The Top Five Summer Movies Of All Time

Dazed and Confused, Jaws, and The Sandlot

The summer box office may be on hold, but summer movies can still be enjoyed in the comfort of our own homes. What makes a good summer movie? For starters, the plot has to take place during the summer months. The summer should be its own theme and play an integral part in the plot. Camp and the last day of school are two popular settings for summer movies.

This is not a list of movies that are typically released during the summer. So blockbusters and sequels that are released during the summer months are disqualified unless the story revolves around the summer. Avengers: Endgame is a great summer blockbuster, but the film doesn’t specify it takes place during the summer so it’s off the list.

With that being said, here are my top five summer movies of all time.

5. Heavyweights

Oh, look! A deli meat! Sleepaway camp is a good setting for a summer movie. Good luck finding a funnier kids movie than Heavyweights. I will go to bat for Heavyweights. Critics hate it, but fans including myself love it. It features an all-time, over-the-top performance from Ben Stiller as Tony Perkis, the fitness guru who takes over the weight loss camp. Everything Stiller does is laugh out loud hilarious. From his one-liners (“Tonight’s lecture: liposuction, option or obsession?”) to his obsessive mannerisms (“Come on you devil log!”), Tony Perkis walked so Tugg Speedman could run. If you don’t agree, then lunch is canceled due to a lack of hustle.

4. Wet Hot American Summer

Wet Hot American Summer is a cult classic that’s frankly not for everyone. For example, there’s a storyline that revolves around a chef, who’s a Vietnam vet, that gets advice from a talking-can of mixed vegetables. Once again, it’s not for everyone, but it successfully spoofs the teen sex comedy genre. More importantly, the cast is stacked and includes a lot of little-known actors at the time who went on to become huge stars. Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler, and Bradley Cooper are the standouts, but the cast also includes Christopher Meloni, Janeane Garofalo, Molly Shannon, Michael Showalter, Marguerite Moreau, Ken Marino, Michael Ian Black, David Hyde Pierce, Joe Lo Truglio, and H. Jon Benjamin. Wet Hot American Summer is the 2011-2012 Oklahoma City Thunder. The cast just needed some more time before reaching their max potential.

3. The Sandlot

Play ball! Where do I even begin? The Sandlot is one of the rare movies where you don’t have to love the sport in order to enjoy the movie. The Sandlot is a film about friendship and childhood just as much as it is a love letter to baseball. The Sandlot’s characters all represent a specific stereotype in each person’s friend group. Every group, both male and female, has some version of the following people: the new kid, the loudmouth, the annoying one, the sibling, the trash talker, the little guy, and the hotshot. Finally, every group has the alpha aka their Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez. The best part of The Sandlot is nostalgia. The film takes you back to when you were 12 and only cared about playing with your friends every summer. The film also has Wendy Peffercorn so there’s that, too.

The Sandlot / 20th Century Fox

2. Jaws

I recently called Jaws the “most important summer blockbuster ever.” 45 years since its release, the film still holds up. It’s a masterpiece from start to finish. Not much more to say about a film that changed the film industry forever.

1.Dazed and Confused

Dazed and Confused / Universal Pictures

That’s the thing about these high school girls. As I get… Nope, we’re not going to finish that line even though we ALL know someone from our hometown who lives in the past and still thinks he’s in high school. Regardless of how you feel about Dave Wooderson’s taste in women, the fact is the Dazed and Confused remains the greatest summer movie of all time. It also happens to be the greatest hangout movie of all time. Every single person who went to school can relate to the last day of school and the first day of summer. It’s what kids live for and continue to live for even as we age. Cruising around with your friends, looking for parties, and pondering the future are all tasks that every teenager undertakes as they grow up. As soon as “Sweet Emotion” hits, it takes me back to a time where all I cared about was hanging out with my friends and finding dumb shit to do. In the words of Wooderson, “Just keep livin’ man.”

What are your top summer movies? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.

The One Problem I Have With Inception

Inception

In the 2010 blockbuster, Inception, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this week, Leonardo DiCaprio’s character, Dom Cobb, says, “Dreams feel real while we’re in them. It’s only when we wake up that we realize something was actually strange.” I’d like to believe that 2020 is a dream.

