Popcorn Culture
Popcorn Culture is a podcast that explores movies, TV shows, and pop culture trends, discussing both beloved and less popular works. Hosted by BFM Media, the show delves into how films like those featuring talking apes and Jedi Knights impact Hollywood and the broader entertainment landscape.
Episodes
Zach Cregger Takes On Resident Evil
It isn't every day that a beloved video game franchise gets a second film reboot, let alone one directed by someone with Zach Cregger's calibre (Weapons, Barbarian) - so it's no wonder fans are excited. Taking place during events paralleling the 1998 game Resident Evil 2, this new film follows Austin Abrams' Bryan, a medical courier fighting through a viral outbreak of infected monsters while tryi
Terbang + The Fox King + The Paper
Description: Terbang is the latest film by Chiu Keng Guan, the Malaysian filmmaker behind The Journey and Ola Bola. Loosely inspired by the story of Karamjit Singh, the legendary Malaysian rally driver known as the “Flying Sikh”, the film follows Ajeet as he navigates the world of motorsport and makes a dramatic comeback after a horrific rally accident. Starring Irfan Zaini, Zizan Razak, Jack Tan
Na Hong Jin's Hope
A small border town in South Korea. An alien invasion and a rollicking rampage. Carnage and mayhem. That's the premise and promise of Hope, Na Hong-Jin's latest cinematic release, since 2016's The Wailing. Since its debut at Cannes, Hope generated headlines, and wildly varied ones at that. While some reviews celebrated its exhilarating action and ambitious scope, others were less enthused about it
Train to Busan's 10th Anniversary + Ted Lasso S4
Train to Busan turns 10 this year, and the South Korean zombie thriller is returning to cinemas in a new 4K restoration. We revisit the story of passengers fighting to survive a zombie outbreak aboard a high-speed train from Seoul to Busan, and ask whether it still holds up a decade later.Meanwhile, Ted Lasso is back for a fourth season, and this time, Ted is back to coach the AFC Richmond's newly
Merdeka Special: Talentime + Ola Bola
This week, we pay tribute to two iconic performers who left an indelible mark on the screen and in our childhoods. We look back at the memorable careers of Tim Curry and Peter Cullen and the characters that made them household names. After that, ahead of the long Merdeka weekend, the timing felt right to throw it back to a couple of films that celebrate Malaysia and Malaysianness. So we start off
The End of Oak Street: Nailbiting or Toothless?
The End of Oak Street was marketed as the next IMAX summer tentpole film after The Odyssey and Spiderman: Brand New Day, but the sci-fi dinosaur thriller hasn't lived up to expectations, either at the box office or with audiences, who've given it middling ratings. The film also marks David Robert Mitchell's return to the director's chair for the first time in eight years since Under the Silver Lak
DC + Daniel Craig’s Bond Films
We kick off this episode by reviewing DC, the fourth film by Arun Matheswaran, the acclaimed Tamil filmmaker behind Rocky (not the Sylvester Stallone film about boxing) and Saani Kaayidham. Like his other films, the film follows characters from the margins of society and centres around revenge and crime. This time, however, Matheswaran places that familiar brutality within a romance – specifically
Spider-Man: Brand New Day
7 years after the last Spider-Man outing, we return to the world and story of Peter Parker, as he operates as the web-slinging superhero, but in a time where everyone’s forgotten that he exists. As he faces an evolution in his powers, he also faces one of the most powerful threats he’s ever encountered. This film sees the return of the familiar trio of Tom Holland, Zendaya and Jacob Batalon, along
Widow's Bay & The Drama + Memorable Performances
In this episode, it's a double-bill of reviews! First, we review The Drama — Norwegian director Kristoffer Borgli's romantic black comedy starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson as a happily engaged couple whose relationship is thrown into crisis when an unexpected revelation surfaces during their wedding week. Meanwhile, Widow's Bay is a horror-comedy series on Apple TV+ set in a quaint New England
The Odyssey + Best of Christopher Nolan
Christopher Nolan is back after three years with The Odyssey, an epic mythological adventure adapted from Homer's ancient Greek poem. Nolan has always been incredibly passionate about the IMAX format, so it's no surprise he would be the one to deliver the first feature film ever shot entirely with IMAX cameras. It follows the legendary hero Odysseus (Matt Damon) on his perilous decade-long journey
Minions & Monsters + Best Sidekicks
The Minions are back in the third instalment of their standalone franchise, and this time, the adorable, semi-gibberish-spouting yellow creatures are taking over Hollywood and unleashing monsters. Pierre Coffin pays tribute to multiple horror classics and tropes while also hewing to the well-established formula of Minion hijinks and physical comedy. We discuss whether this is the best film in the
Dear You & The Furious + Best of 2026 (so far!)
