BANISHED (2005) {Japan} [Import]
director: Eiji Okauda
starring: Keiko Matsuzaka · Mariya Ito
Eiji Okuda (Adolescent) directs this elegant yet ugly story of survival in the most desperate of times. Set in 1838, on Hachijo Island Penal Colony, anarchy is the norm. There are no jail cells, no guards, no government interference. The only rule is... survive at any cost. One of the convicts is an ex-courtesan named Toyogiku. By exploiting her sexuality – bartering her body for favors – she has gained some authority in her section of the island. But passions are easily ignited and sometimes there isn't much difference between sexual release and brutality. This is the story of what happens after someone loses their soul.
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ONE MISSED CALL 3 (2006) {Japan} [Import]
director: Manabu Asou
starring: Itao Itsuji · Meisa Kuroki
This horror franchise is revitalized with an infusion from the Final Destination bag of tricks. While vacationing on a cruise ship, a group a students become victims of the "cell phone curse." Once back on dry-land, the members face gruesome death while images of their final moments are sent to the each other's cell phones. A well-made but unnecessary film.
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FOX FAMILY (2006) {Korea} [Import]
director: Lee Hyeong-Gon
starring: Ju Hyeun · Ha Jeong-Woo
A Musical Comedy Horror Extravaganza... not many of those around. According to Korean folklore, the "nine-tailed fox" is a shape-shifting creature that can actually become human in its 1000th year if it eats the liver of a human. A family of such foxes have temporarily transformed into people operating a circus in hopes of capturing human beings for the liver munching festivities. But before the big event, a torso is discovered (minus a liver) and the Fox Family finds themselves under suspicion in a murder investigation. Can they shake the police long enough to chow down?
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GO (2005) {Japan} [Import]
director: Isoa Yukisada
starring: Yosuke Kubozuka · Kou Shibasaki
Comparisons to Danny Boyle's Trainspotting are unavoidable. Both movies are similar in tone and concept. From the opening scenes where Yosuke gets a severe beating on a basketball court (a memorable and excruciating segment), Go! leaps into a spirited frenzy of raw energy dealing with the delights and dangers of being young.
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SLEEPLESS VIGIL (2005) {Japan}
director: Masahiko Makino [Import]
starring: Yoshino Kimura · Kiichi Nakai
Comedian-turned-director Masahiko Makino delivers a shamelessly offensive comedy, seemingly inspired by "rakudo," an ancient vaudeville style that relies on bawdy songs, dirty jokes and scatological humor. In Japan, this type of burlesque humor is generally called Geisha Entertainment. This story deals with the last, dying request of a old man named Shomantei. This geezer has asked to see the genitals of a young beautiful virgin. The family rushes about to arrange his wish, an event that chain-reacts, causing most everyone to kick the bucket.
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THE HOST (2006) {Korea} [Import]
director: Bong Jun-Ho
starring: Song Kang-Ho · Bae Du-Na
Three thoughts came to mind as I watched this Korean blockbuster monster movie. 1. It’s sorta sad how America has become the butt of the joke – usually via some kind of a bumbling, ill-informed authority figure – in the mind of many foreigners. Case in point, this movie opens with a simpleton U.S Army general instructing an underling to dump bottles of toxic waste down the drain, knowing and not caring that it will pollute the Han River. 2. Regardless of the genre, most Korean movies are ultimately about “family.” For example, as sexually twisted as Old Boy might be, it essentially is a family drama. Even though The Host is promoted as a monster movie, the reason this film garnered attention at Cannes and received so many “Best Picture” awards is because it’s really about family unity and that’s quite refreshing in the international marketplace. 3. No matter what... this is a damn good monster movie with great special effects. It deserves the praise it’s been getting. 
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FLY HIGH (2006) {Korea}
director: Kwak Ji-Kyun
starring: Jeong Ae-Ri · Im Jeong-Eun
Min is an 18-year-old high school student. He’s never had a serious relationship until he falls in love with Mi-hyun. It's love at first sight. At least that's how he felt when she stumbled into the men's restroom (seems that the girls' toilet was full). Min believes that Mi-hyun is his soulmate and he tries everything to win her. She wants no part of him. Instead, she leaves on a mysterious trip to the States (she’s been diagnosed as terminally ill). However, upon her return – with weeks to live – she has a different attitude toward Min.  
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BLACK KISS (2005) {Japan} [Import]
director: Makoto Tezuka
starring: Reika Hashimoto · Kaori Kawamura
A stunning, beautifully photographed Japanese psycho thriller (as close to the classic Italian Giallo as Asia has flirted). Asuka is an aspiring model who moves to Tokyo to pursue her career. She shares a small apartment with an acquaintance, Kasumi. A brutal murder occurs at the hotel across the street. The body was mutilated and turned into a lurid work of art. After this, the two girls seem to be a magnet for even more bizarre murders as if the killer wants to - somehow - involve them.
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DOG BITE DOG (2006) {HK} [Import]
director: Cheang Pou-Soi
starring: Edison Chan · Sam Lee
Easily, this is the most brutal, the most savage, film to come out of HK in the past decade (thus the Category III rating, one of the only movies to receive this rating since the Chinese takeover). Edison Chan is a hitman sent from Cambodia to murder a judge in Hong Kong. He makes the hit early in the film but when he attempts to get out of the country, his escape route collapses. Soon the killer is reduced to behavior of an animal, fighting for survival against an unbalanced cop on his trail.  
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THE TEACHER (2006) {Korea} [Import]
director: Im Dae-Woong
starring: Oh Mi-Hee · Lee Ji-Hyeon
People are murdered one-by-one during a class reunion at a rural resort in the tense and viciously gory thriller. It all has to do with a mysterious accident that took place 20 years ago. Now somebody wants revenge. Long live the slasher genre!
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