Two Asian Blokes

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!

Two Asian Blokes is a tv podcast hosted by Danh and Thavy, with 197 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Danh and Thavy hosts Two Asian Blokes, a tv show with 197 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #19

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

  Aug 6, 202636 minS6

  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

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  Episode #18

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

  Jul 30, 202634 minS6

  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

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  Episode #17

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

  Jul 23, 202627 minS6

  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

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  Episode #16

  Heroes Shed No Tears (extended audio)

  Jul 16, 202625 minS6

  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? 🔔 **SUBSCRIBE to Two Asian Blokes** https://www.youtube.com/@twoasianblokes?sub_confirmation=1 ⏱️ **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: [twoasianblokes@gmail.com](mailto: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 #HeroesShedNoTears #JohnWoo #HongKongCinema #ActionMovies #MovieReview

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  Episode #15

  A Better Tomorrow (extended audio) - John Woo-LY

  Jul 9, 202631 minS6

  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 twoasianblokes@gmail.com 👥 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

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