🎬 JAMES PAX IS COMING TO MELBOURNE!

On Saturday, August 29, James Pax - aka Lightning from Big Trouble in Little China - is bringing a special retrospective double feature to The Astor Theatre in Melbourne, featuring Big Trouble in Little China (1986) and The Heroic Trio (1993).

The event includes live Q&As, meet & greet opportunities, autograph sessions and VIP experiences with James.

🎟️ Tickets are on sale now:
https://kungfulegends.com/australia

BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW — WE'LL SEE YOU AT THE ASTOR!

In this special episode of Two Asian Blokes, Danh and Thavy sit down with James Pax to talk about his incredible career across Hollywood and Hong Kong cinema.

Watch the video -- https://youtu.be/y576tOCi3_c

James takes us behind the scenes of Big Trouble in Little China, including his experience playing Lightning, working with director John Carpenter, and what it was like working alongside Kurt Russell.

We also dive into The Heroic Trio, James' experience working in Hong Kong compared with Hollywood, and his thoughts on the golden era of Hong Kong action cinema.

James also shares his favourite martial arts movies, his thoughts on what makes a film become a cult classic, and his approach to action choreography after decades of working in the genre.

Finally, we talk about James' upcoming action film Vortex, where he steps behind the camera as director and brings his experience from Hollywood and Asian cinema into his latest project.

If you're a fan of Big Trouble in Little China, The Heroic Trio, Hong Kong action movies, martial arts cinema, John Carpenter, Michelle Yeoh, cult movies or classic action films, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Lightning is coming to Australia!
03:52 James talks Big Trouble in Little China
16:21 James talks The Heroic Trio
28:04 James talks Vortex
33:36 James' upcoming Melbourne retrospective

🎬 JAMES PAX RETROSPECTIVE — MELBOURNE

📅 Saturday, August 29
📍 The Astor Theatre, Melbourne
🎞️ Big Trouble in Little China + The Heroic Trio
🎤 Live Q&A with James Pax
🤝 Meet & Greet
⭐ VIP Experiences

🎟️ Tickets & information:
https://kungfulegends.com/australia 

Two Asian Blokes is a podcast celebrating Asian cinema, Asian representation and the movies we love, from Hong Kong action classics to Hollywood blockbusters and everything in between.

If you enjoyed the episode, like, subscribe and let us know in the comments what your favourite James Pax performance is.

#JamesPax #BigTroubleInLittleChina #TheHeroicTrio #HongKongCinema #MartialArtsMovies #JohnCarpenter #CultMovies #ActionMovies #TwoAsianBlokes

We're wrapping up John Woo-LY 2026 with what many consider to be the definitive John Woo film: The Killer (1989).

This isn't just another great Hong Kong action movie. It's arguably the purest expression of John Woo's creative vision—the film where he had almost complete artistic control from start to finish, refining everything that made him one of the most influential action directors of all time. Heroic Bloodshed. Dual pistols. Slow motion. Brotherhood. Betrayal. White doves. It's all here.

And it's an absolute banger.

In fact, The Killer is so good that we felt it deserved its own dedicated episode, even though we already talked about it while reviewing John Woo's 2024 American remake. (Let's just pretend that one never happened.)

Starring Chow Yun-fat as the legendary assassin Ah Jong alongside Danny Lee and Sally Yeh in her final film role, The Killer follows a hitman determined to make amends after accidentally blinding an innocent nightclub singer during one of his assignments. As rival gangs, corrupt cops, and old loyalties begin to close in around him, the lines between hero and villain become increasingly blurred.

In this review, we discuss John Woo's love of French cinema, his famously unconventional filmmaking process, the influence of The Killer on action cinema around the world, the film's exploration of honour, loyalty, and redemption, and why many still regard it as the greatest Heroic Bloodshed film ever made.

Is The Killer not only John Woo's masterpiece, but one of the greatest action films ever made?

If you enjoy movie reviews, Hong Kong cinema, action films, and Asian pop culture, check out our weekly podcast, Two Asian Blokes, where we chat about films, TV, and vaguely Asian stuff.

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⏱️ Chapters

00:00 The Killer (1989) – The Original Masterpiece
01:34 John Woo's Love of French Cinema
03:06 The Killer Plot Overview
04:37 Sally Yeh's Final Film Role
05:47 John Woo's Wild Filmmaking Process
08:13 The Unusual Musical Choices
09:55 The Most John Woo Film Ever Made?
12:49 Hong Kong vs Hollywood Filmmaking
14:11 Brotherhood, Loyalty & Betrayal
15:36 The Villain
17:13 Blurring the Moral Lines
19:20 John Woo's Philosophy
21:33 The Tragic Ending

💬 What do you think of The Killer? Is this John Woo's greatest film, or do you prefer A Better Tomorrow, Hard Boiled, Bullet in the Head, or another classic?

