Mixed Bag

VRRRRRRRMMMMMPHHH! Do you hear that?! It's another JetBag: Emergency Landing! And this time, we're shifting from the plane to the plain because 90% of this film is set in an airport! Carry-On (2024) was a surprise hit at the end of last year by our Mixed Bag king, Jaume Collet-Serra (Non-Stop, Jungle Cruise) and starring Taron Egerton and Jason Bateman. But now that the hype has died down, is the movie any good? An airport security officer races to outsmart a mysterious traveler forcing him to let a dangerous item slip onto a Christmas Eve flight. (Sourced from Letterboxd)  When will Juno 2/Jupiter happen? Is Jason ever going to take off that dirty cap? And what was UP with that one car sequence with Danielle Deadwyler?! All this and more in our latest plane movie episode ✈️

Our final foray into Joliewood as we help ourselves to a tasty snack. Evelyn Salt can make a flamethrower out of office equipment; should she be renamed MacGirlver? As a CIA officer, Evelyn Salt swore an oath to duty, honor and country. Her loyalty will be tested when a Russian defector accuses her of being a Russian sleeper spy. She goes on the run, using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative to elude capture, protect her husband, and stay one step ahead of her colleagues at the CIA. Her efforts to prove her innocence only serve to cast doubt on her motives, as the hunt to uncover the truth behind her identity continues and the question remains: “Who is Salt?” (Source: Letterboxd.) Who is Salt indeed? It's the question on everyone's lips. Plus in this episode's Pop Corner we help ourselves to Batman Returns, The Wedding Banquet, Not for Broadcast, Rimworld, Several People are Typing and the upcoming Tony Awards and film festival season.

THAT IS NOT MY SON! Clint Eastwood made... a feminist movie that says ACAB!? Maybe? But it also says, "shame, fools, there's still 47 minutes to go and you thought it was nearly over." Los Angeles, 1928. When single mother Christine Collins leaves for work, her son vanishes without a trace. Five months later, the police reunite mother and son. But when Christine suspects that the boy returned to her isn't her child, her quest for truth exposes a world of corruption. (Sourced from Letterboxd). The penultimate episode of Joliewood, in which your hosts gift Angelina a new title: the world's most committed actress.

It's the birth of Brangelina, today we're covering Doug Liman's Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005) starring Angelina Jolie and some man. After five (or six) years of vanilla-wedded bliss, ordinary suburbanites John and Jane Smith are stuck in a huge rut. Unbeknownst to each other, they are both coolly lethal, highly-paid assassins working for rival organisations. When they discover they're each other's next target, their secret lives collide in a spicy, explosive mix of wicked comedy, pent-up passion, nonstop action and high-tech weaponry. (Sourced from Letterboxd) Will Jolie cement her movie star status as Jane Smith? How does one join her all-female spy agency? Who wants to hang out with Vince Vaughn (especially now he's come out as a Trump supporter) and why are there so many threads completely abandoned in this movie?! Join the sultry, action-packed world of the Smiths. 

It's time for a very special episode! Our favourite foe, Mike, purchased a Ko-Fi request for an on-mic murder mystery and we were happy to oblige. Matt, Mike and Detective Jamie (daughter of Sherlock Holmes) are all extras in the upcoming sci-fi horror film Blood Red Planet. But when the star, Jacob Stone, is discovered dead in his trailer, our trio must work together to find out who killed him and why! In a feat of transformative acting (i.e. cycling between three different accents) Cass plays every witness in the case. Was it the director? The co-stars? Someone on the crew? Or the sinister craft services manager who Matt, Mike and Jamie are sure has an eyepatch and a hairless cat? This is an original murder mystery written by Cassandra Tse. The format is ripped off shamelessly from the wonderful podcast Solve This Murder. If you liked this episode, donate to our Ko-Fi for more! If you didn't like it, don't worry – we'll be returning to Joliewood next episode. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A STAR IS BORN, HONEY! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A major event in Joliewood's history, it's time to crown her. No, it's not her Oscar, it's more important, it's 2001's Lara Croft: Tomb Raider! Orphaned heiress, English aristocrat and intrepid archaeologist, Lara Croft, embarks on a dangerous quest to retrieve the two halves of an ancient artifact which controls time before it falls into the wrong hands. As an extremely rare planetary alignment is about to occur for the first time in 5,000 years, the fearless tomb raider will have to team up with rival adventurers and sworn enemies to collect the pieces, while time is running out. But, in the end, who can harness the archaic talisman's unlimited power? (Sourced from Letterboxd) First things first, WHERE IS THE MIDRIFF? Surely the iconic Tomb Raider looks features a lil bit of belly as we all know! Well, all will be revealed in this episode. Our hosts have learned many things. Other things we've learned include, Angelina and daddy can do a halfway decent English accent but Daniel Craig can NOT do a serious American accent (Knives Out ham only). Popcorner chats include Tinā, Mickey 17, The Silver Fox Office, Sporcle, Severance, Sturgill Simpson's Sound and Fury, Adolescence, The Giver (Chappell Roan) and Relationships (HAIM).

