Movie Review: The Kings of Summer

Stay out of my territory.

In the opening of "The Kings of Summer," Joe (Nick Robinson) stand in the shower with a hairdo reminiscent of Ferris Bueller. Yet, while he is at a similar age, Joe is nothing like Bueller, he can't fit in with anybody.

"The Kings of Summer" is a lovable film that some annoying critic will probably call "The king of summer movies!" it's a childhood fantasy rooted in reality. It's like "Moonrise Kingdom" except here you don't have to pay as much attention to what color clothing everyone is wearing.

Movie Review: This is the End

Movies can teach us a lot about ourselves. For example, "This is the End" taught me that I will actually enjoy the site of Michael Cera being impaled. As long as it is preceded by him slapping Rihanna's ass and trying to give drugs to McLovin. Maybe what I'm trying to say here is that I am a terrible person. Or maybe it is that celebrity is whatever you make of it. I don't know, I'm not a celebrity.

Much has been said in the press about "This is the End," but nothing could prepare for this one shocking twist: the star of the movie is actually Jay Baruchel. While his leading role in "Undeclared" might not have helped, perhaps this will finally give him the recognition he deserves as an actor. 

Fun With Trailers: If Taken Was Made In the 80s

In 2008, "Taken" came out and suddenly turned Liam Nesson into one of Hollywood's biggest badasses. He became something of an Irish Chuck Norris with less annoying politics.

Anyway, I normally try and avoid most trailers, as nowadays they seem to spoil everything, from the best jokes to the best explosions. But I am always a sucker for a good trailer mashup. And that is exactly what we have here. Below is "The Taking," a trailer for "Taken" that re-imagines it as a 1980s action film. I did not grow up in the 80s (just to be clear), yet it imitates everything I know of that decade to a T. It feels like it could have been placed amongst the fake trailers in "Grindhouse." It even looks like it was shot on film.

Analog This: Season Four of Arrested Development (So Far)

SPOILER ALERT: I have not finished the fourth season yet, but there may be some light spoilers ahead. Read with caution.

Seven years ago.

That's when the original series finale of "Arrested Development" aired. That's also how long I waited for TV's greatest comedy to come back on the air.

"Arrested Development" holds a special place in my heart. The first three seasons have been like a Comedy Bible to me. It taught me to embrace details as well as the slow buildup to a laugh. I've rewatched and deconstructed every episode so many times, yet I always find something new to marvel at. In the universe of "Arrested Development," no comedy stone is left unturned.

For years, I was constantly teased with the idea that there could be an "Arrested Development" movie. Any mention of the movie itself (without any promise of it actually happening) became something of a recurring joke worthy of the "Arrested Development" universe. That is, until the day that it was announced that a fourth season that would lead up to an eventual movie would be released.

Suddenly, "Arrested Development" was on the level of hype and public scrutiny that no cancelled cult TV series would normally face.  Essentially, season four would have to be the greatest event in television history, because that's what every hyperbolic blogger labeled it as. However, it is rare that anything that is labeled as "the greatest ever" before it is actually released will actually be the greatest ever. Narrowing it down to film and television, most of the greatest works came out of nowhere with very little hype behind it. Or, as was the case with the first three seasons of "Arrested Development," it could take years for the public to ever come around to it (despite multiple Emmy wins).

Continued After the Jump

The Purge Giveaway. Can you #SurviveTheNight?

Have you ever been sitting here, reading this blog, and wondered to yourself, "Ian is a genius and all, but what am I getting out of this?" Well, now you can finally get something for you loyalty.

The friendly people at Universal Pictures have provided me with "The Purge" App, for their upcoming feature "The Purge" (which, in my honest opinion, looks awesome), coming out on Friday, June 7. You can play this app, or not, but I have also been bestowed the power of giving one reader a "Purge" prize pack. This prize pack includes free t-shirts. You heard me right. Free t-shirts. How often in your life do you get the chance for free t-shirts? From a real movie studio?

Here's a link for the App:

https://archive.partnershub.com/embeds/16/the-purge/widget/the-purge/

Let me know if you're interested. Keep on Reel Dealin' on.