Doctor Strange - Review

There's a something Strange in the MCU.

X-Men: Apocalypse Review

X-Men? No, more like X Meh...

Captain America: Civil War - Review

Team Captain or Team Iron Man??? Either way, this movie is awesome!

Deadpool - Review

Now I want a chimichanga for some reason.

Fantastic Four - Review

They really should have just called this movie Four... since there's nothing even remotely fantastic about it.

Big Hero 6 - Review

Is it just me, or does Baymax remind you of the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man?

Iron Man 2 Review - Sequels Revisited

Didn't I already do a written review of this one? Well... here we go again.

Guardians of the Galaxy - Review

I hate to sound all negative here... but is anyone else getting the feeling that Marvel's bubble is about to burst? I mean, since they kicked off their cinematic universe back in 2008, they've churned out hit after hit like clockwork, with movies ranging from good to pure awesome. Even what is arguably their weakest film, Iron Man 2, is at the very least an enjoyable action flick while The Avengers is probably going to be seen as one of the best summer blockbusters to ever hit theaters. Ugh... leave it to me to start out a review for what is easily the most enjoyable movie of the summer (hell, one of the most enjoyable movies of the last decade even) in such a negative way. Really not joking about that folks, I can't remember the last time I've had this much fun in a theater. How fun is it? Let's take a look...

Guardians of the Galaxy opens with Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) aka Starlord (well... at least he calls himself that), a human abducted by aliens when he was only child, stealing a mysterious orb on a distant planet. While his succeeds in his theft, he becomes marked as one of the most wanted men in the galaxy. First, he becomes the target of bounty hunters Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper), a genetically engineered raccoon, and Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel) a tree-like humanoid alien, who are attempting to cash in on the hefty bounty placed on Quill's head. Also after Quill is alien assassin Gamora (Zoe Saldana), a skilled killer trained by the evil Thanos, who has other uses in mind for the mysterious orb in Quill's possession. When they all end up in prison after a scuffle for the orb, they meet Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista), a vengeful warrior who lost his family at the hands of Ronan The Accuser (Lee Pace). While the group's initially meeting is filled with hate and tension, they all must reluctantly band together when they discover the truth behind the orb and Ronan's thirst for power grows stronger and more dangerous.

Guardians of the Galaxy is easily the strangest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe... it's also one of the strangest big budget blockbusters to come around in recent memory... and it's just plain awesome! I've mentioned before in previous reviews that with all of the movies I watch and the general declining quality of Hollywood creativity, it gets harder and harder for me to get hyped and excited. Guardians of the Galaxy though peaked my interest from the get-go, not just because I thought it looked good (though it did), but rather because any film that has weird space aliens, a humanoid tree being, and a talking raccoon all fighting some epic war in space is so out there that even if it turned out to be bad, at least it would be interesting or different. Plus, this film also makes the big budget debut of cult film director James Gunn... a mainstay of the Troma school of filmmakers who's worked steadily directing some underrated low budget genre films (go watch Slither if you haven't seen it yet.. because it's awesome). So yeah... obscure comic series, weird space creatures, catchy soundtrack, and a cult filmmaker... that's what it takes to generate some interest.

It's tricky to truly describe what kind of film Guardians of the Galaxy is. It's something of a space opera, but it's also heavily inspired by the sci-fi serials of the 1950s and earlier (the same kind of films that inspired George Lucas to make Star Wars), and it's something of a bromance comedy. It's almost even a live action movie of Futurama... yeah, that's probably the best comparison since it's really more of a comedy than it is an action movie. It finds it's greatest strength in it's characters, and the actors playing them. Chris Pratt as Peter Quill leads the team, playing Quill as something like an 8-year-old's interpretation of a Han Solo like space hero mixed with a douchebag frat boy. Actually, he's basically a slightly more competent version of Phillip J Fry (like I said, Futurama). Pratt's natural comic timing and his better than expected execution of the action scenes all work to his advantage as the reluctant leader to a group of misfits. Zoe Saldana is predictably solid as Gamora... who at this point probably feels right at home in her usual role as the ass-kicking sci-fi heroine. Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel find a surprising amount of range in their voice over performances as Rocket and Groot respectively. It's especially impressive for Vin Diesel when you consider just how much emotion comes through his line readings of the phrase "I Am Groot" (that's all his character knows how to say). WWE superstar Dave Bautista turns out to be the biggest surprise, with a shockingly effective performance as Drax the Destroyer. While I knew he would kick ass in the action scenes (he's a wrestler after all), his believable, funny, and even sometimes moving performance as this vengeful brute is hands down one of the best athlete-turned-actor performances in recent memory. I also have to give a shout out to Lee Pace as the villainous Ronan the Accuser, playing off his role as something like Emperor Palpatine if he was a James Bond villain. Even if the story occasionally stumbles, the cast always manages to keep it afloat.

Based purely on visual terms, this is definitely one of the most impressive looking films I've seen in quite some time. The locals and production design all have a unique look while still paying tribute to the cult sci-fi B-Movies and serials of the 1950s. Plus, the vast array of colorful aliens and creatures all realized through top notch makeup and computer effects are as creative as they are impressive. On that note, the film is also a great example of just how far cgi technology has come in recent years. The effects used to render Rocket and Groot especially are easily the most impressive effects from this summer's barrage of blockbusters. Plus the action is constantly entertaining, whether it be a chase scene, fight scene, space battle... you name it, it's there, and it's awesome. Script-wise, this isn't exactly high caliber screenwriting. The story itself is creative if not fairly generic, in fact most of it's plot points ring a little too close to The Avengers. Fortunately it redeems itself through solid pacing, the aforementioned enjoyable characters, and it's witty sense of humor. The banter between the cast is full of some hilarious laugh out loud moments, plus it's scattered with frequent chuckles throughout the movie as well. It's really more of a comedy first and an action film second, and I have absolutely no problem with that. If nothing else, it was such a relief to see another comic book movie that was so bright, vibrant, diverse, and colorful... I am so sick of the dark and drab aesthetic plaguing so many films these days (I liked Nolan's Batman films too... but seriously it's okay to have some fun once in a while).

