Skip to content
PopWasabi

PopWasabi

  • Reviews
  • Deep Dives
  • Culture
  • About
  • Subscribe

Category: Culture

Reflecting on the nerd I once was…

So, Comic-Con came back last month. Yes, the Mecca of Nerdom after a two-year hiatus due to COVID (which is still a thing btw) returned in its full(ish) glory as……

Continue reading Reflecting on the nerd I once was…
Published August 1, 2022
Categorized as Culture, Deep Dives

Why I love Film Music

When I was nine years old, I REALLY liked “The Phantom Menace.” I loved it so much as a snot-nosed 4th grader at the time that I dragged my father,……

Continue reading Why I love Film Music
Published January 27, 2022
Categorized as Culture, Deep Dives

How the US created Godzilla

For most movie-watching audiences Godzilla is something of a caricature representing the hokiness of Japanese giant monster cinema. Watching dudes in rubber suits awkwardly smash model buildings isn’t exactly high……

Continue reading How the US created Godzilla
Published January 6, 2022
Categorized as Culture, Deep Dives

“Princess Mononoke’s” Pacificism is Admirable but a bit Naive

If there is one film that describes director Hayao Miyazaki’s entire ethos and philosophy the most, it’s probably “Princess Mononoke.” The film showcases Miyazaki’s love of nature and spirituality in……

Continue reading “Princess Mononoke’s” Pacificism is Admirable but a bit Naive
Published September 27, 2021
Categorized as Culture, Deep Dives

“Shang Chi” and Hollywood “Representation”

When I first started this blog a few years ago my initial goal was to give the pop culture community a new Asian American voice and perspective, I felt it……

Continue reading “Shang Chi” and Hollywood “Representation”
Published August 22, 2021
Categorized as Culture, Deep Dives

“The Grandmaster”: Life, Martial Arts, and Living with our Regrets

One of my biggest fears these days is what kind of legacy am I going to leave behind. When I’m old and can no longer move around as I used……

Continue reading “The Grandmaster”: Life, Martial Arts, and Living with our Regrets
Published July 25, 2021
Categorized as Culture, Deep Dives

“Cowboy Bebop” reminds us to rediscover our lost Humanity

Most “Cowboy Bebop” episodes start out more or less the same. The crew is typically going through financial dire straits of some kind, barely able to scrounge up enough food……

Continue reading “Cowboy Bebop” reminds us to rediscover our lost Humanity
Published June 5, 2021
Categorized as Culture, Deep Dives

The monster of “Shin Gojira” is government incompetence

I know it doesn’t feel like it but we’re just three months away from March again. It’s been almost a year now since the beginning of quarantine, when the world……

Continue reading The monster of “Shin Gojira” is government incompetence
Published December 4, 2020
Categorized as Culture

“Who are you?” The scene that defines Chadwick Boseman’s legacy

Yesterday, the world lost a bright and promising, burgeoning talent in Chadwick Boseman. I had wondered privately for a while if something was wrong with him, as others had as……

Continue reading “Who are you?” The scene that defines Chadwick Boseman’s legacy
Published August 29, 2020
Categorized as Culture, Deep Dives

“Rogue One” finds victory in hopeless rebellion

2020 has been…relentless to say the least. You might not remember it at this point, given the how turbulent this latest period has been, but this year started with Australia……

Continue reading “Rogue One” finds victory in hopeless rebellion
Published July 2, 2020
Categorized as Culture, Deep Dives

“Do the Right Thing” and “the language of the unheard”

Two things tend to happen following the death of unarmed African American at the hands of law enforcement in this country. The first are protests that often lead to heightened……

Continue reading “Do the Right Thing” and “the language of the unheard”
Published June 7, 2020
Categorized as Culture, Deep Dives

How some stoners named “Harold & Kumar” made Asian Americans proud

Being Asian American can make you feel invisible at times or worst, the butt of every bad joke. Sure, lots of Americans love Asian things like sushi, kung fu, anime,……

Continue reading How some stoners named “Harold & Kumar” made Asian Americans proud
Published April 21, 2020
Categorized as Culture

Lockdown Lookback: Catching up on the past months’ Pop Culture

Aaaaannnd we’re back! It’s amazing what a little pandemic can do to shake you out of your creative cobwebs but if we’re all going to die, I want to make……

Continue reading Lockdown Lookback: Catching up on the past months’ Pop Culture
Published March 26, 2020
Categorized as Culture, Reviews

“Parasite” Review: Class Warfare through Master Class Film-Making

Directed by Bong Joon-ho Starring: Choi Woo-shik, Song Kang-ho, Park-So-dam, Cho Yeo-jeong, Chang Hyae-jin Given director Bong Joon-ho’s relative success over the last 10-plus years it’s pretty astounding it’s taken……

Continue reading “Parasite” Review: Class Warfare through Master Class Film-Making
Published January 9, 2020
Categorized as Culture, Reviews

Christmas Specials are about Pain

Christmas time is here and with it all the complex “feels” of the season. The holidays are often a good barometer of how you are feeling about yourself and life.……

Continue reading Christmas Specials are about Pain
Published December 25, 2019
Categorized as Culture

Top 5: Jazz, Taiko Drums, and Hurdy Gurdies. My Favorite TV Intros.

It was not long ago when most streaming sites began offering a “skip intro” option for TV show content. Hell, it seemed some intros to the Netflix, Hulu and Prime……

Continue reading Top 5: Jazz, Taiko Drums, and Hurdy Gurdies. My Favorite TV Intros.
Published November 12, 2019
Categorized as Culture

“Promare” Review: Anime at its most Ridiculous and Finest

Directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi Starring: Kenichi Matsuyama, Taichi Saotome, Masato Sakai, Ayane Sakura The best way to describe just how silly and ridiculous Trigger Studios’ new anime film “Promare” is……

Continue reading “Promare” Review: Anime at its most Ridiculous and Finest
Published October 12, 2019
Categorized as Culture, Reviews

Gamera’s Heisei Trilogy is Peak Kaiju Film-Making

I wouldn’t blame you if a film series about a giant flying turtle who’s primary tag line in the 60s/70s was “Friend to all Children” was just a little too……

Continue reading Gamera’s Heisei Trilogy is Peak Kaiju Film-Making
Published September 21, 2019
Categorized as Culture, Deep Dives

Remembering My Hero, Robin Williams, Five Years Later

Not terribly long ago I used to deride others for feeling sad in the wake of a famous celebrity’s death. My argument would go something like in the grand scheme……

Continue reading Remembering My Hero, Robin Williams, Five Years Later
Published August 11, 2019
Categorized as Culture, Deep Dives

Not Dead Yet: How “Megalo Box” Teaches Us To Fight For Our Tomorrow

At the end of each episode of the anime series “Megalo Box” there is a simple line in white pitched up against a cold black screen. “…Not dead yet.” Early……

Continue reading Not Dead Yet: How “Megalo Box” Teaches Us To Fight For Our Tomorrow
Published August 7, 2019
Categorized as Culture, Deep Dives

Posts navigation

1 2 Older posts
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
Link to Patreon

Copyright Wesley Dugle, 2021.

All rights reserved.