It seems that the commercial value of Asian films, both of the past (for the most part) and of the current ones, is having an impact also on physical media, with a number of established and newer companies releasing even more movies from the region in 2023. At the same time, the competition seems to up the quality of releases which keep getting better and better, to the joy of collectors, a number of which are definitely among the writers of Asian Movie Pulse.
Without further ado, we list here 30 Best Asian DVD and Blu-ray releases of 2023, in no particular order.
1. The Katsuhito Ishii Collection (Third Window Films)
Over the course of his career Japanese auteur Katsuhito Ishii has gained not only popularity among the festival crowd but a loyal group of fans, which all the more understandable when watching his works, that are now gathered in one comprehensive boxset thanks to Third Window. Apart from the movies themselves the interviews with Ishii serve as an insightful way to delve deeper into the mind of one of the most creative voices within the Japanese movie industry.
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2. Contemporary Independent Japanese Cinema Box Set Vol.2 Melancholic / Noise (Spectrum Films)
Two of the best Japanese indies of the last years finds their place in Blu Ray (and DVD) with French Spectrum combining “Melancholic” with “Noise” in a single package, in a showcase of new Japanese cinema. The Making of in “Melancholic” and the presentation of “Noise” by Yusaku Matsumoto add value to an already rather appealing release.
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3. The Postman Fights Back (88 Films)
88 films have been releasing the best of HK action for years now, and the underrated gem that is “The Postman Fights Back” could not be missing from their collection. Apart from the impressive cover art, the release includes both the Hong Kong and the export cut, along with interviews with Chow Yun-fat, Leung Kar-yan and Ronny Yu
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4. Limbo (Capelight)
Rarely has a movie garnered such universal praise as Soi Cheang`s neo-noir masterpiece “Limbo”. Thanks to Capelight the movie has got a great release, which comes with a booklet, illuminating the themes, the visual finesse and the characters we meet in this dark crime thriller, whose quality shines even more on this great 4K.
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5. Big Time Gambling Boss (Radiance Films)
Thanks to new-label-on-the-block Radiance Films, cinephiles were able to (re-)discover some true genre gems. This was especially true for Asian film fans, as Radiance really hit the ground running right out of the gate, with the first batch of their releases including Kosaku Yamashita’s “Big Time Gambling Boss”, the very definition of a true ninkyo gem. The release, a world-premiere which presented the feature in a brand new transfer, with two video essays and an extensive booklet explaining the themes and the impact of the feature itself, hit the streets a few days earlier than its official release date in early January, but nonetheless set the tone for what was to come from this label in 2023 (and beyond). Talk about a strong debut! (Rhythm Zaveri)
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6. Ghost in the Sheel (KSM Anime/ Plaion Pictures)
In Germany KSM Anime along with Plaion Pictures released this huge boxset for Ghost in the Shell, which included the first movie on 4k and the second on BR. The release features several goodies such as a hardcover edition of the original manga, the soundtrack, a poster and a booklet dealing with the various themes and the influence of Mamoru Oshii’s groundbreaking work.
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7. Not One Less (Imprint Films)
Imprint already rocked the world for Zhang Yimou fans a couple years back with their “Collaborations: The Cinema of Zhang Yimou and Gong Li” boxset and last year with the world-first release of Zhang Ziyi’s debut film “The Road Home”. This year, they followed it up with another world-first, the release of his 1999 work “Not One Less”. Here’s hoping they do something similar in 2024 by releasing some of the very few works of the Chinese auteur that still remain without high-definition release. (Rhythm Zaveri)
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8. Shin Dong-hun: Animation Collection (Korean Film Archive KOFA/Blue Kino)
The Korean Film Archive have been doing incredible work for many years now, releasing both masterpieces and lesser known classics films of the Korean film industry not just free-to-watch on their YouTube channel but also on premium boutique blu-ray, which include English subtitles not just for the main feature but also for all the extras on the disc (the latter a rarity for Korean physical media). In November, they released, as part of their numbered bluray series, animated films from director Shin Dong-hun, including the much-loved “The Story of Hong Gil-dong”, in a set that also includes the director’s other work “Hopi and Chadol Bawi”. This release was the first of a number of things for KOFA: their first animated films release, a first boxset and the first digipak, as opposed to their usual packaging. (Rhythm Zaveri)
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9. Three Films by Yasujiro Ozu (BFI)
This boxset released by BFI presents new restorations of Yasujiro Ozu’s features “Dragnet Girl”, “Record of a Tenement Gentlemen” and “A Hen in the Wind”. The supllements include a booklet with various essays about the films along with audio commentaries talking about the importance of each feature within the vast body of work of the director as well as the their themes and visuals.
