Showing posts with label movie review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label movie review. Show all posts
Friday, August 9, 2013
Monday, June 17, 2013
Comics On the Screen: MAN OF STEEL review by BRANDON EASTON
MAN OF STEEL: A Hero for the ADHD Crowd...
MAN OF STEEL was an expertly crafted movie - just like a Lego recreation of the Death Star. It is a heck of an accomplishment on a lot of levels but remains a plastic facsimile of a fictional object.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed 2/3rds of the movie and the problem with that is that MAN OF STEEL is incomplete. Despite a 2 hour-20 minute run time - which went by fairly quickly until the disastrous (no pun) 3rd act when the movie ceased being an actual movie and turned into a crazed video game opening sequence that lost all sense of story, plot and logic.
Now, I know not everyone went to film school, and I realize not everyone cares about things like story, plot and logic. Most folks have no idea about how and WHY movies are structured. However, I will share that the basic set-up of a screenplay is generally - not always - but generally based on a THREE ACT STRUCTURE.
In ACT ONE we meet the heroes, their friends, family, etc. A problem is introduced to their world and they must decide whether to face it or not. By the end of the first act, we have the problem, why the hero must stop or fix it, and their goal is set.
In ACT TWO things get complicated. The hero loses, and loses a lot, then the world changes so much that things cannot ever go back to the way it was. All seems lost until the hero barely escapes death. . . .
Check out the rest of the review here: Man of Steel Full Review
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Garage Hero Productions Reviews - TRAVELERS: DIMENSION POLICE
The great people over at Garage Hero Productions gave us permission to post us their latest review, in honor of Siskel & Ebert, as they get into Koichi Sakamoto's Travelers: Dimension Police!
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Toku 101: Shin Kamen Rider: Prologue
Hello and welcome to another edition of Toku 101 with me your columnist, Wheelchair21. On today's Toku 101, we'll not be continuing on the topic of Samurai × Shinkenger! It'll however be on Kamen Rider Shin, who's one of the my all time favorites. Shin is the eleventh production in the franchise, but was the 13th Kamen Rider, sadly he truly was unlike as his number tells. The reason behind this was it strayed from its roots, for the fact it was an anniversary the 20th to be exact and its creator Shotaro Ishinomori wanted it to draw back in its adult fans. So as a result the plot became more violent, realistic and modern based in a retelling of the story of Kamen Rider, Shin Ichigo. The result ending horribly for Shotaro as it flopped and Shin wouldn't go on to getting his actual series! Anyways let's get onto to the movie synopsis....
The movie opens up with a mysterious creature attacking citizens. Police stumble upon the creature and attack it. The creature is revealed to be an incestiode-like monster, that manages to kill/injure several officers before fleeing. Where then Shin our protagonist, awakes knowing believing the murders to be nightmares as the nurse rushes in to check on him. That's then followed by the opening credits, where a group of high officials go into a government research building. They all stop to admire and overview a surgery where the director, Iwao Himuro explains that the facility is working on overcoming diseases by changing the cellular levels. The process has 3 Levels, Level 1: improve cell immunity, Level 2: reinforce the cells, and Level 3 is restoration of cells with particle surgery. The development team medics are lead by Damon Kazamatsuri and Giichi Onizuka, begin to argue on the process of Level 3 where one of the officials plants a wire-tap, 'bug'.
Damon, argues with Giichi about the use of Level 3 at this current step is too dangerous. Giichi, then complains that Damon's seniority and hesitation is stopping their progress and that his choice of test subject may have been the problem. That's when the subject, Shin sits up to protest his father's choices. Later on the bodyguard, Goushima shows the facility director all the 'bugs' planted, by the enemy. Shin is then shown, exercising alongside the head nurse at some gym. His friend Yuuki appears to try and get Shin to quit the experiments and go back to his motocross dream. Yuuki, then even mentions the fact of the relationship Shin and his nurse, Ai. While they're all relaxing at the bar, Shin reads the paper learning of the accidents that occurred realizing his dreams were real, as a random woman listens in on them.