The Age of Ange is going from gay coded with Hackers to full on lesbian as our bisexual queen Angelina Jolie had her breakout role in Gia (1998) the first TV Film covered on Mixed Bag, based on real life supermodel Gia Carangi. Gia Carangi meteorically rises to modeling fame in the late 1970s but becomes overconsumed by persistent loneliness and drug addiction. (Sourced from Letterboxd) Will this erotic romance be as steamy as it sounds? Who knew Juliet from Lost was her love interest, Linda? Will somebody please explain what a supermodel is to Jamie and when will Faye Dunaway kiss Angelina?! These and a full recap of the Oscars and Lady Gaga's Mayhem, we're fit to bursting with pop culture this ep. So it's time to serve face and get listening Baghags because Joliewood is just getting started.

The Age of Ange returns by going back to the early days of Joliewood, Hackers (1995) where Angelina Jolie broke through with a bob cut and those piercing eyes. Along with his new friends, a teenager who was arrested by the US Secret Service and banned from using a computer for writing a computer virus discovers a plot by a nefarious hacker, but they must use their computer skills to find the evidence while being pursued by the Secret Service and the evil computer genius behind the virus. (Sourced from Letterboxd). Will we see the sparks that caused the marriage between Jonny Lee Miller and Ange in the film where they met? How much did they let the costumier have free reign? Is this the most ridiculous hacking has ever looked and does everyone know that this movie is EXTREMELY QUEER?? All this and more with this barn-burner of an episode of Mixed Bag.

Welcome to the hallowed land of Joliewood! That's right, it's the Age of Ange for the next few weeks as we profile bisexual queen and one of the biggest movie stars of her day, Angelina Jolie! Kicking us off is Jolie's high profile and bid for an Oscar, Maria! Directed by Pablo Larraín and third in the tragic white woman trilogy after Jackie and Spencer. Maria Callas, the world's greatest opera singer, lives the last days of her life in 1970s Paris, as she confronts her identity and life. Will Jolie be able to live up to the Maria Callas gays (of which she has many stans) expectations? How will Pablo tie the trilogy together? And just how thick are those humongous glasses Ange has got on? Walk the streets of Paris with Jolie, Kodi Smit-McPhee and we as dive into Joliewood and uncover the woman behind the star.

Hey y'all! Butter my biscuit, we're just three country gals committing to a bit. Thanks Virginia for the Ko-Fi donation, apologies to anyone who isn't yee-ing and haw-ing to hear our wonderful accent performances. This episode we're taking on The Help (2011), a film about Black maids in the segregated South and the white lady who saved them all apparently. Grab a bowl of grits and fry up some chicken, time to dig in. For more of this nonsense, support us on our Ko-Fi: ko-fi.com/mixedbag

Welcome to the New Year, Baghags! To start the year with a new tradition, we've split our 2024 Top Ten Films into a completely seperate episode! Last year, we tacked this onto our Wonka episode but because this year was bursting to the brim with episodes (and we didn't want to do a three hour episode) you can hear Matt, Cass and Jamie count down their favourites of 2024. Catch us next time as we tackle our very first Ko-Fi challenge!

For our final episode of 2024, we're rounding out the year with the legendary Adam Goodall who shares the good work on Mothers' Instinct (2024) starring Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain.  Housewives Alice and Celine are best friends and neighbours who seem to have it all. However, when a tragic accident shatters the harmony of their lives, guilt, suspicion and paranoia begin to unravel their sisterly bond. Available now on Prime Video, these mothers and their instincts must be seen to be believed so wee woo wee woo spoiler alert if you're listening without watching first cause this story GOES places. Will these two recent Oscar winners be able to build on their success or is this a misstep for Fantine and Tammy Faye? Who of the two child actors is serving and who is merely sulking and why couldn't Alice make it through that hedge in time? All this and more in our final ep for 2024! Look out for a full recap of the year of films and pop culture coming shortly.  Finally, huge thanks to Adam for being such a delightful and insightful guest! You can follow Adam on Twitch and don't forget to keep on eye out for him on January 24th on The Macaroni Prince's stream for Dunkmaster, their version of Taskmaster. Ka kite and see you in the new year!

