Asian cinema
Asian cinema
Sunday Dec 11, 2022
Episode 43: Infernal Affairs 20th Anniversary Special
Sunday Dec 11, 2022
Sunday Dec 11, 2022
To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of its original release, Stephen Palmer joins Andy and James to discuss the Infernal Affairs Trilogy starring Tony Leung and Andy Lau. Meanwhile, Phillip O'Connor shares his thoughts on the inevitable fates of our protagonists.
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:00:32 - Introduction00:03:00 - Context and concept00:08:25 - Creative team00:11:50 - Infernal Affairs00:25:19 - Infernal Affairs II00:40:29 - Infernal Affairs III00:47:46 - Legacy and influence00:51:53 - Phillip on the inevitability of fate01:05:42 - The Departed01:18:09 - Conclusions01:23:39 - Outro
The Infernal Affairs Trilogy is available now on Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.
Wednesday Oct 05, 2022
Episode 42: London Film Festival roundup
Wednesday Oct 05, 2022
Wednesday Oct 05, 2022
James and Andy take a look at Asian films screening at the 66th BFI London Film Festival 2022, and Andy chats to the director of Liquor Store Dreams, So Yun Um.
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:00:32 - Episode introduction00:01:27 - On to the festival, and the many films from Korea (?)00:18:14 - So Yun Um interview, Liquor Store Dreams00:37:18 - Films from Japan00:39:09 - Films from Thailand and beyond, plus documentaries and more00:52:25 - Thoughts on the festival01:06:07 - Outro
The BFI London Film Festival 2022 takes place from 5th to 16 October. See the official site for listings.
Thursday Sep 15, 2022
Episode 41: Happy Anniversary, Squid Game?
Thursday Sep 15, 2022
Thursday Sep 15, 2022
On the first anniversary of the show debuting on Netflix and with a big win at the Emmys, we look back at the impact of Squid Game and ask what it really means for the future of both the creators and cast, and Korean film and TV in general...
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:32 - Episode introduction02:13 - For those that missed it...(what?)14:02 - The success of the show, and creators and cast26:40 - What does that mean for other shows?44:57 - Wrapping up48:37 - Outro
Saturday Jun 25, 2022
Episode 40: Making Waves
Saturday Jun 25, 2022
Saturday Jun 25, 2022
James and Andy chat exclusively about Focus Hong Kong's Making Waves, a Hong Kong screening programme coming to London from 8 to 10 July. Full disclaimer, they might have had something to do with it...
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:31 - Episode introduction01:43 - An introduction to Focus Hong Kong05:00 - The Making Waves programme06:19 - Comrades, Almost A Love Story and Peter Chan holo-presence13:41 - July Rhapsody18:32 - Anita22:34 - Hand Rolled Cigarette24:51 - Breakout Brothers26:48 - The First Girl I Loved28:24 - Tales from the Occult35:43 - Outro
Making Waves takes place at the Soho Hotel and Garden Cinema from 8th to 100th July. Check the website for more details.
Wednesday May 11, 2022
Episode 39 - The Sadness special
Wednesday May 11, 2022
Wednesday May 11, 2022
To celebrate the global release of gruesome horror The Sadness on Shudder, James and Andy chat through the film, with an exclusive interview with the films director, Rob Jabbaz.
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:31 - Episode introduction01:54 - The Sadness, a quick explainer08:39 - Rob Jabbaz interview28:11 - Reactions to the interview34:52 - easternKicks Picks!42:40 - Outro
The Sadness is available to exclusively stream on Shudder from 12th May.
Tuesday May 03, 2022
Episode 38 – Spotlight on... Zatoichi
Tuesday May 03, 2022
Tuesday May 03, 2022
This time Jonathan Wroot, senior lecturer in film studies, joins James and Andy to chat in detail about the topic of his new book, Zatoichi! As well as the various influences and successors. And yes, we chat Rutger Hauer too!
