Is Michael a great biopic, or does it work because Michael Jackson’s music is simply impossible to resist?

We review the new Michael Jackson biopic, discussing Jaafar Jackson’s performance, the film’s massive audience response, Michael’s legacy, the controversy around his life, and the major moments the movie glosses over.

Plus, we end with a Michael Jackson song battle — from Thriller and Billie Jean to Beat It, Smooth Criminal, They Don’t Care About Us and more.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/V0bjX1WgtxU

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

0:34 Welcome to Cognitive Recalibration

0:48 Introducing Michael and why this episode needed a discussion

1:11 Box-office success and the scale of Michael Jackson fandom

2:34 Music biopics, Bohemian Rhapsody, and billion-dollar potential

3:35 Audience demographics and Gen Z discovering Michael Jackson

5:57 Critics vs audiences: why the scores are so different

7:00 Family involvement, controversy, and what the movie avoids

8:36 Release delays, sequel plans, and the film’s long box-office legs

10:05 Michael Jackson trivia, the moonwalk, and cultural mythology

10:29 Initial thoughts: enjoyable experience, flawed movie

12:37 Emotional connection to Michael’s music and why it still resonates

13:49 The ending problem and why the movie feels like Part One

14:45 Word of mouth, social media reactions, and renewed popularity

16:47 Box-office competition and why Michael has longer legs

17:11 Jaafar Jackson, the child actor, and Colman Domingo’s performances

18:56 Spoiler discussion begins: Joe Jackson and Michael’s insecurities

20:50 The media, Michael’s changing appearance, and vitiligo

22:49 The movie’s biggest flaw: not enough focus on musical genius

23:38 Missing the evolution of Michael’s voice, style, and creative identity

24:43 Quincy Jones, Off the Wall, Thriller, Bad, and missed opportunities

27:08 Thriller, Bad, music videos, and Michael as a short-film pioneer

28:46 Why the movie still works as an experience despite its flaws

30:00 Michael as an underdog and Joe Jackson’s intimidating presence

31:51 Childhood trauma, loneliness, Bubbles, and the toy store scene

32:28 The Pepsi commercial, pain medication, and the start of his decline

33:39 Why the second movie will be harder to make

34:21 Michael’s estate, masters, streaming money, and artist ownership

36:55 Relationships, children, siblings, and the drama the film skips

38:48 Michael’s legacy living through the music

39:10 Why the sequel should explore albums, tours, and fame more deeply

40:27 Was Michael Jackson more famous than Taylor Swift?

41:34 Final thoughts on performances and the film overall

42:03 Michael Jackson song battle begins: Thriller vs everything

43:20 Billie Jean takes the crown

44:49 Human Nature, Stranger in Moscow, and underrated favourites

46:12 Dirty Diana, PYT, Black or White, and Michael’s deep discography

47:02 Favourite Michael Jackson songs and streaming numbers

48:30 Michael’s voice, vocal style, and why his songs are hard to sing

49:42 Paul McCartney, Beatles rights, and Michael’s music portfolio

51:22 Neverland and the stories still left for the sequel

52:15 Closing thoughts on Michael and who should watch it

53:39 Podcast movie draft talk: Michael, Moana, Minions, and Dune

54:53 Quick thoughts on Mandalorian & Grogu and upcoming episodes

55:27 Final sign-off

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Star Wars returns to the big screen for the first time in years with Mandalorian & Grogu — but does it actually feel like an event movie?

In this episode of Cognitive Recalibration, Sravan and Bhaskar break down the latest Star Wars theatrical release, discussing:

⚔️ The movie’s “side quest” structure  

👶 Grogu stealing every scene  

🎬 Whether this should’ve just been Disney+ episodes  

🌌 The current state of Star Wars  

🔥 IMAX & 3D impressions  

💭 Why the film feels safe but inconsequential  

⭐ And why Andor Season 2 might still be Disney Star Wars at its peak

We also dive deep into SPOILERS, discuss the future of Star Wars, Ahsoka Season 2, Starfighter, and rank the best Disney-era Star Wars projects.

⚠️ Spoiler warning included in timestamps below.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9uPAygFdUME

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Intro Music

0:37 Intro & welcome

1:12 Box office & Star Wars returning to cinemas

2:09 Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni & Ludwig Göransson discussion

3:49 Audience demographics & Disney+ connection

7:25 Pedro Pascal & Grogu behind-the-scenes discussion

9:19 Initial thoughts on the movie

13:09 Visuals, action & production value

13:54 Biggest problem: no real stakes

17:50 “This could have been 4 Disney+ episodes”

18:53 Sravan’s overall thoughts

20:37 Has Star Wars become “cute”?

