Michelle Kisner (The Movie Sluth / @Robotcookie) joins us to look at "The Calamari Wrestler" as a former champion turns himself into a humanoid squid as he plans to win back both his title and his girl but not before facing some rather unique competition.

We look at the unique world of director Minoru Kawasaki, reveal some of the strangest wrestling moments and the allure of the collector bug plus more!!

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Elwood and Stephen look at Jean Cocteau's 1946 adaptation of the classic fairytale and especially how greatly it differs especially to the Disney version.

Having been fired and with his marriage falling apart, business man travels to a fishing village in search of treasure hidden by his recently deceased friend Taro during the war. Its here though that he meets the mysterious Saeko who not only lives in the house were Taro hid his treasure but suffers from a rather unique condition.

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Elwood and Stephen look at the Takashi Miike's "Rainy Dog" in which a Yakuza member exiled to Taiwan makes ends meet as a hitman, while his problems only increase when his ex dumps thier son on his doorstep. Elsewhere brother of one of his former hits sets out to get his revenge.

Continuing his month long challange to watch 30 Takashi Miike Movies in  30 days Elwood runs down with Stephen the latest batch of films he's  crossed off his list as he enters week #4 of his challange. 

This time they look at The Happiness of the Katakuris, Fudoh: The New Generation, Shinjuku Triad Society, Crows Zero 1 + 2, Graveyard of Honor and Yatterman!

Throughout september we are raising money for Marvels and Meltdowns Family Support Centre. If you'd like to toss a buck in the donation you can via our justgiving page - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/richard-smethurst2

Continuing  his month long challange to watch 30 Takashi Miike Movies in 30 days  Elwood runs down with Stephen the latest batch of films he's crossed off  his list including Blade of the Immortal, Imprint, Three Extremes, 13 Assassins, First Love and The City of Lost Souls

Throughout september we are raising money for Marvels and Meltdowns   Family Support Centre. If you'd like to toss a buck in the donation you   can via our justgiving page -   https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/richard-smethurst2

Continuing his month long challange to watch 30 Takashi Miike Movies in 30 days Elwood runs down with Stephen the latest batch of films he's crossed off his list including Miike's takes on the Musical, western and superhero genres!

Throughout september we are raising money for Marvels and Meltdowns  Family Support Centre. If you'd like to toss a buck in the donation you  can via our justgiving page -  https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/richard-smethurst2

Elwood and Stephen check out "Shaolin Soccer" the film which launched Stephen Chow into the concious of western audiences only for him to disappear as quick as he's appeared!
Here Chow plays a Shaolin monk who teaming up with his friends as they attempt to blend thier Shaolin skills with football in this madcap comedy.

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With the numbers quickly dwindling down to just seven remaining students, the time has finally come for our resident hacker to finally unveil his masterplan. 

Elwood and Stephen check out the anime classic "Ninja Scroll" as the masterless samurai Jubei is despatched to investage a mysterious virus only to soon find himself faced with battling an enemy from his past.  We also question if it's still the key title it was when it was released aswell as the part it played in helping anime break through for audiences in the 90's

We also look at the weirder moments of Godzilla's legacy with Stephen revealing his favourite kaiju, Samurai Shodown and more!!

Certainly to unpack in this latest episode of our Chapter by Chapter breakdown of "Battle Royale" as Shuya is finally reunited with Noriko while we bid farewell to Hiroki and Mitsuko but not before we get a chance to explore her "Broken Doll" persona.

All this plus more intresting acting choices from Beat Takashi Kitano, questionable fan wiki's and the heroes journey of Shuya plus more!

Elwood and Stephen look at the 2023 Espionage thriller Hidden Blade set during China's war of Resistance during World War 2 as Tony Leung stars as He the director of Shanghai's Political Security Department who is also feeding information to the Chinese Communist party as he struggles to maintain his cover

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Elwood and Stephen check out Tsai Ming-liang's "Goodbye,  Dragon Inn" a film which is as much a tribute to King Hu’s 1967 wuxia epic "Dragon Inn" as it is a slice of life drama set on the cinema's final night before its closure.

