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In this episode of 'Midday Movies,' hosts Laura and Stephen discuss part one of Collider's list of the 28 best back to school films. Spanning beloved films from the eighties, nineties, and early 21st century, the hosts delve into classic school-centric narratives that bring nostalgia, laughter, and contemplation about the role of teachers. The episode features discussions on films like 'Kindergarten Cop,' 'October Sky,' '16 Candles,' 'Me and Earl and the Dying Girl,' and '17 Again,' offering varied perspectives on education, ambition, and teenage life. The conversation is peppered with light-hearted banter and personal anecdotes, making it an engaging listen. Tune in for the exploration of more titles in the next episode.
00:00 Welcome to Midday Movies Podcast
00:08 Fall Vibes and Back to School
00:31 Casual Chat and Kitten Attack
01:08 Nostalgia and School Season
01:58 Collider's Top Back to School Movies
03:11 Kindergarten Cop: A Classic
04:48 October Sky: A True Story
06:12 16 Candles: A John Hughes Masterpiece
07:10 Me and Earl and The Dying Girl
08:43 Fame: The Original High School Musical
09:36 Monsters University: A Prequel
11:00 Animal House: The Quintessential College Film
13:00 Back to School: Rodney Dangerfield's Comedy
13:53 Thornton's School Adventures and Early Robert Downey Jr.
14:17 Todd Phillips' Directorial Range
15:37 Old School: A Modern Fraternity Classic
17:08 Higher Learning: Tackling Serious Issues
18:23 Mr. Holland's Opus: The Impact of Great Teachers
19:50 Stand and Deliver: Inspirational Teaching
23:21 17 Again: A Second Chance at Youth
25:38 Billy Madison: Adam Sandler's Comedic Genius
27:34 Conclusion and Teaser for Part 2
Follow the Umbrella Podcast Collective on IG at @umbrellapodcastcollective or Facehuggers and Friends @facehuggersandfriendspod for updates on “Facehuggers and Friends: An Alien RPG.”
We want to know what you think about our podcast! Let us know in this brief survey here.
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In this episode of 'Midday Movies,' Laura and Stephen conclude their Summer of Love series with a discussion on “The Worst Person in the World,” Norway's 2021 entry into the Oscar Best International Film Race. Set in Oslo, the film follows protagonist Julie as she navigates career changes, relationships, and self-discovery. Julie's journey highlights the challenges faced by modern generations, such as economic pressures and the freedom to redefine life paths. The hosts delve into the film's narrative structure, key themes, and character dynamics, ultimately exploring what it means to live a fulfilling and adaptable life. They also discuss the film's emotional realism and its metaphorical implications on life and relationships.
00:00 Introduction to Midday Movies Podcast
00:07 Overview of “The Worst Person in the World”
00:16 Meet Julie: A Relatable Protagonist
00:59 Julie’s Career and Relationship Struggles
03:22 Julie and Aksel: A Complex Relationship
04:56 Generational Tensions and Life Choices
05:37 Julie’s Indecision and Potential
11:01 Millennial Perspectives on Life and Career
14:35 Emotional Realism and Fantastical Elements
16:03 Julie's Decision to Leave Aksel
16:45 The Time Freezing Scene and Mushroom Trip
16:58 Julie's Relationship with Her Dad
17:30 Aksel’s Analytical Nature vs. Julie's Emotions
18:59 Aksel’s Monologue on Aging and Culture
20:58 Julie's Adaptability and Life Choices
23:25 The Goldilocks Scenario in Relationships
24:39 Life Paths and Societal Expectations
27:13 Concluding Thoughts on the Film
28:28 Wrapping Up the Summer of Love Series
Follow the Umbrella Podcast Collective on IG at @umbrellapodcastcollective or Facehuggers and Friends @facehuggersandfriendspod for updates on “Facehuggers and Friends: An Alien RPG.”
We want to know what you think about our podcast! Let us know in this brief survey here.
Listen to us on your favorite podcast platform and follow us on social media to stay up to date on upcoming shows and announcements! Instagram Facebook Linktree
Check out our new merch shop here for tees, totes, stickers and more!
Join Laura and Stephen as they continue their Summer of Love series with a deep dive into the 2015 period romance film “Carol.” Directed by Todd Haynes and starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, this episode explores the emotionally rich and visually stunning story of a transformative romance in the conservative era of 1950s America. Through their analysis, they discuss the sociopolitical context of the time, character dynamics, and the artistry of Todd Haynes, while celebrating the film's impact and beauty.
