Podcast

132 posts

Episode 570 – How To Train Your Dragon / Materialists

Moviewallas is on YouTube!

🎬 Welcome to the Moviewallas Podcast!

This week, your hosts Joe, Rashmi, and Yazdi are back with fresh takes on a live-action reboot, an indie rom-com with bite, and all the usual film banter you’ve come to expect. 🍿🎧

In this episode, we’re diving into two wildly different films — one a high-flying fantasy remake, the other a sharply observed modern romance:

🐉 HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON (2025)

The beloved DreamWorks animated hit gets the live-action treatment. Does it soar or stumble? The team weighs in on the casting, the creature design, and whether Toothless loses a bit of his charm in the translation. With big boots to fill, this adaptation sparked a spirited conversation about nostalgia, fidelity to source material, and how remakes can (or can’t) recapture magic.

💎 MATERIALISTS

The latest from Past Lives director Celine Song, this sharp, stylish romantic dramedy explores love, ambition, and the emotional calculus of modern relationships. Set in New York and steeped in wit and yearning, Materialists prompted a lively debate from the hosts — with Yazdi applauding its depth, Rashmi appreciating its elegance, and Joe raising questions about its emotional accessibility.

📺 STREAMING PICKS

The team also shares a few things to watch from home:

  • The Seed of the Sacred Fig — streaming on Hulu

  • Dabba Cartel — a gritty Hindi-language crime series on Netflix

  • Long Way Round — Ewan McGregor’s global motorcycle journey on Apple TV+

 

💬 Like, comment, and subscribe if you enjoy witty, thoughtful film conversations with the occasional spicy take. Got thoughts on Toothless 2.0 or Materialists? Let us know below!

🎙️ Hosted by: Joe, Rashmi & Yazdi

📺 Listen on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts

📍 Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @moviewallas

🌐 Learn more at: www.moviewallas.com

🕰 Timestamps

00:01:57 – Streaming Picks

00:10:34 – How to Train Your Dragon (2025, live-action remake)

00:22:32 – Materialists (2024)

00:39:14 – Wrap-up and Final Thoughts

 

#Moviewallas #MoviePodcast #HowToTrainYourDragon #HTTYDRemake #Materialists #CelineSong #RomComs #LiveActionRemake #StreamingRecommendations #FilmDiscussion #ToothlessReturns #PastLives #MovieTalks #FilmReview #Netflix #Hulu #AppleTVPlus

Episode 567 – Tribeca 2025 Coverage (Part 3)

📍 Still in NYC… barely awake, but still watching

The Moviewallas team pushes through festival fatigue to bring you their biggest episode yet, reviewing seven diverse films from Day 3 of the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival. From dark psychological dramas to urgent documentaries and smart thrillers, this lineup truly had it all.

🎞️ Rosemead – Lucy Liu delivers a career-best performance in this harrowing drama about a Chinese-American mother confronting her son’s descent into violent obsession. Inspired by true events and directed with care by Eric Lin.

🎞️ Kites – A poetic, guerrilla-style Brazilian film blending realism and surrealism to explore race, morality, and police violence in the favelas.

🎞️ Titan: The OceanGate Disaster – A gripping Netflix documentary exploring the fatal implosion of the OceanGate submersible en route to the Titanic. A chilling lesson in hubris, ambition, and overlooked warnings.

🎞️ Bird in Hand – A dramedy exploring family dysfunction and the search for identity, anchored by strong performances.

🎞️ Pinch – A stylish, powerful Indian debut from writer-director-actor Uttera Singh. Tackling patriarchy, assault, and generational trauma with bold confidence and rich atmosphere.

🎞️ Eye for an Eye – A devastating Iranian documentary about justice, and blood money (diya). A raw, eye-opening look into a legal system shaped by religious law and gender patriarchy.

🎞️ Relay – A smart, high-octane thriller starring Riz Ahmed and Lily James. Double-crosses, tight pacing, and clever reveals make this one a standout.

🎧 We’re tired, we’re emotional, and we’ve possibly cried (more than once). But we loved this day of film.

🔗 Learn more about the films:

Rosemead

Kites

Titan: The OceanGate Disaster

Bird in Hand

Eye for an Eye

Pinch

Relay

💬 Let us know what you’re seeing at Tribeca—or which of these you’re excited to watch!

