easternKicks.com - The Best in Asian Film!

Review

Iron Monkey

Donnie Yen and Yu Rongguang fight the forces of evil in a side-story to the legend of Wong Fei-hung…

Review

The Portrait

Drama and nostalgia dominate the scene in front of the portrait of the artist as Filipino…

Review

A Thousand and One Nights

Fall into the world of Arabian Nights, anime style!…

Interview

Akihiro Toda interview: “I really liked mixing these unknown characters together to make something work”

We talk to the director of The Name…

Review

Tremble All You Want

An intelligent romantic comedy with a ‘twisted’ central character…

★★★★

Review
The Perfect Girl

A car crash of a movie – you can’t look away for fear what is thrown in next!…
Review
Cleopatra

Smart, titillating and visually arresting. Tezuka’s commercial failure is anything but!…
Review
1987: When the Day Comes

A huge chronicle of the protest movement that ended the Chun Doo Hwan regime…
Review
As Tears Go By

Love and violence in the neon lit streets of Hong Kong…
Review
Occult Bolshevism

An innovative and effective reworking on J-horror tropes…
Review
The Tailor

Ao dai designs and multiple modernities…

COMING SOON...

Review: The Vampire Doll / Lake Of Dracula
Review: Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms
Review: Cyclops

Latest news

All the latest news from Asian cinema...

News
17th New York Asian Film Festival full line up announced!

This year’s NYAFF brings the best of new Asian cinema as well as several retrospectives…
News
Kim Ki-duk Files Lawsuit Against Actresses Who Accused Him of Sexual Misconduct

The South Korean director is taking legal action against three actresses who accused him of sexual harassment and rape on Korean TV show PD Notebook…
News
Japan Society reveals the full line-up for its upcoming JAPAN CUTS Film...

New York’s annual highlight for Japanese cinema to screen over 30 titles for its 12^th edition
News
Liu Yichang, writer who inspired IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE, dies at...

Liu Yichang, whose novels had inspired two of Wong Kar-wai’s most acclaimed films, has passed away at the age of 99…
Competitions
North America readers: win a signed poster of Soul Mate!

Win a poster signed by the lead stars, courtesy of Cheng Cheng Films!…
News
Aperture: Asia & Pacific Film Festival Launching in London on June 29!

Aperture: Asia & Pacific Film Festival showcases films from regions rarely seen on UK screens…

18th Nippon Connection Film Festival

The biggest festival for Japanese film worldwide will once again present more than 100 long and short feature films, from 29 May to 3 June, 2018!…

Review
Tremble All You Want

An intelligent romantic comedy with a ‘twisted’ central character…
★★★★
Review
Occult Bolshevism

An innovative and effective reworking on J-horror tropes…
Review
Ice Cream and the Sound of Raindrops

Daigo Matsui’s best work yet. And it might even be the best movie of 2018!…
Interview
Akiko Ooku interview: “I’m trying to give these people a push to...

We talk to the director of Tremble All You Want…
Review
Ice Cream and the Sound of Raindrops

“We are the cosmos made conscious!”…
Review
Ramen Heads

A look into the kitchens that produce the most acclaimed bowls of Japan’s favourite food…

20th Far East Film Festival 2018

Udine’s Far East Film Festival celebrates its 20th edition with European and World premieres, events and superstar visits including Brigitte Lin…

Review
The Portrait

Drama and nostalgia dominate the scene in front of the portrait of the artist as Filipino…
Interview
Akihiro Toda interview: “I really liked mixing these unknown characters together to...

We talk to the director of The Name…
Review
Tremble All You Want

An intelligent romantic comedy with a ‘twisted’ central character…
★★★★
Review
The Tailor

Ao dai designs and multiple modernities…
Interview
Moon So-ri interview: “I wasn’t relaxed enough for us to improvise!”

We talk to the Korean actress about her feature film debut…
Review
Transcendent

Over-ambitious and overstuffed with borrowed ideas, Zhang Linzi’s film is unlikely to bring new fans to Chinese sci-fi…
Review
Satan’s Slaves

Tales from the Muslim graveyard…
Interview
Akiko Ooku interview: “I’m trying to give these people a push to...

