For years, we have eagerly anticipated the end of the Dark Knight trilogy. Nolan's last outing with the series was the fantastic and dark The Dark Knight. With The Dark Knight Rises, Nolan hopes to make a darker, and almost hopeless film that is of an epic scale we can only dream about. He made many promises....but in the end was the hype too much, did he keep the promises he made?
The Dark Knight Rises picks up several years after the events of The Dark Knight. Harvey Dent is dead and Gotham still mourns over his grave (in fact, they have dedicated a whole day in his honor: Harvey Dent Day. That sound you hear is me trying to suppress a giggle). Bruce Wayne has hung up his bat cowl for the time being and appears to have been stricken with an unexplained case of weakening bones (Why??? How??? ). Soon enough Bruce will have to pick up his old hobby again, for Gotham is in some pretty serious trouble. The Villain Bane has set his sights on Gotham, and intends to wipe the city from the face of the Earth. Along with a slightly untrustworthy new ally in Catwoman, Batman sets out to save Gotham once more.
Yes, we have all indeed anticipated TDKR for a long time. Our hopes have been raised incredibly high. Unfortunately, as a reviewer the job now falls on me to be the bearer of bad news (bad news that will drop me into acid with the fan boys). The Dark Knight Rises is NOT a great film. It's good, acceptable, fun even...but not great.
The film suffers from any real memorable villain. The Dark Knight had Heath Ledger's Joker who easily went toe to toe with the Bat and lit up the screen whenever he graced it with his presence. The Dark Knight Rises gives us Bane, who is an adequate villain. He makes for a good threat and obstacle for Bat Man to overcome, but he can't reach the insane heights of the Joker. They say a hero is only as good as his villain, and naturally that doesn't bode well at all for the Dark Knight Rises (There's also a 3rd act twist, which doesn't help things).
We all know Christian Bale plays Batman/Bruce Wayne and he puts a somewhat different take on them here. I feel his character is not as strong here as it was in the Dark Knight. Gary Oldman does a superior job as lieutenant Gordon (no surprise there, he's usually great no matter what he's in). Michael Cain is back as Albert, who is starting to feel some serious guilt and responsibility for Bruce. Tom Hardy steps in to play Bane and does a pretty great job. I've got to say for some strange reason I really do love the character of Bane, but I still think that joker made for a more memorable and stronger villain. Bane makes for a menacing villain, but one that ends up being not as memorable as one would hope (a sin considering he is the only man to ever break the Bat, and even that part of the story lacks the weight it should have). It doesn't help that a late 3rd act twist takes a lot of the gravitas of his character away. He's a likeable villain, but one that fails to really scare. Anne Hathaway makes for a great and sexy Catwoman (I could eat her up in that tight little outfit she wears), unfortunately, the script does her in. She plays little role in the proceedings, the film seems like it doesn't know what to do with her, and her character doesn't feel like it belongs in this film. The addition of Catwoman comes across as nothing more than fan service here, a shame really considering she could have been such a strong character. Joseph Gordon Levitt does a great job as John Blake (easily the best character here), a rookie cop that helps out Gordon in investigating Bane and saving the city. He's a memorable character here, made all the more memorable by the time the film ends (You'll see what I mean). Joseph Gordon Levitt's role here is nowhere near the best of his, but it'll do. Marion Cotillard makes for a great Miranda Tate, not gonna say much else about this character.... if you want to see more then see the film.
So, as you can see...it's not that the acting's bad....it's the way the characters are handled that makes them weaker than the characters in The Dark Knight. It doesn't help that the story arc of the film is all over the place and doesn't flow together all that well. Also, the script could have used a bit of touching up as well.
The Dark Knight Rises is a film that tries to be epic, but more often than not ends up being silly.It's really a drastic tonal shift for a series that prides itself on its darkness and edge, a tonal shift that; while unintentional; still hurts the film in the long run. That said, while the film is not as epic or dark as it wants to be it is not without a few epic moments (The Bat is easily the most bad-ass thing about the film, the explosions around Gotham scene is chilling, The Back-breaking fight is great, the final fight is indeed quite epic, there's a cool cameo by Johnathan Crane/The Scarecrow, There's a scene with a fiery bat-signal over a bridge that gave me chills the first time I saw it, and it is also really flippin cool to see Gotham begin to tear itself apart...I could watch two hours of Gotham descending into madness and I would be happier than a kid at Disneyland).
