The concept of action movies starring female protagonists was quite prevalent in East Asian cinema during the 70s and 80s but toned significantly down after that. However, lately, and as the epicenter of action movies moved towards Asean countries, it surfaced once more, as the fact that women can also can add an element of sex appeal to the action worked for a number of filmmakers. At the same time, the concept was not restricted to action movies, but also extended to art ones, as a couple of the movies in the following list will eloquently highlight.
Without further ado, here are 40 Asian movies where the action mostly derives from women, in chronological order.
1. Come Drink With Me
That also comes from the story storyline. Co-written by director Hu and Ting Shan-hsi, ‘Come Drink’ includes poignant drama into the mix as well as the action. Each of the characters has...
Without further ado, here are 40 Asian movies where the action mostly derives from women, in chronological order.
1. Come Drink With Me
That also comes from the story storyline. Co-written by director Hu and Ting Shan-hsi, ‘Come Drink’ includes poignant drama into the mix as well as the action. Each of the characters has...
- 5/10/2023
- by AMP Group
- AsianMoviePulse
Shot at the same time with “Wild Jumbo” (and premiering just one month later), Yasuharu Hasebe saw his protagonists shuttling between the two sets. However, while they seemed to mostly have fun in Fujita’s film, they reserved their more serious work for “Sex Hunter”, which emerges as the best part of the series.
The film revolves around two delinquent gangs; one all-female, named “Alleycats” and led by Mako, and one all-male, named “Eagles” and led by The Baron. The two crews have a peculiar relationship, since there is a definite attraction between the two leaders, but things take a turn for the rather worse, when Alleycat Mari turns down the advances of Eagle Susumu, in favor of a half-Japanese, half-African American named Ichiro. Her attitude enrages the Eagles and especially the Baron, whose sister was raped by a half-breed American Japanese man many years ago, with...
The film revolves around two delinquent gangs; one all-female, named “Alleycats” and led by Mako, and one all-male, named “Eagles” and led by The Baron. The two crews have a peculiar relationship, since there is a definite attraction between the two leaders, but things take a turn for the rather worse, when Alleycat Mari turns down the advances of Eagle Susumu, in favor of a half-Japanese, half-African American named Ichiro. Her attitude enrages the Eagles and especially the Baron, whose sister was raped by a half-breed American Japanese man many years ago, with...
- 3/17/2021
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Shot back to back with the first film, “Oretachi Wa Tesnhi Ja Nai 2” continues with the adventures of the four members of Angels Gift Delivery, this time focusing on Chu, who was somewhat neglected in the first part.
Chu helps Mio, a lady who has locked herself outside of her car, in a series of events that end up with the group helping her to clear her father’s house, who was recently murdered, although the culprit is not yet caught. A series of unlikely coincidences end up with the group investigating the mental hospital the man used to work at, and a shady killer dressed in black in their heels.
The combination of nudity, action and comedy is still here, but is not implemented in the same entertaining fashion as in the first part, with the sequel’s only really interesting aspect being the presence of the noir-style killer,...
Chu helps Mio, a lady who has locked herself outside of her car, in a series of events that end up with the group helping her to clear her father’s house, who was recently murdered, although the culprit is not yet caught. A series of unlikely coincidences end up with the group investigating the mental hospital the man used to work at, and a shady killer dressed in black in their heels.
The combination of nudity, action and comedy is still here, but is not implemented in the same entertaining fashion as in the first part, with the sequel’s only really interesting aspect being the presence of the noir-style killer,...
- 4/9/2020
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Based on a novel by Joji Abe, “Oretachi Wa Tenshi Ja Nai” is an unusual entry in Miike’s yakuza movies, particularly because, for the most part, it is a comedy, although the humor is once more slapstick and absurd.
The film revolves around Jo, a brutish ex-yakuza who has just been released from prison as the movie begins. As he leaves the “premises” in the white costume he was admitted, he stumbles upon a former associate, Kenta, who has now undergone a sex change operation. After some misunderstandings of sexual nature, Kenta invites Jo to join the delivery service she is running with ex-burglar Chu and Eri, a former biker girl. Soon, however, the unlawful past of everybody comes knocking, particularly when Eri’s ex-boyfriend Sugeyoshi, tricks her the into thinking his boss is about to kill him. At the same time, Kenta, frustrated by the...
The film revolves around Jo, a brutish ex-yakuza who has just been released from prison as the movie begins. As he leaves the “premises” in the white costume he was admitted, he stumbles upon a former associate, Kenta, who has now undergone a sex change operation. After some misunderstandings of sexual nature, Kenta invites Jo to join the delivery service she is running with ex-burglar Chu and Eri, a former biker girl. Soon, however, the unlawful past of everybody comes knocking, particularly when Eri’s ex-boyfriend Sugeyoshi, tricks her the into thinking his boss is about to kill him. At the same time, Kenta, frustrated by the...
- 4/7/2020
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Many films have become the quintessential viewing schedule for cinephiles planning to take their first steps into Asian filmmaking. And while naturally names such as Yasujiro Ozu and Akira Kurosawa come to mind, Juzo Itami’s “Tampopo” is also one of those titles frequently mentioned within those lists. Considered a “ramen western” by reviewers as well as the director himself, “Tampopo” is not only a celebration of Japanese cuisine, but also of the pleasures within our lives, the various ingredients that make our time on earth as enjoyable as the various ramen dishes served in the film.