So Guardians of the Galaxy... so far the most enjoyable film I've seen this year. It's diverse, it's funny, and it's a blast to watch. If you haven't seen it yet, definitely check it out before it's run in theaters comes to an end.

My Score: 4.5 out of 5!

Spider-Man 3 - Sequels Re-Visited

And now... a review that will not be controversial in any way (yeah right)... Spider-Man 3!!!

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 - Review

There was a time in my life where I would have been overjoyed at the thought of a new Spider-Man movie. After all, I've been a massive Spidey fan since... well, pretty much as long as I can remember. I have fond memories growing up of collecting the comics, had tons of Spider-Man action figures, played pretty much every video game based on the character, and woke up every Saturday morning to watch the newest episode of the Fox Kids cartoon series. I still even vividly remember back when I was 13, seeing for the first time, one of my lifelong favorite characters being brought to life on the big screen in such awesome fashion by one of my all-time favorite directors, Sam Raimi. When the 2004 sequel hit theaters, I was pretty much on cloud nine. To this day, Spider-Man 2 is one of my all-time favorite movies and a strong contender for best superhero film ever made. The much-derided Spider-Man 3, however... while a far weaker follow-up to it's two predecessors, I'll forever maintain is a much better movie than for which it's given credit. It's flawed, messy, and uneven for sure, but it's positive traits are good enough to make it a decent film and certainly not the disaster people make it out to be. Then... the folks at Sony Pictures decided to hit the reboot button and Spidey got a massive overhaul. The result was 2010's The Amazing Spider-Man, a film that I labeled as "average at best." Actually, I took a lot of flack for giving that film such a lukewarm review, more than I expected. I didn't think it was terrible, but rather was just a generally average and soulless movie (mainly since it was rushed into production so Sony wouldn't lose the film rights). Still, a lot of people liked it, so I recently re-watched it to see if my opinion might have changed. To my surprise, it did! A film I once derided as mediocre, flat, and uninspired I now consider... pretty bad actually. The cast tries hard, but their efforts are ruined thanks to a half-assed retelling of Spidey's origin, non-existent character development, hit-and-miss special effects, misguided direction, and one half-decent action scene among a collection of terribly shot and erratically edited sequences that should have been exciting. So yeah... my expectations for the inevitable sequel were not so high, despite my love for (almost) all things Spider-Man. How does The Amazing Spider-Man 2 fare??? Well, let's just say that the true Amazing Spider-Man 2 already came out 10 years ago.

After graduating from high school, Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) attempts to live a double life as an average college student and the web-slinging crime fighter, Spider-Man. Living this double, however, becomes difficult when he reluctantly breaks up with his loving girlfriend, Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) after the death of her self-sacrificing father at the hands of the Lizard in the previous film. They both try to make a relationship work, but difficulties present themselves in the form of Gwen considering moving to London to attend Oxford and Peter facing a number of new deadly foes. The first of which is the nerdy Spidey-obsessed electrical engineer Max Dillon (Jamie Fox), whom after experiencing a near-fatal electrocution becomes Electro. Also present is Peter's former buddy, Harry Osborne (Dane DeHaan), heir to the Oscorp legacy who in a search to cure himself of a rare and fatal disease, becomes the Green Goblin (or is just a goblin... they never really say who he is). Also making a short appearance is Russian mobster Aleksei Sytsevich aka The Rhino (Paul Giamatti). Peter also digs deeper into his parents' mysterious disappearance, looking to discover what led to their tragic deaths and the research his father risked his life to keep hidden. Meanwhile, Peter's supportive Aunt May (Sally Field) struggles after Uncle Ben's death from the original while trying to keep up financially to support Peter and... OH MY GOD IS THIS PLOT CONVOLUTED!!! You know, people complained about Spider-Man 3 having too much going on (and it did, don't get me wrong) but AT LEAST you could follow what was happening. Why the filmmakers thought they could stuff so much into one movie is beyond me. This is easily the most difficult plot description I've ever written since there's simply so many barely (or not even) connected storylines with little resolution or development that it becomes an absolute mess. Ugh!

Okay... so yeah, the movie's not that good, just going to get that out of the way first. It's not terrible in the sense that it's at least a SLIGHT improvement over the last film and it does have a few standout moments... but yeah you can add this one to another let-down in the Spider-Man film series. I was pretty heavily criticized for my negative comments toward the last film (which is fine, everyone's entitled to their own opinion) but what I didn't get was when people accused me of not giving these ones a chance simply because I'm a big Sam Raimi fan. I'll admit, yes I love most of Sam Raimi's movies, I'll admit that I think he did a better job directing the Spider-Man films than Marc Webb, and it's true that I didn't exactly go into this or the last one with particularly high expectations... BUT that doesn't mean I was hoping this one would be bad!!! On the contrary, I don't like seeing one of my favorite superheroes getting shabby cut-rate movies, and there's nothing more I'd love to see than another worthy live action Spidey film, so I can once again revel in that feeling of nostalgia-based glee of seeing some of my favorite childhood characters being brought to life on the big screen! But I'm sorry, seeing boring re-imaginings of Spidey's rouge's gallery of villains, turning Parker into what it essentially a Edward Cullen-knockoff, and rushed and convoluted narratives just doesn't do it for me. That doesn't mean there's nothing about this series I don't like, there are a few bits and pieces that I did find myself embracing, but not enough to come around.

