Foreign Flicks

I'm pretty diverse when it comes to movies. I'll watch anything from a romantic comedy to a suspense thriller, from a satire to a dumb comedy. I'll even go as far to view independent and foreign films. That's about all I go to the video store for, because I can watch those mainstream movies in the theaters anytime. The majority of independent and foreign films aren't shown in theaters, so the soonest most people can view them is when they come to the video stores. I love American films, but feel there are excellent films made elsewhere and they should receive the credit and attention they deserve.

Below, I have listed all the foreign films that I've seen thus far. These will not include British, Australian, or Canadian cinema, because when I think foreign, I think subtitles. At the end, though, I will list a few films from those three countries. Below, I've listed the names of the films, the language the films are in, my rating or grade for the movies, and then I list off: What to like, what not to like, who should watch it, and who shouldn't watch it.

1. "Amelie" (French): 7/10
What to like- The mood. Even the Grinch could walk away from this one smiling.
What not to like- The mood. Sometimes it's too good to believe.
Who should watch it- Anyone looking to smile and feel bubbly inside.
Who shouldn't watch it- Bill O'Reilly.

2. "Amor En Concreto" (Spanish): 4/10
What to like- The storyline.
What not to like- The direction, plot, music, and acting.
Who should watch it- Those who picture themselves enjoying a Spanish "Blair Witch Project" with cheesy music and no scares or thrills.
Who shouldn't watch it- Anybody who owns a DVD player.

3. "Amores Perros" (Spanish): 8.5/10
What to like- The complexity. The intensity. The directing.
What not to like- The blood and gore.
Who should watch it- Those who like American cinema and aren't faint at heart.
Who shouldn't watch it- People who are obsessed with dogs.

4. "The Barbarian Invasions" (French): 6/10
What to like- The dialogue and humor.
What not to like- The lack of anything else.
Who should watch it- Anyone with a perverted sense of humor.
Who shouldn't watch it- Those who already think men are pigs.

5. "Blind Shaft" (Chinese): 8.5/10
What to like- The Hitchcockian-style suspense and tempo.
What not to like- The two men plotting against the kid.
Who should watch it- Anyone who enjoys a good old-style suspense thriller.
Who shouldn't watch it- Wimps.

6. "Bright Future" (Japanese): 7.5/10
What to like- The direction, acting, and picturesque finale.
What not to like- Storyline is a bit thin.
Who should watch it- Those who appreciate Japanese director Kurosawa's works.
Who shouldn't watch it- Anyone who can't stand any kind of symbolism in film.

7. "The City of Lost Children" (French): 6.5/10
What to like- The creativity and imagination involved.
What not to like- The dialogue.
Who should watch it- Those who enjoy sci-fi and unique films.
Who shouldn't watch it- People who have sticks up their you know what.

8. "Crimson Gold" (Iranian): 7/10
What to like- The dialogue and reality that is shown when it comes to class differences.
What not to like- The story moves a bit too slowly at times.
Who should watch it- Anyone curious about the affects of class differences.
Who shouldn't watch it- Rich upper-class folk.

9. "A Day Without A Mexican" (Spanish): 5/10
What to like- The satire involved.
What not to like- The acting.
Who should watch it- Anyone interested in viewing an average foreign satire.
Who shouldn't watch it- Those who want a border fence built between the U.S. and Mexico.

10. "The Devil's Backbone" (Spanish): 6.5/10
What to like- The ambiguous messages from the story.
What not to like- The lack of a chill as critics said there was.
Who should watch it- Anyone who likes ambiguity.
Who shouldn't watch it- Those that are very easily frightened.

11. "Distant" (Turkish): 6.5/10
What to like- The realism with which the story is told and acted.
What not to like- The pace with which that story is told.
Who should watch it- Those who like to relate to films.
Who shouldn't watch it- Those who suffer from depression.

12. "Dog Days" (Austrian): 4.5/10
What to like- Austrian scenery.
What not to like- The story and dialogue.
Who should watch it- Those who really like Austria.
Who shouldn't watch it- Everyone else.

13. "The Edukators" (German): 8/10
What to like- The excellent dialogue.
What not to like- The sometimes overloaded dialogue.
Who should watch it- Open-minded individuals.
Who shouldn't watch it- Those still living in the McCarthy era.

14. "The Eye" (Chinese/Cantonese): 6.5/10
What to like- The first half of the film.
What not to like- The second half of the film.
Who should watch it- Anyone who likes a good scare or two.
Who shouldn't watch it- Those who get scared by watching "Patch Adams."