22:19 Why this doesn’t feel like a major Star Wars event

25:14 Lack of urgency in modern blockbuster movies

27:01 Is Disney aiming for broader audiences?

29:19 Final non-spoiler verdicts

30:22 Are Star Wars fans no longer the target audience?

SPOILERS START HERE

37:37 Full spoiler discussion begins

38:01 Rotta the Hutt & gladiator storyline

40:55 Sigourney Weaver’s mission cards

43:11 The Hutt side quest begins

47:27 “Dwayne the Hutt Johnson” discussion

48:38 Rodda reveal & gladiator arena

52:40 Lord Janu / Imperial reveal

56:11 Homecoming fake-out & bounty hunter attack

59:34 Grogu rescue mission

1:01:01 Mandalorian captured by the Hutts

1:02:08 Grogu alone in the wilderness

1:06:58 Final assault on the Hutts

1:11:09 Grogu’s Force abilities discussion

1:14:23 Ending explained

1:15:57 Why the movie ultimately feels inconsequential

1:18:17 IMAX & 3D recommendations

1:19:53 Future of Star Wars discussion

1:21:12 Starfighter & upcoming projects

1:21:39 50th anniversary of Star Wars discussion

1:23:59 Ranking Disney-era Star Wars projects

1:25:05 Andor vs Mandalorian debate

1:30:38 Why Andor Season 2 is the best Disney Star Wars project

1:33:22 Final thoughts & outro

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MORTAL KOMBAT is back… but is it actually an upgrade? 👊🔥

We’re reviewing Mortal Kombat 2, talking Johnny Cage, fatalities, Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Katana, Kano, and whether this sequel delivers enough chaos to justify another round.

Was it fun? Yes.  

Was it good? That’s where things get complicated…

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9ASmLq88Dug

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

0:37 Intro + Mortal Kombat 2 setup

1:35 Johnny Cage joins the sequel

2:44 Returning characters and Mortal Kombat lore

4:03 Initial thoughts: was it better than the first?

5:06 The fights, kills and cheesy dialogue

7:03 Johnny Cage and Katana’s roles

9:06 Scorpion and Sub-Zero feel wasted

10:47 Tekken, Street Fighter and fighting game movies

12:47 Spoilers: who dies?

14:40 How Mortal Kombat tournament rules work

16:02 Johnny Cage’s powers and missed potential

18:11 Scorpion, Sub-Zero and sequel setup

18:58 What’s next for the podcast?

21:33 Mortal Kombat 2 box office draft regrets

22:58 Street Fighter vs Mortal Kombat vs Tekken

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The Devil Wears Prada 2 is finally here… but was it worth bringing Miranda, Andy and Emily back after 20 years?

In this episode, we break down whether the sequel captures the magic of the original, why the plot feels more like a legacy cash grab, the AI/media industry angle, Meryl Streep’s return as Miranda Priestly, and whether this deserved its massive box office opening.

Is this a stylish comeback or one sequel too many?

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Te0gkakSzic

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

0:37 Intro + The Devil Wears Prada 2 setup

0:57 Release, cast, crew and box office

1:46 Thoughts on the original Devil Wears Prada

2:52 Who is this sequel for?

3:15 Non-spoiler review

3:59 The new characters and sequel setup

6:03 Returning characters and where they are now

7:40 Does the sequel justify existing?

9:00 Spoiler warning

9:25 Miranda Priestly’s strange promotion arc

11:23 Emily Blunt, Anne Hathaway and the company takeover plot

14:35 Why the movie feels like a cash grab

16:59 What could have been a better sequel?

19:05 Final thoughts and box office draft impact

20:10 What’s next on Cognitive Recalibration

20:49 Wrap-up

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Project Hail Mary surprised us, Super Mario Galaxy is racing toward a billion, and the 2026 Movie Draft is already getting interesting.

In this episode, Sravan and Tarun review Project Hail Mary and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, discuss Ryan Gosling, Rocky, IMAX, Mario nostalgia, Nintendo easter eggs, box office numbers, and whether these films are already shaking up the 2026 movie race.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Ac_SLvdCqPM

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

0:35 Intro

1:01 Our 2026 Movie Draft picks are already paying off

2:27 Project Hail Mary background

3:02 Project Hail Mary review

6:57 Project Hail Mary spoiler warning

10:27 Rocky and the heart of Project Hail Mary

13:50 Box office, word of mouth and Ryan Gosling

17:25 The Super Mario Galaxy Movie review

20:29 Who is this movie really for?