We may not be able to plant ideas in our minds for a better year, but we can reminisce about Inception. The Dark Knight may be Christopher Nolan’s best movie, but Inception is his most important movie. After the success of The Dark Knight, Nolan could literally (say ‘literally’ with the voice of a 15-year-old teenager) do anything he wanted. Not only did Nolan write and direct the greatest superhero film ever made, but helped create the most memorable character of the 21st century, Heath Ledger’s Joker. The Dark Knight was so influential that the Academy increased their number of Best Picture nominees from five to ten because the film was noticeably absent in that category.

Nolan had all the juice in the world. He could have completed the trilogy with The Dark Knight Rises as his next move. In 2020, where Marvel, Disney, and well-known IP like Mission Impossible dominate the box office, producing an original blockbuster is not only risky, but it’s a death sentence. Instead, Nolan decided to create a summer blockbuster from an original concept. I’m not an expert, but I think Nolan made the right decision since the film grossed $825 million-plus worldwide and received 8 Academy Award nominations (4 wins) including Best Picture.

Warner Bros. Pictures

In simplest terms, Inception is a mind-fuck. It’s straight out of the Christopher Nolan playbook. The film is a high-concept idea with huge set pieces, visually-stunning action sequences, and a signature twist to keep the audience guessing. Everyone recognizes Nolan’s talent as a filmmaker. However, with many of his films, there are some fans that will go to the ends of the Earth to defend Inception and then there are those who will do whatever it takes to prove that Inception is a terrible movie. For a director that consistently grosses hundreds of millions at the box office, Nolan is extremely polarizing.

Now would be a good time to say that I’m a huge Nolan fan who believes Inception was one of the ten best films of the decade. I don’t need everything in Inception to make sense. I don’t always need the science to match up. I’m ok with suspending reality for two and a half hours to watch Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, and the rest of the gang travel through dream levels. Was Leo still stuck inside his dream at the end? The answer is no. Move on, Internet.

Despite my love for Inception, I’ve always had one major problem with the film. It has nothing to do with the logistics of dreams and the moral effects it can have on the world. It also has nothing to do with any technical aspects of the film. My one problem with Inception is the scene with Mal’s death.

For reasons I can’t fully comprehend, this scene makes me laugh every time. This is not the time for a laugh whatsoever. It’s actually pretty tragic. Cobb’s wife, Mal, could not face reality after 50 years in the dream world. Mal thought she was still dreaming so in order to wake up, she decided to commit suicide by jumping out of her hotel room. Mal also framed Cobb for her death with the hopes that Cobb would commit suicide, too. Mal’s death tortures Cobb throughout the entire movie because he’s responsible for her introduction to the dream world. Cobb achieved inception with Mal, which ruined her life. This guilt and failure to move on are why Mal shows up to thwart every one of Cobb’s plans on each level. And yet, I’m the asshole who laughs when Cobb screams, “Mal no!”

In a movie about traveling within dreams and ideas that go against the laws of nature, Mal’s tragic death is the storyline I found to be the most ridiculousness. It’s heartbreaking that Mal died, but I find it hard to believe that Cobb, a criminal mastermind and innovative thinker, could be so easily outsmarted and framed for a death he did not commit. However, the real reason for my laughter is Leo’s reaction. Leo is on my Mount Rushmore of actors I love and adore, but there’s something about a dramatic and over-the-top Leo scream that makes me smile.

This problem is truly a “me problem,” but thankfully, it does not ruin the movie. Inception hive, stand up!

The Five Best Things In Palm Springs

Palm Springs

In the film Palm Springs, Andy Samberg’s character, Nyles, says, “This is today. Today is yesterday. And tomorrow is also today. Today, yesterday, tomorrow — they’re all the same.” Had you not watched Palm Springs, you would think that Samberg’s quote was used in reference to the quarantine and living situation in the United States.

That being said, Palm Springs may end up being one of the best movies of summer. Samberg plays Nyles, a laid-back slacker who gets stuck in a time loop at a Palm Springs wedding. When Nyles accidentally brings Sarah, played by Cristin Milioti, into the time loop, the two must learn to embrace the harsh reality that they’re stuck in the same day forever. When Sarah decides she wants to try and leave the loop, both Sarah and Nyles must face their worst fears and decide if they want to return to a world full of imperfections and responsibilities.

In a year where movies continue to be pushed back and delayed indefinitely, Palm Springs could not have premiered at a better time. It’s a fresh, fun rom-com with two likable stars in Samberg and Milioti. It’s the perfect 90-minute movie to fire up on Hulu this weekend while you’re stuck inside.