Our Chapter by Chapter breakdown of "Battle Royale" comes to one of it's more surreal sequences....literarly! Taking a break from the ongoing deathmatch Noriko has a dream about going for an ice lolly with Takashi. But what does this all mean??

We also look at the extensive career of "Beat" Takashi Kitano and the legacy of Takashi's Castle, more British TV nostalgia and more!!

Emily (Why This Film) joins us to breakdown another chapter of Battle Royale as a plot to poison Shuya is hatched while we also take a closer look at one of the more unique groups to form during the game.

Continuing our chapter by chapter breakdown of the cult classic "Battle Royale" we pick up the story with Shuya having escaped from Kiriyama at the end of the last episode he now finds himself at the Lighthouse were several of the girls have found thier own sanctuary, but will his arrival disrupt their harmony? We also rundown the latest list of the fallen and explore their backstories not shown in the film.

Picking up from the cliffhanger ending of our previous chapter our trio find thier clinic hideaway under attack from the ever resourceful Kiriyama, we bid farewell to Froggy while we look at the background of Shinji a.k.a. The Third Man.

On this episode we check out the hyper kenetic "Versus" in which Gangsters battle Zombies in the Forest of Resurrection which headed up a revived intrest in asian cinema when it was unleashed in 2000.

We also look at the suprisingly career of it's director Ryuhei Kitamura, the rise and fall of Tartan's "Asia Extreme" Label,  Elwood challanges Stephen to the Letterboxd game and more!!

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Continuing our chapter by chapter breakdown of Battle Royale on this episode we discover the history of Kawada (but bizarely not what causes his scar), reveal the scene that Stephen wishes was included in the film aswell as profile two of the supporting cast with suprising back stories.

Elwood and Stephen look at the critically acclaimed "Spirit of the Beehive" widely regarded as the greatest Spanish film of the 1970's while also a key influence on Guillermo Del Toro's "The Devil's Backbone".

Taking place in the wake of the Spanish civil war in a small village were a viewing of "Frankenstein" which will forever change how six year old Ana views the world around her.

Emily Slade (Why This film) joins us to discuss one the of the films more iconic character as we look at Takako Chigusa aswell as one of the films most memorable showdowns. FPu6z5bHgrx93xzanjDb

On this episode we have one for anyone who's a fan of Michael Mann's "Manhunter" as we check out Kiyoshi Kurosawa's "Cure" in which a string of strange murders see the victims being found with an X carved into them with the murderer near by and no memories of the crime they have commited. 

The Battle Royale breakdown continues as we meet another key group in star basketball player, revolutionist and hacker Shinki Mimura aka The Third Man, question the many professions of Kawada's father while also taking a look at the collars as we question if anyone is actually listening to the microphones in the collars? 

Can punk rock save the world? We find out as we check out Yoshihiro Nakamura's "Fish Story" a series of tales all connected by the final song of a punk rock group before they broke up but which ultimatly prove the key to humanities survival in modern day as a meteor heads on a collision course with the earth!

As we near the half way point of our chapter by chapter breakdown it's time for another of Kitano's reports, while we also look at the dining options available to our players, Mitsuko's showdown with the last member of her gang, questionable fan wiki's and more!!

The chapter by chapter breakdown of Battle Royale continues as a new alliance is formed, a questionable plan is put into action and we question what really is the most useless weapon to have on the island plus much more!!

Our chapter by chapter breakdown of Battle Royale comes to one of it's shortest chapters aswell as a chance to catch up with who we have lost so far in the game. It's also a chance for us to look at the backstory of Mitsuko not only an alpha predator in the game, but one of the two gang leaders in the class amassing an impressive wrap sheet before she entered the game which we explore aswell as tracing the events which turned her into the shark like predator she is in the game.

