Korean films

Besides from the obvious few (Infernal Affairs, Kung Fu Hussle, or SPL), how many Hong Kong films made in the last few 5 years, really stand out in your mind?

I can't think of many.

Yet, in that same time period, I can name loads more Korean films which I'd privileged to have in my collection, such as

• My Sassy Girl
• Bittersweet Life
• My Tutor Friend
• Nowhere to hide
• Sympathy for Mr Vengeance
• My Wife is a Gangster

There seems to be (well, in Europe and the U.S) anyway) a buzz about the Korean movie industry right now, and there are some films in the process being re-made by Hollywood (I personally don't mind re-makes - unlike some, I'm quite willing to judge them once I've seen it, rather than just assume that Hollywood automatically butchers anything it tries to remake).

While the "My Sassy Girl" genre is getting a bit overused by the Koreans at the moment, most of the time, the films produced seem to show a bit more imagination and originality than those being chucked out by the HK industry (quality always beat quantity). In South Korea, they have a quota requiring that cinemas show South Korean movies 146 days a year - maybe this has spurned filmakers there to produce high quality movies? I don't know. Maybe its something they put in the water over there!

Maybe its time for the HK movie industry to have a re-think on where it wants to go? I for one, dont want to watch Twins Effect 3.

If anyone wants to borrow some of my Korean DVD's, give me a shout.