That following night, Shin follows Giichi Onizuka to his hidden lab. Where Onizuka begins to experiment on himself using the Level 3 process. As the process begins to effect Onizuka, Shin also feels odd symptoms and passes out, as special forces break in and attack Onizuka. The team is lead by the woman spying on Shin, as Onizuka turns into the monster! Shin, awakes witnessing the dead bodies around him forcing him to believe he is the cause of it all. Shin then heads off to confront Onizuka about the "monster" he has become. Onizuka admits he used grasshopper DNA into the evolution process; believing incests are the greatest form of life and that they'll surpass man and god. Damon, then enters the room telling Onizuka to follow his leadership or leave when Onizuka replies the 'organization' runs the show.
Shin is soon confrontation with the special forces woman, who turn's out to be Sarah Fukamachi of the CIA. She here in Japan to defeat the 'organization' as they're shot at by Goushima. Shin flees, Sarah guns down Goushima and races off from the area. Goushima some how revives from the shots and alerts Himuro. At the gym now closed, Shin relaxes before running into Yuuki and Ai who appeared to cheer him up. Shin proceeds to tell him he's the monster killing people, but they don't believe it's him. Shin is crazed by fear, wishes for those close to him to leave his side. This eventually leads to Yuuki leaving Shin to Ai, who proceeds to confess her love to him and they well screw around in the gym's pool.
Onizuka is soon hospitalized, and Shin questions Ai during that time on whose side is she on. While Shin questions Ai, Damon pleas with Himuro to let his son quit the testing. Himuro says it's too later to quit now, this proceeds to Ai then going to Himuro's office to plea for Shin's safety. While Shin works on trying to escape the facility later that night, he notices Goushima lead a convoy from the lab. Shin follows and sees a battle between the 'organization' and the CIA. During the battle, Shin tries to stop the CIA from opening the convoy. As he tries to stop them, Onizuka as the monster tries breaking out as they blast the container with rocket fire. Shin, beings feeling odd symptoms again forcing him to under go his own transformation into a similar grasshopper hybrid. Thus Kamen Rider Shin was born!
The CIA, lock onto Shin in an standoff as Goushima attacks them transforming into a cyborg creature. Shin comes to the team's defense and does battle with the Cyborg. Sarah, appears during the battle and blasts Goushima and allows Shin to escape. Shin eventually then runs into Ai, while still stuck in his 'Rider'-form. Ai rushes to Shin and pleas for forgiveness, while the Sarah calls the CIA about Shin's ability to control himself in his 'Rider'-form. Soon Ai explains everything to Shin about the CIA and the 'organization'. Shin even questions like the viewers, 'What the hell is the organization?!' Damon also is confronted by Himuro he goes on to tell him about the organization, crossing between the two explanations. Ai explains the 'organization' is a Chronos rip-off from the Guyver, and they're making Zoanoids,...I mean cyborg soldiers. Goushima was a Level 2 and Shin's a Level 3. Then they all seem to mention Level 3 is to go against God!
Ai then decides to head back to the lab to get them to revert Shin back to his normal, but she's caught by security and imprisioned with Damon. Himuro then tells Ai after recent tests she's pregnant with Shin's child and they're going to use her to capture Shin. While at the docks Shin is called to by the fetus inside Ai's womb, calling its father to rescue it! The child's connection to its father is strong that it weakens Ai greatly. Shin rushes off to the 'organization's' lab, as Damon uses Ai's pain as a method to escape with the fetus' power aiding them. Damon and Ai frantically try to escape, as they run into Shin who has come arrive just in time as the CIA assaults facility. Himuro cuts off the escaping family, saying they'll all die before he will, gunning down Ai. An enraged Shin, upon her dying words saying even thou she'll die now her love for Shin is real and the child will still manage to be born from her dead body, he transforms. What proceeds next is utter horror and beauty of the power of Kamen Rider Shin!
