EPISODE DESCRIPTION
Aram and Kelly share their summer movie picks. What starts out as a congenial celebration of friendship and shared love for the cinema devolves into a Thunderdome-styled battle that threatens to end their friendship — all in defense of their honour and film tastes.
This episode uses the following multimedia samples and sources:
- KARATE KID PART II (1986), dir. John G. Avildsen
- HOUSE (1977), dir. Nobuhiko Obayashi
- STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK (1984), dir. Leonard Nimoy
- “Be Mine”, by Amine Maxwell
- “All The Stars”, by Kendrick Lamar, SZA
- “Main Title: Theme from ‘Jaws'”, by John William
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
Please note below transcription was made using speech recognition software, and as such may contain inaccuracies, misspellings, or errors.
Aram Collier 0:00
Hello, welcome to backstory relations podcast. I’m Aram Collier.
Kelly Lui 0:05
And I’m Kelly Lui.
Aram Collier 0:07
Today we’re talking about summer movies. You know, when I, we talked about doing a summer movie episode, and you know, when I think of the ideal summer movie, it’s something that captures those summer feelings. A sense of adventure, freedom, a little reckless abandon, and maybe hopefully a little romance. So the two films that we’re going to bring you today, have all of those things.
Kelly Lui 0:33
Before we begin, we do have to share some warnings. So first off, there is a content warning for horror, violence in screen, Gore, decapitation, body mutilation, nudity, and death. Yes, please still stick around
Aram Collier 0:51
for your summer movie entertainment. That’s all from Kelly’s pick, by the way. Oh,
Kelly Lui 0:58
there is some violence on screen. In it, and I would say there’s some intimacy that we might have to. No, I’m just kidding.
Aram Collier 1:07
So, um, we’re not just looking at any type of summer movie, although it’s kind of cool that there are a little bit of parallels between these two films. But one of the things that we’ve done with every episode when we’ve brought guests on, is we’ve been asking them these kind of rapid fire questions. And one of the questions is, what are movies that inspired them? But one of the questions I really like when we ask is also what are the films that are their guilty pleasures, too? So in addition to films that inspired them, what is the kind of films that they love irrationally? So that’s what Kelly and I are going to talk about today. The summer movies that we just love irrationally.
Kelly Lui 1:51
Our other warning is that we will be talking about these films in pretty extensive detail. And so if you haven’t seen it, they might be spoiled for You so if you don’t lock the film space while just please go ahead to watch them before you listen to the rest of this episode.
Aram Collier 2:08
I don’t know about you but Kelly like when the last time you saw your film, but I haven’t I hadn’t seen mine in maybe 30 years. So I’m excited to talk about it because because I just watched it again last night. Do we want to say what your pick is?
Kelly Lui 2:22
Oh, yeah, sure. So, my film is house you or house by nobuhiko Obayashi.
Aram Collier 2:32
Okay, and my pick is Karate Kid Part Two from 1986. Directed by john g. avildsen.
So Kelly, can you please summarize houses?
Kelly Lui 3:09
Yeah, like First of all, where to begin? There’s a lot going on. But I think Simply put, it’s a story about love about these seven friends who go on a summer trip to his house, and they all kind of meet untimely demise there. And I think at the end of the day, I guess like the how the ending goes, even if you know, the body doesn’t exist, the love will still remain in our hearts, and it will go on and this one was very memorable. And I think I’m gonna keep it brief there because we’re, we’ll go into more detail. Definitely.
Aram Collier 3:49
So I didn’t know anything about this movie. So maybe Can you fill in a little bit of a kind of a historical context of the movie when it’s from any any of any of the things you know? about it, like outside of the plot.
