10 Incredible Asian Action Movies You Have To See Before You Die

From: South Korea

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 83%

Another period film inspired by the advance of Japanese imperialism, The Good, The Bad And The Weird is exactly what is says on the tin - a Sergio Leone-inspired western spiked with Korean-style ultra-violent action. The film begins in 1939 on the verge of World War Two as the Korean peninsula falls into the hands of Japanese and countless numbers of Koreans seek refuge in the sprawling wilderness of Manchuria.

A vigilante bounty hunter, a determined thief and a flamboyant train robber (The Good, The Bad and The Weird respectively) are three such displaced Koreans determined to turn their fortunes around when one comes into possession of a map that supposedly leads to ancient Chinese treasure. The trio quickly discover that resistance fighters, resilient mountain bandits and the Japanese army also covet the mysterious map, and they will have to put their lives on the line if they plan to keep it.

This is an action film that refuses to take itself too seriously and invites you to do the same, and once you accept Kim Jee-won's world for what it is (think Shanghai Noon just several degrees more violent) then you find yourself completely immersed in it. The Good, The Bad And The Weird certainly has plenty of the latter, with black humour used to break up unforgettable action sequences in this two hour rodeo ride.