Ho ho ho said the Santa Claus baby! That's right, there's another gift under your tree, a BONUS Christmas episode with a new guest Ben Wilson! Playwright, actor and cinephile, Ben is a mega-fan of 2007's Fred Claus starring Vince Vaughn and Paul Giamatti! He loves it so much, he even learned how to play the soundtrack on piano. Fred Claus and Santa Claus have been estranged brothers for many years. Now Fred must reconcile his differences with his brother whom he believes overshadows him. When an efficiency expert assesses the workings at the North Pole and threatens to shut Santa down, Fred must help his brother to save Christmas. (Sourced from Letterboxd) Will Fred and Santa be able to resolve their differences? Can we stomach the appearance of a cursed actor or will it all fall apart like a House of Cards? And why IS there a Naughty List, Santa? Kind of a fucked up thing to create in the first place. All this and more in our bonus holiday episode!

Meri Kirihimete ya filthy animals! It's the holiday season so it's time to invite the Ghost of Christmas Pod, Lucas Neal! We're always down to catch a new release so we thought a recent Christmas movie, Red One (2024) would be the ticket, starring Chris Evans, J. K. Simmons and frequent Mixed Bag offender Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. After Santa Claus (codename: Red One) is kidnapped, the North Pole's Head of Security must team up with the world's most infamous tracker in a globe-trotting, action-packed mission to save Christmas. (Sourced from Letterboxd). Will the Fast & Furious-ification of the Christmas mythos be the trick for Lucas and the MB trio? Are you bold enough to call Head of Security an Elf instead of E.L.F? And where did Chris Evans go so wrong? Once again, huge thanks to Lucas for bringing the Christmas cheer to the pod!

Cass here filling in as the description writer. It would be so very Gen Z of me to just copy and paste the entire script of Bee Movie here in the description field, but I fear we may fuck up the podcast hosting website somehow by doing that. So, here it is, the Renee-sance (or is it Renee-zance?) coming to a close just before we hit our Christmas specials. For more of this nonsense, support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/mixedbag Leave us a review on Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/mixed-bag-904210 or on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/mixed-bag/id1475762726 

We're kicking off the Renee-ssaince in earnest after our lost episode last time, it's time to visit COLD MOUNTAIN. Directed by Anthony Minghella (The Talented Mr. Ripley, The English Patient) and starring Jude Law, Nicole and our focus of this mini series, Renee Zellweger, will this be a stirring epic or a significant snooze? In this classic story of love and devotion set against the backdrop of the American Civil War, a wounded Confederate soldier named W.P. Inman deserts his unit and travels across the South, aiming to return to his young wife, Ada, who he left behind to tend their farm. As Inman makes his perilous journey home, Ada struggles to keep their home intact with the assistance of Ruby, a mysterious drifter sent to help her by a kindly neighbor. Also featuring a murderer's row of supporting actors, will the trio be warmed by the mountain or left cold by its charms?  

An update.

OooOOOoooooOO! It's that time of year ghouls and gals! It's spooky season and it's time to bring on our foe of the podcast, Mike, to select his next horrific mix, this year it's Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow (1999) Skeptical young detective Ichabod Crane gets transferred to the hamlet of Sleepy Hollow, New York, where he is tasked with investigating the decapitations of three people – murders the townsfolk attribute to a legendary specter, The Headless Horseman. (Sourced from Letterboxd) Will this second time dipping into the Burton/Depp be as fruitful as the surprisingly OK Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? How many British thespians can you count in the sleepy town of Sleepy Hollow? And Tim Burton sure does love to cast his girlfriend/partners in like every single movie, huh? All this and more as well as plenty of juicy pop corner chats in our Halloween ep of Mixed Bag!

It's time to take another romp down the yellow brick road! As part of our miniseries building up to Glicked, we're now headed to the wonderful land of Oz. Renowned editor and one-time director Walter Murch made the fateful decision to make a sequel to one of the most beloved films of all time, The Wizard of Oz with Return to Oz (1985) which had a decidedly mixed reaction.  Dorothy, saved from a psychiatric experiment by a mysterious girl, finds herself back in the land of her dreams, and makes delightful new friends, and dangerous new enemies. (Sourced from Letterboxd) What do Cass, Matt and Jamie think of this 80s dark fantasy spin on the L. Frank Baum books? Who are the Wheelers? Which is Mombi's original head and WHY DOES THE SCARECROW LOOK LIKE THAT?? Shout out to the Nome King with his hot lil ruby slippers. Keep on eye out next time for our Halloweeeeen ep!

