Popzara Podcast

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.

Article: Toshiba Electric Rice Cooker

I’ve been wanting and meaning to pick up a rice cooker for quite some time now, but could never find a solid one without paying hundreds of dollars for it. Well it looks like Toshiba has finally answered the call for a budget friendly device that’s reliable with their Toshiba Electric Rice Cooker.

Article: Second Hand Love (2024)

For most of the English speaking (and reading) world, 2022’s Talk to My Back was likely the first time they experienced the comics of Yamada Murasaki, a manga artist few had read (even in Japan) known for her work in the style known as gekiga, or manga designed for mature readers. Like Offshore Lightning, Saito Nazuna’s short story manga released last year, it was an important work that helped introduce a genre of manga that had been criminally underrepresented in English until now.

Article: Reynatis

I recently got back from my first trip to Tokyo, and boy, are my arms tired. Wait, that's not how that joke goes, is it? Well, regardless, it was a fantastic experience that I'd recommend to anyone.

Article: Joker: Folie à Deux (2024)

The Joker is one of the most iconic and complex villains in comic book history. From Cesar Romero’s campy portrayal to Heath Ledger’s chilling performance, we've seen many interpretations of the Clown Prince of Crime.

Article: The Wild Robot (2024)

As much as I like Lilo & Stitch, something about the 2002 Disney movie always feels a bit off to me. Sure, it has a very non-Disney sense of irreverence that I can appreciate but it’s also a bit difficult to warm up to the blue alien serving as one-half of the title duo.

More Than Meets the Eye: Transformers: The Movie (1986) and Transformers One (2024)

Your Popzara Pals celebrate 40 years of Autobots and Decepticons waging war across the galaxy - and our imaginations - as our own Cybertronian warriors Nate Evans, Chris Mitchell, and editor-in-disguise Sebastian Stoddard assemble in epic cybernetic roundtable chat about two animated features that perfectly everything we love about Optimus Prime, Megatron, and the rest: 1986’s Transformers: The Movie and 2024’s Transformers One.

Listen as the gang discusses how Hasbro and Marvel were able to (literally) transform a product designed to sell toys to children into one of the most beloved and resilient franchises in history - and how it took veterans from Pixar to restore luster to a premise that was starting to feel a little rusty.

Listen further as they explore how Transformers has upended expectations for decades, how a generation of latchkey kids came to accept death and loss, Orson Welles’ journey from Rosebud to Unicron, what the Michael Bay films got right, how Chris Hemswoth honors Peter Cullen, possibly the most quintessentially 1980s soundtrack ever, the surprising connections between Transformers and Sylvester Stallone, the genius of AOR King (and Popzara fan) Stan Bush, and more. It's an episode beyond good, beyond evil, and beyond your wildest imagination.

Article: Iron Meat

Metroid? Castlevania? Mash them together and you’ve got Metroidvania, two great tastes that taste great together with a name that lets you know exactly the type of adventure you’re about to have. But is there a word for the ever-growing world of Contra clones that attempt to capture the magic of Konami’s run ‘n gun platformer? We’ve got Roguelikes, Soulslikes, how about Contralike? Nah, but considering how closely most of them stick to the formula, maybe Contra Clone is enough.

Movie Time! The Absurdist Auteur: Time Bandits (1981) and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988)

It’s Popzara’s Movie Time! Podcast, where our in-house movie nerds Ethan Brehm and Nate Evans take you on an unscripted journey yakking and chatting about some of their favorite movie moments and cinematic scenes, from past and present, presented without snark and snobbery for your listening pleasure.

On deck for this episode are two entries in Terry Gilliam’s “Trilogy of Imagination”, the other being 1985’s Brazil, that showcase what happens when absolute imagination is met with absolute ambition, a surefire recipe for disaster - and often something wonderful.

First up is 1981’s Time Bandits, which has the distinction of being the only “children’s film” with executions, severed limbs, exploding parents (and exploding dogs). Gilliam presents an entirely original time-traveling comedy with inspired performances, dazzling effects, and just a touch of classic Monty Python humor that appeals to kids and adults alike, despite a fractured narrative with more holes in it than any map of the universe.

Next is 1988’s The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, a lavishly produced spectacle of fever dream storytelling just as famous for its off-screen spectacle as it has for what’s on screen. A triumph of visual and aural absurdity, Gilliam’s adaptation of the beloved German fable featuring perhaps the most unreliable narrator in literature can finally be viewed on its own considerable merits. And what lovely merits they are!

Our hosts tackle both films with aplomb, discussing how sometimes style does triumph over substance, how Terry Gilliam may be the living embodiment of Auteur Theory, how both films skilly hide their megastar cameos (Sean Connery and Robin Williams), favorable comparisons to both 1939’s Wizard of Oz and Spielberg’s Hook, and the sad reality of how Hollywood has been replacing talented dwarf actors with CGI effects instead of hiring the real thing.

Article: Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics

For many fans of games, comics, and games mixed with comics Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics won't need much of an introduction for this review.

Article: Transformers One (2024)

You’ve most likely seen the many Transformers related reviews I’ve posted on here, and I’ll never get tired of talking about them as I’m forever a fan of the franchise. So it goes without saying I had to check out the latest film entry, Transformers One, which really was more than meets the eye as it’s surprisingly dark and violent, but still has plenty of humor and heart for all.

Article: Coalatree Trailhead Pants

As someone who does a fair amount of walking and bike riding, I’m always looking for the perfect clothes to suit everyday wear as well as double for any walking and biking I do. So when the chance came along to check out these Coalatree Trailhead Pants, I couldn’t pass it up as they’re a nice pair that’s perfect for everyday wear and any adventures that come your way.

Article: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, a shockingly good name with not-so-pleasant implications for the franchises’ future, is a passable but ultimately route rehashing of another IP better left in the 80s. Finally free from the depths of the animated picture grind, Tim Burton (Pee-wee's Big Adventure, Alice in Wonderland) attempts to return to his original roots of off-kilter, humorously macabre projects through the resurrection of one of his classics.