Here are the five best things from Palm Springs.

5. Pool Beers

Cristin Milioti and Andy Samberg in Palm Springs / Hulu

It’s a known fact that beers taste better in certain situations. The Friday after-work beer, the golf course beer, the stadium beer, and the tailgate beer are all in the upper echelon of beers. However, Samberg made a strong case for the pool beer in Palm Springs. There’s nothing better than cracking open a nice cold one while lounging in the pool. It’s beyond relaxing. As someone who has been doing a lot of floating in the pool this summer, a beer only elevates the overall experience. Plus, if you have a float with a cup holder, you don’t have to worry about holding onto your beer the entire time. Pool beers for the win.

4. Andy Samberg Dancing In A Hawaiian Shirt

Honestly, I could see myself wearing this shirt and dancing exactly like Samberg.

3. Andy Samberg

Speak of the devil, Samberg is great, but that shouldn’t come as a surprise. Samberg is an insanely talented actor, writer, and producer. He’s always great in roles where he’s the most likable guy in the room. Samberg’s comedic wit, natural charisma, and charming personality make him the perfect leading man in a rom-com. Not every leading man has to look like Tom Cruise or Leonardo DiCaprio. Some can be sarcastic, hilarious, and have great taste when it comes to Hawaiin shirts. I look forward to Samberg headlining more movies in the future.

2. The Time Loop

Are we in the Golden Age of time loops? Obviously, the most famous time loop movie is Groundhog Day, which is a genius work of comedy. Within the last three years, The Happy Death Day franchise, Before I Fall, and Russian Doll all carved out their version of Groundhog Day and found some success. Now, add Palm Springs to the list, which carved out its own niche in the genre by perfectly balancing romantic, comedic humor with dark, depressing realizations. Everything is great when Nyles and Sarah can share a few beers, dance at the wedding, and not suffer from daily responsibilities or consequences. However, Palm Springs also examines the darker side of the time loop. No matter how many times you die, you can’t escape the time loop. In Sarah’s case, relieving the worst mistake of her life is her version of hell. Nyles has lost his sense of reality and his carefree lifestyle is incapable of feeling emotions, which turns out to be a major problem in his relationship with Sarah. Palm Springs is a film about two people falling in love just as much as it is about two people suffering from an existential crisis.

1. Cristin Milioti 

Palm Springs / Hulu

Samberg may have top billing, but Palm Springs is Milioti’s movie to shine. She ends up stealing the show as Sarah. Milioti will make you laugh when she shows up to the wedding with an eyepatch, pirate’s hook, and wacky accent as well as her choreographed dance routine with Samberg in the bar. However, she’ll make you cry when she comes to the devastating realization that she’s an emotional wreck who can’t put her past mistakes behind her in order to move on. Milioti is probably best known for her role as The Mother in How I Met Your Mother. For all of the problems that the final season had including its ending, Milioti was so likable and soothing that her presence was one of the lone bright spots of Barney’s and Robin’s wedding. I’m excited to see Milioti in more roles where she can balance comedy with being a badass who studies quantum physics.

Did you enjoy Palm Springs? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.

Quality, Not Quantity: How Hulu Became The Top Streaming Service In 2020

Hulu Netflix shows

What’s the best streaming service in 2020? I’m guessing that 80% of the answers would be Netflix. Frankly, I’m not surprised. In terms of the amount of content provided, Netflix is king. No one can match up with their giant library of movies and shows to go along with their original programming. However, if we’re judging quality instead of quantity, Hulu wears the crown.

Hulu is having a moment in 2020. Thanks to high-quality original and produced shows, Hulu’s original programming has been tremendous. Every week, a new critically acclaimed show debuts on the service. If some of these shows were seen by a wider audience on Netflix, Amazon, or Disney+, they’d be gigantic hits.

Speaking of Disney, Hulu received a giant boost to their programming with the addition of the FX. “FX on Hulu” includes FX produced shows that were originally scheduled to air on the network, but after the Disney acquisition, those shows premiered streamed on Hulu. In sports, it’s like when a smaller market team gets a star player. Pretend that the Toronto Raptors are Hulu and Kawhi Leonard is FX. That partnership ended with a championship in 2019.