📩 Email us: [email protected]

👥 Join the Friends of Two Asian Blokes Facebook group to discuss movies, anime, and pop culture.

🎧 Listen to the full podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

📱 Follow us on Instagram & TikTok: @twoasianblokes

#TheKiller #JohnWoo #ChowYunFat #HongKongCinema #HeroicBloodshed #MovieReview

Next up on John Woo-LY 2026 is Hard Target (1993), John Woo's explosive first foray into Hollywood. And who better to help introduce Woo to the American film industry than the all-American action hero of the '90s... Jean-Claude Van Damme.

Hard Target is widely regarded as the first major Hollywood studio film directed by a Chinese—and more broadly, an Asian—director. Universal reportedly had concerns about whether Woo could direct a big-budget American production with his limited English, but he answered those doubts the only way he knew how: with slow-motion doves, flying motorcycles, dual pistols, ridiculous explosions, and enough John Woo style to make Hard Target stand out among the sea of '90s action movies.

The film follows Chance Boudreaux, a Cajun drifter who finds himself in the crosshairs of an international human-hunting syndicate led by the wonderfully theatrical Emil Fouchon, played by Lance Henriksen. Unfortunately for them, Chance turns out to be a considerably harder target than advertised.

In this review, we discuss John Woo's transition from Hong Kong cinema to Hollywood, Jean-Claude Van Damme's performance, the villains, the action choreography, the unmistakable "John Woo-isms" that survived the move to America, and whether Hard Target still ranks among the best action films of the 1990s.

Say what you will about Van Damme... the man can wear the heck out of a mullet.

If you enjoy movie reviews, Hong Kong cinema, action films, and Asian pop culture, check out our weekly podcast, Two Asian Blokes, where we chat about films, TV, and vaguely Asian stuff.

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⏱️ Chapters

00:00 John Woo's First Hollywood Film
01:34 How John Woo Came to Hollywood
03:44 Hard Target Plot Overview
06:30 New Orleans, Jean-Claude Van Damme & The Mullet
09:13 Emil Fouchon & The Villains
11:13 Classic John Woo Style in Hollywood
16:27 Action, Stunts & Explosions
19:40 The Incredible Final Act

💬 What do you think of Hard Target? Is it John Woo's best Hollywood movie, or do you prefer Face/Off, Broken Arrow, or Mission: Impossible II?

📩 Email us: [email protected]

👥 Join the Friends of Two Asian Blokes Facebook group to discuss movies, anime, and pop culture.

🎧 Listen to the full podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

📱 Follow us on Instagram & TikTok: @twoasianblokes

#HardTarget #JohnWoo #JeanClaudeVanDamme #90sAction #MovieReview

We're continuing John Woo-LY 2026 with perhaps the strangest film in John Woo's entire filmography.

Heroes Shed No Tears (1984) wasn't a passion project. It was a movie made out of contractual obligation, shelved for two years by its production company, and only released after the enormous success of A Better Tomorrow turned John Woo into one of Hong Kong cinema's hottest directors. It's safe to say this is the John Woo film he would probably rather you forgot.

The film follows a group of mercenaries on a mission deep into hostile territory to rescue a powerful crime lord. What begins as a straightforward military operation quickly descends into a chaotic survival story filled with relentless action, jungle warfare, and some of the most unexpectedly unhinged tonal shifts you'll ever see in an action movie.

In this review, we discuss the film's bizarre production history, its blend of action, comedy, and shocking violence, whether traces of the classic "John Woo touch" are already beginning to emerge, and if there's a genuinely good movie buried beneath the rushed production.

It's messy. It's weird. It occasionally feels like three different films stitched together. But is there still something worth discovering in one of John Woo's most overlooked movies?

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⏱️ **Chapters**

00:00 Why John Woo Wants to Forget This Movie
01:06 Heroes Shed No Tears – First Impressions
03:22 Big Guns, Tiny Handcuffs & Pure Chaos
09:10 Comedy, Horror & Extreme Violence
12:40 The Infamous Love Shack Scene
15:49 Eye for an Eye – The Film's Brutality
18:59 Weak Characters or Missed Potential?
20:36 Is Heroes Shed No Tears Worth Watching?

