Heroic Purgatory: An Asian Cinema Podcast

In this episode of Heroic Purgatory, we tackle a classic, Jackie Chan's Project A. We hope you enjoy our discussion. Website link: https://www.heroic-purgatory.com/2025/07/s5e8-project-1983.html Follow the show on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/heroicpurgatory.bsky.social Follow Jason: https://bsky.app/profile/filmnohito.bsky.socia

In this episode of Heroic Purgatory, John and Jason travel to the Kingdom of Joseon to witness the Qing invasion of Korea in the War of the Arrows (2011). Both hosts characterized this film as a fairly straightforward historical action flick, albeit one with excellent action scenes, pacing, and historical accuracy. We hope you enjoy our discussion. Website link: https://www.heroic-purgatory.com/2025/07/s5e7-war-of-arrows.html Follow the show on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/heroicpurgatory.bsky.social Follow Jason: https://bsky.app/profile/filmnohito.bsky.social

In this episode of Heroic Purgatory, John, Jason, and invited guest Jack (Optimism Vaccine) discuss Hideo Gosha's 1965 chanbara film, The Sword of the Beast. Far from a simple minded samurai flick, the film reflects the anxieties, tensions, and complex politics of the time by deconstructing the faux nobility of a past era. We hope you enjoy our discussion. Website link: https://www.heroic-purgatory.com/2025/07/s5e6-sword-of-beast-with-guest-jack.htmIn Follow Jack Eason: https://bsky.app/profile/jackeason.bsky.social Listen to Optimism Vaccine: https://www.optimismvaccine.com/ Follow the show on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/heroicpurgatory.bsky.social Follow Jason: https://bsky.app/profile/filmnohito.bsky.social

In this episode of Heroic Purgatory we put on our wuxia hats and EastmanColor glasses for King Hu's 1967 iconic piece, Dragon Inn. It is a film of many influences coalesced into a Ming dynasty tale of brave warriors standing up to an evil eunuch's army, with beautiful action pieces and big emotional swings. We discuss how the film holds up today and how it compares with the more recent Tsui Hark produce New Dragon Gate Inn (1992). We hope you enjoy our discussion. Website link: https://www.heroic-purgatory.com/2025/05/s5e5-dragon-inn.html Follow the show on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeroicPurgatory Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/filmnohito

This week in the Heroic Purgatory podcast, we talk about Zhang Yimou's 2002 wuxia film, Hero, staring Jet Li, Maggie Cheung, and Tony Leung. A film as beautiful as it is controversial, Hero is one of the director's best known works, toping both Chinese and international box offices and catapulting the filmmaker into the world of commercial mainstream filmmaking. We hope you enjoy our discussion. Website link: https://www.heroic-purgatory.com/2025/05/s5e4-hero-2002.html Follow the show on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeroicPurgatory Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/filmnohito

This week, the Heroic Purgatory team travel to Edo period Japan to witness the bravery of 13 warriors against a tyrannical and sadistic lord. That's right, in this double whammy of an episode we discuss 13 Assassins, both the 1963 version directed by Eiichi Kudo and the 2010 version directed by Takashi Miike (with a light sprinkling of the 1990 version also thrown into the mix). Listen to the heated debate between John and Jason about which version is the better film. We hope you enjoy our discussion. Website link: https://www.heroic-purgatory.com/2025/05/s5e3-13-assassins.html Follow the show on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeroicPurgatory Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/filmnohito

The year is 1978. The place: a high school in Seoul, South Korea. The film: Once Upon a Time in High School. The Heroic Purgatory Asian Cinema Podcast is excited to bring you one of the most celebrated films of New Korean Cinema, Yoo Ha's 2004 coming of age story in an increasingly militaristic nation. John and Jason are joined by long time South Korean film reviewer Paul Quinn (http://www.hangulcelluloid.com/) to discuss the film themes, historical significance, and various references to Bruce Lee. We hope you enjoy our discussion. Website link: https://www.heroic-purgatory.com/2025/04/s5e2-once-upon-time-in-high-school.html Follow the show on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeroicPurgatory Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/filmnohito

The Heroic Purgatory Podcast returns with a brand new season, this time focusing in historical martial arts. We kickstart the fifth season with the 1972 Bruce Lee film, Fist of Fury. We discuss the film's historical context, action choreography, it's impact on Lee's career as well as its legacy in Hong Kong and Asian cinema. We hope you enjoy our discussion. Website link: https://www.heroic-purgatory.com/2025/04/s5e1-fist-of-fury.html Follow the show on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeroicPurgatory Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/filmnohito

In this episode of Heroic Purgatory, we celebrate the life and works of the recently passed David Lynch (1946 - 2025). We discuss Lynch's career and the films that left the biggest impression on our lives. Enjoy! Website link: https://www.heroic-purgatory.com/2025/02/special-remembering-david-lynch.html Follow the show on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/heroicpurgatory.bsky.social Follow Jason on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/filmnohito.bsky.social Follow John on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jmhimara.bsky.social