There has been much talk about the ending to this film. No, I won't spoil it for anyone. All I'll say is that for myself, it was disappointing but satisfying at the same time. The first two acts of The Dark Knight rises are solid but slow and not all that engaging, the 3rd and final act (the ending) is the strongest part. This makes for much wriggling in your seat as you watch Batman's silly antics that just aren't as cool or thrilling as they were in The Dark Knight, while you wait for the not so grand finale. The final fight is epic but has a weak ending (Bane is done in all too easily), and the moment we were all hoping for occurs (It's not as powerful as you would think it would be) only for the rug to be pulled out from under us mere minutes later in a way that doesn't make sense. At least Joseph Gordon Levitt's role in the finale is pretty flippin cool.
While The Dark Knight Rises is not the grand finale we were all expecting, it still makes for a satisfying and fitting conclusion to a great series. Expect a few epic moments, but not much considering the run time of this film. This is popcorn cinema folks...pure and simple. The truth is, the super-hero films of late have taught me to expect more from these types of films...and The Dark knight rises does not provide that, only more of the same. I think we should demand more out of our Super-Hero films. Oh well. The Dark Knight Rises is a satisfying ending to a strong trilogy. Despite my many complaints, I still enjoyed it and would recommend it to others...just as long as they agreed to lower their expectations first.
3/5 STARS
I just want to clear something up. I am indeed a fan of Batman...I have been so since I was young. I walked in fully expecting to LOVE this film, I WANTED to love this. I wish I could give this film 4 stars, 5 even!!!! But that wouldn't be fair. As I've already said, The Dark knight Rises is not a great film...it's just good.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Thursday, July 12, 2012
SMALLS TAKES A HIT OF SAVAGES AND FINDS IT TO BE PRETTY STRONG STUFF
Savages is a story about love, business, and revenge. It follows peace-and-love pacifist Ben (Aaron Johnson), hardened army vet Chon (Taylor Kitsch) and their beautiful girlfriend O (Blake Lively). Ben and Chon are living the life, they own a very profitable marijuana business in California, and both are dating (and fucking) the same girl, O (Blake Lively), who they are both madly in love with. They essentially share her with each other, and both are cool with this. One day when a rival business tries to make a deal with Ben and Chon, they decline the offer and soon find that O has been kidnapped by the rivals. The marijuana trade can be a violent one, and both must find the darkness inside themselves....darkness that they will need if they are going to save O. There are other sub-plots that involve the head of the rival business, Elena (Salma Hayek); a corrupt DEA Agent, Dennis (John Travolta), who has plans of his own; and a sadistic and fucked up enforcer of Elana's, Lado (Benicio Del Toro).
The film's first 45 minutes is the strongest part as we get to sample some of the paradise that Ben and Chon are living in ( I wouldn't mind trading places with them for a while), and we get the back stories of each character and stuff like that, however as the film goes on it trips a bit, starts to lose its footing, and slows down considerably. Despite what Savage's advertising may tell you, the film is NOT a non-stop actioner. The film does have many slow points and it often drags its feet. I did have a hard time trying to stay invested in the story. That said the script is extremely strong, The cinematography is fantastic (lots of shots of tropical areas, waves, and California at its finest...they found some pretty great places to shoot at) and the editing is frenetic and non-stop, not to mention the acting is tops with Benicio Del Toro making for an unforgettable, disgusting, and scary psychopath.
Speaking of the acting, Blake Lively does a decent acting job here as the sizzling hot O, her body and the way she moves will easily be enough for you to keep your eyes on her. Sadly, she does not bare all, but we do get quite a few very nice ass shots. I wouldn't mind sharing Blake at all, if it means getting to do the things Ben and Chon get to do with her. She seems like she'd make for a pretty ideal girlfriend. Taylor Kitsch plays Chon, the violent war vet. Kitsch hasn't done a very good job at proving he can act, luckily this is a good first step for him. He does a pretty great job here, and is believable in his character. Let's just hope that we get to see him in more roles like this one. Aaron Johnson plays Ben, the hippie-esque peace-and-love pot grower. You may remember him best from his role as Kick-Ass. He is completely unrecognizable here in dredds, and is also believable in his role. In fact, the relationship between Ben, Chon, and O is one of the best things about the film. Ben and Chon act as a sort of yin and yang, and their interactions and discussions are super amusing as Chon is all about violence and taking charge,and Ben is all about peace and talking things out (naturally, Ben is going to have to resort to violence at some point in the film, and when he does it gets pretty brutal). O is the girl in the middle who tries to mediate between them. Salma Hayek makes for a great bitch as Elena. When something tragic happens involving her, I couldn't bring myself to feel bad for her character since she had brought this whole mess upon herself. John Travolta is also awesome as Dennis, the corrupt DEA Agent. Travolta seems to be having much fun here, and in my opinion his best scene is one that involves him in a helicopter (you'll know what I'm talking about when you see the film). All in all, he makes for another memorable part of the film.
