Sharon Mae R. Calingasan

TOP 10 BEWITCHING ASIAN FANTASY FILMS Film viewers always have that one great intention when watching movies and that is to escape from the real world and be totally engaged with what is shown on the screen. The fantasy genre fits perfectly in this manner as it has an element of magic, escapism, myth and of the supernatural. Check out our list of Asian fantasy movies that boast of beguiling characters, ambitious production goals, unique storylines and with that element of magic and wonder that never fail to captivate the viewers. 1. Spirited Away (2001) Directed by: Hayao Miyazaki Currently the second highest grossing Japanese anime film ( the top rank belongs to the film “Your Name”), this movie which is also written by popular director Hayao Miyazaki is about a ten year old girl Chihiro who enters the spirit world when she and her family moves to the suburbs. When her parents became pigs because of the witch Yubaba, she takes up a job as a worker in the latter’s bathhouse while finding a way to free her parents and lead them all back to the human world. The voice cast includes Rumi Hiragi, Miyu Irino and Ryunosuke Kamiki, among others. This movie won the Best Animated Feature at the 75th Academy Awards and the Golden Bear Award at the 2002 Berlin International Film Festival. 2. Hansel and Gretel (2007) Directed by: Yim Pil-sung Co-written by Yim Pil-sung (along with Kim Min-sook), this fantasy-horror film is about a salesman named Lee Eun-soo who figures in a car accident, passes out and encounters a mysterious girl in the forest after he recovers. He then gets invited to a house deep in the woods which holds a lot of dark secrets. The cast includes Chun Jung-Myung as Lee Eun-soo, Eun Won-jae and Shim Eun-kyung, among others. This movie won at the Fantasporto and Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival. 3. The Myth (2005) Directed by: Stanley Tong One of 2005’s top grossing films and directed by Golden Horse awardee Stanley Tong, this fantasy-martial arts-adventure film is about an archaeologist named Jack who keeps dreaming about his past life where he is said to be a Chinese general tasked to protect Princess Ok-soo, during the Qin Dynasty. A treasure hunt trip with his friend William will unravel the mystery behind the recurring dreams. This movie won the Outstanding Co-produced Film from the Huabiao Film Awards and the cast includes famous international actor Jackie Chan as Jack, Kim Hee-sun as Princess Ok-soo and Tony Leung Ka-fai as William, among others. 4. The Sorcerer and the White Snake (2011) Directed by: Ching Siu-tung (Tong Ching) This movie, which was shown out of competition at the 68th Venice International Film Festival, is about a master monk, Abbot Fahai, who tries to protect a young physician, Xu Xian, from a demon snake. It is based on the Chinese legend called The Legend of the White Snake. This fantasy-action film won the Best Cinematography Award at the Brasov International Film Festival. The cast includes popular international star Jet Li as Abbot Fai, Raymond Lam as Xu Xian and Huang Shengyi as the White Snake, among others. 5. The Monkey King (2014) Directed by: Pou-Soi Cheang This action-fantasy movie which stars Donnie Yen, is based on a Chinese literary classic from the Ming Dynasty, and about a monkey originating from a celestial stone who acquires supernatural powers. This tale is said to be the Eastern equivalent of the West’s “The Iliad”, “The Odyssey” and “The Wizard of Oz”. Donnie Yen stars as Sun Wukong/ The Monkey King and he is also the film’s action director while Chow Yun-fat stars as the Jade Emperor and Aaron Kwok as the Bull Demon King. This film won Best Original Score for an Action/Adventure/Thriller film at the 2014 International Film Music Critics Awards. 6. Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame (2010) Directed by: Tsui Hark This fantasy-action-adventure movie which premiered at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival and nominated for the Golden Lion Award at the 2010 Venice Film Festival, is about Detective Dee or Di Renjie, an exiled investigator from the Tang Dynasty who is released from prison, on the orders of Empress Wu Zetian, to solve the mysterious deaths in the kingdom, with persons mysteriously erupting into flames. Andy Lau plays the character of Detective Dee, Carina Lau as Empress Wu Zetian and Li Bingbing as Wu Zetian’s right-hand woman, among others. This film features fight choreography and art direction by popular Hong Kong martial artist, actor and director Sammo Hung. 7. The Mermaid (2016) Directed by: Stephen Chow A phenomenal box-office hit and currently holding the title as the highest grossing Chinese movie of all time, this fantasy-romance-comedy film is about a mermaid, Shan, who is tasked to eliminate Liu Xuan, a wily and playboy businessman and developer. However, she ends up falling up in love with her supposed-to-be victim. This film is directed, co-written and co-produced by Stephen Chow, famous for films like Shaolin Soccer, Kung Fu Hustle and CJ7. The cast includes Deng Chao as Liu Xuan, Lin Yun as the mermaid Shan and Show Luo as Octopus, among others. 8. CJ7 (2008) Directed by: Stephen Chow This heartwarming fantasy-comedy-drama movie is about a poor construction worker named Chow Ti and his son Dicky who’s always bullied at school. One day, Chow Ti brings home a strange green orb and tells his son that it’s a new toy, which turns out to be an alien that Dicky later names as CJ7. Stephen Chow directed, co-produced, co-wrote and starred in this film while child actor Xu Jiao stars as Dicky. Xu Jiao won Best New Performer for this film at the 28th Hong Kong Film Awards. 9. Kiki’s Delivery Service ( 2014) Directed by: Takashi Shimizu Based on a children’s fantasy story of the same name, this movie is about a young witch named Kiki who is about to begin her year of independent living by running an air delivery service in order to support herself. However, she is having a hard time adjusting to her new community. This movie was a hit especially among the young Japanese audience and was one of the highest grossing films in Japan upon its release in 2014. Fuka Koshiba who stars as Kiki won as Best New Talent at the Blue Ribbon Awards. Other cast members include Tadanobu Asano, Machiko Ono and Rie Miyazawa. 10. Tropical Malady ( 2004) Directed by: Apichatpong Weerasethakul Considered as the first ever Thai film to win a prize at the A-list of film festivals, this fantasy-psychological-romantic drama movie by multi-awarded Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul (Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, Syndromes And A Century, Cemetery of Splendour) is composed of two segments; that of a love story between two men and of a mysterious tale about a soldier who gets lost in the woods and tormented by the spirit of a shape-shifting shaman. This multi-awarded film clinched the Jury Prize at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival and famously known as the first Thai film to make it to the main competition in Cannes. The cast includes Banlop Lomnoi, Sakda Kaewbuadee and Huai Dessom, among others.