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10. Spacked Out (Kani Releasing)
Kani Releasing continued their impressive run of releases this year too, with their release for Lawrence Lau’s “Spacked Out”, a youth drama about an all-girls cast surviving in the lowest rungs of gang life after their bosses have all gone legit that holds a Cat III rating in Hong Kong. One of their fastest selling releases, the limited slipcase edition sold out in no time, whereas a very low quantity of the standard edition still remains, but not for long! (Rhythm Zaveri)
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11. The Long Arm of the Law – Parts 1 and 2 (88 Films)
88 Films continues their line of releases of the most bizarre, violent and entertaining entries within the vast array of HK cinema. However, their release of both parts of “The Long Arm of the Law” is a real treat. The two remasters make the features look quite good and after the wonderful double bill they provide, you can goo deep into the plethora of additional material provided on each disc.
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12. Bruce Lee at Golden Harvest (Arrow Video)
2023 has certainly been kind to fans of Bruce Lee, with Arrow Video releasing this massive boxset of including all of his collaborations with studio Golden Harvest. The 4k restorations along with the array of supplements make this year one of the luckiest for collectors and admirers of the actor and martial artist. This is the best these features have ever looked and they come with hours of additional material which is well worth the price tag of this edition.
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13. Election & Election 2 (Chameleon Films)
Relatively new label Chameleon Films started out last year with releasing three titles, two of which were Johnnie To directorials. This year, they focused once again on the Hong Kong maestro by releasing a two-film set for his much loved triad films Election and Election 2, which featured digital restorations for both the features done painstakingly by themselves and a decent number of on-disc special features, while also finally adding slipcases to their releases. (Rhythm Zaveri)
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14. Moment of Romance (Radiance Films)
Radiance Films has continued their series of interesting releases in 2023, with Benny Chan’s thriller “A Moment of Romance” certainly being one of the highlights. Apart from a crisp 4K restoration, the feature is supported by insightful supplements, such as an audio commentary delving deep into the various aspects of the production.
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15. The Host (The Jokers)
Collectors in France were in for a treat with The Jokers’ release of Bong Joon-ho’s monster film “The Host” on physical media. Following a theatrical rerelease of the feature, with Bong in attendance at the premiere, The Jokers released the monster classic on a premium 4K UHD + Blu-ray set, which is a 3-disc set that includes the 4k restoration of the film on both 4K UHD and bluray, as well as a third disc with more than 4 hours of special features. Finishing off the release’s premium look and feel are a storyboard booklet and a lovely case with original artwork. Sadly for us non-French readers, this one only comes with French subtitles. (Rhythm Zaveri)
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16. The Street Fighter Trilogy (Arrow Video)
Sonny Chiba cemented his status as the ultimate action hero with charisma and an attitude in the role of Takuma Tsurugi, the protagonist of three features. Thanks to Arrow Video The Street Fighter Trilogy has been released on Blu-ray with a plethora of extras, including interviews with Chiba himself and insightful commentary. However, the restoration of the features and the entertainment they provide is enough to make this one of the best releases of the year.
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17. Typhoon Club (Third Window Films)
Third Window Films started a new series of releases focusing solely on the titles released by the now defunct production house Director’s Company. Starting with Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s slasher “The Guard from Underground”, followed by Banmei Takahashi’s “Door 1 and 2”, thee best release in the line came in November, with a new 4k restoration for the film from its original negatives and a decent amount of on-disc extra content. (Rhythm Zaveri)
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18. Revenge (Eureka Entertainment)
A few enthusiasts were annoyed with Eureka Entertainment for excessively releasing Asian titles this year, but of course that means we at Asian Movie Pulse were more than glad that they were! And among the many titles they did, one of the ones that stood out the most has to be their release for Tadashi Imai’s jidaigeki “Revenge”. A film that lays bare the hypocrisies and absurdities of feudal Japan, this world-first bluray, from a new 2k restoration of the film, this release also features a brand new interview with Asian cinema expert Tony Rayns and new video piece by none other than Jasper Sharp as part of the on-disc content. (Rhythm Zaveri)
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19. The Untold Story (88 Films)
Of course a UK release for Herman Yau and Anthony Wong’s very notorious Cat III classic “The Untold Story” was going to make our list! Unlike the US release from a different label a few years back, 88 Films gave the film much love, releasing the uncut version in a Deluxe Collector’s Edition that includes a rigid slipcase, a poster, a booklet and a decent number of on-disc special features including but not limited to a new commentary by Frank Djeng and archival commentaries by director Herman Yau and Anthony Wong. (Rhythm Zaveri)
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20. King Hu Vol. 2 (Spectrum Films)
Spectrum Films continued to shower love on legendary filmmaker King Hu, this time releasing a boxset of 5 films from the master. The set included a release of Come Drink with Me on both 4K UHD and bluray, as well as bluray releases for Sons of Good Earth, Four Moods, The Wheel of Life and The Painted Skin. All discs of course include addition special features too, but this is yet again a release only for those that can read French. (Rhythm Zaveri)
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21. A Bittersweet Life Collector’s Edition (Umbrella Entertainment)