💬 What do you think of Heroes Shed No Tears? Is it an underrated John Woo film, or one best left forgotten?

📩 Email us: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

👥 Join the Friends of Two Asian Blokes Facebook group to discuss movies, anime, and pop culture.

🎧 Listen to the full podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

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#HeroesShedNoTears #JohnWoo #HongKongCinema #ActionMovies #MovieReview

Welcome to John Woo-LY 2026, where for the month of July we're celebrating the legendary director of Hong Kong action cinema, John Woo. Every week we'll be revisiting one of his defining films and asking the important questions: do they still hold up, and where do they rank in one of cinema's greatest filmographies?

We're kicking things off with A Better Tomorrow (1986), the film that launched John Woo into stardom and popularised the Heroic Bloodshed subgenre. If you've ever wondered where slow-motion gunfights, dual pistols, and tragic bromances came from, this is a very good place to start.

Starring the holy trinity of Hong Kong cinema - Ti Lung, Leslie Cheung, and Chow Yun-fat as the legendary Mark Gor - and developed by the dynamic duo of Tsui Hark and John Woo (before the falling out), A Better Tomorrow has everything: melodrama, two-gun action, unforgettable one-liners, and enough brotherly angst to power an entire decade of action movies.

The story follows Ho, a triad gangster who, after serving three years in prison, tries to leave his criminal past behind and reconcile with his younger brother Kit, who is a police officer. But when old loyalties come calling, Ho is forced to choose between the brother he fought beside and the brother he wants back.

In this review, we discuss the cast, the state of 1980s Hong Kong cinema, Chow Yun-fat's controversial casting, the morality of Heroic Bloodshed, the emotional core of the story, and why A Better Tomorrow remains one of the most influential action films ever made.

Is this John Woo's greatest film?

If you enjoy movie reviews, film analysis, Hong Kong cinema, and Asian pop culture, check out our weekly podcast, Two Asian Blokes, where we chat about films, TV, and vaguely Asian stuff.

🔔 SUBSCRIBE -- https://www.youtube.com/@twoasianblokes?sub_confirmation=1

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 Introduction – Welcome to John Woo-LY 2026
01:40 Is A Better Tomorrow John Woo's Best Film?
03:10 The Cast & 1980s Hong Kong Cinema
06:48 Why Chow Yun-fat Was a Controversial Choice
08:12 A Better Tomorrow Plot Overview
10:45 The Morality of Heroic Bloodshed
12:50 Family, Loyalty & Brotherhood
16:30 The Emotional Conflict & Heartbreak
18:34 Why the Action Still Holds Up Today
20:30 The Iconic Final Gunfight
23:06 A very personal movie

💬 What do you think of A Better Tomorrow? Is it John Woo's finest film, or do you prefer The Killer, Hard Boiled, Bullet in the Head, or another classic?

Let us know in the comments, or contact us at [email protected]

👥 Join the Friends of Two Asian Blokes Facebook group to keep the discussion going.

🎧 Find us on Spotify & Apple Podcasts
📱 Follow us on Instagram & TikTok @twoasianblokes

#ABetterTomorrow #JohnWoo #ChowYunFat #HongKongCinema #HeroicBloodshed #MovieReview

Two Asian Blokes Podcast returns with a review of one of our most anticipated South Korean films of the year: Colony.

From director Yeon Sang-ho, the filmmaker behind Train to Busan, Colony assembles an incredible cast including Jun Ji-hyun, Ji Chang-wook, Koo Kyo-hwan, Shin Hyun-been, and Go Soo for some sticky zombie action. Expectations were high... perhaps dangerously high.

In this episode, we discuss what worked, what didn't, and whether Colony is able to set itself apart from Yeon Sang-ho's much-loved magnum opus. 

We also spend some time talking about one of our favourite recurring features of South Korean cinema: deliciously unlikeable bureaucrats. Whether they're covering things up, making catastrophically bad decisions, or confidently marching everyone towards disaster, Korean films have a remarkable talent for making government officials spectacularly frustrating. We discuss how Colony fits into that tradition and whether its portrayal of bureaucracy reflects broader anxieties about institutions and public trust.

Is Colony the next great South Korean genre film, or does it struggle to escape the shadow of Train to Busan?

Whether you're a fan of Korean cinema, science fiction, creature features, or Yeon Sang-ho's unique brand of social commentary, we've got you covered.