This week, we're looking at two films from opposite ends of the cinematic spectrum. First, we review The Furious, Kenji Tanigaki's bone-crunching Hong Kong action thriller about a father tearing through a criminal underworld to rescue his kidnapped daughter. Then, we switch gears with Dear You, the Teochew-language family drama that's become one of the year's biggest word-of-mouth sensations, foll
Supergirl & Obsession + Favourite Superhero Movies
In this episode, we have a double bill of reviews. Obsession is the second low-budget indie horror movie by a Gen-Z director that has taken the world by storm, after Backrooms. Directed by Curry Barker, the film centres around Bear (Michael Johnston), a hopeless romantic who uses a mystical “One Wish Willow” to make his crush Nikki (Inde Navarrette) love him, but as they say, be careful what you w
Toy Story 5 + Pixar Favourites
Woody and the gang are back once again, in the 5th installment of the Toy Story franchise. This time, the gang finds themselves facing a new threat: technology, in the form of a tablet, which has become Bonnie’s new favourite plaything. So how does the movie do in dealing with such a timely subject, and is it a worthy addition to Toy Story? We discuss that, before pivoting to discussing the best o
Disclosure Day + Best Alien Movies/Series
Steven Spielberg returns to one of his favourite subjects with Disclosure Day, an original sci-fi thriller about a meteorologist and whistleblower racing to expose years of government secrecy surrounding the existence of extraterrestrial life while powerful deep-state forces try to stop them. It's Spielberg's first alien film since War of the Worlds and has been billed as a spiritual companion to
Masters of the Universe & Backrooms + Favourite Childhood Characters (Pt 2)
In this episode, we review two films that are vastly different. Masters of the Universe is a campy fantasy superhero adventure film based on the beloved 1980s He-Man animated series. Directed by Travis Knight, the film stars Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man/Prince Adam, Jared Leto as Skeletor, as well as, Alison Brie, Idris Elba and more. It follows Prince Adam's journey from Earth to the magical worl
The Sheep Detectives + Onscreen Animals
What happens when you take a flock of sheep raised on a steady diet of Agatha Christie and the like, add the death of their beloved shepherd, lessons about grief and pain, and sprinkle on some gentle humour? The result is Craig Mazin's The Sheep Detectives, starring Hugh Jackman, Nicholas Braun and Molly Gordon (as people) and a rich voice cast, featuring Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, Bryan Cranston and C
Colony & Polong + Horror Baddies
Train to Busan director Yeon Sang-ho returns with Colony, a zombie thriller in which professor Se-jeong, played by Gianna Jun, is thrust into a nightmare when a rapidly mutating virus is unleashed at a biotech conference, sealing the facility and trapping survivors inside. The film premiered at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival and marks Yeon's most thematically ambitious genre work yet. Meanwhile, cl
The Mandalorian and Grogu + Highs and Lows of Star Wars
Star Wars is back on the big screen, with The Mandalorian and Grogu. Building on the Disney+ series, the film brings together, as the title suggests, the Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal) and Grogu AKA Baby Yoda, as they go on a Western-inspired space adventure. Things get messy when they go on a mission that involves the infamous Hutts. First, we discuss if the film lives up to the series. Then on Take
Mortal Kombat II
Helmed by returning director Simon McQuoid, Mortal Kombat II is the sequel to 2021’s initial return to this video game universe. Expect martial arts hijinks and fantasy as the champions of Earthrealm are (surprise) forced to fight one another even as they attempt to resist the rise of a larger villain, Shao Khan. We discuss whether this installment in the franchise is good old-fashioned action fun
Michael & Beef S2 + Vibey Movies/Series
We review Michael, the biopic on Michael Jackson, starring his nephew Jaafar Jackson in the lead role. Then, we discuss the acclaimed comedy drama series, Beef, which is back with another season and a whole new cast of characters. This time, it follows two couples (Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan as one pair, alongside Charles Melton and Cailee Spaeny) divided by generation, wealth, power and crumb
The Pitt S2 + Doctors on Screen
