Popcorn Culture

Ahead of our review of Mulan, we're throwing back to one of the defining wuxia films, that also just happens to be a huge crossover smash hit, winning Academy Awards to boot. We're talking of course, about Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Layering kungfu, romance and myth in one cinematic spectacle, and starring a plethora of stars, it's a rich rewatch for many reasons. See omnystudio.com...

Indiana Jones. The Dude. Imperator Furiosa. Darth Vader. Marty McFly. Annie Hall. What do all of these people have in common? They’re characters you remember long after you’ve left the cinema hall. In this Supercut, we discuss what goes into creating a great, original movie character, and reminisce about some of our favourites. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of director Spike Lee’s most celebrated recent releases, BlacKkKlansman, made its debut on streaming recently, and we’re taking the chance to review it. Tapping into America’s recent calls for black equality and the Black Lives Matters movement, the movie tells the story of African American detective Ron Stallworth (John David Washington) and his colleague Flip Zimmerman (Ada...

As Hollywood and the rest of the world mourn the sudden and untimely loss of actor Chadwick Boseman, we celebrate his magnetic onscreen presence by throwing back to one of his many acclaimed performances - as the Godfather of Soul himself, James Brown. Alongside the movie, we pay tribute to Boseman's legacy and why his roles have left an indelible mark on African American culture and Hollywood cin...

It's finally here! Through the multiple delays and cancellations that have derailed the film industry, Christopher Nolan has always maintained that Tenet needs to be released, and seen, in cinemas, on the biggest screen possible. Tonight we talk about our impressions of Nolan's latest, deeply ambitious film, and whether it really is the blockbuster that's going to turn the tide for the film indust...

Be warned, here there be spoilers! In a special episode of Popcorn Culture, we talk about all things Tenet - and we do mean all things. We discuss plot points, performances, and what we think it all means. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Justice League: Dark is what you get when you combine vigilantism with gothic metal and plenty of witchcraft. Constantine, Zatanna, Swamp Thing, and a handful of creepy characters must team with Batman and try to save the world from the Demons Three. They must then head to Apokalips to hunt down the meanest villain of them all, Darkseid. In this episode, we review both Justice League: Dark and its...

A detective with acrophobia is hired to investigate the strange behaviour of an old friend's wife. As if that premise isn't bizarre enough, the aforementioned detective must now overcome both his obsession with the case, as well as his acrophobia, to prevent his own personal downfall. In this episode, we revisit one of Alfred Hitchcock's most popular works, Vertigo, and discuss how in 1958 it beca...

A detective with acrophobia is hired to investigate the strange behaviour of an old friend's wife. As if that premise isn't bizarre enough, the aforementioned detective must now overcome both his obsession with the case, as well as his acrophobia, to prevent his own personal downfall. In this episode, we revisit one of Alfred Hitchcock's most popular works, Vertigo, and discuss how in 1958 it beca...

Could anyone hate Tom Hanks? The two-time Oscar-winner (and six-time nominee) isn’t just one of the most popular film stars in the world, he’s also one of the most universally liked. With the acting chops to take on both comedic and dramatic roles, Hanks has starred in a whole host of iconic roles, including Sleepless in Seattle, Philadelphia, Forrest Gump, and Captain Phillips. In thi...

This biopic of treasured children’s TV personality Fred Rogers - which stars another immensely likeable American icon, Tom Hanks - never made it to the Malaysian cinemas. The movie begins with a rather sceptical investigative journalist (Matthew Rhys) being assigned to interview Rogers, and intertwines both their journeys into a tale of empathy and kindness. As it premieres on streaming, we...

The Muppets have had so many movie capers (eight, to be exact!), that it might be difficult to keep track - but we’re taking it all the way back to their silver-screen debut, 1979’s The Muppet Movie. In the film, the gang reminisce about how they all met, while we discuss why Jim Henson’s puppet creations remain so delightful 65 years after they were first introduced. See omnystu...