15. "The Eye 2" (Chinese/Cantonese): 6/10
What to like- The noticeable differences between this film and its predecessor.
What not to like- The lack of good scares.
Who should watch it- Those who liked the first film.
Who shouldn't watch it- Anyone who sleeps with their lights on after viewing the first film.

16. "The Flower of Evil" (French): 5.5/10
What to like- The title.
What not to like- The familiarity it has with other films.
Who should watch it- French film buffs.
Who shouldn't watch it- Those who don't have much time on their hands.

17. "Good Bye, Lenin!" (German): 7/10
What to like- The storyline.
What not to like- I'm not sure.
Who should watch it- Anyone who likes good cinema.
Who shouldn't watch it- Those who have trouble reading subtitles.

18. "Human Resources" (French): 5.5/10
What to like- The film's message.
What not to like- How slowly it takes for that message to get relayed.
Who should watch it- Film critics.
Who shouldn't watch it- Average civilians.

19. "I'm Not Scared" (Italian): 8/10
What to like- The ambiguous storylines and multiple messages.
What not to like- The lack of scares.
Who should watch it- Anyone who appreciates a good flick.
Who shouldn't watch it- Those who rank "Dude, Where's My Car" as the top movie ever.

20. "Infection" (Japanese): 5.5/10
What to like- Some disturbing scenes and sequences.
What not to like- Some disturbing scenes and sequences.
Who should watch it- Anyone who is into Japanese horror films.
Who shouldn't watch it- Those who think "Vertigo" is a horror film.

21. "Intimate Strangers" (French): 7/10
What to like- The dialogue.
What not to like- There's not much else in the film.
Who should watch it- People interested in counseling and the female psyche.
Who shouldn't watch it- Those bored with psychology and the female psyche.

22. "Kitchen Stories" (Norwegian): 6/10
What to like- The interesting plot and storyline.
What not to like- Not much dialogue.
Who should watch it- Those interested in voyeuristic psychological studies.
Who shouldn't watch it- Those who can't stand Chaplin films.

23. "Kontroll" (Hungarian): 6.5/10
What to like- The rush of some sequences.
What not to like- The setting.
Who should watch it- Anyone who likes running on the railroad tracks.
Who shouldn't watch it- Kids.

24. "Kung Fu Hustle" (Chinese/Cantonese): 8/10
What to like- The action sequences and humor.
What not to like- The woman's monster scream.
Who should watch it- Anyone who liked Looney Tunes, Kill Bill, or the Three Stooges.
Who shouldn't watch it- People who get so involved in film, that they mimic everything that is portrayed on the screen.

25. "Look At Me" (French): 7.5/10
What to like- The story and how it's shown from a daughter's perspective.
What not to like- The father.
Who should watch it- Anyone who's ever felt unappreciated by a loved one.
Who shouldn't watch it- Britney Spears.

26. "Maria Full of Grace" (Spanish): 7/10
What to like- The realism with which the story is told.
What not to like- The realism is just a bit too real at times.
Who should watch it- Anyone interested in the drug trade.
Who shouldn't watch it- Those who are high at the time.

27. "Monseur Ibrahim" (French): 7/10
What to like- Dialogue.
What not to like- Lack of much else.
Who should watch it- Those who are slightly prejudiced against someone of another religion.
Who shouldn't watch it- Those who are extremely prejudiced against someone of another religion.

28. "My Father and I" (French): 7.5/10
What to like- The cleverness in how the story is told.
What not to like- It's slow-moving at times.
Who should watch it- Anyone who enjoys a decent murder mystery.
Who shouldn't watch it- Those who lack any patience.

29. "Noi" (Icelandic): 7.5/10
What to like- The story and scenery.
What not to like- The dialogue lacks at times.
Who should watch it- Anyone who has felt isolated or all alone at a point in their life.
Who shouldn't watch it- Those who are easily bored.

30. "Paradise Now" (Arabic): 8/10
What to like- The realism. The tempo. The dialogue. Learning about the two main characters, their histories and background.
What not to like- It will be too real for some.
Who should watch it- Anyone who has an interest to find out why people do certain things and what makes them tick.
Who shouldn't watch it- Religious extremists.

31. "Premonition" (Japanese): 6/10
What to like- How the story is told from a common Easterner's way of thinking.
What not to like- The silliness and corniness of some scenes.
Who should watch it- Anyone who liked "Injection" should like this.
Who shouldn't watch it- Those who demand their horror films to be realistic.

32. "Red Lights" (French): 6/10
What to like- The acting.
What not to like- The story and dialogue lack.
Who should watch it- Those who listen to film critics.
Who shouldn't watch it- Those who want to see a good foreign film.