Like I said, there are a few things I did like about the movie. Once again, the cast is the main thing that holds the films somewhat together. Andrew Garfield is a damn good actor and there are times in his performance as Peter Parker/Spider-Man that you can see his natural range shine through. I still don't really like the way his character has been written in this series, but this time, it ALMOST works. Where in the last film, he was basically a one-note douchebag with little to no character development, here they try to show him grow as a character, are there are times it actually adds some legitimate drama, and Andrew Garfield generally delivers. Emma Stone's Gwen Stacy is once again the standout, both as an actress and as a character (as in, she's the only person in this movie to have some element of depth) also bringing her natural dramatic and comedic abilities to the part. Plus, Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone do have a genuine chemistry, and that is a big help. Dane DeHaan's intense performance as Harry Osborne is another standout, conveying some truly intense dramatic weight to a surprisingly emotional character... though by the time he makes his Green Goblin transformation, he feels a little out of his element. Jamie Foxx tries hard as Max Dillon/Electro, but because of the questionable script choices and direction for the character, most of his efforts are completely wasted. Sally Field is at her Sally Field-est as Aunt May, which is mostly a good thing, even though she's basically pushed aside for most of the film. Paul Giamatti as The Rhino could not have been more enjoyable, but the massive disappointment stemming from him basically being a glorified cameo to setup future sequels pretty much ruined any potential there. I might have been more forgiving if he had SOME relevance to the story, but like I said, he was there only to tease future sequels, and that was a cheap, shallow, and lame use of an enjoyable character and actor. So yeah... it's a generally good cast, even if the script lets them down.

As for the look and feel of the film... actually it's not that bad this time around. Most of the effects are an improvement this time around and Marc Webb has gotten slightly better at directing action. The web swinging scenes are easily the best the series has ever had, with some really fast paced and thrilling sequences that are a total rush. I didn't see the film in 3D, but I kind of wish I did just for those sequences. Plus, the first Spidey vs Electro fight scene was another highlight for the series, featuring some creative staging, effects, and tricky camera moves that were admittedly quite awesome. Nothing in the series has topped the outstanding train scene from Spider-Man 2 yet, but there were times that the Electro fight could have offered some decent competition. The actual finale itself isn't exactly groundbreaking, but it works. Unfortunately, I could not have been more disappointed with the look of these characters. Taking a comic character as unique and creative (look-wise anyways) as Electro and basically turning him into homeless Doctor Manhattan is a disappointing re-imagining. The look of Harry Osborne's Green Goblin manages the impossible of looking even sillier than Willem Dafoe's plastic costume from the first film. Finally... the Rhino suit (for the brief moments it appears on film) being re-imagined as a generic mech suit just left me saying, "Were the filmmakers not allowed to express ANY creativity?" At least the new Spidey costume was admittedly awesome, possibly even the best for the whole series.

Unfortunately, despite the obvious efforts of a good cast and a (seemingly) interested director, it's the script that ultimately brings everything down. There's so much going on that character development comes off as forced, rushed, and sloppy. Electro's storyline in particular is the main casualty, as the film was setting him up as the main villain but instead just rushes through forced and confusing character beats, ignores him for most of the second act, and has him return for a underwhelming closing. His character was basically stolen from The Riddler in Batman Forever, only even more forced and non-nonsensical (honestly, when Batman Forever did something better than your film, you know there's a problem). The Harry Osborne plot has it's moments, but some confusing plot-holes and unexplained character decisions kind of ruined it. Gwen Stacy's main dilemma in the film could have been a genuinely emotional and moving bit of storytelling but the foreshadowing is so heavy-handed that it will surprise absolutely nobody. The bits involving Peter's disappearing parents are basically thrown in as an afterthought and culminate to a revelation that also had little to no surprises. Even Peter's basic story arc, while having the right idea, competes with so many underutilized subplots that it doesn't come together all that well in the end. It has trouble finding a proper tone as well. It appears to try and go for a more realistic and down-to-earth vibe (which is fine), but with villains this over-the-top, it feels sloppy. I'm not saying that campy or scenery-chewing characters don't work (the original trilogy is proof that they do), but it's best to choose a tone and stick with it. My main problem, however, is that film's main purpose felt like less to tell a story, but rather to set up a shit-load of sequels and spin-offs. There are SO many shout-outs and set-ups for the recently announced two more sequels and a Sinister Six spin-off (a Venom spin-off is apparently in the works too). I don't mind sequel foreshadowing, but it shouldn't be the sole purpose of the film.

So it should go without saying, but The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is not even close to amazing. Despite some decent effects, action, and actors, the sloppy and poorly conceived screenplay ruins any chance of the film coming together. If there's one thing the film wants me to take away from it... it's that I should be excited for the inevitable sequels... can't say I am though.

My Score: 2.5 out of 5!

