In our first film in a new ‘sub-season’, we tackle the 1922 classic that kick-started the vampire film genre (no, it wasn’t absolutely the first, but it was the first ‘mainstream’ vampire movie, and has inspired so many others). We have a special guest this week, who talks to us about German Expressionism, how this […]
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4.10 – THE RAID (2011) and the Visceral
In our last episode of this mini-season, we have reached the end of our focus on the Martial Arts genre, with 2011’s THE RAID. After some perhaps surprising reviews, we talk about how who/where we are in life has a huge effect on our reception of the films we watch, as well as some discussions […]
4.08 – THE LEGEND OF DRUNKEN MASTER (1994) and Comedy Action
We continue our Martial Arts season with Rob’s favourite decade (not just in terms of Martial Arts films, nor even in terms of films…just ever): the 90s. After some reviewing, we look at Jackie Chan’s use of the world around him, the difference between Chan films and Bruce Lee vehicles, and the pleasingly anarchic quality […]
4.07 – THE KARATE KID (1984) and Belonging
We continue our move into the ‘Western’ arena with another modern (ish!) classic of the Martial Arts genre: THE KARATE KID. After contrasting reviews (and a confession from Sam…) we look at the film in terms of its surprising comment on class tensions in the US, the ‘finding a family’ narrative of the film, and […]
4.06 – ENTER THE DRAGON (1973) and Strength
This week our focus has shifted from the Japanese and Chinese films laying the groundwork for the Martial Arts genre, as we land in the realm of a classic of ‘Western’ cinema: ENTER THE DRAGON. There’s not a lot to say in terms of reviews — it’s ENTER THE DRAGON! — but we soon get […]
4.05 – COME DRINK WITH ME (1966) and War
This week’s movie is the seminal Hong Kong wuxia piece COME DRINK WITH ME (1966). After some initial reviews, we get into discussions of fantasy and reality, wire work, and on-screen violence.
4.04 – SAMURAI SAGA (1959) and Drama
This week our tour through Martial Arts movies has reached the 1950s, with SAMURAI SAGA (the Westernised title). After reviews of the film we launch into a discussion that ranges from 8 MILE to Kaiju movies, via US teen high-school drama…
4.03 – SUGATA SANSHIRO (1943) and Perspective
The next in our series of martial arts films — and the first ‘talkie’ — is 1943’s SUGATA SANSHIRO, the debut of our old friend Akira Kurosawa. After differing initial reviews — appropriate, given this week’s theme — we talk about everything from sports films to the MCU.
4.02 – JIROKICHI THE RAT (1931) and Editing
Our next film in Season 4 is 1931’s JIROKICHI THE RAT, the second in our chronological journey through a century of martial arts films. Sam’s a little luke-warm to start with, but is won round in the end — via discussions of cinematic archetypes, innovative camera techniques, and what it means to be a samurai. […]
4.01 – OROCHI and Futility
We kick off season 4 — and our chronological tour through martial arts cinema — with the 1925 film OROCHI. After some glowing reviews of the film, we talk about the number of ways in which it feels like a very modern piece of cinema: from some of the gender politics, to the stunning choreography […]