Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Tuesday Aug 17, 2021
Episode 30: The best of NYAFF 2021
Tuesday Aug 17, 2021
Tuesday Aug 17, 2021
In this episode, we turn our eye to some picks from the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF), including an extended chat about Benny Chan's final film Raging Fire. Meanwhile Maja Korbeca chats to the "Grandmother of Hong Kong Cinema" Ann Hui, recipient of the NYAFF 2021 Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award.
This episode's timecodes
00:31 - Episode introduction02:16 - Back to live festivals with NYAFF and Raging Fire15:36 - Hand Rolled Cigarette and Limbo22:59 - Shadows and more from Hong Kong28:59 - Maja interview with Ann Hui41:41 - Some picks screening from South Korea, including Spiritwalker, The Prayer and Midnight49:38 - More picks including Three Sisters and Escape from Mogadishu51:50 - Picks from Japan, including Last Of The Wolves and Junk Head52:10 - Picks from Taiwan, including As You Like It, The Silent Forest and My Missing Valentine58:13 - Outro
The New York Asian Film Festival continues with both in-person screenings and online until 22 August.
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 29, 2021
Episode 26: One-Armed Jimmy
Saturday May 29, 2021
Saturday May 29, 2021
Join Andrew, James and easternKicks contributor Yonah Sichrovsky for some mainly 'armless fun, as we chat about kung fu classic One Armed Boxer, and director and star, the notorious Jimmy Wang Yu!
This episode's timecodes
00:00:52 - Episode introduction00:02:41 - One Armed Boxer review00:19:20 - Jimmy Wang Yu: The main who would be Bruce?00:34:28 - Will we ever see the popularity of kung fu films return?00:44:09 - easternKicks Picks: James00:54:54 - More easternKicks Picks: Yonah, including Demon Slayer01:02:17 - Outro
One Armed Boxer is available now on UK Blu-ray from Eureka Entertainment.
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.
Monday Sep 07, 2020
Episode 16: A pop-up chat about Asian Pop-up Cinema!
Monday Sep 07, 2020
Monday Sep 07, 2020
We talk to Sophia's Choice founder Sophia Wong Boccio about Chicago-based Asian Pop-up Cinema and the changing shape of film festivals in the Covid-19 era. We also look back on the career of the late and much-loved Hong Kong action director Benny Chan, as well hear from another of our Udine Far East Film Festival Campus correspondents.
This episode's timecodes
00:31 - Episode introduction 01:26 - A chat with Sophia Wong Boccio: Asian Pop-up Cinema42:51 - A look back at Benny Chan's career55:58 - Udine FEFF correspondent: Diego Aparicio59:56 - Outro
Friday Jul 03, 2020
Episode 11: Spotlight on... Wu Xia (Dragon)
Friday Jul 03, 2020
Friday Jul 03, 2020
In another special edition, we put the spotlight on classic martial arts film Wu Xia (aka Dragon), starring Donnie Yen, with an exclusive interview with the film's director Peter Chan. We also look at new release Enter The Fat Dragon and some discoveries on Prime Video.
This episode's timecodes
00:00:32 - Episode introduction 00:01:29 - Wu Xia introduction00:10:25 - Peter Chan on how the film came about00:25:33 - Peter Chan discusses getting the best out of action stars00:33:43 - Peter Chan on casting Jimmy Wang Yu00:41:25 - Peter Chan on Jake Pollack's cinematography00:48:25 - Wu Xia vs Dragon: the international cut00:56:50 - easternKicks Picks: Enter The Fat Dragon (On digital and Blu-ray from Well Go USA)01:04:59 - easternKicks Picks: Prey, The Spy Gone North and Savage (On Prime Video)
Wednesday Apr 29, 2020
Episode 7: Double Happy, part 2!
Wednesday Apr 29, 2020
Wednesday Apr 29, 2020
We continue with the second of our two-part celebration of Hong Kong comedy, as Andrew, James and Stephen bring the chat right up to date. Maja picks her favourite as well, while Podcast On Fire's Kenneth Brorsson tells us How he got into easternFlicks!
This episode's timecodes
00:32 - Introduction 01:00 - Her Fatal Ways09:15 - Maja Korbecka's favourite HK comedy13:26 - The Ghost Snatchers and Mr Vampire22:23 - Gallants29:44 - Vulgaria40:59 - Men On The Dragon43.37 - Kenneth Brorsson: How I got into easternFlicks