25:47 Super Mario Galaxy spoilers and easter eggs

33:40 Next episode and wrap-up

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It’s draft day on Cognitive Recalibration.

Sravan, Tarun and special guest Kireeti go head-to-head in a 2026 Movie Draft, building their ultimate box office teams with a $100 budget, 6 picks each, tiered movie pricing, and a steal tax that turns the whole thing chaotic.

From Avengers: Doomsday, Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Toy Story 5 to risky value picks like Michael, Supergirl, Jumanji 3, Disclosure Day and Project Hail Mary, this episode is part strategy, part trash talk, and part pure movie nerd chaos.

Who drafted the best team? Who got the biggest steals? And who’s shouting dinner when this all blows up at the box office?

Let us know whose lineup you think wins.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/hdQG4t3CrdA?si=v4TY7u3dCHmbd7ta

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

00:37 Welcome back to Cognitive Recalibration

01:00 The 2026 Movie Draft concept explained

01:26 Rules: $100 budget, 6 picks, snake draft, steal tax

02:15 Tier 1 to Tier 5 movie pool breakdown

03:04 Draft order revealed

03:26 Round 1 begins: Avengers, Mario, Dune

06:42 Minions 3 gets called a cheat code

08:18 Spider-Man: Brand New Day enters the draft

09:59 Michael gets stolen

12:13 Hexed, Devil Wears Prada 2 and Moana join the board

15:08 Supergirl gets stolen too

17:03 Jumanji 3 stolen, budget pressure rises

18:03 Why nobody wants Masters of the Universe

19:03 Why nobody picked The Odyssey

20:41 Project Hail Mary enters the team

23:20 Disclosure Day vs horror movies

24:42 Final teams revealed

25:08 Why nobody picked The Odyssey

26:08 Who actually has the best team?

26:41 The academic scoring debate: profit vs gross

26:46 Why Avengers: Doomsday might be a trap

30:03 Loser has to buy dinner

30:55 Could Indian movies ever compete in this draft?

34:00 Dhurandhar tangent: movie of the year?

35:21 2025 movie chat: Demon Slayer, Sinners and Superman

38:47 Final thoughts and sign-off

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Sravan is joined by special guest Kireeti to break down Infinity Castle (and the Demon Slayer series as a whole): why it became a global phenomenon, how the movie cranks the animation and intensity to max, and what the three big arcs mean for what’s coming next. Non-spoiler thoughts up front, then we go full spoiler mode — including Shinobu’s showdown, Zenitsu finally locking in, and Akaza’s surprisingly heartbreaking backstory.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/MShzvsMtqsU

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

0:35 – Welcome + guest Kireeti

1:42 – Why Demon Slayer is a global phenomenon (box office context)

4:26 – Series overview: what works, pacing, character focus

12:20 – Spoiler zone begins (series + movie)

20:34 – Why you must watch the series before Infinity Castle

24:38 – Arc 1: Shinobu vs Doma (Upper Two)

27:49 – Arc 2: Zenitsu ‘locks in’ (Thunder Breathing showdown)

32:39 – Arc 3: Akaza vs Tanjiro + Giyu (main event)

41:28 – Akaza’s tragic backstory + “redemption”

44:29 – The crows + Ubuyashiki kids mapping the castle

47:22 – Nezuko’s absence + what Muzan is really after

49:45 – Ratings + what else in 2025 cinema stacks up

1:00:36 – Quick anime recs: Kaiju No.8 + Solo Leveling

1:02:01 – Subs vs dubs debate

1:04:03 – When’s the next movie? (2027 talk)

1:05:01 – JJK movie next week + Season 3 timing

1:06:15 – Favourite characters (Tanjiro, Akaza, Hashira picks)

1:11:42 – Wrap-up + where to follow/contact

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t’s that time of the year 🎄 — the Cognitive Recalibration Annual Christmas Special is back!

Sravan and Tarun are joined once again by Bhaskar and Kireeti for our most chaotic, funniest, and most festive episode of the year. Each of us brings a Christmas-themed pick and puts it through our Christmas Movie Test™ to decide what really qualifies as a Christmas movie (see below).

🎬 Movies discussed this year:

• The Polar Express (2004)
• Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
• My Secret Santa (Netflix)
• Man vs. Baby (Rowan Atkinson)

We debate:

• What actually makes a Christmas movie
• Nostalgia vs rewatch value
• Uncanny valley nightmares
• Santa Claus on trial in court
• Netflix Christmas logic
• Rowan Atkinson doing Rowan Atkinson things

Expect hot takes, derailed plot explanations, Christmas scoring chaos, and a lot of laughter.