Hulu has produced some of my favorite programs of the year. Devs, the sci-fi murder mystery from Alex Garland, was as beautiful as it was addicting. Normal People, which was co-produced with BBC Three, moved me to tears and depicted one of the most accurate portrayals of millennial first love. Dave*, the surprise show of 2020 from the rapper, Lil Dicky, was fun, charming, and surprisingly full of depth as it balanced penis jokes with mental health depictions. Other noteworthy shows from Hulu that debuted in 2020 are Mrs. America, High Fidelity, Little Fires Everywhere, and The Great. All of the aforementioned shows have a score of 70 or greater on Metacritic besides Dave, which has a score of 64.

*Dave airs weekly on FX. However, Dave has benefited from streaming on Hulu, becoming FX’s highest-ranked comedy series ever.

Before the past year or so, when I personally thought of Hulu, two things came to mind: The Handmaid’s Tale and ads. “The show with the red capes and white caps?” Yes, that show. What The Handmaid’s Tale has on its side is history since it’s the only drama series from a streaming service to win Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series. Plus, the show stars Elisabeth Moss, who could very well be the pound-for-pound best television actress of the 21st century thanks to roles on The West Wing, Mad Men, Top of the Lake, and The Handmaid’s Tale.

Despite the success and popularity of The Handmaid’s Tale, Hulu is known as the streaming service with ads, which unfortunately scares people from subscribing. Hulu has a live tv service, but setting that aside, there are two options: Hulu with ads at $5.99 per month and Hulu with no ads for $11.99. I’m not here to tell you to choose one over the other. I personally subscribe to Hulu with ads and it really doesn’t distract from my viewing experience. For someone with a small bladder, the ads serve as built-in bathroom breaks during my binge sessions. However, I could see the ads being a minor disruption for those used to other services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, or Disney+. Don’t let the minor disruption hinder you from accessing some of television’s best shows.

If you can look past a dystopian show about procreation and a streaming service with ads, then you’ll see that Hulu’s quality, not quantity, shine, making it the top streaming service in 2020.

What’s your top streaming service in 2020? Leave your thoughts in the comments.

The Challenge: How I Reunited With One Of My Favorite Shows On MTV

I think we can all agree the pandemic sucks. I’m trying to be a glass half full type of person during this time in order to make the best out of the situation. I’m using this time to stream endless amounts of movies and television shows. Furthermore, I’m excited to announce that I’ve reunited with an old friend from MTV. It’s a show from my childhood that I grew up with and it happens to be the unofficial “fifth major sport of America.”. The show I’m referring to is The Challenge. We took a break for a few years, but just I’m back just like Al Pacino in The Godfather Part III.

For those that have never watched, The Challenge is a reality tv game show that pits contestants from reality shows like The Real World, Ex on the Beach, and Big Brother up against each other in a series of physical and mental tasks. In simpler terms, MTV sticks a bunch of drunk idiots into a house and forces them to compete for money. It’s one of the “OG” competition reality shows. It even debuted before Survivor, which is a fun fact you can share at your next trivia night if we’re ever let out of the house again.

I started getting into The Challenge around 2005 with The Inferno II and The Gauntlet 2. These shows featured stars on the tail end of their reality careers like The Miz, Theo Von, and Jamie Chung while Johnny Bananas, Derrick Kosinski, and Evelyn Smith were just getting their first taste of the competition. The Challenge used to be the perfect mix of physical and mental competitions to go along with house drama and hookups. However, as the years went on, the show started to focus more on the latter instead of the former, so I stopped watching after Rivals III in 2016 aka when Bananas became the most legendary Challenge player of all time.

Fast forward to last month. With sports off the air, I needed some athletic programming back in my life. Enter The Challenge: Total Madness. I’m happy to report that Total Madness has been pretty good so far. If I had to describe a perfect episode of The Challenge, it would include four components: A challenge, house drama, spicy hookups, and an elimination. Besides one or two episodes, this season has stuck to that format.

Total Madness has given us a few noteworthy moments with the biggest occurring when Jay beat the iconic CT in an elimination. Jay defeating CT in an elimination is a bigger upset than the “Miracle on Ice.” Unfortunately, “Dad CT” was out of shape and couldn’t correctly tie a knot so that sent him packing.

The key twist to this season involves the elimination itself. In order to qualify for the final, contestants must win an elimination. There have been seasons where contestants can avoid eliminations, make the final, and win the prize money. Just look at Rogan last year, who won never went into an elimination before winning the final. In my opinion, that’s bullshit so I’m happy this stipulation was put into place.

