❤ feature films: my top picks 👑
picks from my completed list, verrry loosely ordered by how much i enjoyed the title overall.
► some titles link to kanopy and/or hoopla, which are free streaming services with no ads accessible through participating public libraries and universities. they have titles that can't be found elsewhere but there's a limit to "borrowing" (i've seen 4 titles per month for each service but ymmv). these are meant to be a last resort because technically it's only free for the end user - the library is the one being charged. (film quarterly article about this) ◄
also see ~ ☆ ptw: feature films | ❤ short films: my top picks | ❤ full + short series: my top picks {private for now} | more of my custom lists
cw: for warnings on anything you may find disturbing or offensive (depictions of queerphobias, discrimination, shaming, violence, or other triggering content), please check tags* on the title's page, user reviews, and/or Does the Dog Die (although not all titles are there). [*click "Vote or add tags" to see all - but this will include spoilers.]
pee.ess. i add personal notes to my lists because i use them for my own reference and it's unlikely that anyone else is reading. if you are here and you are not me, then i hope you can overlook this clutter if it's of no use to you.
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1. Tokyo Story
Japanese Movie - 1953
♦ written by Ozu Yasujiro & Noda Kogo | directed by Ozu Yasujiro
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2. The Taste of Tea
Japanese Movie - 2004
♦ written and directed by Ishii Katsuhito
► dramacool ◄
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3. Chungking Express
Hong Kong Movie - 1994
♦ written and directed by Wong Kar Wai
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4. 3-Iron
Korean Movie - 2004
♦ written and directed by Kim Ki Duk
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5. Nobody Knows
Japanese Movie - 2004
♦ written and directed by Koreeda Hirokazu
► tubi (free w/ads) | dramacool | amazon (ifc or amc+ sub) ◄
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6. Shoplifters
Japanese Movie - 2018
♦ written and directed by Koreeda Hirokazu
► hoopla (w/library card) | dramacool | amazon (rent, buy, or magnolia selects sub) ◄
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7. Drive My Car
Japanese Movie - 2021
♦ written by Hamaguchi Ryusuke and Oe Takamasa | directed by Hamaguchi Ryusuke
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8. Seven Samurai
Japanese Movie - 1954
♦ written by Kurosawa Akira, Hashimoto Shinobu, & Oguni Hideo | directed by: Kurosawa Akira
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9. Mongolian Ping Pong
Chinese Movie - 2005
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10. After Life
Japanese Movie - 1998
♦ written and directed by Koreeda Hirokazu
► dramacool ◄
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11. Parasite
Korean Movie - 2019
♦ written by Bong Joon Ho & Han Jin Won | directed by Bong Joon Ho
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12. Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy
Japanese Movie - 2021
♦ written and directed by Hamaguchi Ryusuke
♦ triptych of stand-alone stories ~
♣ pt01: Magic (or Something Less Assuring) [36m]
♣ pt02: Door Wide Open [44m @35:45]
♣ pt03: Once Again [40m @1:19:52]► kanopy (w/library card) | hoopla (w/library card) | dramacool | amazon (rent or buy) ◄
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13. Rurouni Kenshin
Japanese Movie - 2012
[Samurai X]
♦ written by Otomo Keishi & Fujii Kiyomi | directed by Otomo Keishi
▼ adapted from a manga: will link later!
♦ first of five live action films released in the Rurouni Kenshin franchise.
by release date (chronological order differs):
1: Rurouni Kenshin ► netflix ◄ ❤
2: Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno ► dramacool | funimation ◄ ♡
3: Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends ► dramacool | funimation ◄ ❤
4: Rurouni Kenshin: The Final ► netflix ◄ ♡
5: Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning ► netflix ◄ -ptw- -
15. Dear Tenant
Taiwanese Movie - 2020
BL feature film (romance is not the main focus but a significant part of the storyline).
/// be careful of spoilers on this one! ///
# mystery # drama # family # gay romance # grief
·=═ leaving gagaoolala soon ═=· ► gagaoolala (sub) | dramacool ◄
♫ ost / score: Fran & other artists (album)
{additional notes on my BL + gay list.}
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16. Eternal Summer
Taiwanese Movie - 2006
► netflix ◄
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17. The Edge of Metamorphosis
Japanese Movie - 2022
♦ written by Okada Yoshikazu | directed by Kariyama Shunsuke
▼ adapted from a manga: will link later!
♦ spinoff stand-alone short series: Kimi no Koto Dake Mite Itai [I Want to See Only You] (based on the manga shown in this film – it's an adaptation of a story within a story).
► dramacool ◄
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18. I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK
Korean Movie - 2006
♦ written by Jung Seo Kyung | directed by Park Chan Wook
► kissasian ◄
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19. Air Doll
Japanese Movie - 2009
♦ written and directed by Koreeda Hirokazu
► dramacool | youtube (rent or buy) | google play (rent or buy) | amazon (rent or buy) ◄
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20. Casshern
Japanese Movie - 2004
♦ adapted from an anime: Shinzou Ningen Casshern [Neo Human Casshan] (1973); Casshern: Robot Hunter [Casshan: Robot Hunter] (ova, 1993); and Casshern Sins* (2008). *on crunchyroll (sub) or amazon (buy)
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21. Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable
Japanese Movie - 2017
# action # adventure # mystery # fantasy # special power # adapted from a manga
♦ first live action adaptation in the JoJo's franchise (includes manga, anime series, video games, and more).