🎅 Let us know which one you’d watch (or rewatch) this Christmas!

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DuxZI1h3llY

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

00:37 – Welcome to the Christmas Special 🎄

00:44 – Christmas Movie Test explained

01:41 – Bhaskar: The Polar Express

03:10 – Christmas Movie Test scoring

04:25 – Box office, cult status & uncanny valley

06:29 – Tom Hanks & motion capture madness

09:46 – Story breakdown

14:31 – Themes, nostalgia & verdict

19:23 – Tarun: Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

21:10 – Plot overview

27:18 – Santa sent to a mental hospital

30:22 – Santa on trial

34:43 – Christmas score & verdict

37:40 – Sravan: My Secret Santa (Netflix)

38:44 – Mrs Doubtfire comparisons

43:22 – Fake Santa backlash

47:16 – Reveal & resolution

50:47 – Rating & Christmas score

53:30 – Kireeti: Man vs. Baby

54:15 – Rowan Atkinson chaos

57:47 – Baby subplot & humour

59:25 – Christmas Movie Test score

01:03:31 – Ranking all four films

01:05:30 – Final thoughts

01:06:53 – Merry Christmas & sign-off 🎄

🎄 THE CHRISTMAS MOVIE TEST (Cognitive Recalibration Edition)

A film must score highly across the following categories to qualify.

✅ 1. Christmas Centrality Test (0–2 points)

Would the story fall apart if Christmas were removed?

•2 points – Christmas is essential to the plot

•1 point – Christmas influences the story but is not essential

•0 points – Christmas is just background decoration

🌟 2. Christmas Themes Test (0–2 points)

Does the movie explore themes traditionally associated with Christmas?

•2 points – Strong themes (family, redemption, generosity, miracles)

•1 point – Light thematic resonance

•0 points – No Christmas themes

🎁 3. Christmas Aesthetic Test (0–1 point)

Does the film consistently use Christmas iconography, setting, music, or atmosphere?

•1 point – Christmas aesthetic is clearly present

•0 points – Minimal or no Christmas visuals or mood

🎅 4. Christmas Message Test (0–1 point)

At its heart, does the film deliver a message aligned with the Christmas spirit?

•1 point – Clear Christmas message (kindness, togetherness, gratitude)

•0 points – No Christmas message

🎄 5. Cultural Adoption Test (0–1 point)

Has the movie become part of audience holiday tradition, even unintentionally?

•1 point – Widely watched during Christmas / marketed as such

•0 points – Not associated with Christmas culturally

🔔 6. Holiday Release/Test of Intent (0–1 point)

Was the movie released during Christmas or clearly marketed as a Christmas film?

•1 point – Yes

•0 points – No

🎄 TOTAL SCORE: 0–8 Points

ScoreClassification

7–8Definitive Christmas Movie

5–6Probable Christmas Movie

3–4Debatable / Fringe Christmas Movie

0–2Not a Christmas Movie

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🧬 The First Family of Marvel returns!

In this episode of Cognitive Recalibration, Sravan and Tarun break down The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) — the long-awaited reboot starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. Is it a return to form or another forgettable entry? We talk team dynamics, MCU fatigue, Galactus, and what’s next for Marvel Phase 5.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/KjEIDVVTUIQ

🎙 Hosts: Sravan & Tarun

📩 Email: [email protected]

📲 Follow us: @CognitiveRecalibration on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and all podcast platforms

New episodes every week — subscribe, rate, and share!

0:00 - Intro music & welcome

0:35 - Fantastic Four 2025 overview

1:22 - First impressions (non-spoiler)

3:09 - Phase 1 vibes & runtime criticism

5:26 - Team balance & character depth

6:48 - Action light or just right?

8:14 - Galactus & visual effects

9:50 - Best Fantastic Four yet?

11:10 - Standout performances & casting thoughts

12:23 - Ranking vs. Superman & Thunderbolts

13:30 - Are we ready for Avengers: Doomsday?

14:22 - Post-Endgame decline & future recovery

15:50 - Missed opportunities for character development

16:45 - Spoiler warning begins

17:06 - Silver Surfer’s arc & Johnny Storm's subplot

18:08 - Galactus defeat felt underwhelming

19:07 - Not an action-first team

20:13 - Who’s coming through the multiverse portal?

21:54 - Doomsday casting & theories

23:52 - Clean slate post-Secret Wars?

24:45 - Will X-Men dominate Doomsday?

26:00 - Brief Jurassic World: Rebirth review

28:29 - What’s coming next?

