Episode 702 - The Forbidden City (2025), Yaxi Liu, and Italian Action Films

Hack the planet! Mark and Professor Mike Dillon discuss the 1995 cyber thriller Hackers. Directed by Iain Softley, and starring Jonny Lee Miller, Angelina Jolie, Fisher Stevens and a supercomputer, the movie focuses on what happens when a group of hackers battle a legendary hacker named Eugene. In this episode, they also talk about likable characters, 1990s fashion, and hacking planets. Enjoy!

Mark and Nick discuss the 2025 Italian martial arts film The Forbidden City. Directed by Gabriele Mainetti and starring Enrico Borello, Yaxi Liu, Marco Giallini and a well-stocked kitchen, the Italian action film is an excellent showcase for Yaxi Liu. In this episode, they also talk about kitchen fights, restaurant photos, and Well Go USA movies. Enjoy!

Mark and John discuss the insane 1991 action film Showdown in Little Tokyo. Directed by Mark L. Lester (who also directed Commando) and starring Dolph Lundgren, Brandon Lee, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, and a beer factory, the movie focuses on what happens when the Yakuza mess with a pair of overpowered cops. In this episode, they also talk about lifting cars, Yakuza parties, and overpowered characters. Enjoy!

Mark and John discuss the 1987 rom-com Overboard. Directed by Garry Marshall and starring Kurt Russell, Goldie Hawn, and a miniature golf course, the movie focuses on what happens when a guy goes to extreme lengths to get free daycare for his children. In this episode, they also talk about rom-com insanity, spiraling lies, and the excellence of Goldie Hawn. Enjoy!

Mark and Niall discuss the 1984 science fiction film The Ice Pirates. Directed by Stewart Raffill and starring Robert Urich, Ron Perlman, Anjelica Huston and a time distortion field, the movie focuses on a group of pirates who loot ice from spaceships. In this episode, they also talk about budget cuts, cheeky sci-fi, and clumsy robots. Enjoy!

Mark and Erik discuss the 1988 comedy The Great Outdoors. Directed by Howard Deutch and starring John Candy, Dan Aykroyd and a gigantic slab of beef, the movie focuses on what happens when a family's serene vacation is wrecked by uninvited guests. In this episode, they also talk about happy families, animal hijinks, and bear fights. Enjoy!

Mark and Zanandi discuss the 2025 horror sequel I Know What You Did Last Summer. Directed by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson and starring Madelyn Cline, Chase Sui Wonders, Tyriq Withers and a doomed podcaster, the movie focuses on what happens when several good-looking people have a terrible summer. In this episode, they also talk about vodka chugging, legacy characters and the excellence of Madelyn Cline.

Mark and Professor Mike Dillon discuss the 1993 action film Hard Target. Directed by John Woo, and starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, Lance Henriksen, Arnold Vosloo, Yancy Butler, and an unlucky rattlesnake, the movie focuses on what happens when a group of hunters battle a hard target. In this episode, they also talk about exploding pants, cajun accents, and spin kicks. Enjoy!

Mark and Norbert discuss the 1995 action film Fair Game. Directed by Andrew Sipes, and starring William Baldwin, Cindy Crawford and unpaid alimony payments, the movie focuses on what happens when two attractive people are hunted by international money launderers. In this episode, they also talk about comically large explosions, random freighters, and the Baldwin brothers. 

Mark and Niall finish up their Star Trek series by talking about the 2025 sci-fi comedy Star Trek: Section 31. Directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi, and starring Michelle Yeoh, Omari Hardwick, and an Irish Nanokin, the movie focuses on what happens when a group of Starfleeters attempt to stop a doomsday device from dooming the galaxy. In this episode, they also talk about Irish accents, bad jokes, and doomed projects. Enjoy!