Season 2 of The Pitt takes us back to Dr Robby’s emergency department in Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center, where the team continues to negotiate high stakes medical emergencies, personal conflicts and hurts, and America’s political tensions. So we discuss whether this season lives up to the highs and strengths of the first, before turning our attention to the many doctors who have graced our scree
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie + Shrinking S3
In this episode, we dive into two very different returns to familiar worlds. First up, it’s a cosmic upgrade for everyone’s favourite plumber in The Super Mario Bros Galaxy Movie – a colourful, high-energy adventure that trades the Mushroom Kingdom for outer space. Then, we shift gears to Season 3 of Shrinking, where the therapy sessions get messier, the relationships more complicated, and the sho
The Lord of the Rings Celebration
Throughout the month of March, The Lord of the Rings Extended Editions were released in Malaysia for the first time in conjunction with the franchise’s 25th anniversary. The Lord of the Rings, based on J. R. R. Tolkien's magnum opus novel of the same name, is, of course, one of the most celebrated film franchises of all time. It's one of the rare franchises that is beloved by the nerdiest of fans,
Hoppers & Project Hail Mary + Sci-Fi Favourites
In this episode, we’re reviewing two very different movies that play in the same genre. First up, what’s been touted as the funniest Pixar movie ever, Hoppers tells the story of Mabel, an animal lover, whose mind is transferred into a lifelike robotic beaver to communicate with animals and save their habitat from human destruction - but along the way, she kinda sorta starts an uprising. Then, we h
Pop Culture Easter Eggs on the Disney Adventure
With the Disney Adventure recently setting off on its inaugural sailing, we take you on board and explore the little pop culture nuggets that make the cruise unique - expect cameos from Robert Downey Jr., and lots of Disney music.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bugonia + Craziest Movies You've Seen
Bugonia, the darkly comic thriller from director Yorgos Lanthimos, has arrived in Malaysian theatres. Starring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons, it follows two conspiracy-obsessed men who kidnap a powerful pharmaceutical CEO, convinced she is secretly an alien plotting to destroy Earth - and things only get stranger from there. We talk about how zany the film gets, then on Take 2, we ask you: What's t
Hamnet + Movies/Series That Make Us Cry Pt. 2
It’s been one of the most talked-about movies in the awards circuit: Hamnet, based on Maggie O’Farrell’s bestselling novel about the death of William Shakespeare’s young son, and the grief that ripples through a family. We discuss whether the film earns its tears, and open up the phone lines and ask: what’s a movie or series that always makes you cry?Image Credit: IMDbSee omnystudio.com/listener f
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms + Memorable Performances From Child Actors
In this episode, we review the fantasy drama A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, based on the novellas by George R. R. Martin. Set decades before the events of Game of Thrones, the series follows the wandering hedge knight Ser Duncan the Tall and his young squire Egg as they travel across Westeros, crossing paths with nobles, rivals and rising political tensions in a quieter but no less dangerous real
Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die & Wuthering Heights + Uncomfortable Movies
In this episode, we review two films. First up is the new science fiction-comedy by Gore Verbinski, Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die. It stars Sam Rockwell, Haley Lu Richardson and Michael Pena and follows a man from the future who arrives at a diner and must recruit a ragtag crew to save the world from a rogue AI. We also review the latest adaptation of Wuthering Heights, which stars Margot Robbie
A Chinese Odyssey + Movies to Watch With Your Family
To commemorate the Chinese New Year, we throwback to a beloved Hong Kong fantasy comedy starring Stephen Chow: A Chinese Odyssey. In this film inspired by Journey to the West, Chow plays a carefree bandit who slowly discovers his true identity as the Monkey King while navigating time travel. Later on Take Two, we discuss the best films to watch with your family during the holiday season.Image cred
Send Help + Survival On Screen
After dipping his toes into the MCU, Sam Raimi is back with the genre that made his name - horror (and corresponding squelchiness). In Send Help, Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien go head to head, as a mistreated employee and sexist boss respectively, who get stranded on a desert island together, and need to survive, whether by working together, or turning on one another and emerging victorious. We