In his 'Rider'-form he stalks down the Himuro and advances on him forcing him to fear for his life as he proceeds to gouge his chest and beat him senseless. Upon Himuro's death, the surviving Goushima breaks in and attacks Shin. The battle is short lived, but very violent and Shin defeats him by decapitation before his head opens up to reveal a bomb and self-destructs. Soon afterwards, Shin carrying Ai's dead along with his father advance in their escape as the CIA pursues them. Sarah, says she wishes she could've let him live but can't when they finally surround Shin as an organization helicopter zooms in; Gunning down the CIA and trying to recapture Shin. They catch his father and Shin proceeds to try to rescue him, the lead spy shoots down the helicopter as it crashes into the exploding lab building.
The final scene shows, Shin managed to survive carrying Ai in the sewers and unfortunately his father didn't. While shin advances in the sewers the child, messages him and aid him through the tunnels. While a flashback shows recorded segments of Shin explaining Operation: Masked Rider as the credits role.
Review & Final Thoughts:
Well to start off, this movie has a lot given to you to want an actual TV series or sequels in general. The movie, is mostly plot development for the looming 'series' and the building of Shin's character. When the action appears, it appears in very short bursts that aid the telling of the story. The majority of the cast barely gets characterization, but just enough to continue to support the plot since most of the characters introduced in the film are killed off. Along with that certain subs I've seen Sarah, Himuro and Goushima aren't called out by name or written in the subtitles, the only time the characters' name are mentioned in the credits. I personally find that to be weird, even thou Himuro and Goushima were kill by the end of the film while Sarah's existence is left unknown.
As for Shin the movie well is practically centered around him, just he doesn't realize it at first, since everything was a complete conspiracy. He was left confused and questioning his sanity as he for most of the film believed himself to be the monster terrorizing the city, only to discover it was a friend/mentor Onizuka. Then to discover this medical help group he chose to be the test subject of was actually some secret unnamed 'organization' that mimicked the manga 'The Guyver's' Chronos in several ways. Along with the fact how the woman he loved, was flipping between sides and withheld the proper information to possibly saving all their lives.
Other facts about Shin, character and film is the fact that he as Rider managed to quickly take control of his new powers or how his brain managed to endure the primal impulses for so long. It's thou one of the several plot holes overlooked when seeing the film for the first time. Along with that the Rider-form is better to seen in darker scene for when its in the light of day you can tell it's just a 'rubber'-suit. The night attacks, battles and final duel in the facility proved the points as in the final few scenes when Shin appeared during the day the suit looked horrible. Even when the character returned in the Heisei Era films the suits colors clashed with the day light a lot.
Issues I do have with the film is the fact it never got to continue, the 'organization' was never named, the action was short even thou it fit the plot, and how the suit didn't adjust well with proper daylight. Since the movie never succeeded we couldn't get the series, and left off with a horrible cliffhanger. It would've been great if the show could've gotten up and running or actually get a future reboot. The reboot could work now if the series was toned down to a the ratings of Garo, and the basis of the plot modified to be more modern to keep up with the changes. The 'organization' not being name well is just like wow this is truly the plot, for the fact it seem Shotaro was just getting it going. The action being short fit, just didn't meet my liking we could've have gotten at least 5 more minutes!! With the suit as my final subject, I love it! It's a great suit, but the colors used could've or should've been made a little bit darker.
To end this all I recommend for anyone to watch go watch this movie, even if you know nothing about Kamen Rider! It's a realistic telling of the original series, and is well fitting to give some ideal examples of what the Showa Era series was originally about. I find this movie to be a great way to introduce people into becoming fans of the series, and if you're a Guyver fan you'll notice how much was drawn from that series. So in general I was overly amazing by it and still by it as of today, if I had to rate it out of 5 Stars it'd be a good 4.5! If you see like wise or differently write to me on Twitter: @Wheelchair21
Images from:
Wikipedia
Kamen Rider Wikia
Several blogs across the net
The movie opens up with a mysterious creature attacking citizens. Police stumble upon the creature and attack it. The creature is revealed to be an incestiode-like monster, that manages to kill/injure several officers before fleeing. Where then Shin our protagonist, awakes knowing believing the murders to be nightmares as the nurse rushes in to check on him. That's then followed by the opening credits, where a group of high officials go into a government research building. They all stop to admire and overview a surgery where the director, Iwao Himuro explains that the facility is working on overcoming diseases by changing the cellular levels. The process has 3 Levels, Level 1: improve cell immunity, Level 2: reinforce the cells, and Level 3 is restoration of cells with particle surgery. The development team medics are lead by Damon Kazamatsuri and Giichi Onizuka, begin to argue on the process of Level 3 where one of the officials plants a wire-tap, 'bug'.
