Two Asian Blokes

Danh and Thavy

A podcast where we chat about Asian pop culture: films, tv shows, cartoons, video games, comics, books, food… whatever we’re feeling on the day, really. A little bit of news, a little bit of analysis, but a whole lot of fun. New episodes every Monday!

  1. 164 - Exit 8 REVIEW! Have babies... or else

    4D AGO

    164 - Exit 8 REVIEW! Have babies... or else

    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. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to Two Asian Blokes https://www.youtube.com/@twoasianblokes?sub_confirmation=1 ⏱️ 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: twoasianblokes@gmail.com 👥 Join the Friends of Two Asian Blokes Facebook group 🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts  📱 Follow us on Instagram & TikTok: @twoasianblokes #Exit8 #JapaneseHorror #LiminalSpace #Coachella #MovieReview #FilmPodcast #TwoAsianBlokes

    56 min
  2. 163 - Battle Royale Is Brutal… and Still Absolutely SLAPS

    APR 23

    163 - Battle Royale Is Brutal… and Still Absolutely SLAPS

    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/ 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to Two Asian Blokes https://www.youtube.com/@twoasianblokes?sub_confirmation=1 ⏱️ 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: twoasianblokes@gmail.com 👥 Join the Friends of Two Asian Blokes Facebook group 🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts  📱 Follow us on Instagram & TikTok: @twoasianblokes #BattleRoyale #KinjiFukasaku #JapaneseCinema #MovieReview #FilmPodcast #CultClassic #TwoAsianBlokes

    1h 15m
  3. 162 - Save the Green Planet vs Bugonia Review

    APR 12

    162 - Save the Green Planet vs Bugonia Review

    Two Asian Blokes Podcast returns with “What Have We Been Watching?” and a deep dive into Save the Green Planet! vs Bugonia. After a trip to Japan and a short break from recording, we bring back one of our favourite segments: What Have We Been Watching? — where we catch up on recent releases, hidden gems, and everything in between. This week, we discuss films like Ready or Not 2, They Will Kill You, War Machine, The Fable, Jurassic World Rebirth, and The Wrecking Crew — a mix of new releases and chaotic viewing choices. But the main event is a comparison between the cult South Korean dark comedy Save the Green Planet! and its 2025 American remake Bugonia, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and starring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons. We break down:  How the remake compares to the original  The differences in tone, violence, and storytelling  Whether the “weirdness” translates across cultures  And which version ultimately works better Does Bugonia successfully reinterpret a cult classic, or does Save the Green Planet! still stand on its own? 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to Two Asian Blokes https://www.youtube.com/@twoasianblokes?sub_confirmation=1 ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction – Podcast Returns + Japan Trip 02:09 What Have We Been Watching? (Movie Catch-Up) 02:45 Thavy’s Picks – Ready or Not 2 & They Will Kill You 12:07 Danh’s Picks – War Machine, Jurassic World Rebirth & The Fable 20:57 Save the Green Planet! vs Bugonia – Movie Comparison 24:00 Save the Green Planet! (2003) – Original Film Breakdown 28:12 Comparing the Violence 32:28 Comparing Plot & Music 35:50 Comparing the Tone & Weirdness 38:51 Comparing Themes & Messaging 45:32 Which Version Do We Prefer? 53:27 Spoiler Discussion 💬 Which version do you prefer — Save the Green Planet! or Bugonia? 📩 Email us: twoasianblokes@gmail.com 👥 Join the Friends of Two Asian Blokes Facebook group 🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts  📱 Follow us on Instagram & TikTok: @twoasianblokes #SaveTheGreenPlanet #Bugonia #YorgosLanthimos #EmmaStone #JessePlemons #MovieReview #FilmPodcast #TwoAsianBlokes

    1h 10m
  4. 161 - Best (and Worst) Movies of 2025!

    MAR 18

    161 - Best (and Worst) Movies of 2025!

    Two Asian Blokes Podcast celebrates the 2026 Academy Awards by ranking our Top 10 Movies of 2025. Awards season is here, which means it’s time to look back at the best (and unfortunately, the worst) films we watched over the past year. Before we get to the good stuff, we briefly revisit some of the more… memorable misfires of 2025 — because not every movie can be an Oscar contender. From there, we count down our Top 10 Movies of 2025, featuring a mix of blockbuster hits, hidden gems, and a few personal favourites that may or may not align with the Academy’s taste. We also highlight a handful of honourable mentions that just missed the cut but are still well worth your time. 🔔 Subscribe to Two Asian Blokes https://www.youtube.com/@twoasianblokes?sub_confirmation=1 ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction – Top 10 Movies of 2025 04:21 Worst Movies of 2025 (Biggest Disappointments) 09:21 Top 10 Movies of 2025 – #10 15:02 Top 10 Movies of 2025 – #9 19:20 Top 10 Movies of 2025 – #8 26:13 Top 10 Movies of 2025 – #7 34:52 Top 10 Movies of 2025 – #6 40:35 Top 10 Movies of 2025 – #5 46:14 Top 10 Movies of 2025 – #4 56:30 Top 10 Movies of 2025 – #3 1:05:10 Top 10 Movies of 2025 – #2 1:14:16 Honourable Mentions – Best Movies That Didn’t Make the Top 10 1:23:44 Top 10 Movies of 2025 – #1 (Best Movie of the Year) 💬 What were your top movies of 2025? Did the Oscars get it right this year? 📩 Email us: twoasianblokes@gmail.com 👥 Join the Friends of Two Asian Blokes Facebook group to chat movies, anime, and pop culture. 🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts  📱 Follow us on Instagram & TikTok: @twoasianblokes #Top10Movies #BestMovies2025 #Oscar2026 #AcademyAwards #MovieRanking #FilmPodcast #TwoAsianBlokes

