easternKicks.com – how do you get yours?

  • news
  • reviews
  • features
  • actors
  • filmmakers

In the Country section...

“You don’t like my rice? You don’t like my rice?… Mama mia!”

Wednesday, December 1st, 2004
Chow Yun-fat takes the lead in this scene from John Woo’s patchy but occasionally brilliant follow up to his own A Better Tomorrow. Playing the twin brother of the character of the role he played in the original, we first meet him as the owner of a restaurant on New York. When a guy from a protection racket tries to threaten him and his business, Chow Yun-fat flies into a full on Robert De Niro impression - in English - expounding how rice is like his mother and father! The scene even ends with the line “You talking to me?”

Posted in Features, Hong Kong, Top scenes | No Comments »

‘I’m a complete coward’

Friday, March 28th, 2008

With the upcoming release of I’m A Cyborg, But That’s Okay on 4 April, director Park Chan-wook talks to the Guardian’s Ryan Gibley about how he can’t stand watching violence…

Read the article on the Guardian Online »

Posted in Directors, Filmmakers, News, South Korea | No Comments »

2046

Friday, December 1st, 2006
A spell binding and often perplexing vision - it’s Wong Kai-wai’s much anticipated sequel to In the Mood for Love… (more…)

Posted in Drama, Films, Hong Kong, Reviews | No Comments »

A Better Tomorrow II

Monday, August 28th, 2006
It’s John Woo all right, but turned all the way up to 11!… (more…)

Posted in Action / Thrillers, Films, Hong Kong, Reviews | No Comments »

A Bittersweet Life

Thursday, March 3rd, 2005
The latest from Kim Ji-woon (A Tale of Two Sisters, The Quiet Family), a slick tale of that revenge resounds with amazing style and wit, but ultimately do we really care?… (more…)

Posted in Action / Thrillers, Films, Reviews, South Korea | No Comments »

A Tale of Two Sisters

Wednesday, December 1st, 2004
Kim Ji-woon (The Foul King, The Quiet Family) directs this intelligent Asian shocker with more than a few surprises… (more…)

Posted in Films, Horror, Reviews, South Korea | 1 Comment »

Ain’t no mountain high enough: An interview with Lu Chuan

Thursday, September 21st, 2006
A young director with high aspirations, we talk to Lu Chuan exclusively about his second film Kekexili: Mountain Patrol, set in the Tibetan Plateau… (more…)

Posted in China, Directors, Features, Filmmakers, Interviews | No Comments »

An Empress and The Warriors trailer…

Friday, April 11th, 2008

A naff title but this potentially very interesting release sees action choreographer Ching Siu-tung return to the directors chair after many years of collaborations with Zhang Yimou (Hero, House Of Flying Daggers, The Curse Of The Golden Flower) and Stephen Chow (Shaolin Soccer). (No sign of a DVD with English subs yet!) Kelly Chan, Leon Lai and Donnie Yen star…

Posted in China, Hong Kong, News, Releases | No Comments »

Ashura

Saturday, January 21st, 2006
Fantasy fun from director Yojiro Takita, but seriously, it’s no When The Last Sword is Drawn… (more…)

Posted in Films, Japan, Reviews, Wuxia / Swordplay | No Comments »

Bangkok Dangerous

Wednesday, December 1st, 2004
This impressive debut by the Pang brothers is a heady mix of dazzling imagery and a violent tale of love, betrayal and redemption… (more…)

Posted in Action / Thrillers, Films, Reviews, Thailand | No Comments »

Barking Dogs Never Bite

Wednesday, December 1st, 2004
Biting social satire meets hilarious black comedy. Laugh or the dog gets it… (more…)

Posted in Comedy, Drama, Films, Reviews, South Korea | No Comments »

Beautiful Boxer

Thursday, December 29th, 2005
You couldn’t make it up! The bizarre true story of the man who became Thailand’s most famous kick-boxer to pay for an operation to become a woman… (more…)

Posted in Drama, Films, Martial arts, Reviews, Thailand | No Comments »

Bichunmoo

Wednesday, December 1st, 2004
This Korean Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon styled epic may have been top dog in it’s homeland, but - with a liberal referencing of over thirty years of Hong Kong swordplay films - it’s really more of a mongrel… (more…)