Kelly Lui 4:03
Yeah, so the song was made in 1977. And it was produced by the company Toho. And at the time, the, I guess, the film industry in Japan, they were kind of looking for something fresh. And so Toho approached the director Obayashi, and like suggested to tell him like, Can you make a film that’s kind of similar to jaws? Because we just need some new ideas and develop it. He ended up you know, actually, he, I guess a lot of this film is inspired by his, I think 11 year old daughter at that time. I think he had like a starting point. And then he ended up talking to his daughter who was like, Oh, I like, here’s some of the things that actually scare me. And then he pieced all those things. In made this film, what is also really interesting is, even though he wrote the script, it took two years before he could direct it because the Toho try to shop it around to other directors. And I’m sure there’s also like, I think a some sort of hierarchy in terms of who could direct why at that point. But only actually being like, obviously, super hard fan of his own work, for good reason. I wanted to make sure this film happened no matter what. So even within those two years, there was no interest from any director. He so heavily promoted. So I think his enthusiasm for the film eventually allowed him to direct it. Previously, I think he only had directed like a short film, and I think a lot of commercials. So for him, this was kind of his like, first film that brought him on to the scene. And yeah, I just I just love that. that a lot of the To see and horror elements come from his daughter, and it’s not it’s credited to her so yeah.
Aram Collier 6:08
When When did you first see this movie? And and also, what made you want to share this movie with us in this kind of context of, you know, summer movies that you just you just love.
Kelly Lui 6:18
Okay, so I actually didn’t watch this film too long ago I watched it maybe I think two years, and I watched it with friends, anything that kind of preface is why I like the intention of selecting this film. For me, a lot of the films that have kind of stuck with me are horror films just because I always have actually very warm memories of gathering friends together to watch them. I think when I was much younger, I never really had friends over to hang out because I have two brothers and it’s usually if we have people over, it’s like their friends and I’m just like, Yeah, it’s a bunch of dudes and I’m just like, Okay, well, I guess I’ll just have to tag along. So my first kind of, like, distinct memory of like, I want to do this and I want people was because of, of horror films.
Aram Collier 7:14
Well, I I was curious too because it’s like, um, it’s a film that takes place in the summer, right? Like it’s there. It’s during their summer vacation, which was kind of cool. I was like, I was like, oh, like, Is that why she chose us to?
Kelly Lui 7:30
Yes, it did fit all the parameters very neatly. And also, I do have like a very tender spot in terms of like thinking about concepts of like home, and like belonging. So I think this film is like completely takes in a totally different direction, which I really love. But I guess we’ll go back again to like the umpire and further review later.
Unknown Speaker 7:58
No, I’m looking forward to that.
Aram Collier 8:01
Okay, so um, a little drumroll Wait, we already told people yeah I that was just a few minutes ago. Okay
Unknown Speaker 8:15
he is quicker.
Unknown Speaker 8:16
Oh no fee for defense only is wiser Oh number two asht number one stronger.
Unknown Speaker 8:31
Miyagi taught him well, secret of
Unknown Speaker 8:33
Miyagi from the karate
Unknown Speaker 8:37
practice.
Aram Collier 8:40
So, um so Karate Kid part two. I MDB says Daniel accompanies his mentor, Mr. Miyagi to me all his childhood home in Okinawa. Yaki visits his dying father and confronts his old rival, while Daniel falls in love and inadvertently makes a new rival of his own. So that’s what you No, that that that’s like my version of like when when people read out a Webster’s Dictionary defines. But so, but you know, this is, um, I think this is an interesting film on on a few levels. So it’s directed by john D. Allison who actually directed Rocky and he won an Oscar for Rocky. So this is Oscar award winning director and john G. Appleton was you know, he directed rocky Karate Kid Part One, two and three. So he really specializes in movies that had Roman numerals at the end, and also lean on me and Morgan Freeman film. Eight seconds with Luke Perry is a rodeo movie. So he’s a director that had bonafide chops in that kind of Hollywood kind of triumphant narrative. story so, so that’s kind of a little bit about that Karate Kid part two. So, you know, I think Karate Kid Part One has has a hold on kind of American memory of that time, especially you can see it with them like reboot of Cobra Kai, that kind of thing. Chronic in part two actually made more money than the first one. So it’s the one that made the most out of out of all of them. They shot it almost right after the first one came out. You know, it picks up right where it literally picks up where the first one and so that’s a little bit of the context is 1986. So when thinking about this film, it is very much an 80s film. And it’s something that kind of came up when we talked to an Koizumi last episode and talking about how, how North America I think was very interested in Asia, East Asia. Specifically Japan at that time, there was a lot of fear about a fear and curiosity from, you know, kind of like the economic threat, but also the cultural curiosity. And I certainly think that that’s a big part of my seven year old interest in it because like, you know, Japanese culture was like, the accessible Asian culture, you know, there was like this kind of cultural imagination of of Asia and what it is in the future and what it represents and whatnot. So, I think I think this film kind of represents an interest in that too, in America.
