Blade Licking Thieves - An Anime, Kaiju, And Asian Movie Podcast

We review Osamu Tezuka and Eiichi Yamamoto's A Thousand and One Nights (1969), the first film in Mushi Production's Animerama trilogy, billed as the world's first work of "adult animation". We also discuss the news of Cobra creator Buichi Terasawa's passing, Rightstuf's transition to the Crunchy-roll store, the decline of physical media, and Grant's impressions of Netflix's live action One Piece series. Timestamps: [00:00] Intro, RIP Buichi Terasawa, Rightstuf's closure, decline of physical media, and live action One Piece impressions [45:55] Review - A Thousand and One Nights (1969)

Join us as we celebrate Halloween with a review of a little known Golden Harvest cult horror film: The Seventh Curse (1986). Loosely based on the popular Dr. Yuen series of Chinese novels about a globe trotting wealthy doctor, versed in the martial arts, and his confrontations with the supernatural, this highly entertaining adventure film from director Lam Ngai Kai (best known for the infamous Story of Ricky) features a talented cast of Hong Kong stars such as Chin-Sui Ho, Chow Yun-Fat, and Maggie Cheung; however, the real star of the show is arguably the picture's wild, thrill a minute, never ending spectacle, in which truly anything goes -- over the top martial arts and exciting gun play, anxiety inducing stunt work and cool creature effects, and a vast assortment of pulp adventure and horror tropes, from exotic locales, alluring damsels, trashy nudity, and insensitive stereotypes, to deadly blood cults, ancient curses, child sacrifices, and HR Giger inspired monsters -- anything goes so long as it enterta

We review Stephen Chow's 2013 action comedy, Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons, loosely based on the 16th century Chinese literary classic.  The film stars actor Wen Zhang as the famous Buddhist monk Tang Sanzang, Huang Bo as Sun Wukong, and Shu Qi as the love interest Duan.  Timestamps: [00:00] Intro / Discussion- The Brave Fighter of Legend Da-Garn, Turn A Gundam, The Grandmaster [48:48] Review - Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons (2013)

Super agents, sleazy soft-core, skateboarding assassins, and one stupendous snake.  BLT Team B are back with a review of director Andy Sidaris' trashy 80's action flick : Hard Ticket to Hawaii(1987), touted by some as "the best B-movie of all time".

The Thieves review our first Indian film, the insanely bombastic, international blockbuster, RRR!  Plus, a brief chat about Naoki Urasawa's ongoing Kaiju manga Asadora!,  audio book light novels, the Ranking of Kings anime, and serious answers to your most important twitter questions! Timestamps: [00:00] Intro, Asadora, Ranking of Kings, Faraway Paladin [41:41] RRR Review [2:14:25] Twitter Questions

When the world's greatest athletes are infected by a deadly unknown virus, the mysterious, genius doctor for hire, Black Jack, is forced to find a cure, in this over the top, medical thriller, directed by the singular Osamu Dezaki, that brings to life the iconic Osamu Tezuka character with flamboyant confidence.  Tune in for the full review of Black Jack: The Movie! Timestamps: [00:00] Intro, Gamera, Turn A Gundam, Konosuba Season 3, Boiling Point [51:10] Black Jack: The Movie Review

The Thieves are back with another Shaw Brothers kung fu classic!  On today's show, we are reviewing director Lau Kar-Leung's spectacular Eight Diagram Pole Fighter.  Released at the tail end of the Shaw Brothers era, the film stars the iconic Gordon Liu, Alexander Fu, and Kara Hui as the last surviving members of the Yang family who pursue a bloody, teeth shattering, revenge against the Khitan invaders that defeated their clan in battle.  Timestamps: [00:00] Intro, Mario & Sonic movies, more Showa era Gamera talk [34:40] The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter Review

We review Masaaki Yuasa's 2017 anime film, The Night is Short, Walk on Girl, a bold and breezy romantic comedy based on the light novel by Tomihiko Morimi about a young college student pursuing the girl he fancies while she carouses around the city on an endless night of adventures. Timestamps: [00:00] Intro, Showa era Gamera, Technoroid Overmind [36:50] The Night is Short, Walk on Girl Review Timestamps: [00:00] Intro, Showa Gamera, Technoroid Overmind [36:50] The Night is Short, Walk on Girl Review

We review John Boorman's classic fantasy film, Excalibur (1981).  Tune in to hear us chat for admittedly way too long about the legends of King Arthur, Merlin, Lancelot, Guinevere, Percival, and the Knights of the Round Table, plus our thoughts on why the stories and themes still resonate and why the power of the myths continue to endure. Timestamps: [00:00] Intro, Wonder Egg Priority, Demon Slayer, Gaogaigar [40:10] Excalibur (1981) Review