Stuff We Missed: Memori & Sore + Time Travel Movies
In this episode, we take a look at a couple of Southeast Asian films currently available on streaming. First, we review Malaysia’s own Memori, a kinship drama about a father who’s diagnosed with Alzheimer's and his estranged son. After that, we discuss the Indonesian film that’s garnering a lot of attention on social media, Sore: A Wife From the Future, which as the title suggests, is a sci-fi rom
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple + Zombies on Screen
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is a direct sequel to last year’s installment in the franchise, and sees Alex Garland returning as screenwriter, and Nia DaCosta taking over as director. Filmed back to back with 28 Years Later, it picks up on the story of Ralph Fiennes’ Dr Ian Kelson, and expands on the cult of the Jimmys. We discuss the film (and whether it’s likely to lead to the promised third m
The Voice of Hind Rajab + Movies/Series Based On True Stories
This week, we review The Voice of Hind Rajab, which recounts the harrowing true story of a young Palestinian girl trapped in Gaza, capturing the desperate phone call she made to emergency responders as her life hung in the balance. Following our reviews, on Take Two, we talk about the best movies and shows that are based on true stories.Image Credit: IMDbSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf
Pluribus S1 and Stranger Things S5 + Great Endings
In this double bill episode, we review the newly concluded Season 1 of Apple TV's Pluribus, and discuss whether it has us excited for a second season of this philosophical sci-fi mystery, before turning our attention to the final season of Stranger Things, which sees us bidding goodbye to the denizens of Hawkins, and the Upside Down. Then, we ask the question: What movies and/or shows ha
Avatar: No Fire No Ash?
In this special episode of Popcorn Culture, we review the latest in James Cameron’s Na’vi epic, Avatar: Fire and Ash, and discuss whether the visual mastery on screen warrants a visit to the cinema.Image Credit: IMDBSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Wake Up Dead Man + Best of 2025
We wrap up the year by returning to the simultaneously murderous and cosy setting of Rian Johnson's Knives Out series, with the latest installment, Wake Up Dead Man, which sees Benoit Blanc return to investigate a murder at a small upstate New York church and the close-knit community there. And then since it’s the end of the year, we ask you what were the best series and movies of 2025.Image Credi
Jay Kelly + Dramas: Does Anyone Like Them Anymore?
Noah Baumbach directs Jay Kelly (2025), which stars Adam Sandler and George Clooney, and follows a famed but disillusioned actor and his loyal manager as they travel across Europe, confronting past mistakes and estranged relationships. We discuss whether this star-studded movie lives up to its promise, before turning our attention to the question of whether adult dramas, sans action or bombast, ha
Zootopia 2 + Favourite Animal Characters
In this episode, it's all about the follow-up to 2016's wildly successful Zootopia, which sees the return of earnest bunny cop Judy Hopps and wily con artist fox Nick Wilde, and the continuation of their unlikely partnership as they go undercover to pursue a new and mysterious reptilian resident Gary De'Snake. And since so much of Zootopia's delights rest in its animal-centred world and setting, w
Pluribus + Fun Movies/Shows To Talk About
In this episode of our podcast, we dive into the first four episodes of Vince Gilligan’s Pluribus, the much-hyped Apple TV+ sci-fi thriller that marks a major return for the Breaking Bad creator. With a near-perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes and buzz everywhere, the show follows Carol Sturka (played by Rhea Seehorn), one of the few immune to a mysterious contagion that has transformed humanity into
Wicked: For Good + Musicals, Pt 2
It’s been a year since Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba and Ariana Grande’s Glinda were last on the big screen, finding themselves on opposite sides of a political and ethical divide in Oz. This year, we finally get to see director Jon M. Chu tackle the famously difficult and darker second act of Wicked - we discuss if it lives up to the hype and love that the first movie garnered. Then, as we did with Wic
The Running Man & Frankenstein + Fresh Adaptations/Remakes
It's another double bill this week. First up, we review Edgar Wright's latest film, The Running Man, which is an adaptation of Stephen King's 1982 dystopian novel of the same name. It stars Glenn Powell, Katy O'Brian and Josh Brolin and is about a man forced to participate in a deadly state-sanctioned game show where contestants are hunted for entertainment. Following that, we discuss if Guillermo