Yes, this film is extremely violent, and our two main "heroes" do make some pretty questionable choices. However, I was completely on their side the whole time. The rival business that attempts to make a deal with Ben and Chon is established very early on to be savage, and I don't want to ruin anything....but there is a very good reason this film is called Savages, and the film does a good job at explaining the meaning behind the title. Expect to see a whole lot of gun play, blood, drug usage, and sex (The film often EXPLODES into violence). Naturally, if that isn't your kind of thing then maybe you should sit this one out.
Savages wasn't quite what I expected, and while I did walk out a tad disappointed for various reasons (many slow parts, an ending that I can't decide if I liked or not, some twists and turns that felt kind of funny) I still feel that it is indeed a very strong film and is one of Stone's better efforts as of late. I had fun with the film, and I got quite a bit of enjoyment out of it as I'm sure most will (even though it did leave me feeling a bit unfulfilled). Savages is a great film, that I would gladly recommend to anyone looking for a good time, and then some. Light it up, take a hit, and enjoy the chaos.
3.5/5 STARS
MAJOR SPOILERS: Upon seeing the film a 2nd time I decided I like the final ending they chose for the film the best. I feel like they should have had the first "fantasy' ending as an alternate ending on the DVD and that it should have been left out of the final film as it only detracted from the overall film.
The film's first 45 minutes is the strongest part as we get to sample some of the paradise that Ben and Chon are living in ( I wouldn't mind trading places with them for a while), and we get the back stories of each character and stuff like that, however as the film goes on it trips a bit, starts to lose its footing, and slows down considerably. Despite what Savage's advertising may tell you, the film is NOT a non-stop actioner. The film does have many slow points and it often drags its feet. I did have a hard time trying to stay invested in the story. That said the script is extremely strong, The cinematography is fantastic (lots of shots of tropical areas, waves, and California at its finest...they found some pretty great places to shoot at) and the editing is frenetic and non-stop, not to mention the acting is tops with Benicio Del Toro making for an unforgettable, disgusting, and scary psychopath.
Speaking of the acting, Blake Lively does a decent acting job here as the sizzling hot O, her body and the way she moves will easily be enough for you to keep your eyes on her. Sadly, she does not bare all, but we do get quite a few very nice ass shots. I wouldn't mind sharing Blake at all, if it means getting to do the things Ben and Chon get to do with her. She seems like she'd make for a pretty ideal girlfriend. Taylor Kitsch plays Chon, the violent war vet. Kitsch hasn't done a very good job at proving he can act, luckily this is a good first step for him. He does a pretty great job here, and is believable in his character. Let's just hope that we get to see him in more roles like this one. Aaron Johnson plays Ben, the hippie-esque peace-and-love pot grower. You may remember him best from his role as Kick-Ass. He is completely unrecognizable here in dredds, and is also believable in his role. In fact, the relationship between Ben, Chon, and O is one of the best things about the film. Ben and Chon act as a sort of yin and yang, and their interactions and discussions are super amusing as Chon is all about violence and taking charge,and Ben is all about peace and talking things out (naturally, Ben is going to have to resort to violence at some point in the film, and when he does it gets pretty brutal). O is the girl in the middle who tries to mediate between them. Salma Hayek makes for a great bitch as Elena. When something tragic happens involving her, I couldn't bring myself to feel bad for her character since she had brought this whole mess upon herself. John Travolta is also awesome as Dennis, the corrupt DEA Agent. Travolta seems to be having much fun here, and in my opinion his best scene is one that involves him in a helicopter (you'll know what I'm talking about when you see the film). All in all, he makes for another memorable part of the film.
Yes, this film is extremely violent, and our two main "heroes" do make some pretty questionable choices. However, I was completely on their side the whole time. The rival business that attempts to make a deal with Ben and Chon is established very early on to be savage, and I don't want to ruin anything....but there is a very good reason this film is called Savages, and the film does a good job at explaining the meaning behind the title. Expect to see a whole lot of gun play, blood, drug usage, and sex (The film often EXPLODES into violence). Naturally, if that isn't your kind of thing then maybe you should sit this one out.
