WARNING: The following contains spoilers from Season 5 of Cobra Kai.
For five seasons, I’ve been saying the same thing: For a show – and franchise, for that matter – centered on a Japanese martial art, there aren’t a ton of Asian people on the Netflix series, Cobra Kai.
Continue reading “The Quality of Asian Representation in ‘Cobra Kai’ Season 5”
There is so much to say about The CW’s Kung Fu.
It’s just so good.
Now in its sophomore season, Kung Fu is getting darker than ever with its’ big bad Russell Tan (Kee Chan) trying to take down Nicky Shen (Olivia Liang) and her family. Things become even more complicated with the return of baddie Zhilan (Yvonne Chapman).
Continue reading “‘Kung Fu’ Star Yvonne Chapman on Zhilan’s Course for the Season”
The first season finale of The CW’s Kung Fu answered a lot of questions for fans, while raising new ones for season 2. Sure, the Shen family seems to all be doing great the last six months — Nicky (Olivia Liang) is kicking butt as the new protector of Chinatown; Harmony Dumplings is doing great; Ryan (Jon Prasida) is a full-fledged doctor; and, Althea (Shannon Dang) is happily married with several job prospects. But, of course, things happen. Russell Tan (Kee Chan) is still up to no good and in search of Nicky’s long-lost cousin, Mia (Vanessa Yao).
Continue reading “‘Kung Fu’ Showrunners Discuss What’s Ahead for Season 2”
It’s hard to not associate the actor with the character they portray on television/film, especially if the character is as sinister and haunting as the enigmatic villain Russell Tan on The CW’s Kung Fu.
Of course, this isn’t the case for actor Kee Chan, who plays Russell Tan.
Continue reading “‘Kung Fu’ Star Kee Chan on Finding Humanity in the Villain”
Kung Fu season two is set to return in March!
Since its season finale back in July, there were many new questions that popped up in the finale — Who is Nicky’s cousin? How is she connected to the ruthless Russell Tan? Is Kerwin going to be okay? What’s up the the ‘biàn gé’ flower? How is Zhilan going to get out of prison? What is Athena going to be wearing this season? Okay, the last one is really just for me.
Continue reading “The CW’s ‘Kung Fu’ Season Two Promo Reveals Nicky’s Long Lost Cousin”
The trials and tribulations of indie filmmaking are taken to their absurd, action-y, lengths in Marc Price’s Nightshooter, a story about a film crew finding themselves at the scene of a harrowing gang (mob?) execution at an abandoned and soon to be demolished business center on the last night of shooting a zombie film.
Continue reading “‘Nightshooters’ is One of the Best Action Films This Year”
The Paper Tigers, the indie martial arts film starring Alain Uy, Ron Yuan, and Mykel Shannon Jenkins that went from Kickstarter to Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes will culminate its improbable journey on the biggest streaming platform in the world when it debuts on Netflix this Saturday, August 7.
Continue reading “‘The Paper Tigers’ to Stream on Netflix”
With the first season of The CW’s Kung Fu now over, many fans have been wondering what’s next for our beloved Shen family. The season finale had Nicky and Zhilan come head-to-head at Pei-Ling’s monastery battling for control of the biàn gé power, with Nicky defeating Zhilan and releasing biàn gé back into nature where it came from.
Continue reading “‘Kung Fu’ Co-Showrunner Robert Berens Spills Some Details For Season Two [Part 2]”
I couldn’t tell you much about the G.I. Joe universe. I know the pamphlet description: a group of U.S. anti-terrorists militants devoted to truth, justice, and never skipping leg day. I know that there are not one, but two live-action movies that I remember seeing, but couldn’t recite either premise even under pressure. And now, I know that whatever those other movies were doing, they were definitely focusing on the wrong Joe.
Continue reading “‘Snake Eyes’ Rolls High With Experimental Take on Classic Character’s Origin”
Robert “Bob” Berens has a really difficult job.
As co-showrunner of the first drama on a broadcast network centering around a Chinese American family, Berens knew he had a responsibility to get Kung Fu right. The 1971 series of the same name starred David Carradine, a white man playing Chinese, and had a dfew other problematic moments. Along with fellow co-showrunner and executive producer Christina M. Kim, Berens really wanted to do right by the Asian community.
Continue reading “‘Kung Fu’ Co-Showrunner Robert Berens Understood the Assignment [Part 1]”
In a survey conducted by The Asian American Man Study that asked “Who is the Asian American man you most admire and why,” the person with the second most votes was Bruce Lee.
The most votes went to “I don’t know/can’t think of one.”