Posted in Films, Reviews, South Korea, Wuxia / Swordplay | No Comments »

Breaking The Silence

Wednesday, December 1st, 2004
Gong Li stars in this moving drama about a mother bringing up her deaf child alone… (more…)

Posted in China, Drama, Films, Reviews | No Comments »

Bruce’s Legacy

Wednesday, March 15th, 2006
More than years after his death, the ‘Little Dragon’ has never been more popular - but isn’t it time we left his memory alone? (more…)

Posted in Actors, Editorials, Features, Hong Kong | No Comments »

Buddha’s Palm

Wednesday, December 1st, 2004
A fun filled pantomime from the Shaw Brothers - with super extending legs that can deliver a kick from a distance, dwarfs that squirt Alien-like acid puss from their spots and pet dragons… (more…)

Posted in Films, Hong Kong, Martial arts, Reviews, Wuxia / Swordplay | No Comments »

Butterfly & Sword

Wednesday, February 27th, 2008
Just another early 80s wire-fu movie – or at least it would be if not for the performances of leads Tony Leung and Michelle Yeoh and some fine action from Ching Siu-tung… (more…)

Posted in Films, Hong Kong, Reviews, Wuxia / Swordplay | No Comments »

Cello

Wednesday, November 8th, 2006
Another solid horror from South Korea, but surely the lesson here is don’t give your daughter a scary haircut like that girl from The Ring?… (more…)

Posted in South Korea | No Comments »

Chihwaseon

Thursday, March 8th, 2007
A beautiful film by veteran filmmaker Im Kwon-taek with a fine performance by Oldboy’s Choi Min-sik, but suffers from covering far too long a period… (more…)

Posted in Drama, Films, Reviews, South Korea | No Comments »

Cinema: My Blueberry Nights

Monday, January 28th, 2008

UK cinema release, Optimum Releasing.

Wong Kar-wai’s first English language film, My Blueberry Nights, starring Norah Jones, gets a UK release on 22 February 2008.

The official site can be found here:
http://www.myblueberrynightsmovie.co.uk/

Posted in Calendar, News, Releases, UK | No Comments »

Cinema: The Forbidden Kingdom

Wednesday, April 16th, 2008

The Forbidden Kingdom, starring Jakie Chan and Jet Li, is released in UK cinemas on 11 July 2008 by Lionsgate.

Posted in Calendar, News, Releases, UK, USA | No Comments »

Citizen Dog

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2005
Wisit Sasanatieng’s long awaited follow up to Tears of the Black Tiger is a charmingly naïve and beautiful fairytale for adults - think Amelie with smoking teddy bears and zombie taxi drivers… (more…)

Posted in Comedy, Films, Reviews, Sci Fi / Fantasy, Thailand | No Comments »

Come Drink With Me

Wednesday, December 1st, 2004
If you ever wanted to know where Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon came from you only need to know one name, King Hu. This ground breaking film, possibly one of the greatest of the martial chivalry genre, started it all… (more…)

Posted in Directors, Filmmakers, Hong Kong, Reviews, Wuxia / Swordplay | No Comments »

Days of Being Wild

Wednesday, December 1st, 2004
Leslie Cheung leads an all-star cast in Wong Kar-wai’s sophomore film… (more…)

Posted in Drama, Films, Hong Kong, Reviews | No Comments »

Deadful Melody

Sunday, April 17th, 2005
Campy, explosive fun from the film that influenced the Lyre sequence in Kung Fu Hustle. Well, it’s not completely dreadful but… (more…)

Posted in Films, Hong Kong, Reviews, Wuxia / Swordplay | No Comments »

Death Duel

Monday, May 7th, 2007
Chor Yuan directs Derek Yee in this classic Wuxia tale from Shaw Brothers… (more…)

Posted in Films, Hong Kong, Reviews, Wuxia / Swordplay | No Comments »

Death Of A Legend

Thursday, January 17th, 2008
Since 1999 Hong Kong Legends had released remastered versions of classics (relatively) old and new that had gained them an international reputation. But that wasn’t enough to keep them in business - why? (more…)

Posted in Distributors / companies, Editorials, Features, Hong Kong, UK | No Comments »

