Don't call it a comeback! Today's word boys and girls is redemption. I don't know if it's because it's a perfect storm of subject matter I can relate to. Or maybe just coming off my last movie I had nowhere to go but up really. Or if it's just that damn good. But either way I don't really care because I'm lazy and I'm not gonna analyze that deep. All I know is that The Kings of Summer is the cat's pajamas! I think that's what the kids are saying nowadays but I could be mistaken. Let me put it more poetically this movie is fucking great! The acting, writing, cinematography, music, everything! This Lord of the Flies-esque dramedy snuck under the radar with just a limited release. And I think that's great because I look at it as an award. An award for avid movie watchers like you and I who have to sift through a lot of shit to find a gem like this. So it makes it that much sweeter. So thank you shit movies. Now if your a stickler of hyper realism you are going to have deal with a little fantasy. My favorite being comparing the way these teenagers conversed to the way my friends and I did. If you used any word over two syllables you were declared "gay". And we certainly could not construct an insulated house that slept 6 comfortably. And on the other side of the coin if you just want fart jokes or explosions you are going do have to deal with a little substance. This movie will hit you in the proverbial feels a couple times. So if you hate salty clear liquid on your cheeks tread lightly with this one. But if you can settle down in the middle of the two. I promise you will feel so good you don't wanna leave à la ludacris style. Thank you The Kings of Summer for redeeming the art of good movie making. In case you were uncertain of where I stand on this movie, I rate it a must see. Trailer IMDB 
It's Black Friday and we all know what a fucking joke that is. So I thought it would be appropriate to watch a comedy. But the joke was on me because I watched The To Do List. Yes that was dumb. Yes I feel dumb for saying it. Moving on. The film stars the one trick pony Aubrey Plaza. Actually in this film she does a lot of tricks. But I am referring to the fact that if you've seen one A.P. performance you've seen 'em all. Yeah we get it, you're dry. Well according to her character in this movie she is anything but. Man I am coming strong with the innuendo tonight. We all love that "I'm better than everybody and dead on the inside" act on Parks and Recreation but not in everything. But I'm sure Ms. Plaza is lovely in real life. I'm just not sold on her as a lead. But I get why she was cast. A strong independent woman directing a strong independent woman playing a, say it with me strong independent woman. Good, that will be on the final. This movie is all about girl power. And I love that. We need more of that. But I just think it could've been done better. But there are some bright spots in this cumming of age teen comedy I guess. My man Bill Hader is in this. And it's ironic that he plays a guy who can't swim because he is the only thing that keeps this flick afloat in my opinion. But he and a bunch of other great players are underutilized in this. Mostly Donald Glover which is a shame because I heard he is quitting comedy, literally. You just don't hire a bunch of super funny people and then give them nothing funny to say. So long story short is this the worst movie I've ever seen? hell no. But I have been dying to say this and I think I should strike while the iron's lame. Don't see. 
While Elysium is a very fitting title for this one. I think this movie should have been called Thick Accents and Stabbings. Or Super Fake Tattoo Robot movie. Alright alright so those names are horrible but it's what you'll see predominately throughout the film so I hope you enjoy at least one of those things. This is writer/director Neill Blomkamp's second full length film. The first being the mind blowing District 9. And I think a lot of people would call Elysium a sophomore slump. But I think when you come out of the gate like that it's hard to catch lightning twice, especially in a row. I think that is the expression I want. I don't know I'm not a weatherman or smart. But it doesn't take a genius to see the similarities between the two. Blomkamp again tackles issues of social injustice, class warfare (literally) and segregation. I admire how he takes real world, old as time problems and places them in imagined futuristic settings. It tells me that we as humans were dumb, are now dumb and will continue to be dumb even in space. Which sounds negative but I value continuity so it's all good. Elysium sees the return of Sharlto Copley. Who may not win any Oscars but he definitely won my award for weirdest first name. He and Damon give the best performances. Copley's character gives me an Avatar vibe. And Damon's a very Gladiator vibe. I think if Gladiator, Avatar and WALL-E had a baby it would be this movie. Watch it and tell me if you agree or not. I'm not sure what else to say about Elysium. Everything else is just good. Nothing great but nothing sub par in my opinion either. I guess the moral of the story is make a shitty first movie so people don't give you crap about your second one. But if you like popcorn munching sci fi sequences masking deeper social commentary then by golly this is the film for you! I give it a firm Should See. Haha firm. PS Happy Thanksgiving everyone! And if you are reading this in another country Happy Non-Gluttonous Thursday to you my friend. Now it's time to go get fat and think of what Thanksgiving movie to watch. Maybe Planes, Trains and Automobiles? "Three coins in the fountain". 
