Asian Cinema Film Club
194 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 days ago - ★★★★ - 4 ratingsA bi-weekly podcast which aims to provide an introduction to the exciting world of Asian cinema.
Each episode sees Elwood and Stephen highlighting a diffrent film worth discovering aswell as discussing a wide variety of topics relating from Actor / director profiles through to exploring the more random aspects of this facinating field.
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Episodes
A.C. Film Club #70 - Shaolin Soccer
September 11, 2021 08:31 - 1 hour - 79.9 MBElwood 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. Check out our sponsor Yes Please Vintage --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asian-cinema-film-club/message
Takashi Miike Month - Week #1 Recap
September 06, 2021 20:07 - 37 minutes - 44.2 MBThroughtout September Elwood is attempting to watch 30 Takashi Miike movies in 30 days which considering that Miike has to date directed over 100 movies means there is plenty to choose. On this bonus episode Elwood and Stephen recap what Elwood has watched so far. 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 ...
Battle Royale Podcast #19 - The Third Man
September 04, 2021 21:51 - 31 minutes - 35.7 MBWith the numbers quickly dwindling down to just seven remaining students, the time has finally come for our resident hacker to finally unveil his masterplan. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asian-cinema-film-club/message
A.C. Film Club #69 - Ninja Scroll
August 27, 2021 12:58 - 1 hour - 93.4 MBElwood 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...
Battle Royale Podcast #18 - Die
August 25, 2021 07:24 - 39 minutes - 42.2 MBCertainly 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! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asian-cinema-film-club/message
A.C. Film Club #68 - Goodbye, Dragon Inn
August 18, 2021 12:26 - 1 hour - 78.8 MBElwood 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. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asian-cinema-film-club/message
Battle Royale Podcast #17 - A Dream
August 11, 2021 21:22 - 26 minutes - 28.6 MBOur 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!! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asian-cinema-film-club/message
A.C. Film Club #66 - Chocolate
July 28, 2021 21:28 - 40 minutes - 44 MBZen's mother Zin was previously a feared gangster who retired to give birth to Zen. However when is diagnosed with cancer Zen takes it upon herself to collect her mother's debts, while also being able to replicate martial arts just by watching them. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asian-cinema-film-club/message
Battle Royale Podcast #16 - Poison
July 22, 2021 21:01 - 1 hour - 70.8 MBEmily (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. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asian-cinema-film-club/message
A.C. Film Club #67 - Daimajin
July 12, 2021 20:08 - 1 hour - 75.3 MBRecorded ahead of the release of the Daimajin trilogy boxset from Arrow, Elwood and Stephen check out the first film in the trilogy in which the samurai lord of a peaceful village is murdered by one of his own men. Claiming the throne and forcing the lord's two small children to flee into the woods near the huge stone statue of Daimajin, the god of their village. Ten Years later they plot to reclaim the throne as they call upon Daimajin to assist them. --- Send in a voice message: https...
Battle Royale Podcast #15 - The Lighthouse
June 26, 2021 22:24 - 30 minutes - 33.5 MBContinuing 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. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asian-cinema...
A.C. Film Club #65 - The Invisible Man Appears + The Invisible Man Vs. The Human Fly
June 18, 2021 18:26 - 1 hour - 88.8 MBElwood and Stephen check out two forgotten invisable man movies produced by Daiei film and both brings a unique twist to the invisible man mythos as "The Invisible Man Appears" (1949) sees a group of jewel thieves plotting to use the invisibility formula to steal the priceless necklace "The Tears of Amour.". It's completly unliked follow up "The Invisible Man Vs. The Human Fly" (1957) meanwhile has a police officer turned invisible attempting to track down a serial killer with the abilitiy t...
Battle Royale Podcast #14 - Join Me
June 01, 2021 21:52 - 28 minutes - 31.6 MBPicking 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. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asian-cinema-film-club/message
A.C. Film Club #64 - Versus
May 24, 2021 07:50 - 1 hour - 91.8 MBOn 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!! Check out our sponsor Yes Please Vintage Buy a coffee and support the show: https://ko-fi.com/acfilmclub ...