Savages wasn't quite what I expected, and while I did walk out a tad disappointed for various reasons (many slow parts, an ending that I can't decide if I liked or not, some twists and turns that felt kind of funny) I still feel that it is indeed a very strong film and is one of Stone's better efforts as of late. I had fun with the film, and I got quite a bit of enjoyment out of it as I'm sure most will (even though it did leave me feeling a bit unfulfilled). Savages is a great film, that I would gladly recommend to anyone looking for a good time, and then some. Light it up, take a hit, and enjoy the chaos.
3.5/5 STARS
MAJOR SPOILERS: Upon seeing the film a 2nd time I decided I like the final ending they chose for the film the best. I feel like they should have had the first "fantasy' ending as an alternate ending on the DVD and that it should have been left out of the final film as it only detracted from the overall film.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
KATY PERRY PART OF ME 3D IS SO SUGAR COATED IT MIGHT GIVE YOU CAVITIES
Have you ever spent a night where for no reason you decide to consume large amounts of candy, and then you get this insane sugar rush and it feels soooo good? well, that's exactly what watching Katy Perry 3D is like: A night of candy consumption that leaves you with a good sugar rush.
Katy Perry Part of Me 3D is part concert film, part Katy Perry back story,and part behind the scenes of the concert. I went in wanting to get an "I was there" feeling, and sadly the film doesn't fully achieve this effect except during the last song (a candy-coated version of California Gurls). For the most part, the film instead aims to bring you into the hectic-ness of Katy Perry's life, and for the most part it succeeds in this area.
The film, surprisingly, isn't just for teenage girls. There are some pretty in-depth, mature moments in the film. There is a sizable portion where we delve into Katy Perry before she made it big (focusing on her Christian roots, etc), and there's another part where we actually get to watch as Katy's relationship with Russel Brand dissolves and this was actually one of the strongest parts of the film as she put her grieving aside to put on the show (we do get to see poor Katy break down several times. It's nice for a film to allow a superstar to show her human side) . Throughout the film, we learn that for Katy Perry, her fans will always come first. She does meet and greets before or after her show, and even brings fans on stage to dance with her during one portion of her concert.
Now, I saw the film in 3-D....was it worth the extra price of admission? Yes, mainly for the last song which FINALLY fully engulfs the audience into the concert. It is painfully obvious that they shot this film with both 2D and 3D cameras, this is clear since most of the footage that isn't from the concert doesn't pop at all and fails to have depth. Curious, I took my glasses off....sure enough no blurring at all.....definitely shot in 2D. There were a few interviews with Katy that were in 3D, but for the most part it appears the 3D cameras were mainly used for the concert portions of the film.....so, are these potions any good? Yes, yes they are. There is some noticeable amount of depth in these scenes (not much, but it's there), and there are some parts where it looks like the screen is not a screen and the concert is there in front of us (doesn't linger on these parts long enough for us to fully get that effect though). I was most looking forward to the effects where certain elements from the film would fly out into the audience....and for most of the film I was kept waiting (frowny face). There aren't as many of these parts as you would hope, but when the effect is used it really works (lazers fly right into your face, confetti flys around the theater, and icing gets sprayed right into your face). While the 3D is not as impressive as I had hoped I would still recommend it for the effect it achieves during the final song of the film (easily the most memorable part of the film).
The only real complaint I have with the film is that, there is not one song that gets a chance to play all the way through without getting interrupted by a behind the scenes/backstage/interview/fans screaming segment. This was annoying. The songs usually get a chance to play all the way through ( more-or-less), but they are chopped up in order to do so. I don't know if this is how all concert films are, I would hope not.
Also, yes...this was my first ever 3D concert film. So, what were my thoughts? I liked it and had great fun getting to dance in my seat to some of my favorite summer songs and even sometimes quietly sing along with the film. I just would like to see a film like this where it's mainly concert and less behind the scenes/back story/interview/fans screaming. I would definitely see another film like this.
Katy Perry Part of Me 3D is a film that is bursting with tons of sugary goodness and it has a sprinkle of maturity on top. The film gains points for allowing it's superstar to be human instead of some untouchable super being. We get to see her at her most vulnerable and this works to the films advantage. While you may not feel as fully immersed into the concert as you may hope, you will feel fully immersed in Katy Perry's life and that is just as cool. You should walk out of the film feeling like you know Katy Perry a little bit better. If you are a Katy Perry fan this film was very much made for you (in fact, I'm surprised that the film didn't come with some sort of dedication to her fans at the beginning or end of the film), and even if you are not a huge fan of Perry but still know her songs I'd bet you'd still glean some enjoyment from this film. Katy Perry Part of Me 3D is the most sugary sweet summer film to come out this year, it's a cotton candy treat.
