Popcorn Culture

In this episode, we’re reviewing Ana de Armas’ entry to the John Wick universe, as a ballerina trained to be an assassin in the - obviously named - Ballerina. We talk about whether it’s a worthy spinoff, and as stylish as the original franchise, before going on to talk in Take Two about violence on screen, and where the limits and appeal are, from bone-crunching, blood-gushing fights and sequences...

Anwari Ashraf – the man behind the hit series Project: High Council – brings the iconic 90s comedy animated superhero Keluang Man to life on the big screen. But does he do Malaysia’s OG superhero justice? Separately, Mountainhead is the new HBO film from Succession creator Jesse Armstrong. It’s a satirical look at tech billionaires grappling with guilt and ego as the world collapses around them. W...

Brace yourselves for a weird and wild double bill on Popcorn Culture this week as we review the second season of The Last of Us, which sees the survivors of the cordyceps zombie apocalypse continue to deal with grief, tribalism, and of course, said cordyceps zombies. Then we pair that up with Disney’s latest live action remake of a beloved animation, Lilo & Stitch. After that, we extend the di...

With Tom Cruise’s final outing (or is it) as Ethan Hunt in Mission Impossible - The Final Reckoning making its blockbuster-y way to every Malaysian cinema, we talk about the movie, where it fits into the larger franchise, and whether it’s a fitting end to the adventures of the IMF. After that, we ponder the changing nature of movie stardom, especially with Tom Cruise often touted as one of the las...

In this episode, we catch up with the second (and as it turns out, final) season of Andor, completing the transformation of Cassian Andor into the rebel leader we see in Rogue One. We discuss whether it lives up to the expectations set in Season 1, as well as how the compressed production and story schedule affects the show. Then, we're taking the opportunity to geek out about all the people, thin...

In this Round Robin edition of Stuff We Missed, we’re each taking turns to recommend a recent release that's worth watching and catching up with. First up, a local film helmed by Abhilash Chandra & Syafiq Yusof. It has grossed over RM 62 million so far and is one of the most successful local films ever made. Then, we talk about a Polish satire that blends questions surrounding UFOs and extrate...

We review Thunderbolts, an antihero ensemble that brings together the likes of Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian and US Agent—basically, the chaotic neutral Avengers. We discuss whether this morally grey squad can inject fresh energy into a superhero universe many feel is running on fumes. Then on Take Two, we ask: Is the MCU still exciting for you? And what’s your favourite Marvel movie p...

Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan (Fruitvale Station, Creed and Black Panther) reunite for Sinners, a period vampire thriller set in the 1930s. Jordan delivers dual performances as twin brothers who are trying to leave their troubled life behind and return to their hometowns only to be greeted by a greater evil. We review the film and then on Take Two, we discuss our most memorable IMAX expe...

2 years after its last outing, Black Mirror is back with its 7th season, promising a return to its roots, as well as sequels and companion pieces to earlier episodes. But of course, as real life has gotten more surreal, Black Mirror has also had to expand and experiment to keep up - so does this latest season manage to land its punches? We discuss, before then talking about the best science fictio...

White Lotus is back with another season, this time set in one of if not the most popular tourist destinations in this side of the world, Thailand. As you'd come to expect from the series, there are of course shenanigans involving privileged and eccentric characters and a mystery brimming underneath the surface. We discuss if it lives up to the previous seasons, and then on Take Two explore the var...

Based on the hit video game, A Minecraft Movie explores what happens when a bunch of misfits find themselves in a cubic world that thrives on imagination, and set out on a quest. Starring Jack Black, Jason Momoa and Danielle Brooks in an ensemble cast, the film has had a long production journey, but has finally made it to the big screen! We discuss whether it’s a film that works even if you’re not...

We’ve got a double bill of TV reviews in this episode, starting with Severance Season 2! Now that the innies have discovered the truth about their outies, what do they do next? Will Helly R, Mark S and Irving B ever be liberated from their never-ending nine-to-five? We discuss if season 2 is just as addictive as the first. Next, we discuss the most talked-about miniseries on Netflix right now – Ad...

It's a double bill of reviews tonight, kicking off with what is - at the moment - the most successful animation films ever, Ne Zha 2. We talk about whether the film is worth the hype, and what it signals about international animation. After that, we move on to RaMell Ross’s Nickel Boys, which is about a friendship that forms between two boys who’ve been sent to a notoriously abusive reform school,...