00:00 Introduction to Midday Movies Podcast
00:07 Overview of 'Carol'
00:42 Hosts' Banter and Personal Updates
01:48 Historical Context of 'Carol'
06:11 Character Analysis: Carol and Therese
12:29 Todd Haynes' Filmmaking Style
14:59 Natural Progression of Romance
15:47 Carol's Contentious Divorce
17:22 Therese's Role and Perspective
18:23 Generational Differences
20:09 Therese's Artistic Growth
21:04 Hardge's Opposition
26:48 The Road Trip
27:08 Cinematography and Symbolism
28:48 Final Thoughts on Carol
30:08 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview
And look forward to our Alien-themed RPG “Facehuggers and Friends,” featuring members of the Umbrella Podcast Collective (https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/umbrella) as players. Released this month alongside the FX’s “Alien: Earth” series (2025).
Follow the Umbrella Podcast Collective on IG at @umbrellapodcastcollective or Facehuggers and Friends @facehuggersandfriendspod for updates on “Facehuggers and Friends: An Alien RPG.”
We want to know what you think about our podcast! Let us know in this brief survey here.
Listen to us on your favorite podcast platform and follow us on social media to stay up to date on upcoming shows and announcements! Instagram Facebook Linktree
Check out our new merch shop here for tees, totes, stickers and more!
In this Midday Mini episode, hosts Laura and Stephen engage in a whimsical discussion about assigning astrological signs to the main characters from Pixar's 2008 film, WALL-E. They explore the traits of characters like WALL-E, Eve, Mo, and others, correlating their characteristics with Aquarius, Capricorn, Virgo, and more. The hosts analyze the signs using their extensive astrology knowledge and humor, providing listeners with an entertaining look at the zodiac traits of their favorite robots and humans from the movie.
00:00 Introduction to Midday Mini and Wally's Astrological Signs
00:36 Wally: The Aquarius Innovator
03:10 Eve: The Capricorn Workaholic
04:31 Mo: The Fastidious Virgo
05:26 Otto: The Manipulative Scorpio
06:27 The Captain: Sagittarius or Leo?
07:33 John and Mary: Pisces and Cancer
09:55 Rampaging Robots
10:03 The Beauty Robot: A Libra's Charm
11:04 The Punchy Robot: Aries in Action
12:16 The Umbrella Robot: Taurus Traits
13:13 The Loyal Cockroach: Another Taurus
14:25 The Chatty President: Gemini Vibes
16:12 WALL-E's Star Signs: A Fun Analysis
17:54 Wrapping Up: Final Thoughts and Farewell
And look forward to our Alien-themed RPG “Facehuggers and Friends,” featuring members of the Umbrella Podcast Collective (https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/umbrella) as players. Released this month alongside the FX’s “Alien: Earth” series (2025).
Follow the Umbrella Podcast Collective on IG at @umbrellapodcastcollective or Facehuggers and Friends @facehuggersandfriendspod for updates on “Facehuggers and Friends: An Alien RPG.”
We want to know what you think about our podcast! Let us know in this brief survey here.
Listen to us on your favorite podcast platform and follow us on social media to stay up to date on upcoming shows and announcements! Instagram Facebook Linktree
Check out our new merch shop here for tees, totes, stickers and more!
Laura and Stephen continue their "Summer of Love" series with a deep dive into Pixar’s 2008 masterpiece, WALL·E. They explore the film’s themes of love, corporatocracy, climate collapse, and the power of being yourself—even if you’re a robot. The hosts discuss the film’s visual storytelling, its critique of convenience culture, and why WALL·E stands out as one of the greatest robot romance films of the 21st century.
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And look forward to our Alien-themed RPG “Facehuggers and Friends,” featuring members of the Umbrella Podcast Collective (https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/umbrella) as players. Released this month alongside the FX’s “Alien: Earth” series (2025).
Follow the Umbrella Podcast Collective on IG at @umbrellapodcastcollective or Facehuggers and Friends @facehuggersandfriendspod for updates on “Facehuggers and Friends: An Alien RPG.”
We want to know what you think about our podcast! Let us know in this brief survey here.