3.5/5 STARS
Katy Perry Part of Me 3D is part concert film, part Katy Perry back story,and part behind the scenes of the concert. I went in wanting to get an "I was there" feeling, and sadly the film doesn't fully achieve this effect except during the last song (a candy-coated version of California Gurls). For the most part, the film instead aims to bring you into the hectic-ness of Katy Perry's life, and for the most part it succeeds in this area.
The film, surprisingly, isn't just for teenage girls. There are some pretty in-depth, mature moments in the film. There is a sizable portion where we delve into Katy Perry before she made it big (focusing on her Christian roots, etc), and there's another part where we actually get to watch as Katy's relationship with Russel Brand dissolves and this was actually one of the strongest parts of the film as she put her grieving aside to put on the show (we do get to see poor Katy break down several times. It's nice for a film to allow a superstar to show her human side) . Throughout the film, we learn that for Katy Perry, her fans will always come first. She does meet and greets before or after her show, and even brings fans on stage to dance with her during one portion of her concert.
Now, I saw the film in 3-D....was it worth the extra price of admission? Yes, mainly for the last song which FINALLY fully engulfs the audience into the concert. It is painfully obvious that they shot this film with both 2D and 3D cameras, this is clear since most of the footage that isn't from the concert doesn't pop at all and fails to have depth. Curious, I took my glasses off....sure enough no blurring at all.....definitely shot in 2D. There were a few interviews with Katy that were in 3D, but for the most part it appears the 3D cameras were mainly used for the concert portions of the film.....so, are these potions any good? Yes, yes they are. There is some noticeable amount of depth in these scenes (not much, but it's there), and there are some parts where it looks like the screen is not a screen and the concert is there in front of us (doesn't linger on these parts long enough for us to fully get that effect though). I was most looking forward to the effects where certain elements from the film would fly out into the audience....and for most of the film I was kept waiting (frowny face). There aren't as many of these parts as you would hope, but when the effect is used it really works (lazers fly right into your face, confetti flys around the theater, and icing gets sprayed right into your face). While the 3D is not as impressive as I had hoped I would still recommend it for the effect it achieves during the final song of the film (easily the most memorable part of the film).
The only real complaint I have with the film is that, there is not one song that gets a chance to play all the way through without getting interrupted by a behind the scenes/backstage/interview/fans screaming segment. This was annoying. The songs usually get a chance to play all the way through ( more-or-less), but they are chopped up in order to do so. I don't know if this is how all concert films are, I would hope not.
Also, yes...this was my first ever 3D concert film. So, what were my thoughts? I liked it and had great fun getting to dance in my seat to some of my favorite summer songs and even sometimes quietly sing along with the film. I just would like to see a film like this where it's mainly concert and less behind the scenes/back story/interview/fans screaming. I would definitely see another film like this.
Katy Perry Part of Me 3D is a film that is bursting with tons of sugary goodness and it has a sprinkle of maturity on top. The film gains points for allowing it's superstar to be human instead of some untouchable super being. We get to see her at her most vulnerable and this works to the films advantage. While you may not feel as fully immersed into the concert as you may hope, you will feel fully immersed in Katy Perry's life and that is just as cool. You should walk out of the film feeling like you know Katy Perry a little bit better. If you are a Katy Perry fan this film was very much made for you (in fact, I'm surprised that the film didn't come with some sort of dedication to her fans at the beginning or end of the film), and even if you are not a huge fan of Perry but still know her songs I'd bet you'd still glean some enjoyment from this film. Katy Perry Part of Me 3D is the most sugary sweet summer film to come out this year, it's a cotton candy treat.
3.5/5 STARS
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
SMALLS THINKS THE AMAZING PETER PARKER JUST WOULDN'T HAVE THE SAME RING TO IT.
Spider-Man, Spider-Man, this is my review of the amazing reboot of Spider-Man.
Hey there folks, let Uncle Smalls tell you a little story. A long time ago (ten years ago to be exact) a film was released that would revolutionize the super-hero genre. That film was Spider-Man. It was great, it had great actors, a simple plot, and tons of fun. The sequel was even more well-received than the first film and was even considered by some (NOT ME) to be the ultimate super-hero film. Unfortunately, all things gold can not stay and the third installment tripped BIG TIME. A whiny Peter-Parker, dance scenes, musical numbers, a de-fanged Venom, The list goes on and on. Audiences were outraged, and in a panic Sony, The studio that makes the Spidey films, pulled the reboot lever. This brings us to today. There were some who looked forward to the reboot and there were others who shunned it. Myself? At first I recoiled from the idea but when I saw the trailers I changed my mind. This film looked like it could blow the other 3 Spidey films out of the water. I guess the real question here is: does it? I just returned from the film, and let me preach the truth to you children.