29:18 - How to reach us

29:27 - Addressing listener comment on Superman (from @incredibleistic)

31:14 - Looking ahead to DC’s Clayface horror film

32:20 - Wrapping up: final thoughts on Fantastic Four

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Superman (2025) Review – A Bold Reboot or Just Another Cape? 🦸‍♂️

We're back after a hiatus to talk about one of the most anticipated superhero films of the year – James Gunn’s Superman (2025). Is this the hopeful new beginning the DC Universe needed? We discuss our spoiler-free thoughts, dive deep into character portrayals, compare this reboot to past versions, unpack the comic-book-style storytelling, and explore what this means for the future of the DCU. From Krypto’s chaos to Lex Luthor’s motives, we cover it all. Tune in and recalibrate with us!

🎧 Available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/yR2zslMfGPU

📩 Reach out: [email protected]

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⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 - Welcome Back & Hiatus Recap

00:36 - Superman (2025) First Impressions

03:03 - Non-Spoiler Review: Tone, Story & Casting

08:50 - Superman vs Clark Kent: A Balanced Portrayal?

11:44 - Ensemble Characters & Comic Book Roots

14:00 - Comparing to MCU & Snyderverse

17:29 - Superman’s Symbolism & Hope

19:04 - Spoiler Section Begins

20:01 - Best & Worst Action Sequences

22:00 - Lex Luthor’s Plan & Plot Threads

25:11 - Kryptonite Cell Scene & Comic Logic

30:01 - Superman’s Origin Tweak & Kara Zor-El

33:00 - Is the Movie “Woke”? & Future of the DCU

35:14 - What's Next: Fantastic Four, Thunderbolts & More

36:17 - Wrap-up, Socials & Final Thoughts

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Is the Force still with us? In this episode, we're joined by long-time Star Wars fan Bhaskar to break down the current state of the franchise—from the highs of Andor to the lows of The Acolyte. We talk about the Disney+ overload, the trilogy that derailed itself, the missed opportunities, and whether it's time for a creative hiatus. There's plenty of fun, frustration, and fandom to go around—this one's for the galaxy brains. ✨

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/MDgfxhURWtg

👇 Timestamps:

0:00 – Context for Episode

0:42 – Music + official podcast intro

1:16 – Welcome + Bhaskar joins the podcast

1:37 – Star Wars fan spectrum: from casual to hardcore

2:49 – Thoughts on The Acolyte so far

4:13 – Five years since the last movie, is TV filling the gap?

5:27 – Highs of Disney+ Star Wars (Mandalorian, Andor, Ahsoka)

6:11 – Volume of content & mediocrity problem

7:18 – Declining viewer motivation

8:24 – Star Wars fatigue & missed opportunities

11:03 – The Mandalorian & Book of Boba Fett burnout

12:16 – Prestige TV or quantity over quality?

13:52 – Budget vs. quality in Star Wars shows

15:36 – Visual effects & production consistency

17:24 – Inconsistent storytelling & directing

18:16 – Similarities with Marvel’s struggles

19:42 – Fan service vs. actual storytelling

20:51 – Rian Johnson’s Reddit rewrite controversy

24:13 – Week-to-week production changes?!

25:33 – VFX crunch & poor visuals

26:25 – Acolyte casting controversy

28:02 – Disney’s creative echo chambers?

29:13 – Corporate decision-making in creative studios

30:35 – Diversity: authentic or performative?

32:53 – Dathomir witches vs. Acolyte witches

34:18 – Lack of musical identity in Acolyte

35:10 – Should Star Wars take a break?

36:30 – History of movie gaps in Star Wars

38:38 – How Disney+ diluted Star Wars & Marvel

39:56 – The pattern of cancelled Star Wars movies

42:33 – Solo, recasting, and Elseworlds potential

47:30 – Should George Lucas return?

50:17 – Explore the future, not the past

53:37 – High-quality animation as the future?

55:52 – Andor’s success without fan demand

57:40 – Wrap up: What next for Star Wars?

58:06 – Merch jokes, Japan Celebration 2025, and outro

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If you want to support this podcast so we can keep producing our content for free consider the following options:

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If you enjoy our content, don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. If you haven't already done so, please give us a review on iTunes or Spotify and help spread the word.

If you wish to contact us to ask a question or give us some feedback, please do so via the channels below:

Facebook Page: Cognitive Recalibration

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Twitter: @CRecalibration

TikTok: @cogrecal

Cognitive Recalibration theme composed by Esteban:

Instagram: iam.wake

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Logo and Artwork created by Rita Sus:

Instagram: 5small

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/cognitiverecalibration.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.