We talk to the director of Tremble All You Want…
Review
Ramen Heads

A look into the kitchens that produce the most acclaimed bowls of Japan’s favourite food…
Review
The Blood of Wolves

Old-school yakuza thrills are back, as the police do their best to prevent gang war in Hiroshima…

Chinese Visual Festival 2018

The London festival returns with another superb line-up of contemporary Hong Kong, Chinese and Taiwanese film, with guests including Cheung King-wai and Kit Hung…

Review
Alifu, The Prince/ss

A sensitive tale of a young man torn between tribal duty and his dream of becoming a woman…
Review
Somewhere Beyond the Mist

A dark tale of murder and ordinary people pushed to their breaking point…
Review
Fresh Wave 2018: No Sleep Club

Can a cure for insomnia be the heart of a comedy? Wong Yee Mai’s short film says yes…
Review
Mrs. Fang

When Wang Bing met death, an intense documentary on the last days of an elderly woman…
Review
Fresh Wave 2018: Jellyfish

A jellyfish, a dog and a cold sniper call for blood in Che Chun Hei’s short film…
Review
Somewhere Beyond the Mist

Motive for murder is explored in this utterly devastating police procedural…

Brigitte Lin Ching-hsia: A True Celluloid Icon

We celebrate the career of perhaps the most iconic actress of the 80s and 90s, ahead of a special strand as part of HKIFF and an appearance at Udine Far East Film Festival…

Feature
Brigitte Lin: stardom, queering gender and iconicity

Colette Balmain discusses one of Hong Kong’s most enduring icons through her most famousnon-conforming gender roles…
Review
The Bride With White Hair

Love and loss on a battlefield…
Review
The Peach Blossom Land

Two theatre troupes at loggerheads when they are forced to share the same rehearsal space…
Review
Outside The Window

An engaging story of teacher-student romance made special by the mesmerising performance of a young Brigitte Lin…
Feature
Brigitte Lin Ching-hsia – A True Celluloid Icon

We celebrate the career of the 80s and 90s most iconic HK actress, the subject of a Filmmaker in Focus strand at this years HKIFF…
News
Brigitte Lin to receive Lifetime Achievement Award at 20th Udine FEFF

The Golden Mulberry Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented at the 20th FEFF
News
HKIFF to showcase 14 classic Brigitte Lin films

Including Outside the Window and Ashes of Time, these classic films feature Brigitte Lin’s unforgettable performance…
Review
Operation Condor

Jackie Chan on fine form as adventuring treasure hunter, erm, Jackie, on his way to uncover lost Nazi gold…
Review
The Eagle Shooting Heroes

Shot back-to-back with Ashes Of Time and sharing much of the same cast, the stars get to let their hair down in a very different take on the same Louis Cha novel…
Feature
Jet Li versus…

To celebrate the release of Jet Li latest action yarn, War, we pick out five of our favourite fights from 25 years of his movies. And offer you the chance to submit your own to our list…

Seijun Suzuki: The Early Years

To celebrate the release of Volume 2 of Seijun Suzuki: The Early Years from Arrow Video, we look back on the some of the earlier highlights from the career of the irreverent and super-cool director…

Review
Tokyo Knights

An entertaining slice of early 60’s Japanese youth cinema, directed by the master Seijun Suzuki…
Review
Smashing The 0-Line

Suzuki bares his teeth in this dark and gritty tale of drugs, prostitution, and the journalists who uncover them…
Review
The Sleeping Beast Within

In short, an amazing narrative from Seijun Suzuki…
Review
The Wind-of-Youth Group Crosses the Mountain Pass

A colourful and comedic take on yakuza flicks from the master, Seijun Suzuki…
Review
The Boy Who Came Back

An entertaining, heartfelt, and undeniably cool precursor to Seijun Suzuki’s legendary yakuza films…
Review
Born Under Crossed Stars

A noteworthy introduction to the legend of Seijun Suzuki…
Review
The Incorrigible

Seijun Suzuki visits Taisho era Japan to tell a story of adolescent love and rebellion…
Review
Voice Without A Shadow

Seijun Suzuki directs this Hitchcock-esque crime thriller from the vaults of Nikkatsu’s golden era…
Review
Carmen From Kawachi

Naïve yet hard working ‘every-girl’ Tsuyuko is shoved from one impulsive scene to the next in Suzuki’s biting and comedic romp…
Review
Youth Of The Beast

Tough guy Jo Shishido heads up another hard-hitting Nikkatsu noir by the legendary Seijun Suzuki…

Fresh Wave Wednesdays

Our weekly celebration of work from the Fresh Wave Short Film Competition that supports up and coming young talent.