Kelly Lui 11:37
So why did you choose this film? And for this episode, I know you’ve brought it up in passing. I am dying to hear why. I,
Aram Collier 11:49
I’m wondering like, if I can, like, okay, so I there’s like two points. Okay. This film came out in 1986. I was seven years old. So there’s definitely a lot of nostalgia behind this pick. And time and place where I saw this, like, definitely had an influence of white stuck with me so much. But so I spent my summers in this place called Taos, in northern New Mexico. That’s where my dad is from. So I spent every summer there. It’s in like high desert. That county has about 32,000 people The town has less than that. It’s kind of small role. there’s a there’s a central town. It’s incredibly beautiful there. And also, at the same time for like a city kid from California, like there’s not a lot to do. There used to be a drive in movie theater there. And, and that’s actually the last time I saw a drive in movie, which was Star Trek three, I think is the search for Spock. Maybe
Unknown Speaker 13:03
enterprise captain’s personal.
Aram Collier 13:06
And but that driving movie got replaced by a Walmart. So I remember, like we came back the next summer and it was like, oh, like what I haven’t seen the driving movie. It’s like, Oh, it’s a Walmart You know? And so like when you’d hear all those like stories of like Walmart’s moving into small towns and like destroying local communities like like that that was like firsthand in this in Taos, so but I there was another movie theater and I don’t know if it opened up after the drive in movies shut, movie theater shut down. But that that’s where I saw this movie. I saw it with my sisters. And it was it was awesome. So so i don’t i don’t think i knew why I thought it was awesome back then. I think there’s there I think there’s a few reasons why I but cut two years later 2018 So I was actually staying at a friend’s house in LA. And and we were, we were just talking about like so black black panther had come out earlier that year. And it was just like this huge blockbuster. It was like a big success. It had great filmmaking excellent performances. The like Kendrick Lamar says a song is great. And so but also a lot of like the coverage focused on like how the film spoke to like young black people. Right and so that was also the year that crazy rich Asians was going to come out and that hadn’t come out yet. And and I think amongst like the Asian American community was like, people were like very some people were like, optimistic and some people were very pessimistic that that crazy rich Asians was going to be like, our quote unquote, our Black Panther, you know, and so, so my friend, Tadashi Nakamura that was staying with another Like we were just talking about that. And then and then we were talking about Cobra Kai, because I like that has just come out on YouTube. And then we got to talking about Karate Kid pot part two, and like, it had this and it had this and it had this and we were both, you know, we’re the same age and we’re like, like, we’re like, dude, Karate Kid. Part Two was our Black Panther. So, um, so I think that’s why it’s so the fact that like, I saw this as a kid in the summertime. It has this kind of, like, personal cultural relevance to which I think we’ll get into because it was like, you think about 1986 like, it has a lot of Asian American actors in it. So I think and then and then the fact that like it does take place during the summer is also like a nice bonus. So that which I didn’t remember, but it’s like, oh, yeah, does take place during the summertime. So all of these things have come together. And and I think been wanting to talk about this film for a while? Okay, so, um, so right off the top watching, how soon again? does it hold up for you? And what are some What are like three scenes that you want to talk about from the film?
Kelly Lui 16:14
Yeah, actually, well, it’s interesting cuz it hasn’t been that long since I’ve seen it. I do feel that it does hold up, just because there’s just so much going on. I think. Honestly, the cutting and the transitions and this, like the scene setups are so so creative, that I just wish was with still, you know, like, be as bold and, and I guess, maybe bold.
