VCinema Episode 23: Charisma

In the second part of three first anniversary episodes, we the discuss the second part of (surprise) three film in Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s “Apocalypse” trilogy, Charisma (1999). Also in this episode, we talk about where we hope to take VCinema in 2011, our latest screening event at the VIZ Cinema in San Francisco, and more!

Email: vcinema@variedcelluloid.net

Voicemail: (206) 426-1390

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VCinema Episode 22: Cure

Party People! You have come to the right place because in this episode, we are celebrating our first anniversary as a podcast. This is the first of three episodes for the occasion, each one exploring the deep, dark films in Japanese auteur Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s “Apocalypse” trilogy. In this episode, we will discuss Cure (1997), talk about VCinema milestones throughout 2010, draw the winner of our contest, and more.

Email: vcinema@variedcelluloid.net

Voicemail: (206) 426-1390

Formspring: http://www.formspring.me/vcinema

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VCinema Episode 21: After Life

On the eve of our podcast’s first anniversary, a ripe time for reflection, we review Hirokazu Koreeda’s After Life (1999), a film that ruminates on memory and reflection. We also talk about Kelvin Kyung-Kun Park’s documentary Cheonggyecheon Medley: A Dream of Iron (2010) which played at the 2010 Pusan International Film Festival and also which we were given an exclusive look at. Also included in this episode are details about our first anniversary contest and additional details on how you (YES, YOU!) can still get a chance to win and other talk about the moooovaaaays.

Email: vcinema@variedcelluloid.net

Voicemail: (206) 426-1390

Formspring: http://www.formspring.me/vcinema

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VCinema Episode 20: Fulltime Killer

Our review of Johnnie To’s 2001 actioneer Fulltime Killer in this episode gets so meta that you’ll think you’re reading it off the legs of an ant in a Salvador Dali painting. Also included is our second straight “Let’s Get Formsprung” mini-segment in which we get in the director’s chair and talk about films we’d like to see made as well as plenty and puh-lenty of other film talk.

Email: vcinema@variedcelluloid.net

Voicemail: (206) 426-1390

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VCinema Episode 19: Stray Bullet

In this episode, we continue our exploration into post World War II film by reviewing the 1961 film Stray Bullet (aka Obaltan and Aimless Bullet), directed by Yu Hyun-Mok and one of the few pre ’90s films currently available in the West. Plenty of detail about the position of this fascinating film in both Korean national and cinematic history as well as discussion of the film itself is all included in this episode, so if you have any interest in Korean film history, this episode is a must-listen.

Email: vcinema@variedcelluloid.net

Voicemail: (206) 426-1390 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (206) 426-1390 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

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VCinema Episode 18: Twenty-Four Eyes

Prepare to wipe those tears! This episode has us looking at a golden classic of post-war (1954 was the film’s year of release, to be exact) Japanese cinema, Keisuke Kinoshita’s Twenty-Four Eyes. Is the film still deserving the honor of having beat its peers, including Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai, for several prestigious film awards or is it just a product of its time? Find out as we look more closely at one of the most beloved films in Japanese history.

Also included in this episode is a quirky letter from an old friend of the show, the beginnings of our new B-Boy theme song, and the usual film-related talk and tomfoolery.

Email: vcinema@variedcelluloid.net

Voicemail: (206) 426-1390

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VCinema Episode 17: Return of the Five Deadly Venoms

aka Crippled Avengers, aka Avengers Handicapped, aka Mortal Combat. Yes, it’s going to be one of those mixed up film title episodes again…

On the evening of Sir Run Run Shaw’s birthday (Happy 103rd, Uncle Run Run!), we review one of the best known films in the Shaw Brothers’ extensive library, 1978′s Return of the 5 Deadly Venoms (aka…yeah, OK, we’ll stop) directed by the Godfather of Hong Kong cinema, Chang Cheh, and starring the Venom Mob. A recipe for success or bloated egos? Listen and find out!

Email: vcinema@variedcelluloid.net

Voicemail: (206) 426-1390

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VCinema Episode 16: Barking Dogs Never Bite

We take a little break away from our participation in this year’s Japanese Film Blogathon to sneak in a little South Korean coverage. In this episode, with guest James McCormick of the Criterion Cast, we review Bong Joon-Ho’s (The Host, Mother, Memories of Murder) feature length debut Barking Dogs Never Bite (2000). We get a visit from old show contributor Kemek who, from his post in Korea, delivers a new film and culture bit. There’s also yet another discussion about the Korean film quota system and tons of the usual film talk.

Email: vcinema@variedcelluloid.net

Voicemail: (206) 426-1390

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Vcinema Episode 15: Satoshi Kon/Kihachiro Kawamoto Memorial Episode

In this episode, we memorialize animators Kihachiro Kawamoto and Satoshi Kon who passed away on August 23rd and 24th, respectively. With guest host Cathy Munroe-Hotes of Nishikata Film Review, we review Kon’s Paprika and Kawamoto’s The Book of the Dead. Friends and past guests of the show, including Mark Schilling of the Japan Times, Jasper Sharp of Midnight Eye and the Zipangu Fest, and Jason Gray of Screen International, call in with their memories and impressions of the two late, great filmmakers.

Email: vcinema@variedcelluloid.net

Voicemail: (206) 426-1390

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Show links:

Kihachiro Kawamoto interview on Midnight Eye

Satoshi Kon interview on Midnight Eye

Satoshi Kon’s Blog (Japanese)

An English Translation of Satoshi Kon’s last words

The Dreaming Machine Official Blog (Japanese)

The World’s Most Action Packed Movie

Zhang Yimou interview on Criterioncast

VCinema Episode 14: Zero Woman Red Handcuffs

BACK WITH A VENGEANCE!

After taking a short break to work on our new site design, VCinema is back with a 3.5 hour episode chock full of movie goodness.  Our main review is the 1974 Pinky Violence film Zero Woman Red Handcuffs directed by Yukio Noda including an extended talk about the genre and bad girls in Japanese cinema in general.  Also included is an interview with Adam Torel of Third Window Films, a UK-based distributor with an incredible catalog of Asian films (including VCinema favorite Oasis).  But wait!  There’s more!  Our friends over at the Toronto JFilm Pow Wow cover several of the key Asian films from the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2010 including Tran Anh Hung’s Norwegian Wood, Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, Tetsuya Nakashima’s Confessions, Sion Sono’s Cold Fish, and more!  Strap yourself in for quite possibly the most epic podcast ever!

Download this episode on the VCinema site or iTunes now.