Review
Fresh Wave 2018: No Sleep Club

Can a cure for insomnia be the heart of a comedy? Wong Yee Mai’s short film says yes…
Review
Fresh Wave 2018: Jellyfish

A jellyfish, a dog and a cold sniper call for blood in Che Chun Hei’s short film…
Review
Fresh Wave 2018: Bright Spring Days

A bitter and tender embrace reunites a mother and her son in Yeh Ka-lun’s short film…
Review
Fresh Wave 2017: Affection

This excellent short film explores the fumbling, first forays into romance of Hong Kong high school students…
Review
Fresh Wave 2017: Hello

A quiet and slow reflection on unlikely friendship and the struggles of the homeless…
Interview
Wong Chun interview: “I’m the director and she writes – simply because...

We chat to the director of multiple award-winning Mad World…
Review
Fresh Wave 2017: Liu Yang He

An illuminating glimpse into the lives of sex workers in Hong Kong’s one room brothels…
Review
Fresh Wave 2017: Piled Cloud

A lone, old man and ambitious young student bond despite their age, outlook and life choices…
Review
Fresh Wave 2017: Bible of Kong Girls

Three quirky women battle life and its challenges using the bible of a powerful secretary…
Review
Fresh Wave 2014: The Glass City

Wong Hin Lik uses haunting imagery to ruminate on lost love…

Top Asian Films of 2017

The easternKicks team has voted for our favourite films of the year once again. Will your favourites be in there, and if so, what position will they make? All will be revealed…

Feature
Top 10 Films of 2017: 1. Mad World

Here it is, the easternKicks FILM OF THE YEAR… coming in at #1 on our Top 10 Films of 2017 is MAD WORLD
Feature
Top 10 Films of 2017: 2. Bad Genius

In the penultimate slot of the easternKicks Top 10 Films For 2017, BAD GENIUS is #2…
Feature
Top 10 Films of 2017: 3. Close Knit

CLOSE KNIT comes in at #3 on the easternKicks Top Ten of 2017
Feature
Top 10 Films of 2017: 4. A Silent Voice

A SILENT VOICE, a frank examination of bullying and the struggles faced by those with disabilities, comes in our Top 10 Films of 2017 at #4
Feature
Top 10 Films of 2017: 5. Okja

OKJA is an immersive family adventure with in depth social commentary, making #5 for our Top 10 Films of 2017
Feature
Top 10 Films of 2017: 6. A Taxi Driver

A TAXI DRIVER comes in at #6 on the easternKicks Top 10 Films of 2017
Feature
Top 10 Films of 2017: 7. Survival Family

Family comes first in our #7 slot, SURVIVAL FAMILY, for the Top 10 Films of 2017
Feature
Top 10 Films of 2017: 8. On the Beach at Night Alone

Beneath lies something much more surreal, in our #8 on the list of easternKicks’ Top Films of 2017
Feature
Top 10 Films of 2017: 9. Angels Wear White

Angels Wear White continues our easternKicks Top 10 films of 2017… coming in at #9!
Feature
Top 10 Films of 2017: 10. Love and Other Cults

Love and Other Cults starts off easternKicks’ Top 10 Film of 2017, coming in at #10 on the list…

Interviews

Our interviews with filmmakers, directors, actors, composers and much more besides from the world of Asian film…

Interview
Akihiro Toda interview: “I really liked mixing these unknown characters together to...

We talk to the director of The Name…
Interview
Moon So-ri interview: “I wasn’t relaxed enough for us to improvise!”

We talk to the Korean actress about her feature film debut…
Interview
Akiko Ooku interview: “I’m trying to give these people a push to...

We talk to the director of Tremble All You Want…
Interview
Xiao Mei interview: “Acting is like jumping off a cliff, you cannot...

We talk in great depth to director Maren Hwang, actor-director Chen Yi-Wen, and up-and-coming actress Jao Cincin on Xiao Mei, the opening film of HKIFF 2018…
Interview
Huang Hsin-yao interview: “The way they watch dashcam is how I read...