Unknown Speaker 16:45
It’s a little it’s a little
Aram Collier 16:49
disorienting. You know? Yeah, I guess it’s effective in that in that sense, but it I was not prepared and you know, like, I didn’t want To do research before I watched it like I knew it was a horror movie and so I did steal myself a little bit for watching it but, but it kind of like whacks you in the face with this style that is very idiosyncratic.
Kelly Lui 17:14
Yeah, and I just find like it’s interesting as a horror film just because it is horrifying however, it also feels light hearted. an odd way. It seems painful, but also not like I was like, is that slight joy that I’m not too sure. I think what is also setting something we’ve talked about is like the music in this film is iconic. And if you watch this film, or if you have seen this film, you’ll know what i mean because the song will just be stuck in your head. Also a fun fact around that. Over Yeah, she worked with a lot of inexperienced actors for the Film and he was having some issues like giving them verbal direction. And so what he ended up doing was he would play the soundtrack and he found that the actors would actually kind of get into the vibe of what he wanted with I guess that the aid of the music so I definitely recommend if you’re not into horror films, that’s okay. Just like search up this the the theme song and to maybe do it Oh, you work. That might be kind of interesting.
Aram Collier 18:36
And the theme song like recurs a lot to like, it’s like, let me just bang this out. Yeah.
Kelly Lui 18:47
It’s one of those where it just like constantly is it’s playing and then when it shifts, you know, something’s gonna happen. So I might have to preface this, that which I did. In the in the summary of the film, the way that each girl is named, is somewhat representative of their character tropes. So we have gorgeous who is known to be the beauty. We have prof who’s, you know, the smarty pants, I suppose of the group, and prof wears glasses. Of course, yes, Prof wears glasses. And so when you brought up the piano scene, or the piano, I mean, it brings up one of my favorite top scenes, and I think this is like a general consensus there. One of the girls Her name is Melody, who obviously loves to play the piano, she decides to play the piano to suit the girls because at this point, they’re kind of like freaking out, because their friends are dying off. And then she ends up as she’s playing the piano, the piano ends up eating her fingers, and then it’s like this really psychedelic scene, where you end up getting just like the dismembered fingers that are still playing the piano and it’s the theme song. And she’s Yeah, I just I don’t know it was one of those where I’m like, Okay, this is like terrifying but I think they’re having a fun time. I don’t know. I getting really yeah, mixed signals here.
I will have to say like what I mean from the first time I watched it this time around, I think there’s still I think a lot of thinking to do actually around. I don’t know how to phrase this, I guess like the male gaze, I suppose in the film. I think just like getting ready for this episode in particular, that’s kind of brought to light, a bit more of the backstory of the film. Like, for example, there is nudity in the film. And that was not originally in the script. And it wasn’t until the director had seen, I guess, the nude body of one of the girls and was like, Okay, this, this is going to be part of the film. So there’s probably a bit more context, but I think besides that, just thinking about how I think Aaron we can both agree that our favorite character is Kung Fu. Yes, I love Kung Fu. She’s so badass but then like halfway through the film, she she like loses her like pants or her skirt or whatever it is. And she’s like, we’re just like an underpants fell. Yeah, just saying certain things like That you can’t help that question.
Aram Collier 22:04
Yeah, I was curious about that. Because it, you know, like, I had no context for this film and it was just like, oh, like, these, these young girls, they’re naked, their clothes are coming off. They’re getting mutilated. Like there’s this kind of weird is it was a bit off you know, and um, yeah, I didn’t I didn’t know how to I didn’t know how to feel about.
Kelly Lui 22:32
Yeah, it’s it’s interesting because Obayashi, he did want to make a film about the atomic bomb. And him growing up, he did lose. Like, I think he mentioned he like lost a lot of friends at that point. And so this film actually does refer to that in his experience, and it’s just like it’s I just find that as you said, like really interesting, but very off putting in terms of like, how it Translated on screen and just like wondering, like, why, why women’s bodies have to be portrayed in that way. And it’s also such a tradition in like horror films to write like, joy of like seeing women in peril or terror, right? Yeah. Yeah, exactly. So, really? Yeah. It’s a wild a wild wild watch. Yeah, I mean, Aaron, did you have like, did you was there a scene that’s like up for you? In that for more?
