Film
Film
Friday Jul 09, 2021
Episode 29: PTU and Johnnie To's crime drama years
Friday Jul 09, 2021
Friday Jul 09, 2021
In this episode contributor Kaj van Zoelen joins James and Andy to revisit PTU and the classic crime dramas of Johnnie To. Will we ever see its like again? Meanwhile Stephen Palmer shares thoughts on a decidedly different example from To, My Left Eye Sees Ghosts.
This episode's timecodes
00:00:35 - Episode introduction00:01:38 - PTU review00:24:01 - PTU and the HK crime drama resurgence of 2000s00:52:10 - Stephen Palmer on My Left Eye Sees Ghosts00:58:54 - James and Kaj share some easternKicks Picks01:06:08 - Outro
PTU is available now on UK Blu-ray from Eureka Entertainment.
Friday Jun 25, 2021
Episode 28 - The World of Wong Kar-wai
Friday Jun 25, 2021
Friday Jun 25, 2021
In this special edition, we celebrate the return of Wong Kar-wai's classic in newly remastered versions to cinemas. Special guest Bede Cheng, Managing Director at L’Immagine Ritrovata Asia, the laboratory responsible for the new editions, joins us for a chat about the restoration process. Meanwhile, contributors Colette, Theo, Phillip, Yonah, Ethan and Stephen share their thoughts on the filmmakers work. We also have the perfect podcast fuel from Bun House / Wun's Tea Room & Bar.
This episode's timecodes
00:00:56 - Episode introduction00:02:08 - Phillip on As Tears Go By00:07:19 - Bede Cheng interview part one - What is restoration?00:26:30 - Ethan on Wong Kar-wai00:30:49 - Bede Cheng interview part two - Working with WKW00:33:23 - Theo on Fallen Angels00:35:57 - Bede Cheng interview part three - More on working with WKW00:47:11 - Yonah on 204600:48:13 - Colette on Wong Kar-wai01:01:55 - Stephen on Chungking Express01:07:26 - Outro
Wong Kar-wai films screen at the BFI Southbank and ICA Cinema throughout July.
Tuesday Jun 15, 2021
Episode 27: Time & Tide & Tsui
Tuesday Jun 15, 2021
Tuesday Jun 15, 2021
On this episode James and Andy are joined by easternKicks contributors Phillip O'Connor and Fedor Tot to chat about the new release of Tsui Hark's 2000 action classic Time and Tide, and the director's career at point, with his fleeting dalliance with Hollywood and USA films, pairing with Jean-Claude Van Damme on Double Team and Knock Off.
This episode's timecodes
00:00:33 - Episode introduction00:03:50 - Time and Tide review00:37:05 - Enter JCVD00:40:52 - Double Team review00:45:26 - Knock Off review01:13:33 - easternKicks Picks01:22:50 - Outro
Time and Tide is available now on UK Blu-ray from Eureka Entertainment. Double Team and Knock Off are available on Uk Blu-ray from 88 Films.
Saturday May 08, 2021
Episode 25: Cliff Walkers and Zhang Yimou
Saturday May 08, 2021
Saturday May 08, 2021
We look at the acclaimed director's latest film, Cliff Walkers, as well his genre work over the last decade. While easternKicks regulars Phillip O'Connor, Maja Korbecka and Stephen Palmer join us for their thoughts on Zhang's work.
This episode's timecodes
00:00:32 - Episode introduction00:02:50 - Cliff Walkers review00:28:10 - Other works00:30:10 - Stephen Palmer on the 2008 Olympics00:36:03 - A Simple Noodle Story aka A Woman, a Gun and a Noodle Shop aka 'Zhang Yimou's Blood Simple' (sigh)00:41:20 - Maja Korbecka on The Road Home00:47:40 - The Flowers Of War00:51:00 - Phillip O'Connor on The Great Wall00:53:05 - The Great Wall00:57:30 - Shadow01:00:15 - One Second and Under The Light01:09:30 - Outro
Cliff Walkers is released in cinemas now, screening in the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand via CMC Pictures.
Tuesday Dec 22, 2020
Episode 21: The Woman Who Ran and Hong Sang-soo
Tuesday Dec 22, 2020
Tuesday Dec 22, 2020
This episode Tania Hall joins James and Andy for a discussion on that most idiosyncratic of Korean directors, Hong Sang-soo, and his latest film The Woman Who Ran. What is it that makes his films compelling, and where should you start?
