The easternKicks.com Podcast

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

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

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

This episode we have the pleasure of chatting to Helen McCarthy, well-known author of so many of our favourite books on anime, on her latest work about the life and work of manga artist Leiji Matsumoto. Creator of some of the biggest franchises in anime, including Space Battleship Yamato (Star Blazers), Space Pirate Captain Harlock and Galaxy Express 999, but still criminally overlooked in the UK and USA. A collaborative effort with co-editor Darren-Jon Ashmore, with various contributors including Jonathan Tarbox, Ed Hoff and Stefanie Thomas. (You can pre-order the book at https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/leiji-matsumoto.) Meanwhile, members of the easternKicks team pick their favourite animes!

This episode's timecodes

00:00:31 - Episode introduction

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

We talk to the filmmakers and star behind new Malaysian martial art film Geran, recipient of the New York Asian Film Festival Daniel A. Craft Award for Excellence in Action Cinema. We spoke to director Areel Abu Bakar, action choreographer and lead bad guy Azlan Komeng, and actor Megat Shahrizal, with interpreter Syeela Dzul, about bringing the art of Silat to the big screen. We also find out how Life Of Action and action co-ordinator Mike Fury got into easternFlicks, and hear from another of our Udine Far East Film Festival Campus correspondents.

This episode's timecodes

00:00:31 - Episode introduction

We climb aboard one of the eagerly awaited Asian film releases this Summer, Peninsula. Looking back on the career of director Yeon Sang-ho, having made his name with animated films such as King Of Pigs, The Fake and Seoul Station before his breakthrough live-action global hit Train to Busan. We also hear how author and Neo magazine writer David West got into easternFlicks, and from another of our Udine Far East Film Festival Campus correspondents.

This episode's timecodes

00:00:32 - Episode introduction

Ant Gates and  Phillip O'Connor join us for an appropriately monster-sized discussion to celebrate the Arrow Video release of Gamera: The Complete Collection. We take in the history of Kaiju, while considering the important questions. Like what does Mothra drink? And exactly what is the deal with Godzilla's son? Stephen Palmer tells us more about the original hero in a half shell, and Helen McCarthy, author of many of our favourite books on anime, tells us How she got into easternFlicks. 

This episode's timecodes

00:00:31 - Episode introduction

This episode Phillip O'Connor joins us for a discussion about acclaimed coming-of-age drama House Of Hummingbird, while Roxy Simmons talks to the film's writer/director Kim Bora. We've got some picks from Prime, Netflix and more, and the first of our Udine Far East Film Festival Campus correspondents. Meanwhile, listen all the way through for a very special offer from our friends at Terracotta.

This episode's timecodes

00:00:32 - Episode introduction

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