The Flick Lab

In this episode of the podcast, the Lab has a discussion on "All Quiet on the Western Front," the story of timeless impact; a renowned German novel that has inspired three film adaptations. There is the Academy Awards-winning 1930 film, celebrated as a monumental incarnation of the story; the praised 1979 TV movie, which garnered accolades like the Golden Globe and Emmy; and the 2022 Netflix adapt...

In this episode of the podcast, Karri and Henrik investigate the highly successful Chinese action movies Wolf Warrior 1 and 2, which perhaps ironically, rely heavily on Hollywood's cinematic language while looking at the world through Chinese patriotically tinted glasses. But instead of nationalistic fervor, do the movies accidentally end up communicating more about Chinese political frustrations,...

In this episode of the podcast, two Westerners analyse two Chinese war "propaganda" movies, The Battle at Lake Changjin I & II (Water Gate Bridge), offering their candid feedback. These are among the most successful Chinese 'blockbusters' of all time, the first part being the biggest hit in China's history, grossing at least $913 million after its 2021 release. The topic of these action-heavy war...

In this episode of the podcast, Karri and Henrik discuss Die Hard, but what's left to say about it? The duo believes there's still room to discuss some of the less frequently tooted perspectives out there. Yet even The Flick Lab has to ask THE most frequent Die Hard question and answer it, so on behalf of all humanity, we can put the subject to bed once and for all and media doesn't have bring it...

In this episode of the podcast, Karri and Henrik embark on an exploration of Sisu, the Finnish nazi butchering hit action movie that has been making waves around the world. As devoted advocates of Finnish culture, Karri and Henrik seize this opportunity to critically examine the cultural export of "sisu" and delve into its potential complexities. With a discerning lens, the hosts analyze whether t...

In this episode of the podcast, Karri and Henrik continue scouring  Filmdoo.com , an international film streaming website, to discover its best free short films available. The duo sifts through a total of 33 random selections, unearthing hidden gems from around the world. This episode is not sponsored by Filmdoo. Part 2 of 2. Films covered in this episode: https://www.filmdoo.com/films/love-bakery...

In this episode of the podcast, Karri and Henrik scour Filmdoo.com , an international film streaming website, to discover its best free short films available. The duo sifts through 33 random selections, unearthing hidden gems from around the world. This episode is not sponsored by Filmdoo. Part 1 of 2. Films covered in this episode: https://www.filmdoo.com/films/cognitio https://www.filmdoo.com/fi...

In this episode of the podcast, we look at Mission Impossible III. Is it a triumph or... just okay? Is it a glorious high or an uninspiring return to form? While Karri struggles to locate the movie's identity or anything truly worthwhile, Henrik takes a more generous view but admits that time has dulled some of its luster. As they dive deeper, the hosts explore the film's influence on the subseque...

In this episode of the podcast, we pose the question: is Mission Impossible II a work of art or a flaming dumpster fire? M:I-2 certainly is the most divisive of all the 'Mission' movies. Audiovisual professionals Karri and Henrik present their contrasting views on the movie, and engage in a lively discussion. The arguments for and against the film are explored in depth from the perspective of Karr...

In this episode of the podcast, Karri and Henrik dive into the charms of Mission Impossible and examine the first film in the franchise. Karri questions the greatness of the 1996 classic. Both hosts also explore the idea whether or not the first film contains a foundational formula for the franchise to follow, and if not, what then is the blueprint of the Mission Impossible franchise, and what are...

Why are the Jurassic Park / World Sequels so bad? Karri and Henrik tackle this question, the entire franchise, and discuss the latest entry, Jurassic World: Dominion. Talking points include Spielberg and his family plots, tactile dimensions, the feeling of first time awe, self-awareness of The Lost World, character build issues and legacy characters,  whether Jurassic movies are franchise compatib...

In this episode of the podcast, the Finnish media mavens Karri and Henrik present the part 2 of their captivating cinematic exploration. In this exciting installment, the hosts delve deep into their cinematic experiences from the past year, featuring a selection of films from 2022 and beyond. Join Karri and Henrik on a journey through the dark and foreboding Finnish horror genre, meditative and in...

In this episode of the podcast, get ready for a cinematic adventure as media pros Karri and Henrik dive into their movies watched in the past year - including films from 2022 and beyond. From Hollywood blockbusters to international and indie gems, this is an inside look at the films that they simply couldn't get enough of and the ones that left them feeling disappointed. Along the way, they'll sha...