◘ directed by Miike Takashi.
♦ parent story to the spin-off series Kishibe Rohan wa Ugokanai [Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan] (which has sequels and a spin-off as well).
► dramacool | amazon (rent or buy) ◄ alts: listed on justwatch
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22. Happy Together
Hong Kong Movie - 1997
♦ written and directed by Wong Kar Wai
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23. Kung Fu Hustle
Hong Kong Movie - 2004
♦ written by Stephen Chow (Chow Sing Chi) & Tsang Kan Cheong | directed by Stephen Chow (Chow Sing Chi)
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24. My Love Story!!
Japanese Movie - 2015
♦ written by Nogi Akiko | directed by Kawai Hayato
▼ adapted from an anime (or maybe it was originally a manga): will link later!
► dramacool ◄
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25. In the Mood for Love
Hong Kong Movie - 2000
♦ written and directed by Wong Kar Wai
♦ part 2 of an informal trilogy (each can be viewed as stand-alone) – part 1: Days of Being Wild (ptw) | part 3: 2046 (below).
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26. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Chinese Movie - 2000
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27. 2046
Hong Kong Movie - 2004
♦ written and directed by Wong Kar Wai
♦ part 3 of informal trilogy (each can be viewed as stand-alone) – part 1: Days of Being Wild (ptw) | part 2: In the Mood for Love (above).
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29. After the Restart
Japanese Movie - 2020
# gay romance # life # drama # family # adapted from a manga
·=═ leaving gagaoolala soon ═=· ► gagaoolala (sub) ◄
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30. Mickey on the Road
Taiwanese Movie - 2020
lesbian (or bisexual) MC, about misfit besties on a hero's journey (*joseph campbell reference). [1h 35m]
·=═ leaving gagaoolala soon ═=· ► gagaoolala (sub) ◄
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31. Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto
Japanese Movie - 1954
♦ written by Inagaki Hiroshi, Wakao Tokuhei, & Hojo Hideji | directed by Inagaki Hiroshi
♦ part 1 of trilogy – sequels: Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple (below) | Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island (below).
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32. Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple
Japanese Movie - 1955
♦ written by Inagaki Hiroshi, Wakao Tokuhei, & Hojo Hideji | directed by Inagaki Hiroshi
♦ part 2 of trilogy – prequel: Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto (above) | sequel: Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island (below).
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33. Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island
Japanese Movie - 1956
♦ written by Inagaki Hiroshi & Wakao Tokuhei | directed by Inagaki Hiroshi
♦ part 3 of trilogy – prequels: Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto (above) | Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple (above).
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34. Hero
Chinese Movie - 2002
♦ written by Wang Bin | directed by Zhang Yi Mou
► amazon (rent or buy *subbed version*) ◄
-language not specified: google play (rent or buy; trailer in english so probably dubbed)- -english dubbed: youtube | youtube (rent or buy)- not available:
mubi|tubi?|kanopy|hoopla|dramacool -
35. Shanghai Triad
Chinese Movie - 1995
♦ written by Wang Bin & Bi Fei Yu | directed by Zhang Yi Mou
► kanopy (w/library card) | hoopla (w/library card) | amazon (rent or buy) | google play (rent or buy) | youtube (rent or buy) ◄
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36. Yojimbo
Japanese Movie - 1961
[The Bodyguard]
♦ written by Kurosawa Akira & Kikushima Ryuzo | directed by: Kurosawa Akira
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37. Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter... and Spring
Korean Movie - 2003
♦ written and directed by Kim Ki Duk
► dramacool | amazon (rent or buy) | -also youtube and google play (both rent or buy)- ◄ ▼ might link later! ▼
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38. Floating Weeds
Japanese Movie - 1959
♦ written and directed by Ozu Yasujiro
► max | kanopy (w/library card) | dramacool ◄
-this is a remake of Ozu's 1934 version, A Story of Floating Weeds, which is also on max and kanopy-
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39. Tony Takitani
Japanese Movie - 2005
♦ written and directed by Ichikawa Jun
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40. Late Spring
Japanese Movie - 1949
♦ written by Ozu Yasujiro & Noda Kogo | directed by Ozu Yasujiro
► max | youtube | kanopy (w/library card) | amazon (fandor sub, rent, or buy) | youtube (fandor sub) ◄
═════ alternate streaming source check stopped here (might remove titles below) ═════
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41. The King and the Clown
Korean Movie - 2005
♦ written by Choi Seok Hwan | directed by Lee Joon Ik
► dramacool ◄
elsewhere -
43. My Annoying Brother
Korean Movie - 2016
♦ written by Yoo Young Ah | directed by Kwon Soo Kyung
► dramacool ◄
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44. A Werewolf Boy
Korean Movie - 2012
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45. Go Brother!
Chinese Movie - 2018
♦ written by Cheng Fen Fen & Yue Zhao | directed by Cheng Fen Fen
► viki (free) ◄
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46. Inseparable Bros
Korean Movie - 2019
► viki (free) ◄
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47. Luck-Key
Korean Movie - 2016
♦ written by Jang Yoon Mi | directed by Lee Kye Byuk
► viki (standard sub) ◄
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48. Cutie Honey
Japanese Movie - 2004