The Amazing Spider-Man is a lot better than the previous Spider-Man films. This reboot does what most reboots tend to do: it re-tells us the origin story of Spider-Man. It's surprising how many of the same beats this film hits that the original hit as well. However, what makes this film better than the first Spider-Man is that it takes the source material from the first and expands on it, enhancing it in the process. This whole film (all 2 hours 16 minutes of it) is about the origin of Spider-Man, about how he learns what he believes in, what he will stand up for, what he will fight for, and how to take responsibility for his actions and appropriately use his powers for good.
The Amazing Spider-Man is just about the polar opposite of Spider-Man. It's got a darker tone (for the love of God, please stop comparing this film to Batman Begins), about 90% of this film focuses on Parker (not Spidey),it's got a lot more heart, and it also focuses more on the relationship between Parker and Gwen Stacy. This film is NOT your typical super-hero film, it's very serious, quiet, and introspective. If you don't like the sound of that then stay away (myself, I LOVED the new direction this film decided to take. I'm all for different films).
Quite possibly THE reason to see this film is for Andrew Garfield's amazing (pun intended) portrayal of Peter Parker. He's not necessarily believable as a high schooler, but he fits into the role of Peter Parker like a glove. He is the ultimate Spider-Man. He makes Parker and Spider-Man relateable and in his hands Spider-Man is the whip-smart and quip throwing character we all grew up with in the comics. In Fact, This version of Parker is very much the same one from the comics as well. He's very shy but very smart, and in this film he makes his own web fluid and web shooters just like he did in the comics (a welcome addition, not to mention the scenes where he's discovering his new powers are much more thrilling than before). This film is the closest we've come to nailing the Parker/Spider-Man from the comics (Sorry Raimi and Maguire, Webb and Garfield have you beat. Actually, that's a pretty funny joke....Marc Webb directed Spider-Man....get it....it's funny because his last name is Webb and Spider-Man shoots webs!!!). I also loved the new Spidey suit Garfield wears, and the fact that most of the time we see Spidey he isn't CGI'd in and there's usually an actor under the mask, not to mention a good portion of the stunts (including some of the swinging) were real as well. His movements are also way more fluid and spider-like (just like in the comics), really getting the point cross that Parker has become a human spider
As I said earlier, this film places more focus on the relationship between Parker and Gwen Stacy. The romance is actually one of the stronger aspects of this film (big surprise there, Webb also directed 500 Days of Summer). Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone make for one of the cuter screen couples, and their chemistry is super believable. I also like where the film chooses to go with this sub-plot in the end, very nice and very fitting.
Emma Stone makes for a cute (there's that word again) and believable Gwen Stacy. You do believe that she has fallen for Parker, and not just because he admits to her that he is indeed Spider-Man. There's something deeper going on here. She brings some depth and maturity to her role (the same goes for Garfield). She also may not be believable as a High Schooler, but she does make for a pretty and convincing Gwen.
The "villain" of the film is Dr. Curt Connors AKA The Lizard. He is a brilliant scientist whose work on cross-genetics is one of the best in the field. He also used to be one of Parker's father's friends and colleagues(yet another new piece of the plot, Parker's search to discover more about his father), this is what brings Peter to OsCorp, the company that Connors and Parker's father used to work for. Together , Peter Parker and Connors create an advanced syrum that could lead to humans being able to heal themselves. Pretty advanced stuff. When Connors has the rug pulled out from under him by Osborne's lackey, Connors is forced to test the syrum on himself and in the process turns into The Lizard (No, Norman Osborne does not appear in this film, although much talk in the film is about him. Apparently, Osborne is very sick and he needs the syrum if he is going to survive). The Lizard is not the strongest aspect of the film, but he is still an interesting character. He genuinely believes he is doing good here, and so kind of falls into the grey area as to if he is really evil or not. Rys Ifans does a fine job here as Connors, and is certainly memorable. Also, I thought the CGI for the Lizard was just ok (passable I guess, nothing special).
Martin Sheen makes for a fantastic and sympthetic Uncle Ben, and Sally Fields makes for a fantastic Aunt May. Both don't appear much in the film, but make their roles count. The same can be said for the rest of the supporting cast. Chris Zylka makes for a great Flash Thompson, the bully of the film, and Denis Leary puts in a fine performance as Captain Stacy, Gwen's father and head of the police, he makes for a believable and sympathetic character . C. Thomas Howell also shows up as a construction worker/father and puts on a pretty good performance for such a small role.
