All You Need Is Kill “Review”

Release date: January 16, 2026 (USA)

Running time: 1h 25m

MPAA rating: R

Had no idea other than it’s an anime before entering theatre. Shall we dive in?

For those that watched Edge of Tomorrow back in 2014 think of this as that in animated beauty. A random alien plant type structure arrives on earth and dubbed by them as Darol. Awakens one day as Rita is carrying out her day collecting resources from it with releasing massive alien flowers. Too die and re-awaken the very same morning to relive the same day over again.

It’s up to Rita and Keiji to figure this thing out and break the time loop and save earth. This title offers some nice character development and awesome action. Sadly I’d like to have known more on Darol the before / after of this story which maybe could come with a sequel but it’s lacking of setup / narrative wrap up kept me from getting to a great score.

Popped score of 7.5/10. Had a solid good time with this one and it’s pretty short if you happen to have it playing near you.

With that fellow moviegoers out there within the real of Popped 😀 We come to a close on this batch for January week of the 16th. To be continued next week with Mercy & Return to Silent Hill which I’m very much excited for…..but not expecting much from haha.

Thank you all very much for coming by Popped and spending your time with us here. Love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. Going to check out the titles mentioned above next week?

See you then fellow movie-goers and happy watching 😀

January 18, 2026 0

No Other Choice “Review”

Initial release: August 29, 2025

Director: Park Chan-wook

Cinematography: Woo-hyung Kim

Story by: Donald E. Westlake

Languages: Korean, English

Producers: Park Chan-wook, Michele Ray Gavras, Alexandre Gavras, Baek Ji-sun, Oh Hyeon-am

Came out last year but finally made it’s way to my area this year January 😀

Yoo Man-soo (Played by Lee Byung-hun) has worked for the Solar Paper company for 25 years. After being brought by American owners. Sadly gets laid off. Having had everything in your life to finding yourself in a moments notice as a desperate man. No other choice takes you through the journey of Yoo Man-soo going through extreme lengths to protect his family and home by eliminating the competition for the job he wants.

Another movie with a fantastic cast and great characters. This movie has you going through such lows I ended up checking the time with an hour left and mind blown there’s so much more that can unfold.

Popped score of 8/10 – This was a great movie and worth checking out if you were unable to see it in your area late last year and expanding to more markets now in January.

Appreciate you coming by Popped for your movie “Reviews”. No Other Choice is currently my highest rated movie of 2026 but what’s to be my first 9 ? Maybe its the last title in this batch.

All you need is Kill…. 😀 See you there.

January 18, 2026 0

Dead Man’s Wire “Review”

Release date: January 9, 2026 (USA)

Director: Gus Van Sant

Producers: Noor Alfallah, Cassian Elwes, Tom Culliver · See more

Screenplay: Austin Kolodney

Production companies: Pressman Film, Elevated Films, RNA Pictures, Sobini Films, Elevated Films (II)

Running time: 1h 45m

Based on a true story which is truly insane when you see what unfolds!

Richard Hall (Played by Dacre Montgomery (Not Zac Efron which I kept thinking :P)) son of Mortgage company president M.l. Hall, is taken hostage in 1977 by Tony Kiritsis (Played by Bill Skarsgard) to expose the Halls and demand justice for a sabotaged property deal.

Sometimes movies that are based on true events take liberties but it’s insane the real footage included in this title to parallel what you see recreated on screen.

Solid performances across the board and sit back to listen to a very beautiful voice over the radio as Fred Temple (Played by Colman Domingo) provides the peanut butter to a very enjoyable jam sandwich as you get dug in and take several layers of bites into the story unfolding before your eyes.

A 7.5/10 solid good movie well worth watching. I’d be happy watching again.

That’s 2 of 4 from this batch :D. What’s your thoughts on The Bone Temple & Dead Man’s Wire? Let us know in the comments below! Shall we get stuck into No Other Choice next 😀

January 18, 2026 0

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple “Review”

Release date: January 16, 2026 (USA)

Director: Nia DaCosta

Production companies: DNA Films, Columbia Pictures, Decibel Films

Running time: 1h 50m

MPAA rating: R

Distributed by: Sony Pictures Releasing

Been curious how this will perform and while still divided, my excitement continues to build

You can check out my thoughts on 28 Years later before diving into its sequel – Bone Temple!

