Episode 305 - The Blade
For the month of April, Not A Bomb is shining a spotlight on Hong Kong films. This week, Troy and Brad shift from contemporary action to a raw, visceral reimagining of wuxia as they explore Tsui Hark’s 1995 film The Blade — a brutal, expressionistic take on revenge and identity that strips the genre down to its bone structure.
Set in a bleak, rain‑slick world where honor and survival collide, The Blade follows a young swordsman whose life is shattered by betrayal and violence. Tsui Hark abandons glossy spectacle for something harsher and more immediate: jagged editing, stark production design, and fight choreography that feels dangerous and unpredictable. The film trades polish for pulse, and the result is a movie that looks and sounds like it was carved from steel.
Troy and Brad dig into how Tsui Hark’s direction reframes wuxia tropes: rather than romanticizing violence, the film interrogates it. Long, disorienting sequences and a willingness to linger on aftermath make the emotional stakes feel earned.
The Blade is directed by Tsui Hark and stars Vincent Zhao, Moses Chan, Hung Yan-yan, Song Lei, Austin Wai, Chung Bik-ha, and Valerie Chow.
Want to help support the show? Head over to the Not A Bomb Tee Public store and check our merchandise. Special thanks to Ted Blair for the amazing designs!
We're committed to hearing your feedback and suggestions. If there's a Hong Kong film or a cinematic flop you'd like us to delve into, please reach out to us at NotABombPod@gmail.com or through our contact page. If you enjoy our content, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Cast: Brad, Troy
For the month of April, Not A Bomb is shining a spotlight on Hong Kong films. This week, Troy and Brad shift from contemporary action to a raw, visceral reimagining of wuxia as they explore Tsui Hark’s 1995 film The Blade — a brutal, expressionistic take on revenge and identity that strips the genre down to its bone structure.
Set in a bleak, rain‑slick world where honor and survival collide, The Blade follows a young swordsman whose life is shattered by betrayal and violence. Tsui Hark abandons glossy spectacle for something harsher and more immediate: jagged editing, stark production design, and fight choreography that feels dangerous and unpredictable. The film trades polish for pulse, and the result is a movie that looks and sounds like it was carved from steel.
Troy and Brad dig into how Tsui Hark’s direction reframes wuxia tropes: rather than romanticizing violence, the film interrogates it. Long, disorienting sequences and a willingness to linger on aftermath make the emotional stakes feel earned.
The Blade is directed by Tsui Hark and stars Vincent Zhao, Moses Chan, Hung Yan-yan, Song Lei, Austin Wai, Chung Bik-ha, and Valerie Chow.
Want to help support the show? Head over to the Not A Bomb Tee Public store and check our merchandise. Special thanks to Ted Blair for the amazing designs!
We're committed to hearing your feedback and suggestions. If there's a Hong Kong film or a cinematic flop you'd like us to delve into, please reach out to us at NotABombPod@gmail.com or through our contact page. If you enjoy our content, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Cast: Brad, Troy
Episode 303 - The Shadow’s Edge
For the month of April, Not A Bomb is shining a spotlight on Hong Kong films. This week, Troy and Brad shift gears from modern action thrillers to a film that feels like a love letter to classic Hong Kong stunt cinema as they explore Jackie Chan’s 2025 return to the kind of handcrafted, physical filmmaking that made him a legend — The Shadow’s Edge.
With jaw‑dropping practical stunts, a surprising amount of warmth, and a few well‑timed laughs, The Shadow’s Edge asks a simple question: can a veteran action star still surprise us when the camera stays close and the risks feel real? Troy and Brad argue yes, both calling it a return to form for Jackie Chan. They dig into how the film trusts physical performance over CGI, how the tone balances grit and levity, and why seeing Chan take hits and improvise in the frame still lands in a way few modern action films manage.
Buckle up: this one is equal parts thrilling and tender.
The Shadow’s Edge is directed by Larry Yang, and stars Jackie Chan, Zhang Zifeng, Tony Leung Ka-fai, and Ci Sha.
Want to help support the show? Head over to the Not A Bomb Tee Public store and check our merchandise. Special thanks to Ted Blair for the amazing designs!
We're committed to hearing your feedback and suggestions. If there's a Hong Kong film or a cinematic gem (or flop) you'd like us to delve into, please reach out to us at NotABombPod@gmail.com or through our contact page. Your reviews and feedback are what drive us. If you enjoy our content, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Cast: Brad, Troy
For the month of April, Not A Bomb is shining a spotlight on Hong Kong films. This week, Troy and Brad shift gears from modern action thrillers to a film that feels like a love letter to classic Hong Kong stunt cinema as they explore Jackie Chan’s 2025 return to the kind of handcrafted, physical filmmaking that made him a legend — The Shadow’s Edge.