The only downside to this season is the cast. In terms of storylines, this cast has a flair for the dramatic, which can be both good and bad. Bear trying to win over Kailah while plotting to ruin her relationship is hysterical. Bananas and Wes are secretly teaming up, which is a nice wrinkle. Nany throwing a cup of noodles at Aneesa was equally funny as it was disrespectful.

That being said, it’s hard to root for the majority of these people. Maybe it’s a “me problem,” but I dislike 50% of the cast. Plus, I’m indifferent about 35% of the remaining members so that doesn’t leave a lot of room for my rooting interest. If I had to narrow it down to my top 3, it’s Bananas, Jenny, and the nicest person in the house, Big T.

I can’t wait for our first “This Changes Everything” moment. It’s the highlight of every season. For those interested, my Top 5 Favorite Challenge Contestants:

  • Alton
  • Johnny Bananas
  • Derrick
  • Laurel
  • Paula

It pains me to leave CT off the list, but he would be my sixth man.

Enjoy watching America’s fifth major sport!

What’s your top 5? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.

One Tweet Reviews: Extraction And Love Wedding Repeat

I live on Twitter, or as I like to call it, “The Tweeter.” Do you know what I also love? Watching movies, which is what I did the other weekend when I streamed Extraction and Love Wedding Repeat. Put those two together and you have my next segment, One Tweet Reviews.

I once heard that if you can describe the plot of a movie or television show in one sentence, then that movie has a better chance to succeed. It’s not the be-all and end-all, but there’s some truth in it. In today’s age, people tend to gravitate to short, quick bits of information so if you can win the audience over with a one-sentence logline, that’s a good start.

I wanted to take that mindset and apply it to my reviews. Sometimes, I wish I had more words and more time to describe shows like Normal People and Devs. On the other hand, for these two Netflix movies, a simple tweet will suffice. So that’s what I did. I reviewed these movies in 240 characters or less.

Without further ado, here are my One Tweet Reviews for Extraction and Love Wedding Repeat.

Extraction

Synopsis from Netflix: Tyler Rake (Chris Hemsworth) is a fearless black market mercenary who embarks on the deadliest mission of his career when he’s enlisted to rescue the kidnapped son of an international crime lord. Directed by Sam Hargrave, this action-packed, edge-of-your-seat thriller is produced by Joe and Anthony Russo, the visionary directors of Avengers: Endgame.

Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Rudhraksh Jaiswal, Randeep Hooda, Golshifteh Farahani, Pankaj Tripathi, and David Harbour 

One Tweet Review: Extraction

I don’t have the exact numbers, but Chris Hemsworth shot and killed approximately 50,000 bad guys. The 12-minute tracking shot was an adrenaline rush. The perfect “Netflix movie.” I loved every second of it.

Love Wedding Repeat

Synopsis from Netflix: While trying to make his sister’s wedding day go smoothly, Jack (Sam Claflin) finds himself juggling an angry ex-girlfriend (Freida Pinto), an uninvited guest with a secret, a misplaced sleep sedative, and the girl that got away (Olivia Munn) in alternate versions of the same day.

Cast: Sam Claflin, Olivia Munn, Eleanor Tomlinson, Joel Fry, Tim Key, and Aisling Bea 

One Tweet Review: Love Wedding Repeat

I’ll always make time for a Netflix rom-com. However, the storylines were confusing at times and a bit messy in the middle. However, a charming cast and strong ending were enough to keep me entertained. Main takeaway: If I don’t get married in Rome, I failed.

How’d we do? Agree or disagree? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.

I’m Officially Obsessed With Netflix’s Outer Banks

Chase Stokes and Rudy Pankow in Outer Banks _ Netflix

This past Friday night was business as usual in the Girolamo Apartment. Pizza at 8, ice cream at 10, and television/movies before, during, and after my meals. After watching Extraction, an entertaining action movie where Chris Hemsworth killed approximately 500,000 bad guys, I broke out the ice cream and fired up Netflix’s latest teen drama, Outer Banks. To be honest, I knew almost nothing about the premise going in. Outer Banks has only been out since April 15 so it’s a fairly new show. It’s been consistently sitting in Netflix’s Top 10 since it dropped so I gave it a shot.

I started watching the show at 10 PM on Friday night. By the next night, I binged the entire 10-episode first season, and folks, I’m addicted to “Pogue Life.” I’m going on the record saying that I’m officially obsessed with Outer Banks. I’m a sucker for a good teen drama. Give me a bunch of kids who like to hang out, drink, hook up, and get into trouble and I’ll watch. I promise you that.