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00:00 Introduction – Thavy Got High and Watched Obsession
08:20 Hope Interview Controversy – Forgetting the Korean Actors
12:26 Colony (2025) Spoiler-Free Review
15:32 Colony Plot & Sci-Fi Premise
18:22 Sticky Zombies? Hive Mind Creatures Explained
20:11 Colony Cast & Character Performances
24:04 South Korean Bureaucracy & Social Commentary
25:43 Colony vs Train to Busan – Which Is Better?
29:15 Final Verdict – Is Colony Worth Watching?
31:19 Colony Spoiler Discussion

💬 What did you think of Colony? Do you like sticky zombies?

📩 Email us: [email protected]

👥 Join the Friends of Two Asian Blokes Facebook group to discuss movies, anime, and pop culture.

🎧 Listen to the full podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

📱 Follow us on Instagram & TikTok: @twoasianblokes

#Colony #YeonSangHo #TrainToBusan #KoreanCinema #MovieReview  #연상호 #부산행 #전지현 #지창욱 #구교환 #신현빈 #고수 #콜로니 

Two Asian Blokes Podcast returns with Korean cinema hype, Fantastic Film Festival highlights, and one of the strangest J-horror comedies we’ve seen in a while.

We kick things off by talking about several upcoming South Korean films that already have us cautiously optimistic. There’s Hope from Na Hong-jin, best known for The Wailing, The Brigands of Rattlecreek from Park Chan-wook of Oldboy fame, and Colony from Yeon Sang-ho, director of Train to Busan. In other words, South Korean genre cinema continues to refuse to slow down.

After that, we dive into this year’s Fantastic Film Festival, where we caught retrospective screenings of Ichi the Killer and Love Exposure, alongside newer releases like The Girl Who Stole Time, a visually stunning 2025 Chinese animated film, and About a Place in the Kinki Region, a Japanese found footage horror movie that quietly gets under your skin.

Then we get to the main review of the episode: New Group, a satirical Japanese horror-comedy directed by rising filmmaker Yuta Shimotsu. The film follows introverted high schooler Ai and rebellious transfer student Yu as they navigate a deeply bizarre social phenomenon where classmates and community members transform into mindless followers obsessed with forming grotesque human pyramids.

Subtlety is not on the menu here. New Group wears its themes directly on its sleeve, swings hard at conformity and social pressure, and somehow becomes more effective because of it. It’s strange, funny, uncomfortable, and exactly the kind of movie we love talking about on this podcast.

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⏱️ Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
05:42 Upcoming South Korean Films We’re Excited For
12:50 Fantastic Film Festival Retrospectives – Ichi the Killer & Love Exposure
20:57 The Girl Who Stole Time (2025) – Spoiler-Free Review
28:32 About a Place in the Kinki Region – Spoiler-Free Review
41:20 New Group – Spoiler-Free Review
55:51 New Group Spoiler Discussion

💬 What upcoming Korean or Japanese films are you most excited for? And would you survive the social nightmare of New Group?

📩 Email us: [email protected]

👥 Join the Friends of Two Asian Blokes Facebook group

🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts
📱 Follow us on Instagram & TikTok: @twoasianblokes

#NewGroup #JapaneseHorror #JHorror #FantasticFilmFestival #ParkChanWook #NaHongJin #YeonSangHo #MovieReview #AsianCinema #TwoAsianBlokes

Two Asian Blokes Podcast returns with another edition of Show-and-Tell, where guests bring an Asian film that means something to them and we dive into why it matters.

This time, friend of the show Chad from the Cheers Big Ears Podcast joins us to talk about Big Trouble in Little China — the cult 1980s classic directed by John Carpenter and starring Kurt Russell.

Part martial arts movie, part fantasy adventure, and big-time box office bomb, Big Trouble in Little China has built a massive cult following over the years thanks to its chaotic energy, unforgettable characters, and endlessly quotable dialogue. We talk about our first experiences watching the film, why it means so much to Chad, and whether the movie still holds up today.

Along the way, we break down the highs, the lows, the action, the practical effects, and yes… the semi-racist bits. Because revisiting beloved cult classics from the 1980s is always a slightly unpredictable experience.

And of course, we finish things off with our recurring segment: Let’s Pitch a Bad Hollywood Remake, where we attempt to make a studio executive somewhere very happy... and a fanbase very angry.

