Get in the holiday spirit with Podcast On Fire

Kenny B has just posted his annual Christmas episode over at Podcast on Fire. This one features Ken, me, and fellow co-hosts Paul Quinn and Tom K-W cutting up and waxing eloquent about all things Asian cinema, including Bong Joon Ho's Parasite and the upcoming Blu-ray release of Kim Ki-Young's masterpiece of insanity Woman Chasing a Killer Butterfly. Pour yourself a cup of  day-old eggnog and give it a listen, won't you?

Podcast on Fire's Taiwan Noir Episode 27: Hello Dracula and The 36 Shaolin Beads

In the latest episode of Taiwan Noir, Kenny B. and I discuss Hello Dracula, Taiwan's casual, more friendly take on Mr. Dracula, and The 36 Shaolin Beads, a film I round in the dollar bin at Walgreen's and quite liked. Stream the episode now and be astounded by the rigor we bring to these arguably silly topics.

Podcast on Fire's Taiwan Noir Episode #23: Fantasy of Deer Warrior and Double Vision

It's hard to imagine Kenny B and I picking two films as different from one another as those we picked for Taiwan Noir #23. The first is the 1961 film Fantasy of Deer Warrior, which I would call a kid's film if not for my fear of some angry parent pounding my face in. Sure, it's got actors cavorting around in silly looking animal costumes and even a couple of songs, and if coupling that with a lot of violence and overt sexuality sits well with--or even entices--you; boy, do I have a film for you!

The second film is Double Vision, a slick serial killer thriller from the early 2000's that pairs Tony Leung with American actor David Morse. Needless to say, the combination makes for a lively discussion. Check it out, won't you?

Podcast of Fire's Taiwan Noir Episode #22: Dragon Inn

With this latest edition of Taiwan Noir, I use host Kenny B. as a kind of father confessor--a sympathetic ear to pay witness as I struggle with my feelings about King Hu's Dragon Inn, which is arguably a canonical work of martial arts cinema. I think it makes for one of our better episodes, but you can judge that for yourself. Download or stream the episode here.

Podcast on Fire's Taiwan Noir Episode 21: Magic of Spell and Magic Warrior

Before I start flakking yet another podcast, I want to remind everyone that I actually did review a film this week. That said, this latest episode of Taiwan Noir sees Kenny B. and myself waxing rhapsodic over another pair of crazy, fun, and crazy fun Taiwanese fantasy films, both of which star gender bending actress Lam Siu Lau as their male lead. In Magic of Spell she returns to the role of Peach Kid (reprising her star turn in Child of Peach, which we discussed in Taiwan Noir episode 20), and in Magic Warriors, she stars as the very Peach Kid-like Little Flying Dragon. And speaking of magic, if you listen to this episode, you will hear me being miraculously cured completely of a nasty cold somewhere around the midway point--something that can only be achieved through the technical wizardry of recording each half of the episode two weeks apart. Download or stream the episode here.

Podcast on Fire's Taiwan Noir Episode 20: Child of Peach

This latest is the twentieth episode of Taiwan Noir and my twelfth as co-host. It is also the first in a series of episodes in which we will be addressing the mind bending Peach Kid films and their progeny, starting with 1987's Child of Peach. If you like your trippy fantasy kung fu films served up with a generous splash of urine, this podcast--which you can "stream" now from the Podcast of Fire website--is so you.

Podcast on Fire's Taiwan Noir Episode 17: Requital and Hunting List

You might be forgiven for thinking that, with everything going on, I might have forgotten about Taiwan Noir, but nothing could be further from the truth. Indeed, my life would be sorely lacking without my periodic check-ins with my old pal Kenny B, a mysterious foreigner who never fails to take me down some intriguing new back alley of Taiwanese commercial cinema. This latest episode finds us exploring the grey area between homage, plagiarism, and imitation as we discuss two films by director Chu Yen Ping that are both based, to varying degrees, on Phil Joanou's State of Grace. Listen here.

Podcast on Fire's Taiwan Noir Episode 13: The Devil Returns and Kill for Love

Let's be honest: The Devil Returns and Kill for Love are shitty movies. Nonetheless, Kenny B. and myself had a lot of fun talking about them. So much fun, in fact, that I think you will actually enjoy listening to this latest episode of Taiwan Noir, what with all of our audible nose holding and carrying on and such. Also, it's pretty short.

Sold? You can either stream the episode or get details on how to download it here. Enjoy!

Podcast on Fire's Taiwan Noir Episode 12: The Ghostly Face and Little Hero

Neither my or Kenny B's affections for Polly Shang Kwan can be overstated. And, as if in perversely obstinate demonstration of that fact, we have turned the latest episode of the Taiwan Noir podcast into a filibuster length, intercontinental mash note to the loveable Taiwanese star. Among the discussed films is The Ghostly Face, a Taiwanese/Indonesian co-production that is one of Polly's best and most unusual films. And speaking of unusual, what discussion of PSK would be complete without touching upon the awesome Little Hero? Which means that you once again get to hear me gleefully recount that scene where she battles the giant rubber octopi.

Give us a listen won't you? You can either stream the episode or get details on how to download it here.

And, Polly? If you're out there, call us, okay?

Podcast on Fire's Taiwan Noir Episode 11: Virago, The Anger, and Inferno Thunderbolt

I had long heard tell of these IFD “Franken-Ninja” movies, wherein ill-famed producer Godfrey Ho ill-advisedly “spiced up” repurposed footage from various Asian martial arts films with footage of aging mustache farmer Richard Harrison. Luckily, I had somehow avoided actually seeing one. Then along came Ken B. of Podcast on Fire, a callous ruiner of innocence if ever there was one, to put an end to my happiness.

In this latest episode of POF’s Taiwan Noir podcast -- in which I once again play guest co-host to Ken’s accent-y master of ceremonies -- we take a look, not only at the 1982 Taiwanese thriller The Anger, but also the misshapen creature that Ho molded it into, 1986’s Inferno Thunderbolt, in which Richard Harrison mostly hangs around the house a lot before finally going to war against the mob. Happily, we also review another one of Elsa Yeung’s cheesecake permeated lady ninja romps, Deadly Silver Angels, aka Virago, so all is not totally lost.

You can either stream the episode or get details on how to download it here.

Podcast on Fire's Taiwan Noir Episode 10: Thrilling Sword and Country of Beauties

Bless Kenneth Brorsson's mohawked head for inviting me back to co-host the latest episode of his Taiwan Noir podcast. In this installment, we salute Taiwanese screen queen Elsa Yeung with a discussion of Thrilling Sword -- which those of you who are creepily attentive will know is a favorite of mine -- and Country of Beauties, which asks the question "How many beautiful amazons does it take to cut a dude's wiener off?" (The answer may surprise you!) Get the deets and stream the episode here.

4DK on Podcast on Fire

I'm proud to have been asked to co-host the latest episode of the Podcast on Fire Network's Taiwan Noir podcast. This one's not for the squeamish, as we're delving into a particularly ooky corner of Asian exploitation cinema with the odious snake murder porn of Calamity of Snakes. On the plus side, we're also discussing the recently reviewed The Witch With Flying Head, which is almost a little bit awesome. Lend them your ears, won't you?