The Woman Who Ran is currently streaming on MUBI from 20 December. Sign up now with MUBI via easternKicks and get 30 days FREE!
This episode's timecodes
00:31 - Episode introduction 01:08 - Discussion on The Woman Who Ran24:54 - Where should you start with Hong?32:32 - The influence of Hong Sang-soo on other directors42:21 - Outro
Tuesday Dec 15, 2020
Episode 20: The Gift Guide
Tuesday Dec 15, 2020
Tuesday Dec 15, 2020
The nights have drawn in, and Christmas is but a few sleeps away, so for this episode, Andy and James have put together a list of 12 perfect gifts for the Asian film fan in your life - even if it's just yourself! Meanwhile, our Stephen picks his own list of Christmas wishes! And stay listening, for some very special giveaways!
You can find all the selections with links at easternkicks.com/giftguide, as well as how to enter our giveaway competitions...
This episode's timecodes
00:33 - Episode introduction 01:56 - 1. Parasite soundtrack LP (Sacred Bones)05:55 - 2. Junji Ito clothing (Crunchyroll)09:50 - 3. The Untold Story Blu-ray (Unearthed Films)13:58 - 4. Category III films on Blu-ray (Panorama)17:08 - 5. Sadako Imperial Stout (Weird Beard Brew)19:37 - 6. Godzilla 74 Tiki Mug (Mondo)23:36 - 7. Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films, 1954–1975 (Criterion)27:32 - 8. Akira 4k Limited Edition set (Manga UK)30:39 - Stephen's Christmas wish list34:54 - 9. Screen Anime subscription37:36 - 10. MUBI subscription41:39 - 11. Char Siu Kits (Wun's Tea Room & Bar)43:42 - 12. easternKicks tee shirts (!!!)45:41 - Outro
Sunday Nov 29, 2020
Episode 19: Spotlight on...The Bride with White Hair
Sunday Nov 29, 2020
Sunday Nov 29, 2020
This episode author and film lecturer Colette Balman joins us for a special episode on one of Hong Kong cinemas most beloved films: Ronny Yu's The Bride with White Hair – recently released by Eureka Classics. Including some audio from star Brigitte Lin herself, we discuss the magical pairing with the late Leslie Cheung. There are some new discoveries on Netflix and Amazon prime, and we also hear from the last of our Udine Far East Film Festival Campus correspondents.
This episode's timecodes
00:00:44 - Episode introduction 00:02:23 - The Bride with White Hair discussion00:37:17 - Brigitte Lin, translated by Sophia Wong Boccio01:02:21 - Udine FEFF correspondent: Fan Hong01:06:58 - easternKicks Picks01:15:30 - Outro
Sunday Oct 25, 2020
Episode 18: Hungry Ghost Halloween!
Sunday Oct 25, 2020
Sunday Oct 25, 2020
Feeling brave? This time we’re celebrating Halloween as Andrew and James find some hungry ghosts of their own with unfinished business – namely Asian horrors that were overlooked in the post-Ringu boom of the early 00s! Meanwhile, some of the easternKicks team share their own unsung ghostly classics.
This episode's timecodes
00:00:31 - Episode introduction 00:02:11 - The Asian horror 'boom' of the 2000s 00:06:28 - The New Blood (2002)00:12:10 - Stephen on Inner Senses00:18:02 - The Red Shoes (2005)00:28:21 - Noroi: The Curse (2005)00:34:43 - Niina on Yotsuya Kaidan00:37:54 - Rule #1 (2008)00:42:33 - Bunshinsaba (2004)00:47:50 - Horror Hotline… Big Head Monster (2001)00:51:37 - Asian horror on the streaming services: might we see a return to the 00s?00:54:58 - Picks from Netflix and Prime01:12:07 - Ant on Queen Of Black Magic and Boxers Omen01:14:21 - OutroThis podcast includes original audio from trailers for the films.
Saturday Jan 11, 2020
Episode 1: How *we* into easternFlicks
Saturday Jan 11, 2020
Saturday Jan 11, 2020
Welcome to the easternKicks podcast, a fortnightly magazine programme about East Asian film led by Andrew Heskins, founder and grandmaster of easternKicks.com, and lead writer James Mudge. Each episode we’ll be taking a look at the latest films, news and festivals, often chatting to filmmakers and stars along the way. But for our first episode, we answer a question we get asked a lot, just what started our passion for Asian film? And then we review Ip Man 4: The Finale, lord help us.