Are you not entertained?!  Well, the audiences of 2000 certainly were, with a box office smash hit and winner of 5 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, I think ole Russel come be comforted he won't be eating Crowe with this film by one Sir Ridley Scott. But, 24 years later and with an upcoming sequel on the horizon, the Mixed Bag crew thought they should dust off the dirt like Maximus loves to do and see if we are glad to set our eyes upon Gladiator (2000). In the year 180, the death of emperor Marcus Aurelius throws the Roman Empire into chaos. Maximus is one of the Roman army's most capable and trusted generals and a key advisor to the emperor. As Marcus' devious son Commodus ascends to the throne, Maximus is set to be executed. He escapes, but is captured by slave traders. Renamed Spaniard and forced to become a gladiator, Maximus must battle to the death with other men for the amusement of paying audiences. (Sourced from Letterboxd) Is the young Richard Harris a hottie? Is Oliver Reed playing a POC or just suuuuper tan? And will Maximus Decimus Meridius have his vengeance, in this life or the next? All this and more as well in this two-part miniseries in our gear up for Glicked!

Brace for impact because it's another JETBAG: Emergency Landing episode! And it's our biggest metal bird in the sky yet, Flightplan (2005), starring Jodie Foster has her climbing all around the Elgin E-474 which, while made up, is styled on these massively huge jumbojets with spiral staircases, lush first class and all sorts of hidden compartments! Flying at 40,000 feet in a state-of-the art aircraft that she helped design, Kyle Pratt's 6-year-old daughter Julia vanishes without a trace. Or did she? No one on the plane believes Julia was ever onboard. And now Kyle, desperate and alone, can only count on her own wits to unravel the mystery and save her daughter. (Sourced from Letterboxd) Will Jodie and Peter Sarsgaard (NOT from the Skarsgård as James learned this episode) have crackling chemistry? Will Kyle find her daughter Julia? Will Sean Bean die or turn out to be bad? Why didn't we do our research and reference Hitchcock's The Lady Vanishes in this episode which this takes inspiration from? All this and more in another rip roaring Jetbag ep. And be sure to listen to Silver Fox Office with L.C. and Mike here or wherever podcasts are found!     

Get in, loser. When we're in-between seasons and don't have time for a full personal picks, we turn to our old favourite, the musical! And what better musical from one this year, Mean Girls (2024) which they tried to desperately to hide its musical nature! New student Cady Heron is welcomed into the top of the social food chain by the elite group of popular girls called ‘The Plastics,' ruled by the conniving queen bee Regina George and her minions Gretchen and Karen. However, when Cady makes the major misstep of falling for Regina's ex-boyfriend Aaron Samuels, she finds herself prey in Regina's crosshairs. As Cady sets to take down the group's apex predator with the help of her outcast friends Janis and Damian, she must learn how to stay true to herself while navigating the most cutthroat jungle of all: high school. (Sourced from Letterboxd) With the original film being a seminal film of all of their upbringing, will this remake be top of the plastics or written in the burn book? Does this film even go here? Another reference from the film? All this and more and a thorough discussion of Whānau Marama: New Zealand International Film Festival, shout out to the team that made it happen!

We've reached the end of our Period Princess miniseries and we're ending with an entry from the Disney renaissance, 1995's Pocahontas. Pocahontas, daughter of a Native American tribe chief, falls in love with an English soldier as colonists invade 17th century Virginia. (Sourced from Letterboxd) Will the Colours of the Wind blow away the historical inaccuracy and problematic romance? Is Just Around the River Bend rapids or smooth waters? And will we Mine, Mine, Mine gold from this or is there none to be found?

Our Period Princess continues with Rob Marshall's Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) A sweeping romantic epic set in Japan in the years before World War II, a penniless Japanese child is torn from her family to work as a maid in a geisha house. Directed by Rob and produced by a whole bunch of the white guys, Memoirs of a Geisha started out as a smash hit bestseller, also written by a white guy, Arthur Golden. This adaptation was criticized for casting non-Japanese actors in lead roles but was nominated for six Academy Awards and won three,  Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design. So is this memoir something worth opening or was it a story "that should never be told" as the opening narration states?

It's the start of a new miniseries, it's time for Period Princess!

Cassandra filling in here for James who does the regular captions! Today we're celebrating

It's the year 2000. It's the first 3D animated film from Walt Disney. It's Dinosaur. And it's a very unhinged episode, we had a blast with this one. Plus, we had a special guest drop in briefly, Cass' brother, Nathan! An orphaned dinosaur raised by lemurs joins an arduous trek to a sancturary after a meteorite shower destroys his family home. (Sourced from Letterboxd) It's the final of our personal childhood picks and we're rounding it out with Disney's Dinosaur. Who could forget the epic tale of Aladar, his lemurs and his two elderly friends Eema and Baylene? Everyone, it turns out! Well, it's available now on Disney Plus. Why not listen in to hear how Matt, Cass and Jimmy found this journey back, way waaaay back in time?