Predator: Badlands + The Best and Worst of Franchises
The latest in the Predator universe, Predator: Badlands sees the return of Dan Trachtenberg to the helm, following his two previous installments (Prey, and Predator: Killer of Killers). Promising to be a standalone film that’s a look at the Predator species and their culture, it also departs from previous movies by having the titular Predator as the protagonist rather than the antagonist. We talk
No Other Choice & A House of Dynamite + Best Directors
In this episode, we review two new releases by some of the best filmmakers in the world. Kathryn Bigelow is back with another political thriller, A House of Dynamite. It stars Idris Elba and Rebecca Ferguson, and is about the aftermath of an unidentified missile launch that sends global powers scrambling to uncover who’s behind it before catastrophe strikes. Meanwhile, South Korean filmmaker Park
Good Fortune + All Things Keanu
Keanu Reeves and Sandra Oh as angels, Seth Rogen and Aziz Ansari in a bodyswap, bonus Keke Palmer - random disparate elements, or winning combo? We review Good Fortune (which is also Aziz Ansari’s directorial debut) and find out for ourselves, before turning our attention to the four-decade long career of the iconic Keanu Reeves, and discussing its highs, lows, and of course, whoas.Image Credit: I
Vada Chennai + Movies/Series About Revenge
It’s the week of Deepavali! This year, we revisit the 2018 film Vada Chennai by acclaimed director Vetrimaaran, which underperformed at the box office when it was first released but has since gained a cult following. It stars Dhanush and follows a skilled carrom player from North Chennai who becomes entangled in the city’s underworld and power struggles over several decades. We review the film, an
One Battle After Another + Leonardo DiCaprio
We review One Battle After Another, Leonardo DiCaprio’s first collaboration with Paul Thomas Anderson, which draws on the paranoid humour and tangled conspiracies of Thomas Pynchon's Vineland. On Take 2, we revisit your favourite DiCaprio performances, and on B-Side, we dive into Jonny Greenwood’s soundtrack of tense rhythms that mirrors the film’s spiralling paranoia. Image Credit: IMDbSee omnyst
Stuff We Missed: Black Bag + Romantic Movies
Black Bag is a spy-drama by Steven Soderbergh available to stream on HBO. It follows two legendary intelligence agents, George Woodhouse (Michael Fassbender) and his wife Kathryn (Cate Blanchett), whose marriage is tested when Kathryn becomes a suspect in a national security leak. But really, it's a film that explores what relationships would look like if everyone in your circle were secret agents
Princess Mononoke & Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra + Female-led Action
With Princess Mononoke back in theatres, we thought it would only be right to look back at one of Hayao Miyazaki’s early masterpieces the way it’s meant to be seen: On the biggest screen possible. We also review Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, a Malayali superhero movie that’s making waves in Indian cinema. Then, we discuss your favourite female-led action movies and series, before deep diving into Joe
Wednesday S2 & Highest 2 Lowest + Favourite Mysteries/Whodunits
Netflix’s hit gothic mystery series, Wednesday, is back for its highly anticipated second season. The stakes are higher, there are new mysteries to be solved and loads of wild teenage drama too! Meanwhile, Spike Lee and Denzel Washington reunite for Highest 2 Lowest, an English-language remake of Akira Kurosawa's 1963 film High and Low. So, in this episode of Popcorn Culture, we’ve got a double bi
Malaysian Short Films + Your Favourite Malaysian Movies
With Merdeka around the corner, Popcorn Culture celebrates local filmmaking with a review of three local short films: 'Pace' by Ekin Kee Charles, 'The House of Brick and Stone' by Ananth Subramaniam and 'Fasa' by Syahmi Norsan.Then on Take 2, we discuss your favourite Malaysian movies, before hearing from our local filmmakers about the hopes thay have for Malaysian cinema. For this we hear from Ad
Coolie + Signature Moves/Gestures by Movie Stars
Superstar Rajinikanth is back on the big screen with his 171st film, Coolie – a milestone that also marks his 50th year in cinema. Not only that, it’s also the first time he’s teamed up with Lokesh Kanagaraj, who’s arguably the most popular action-film director in India right now. There’s also the star-studded pan-Indian supporting cast – Nagarjuna, Soubin Shahir, Upendra, Shruti Haasan and a came
Weapons + What Kind Of Horror Do You Like?
