Japan
Japan
Thursday Dec 07, 2023
Episode 54 - easternKicks Picks for December
Thursday Dec 07, 2023
Thursday Dec 07, 2023
James and Andy curate a selection of new and recent releases from streaming platforms, cinema and more.
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:19 - Introduction02:29 - Streaming picks...03:43 - Netflix, including Sweet Home Season 2, Believer 2 and Hard Days16:27 - Amazon Prime, including Ashiap Man, The Family, Kwaidan and Third Window24:08 - Cinema picks, including Godzilla Minus One, Yoshiki: Under The Sky and Raging Grace 21:52 - Outro
Friday Nov 03, 2023
Episode 53 - easternKicks Picks for November
Friday Nov 03, 2023
Friday Nov 03, 2023
In the first of a new format, James and Andy curate a selection of new and recent releases from streaming platforms, cinema and festivals. Plus Andy catches up with Geran and Walid director Areel Abu Bakar in trendy Hackney Wick.
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:00:19 - Introduction00:02:36 - But first, what easternKicks Picks IS, and what it ISN'T00:06:24 - Streaming picks, including Ballerina, Yellow Door 90’s Lo-Fi Film Club and In my Mother’s Skin.00:39:44 - Cinema picks, including Back Home, Past lives and Where the Wind Blows.00:46:49 - Areel Abu Bakar interview01:03:16 - Festival roundup, including BFI London Film Festival and London Korean Film Festival.01:21:52 - Outro
Tuesday Aug 15, 2023
Episode 51 - A Tokyo Melody: Remembering Ryuichi Sakamoto
Tuesday Aug 15, 2023
Tuesday Aug 15, 2023
This episode Colette Balmain joins James and Andy to chat about Tokyo Melody, a 1985 documentary that recently resurfaced at Japan Cuts 2023 about Ryuichi Sakamoto, and to chat about the great musician, innovator and composer's legacy. Yonah Sichrovsky speaks to the film’s director Elizabeth Lennard. Meanwhile, Frank Djeng, king of audio commentaries, shares his thoughts on Sakamoto. Plus we have the return of the easternKicks picks! All in this bumper-packed show!
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:00:32 - Introduction00:02:09 - We discuss Tokyo Melody00:16:30 - Yonah chats to Elizabeth Lennard00:40:28 - Sakamoto's legacy00:52:33 - Frank Djeng remembers Sakamoto00:56:19 - Sakamoto's legacy continued01:07:20 - easternKicks picks01:22:48 - Outro
Thursday Mar 02, 2023
Episode 45: The Horror of Junji Ito
Thursday Mar 02, 2023
Thursday Mar 02, 2023
With the new series Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre debuting on Netflix, James and Andy are joined by self-confessed Ito fans Colette Balmain and Niina Doherty to chat about his works and how they've been adapted to film and television over the years. Has anyone done him justice...?
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:00:33 - Introduction00:01:37 - Junji Ito in context 00:10:46 - Early adaptions00:12:34 - Tomie film and TV series00:34:12 - Uzumaki (2000)00:40:05 - Other adaption in early 2000s 00:44:22 - Gyo Tokyo Fish Attack (2012)01:47:37 - Junji Ito Collection (2018) and Junji Ito Maniac (2023)01:00:50 - Uzumaki, Tomie and other potential adaptions01:13:55 - Outro
Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre is streaming now on Netflix.
Thursday Dec 29, 2022
Episode 44: the End of Year Show 2022
Thursday Dec 29, 2022
Thursday Dec 29, 2022
It's time for the End of Year Show! James and Andy look back on 2022, the highs and lows. Did anything change for Asian film? What were the big releases and trends? Will there be ranting about that certain recent survey? There's only one way to find out: listen!!!
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:00:32 - Introduction00:01:53 - What were the big releases?00:08:25 - Decision to Leave, innit?00:25:16 - Other key cinema releases00:41:37 - Trends, what have we seen from different countries00:50:22 - The home entertainment renaissance 00:47:46 - Legacy and influence01:01:45 - The Sight and Sound '100 Greatest Films of All Time'01:26:35 - Takeaways from 2022?01:32:36 - The end of the End of the Year Show!
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.
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.
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
Wednesday Aug 25, 2021
Episode 31 – Spotlight on... Daimajin
Wednesday Aug 25, 2021
Wednesday Aug 25, 2021
Phillip O'Connor joins Andy and James for a detailed look at everyone's favourite diminutive kaiju, Daimajin, recently restored and on Blu-ray. Okay sure, he's tall, but he's definitely no Godzilla...
This episode's timecodes
00:31 - Episode introduction02:05 - Daimajin's origins06:28 - Shall we talk about the, erm, plot?12:27 - Some of the different elements of the films22:08 - Daimajin's design and special effects31:20 - Production and shooting33:45 - Obligatory Steven Segal cameo36:40 - Original release and popularity39:38 - Where'd the wee fella go?43:52 - Godzilla composer Akira Ifukube's film scores47:57 - Masks and cleft chins49:27 - The three directors52:10 - What next?56:59 - easternKicks Picks59:06 - Outro
The Daimajin Trilogy is available now on Limited Edition Blu-ray from Arrow Video.
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.