#Tribeca2025 #Moviewallas #FilmFestival #Podcast #Documentary #IndieFilm #Relay #Pinch #OceanGate #RizAhmed #LucyLiu #EyeForAnEye #Titan #NetflixDoc #MovieReview

Episode 566 – Tribeca 2025 Coverage (Part 2)

📍 Still in NYC, still movie-hungry

The Tribeca magic continues! Join Rashmi, Yazdi and Joe as they dive into a jam-packed second day of Tribeca 2025 screenings. This episode features four very different films—from outrageous satire to heartfelt tearjerkers—and includes some of the hosts’ festival favorites so far.

🎞️ Lemonade Blessing – A sharp, irreverent coming-of-age comedy set in a Catholic high school, following one boy’s battle with faith, hormones, and a dangerously charming classmate. From debut director Chris Merola and starring Jake Ryan in a breakout performance.

🎞️ The Travel Companion – A wry comedy about airline perks, co-dependency, and the growing pains of adult friendship. A great premise that stumbles a bit in execution, but still offers some clever laughs.

🎞️ She Dances – A tender and emotionally rich debut from actor-turned-director Rick Gomez. Featuring moving performances by Steve Zahn, Ethan Hawke, and Zahn’s real-life daughter, this is a rare film that celebrates enduring female friendship and the quiet grief of loss.

🎞️ Birthright – The Aussie comedy-thriller you didn’t know you needed. A jaw-droppingly pulpy and darkly hilarious battle of wills between a broke son and his wealthy parents. Think War of the Roses meets Heredity, with a killer dose of satire.

This was our favorite day at the festival (so far)! Expect laughs, tears, awkward moments, and a whole lot of heart.

🎧 Subscribe to catch our Day 3 coverage soon!

🔗 Learn more about the films:

Lemonade Blessing

The Travel Companion

She Dances

Birthright

💬 Drop your Tribeca faves or thoughts in the comments!

#Tribeca2025 #Moviewallas #FilmFestival #Podcast #IndieFilm #LemonadeBlessing #SheDances #Birthright #TheTravelCompanion #FilmDiscussion #MovieLovers

Episode 564 – Bring Her Back / Jane Austen Wrecked My Life

🎬 Welcome to the Moviewallas Podcast! This week, your hosts Joe, Rashmi, and Yazdi return with all the movie magic, streaming picks, banter, and film festival chatter your cinephile heart desires. 🍿🎧

In this episode, we’re diving into two incredibly different but equally intriguing films:

💀 BRING HER BACK
The team reviews this chilling new horror from the creators of “Talk to Me,” exploring themes of grief, dread, and sinister rituals. Joe and Rashmi found it cleverly crafted and terrifyingly effective, while Yazdi offers a cautionary word about its shock value and disturbing elements. The film certainly left an impression and sparked a passionate debate!

📚 JANE AUSTEN WRECKED MY LIFE
On the completely opposite end of the spectrum, we dive into this whimsical and romantic French-British indie about a bookseller navigating fantasy, love, and literary illusions. Oozing charm and wrapped in Austen-esque wit, this delightful rom-com was a crowd-pleaser, earning glowing reactions (and high scores!) from all three hosts. If you loved “Midnight in Paris” or “Notting Hill,” you’ll adore this hidden gem.

🎥 STREAMING PICKS
Not sure what to watch tonight? We’ve got you covered with three solid streaming picks:
– Rashmi recommends the beautiful and heartfelt drama PAST LIVES, now on Netflix.
– Yazdi offers the wonderfully written ENOUGH SAID starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus & James Gandolfini on Hulu.
– Joe picks the stylized and addictive WHITE LOTUS Season 3 (HBO/Max), complete with vacation vibes and dark secrets.

🍫 Plus, we taste-test viral Dubai pistachio chocolate slabs (some of us are still picking bits from our teeth) and discuss the struggle of endless streaming queues (you know you’ve been there).

🎟️ We also tease our upcoming coverage from the Tribeca Film Festival in New York — stay tuned as we bring you film highlights straight from the heart of the action!

💬 Like, comment, and subscribe if you love smart film discussions with a touch of fun and foodie tangents. Hit that notification bell so you never miss an episode!

