10. LE GRAND CHEF

A lot of different genres combine in this Korean 'sports' movie about cooking. It's a mixed bag, but on the whole it's entertaining stuff.

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9. CLAN FEUDS

I love a good Chor Yuen wuxia film me,  and this is a great Chor Yuen wuxia film. This kind of movie might not be to everyone's tastes, especially if you like straightforward good guy + bad guy x revenge = ass whoopings but, frankly, if a film hasn't got 30 characters and 18 plot twists I feel slightly cheated.

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8. LONE WOLF AND CUB: SWORD OF VENGEANCE

A bleak and moody film about an assassin for hire and his young son. Gushing arterial sprays relieve the tension that builds in this gripping Japanese classic.

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7. FEMALE PRISONER #701: SCORPION

A classic in the Women in Prison (WIP) sub-genre. If you like violence, breasts and horror movie overtones then you'll really enjoy this.

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6. YOUNG VAGABOND

A kung fu comedy coming from the arse-end of the Shaw Brothers studio's life time. Gordon Liu is excellent as a young Beggar So. The ending switches gears to hardcore violence and the final few frames - which my girlfriend does a nifty recreation of - are Shaws gold. An under-appreciated gem.

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5. A MAN ONCE A SUPERMAN

A terrific performance by Hwang Jung Min is at the centre of this Korean Dramedy (I hate that term). If you don't well up at the end, then you've either had your tear ducts sealed shut with a hot needle or you have a heart made of granite and hate.

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4. MAGNIFICENT RUFFIANS

The 'Venoms'greatest film. If you know who the 'Venoms' are and you haven't seen this, then you need to get a copy now. Now! Delightful performances and terrific action combine to form pure win.

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3. OPIUM AND THE KUNG FU MASTER

Ti Lung's best Shaw performance (that I have witnessed), Tong Chia's best film as director, superb action, an original story and Chen Kuan Tai - Shaw Brothers films don't get much better than this.

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2. CROWS ZERO

Takashi Miike is simply one of the most exciting and interesting directors in the world. Fact! 'Crows Zero' is based on a hugely popular manga book and is now a hugely popular film. Full of energy, character and fisticuffs. Bring on the sequel. Oh, and bring on 'Yatterman' da-koron.

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1. THE CHASER

The film is dark and brutal with dashes of black humour. Kim Yoon Seok's excellent central performance gives the film much needed heart. The satire is more heavy handed than Lennox Lewis wearing lead boxing gloves, but it doesn't hinder the film severly. And it certainly didn't prevent it from hoovering up piles of Korean Won and awards trinkets. Oh, and the much coveted number one spot on my films of the year.

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