Two Asian Blokes

Danh and Thavy
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  • TV & Film
  • Updated Weekly

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. Oct 15

    Ep 173 - Is Zach Cregger's RESIDENT EVIL not Resident Evil enough?

    Is Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil the best live-action adaptation of Capcom’s legendary survival horror franchise? Or is it just not Resident Evil enough? The new Resident Evil (2026) movie has already sparked plenty of debate. Some fans have criticised Zach Cregger’s take for straying too far from the games, while others reckon there are too many jokes in a franchise built around zombies, grotesque monsters and people with an alarming inability to conserve ammunition. But how does it actually stack up against the Resident Evil adaptations that came before it? In this episode of Two Asian Blokes, we review Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil, discussing his interpretation of the iconic survival horror series, whether the film captures the spirit of the games, the creature design, the Easter eggs and Bryan’s role as our unlikely hero. We also look back at the franchise’s long and occasionally painful history on screen. From Paul W. S. Anderson’s gloriously silly live-action movies, to Capcom’s often forgettable CGI films, to the much-maligned Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City and Netflix’s ill-fated Resident Evil television series… the bar has certainly been set at some interesting heights. Does Cregger finally deliver a Resident Evil movie that works? Is it actually the best live-action entry in the franchise? And do the jokes undermine the horror, or are fans taking things a little too seriously? 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to Two Asian Blokes https://www.youtube.com/@twoasianblokes?sub_confirmation=1 00:00 The Start (Thavy Has T-Virus) 04:27 Resident Evil Review (Spoiler-Free) 08:00 Zach Cregger’s Interpretation 10:42 Is It Resident Evil Enough? 14:47 Bryan as Our Hero 16:57 The Creature Design 18:42 Probably the Best Live-Action Resident Evil 20:26 Easter Eggs and Criticisms 26:19 SPOILERS 47:24 Final Thoughts Are you a fan of Resident Evil? What's you're favourite movie? What's your favourite game? Subscribe to Two Asian Blokes for more reviews and discussions about Asian cinema, Korean movies, Hong Kong action, martial arts films, anime, Asian pop culture and whatever else we've decided to spend two hours arguing about. Got a film, interview, collaboration or general nonsense you want to send our way? Email: twoasianblokes@gmail.com Instagram: @twoasianblokes YouTube: @twoasianblokes #ResidentEvil #ResidentEvil2026 #MovieReview

    Ep 173 - Is Zach Cregger's RESIDENT EVIL not Resident Evil enough?

  2. Oct 3

    172 - Hope Review... better than Avatar

    Na Hong-jin has returned with Hope - a uniquely Korean interpretation of a big alien spectacle blockbuster. The director behind The Chaser, The Yellow Sea and The Wailing has made something considerably bigger, louder and more… fun? than his previous films. Hope is an alien invasion action thriller with a surprisingly blockbuster-sized ambition, a bunch of very funny characters, plenty of Korean swearing, some impressive practical effects and some pretty questionable CGI. We watched Hope in 4DX, while Thavy also experienced it in IMAX, so naturally we had to discuss whether being physically thrown around by your cinema chair makes an already ridiculous movie even better. But underneath all the aliens, explosions and questionable digital creatures, what do we actually think of Hope? We talk about the performances from Hwang Jung-min, Jung Ho-yeon and Jo In-sung, the personality of the film, Na Hong-jin's very different approach to blockbuster filmmaking, and whether Hope has anything deeper going on beneath all the chaos. We also discuss the curious amount of attention given to the film's Western stars, Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander, and whether the international media focus on them really reflects what makes this movie interesting. And yes… we talk about the CGI. So where does Hope rank alongside The Chaser, The Yellow Sea and The Wailing in Na Hong-jin's small but highly regarded filmography? Let's discuss. SPOILERS BEGIN AT 35:23. TIMECODES 00:00 The Start (Thavy's Back!)  03:52 Hope — Spoiler-Free Review  05:11 The Synopsis (Aliens!)  07:32 The Actors — Ho-yeon, Jung-min & In-sung  09:22 Na Hong-jin's Previous Works  11:45 The Funny Characters  13:27 The Practical Effects  14:58 The 4DX Experience  17:26 The Critical Response  22:23 The Swearing  24:30 The CGI Monsters  27:08 Just a Fun Movie… or Something More?  29:19 Is a Sequel in the Works?  31:52 Better Than Avatar?  35:23 SPOILERS BEGIN  1:10:28 Final Thoughts Have you seen Hope? Let us know where you think it ranks among Na Hong-jin's films — and whether the CGI really is as questionable as we think. Subscribe to Two Asian Blokes for more reviews and discussions about Asian cinema, Korean movies, Hong Kong action, martial arts films, anime, Asian pop culture and whatever else we've decided to spend two hours arguing about. 👉 Subscribe to Two Asian Blokes: https://www.youtube.com/@twoasianblokes?sub_confirmation=1 Got a film, interview, collaboration or general nonsense you want to send our way? Email: twoasianblokes@gmail.com Instagram: @twoasianblokes YouTube: @twoasianblokes #Hope #NaHongJin #KoreanCinema #KoreanMovies #HwangJungMin #JungHoYeon #JoInSung #MichaelFassbender #AliciaVikander #TwoAsianBlokes