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:00:44 - Episode introduction00:02:12 - Before we start, how did our guest get into Asian film?00:06:05 - Kitano's Zatoichi, was it a remake?00:13:10 - Let's go back to the start 00:17:08 - How star Shintaro Katsu's previous work fed into the film series00:20:22 - Zatoichi begins00:25:05 - A minor diversion on Shintaro Katsu's brother00:29:09 - Something for everyone, the Daiei way00:30:23 - How wacky did the films get?00:32:46 - Are there roots to disabled swordsmen?00:38:14 - The Marvel connection00:40:45 - Good ol' Westerns00:45:34 - Zatoichi The Last00:47:54 - The female versions00:52:13 - Let's talk about Rutger (and other influences)01:07:26 - Recommendations on where to start01:15:43 - Outro
Jonathan's book, The Paths of Zatoichi, is available now from rowman.com/lexington. Use discount code LXFANDF30 and get 30% off!
Music played on the show: Zatoichi’s Lullaby, sung by Shintaro Katsu. The most commonly known version of the Zatoichi theme song, which first turned up in Zatoichi and the Fugitives (#18).
Festivo – the musical number from the end of Zatoichi 2003, written and composed by Keiichi Suzuki.
Wednesday Mar 09, 2022
Episode 37 – The Long Walk special
Wednesday Mar 09, 2022
Wednesday Mar 09, 2022
Seriously cutting into their Giallo viewing time, James and Andy chat to Laos film director Mattie Do and her other 'alf, screenwriter Christoper Larsen in detail about their superb genre-crossing sci-fi horror, The Long Walk and much more.
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:00:31 – Episode introduction00:02:16 – Interview with Mattie Do and Chris Larsen00:52:32 – The easternKicks take on The Long Walk01:08:05 – Outro
The Long Walk is available on digital now via Light Bulb Film Distribution in the UK, and Yellow Veil Pictures in the US.
Thursday Dec 23, 2021
Episode 36 - The End of the Year Show
Thursday Dec 23, 2021
Thursday Dec 23, 2021
This episode is a real meeting of minds, as Panos Kotzathanasis of Asian Movie Pulse joins James and Andy to chat about the trends and topics of the year, all bizarrely summed up by titles of soul and funk songs (?) Meanwhile easternKicks regulars Niina and Theo share thoughts on their favourite films of the year.
This episode's handy timecodes
00:00:44 – Episode introduction00:02:39 – What's in Santa's hat (don't ask!)00:03:33 – Smoke.Netflix.Chill00:18:26 – (Get on the) Partyline 00:34:55 – Niina on Howling Village00:37:43 – Sitting in Limbo00:45:07 – East West Shuffle00:53:54 – Theme For "Five Fingers Of Death"01:05:03 – Spice Of Life (Oh Yes, You're the Best)01:06:21 – Theo on Drive My Car01:19:56 – Outro
Tuesday Dec 07, 2021
Episode 35 – All Aboard... for Hellbound!
Tuesday Dec 07, 2021
Tuesday Dec 07, 2021
Is this deja vu? A Korean streaming series taking Netflix by storm. No, it's not Squid Game, but Train To Busan director Yeon Sang-ho's Hellbound. James and Andy chat about the series and wonder, will there be another? Meanwhile James has some more easternKicks picks.
This episode's handy timecodes
00:00:44 - Episode introduction00:02:28 - Putting Hellbound in context00:07:52 - A brief synopsis00:11:29 - How it fits with Yeon's other work00:22:29 - Just what are the demons?00:24:12 - Comparison with Yeon original Jiok/The Hell animations00:29:50 - Ah man, more 'VIPs'? 00:31:17 - Other throwaway elements (or are they?)00:33:43 - On the cast (and casting choices)00:37:05 - Will there be more?00:46:06 - Other Korean series making waves00:55:05 - easternKicks picks01:07:52 - Outro
Wednesday Oct 27, 2021
Episode 34 - The horror of Hong Kong!
Wednesday Oct 27, 2021
Wednesday Oct 27, 2021
Yes, it's that time of year again, and we turn our focus to modern Hong Kong horror, from the tail end of the Shaw Brothers right up to Fruit Chan's Coffin Homes. Meanwhile, Niina and Stephen share some of their favourites...
This episode's handy timecodes
00:00:49 - Episode introduction00:02:18 - Why Hong Kong horror?00:08:00 - Into the 80s00:10:34 - Niina on Seeding Of A Ghost00:13:51 - The evolution from Shaw Brothers00:25:01 - The glorious descent into Category III00:27:17 - The 1990s00:38:07 - Post-handover and the 2000s00:46:03 - Stephen on Hex00:49:56 - The last decade00:56:04 - The future of Hong Kong horror...(?)01:03:17 - Outro