Month: May 2019

Enlarge / Netflix really knows how to keep this controller in the hand of certain niche audiences. (credit: Aytac Unal/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

If the movie Rim of the World, which premiered on Netflix this week, looks a little familiar to you, that's on purpose. It's the story of four kids, thrown together at summer camp in the middle of an alien invasion, faced with the task of carrying the one object that can defeat the aliens across war-torn Los Angeles. It's a fun ride through childhood friendship forged amid killer aliens and saving the world. Sound like a 1980s-style adventure, like what Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment used to make? Well, good.

Maybe you'll see echoes of Stand By Me in its story of four kids on a road trip, or the vibe of Goonies and Explorers in the movie's diverse tweens in science-fictional, action-adventurous peril. Sharper-eyed nerds will spot locations such as Courthouse Square on the Universal backlot (the clock tower in Back to the Future) and the Sepulveda Dam used in Escape from New York and the closing credits of Buckaroo Banzai. These kinds of movies used to be a reliable product. "There were a couple of them every summer, and they were great, and I loved them. They were emotionally important to me," says Zack Stentz, who wrote Rim of the World. "And Hollywood stopped making them."

Now, though, digital streaming services like Netflix are upending of Hollywood's business model. Small screens can do what big screens won't.

Enlarge (credit: Ars Technica)

Greetings, Arsians! It's Memorial Day here in the US, and for the Dealmaster that means it's time to check in with another big list of tech sales and bargains. While today's holiday is truly about honoring those who have served for our country, retailers, as they often do, have turned the day into a giant shopping event.

Many of the deals out there apply to mattresses, appliances, and other home goods, but those looking for discounts on tech aren't totally left in the cold, as there are a number of sales on laptops, televisions, and other electronics as well. Because he loves you, the Dealmaster has taken a break from his long weekend to round these up for you below.

The highlights today include various sales on iPads, Lenovo and Dell laptops, LG and Samsung 4K TVs, the PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox One X, and more. You can have a look at our full Memorial Day sales roundup below.