    172 - Hope Review... better than Avatar

  3. Sep 18

    171 - James Pax Tier Lists Martial Artists and Spills the Tea

    In Part 2 of our interview with James Pax, we’re putting some of the biggest martial arts and action stars of the 70s, 80s and 90s into a tier list - and James is not holding back. You probably know James Pax best as Lightning from Big Trouble in Little China, but that’s just one chapter of a career spanning more than 40 years. James has worked as an actor and filmmaker across the US, Hong Kong, China and Japan, and has been studying martial arts since childhood. Along the way, he’s worked on film sets with some of the very people we’re talking about here, giving him a perspective on martial arts cinema that you simply don’t get from watching the movies alone. So what does James really think of Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Michelle Yeoh, Wesley Snipes, Jason Statham, Tony Jaa, Donnie Yen, Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee? There’s plenty of love for some of these legends. There are a few surprises. From breaking of contracts to on-set rudeness, James has some industry stories and behind-the-scenes insight that might make you look at some of your favourite action stars a little differently. Whether you grew up on Hong Kong action cinema, 80s martial arts movies, 90s action stars or just love a good old-fashioned Tier List argument, this one is for you. TIMECODES 00:00 The Start 00:47 Jackie Chan 01:12 Jet Li 05:26 Jean-Claude Van Damme 06:26 Sammo Hung 11:39 Morgan Freeman 15:49 Yuen Biao 16:48 Keanu Reeves 18:54 Michelle Yeoh 20:23 Wesley Snipes 21:36 Jason Statham 25:26 Tony Jaa 27:46 Donnie Yen 32:29 Chuck Norris 34:28 Bruce Lee 36:22 James Pax Want to hear more from James?? James Pax will be appearing LIVE at the Astor Theatre on November 21st for a special Big Trouble in Little China 40th Anniversary event, featuring a screening, Q&A and the opportunity to meet James in person. Tickets are available now: https://kungfulegends.com/australia ABOUT TWO ASIAN BLOKES Two Asian Blokes is an Australian podcast and YouTube channel shining a spotlight on Asian cinema and pop culture through a uniquely Asian-Australian lens. We talk Hong Kong action, martial arts movies, Asian films and TV, Hollywood's attempts at Asian cinema, and pretty much anything else we can find an excuse to talk about. Subscribe to Two Asian Blokes: https://www.youtube.com/@twoasianblokes?sub_confirmation=1 Got a film, interview, collaboration or general nonsense you want to send our way? Email: twoasianblokes@gmail.com Instagram: @twoasianblokes YouTube: @twoasianblokes #JamesPax #MartialArts #MartialArtsMovies #JackieChan #JetLi #BruceLee #DonnieYen #MichelleYeoh #HongKongCinema #ActionMovies #BigTroubleInLittleChina #TwoAsianBlokes

