Queen is Dead - A Film, TV and Culture Podcast

Queen Is Dead
  • 4.7 (3)
  • Film Reviews
  • Updated Weekly

क्वीन इज डेड. Movies, the universe and everything. We come to pop culture with an Indian perspective and want to share it with the world. These are the voyages of the podcast Queen is Dead!

  1. Sci-Fi Spielberg (Pt. 2) - Minority Report, War of the Worlds, & Ready Player One | Countdown to Disclosure Day #184

    2d ago

    Sci-Fi Spielberg (Pt. 2) - Minority Report, War of the Worlds, & Ready Player One | Countdown to Disclosure Day #184

    Amartya, Varun, and Cris (re)convene in a divergent manel to tackle Steven Spielberg's association with science fiction. This second in a series of three episodes looks at "Minority Report", "War of the Worlds", and "Ready Player One", and how Spielberg (paired here with cinematographer Janusz Kamiński) uses them to tackle real-world politics. References to Bollywood are a must, so Tom Cruise gets compared to John Abraham at some point, do not ask why. The final part will cover "Disclosure Day" and how it exists in conversation (or not) with these texts. Bonus discussion on our recent (terrible and not so much) excursions to the theatre had to be shared, so do enjoy that as well. MAJOR SPOILERS FOR ALL 3 MOVIES TIME CODES Intro (& Recent Theatrical Experiences) - [00:00 - 11:37] "Minority Report" - [11:37 - 41:18] "War of the Worlds" - [41:18 - 01:05:04] "Ready Player One" - [01:05:04 - 01:35:55] Outro - [01:35:55 - 01:37:05] Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people! Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can follow us on Letterboxd at - CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/. VARUN: https://letterboxd.com/varunoakbhakay/. AMARTYA: https://letterboxd.com/amartya/.

    1h 37m
  2. Asian Queer Cinema of Alienation | Happy Together | The River | Tropical Malady #183

    Jun 1

    Asian Queer Cinema of Alienation | Happy Together | The River | Tropical Malady #183

    In our second ever Pride special series, Cris is joined by fellow Queer Cinema enthusiasts Dhruv and Ashwin to discuss how different filmmakers from different backgrounds and in different eras render queerness on screen. They explore what makes a film "queer" in the first place and how formally, narratively, and stylistically diverse they can be. This first episode (of three) engages with Asian Queer Cinema through Wong Kar Wai's 'Happy Together', Tsai Ming-liang's 'The River', and Apichatpong Weerasethakul's 'Tropical Malady', and how they contemplate (queer) alienation, misery, and repression. Listen to the full episode for some heart-attack-inducing Bollywood comparisons (as usual), unexpected shade towards one of these films, and heartfelt affection and admiration for the other two. Spoilers, if they count. TIME CODES (Pride Special) Intro - [00:00 - 08:08] "Happy Together" (1997) - [08:08 - 38:07] "The River" (1997) - [38:07 - 1:04:31] "Tropical Malady" (2004) - [01:04:31 - 01:33:13] Outro (& Upcoming Episodes) - [1:33:13 - 1:41:46] Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people! Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can follow us on Letterboxd at - CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/. ASHWIN: https://letterboxd.com/ashwindev/. DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

    1h 42m
  3. Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu — How Can A Cynical Cash Grab be this Cute? #182

    May 27

    Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu — How Can A Cynical Cash Grab be this Cute? #182

    Resident Star Wars Nerd Amartya introduces Resident Star Wars Noob Cris to the wonders(?) of the series as they discuss its latest addition: 'The Mandalorian and Grogu'. Insert obligatory lecture on the franchise and how much (if any) of it is relevant here. Much of this (technically spoiler-filled, though there's not much to spoil) conversation revolves around Grogu and how the three-apples-tall alien was synthesised by the creators in a lab to be the cutest thing known to mankind. Attempts are made to talk about the film in general, to questionable degrees of success. Listen to the full episode for (short) tangents about whether Star Wars is like 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi' or 'Fast & Furious' and how quickly 'Grogu Plushies' was googled after watching the film. SPOILERS FOR 'THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU'. TIME CODES Intro - [00:00 - 05:20] What the Hell is Star Wars? - [05:20 - 17:54] Grogu (and The Mandalorian) - [17:54 - 37:11] What Works? - [37:11 - 47:14] (Nonsense) Discourse Break - [47:14 - 51:03] What Doesn't Work? - [51:03 - 1:04:38] Final Thoughts and Outro - [1:04:38 - 1:14:19] Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people! Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can follow us on Letterboxd at - CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/. AMARTYA: https://letterboxd.com/amartya/.