    1h 34m
  5. 160 - Blades of the Guardians Review! Big comeback for wuxia and Jet Li??

    MAR 10

    160 - Blades of the Guardians Review! Big comeback for wuxia and Jet Li??

    Happy Lunar New Year! 🧧  In this episode of Two Asian Blokes, we kick things off with a quick chat about the announcement of a new Evangelion series and the online backlash surrounding a K-Pop festival planned at Belfast. After that, we dive into our main topic: a spoiler-free review and discussion of the Chinese live-action adaptation of Blades of the Guardians. Based on the popular Chinese comic series, Blades of the Guardians brings martial arts spectacle back to the big screen with a stacked lineup of talent across generations of action cinema. Featuring performances from Wu Jing and a long-awaited return from Jet Li, with legendary action choreography from Yuen Woo-ping acting as director, the film carries the legacy of wuxia filmmaking on its shoulders. So the question becomes: does it deliver? In this episode, we break down what works in Blades of the Guardians and where it struggles. We discuss the performances, the costuming and production design, the storytelling, and of course the action sequences. With three generations of martial arts cinema represented in one film, we also explore whether Blades of the Guardians successfully reinvigorates the wuxia genre for modern audiences — or whether the more contemporary elements dilute the charm of classic wuxia storytelling. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to Two Asian Blokes https://www.youtube.com/@twoasianblokes?sub_confirmation=1 ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 Happy Lunar New Year! + Podcast Introduction 03:51 New Evangelion Series Discussion (Neon Genesis Evangelion Franchise Update) 06:27 K-Pop Festival Backlash in Belfast Explained 11:06 Blades of the Guardians – Spoiler-Free Review 14:34 Blades of the Guardians Plot Breakdown 18:48 Modern Filmmaking Trends vs Wuxia 25:32 Blades of the Guardians Action Scenes Analysis 29:33 Best Characters in Blades of the Guardians 32:07 Will Blades of the Guardians Become a Classic? 37:23 Blades of the Guardians Spoiler Discussion 💬 What did you think of Blades of the Guardians? Does it bring wuxia back in style, or should the genre stick to tradition? 📩 Email us: twoasianblokes@gmail.com 👥 Join the Friends of Two Asian Blokes Facebook group to chat movies, anime, and pop culture. 🎧 Listen to the full podcast on Spotify & Apple Podcasts  📱 Follow us on Instagram & TikTok: @twoasianblokes #BladesOfTheGuardians #Biaoren #Wuxia #JetLi #WuJing #MartialArtsMovies #MovieReview #FilmPodcast #TwoAsianBlokes

    1 hr
  6. 159 - Rental Family & Scarlet Review

    FEB 24

    159 - Rental Family & Scarlet Review

    On this week's episode of Two Asian Blokes Podcast we take a look at two very different films: Rental Family starring Brendan Fraser, and Scarlet, the new animated feature from Mamoru Hosoda. One is a live-action dramedy led by an Oscar-winning comeback king. The other is the latest anime film from one of Japan’s most celebrated directors. Naturally, we have opinions. 🎭 Rental Family (2026) – Starring Brendan Fraser, Rental Family follows a man who can be hired to play whatever role your life is missing. Heartfelt? Manipulative? Both? We break down Fraser’s performance, the film’s emotional core, and whether this high-concept premise earns its sentiment — or rents it by the hour. 🌸 Scarlet (2026) – The newest animated film from Mamoru Hosoda (Wolf Children, Belle). Known for blending sweeping fantasy with deeply personal themes, Hosoda returns with another ambitious anime feature. Does Scarlet reach the emotional heights of his best work, or does it get lost in its own visual beauty? We discuss the animation, themes, storytelling, and whether it stands among the strongest anime films of the decade. From Hollywood dramedy to prestige Japanese animation, we compare tones, ambition, and execution — and debate which film actually delivers on its promise. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to Two Asian Blokes https://www.youtube.com/@twoasianblokes?sub_confirmation=1 ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 The Preamble 04:47 Rental Family (spoiler-free review) 27:48 Scarlet (spoiler-free review) 43:06 SPOILERS for Scarlet 💬 What did you think of Rental Family and Scarlet? Is Brendan Fraser still on a career high? Does Scarlet rank among Hosoda’s best? Let us know in the comments. 📩 Email us: twoasianblokes@gmail.com 👥 Join the Friends of Two Asian Blokes Facebook group to chat movies, anime, and pop culture. 🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts 📱 Follow us on Instagram & TikTok: @twoasianblokes #RentalFamily #BrendanFraser #Scarlet #MamoruHosoda #AnimeMovie #MovieReview #FilmPodcast #JapaneseAnimation #TwoAsianBlokes

