11. Wolf Totem (Jean-Jacques Annaud, China, France)
Jean Jacques Annaud directs an allegorical story regarding ecology and the stance of the Chinese authorities toward it at the time, which actually represents the destruction of the Mongolians' traditional way of life. Moreover, he implemented a number of documentary-like shots of the life of wolves and his usual, ethnographic visage. However, the film's biggest assets lie in the technical department, where cinematography, set design and the production in general, truly excel. (Panos Kotzathanasis)
12. The Assassin (Hou Hsiao-hsien, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong)
In terms of content, the characteristics of Hou's cinema appear once more, with the complex though minimalistic structure and the plethora of flashbacks that appear in unsuspected moments, while the story unreels. For the first time in his filmography, he deals with matters of politics and intrigue, and the conspiracies that took place in the palace at the time, although his distinctive symbolism is evident once more. Additionally, the tragedy that regularly characterizes his heroes is presented through the character of Yinniang, who tries to dance around the things she has learnt and her actual feelings, a fact that brings her in a very difficult position. (Panos Kotzathanasis)
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13. The Throne (Lee Joon Ik, S Korea)
Lee Joon Ik focused the film around two axes, equally tragic: the life story of Crown Prince Sado and the relationship between father and son that resulted in the aforementioned tragedy. According to the actual story, the prince was held for eight days in the chest before he eventually died and Lee showed each day, including a number of flashbacks regarding Sado's life, in a prototypical type of narration that manages to include 56 years of the royal family's story. Both the protagonists, Song Kang Ho as King Yeongjo and Yoo Ah In as Prince Sado, are magnificent in their respective roles, in a film that had an overall wonderful cast. (Panos Kotzathanasis)
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14. Saving Mr Wu (Ding Sheng, China)
Having as his base a true abduction incident that occurred in 2004, when the actor Wu Ruofu was kidnapped, Ding Sheng “played” with the actual events and the presence of Andy Law in the titular role. In that manner, Wu Ruofu is actually in the movie, playing the role of Cao Gang, one of the police rescuers. Furthermore, at one point, one of the kidnappers asks Wu to help him in a card game and when he fails the former says to him, “Didn't you act in God of Gamblers?”, a film which Andy Lau actually played. (Panos Kotzathanasis)
15. Madonna (Shin Su Won, S Korea)
Shin Su Won used one of the latest trends in Korean cinema, the depiction of institutions as corrupt and dangerous places, which additionally mirrors the corruption of the government and its various authorities, and the effect that fact has on common people. Moreover, through the tragic story of Mi Na, she presents a genuine anti-heroine, whose torments seem as much a result of her social environment as of her own character. Seo Young Hee is wonderful as Hae Rim; nevertheless, the one who actually steals the show is Kwon So Hyun, who is sublime in the title role. (Panos Kotzathanasis)
16. Veteran (Ryoo Seung-wan, S Korea)
“Veteran” is a pacy, exciting piece of cinema which thrives in its uncomplicated script and smooth execution. Even at over two-hours long, the film moves at a frantic pace, aided superbly by comedic beats which, even if occasionally outlandish, always seem to hit the mark. Thus, Ryoo Seung-wan's largest directorial box-office triumph makes for a sublime watch, and is a silver-screen success which continues to hold up. (Nathan Sartain)
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17. The Boy and the Beast (Mamoru Hosoda, Japan)
As is the rule with the director's films, the visual aspect is spectacular, with the production shouting “big budget” from the first scene. The animation is magnificent with the movement of the characters being realistic and fluid, even when a plethora of individuals is moving simultaneously, an event that mainly occurs in the human city. The characters are magnificently drawn, with the drawing and the concept of the animals with human characteristics (boars, bears, monkeys a pig-monk, and the ultimate leader who is a constantly- disappearing rabbit), being cute, beautiful and funny. (Panos Kotzathanasis)
18. Miss Hokusai (Keiichi Hara, Japan)
The film is a small joy for those who know Hokusai as it gives a lot of winks to his work, but it is also a quite touching story about a daughter who wants to be loved by her father. Poetic and pleasing to the eye with beautiful animation, the film paces itself through the floating world of Edo. It leaves the viewer satisfied but might also do the opposite with leaving you wanting more as it does remain rather timid. The filmmakers nevertheless present us with a pleasing motion picture. (Thor)
19. The Whispering Star (Sion Sono, Japan)
Megumi Kagurazaka is the sole protagonist of the film, and gives a performance that perfectly fits the aesthetics of the movie, with its distinct minimalism. Occasionally, she seems as if she is acting in a theatre play, a sense heightened by the fact that the movie is presented in acts, with each one responding to a day. Sono focused much on her beautiful hands and impeccable manicure, which feature in many scenes, to a great aesthetic result. (Panos Kotzathanasis)
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20. Mountains May Depart (Jia Zhangke, China)
The other great trait of the film is Lik-wai's cinematography, who, in a rather original tactic, presents each act in different aspect ratios, starting from the square 1:33 for 1999, continuing to 1:85 for 2014 and closing with the wide 2:35 in 2025. The film's realism owes much to the particular department, as is the case with the permeating melancholy that is heightened even more by the dull colors that dominate the largest part of the movie. The technical aspect of the production finds its apogee in the initial scene and the finale, which are truly masterful. “Mountains May Depart” is a very meaningful, and technically elaborate film, despite some faults that occur in the last act. (Panos Kotzathanasis)
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Watched Assassin the other day… really wasnt impressed :-(