We talk in great depth to the Taiwanese director on his narrative feature debut The Great Buddha +…
Interview
Ria Limjap interview: “It’s really about peeling back layers and seeing the...

The Filipino producer and co-writer dares viewers to look closer with Smaller and Smaller Circles…
Interview
Gordon Lam 林家棟 Interview: “The first time I saw Tony Jaa was...

We interview Gordon Lam about his role in Wilson Yip’s PARADOX, and working on-set with Louis Koo, Tony Jaa and Sammo Hung
Interview
Anything can happen – Nansun Shi on Chinese cinema

Veteran Hong Kong producer Nansun Shi shares her outlook on the Chinese film industry and what the future holds…
Interview
Malaysian Cinema: at the Crossroads

Malaysian director, Namron pushes the boundaries of Malaysian storytelling with Crossroads: One Two Jaga…
Interview
Thoughts on Ryuichi Hiroki

Close-up on Ryuichi Hiroki, author of post-Fukushima film Side Job, his style and approach, and being Fukushima born himself…

Iron Monkey

The Portrait

A Thousand and One Nights

Akihiro Toda interview: “I really liked mixing these unknown characters together to make something work”

Tremble All You Want

The Perfect Girl

Cleopatra

1987: When the Day Comes

As Tears Go By

Occult Bolshevism

The Tailor

17th New York Asian Film Festival full line up announced!

Kim Ki-duk Files Lawsuit Against Actresses Who Accused Him of Sexual Misconduct

Japan Society reveals the full line-up for its upcoming JAPAN CUTS Film...

Liu Yichang, writer who inspired IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE, dies at...

North America readers: win a signed poster of Soul Mate!

Aperture: Asia & Pacific Film Festival Launching in London on June 29!

Tremble All You Want

Occult Bolshevism

Ice Cream and the Sound of Raindrops

Akiko Ooku interview: “I’m trying to give these people a push to...

Ice Cream and the Sound of Raindrops

Ramen Heads

The Portrait

Akihiro Toda interview: “I really liked mixing these unknown characters together to...

Tremble All You Want

The Tailor

Moon So-ri interview: “I wasn’t relaxed enough for us to improvise!”

Transcendent

Satan’s Slaves

Akiko Ooku interview: “I’m trying to give these people a push to...

Ramen Heads

The Blood of Wolves

Alifu, The Prince/ss

Somewhere Beyond the Mist

Fresh Wave 2018: No Sleep Club

Mrs. Fang

Fresh Wave 2018: Jellyfish

Somewhere Beyond the Mist

Brigitte Lin: stardom, queering gender and iconicity

The Bride With White Hair

The Peach Blossom Land

Outside The Window

Brigitte Lin Ching-hsia – A True Celluloid Icon

Brigitte Lin to receive Lifetime Achievement Award at 20th Udine FEFF

HKIFF to showcase 14 classic Brigitte Lin films

Operation Condor

The Eagle Shooting Heroes

Jet Li versus…

Tokyo Knights

Smashing The 0-Line

The Sleeping Beast Within

The Wind-of-Youth Group Crosses the Mountain Pass

The Boy Who Came Back

Born Under Crossed Stars

The Incorrigible

Voice Without A Shadow

Carmen From Kawachi

Youth Of The Beast

Fresh Wave 2018: No Sleep Club

Fresh Wave 2018: Jellyfish

Fresh Wave 2018: Bright Spring Days

Fresh Wave 2017: Affection

Fresh Wave 2017: Hello

Wong Chun interview: “I’m the director and she writes – simply because...

Fresh Wave 2017: Liu Yang He

Fresh Wave 2017: Piled Cloud

Fresh Wave 2017: Bible of Kong Girls

Fresh Wave 2014: The Glass City

Top 10 Films of 2017: 1. Mad World

Top 10 Films of 2017: 2. Bad Genius

Top 10 Films of 2017: 3. Close Knit

Top 10 Films of 2017: 4. A Silent Voice

Top 10 Films of 2017: 5. Okja

Top 10 Films of 2017: 6. A Taxi Driver

Top 10 Films of 2017: 7. Survival Family

Top 10 Films of 2017: 8. On the Beach at Night Alone

Top 10 Films of 2017: 9. Angels Wear White

Top 10 Films of 2017: 10. Love and Other Cults

Akihiro Toda interview: “I really liked mixing these unknown characters together to...