We're back for a mini quick mix this week! Discussions include Grey's Anatony, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, A Highland Song, Animal Well and Telling Lies. See you next week for a return to our Childhood Movies!

We're continuing our childhood picks with 1995's Now and Then, starring an absolutely stacked cast including Christina Ricci, Rosie O'Donnell, Demi Moore, Gaby Hoffmann, Thora Birch, Melanie Griffiths, Rita Wilson and Ashleigh Aston Moore. But what is this film? Does it even exist? Waxing nostalgic about the bittersweet passage from childhood to puberty in this tender coming-of-age tale, four childhood girlfriends – Teeny, Chrissy, Samantha and Roberta – recall the magical summer of 1970. During their walk down memory lane, they reconcile experiences with boys, secrets, bullies and more. (Sourced from Letterboxd) Will this girls version of Stand By Me stand up? How much Now and how much Then are we talking? And when is the return of Ashleigh Aston Moore? All this and more in our latest Mixed Bag! 

It's time for more personal picks from your hosts and James has landed on one fairly lost to time Mouse Hunt (1997). Before Gore Verbinski was documenting pirates in the Caribbean, he was making his debut feature with Nathan Lane and Lee Evans about a pesky mouse that won't go away. Down-on-their luck brothers, Lars and Ernie Smuntz, aren't happy with the crumbling old mansion they inherit… until they discover the estate is worth millions. Before they can cash in, they have to rid the house of its single, stubborn occupant—a tiny and tenacious mouse. (Sourced from Letterboxd). Will this film that distressed young James still have the same effect today? Will Cass and Matt enjoy the slapstick shenanigans or is this a childhood watch that should remain forgotten? Also featuring an in-depth discussion of the new film Challengers, the song J was trying to reference was the "yeah yeah yeah" one but he forgot words.   

Ellie Stewart returns to the podcast with the final part of the trilogy, Ghostbusters, Hook and The Inbetweeners Movie! (2011). Based on the TV show, will this gross out boys comedy be a dream come true or will our opinion be inbetween good and bad? High school graduation just wouldn't be complete without an un-chaperoned, uninhibited and unforgettable final holiday. At least that's what Will, Jay, Simon and Neil think when they book a two-week stay on an exotic Greek island. As their dreams of sun-drenched days and booze-filled nights are left hopelessly unfulfilled, the lads fight their way into the party scene with hilariously humiliating results in this smash hit UK raunchy comedy. (Sourced from Letterboxd). Don't forget to check out Ellie and Cassandra in Destiny's Cousin: The Reunion Spectacular, on during the New Zealand International Comedy Festival from the 7-9 May! Further info and tickets available at this link: https://www.comedyfestival.co.nz/find-a-show/destinys-cousin-the-reunion-spectacular/

NYAD Love her or hate her, know her or don't, NYAD (2023) and Diana Nyad herself have been in the news lately with the Academy Award nominations of Annette Benning and Jodie Foster for said film. But who is she?  Athlete Diana Nyad sets out at 60 to achieve a nearly impossible lifelong dream: to swim from Cuba to Florida across more than 100 miles of open ocean. (Sourced from Letterboxd) That's right, controversial swimmer and sometime pathological liar Diana Nyad is being covered and whether she swum assisted or unassisted, there's one thing for certain, Annette is giving it her ALL in this performance. From the very first shot she is blazing intensity. But is the movie any good? Will you need multiple attempts to watch this movie like Diana Nyad needed to swim from Cuba to Florida? How deep can your voice go? And has your mind never been clearer?

It's time. The foundational text. The Rosetta Stone of Dream Blunt Rotation. The one you've all been waiting for. SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN! What is there to say. The name speaks for itself. But will provide some context.  Made in 2011, it's Emily's last rotation (for now) and her scene partner has appeared on the podcast before, Moulin Rouge's Ewen McGregor. A fisheries expert is approached by a consultant to help realize a sheik's vision of bringing the sport of fly-fishing to the desert and embarks on an upstream journey of faith and fish to prove the impossible possible. (Letterboxd) Did you know Salmon Fishing isn't some bizarre improbable true story, it's just totally made up? It was the debut of author Paul Torday who was aged 60! A big fan of salmon fishing and having lived a life of bureaucracy, he decided to write a comic novel and turned into a smash hit. We'll glad he was able to watch his efforts be turned into a film before his death in 2013.  See whether this relatively forgotten film is a fish flop or a surprise catch with our latest Mixed Bag.