Aram Collier 23:33
Um, I, I had a few things like, I thought that it did have some great sets, like, like, that was pretty impressive. You know, like, and, and it’s just like, yeah, this is a set, but we’re gonna put all this stuff in it, you know, like, definitely like, Uh, oh, you know, it’s pretty like you can you’re kind of like going along with it. Until the first Girl dies and like when Mac comes back like after being killed like that, that’s you’re like, Oh, here we go. I think ships going down. And that that was pretty. That was pretty funny.
Kelly Lui 24:15
Yeah, I just think like how much the beginning have actually speaks a lot to like I guess Japan at that time like there’s a scene where I think also referring sorry jumping back to thinking about like the war and the atomic bomb and like there’s this setup in which gorgeous tells her friends her aunt story and the story of her ad is that you know she has this like amazing lover that they’re going to get married but then he gets drafted and like elicited to go to the war and he never returns. And so she’s just been like living this house by herself. It’s just like, interesting to think about the way that Girls together when they’re like listening to this story, they’re like adding their commentaries. I think one that really stands out to me is like when they mentioned the atomic bomb, like one of them says, like, oh, it reminds me of because like, you’re seeing the replay recap of that story. And then the girls in some ways can are also watching along with you. And so one of them like comments like, oh, the atomic bomb reminds them of cotton candy. So it’s just like thinking about how like this is like a very difficult and heavy like piece of Japanese history. But also like the way I guess at that time, like the newer generation like they they do carry that trauma but at the same time, it’s like there is a different kind of distancing that I feel like this time around like picking up a bit more and obviously wanting to know a bit more how this whole why this foam and all these things but yeah
Unknown Speaker 26:00
Yeah
Unknown Speaker 26:09
What am I still go to
Unknown Speaker 26:13
Santa Fe piano
Kelly Lui 26:21
so Aram I’m actually curious about what’s stood out for you this time around when you were watching Karate Kid Part Two versus when you were seven and watching it for the first time. And also just thinking about how you watched it in in the cinema.
Aram Collier 26:36
Oh yeah, I mean you know i i don’t know the last time I watched this it may have been 30 years ago, maybe less than that, but it’s been a long time. And I waited a long time before watching this because I was worried like I you know, because I remember how much like I do really like this film and, and I was worried about watching it again. You know, especially things you you watch things like, oh, that hasn’t aged well. And, and so when I watched Washington last night, I was like, Oh, this like, this holds up. Definitely some failings, which we can get into but, but I was pleasantly surprised. So the things that, like, one of the cool things about it is that, that there is this cast of Asian American actors in it. They are speaking in this like, terrible accent, you know, terrible accents. But somehow, like, it doesn’t bother me because it’s, it’s it’s almost like a relic of the time. You know, it’s like, it’s like an old car doesn’t have seatbelts and like, That’s terrible. But it’s also a little bit charming to like in this like, weird way of like nostalgia. It’s like, Oh, yeah, remember how Like ignorant we were back then, you know, and so and things are better now. So I could I mean maybe that’s just explaining things away but but isn’t it also better to have had these actors able to perform these roles and and I think there’s like some scenes that really that really knock it out of the park for me and performances in general to like, so so. So, Pat Merida plays Mr. Miyagi and Nobu McCarthy is plays UK and who is his kind of his, his long lost love like he had a dispute with Sato who is one of the villains of the film and he and he left okay now and never saw you get again until Mr. Miyagi his father is sick and he has to finally return before For his father dies, and so he sees UK again, they’re old timers all all of this time has passed. There’s misunderstandings and, and resentments and guilt, and all of these things. And that’s also one of the cool things i i like about the film is that the first of all is very much about Daniel’s journey. And Mr. Miyagi is kind of like Yoda, you know, and totally talks like Yoda like I mean, and and just like Yoda, you don’t know anything about Yoda. Oh, he’s just like this little bald guy who like teaches you something, you know. And so what I like about this is that you do see Mr. Miyagi, in a different way. You know, I mean, they’re there. They do sprinkle in things of his kind of backstory in the first one and this one, like how he was interned and part of the 42nd which is like this all Japanese American Army unit in World War Two but, but this is like where you get to see him as much more rounded person and, and and watching it last night is like wow you know like, despite these kind of like terrible accents like there’s a few scenes where they get to show off their acting chops a little bit and apparently like no, no bill McCarthy and Pat Morita were good friends and then like how great it is, is it to be able to have a scene with your friend you know, and and in this way right and and they have some really like some really nice like tender scenes you know, though I will say in terms of the accents that I’ve seen where Sato is getting prepared to have this like, have it out with Miyagi and and whoever wins, wins their honor back right and so he’s like he’s karate chopping a piece of wood is like ah, Bless this actor, let me get his name right. Danny kamekona like, like, bless him. He, you know, but his but he he’s been charged with having to do this accent. Like, he says like very rageful in this scene and he’s just like, sounds like a caveman you know? This is this is where it’s like, Ah, you know?