    1h 14m
  4. Sci-Fi Spielberg (Pt. 1) - Close Encounters with E.T & A.I | Countdown to Disclosure Day #181

    May 21

    Sci-Fi Spielberg (Pt. 1) - Close Encounters with E.T & A.I | Countdown to Disclosure Day #181

    Ashwin, Amartya, Dhruv, Varun, and Cris convene in a divergent manel to tackle Steven Spielberg's association with science fiction. This first in a series of three episodes looks at "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial", and "A.I. Artificial Intelligence". Minor digressions to address the cinematic spectacles known as "Jaani Dushman — Ek Anokhi Kahani" and "Koi Mil Gaya" aside, this is one of the saner offerings from the QID studio, all thanks to host and chief Spielberg champion Varun. The second episode will revolve around "Minority Report", "War of the Worlds", and "Ready Player One", and the series will close with "Disclosure Day", the latest film by the Father of the Blockbuster, back in the director's chair after a hiatus of four years, the longest time he has taken between films in fifty-two years of feature filmmaking. MAJOR SPOILERS FOR ALL 3 MOVIES & MINOR ONES FOR "THE FABELMANS" TIME CODES Intros to Spielberg's Sci-Fi Cinema - [00:00 - 17:13] "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" - [17:13 - 01:25:41] "E.T. The Extra Terrestrial" - [01:25:41 - 02:13:37] "A.I. Artificial Intelligence" - [02:13:37 - 02:46:04] Outro (Spielberg's Auteurism) - [02:46:04 - 02:58:30] Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people! Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can follow us on Letterboxd at - CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/. ASHWIN: https://letterboxd.com/ashwindev/. VARUN: https://letterboxd.com/varunoakbhakay/. AMARTYA: https://letterboxd.com/amartya/. DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/.

    2h 59m
  5. Patriot & the Value (and Pitfalls) of Mahesh Narayanan's Subdued Approach to Mainstream Cinema #180

    May 11

    Patriot & the Value (and Pitfalls) of Mahesh Narayanan's Subdued Approach to Mainstream Cinema #180

    Why pick team Mammootty or team Mohanlal when you can have both? The first all-Mallu panel of QID—Cris, Ashwin, Arjun, and Devi—discuss Mahesh Narayanan's latest multi-starrer action thriller 'Patriot'. First, they talk about Narayanan's craft as an editor and director. Then they debate his writing skills. Unavoidable references are made to "L2: Empuraan" and star culture in Malayalam cinema. Listen to the full episode for some unsavory comments towards online discourse (as usual) and a debate on exactly how homoerotic the film is. MAJOR SPOILERS FOR "PATRIOT" (SEE TIMECODES LISTED BELOW TO ONLY LISTEN TO THE NON-SPOILERY STUFF!) Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people! Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TIME CODES Introduction : [00:00 - 02:45] Mahesh Narayanan's Filmography : [02:45 - 10:36] "Patriot" (Non-Spoiler Talk) : [10:36 - 47:09] "Patriot" (Spoiler Talk) : [47:09 - 02:08:15] Discourse around "Patriot" : [02:08:15 - 02:25:04] Mammootty-Mohanlal Film Recs : [02:25:04 - 02:34:23] Outro : [02:34:23 - 02:35:28] Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people! Follow our Instagram page: https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast Devi's Links - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/film.trance/. You can also follow us on Letterboxd at - CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/. ASHWIN: https://letterboxd.com/ashwindev/. ARJUN: https://letterboxd.com/arjun_skumar1/.

    2h 35m
  6. The Devil Wears Prada 2 - A Legacy Sequel That's Actually Good?! #179

    May 4

    The Devil Wears Prada 2 - A Legacy Sequel That's Actually Good?! #179

    The girls who get it -- Cris, Ashwin, and Vik -- get it ("it" being the girls-and-gays-classic 'The Devil Wears Prada,' and its brand new sequel) and the girls who don't -- the rest of QID -- don't (they're not allowed on this episode). In this uncharacteristically civil conversation, the "girls who get it" discuss why "The Devil Wears Prada" has had such a hold on the public imagination and whether/how a follow-up (legacy sequel?) of it -- released 20 years after the original -- has any right to work like the original once did. Listen to the full episode for spoiler-filled thoughts on TDWP2, its fashion (Cris and Vik "get" this; Ashwin doesn't), and its critical reputation relative to the original. That's all. MAJOR SPOILERS FOR "THE DEVIL PRADA 2" (SEE TIMECODES LISTED BELOW TO ONLY LISTEN TO THE NON-SPOILERY STUFF!) Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people! Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TIME CODES Introduction : [00:00 - 01:37] TDWP : [01:37 - 18:48] TDWP2 (Non-Spoiler Talk) : [18:48 - 31:13] TDWP2 (Spoiler Talk) : [31:13 - 01:01:45] Fashion Talk on a Film Podcast : [01:01:45 - 01:10:16] TDWP2's Box Office Success: [01:10:16 - 01:14:01] Films like TDWP & TDWP2: [01:14:01 - 01:18:39] Outro ("Star Ratings") : [01:18:39 - 01:21:23] Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people! Follow our Instagram page: https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast Vik's Links - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letstalkmelb. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theletstalkseries. You can also follow us on Letterboxd at - CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/. ASHWIN: https://letterboxd.com/ashwindev/.

