Hong Kong & Beyond Podcast: Recent Episodes
Hong Kong & Beyond
Shaz and Leon from HKB on YouTube talk film and shoot the breeze. The primary focus is on Hong Kong cinema but other areas of the Silver Screen are discussed along with other related topics that take their fancy!
In this episode we thought we would cover 2 films with a similar theme, Spies!
Firstly we look at 1987 film No Way Out which stars Gene Hackman and Kevin Costner. We can't wait to talk about the ending twist in the spolier section!
We then move onto 1989 Hong Kong film Spy Games. This film gave us a much needed Hong Kongness boost! And Leon discusses a new entry into his top 10 Hong Kong actors list!
As usual we discuss the films, the directors and some of the cast members along with anything else that pops into our minds as we chat!
We hope you enjoy this episode. If you would like to get in touch on either of these films or general comments on the Podcast, please do, we'd love to hear from you!
Shaz and Leon x
In this episode we go Beyond and look at Eureka's release of Sweet Bean, a sweet Japanese drama with a harsh reality check thrown in for good measure! We loved this 2015 film and we hope if you haven't seen it already that our discussion sparks your interest in tracking down a copy!
We also look at 1973 Jack Nicholson film The Passenger, released by Indicator. This film kept us on our toes! We really enjoyed covering this 70s classic.
We hope you enjoy this episode and if you would like to get in touch please do!
Shaz and Leon x
In this episode we go Beyond once again looking at Door 2, the sequel to a film we discussed in Episode 14, Door. Hear our thoughts on this, another Directors Company film, released with Door, by Third Window Films.We then turn our attention to a film from the 60s and it's 90s remake, The Thomas Crown Affair. We had quite a lot to say about these, but do you agree ?!We hope you enjoy this episode and do let us know your thoughts! Shaz and Leon x
In our first episode of 2024 we go Beyond looking at two Japanese films released by Third Window Films, Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes from 2020 and The Guard From Underground from 1992. We then look at another Charles Bronson classic, the Indicator release of The Valachi Papers from 1972, a film we did not realise was based on real events.Listen in to hear our thoughts on these films and Leon's new feature where we pick our favourite actors from the films covered in the episode.Please let us know your thoughts on these films and Leon's new feature!Enjoy!Shaz and Leon x
In our first Podcast Christmas special, we discuss highlights of 2023 from both our Podcast and You Tube.Then we run down our Top 10 Movies of 2023. We choose 10 each, will there be any crossovers I wonder?!Our top 10 movies are first time watches for us in 2023, the movies may have already been released for some time.We hope you agree our top 10! Please let us know your top 10 movies of the year!Thank you for your support during our first year of Podcasting, we have thoroughly enjoyed putting our Podcasts together for you and we hope you enjoy them as much!Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for the New YearShaz and Leon x
In this episode we look at recent Third Window Films release of Japanese horror Door and discuss the Directors Company of the 1980s/1990sWe then return to Hong Kong for a brief look at the Eureka release of 1990 film She Shoots Straight starring a plethora of Hong Kong's finest female stars including Joyce Godenzi and Carina Lau. And Leon makes a confession, which you may be shocked to hear!
IT REMAINS 釀魂 (2023)
The new Anson Lo movie is hitting UK cinemas thanks to our good friends over at CineAsia UK. It's at UK cinemas from 3rd November. The Mirror superstar is joined by Summer Chan and Shaw Legend, David Chiang, in this supernatural tale.
Originally available to watch on our YouTube channel, we have now released our review onto our Podcast so that our Podcast audience don't miss what we have to say about this fantastic movie!
In this episode we include our Hoptober recommendations from our You Tube channel plus 3 exclusive recommendations for our Podcast listeners.Will our spooky selections be a trick or a treat?Listen in and we hope you have a Fang-tastic time!
In this episode we discuss our recent purchase from Error 4444 - 1990's Fatal Termination starring the legendary Moon Lee alongside Ray Lui and Leon's idol, Simon Yam (The Macho Yam). We talk about the film including the crazy, infamous, child dangling from a moving car stunt! We delve into Moon Lee's filmography and discuss director Andrew Kam. Then we go Beyond Hong Kong to Japan and look at Third Window Film's release of 2020 film Melancholic written and directed by Seiji Tanaka. We were both blown away by this relatively unknown indie film about a bath house used after hours for some not so squeaky clean Yakuza activities!