In a year where physical media labels focused on Hong Kong titles with a vigour, Australian label Umbrella Entertainment too doubled down on their Asian releases this year, but decided to show some love to modern Korean classics. While their releases fo “I Saw the Devil” and “A Tale of Two Sisters” were both commendable, it was their first Korean release this year of Kim Jee-woon’s “A Bittersweet Life” that makes our list, primarily because its inclusion of a new 4k restoration on the disc and a wide range of special features, including but not limited to as much as three different audio commentaries featuring Kim Jee-soon himself. Unfortunately, the Collector’s Edition is not sold out, but a standard release with the disc, case and slipcase can be found on their site. (Rhythm Zaveri)
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22. Shaw Brothers Classics Vols 1-4 (Shout Factory)
Yes, this may be a cheat as we’re including four releases in the same entry, but these releases by Shout Factory absolutely deserve to be on this list. The American publisher gave us (and our wallets) no time to breathe as they released these behemoth sets every alternate month starting from June. Where Vols One and Three housed 11 different films on 11 discs, Two and Four included 12 titles on as many discs. The best part is that, despite a lot of interest in Shaw Bros titles over the last few years across the globe, including boxsets by other companies, the majority of the titles included collectively in these four sets were largely being put out in English-friendly release for the first time. Shout also took pains to include special features for each film, most notably audio commentaries by a whole host of speakers. (Rhythm Zaveri)
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23. Violent Streets (Film Movement)
Yes, Eureka Entertainment released this feature on region-B bluray in the UK, in their Masters of Cinema series no less, but this Hideo Gosha masterwork was also released Stateside by Film Movement, whose product marginally takes the win over its UK counterpart thanks to being fully uncut, as opposed Eureka’s minor cut necessitated by the British censors because of a brief and, dare I say negligible, moment. (Rhythm Zaveri)
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24. GO (Third Window Films)
Isao Yukisada’s powerful work “GO”, a coming-of-age story that also tackles a lot of heavy themes including identity and family bonding, while also being a love story, was released by Third Window Films in May this year. The release includes a lovely slipcase that featured a key early moment from the narrative in cool new artwork, whereas the special features on the disc contain a making of and more. A must-own and must-watch film for fans of contemporary Japanese cinema. (Rhythm Zaveri)
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25. The Sonny Chiba Collection: Vol. 2 (Shout Factory)
Shout Factory’s The Sonny Chiba Collection Vol. 1 made our Best of list last year and this year too, in fact exactly a year later to the date, they followed it up with Volume 2 of the set. Just like last year, Vol. 2 also features 7 films starring Chiba, but where the first set included everything from jidaigeki to yakuza fare, this one includes titles that showcase the skills that he is probably more widely known for: his martial arts abilities. Included are “The Defensive Power of Aikido”, “The 13 Steps of Maki”, “Karate Warriors” and “Karate for Life”. But that’s not all, because also finding space is the spy film “Golgo 13: Mission Kowloon”, “The Okinawa War of Ten Years” and, much to this writer’s delight, the absolutely unhinged Sonny Chiba performance in “The Okinawa Yakuza War”. (Rhythm Zaveri)
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26. Ringu 4K (Arrow Video)
Enough has been said about Hideo Nakata’s highly influential and still quite haunting masterpiece, which is perhaps why it was about time it came to 4K. While the extras from the BR set by Arrow, which was released some time ago, largely stayed the same, the quality of the transfer speaks for itself and is easily the best the films has ever looked.
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27. Millennium Mambo (Kino Lorber)
Any new release for a Hou Hsiao-hsien film should immediately lauded, but Kino Lorber’s release for one of his most loved works “Millennium Mambo” was doubly special for its inclusion of the new 4K restoration for the film, which had previously also enjoyed a popular theatrical run prior to its physical release, alongside a couple of other on-screen extras. Here’s hoping next year we finally get to see and own that new 4k restoration for “City of Sadness” as well! (Rhythm Zaveri)
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28. Bad Genius (Spectrum Films)
Nattawut “Baz” Poonpiriya’s sleep hit film “Bad Genius”, effectively a heist film set within a classroom, released for French fans and collectors this year from the good folks at Spectrum Films. The French-subtitles-only feature film is also accompanied by a special presentation feature by Asian Movie Pulse’s own editor-in-chief Panos Kotzathanasis. (Rhythm Zaveri)
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29. Suicide Club (Discotek Media)
Sure, Sion Sono has become a problematic person to follow, but there’s no denying that fans on the Japanese director’s works have been craving for high-definition releases for a number of his earlier firebrand works. Chief among those, for many, was “Suicide Club”, which got an unlikely release from Discotek Media. If the disc lacks an real special features, the release must be commended for its warning messages at the start of the disc for the feature’s graphic representation of suicides. Fans of the film and of the director can rest assured that Discotek Media have given the film strong audio-video transfers that stay true to the feature. (Rhythm Zaveri)
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30. Enter the Dragon (Warner Bros.)
“Enter the Dragon” is arguably Bruce Lee’s most important work as an actor and a martial artists, which makes a release of this feature on 4K an important step, manifesting the status of the feature itself. The 4K version is certainly the best the film has ever looked and the release includes both versions of the feature. If you are lucky enough to get the limited edition you also got some posters and art cards (if you are into this kind of thing). Plus, the steelbook was also kind of nice.
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