Two Asian Blokes

Welcome back to Mo-Vember 2026, where for the month of November we're celebrating Indonesian cinema with four films from two of the country's most exciting genre filmmakers, Timo Tjahjanto and Kimo Stamboel, collectively known as The Mo Brothers. Every week we're revisiting one of their films and exploring what makes Indonesian genre cinema so gloriously brutal, bloody and entertaining.

This week we're turning to May the Devil Take You (2018), a supernatural horror film from Timo Tjahjanto, best known for his outrageously gory action movies Headshot and The Night Comes for Us, as...

Welcome to  Mo-Vember 2026, where for the month of November we're celebrating Indonesian cinema with four films from two of the country's most exciting genre filmmakers, Timo Tjahjanto and Kimo Stamboel, collectively known as The Mo Brothers. Every week we'll be revisiting one of their films and exploring what makes Indonesian genre cinema so gloriously brutal, bloody and entertaining.

We're kicking things off with Headshot (2016), a bone-crunching Indonesian martial arts action thriller starring Iko Uwais, best known for his incredible performances in The Raid and The Raid 2. 

The story follows a mysterious man who washes ashore wi...

Is Joko Anwar's Ghost in the Cell one of the most gloriously unhinged horror movies of the year? 

The Indonesian filmmaker behind Satan's Slaves and Impetigore is back with Ghost in the Cell (2026), a prison-set horror-comedy that combines grotesque gore, supernatural terror, absurd humour and some very pointed commentary on governmental corruption in Indonesia.

When mysterious and increasingly gruesome deaths begin spreading through a prison, the inmates have more to worry about than rival gangs and corrupt officials. There's something far more sinister lurking behind bars, and surviving might require a little more than keeping y...

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?

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 di...

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 s...

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...

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...

🎬 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...

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...

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 dove...

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...

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.<...

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...

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 Fant...

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 en...

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, d...

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...

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...

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 no...

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 acros...

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...

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...

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...

Jackie Chan-uary continues with City Hunter (1993) - a live-action film adaptation of the popular manga of the same name, written and illustrated by Tsukasa Hojo. 

This is indeed a strange addition to Jackie Chan's library, with over-the-top cartoony action and humour befitting of its origins in Japanese manga.

Does this movie succeed as an adaptation or does it stand on its own as a fun Jackie Chan movie? Let's discuss.

If you enjoy content like this, maybe you'd like to check out our weekly podcast Two Asian Blokes, where we chat about Asian p...

We're continuing Jackie Chan-uary with Drunken Master II (1994), or The Legend of Drunken Master as it was called in the West.

This is probably Jackie Chan's last Chinese masterpiece and paved the way for his success in the West - ironic considering the nationalist themes running through this movie.

But still, who doesn't enjoy watching Wong Fei-hung drink a bunch of industrial grade alcohol before kicking some hanjian butt?

If you enjoy content like this, maybe you'd like to check out our weekly podcast Two Asian Blokes, where we chat about Asian pop...

Happy Jackie Chan-uary everyone!

In this series we are taking a look at four of our favorite movies from one of our favorite martial artists/actors - the one and only Jackie Chan!

Starting with Armour of God (1986) - Jackie Chan's first attempt to do an Indiana Jones movie. And just like an Indiana Jones movie, there are some bits that would cause Disney to put one of their trigger warnings up before the start of the movie. Y'all know what I'm talking about.

If you enjoy content like this, maybe you'd like...

In this week's episode of Two Asian Blokes, we finally review Wicked: Part 1 and Wicked: For Good. Why, you might ask? Well, these two movies happen to be directed by a man that has been mentioned on the podcast quite a bit, usually in a negative context - Jon M. Chu.

So what did we think of this series of movies, which are in a genre of film that we're not huge fans of, based on source material that we have little interest in, directed by a man of whom we are not fans? 

Well, y...

In this special bonus episode of Two Asian Blokes, Danh celebrates Christmas by sitting down with the director and leads of an upcoming indie film, A Christmas Party, Alex Helmer, Jaxon Keller, and Sarah-Grace Donnelly.

A Christmas Party is an irreverent Christmas comedy about two childhood friends reconnecting at an awkward family Christmas party, and all the drama, laughs, and love that comes with the holiday season.

Follow Alex and A Christmas Party via the links below:

FOLLOW A Christmas Party on Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/achristmaspartymovie?utm_source=ig_web...

In this week's episode of Two Asian Blokes, we took a look at a couple of hot South Korean Netflix titles that explore politics, deception, and systemic corruption for the sake of saving face... not really, though.

First we take a look at Good News, a dark comedy political thriller directed by Byun Sung-hyun (Kill Boksoon), starring Hong Kyun and Sul Kyung-gu. In the 1970s, hijackers take over a Japanese flight. They demand a course to Pyongyang, but a mysterious mastermind devises an absurd plan to divert the plane to Seoul. Bureaucracy has never been so hilarious.<...

Yes, it's another compilation. You might be wondering, "What are these lazy a-holes doin at Two Asian Blokes HQ?"

Well, we're playing video games. Check out our YouTube channel for Part 3 of our videos where we are determined to get the third and final ending in Silent Hill f.

While you're there you can check out the videos for this series where we examined four movies from the legendary director of Hong Kong action cinema - the one and only John Woo.

Silent Hill f -- https://youtu.be/vZqhhHdFJSw

John...

First of all, apologies for the poor sound quality. Danh recorded with the wrong mic. Big thank you to Rizky for salvaging it as best he could.

In this episode of Two Asian Blokes, we talk about a bunch of recent monster movies.

First we review Guillermo Del Toro's Frankenstein, a movie about a horrible monster, but actually he is misunderstood and handsome and has generational trauma.

Next we review Predator Badlands, a movie about a remorseless killing machine, but actually he's brave and noble and also handsome and also he has generational...

Danh is on holiday so let's get pumped for Jackie CHAN-uary 2026 by listening to a compilation of Jackie Chan reviews from Jackie CHAN-uary 2025!

SUBSCRIBE to Two Asian Blokes – https://www.youtube.com/@twoasianblokes?sub_confirmation=1

00:00 Wheels on Meals
 26:42 The Myth
 56:27 Mr. Nice Guy
 1:23:46 The Karate Kid (2010)

What’s your favourite Jackie Chan film? What would you like to see us cover in 2026?
 
 Let us know your thoughts in the comments or email us at [email protected]

Join our Friends of Two Asian Blokes Facebook group to chat a...

In this episode of Two Asian Blokes, we’re talking all things Timo Tjahjanto — Indonesia’s master of mayhem and one of the most exciting action directors working today.

We kick things off by chatting about the recent announcement that Timo will be directing The Beekeeper 2, starring none other than Jason Statham. What does this pairing mean for the future of Western action cinema, and how might Timo’s brutal, kinetic style translate to a Hollywood sequel?

Next, we dive into our review of Nobody 2...