Continue reading “Number One Son: Tarantino’s Bruce Lee Disrespect is Not New in Hollywood”
Actor Ludi Lin has always played the good guy. Whether it be as a Power Ranger or an Earthrealm warrior in Mortal Kombat, Lin has always been on the right side of the law. Now, in The CW series Kung Fu, Lin is getting a taste at playing the bad boy aka the villain.
Continue reading “Ludi Lin is Ready to Show His Dark Side on ‘Kung Fu’”
The Paper Tigers starring Alain Uy, Ron Yuan & Mykel Shannon Jenkins arrives in Theaters and On Demand today! I break it down with my squad over at Nerds Rule The World (NRW). BE WARNED: SPOILERS ahead with Rob TheMovieGuy and Big Boy Eskrimador!
Continue reading “NRW Review: ‘The Paper Tigers’”
Heyyy NOC Readers! It’s Kuya P and I just got word from my friends over at HBO Max that they have gathered some of the amazing cast to do a watch party for Mortal Kombat currently in Theaters and streaming now on HBO Max!
Continue reading “HBO Max is Hosting a ‘Mortal Kombat’ Watch Party with the Kast Tonight”
Heyyy! It’s Kuya P back again with another NOC EXCLUSIVE! I recently sat down for a conversation with the stars of The Paper Tigers: Alain Uy & Mykel Shannon Jenkins! The Paper Tigers hits Theaters and On Demand May 7th!
Continue reading “NOC Exclusive Interview: ‘The Paper Tigers’ Stars, Alain Uy and Mykel Shannon Jenkins”
When Yvonne Chapman first received the call that she was cast in the reboot of The CW’s Kung Fu, she was over the moon and immediately called her husband and friends. It all happened so quickly for the Calgary native. When Chapman first auditioned for the role of the villainous Zhilan — an ageless Guardian who is determined to collect all the mythical swords that, if in the wrong hands, could destroy the world — she immediately fell in love with the character.
“The entire time I was like ‘oh man, I really hope I get this,’” Chapman revealed on the phone with The Nerds of Color last week. “I remembered in that time with my friends and my husband that I [had a] feel in my gut. I just felt like it was really right for me. It was just hoping that other people felt the same.”
Continue reading “On ‘Kung Fu,’ Yvonne Chapman is Making Evil Look Good”
Heyyy! It’s Kuya P and I got together a few of the NOC Family members’ Laura Sirikul & Mike Manolo to discuss… okay, FIGHT over Mortal Kombat out now in Theaters and HBO Max! Who will win? Place your bets now.
Continue reading “FIGHT! The NOC Team Review ‘Mortal Kombat’”
Heyyy! It’s Kuya P back again with another NOC EXCLUSIVE! I was lucky enough to sit down for a quick conversation with Actor, Joe Taslim who will be appearing as Sub-Zero in Mortal Kombat premiering in Theaters and HBO Max this Friday!
Continue reading “NOC Exclusive Interview: ‘Mortal Kombat’ Star Joe Taslim”
Heyyy! It’s Kuya P back again with another NOC EXCLUSIVE! I was lucky enough to sit down for a quick conversation with Actor, Chin Han who will be appearing as Shang Tsung in Mortal Kombat premiering in Theaters and HBO Max this Friday!
Continue reading “NOC Exclusive Interview: ‘Mortal Kombat’ Star Chin Han”
It’s always awkward having the potential new guy in your life meet the ex-boyfriend-guy who is still in your life.
Continue reading “‘Kung Fu’ Sneak Peek: When Henry Met Evan… (Exclusive)”
Eddie Liu is a certified heartthrob.
We all knew this when we first saw Liu’s portrayal of Steve, the hunky jock and ex-boyfriend of Kamala in Netflix’s hit series Never Have I Ever. Liu ended up being a fan favorite and praised on social media, but his character was ultimately dumped by Kamala at the end of the first season. But Liu wants you to know that there is more to him than his dashing good looks and amazing physique. He’s also pretty charming and a known goof among his castmates. Fortunately, we get to see more of Liu’s charming good looks and boy-next-door personality in the new CW martial arts series, Kung Fu.
Continue reading “‘Kung Fu’ Star Eddie Liu is Here to Entertain You”
After debuting on HBO Max earlier this year, a successful fan campaign has ensure a third season of the cult-favorite martial arts series will be premiering on the streamer!
Continue reading “You Did It! ‘Warrior’ Season 3 is Coming to HBO Max”
Presented by CAPE and The CW, join the cast of Kung Fu — Olivia Liang, Shannon Dang, Jon Prasida, Kheng Hua Tan, Tzi Ma, and showrunner Christina M. Kim — and The Nerds of Color Editor-in-Chief Keith Chow for a conversation on reclaiming martial arts, shattering stereotypes, and being an Asian American family on primetime TV.
Continue reading “Q&A with the ‘Kung Fu’ Cast and Showrunner”