Battle Royale Podcast #13 - A Confession
May 15, 2021 22:16 - 36 minutes - 40.4 MBContinuing 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. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asian-cinema-film-club/message
A.C. Film Club #63 - The Battle Wizard
May 10, 2021 16:06 - 1 hour - 76.7 MBElwood and Stephen look at the wonderfully bonkers Shaw Bros. curiosity "The Battle Wizard" featuring giant snakes, a man eating gorilla, demonic henchmen and an evil wizard on telescopic bird legs!! Check out our sponsor Yes Please Vintage Buy a coffee and support the show: https://ko-fi.com/acfilmclub --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asian-cinema-film-club/message
Battle Royale Podcast #12 - Stay With Me
April 27, 2021 21:26 - 1 hour - 99.5 MBEmily 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 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asian-cinema-film-club/message
A.C. Film Club #62 - Cure
April 10, 2021 06:28 - 1 hour - 75.3 MBOn 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. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asian-cinema-film-club/message
Battle Royale Podcast #11 - The Clinic
March 29, 2021 21:12 - 37 minutes - 41.5 MBThe 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? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asian-cinema-film-club/message
A.C. Film Club #61 - Fish Story
March 21, 2021 21:53 - 1 hour - 81.9 MBCan 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! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asian-cinema-film-club/message
Battle Royale Podcast #10 - Second Report
March 17, 2021 21:02 - 29 minutes - 33.4 MBAs 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!! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asian-cinema-film-club/message
A.C. Film Club #60 - Tokyo Story
February 28, 2021 08:21 - 1 hour - 72 MBElwood and Stephen check out thier first Yasujirō Ozu movie with the critically acclaimed "Tokyo Story" in which an elderly couple visit thier grown up children in what is frequently seen as one of the best japanese movies of all time, while regularly topping critical polls for best movies....but is it actually any good? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asian-cinema-film-club/message
Battle Royale Podcast #9 - A Cry For Help
February 19, 2021 23:00 - 46 minutes - 51 MBThe 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!! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asian-cinema-film-club/message
A.C. Film Club #59 - Millennium Actress
February 10, 2021 22:09 - 1 hour - 72.5 MBElwood and Stephen check out Satoshi Kon's tribute to the careers of Setsuko Hara and Hideko Takamine in one of his more overlooked films which sees him take a depature from his usual themes to tell the story of actress Chiyoko Fujiwara. Living as a recluse for thirty years a pair of documentary filmmakers set out to tell her story, only to soon find themselves becoming more immersed in the story of her life and career. Author note: Apoligises for the ending of this episode which Elwood's ...
The Battle Royale Podcast #8 - First Report
January 26, 2021 20:43 - 27 minutes - 30.7 MBOur 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. --- Send i...
A.C Film Club #58 - Project A
January 18, 2021 12:36 - 1 hour - 80.8 MBElwood 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. --- Send in a ...
The Battle Royale Podcast #7 - Comparing Weapons
January 07, 2021 22:36 - 45 minutes - 51.7 MBOur 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!! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asian-cinema-film-club/message
Kaiju Christmas - Pulgasari
December 18, 2020 12:35 - 1 hour - 43.4 MBIt'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 ...
A.C. Film Club #57 - A Penguins Memories
December 15, 2020 07:36 - 1 hour - 81.9 MBOn 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. movi...
The Battle Royale Podcast #6 - Memories
November 26, 2020 07:06 - 32 minutes - 35.9 MBThe 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? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asian-cinema-film-club/message
A.C. Film Club #56 - A Moment of Romance
November 19, 2020 07:00 - 1 hour - 93.2 MBElwood 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!! Sponsor: Yes Please Vintage --- Send in a voice message:...
The Battle Royale Podcast #5 - Life's A Game
November 03, 2020 22:48 - 52 minutes - 57.3 MBNick 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. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asian-cinema-film-club/message
A.C. Film Club #55 - The Big Boss
October 22, 2020 02:17 - 1 hour - 94.5 MBOn 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. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asian-cinema-film-club/message
The Battle Royale Podcast #4 - The Necklace
October 15, 2020 15:52 - 36 minutes - 21.2 MBOur 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. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sho...
