Asian Invasion

Jonathan goes to Tokyo to see if Japanese cinema has gone off the boil, as some critics suggest. He meets directors Ryuhei Kitamura (Versus) and Mamoru Oshii (Ghost in the Shell) and surveys the current crop of Japanese films, including the strange tale of a giant squid turned championship wrestler. FEATURED FILMS Ryuhei Kitamura * Versus (2000, Tartan) * Azumi (2003, Optimum Releasing) * Godzilla: Final Wars (2004, Toho Film Company, Japan) Takashi Miike * Audition (1999, Tartan) * Happiness of the Katakuris (2001, Tartan) * Gozu (2003, Tartan) Mamoru Oshii * Ghost in the Shell (1995, Manga Entertainment) * Avalon (2001, Bluelight) * Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (2004, Manga Entertainment) Hayao Miyazaki * Spirited Away (2001, Optimum Releasing) * Howl's Moving Castle (2004, Optimum Releasing) Shunji Iwai * All About Lily Chou-Chou (2001, Optimum Releasing) 'Beat' Takeshi Kitano * Violent Cop (1989, MIA) * Boiling Point (1990, MIA) * Sonatine (1993, MIA) * Blood and Bones (2005, Tartan) Katsuhiro Otomo * Akira (1988, Manga Entertainment) * Steamboy (2004, Sony/Columbia Pictures) Jonathan's Other Picks * Wild Zero (2000, Gaga Communications, Japan) * Ping Pong (2002, ICA Projects) * Casshern (2004, Momentum Asia) * The Calamari Wrestler (2004, Klockworx Company, Japan)

In Hong Kong Jonathan meets Stephen Chow, star of King Fu Hustle and Shaolin Soccer, celebrates Michelle Yeoh, the world's first female Asian superstar and looks back at his all-time Hong Kong heroes, including Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. FEATURED FILMS Stephen Chow * Shaolin Soccer (2001, Optimum Releasing) * Kung Fu Hustle (2004, Sony/Columbia Pictures) * The King of Comedy (1999, The Weinstein Company) * The God of Cookery (1996, The Weinstein Company) Derek Yee * One Nite in Mongkok (2004, Tartan) * Lost in Time (2003, China Star, Homg Kong) * 2 Young (2005, Film Unlimited, Hong Kong) * Death Duel (1977, Momentum Asia) Andrew Lau (Director) * Infernal Affairs (2002, Tartan) * Infernal Affairs 2 (2003, Tartan) * A Man Called Hero (1999, MIA) Andy Lau (Actor) * God of Gamblers (1989, MIA) * Running Out Of Time 1 (1999, Tai Seng Entertainment) * Fulltime Killer (2001, Tartan) Wong Kar Wai * In the Mood for Love (2000, Tartan) * 2046 (2004, Tartan) Michelle Yeoh * Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars (1985, Hong Kong Legends) * Police Assassins (1985, Hong Kong Legends) * Magnificent Warriors (1987, Hong Kong Legends) * Silver Hawk (2004, Momentum) Johnnie To * Breaking News (2004, Tartan) John Woo * The Killer (1989, Hong Kong Legends) Jackie Chan * Police Story (1985, Hong Kong Legends) * Armour of God (1987, Hong Kong Legends) * Police Story 2 (1988, Hong Kong Legends) Bruce Lee * The Big Boss (1971, Hong Kong Legends) * Way of the Dragon (1972, Hong Kong Legends) Tsui Hark * A Chinese Ghost Story (1997, Hong Kong Legends) Yuen Woo Ping * Iron Monkey (1993, Hong Kong Legends)

Many critics consider Korean cinema to be the most exciting in the world today. Among the directors Jonathan meets are Park Chan-wook, whose film Oldboy won the Grand Prix at Cannes in 2004. He also looks at an extremely odd little monster movie produced by North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il who kidnapped the film's director from South Korea to make his dream project. FEATURED FILMS Park Chan-wook * Oldboy (2003, Tartan) * Sympathy for Mr Vengeance (2002, Tartan) * Joint Security Area (2000, Tartan) * Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (2005, Tartan) Kim Ki-duk * The Bow (Tartan) * Samaritan Girl (2004, Tartan) * 3-Iron (2004, Optimum Releasing) * Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring (2003, Tartan) * Bad Guy (2001, Tartan) * The Isle (2000, Tartan) Kang Je-gyu * Shiri (1999, Tartan) * Brotherhood (2004, Premier Asia) Kong Su-chang * R-Point (2004, Tartan) Jonathan's Other Picks * My Sassy Girl (2001, Miro Vision, Korea) * Attack the Gas Station! (1999, Miro Vision, Korea) * Nowhere to Hide (Tartan) * Pulgasari (1985, Kim Jong-Il/So Ronery Productions)