How much you would run for a dumb hat? That's what 2011's The Adjustment Bureau dares to ask. Our third entry into the Dream Blunt Rotation, Emily is sporting full 2010s fashion in this one but she never gets to wears that trilby. We also welcome back Spirit himself, Matt Damon. Now we can see him in the flesh instead of his expertly animated horse design and we are disappointed. FIGHT FOR YOUR FATE. A man glimpses the future Fate has planned for him – and chooses to fight for his own destiny. Battling the powerful Adjustment Bureau across, under and through the streets of New York, he risks his destined greatness to be with the only woman he's ever loved. (Sourced from Letterboxd) Will David choose between love and his career? Where did John Slattery go? And when will Emily get to a real character again? Also, a final chat of the 2023 Oscar predictions as it drops today!

The Dream Blunt Rotation continues with John Patrick Shanley's Wild Mountain Thyme. But is this truly a dream blunt? After the reaction to Jungle Cruise, the Mixed Bag crew are hoping the Emerald Isles of Ireland and performances therein can dazzle us with their Irish charm. THERE'S NOTHING MORE DANGEROUS… THAN AN IRISH WOMAN IN LOVE. Headstrong farmer Rosemary Muldoon has her heart set on winning her neighbour Anthony Reilly's love. The problem is, Anthony seems to have inherited a family curse, and remains oblivious to his beautiful admirer. Stung by his father's plans to sell the family farm to his American nephew, Anthony is jolted into pursuing his dreams. (Sourced from Letterboxd) Will this be another Moonstruck for the Irish community? How will Blunt fare with the accent? And WHERE. IS. FIONA?? Find out if we're buzzing or feel drowsy in need of some honey from Wild Mountain Thyme.

That's right, it's time for a new miniseries, Mixed Bag presents DREAM BLUNT ROTATION. We've got four perfect puffs of the wonderful Emily Blunt for you to take a toke of. Relax enjoy and take a cruise down the jungle with our very first offering, 2021's Jungle Cruise, directed by none other than Non-Stop's Jaume Collet-Serra! Two Mixed in a row, well done Jaume! Dr. Lily Houghton enlists the aid of wisecracking skipper Frank Wolff to take her down the Amazon in his dilapidated boat. Together, they search for an ancient tree that holds the power to heal – a discovery that will change the future of medicine. How come Jungle Cruise sports not one but two actors currently nominated for the 2023 Academy Awards? (shout out Pauly G!) Will Dwayne ever be as charismatic as an igneous? And will the lightning of Disney theme park adaptation strike twice?

"I don't know who you are, I don't know what you want. But if it's Taken you're looking for, I can tell you, this is only a knock-off." RRRR! That's right, it's another JetBag

Another year has passed and it's time to look back on the year and remember the chocolatiers of 2023. Wonka, Barbie, J. Robert Oppenheimer and more. We've taken one last trip to the chocolate factory to snack upon the confections of Paul King's Wonka starring Timothy Chalamet, Hugh Grant and Olivia Coleman.  Willy Wonka – chock-full of ideas and determined to change the world one delectable bite at a time – is proof that the best things in life begin with a dream, and if you're lucky enough to meet Willy Wonka, anything is possible. We've also taken the liberty to share our personal top tens of 2023, visit our Letterboxd pages (James, Cass, Matt) and follow us for more movie updates! Will we (Hugh) grant this film a bag? Or will we use our pure imagination to dream up a superior version of favourite enigmatic chocolate bud?

Christmas is all around you BagHags and so it's time for our Christmas tradition, Lucas Neal joins us once again for a Christmas Mixed Bag! It's a big one this year, long requested, Love Actually (2003) by Richard Curtis! THE ULTIMATE ROMANTIC COMEDY. Follows seemingly unrelated people as their lives begin to intertwine while they fall in – and out – of love. Affections languish and develop as Christmas draws near. Were the hosts and guest prepared for quite so much fatphobia? Is Alan Rickman 'adorable' as James says? The film attests that it's possible to be "gay as a maypole" and "gay as a picnic basket" but which is more gay? And will we finally view the film from Both Sides Now? All this and more in our epic two hour episode that concludes our viewings for 2024 (we're taking a break on Christmas Day). Thanks for being with us for another year and merry Mixed Bag viewings this holiday season. 

The chocolate factory is back open! To coincide with the upcoming release of 'Wonka', a definitely not mixed film, we thought we'd take a trip down memory lane to the last Wonka release, Tim Burton's version in 2005 and we are joined by special guest Dryw McArthur! A young boy wins a tour through the most magnificent chocolate factory in the world, led by the world's most unusual candy maker. Are we able to stomach a Johnny Depp film? What elements of the tale have aged badly? Are you pro or anti Grandpa Joe and why is Christopher Lee playing Wonka's dad in this movie?! We had some minor technical issues on this ep fam but you'll barely notice them. See you next time for our annual Christmas special episode!

