS version. This version is perfect picture quality, but in fullscreen whereas the SBS version is Widescreen and not great quality. Subtitled (1997)

No Comment: Dir's. Park Sang-won, Park Kwang-hyeon and Lee Hyeon-jong. An omnibus film consisting of three short subjects, directed by three newcomers. Produced and partially written by Jang Jin, it shares the quirky comic tone of his directorial efforts such as The Spy Lee Cheol-jin (1999) and Guns & Talks (2001). The main attraction for this feature is its colorful all-star cast: Ryu Seung-bum, Jeong Jae-yung, Im Won-hee and Shin Ha-kyun all play radically different characters in the three chapters, ably assisted by veteran supporting actors from stage and TV. The three shorts are Enemies in Four Directions (Park Sang-won) My Nike (Park Kwang-hyeon) and The Church Sister (Lee Hyeon-jong) If you like the films of Jang Jin, you'll certainly like these. Widescreen Subtitled. (2002)

Nowhere To Hide: Dir. Lee Myung-Se. A fantastic film involving the police chasing a criminal who is a master of disguise, not only is it technically stunning but also visually. Heavily influenced from directors such as John Woo and Sergio Leone. Widescreen Subtitled.

Oldboy: Dir. Park Chan-wook. Oh Dae-su (Choi Min-shik), a grumpy businessman with a wife and a toddler daughter, is kidnapped by a group of gangsters. It turns out that they operate a private prison, and someone has paid them an astronomical amount of money to incarcerate him indefinitely. Compelled to rusticate for years and years inside a dingy, dark cell, with fried dumplings his only choice of menu, Oh is overcome with the desire for revenge. However, just when he is about to break free from his prison, he is dumped into the street. He hooks up with a young female sushi chef Mido (Kang Hye-jeong, the teenage guide from Nabi: The Butterfly), to locate the man responsible for robbing him fifteen years of his life. FANTASTIC winner of the Grand Prix at Cannes. Widescreen subtitled. (2003)

Paradise Villa: Dir. Park Jong-won. Set during an imagined 2002 World Cup quarterfinal between Japan and South Korea. A varied group of murderers, fraudsters, adulterers and social misfits converge at a villa in South Korea. Where eventually they descend headlong into a spiral of mystery and murder that slowly reveals their brutally violent instincts. This is an excellent and extremely well sustained and shot Horror/Thriller. Widescreen Subtitled. (2001)

Peppermint Candy: Bakha satang. Dir Lee Chang-dong. (2000)

A Public Cemetery of Wol-Ha: Dir. Gweon Cheol-Hwi. Classic Korean Horror. A house maid meets an untimely death and comes back to take revenge on her employers. excellent cinematography and a must for anyone who's interested in Korean cinema or Horror Cinema. Widescreen Subtitled. (1967) 

The Quiet Family: Choyonghan kajok. Dir. Kim Ji-woon. Subtitled Print from the Australian SBS Television network (no ads or network logos). (1998)

Quiet Family: Choyonghan kajok. Dir. Kim Ji-woon. An excellent black comedy starring the now massive Song Kang-ho in an early role. A family decides to sell up and buy a remote country lodge on an established hiking route. Their first customer commits suicide and they bury him in order to avoid bad publicity. Soon after other customers begin to drop like flies! Excellent black comedy! This is an UPGRADE from the previous version. Subtitled. (1998)

The Record: Dir. Kim Ki-hun. A story of people killed by a mysterious figure. One Day, Sung-wook, who has been ostracized by his classmates, is invited to go on a trip with his friends. Suddenly they turn on him and stab him with a knife. Their intention was to make a snuff movie in order to make money, but sung-wook is actually killed. They vow to keep his accidental death a secret and bury him. A year later the memory of sung-wook is resurrected when the friends receive a link to a web page that depicts the moment of Sung-wook's death. Excellent teen horror with lashings of clever twists! Subtitled. (2000)

Ring Virus: Dir. Kim Dong-bin. Korean entry into the Ring phenomena which follows along much of the same plot as its Japanese cousins. A reporter is investigating the mysterious death of her cousin. She is eventually led to a videotape that contains a montage of strange images. The same principal applies here as in the Japanese Ring films, the viewer will die exactly seven days after watching the film. This Korean entry, although similar to the Japanese films, seems to put a more chilling edge to the proceedings and relates the videotape phenomena more to science than the supernatural. This was taped in Anamorphic so if you have a 16:9 button on your TV it will be more or less fine, if not it will appear a little squeezed. Subtitled. (1999)

Save the Green Planet: Dir. Jang Jun-Hwan. Winner of the Best Director prize at the 2003 Moscow International Film Festival, Save the Green Planet is the story of a mentally unbalanced man who believes that aliens are plotting to take over the earth. Believing the chairman of a local conglomerate to be an alien leader in disguise, he decides to take matters into his own hands and kidnap him. Fantastic! Widescreen subtitled (2003)

Shiri: Swiri. The Highest grossing film to come out of Korea EVER at the time. A complex and involving story about love, deceit, explosives, and secret agents but that doesn’t do it justice. It’s amazing with some of the best, most tense action sequences to have ever come out of the East. One word…Superb! Widescreen Subtitled. (1998) 

Shiri: Special Edition: This is the Special Edition DVD from Korea. It includes deleted scenes, outtakes, a making of segment and loads more. The Highest grossing film to come out of Korea EVER (except the recent JSA). A complex and involving story about love, deceit, explosives, and secret agents but that doesn’t do it justice. It’s amazing with some of the best, most tense action sequences to have ever come out of the East. One word…Superb! Only the film has English subtitles, but you don't really need subs for the rest. Includes Korean and Japanese trailers. Widescreen Subtitled. (1998)

Spy Lee: Spy Lee Chul Jin. Dir. Jang Jin. Excellent breakthrough South Korean film in the fact that it was the first film in many years in which North and South Korean Military relations had been discussed in a lighthearted manner, the last director to do so was consequently arrested. This film thrives on the comedy that ensues when a naive and extremely disciplined North Korean spy infiltrates the complex, strange and infinitely more liberated South in order to steal a new breed of top secret pig! Excellent, must see! No Subtitles Widescreen. (1999)

Tell Me Something: The Koreans have done it again (upstage the Chinese that is), first with Shiri and the Action Genre and now with the Thriller Genre. Another engaging tale about a serial killer investigation, during which body parts keep turning up from various different victims. The only thing to link them is a woman with a dark past named Su-Yeon. Fantastic and very gory! Widescreen Subtitled.

The Soul Guardians: An effects blockbuster hit that precedes Shiri. A mysterious cult commits mass suicide but a baby is salvaged from a pregnant member. Several years later she is the target to be the host of the devils baby and it is up to a priest, a psychic kid and a magical young loaner to protect her. Fantastic! Widescreen Subtitled. (1998)

Whispering Corridors: Dir. Park Ki-hyung. Subtitled. (1998)

Yongary: Taekoesu Yonggary. Dir. Kim Ki-duk. Korean entry into the giant mutated monster movie boom. Mysterious earthquakes in central Korea are puzzling scientists. It soon becomes apparent that they are in fact Yongary, a giant reptile, making his way to Seoul for the sole purpose of destroying it! Superb quality from French cable, in English with French subtitles and Widescreen (1967)

HORROR MOVIES    MONDO & DOCUMENTARY

GIALLO CINEMA    HONG KONG CINEMA    JAPANESE CINEMA

OTHER ASIAN CINEMAS   SPANISH & MEXICAN    MISCELLANEOUS

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