The Six Movies You Probably Haven't Seen (but should)

To start off, I want to say that some of you may have seen these films, and if you have, good for you! Because all of these movies are FANTASTIC and definitely deserve to be viewed. All of the ones on this list have either been forgotten about or are relatively unknown in America. (Yes, some of them are from foreign countries) This should not be the case! So, here are the six movies you may not have seen but most certainly need to.

1.) Going by the Book, South Korea, 2007

This film is HILARIOUS. It's about a police officer, Jung Do-Man, a mere traffic cop, who lives in a city plagued by bank robberies. Due to overall incompetency, the police force are unable to halt the surge of thefts. When a new police chief is brought in, he decides that the only way to stop the robberies it to stage their own. He believes that the officers will be able to handle such an exercise. However, when the chief chooses Do-Man to play the part of the robber, he realizes that he was very, very wrong.
I cannot recommend this movie enough. It is hands down one of the funniest films I have ever seen. If you have Netflix, you can order it from there (it might still be View-It-Now; I'm not sure). However, I simply recommend to order it from amazon. IT IS THAT GOOD. It is in Korean though, and unless you speak their language, you will need subtitles. If they don't bother you, watch this movie now, if they do, suck it up and watch the film too.

2.) Freaks, U.S.,  1932

Unlike most of the other movies on this list, Freaks is actually pretty well known. It's mentioned in every film class textbook and has a substantial cult following. However, nearly every time someone asks me what movies I like and I answer Freaks, they have never heard of it. I suppose it's only really well known to film geeks.This is not how it should be!

The movie's plot is quite simple. At a circus in Europe, one of the "freaks", Hans the midget, falls in love with Cleopatra, the cruel, "normal" trapeze artist. It is only when she learns that he has inherited a vast fortune that she agrees to marry him. However, when the other freaks learn of this plan, they set out to show Cleopatra that "when you mess with one of them, you mess with all of them". Along the way, audiences are introduced to many real-life circus sideshow freaks: The Hilton Twins, Josephine Joseph, Schlitzie, and Prince Ranadin to name only a few.

The film is short, only about 62 minutes long, and is very entertaining. The only drawback is the audio. If you don't watch old movies a lot, than you probably haven't been exposed to the accent. People in the 1900's spoke differently than they do today.  Here's what it sounds like:

A few of the characters in Freaks-Venus and Phroso-speak with such an accent. The rest have a mixture of European inflections: French, German, etc. These accents often make it difficult to understand what the characters are saying. Sometimes, they even stop speaking English and slip into German. If you watch Freaks, which you should, I recommend using the subtitles on your first viewing. If you choose to rewatch it, you should be good!

3.) Jodhaa Akbar, India, 2008

For the most part, I can't stand romantic film. They nauseate me. Give me a horror movie, a thriller, or a kung-fu action flick any day, but never give me romance. However, for some reason, I love this film. I LOVE it. Maybe because it's so well done? Maybe because the music is fantastic? I don't know, but I just love this movie.
The film is a historical drama set in India around the 16th century. It centers on a political marriage between Jodhaa, a Hindu Rajput princess, and Jalaluddin Mohammad Akbar, the emperor of Hindustan. The two wed to secure an alliance between her small kingdom and his empire. Nearly everyone is upset by this marriage-Jodhaa included-due to their religious differences. However, as time goes on, she comes to see that Akbar is not the cruel conqueror she thought him to be. There is also the political plot to be considered. Akbar wants to unite all of India and has to fight several armies to do so. Coupled with the romantic story line, this film is highly entertaining!
Again though, I recommend using the subtitles. They make for a much more fun viewing experience. The only drawback with this film is that it is from Bollywood. Meaning, it's over 3 hours long and has full on song and dance numbers. Those don't bother me, but they may really irk others. If musicals aren't your thing, you may not like this film. However, I suggest you give it a try; the music really is fantastic. (It's written by the incredible A. R. Rahman who also wrote "Jai Ho" from Slumdog Millionaire).

4.) Porco Rosso, Japan, 1992

Like Freaks, this film may too well be somewhat well known as it is directed by the awesome Hayao Miyazaki. However, just because people have heard of it, it doesn't mean they've actually seen it. In my opinion, Porco Rosso is one of the great director's most underrated films. Everyone's seen Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, and Ponyo. But how many have seen Porco Rosso?
The film follows ex-army pilot turned bounty hunter Porco Rosso as he flies around the Adriatic Sea, stopping pirates, rescuing kidnapped girls, and squaring off against a show-off American pilot. It's a hilarious, easy film that is so much fun to watch. It is easily one of Miyazaki's greatest.
Also great, is the English voice cast. Yes, this film is dubbed! I know some hardcore fans only watch the original, but Disney did a fantastic job with the voice cast for this film. It stars Michael Keaton (Beetlejuice), Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride), and the fabulous Susan Egan (Hercules, Spirited Away).



5.) Kahaani, India, 2012

Another favorite from India, this thriller is about a young, pregnant woman, Vidya Bagchi, journeys to Kolkata alone to search for her missing husband. Although she enlists the help of local policeman Satyaki "Rana" Sinha, everywhere she looks is a dead end. However, what appears to be a classic case of husband-leaving-wife suddenly turns much more serious when it is discovered that her missing husband looks exactly like the terrorist the Indian government is searching for.
This film is easy to follow and easy to get lost in. When I found it on Netflix, (View-It-Now!) I though it was just going to be your run-of-the-mill thriller. I was so mistaken. The unpredictable plot, the stellar acting, and unbelievable finale kept me on the edge of my seat. This is a must-see for those of you who love mysteries and suspenseful films.

6.) White, South Korea, 2011

I'll be honest, this film is not for everyone, nor is it particularly great. I love it for one reason: it is a horror film about K-Pop. That's it. That's the reason I watch this film. I love horror and I love K-pop. It's as simple as that. This movie is not particularly well done and it sometimes does not make sense (I'm talking about you computer-song analysis scene) but it is enjoyable.

The film follows a K-Pop girl group, Pink Dolls, as they struggle to forge their way in the fast, ever-changing South Korean music scene. Their are largely unsuccessful (Often losing to rival group Pure, which is played by the real-life group After School). However, when the leader of the band-played by T-ara member Eunjung-discovers an old video-tape with a crazy addictive song (it really is) the girls are skyrocketed into fame. Once popular though, accidents start happening. Are they simply the result of the girls infighting or are they the work of the song's original singer?
The film has its scary moments and is pretty enjoyable. I find it fascinating to see the inner workings of the K-Pop group. If you like that music genre, you will probably really like this movie. If you like horror, you will enjoy this too. Plus, the song really is that addictive.

So that's the list! Those are six movies you might not have seen, but need to see! Again, I highly recommend you watch them! Tell me in the comments what movies you would put on the list.