It's Britney, b*tch. To coincide with the book of the year The Woman in Me, we're looking back to 2002 when Britney made a big swing making a coming of age, road movie with Zoe Saldana and Taryn Manning, Crossroads! DREAMS CHANGE. FRIENDS ARE FOREVER. Three estranged friends reunite to travel to LA to chase fame, family and romance.  Does this pop star vanity project pay off? Which is girl is each host? And how will Britney write her hit single, I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman?

Happy Halloween Baghags! We hope your lolly bags are never mixed and it's bottles all the way down. We're celebrating the Spooky Season with our Foe of the Pod, Mike Bryant, bringing us another scary movie of the mixed variety for our hosts to feast upon! This year, we're going to the prom with Carrie, 2013 edition.  A reimagining of the classic horror tale about Carrie White, a shy girl outcast by her peers and sheltered by her deeply religious mother, who unleashes telekinetic terror on her small town after being pushed too far at her senior prom. How will Hit Girl (aka Chloe Grace Moretz) fare when compared to Sissy Spacek? Will Oscar winner Julianne Moore hold a candle to Piper Laurie? And why are they playing WATERPOLO? We all know Matt is a professed landlubber. All this and more in our Halloween special of Mixed Bag.

Oh the Hugh-manity! It's another Hugh Jackson flick and we're warming up to Halloween with this action adventure Van Helsing (2004) directed by Stephen Sommers of The Mummy and G.I. Joe fame. Famed monster slayer Gabriel Van Helsing is dispatched to Transylvania to assist the last of the Valerious bloodline in defeating Count Dracula. Anna Valerious reveals that Dracula has formed an unholy alliance with Dr. Frankenstein's monster and is hell-bent on exacting a centuries-old curse on her family. Can a film hold the combined might of Van, Frank, Drac, Wolf and Jek/Hy?? When is David Wenham getting his comedic roles back? And will Matt finally be convinced by Hugh? Also, we do a massive deep dive on Taylor Swift's Eras Tour to kick off Popcorner! Listen in Swifties. 

Before James got bit by a dog (he's fine) he rather liked these furry animals. We take you to a recording pre-bite when he and the other hosts were 100% gung-ho on the beloved canines. Introducing Dean Spanley (2008)! Directed by Toa Fraser and starring Jeremy Northam, Sam Neill and Peter O'Toole! If you're a NZer you might vaguely recall this movie, if you're from elsewhere you probably don't have a clue! But what is this forgotten film all about? Set in Edwardian England where upper lips are always stiff and men from the Colonies are not entirely to be trusted, Fisk Senior has little time or affection for his son, but when the pair visit an eccentric Indian, they start a strange journey that eventually allows the old man to find his heart. Is Dean a name or a title? Will Peter finally win his Oscar? (No. He was not even nominated for this) and what happens when national treasure Sam Neill sups on a particular wine?

It's the eighth wonder of the world, Jack O'Donnell! That's right, we've got the nicest guy in New Zealand film, Jack O'Donnell talking about Peter Jackson's King Kong (2005)! Before Peter Jackson was union busting and bringing about Hobbit Law with the NZ Government, he was transforming Petone into New York City and making a great big gorilla wreak havoc. In 1933 New York, an overly ambitious movie producer coerces his cast and hired ship crew to travel to mysterious Skull Island, where they encounter Kong, a giant ape who is immediately smitten with the leading lady. But does this colossal monster movie which was one of the most expensive shoots ever hold up? Can we withstand the power of the three hour runtime? Will PJ ever trump the death scene of Lumpy with those horrific penis monsters? You can watch Jack O'Donnell's short film Tama right now! It's an excellent watch.

Today we're joined by the wonderful Charlie Potter to discuss the magical adventure/romance 'Stardust' (2007) by Matthew Vaughan, adapted from Neil Gaiman's book of the same name. THIS SUMMER A STAR FALLS. THE CHASE BEGINS. In a countryside town bordering on a magical land, a young man makes a promise to his beloved that he'll retrieve a fallen star by venturing into the magical realm. His journey takes him into a world beyond his wildest dreams and reveals his true identity. Will this be 'The Princess Bride' for a new generation or is that just inconcievable? Does the combined weight of gay icon Michelle 'Catwoman' Pfeiffer and Robert De Niro playing gay spellbind us? How does the Ricky Gervais cameo land now? Climb aboard and grab a scabbard to see if this star is soaring or sinking.