Divergence

Thursday, December 29th, 2005
A super slick thriller from Benny Chan (Heroic Duo, Gen-X Cops, A Moment of Romance) - but easy on the melodrama!… (more…)

Posted in Action / Thrillers, Films, Hong Kong, Reviews | No Comments »

Double Vision

Wednesday, December 1st, 2004
It’s Seven meets Ring in a supernatural horror from Peony Pavilion director Chen Kuo-fu - starring Hong Kong’s Tony Leung Ka-fai and America’s David Morse… (more…)

Posted in Films, Horror, Reviews, Taiwan | No Comments »

Dragon Tiger Gate

Saturday, May 5th, 2007
With brilliant fight scenes has Donnie Yen’s time in the spotlight finally come?… (more…)

Posted in Films, Hong Kong, Martial arts, Reviews, Sci Fi / Fantasy | No Comments »

Dreadnaught

Monday, March 24th, 2008
Yuen Biao makes a martial art out of doing the laundry, but this mashup of genres goes too far for anyone to come out clean… (more…)

Posted in Films, Hong Kong, Martial arts, Reviews | No Comments »

Duelist

Friday, July 20th, 2007
Over half a decade since making such an impact with Nowhere To Hide, director Lee Myung-se finally returns to our screens with Duelist - but has it been worth the wait?… (more…)

Posted in Films, Reviews, South Korea, Wuxia / Swordplay | No Comments »

Dumplings

Tuesday, June 6th, 2006
The secret of eternal youth lies within Aunt Mei’s dumplings, but be warned, they may be an acquired taste… (more…)

Posted in Films, Hong Kong, Horror, Reviews | No Comments »

DVD: I’m A Cyborg

Sunday, March 30th, 2008

Park Chan-wook’s I’m A Cyborg is released by Tartan in the UK on 26 May.

Read our review of the film here »

Posted in Calendar, News, Releases, South Korea | No Comments »

DVD: Lust, Caution

Friday, March 21st, 2008

Ang Lee’s Lust, Caution, starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Tang Wei, is released by Universal Pictures in the UK on 28 March 2008. You can read our review, along with an insightful Q & A session, here.

Posted in Calendar, News, Releases, Taiwan | No Comments »

Election

Thursday, November 10th, 2005
Johnnie To’s triad epic may not offer anything new to the gangster genre, but his ensemble cast are a delight to watch… (more…)

Posted in Action / Thrillers, Films, Hong Kong, Reviews | No Comments »

Election 2

Wednesday, October 17th, 2007
It’s time for another Election, but can there really be any winners in Johnnie To’s vision of Hong Kong turbulent and violent underworld?… (more…)

Posted in Action / Thrillers, Films, Hong Kong, Reviews | No Comments »

Exiled

Saturday, September 29th, 2007
Another rather convincing slice of the Hong Kong triad gang world from Election director Johnnie To – with an ensemble cast to die for!… (more…)

Posted in Action / Thrillers, Films, Hong Kong, Reviews | No Comments »

February: Jia Zhangke at the BFI Southbank, London

Tuesday, January 29th, 2008

Following on from the recent Tsai Ming-liang season, BFI have another devoted to a respected but often overlooked Asian filmmaker, Jia Zhangke during February. The season includes Platform, The World and and extended run of Still Life.

You can find out more information and book tickets here.

Posted in Events, News, Releases, UK | No Comments »

Fist Of Fury

Tuesday, March 8th, 2005
Bruce Lee’s landmark movie gets another outing - but what does the new double-disc DVD release add the existing UK version?… (more…)

Posted in Films, Hong Kong, Martial arts, Reviews | No Comments »
Next Page »
  • TAG CLOUD

