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 Toothless’ story into a new visual era. Then on Take Two, we discuss children's movies we still love as ...
Jun 20, 2025•47 min
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, to the power of implied acts of violence. Image Credit: IMDb See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...
Jun 13, 2025•42 min
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. We review both these films and then on Take Two discuss some of our favourite characters from our chi...
Jun 06, 2025•45 min
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 discussion by talking about adaptations as a whole - what are the pitfalls and joys of translating sto...
May 30, 2025•47 min
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 last old school movie stars in the Hollywood mould. Image Credit: IMDb See omnystudio.com/listener for ...
May 23, 2025•46 min
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, things and places that have played a role in making the stories of a galaxy long time ago, and far far a...
May 16, 2025•46 min
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 extraterrestrials, with the history of martial law in the country. And finally, a review of Emmy Award-winn...
May 09, 2025•46 min
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 post-Endgame? Image Credit: IMDb See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
May 02, 2025•43 min
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 experiences. Image Credit: IMDb See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Apr 25, 2025•43 min
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 fiction representations on screen. Image Credit: IMDb See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Apr 18, 2025•41 min
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 various portrayals of wealth on screen. Image Credit: IMDb See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...
Apr 11, 2025•44 min
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 a fan of the OG video game, and then pivot to talking about video game adaptations (of which there ...
Apr 04, 2025•44 min
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 – Adolescence. The harrowing but relevant series follows a 13-year-old teenage boy, Jamie who is arreste...
Mar 28, 2025•44 min
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, and how that echoes through the rest of their lives. It was nominated for two Academy Awards, and g...
Mar 21, 2025•44 min
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/listener for privacy information.
Mar 14, 2025•44 min
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 pivoting in Take Two to ask: is there a biopic you’d like to see made, and who would you cast in the lead...
Mar 07, 2025•44 min
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.
Feb 28, 2025•43 min
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 Day, the latest installment of Bridget Jones is out on the big screen, seeing our heroine tackle middl...
Feb 21, 2025•44 min
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 pounding theme by Alan Silvestri. Image Credit: IMDb See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...
Feb 14, 2025•45 min
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 it takes to be a successful action star in this day and age, and how that’s changed over time, or is...
Feb 07, 2025•46 min
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, physician and folk hero in the 19th and early 20th century. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...
Jan 31, 2025•42 min
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 then close off with a little musical treat from Paddington. Image Credit: IMDb See omnystudio.com/liste...
Jan 24, 2025•44 min
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 discuss the scariest on-screen creatures and finally on the B-Side, unpack the music of Ennio Morrico...
Jan 17, 2025•44 min
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 Ends With Us, the adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel starring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni (who...
Jan 10, 2025•41 min
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.
Jan 03, 2025•45 min
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, and whether it enriches the larger story arc of Mufasa as a character. Then in Take Two, the question ...
Dec 20, 2024•41 min
This week, we review another double bill of Stuff We Missed – TV edition. First up is the gritty crime-thriller set in Matt Reeves’ Gotham City and centred around the iconic Batman villain, The Penguin. And then, we move on to the most expensive animated series of all time, Arcane, an adaptation of the hit video game League of Legends. After that on Take Two, we discuss some of our favourite TV shows of 2024, before we close off on The B-Side with a listen to Enemy by Imagine Dragons. Image Cred...
Dec 13, 2024•40 min
8 years after the first movie, Moana 2 is hitting the big screen, and sees our heroine reunited with some familiar faces, while fighting new foes. With Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson reprise their roles as Moana and Maui respectively, this was a movie that was originally conceived as a limited series - so how does it fare as a feature film? We discuss that, before continuing to ask a larger question about Disney, and whether its golden age has passed, or is yet to come, before closing out wi...
Dec 06, 2024•42 min
Based on the famed musical that tells the story of Glinda and Elphaba (the Good Witch of the North, and the Wicked Witch of the West respectively) in the Land of Oz, Wicked: Part I is a much-anticipated movie, not least because of the musical firepower in its cast and the credentials of its director Jon M. Chu. We kick things off by reviewing the film, and whether we’re looking forward to Part II, before then discussing the best and worst of musicals. And finally, we close things off with a deep...
Nov 29, 2024•40 min
Ridley Scott returns with Gladiator II, a sequel to his 2000 classic that nobody asked for but we’re all excited for nonetheless. Starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal and Denzel Washington, the film promises a fresh and intense journey into the brutal and captivating world of ancient Rome. We discuss if it lives up to the original, then on Take Two, talk about some of our favourite sequels of all time and finally on the B-Side, we explore the epic theme by Hans Zimmer from the original film. Image...
Nov 22, 2024•40 min