X-Men: Days of Future Past - Review

I have kind of a love/hate relationship with the X-Men film series. On one hand, the films generally average out to be pretty good. You have your good ones (X-Men, X2, The Wolverine), your not-so-good ones (Last Stand, Origins: Wolverine), and your sole great one (First Class). So yeah, for the most part, good films. Even the bad ones aren't totally without any merit (Last Stand at least has some decent action). Yet, I can't help but feel like they've kind of been jogging in place since this series began. They've basically been telling slight re-iterations of the same story (protecting those who fear them). Don't get me wrong, that's generally been the basic premise for the comics as well, but the comics did manage to throw some curve-balls to the general formula once in a while. Still, I guess it's a reasonable concept on which to base a franchise, and at the very least, none of the films have been generic re-stagings, so that's got to count for something. The newest entry, X-Men: Days of Future Past, represents three things... a loose adaptation of one of the comic's most well-known story-lines, a coming together/reunion of First Class's characters/actors and the original cast, and finally to ret-con the faults and lame endings of The Last Stand and Origins. Plus, it features the return of X-Men and X2's original director, Bryan Singer. I'll admit that I had some reservations about this one, but I won't say that I couldn't help but buy into the hype. How did it turn out?

The year is 2023, and the world has become a complete apocalyptic wasteland. Those born with mutant abilities (as well as those who aid mutants) are being hunted down by advanced machines known as Sentinels, robotic weapons created in 1973 to destroy mutants after their existence became public knowledge and led to mass paranoia. With the existance of mutants (and humanity) on the line, Professor Charles Xavier aka Professor X (Patrick Stewart) and Erik Lehnsherr aka Magneto (Ian McKellen) have once again joined forces with a small group of remaining X-Men to fight the Sentinels. In a last ditch effort to prevent this dark future before it even starts, Kitty Pryde (Ellen Page) uses her abilities to send Wolverine's (Hugh Jackman) consciousness into his body from 1973, where he then will attempt to stop the chain of events that lead up to the dark future. To do so, he must not only stop Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) from killing the Sentinel's creator, Bolivar Trask (Peter Dinklage) but also reunite the young Charles (James McAvoy) and Magneto (Michael Fassbender) when they couldn't be further apart. With time running out, Wolverine must act quick or the future of the mutant and human race could be wiped out forever.

So like I mentioned, I had some reservations going into this film, even though I generally thought it looked pretty good. It's just coming off the excellent X-Men: First Class, it was definitely a bummer when I heard that Matthew Vaughn had stepped down as director. When it was announced that Bryan Singer would return to the series, my thoughts were mixed. I still think the first two X-Men films hold up pretty well, especially X2. It's just that superhero films have improved significantly over the years, and I was concerned that Days of Future Past would repeat some of the more forgettable qualities of the first two films that were acceptable at the time, but harder to accept now. For instance, the black leather costumes of the first three X-Men films is boring and uninspired, some of the action doesn't really hold up in the first two, and with the exception of Wolverine, Magneto, Professor X, and Mystique, character development was pretty limited. Still, the cast was (generally) spot-on, some of the action was passable, and the scripts of the first two, for the most part, understood the source material... at least enough to make them passable movies. Though in case your wondering, here are my thoughts on all the films... X-Men (good), X2 (quite good), The Last Stand (some decent action, but overall not very good), X-Men Origins Wolverine (pretty bad), First Class (awesome), and The Wolverine (decent). So with all that said, where does Days of Future Past sit... we're right back where we started with just "good."

So yeah, the film is good. It's not great, it's not amazing, but it's not bad by any means. If all you want to know is whether the film is worth watching, I can confidently say that the movie is worth watching once in theaters. That said, it's by no means great and has some noticeable (and in some cases pretty massive) flaws. Script-wise is where the film really drops the ball. The basic premise is fine and leads to some very entertaining scenes, but by the time the film finished, it became clear that the time travel based storyline was chosen less to actually tell a story but rather as a means to ret-con and do-over the faults of the previous films and to set the stage for future sequels. Almost every one of the events from the previous films has been done over, namely the God-awful ending Last Stand. Now, I'll admit that's kind of a cheap way to undo the faults of it's predecessors, but since The Last Stand really bit the big one with such a shitty ending, I can let that slide. Though what's harder to let slide are some massive gaps in logic and storytelling. For instance, where the hell did Kitty Pryde get time travel powers??? Her basic power is to walk through walls, and there was never an instance where her new powers were hinted or explained in either this film or any previous films. Plus, like many time travel movies, the actual timeline of events is so convoluted and confusing that my brain hurts every time I try to understand it. Also was a little irritated with the way they just did away with many of the mutants from First Class (what the hell was up with that). With that all said, the basic premise is an interesting setup, there are some stand-out scenes, and the pacing couldn't have been better. Like any movie an ensemble cast, some of the supporting characters get the shaft, but the main figures get enough to do to make the film work. The script is flawed, no question about that, but works well enough to support such an ambitious premise.

Once again, like all of the (good) X-Men films, the movie finds it's true success based on the strength of it's cast. It's kind of annoying that all the X-Men films (minus First Class) are so Wolverine-centric, but there's no denying that Hugh Jackman is still so perfectly cast in the part, that I'm willing to overlook that. It was also nice to see Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen return for what's probably one more outing as Professor X and Magneto respectively. James McAvoy is the true stand-out as the young Charles Xavier, running away with nearly every one of his scenes in both dramatic, and at times, heartbreaking manner. Michael Fassbender continues to show off his natural acting skills as the young Magneto, which is no surprise because he's awesome. Jennifer Lawrence phones it in a little bit as Mystique, which is a bit disappointing after her great performance in First Class (as well as her very impressive filmography) but she's got enough natural talent to make the character passable. Peter Dinklage is solid as the villainous Trask, but the script barely gives him anything to do and as a result, he's little more than a one-note villain. This was probably the most disappointing part of the film, since a more well-rounded character would have given Dinklage a lot to work with and could have made the film truly special. One of the other newcomers is Evan Peters as Quicksilver, a mutant with super speed. I will that, while his character is kind of annoying, he gets a pretty cool action scene and only appears in the film briefly, so no huge complaints there. Everyone else is, overall, pretty solid. Whether they're a newcomer to the franchise or a returning character, I have no real complaints.

