ï»żFrom Black Pantherâ to A Star Is Bornâ, our list of the very best movies released in 2018The votes are in, the ballots counted. The time has come to pick the best films of 2018 that saw the light of day in Hong Kong, as selected by Time Outâs film critics. Does Alfonso CuarĂłnâs stirring drama Roma make the cut? Could Black Panther power on to the list? Did Bradley Cooper and Lady Gagaâs updated take on A Star is Born cut the mustard? And was Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri really released this year? Spoiler yes, yes, yes, and we know, right? Feels like ages ago.Without further ado, hereâs our pick of the best 20 films released last best films of 20181. A Quiet Place A great argument for noise-cancelling snacks in cinemas, John Krasinskiâs ace sci-fi thriller sparked a debate around the etiquette of popcorn-eating. Was it okay to munch noisily during the filmâs frequent pin-drop moments? Did shovelling the stuff directly into your maw distract from this hushed tale of a family surrounded by voracious space bastards who hunt by sound? The sequel is coming. Let battle recommence!2. A Star is Born Bradley Cooper stars and directs in this well-trodden fable about fame, recruiting a surprisingly unassuming Lady Gaga as his foil and love interest. She delivers one of this yearâs most nuanced performances, as well as co-writing the filmâs inescapable soundtrack. Oscars will surely follow. Possibly most of Black PantherWith its killer Kendrick Lamar soundtrack, eye-popping afrofuturist world and some stupidly charismatic performances, Black Panther is sleek, fast-moving and tons of fun. We walked away wanting to see Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyongâo, and Londoners Letitia Wright and Daniel Kaluuya in another superhero movie as soon as possible â which thanks to the epic Wakandan bits of Avengers Infinity War, we shortly DistinctionThe third film by Hong Kongâs most accomplished young director, Jevons Au, Distinction is a gentle excoriation of the Hong Kong education system. Set in a special-needs school, Au takes aim at mindsets that prioritise rote learning over creativity and that see these rare institutions as places to be avoided rather than cherished. 5. First ManForget the bad-faith controversy surrounding the number of American flags planted in La La Land wunderkind Damien Chazelleâs intimate epic Heâs on to something more soulful. His intimate Neil Armstrong story mines a pride born out of smarts, imagination and competence. Itâs the right stuff that should fuel true Shoplifters Japanese giant Kore-Eda Hirokazu won the Palme dâOr for his lovely, melancholy urban fable about poverty and family. Itâs set in contemporary Tokyo but could easily be transplanted to Dickensian London, revolving around a surrogate clan who scrape an improvised life together on the margins. With its warm, beating heart and strong sense of social conscience, it feels all too Lady Bird Greta Gerwig and Saoirse Ronan make a mighty double-act in this sharply realised and often hilarious sorta-autobiographical movie set in Gerwigâs hometown of Sacramento. The writer-director, who scored her first Oscar nominations for it, gets the best from Laurie Metcalf and Tracy Letts Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri The first part of the year belonged to the ever-ace Frances McDormand, who won an Oscar for her brilliantly salty turn as a mum who turns to unorthodox means to get justice for her murdered daughter. The tricky blend of big laughs and deep melancholy is executed perfectly by Martin McDonagh In Bruges.9. Men on the DragonA summer hit, Men on the Dragon won audiences over with its unusually rare in modern Hong Kong films sense of optimism and gentle humour. The film follows four middle-aged men roped into their companyâs dragon boat team, each confronting a personal crisis. With its relatable writing about issues ordinary Hongkongers face â whether getting tickets to a Cantopop concert or emotional openness â this is an endearing Mission Impossible â FalloutWhile other franchises fall by the wayside, Mission Impossible just seems to go from strength to strength, powered by slick storytelling and Tom Cruiseâs willingness to lob himself off tall buildings. Itâs the Duracell Bunny of blockbusters â and part six was the best No. 1 Chung Ying StreetWinner of the Grand Prix at the Osaka Asian Film Festival, No. 1 Chung Ying Street juxtaposed Hong Kongâs 1967 Leftist Riots with 2014âs Umbrella Revolution, raising pertinent questions about Hong Kongâs past, present and Katie Yu12. Project GutenburgAlthough various elements from Felix Chongâs second directorial feature feel lifted from other films we wonât say which to avoid obvious spoilers this was still the most accomplished big-budget Hong Kong movie of the year. Leads Aaron Kwok and Chow Yun-fat sparkle throughout and the movieâs slick depiction of currency counterfeiting is Roma If there was a grumble over this gorgeous, Netflix-released domestic epic, itâs that more people couldnât see it on the big screen. On the upside, itâll be on the streaming site