Have you ever not seen someone in say twenty years, since they were a kid? Yes? Well did you then all of a sudden see said person not only grown up but also fully nude for the better part of two hours? Yeah that's what I thought. Well if you want to change that then watch this movie. And for the one guy going "eww I don't want to see Michael Cera's dong!" I am referring to the girl pictured next to him, Gaby Hoffmann. Yeah you heard right that cute little girl from Uncle Buck is all grow'd up. I'm sorry for the spoiler but I am trying to get you prepared so it doesn't distract you throughout the rest of the movie like it did me. But despite her birthday suit wardrobe Ms. Hoffmann, which sadly is what I'll be calling her from now on, gives an awesome performance. And Michael Cera, who I will never call Mr. Cera for obvious reasons, pulls his weight too. I was impressed with how he was able to play an asshole but never cross the invisible line where you write him off completely. But that's probably due to the fact that he'll forever look like he's eleven. Either way he gives a solid runner up performance to Ms. Hoffmann. But the best part about this movie is definitely the Silva clan. Sebastian directed it about a similar story that happened to him. And his three younger brothers Juan, Jose and Agustin star in it. Thank god for Agustin I was starting to sound like a racist pulling names out of a hat. Anywho the three amigos are actor-os great-os. Now that's racist. Their characters are so damn sweet and warm. I hope they are the same off screen. This one is a little too indie for my taste. But for an almost entirely unscripted movie shot in Chile over twelve days while Cera was waiting to make another movie. It is way better than you would expect. Winning it a Should See. Now if you'll excuse me I'm headed to the beach to do some mescaline. 
How goes it true believers? Bet you thought I only did obscure oldies. Nope, I love me a good blockbuster too! R.I.P. Blockbuster. Thanks for the memories and the late fees. So last week I dragged myself out of bed to venture forth into the land of the living. I decided that while there I would take my lovely sister to go see Thor: The Dark World or Thor 2 if you're normal. We went to the beautiful 75 year old single screen San Marco Theater. Now obviously I wouldn't recommend you see anything superhero related at anything other than a giant megaplex. But I just love old theaters. All thanks to the Mission Theater in Portland. I love you baby, Daddy will be home soon. Wow this review is going nowhere fast. I guess I should probably talk about the movie huh? Well brace yourself Asguardians because this might come as a shock. I didn't really enjoy it. Record skips! Now admittedly I am not the biggest fan of the god of thunder. I am however a big Marvel fan so I went in wanting to like this one. But after two hours of weak story and terrible jokes, trust me I should know, I was dying for it to end. I really believe it was just a bridge to Guardians Of The Galaxy which comes out next year and phase 3 of the Marvel cinematic universe. With the most obvious example being the after credits scene. Benicio Del Toro as Liberace, sorry I mean The Collector, was hilarious. Even my sister who fell asleep at one point said this "seems very star wars-esque". So Marvel is definitely trying to get the vibe right for Thanos to show his ugly face again in Avengers 3. But not all is lost in this one. There are some great action sequences which you would expect. Tom Hiddleston further cements his show stealing status as the fan favorite Loki. Garnering from my sister an enthusiastic "Who is that guy? I like him." And where Kat Dennings drops the comedic ball Stellan Skarsgard picks it up and runs with it pantless. Also there is another It Crowd cameo this time coming from my boy Roy. Chris O'Dowd to the laymans. So with that said the movie buff in me is tempted to say Don't See. But the fanboy in me flies down and punches him in the face puts his hands on his hips and proclaims Should See. Feel free to rip me a new one in the comments if you're a Thor fan. 
So we are kickin' it old school on this one. Where all my jew fros at? I'm talking to you Howie Mandel from the Bobby's World days. But in the end nobody matches the curlitude of a one Mr. Albert Brooks who wrote, directed and starred in this little cinematic gem. I don't know how I could've missed this one. Maybe it was due to the fact that it came out when I was seven. Whatever the reason I forgive child me for not watching this. Because adult (sarcastic air quotes) me enjoyed this one probably way more than he would've. Except for say the kissing scenes between Brooks and Meryl Streep that was almost painful to watch. You know the old movies where people just smooshed their faces together and moved their heads back and forth? Yeah that was definitely going on. But since you clever little devils probably deduced how old I am by now. My fellow age rangers should enjoy seeing Ethan Embry in his first movie role and then immediately flash to Can't Hardly Wait or Vegas Vacation nostalgically like I did. Also there were some comically dated things in this old enough to drink release like when he bought a new "top of the line" BMW. Yes sarcastic quotes again. What can I say I'm a one trick pony. And I also found it hilarious that the main mode of transportation in purgatory are trams apparently on loan from some defunct ethereal theme park. I think at one point a TV channel is changed via dial! But besides the goofy technological standouts of a 90's movie the plot is superb! No sarcasm this time. I love Brooks' approach to the afterlife. No religion, no stale heaven and hell mumbo jumbo. Just a completely original and humorous take on what the final judgment could be. So all in all this movie has a few goofy one liners, some borderline racist stereotypes and stone age technology by today's standards. But it's so damn original I am going to have to give this a rating of Must See. 
