Popzara Podcast

Article: Joker: Folie à Deux (2024)

When watching musicals, you have to buy into a certain level of delusion on screen, otherwise you’ll just be scratching your head for two hours. Likewise, if musicals were absolutely literal, it would be preposterous for any sane character to sit there without questioning why everyone around them knows the words and dance moves to a brand new song that’s never been heard before.

Article: Piece by Piece (2024)

My earliest awareness of Pharrell Williams’ music came circa 2004, but in the most obscure way possible. Despite producing some of my favorite tracks from the likes of Usher, Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, and No Doubt, Pharrell, along with his production team The Neptunes, wasn’t the name I had attached to these zeitgeisty songs.

Article: The Smurfs – Dreams

I’ve been a fan of The Smurfs ever since I saw The Smurfs and the Magic Flute as a kid in the early 1980s. While there’s been plenty of Smurfs games released on all sorts of platforms, most of them have been duds until recently with hits such as Smurfs Kart and even last year’s The Smurfs 2: The Prisoner of the Green Stone.

Article: Kindle Paperwhite e-Reader (2024)

Once again, Amazon has waited a full three years to update their flagship Kindle Paperwhite e-Reader with a host of improvements that improve the experience over the still-incredible 2021 model. I’m sure even the most diehard book enthusiasts would be amazed at just how competitive - and innovative! - the world of E Ink e-Readers has become in recent years, and we’ve started to see industry-leader Amazon finally take notice.

Article: The Waiting (2024)

One thing longtime Michael Connelly fans should know before diving into The Waiting, which is being marketed as a Ballard and Bosch adventure, is that the “Bosch” could mean one of two characters; retired LA detective Harry Bosch, easily the writer’s most popular character, or his daughter, Maddy Bosch, now working as a patrol officer in the LAPD but dreams of following in her (in)famous dad’s grizzled footsteps. Last year’s Resurrection Walk, which heavily focused on Harry Bosch and Mickey “Lincoln Lawyer” Haller, left little room for Ballard (minus an extended cameo), but here the Connellyverse continues to coalesce around Renée Ballard as its new center, functioning as a dual “passing of the touch” for both the series’ lead as well as the expected generational transition from father to daughter.

Article: BenQ MOBIUZ EX321UX Gaming Monitor

BenQ is back at it with their MOBIUZ EX321UX Gaming Monitor, an updated follow up from the prior EX3210U model I covered a while ago and called one of the best premium PC game displays at the time. Upon first glance, I thought there was a mistake with shipping because it almost looks identical, but the similarities are only skin deep as this dedicated single-player monitor has been elevated to the next level.

Article: Reolink Altas PT Ultra 4K Wireless Security Camera

After reviewing the Reolink Battery Doorbell, I couldn’t wait to see what other security devices the company would come up with next. I didn’t have to wait long as our friends there sent over the Reolink Altas PT Ultra 4K Wireless Security Camera that makes watching over your property as easy as possible.

Article: SUPER FLOWER LEADEX VII Platinum PRO 1200W ATX3.1 Power Supply

PC power supplies (PSU) are often an overlooked component that practically does all the heavy lifting for your system, basically it’s the heart of any desktop computer whether you’re building something essential or a raw gaming beast with multiple GPUs attached. Enter Super Flower, a brand that you probably never knew by themselves but is actually a manufacturer that discreetly works behind the scenes as an OEM supplier for other recognized companies known to charge a premium for their labels.

Article: SUPER FLOWER LEADEX VII XG 1300W ATX3.1 Power Supply

PC power supplies (PSU) are often an overlooked component that practically does all the heavy lifting for your system, basically it’s the heart of any desktop computer whether you’re building something essential or a raw gaming beast with multiple GPUs attached. Enter Super Flower, a brand that you probably never heard of by themselves but is actually a manufacturer that works behind the scenes as an OEM supplies for other companies known to charge a premium for their labels.

Movie Time! Halloween Spooktacular (2024): Terrifying Tots!

It’s Popzara’s Movie Time! Halloween Spooktacular!, our yearly dose of creepy movie mayhem to help make the holidays extra sweet and double-dangerous. The theme for this year’s ghoulish goulash of frightful fun is Terrifying Tots!, i.e. films meant for kids that were unintentionally (or intentionally) scary, leaving impressions for all the wrong reasons.

Our regular hosts “Embalmed” Ethan Brehm and “Nasty” Nate Evans are joined by “Sadistic” Susana Bojorquez for an extended look at a batch of terrifying titles that left kiddos cinematically scarred, but satisfied. A special intro from Hollywood legend Malcolm McDowell helps make this spoonful of salty sugar go down just a little easier.

Films diabolically discussed on this episode include: Sleeping Beauty (1959), Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (1971), Shelley Duvall's Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme (1989), Labyrinth (1986), Return to Oz (1985), and Coraline (2009).

Article: The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

For a series titled the Legend of Zelda, we don’t typically see much of the titular princess. Our hero has always been Link, with Zelda working behind the scenes in one way or another.

Article: Terrifier 3 (2024)

Blood, guts, and Christmas-themed horror rarely end with a worthwhile combination, and unfortunately, in the case of Terrifier 3, the tinsel-draped streak continues. It’s a jolly, corpse-filled romp with little to say and, if we’re being honest, not much care in saying it.

Article: Reolink Battery Doorbell

Ever since one of my cousins showed me her Ring doorbell where you could always see what’s in front of her place, I’ve always wanted to grab a doorbell camera for myself. Thanks to our friends at Reolink, I was given the opportunity to check out the Reolink Battery Doorbell.

Article: Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred

It’s hard to believe it’s already been a year since Diablo IV came on the scene and gave players the power to slay demons and explore the land of Sanctuary with their buddies. As with Diablo III, it was only a matter of time before an expansion would come along, which brings us to Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred.

Article: Master Detective Archives: Rain Code Plus

The Switch! It's old! Games that have to include it in their development tend to be worse from a graphical and performance standpoint because of its lack of power! I've said it a billion times and, alas, I'm probably going to have to say it a billion more. That said, at least this makes for a great surprise whenever a previously Switch-locked game makes it to a platform with a little more open space to roam.