Pop Culture Lab

Indiana Jones 5 Review + the Summer Box Office

We start with what we've been watching (4:39) including The Bear (Hulu), Secret Invasion (Disney)+, and Station 11 (Max). 
Next we quickly revisit our discussion of The Flash from last week (22:45), before launching into a discussion of the abysmal state of the summer box office and explore why studio tentpoles are flopping left and right (31:00). 
Finally we share our review Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (51:50). We break down the plot, themes, and what worked as well as what didn't in (hopefully) the final installment in this franchise. 
 
You can find every episode of this show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Subscribe for weekly episodes and follow us on Twitter @ThePCLPodcast and Instagram @popculturelab
 

The Flash Review

We start with the long journey getting to The Flash (1:00) followed by what we've been watching (11:10) including Platonic (Apple TV+), Black Mirror Season 6 (Netflix), as well as playing the new game The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo Switch). We also discuss Arcane (Netflix), Palm Springs (Hulu), and The Leftovers (Max), as well as When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless In Seattle before launching into our review of The Flash.
 
You can find every episode of this show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Subscribe for weekly episodes and follow us on Twitter @ThePCLPodcast and Instagram @popculturelab

Our Favorite Movie Twists

Guest starring our friend Alex Saar! We start with what we've been watching (1:53) including 'Renfield' (streaming on Peacock 6/9), 'Platonic' (streaming on AppleTV+), and 'Arcane' (streaming on Netflix).
 
Next we launch into our main topic, our Favorite Movie Twists of All Time. Here are the films discussed:
Arrival (18:30)
Gone Girl (32:10)
The Sixth Sense (40:12)
Fight Club (43:39)
The Usual Suspects (46:58)
Identity (49:22)
The Prestige (54:41)
Psycho (1:00:58)
Parasite (1:05:31) 
 
You can find every episode of this show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Subscribe for weekly episodes and follow us on Twitter @ThePCLPodcast and Instagram @popculturelab

The Last of Us Review

We start with what we've been watching including Evil Dead Rise (2:21) and Solo: A Star Wars Story (12:31) (streaming on Disney+), before launching into our main topic, The Last of Us (22:50) which has all episodes streaming on Max. 
 
The Last of Us, based on the 2013 video game, is set in a post-apocalyptic world in the aftermath of a pandemic that turns people into zombie-like monsters through fungal infection. It tells the story of Joel, a smuggler who must escort an immune teenager named Ellie across the US in the hopes of creating a cure and saving what's left of humanity. 
 
You can find every episode of this show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Subscribe for weekly episodes and follow us on Twitter @ThePCLPodcast and Instagram @popculturelab

AI and the Writers Guild of America Strike

We start with what we've been watching including "The Last of Us" (2:35) which has all episodes streaming on Max, as well as "Beef" (5:15) now streaming on Netflix. We also briefly revisit our conversation from last week (14:27) before launching into our main topic, AI and the WGA Strike. (20:02)
 
On May 2nd 2023, WGA voted to go on strike because negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) fell apart around the subject of residuals and writer compensation for streaming content. In addition, the writers requested that AI tools such as ChatGPT only be used for the purpose of researching or facilitating script ideas and not replace the writers themselves. Both parties failed to reach a deal before the deadline, and the WGA voted to go on strike. We share our thoughts on the strike, and discuss whether or not AI poses a legitimate threat to writers.
 
You can find every episode of this show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Subscribe for weekly episodes and follow us on Twitter @ThePCLPodcast and Instagram @popculturelab
 

Is the Movie Star Dead?

We start with what we've been watching (6:11) including "Chicago," "Hairspray (2007)," and "The Last of Us" (10:50) which has all episodes streaming on HBO Max. Then we ask the question "Is the Movie Star Dead?" (13:36) and examine if Hollywood has a superstar problem.
 
 
You can find every episode of this show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Subscribe for weekly episodes and follow us on Twitter @ThePCLPodcast and Instagram @popculturelab

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Review (Spoilers!)

We start with what we've been watching (1:20) including "Love & Death" (streaming on HBO Max), "Scream VI" (streaming on Paramount+), and "His Dark Materials" (streaming on HBO Max) before launching into our main topic, our review of "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" (8:10) with SPOILERS. The film is now playing in theaters.
 
In the aftermath of the previous "Guardians of the Galaxy" and "Avengers" films, Peter Quill/Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) is still reeling from the one-two punch of losing Gamora (Zoe Saldana) and the subsequent reemergence of her 2014 self with no memory of their relationship. When the Guardians are suddenly attacked by Adam Warlock (Will Poulter) they are plunged into Rocket's (Bradley Cooper) backstory as the Guardians take on his creator The High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji) to save their friend's life.
 
 
You can find every episode of this show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Subscribe for weekly episodes and follow us on Twitter @ThePCLPodcast and Instagram @popculturelab

The Super Mario Bros. Movie Review

We start with what we've been watching (1:30), including "Kong: Skull Island," "Godzilla (2014)," "Godzilla vs. Kong," (all streaming on HBO Max), and "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" (5:50) before launching into our main topic The Super Mario Bros. Movie (13:57). 
Wahoo! The new Super Mario Bros. Movie tells the story of brothers Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) two plumbers in Brooklyn who get pulled into another world known as the Mushroom Kingdom where Mario meets beloved Nintendo characters including Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy), Donkey Kong (Seth Rogen) and Toad (Keegan-Michael Key). Mario must then confront the evil warlord Bowser (Jack Black) in order to save his brother Luigi. 
 
You can find every episode of this show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Subscribe for weekly episodes and follow us on Twitter @ThePCLPodcast and Instagram @popculturelab

Andor Season 1 Review

We start with what we’ve been watching (4:03), including "The Mandalorian" (streaming on Disney +), and Louis CK’s new special (11:00) “At the Dolby” (available for purchase on his website). Then we spin through the rumor mill (17:38), tackling a handful of updates on upcoming films.
Andor Season 1 Review (46:55) The new Star Wars spinoff series "Andor," set before the events of "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story", tells the story of Cassian Andor's (Diego Luna) rise from low-level thief to reluctant Rebel leader as he fights back against the oppressive Empire. Along the way he gets help from Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgård) and benefactor Mon Mothma (Genevieve O'Reilly) while sycophantic Deputy Inspector Syril Karn (Kyle Soller) and ambitious Imperial Security Officer Dedra Meero (Denise Gough) are hot on his trail.
 
You can find every episode of this show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Subscribe for weekly episodes and follow us on Twitter @ThePCLPodcast and Instagram @popculturelab

John Wick: Chapter 4 Review

John Wick: Chapter 4 continues the story of the renegade hitman as he hunts down the villainous High Table, who have put an ever-increasing bounty on his head. Meanwhile his adversary, the Marquis de Gramont, sends scores of goons after him as he travels across the world.
 
Other shows and movies discussed: Tetris (Apple TV+), Shazam: Fury of the Gods, House of the Dragon (HBO Max)