Phil Mills’s Top Ten Of 2009

Feature by   |  Jan 16, 2010

This time last year I was still hard at work on the site relaunch and sadly missed out on the top ten lists. This year, I was keen to atone for my sins so have prepped a list that is actually surprisingly lacking in anime and includes a number of films that I really should have gotten around to watching earlier.

10. Duelist

Duelist

Director: 
Cast: , , , , 

‘Duelist’ has been sitting on my shelf since Hannah originally recommended it to me back in 2005, but this year it finally made it into my DVD player. Thankfully it was worth the wait as the film uses a mix of action, comedy and drama to craft out a refreshingly different take on the genre. The visual style may not be suited to everyone, but if you have an open mind then there is something very poetic about the whole affair.
Read the Far East Films review

9. The Forbidden Kingdom

The Forbidden Kingdom

Director: 
Cast: , , , , 

Considering this is an American made movie that features two Chinese actors/martial artists who are somewhat past their physical peaks, this is actually an extremely fun and well put together production. Chan and Li genuinely look to be enjoying themselves, and the film retains the majority of the best elements from the original story. It’s also nice to see that the fight choreography maintains a distinctly Eastern flavour and doesn’t over-do the wirework.
Read the Far East Films review

8. Invisible Target

Invisible Target

Director: 
Cast: , , , , 

Benny Chan goes back to basics for this slick martial arts actioner that is packed full of hard hitting fight scenes, bone breaking stuntwork and glass shattering explosions. If you are looking for a slice of old school Hong Kong action cinema, then this is probably as close as the industry has come for quite a number of years.
Read the Far East Films review

7. The Chaser

The Chaser

Director: 
Cast: , , , , 

Korean cinema has a habit of turning established genres on their heads, and 2008’s ‘The Chaser’ is a prime example of this. Taking the standard serial killer scenario, the film surprises the viewer by capturing the bad guy within the first 20 minutes and then leaving you to squirm as they attempt to prove his guilt. This unusual take on the genre makes for captivating viewing and the film even finds the time to dish up a number of shocking twists along the way.
Read the Far East Films review

6. The Prince Of Tennis

The Prince Of Tennis

Director: 
Cast: , , , , 

Okay so it probably helps that I’m a fan of the original anime, but this live-action adaptation of ‘The Prince Of Tennis’ was definitely one of the most fun sports movies I’ve seen since ‘Shaolin Soccer’. It really does capture the essence of the source material perfectly, and is further enhanced by an impressive array of acting talent and some surprisingly good CGI effects.
Read the Far East Films review

5. Beast Stalker

The Beast Stalker

Director: 
Cast: , , , , 

While Hong Kong’s action cinema may have suffered several blips during the last couple of decades, the industry has continued to churn out a number of high calibre thrillers. My highlight this year came in the form of Dante Lam’s ‘Beast Stalker’, a roller coaster ride of emotions that has you firmly gripped from start to finish. Nick Cheung wins out in the battle of the Nic/Nicks when it comes to performances, and it is very clear that he has put his comedy roots far behind him.
Read the Far East Films review

4. The Host

The Host

Director: 
Cast: , , , , 

Yes, yes, I know that everyone and their dog saw this film an age ago, but I only just got around to seeing it this year. Although I tried to fight back the urge to follow the crowd, you just can’t help but be blown away by such an amazing leap forward for the standard creature feature. What really puts it head and shoulders above the competition is the fact that it concentrates more on the human element than the “giant fishy thing”, making it far more engrossing and heartfelt than you could ever envisage.
Read the Far East Films review

3. A Man Who Was Superman

A Man Who Was Superman

Director: 
Cast: , , , , 

Here at Far East Films we’ve been singing the praises of this film so much this year that you’re probably quite sick of it by now. However, if you’ve actually seen it then you’ll know exactly what we’re talking about as it is definitely one of the most heart wrenching dramas to emerge this year. Jun Ji-hyun is once again on top form, although the film undoubtedly belongs to Hwang Jeong-Min who puts in such a strong performance that even the manliest of men will be crying like babies.
Read the Far East Films review

2. Ip Man

Ip Man

Director: 
Cast: , , , , 

The Wilson Yip/Donnie Yen partnership continues to prosper with yet another top action flick. Based on the life of the legendary Wing Chun master Yip Man, the film makes for an enthralling watch with several beautifully shot and well choreographed fight sequences that show Yen at his finest. It only just misses out on the top spot as some of the characters aren’t quite as fleshed out as they could have been.
Read the Far East Films review

1. Goemon

Goemon

Director: 
Cast: , , , , 

Kazuaki Kiriya returns from a 4 year absence with this superb interpretation of the Goemon legend. After receiving quite a bit of (warranted) criticism for his directorial debut, Kirirya has clearly learnt from his mistakes and crafts out one hell of an engrossing story that manages to pack quite an emotional punch. That said, there is no escaping that the film is clearly at its best during the action sequences, and some of the set pieces are so stunning that they even put the likes of ‘Lord Of The Rings’ to shame.
Read the Far East Films review

Phil Mills
Follow me
Latest posts by Phil Mills (see all)