    1h 21m
  7. Kristoffer Borgli's "The Drama" & All the Real and Reel Life Drama that Surrounds It #178

    Apr 27

    Kristoffer Borgli's "The Drama" & All the Real and Reel Life Drama that Surrounds It #178

    Dhruv, Cris, Aryan, Srilekha & Varun (correctly pronounced, as per Srilekha, as "Borun") are discussing a(nother) A24 Film that's been the talk of the town since it released in cinemas last month. Since most of them were relatively cold on the film itself, they've decided to dedicate at least half of this episode to discussing the drama surrounding not only the film but also its director, Kristoffer Borgli -- especially the casually disconcerting essay he wrote about May-December romances. In particular, he cites Woody Allen's "Manhattan" as the key inspiration that helped him justify his relationship with a 16-year-old girl as a 27-year-old man. The QID members discuss -- in length -- the value (or not) of having this kind of discussion before delving into the particularities of Borgli's films that interested (or irritated) them. MAJOR SPOILERS FOR "THE DRAMA" & MINOR SPOILERS FOR "MANHATTAN" THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE EPISODE! Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people! Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TIME CODES Introduction : [00:00 - 13:19] A24's Marketing of "The Drama" : [13:19 - 24:32] Borgli & The Woody Allen Connection : [24:32 - 01:01:40] The Drama of "The Drama" : [01:01:40 - 01:44:12] Films (Recos) like "The Drama" : [01:44:12 - 02:04:37] Outro (Aryan's "Samay Raina" Tangent) : [02:04:37 - 02:11:49] You can also follow these mad people on Letterboxd at - ARYAN: https://letterboxd.com/aryantalksfilms/. SRILEKHA: https://letterboxd.com/srilekha__mitra/. DHRUV: https://letterboxd.com/aterminalcinema/. CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/. VARUN: https://letterboxd.com/varunoakbhakay/.

    2h 12m
  8. Phil Lord & Christopher Miller's Project Hail Mary - A Sci-Fi Classic that this World Needs & Deserves (for Better or Worse) #177

    Apr 6

    Phil Lord & Christopher Miller's Project Hail Mary - A Sci-Fi Classic that this World Needs & Deserves (for Better or Worse) #177

    Dhruv's internet is down (and he despised the film everyone seems to love), so Varun takes over hosting duties of our latest episode. You know what you're in for then. For about an hour of this two-hour spoiler-filled episode on "Project Hail Mary," Varun manages to steer the (space) ship rather competently -- encouraging all our participants, including himself, of course, to share thier adoration (Adithiyan), disdain (Cris), or measured response (Amartya, Hemant, & Varun) to (currently) the biggest hit film of the year. Then the wheels come off—so expect deviations, including discussions about Hemant's marriage, Varun's UK Passport Office visit pre-watching PHM, etc. The editor of this episode, who's also writing this description and was slandered around 10-15 times in the episode (Dhruv), wishes all QID listeners the best of luck trying to survive this particular section of the episode. Do hit 'Follow' on Spotify if you haven't already to help the podcast reach more people! Follow our Instagram page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/queenisdead.filmpodcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TIME CODES Main Discussion on PHM (& Stuff) : [00:00 - 01:31:21] Closing Thoughts on Stuff (& PHM) : [01:31:21 - 02:04:30] You can also follow these mad people (& Adithiyan) on Letterboxd at - ADITHIYAN: https://letterboxd.com/curioseradi/. AMARTYA: https://letterboxd.com/amartya/. CRIS: https://letterboxd.com/crislim/. VARUN: https://letterboxd.com/varunoakbhakay/. HEMANT: https://letterboxd.com/ganti117/.

    2h 5m
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4.7
out of 5
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क्वीन इज डेड. Movies, the universe and everything. We come to pop culture with an Indian perspective and want to share it with the world. These are the voyages of the podcast Queen is Dead!

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