So what’s it about? The basic storyline revolves around the lives of four teenagers: John B, JJ, Pope, and Kiara. These four friends make up “The Pogues.” The Pogues live on the blue-collar, working-class side of the Outer Banks called “The Cut”. Like any good story that deals with economic and social status, the Pogues need rich rivals. Enter “The Kooks,” the preppy, entitled elitists who live on the other side of the island called “Figure Eight.”

While battling with the Kooks, John B and the Pogues discover a legendary tale about a treasure in the Outer Banks worth over hundreds of millions of dollars. It turns out that John B’s father, who went missing a year prior, had been working on finding the treasure for twenty years and was on the brink of discovery before his disappearance. John B believes that if he finds the treasure, he’ll find his father. I’m attempting to not reveal any spoilers so I’ll stop with there. Watch the trailer below.

P.S. Obviously, there’s a Romeo and Juliet storyline with the princess of the Kooks, Sarah Cameron.

https://youtu.be/GC68w9tvv6I

Here’s the synopsis provided by Netflix:

Outer Banks is a coming of age story that follows a tight-knit group of local teens (aka the Pogues) in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. When a hurricane kills the power for the summer season, it sets off a chain of illicit events that force the friends to make life-altering decisions. The search for their ringleader’s missing father, forbidden romances, a high-stakes treasure hunt, and the escalating conflict between the Pogues and their rivals turn their summer into one filled with mystery and adventure they’ll never forget.

If you love teen dramas and that synopsis doesn’t get you fired up, then something’s wrong with you. I’ve seen Outer Banks compared to The O.C. and Gossip Girl. If I’d say if those two shows had a baby with a murder mystery, Outer Banks would be the result. I appreciate how Outer Banks throws conventional storylines out the window. In no world could teens outsmart the local police on a daily basis, but in Outer Banks, the teens are geniuses and the police are dumber than rocks. That’s not a dig at the show, by the way. I appreciate how Outer Banks embraces its chaotic and crazy nature. In the final few episodes, the show becomes unhinged, and I loved every second of it.

Let’s be honest. There’s one main reason to watch the show and his name is John B.

John B, the legend himself and captain of The Pogues. This kid could not have more swag if he tried. He oozes coolness. I would follow John B into battle any day of the week. From his immaculate hair to charming persona, it’s so easy to believe in this kid. He’s what I like to call a “save some for the rest of us” guy. All the girls want him so he needs to save some for the regular shmucks like myself. I can’t get enough of this kid. Do you know what I did the other night? I bought bandanas. It’s been at least five years since I tied a bandana around my neck, but since John B wears bandanas, so will I. I’m ready to drop everything and move to the Outer Banks in order to become a Pogue. Do not even get me started on how he buttons his shirts. If you don’t see me like this at a beach bar in July, then I’m a fraud.

I’m an addict and Outer Banks is my drug. I’ve already formed my group of Pogues (shoutout Dan and Katie). I still have two spots open so if you think you’re worthy of joining my group, let me know. It will not be easy, but if you’re lucky enough to make my tribe, it will be the greatest accomplishment of your life.

Pogues for life.

What did you think of Outer Banks? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter, @unafraidshow.

Build Your Own Avengers: Which Superheroes Will You Choose?

Avengers Endgame

Avengers, assemble. The year is 2020 and there have been zero movies released in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. That’s such a weird sentence to read considering the Marvel films have been a staple in pop culture since 2008.

Since we miss our superhero and making lists is the go-to activity during quarantine, Entertainment Weekly tweeted this out the other day.

I understand that these exercises are supposed to spawn thousands of different combinations, but I can only think of two combinations that make sense. Here’s mine.

$15 – Build Your Own Avengers

$5 Captain America – For me, selecting Captain America was a no-brainer. I mean he has the word “captain” in his title. Steve Rogers is the guy you want to be in a foxhole with when shit hits the fan. With Cap, giving up is not an option. Besides his leadership and positive attitude, Cap also happens to be the strongest “human” on this list. It takes a special type of person to lift Mjolnir and what Cap did in Endgame was beyond special. My team won’t lose with Captain America leading us into battle.