Elwood and Stephen celebrate another 25 episodes by adding another 50 picks to their ever growing list of essential Asian Cinema

Check out the full list - ‎Asian Cinema Film Club - Top 250

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Elwood and Stephen check out the Jackie Chan classic set in the late 19th Century Hong Kong as Chan plays the coast guard SGT. Dragon Ma, who is determined to stop the pirates terrorising the city aswell as the corrupt goverment officals funding them.

Best remembered for the now legendry clock tower hang aswell as the film which introduced the now famous end credits blooper reel, we look at the making  of the film as well as it's lasting appeal as one of Chan's best films.

Our chapter by chapter breakdown of "Battle Royale" arrives at one of its most eventful chapters as alpha predators are revealed and loyalties are tested. We also find out what the use of the fan is while also trying to decide what is actually a good weapon to get in the game plus more!!

It's once more the happiest time of the year as Kaiju Christmas is here once more!!
This year we have somthing especially special as we look at North Korea's entry into the Kaiju genre with "Pulgasari" whose behind the scenes making of is as equally facinating as the film itself. 

Joining us to breakdown the film we have a fantastic pair of guests as Emily (Why This Film Podcast) and Nick (French Toast Sunday) share thier thoughts on the film aswell as the decline of physical media, life lessons learned from kids tv and english cuisine plus more!!

On this episode we look at one of the lost classics of anime "A Penguins Memories" which plays like "Happy Feet" meets "The Deer Hunter" as Mike a young penguin returns home from the war shell shocked and unable to deal with the experience while his friends and family want to celebrate him as a war hero, sending him on the road as he tries to find peace in his life.  We also look at Japan's love for mascots, pumpkin carving and why "The Oily Maniac" which just be the strangest Shaw Bros. movie ever plus much more!!

The game is finally afoot as our chapter by chapter breakdown of Battle Royale now sees the students entering into the game for real but who is going to be first to fall?

Elwood and Stephen pay tribute to Benny Chan as they check out the first film in the "A Moment of Romance" trilogy in which a chance encounter between a getaway driver and a rich heiress leads to an unlikely romance. 

We also check out Crunchyroll's first podcast "Anime In America" and how anime managed to sneak into our lives without us even realising. We also look at Disney's problematic "Mulan", Japanese Mascots and much more!!

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Nick Rehak (French Toast Sunday) joins us as we continue our breakdown of Battle Royale one DVD chapter at a time.
On this episode it's time for the bags to be handed out, while we question the purpose of the games aswell as how the game could be played outside of the island.

On this episode we look at the feature film debut of Bruce Lee "The Big Boss" which also might also be one of his unique films especially when he spends a good portion of the film refusing to fight.

We look at the making of the film aswell as Bruce's meteoric rise to fame, the hunt for the missing footage aswell as highlighting the many random delights of the film.

Our Chapter by Chapter breakdown of cult favourite "Battle Royale" continues with a look at the must have fashion acessory for any Battle Royale participent as on this episode we are joined by Kim (Tranquil Dreams / Movies and Tea) to breakdown the chapter as the class find out the rules and we bid farewell to two of the class. 

Apoligies for the audio issues in part of the this episode due to our recording being insane.

On this episode we look at one of our more random film sections with Kim Ki Duck's "Mobieus in which a wife's desire for a revenge on her husband soon has him on a much darker journey of self satisfaction. 

Elwood and Stephen take an in-depth look at Park Chan Wook's Vengeance trilogy in this bumper length edition of the show

featuring special guest hosts

Kim Lo ( Movies and Tea / Game Warp ) on Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance

Scott K ( The Church of Tarantino ) on Oldboy

Nicholas Rehak on Lady Vengence

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Check out our sponsor: Yes Please Vintage

Our Chapter by Chapter breakdown of Battle Royale this time sees our ill fated class waking up on the island as they are reunited with Kitano and introduced to two new members of thier class Shogo Kawada and Kazuo Kiriyama.

On this episode we explore the backstory of these two students aswell as how they differ from how they were potrayed in the novel and manga. We also look alittle deeper at Kitano and question his own motivation for joining the BR program and the possible hand he had in the class being chosen. 

