2023 Chinese Movies You Should Watch | Video Essay
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- Опубліковано 22 тра 2024
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Accented Cinema - Episode 122
For reference, some of the films came out in film festivals in prior years, but all movies were theatrically released in 2023. That's why the dates aren't always consistent.
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If you have other movies from 2023 you'd recommend, comment below!
Thank you for an awesome 2023!
Please recommend us good Indonesian movies, I need it, thank you!
and japan of course, eheh
This was a great list - thank you for this. I'll also add that I enjoyed Across the Furious Sea recently.
I really wish more UA-camrs would make documentaries on Chinese Cinema and bridge the cultural gap between China and the west, in a world that is more increasingly divided. I wished so hard for someone to talk about Deep Sea and The Wandering Earth 2 and give them the credit they deserve. Although I'm thankful for Accented Cinema to touch upon these movies, I don't think He did them justice. He didn't have to of course, but this video made me realize if I want people to make videos on underrated topics I care about, I have to do them myself. I mean no ill will in this comment and I wanted to thank accented cinema for all the work he's done for Chinese Cinema. I want to make video essays about Chinese Cinema myself in the future but I'm constantly afraid I'm not competent enough.
Dude you forgot about Love Never Ends. With great performances by Kara Wai and Leung Ka Fai and the main dude whose name i don't know and super touching story
“A movie about Jackie Chan being a good father. *oh that’s rich* ”
While not appearing very often, I love your sense of humor lol.
that and the daddy joke killed me
For the lazy people
1:53 Creation of Gods I
4:47 Chang An
9:04 The Wandering Earth II
10:45 Deep Sea
12:17 All Ears
13:10 Hachiko
13:54 A Guilty Conscience
14:53 Journey to the West
Thank you
thank you!
how many times have i watch different JOURNEY TO THE WEST movies?
It's as if it's the only Ancient Chinese fantasy worth adapting again and again
where to watch?
An even better help for the lazy people is also providing the links to watch JK 😂😂😂
I think not only are Chinese filmmakers finding their stride in all of the technical aspects of film making, but also they're becoming more and more accessible to the international audience. I was pleasantly surprised when I watched Chang'an in a small theater in Chengdu that there were English subtitles. Even if you can't get the full experience of understanding those poems in Chinese, I think the translations they did, coupled by the VAs performances and visuals during the poem recital scenes were superb at conveying the emotions for a non-Chinese speaker.
It really does give me hope that such will help combat many of the negative perceptions about China as well as connect Chinese people with the rest of the world.
And connect the people of the rest of the world with China.
negative perceptions are created by western propaganda
A lot of that negative perception is really just American mainstream media propaganda. It's all about that geopolitics, although such media narratives are kinda crumbling after the media played favorites with Israeli genocide.
Isn't being more 'accessible' to a world audience just a politer way of saying losing their uniqueness? Not every cinema market needs to chase the plastic surgery getup that is K-Pop and modern Hollywood.
Also, on the 'combating the negative perceptions' people have of China. This isn't up to the Chinese artists, who have always had their creative visions and worked hard to see them to. A large part of this is up to the global audience to cast of their pathetic racist beliefs of their own cultural superiority aside. You can never convince the people who hate you to like you, if the reason for the hate isn't rational, and they themselves refuse to let the hate go.
The protagonist of the movie "Deep Sea" calls the black thing her mother because the image of her mother covered by hair in her dream resembles the black thing. This movie is one of my favorites of the year and most of it takes place in the dreams of this little girl who suffers from depression
Can't say that's the impression I got in the last 10 minutes of the film...
my cnclusion is uhhh... a bit more radical
@@Quastlmfaooooo me too!!
That sounds so true to Ghibli spirit that I have to give it a go ❤️
This is also my gf's favourite movie. I've yet to see it for myself, but now I'm excited for it.
@@Quastcan you please explain
I really wish more UA-camrs would make documentaries on Chinese Cinema and bridge the cultural gap between China and the west, in a world that is more increasingly divided. I wished so hard for someone to talk about Deep Sea and The Wandering Earth 2 and give them the credit they deserve. Although I’m thankful for Accented Cinema to touch upon these movies, I don’t think He did them justice. He didn’t have to of course, but this video made me realize if I want people to make videos on underrated topics I care about, I have to do them myself. I mean no ill will in this comment and I wanted to thank accented cinema for all the work he’s done for Chinese Cinema. I want to make video essays about Chinese Cinema myself in the future but I’m constantly afraid I’m not competent enough.