Check out more from Chad over at Cheers Big Ears
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4z14TuvLzKtUqHazNcfwWA?si=KdvNy4JNSUesUnuLNWOBTg

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⏱️ Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction – Welcoming Chad from Cheers Big Ears Podcast
08:48 Big Trouble in Little China (1986) – Review & Discussion
12:10 Big Trouble in Little China Plot Breakdown
18:08 Why Big Trouble in Little China Is a Beautiful Chaotic Mess
26:20 Practical Effects & Creature Design
33:59 Kurt Russell & the Wild Acting Choices
40:10 Asian American Character Actors in 1980s Hollywood
46:47 Big Trouble in Little China – From Box Office Bomb to Cult Classic
50:18 Has Big Trouble in Little China Aged Well?
56:41 Let’s Pitch a Bad Hollywood Remake
1:05:08 Why Modern Movies Lack Charisma
1:13:34 Final Thoughts on Big Trouble in Little China

💬 Does Big Trouble in Little China still hold up?
And who would you cast in a terrible modern remake?

📩 Email us: [email protected]

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🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts
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#BigTroubleInLittleChina #JohnCarpenter #KurtRussell #CultClassic #MovieReview #FilmPodcast

Two Asian Blokes Podcast returns with Coachella complaints and a deep dive into Exit 8.

We kick things off with a discussion about this year’s Coachella. Or more specifically, Thavy has a big whinge. From Justin Bieber’s allegedly “lazy” set to the invasion of the influencers, we ask the important question: is modern festival culture cooked?

After that, we move into our main topic: Exit 8, a Japanese liminal space horror film based on the indie game of the same name. Set in an endlessly looping subway station, the film traps its protagonist in a quiet, deeply unsettling nightmare where the only way out is to observe your surroundings and spot subtle anomalies. It’s part psychological horror, part “spot the difference,” and far more stressful than it sounds.

We talk about how the film translates its minimalist concept from game to screen, the production choices that make it work, and the way it uses silence and repetition to build tension. There’s also a broader discussion about modern video game adaptations and whether Exit 8 succeeds by keeping things simple, or if the concept starts to wear thin the longer it goes.

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⏱️ Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction – Coachella & Modern Music Rant
03:24 Thavy Hates Coachella Now
14:36 Exit 8 – Spoiler-Free Review
18:40 Exit 8 Production & Game Adaptation
21:31 Silence in Horror – Why It Works
24:04 Video Game Adaptations Discussion
27:54 Repetition, Loops & Anomalies
32:32 Exit 8 Spoiler Discussion

💬 What did you think of Exit 8?

Thank you for listening! If you want to follow us or get in touch, hit us up!

📩 Email us: [email protected]

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#Exit8 #JapaneseHorror #LiminalSpace #Coachella #MovieReview #FilmPodcast #TwoAsianBlokes

Two Asian Blokes Podcast is back with a special guest episode — featuring Sam from You, Me, and a Podcast — for another edition of Show-and-Tell.

In this recurring segment, we invite guests to bring an Asian film that means something to them… and this time, Sam has chosen a heavy hitter: Battle Royale.

Which also happens to be Thavy’s favourite movie. No pressure.

Directed by Kinji Fukasaku, Battle Royale is a cult classic that blends brutal violence, social commentary, and unforgettable characters. In this episode, we break down the film’s production, its stacked cast, our favourite scenes, and the themes that have kept it relevant for over two decades.

We also discuss how Fukasaku’s World War II experiences shaped the film, spotlight performances like Chiaki Kuriyama, and ask the important question: how long would we actually survive in a Battle Royale scenario?

(Answer: not long.)

From its most hard-to-watch moments to its lasting legacy in pop culture, we dissect why Battle Royale remains one of the most influential and delightfully gruesome films ever made.

🎙️ Check out Sam’s podcast — You, Me, and a Podcast
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1i43ToDCKrzDmOcKq1STSC?si=8b72d4fb6c3742f8

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/you.me.and.apodcast/

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⏱️ Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction – Meet Sam (You, Me, and a Podcast)
03:55 About You, Me and a Podcast
07:35 Sam’s Movie Taste
12:52 Battle Royale (2000) – Review & Discussion
28:03 The Battle Royale Cast
33:38 Kinji Fukasaku’s WWII Experience & Influence
39:15 Favourite Scenes from Battle Royale
44:55 Themes & Social Commentary
58:49 Chiaki Kuriyama Spotlight
1:01:54 The Ending Explained & Message
1:04:02 Most Hard-to-Watch Moments
1:08:21 Pitching a Bad Hollywood Remake
1:12:32 Final Thoughts

💬 What’s your favourite scene from Battle Royale?
And how long do you think you’d last?

📩 Email us: [email protected]

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🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts
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#BattleRoyale #KinjiFukasaku #JapaneseCinema #MovieReview #FilmPodcast #CultClassic #TwoAsianBlokes