I was conflicted between the two stories within the previous installment and continued to be within this title. However! Upon reflecting that ending and taking these installments as a series whole. My excitement continues to build and I enjoyed the payoff. Even if I didn’t realize it until the moment hit :D.

No Spoilers here but taking my thoughts on the previous installment you can piece together what elements I enjoyed and didn’t and theory craft from there 😀 Or just go watch this movie!

Throughout the journey of this installment I was having a good time. With minor elements I wont get into the rating dipped to a 6.5 and back to 7 for others. That last 30minutes gave me goosebumps and for that. The Bone Temple gets a Popped score of 7.5/10. But will it on a second viewing? Maybe this will have two scores. Stand A-Lone & Trilogy score. Loved the connecting web that brought the series together and with that the long wait for the hopeful third installment of this 28 years trilogy can potentially bring this franchise to a close in fantastic climax? Let’s see shall we!

Appreciate you coming by Popped for your movie “Reviews”. Being this is a sequel keeping very spoiler free but from my prior thoughts and what’s mentioned. I think you can paint a picture :D.

That being said I have 1 hour to get this weeks batch of “Reviews” out so let’s press on as this is 1 of 4 movies watched this week 😀 INSANE I KNOW haha.

January 18, 2026 0

Is This Thing On? “Review”

Release date: December 19, 2025 (USA)

Director: Bradley Cooper

Screenplay: Will Arnett, Bradley Cooper, Mark Chappell

Producers: Will Arnett, Bradley Cooper, Weston Middleton, Kris Thykier

Running time: 2h 4m

MPAA rating: R

Checked it out after seeing this is based on a true story. Let’s Discuss!

Without spoilers or wanting to come off as to harsh, this movie is just too long. I did fall asleep after the first hour as the pacing was just so slow. I expected something more inline with Song Sung Blue but sadly I left a little blue that this was mostly a 6/10 okay to fine movie at best for me personally.

What’s the story all about? Will Arnett (Playing Alex Novak) is facing an impending divorce. Juggling their personal lives with their friends & family ties. During this, Alex finds his purpose in New York within the comedy stand up scene. Maybe I missed the growth in the 20minutes I nodded off. But the ending was sweet, but didn’t have that emotional moving feeling like Song Sung Blue, or characters I connected with which empowered me to cheer on the character.

Love to hear your thoughts in the comments below, hopefully you had that connection and magic that didn’t get cast on my viewing experience.

Thank you for taking the time to come by Popped for your movie “Reviews”. While posting The Plague I realized I need to add some new categories to the site and thus 2026 can truly begin :D.

Happy Movie-Going fellow movie-goers :D.

January 9, 2026 0

The Plague “Review”

Release date: December 24, 2025 (USA)

Director: Charlie Polinger

Producers: Joel Edgerton, Lizzie Shapiro, Lucy McKendrick, Derek Dauchy, Roy Lee, Steven Schneider

Nominations: Prize of Un Certain Regard · See more

MPAA rating: R

Distributed by: Independent Film Company

I thought The Plague was another zombie movie. WoW did I walk into something else.

I went through a couple of stages reflecting on this movie throughout my viewing experience. A coming of age kept coming to mind but mainly, without spoilers. The Plague is a dark window to viewers on the consequences of bullying.

A great group of young actors which should use this movie for their portfolio. It’s got good things going for it. As much as it’s not a zombie movie. I liked the lens being focused on this angle of dark consequences of bullying. It ramps up and keeps the movie concise. Even a bow tie of an ending? It’s a fine movie at a 6.5/10.

Solid performances from this group of actors. The Plague focuses on a group of young lads apart of a water polo camp. The social dynamics to Ben (Played by Everett Blunck) being new to this group are portrayed very well as the viewer is new to this world and environment. Eli (Played by Kenny Rasmussen) has some sort of infection and dubbed by Jake (Played by Kayo Martin) to have “The Plague”. Touch him and you’ll get it also.

This anxiety from the ruthless hierarchy of the water polo group spirals into psychological turmoil over the summer period. The horror elements or done in away of situational and environment. Something of an intrigue is the inclusion of music almost of that of Aztec in nature.

Thinking of checking out The Plague or already seen it ? Let me know in the comments below. Love to hear your thoughts. RT has it at a 100% believe it or not. IMDb at 7.2/10. Stay tuned for a continued batch of “reviews” as we dive next, into Is This Thing On?.

Thank you for coming by Popped! For your movie “Reviews”. Happy Movie-Going!

January 9, 2026 0