Historical Dramas Club

Ok, since some people seem to like the movie recommendations list idea, I guess we can start collecting recommendations!

To recommend a movie, either post in the forum, or send a message to the Historical Dramas Club. Make it clear that you are posting something to be added to the Historical Movies Recommended by the Historical Dramas Club list (I’ve added a sample of what an entry might look like).

Be sure to include:
1. The title of the movie. It might also be good to include the year or a link to the movie’s page on MDL, since sometimes there are multiple movies with similar titles.
2. A little blurb about the movie. There’s no right or wrong thing to write here. The point is to give the person scanning the list some sense of whether the movie would be something they find interesting/enjoyable. Why do you think it’s worthy of being recommended?
Some things to keep in mind:
- Keep it pretty short (maybe 2-3 sentences). Just try to pique someone’s interest without making them read an essay. Then they can visit the movies page and read the synopsis, reviews, etc.
- No spoilers allowed.
- Try to avoid profanity or other language that someone might find offensive or uncomfortable.

Btw, it seems best to order the list by release date to avoid bias/favoring certain movies over others. Do you all think it would be best to go oldest -> newest or newest -> oldest?

If anyone has general suggestions about this project, post those as well!

 xinya:

To recommend a movie, either post in the forum, or send a message to the Historical Dramas Club

I didn't even realise there's a HDC profile  O___O

 xinya:

Do you all think it would be best to go oldest -> newest or newest -> oldest?

I think from oldest to newest will be great, since we can give the older titles more recognition? 

I'd like to recommend a movie, but I'm quite terrible at giving short blurbs as my mind runs a mile a minute and a blurb might turns out to a full page essay...

Ok well I'm starting then (I was so ready for this haha). ^^

As it was asked to let more people do recommendations, I will just do 3. Nothing really old for me, all Koreans.

1/ The Throne (2015) - https://mydramalist.com/9615-the-throne

The best adaptation, for me, of the infamous story of Crown prince Sa Do, with the great actors Song Kang Ho and Yoo Ah In.

2/ Warriors of the Dawn (2017) - https://mydramalist.com/20078-warriors-of-the-dawn

Another famous historical Korean figure, Prince Gwang Hae, but here as a young Crown prince, facing epic and tragic events to protect and save his people. Great cast with a wonderful Yeo Jin Goo as Prince Gwang Hae, very good production with beautiful scenery and great battles. 

3/ Forbidden Dream (2019) - https://mydramalist.com/32309-astronomy

The Great King Se Jong is known for the creation of the Hangul, but his reign brought much more to Korea. A  well made story with a great cast about an interesting aspect of the scientific researches during his reign and an example of the struggles geniuses often had to bair in their times for progress.

Historical Movies Recommendation

 Red Cliff (2008) & Red Cliff 2(2009)

With an extremely talented cast and epic battle scenes, this is a superb strategy and war movie series about a famous battle at the beginning of the Three Kindgoms period between the infamous General Cao Cao and Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang.

Are we just recommending movies that deal with an actual historical event or person? Can we recommend costume movies as well?

 xinya:

Do you want to use the same blurb for both movies? Or should I add it as a single entry?

It might be best to add it as a single entry since you need to watch both movies to get the whole story. Should I add more to it? I wrote a real short blurb about it because otherwise it would have turned into a huge summary.

 meowRM:

Historical Movies Recommendation

 Red Cliff (2008) & Red Cliff 2(2009)

With an extremely talented cast and epic battle scenes, this is a superb strategy and war movie series about a famous battle at the beginning of the Three Kindgoms period between the infamous General Cao Cao and Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang.

Are we just recommending movies that deal with an actual historical event or person? Can we recommend costume movies as well?

Very good recommendations ! I approve. ^^

As it's a recommendations list, I think all movies with Historical tag can be included. I personally don't include stories after the Japanese colonial rule for Korea, after the surrender of the Empire of Japan in WWII and after Xinhai Revolution in China. 

Ok, since we're in the spirit of adding movie titles, here are some of my suggestions :P

The Pirates: The Last Royal Treasure

https://mydramalist.com/32760-the-pirates-2

South Korea, 2022 - A tale of adventure and loads of fun revolving around a motley crew of misfits competing with Joseon imperialists for the lost treasure of Goryeo.

The Swordsman

https://mydramalist.com/23431-swordsman

South Korea, 2020 - Jang Hyuk plays the titular role in the South Korean version of Taken where the best swordsman of Joseon embarks on an adrenaline-fueled rescue mission to retrieve his stepdaughter who had been taken captive by Qing Dynasty slave traders.

Rampant

https://mydramalist.com/24650-outbreak

South Korea, 2018 - The condensed film version of the Kingdom-series that centre on a zombie outbreak during the Joseon dynasty.

The Battleship Island

https://mydramalist.com/16357-battleship-island

South Korea, 2017 - The film recounts the tale of Japanese prisoners of war in Hashima Island attempting their escape from the brutality of their captors during the Japanese colonial era.

The Assassin

https://mydramalist.com/9530-the-assassin

Taiwan, 2015 - Shu Qi portrays the eponymous assassin in a character-driven story about a clandestine organisation's righteous aim to rid the land of corrupt officials in 9th century Imperial China.

The Admiral: Roaring Currents

https://mydramalist.com/7875-the-admiral-roaring-currents

South Korea, 2014 - An epic war film that recounts the Battle of Myeongnyang, where the depleted Joseon royal navy faces seemingly insurmountable odds against the overwhelming force of the mighty Japanese Imperial armada during the Imjin War.

The Four (trilogy of films)

https://mydramalist.com/5065-the-four-2012

Hong Kong, 2012 - Set during the reign of Emperor Huizong in the late Northern Song Dynasty, the narrative revolves around the investigations of the great four constables of the Department of Six as they unravel mysterious occurrences in the ancient capital.

The Pirates

https://mydramalist.com/7750-the-pirates

South Korea, 2014 - An unlikely alliance between mountain bandits and sea pirates in a race to retrieve the State Seal that had been swallowed by a giant whale forms the core narrative of this comedic tale of adventure in the high seas that is headlined by Kim Nam Gil and Son Ye Jin.

The Sword With No Name

https://mydramalist.com/724-the-sword-with-no-name

South Korea, 2009 - A tale of love and romance between a swashbuckling swordsman and a noblewoman who is destined to become Queen of Joseon. This romanticized account of Empress Myeongseong is headlined by Cho Seung Woo and Park Soo Ae.

Curse of the Golden Flower

https://mydramalist.com/1432-curse-of-the-golden-flower

China, 2006 - Chow Yuen Fat, Gong Li and Jay Chou lead the star-studded cast in Zhang Yi Mou's historical extravaganza where the fictional story about a deeply dysfunctional royal family during the Later Shu of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period is loosely based on Shakespeare's Hamlet.

The Banquet 

https://mydramalist.com/1735-the-banquet

China, 2006 - Another loose adaptation of Hamlet, this time Zhang Zi Yi and Daniel Wu portray a pair of star-crossed lovers in a gorgeous production featuring themes of revenge and fate during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period in 10th century China.

The King and the Clown

https://mydramalist.com/368-the-king-and-the-clown

South Korea, 2005 - A tragic tale of friendship with BL undertones during 16th century Joseon between a pair of actors in a travelling troupe amidst the convoluted politics of the royal family. Lee Joon Gi delivers a memorable performance in what would become his breakout role. 

Ok, I think I'll stop here, else I'd go overboard lol