Listen to us on your favorite podcast platform and follow us on social media to stay up to date on upcoming shows and announcements! Instagram Facebook Linktree
Check out our new merch shop here for tees, totes, stickers and more!
Laura and Stephen discuss FX's new series, “Alien: Earth,” a prequel set two years before the original 1979 Alien film. Streaming on Hulu, the series depicts a dystopian world of 2120 controlled by five corporations, including Weyland-Yutani, and a new player called Prodigy. Prodigy, led by the young trillionaire Boy Cavalier, focuses on turning terminally ill children into synthetics. The show explores themes of corporate dystopia, immortality, and synthetic consciousness. When a Weyland-Yutani ship carrying deadly aliens crash-lands on Earth, Prodigy seizes it, setting off a battle involving xenomorphs and other terrifying alien species. Tune in to watch the fascinating developments and enjoy classic alien horror reimagined with new twists (new episodes air every Tuesday).
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:08 Overview of Alien Earth
01:04 Corporate Dystopia and Immortality
02:28 Boy Cavalier and the Synthetic Children
04:43 The Inciting Incident
06:23 New Alien Threats
08:38 Conclusion and Where to Watch
And look forward to our Alien-themed RPG “Facehuggers and Friends,” featuring members of the Umbrella Podcast Collective (https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/umbrella) as players. Released this month alongside the FX’s “Alien: Earth” series (2025).
Follow the Umbrella Podcast Collective on IG at @umbrellapodcastcollective or Facehuggers and Friends @facehuggersandfriendspod for updates on “Facehuggers and Friends: An Alien RPG.”
We want to know what you think about our podcast! Let us know in this brief survey here.
Listen to us on your favorite podcast platform and follow us on social media to stay up to date on upcoming shows and announcements! Instagram Facebook Linktree
Check out our new merch shop here for tees, totes, stickers and more!
In this episode of Midday Movies, Laura and Stephen delve into Paul Thomas Anderson's 2017 film “Phantom Thread,” starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Vicky Krieps. As part of their 'Summer of Love' series, they explore the complex relationship between a fastidious 1950s fashion designer and an iron-willed waitress. The discussion extends to themes of power dynamics, method acting, and the transformative nature of love. Highlights include insights on the film’s sound design, costume excellence, and the often dark yet redemptive portrayal of romantic entanglements.
00:00 Introduction to Midday Movies Podcast
00:07 Discussing Phantom Thread
01:00 Daniel Day Lewis' Acting Career
02:26 Plot Overview of Phantom Thread
03:42 Character Dynamics and Relationships
05:57 Themes of Control and Surrender
07:34 Personal Reflections on Love and Relationships
09:03 Power Struggles in Relationships
13:58 Toxic Relationships and Love
15:13 Reynolds' Tyrannical Nature
16:42 Reynolds' Sensitivity and Sound Design
17:50 Christopher Nolan's Take on Phantom Thread
19:07 The Artistic Genius and Alma's Strength
19:33 The Costuming and Aesthetic Beauty
20:52 Reynolds and Alma's Relationship Dynamics
23:30 The Complexity of Love
28:01 Final Thoughts and Recommendations
And look forward to our Alien-themed RPG “Facehuggers and Friends,” featuring members of the Umbrella Podcast Collective (https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/umbrella) as players. Released this month alongside the FX’s “Alien: Earth” series (2025).
Follow the Umbrella Podcast Collective on IG at @umbrellapodcastcollective or Facehuggers and Friends @facehuggersandfriendspod for updates on “Facehuggers and Friends: An Alien RPG.”
We want to know what you think about our podcast! Let us know in this brief survey here.
Listen to us on your favorite podcast platform and follow us on social media to stay up to date on upcoming shows and announcements! Instagram Facebook Linktree
Check out our new merch shop here for tees, totes, stickers and more!
In this episode, Laura and Stephen delve into “Materialists” (2025), a film written and directed by Celine Song, centered around a New York matchmaker named Lucy, played by Dakota Johnson, who finds herself in a love triangle with two men, John (Chris Evans) and Harry (Pedro Pascal). Through this exploration, the hosts discuss the film's deep themes about love in the 2020s, questioning societal pressures, and the impact of capitalism on romantic relationships. They highlight key scenes, character dynamics, and the thought-provoking societal critiques embedded in the narrative. The episode concludes with reflections on personal values, the pitfalls of focusing on quantitative metrics in relationships, and the importance of aligning with one's true desires and needs in love.