$5 Thor – Instead of dropping down a slot, I’m choosing to spend the five dollars in the first category again to select Thor. First of all, on Earth, Thor is a God. That’s a good start when building a team of Avengers. Superhuman strength, speed, injury resistance, and endurance would have been enough of a selling point for me, but thanks to Mjolnir, Thor can control thunder and lightning. He’s the God of Thunder who can fly. How are you going to stop him? You can’t. Welcome to the team, Thor.

https://youtu.be/Z68MRjRpwdo

$2 Scarlet Witch – With these next three picks, it’s like I’m stealing. Their value is insane. My first value pick is Scarlet Witch. In Infinity War, besides Thor, Scarlet Witch went toe-to-toe with Thanos and held her own. She walked away with minimal injuries, which is almost impossible. Scarlet Witch can generate force fields, fly, and manipulate energy. Plus, she can invade your thoughts and plant ideas in your mind. I want someone with the powers of telepathy and telekinesis on my side.

Marvel

$1 Vision – Vision should NOT be $1. He’s an android! That should bump him up to $3 at the very least. Vision has superhuman speed, strength, and reflexes to go along with his ability to compute large data quantities and equations. His love for Scarlet Witch may blur his motives, but if she’s in trouble, no one is going to fight harder than Vision.

Marvel

$1 Bucky – Everyone needs a friend to fight with and Captain America’s best friend is Bucky Barnes aka The Winter Soldier. However, Bucky is making the team not only for his friendship with Steve but for his skills as an assassin. Besides the superhuman strength and stamina, Bucky is a stone-cold killer with elite skills as a marksman and spy. Winter Soldier, welcome to the squad.

https://youtu.be/4JcSmCSgi24

Look at that, I didn’t even need the full $15. I did mention that there was only one other combination I was considering. If you wanted to sub in Dr. Strange for Thor or Captain America, I don’t hate it. However, my squad of Avengers will dominate. Good luck my squad.

What would be your picks for your team of Avengers? Leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet us, @unafraidshow.

Am I Crazy Or Did The Patriots Blow The Rob Gronkowski Trade?

Do you remember the “Derelicte Fashion Show” towards the end of Zoolander? In the climactic scene, Mugatu accuses Derek of using the same face for his three signature looks. Out of frustration, Mugatu screams, “I feel like I’m taking crazy pills!” Right now, I’m Mugatu and I’m taking crazy pills because I’m in the minority when I say the Patriots blew the Rob Gronkowski trade.

Yesterday, the beast they call “Gronk” became a Buccaneer when the Patriots traded him and a 7th rounder in exchange for a 4th rounder.

Gronkowski will join his friend and fellow Patriot castaway, Tom Brady, in “Tompa Bay.” I’d venture to say TB12 is pretty happy that he can throw to one of the best tight ends to ever play the game.

After the trade happened, I can’t help but think that the Patriots blew this trade. Gronk and a 7th round pick for a 4th round pick? That’s it? That’s all they could get for a 30-year-old tight end who essentially “redshirted” last season? This is Rob Gronkowski we’re talking about. This is the same player who has the most career postseason receiving yards by a tight end and became the only tight end to ever lead the league in receiving touchdowns with 17 in 2011. Has Gronk struggled these past few seasons? Absolutely, but I point to his health as the reason for his decline. Gronk is not going to score 17 TDs, but it’s not our of the question he could catch 7 or 8. With that being said, all the Pats could get in return was a fourth-round pick? I’m dumbfounded.

The major argument for those who support the trade revolves around the Pats’ “lack of leverage.” It’s clear the Gronkowski only wanted to play with Brady. If Gronk came back to the Pats, they would be on the books for $12M cap hit for a team that has little space, to begin with. Instead, the Pats traded him directly off of the reserve/retired list so it has no impact on their cap. Essentially, the Pats turned nothing into something by receiving a fourth-round pick in exchange for a previously retired player.

Plus, Drew Rosenhasus threw this trade in the spin zone by saying Gronk did the Pats favor. Huh?

Am I taking crazy pills? This is a bad trade. Why am I in the minority on this trade? Bill Belichick and the Patriots owned the rights to Rob Gronkowski. They have total control over where Gronk could end up. Once Gronk said he only wanted to play in Tampa, the same team that signed your franchise’s best player, the Pats had all the leverage in the world.

Think about it. If Tampa is the only option, why not force their hand if you’re the Patriots? If you want Gronk, you’re going to have to overpay for him. Why should the Pats give in to Gronk’s demands when he retired with a year left on his contract? The Bucs, who will do everything in their power to keep Brady happy, are not going to pull out of trade discussions for Gronk because the Pats wanted a little more in return. I’m not saying Mike Evans needed to come back in the trade. However, the Pats couldn’t get a 3rd rounder instead of a 4th?

