Popcorn Culture

It's a shame that Blue Beetle is being released during a transitory, turbulent time in DC's cinematic timeline because, by all accounts, it looks like a fun time at the movies. It tells the story of Jaime Reyes (Xolo Maridueña), a kid who bonds with a symbiotic relic called the Scarab and is given a suit of armor and extraordinary powers. We review DC's newest film in the who-knows-what-chronology...

There are numerous reasons why 1986's The Fly became a pop culture touchstone - it is a classic David Cronenberg body horror fest, it's the root of many a childhood nightmare, and it is the beginning of the Jeff Goldblum phenomenon. We throwback to the classic and discuss why they really don't make 'em like they used to. Image Credit: FILMGRAB See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some moviegoers love having their minds challenged (think The Tree of Life or 12 Years a Slave), while others just want to have a good time (Godzilla vs Kong, anyone?). In this Supercut, we weigh the merits of those difficult, challenging films that ask a lot of us as viewers, against the movies that are just pure entertainment.   Image Credit: Memento/ MUBI, Coco/IMDb, Legally Blonde/IM...

When her uncle mysteriously turns up unannounced one night, Bonnie (Chen Keat Yoke) ends up taking a trip back to her hometown in rural Behrang Stesen. Little does she expect to get stranded there during a Covid-19 lockdown, where she is forced to take refuge in her family's old coffeeshop - only to discover that it is haunted by the ghosts of her relatives who have returned for the Hungry Ghost F...

This local thriller made waves when it was released last year, both for its strong showing at the Locarno Film Festival and all the positive reviews; and it's finally available for streaming in Malaysia. Plot details are kept deliberately mysterious: a woman living on the east coast becomes entangled with a man who isn't what he seems. Oh, and there's time travel involved. Directed by Woo Min...

Brad Pitt vs an octopus. Kate Winslet vs an eagle. Viola Davis fighting for her life against an evil python - all possibilities we explore in this frankly unhinged Supercut, in which we talk about the actors we'd like to see facing off against fictional beasts and monsters! Image Credit: IMDb See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do you get when you cross a sequel, gigantic prehistoric sharks, and Jason Statham? Why, a follow-up to 2018's The Meg, of course! In this review, we talk about whether Meg 2: The Trench lives up to its promise of more sharks, and a darker tone. Image Credit: Warner Bros. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a season of stress, grief, mayhem, The Bear returns to explore the (mis)adventures of Carmy, Syd, Richie and co, as they continue to try to revamp The Beef into a different, finer version of its former glories. But what do they gain and what do they lose in this process? And how much does a sense of purpose factor in? That's what Season 2 looks into - we discuss whether it's a worthy follow-...

There's an art to putting together the perfect double bill. You could go by director (Memento and Inception?), by actor (Speed and John Wick?), by genre (Pacific Rim and Edge of Tomorrow?), or by theme (Little Miss Sunshine and The Royal Tenenbaums?). The key to a good double bill though, is that each movie should not just stand well on its own, but pair with the other to maximise the viewer exper...

This seemingly unassuming Netflix release ends up leaving quite an impression with a sci fi/horror plot that reimagines the blaxploitation genre through an impressive cast (John Boyega, Jamie Foxx, Teyonah Parris), loads of style, and a surprising amount of heart. We're trying not to give away the plot, but really, the title is all you need. Image Credit: Parrish Lewis/Netflix See omnystudio.com/l...

The latest entry in the Evil Dead franchise takes the notion of difficult families to horrific extremes, as a reunion between two estranged sisters is interrupted by... well, flesh-possessing demons. We needed a lot of convincing, but we review the movie and see how it holds up against its rich horror history.  Image Credit: IMDb See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Director Christopher Nolan recently revealed his favourite seats in a cinema. It got us thinking - center seats, middle section... or couple-sofas way at the back? How about snug beanie beds? Onyx, Screen X, 4DX, or IMAX? Popcorn, nuggets, or smuggled-in snacks? Or maybe you're a Netflix-at-home kinda person. On this Supercut, we're discussing, and designing, the perfect moviegoing experience. Whe...