Never hurts to at least try. Closing that cultural gap even a little is an admirable thing to do.
I just think there wasn’t enough time to fit all movies that he felt the need to add without making it too long or too much work. Also wish there was a deeper look into them though, but I am always very glad that accented cinema exists and makes all this more accessible in a fun way nonetheless
If you never try, you'll never know. Dive in, enjoy yourself. When ppl do something they are passionate about it usually attract like-minded people. That's how Accented Cinema started, there's always room for more👍😊
how about bridging the gap on chinese genocide?
Nah, Chinese can watch any American movies and domestic Chinese movies at the same time, and there is no such thing called "European movies"
plz do these videos every year, love getting a summary of the chinese movies to check out that I may have missed
Any creation needs to come from personal experience and not imitation or viewing of someone else's experience. I feel many modern games aren't that great because they tend to just take elements from past games instead of real life, books, poems, stories like the original game developers had to. I'm really glad to see the authentic Chinese perspectives on the world.
Nah, that is... limiting. A lot of great works came from intense research in the subject matters with a heavy dose of empathy and understanding for the people involved and, of course, very good understanding of the medium and the industry. Barely any historical movies were made by people who have lived through the historical events for example. Maybe with the exception of really recent events. Do artists insert their styles and opinions into those? Yes. Do artist base their work on limited understanding of the subject matter? Definitely. But in that sense their personal experience influence the work, not where it originates.
And that's not touching the fact that our personal experience often have a filter on. Due to our ideal, history, limited perspective, trauma etc. Some filters are especially bad and in need of treatments.
Most games resort to tried and true elements because it's ease of development for a public that demand "fun" first and foremost. And developers resort to that public because they need to recoup cost from their million dollar venture even when their calling is somewhere else (just make a tv series lol).Your game is about the cycle of violence and dehumanisation? It aint shit if we cant blow up 2000 arms and legs with a well placed shotgun shots... The protagonists are in anguish after their murder spree? Here's 200 more bad guys for you to kill and maim to your heart's content, no string attached. War is bad? Here's a laser to guide some airstrike.
Thank you for sharing this list! Looking forward to watching many of these 👍
Happy Holidays and thank you for all the good movie recommendations you share with us.
Thank you for these recommendations
Thank you very much for the video. I added most of what you recommended to my watchlist :)
Thanks for this list! I am sure I found out about your channel because of a WKW video, so I trust your taste. I am going to order blurays of several of the films you recommend here. Journey to the West in particular looks amazing.
Ah thank you SO much for this video. I wanted to get started on Chinese films (because I watch a ton of C-Dramas but am more of a film person overall) and found this recco at the right time!
This was an excellent excellent video! I cannot thank you enough for opening up the world of modern Chinese cinema to me.
I also have been pleasantly surprised by China's recent movie output. I was watching "Journey to the West" on the plane and was absolutely in awe, incredibly good movie. 110 % agree with your assessment. Then I watched "I am what I am" just to experience some goofy comedy, but that movie made me cry even. Very well done. Chang An, while looking incredibly gorgeous, was just a tad too long for my taste. Also it struck me as very "China specific". The beauty of those poems probably get mostly lost in the translation, etc. And even Li Bai's enthusiasm for poetry can't really make up for that.
Other than that, looking forward to watching "Creation of the Gods" and "Deep Sea" (wtf, this looks glorious! Imaginative and colorful!).
Where can I watch journey to the west that he mentioned in the video?
@@evilmosquito2915 did you find it?
@@yashkedia6087 It is on bluray from a company called Kani.
I watched "Creation of the Gods: Part I" at an IMAX theatre while I was in China. Oh, boy, was it a treat!
@@evilmosquito2915 let us know when you do find it, still looking
Thanks for the list. I'm always in need of watching good movies so this is very helpful.
Great roundup. Added a few of these to the queue. Looking forward to watching them.
