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Kiliano Ratha
Action is a special genre that is not everyone's cup of tea. Especially not outside the mainstream superhero movies that feature the heroes everybody knows and loves. Because not everyone gets it, action movies are sometimes disregarded, but like any other film genre, it has lots of gems.
It's fair to say that Hollywood dominates the movie industry, putting out many incredible productions each year, but there are countless great action movies readers might have never heard about because they are in a foreign language. Here are a few ideas to broaden your horizons.
The Wandering Earth begins in the year 2058, when a team of astronauts sets out on a mission to move Earth out of its orbit and into a new star system. This is because life on Earth is under great threat due to the expansion of the sun which will inevitably swallow and destroy the planet. Although primarily this movie should be classified as science-fiction, it is action-packed and enticing for fans of the genre.
The protagonist of this story is Liu Peiqiang, a young astronaut who got separated from his family when the mission first started. Seventeen years later, in 2075, Liu is collaborating on the world's efforts to stabilize Earth's orbit and save the planet, which is constantly at risk of massive destruction. The gravitational pull of Jupiter poses the greatest threat, and the astronaut and his team are working on developing new technologies to save the Earth. In the end, Liu and his team must risk their lives in order to save billions of lives.
This Indonesian movie is a sequel to the 2011 production of The Raid, and like its predecessor, a must-see to all action movie super fans. The Raid 2 picks up where the first movie left off, following Rama's story, the brave police officer played by Iko Uwais, as he goes undercover to take down a powerful crime syndicate.
True to the genre, the fight scenes in this movie are top-notch, with the action ranging from hand-to-hand combat to car chases and shootouts. But that's not all. It also provides a well-developed plot with intense twists that dazzle viewers. A complete piece of art, The Raid 2 provides themes of loyalty, betrayal, and family. For many of the characters, their
The Assassin is a Taiwanese martial arts action film that came out in 2015. That year, it was presented at the Cannes Film Festival, where its director, Hou Hsiao-Hsien, won the Best Director award.
Loosely based on the late seventh-century martial arts story Nie Yinniang by Pei Xing, the movie is set in China during the Tang Dynasty and follows Nie Yinniang, a skilled but somewhat merciful assassin who is ordered to kill her cousin, Tian Ji'an, the governor of Weibo province, who she was once meant to marry. This is not only with the purpose of ending a de facto military regime at the hands of Tian, but it is also meant to be a punishment for Nie for having been too kind in previous assignments, which her master views as a weakness.
However, as she infiltrates his household in order to execute him, she begins to have doubts about her mission. A very compelling conflict of loyalties ensues, accompanied by delicate and graceful action sequences and fight scenes that will have the audience blown away by the beauty and artistry of traditional Chinese martial arts.
Train to Busan is a Korean action thriller that came out in 2016 and was an incredible success. Directed by Yeon Sang-ho, the movie follows the story of Seok-woo, a workaholic father who is taking his daughter, Su-an, to Busan on a high-speed train to spend her birthday with her mother.
As most readers probably expect, things quickly take a turn for the worse when a zombie outbreak occurs, turning passengers into flesh-eating monsters. Seok-woo, Su-an, and a group of survivors must fight their way through the train to reach safety. The enclosed space makes the contagiousness of the infection all the more dangerous, but that's not the only problem father and daughter face on their quest for survival. They also have to deal with the selfishness and greed of other passengers.
Action fans will be happy to see that the fighting scenes are beautifully choreographed and enthralling, playing off the train setting perfectly. The creators have certainly done a great job building an original and terrifying world, especially considering that action-zombie thrillers could be seen as an overdone genre.
Triple Threat came out in 2019 in Thailand, and it's been praised as an outstanding action movie. Starring Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, and Tiger Chen, the movie revolves around a group of skilled mercenaries who are tasked with an important mission when a billionaire's daughter is kidnapped by a crime syndicate. They join forces to rescue her and bring the criminals to justice, but things take a dark turn when they discover that the kidnapping was just the tip of the iceberg. The syndicate, as it turns out, is part of a large web of corrupt politicians and law-enforcement officers, so taking them down becomes a much more difficult and dangerous task. Of course, that means that the action scenes are especially intense and attractive, combining hand-to-hand combat with shootings and other forms of well-choreographed violence.