Unknown Speaker 31:29
Yeah, that same would we find together on each time?
Unknown Speaker 31:35
What you want
Unknown Speaker 31:38
come make peace between us. You forget you betrayed me.
Unknown Speaker 31:44
I was only 18 years old and responsible for
Unknown Speaker 31:49
explain why I feel is what you leave. Oh,
Unknown Speaker 31:55
I know.
Unknown Speaker 31:57
You’re filming. Yes, take turns.
Unknown Speaker 32:04
Like this happened to you,
Aram Collier 32:06
but still, you know, there are these, there are these kind of like actors of this early generation of Asian American actors who were able to survive and, and find work and be in films that were mainstream and get paid and and there’s something to be said for that and, and by the way also Nobu McCarthy is born in Ottawa. So she’s Canadian, so I didn’t know that.
Kelly Lui 32:39
I will have to say I did not. Okay, so, I mean, I was talking to my older brother about having to watch Karate Kid. And he was like, yeah, we watched it back then. I was like, I have no recollection of watching any of this these films at all. I think I also had just no interest and would not have watched it for the rest of my life. If not For this episode, and did not read anything about what the film was about. So I have to say I was pleasantly surprised when I was like, I think this is a love story. And other thing that that what you’re saying about the acting, I actually okay that scene where Mr. Miyagi Finally, like sees his father for the first time. And his father says this like phrase and Japanese and Daniel’s like asking, Can we go What? His father said. Oh my gosh, I don’t remember what that quote was.
Unknown Speaker 33:51
What did he say?
Unknown Speaker 33:55
dreaming me Never awake.
Kelly Lui 34:06
I have to say I actually cried. I was like, Whoa, kid, part two.
Aram Collier 34:15
It pulls it pulls some strings, you know, like there’s some like there’s some I mean there’s some real like craft going on here from like that there’s some really great performances and like, really like great nuggets in terms of like these little Miyagi isms and stuff like that. And, and, and some of them are like, done tongue in cheek where, you know, he comes up with a phrase and I can’t remember what it was and he’s like, when when do you come up with that? Or, or where’s that scene from? He’s like, I thought it up 10 seconds ago.
So it’s a little bit tongue in cheek, you know, and, you know, like one of the scenes that I like, I didn’t remember this scene at all, but it was one of the scenes that like, I just like you like, I was watching it last night and I was like, wow, like I didn’t expect, like it got me really like, choked up. So, you know, Miyagi father does pass away. And, you know, Miyagi feels like all of the skills that, that he was away. He didn’t. He didn’t fulfill his duties as a son. And and then, you know, he’s he’s sitting watching the sunset, and and then Daniel just comes up to him and he and, and he talks about like, you know, his own experiences with his father dying and it’s like this really tender scene. And, and and pat Murray does. He didn’t say anything in that scene, but his performance is fantastic. You know.
Unknown Speaker 35:46
My father died. I spent a lot of time thinking, I was
Unknown Speaker 35:54
like, maybe I could have listened a little more
Unknown Speaker 36:00
More time, listen together.
Unknown Speaker 36:06
feel so guilty, you know, like, like, he did everything for me. And I didn’t do anything for him.
Unknown Speaker 36:22
And then one day I realized I did the greatest thing for him before he died.