“Tampopo” is screening at New York Asian Film Festival – Winter Showcase 2020
After he has heard his young colleague Gun (Ken Watanabe) telling him a story about how to correctly enjoy ramen, truck driver Goro (Tsutomu Yamazaki) and him end up at a run-down ramen shop. The owner, a woman named Tampopo (Nobuko Miyamoto), tries to make ends meet,...
“Tampopo” is screening at New York Asian Film Festival – Winter Showcase 2020
After he has heard his young colleague Gun (Ken Watanabe) telling him a story about how to correctly enjoy ramen, truck driver Goro (Tsutomu Yamazaki) and him end up at a run-down ramen shop. The owner, a woman named Tampopo (Nobuko Miyamoto), tries to make ends meet,...
- 2/17/2020
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
Just at the time when the extravagant and talented director Takashi Miike was making a name for himself, after doing “Bodyguard Kiba” and having done in the same year “Shinjuku Triad Society” (his first theatrically distributed film), he opted for this adaptation of a comic written by Dôkuman, titled “Osaka Tough Guys”. Miike here bets on the most bizarre, extravagant and surreal atmosphere as possible, full of absurd humor and hilarious situations.
Buy This Title
The plot of the film revolves around Makoto Fukunaga and Eiji Yamada, two delinquents with nothing to do in life who have recently been expelled from their high school for their misconduct, and who hang out drinking or getting into fights. The future for these young people does not look very rosy, so by mistake, looking for a job, they end up enrolling in the Kinsu yakuza clan, perhaps the most pathetic and poor in the whole country; Following this,...
Buy This Title
The plot of the film revolves around Makoto Fukunaga and Eiji Yamada, two delinquents with nothing to do in life who have recently been expelled from their high school for their misconduct, and who hang out drinking or getting into fights. The future for these young people does not look very rosy, so by mistake, looking for a job, they end up enrolling in the Kinsu yakuza clan, perhaps the most pathetic and poor in the whole country; Following this,...
- 8/14/2019
- by Pedro Morata
- AsianMoviePulse
Stars: Tsutomu Yamazaki, Nobuko Miyamoto, Ken Watanabe, Rikiya Yasuoka | Written and Directed by Juzo Itami
The life and death of actor and director Juzo Itami is an incredible story in itself (he was allegedly killed by the Yakuza following his gangster movie Minbo), but he was no slouch in putting bizarre stories on the silver screen, either. His sophomore directorial effort, Tampopo (literally, “Dandelion”), was made in 1985 and is probably his best-known film.
A pair of truckers – youngster Gun (Ken Watanabe) and elder Goro (Tsutomu Yamazaki) – chat about ramen (a noodle-based Japanese dish), so decide to stop at a roadside restaurant to satisfy themselves. The place belongs to a widow named Tampopo (Nobuko Miyamoto, Itami’s wife). Desperate to improve her business, she implores the straight-talking Goro to help her turn it into the best restaurant in town.
While Goro and Tampopo go about researching the best recipes and employing...
The life and death of actor and director Juzo Itami is an incredible story in itself (he was allegedly killed by the Yakuza following his gangster movie Minbo), but he was no slouch in putting bizarre stories on the silver screen, either. His sophomore directorial effort, Tampopo (literally, “Dandelion”), was made in 1985 and is probably his best-known film.
A pair of truckers – youngster Gun (Ken Watanabe) and elder Goro (Tsutomu Yamazaki) – chat about ramen (a noodle-based Japanese dish), so decide to stop at a roadside restaurant to satisfy themselves. The place belongs to a widow named Tampopo (Nobuko Miyamoto, Itami’s wife). Desperate to improve her business, she implores the straight-talking Goro to help her turn it into the best restaurant in town.
While Goro and Tampopo go about researching the best recipes and employing...
- 5/1/2017
- by Rupert Harvey
- Nerdly
Stars: Ron Fazio, John Altamura, Phoebe Legere, Rick Collins, Rikiya Yasuoka, Tsutomu Sekine, Mayako Katsuragi, Shinoburyu, Lisa Gaye, Jessica Dublin, Jack Cooper | Written by Gay Partington Terry, Lloyd Kaufman | Directed by Michael Herz, Lloyd Kaufman
Troma films have never been described as masterpieces and I don’t think that they would ever dream of making one. Most of their films have been created with a punk like attitude, fighting against what is seen as normal in the film making industry, and this is a reason fans love them. While their formula often works well, sometimes it fails and sadly The Toxic Avenger 2 is one of the examples of their failures. Looking past the film itself though the new 88 Films Blu-ray release looks to provide plenty of features and an uncut version of the film, but does that manage to get past the weaknesses of the film and make it a good purchase?...
Troma films have never been described as masterpieces and I don’t think that they would ever dream of making one. Most of their films have been created with a punk like attitude, fighting against what is seen as normal in the film making industry, and this is a reason fans love them. While their formula often works well, sometimes it fails and sadly The Toxic Avenger 2 is one of the examples of their failures. Looking past the film itself though the new 88 Films Blu-ray release looks to provide plenty of features and an uncut version of the film, but does that manage to get past the weaknesses of the film and make it a good purchase?...
- 11/19/2014
- by Paul Metcalf
- Nerdly
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