    171 - James Pax Tier Lists Martial Artists and Spills the Tea

  4. Sep 3

    170 - James Pax (LIGHTNING) Breaks Down His Most Iconic Characters

    Video version -- https://youtu.be/r6Cf1JA97zE James Pax AKA Lightning from Big Trouble in Little China joins us once again, this time to break down four of his most iconic characters including his roles in Big Trouble in Little China, The Heroic Trio, Remains of a Woman, and Nasty Boys. Don't miss the upcoming double screening of Big Trouble in Little China and The Heroic Trio at the Astor Theatre in Melbourne on Saturday November 21st. Tickets and info: https://kungfulegends.com/australia 00:00 About James Pax 05:11 Big Trouble in Little China LIGHTNING 11:57 The Heroic Trio THE PROFESSOR 17:38 Remains of a Woman BILLY CHAN 25:22 Nasty Boys JIMMY KEE Don't miss Part 2 where James helps us put some of the best martial arts actors of all time into a tier list, while dishing out some tea at the same time. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to Two Asian Blokes https://www.youtube.com/@twoasianblokes?sub_confirmation=1 📩 Email us: twoasianblokes@gmail.com 👥 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 #bigtroubleinlittlechina #theheroictrio #hongkongmovie #johncarpenter

    170 - James Pax (LIGHTNING) Breaks Down His Most Iconic Characters

  5. Aug 21

    169 - The Furious REVIEW! Four angry blokes

    In this episode of Two Asian Blokes we finally get around to reviewing The Furious - one of our most anticipated films of this year. The Furious is a HK produced martial arts film, directed by Japanese director Kenji Tanigaki, with action direction from Kensuke Sonomura, and an international cast - Xie Miao (Hunt the Wicked), Joe Taslim (The Night Comes for Us), Joey Iwanaga (Baby Assassins 2), Yayan Ruhian (The Raid) and Brian Le (Everything, Everywhere, All at Once). Filmed in Thailand by a predominantly Thai film crew and a Japanese stunt crew, this movie blends all flavours of Asian action cinema into one beautiful and adrenaline-fueled package. Despite the movie being predominantly in English, this movie inexplicably did not get an Australian cinema release, much to our frustration. However, let me tell you - The Furious was worth the wait. If you are a fan of action cinema and martial arts cinema, you've probably already watched it and developed your opinions. But here are our thoughts. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to Two Asian Blokes https://www.youtube.com/@twoasianblokes?sub_confirmation=1 00:00 The Start 04:09 The Furious spoiler review 10:11 Good to see JeeJa Yanin 13:57 Sonomura's action 16:39 Some criticisms 22:38 JeeJa's fight and the abduction 26:48 The club fight 31:12 Joe Taslim vs Xie Miao 33:01 Brian Le vs Joe and Xie 36:15 The Snake Pit 41:30 The Royal Rumble 47:46 Joe Taslim's revenge 52:43 The final showdown 56:33 Final thoughts 💬 What did you think of The Furious? 📩 Email us: twoasianblokes@gmail.com 👥 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 #thefurious #martialarts #actionmovies #kungfu #martialartsmovies #moviereview

    169 - The Furious REVIEW! Four angry blokes

  6. Aug 6

    168 - James Pax "Lightning" on Big Trouble in Little China and The Heroic Trio

    🎬 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

    168 - James Pax "Lightning" on Big Trouble in Little China and The Heroic Trio

  7. Jul 30

    The Killer (1989) extended audio - John Woo-LY

    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. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to Two Asian Blokes https://www.youtube.com/@twoasianblokes?sub_confirmation=1 ⏱️ 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: twoasianblokes@gmail.com 👥 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

    The Killer (1989) extended audio - John Woo-LY

  8. Jul 23

    Hard Target 1993 (Extended audio) - John Woo-LY

    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. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to Two Asian Blokes https://www.youtube.com/@twoasianblokes?sub_confirmation=1 ⏱️ 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: twoasianblokes@gmail.com 👥 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

    Hard Target 1993 (Extended audio) - John Woo-LY
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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!

Information

  • Creator
    Danh and Thavy
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    202
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Two Asian Blokes
  • Show Website
    Two Asian Blokes