Damon, argues with Giichi about the use of Level 3 at this current step is too dangerous. Giichi, then complains that Damon's seniority and hesitation is stopping their progress and that his choice of test subject may have been the problem. That's when the subject, Shin sits up to protest his father's choices. Later on the bodyguard, Goushima shows the facility director all the 'bugs' planted, by the enemy. Shin is then shown, exercising alongside the head nurse at some gym. His friend Yuuki appears to try and get Shin to quit the experiments and go back to his motocross dream. Yuuki, then even mentions the fact of the relationship Shin and his nurse, Ai. While they're all relaxing at the bar, Shin reads the paper learning of the accidents that occurred realizing his dreams were real, as a random woman listens in on them.
That following night, Shin follows Giichi Onizuka to his hidden lab. Where Onizuka begins to experiment on himself using the Level 3 process. As the process begins to effect Onizuka, Shin also feels odd symptoms and passes out, as special forces break in and attack Onizuka. The team is lead by the woman spying on Shin, as Onizuka turns into the monster! Shin, awakes witnessing the dead bodies around him forcing him to believe he is the cause of it all. Shin then heads off to confront Onizuka about the "monster" he has become. Onizuka admits he used grasshopper DNA into the evolution process; believing incests are the greatest form of life and that they'll surpass man and god. Damon, then enters the room telling Onizuka to follow his leadership or leave when Onizuka replies the 'organization' runs the show.
Shin is soon confrontation with the special forces woman, who turn's out to be Sarah Fukamachi of the CIA. She here in Japan to defeat the 'organization' as they're shot at by Goushima. Shin flees, Sarah guns down Goushima and races off from the area. Goushima some how revives from the shots and alerts Himuro. At the gym now closed, Shin relaxes before running into Yuuki and Ai who appeared to cheer him up. Shin proceeds to tell him he's the monster killing people, but they don't believe it's him. Shin is crazed by fear, wishes for those close to him to leave his side. This eventually leads to Yuuki leaving Shin to Ai, who proceeds to confess her love to him and they well screw around in the gym's pool.
Onizuka is soon hospitalized, and Shin questions Ai during that time on whose side is she on. While Shin questions Ai, Damon pleas with Himuro to let his son quit the testing. Himuro says it's too later to quit now, this proceeds to Ai then going to Himuro's office to plea for Shin's safety. While Shin works on trying to escape the facility later that night, he notices Goushima lead a convoy from the lab. Shin follows and sees a battle between the 'organization' and the CIA. During the battle, Shin tries to stop the CIA from opening the convoy. As he tries to stop them, Onizuka as the monster tries breaking out as they blast the container with rocket fire. Shin, beings feeling odd symptoms again forcing him to under go his own transformation into a similar grasshopper hybrid. Thus Kamen Rider Shin was born!
The CIA, lock onto Shin in an standoff as Goushima attacks them transforming into a cyborg creature. Shin comes to the team's defense and does battle with the Cyborg. Sarah, appears during the battle and blasts Goushima and allows Shin to escape. Shin eventually then runs into Ai, while still stuck in his 'Rider'-form. Ai rushes to Shin and pleas for forgiveness, while the Sarah calls the CIA about Shin's ability to control himself in his 'Rider'-form. Soon Ai explains everything to Shin about the CIA and the 'organization'. Shin even questions like the viewers, 'What the hell is the organization?!' Damon also is confronted by Himuro he goes on to tell him about the organization, crossing between the two explanations. Ai explains the 'organization' is a Chronos rip-off from the Guyver, and they're making Zoanoids,...I mean cyborg soldiers. Goushima was a Level 2 and Shin's a Level 3. Then they all seem to mention Level 3 is to go against God!