Infused with an irreverent, chaotic energy, reminiscent of Monkey Punch's original manga, director Soji Yoshikawa's completely madcap Lupin the Third: The Mystery of Mamo (1978) sees Lupin and the gang, in their first animated theatrical outing, face off against a mysterious villain plotting to takeover the world while seeking to obtain from Lupin the philosopher's stone said to possess the secret to immortality.  Tune in for the full review!  Timestamps: [00:00] Intro, Garo, Naruto [21:15]  Review of Lupin the 3rd: The Mystery of Mamo (1978)

In Korean director Jae-hoon Choi's period action film, The Swordsman (2020), a retired master swordsman (Jang Hyuk) is forced into action when his daughter (Hyeon-soon Kim) is placed in mortal danger by Qing invaders, lead by the merciless Gurutai (Joe Taslim) relative of the Qing emperor, who seek to complete their subjugation of Korea's Joseon Dynasty through subterfuge, threats, and force if necessary.  Timestamps: [00:00] Intro, Yamato 2202, Parasite Dolls, Kamen Rider Zero-One, Vinland Saga, [37:22]  Review of The Swordsman (2020)

We review Wong Kar Wai's In the Mood for Love (2000), an intimate, heartbreaking, and emotionally simmering peek into the lives of two forlorn souls (actor Tony Leung and actress Maggie Cheung) who seek companionship with one another after discovering that their spouses are having an affair together.          Timestamps: [00:00] Intro, Demon Slayer, Dragon Ball GT, Yamato 2202 [26:45]  Review of In the Mood for Love

We review the 2001 anime TV series Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi, a zany coming of age comedy from famed anime studio Gainax and director / writer Hiroyuki Yamaga, about two young teenage friends, Sasshi and Arumi, on a slapstick filled series of misadventures through parallel worlds, dished out as hilarious spoofs of young Sasshi's geeky obsessions, from Dragon Quest to Dating Sims, Giant Robots to Prehistoric Monsters, to Martial Arts, Sci-Fi, Hollywood movies and more.  Timestamps: [00:00] Intro, Jujutsu Kaisen, Pokemon Adventures, Gun X Sword, Atom the Beginning, Lupin World's Finest Manga [45:26]  Review of Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi

Armed with the strength of the black tiger, the courage of the eagle, and the cunning of the ferret, the Team B crew sit down to watch Don Coscarelli's sword and sorcery adventure, The Beastmaster (1982).

We review the 2003 Thai martial arts film Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior featuring action star Tony Jaa in his break-out role.  Timestamps: [00:00] Intro, Goblin Slayer Tabletop RPG, Ultraman Trigger [27:40]  Review of Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior [1:44:12] Twitter Questions

Just in time for Halloween, the Thieves are back with a review of Tsui Hark and Ching Sui-tung's spooky romantic comedy, A Chinese Ghost Story (1987), a genre defying tale of star crossed lovers, filled with slapstick comedy, exciting martial arts sorcery, and enough ghouls, ghosts, and zombies to fill your night with frights! Timestamps: [00:00] Intro, Vinland Saga, Way of the House Husband [36:51]  A Chinese Ghost Story Review [1:58:24] Twitter Questions

On today's episode of the Blade Licking Thieves, we talk about our hopes for the recently announced continuation of the Berserk manga (sans its creator) and the potential pitfalls facing the creative team; discuss the long awaited and finally realized North American Macross licensing deal; briefly touch on the recent anime series I'm Quitting Heroing; and, finally, we review Shaw Brother Studio's 1977 King Kong rip-off and certified so bad its good cult classic: The Mighty Peking Man. Timestamps: [00:00] Intro, Berserk, Macross, I'm Quitting Heroing [39:25] The Mighty Peking Man Review [1:46:50] Twitter Questions

We review the Daniels' latest film, Everything Everywhere All at Once, a wild, weird, and wonderfully irreverent journey through the multiverse that's equal parts exhilarating action film, laugh-out-loud absurdist comedy, poignant family drama, and meaningful commentary on the fractal like nature of the Asian American experience.      Timestamps: [00:00] Intro, Gunpla, Digimon,and Eat-Man [42:41] Everything Everywhere All at Once Review [2:02:54] Twitter Questions

In Takeshi Kitano's summer road movie, Kikujiro, a young boy searching for his estranged mother sets out from Tokyo into rural Japan with an unruly former Yakuza as his guide, begetting a series of misadventures, felonious incidents, comedic interludes, surreal vignettes,  and tender moments, as bonds of affection form between the unlikely pair.    Timestamps: [00:00] Introductions and Nonsense [09:09] Mini-Review of Tatsuki Fujimoto's Manga Goodbye, Eri [44:40] Kikujiro Review

BLT Team B review Brian De Palma's rock opera musical Phantom of the Paradise (1974): a strange and twisted horror / comedy cult-classic about a disfigured song writer who haunts the concert hall of the producer that betrayed him and stole his love, in a plot heavily inspired by both Phantom of the Opera and Faust.