As for the visual/action elements... well, like pretty much everything else, I have some mixed feelings. Bryan Singer's trademark dark, gritty, and drab visual aesthetic returns to the series, and once again I'm somewhat let down. I can generally get behind it for the post-apocalyptic scenes, though even those could have been a bit better shot. Though what I really missed was the Fleming-inspired aesthetic from First Class. The classic 007 inspired cinematography and art design from First Class gave that film a really unique quality that found that middle ground between comic book visuals and a retro film vibe. For Days of Future Past... that's sorely missed. The futuristic scenes work, but they feel more like a generic run-of-the-mill post-apocalyptic world you see it many sci-fi films while the scenes in the 1970s are decent enough but could have been great with a bit more stylish flair. Fortunately, Bryan Singer has greatly improved in his ability to direct action since X2. Even though the opening scenes are terribly underlit, the action is fast-paced, well shot, and creatively realized. It's not the most original or unique, but I won't deny that most of the action scenes are usually pretty awesome. Whether it be a fight, a chase, or an all out attack, they work. Oh and a little fanboy aside... THE SENTINELS WERE AWESOME!!! I have been waiting for the Sentinels to show up in an X-Men film for ages (no that stupid Danger Room cameo in The Last Stand doesn't count) and just to see them on the big screen in live action was enough to make my inner fanboy giddy! If nothing else, the film works strictly as an action film, and for most people that'll probably be enough.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, X-Men: Days of Future Past is not a great movie, but it works. It's a thoroughly entertaining movie despite having some glaring script and tone issues. I'd say it's about on par with the first film, though not quite as good as X2, and certainly doesn't hold a candle to First Class. Though it's a huge improvement over The Last Stand and Origins, and an improvement over last year's Wolverine movie. If you're an X-Men fan, you'll probably leave satisfied. For everyone else... you'll get your money's worth.

My Score: 3.5 out of 5!

Iron Man 3 - Review

You know who I'd hate to be right now? I'd hate to be Shane Black... well, sort of. Don't get me wrong, I'd give my right eye to have just a piece of the guy's talent, not to mention being the creative force of an established super hero movie would be awesome, but the responsibility to deliver a satisfying follow-up to the two Iron Man movies AND the awesomeness that was The Avengers has got to be unbearable. I can't speak for Mr. Black, but if it were me, I probably would have crumbled under the pressure. The first two Iron Man flicks were directed by Jon Favreau, an actor/filmmaker primarily known for comedies but proved that he had the capacity to helm an action movie as well. Plus, the film's had two other things going for it. One, the film starred Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man, the super talented actor who was in the midst of a major career comeback after hitting a few rough patches. Secondly, both the first but especially the second films were the jumping off points for the ambitious and exciting prospect of The Avengers, not only carrying it's own franchise but also teasing bits and pieces of the other Marvel films and the proposed team-up. So now that we know that Iron Man is an awesome character, that comic book continuity works in a film universe, and that The Avengers kicked ass... where do you go from there? Well... to be frank, you make a film like Iron Man 3.

Iron Man 3 takes place shortly after The Avengers. Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is back living in Miami in a committed relationship with his family company's CEO, Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow). After stopping the alien invasion of New York alongside his fellow Avengers, Stark has been having difficulty coping with his life. After fighting alongside Gods, Monsters, and Super Soldiers (not to mention having a near death experience), Stark can't help but feel like just a man with a machine, and therefore suffers from insecurity and PTSD. As a result, Stark often alienates himself from his friends and Pepper and instead spends most of his time in his lab building new Iron Man suits. His world is shaken, however, when a terrorist known as The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) and sets his sights on Stark. Faced against insurmountable odds, Stark must use his skills, intellect, and technology to save himself and his allies against this mysterious foe.

I'm going to preface this review by quickly addressing the recent commotion this film has started. In short, Iron Man 3 has a big twist about halfway through the film that has been causing some fanboys to lose their shit. As I've mentioned in previous reviews, I always try to avoid spoilers... especially for high profile new releases. I promise that I won't reveal or outright spoil any major plot twists or details, but I might slightly allude to them. Take that as you will.

I have to admit that I'm a tab surprised that the Iron Man films managed to strike such a chord with such a massive audience. The Iron Man was a reasonably popular comic and with a loyal fanbase, but aside for the usual comic nerds, Iron Man rarely had much of a following with the general audience. Plus, the movies themselves have never been that great... don't get me wrong, I personally love these movies, but I admit they have flaws. Cool concepts, great action, neat special effects, and some solid character moments have all been present, but the scrips have never been much more than good at best or average at worst. The screenplay here... is something of a mixed bag. Once again, the set-up is pretty solid, Stark being haunted by his near-death experience with the Avengers has promise. The idea of finally seeing The Mandarin in a live action movie also got me hyped, him being Stark's primary nemesis in the comics after all. The overall results, however... were kind of hit-and-miss. To reveal all of what works and what doesn't would be spoiling some major plot points, so I won't do that, but I will discuss a bit more when I get to critiquing the actors. I will say that the film had some strong character-based moments, the pacing is solid, and that it was cool to see Pepper Potts play a bit more of an active role, but there were a few plot-holes and dumb scenes that held back what could have been an excellent movie instead of just a good one.