Great video, Yang man! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you so much for talking about the wandering earth 2 and deep sea! Two of my favourite movies this year
You have some of the best editing I have ever seen.
Thank you for making this video!
A great summary of Chinese films most people outside of the Mainland may not have access to, thanks.
I think it is quite natural for Chinese cinema going through ups and downs in recent decades. From the earlier days of mostly dramatic films in Zhang Yimou, Tian Zhuang Zhuang, which reflected post-cultural-Revolution filmaker's view of their world, to the stepping out into the World era of Chinese epics and Film-Festival favourite, to younger Indie directors reflecting the dislocations of rapid development in society, to the unfortunate Big-money brainless Hollywood wannabe/copycat/CGI-to-the hilt BS of recent years, and the ore encouraging recent films you highlighted here, it shows the changing landscape of Chinese filmaking and the forces molding it. Some of this is inevitable. Rich people often lack good sense outside of where they make their money. Hopefully, we see a maturing of people backing filmaking, and appreciate original content, isn't out for a quick buck, or mindlessly copying the latest Hollywood genre (which, to be honest, has been running-on-empty and faltering for almost a decade). To brighter years ahead.
Thanks for your video!
I really enjoyed Creation of the Gods 1. I was visiting my family in China first time after COVID and luckily met the releasing of the movie. I highly recommend it to everyone too.
And I will take time to watch the ones your video recommended as they all looked really good.
😁 Thanks for making this, great year for movies
You sold me on Journey to the West, I was looking at the kani blu-ray recently
As a Chinese, having not followed a lot of Chinese new releases for a while, it might now be time to watch some of these. Never thought you'd be the person I follow to do this. Thanks!
I love your videos - they could be so much longer and I would be exponentially happy. On my wish list for 2024 is a Kung Fu Hustle References Pt 2 video. All the best to you in 2024!!!
Great video! Where can we watch the movies? Are they on a streaming platform?
Accented Cinema, I hope one day you can make an essay video about your experience of watching Japanese New Wave (1960s to 70s) Films. I suggest to watch Woman In The Dunes (1964) or The Face of Another (1966), it's going to be weird.
Thank you so much for your recommendations. I just need to find a site to stream them.
Thank you so much for continuing to make these Chinese movie recommendations. I've watched many from previous years.
Does anyone have recommendations on how best to watch these? I don't mind paying, just don't know what the best platforms to use are.
Thank you, I am from New Zealand, I love them even I alreaady watched 4 of them
The reason I enjoyed wandering earth 2 is that aside from the cool science stuff, it doesn’t force upon us to contemplate questions on the depressing reality we live in nor does it shove yet another set of impossibly lucky heroes to save the rest of our undeserving lives. It shows what humanity should be at his best.
I personally adored Zhang Yimou's two new movies, Full River Red and Under The Light, as well as Love Never Ends!
I watched Zhang Lu's Shadowless Tower. Good for film festival art film that came out this year. Highly recommend if you enjoyed All Ears.
the only chinese movie I saw this year was The Wandering Earth 2 (without having seen the first one) and I really liked it! The visuals and the music are really stunning and story had several interesting approaches in my opinion! :)
i honestly did not like first one very much because of idealistic it was im glad the second one at least showed some conflict!
@@jolojrdook1419 Idealism is allowed in movies.
Wow, these are fascinating. It's great to see Chinese cinema shine
You my friend is doing gods work. I love how you know so much about chinese and western cultures and translated everything easy to understand especially chinese mythology. This is the REAL 文化输出！ Keep it up my friend. 🥰
While I appreciate your critiques, I really enjoy hearing you gush over movies you like
nice, i'll check some out
Im so happy I found this channel
wow nice list. any ideas where to get these movies?
Just finished watching 《宇宙探索编辑部》"Journey to the West" and it gave me goosebumps... Also, couldn't stop the waterworks during the last quarter of《深海》"Deep Sea". Thank you AC for the recommendation!
I am grateful to UA-cam's algorithm for bringing me to your channel.
Sweet video, one thing though, ¿is there any way for me (residing in the US) to watch any of these films today?
I googled around and couldn’t find obvious means to import, and particularly want to ensure I can find them with the “good subtitles” you mentioned.