Ai then decides to head back to the lab to get them to revert Shin back to his normal, but she's caught by security and imprisioned with Damon. Himuro then tells Ai after recent tests she's pregnant with Shin's child and they're going to use her to capture Shin. While at the docks Shin is called to by the fetus inside Ai's womb, calling its father to rescue it! The child's connection to its father is strong that it weakens Ai greatly. Shin rushes off to the 'organization's' lab, as Damon uses Ai's pain as a method to escape with the fetus' power aiding them. Damon and Ai frantically try to escape, as they run into Shin who has come arrive just in time as the CIA assaults facility. Himuro cuts off the escaping family, saying they'll all die before he will, gunning down Ai. An enraged Shin, upon her dying words saying even thou she'll die now her love for Shin is real and the child will still manage to be born from her dead body, he transforms. What proceeds next is utter horror and beauty of the power of Kamen Rider Shin!
In his 'Rider'-form he stalks down the Himuro and advances on him forcing him to fear for his life as he proceeds to gouge his chest and beat him senseless. Upon Himuro's death, the surviving Goushima breaks in and attacks Shin. The battle is short lived, but very violent and Shin defeats him by decapitation before his head opens up to reveal a bomb and self-destructs. Soon afterwards, Shin carrying Ai's dead along with his father advance in their escape as the CIA pursues them. Sarah, says she wishes she could've let him live but can't when they finally surround Shin as an organization helicopter zooms in; Gunning down the CIA and trying to recapture Shin. They catch his father and Shin proceeds to try to rescue him, the lead spy shoots down the helicopter as it crashes into the exploding lab building.
The final scene shows, Shin managed to survive carrying Ai in the sewers and unfortunately his father didn't. While shin advances in the sewers the child, messages him and aid him through the tunnels. While a flashback shows recorded segments of Shin explaining Operation: Masked Rider as the credits role.
Review & Final Thoughts:
Well to start off, this movie has a lot given to you to want an actual TV series or sequels in general. The movie, is mostly plot development for the looming 'series' and the building of Shin's character. When the action appears, it appears in very short bursts that aid the telling of the story. The majority of the cast barely gets characterization, but just enough to continue to support the plot since most of the characters introduced in the film are killed off. Along with that certain subs I've seen Sarah, Himuro and Goushima aren't called out by name or written in the subtitles, the only time the characters' name are mentioned in the credits. I personally find that to be weird, even thou Himuro and Goushima were kill by the end of the film while Sarah's existence is left unknown.
As for Shin the movie well is practically centered around him, just he doesn't realize it at first, since everything was a complete conspiracy. He was left confused and questioning his sanity as he for most of the film believed himself to be the monster terrorizing the city, only to discover it was a friend/mentor Onizuka. Then to discover this medical help group he chose to be the test subject of was actually some secret unnamed 'organization' that mimicked the manga 'The Guyver's' Chronos in several ways. Along with the fact how the woman he loved, was flipping between sides and withheld the proper information to possibly saving all their lives.
Other facts about Shin, character and film is the fact that he as Rider managed to quickly take control of his new powers or how his brain managed to endure the primal impulses for so long. It's thou one of the several plot holes overlooked when seeing the film for the first time. Along with that the Rider-form is better to seen in darker scene for when its in the light of day you can tell it's just a 'rubber'-suit. The night attacks, battles and final duel in the facility proved the points as in the final few scenes when Shin appeared during the day the suit looked horrible. Even when the character returned in the Heisei Era films the suits colors clashed with the day light a lot.