Ultimately, what has elevated the flicks from simply good to straight-up awesomeness was the casting of Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man. Around the time of the first Iron Man (back in 2008), Downey was in the midst of a huge comeback after a few setbacks with hit films like Iron Man, Tropic Thunder, and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (also directed by Shane Black). Make no mistake, if there was ever an man born to play the role of Tony Stark... it's Downey. He's such a versatile actor, that for four movies, he's managed to pull off every subtle trait of Stark, from the humorous fun-loving personality, his troubled past and bad habits, and his inherent heart of gold. Between the drama, comedy, and action... I really can't think of anyone who could have been better cast in this role. Gwyneth Paltrow gets what's arguably her meatiest role so far in the series, resulting in what's arguably her best performance as Pepper Potts. She gets in on the action a few times and shows some solid dramatic range in some of the heavier moments. I've always liked her character and was genuinely pleased with how she's stuck with the character the last few years... I still stand by that. The other returning cast members are across the board solid. Don Cheadle returns as Colonel James Rhodes aka War Machine (now Re-Christened as The Iron Patriot) and provides another solid interpretation of the character. The series' original director, Jon Favreau, once again returns as Happy Hogan, now promoted to Head of Security, and has some solid moments of comic relief... no complaints there. Overall, the returning cast members are pretty damn awesome, after playing these characters in 2, 3, or 4 movies, they're just straight up good... which is always good for me.

Now we come to the villains... and this is where it gets tough to critique. Like I said, I won't spoil any major details, but in order to give a reasonable review, I might allude to a few of them, which might in turn hint toward the reveals. If you don't want anything spoiled, skip to the next paragraph. One of the things that had really kept the first two Iron Man films from achieving greatness was the lack of a truly great villain. Jeff Bridges as Iron Monger, Sam Rockwell as Justin Hammer, and Mickey Rourke as Whiplash were typically enjoyable characters played by good actors... but lacked the depth to be anything more than one-note. The Mandarin, here played by Ben Kingsley, wasn't exactly an extraordinary character in the comics, but an interesting one. Here the decision to re-imagine him as an international terrorist leader, with traits from a variety of cultures, while avoiding the previous Fu Manchu stereotype, was promising... and I was genuinely interested in seeing what the filmmakers would do with him. What ultimately becomes of him... well, that's what I can't reveal. It was an interesting idea, but ultimately something of a letdown. I won't spoil it, but I think you'll know what I mean. The other villain Aldrich Killian, played by Guy Pearce, is basically on par with the previous villains. He has some interesting moments, is played by a good actor, and is set-up well enough, but he's just too one-dimensional and not very memorable. It might have been due to raised expectations, but the villains, while not terrible, were a bit of let-down once again... too bad.

Fortunately, the film's faults are easier to take in thanks to some kick-ass action and special effects! Shane Black, with only two directorial efforts, has proved himself as one of the industry's most prolific figures in the action genre. The cgi has never looked better and the Iron Man have continually improved over the last few years (honestly, who wouldn't want one). Each action scene is one exciting thrill-ride after another, all culminating to a finale that sets the bar pretty high for the summer's upcoming blockbusters. Granted, I couldn't help but feel like the ending was a little too much of a toy commercial... but whatever, in this industry, it's part of the deal. It was also cool to see Stark get creative in how he battles the villains here, as there are a couple scenes where he is forced to fight outside of his suit. It just shows how much of a genius Stark truly is, and adds a nice little change of pace here and there. If all you're looking for in a Iron Man movie are great action scenes and special effects... I can all but guarantee that you'll be happy.

So that's Iron Man 3... not perfect but still pretty damn good. While the movie provides some conclusion to the story-arch, I have no doubt that we'll see Iron Man again in some form (Avengers 2 no doubt), but if it were to end here... it would be a satisfying send-off. As the first official blockbuster of the summer season... I'd say the season is off to a good start. See it!

My Score: 3.5 out of 5!

Top 10 Superhero Movies

I've been on a real superhero kick lately haven't I? Well, when your a big superhero nerd like myself, it's hard not to buy into the hype every summer when studios like to release their high profile comic book-inspired blockbusters to the public. Though between Batman, Spider-Man, The Avengers, Chronicle, and not to mention the other films I've been revisiting on Blu-Ray the last few months, I'm starting to feel a bit superhero-ed out. So... let's finish off the summer with a list of my ten favorite superhero films of all time.

It was tough to compile this list. I'm such a nerd when it comes to comic book movies that I've got tons of favorites and in some ways, it felt like choosing which kids I liked better. There were a couple films that just barely missed the list, so if your favorite isn't here, keep in mind that it probably was a finalist but just lost by just a hair. I decided to do only one film per franchise, so the list wouldn't be full of numerous sequels or remakes taking the credit. Also, with apologies to The Avengers, while despite being an awesome movie, I need to see it one or two more times to fairly evaluate it among the following (since most of these I've seen more than once). But enough stalling, here are my Top 10 Favorite Superhero movies.

10. Unbreakable (2000)
It's weird to think of a time when M. Night Shyamalan wasn't the laughing-stock of the film industry (doesn't that seem like forever ago). Still, prior to his critical flame-out, the guy was putting out some pretty creative and interesting takes on established genres, and his interpretation on superhero mythos is my personal favorite of his directorial efforts (yes, I like this one more than The Sixth Sense). Focusing less on action in favor of character-based drama and suspense, Unbreakable's analysis on the birth of a hero brings real-life sensibilities to the notion of the formation of a super powered individual. While the ending is a little on the nose and leaves far more to be desired, the top notch performances from Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson along with M. Night's stylistic direction and script makes the film one hell of a movie. It's an often underrated and forgotten film that is definitely worth checking out.