What about adding in another 4th round pick in a later draft in addition to this year’s 4th round pick? Hell, the Pats couldn’t get OJ Howard and a 6th rounder in exchange for Gronk? I find it hard to believe that if the Pats asked for a little more compensation, the Bucs would say no. I get the “wanting to do right by a player,” but this is the same organization that cut a player 24 hours before they played in the Super Bowl. Since when does Bill B care about your feelings? He could have just held onto Gronk’s rights and wait for a better offer.

Maybe hardball doesn’t work with Gronk and he’s adamant on playing. If Gronk files for reinstatement, which puts the Pats on the books for over $10m, that’s even better. Screw the cap, the Pats have a great tight end again! In order for Gronk to earn his full payday, he has to play so the Pats offense would welcome the WWE 24/7 Champion with open arms. back with open arms.

Gronk may have lost a step, but he’s worth a lot more than a 4th round pick. If you think that’s his value, then I’ll continue to take my crazy pills.

Do you agree or disagree with the Gronk trade from the Patriots’ perspective? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet me, @danny_giro.

The Last Dance: The Most Underrated Play From Michael Jordan’s Final Game With The Bulls

1998 NBA finals Bulls vs. Jazz

“After watching The Last Dance, is MJ still the GOAT or is it LeBron? NEXT on *insert sports talk show*.” Turn on the television tomorrow morning and the “MJ vs. LeBron” debate will be nauseating so better yet, maybe skip the sports program and read a book, instead.

All pessimism aside, I, along with every sports fan in the world, am jacked up for The Last Dance, which premieres tonight at 9 PM EST on ESPN. Living in a world without sports has been more difficult than expected so The Last Dance comes at a time when society needs it most. ESPN has done fantastic documentaries in the past with OJ: Made in America and the 30 for 30 series so I have extremely high hopes for The Last Dance.

With ten hours of footage, there are going to be plenty of stories to tell about Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Phil Jackson, and the Chicago Bulls. Between retirement, his gambling issues, and altercations with teammates, the world is going to get an inside look into what made Michael Jordan not only one of the greatest basketball players, but one of the greatest winners. To serve as an amuse-bouche for The Last Dance, let’s go to Game 6 of the 1998 NBA finals between the Bulls and the Utah Jazz. Rumor has it that MJ hit one of the most iconic shots of all time to win the game.

However, I want to focus on the possession before the game-winner. It’s what I call the most underrated aspect of Jordan’s last game for the Bulls. Everyone remembers Jordan’s iconic pose during the shot, but what we forget is how the Bulls got the ball back. With 41 seconds left, John Stockton hit a 3 to put the Jazz up 86-83. On the next possession, Jordan gets right to the rack and hits a layup with 37 seconds left to cut the Bulls’ deficit to 1. The Bulls need a stop. At the very least, Chicago could give up a basket inside the arc to keep it a one-possession game. In most situations, teams are going to play “No 3’s” defense and do their best not to foul. Force a tough jump shot, gather the rebound, and try to win the game on the other end. However, Jordan had other plans.

Did someone say cookies? Michael Jordan stole the ball from Karl Malone, one of the best scorers to ever lace them up, in the post, where Malone wreaked havoc on opponents for nearly 20 years. Because offense sells tickets, most people remember Jordan for his acrobatic finishes and iconic, clutch jump shots. However, Jordan’s defense seems to get lost in the shuffle. Michael Jordan is one of the best defenders of all time, and yet, his defensive excellence is somehow the most underrated aspect of his game. Jordan was a member of the NBA All-Defensive First Team nine times in his career. Jordan is tied with Kobe Bryant, Gary Payton, and Kevin Garnett for most first-team selections.

Wait, there’s more. Michael Jordan won the award for the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year in the 1987-1988 season. Since Michael’s win, the only other guard to win the award was Payton in 1995-1996. Don’t worry, the defensive accolades continue. Jordan was the NBA’s leader in steals three times in 1988, 1990, and 1993. You can make a strong argument that MJ was better on defense than he was on offense.

So kids, next time you want to become the greatest basketball player in the world, make sure you can play defense.

Will you be watching The Last Dance? Leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet us, @unafraidshow.