forever. Itâll be worth revisiting too, with director Alfonso CuarĂłn conjuring heart-shaking HereditaryThis cracking debut from New York director Ari Aster divided horror aficionados, but for our money, it was the scariest film of the year. It was also beautifully crafted, filled with ornate detail and had Toni Collette in career-best Phantom ThreadThe film that launched a thousand memes and the phrase just mushroom himâ, Paul Thomas Andersonâs tailoring tale is an opulent joy. Daniel Day-Lewis is predictably terrific, but we love Lesley Manville as his formidable Somewhere Beyond the MistArguably Hong Kongâs most accomplished documentary filmmaker, Cheung King-waiâs 2009 film KJ won the Golden Horse awards for Best Documentary, Best Editing and Best Sound Effects â an unprecedented trio for a documentary at the prestigious Taiwanese film awards. This, his first full-length work of fiction is an intriguing crime drama is a grim and engrossing whydunit focused on a pregnant policewoman investigating the case of a young girl who has murdered her Widows A great year for arthouse directors making genre movies was rounded off with Steve McQueenâs take on a Lynda La Plante mini-series from the â80s. Viola Davis heads up a posse of steely women in a heist movie with lots to email youâll actually loveGet into a relationship with our newsletter. Discover the best of the city, entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions.đ Awesome, you're subscribed!Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon!
TwoChinese-mainlanders living in Hong Kong form a close friendship. Over the years this grows into love, but there are obstacles. Director: Peter Ho-Sun Chan | Stars: Maggie Cheung, Leon Lai, Eric Tsang, Kristy Yeung Votes: 6,239 Take a peek under the sheets and uncover some of Asia's most erotic fantasies Forget Fifty Shades of Grey, the East's own cinematic erotica offers a treasure trove of films that span various unconventional topics and underline each country's attitude towards sex, sexuality, and taboos. With plots that range from the mystical, sinister, and sometimes humorous to the completely bizarre, you'll surely find something that will ignite your repressed carnal desires. And since these films are made locally, it eschews the somewhat offensive Western fantasy that is commonly projected to this side of the world. Aside from Hong Kong's sensual offering to the film industry, let us take you to Taiwan, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, and Thailand through this list of Asian erotica that should be on your radar. RECOMMENDED Change up what's on your screen with this list of the most controversial Hong Kong films of the last erotic moviesPhotograph Courtesy In The Realm of the SensesIn The Realm of the Senses 1976 â JapanGut-wrenching, visceral, and sexually explicit, this movie is one of the best erotic films ever made. Directed by Nagisa Ćshima, In The Realm of the Senses is based on the true story of Sada Abe, who murdered her lover in erotic asphyxiation in 1936. But that's not the shocking part. After her partner's death, Sada then cut off his penis and carried it around with her for days before the police found her. So, you may think you know the ending, but that's just the plot. The film is an insightful experience into an erotic work of art, with the ability to sexually arouse the viewer, but at the same time reduce the stimulation to revolt, shock, and awe. However vile and unsettling, if you finish the movie until the end with a profound understanding, you'll realise that it is a movie about love. Plus, the fact that itâs a true story, makes it a very sad one. You definitely won't forget this one. Photograph Courtesy Manila By NightManila By Night 1980 â Philippines Filipino cinema in the 70s and 80s was notable for its ability to blend great stories with social commentary about the country. Directors like Ishmael Bernal were masters of this craft, and his film Manila By Night is a prime example. Despite heavy censorship in the Philippines, which included cutting explicit sex scenes, the film was released in 1980, featuring an impressive ensemble cast of Filipino actors. The movie delves into intersecting stories of love and lust, offering a complex narrative about individuals trying to get by in Manila's gritty social fabric. Photograph Courtesy Scorpio NightsScorpio Nights 1985 â PhilippinesCrafted by the late Peque Gallaga, a multi-award winning director who was instrumental in shaping local Philippine cinema, Scorpio Nights is one of the most controversial films of its time and one of the best Filipino erotic films ever made, catapulting a sexy Filipino film into a work of art. The story is about a man who watches his neighbour's â a security guard and his wife â sexual deeds from below his floorboards. Wrestled by desire and lust, he eventually gave in and started an affair with the wife until the husband caught them. Its provocative execution has been copied many times but has never been matched. This one is a must-watch on your Asian erotica and Zen 1991 â Hong KongSex and Zen 1991 â Hong KongNo