Favorite Asian Art House Cinema Flicks

[skylee]

Without getting into the technicalities of what really qualifies as "art" (people tend to have different criteria), what are some of your favorite Asian "art house" films from 2000 to present?

Here are some that, for one reason or another, really stood out or "spoke" to me:

1. In the Mood for Love (2000) - Wong Kar Wai
2. Lust, Caution (2007) - Ang Lee
3. 2046 (2004) - Wong Kar Wai
4-6. The Sympathy Trilogy - Chan-wook Park
7. Election 1 & 2 (2005/2006) - Johnnie To
8. Isabella (2006) - Pang Ho Cheung
9. Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (2000) - Ang Lee
10. Hero (2002) - Zhang Zimou
11. Battle Royale (2000) - Kinji Fukasaku
12. A Tale of Two Sisters (2003) - Kim Ji-Woon

[xianzai]

Some favorites:
WKW's Chungking Express, Ashes of Time, Fallen Angels

The Last Life in the Universe (Thailand)

Heaven's Bookstore (Japan)

[Canuck21]

Some favorites:
WKW's Chungking Express, Ashes of Time, Fallen Angels

The Last Life in the Universe (Thailand)

Heaven's Bookstore (Japan)

I was going to say Chungking Express until I saw "art house" films from 2000 to present.

[xianzai]

I was going to say Chungking Express until I saw "art house" films from 2000 to present.

Obviously I didn't catch that.

So, a second list:

Taiwan
What Time is it There?
Three Times

HK
Hidden Track

China
Green Tea
The World
Cell Phone
Baober in Love
Perhaps Love

[skylee]

ITMFL is at the top of my list of WKW films, with Ashes and Chungking next in line (respectively).

Obviously I didn't catch that.

So, a second list:

Taiwan
What Time is it There?
Three Times

HK
Hidden Track

China
Green Tea
The World
Cell Phone
Baober in Love
Perhaps Love

Perhaps Love was decent, but left a lot to be desired, IMO.

I actually saw "Three Times" a few days ago, and it was my very first HHH experience. I admit I came in with the wrong expectations because the film was too slow paced and draggy for me. The first story I enjoyed as it felt a little WKW-esque, but the last two segments nearly put me to sleep. I agree with one reviewer's opinion of the movie: "It felt like watching paint dry - in slow motion". Of course, this is my personal assessment of the movie and others may find within it merits that I fail to see.

I do plan on giving some of HHH's more recognized works a try, though... namely "Flowers of Shanghai".