The easternKicks.com Podcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

This week Andy and James take a look at Mongolian cinema. With If Only I Could Hibernate in UK cinemas, Andy chat's to the director Zoljargal Purevdash. Meanwhile regular easternKicks contributor Amarsanaa Battulga joins us to chat about Mongolian cinema in general. 

This episode’s handy timecodes

00:00:32 - Introduction.  00:01:44 -  Zoljargal Purevdash interview: If Only I Could Hibernate. 00:32:58 - Putting Mongolian cinema in context. Why do we only see coproductions? What do local audiences really watch? 01:06:03 - Outro. 

James and Andy are back with another look at the latest releases on streamers and in cinemas for March.

This episode’s handy timecodes

00:00:32 - Introduction.  00:02:20 - The Oscars!  00:11:35 - Shudder, with a sudden appearance of 2000's Uzumaki.  00:15:48 - Amazon Prime, including Suddenly in Dark Night, Doctor (2013) and KKN di Desa Penari: Luwih Dowo, Luwih Medeni.  00:25:04 - Netflix, including Officer Black Belt, Indigo, Shake, Rattle and Roll Extreme, The Parades and The Pig, The Snake and the Pigeon.  00:50:28 - Cinema picks, including Monster, Drift and Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus.  01:00:56 - Outro. 

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

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

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

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

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!

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 

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

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