    1h 15m
  7. 158 - No Other Choice, Iron Lung, Send Help and *sigh* Return to Silent Hill

    FEB 15

    158 - No Other Choice, Iron Lung, Send Help and *sigh* Return to Silent Hill

    Two Asian Blokes Podcast is back for a new year and we have a new years resolution - less slop for 2026! Well, three out of four ain't bad. We're kicking off the year with four big reviews. 🎮 Return to Silent Hill (2026) – A new adaptation of Silent Hill 2, directed by Christophe Gans, who also helmed the 2006 Silent Hill movie. What's the worst that can happen? This movie, that's what. 🚀 Iron Lung (2026) – The indie horror film based on the cult video game by David Szymanski, crowd-funded and starring Markiplier. After briefly hitting #1 at the US box office, it mysteriously vanished from the charts. Is Iron Lung a win for indie filmmaking and YouTuber-driven cinema, or a vanity project floating in deep space? 🩸 Send Help (2026) – The latest horror film from legendary director Sam Raimi, best known for The Evil Dead. Does this new release show the signature Raimi flair, or is it a product of modern studio horror trends? 🎬 No Other Choice (2026) – A gripping Korean thriller from acclaimed filmmaker Park Chan-wook, starring Lee Byung-hun and Son Ye-jin. How does this film compare to Park Chan-wook’s previous masterpieces, and where does it rank in his filmography? From psychological horror and cosmic dread to auteur cinema and Korean film analysis, we break it all down. SUBSCRIBE to Two Asian Blokes – https://www.youtube.com/@twoasianblokes?sub_confirmation=1 ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 02:48 Return to Silent Hill Review 20:39 Iron Lung Review 37:23 Send Help Review 48:57 No Other Choice Review 💬 What did you think of these films? Which 2026 release surprised you the most? Let us know in the comments! 📩 Email us: twoasianblokes@gmail.com 👥 Join the Friends of Two Asian Blokes Facebook group to chat movies, anime, and pop culture. 🎧 Listen to the full podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. 📱 Follow us on Instagram & TikTok:  ⁨@twoasianblokes⁩   #ReturnToSilentHill #IronLung #SendHelp #NoOtherChoice #MovieReview #FilmPodcast #HorrorMovies #VideoGameAdaptation #ParkChanWook #samraimi

    1h 21m
  8. Rush Hour (1998) Extended audio - Jackie Chan-uary

    JAN 29

    Rush Hour (1998) Extended audio - Jackie Chan-uary

    We’re wrapping up Jackie Chan-uary with a fan favourite: Rush Hour (1998). With a fourth Rush Hour film reportedly in development, now’s the perfect time to revisit this iconic 90s action comedy that paired Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker for the first time. In this review, we break down why Rush Hour worked so well - its chemistry, action, and cultural impact and how its racial humour reflects the tensions of 1990s America. It’s a movie that helped launch Jackie Chan into Hollywood superstardom… even if you have to wince through a few jokes along the way. If you enjoy movie reviews, film analysis, 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 00:00 Intro – Why Rush Hour still matters 03:33 Race & comedy in 1990s Hollywood 05:19 Jackie Chan & Chris Tucker’s perfect chemistry 10:06 East Meets West – cultural clash as comedy 12:25 Camel's hump 15:50 The best thing about Rush Hour 18:10 Bloopers & end credits outtakes 19:15 Final thoughts – does Rush Hour hold up? What do you think of Rush Hour? What's your favorite Jackie Chan movie? Let us know in the comments or contact us at twoasianblokes@gmail.com Also, join our Friends of Two Asian Blokes Facebook group if you want to discuss this topic further. Thanks for listening! Find us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts for weekly shows about vaguely Asian stuff. You can also follow us on Instagram and TikTok @twoasianblokes. #jackiechan #rushhour #christucker #rushhour4 #actionmovies #martialartsmovies

    28 min

About

A podcast where we chat about Asian pop culture: films, tv shows, cartoons, video games, comics, books, food… whatever we’re feeling on the day, really. A little bit of news, a little bit of analysis, but a whole lot of fun. New episodes every Monday!