Episode 14 - James Nunn / Matthias Hoene

Episode 14 - James Nunn / Matthias Hoene

Author: Ben Johnson May 16, 2017 Duration: 1:10:19

Aspiring filmmakers should definitely tune into this episode of the Kung Fu Movie Guide Podcast, as I talk to two up-and-coming, talented, London-based directors Matthias Hoene and James Nunn, who are both making waves internationally with their own action films. Firstly, I talk to the director Matthias Hoene about his new film, Enter the Warrior's Gate (aka Warrior's Gate), a Chinese-European co-production written by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen. The time-traveling wuxia fantasy stars Dave Bautista, Uriah Shelton, and the Chinese actors Ni Ni, Mark Chao, Francis Ng and Kara Hui. If you are reading this in the States, you can watch the film right now exclusively on DirecTV.


My second guest is James Nunn, who has become a highly sought-after director after being launched onto the UK indie scene with his first directorial effort, the acclaimed thriller Tower Block (2012), co-directed with Ronnie Thompson. He has since collaborated with top UK fighting star Scott Adkins on two films: Green Street 3: Never Back Down (2013), and Eliminators (2016), which was James' first film under contract with WWE Studios. His most recent movie, The Marine 5: Battleground (2017), featured a number of WWE wrestlers and is available to watch right now on digital and Blu-ray. We discuss his earliest film memories, working with Scott Adkins, how to make a convincing action movie in London, and the impact piracy is having on the film industry.


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There's a particular magic in the stories behind the fights, the philosophy woven into the choreography, and the sheer dedication it takes to create martial arts cinema. The Kung Fu Movie Guide Podcast is built on those stories, offering a backstage pass to the world of Hong Kong action, classic Shaw Brothers epics, and modern martial arts filmmaking. Host Ben Johnson, who created the extensive kungfumovieguide.com resource, sits down for detailed conversations with the very people who bring these films to life. Each episode features an unscripted, in-depth interview with actors who threw the punches, stunt performers who designed the falls, directors who framed the shots, and choreographers who turned violence into poetry. You'll hear about their career paths, the challenges on set, and the deep, personal passion that fuels their work. This isn't just a surface-level recap of famous movies; it's about the craft, the history, and the human effort behind every iconic scene. For anyone who has ever wondered about the artistry behind a perfectly executed fight sequence or the legacy of a genre that spans decades, this podcast provides a rich, engaging listen. Tune in for genuine insights from the heart of martial arts cinema.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Kung Fu Movie Guide Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Episode 88 - Keith Cooke [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:56
Keith Cooke is one of action cinema's all-time greatest kickers. From his explosive triple kicks as Muay Thai instructor Prang in the cult classic, The King of the Kickboxers, to his turns in costume as Reptile and Sub-Z…
Episode 87 - Mike Leeder [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:35
When Asian action cinema expert, producer and casting director Mike Leeder left his job in a Croydon department store to go on holiday to Hong Kong, little did he know that - 32 years later - he would still be there. Bef…
Episode 86 - End of Year Show 2022 with Mike Fury: Part Two [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:22
The wait is over! We can now finally reveal our favourite fight films of 2022 in Part Two of our annual End of Year Show, featuring Mike Fury, the action movie expert and author of Life of Action Vol. I-II. As is traditi…
Episode 85 - End of Year Show 2022 with Mike Fury: Part One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:41
It's the most wonderful time of the year... that's right, the time when we release our special annual two-part End of Year Show, in which we look back over the best and worst that martial arts movies had to offer in 2022…
Episode 84 - Robert Samuels [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:53
It was a screening of 1972's 'Five Fingers of Death' (aka 'King Boxer') that would transform the life of Robert "Bobby" Samuels. At that time, he could not have foreseen that he would go on to become the first African Am…
Episode 83 - Scott Adkins [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:00
Scott Adkins is in a good mood. The response to his latest martial arts movie, 'Accident Man: Hitman's Holiday' - the sequel to his dream project, 2018's 'Accident Man', based on a cherished British comic book he loved a…
Episode 82 - Tribute to Jimmy Wang Yu [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:45
When Jimmy Wang Yu died on 5 April 2022 at the age of 79, Jackie Chan took to his social media accounts to pay his respects, stating that "the contributions you've made to kung fu movies and the support and wisdom you’ve…
Episode 81 - Michiko Nishiwaki [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:48
As a powerlifting champion, three-time ‘Miss Fitness’ winner in Japan and an action film star, Michiko Nishiwaki has been on quite a journey. When she left school to start working in human resources for the Mitsubishi ba…
Episode 80 - Jonathan Eusebio [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:02
There aren't many stunt coordinators and fight choreographers who can say they have helped to change the course of modern day action cinema like Jonathan Eusebio. His work on the 'Bourne' films alone sparked a movement i…
Episode 79 - End of Year Show 2021 with Mike Fury: Part Two [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:35:07
The wait is over! Find out our favourite - and least favourite - martial arts movies of 2021 in Part Two of our End of Year Show, featuring Life of Action author, Mike Fury. Join in the festivities as we take it in turns…