With jaw‑dropping practical stunts, a surprising amount of warmth, and a few well‑timed laughs, The Shadow’s Edge asks a simple question: can a veteran action star still surprise us when the camera stays close and the risks feel real? Troy and Brad argue yes, both calling it a return to form for Jackie Chan. They dig into how the film trusts physical performance over CGI, how the tone balances grit and levity, and why seeing Chan take hits and improvise in the frame still lands in a way few modern action films manage.
Buckle up: this one is equal parts thrilling and tender.
The Shadow’s Edge is directed by Larry Yang, and stars Jackie Chan, Zhang Zifeng, Tony Leung Ka-fai, and Ci Sha.
Want to help support the show? Head over to the Not A Bomb Tee Public store and check our merchandise. Special thanks to Ted Blair for the amazing designs!
We're committed to hearing your feedback and suggestions. If there's a Hong Kong film or a cinematic gem (or flop) you'd like us to delve into, please reach out to us at NotABombPod@gmail.com or through our contact page. Your reviews and feedback are what drive us. If you enjoy our content, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Cast: Brad, Troy
Episode 296 - Man with the Iron Fists
For the month of February, Not A Bomb is shining a spotlight on some of the greatest Black directors in cinematic history. This week, Troy and Brad shift gears from grounded crime dramas to full‑throttle grindhouse fantasy as they explore their first film from RZA — the Wu‑Tang Clan legend turned filmmaker — with his 2012 martial‑arts epic The Man with the Iron Fists.
Set in the chaotic, neon‑splashed world of Jungle Village, the film follows a humble blacksmith who becomes entangled in a violent power struggle between assassins, warriors, mercenaries, and one extremely committed Russell Crowe. Drawing inspiration from Shaw Brothers classics, spaghetti westerns, and old‑school kung fu cinema, RZA blends genre homage with his own hip‑hop sensibilities to create something loud, stylish, and completely unrestrained.
With bone‑crunching fight scenes, outrageous characters, and a world that feels ripped straight from a fever‑dream comic book, The Man with the Iron Fists asks a simple question: can pure passion and love for martial‑arts cinema overcome a chaotic script and some questionable acting choices? Troy and Brad dig into RZA’s directorial vision, the film’s wild production energy, and why this gonzo kung‑fu mashup has earned a cult following.
Sharpen your blades — this one gets rowdy.
The Man with the Iron Fists is directed by RZA and stars Russell Crowe, Cung Lee, Lucy Liu, Bryon Mann, RZA, Rick Yune, David Bautista, and Jamie Chung
Want to help support the show? Head over to the Not A Bomb Tee Public store and check our merchandise. Special thanks to Ted Blair for the amazing designs!
We're committed to hearing your feedback and suggestions. If there's a cinematic flop you'd like us to delve into, please reach out to us at NotABombPod@gmail.com or through our contact page. Your reviews and feedback are what drive us. If you enjoy our content, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast or Spotify.
For the month of February, Not A Bomb is shining a spotlight on some of the greatest Black directors in cinematic history. This week, Troy and Brad shift gears from grounded crime dramas to full‑throttle grindhouse fantasy as they explore their first film from RZA — the Wu‑Tang Clan legend turned filmmaker — with his 2012 martial‑arts epic The Man with the Iron Fists.
Set in the chaotic, neon‑splashed world of Jungle Village, the film follows a humble blacksmith who becomes entangled in a violent power struggle between assassins, warriors, mercenaries, and one extremely committed Russell Crowe. Drawing inspiration from Shaw Brothers classics, spaghetti westerns, and old‑school kung fu cinema, RZA blends genre homage with his own hip‑hop sensibilities to create something loud, stylish, and completely unrestrained.
With bone‑crunching fight scenes, outrageous characters, and a world that feels ripped straight from a fever‑dream comic book, The Man with the Iron Fists asks a simple question: can pure passion and love for martial‑arts cinema overcome a chaotic script and some questionable acting choices? Troy and Brad dig into RZA’s directorial vision, the film’s wild production energy, and why this gonzo kung‑fu mashup has earned a cult following.
Sharpen your blades — this one gets rowdy.
The Man with the Iron Fists is directed by RZA and stars Russell Crowe, Cung Lee, Lucy Liu, Bryon Mann, RZA, Rick Yune, David Bautista, and Jamie Chung
Want to help support the show? Head over to the Not A Bomb Tee Public store and check our merchandise. Special thanks to Ted Blair for the amazing designs!
We're committed to hearing your feedback and suggestions. If there's a cinematic flop you'd like us to delve into, please reach out to us at NotABombPod@gmail.com or through our contact page. Your reviews and feedback are what drive us. If you enjoy our content, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast or Spotify.