On this episode we check out one of Meiko Kaji's most memorable characters in the first of the female prisoner scorpion movies as she plays a former police spy on a mission of revenge against her ex-boyfriend while trying to survive the gangs and corrupt guards inside the prison in a film possibly best described as art-house sleaze. 

Continuing our chapter by chapter analysis of Battle Royale as on this episode we look at the ill fated school trip which will soon land the class on the island.

We discuss the characters of Noriko and how she might actually be the only innocent in the game aswell as Shuya's best friend and human grenade nobu let alone a batch of all important cookies and further comparisions to the manga and novel plus much more!!

Welcome to a brand new bonus show as Elwood and Stephen start thier chapter by chapter analysis of the cult classic "Battle  Royale" not only looking at the film and the impact it had on Asian  cinema ushering in alongside Audition and The Ring a revived intrest in Asian Cinema, but also comparing the film to the original novel and  manga adaptation as they set out on the mother of all deep dives.

On this episode we look at Shuya Nanahara, the Battle Royale act and  the youth uprising it was designed to squash plus much more!

It's a change of pace on this episode as we look at Bong Joon-Ho's english language  debut "Snowpiercer" as we look at it's problematic distribution to the  UK, the clashes with Harvey Weinstein and the deeper themes when we deep  dive into the film with Em from Verbal Diorama

Also make sure you check out our show sponsor Yes Please Vintage for a great selection of vintage homewares and second hand clothing

25 episodes ago Elwood and Stephen shared thier top 50 Asian Cinema and now having just celebrated episode #50 they reveal what thier next 50 would be on the list as they make it a full 100 in this weighty chunk of podcast goodness.

On this episode we are joined by Jeanette Ward (The Mundane Adventures of a Fangirl) to discuss the martial arts classic "Once Upon A Time In China 2" as Jet Li returns as Wong Fei-hung who this time joins forces with a nationalistic militia to overthrow the colonialist powers intent on taking over China.

Best remembered for the showdown between Jet Li and Donnie Yen here making his first leading role appearence a fight that we would have to wait until "Hero" to finally see the rematch between these two legends.

We also look at the difference between Hollywood and Hong Kong Action, question why Donnie Yen took so long to be recognised as a master and the evolution of screen combat plus much more!! 

Stephen and Elwood look at the quirky indie comedy Leningrad Cowboys Go America.

Arriving in the states with their footlong quiffs and equally long winkle pickers the band come in search of fame and fortune. What they find instead is an opportunity to play a wedding in Mexico setting them on a unique road trip all the while being pursued by village idiot Igor.

On this episode we check out Jia Zhangke's 2013 A Touch of Sin as he draws from the headlines to craft four tales about the division between the rich and poor against the backdrop of a rapidly changing China often with bloody results. 

On this episode we check out a double feature from one of our most requested directors Shinya Tsukamoto as we look at look at the cult favourites Tetsuo The Iron Man in which after running over a metal fetishist a saleryman finds himself cursed with a disease which is slowly turning his skin metal. We also look at it's big budget sequel Tetsuo 2: Body Hammer which this time sees a saleryman trying to get his son back from a gang of skinhead while his body becomes a living weapon. 

We also look at Takashi Miike's First Love, Mary and the Witches Flower, Stephen gets nostaligic for British fast food and the we question who are the enfant terrible's of cinema plus much more!!

On this episode we look at the cinema of cool with Seijun Suzuki's "Tokyo Drifter" which along with "Branded to Kill" saw him blacklisted by the Nikkatsu as he set out to create somthing alot more diffrent than the typical Yakuza fare he'd previously been associated with as here enforcer Tetsuya "Phoenix Tetsu" Hondo is forced to become a drifter when his boss disolves the gang and a real estate scam orchestred by thier rivals sees him soon having to evade the hitman "Viper" Tatsuzo in a yakuza movie quite unlike anything which came before and certainly after it.

Recorded on Oscar night we discuss the chances of  "Parasite" claiming the top prize aswell as Stephen Chow's "Love on Delivery", the K-Pop factory and much more!!