🎙️ Hosted by: Joe, Rashmi & Yazdi
📺 Listen on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts
📍 Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @moviewallas
🌐 Learn more at: www.moviewallas.com

#Moviewallas #MovieReviews #FilmPodcast #BringHerBack #JaneAustenWreckedMyLife #PastLives #EnoughSaid #WhiteLotus #HorrorMovies #RomComs #StreamingRecommendations #MovieTalks #TribecaFilmFestival #CinephileCommunity #FilmChat

Episode 563 – Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning / Friendship / Lilo & Stitch

Moviewallas is on YouTube!

Welcome back to another episode of Moviewallas, your favorite film review podcast! Join your hosts Joe, Rashmi, and Yazdi as they dive into this week’s cinematic adventures with their usual dose of witty banter, sharp insights, and spirited debate.

🎥 Reviewed in this episode:

🚁 Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning: Is this really Tom Cruise’s last run as Ethan Hunt? The Moviewallas team breaks down the stunts, the stakes, and whether this action-packed saga truly delivers the final word on the franchise.

👬 Friendship: A quirky new buddy comedy that left some scratching their heads and others intrigued. Is it brilliant, bizarre, or maybe both?
🌺 Lilo & Stitch (Live-Action): Yazdi brings his inner child to the forefront as he shares his experience seeing this one through younger eyes. Heartwarming nostalgia or cash-grab remake? We’ve got thoughts.

PLUS:
🗺️ Unexpected tangents on travel plans, fridge-stocking habits, and sightings of Natalie Portman in Paris 😄

🎧 So if you love movies big and small—and everything in between—this is the podcast for you!

💬 What did YOU think of Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning? Drop a comment and share your rating!

👍 Like, subscribe, and hit that notification bell so you don’t miss an episode of Moviewallas! Available wherever you get your podcasts.

🎙️ Follow us on all the socials (except X!) and keep the movie chat going!

#MissionImpossible #DeadReckoning #TomCruise #PaulRudd #FriendshipMovie #LiloAndStitch #LiveActionRemake #MovieReviewPodcast #Moviewallas #FilmTalk #MovieLovers #NowPlaying #PodcastCommunity

Episode 562 – Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) 2025

🎬 Welcome to Moviewallas! 🎬

In this special episode, your favorite trio — Joe, Rashmi, and Yazdi — take you inside the 2025 Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA)! 🇮🇳🎥🇺🇸

From powerful indie gems to rising voices in South Asian cinema, we dive deep into a day filled with thought-provoking storytelling and stunning cinematography. Join us as we share our reactions, reviews, and behind-the-scenes insights from the festival that has held a special place in our hearts for over a decade.

✨ What to expect in this episode (links below to IFFLA Website):
🔹 A spotlight on rising talent Nuhash Humayun and his horror anthology “DUI Shaw”
🔹 A deep dive into Raam Reddy’s mysterious feature film “The Fable”
🔹 Reflections on the stunning, immersive “Village Rockstars 2” by Rima Das
🔹 Film festival memories, industry masterclasses, and much more

Whether you’re a longtime fan of Indian cinema or just discovering the rich tapestry of South Asian storytelling, this episode is a love letter to smart, sharp, and soulful filmmaking beyond the Bollywood mainstream.

🎧 If you love movies, festivals, and thoughtful conversation, you’re in the right place. Subscribe and join us for your weekly dose of moviewatching goodness — from theatres to streaming, to the back of an airplane.

🌐 Connect with us:
Instagram | Facebook | YouTube @Moviewallas
Visit our website: http://moviewallas.com

📌 Be sure to check out the films and creators we mention — many may be available on streaming soon. And if you’re a filmmaker whose film screened at IFFLA, reach out — we’d love to spotlight your work!

🎞️ Too many movies, too little time — thanks for listening to Moviewallas!

#IFFLA2025 #IndianFilmFestival #IndieCinema #SouthAsianCinema #MoviePodcast #Moviewallas #FilmFestivalCoverage #VillageRockstars #TheFable #DUIShaw #NuhashHumayun #ReemaDas #FilmReview #CinemaLovers

Episode Timestamps

00:00 – Start
05:56 – DUI Shaw
17:29 – The Fable
28:52 – Village Rockstars 2