Headshot is an Indonesian film from 2016 that has dazzled action fans. The protagonist of this story is played by Iko Uwais. In the movie, he wakes up from a coma with no recollection of who he is, much less of what happened. He is nursed back to health by a kind, dedicated doctor, Ailin (played by Chelsea Islan), and when he sees her reading Moby Dick, he chooses the name Ishmael for himself.
As the movie unfolds we learn that it was a mobster who had caused the injury that left him in a coma and that they were coming to finish the job. As his memories slowly resurface, Ishmael embarks on a relentless quest for answers and redemption, as well as doing his best to keep Ailin safe.
The Villainess is a stylish South Korean action movie that premiered at the 70th Cannes Film Festival in May 2017. It stars Kim Ok-bin as Sook-hee, a highly skilled assassin. The film begins with a breathtaking 10-minute opening sequence that follows Sook-hee as she single-handedly takes out a group of armed men in a narrow hallway. Afterward, she is recruited by South Korea's intelligence agency which gives her a new identity. With her new life and her more than a little unconventional new job, the now-named Chae Yeon-soo manages to find some happiness, especially after giving birth to her daughter, but of course, new complications find her along the way. Also, the audience soon gets to learn about our villainess' past, including her traumatic childhood and the events that led her to become an assassin. The action sequences, including car chases and all forms of combat, leave the viewers wanting more.
The Bodyguard, also known as My Beloved Bodyguard is a 2016 movie set in a small town in China in the mid-2000s. It was directed by Sammo Hung, who also starred in it, and produced by Andy Lau, who makes a special appearance. The movie follows Ding, a retired Central Security Bureau officer from Beijing, who is deeply haunted by his past and lives mostly in solitude, save for a few visits from his landlady, and finds comfort in taking care of his neighbor, a little girl named Cherry, whose father is neglectful.
At one point, Cherry's father becomes stifled by his gambling debts and becomes the target of a ruthless drug lord. Determined to shield Cherry and her family from harm, Ding's protective and fighting instincts return, and he's ready to confront the dangers that await. Sammo Hung's unmatched martial arts prowess makes for the most enjoyable action scenes, and the vulnerable side of the character makes the plot all the more compelling.
Released in 2018, The Night Comes For Us, an Indonesian action thriller directed by Timo Tjahjanto, has become known as one of the most brutal and thrilling action movies of the last decade. It's worth noting that before it became the amazing film that it is now, the screenplay was turned into a graphic novel that lots of action fans might be interested in.
In The Night Comes For Us, Ito, the main character, is an elite enforcer for the South East Asian Triad, known as the Six Seas. He becomes a traitor when he decides to save a young girl the gang was supposed to kill, and on his quest to protect her, he faces unbelievable dangers. There are great fight scenes, and the elegant use of violence makes it not only entertaining but also very interesting.
There is inherent magic in the language of cinema, and when that language transcends borders, it becomes a beautiful combination of visuals and sounds that appeal to one's soul. Consuming films in different languages is like embarking on a daring adventure, where subtitles become windows into unfamiliar cultures. It's a passport to empathy, an invitation to broaden our horizons, and an opportunity to experience the universal power of storytelling in its purest form. Netflix, the ever-expanding treasure trove of cinematic delights, has become a haven for international gems that transport viewers to new cultures, perspectives, and narratives. From heart-stirring tales of love and loss to gripping thrillers and thought-provoking dramas, the streaming platform offers an unparalleled collection of the best foreign-language films that ignite the senses and open the doors to a world of unparalleled storytelling. The crme de la crme of foreign cinema is listed below, awaiting your discovery on Netflix.
Miracle in Cell No. 7 is a Turkish remake of the original South Korean film released in 2013 and was selected as the Turkish entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards. Set in Trkiye, the film follows the life of Memo, a mentally challenged man, and his young daughter Ova. When Memo is wrongfully accused of a crime and sentenced to life in prison; inside the confines of Cell No. 7, he forms unlikely friendships with his fellow inmates, who become his makeshift family. What makes the story of Miracle in Cell No. 7 so beautiful is the way it beautifully portrays the innocence, love, and unwavering bond between a father and daughter. Despite the challenges Memo faces, his pure heart and steadfast love for Ova touch the lives of those around him, even in the harshest of circumstances. The film beautifully balances moments of laughter, tears, and tenderness, creating an emotional rollercoaster that resonates deeply with viewers.Watch on Netflix
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