Popcorn Culture

Revisiting arguably the biggest fantasy movie trilogy of our time is no mean feat, so the brand new TV series Rings Of Power certainly comes burdened with high expectations. Set thousands of years before the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, the show covers the forging of the Rings of Power, the rise of Sauron, and the last alliance between Elves and Men. We review the first two...

Just the synopsis alone is enough to intrigue: Tilda Swinton plays a scholar of mythology, who finds a djinn who offers her three wishes in exchange for his freedom. When she's sceptical about making the wishes, the djinn tells her fantastical stories of his past in an effort to convince her. Oh, and the djinn is played by Idris Elba. If that's not enough, the movie is directed by the always surpr...

While we've explored comedy before, we haven't focused specifically on the people who make us laugh, and all the effort and thought that goes into their work. So this Supercut is dedicated to our favourite comedians, through the years (and generations)! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After its clever, funny and warm first season, Only Murders in the Building returned with a new murder at its heart, and fresh mysteries to explore in the Arconia and its denizens. We review the sophomore outing of OMitB, and whether Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez continue to delight.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes, there's nothing more exciting than going back to the beginning - hence the appeal of the origin story. On this week's Supercut, we discuss what makes an origin story onscreen truly successful, and share some of our favourites.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two hundred years before the events of Game of Thrones, the Targaryens sat on the Iron Throne and ruled Westeros. This prequel to the smash hit TV show chronicles the events leading up to a succession war for the family, which sets in motion the beginning of the end to their rule. Expect plenty of high drama, scheming, intrigue, and of course, dragons. We review the first episode of the show.&nbsp...

A dragonslaying knight and the last dragon left are forced to team up in order to defeat an evil, almost immortal king. A thoroughly 1990s fantasy film, Dragonheart rose above its middling reviews to achieve cult status amongst its fans, thanks at least in part to the fact that Draco the dragon was voiced by none other than a certain Sir Sean Connery. We revisit the movie and talk about whether it...

Whether it's literal demons, the stuff we'd rather not talk about, or the less savoury side of human nature, many films and shows don't shy away from going dark. On this episode of Supercut, we dive in head first and talk about where our limits are.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following on a successful audio adaptation, Neil Gaiman's epic graphic novel series, The Sandman, finally makes its way onto our screens. But how can a story as complex and nerdy as this - with its multiple threads and characters, blending of mythology, modern life, literature and philosophy - be translated into a series? It turns out - with some style. In this episode, we discuss how we feel abou...

The latest installment in the Predator franchise, Prey is set in the 17th century, when a skilled Comanche warrior finds herself protecting her tribe against a highly evolved alien that hunts humans for sport, while also battling against the wilderness and colonisers. Since its release, it's been praised for its action sequences, its inclusion and embrace of Comanche culture, and performances, wit...

Did you used to love multi-season prestige dramas, but now prefer bite-sized sitcoms? Were you previously thrilled by hyper-violent action sequences, but now just find them stomach-churning? Were rom-coms your jam, until you realised you now prefer dark and gritty realism? In this week's Supercut, we talk about our changing viewing habits and how that might shape what we enjoy (or don't).  &n...

Boasting a stacked cast (Brad Pitt, Sandra Bullock, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Michael Shannon) and a director known for his action chops (David Leitch, of Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2, and Hobbes & Shaw fame), Bullet Train seems to have all the ingredients to be a runaway hit. Including an intriguing plot about an assassin on a mission, who finds himself on a bullet train alongside...

Malaysians finally get to go to infinity and beyond as Lightyear drops on Disney+ Hotstar, after not making it to our cinemas earlier this year. In the latest Pixar animated offering, legendary space ranger Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Chris Evans) sets off on an intergalactic mission with a motley crew of recruits - all while trying to evade the evil Zurg. We review the movie and see what the buzz (...

There are some films - you know the type - that you wouldn't have thought to watch until someone you trust recommends them to you. In this episode of Supercut, we talk about some of the films and shows we'd recommend to whoever asks (and sometimes even when they don't), as well as some of our favourites that someone else said we simply had to watch. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat...

While we missed its cinema run, RRR's reputation has been hard to ignore, as it's set several box-office records and has received rip-roaring reviews. A Telugu-language epic action drama film that focuses on a fictional friendship between two real-life Indian revolutionaries, Alluri Sitarama Raju (Ram Charan) and Komaram Bheem (N. T. Rama Rao Jr.) and their fight against the British and colon...

Widely considered one of Disney's more underrated films, Treasure Planet is an adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic novel Treasure Island - but set in space, with robots and shape-shifters to boot. While it didn't do well on its initial release, its animation style had a special touch, setting hand-drawn 2D traditional animation atop 3D computer animation. 20 years on, we look back at th...

Why do some actors automatically give out villain vibes (Willem Defoe, ahem!), while others seem made to play the likeable hero (did someone say Ryan Reynolds?)? And what happens when those actors play against type? In this Supercut, we dive into how we identify certain actors with the role of the good or bad guy, and what goes into that perception. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat...

In this action thriller directed by the Russo brothers, Ryan Gosling plays a CIA mercenary who ends up on the run when he uncovers secrets about the agency. Hot on heels is a ruthless ex-colleague, played by none other than Chris Evans (definitely not exuding Captain America vibes here). We review the movie, and talk about whether it lives up to the buzz it's been generating. See omnystudio.com/li...

Al Pacino plays a cop. Robert DeNiro plays a criminal. Michael Mann directs this cat-and-mouse relationship between the two. Was there ever any doubt that this 1995 crime drama would end up a classic? Widely regarded as one of the most influential movies of the genre, Heat is also celebrated for finally bringing Pacino and DeNiro together in the same frame (The Godfather Part II doesn't count!). W...

From Hogwarts to Rydell High, schools have always offered rich storytelling opportunities on-screen. In this episode of Supercut, we talk about some of our favourite schools in film and television, and why the setting has continued to be such a fruitful one for filmmakers and writers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest release from Disney, Ms Marvel is six episodes that pack a lot into them (perhaps too much!). It tells the story of Kamala Khan, an Avengers and Captain Marvel-loving, Pakistani-American teenager who unlocks powers of her own, while negotiating family life, growing up, and generational trauma. In this review, we talk about where the series shines, and some instances where it takes on mo...

Directed by Mira Nair and based on the novel by Jhumpa Lahiri, The Namesake explores the experience of Ashoke and Ashima, two immigrants from India to America, and their children, Gogol and Sonia, looking at what it means to meaningfully connect with your family, and grappling with being part of different cultures. Starring the late great Irrfan Khan, Tabu, Kal Penn and Sahira Nair, the film was c...

Yo, Adrian! I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick a**. And I'm all out of bubblegum. Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn. I love you. I know. On this Supercut, we're getting geeky about the most quoted (and often misquoted) lines in movie and TV history. Because life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we review the local phenomenon that has been dominating cinema screens and breaking all kinds of Malaysian box office records - Mat Kilau: Kebangkitan Pahlawan. Now considered the highest grossing Malaysian film of all time, Mat Kilau is an epic retelling of the titular character's charge against colonialists in Pahang before Malaysia gained independence. We discuss the film's now...

Casablanca is widely considered one of the greatest films ever made, and for good reason. Starring classic Hollywood icons Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, the film is a masterpiece in every sense of the word. With World War II in the background, a club owner named Rick agrees to help his ex, Ilsa, and her husband. To no one's surprise, both Rick and Ilsa realise they still have all sorts of fe...