A 3 hour runtime, a film shot wholly for 70mm IMAX, a stacked cast including Cilian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr, Matt Damon and Emily Blunt, and arguably the most ambitious project by director Christopher Nolan. Question is - does Oppenheimer live up to all the hype? With practically no CGI, as claimed by Nolan himself, and a story based on one of the most important events in modern history - Robert...

While the marketing for this movie has been off-the-charts, the studio has been surprisingly light on details regarding plot. Here's what we know - it's a comedy-drama directed by Greta Gerwig and stars Margot Robbie as the lead Barbie among the many other Barbies. It also stars Ryan Gosling as the main Ken among other Kens, and the two leads go off on an adventure that challenges the nature of th...

Ask someone what they think is a perfect movie or TV show, and you're likely to get a whole variety of answers, from Casablanca to The Godfather to Back to the Future to Coco, or from FRIENDS to Mad Men to The Good Place. So in this Supercut, we break down what perfection means when it comes to the screen, and share some of our personal, perfect favourites.   Image Credit: The Truman Sho...

Do we really need a synopsis of MI7, or at this point are we all just waiting to see what literal new heights Tom Cruise will scale (and leap off of)? For what it's worth, in this latest edition, Ethan Hunt and the IMF team have to track down a new weapon of mass destruction, which sets off a deadly chase around the world while contending with a mysterious, seemingly all-powerful foe. Will Ethan s...

There are so many ways these days for movies and shows to get promoted, or to have their lives and pop culture footprint extended - social media love and fandom will do that to you. In this Supercut, we break down some of the things we've watched mostly because of the social media buzz, and discuss the ways memes have shaped the way films and shows get talked about. Image Credit: Imaginur/Flickr,...

Charlie Brooker's ongoing meditation on how technology is shaping and warping our lives is back for its sixth season! Featuring some heavy-hitting actors including Salma Hayek, Aaron Paul, Josh Hartnett, Kate Mara, and Zazie Beetz, it also explores some new stories for the series, and looks at the past and present as much as the future. We discuss whether it's worth the time. Image Credit: Netflix...

Billed as a charming, gentle film about a love of fashion, and trying to find one's way in life, Mrs Harris Goes To Paris is all about a widow exploring the world of haute couture, Paris, and a new lease on life. Starring the formidable Lesley Manville and Isabelle Huppert, the film surprised the box office and critics when it first came out. We discuss our experiences of watching it, and whether...

For the fifth and final time, Indiana Jones returns to our screens with both whipcracks and wisecracks (sorry) to spare. With Harrison Ford closing off his time as this iconic character and James Mangold behind the camera, expectations are high despite Kingdom of the Crystal Skull getting disappointing reviews previously. We talk about what it's like watching a (much-older) Dr Jones face off again...

Based on the TV show from the 1960s, The Fugitive is all about a husband wrongly accused of killing his wife, who then has to evade capture while trying to clear his name. Featuring Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones trying to out-grizzle each other, The Fugitive was a smash hit when it was first released in 1993. 30 years on, we watch it and discuss how this thriller has held up. Image Credit: Fil...

The latest release from Pixar Studios, Elemental is a play on the classic theme of opposites attract. Set in a world where the elements of nature have been anthropomorphised and two opposing elements (fire and water) fall in love, it explores romance and relationships, along with ethnic and generational hang-ups. And while all of that sound close to what we'd expect from this studio, the box offic...

A classic buddy comedy, Rush Hour was also Jackie Chan's first true Hollywood crossover - pairing his physical chops with Chris Tucker's fast-talking comedy. It was a success at the time, though Chan himself has always disavowed it. So how has it aged 25 years on? We discuss.  Image Credit: digitalspy.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's time for another crossover - or as we like to call it, A Bit of Popcorn Culture! We're adopting the format and style of A Bit of Culture, and asking each person to bring in a topic - related to cinema and pop culture of course - to discuss, before we close off with recommendations. This time round, we're discussing musical biopics and whether they're ever any good, the impact of Artificial In...

After several delays, production issues, controversy surrounding its leading actor and a massive shakeup at Warner Bros and DC, The Flash is finally out in cinemas. Hailed as the final film in the current DC timeline spearheaded by Zack Snyder, The Flash loosely adapts the critically acclaimed 'Flashpoint Paradox' comics arc in an attempt to reset the DC cinematic landscape. Barry Allen warps back...