Bong Joon-ho, acclaimed director of Parasite, is back with Mickey 17! This sci-fi thriller stars Robert Pattinson as a disposable worker on a colonization mission, one who keeps getting replaced every time he dies. We discuss if this is another win for Bong Joon Ho (and Pattinson) and then, on Take Two, talk about desperate protagonists in film and TV. Image Credit: IMDb See omnystudio.com/listene...

As Oscar-nominated films continue to grace Malaysian theatres, the latest in the list is James Mangold’s Bob Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown. With Timothee Chalamet filling the lead role, the movie charts a very specific time in Dylan’s life, as an up-and-coming folk musician in New York, and his electric turn. We talk about the movie and whether it deserves the fanfare it’s getting, before pivot...

The highly anticipated Robert Eggers gothic not-Dracula film, Nosferatu finally hits Malaysian cinemas. We review this remake and discuss why Eggers is one of the best auteurs today, and then on Take Two, talk about our favourite vampire movies and shows then on The B-side, tbc. Image Credit: IMDb See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve got a double bill for you this week! Starting with A Real Pain, directed and written by Jesse Eisenberg,a buddy comedy road movie that looks at the (mis)adventures of two cousins exploring Poland after the passing of their late grandmother. Lauded for its performances and bittersweet tone, the movie is also up for two Academy Awards. And on a separate note and just in time for Valentine’s Da...

Captain America is back on the big screen! But if you’ve been following the MCU, you’ll know it’s no longer Chris Evans wielding the shield, but Anthony Mackie. With Marvel on a slump, could this be the film that revives the franchise? We review the film and then on Take Two, discuss iconic characters from the big screen and small, before ending with the B-side, where we talk about Cap’s heart pou...

Ke Huy Quan returns to the big screen with Love Hurts, where he gets to flex his action chops alongside Ariana Debose, Daniel Wu and Marshawn Lynch. Ke plays a former hitman pulled back into his old life when he finds out his brother is hunting him. We talk about whether this action-comedy (from the producers of Nobody) succeeds on both fronts, before heading into a longer conversation about what...

To commemorate Chinese New Year, we’re throwing back to a 2011 Hong Kong film, A Simple Life, directed by Ann Hui. It stars Andy Lau and and Deannie Ip and explores a middle-aged man’s bond with his domestic helper. After that on Take Two, we explore the best Chinese New Year movies before wrapping up with the B-Side, where we dive into the music of Wong Fei Hung, who was a Chinese martial artist,...

Following the sweet and spectacular successes that were the first two Paddington films, this third installment finds everyone’s favourite little marmalade-loving bear adventuring in Peru. We get into whether this movie lives up to the charm set by its predecessors, and then segue into talking about our favourite movies and films from childhood, and how they’ve continued to shape our tastes. We the...

Leigh Whannell returns following his 2020 critical and commercial hit, The Invisible Man. This time he’s tackling another ‘Universal Monster’, Wolf Man. It stars Christopher Abbott as Blake, a man who, after moving his family to his childhood home, is attacked by a werewolf and that transforms him into something horrifying. Does Whannell deliver the goods? We review the film and then on Take Two d...

In this double header edition of Stuff We Missed, we’re catching up with a couple of releases from late 2024. First up, what some are dubbing Clint Eastwood’s final film, Juror #2, which stars Nicholas Hoult in a courtroom thriller about a juror grappling with a moral dilemma in a high-profile murder trial. Then, we discuss a movie that’s been making waves more for its off-screen controversy - It...

On the first episode of Popcorn Culture of 2025, we’re reviewing the second season of the highly popular Korean series, Squid Game. We discuss if the second season is a step up from season 1 and if it's worth the binge. Then in Take Two, we ask you if hype influences your decision to watch something or not. Image Credit: Netflix See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the final edition of Popcorn Culture this year, we’re reviewing the latest in Disney’s relentless lineup of remakes and prequels - Mufasa: The Lion King. With an all-star cast and crew (Barry Jenkins directing, Lin-Manuel Miranda songwriting, voices like Mads Mikkelsen joining the original cast), expectations are high. In our chat, we unpack whether the movie is worth a school holiday watch, an...