9. Iron Man (2008)
A perfect film it's not, but Iron Man nonetheless succeeds hugely thanks to an interesting take on the superhero genre plus a memorable performance from Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark aka Iron Man. The first third of the movie is great, the second act isn't too shabby, but the final third is just okay. It was kind of neat to see a superhero who wasn't trying to save the world per se, but rather just cleaning up his own mess after putting that said world in danger. Jeff Bridges gives his all as the villainous Obadiah Stane aka Iron Monger, but his character was kind of one-note and predictable. That said, the great action, sweet effects, and Downey Jr's incredible presence as Stark elevated this film from just good to pretty damn awesome. Oh, and it didn't hurt that this film kicked off the Marvel connected universe and the countdown to The Avengers.

8. Captain America: The First Aveger (2011)
I know that this film tends to somewhat divide audiences. There are lots who loved it but also plenty who considered it cheesy and corny. Personally, I'm in the camp that absolutely loves it. It's a superhero film plus a WWII epic, how could I not like that? Yes, the movie has some campy overtones, but that's exactly the reason why I dug it so much. Taking inspiration from WWII-era serials, the film blends both retro and modern filmmaking aesthetics, creating a film that has all the fun of an old time picture show and a modern summer blockbuster. It finds a near-perfect balance between it's retro/campy appeal plus some legitimate human drama. It also boasted a great cast led by Chris Evans as the titular Captain, along with some great visuals and stellar costume design. What else can I say, but I just love this movie.

7. Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)
It's really a shame that the Hellboy movies aren't as popular as they could be, since these are some of the most creative and entertaining superhero flicks out there. Guillermo Del Toro is one the most visionary filmmakers working today, and he brings his artistic eye seen in his previous effort, Pan's Labyrinth to these films too. Hellboy II picks up where the first film left off, digs deeper into it's characters and mythos through stellar art direction, visual effects, and it's great cast. Ron Pearlman's performance as Hellboy is always a blast to watch, as he blends the character with a great balance of wit, toughness, and humanity... and that's saying a lot when you consider that Hellboy is, at his core, a demon. Either way, these films are pretty damn awesome and if you haven't seen either one, definitely check them out. Hopefully we'll one day get a third flick to complete the trilogy.

6. Watchmen (2009)
It's a real testament to the talent of a director (in this case Zack Snyder) when he can not only adapt a graphic novel that has often been called "un-filmable" but also make it into a pretty incredible film on it's own right. I don't want to overstate the film too much, as there are a few elements of the novel that (as predicted) don't translate quite perfectly to screen as one would like. Still, just the fact that Watchmen made it to theaters in such glorious style is damn-near a miracle. The movie looks fantastic, with a style and aesthetic consisting of beautiful art direction, excellently composed cinematography, and some sweet action. While the story and some of the actors have a few hiccups, it still manages to convey most of the legendary graphic novel's themes and messages without ruining any of the characters. Oh and Jackie Earl Haley as Rorschach... Hell Yeah!!!

5. X-Men: First Class (2011)
There had been four live action X-Men films prior to this prequel. The first two were quite good, the third was just okay, and the fourth (the Wolverine spin-off) was pretty bad actually. The fifth film, a prequel entitled X-Men: First Class, was admittedly pretty damn awesome. Despite being plagued by a rushed production schedule and some hit-and-miss visual effects, the film found a winning combination of a great cast, great story, and great style. The friendship between Charles Xavier aka Professor X and Eric Lencher aka Magneto was the highlight of the film, featuring an uneasy alliance between two powerful mutant individuals whose ideals couldn't have been more different. More than that, Matthew Vaughn's slick direction, which borrowed heavily from golden age 007 flicks, led to a great sense of style, some awesome action scenes, and strong performances from it's talented cast. What can I say, but this was just a first class flick.

4. Superman (1978)
While it's no secret that many superhero movies made before the 90s haven't exactly aged gracefully (though there are exceptions), the original Superman still holds up remarkably well. The first big budget superhero flick, the film's tagline was, "You'll Believe A Man Can Fly"... and we still do. A great cast, memorable set pieces, an amazing musical score, and some classic scenes, this adaptation is still flying high Christopher Reeve's memorable performance as the Man of Steel is enjoyable both as Superman and Clark Kent. The film also benefits from the enjoyable villain, Lex Luthor, played by Gene Hackman who in addition to being the villain also adds some comic relief. I also dug the relationship between Superman and Lois Lane (played to perfection by Margot Kidder), as the two shared some great chemistry in a romance that doesn't overshadow the main story. It also doesn't hurt to have Marlon Brando as Supes father, Jor-El, because Brando is just that much of a legend. Finally, I have to mention the outstanding musical score by the great John Williams. Everytime I hear that classic Superman theme, I get goosebumps, it's just perfect. Superman, admittedly, hasn't aged flawlessly, but there's no doubt that what works in this film... really works! It was awesome then and it's awesome now.

3. The Incredibles (2004)
Comedic legend Mel Brooks once said that the best movie parodies are done out of a love of the content being spoofed. Nowhere is that more apparent than in Pixar's animated superhero satire. The film, about a family of super powered individuals thrust back into action after trying to live a quiet suburban life, clearly wears it's love for comic books on it's sleeve. It pokes fun at the genre's cliches, but it does so by laughing along with those cliches as opposed to at them, and still manages to deliver a fun and exciting superhero epic complete with all the action you would expect out of a modern Hollywood blockbuster. Best of all, the film boasts an outstanding script compliments of writer/director Brad Bird with fully realized three dimensional characters and themes of family relationships and companionship. Throw in some stand-out voice over work from it's talented cast plus Pixar's always impressive animation, and you have a winner. Not just a good satire, but a damn great film in it's own right.