33. "The Return" (Russian): 9.5/10
What to like- The acting, story, plot, direction, and ambiguity.
What not to like- Some will be confused by the ambiguity the story presents.
Who should watch it- Those who are attentive to details.
Who shouldn't watch it- Individuals that take smoke and potty breaks during the film without pausing it.

34. "Smell of Camphor, Fragrance of Jasmine" (Iranian): 6.5/10
What to like- The creativity.
What not to like- The pace.
Who should watch it- Those who appreciate Woody Allen's works.
Who shouldn't watch it- People who need a "Matrix"-style pace to keep them entertained.

35. "The Son" (French): 6/10
What to like- Seeing the progressing bond between the two main characters.
What not to like- The even and gray tempo throughout the film.
Who should watch it- Those who liked "The Weatherman."
Who shouldn't watch it- George W. Bush.

36. "Son Frere" (French): 6/10
What to like- Seeing how family stands by one another, especially in tragic times.
What not to like- The slow pace.
Who should watch it- Anyone who's had a family, friend, or loved one stick by them through a very difficult time.
Who shouldn't watch it- People who cry easily.

37. "Songs From the Second Floor" (Swedish): 10/10
What to like- Its uniqueness, symbolism, acting, direction, plot, and storyline.
What not to like- The symbolism may confuse some.
Who should watch it- Anyone who can appreciate something different in the cinema world.
Who shouldn't watch it- Those who tend to only like sequels and remakes.

38. "The Son's Room" (Italian): 6/10
What to like- The in-depth study of grief in the film.
What not to like- The grief being displayed throughout the film.
Who should watch it- Those who liked "In the Bedroom."
Who shouldn't watch it- Anyone who doesn't have a tissue box by their side.

39. "Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter,...and Spring" (Korean): 9.5/10
What to like- The poetic nature of the film, the scenery, and the beauty.
What not to like- It may be a bit too slow for some.
Who should watch it- Anyone with an open mind, especially in terms of religion.
Who shouldn't watch it- Pat Robertson.

40. "To Be and To Have" (French): 7/10
What to like- Watching a nationally renowned teacher work his magic with the kids.
What not to like- A bit slow at times.
Who should watch it- Anyone with an interest in teaching.
Who shouldn't watch it- Those who hated, hate, and will always hate school.

41. "Tycoon: A New Russian" (Russian): 5.5/10
What to like- The pace.
What not to like- The many flashbacks.
Who should watch it- Anyone into mafia films.
Who shouldn't watch it- Those expecting a Russian equivalent to "The Godfather."

42. "Up and Down" (Czech): 7.5/10
What to like- Observing people and what lengths they'll travel to fit in and feel love.
What not to like- The sad realities that are displayed.
Who should watch it- Those unafraid to admit the truth.
Who shouldn't watch it- Those who live in neverneverland with Peter Pan.

43. "Valentin" (Spanish): 6.5/10
What to like- The child actor in the film.
What not to like- His father.
Who should watch it- Those who like "cute" films.
Who shouldn't watch it- Those who only watch Oscar-worthy pictures.

44. "Vital" (Japanese): 6/10
What to like- The interesting manner in which the story unfolds.
What not to like- The disturbing extremism in some parts.
Who should watch it- Those obsessed with Japanese cinema.
Who shouldn't watch it- Those who gag when they're in a hospital.

45. "With a Friend Like Harry" (French): 7/10
What to like- The plot and storyline.
What not to like- It's not as Hitchcockian as some critics said.
Who should watch it- Anyone who likes a good mystery.
Who shouldn't watch it- Those who are expecting Hitchcock.

46. "Yellow Asphalt" (Hebrew/Arabic): 7/10
What to like- The intensity. The tempo. The realism.
What not to like- How greatly the three stories differ in depth and duration.
Who should watch it- Those interested in Israel/Palestine relations and conflicts.
Who shouldn't watch it- Anyone who only watches extremely fictional-based movies.

Others
"Brazil" (British): 7/10
"A Clockwork Orange" (British): 9.5/10
"The Corporation" (Canadian): 7.5/10
"Dead Calm" (Australian): 7/10
"Dirty Filthy Love" (British): 6/10
"Gandhi" (British): 9.5/10
"The Interview" (Australian): 6.5/10
"Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels" (British): 7/10
"Trainspotting" (British): 7/10
"Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself" (British): 6.5/10

To find out more about these films and others, go to http://www.rottentomatoes.com/ or http://www.imdb.com/. I personally prefer rottentomatoes, because it gives information about movies in theaters, on video, or movies that are still in production. It will give a synopsis of what the film is about, a tomato meter to illustrate how well-liked it is by the critics, and you can read any critique written, from the L.A. Times to the Chicago Sun.