On December 6th every year, during Finnish Independence Day, hundreds of thousands of Finns gather around the telly to catch the movie they've seen countless times - The Unknown Soldier - in one of its three incarnations. The Winter War, however, is the lesser known Finnish war film, crushed under the fame of the aforementioned giants. Does The Winter War deserve its share of the limelight, howeve...

Cancer. It's a universal concept that we all have heard about or know about. Despite all of our differences, there's more in life that connects us than divides us, and sometimes those shared experiences may veer to the unpleasant, such as cancer and death. Does even cinema fear cancer? Do any films about cancer exist, or is the concept being actively avoided, even in movies that are supposedly can...

In this episode of the podcast, the two Finns Karri and Henrik discuss Paraguayan cinema . The film industry in this beautiful and proud South American land-locked nation has remained tiny, but it has finally garnered some due attention. The duo comes across elements of creative film-making, American influences, themes of poverty, affluence and integrity. Karri and Henrik analyse the Top 3 films f...

Geoffrey Firmin is a British consul in Mexico in the 1930's. He is drunk. Is that it, or is there more under the hood here? Karri and Henrik look into a movie that Karri hated as a kid. Now as highly sophisticated and intelligent adults, the duo tries to find out if there's anything worthwhile to be found here. What does the film want to say and can it communicate it effectively? Is following an i...

In this episode of the podcast, Halloween Ends - ostensibly, anyway. In this oddball and radically different Halloween franchise entry, director David Gordon Green ventures into the experimental. In principle, injecting new blood into the exhausted franchise may be welcome, but does this attempt deliver? Karri and Henrik are joined by the returning Halloween guests. Allison Kilkenny is an American...

Bedtime Stories is a Youtube channel that tells spooky tales of the paranormal and supernatural - popular and unknown stories. Their videos consists of beautiful and haunting hand-drawn artwork, accompanied by a wonderful narrator. But how true are the stories, or more importantly, are there some concerns with dramatization of real-life-based events? Or are these simply fun stories which ought to...

In this episode of the podcast, we look into what really happened at Camp 14 in North Korea to prisoner Shin Dong-Hyuk. Camp 14 is the hermit nation's most notorious concentration camp. We have a documentary (Camp 14: Total Control Zone by Marc Wiese) and a book (Escape from Camp 14 by Blaine Harden) to tell the story of his escape into freedom, but Shin later changed some details of his story, su...

In this episode of the podcast, Karri and Henrik analyze 8 creepy stories of the horror anthology film The Field Guide to Evil. Each film is from a different country and is supposed to tell a tale of dark folklore. Is that true though and how well do the films gel together in this anthology? Hosted by Karri Ojala and Henrik Telkki. Edited by Karri Ojala. The Flick Lab theme tune written and perfor...

The title 'Robocop' may sound cheesy, but is descriptive. The first movie is often celebrated by critics and mortals alike, but the sequels are in a downward spiral. Here's why. Films covered in this episode: Robocop (1987) Robocop 2 (1990) Robocop 3 (1993) Robocop (2014) Hosted by Karri Ojala and Henrik Telkki. Edited by Karri Ojala. The Flick Lab theme tune written and performed by  Nick Grivell...

Wong Kar-wai, the pivotal Hong Kong -based film director is known around the world for his distinct non-linear storytelling, gangster films and artistic love stories. We now venture into his love trilogy, a film recommendation by podcast listener Kimmo. We have previously looked at the director's other work Chunking Express (1994) with guest Mitch Tam, which can be listened here . Films covered in...

What went wrong with the Terminator sequels after the two original James Cameron movies? Karri and Henrik touch on the constant changes of studios, the revolving doors of actors, repeating story lines, poor dialogue, the difficulties of playing a terminator, the excess nature of modern action film-making, and other topics. Films covered in this episode: Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) Te...

Béla Tarr's over 7-hour film is one of the longest movies in the world. The Hungarian director's work is based on the novel by László Krasznahorkai. Karri and Henrik are investigating the footsteps of Chinese director Hu Bo's "godfather". Why is the film so long and is the length justified? Is it one of the greatest films ever seen? Is the film seen merely as a challenge not so much for its artist...