Issues I do have with the film is the fact it never got to continue, the 'organization' was never named, the action was short even thou it fit the plot, and how the suit didn't adjust well with proper daylight. Since the movie never succeeded we couldn't get the series, and left off with a horrible cliffhanger. It would've been great if the show could've gotten up and running or actually get a future reboot. The reboot could work now if the series was toned down to a the ratings of Garo, and the basis of the plot modified to be more modern to keep up with the changes. The 'organization' not being name well is just like wow this is truly the plot, for the fact it seem Shotaro was just getting it going. The action being short fit, just didn't meet my liking we could've have gotten at least 5 more minutes!! With the suit as my final subject, I love it! It's a great suit, but the colors used could've or should've been made a little bit darker.
To end this all I recommend for anyone to watch go watch this movie, even if you know nothing about Kamen Rider! It's a realistic telling of the original series, and is well fitting to give some ideal examples of what the Showa Era series was originally about. I find this movie to be a great way to introduce people into becoming fans of the series, and if you're a Guyver fan you'll notice how much was drawn from that series. So in general I was overly amazing by it and still by it as of today, if I had to rate it out of 5 Stars it'd be a good 4.5! If you see like wise or differently write to me on Twitter: @Wheelchair21
Images from:
Wikipedia
Kamen Rider Wikia
Several blogs across the net
Saturday, July 14, 2012
The Amazing Spider-Man movie review
The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) film review
Review: Jeffrey Williams
Editor: Jeremias de Leon & Francisco K. Rodriguez
(Author's Note: During this review, while it may sound like I despise the original trilogy from 2002-2007, I don't. I just had problems with that interpretation of the wall-crawler.)
With the lukewarm response to 2007's Spider-Man 3, both Sony (the current owners of the Spider-Man film rights) and Sam Raimi respectively decided to part ways during the pre-production of Spider-Man 4 in January 2010. Following that announcement, the studio decided instead of continuing the already established continuity of the previous trilogy to reboot the franchise with a new movie that would not only be an amalgamation of both the mainstream universe and the ultimate universe, but also directing it would be a director that was commonly know for doing music videos and indie romcoms (Romantic-Comedies).
Directed by Marc Webb (500 day of Summer) written by James Vanderbilt (Zodiac) with additional re-writes done by Alvin Sargent (Spider-Man 2 and 3) and Steve Kloves (Harry Potter film series), this is The Amazing Spider-Man.
While this movie is a reboot to the character and that respective universe, I can understand and respect why people would demonize this movie as simply as remake. I say this due to the fact of the story's plot feeling like a "beat-by-beat" retelling of the 2002 original film done by Sam Raimi. However, even though this plot's framework is similar to that of the original, this film does try to differ itself from the original.
For example, unlike the organic webshooters we get mechanical ones. Unlike the original showcasing Peter's high school for around 5-10mins., this movie is focused entirely at Midtown High and unlike the original love interest being MaryJane Watson, in this film we get what many people would consider Peter's True love Gwen Stacy. In other words, you can already tell I prefer this film over the 2002 original,,, and that my review.
Wait, why's everyone leaving. Come back, I'm not finished yet. (Note to self: No one can take a joke on the internet.. EVER)
PLOT:
The film starts off as a flashback to Peter playing hide-and-seek with his father, until he goes into his dad's office to see it was broken into. After hearing his son calling for him, he sees the office was trashed and he quickly picks up he son, his briefcase (i.e the "deus ex machine" to the film) and tells his wife to get in the car. They drive to the home of Peter's aunt May and uncle Ben (respectively played by Sally Fields and Martin Sheen) and leave Peter there until they would return.... Were then transported to a 16/17-year old Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) in present day Manhattan.
CAST:
Andrew Garfield is better as Peter Parker/Spider-Man in this interpretation then Toby was as the titular character in the original. Though he's as charismatic like Peter was in Spider-Man, he was MORE fleshed out character-wise then the all-around whiny, boy-scout that Toby portrayed as Parker in Raimi's take. The same goes for his alter-ego "Spider-Man", this time around he comes with quips…. QUIPS! We finally have a Spidey that not only bodies people like a spider would, but mocks them at the same time.