00:00 Introduction and Setup
00:17 Overview of 'Past Lives' and 'Materialists'
00:45 Plot and Characters of 'Materialists'
01:40 Themes and Messages
03:15 Personal Reflections on Romance and Capitalism
05:33 Key Metrics for Successful Relationships
07:34 Final Thoughts and Recommendations
13:30 Conclusion and Sign-Off
And look forward to our Alien-themed RPG “Facehuggers and Friends,” featuring members of the Umbrella Podcast Collective (https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/umbrella) as players. Released this month alongside the FX’s “Alien: Earth” series (2025).
Follow the Umbrella Podcast Collective on IG at @umbrellapodcastcollective or Facehuggers and Friends @facehuggersandfriendspod for updates on “Facehuggers and Friends: An Alien RPG.”
We want to know what you think about our podcast! Let us know in this brief survey here.
Listen to us on your favorite podcast platform and follow us on social media to stay up to date on upcoming shows and announcements! Instagram Facebook Linktree
Check out our new merch shop here for tees, totes, stickers and more!
In this episode of Midday Movies, hosts Laura and Stephen discuss the 2019 French romantic drama “Portrait of a Lady on Fire,” directed by Céline Sciamma. They highlight the film's historical accuracy, its exploration of 18th-century life, and the profound romantic connection between the characters Marianne and Heloise. The discussion also touches on the movie's mythological references to Orpheus and Eurydice and its strong emotional impact. The hosts delve into themes of love, loss, and the roles of women, making it clear why this film is hailed as one of the greatest romances of the 21st century.
00:00 Introduction to Midday Movies Podcast
00:07 Overview of 'Portrait of a Lady on Fire'
01:01 Hosts' Personal Reactions
02:03 Plot and Characters Breakdown
08:14 Themes and Symbolism
09:19 Romantic Development and Key Scenes
11:47 The Enchanting Isolation of the Castle
12:42 The Orpheus and Eurydice Painting
13:22 Music as a Connecting Point
17:15 The Role of Sophie
19:18 The Unstructured Hangs
19:56 Final Thoughts and Recommendations
And look forward to our Alien-themed RPG “Facehuggers and Friends,” featuring members of the Umbrella Podcast Collective (https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/umbrella) as players. Released this month alongside the FX’s “Alien: Earth” series (2025).
Follow the Umbrella Podcast Collective on IG at @umbrellapodcastcollective or Facehuggers and Friends @facehuggersandfriendspod for updates on “Facehuggers and Friends: An Alien RPG.”
We want to know what you think about our podcast! Let us know in this brief survey here.
Listen to us on your favorite podcast platform and follow us on social media to stay up to date on upcoming shows and announcements! Instagram Facebook Linktree
Check out our new merch shop here for tees, totes, stickers and more!
In this Midday Mini, hosts Stephen and Laura discuss their (and the internet’s) latest obsession, “K-Pop Demon Hunters,” the top-ranking 2025 Netflix animated movie. They highlight its unique blend of K-pop, musicals, Korean folklore, and anime elements, praising its captivating songs and relatable characters. Directed by Maggie Kang, the movie integrates beautifully crafted songs into its compelling storyline. The hosts compare the film's quality to classic Disney movies and anticipate more content due to its immense popularity.
00:00 Introduction and Today's Topic
00:05 Overview of K-Pop Demon Hunters
00:33 Why K-Pop Demon Hunters is a Must-Watch
00:59 Characters and Plot Highlights
01:22 Cultural and Musical Elements
04:00 Character Dynamics and Humor
06:55 Emotional Impact and Final Thoughts
10:01 Conclusion and Farewell
And look forward to our Alien-themed RPG “Facehuggers and Friends,” featuring members of the Umbrella Podcast Collective (https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/umbrella) as players. Released this month alongside the FX’s “Alien: Earth” series (2025).
Follow the Umbrella Podcast Collective on IG at @umbrellapodcastcollective or Facehuggers and Friends @facehuggersandfriendspod for updates on “Facehuggers and Friends: An Alien RPG.”
We want to know what you think about our podcast! Let us know in this brief survey here.
Listen to us on your favorite podcast platform and follow us on social media to stay up to date on upcoming shows and announcements! Instagram Facebook Linktree
Check out our new merch shop here for tees, totes, stickers and more!
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