erotic Asian list would be complete without this Hong Kong erotic cinema milestone which eventually spawned numerous sequels including a blockbuster 3D rendition in 2011. Sex and Zen is a softcore sex comedy that in certain parts of the movie almost border on oddity. The story revolves around a Ming Dynasty scholar's lust and sexual rampage. It shares the same 'penile mutilation' as In The Realm of the Senses but not on a serious note, rather as part of it's outlandish humour. One of its memorable scenes, which is actually the most unerotic part of the film, is when the protagonist has a horse's genitalia surgically grafted onto his body. From this, his erotic sexual exploits begin. One thing to note, you will never look at flutes the same way again. The Christ Of Nanjing 1995 Hong Kong/JapanThe Christ Of Nanjing 1995 Hong Kong/JapanDirected by Tony Au and starring Tony Leung Ka-fai and Yasuko Tomita â who won the best actress award at the 1995 Tokyo International Film Festival for her performance in the film â The Christ Of Nanjing is a tragic love story between a Japanese author and a Chinese country girl in Nanjing. The film tackles Christianity with Asian sensibilities, balanced with an eroticism that somehow never verges to be exploitative. Photograph Courtesy The IsleThe Isle 2000 â KoreaKorean erotica navigates the plashes of sexual desire and has everything from action, drama, thriller, romance, and fantasy, with some pretty absurd storylines. The story is about a woman who lives in a remote lake selling goods to fishermen by day and prostitutes herself at night. Her conflict begins when she becomes obsessed with a former police officer haunted by the past of murdering his girlfriend. This movie made quite a stir when it premiered at the Venice Film Festival as it left people vomiting and fainting while watching the film. Sounds intriguing? Yes, it's compelling and grotesque, a movie that is hard to forget once youâve watched it. Set in a cinematic and poetic landscape, the movie is beautifully laid out and if you go past the dark misery behind all its characters, it's almost calming to Courtesy Jan DaraJan Dara 2001 â ThailandBased on a famous novel, this Thai erotic-period-drama stars Hong Kong's very own, Christy Chung. Directed and co-written by Nonzee Nimibutr, the film was controversial not only in Thailand but also in the because of its sexual subject matter. It later spawned various versions released in 2012 and 2013 which also made the headlines. The story revolves around the protagonist Jan Dara who was born into a wealthy family in 1930s Thailand. He grew up with a father that despised him because his mother died from childbirth. Feeling rejected and looking for consolation, his predicament leads him to a life filled with sexual exploits. The film underscores incest, adultery, and betrayal set in sepia-toned cinematography, and presented through its well-crafted characters. It offers some tasteful, sensual scenes that will send temperatures soaring to tropical climes. Photograph Courtesy A Snake of JuneA Snake of June 2002 â Japan When it comes to erotic cinema, there are a lot of classic Japanese masterpieces, and A Snake of June is one of them. A San Marco Special Jury Award winner at the Venice Film Festival, A Snake of June is a 2002 Japanese film directed by Shinya Tsukamoto, completely shown in monochrome electric blue cinematography. It tells the story of a sexually deprived couple and a voyeuristic stranger played by Tsukamoto himself who manipulated the wife to uncover and exploit her hidden desires. This one is a feast for the eyes, surrealistic, voyeuristic, and can get a bit disturbing. The Wayward Cloud 2005 â Taiwan The movie is about the porn industry in Taiwan, and its sexual nature features an extensive amount of dark humour, hardcore sex, and even treats the audience to a weird musical number. This one will never make you look at watermelons the same way again. Directed by Tsai Ming-liang, the movie is set during a prolonged Taipei drought; water is hard to get so the public is encouraged to eat watermelons for hydration. Let's not talk too much about it as it's a scene that you can't miss at the beginning of the film which sets the viewers in an uncomfortable state that stays with you throughout the film. The Taste Of Money 2012 â Korea The Taste Of Money 2012 â Korea The Taste of Money is a controversial R rated Korean movie that caused a stir for its representation of the wealthiest families in South Korea. Grappled in sex, money, and greed, the film orbits around an ageing powerful businessman Chairman Yoon Baek Yun-shik who is leaving his wife Baek Geum-ok Youn Yuh-jung because he fell for a Filipino maid Eva Maui Taylor. Peppered with lavish sets and the decadence of the rich and famous â it's all beautiful to look at. Watch it for sheer entertainment, and if it's the raunchy scenes you're after, don't worry there's a whole lot of it to look forward to. In the Room 2015 - Singapore Hollywoodâs most titillating films like Fifty Shades of Grey tops the box office in Singapore, but it's local audience