While I'll admit the film is indeed slow (it takes its time) and the enhanced focus on Parker means less time for Spidey antics...none of that really bothered me. While The Amazing Spider-Man may not be your typical super-hero film, it still does find time to have fun. All of the action scenes are exciting, the visuals are fantastic, and the camerawork/cinematography is great.
I saw the film in 3D....was it worth the extra price of admission? I guess so. As I said before 90 % of the film focuses on Parker and thus most of the film doesn't lend itself all that well to 3D, however, all the action scenes look beautiful in 3D and the POV shots make you feel like you really are Spidey and that you are swinging along with him. There's also a screen penetrating shot of a building and Spidey does make a visit into the theater on occasion.
The Amazing Spider-Man makes for a different, more mature, and adult super-hero film that's got sort-of an indie vibe to it. I think it's a lot better than the the first 3 Spider-Man films (especially the first one) because it brings us the first true interpretation of Peter Parker/Spider-Man and the film enjoys digging down into his depths and exploring what makes him him, it also brings us a good villian if not an extremely memorable one and it creates another great version of Aunt May and Uncle Ben. In short, everything the first Spider-Man did, The Amazing Spider-Man elaborates on and enhances (not to mention it has the best Stan Lee Cameo yet and also features a nice Daily Bugle cameo)....it does it all better and in my opinion, that makes The Amazing Spider-man a surprising success.
4/5 Stars
I do not suggest bringing your little ones to see this film. A large portion of the film is character development and exploration, and this would probably equal much boredom for kids.
Thoughts upon my 2nd viewing: I just saw the film for a second time on July 15th, and I actually found I liked it even more than I did the first time I saw it. I'll readily admit the film is not without it's faults, but it's still THE PERFECT Spider-Man film. My rating remains the same.
Hey there folks, let Uncle Smalls tell you a little story. A long time ago (ten years ago to be exact) a film was released that would revolutionize the super-hero genre. That film was Spider-Man. It was great, it had great actors, a simple plot, and tons of fun. The sequel was even more well-received than the first film and was even considered by some (NOT ME) to be the ultimate super-hero film. Unfortunately, all things gold can not stay and the third installment tripped BIG TIME. A whiny Peter-Parker, dance scenes, musical numbers, a de-fanged Venom, The list goes on and on. Audiences were outraged, and in a panic Sony, The studio that makes the Spidey films, pulled the reboot lever. This brings us to today. There were some who looked forward to the reboot and there were others who shunned it. Myself? At first I recoiled from the idea but when I saw the trailers I changed my mind. This film looked like it could blow the other 3 Spidey films out of the water. I guess the real question here is: does it? I just returned from the film, and let me preach the truth to you children.
The Amazing Spider-Man is a lot better than the previous Spider-Man films. This reboot does what most reboots tend to do: it re-tells us the origin story of Spider-Man. It's surprising how many of the same beats this film hits that the original hit as well. However, what makes this film better than the first Spider-Man is that it takes the source material from the first and expands on it, enhancing it in the process. This whole film (all 2 hours 16 minutes of it) is about the origin of Spider-Man, about how he learns what he believes in, what he will stand up for, what he will fight for, and how to take responsibility for his actions and appropriately use his powers for good.
The Amazing Spider-Man is just about the polar opposite of Spider-Man. It's got a darker tone (for the love of God, please stop comparing this film to Batman Begins), about 90% of this film focuses on Parker (not Spidey),it's got a lot more heart, and it also focuses more on the relationship between Parker and Gwen Stacy. This film is NOT your typical super-hero film, it's very serious, quiet, and introspective. If you don't like the sound of that then stay away (myself, I LOVED the new direction this film decided to take. I'm all for different films).