In 2010, Kathryn Bigelow won the Academy Award for Best Director, for her film The Hurt Locker (famously beating her ex-husband James Cameron to the punch). She was the first woman to win this award, and to date, still the only one. In this episode of Supercut, we discuss female creators in the entertainment we watch, from directors and writers, to showrunners and editors - we'll be going through...

A searing look at how modern dating and relationships affect the practice of consent and blur the lines, I May Destroy You is a show that experiments with storytelling and boundaries. Its creator Michaela Coel turned down a million dollar deal with Netflix to have total creative control and ownership - we talk about how that might have impacted the show, and how the show treats themes not often di...

One of the quintessential coming-of-age movies (and dramedies), Juno tells the story of a smart, independent teenager confronting an unexpected pregnancy and dealing with the twists and turns of life. In this episode, we talk about how this movie handles difficult subjects with deft writing, sharp comedy and emotional depth. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From epic medieval battles to the grueling tales of World War II, audiences have always been fascinated by the concept of war and how it's portrayed in movies. Is it the element of pure danger that keeps us watching? Or is it the notion that most of these amazing stories are inspired by true events? On this Supercut, we talk about our favorite war films, what makes a great battle scene, and why a...

A U.S. Navy Commander named Ernest Krause, played by Tom Hanks, and his Allied crew are being pursued by German U-Boats. Soon, Krause will find himself trying to survive the most complex naval battle in history - The Battle of the Atlantic! On this episode, we check out AppleTV+'s newest high-profile offering, Greyhound. At a lean 91 minutes, the big budget film is designed for streaming, but will...

General. Slave. Gladiator who defied an emperor. Movie that won Russell Crowe an Oscar. In this episode, we revisit 'Gladiator' - one of the finest movies from the year 2000. The film also cemented Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, and composer Hans Zimmer as Hollywood gold. We discuss Gladiator's pop culture impact, how a slew of copycat films tried to replicate its success, and why the story of Ma...

Everyone’s teenage years are likely filled with emotions, adventures, hopes, and disappointments - it’s no wonder they are such fertile ground for cinematic storytelling. In this Supercut, we discuss the many variations of teen movies, the iconic names behind them, and what makes them work (or not!). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adapted from the popular children’s book series of the same name, The Baby-Sitters Club follows the friendship and adventures of five middle-schoolers as they start a babysitting business in Stoneybrook, Connecticut. While the show takes a fun and lighthearted tone, it doesn’t shy away from addressing real issues that many young people of today face, such as divorced parents, self este...

The quintessential skiver’s handbook, this John Hughes teen comedy from 1986 became an instant classic thanks to its irreverent humour, memorable performances, excellent soundtrack and its infectiously youthful vibe. We revisit Ferris Bueller’s Day Off for a big dose of ‘80s nostalgia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whether it's epic novels or comic books, adapting for the screen comes with its own unique set of challenges. For instance, keeping fans of the book happy while ensuring that viewers can understand the story on its own terms, cutting characters and storylines to fit a 2 hour running time, and even casting the right actors for characters who've lived in the public imagination for years. The list go...

Based on Donna Tartt's complex novel about trauma, grief and art, The Goldfinch tackles the tale of Theo Decker, and what happens after he survives a bomb explosion in a museum that kills his mother. In the process, he also inadvertently steals a painting, and it's this act and its consequences that will come to haunt him. The Goldfinch was said to be an unfilmable novel, with its layered narrativ...

How do we treat people who are different to us? What does it mean to have special abilities - to be a mutant? The very first film in the (frankly uneven) X-Men movie franchise explores these questions and does so in style. Marking the Hollywood debut of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, it's also the first time that these beloved comic book characters were seen on the silver screen. We discuss the impact...

Dreamy doctors, smooth lawyers, and scientists born wearing bifocals. On-screen professions may be vaguely based on real life, but that hasn't stopped us from wanting the careers of some of our favorite characters. On this Supercut, we explore the many ways professions are portrayed in pop culture and discuss why some of them, while hilariously inaccurate, are just so appealing to us! See omnystud...