This episode we discuss Arrow Video's Bruce Lee Boxset release of Tower of Death aka Game of Death II, including the film, director and some of the great cast. We also mention scenes that made us chuckle and our favourite cut of the 4 included on the Arrow release. We then move onto our recent 88 Films pick up Magic Cop which stars HKB favourite Lam Ching Ying. We discuss what we like about this early '90s supernatural police action comedy along with the director and focus on relatively unknown actress Wong Mei-Wa. Two completely different films yet both bonkers in their own way, one episode of HKB Podcast you won't want to miss!
In this episode we talk about Triad actioner An Eye for an Eye from 1990. This film stars one of Leon's favourite HK actresses Joey Wong alongside Wilson Lam and Max Mok. We discuss the film and some of the highs and lows of the plot and whether a Category IIB rating was adequate for this hard hitting '90s film. Plus we look into Wilson Lam's filmography. We go Beyond to Boston in the US for 2023 film Boston Strangler which stars Keira Knightley and Carrie Coon. Leon explains why this film didn't float his boat, can Shaz change his mind?!
We discuss 2004 film Breaking News directed by one of our Top 5 Directors, Johnnie To. This fast paced police thriller stars Kelly Chen, Richie Ren and Nick Cheung. We ask, was this film ahead of it's time? We also delve into Kelly Chen's filmography. We go Beyond Hong Kong to the US and look at The Last Detail from 1973. This early Jack Nicholson film is a rare drama with perfectly placed comedic beats. Also stars Otis Young and Randy Quaid (pre Cousin Eddie!)
In this episode we discuss 90s film Hot War which features Virtual Reality training! Yes that is what we said, Virtual Reality training and it's crazy! Hot War stars Ekin Cheng, Jordan Chan and Kelly Chen. We also talk about an actor from the film who got in touch with us and share some of his stories. Our Beyond segment we review TV series Tokyo Vice. This gritty show set in Japan is based upon true events as seen by Western newspaper reporter, Jake Adelstein.
In this episode we discuss Golden Swallow from 1968, which stars Cheng Pei Pei reprising her role as Golden Swallow from Come Drinmk With Me. She is joined by Jimmy Wang Wu and Lo Lieh in this action packed bloody sequel!
In this episode we discuss 60s Shaw classic Come Drink With Me starring Cheng Pei Pei in one of her most iconic roles, Golden Swallow. Our Beyond segment focuses on one of our recent TV series watches; Deutschland 89 from Germany. This series is about espionage in East Germany in the 1980s, a series we really enjoyed and we discover something interesting about one of it's stars!
In this episode we discuss the 1998 film 9413, Francis Ng's directorial debut. The film is about a police officer struggling after the death of his partner. It gets us talking about some of Francis' scenes with Amanda Lee! Don't miss this one! In our Beyond segment we look at another of our recent re-watches Death Wish (1974) starring the one and only Charles Bronson. This film about a vigilante tidying up the streets of New York, is a firm favourite of ours!
In this episode we discuss 2001 drama Midnight Fly starring Anita Mui. In an HKB first Shaz and Leon are divided on the direction this film takes. If you're an Anita Mui fan, don't miss our review! In our Beyond segment we look at recent watches Gangs of London Series 2 and a 2020 film starring martial artist Scott Adkins, Legacy of Lies.
In this episode we take a look at Kim Jee-woon's classic 2005 actioner A Bittersweet Life, starring Lee Byung-hun. Despite our main feature being Korean, we still have our Beyond Hong Kong segment! Today we talk about 2022 Netflix thriller Treason, starring Olga Kurylenko, Charlie Cox and Oona Chaplin
We chat about Project Wolf Hunting due to be released soon by Icon Films and in our introduction of the 'Beyond' segment, we discuss HBO TV Series Irma Vep (2022) along with Violent City (1970) starring Charles Bronson, recently released on Blu Ray by 88 Films.
We chat about this little known Jacky Cheung headlined 90s actioner, which also stars one of Leon's many favourites Joey Wong! Plus a very young Patrick Tam! Additionally we discuss the Director Guy Lai and his many credits.
In our first episode we review and rank the films in this series of films based on Martial Artist Wong Fei Hung, in our own personal order of preference - see if you agree with us - if not, let us know!