Best Asian Cinema Adapted From Written Works (1980s-2000s)

Discussion of the Best Asian Films Adapted From Written Works (1980s-2000s) with Paul Thomas from a Livestream! We each pick one movie from each decade from the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s and highlight them.

First up, we have “Holy Flame of the Martial World” from 1983, a thrilling martial arts film from Shaw Brothers, adapted from the captivating novella by Jin Yong.

Next, let’s dive into “RAN,” the 1985 masterpiece directed by Akira Kurosawa, a powerful reimagining of Shakespeare’s “King Lear” intertwined with the legendary figure Mōri Motonari.

Then, we’ll delve into “Swordsman II,” an enthralling film adapted from the famous novel “Smiling Proud Wanderer,” starring Jet Li, Brigitte Lin, and Rosamund Kwan.

Also, we have “The Banquet” from 2006, also known as “Legend of the Black Scorpion,” a visually captivating and action-packed film starring Zhang Ziyi, Ge You, and Daniel Wu, skillfully directed by Feng Xiaogang.

Last but not least, we have “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” the 2000 martial arts gem directed by Ang Lee, featuring the brilliant performances of Chow Yun-fat, Michelle Yeoh, and Ziyi Zhang, beautifully adapted from Wang Dulu’s literary works.