are simply not interested in locally made sensual flicks hence there's a scarcity of Singaporean erotic films in the market. But it doesn't stop directors from pushing the boundaries and exploring this genre that is rarely consumed by a local audience. Directed by Eric Khoo, In the Room is one of the few erotic films that dared to air in the market but was not granted commercial release because the director didn't want to cut certain explicit scenes. However, it was allowed release in 2016 after an international version was polished and masks some scenes with special effects. The movie is a multi-story erotic drama that spans several decades â starting in 1942 during the surrender of the British to Japanese troops up to the present time â and is set in room 27 of a fading grand Singaporean hotel. The film represents various kinds of characters from different eras that include an inter-racial middle-aged gay couple, a band who uses the hotel for orgies and drugs, nubile women learning about their sexuality, a May-December love affair, and a woman's quest for the elusive orgasm. While it rated poorly in cinema reviews, it's still worth checking out, as it's the first of its kind in Singaporean movie history. Keep the night goingAn email youâll actually loveGet into a relationship with our newsletter. Discover the best of the city, entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions.đ Awesome, you're subscribed!Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! 15October 2011, 11:22 pm. Movie stills of Tom Price as Daniel in Amphetamine. (Photo courtesy of Artwalker Productions) Tom Price is an up-and-coming actor that isn't afraid to bare it all. The 26-year-old British-Chinese actor from Hong Kong currently stars in the Hong Kong movie "Amphetamine", in which he plays Daniel, a gay banker who falls Last Updated June 10, 2023, 0813 ISTChinaA decade on, giant duck brings a friend home to roost in Hong Kong. Credits AFPThe faddish artwork previously made headlines in Hong Kong for drawing huge audiences and for accidental deflations, including when it shrank to a flat disk next to a ferry pier in years after a giant inflatable yellow duck captivated crowds in Hong Kong, the art installation returned to the cityâs Victoria Harbour on Friday as a double-bill exhibition. The twin 18-metre-tall 59-feet sculptures by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman are part of the Rubber Duck series that has made appearances in major cities since its 2007 faddish artwork previously made headlines in Hong Kong for drawing huge audiences and for accidental deflations, including when it shrank to a flat disk next to a ferry pier in stormy weather early Friday before they were released onto the water, Hofman joked that the two ducks âtook a bath this morning".âIn a world where we suffered from a pandemic, wars and political situations, I think it is the moment to bring back the double luck," he sail in front of Hong Kongâs landmark Convention and Exhibition Centre, the mighty ducks moved through the harbour before stopping to nest near the city governmentâs workers strolled by during lunch breaks to snap selfies, while others carried yellow duck balloons to celebrate the sunny duoâs new perch.âI think itâs very good to have the duck back after 10 years because it is simple happiness, especially after the pandemic," one admirer named Vivian told AFP. âItâs a form of flashback," said 32-year-old bank employee Zenj. âI think it brings luck."During its 2013 visit to Hong Kong, the solo lemon-hued bird ruffled feathers in Beijing after internet users edited the famous âTank Man" photo from the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown by replacing the tanks with searches for âyellow duck" were banned in mainland China in the run-up to June 4 that year, the anniversary of the crackdown, as Beijing forbids discussion of the day Chinese troops crushed after Hofmanâs duck exhibitions slowed in the mid-2010s, the creature has found new life as an inadvertent protest symbol in Brazil, Russia and most recently Thailand.This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - AFP Adithyan P, Subeditor at writes on trending stories, science, and pop culture....Read More Phim 18+ / Phim ĂU MỞ] Tá»Ș KHĂA : Phim 18+ , Phim 18+ HĂ n Quá»c , Phim 18+ Ău Má»č , Phim 18+ Hollywood , Phim 18+ Bollywood , 18+ movie , 9 Tuáș§n RÆ°á»Ąi - Nine 1/2 Weeks (1986) [Phim 18+ Vietsub HD] Phim 18+ 9 Tuáș§n RÆ°á»Ąi 1986 - Nine 1/2 Weeks 1986 Vietsub Full HD NĂ ng tĂȘn Elizabeth, nhĂąn viĂȘn má»t phĂČng triá»n lĂŁm tra One of the two giant inflatable rubber ducks at Hong Kongâs Victoria Harbour has deflated. Photo Dickson Lee Organisers behind Hong Kongâs giant rubber ducks say they deflated 1 of duo following safety inspection Scores of spectators show up amid scorching heat only to find one of pair remaining on opening day Art installation aimed at bringing double happinessâ to city Published 224pm, 10 Jun, 2023 Updated 1128pm, 10 Jun, 2023 One of the two giant inflatable rubber ducks at Hong Kongâs Victoria Harbour has deflated. Photo Dickson Lee OYGT.