    36th Chamber of Shaolin 2000 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 A Better Tomorrow A  Better Tomorrow II A Chinese Ghost Story Akira Kurosawa A Moment of Romance Andrew Lau Andy lau Ang Lee Anthony Wong Ashes Of Time Bangkok Dangerous Beast Cops Blood Brothers Bruce Lee Buddha's Palm Bullet In The Head Chen Kaige China Ching Siu-tung Chow Yun-Fat City On Fire Come Drink With Me Corey Yuen Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon Daniel Wu Dark Water David Chiang Days of Being Wild Donnie Yen Drunken Master Duel To The Death dvd Eastern Condors Ekin Cheng Election Enter The Dragon Eric Tsang Fist Of Fury Fong Sai Yuk Full Contact Golden Chicken Golden Swallow Gong Li Hard Boiled Hero Hidden Dragon Hideo Nakata Hong Kong House Of Flying Daggers Infernal Affairs In The Mood For Love Iron Monkey Jackie Chan Japan Jet Li Jimmy Wang Yu Johnnie To John Woo Kill Bill Killer Clans Kim Ji-woon King Hu King Of Comedy Kung Fu Hustle Lady Vengeance Last Hurrah for Chivalry Legend of Zu Leslie Cheung Lone Wolf And Cub Louis Koo Maggie Cheung Manga Master Of The Flying Guillotine Mission: Impossible 2 New Police Story Nowhere To Hide Oldboy Old Boy Once Upon a Time in China One-Armed Swordsman Ong-Bak Park Chan-wook POLICE STORY Project A Rabbit Proof Fence Raise The Red Lantern review Ringo Lam Ringu Ronny Yu S.P.L. Sammo Hung Saviour Of The Soul Seven Swords Shaolin Soccer Shaw Brothers Shiri Snake In The Eagle's Shadow So Close South Korea Stephen Chow Swordsman Sympathy For Lady Vengeance Sympathy For Mr Vengeance Thailand The Avenging Fist The Bride With White Hair The Eye The Foul King The Killer The Matrix The Pang brothers The Promise The Transporter Three Ti Lung Time And Tide Tony Jaa Tony Leung Chiu Wai Tony Leung Ka-fai Touch of Zen Tsui Hark Vengeance Wild Search Wong Jing Wong Kar-wai Yuen Biao Yuen Wah Yuen Woo-ping Zatoichi Zhang Che Zhang Yimou Zhang Ziyi
  • Recent Comments

    • admin: I've just seen the best search phrase so far this year: 'Is...
    • Jeffrey Frawley: So it's Jet Li vs?: Chin Siu-Ho ...
  • Recent Posts

      • Three… Extremes
      • Lust, Caution released on DVD today
      • The Forbidden Kingdom tops US Box Office
      • The Forbidden Kingdom: UK Preview
      • Protégé opens at UK cinemas today
      • Guardian Godzilla giveaway!
  • Categories

    • Actors (5)
    • Country (152)
      • China (18)
      • France (1)
      • Hong Kong (82)
      • Japan (24)
      • Singapore (1)
      • South Korea (24)
      • Taiwan (7)
      • Thailand (12)
      • UK (12)
      • USA (6)
    • Features (16)
      • Bluffer's guide (1)
      • Editorials (8)
      • Interviews (5)
      • Recommended links (1)
      • Top scenes (1)
    • Filmmakers (13)
      • Directors (11)
      • Distributors / companies (2)
    • News (33)
      • Actors (4)
      • Editorials (1)
      • Events (5)
      • Filmmakers (4)
      • General (3)
      • Releases (20)
      • Site maintenence (1)
    • Reviews (127)
      • Books (6)
        • Biographies (1)
        • Manga (1)
        • Novels (2)
        • Reference (2)
      • Films (119)
        • Action / Thrillers (40)
        • Anime (6)
        • Category III (1)
        • Comedy (17)
        • Drama (18)
        • Horror (20)
        • Martial arts (28)
        • Sci Fi / Fantasy (7)
        • Wuxia / Swordplay (28)
      • Games (1)
      • TV Shows (1)
  • Event Calendar

      • « Apr spinner iCalendar Jun »
        May 2008
        M T W T F S S
         1234
        567891011
        12131415161718
        19202122232425
        262728293031 
  • Upcoming Events

      • Events
        • 26 May:
          • DVD: I'm A Cyborg (all day)
        • 11 July:
          • Cinema: The Forbidden Kingdom (all day)
Articles, reviews, logos and graphics used on this site © Andrew Heskins 2002 - 2008, except where noted. Links contained on this site are for recommendation only. The proprietor of this is in no way accountable for those sites. This site was built on wordpress and designed by Andrew Heskins.