Another first for Mixed Bag season 2, our very first documentary! Cast your mind back to 2012 when Katy Perry was on top of the world, dating Russell Brand and her new movie Katy Perry: Part of Me was hitting cinemas in 3D! Giving fans unprecedented access to the real life of the music sensation, Katy Perry: Part of Me exposes the hard work, dedication and phenomenal talent of a girl who remained true to herself and her vision in order to achieve her dreams. But did Katy deliver a candy covered confectionary or is there something darker going on in this film? Is this actually the Marriage Story of popstar docos? Everyday when Katy wakes up does she hope Russell's dead? (OK bit dark, it's a quote OK?) Listen in to see if this is a Firework or just a Teenage Dream we'd rather forget.

It might be the summer of Cillian Murphy in 2023 with Oppenheimer but what about 4 August 2005, when this very week 18 years ago today, Red Eye was released and the general public realised just how 'killer' Cillian could be. Starring Rachel McAdams, Cillian Murphy and Brian Cox and directed by beloved horror filmmaker Wes Craven! FEAR TAKES FLIGHT. A woman is kidnapped by a stranger on a routine flight. Threatened by the potential murder of her father, she is pulled into a plot to assist her captor in offing a politician. Is Brian Cox going to be the secret big bad? Could Wes reinvent the slasher genre again after the success of Scream? And where is Red Eye 2 aka Red Eyes? This episode featuring a couple new surprises as we continue season 2 of Mixed Bag. Pop Corner discussions includes Patrick Barnes shout out, Big Hero 6, Pixar Sequels, The Carpenters, Dredge, The Bear, average Richard E. Grant impressions, Aliens are real, Off Menu Podcast, Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning: Part Two, The Firm, Wild segues, NZIFF and Sinead O'Connor.

Pika pika! We're heading back just four years to revisit Pokémon Detective Pikachu with performer, director and Pokémon aficionado, Emily K. Brown! We get talking our favourite little 151 critters and how this action adventure starring Ryan Reynolds and Justice Smith sat with us. PARTNER UP! In a world where people collect pocket-size monsters (Pokémon) to do battle, a boy comes across an intelligent monster who seeks to be a detective. (Sourced from Letterboxd) Pop Corner discussed in Popcorner includes Barbie and Oppenheimer (relatively spoiler free but if you want to see both films knowing nothing, skip 7:13 - 18:00), Siren: Survivor the Island, Dungeons and Drag Queens, Dimension 20, Emmy Nominations, Traitors Australia, Cocaine Bear and FIFA Women's World Cup.

"Say it. Out Loud." "100 episodes" That's right, we're 100 episodes old, Baghags! To celebrate, we gathered together at Vogelmorn Hall on a cold July evening and celebrated with an iconic Mixed film and franchise, Twilight (2008). Huge thanks to Patrick Barnes for the sound and AV, Cass' parents for the screen, our readers Ed, Catherine, Mike and Jared and to our special guest! Listen to the end to discover who it is and visit our socials for the video version. WHEN YOU CAN LIVE FOREVER, WHAT DO YOU LIVE FOR? When Bella Swan moves to a small town in the Pacific Northwest to live with her father, she meets the reclusive Edward Cullen, a mysterious classmate who reveals himself to be a 108-year-old vampire. Despite Edward's repeated cautions, Bella can't help but fall in love with him, a fatal move that endangers her own life when a coven of bloodsuckers try to challenge the Cullen clan. (Sourced from Letterboxd) What is there to say about Twilight? A huge franchise that introduced Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart to the world, it was a massive sensation but is the first film any good? Matt, Cass and James and our live audience cast a critical eye over Catherine Hardwicke's film and revisit the fashion, soundtrack and crazes of 2008.  Thanks again for listening and here's to 100 more!

ARE YOU READY? Because we've reached the end of our MixedBerg Miniseries with the only way we could, Speilberg's retrospective on legacy by cramming so much IP on the screen at all times! That's right it's Ready Player One! (2018) Based on the popular book of the same name, Ready Player One imagines an OASIS world where the VR headset is king and everybody is obsessed with Mark Rylance.  A BETTER REALITY AWAITS. When the creator of a popular video game system dies, a virtual contest is created to compete for his fortune. Will Steven bring the magic touch to this loving ode to video games? Why are the avatars and the world of Oasis so drab? And why is Mark Rylance acting like thaaaat...?! Don't forget to RSVP for our Live Event Twilight here so we know who's coming! Featuring many surprises including a special guest who may or may not be associated with the film...! https://www.facebook.com/events/258968476818293 mixed bag live: twilight SATURDAY, JULY 8, 2023 AT 6:30 PM – 11 PM Vogelmorn Community - 93 Mornington Road, Brooklyn SaveVUW and StopTheCuts petition: https://teu.ac.nz/campaigns/stop-the-cuts/