Quite possibly THE reason to see this film is for Andrew Garfield's amazing (pun intended) portrayal of Peter Parker. He's not necessarily believable as a high schooler, but he fits into the role of Peter Parker like a glove. He is the ultimate Spider-Man. He makes Parker and Spider-Man relateable and in his hands Spider-Man is the whip-smart and quip throwing character we all grew up with in the comics. In Fact, This version of Parker is very much the same one from the comics as well. He's very shy but very smart, and in this film he makes his own web fluid and web shooters just like he did in the comics (a welcome addition, not to mention the scenes where he's discovering his new powers are much more thrilling than before). This film is the closest we've come to nailing the Parker/Spider-Man from the comics (Sorry Raimi and Maguire, Webb and Garfield have you beat. Actually, that's a pretty funny joke....Marc Webb directed Spider-Man....get it....it's funny because his last name is Webb and Spider-Man shoots webs!!!). I also loved the new Spidey suit Garfield wears, and the fact that most of the time we see Spidey he isn't CGI'd in and there's usually an actor under the mask, not to mention a good portion of the stunts (including some of the swinging) were real as well. His movements are also way more fluid and spider-like (just like in the comics), really getting the point cross that Parker has become a human spider
As I said earlier, this film places more focus on the relationship between Parker and Gwen Stacy. The romance is actually one of the stronger aspects of this film (big surprise there, Webb also directed 500 Days of Summer). Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone make for one of the cuter screen couples, and their chemistry is super believable. I also like where the film chooses to go with this sub-plot in the end, very nice and very fitting.
Emma Stone makes for a cute (there's that word again) and believable Gwen Stacy. You do believe that she has fallen for Parker, and not just because he admits to her that he is indeed Spider-Man. There's something deeper going on here. She brings some depth and maturity to her role (the same goes for Garfield). She also may not be believable as a High Schooler, but she does make for a pretty and convincing Gwen.
The "villain" of the film is Dr. Curt Connors AKA The Lizard. He is a brilliant scientist whose work on cross-genetics is one of the best in the field. He also used to be one of Parker's father's friends and colleagues(yet another new piece of the plot, Parker's search to discover more about his father), this is what brings Peter to OsCorp, the company that Connors and Parker's father used to work for. Together , Peter Parker and Connors create an advanced syrum that could lead to humans being able to heal themselves. Pretty advanced stuff. When Connors has the rug pulled out from under him by Osborne's lackey, Connors is forced to test the syrum on himself and in the process turns into The Lizard (No, Norman Osborne does not appear in this film, although much talk in the film is about him. Apparently, Osborne is very sick and he needs the syrum if he is going to survive). The Lizard is not the strongest aspect of the film, but he is still an interesting character. He genuinely believes he is doing good here, and so kind of falls into the grey area as to if he is really evil or not. Rys Ifans does a fine job here as Connors, and is certainly memorable. Also, I thought the CGI for the Lizard was just ok (passable I guess, nothing special).
Martin Sheen makes for a fantastic and sympthetic Uncle Ben, and Sally Fields makes for a fantastic Aunt May. Both don't appear much in the film, but make their roles count. The same can be said for the rest of the supporting cast. Chris Zylka makes for a great Flash Thompson, the bully of the film, and Denis Leary puts in a fine performance as Captain Stacy, Gwen's father and head of the police, he makes for a believable and sympathetic character . C. Thomas Howell also shows up as a construction worker/father and puts on a pretty good performance for such a small role.
While I'll admit the film is indeed slow (it takes its time) and the enhanced focus on Parker means less time for Spidey antics...none of that really bothered me. While The Amazing Spider-Man may not be your typical super-hero film, it still does find time to have fun. All of the action scenes are exciting, the visuals are fantastic, and the camerawork/cinematography is great.
I saw the film in 3D....was it worth the extra price of admission? I guess so. As I said before 90 % of the film focuses on Parker and thus most of the film doesn't lend itself all that well to 3D, however, all the action scenes look beautiful in 3D and the POV shots make you feel like you really are Spidey and that you are swinging along with him. There's also a screen penetrating shot of a building and Spidey does make a visit into the theater on occasion.
The Amazing Spider-Man makes for a different, more mature, and adult super-hero film that's got sort-of an indie vibe to it. I think it's a lot better than the the first 3 Spider-Man films (especially the first one) because it brings us the first true interpretation of Peter Parker/Spider-Man and the film enjoys digging down into his depths and exploring what makes him him, it also brings us a good villian if not an extremely memorable one and it creates another great version of Aunt May and Uncle Ben. In short, everything the first Spider-Man did, The Amazing Spider-Man elaborates on and enhances (not to mention it has the best Stan Lee Cameo yet and also features a nice Daily Bugle cameo)....it does it all better and in my opinion, that makes The Amazing Spider-man a surprising success.
4/5 Stars
I do not suggest bringing your little ones to see this film. A large portion of the film is character development and exploration, and this would probably equal much boredom for kids.
Thoughts upon my 2nd viewing: I just saw the film for a second time on July 15th, and I actually found I liked it even more than I did the first time I saw it. I'll readily admit the film is not without it's faults, but it's still THE PERFECT Spider-Man film. My rating remains the same.
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