Emma Stone plays Pete's first love, Gwen Stacy. Unlike Kristen Dunst's portrayal as his better known love interest MJ Watson, Stone's portrayal as Gwen comes off as a believable, strong and independent girlfriend unlike the annoying and weak one we got with Dunst's portrayal.
Denis Leary as Cpt. Stacy was comparable to the recent portrayal of Commissioner Gordon in Chris Nolan's Batman trilogy, however in a snide way.
Both Sally Fields and Martin Sheen pull of a great job as aunt May and uncle Ben. They come off as a loving couple that, while they're not Peter's biological parents they care about Peter's well-being like if he was there own son.
Rhys Ifans as Dr. Curt Connors is a better choice for the character's portrayal that Dylan Baker did in Spider-Man 2 and 3. While I did like Dylan Baker's take on the character, I honestly could never see him becoming the Lizard and being a threatening villain. This isn't the case with Ifans's take on Conners; even before he takes the serum and transform into the creature for the first time, he shows a dark/troubled side to him while talking with the "other villain" Dr. Rajit Ratha played by Irrfan Khan.
Chris Zylka as Flash Thompson was a good portrayal of the character. The thing that not only surprised me but made me happy was, a day or two after uncle Ben's murder, at school Flash goes to confront Peter not as the stereotypical bully we've known in the Raimi original, but as a friend….. like in the comics!
DIRECTOR:
Director Marc Webb mostly known for directing the 2010 romcom, 500 Days of Summer and music videos from such artists as Green Day, Brand New, AFI (a fire inside) and Weezer. Just to name a few. His direction for this re-telling of the beloved character and it's universe was 50-50. While he does a phenomenal job with directing emotional scenes, which range from simple talks that Peter has with uncle Ben, aunt May or both to his interaction with Gwen including him telling her that he's Spider-Man, were done great which is obviously his strong point. It's rather a hit-or-miss when it comes to directing a fight sequence. Honestly, I would even compare Webb's fight direction to that of Nolan's take from 2004's Batman Begins. While Nolan's fight scenes in Begins were an eyesore due to the fights feeling "zoomed-in", that's not the problem with Webb. The problem with Webb's fight scene were with the introduction to the Lizard on the Bridge and the climatic battle between the two in the third act. They felt rushed and were the ones that I personally fell were product of the many re-shoots with this film. The ones that I did like, were the smaller and personal brawls with criminals at the 1 act of the film and the EPIC fight between Spidey and the Lizard inside Midtown High. Speaking of that fight….. look out for "Smiling" Stan Lee for one of his best (and funniest) cameos to date.
FILM SCORE:
James Horner, the composer of Aliens, Star Trek II,The Rocketeer, and many other well-known films was announced as the composer of Amazing Spider-Man back in late November 2011. Since then I've wondered what Mr. Horner would bring to this re-telling of the character and would this score exceed the 2002 original that was composed Danny Elfman (Batman, Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, Wanted). The score that Mr. Horner created has not only exceeded my expectations, but one that I HIGHLY think fits the character of Spider-Man. The main theme and the overall score that Mr. Elfman created for the 2002 original felt out of place and would've been more appropriate for a Superman movie, rather then Spidey. Mr. Horner on the other hand has composed a score that not only emotes the characters and their feelings but one that recognizes the modern scores yet it having an old-school feel to it.
Before I give my final say on the film, if there is one negative I have to acknowledge it's the editing. The editing in this film is so disjointed, that it the flow of the story. this is evident due to the recent article that Bad Ass Digest posted as of this week. http://badassdigest.com/2012/07/05/was-the-untold-story-cut-from-the-amazing-spider-man/
FINAL SCORE:
While the main problem is only the awful editing, The film is not only one of the best Marvel films not made by Marvel Studios but one of the premiere superhero movies of this year. It may not be Amazing, it may not be Spectacular, but unlike the 2002 original this is a true-to-form telling of the friendly neighborhood wall-crawler's origin. 4/5
Liked the soundtrack? Wanna buy it: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/amazing-spider-man-music-from/id534265228
If you liked Jeff's review and want to follow him on twitter for more of his thoughts follow him on twitter @16BitJeff
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