Popzara Podcast

Article: Training Day (4K Blu-ray)

It feels like 2001 wasn’t that long ago, but that’s the year we got director Antoine Fuqua’s hard-hitting film, Training Day. It came out of nowhere and blew audiences away with its gripping and suspense-filled story that kept them on edge, mainly thanks to Denzel Washington playing a genuinely terrifying villain that won him the Best Actor Oscar that year.

Article: Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (4K Blu-ray)

I have to be completely honest, as like most people I’m sure, when I first heard about Puss in Boots: The Last Wish being released, I wasn’t too enthused as the recent Shrek films and all of its many spin-offs weren’t that great. Add in the so-so Netflix series of our feline hero, and I was even less enthused.

Article: The Boxtrolls (Limited SteelBook Edition)

I’ve been a fan of Laika and their films ever since watching the creepy but awesome Coraline. I’m glad Shout Factory is releasing all of their films and cleaning them up and tossing in some new extras, and have taken it a step further by releasing these films in 4K.

Article: Kubo and the Two Strings (Limited SteelBook Edition)

Once I saw the trailer for Kubo and the Two Strings back in 2016, I was hooked as I loved the look and the fact they were going for a Asian- themed, fantasy-action piece. Shout Factory re-released the film on Blu-ray back in 2021 with slightly better visuals and new special features, but has now released it again in 4K with Kubo and the Two Strings (Limited SteelBook Edition) that features added HDR/Dolby Vision, as well as Dolby Atmos audio to place viewers into this fantasy epic.

Movie Time! When Effects Were Special: The Wizard of Speed and Time (1988) and Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988)

It’s Popzara’s Movie Time! Podcast!, where our own 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.

First up is The Wizard of Speed and Time, written, directed, edited, and starring special effects man Mike Jittlov in his first (and only) feature film. An expanded version of his infamous 1979 short film made for The Wonderful World of Disney episode “Major Effects”, has there ever been a film so unbelievably optimistic about the magic of special effects, yet so diabolically cynical about Hollywood? While it’s nearly impossible to find a ‘legit’ copy there are plenty of decent copies freely available online.

Next is Killer Klowns From Outer Space, another first (and another only) directorial effort by the Chiodo Brothers, stop-motion masters whose work you’ve definitely seen in other movies. It’s a true horror-comedy classic that’s as big on spectacle as it is low on budget as the Chiodos employ every trick in the book to bring their ludicrous premise of murderous space clowns turning people into cotton candy to life, helped by one of the decade’s most undeniably catchy theme songs from “The Dickies”.

Article: Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is the 31st film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe where Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) and the Wasp (Evangeline Lilly) are pulled into the Quantum Realm with their family and must save the populace from the villainous Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors) while figuring out how to get back home. While the story is a bit silly in parts with some absurd looking characters (*cough M.

Casting Spells and Muggle Magic: The Wizarding World of Hogwarts Legacy

Grab your wands and join students Cory Galliher and Nia Bothwell on this piertotum locomotor episode of the Popzara Podcast as the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff alumni gather to discuss Warner Bros’ return to J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World of magic and never-ending teenage drama in Hogwarts Legacy, the latest non-Harry Potter Harry Potter game that’s charmed fans around the world.

From fantastic beasts to stuttery frame rates to the pleasantly irritating benefit of receiving too much gear, our two wizarding nerds take listeners on a journey about what it’s like to fully immerse themselves in a 19th century magical world. Can the wizarding world of Harry Potter survive, or even thrive, without its titular wizard? Listen as Cory and Nia cast their Expecto Patronum on fellow fans and curious outsiders today!

The State of Gaming February 2023: Hogwart’s Legacy, Wild Hearts, Atomic Heart, Metroid Prime Remastered, PSVR 2 Launches, COD on Nintendo, and NPD

It’s The State of Gaming Podcast, Popzara’s in-depth look at what’s shaking up the gaming landscape delivered on a monthly basis. Our hosts Cory Galliher and Nate Evans guide you through the best, worst, and everything else making headlines and headway in the world of interactive entertainment.

The biggest games of the month include: Hogwarts Legacy, Deliver Us Mars, Wild Hearts, Atomic Heart, Returnal (PC), Metroid Prime: Remastered (Switch), Theatrhythm Final Bar Line, Like A Dragon: Ishin!, Tales of Symphonia Remastered, Octopath Traveler II, Blood Bowl 3, The Settlers: New Allies, Kirby’s Return To Dream Land Deluxe, Company of Heroes 3, Destiny 2: Lightfall, Wanted: Dead, and Scars Above.

Sony's PSVR2 is about to unleash virtual reality for the PlayStation 5 with an absurdly long list of launch titles - including Horizon Call of the Mountain, Gran Turismo 7, Tetris Effect and many others. Are your eyeballs ready?

Article: Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society

Dungeon delving isn't a particularly lucrative line of work in real life. Believe me, I've tried.

Article: Wild Hearts

It's interesting to observe the evolution of a genre over time. An initial foundation is one thing, but real gaming gems tend to arise when developers build on what came before.

Article: Hogwarts Legacy

It's hard to say when a new franchise will spawn and shake up the media landscape. It's unlikely that anyone thought that J.

Article: Knock at the Cabin (2023)

Knock at the Cabin is the latest film from M. Night Shyamalan’s (Old, Glass) and, a rarity for writer /director, based on other source material, specifically Paul G.

Article: Roccat Magma Mini Keyboard

With each product they release, it seems Roccat just keeps getting better while giving other gaming accessory companies some much needed competition. Their latest, the Roccat Magma Mini Keyboard is the perfect device for those looking to sacrifice some space from their desk without losing any of their cool factor, especially if you’re into RGB lighting.

Article: Raiden IV x Mikado Remix

I remember back in the day seeing Raiden in the arcades and how cool it looked, especially when you had the powered up laser beam weapon that would lock onto enemies and curl all over the screen. It was so nice being able to bring it home on the PlayStation when The Raiden Project was released in 1995, and I loved playing the more recent fifth entry of the franchise.

Article: DualSense Edge Wireless Controller

The performance, gameplay, graphics and sound of games are one thing. The actual experience of playing them is quite another.