This week, we’re reviewing the latest, much-anticipated entry into the Horror Canon of Creepy Children, in the form of Zach Cregger’s Weapons. In it, seventeen children from the same classroom mysteriously run out of their homes towards an unknown target in the middle of the night, going missing, with no reason why. We talk about the movie, and whether it lives up to the acclaim it’s been receivin
The Naked Gun + Favourite Comedies
The Police Squad is back in an all-new reboot of The Naked Gun, starring Liam Neeson as Lt. Frank Drebin Jr. - the one man who has the particular set of skills to save the world - and Pamela Anderson as femme fatale, Beth Davenport. So of course, we talk about whether old-timey slapstick comedy still lands in 2025. Then on Take 2, we ask you for your favourite comedies, before diving into Liam Nee
Stuff We Missed: 28 Years Later + Best Film & TV of the Year (So Far)
We're halfway through 2025, so we're looking back at releases we didn’t get to review, beginning with the much-hyped return of Danny Boyle and Alex Garland's '28 Years Later'. We also review the Palestinian film, 'All That's Left of You' which won Best Film at MIFFest, and the beloved Tamil-language 'Tourist Family'. Then, we open up our phone lines and ask listeners for their selections!Image Cre
Fantastic Four + Same Character, New Actor
The Fantastic Four finally arrive in the MCU in First Steps, a 1960s-set sci-fi adventure from director Matt Shakman. Pedro Pascal leads as the stretchy Reed Richards, alongside Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. After two previously failed attempts at launching these popular comic book characters on the big screen, will the third time finally be the charm? We review the film, an
The Brutalist & KPop Demon Hunters + Are Movies Too Long?
This week, we bring you a double-bill review of the 4-hour meditative epic, The Brutalist, in which Adrian Brody portrays a Hungarian architect’s postwar life in America, and Netflix's KPop Demon Hunters, a candy-coloured action romp where a girl group secretly fights demons. Then on Take 2, we ask: are movies just too long now — and which ones actually earn their runtime? Plus, on the B-side, we
Superman + Favourite Superheroes
After putting us through the emotional wringer in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, James Gunn is back with another comic book adaptation — this time, not obscure misfits but arguably the most iconic superhero of all: Superman. Starring David Corenswet as the new Man of Steel, this marks the first chapter in Gunn’s ambitious reboot of the DC Universe. Could this be the film that finally sets the DCU
F1 and Jurassic World Rebirth + Awesome Movie Moments
We review F1, a high‑octane, Hollywood‑polished Formula 1 drama starring Brad Pitt as a washed-up racer turned mentor, and Jurassic World Rebirth, where Scarlett Johansson leads a team to a forbidden island to extract DNA from colossal, mutated dinosaurs for a miracle drug. And then on Take 2, inspired by the original wonder of turning the corner and seeing the brachiosaurus for the first time, we
How to Train Your Dragon + Elio
We bring you a double bill of Pixar's latest space-venture, Elio, and the live-action version of How to Train Your Dragon. In the former, Pixar bring us a socially alienated boy who's obsessed with aliens and finds himself abducted and having to navigate an intergalactic conflict. In the latter, we have Dean DeBlois, who directed the original animated trilogy, returning to bringing Hiccup and Toot
Ballerina + Violence On Screen
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
Keluang Man and Mountainhead + Favourite Childhood Characters
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
The Last of Us S2 and Lilo & Stitch + Adaptations
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
Mission Impossible - The Final Reckoning + Movie Stars
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
Andor Season 2 + the Best of Star Wars
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
Stuff We Missed: Blood Brothers/Projekt U.F.O/Hacks + Funny People
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
Thunderbolts + MCU Post-Endgame
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
Sinners + Most Memorable IMAX Experiences
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
Black Mirror S7 + Science Fiction On-Screen
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
The White Lotus + Wealth on Screen
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
A Minecraft Movie + Video Game Adaptations
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
Severance & Adolescence + Best/Worst Fictional Workplaces
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
Ne Zha 2 / Nickel Boys + Movies about Difficult Themes
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,
Mickey 17 + Desperate Protagonists
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: IMDbSee omnystudio.com/listener
A Complete Unknown + Cast A Biopic of Your Choice
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
Nosferatu + Vampire Movies
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: IMDbSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A Real Pain + Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy & Shocking On-Screen Deaths
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: Brave New World + Iconic Characters
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
Love Hurts + Action Stars
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