I’d love to support these films but I don’t know how 😢
Have you seen City of Life and Death? It is about the Nanking massacre. You should take a look as I think it handles portraying a really controversial part of history well.
Where can i watch all of these films?? Thanks for the recommendation 😊
河边的错误 and 第八个嫌疑人 are two good and original crime movies. The former is actually shot on the 16 mm film to catch the look abd feel of crime movies from that time.
I wish Chinese cinema will be as great as it was in late 2010's, with all these cool and dark countryside and suburban arthouse dramas
I would like to ask on which platforms we can watch some of these shows.
Hidden blade was my fav for 2023. 👍👍👍
The Shadowless Tower was my favourite of the very few Chinese films I watched this year. Ranked in my top 10 films of the year in fact
Watched A Guilty Conscience because of your recommendation and it might be my favorite movie of all of 2023. Dayo Wong had one of the best performances I've seen in a while. Just incredible movie.
I hope you may review HK movie: The Sparring Partner (2022).
- it's based on an infamous true murder case
- I like how this new director filming style, manage to build several climax, diff parties point of view
- HK highest grossing movie under 3rd rated movie category
Won't disclose much, I really hope can get ur deep dive POV about this movie.
Hi! I love your videos and am currently studying Mandarin. Do you know any good sites/apps to watch Chinese language movies with both English/Chinese subtitles?
Bilibili（哔哩哔哩）& iQIYI（爱奇艺）
Please could you share where to stream/purchase these with ENG subtitles? They are hard to find without the ability to search in Mandarin.
Personally I think the movie "Love Never Ends" by Director: Han Yan is a movie that is overlooked. A simple movie about everyday life but the acting from the actors really made the movie works. I really recommend it
I just want to say your videos are so well done. I've been a fan for a couple of years and want to note the quality, research and overall effort you put into your content. Sending you all the best in the new year!
I've watched Creation of Gods: Kingdom of Storms (that's honestly a cool name!) and Wandering Earth 2 from your list.
Creation of Gods is visually stunning where humans are concerned, props to the set design and costume team. The gods and fantastical creatures don't quite live up to that standard though, and that's gonna be a huge problem later on down the road. The plot was decent, not anything special but I did find the original work boring. It's far from my favorite but I respect the crew for trying to give a new spin on an old tale. Someone watched way too much Game of Thrones though, one of the main characters confessed to treason, and that is absolutely not a thing in ancient China.
Wandering Earth 2 is a massive upgrade from WE1. The characters are much more likeable and multi-dimensional, probably what happens when your leads are actual adults and not brats. The story benefits a lot from this too, definitely more grounded and "adult" than WE1. The way they juggle between plotlines are good, and I want to see how they explore Digital Life in WE3. It should be seen in theaters for maximum enjoyment though.
There are a lot of interesting stuff among the rest too, Chang An and JttW most of all. Will try to watch them if I have time.
Edit: Chang An is cool. Clean visuals and a meaningful story. Would be even more enjoyable if you have a more-than-sketchy (unlike me) knowledge of the poems in the movie.
Does anyone know where I would be able to watch these films? I've always been interested to see more foreign films, but I never know where to go....
Haven’t really watched any modern Chinese blockbusters before, but I chanced across Creation of the Gods on streaming and was absolutely blown away. So fun and surprisingly complex drama.
A couple of good ones on the list but I am missing Hidden Blade and What The River Knows. Both were brilliant.
Are any of these available on any streaming service?
I really like Changan the best although Wandering Earth 2 is technical achievement in multiple senses. By the director's own word is they are trying to replicate the whole Hollywood workflow for props, lighting, cgi, etc and it greatly streamlined the production, and they are intending to spread it to the rest of the Chinese film industry.
As a fan of east asian animation and Chinese poetry, I'm a little embarrassed to have missed Chang An - where do you recommend we find these videos to watch, Yang? (Or anyone else really?)
I am afraid it's not in the cinema in the US or Europe anymore, if you don't want to watch pirated versions, you have to wait when they start streaming it. I am sure it will be on Netflix, or one of the other big streaming services.
That movie in particular it's easy to find online for free, just google it
Wait for Netflix to purchase the print
Can you do one for HK films? After watching "Mad Fate" I've renewed my interest in Chinese/HK films.. but I don't know what's good anymore. And what about TV shows worth watching? Love your videos!
