Popcorn Culture

Extraction was a resounding success for Netflix so it was only a matter of time before we got a sequel, which promises to have higher stakes, more action and more explosions than its predecessor. Chris Hemsworth reprises his role as commando Tyler Rake, who must now go on a mission to save a ruthless gangster's imprisoned family. In this episode, we review one of the biggest drops on Netflix this...

Some movies and TV shows are so formulaic, so cringey, so undeserving of anyone's time... that we just have to watch them again, and again. Maybe it's secretly liking Batman & Robin, defending Face/Off as ci-ne-mah, quoting Ella Enchanted or binging trashy reality shows with the word "Love" in it - we all have our guilty pleasures. In this Supercut, we're discussing the shows and movies that w...

How many live-action Transformers movies are there? Honestly, we're not sure, but that won't stop Rise of the Beasts from making a lot of money at the box-office. Based on the ultra-popular Beast Wars line of toys and equally popular 3D animated series from the 90s, this latest film reintroduces us to Optimus Prime and his Autobots, the villainous Decepticons, and a new species of primal cyberneti...

Based on the popular graphic novel by Gene Luen Yang, American-Born Chinese is the story of Jin Wang (Ben Wang), a teenager who finds himself juggling his home life and school life... all while figuring out his role in a battle of Chinese mythological gods! The show also reunites Everything, Everywhere, All At Once stars Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu and Ke Huy Quan. In this episode, we discuss one...

Nice is a bit of a loaded word - while it's ostensibly a good thing, does it make for interesting stories or characters? That's what we explore in this Supercut - who are some of the nicest on-screen characters, and what makes them work without being boring? And simply put - which fictional character would you most like to be friends with? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Miles Morales returns to the multiverse as Spider-Man, reuniting with Gwen Stacy, and encountering other Spider-People who have been tasked with protecting the multiverse... though the path to collaboration is far from smooth. Following as a sequel to 2018's widely lauded Spider-Man: Into The Spider Verse, this comes with high expectations. We discuss whether the film manages to live up to all of...

Believe! The multiple Emmy Award-winning show that champions niceness, mental health and self-development in the guise of being a workplace sitcom, is back. In this review, we break down whether Ted Lasso manages to close off its character arcs well, and whether it lives up to the potential of Season 1.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What goes into creating the perfect finale for a beloved show? From those that stuck the landing (Cheers, Breaking Bad) to those that crashed and burned (How I Met Your Mother, Game of Thrones), this week, we're talking about that all-important final stretch.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As far as Disney classics go, The Little Mermaid is one the big ones, and this live action remake has attracted controversy almost from the beginning - particularly for its casting of African-American actress/singer Halle Bailey in the titular role of Ariel. But beyond that, are also questions of whether people are increasingly growing weary of these live-action Disney remakes. So we head under th...

Big tech is coming, a pivotal presidential election is impending, and the Roy children are still maneuvering for their place at the top of the family’s billion-dollar media empire - while patriarch-mogul Logan Roy (Brian Cox) remains as inscrutable and ruthless as ever. With one of the best-reviewed and most avidly watched shows of the last few years coming to a close, the stakes get higher every...

Some movie franchises go downhill, some TV shows jump the shark, and some pop culture phenomena just don't know when to stop. On this week's Supercut, we talk about the movies and TV shows we've just given up on, and what made us tap out.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Like it or not, there's no denying that the Fast and the Furious franchise is a pop culture juggernaut, with recent installments raking in billions of dollars at the global box office. In Fast X, the first of a three-part planned finale, Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) gathers the Family for another go-round against a dangerous new foe played by Jason Momoa. In this episode, we review the tenth movie...

To say that we were hyped for The Woman King would be an understatement. Although cinemas in Malaysia decided to give it a pass, we finally get to (legally) watch and review it thanks to Netflix. In this 1820s war drama, Viola Davis plays a battle-tested general who trains an army of female warriors who must protect their kingdom against a new enemy. As if Viola Davis needs any further praise, we...

Sitcoms have changed so much over the last fifteen years. They may not have laugh tracks, but the new generation of sitcoms have given us some of the funniest content ever made for TV and streaming. From It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia to Derry Girls, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine to Abbott Elementary,  we're dedicating today's Supercut to our favorite new-ish sitcoms of the modern-ish era. See om...

On the surface, The Mother looks like just another skippable action flick on Netflix, but upon closer inspection, its skippability quickly decreases. First, it stars Jennifer Lopez as a military-trained assassin who comes out of hiding to protect her estranged daughter against revenge-crazed criminals. If you're still not sold, it's also directed by Niki Caro, who helmed The Zookeeper's Wife, Nort...

Every now and then, a great show debuts with all the right ingredients and a nearly flawless first season... with no (pop) cultural impact. That show is Shrinking. Starring Jason Segel in one of his best roles, the comedy-drama tells the story of Jimmy, a grieving therapist who breaks all rules of conduct by getting too close to his patients. The show is written by Brett Goldstein of Ted Lasso fam...

Following a week of films in which the score and songs are front and centre, we discuss the importance of getting it right when it comes to the music in films. From pitch perfect needle drops, to famous composers, we run through all our favourites.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The conclusion of the madcap adventures of the most ragtag heroes in the MCU, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is more than a swansong for Star-Lord and gang, but also for its director and writer James Gunn. We discuss whether this is a return to form for Marvel, as well as whether this unlikely trilogy manages to land the (space) ship.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A continuation of the blockbuster saga that is Ponniyin Selvan, Part II picks up where the first movie left off - as Prince Arunmozhi Varman (Jayam Ravi) continues on his path towards becoming Emperor Rajaraja I, despite threats to his family. And frankly, more characters than you can shake a stick at. The film also boasts a star-studded cast, including Vikram, Aishwarya Rai, and Karthi, alongside...

Cole (Chris Evans) and Sadie (Ana de Armas) meet-cute and go on an amazing date, and Cole thinks she could be "the one" - only to find himself ghosted. Determined to win Sadie over, he hops on a flight to London, but discovers that there is a lot more to Sadie than meets the eye. The movie is being marketed as a romantic action-adventure with sizzling chemistry between the two leads; we review the...

It might be as unbelievable as a pair of twins pulling a cross-continental switcheroo, but The Parent Trap turns 25 this year - and we're happy to report that its charms remain as warm and fuzzy as ever. Lindsay Lohan in her sparkling debut performance plays twins Hallie and Annie, who are separated at birth after their parents' divorce, and discover each other at a summer camp after 11 years. The...

For the first time, we're doing something a little different with Supercut - it's a crossover! 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.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest attempt to translate the wildly popular game to the big screen - after some notable flops - features a large celebrity voice cast (Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jack Black, Seth Rogen) and all the characters that fans would expect (Mario and Luigi, Princess Peach, Bowser, Donkey Kong). But it's also been dogged by some criticisms even before its opening, from casting to its general appr...

One of THE classic buddy comedies, Ivan Reitman's Twins has something of an unbeatable premise: Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny Devito are twin brothers, who are initially unaware of each others' existence, until they encounter one another, and then comedic hijinks ensue. We discuss whether it's a fun rewatch, and how it translates to a viewing 35 years after it first premiered.  See omn...

We all know and fear Dracula - so imagine being his helper for centuries on end. This is exactly where Renfield (Nicholas Hoult) finds himself in this movie: desperate to break away from his master's clutches and ready to start living his own best life. But will his narcissistic - and undead - boss (Nicolas Cage) leave him be? We love an outlandish premise on this show, so we review the movie and...