Summer Television Preview

 So the official television season is practically over; bring on Summer TV! Here are some returning and new shows I’ll be perusing this summer.

Last Comic Standing: Season 8 begins (Thu.May.22) on NBC

Looks like a better, quicker format. Too bad Roseanne is so loud.

Masterchef: Season 5 begins (Mon.May.26) on FOX

Maybe I’ll be inspired to cook something this summer.

Halt & Catch Fire premieres Sun.June.1 on AMC

Eighties birth of computers. Stars Lee Pace (Pushing Daisies).

Orange is the New Black: Season 2 streams (Fri.June.6) on NETFLIX

What’s to become of Piper after the Season 1 finale?

Seven Deadly Sins premieres Thu.June.19 on SHOWTIME

A documentary series from Super Size Me’s Morgan Spurlock

Tyrant premieres Tue.June.24 on FX

A Middle-Easter drama from Howard Gordon (Homeland) & Craig Wright (Grace)

The Leftovers premieres Sun.June.29 on HBO

Post rapture drama from Damon Lindelof (Lost) with a good cast

Under the Dome: Season 2 begins (Mon.June.30) on CBS

This Stephen King story is pretty crazy and even magnetic this year.

Amazing Race Canada: Season 2 begins (Tue.July.8) on CTV

I hear they may leave the country this season. Hope it’s not just Alaska.

The Strain premieres Sun.July.13 on FX

Vampire thriller from Del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth) and Cuse (Lost)

Masters of Sex: Season 2 begins (Sun.July.13) on SHOWTIME

A great dramatic series despite the taboo subject matter.

The Killing: Season 4 streams (Fri.Aug.1) on NETFLIX

Just six more episodes to conclude the series right. Thanks Netflix

My other summer watching hopes to include: introducing my wife to Breaking Bad, watching Broadchurch, either Scandal or The Good Wife, and possibly starting Dr. Who.

UPCOMING REVIEWS: X-Men: Days of Future Past

Film: Godzilla

GENRE: Action / Daikaiju Film

RATING: PG13 for creature violence and destruction
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 3 minutes

STARRING: Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kick-Ass, upcoming Avengers 2)

Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Ken Wantanabe (Inception)

DIRECTOR: Gareth Edwards (Monsters)

WRITER: Max Borenstein (newcomer)

PLOT: Godzilla tries to help out San Francisco by taking down some massive deadly creatures. City demolishment ensues.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:

1 I was going to avoid this film at first but after reading a friend’s blog post, I was swayed to watch it. He’s knows his monster stuff, so I trust his opinion. He did not steer me wrong. This was an interesting and fun flick. Lots of entertaining destruction and monster fights. Read his blog here:

http://docperschon.blogspot.ca/2014/05/godzilla-2014.html

2 The trailer made it seem like it was humanity fighting Godzilla. I was surprised to see other radioactive creatures doing some damage. Don’t believe the trailer.

3 I did find it kind of weird to see Godzilla as a ‘friend to the humans’, like he was doing San Francisco a solid by helping them out.  

4 Looking behind you while you are running only slows you down. Why don’t people realize this?

5 If you miss seeing Cranston in a radiation suit, you’re in luck. If only it was yellow.

RECOMMENDATION: Big monster needs big screen.

UPCOMING REVIEWS: X-Men: Days of Future Past

Film: Neighbors

GENRE: Comedy

RATING: 18A for language, nudity, & crude content
RUNTIME: 1 hours and 36 minutes

STARRING: Seth Rogen (Knocked Up, 50/50, Pineapple Express)

Zac Efron (High School Musical), Rose Byrne (Bridesmaids)

DIRECTOR: Nicholas Stoller (Forgetting Sarah Marshall)

WRITERS: Andrew J Cohen & Brendan O’Brien (newcomers)

PLOT: A frat house moves next door to a new family with a newborn. Loudness and pranks ensue

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:

1 This was a fun frat film. What was interesting is that for the most part, I wanted both sides to win somehow. I did find it strange that no one else in the neighborhood complained about the frat despite some of their good deeds.

2 I liked that Byrne didn’t play the nagging wife and got in on the action.

3 I often find Ike Barinholtz (Mindy Project) too much, but there was a good dose of him in this film.

4 There’s a very fun fight scene between Efron and Rogen. Good stuff.

5 Much like Efron’s often shirtless body, this film came in at a trim 90 minutes instead of the usual Rogen-esque bloated two hours. Well done guys.

RECOMMENDATION: Wait for the DVD

UPCOMING REVIEWS: X-Men: Days of Future Past