Your videos are fantastic! One question- How do we access these movies?
The all important question for people in the Western countries. Sadly there is no answer.
Some of them eventually find their way to UA-cam. Pretty sure I saw Creation of the Gods here a few months after it s
aired
@@cinnamunbun The problem with UA-cam is that sometimes you can't trust it. I tried to watch The Three Body problem and about half way through the season the subtitles went completely out of sync.
@@doozledumbler5393 If the uploader is the official streaming network, they usually take note of complaints like this from viewers and do something about it. Since TBP was uploaded on Tencent's official channel, the issues with the subs might have been fixed already
Hidden Blade and One and Only, two very different films, deserve a high place in your list in my opinion. Hidden Blade is stylish and deep, needs at least two viewings. One and Only is exciting, a lovely story with absolutely brilliant dancing.
The film All Ears is also on my to watch list. Shall purchase from YesAsia
9:13 from Sunshine! Nice lol
Full River Red was a good movie, depends on how you interpret it
I know it's not from 2023 but i saw it in 2023, Return to Dust(2022) is so good but so sad that i tear up remembering about it.
Is there a place where people can watch all these movies with english subtitles? So many of these movies seem fascinating but I always struggle to find ways to watch them.
Depends on how comfortable you are with piracy websites.
here:
@@ajiththomas2465😅
@@KhanhNguyen-yv6lx where?
oh man I really wanna watch these movies but I don't know where I can find them :( does anyone know where I can watch these movies especially Journey to the West
Serious question: Are any of these movies Crouching tiger level? I would like to know if any newer moviies would be worth the time to see
OMG 长安三万里!!! I was sincerely hoping you’d make a video essay on it, it was such an amazing movie. Still, I’m glad to see it in your recommendation for the year, amazing movie in so many aspects.
Yassss!!! I still think he should make a full video about it talking about the details!!!
not everything has to be a video essay brother. thx for the recommendations
The Film A Guilty Conscience is officially on my to watch list.
You could have mention “Lost in the stars” with Ni Ni
which platform is your recommendation to watch China movies?
i subscribed just because of the jackie chan joke :D excited to find new cinema to explore
因为你的推荐去看了宇宙探索编辑部，这部片太棒了！
Where do you watch these films with Subtitles? I can't find them anywhere :(
"I hope you continue to join us", says one of the best UA-cam channels.
Honorable mention for Sakra? Probably the hardest-hitting and impactful (literally) wuxia in years thanks to Donnie Yen and Kenji Tanigaki. I found it a lot more entertaining than most of the CGI float fests that have filled up the Chinese blockbuster market lately.
I think you need to add Growing Apart to this list.
Can anyone tell where to watch Chang An, Deep Sea and Creation of Gods? I've been enjoying chinese movies a lot lately, but often times they are so hard to find!
aniwave
I loved Hachiko, it was a wonderful film.
Where can I watch these movies? I've been looking for Journey to the West but i can't find it.
Can you do a review of some Singapourian cinema?
"Back From the Brink" was a pleasant surprise, it is a silly show but the first time ever made that made cheap Chinese CGI look good by using this plasic toy style props & diorama effects. It really felt like everything fit together well, not breaking the suspension of disbelief, while still using cheap CGI tricks ....
Where can i watch movie with both English and Chinese subtitle? Any recommendations?
in this house we support daddy fei xiang 🙏(to hell with yin shou tho!!)
another 2023 chinese movie i loved was "Love Never Ends (2023) 我爱你" even tho some might say the movie was too heavy on the sentimental elements at time, its hard to come by a well-done story about old people and their love and i just really love the fantastic acting from all the leads.
Do you have a platform to recommend so that people like me out side china can watch?
Where can i watch these movies?
where is the best place to watch these movies?
"Its all about the drama"
**Cuts straight to sex scene** lol
It would be great if you could provide some tips on where westerners can watch these films
Although, however, rargb is a reliable choice.
Where can I watch this stuff? I'm really interested in Chang'an.
Can't watch it in cinema because none of these films will reach the Balkans.
I'd like to watch Journey to West, but it's nowhere available in the US. I really wish it were easier to find Chinese movies.