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)
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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