Unknown Speaker 36:30
I was there with him.
Unknown Speaker 36:33
And I hold his hand
Unknown Speaker 36:36
and said goodbye.
Aram Collier 36:40
And I didn’t remember that scene at all. And, you know, I think I’m a sucker more for it now because it’s like, I’m a parent and you know, and you’re always somebody’s kid, you know, and so like those things about like, guilt and and you know what you what you The choices you made and how that affected your, your relationship with your family, that kind of thing was like it was awesome. So, I was really like surprised by that. And, and just like the performances in general by the actors, I will say also one one more thing about the actors too is like so, so tamlyn Tomita is, it’s kind of like, from the 80s onward has been like kind of like this mainstay in Asian American movies, but also in, in Hollywood TV and movies in general. So this was her first film. And I loved her I thought she like I think about when, I mean, I probably didn’t know it as a seven year old, but she was like, like the first movie crush I had probably, you know, and, and so she’s great and then at the same time, so Yuji Okamoto plays chosen. It’s like the other villain. So he’s Santos nephew and protege. And he’s fantastic. Like he’s such a he’ll, he’s such a prick. And he’s great and like, and that’s, you know, some will ask us like with three notable scenes and I was like, Can I cheat and say every time chosen shows up? Because like I just gonna read off some of these things that he does. So like, Um Oh yes, this one See, it’s just like this throwaway line it’s so good though. Where you goes a it’s Miyagi and his baby it’s just like I was dying. When he said that. Um, there’s a the kind of like, iconic chosen scene where kumiko throws a tomato at it and kind of stains his shirt and he rips off his shirt. And he’s like super cut and ripped and like flexing pec suit stuff and has And very tan, and he throws his shirt at them like as it like here. Here’s a souvenir. It’s just like, he’s so good. And then and I think that the movie because it’s like he just shows up all the time and it’s so annoying like a bully seems to right and I think even the movie maybe like recognize that because this is great line it’s at the dance hall like they just had their kind of like swing dance. And then and then Chosun comes in and he puts a beer down and then and then off camera you hear Daniels voice he says, Oh, no, not again. Yeah.
Unknown Speaker 39:44
That was hilarious.
Aram Collier 39:45
It’s like It’s like, it seemed very self referential. It’s like Wow, he sure is showing up a lot. That’s very nice. shaba
Unknown Speaker 39:59
teaches a bit technique school you keep for your correction.
Aram Collier 40:05
I know you would like it
Unknown Speaker 40:15
no, not again. Hey,
Unknown Speaker 40:16
I’m not looking for any trouble. Maybe 12 or looking for you.
Unknown Speaker 40:20
Yeah, he like defied like tide. And
Kelly Lui 40:26
I was like this I does this logic
Aram Collier 40:30
just big, just like he’ll just show up in everything. And of course like the you know for the climactic ending scene like, Can we close doing the bone fan dance and then and then chosen zip lines in like an electrical wire, like blowing up lanterns on the way it’s, it’s incredible. So you know, he lights up the screen, use yokomoto
Unknown Speaker 41:07
Get back. Hold on. Don’t do this. I was wrong.
Unknown Speaker 41:14
He is wrong. It’s over. I cannot hear you. I am dead. Do you remember?
Kelly Lui 41:21
Yeah, just it’s honestly like I it’s what is interesting is having to watch how soon in, in pairing with Karate Kid part two, like kind of what we mentioned, there’s definitely a lot of parallels between the two films. One might say that one could be the ultimate universal the other. And that’s a long stretch. So maybe
Aram Collier 41:47
we don’t know but like the kind of like the ant in house zoo is is is like, Yeah, right. Yeah, yeah. No, I that that is something I hadn’t thought about. And we were we were talking about that. Before starting recording, it is so
Backstory podcast is presented by the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival, it is hosted by Aram Collier, and Kelly Lui, and is edited and produced by Seungwoo Baek. More information about the show or festival or upcoming events, check out our show notes. We’d like to hear from you. So let us know your favorite summer movie, or send us a comment. Write to us at backstory@reelasian.com
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
Backstory Podcast 