Yet another year is behind us, so John and Jason get back behind the mics on this special episode of Heroic Purgatory to discuss their favorite films of 2024. Enjoy! Website link: https://www.heroic-purgatory.com/2025/02/special-best-of-2024.html Follow the show on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/heroicpurgatory.bsky.social Follow Jason on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/filmnohito.bsky.social Follow John on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jmhimara.bsky.social

In another special episode of Heroic Purgatory, we take a right turn towards Texas to visit John Sayles' Lone Star, a film about history and identity. We discuss the film's authenticity, brilliant performances, and which version of history is right or moral. We hope you enjoy our discussion. Website link: https://www.heroic-purgatory.com/2024/12/special-lone-star-1996.html Follow the show on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/heroicpurgatory.bsky.social Follow Jason on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/filmnohito.bsky.social Follow John on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jmhimara.bsky.social

Halloween is here, and Heroic Purgatory is celebrating the spooky season with a spoonful of Roger Corman, Vincent Price, and Edgar Allan Poe. That's right, in this special episode we discuss Roger Corman's Poe cycle. Though we focus mostly on The Raven and The Pit and The Pendulum, we touch on all 8 films as well as other Corman and Price films in the scary category. We hope you enjoy our discussion. Website link: https://www.heroic-purgatory.com/2024/10/special-corman-poe-cycle.html Follow the show on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeroicPurgatory Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/filmnohito

In a season of female action heroes for the Heroic Purgatory podcast, we tackle what may be perhaps the first female action hero in the history of cinema: the iconic Ripley in Ridley Scott's 1979 seminal science-fiction horror film, Alien. From the special effects to the production design to the paradigm-shifting female-led action franchise, we can't help but admire every detail of this masterpiece. We hope you enjoy our discussion. Website link: https://www.heroic-purgatory.com/2024/10/special-alien-1979.html Follow the show on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeroicPurgatory Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/filmnohito

In this episode of Heroic Purgatory, we discuss Zhang Yimou's 2004 wuxia love story, House of Flying Daggers, staring Zhang Ziyi, Takeshi Kaneshiro, and Andy Lau. We discuss the film's impressive visuals, anti-authoritarian themes, and its place in Yimou's expansive filmography. We hope you enjoy our discussion. Website link: https://www.heroic-purgatory.com/2024/08/s4e12-house-of-flying-daggers.html Follow the show on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeroicPurgatory Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/filmnohito

Once again this year, the Heroic Purgatory podcast is covering the Japan Cuts 2024 film festival which took place between July 10 and 21. As usual, the podcast will present John's and Jason's favorite films of the festival. Additionally, this page includes short written reviews by John of the Japan Cuts movies he managed to see. Website link: https://www.heroic-purgatory.com/2024/07/special-japan-cuts-film-festival-2024.html Follow the show on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeroicPurgatory Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/filmnohito Follow John: https://twitter.com/mildly_scifiO

In this episode of Heroic Purgatory, in anticipation of the upcoming Japan Cuts 2024 film festival, we interview two members of Japan Society: director of film Peter Tatara, and programmer Alexander Fee. Find out more about the festival at: https://japansociety.org/film/japancuts/ We hope you enjoy our discussion! Website link: https://www.heroic-purgatory.com/2024/07/special-interview-with-japan-society.html Follow the show on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeroicPurgatory Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/filmnohito

In this episode of Heroic Purgatory, we take on a Hong Kong Yuen Biao double feature, Righting Wrongs (1986) and On the Run (1988). Both films see Biao share the screen with a female co-star, Cynthia Rothrock and Patricia Ha, two riveting action stars who steal the show and make these movies memorable. We hope you enjoy our discussion! Website link: https://www.heroic-purgatory.com/2024/06/s4e11-righting-wrongs-on-run.html Follow the show on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeroicPurgatory Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/filmnohito

In this special episode of Heroic Purgatory, we discuss the 2016 kaiju movie, Shin Godzilla, as well as the franchise's various other incarnations that followed it. We talk about the film's themes, social commentary, visual aesthetic, and its place in the Godzillaverse. We hope you enjoy our discussion! Website link: https://www.heroic-purgatory.com/2024/05/special-shin-godzilla-2016.html Follow the show on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeroicPurgatory Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/filmnohito

In this episode of Heroic Purgatory, we discuss the 2017 South Korean film, The Villainess. We discuss the film's action, style, and the merits of its questionably derivative revenge story. We hope you enjoy our discussion! Website link: https://www.heroic-purgatory.com/2024/05/s4e10-villainess-2017.html Follow the show on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeroicPurgatory Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/filmnohito

In this episode of Heroic Purgatory, we talk about The Heroic Trio and its sequel Executioners, both starring three giants of HK cinema, Michelle Yeoh, Anita Mui, and Maggie Cheung. We discuss the genre-mashing effect of these two films and debate passionately on which is the better one. We hope you enjoy our discussion! Website link: https://www.heroic-purgatory.com/2024/04/s4e9-heroic-trio-1993.html Follow the show on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeroicPurgatory Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/filmnohito