25. Big Man Japan (2007, Japan)
AKA: Dai-Nihonjin Masaru is one depressed, lonely dude. He lives in his run down shack in the slums of heart of Japan with his cats. Local kids smash his windows - or what's left of them - and every day is a mundane repetition of the one before. The only time Masaru does anything different is when he's transformed into a 30 meter tall giant by means of electro conduction and becomes the nappy wearing defender of the country known simply as Big Man Japan. Battling one eyed penis monsters and other crazy creatures isn't even enough to bring Masaru's spirits up as he sees his task as a ridiculous chore that has alienated him from his family and made him a laughing stock with regular men and women. The film is shot in the style of a documentary following Big Man around as he morosely protects Japan against all manner of threats. Big Man Japan is an eccentric spin on the Godzilla phenomenon and one more example of how far ahead of the rest of the world Japan is in terms of originality in its film making. Buy the DVD or stream it on Netflix now before the US destroy it with a remake.
24. Troll Hunter (2010, Norway)
AKA: Trolljegeren Troll Hunter hadn't even been given a wide release before Hollywood was buying up the rights to make their own version. That being said Troll Hunter is one of those stories that only really works well against a European setting. America has its Bigfoot while Europe has Trolls, and my God are they huge. Like most modern monster movies Troll Hunter is given the mockumentary treatment as a group of young film makers travel across Norway following a seasoned Troll Hunter as he moves by night to track down and destroy the gigantic creatures of myth that are killing livestock and sometimes people across the rural areas of Europe. Armed only with a UV Flash Gun and a suit of armour the Hunter - played by famous Norwegian comedian Otto Jespersen - lures creatures of all shapes and sizes out of hiding sometimes engaging them in hand to hand combat before turning them to stone once and for all. But when the group encounter a Jotnar - the biggest Troll of them all - things change and it becomes a desperate struggle to survive the night. Completely bonkers and unmissable this is one of the best 'found footage' movies you will ever see.
23. Audition (1999, Japan)
AKA: dishon After the death of his beloved wife a Japanese businessman begins 'auditioning' potential new wives at the behest of his son in the hopes that he will find his next miss right and be able to fill the hole in his heart that his wife's passing has left. After a few unsuccessful attempts the businessman meets the beautiful and mysterious Asami Yamazaki (Eihi Shiina). Despite his sons reservations about his father's new love interest the businessman slowly begins to open up to Asami and welcomes her into their home. But when things fail to go the way she wants them she exposes a whole different side to her personality - one that isn't afraid to use hiddeous methods of torture to get what she wants. Audition is the greatest anti-blind dating ad you will ever see in your life. It is a brutal and grotesque movie that, despite containing excruciating scenes of torture and mutilation, you cannot take your eyes off.
22. Godzilla (1954, Japan)
AKA: Gojira The original and best monster movie finds its way onto the list at number 22. Born from Japan's fears of the effects of radiation after World War 2 Godzilla sees a creature born of radiation rise from the ocean and begin to destroy the landscape of Tokyo. With its massive size and unearthly powers the creature fends off Japan's attempts to kill it with the greatest of ease before eventually succumbing to a lack of oxygen (you read that right) while taking a snooze in Tokyo Bay. Godzilla spawned countless sequels and spin-off Kaiju films including a US remake in 1998 and a new US version which is due out in 2014. As good as the new CGI version is sure to be there's no substitute for the classic, man in a suit stepping on fake buildings approach that made the original movies so successful. We're spoilt as film fans these days but I urge you to go back in time a little and revisit Godzilla's roots. It'll make you appreciate the genre even more and see how the gigantic lizard paved the way for countless monsters to destroy society as we know it.
21. Kung Fu Hustle (2004, China)
AKA: Kung Fu Who said the Chinese don't have a great sense of humour? Someone did 'cos I read it somewhere. Well, if you're still in doubt I'd urge you to get hold of a copy of this gem from the mind of Stephen Chow. Kung Fu Hustle capitalised on the success of Shaolin Soccer and took the bonkers cartoon style one step further creating this live action animation with over the top Looney Tunes movements and dialogue you'd usually only here in atrociously dubbed Kung Fu movies. Chow stars as a wannabe gangster whose attempts to join the feared Axe Gang are continually thwarted by the ridiculously tough residents of his village in particular the amazing landlady who is a retired martial arts expert living in self imposed exile. With her night gown on and rollers in her hair she is imposing enough to defeat just about anything Chow and his merry band of idiots can throw at her. Eventually Chow is attacked by the Axe Gang which unleashes powers that were hidden deep within him allowing him to become the true defender of the village and the greatest hero in all of Hong Kong. You'll never see anything like this again. Kung Fu Hustle was lightening in a bottle and it's no surprise it was so successful around the world.