The easternKicks.com Podcast

The easternKicks.com Podcast

Download on the App Store

The easternKicks.com Podcast episodes

  • Episode 48 - Mark Dacascos interview / Brotherhood of the Wolf

    This episode Andy and James are joined by Yonah Sichrovsky to chat about Brotherhood of the Wolf, returning to home media in a new 4K restoration. Yonah also chats to star Mark Dacascos himself about the film, appearing in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and Iron Chef!

    This episode’s handy timecodes

    00:00:33 - Introduction

    00:02:09 - Highlights from Mark Dacascos's career
    00:07:00 - Crying Freeman - Christophe Gans and Dacascos's first collab
    00:12:37 - Brotherhood of the Wolf
    00:47:46 - Yonah chats to Mark Dacascos
    01:05:10 - Outro

    Brotherhood of the Wolf is released on UHD, Blu-Ray and DVD from 15th May by Studiocanal.
    1 hr 6 min
  • Episode 47 - Calamity of Snakes special

    Oh, the Calamity! The Calamity of Snakes! Andy and James discuss the controversial exploitation flick, released by Unearthed Films in a glorious 2K restoration, and wonder... just where is the fourth floor? Listen in if you dare, but don't get too distracted knitting. That might not be a bundle of wool...

    This episode’s handy timecodes

    00:33 - Introduction

    02:53 - The new restoration
    11:24 - Background to the production and cast
    15:55 - The "plot"!!!
    18:10 - The missing floor mystery
    19:39 - Snake carnage
    22:28 - Context and style
    32:01 - The unavoidable bad side
    44:06 - Outro

    Calamity of Snakes is released on Blu-Ray and DVD from April 25th by Unearthed Films
    45 min
  • Episode 46 - Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom special

    This episode Kay Hoddy chats to the director of 2022 Oscar nominated Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom, Pawo Choyning Dorji. Meanwhile, James gives us a rundown of recent releases on the streaming platforms. 

    This episode’s handy timecodes

    00:00:33 - Introduction

    00:01:58 - Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom intro
    00:05:46 - Pawo Choyning Dorji interview
    00:34:25 - Review of the film
    00:45:07 - James Mudge's streaming roundup
    01:12:37 - Outro

    Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom is released in UK cinemas from 10th March by Peccadillo Pictures.
    1 hr 14 min
  • Episode 45: The Horror of Junji Ito

    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 - Introduction

    00:01:37 - Junji Ito in context  
    00:10:46 - Early adaptions
    00:12:34 - Tomie film and TV series
    00:34:12 - 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 adaptions
    01:13:55 - Outro

    Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre is streaming now on Netflix.
    1 hr 15 min
  • Episode 44: the End of Year Show 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 - Introduction

    00:01:53 - What were the big releases?
    00:08:25 - Decision to Leave, innit?
    00:25:16 - Other key cinema releases
    00:41:37 - Trends, what have we seen from different countries
    00:50:22 - The home entertainment renaissance 
    00:47:46 - Legacy and influence
    01:01:45 - 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!

    1 hr 34 min
  • Episode 43: Infernal Affairs 20th Anniversary Special

    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 - Introduction

    00:03:00 - Context and concept
    00:08:25 - Creative team
    00:11:50 - Infernal Affairs
    00:25:19 - Infernal Affairs II
    00:40:29 - Infernal Affairs III
    00:47:46 - Legacy and influence
    00:51:53 - Phillip on the inevitability of fate
    01:05:42 - The Departed
    01:18:09 - Conclusions
    01:23:39 - Outro 

    The Infernal Affairs Trilogy is available now on Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.
    1 hr 25 min
  • Episode 42: London Film Festival roundup

    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 introduction

    00:01:27 - On to the festival, and the many films from Korea (?)
    00:18:14 - So Yun Um interview, Liquor Store Dreams
    00:37:18 - Films from Japan
    00:39:09 - Films from Thailand and beyond, plus documentaries and more
    00:52:25 - Thoughts on the festival
    01:06:07 - Outro

    The BFI London Film Festival 2022 takes place from 5th to 16 October. See the official site for listings.
    1 hr 7 min
  • Episode 41: Happy Anniversary, Squid Game?

    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 introduction

    02:13 - For those that missed it...(what?)
    14:02 - The success of the show, and creators and cast
    26:40 - What does that mean for other shows?
    44:57 - Wrapping up
    48:37 - Outro

    50 min
  • Episode 40: Making Waves

    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 introduction

    01:43 - An introduction to Focus Hong Kong
    05:00 - The Making Waves programme
    06:19 - Comrades, Almost A Love Story and Peter Chan holo-presence
    13:41 - July Rhapsody
    18:32 - Anita
    22:34 - Hand Rolled Cigarette
    24:51 - Breakout Brothers
    26:48 - The First Girl I Loved
    28:24 - Tales from the Occult
    35:43 - Outro

    Making Waves takes place at the Soho Hotel and Garden Cinema from 8th to 100th July. Check the website for more details.
    37 min
  • Episode 39 - The Sadness special

    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 introduction

    01:54 - The Sadness, a quick explainer
    08:39 - Rob Jabbaz interview
    28:11 - Reactions to the interview
    34:52 - easternKicks Picks!
    42:40 - Outro

    The Sadness is available to exclusively stream on Shudder from 12th May.
    44 min

About The easternKicks.com Podcast

From the publisher's feed

A regular magazine programme about East Asian film, with the latest news, reviews and interviews