A.C. Film Club #54 - Moebius
September 27, 2020 00:29 - 1 hour - 83.4 MBOn 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. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asian-cinema-film-club/message
The Battle Royale Podcast #3 - Today's Lesson Is
September 09, 2020 22:40 - 38 minutes - 44 MBOur 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 t...
A.C. Film Club #53 - Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion
August 28, 2020 22:37 - 1 hour - 89 MBOn 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. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asian-cinema-film-club/message
The Battle Royale Podcast #2 - On The Bus
July 31, 2020 05:33 - 47 minutes - 52.4 MBContinuing 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!! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asia...
A.C. Film Club #52 - Election
July 29, 2020 04:19 - 1 hour - 92.1 MBElwood and Stephen correct a great oversight by finally looking at a Johnnie To movie as they check out the Traid thriller "Election" as Simon Yam and Tony Leung Ka-fai star as two gang leaders battling to become chairman of the Wo Luen Shing. Also on this episode Food Wars, Japanese game shows and the changing face of anime plus more!! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asian-cinema-film-club/message
The Battle Royale Podcast #1 - The BR Act
July 20, 2020 23:34 - 49 minutes - 42.8 MBWelcome 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 wa...
A.C. Film Club #51 - Snowpiercer
July 13, 2020 23:04 - 2 hours - 44.8 MBIt'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 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asian-cinema...
Top Asian Cinema - The Next 50
June 27, 2020 11:06 - 2 hours - 200 MB25 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. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asian-cinema-film-club/message
A.C. Film Club #50 - Seven Samurai
June 11, 2020 07:20 - 1 hour - 106 MBWhat better way to mark such a milestone than checking out Akira Kurosawa's "Seven Samurai" which would not only be remade in the west as "The Magnificent Seven" but also layed the foundations for many of the action movie tropes so commonplace now. Check out our sponser Yes Please Vintage for a great selection of hand picked and highly curated vintage, second-hand and upcycled housewares & clothing. Note: Sorry for any audio issues due to a synch issue. --- Send in a voice message: ht...
A.C Film Club #49 - A Bittersweet Life
May 26, 2020 06:58 - 1 hour - 105 MBOn this episode we check out Kim Jee-woon's revenge thriller "A Bittersweet life" as Kim Sun-woo (Lee Byung-hun) goes after his former boss when his refusal to do a job lands him with dire concequences. Also check out our new sponser Yes Please Vintage for a great selection of hand picked and highly curated vintage, second-hand and upcycled housewares & clothing. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asian-cinema-film-club/message
A.C. Film Club #48 - Once Upon A Time In China 2
May 04, 2020 07:04 - 1 hour - 71.3 MBOn 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 betw...
A.C. Film Club #47 - God of Gamblers
April 22, 2020 15:07 - 1 hour - 94.5 MBElwood and Stephen check out a Hong Kong cinema classic as Chow Yun Fat stars as Ko Chun the titular God of Gamblers, a high stakes gambler with a fondness for chocolate and jade pinky rings, who after being knocked unconcious suffers amnesia while being gets taken in by Andy Lau's mediocre gambler Little Knife who sees an oppotunity to exploit Ko Chun's abilities. We also look at the film making legacy of Wong Jing and the numerous spin offs the film inspired, attend a virtual Babymetal c...
A.C. Film Club #46 - A Touch of Sin
April 06, 2020 23:22 - 1 hour - 105 MBOn 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. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/asian-cinema-film-club/message
A.C. Film Club #45 - Tetsuo The Iron Man / Tetsuo 2: Body Hammer
March 23, 2020 06:34 - 1 hour - 104 MBOn 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 l...
A.C. Film Club #44 - Mother
March 01, 2020 23:00 - 1 hour - 93.7 MBFresh off his historic win at the Oscars on this episode we look at one of the more overlooked titles in Bong Joon-Ho's filmography "Mother" in which Kim Hye-ja play the widowed mother who sets out to clear her mentally handicaped son's name when he is arrested for the murder of a young girl. We also look at what his Oscar win could potentially mean for Asian cinema, look at the upcoming Godzilla Monopoly and Gamera Boxset plus much more!! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters...
A.C. Film Club #43 - Tokyo Drifter
February 16, 2020 03:10 - 1 hour - 92.9 MBOn 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 yak...