2. Spider-Man 2 (2004)
The first Spider-Man flick, released in 2002, struck a chord with audiences and critics mainly through B-Movie director Sam Raimi's knack for creating a world blending 60s comic book sensibilities and stylized modern filmmaking aesthetics. The sequel, released two years later, took everything that worked in the first while improving on everything that didn't. We get a solidly character driven narrative as Peter Parker (played once again by Toby Maguire) struggles to balance his everyday life as himself and his responsibilities as the web-slinger. Best of all, the film introduced one of Spidey's most famous comic book foes, Otto Octavius aka Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina), as a once decent man turned to villainy after a terrible tragedy. Doc Ock's sympathetic backstory made him a dynamic and intimidating foe, leading to a good hero/villain rivalry. Throw in some absolutely bad-ass action scenes (that train scene is still one of my favorite movie action scenes of all time), Raimi's trademark cinematography, and some legitimate suspense mixed with fun comic book sensibilities, and you have one of the best comic-to-screen translations of all time.

1. The Dark Knight (2008)
Yeah... I know this was an obvious choice, and as much as I would have liked to think of something a little more out of the box, there's just no denying that The Dark Knight set and continues to hold the standard for the genre. Taking inspiration from gritty crime genres and throwing in the Caped Crusader, The Dark Knight wasn't a spot-on adaptation of Batman comics, but rather a fully realized film that honored the themes and virtues the comics had stood for. It's a constantly suspenseful crime saga with an outstanding cast, commendable story, intriguing characters, mind-blowing action, and one of the greatest villains to ever grace the screen. Heath Ledger's iconic performance as the Joker is nothing short of legendary, taking bits of inspiration from previous incarnations while still bringing his own touches to create a villain that was both familiar, unique, scary, funny, and all around perfect. I have no doubt that someday, a talented team will make a new superhero flick that will top this one, but until that day comes, The Dark Knight will continue to reign supreme as the undisputed champion of superhero flicks.

So these are my top 10 favorite superhero films to grace the silver screen. Agree? Disagree? Let me know what you think and leave a comment.

And just because I feel bad for leaving some out, here are a couple of honorable mentions.
The Avengers, Kick-Ass, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, V For Vendetta and The Rocketeer.

The Amazing Spider-Man - Review

Alright! Before I write this review for The Amazing Spider-Man, I need to get something off my chest. Now, that Christopher Nolan has finished his Dark Knight trilogy, can superhero films please stop trying to copy the Batman formula! I get it, Nolan's trilogy was awesome. I loved the movies, you loved them, everyone loved them, but come on people! Batman is NOT the only superhero around, and not every flick to feature a costumed crime-fighter has to be about some dark and brooding anti-hero. I mention all of this, because for the last few years, I've seen so many movies guilty of this, though the recent reboot of the Spider-Man film series, is arguably the worst offender. I can only assume that the filmmakers were trying to distance this particular film from the previous trilogy, and they figured a much looser interpretation of the Spider-Man mythos mixed with not-so-subtle "elements" (ie, a nicer way of saying ripped off) from Batman Begins and character beats reminiscent of Twilight was the way to go. Oh yeah... btw, the film takes a good dose of "inspiration" from Twilight too... my God what have they done to you Spidey???

*As per usual, I'm going to avoid spoilers when I can, but in this review, there might be a few story details I'll be discussing that may or may not be considered "spoiler-ish." That said, most of what I'll be talking about is familiar territory and should come as no surprise to anyone who's seen the 2002 film. I'll say this much, I promise that I won't reveal anything beyond the first act. Take that as you will.

The Amazing Spider-Man is a retelling of Spider-Man's of-told origin story. As a young boy, Peter Parker was left in the care of his Aunt and Uncle, Ben and May Parker (played by Martin Sheen and Sally Field respectively), after his parents inexplicably left and never returned. The story fast forwards years later to the now teenage Peter (Andrew Garfield), who has become a shy outcast among his high school peers. Curious to discover why his parents abandoned him, Parker digs up his father's old briefcase, which reveals that he was an Oscorp scientist working alongside the one-armed Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans) on a top secret project that could merge human and animal DNA. Determined to learn more, he visits Dr. Connors at his lab to discuss his past. It is here, where Parker gets that fateful spider-bite from a scientifically enhanced bug that gives him his superpowers to become Spider-Man. Meanwhile, Dr. Connors, in an attempt to regrow his lost arm, injects himself with a serum composed of reptile DNA. While the serum manages to replace missing arm, it brings forth the unfortunate side effect of turning him into a human-sized and reptilian monster known as The Lizard. With a homicidal Lizard loose on the streets of New York, Spidey takes to the streets to stop him before it's too late.

I'm going to do something I don't normally do right here. Typically, I don't consider it really necessary to discuss my feelings or history for a series like Spider-Man. That said, every time I've had a discussion with someone about this movie, I've been called a Sam Raimi fanboy or comic geek that either is too in love with the previous trilogy, too attached to the comics, and/or doesn't appreciate change or modern interpretations of these characters. So I'm just going to get this out of the way and let you all know exactly where I'm coming from. Yes... I have always been a huge fan of Spider-Man. I was a casual reader of the comics growing up (though I haven't read one in years), enjoyed the shows, liked most of the video games, and was a fan of the previous three movies. I loved the first film, really loved the second (my second favorite comic book movie behind Dark Knight), and thought the third was decent despite a few really stupid moments (say what you will folks, but I don't think Spider-Man 3 is as bad as it's been let on). Do I think it's kind of lame that they're retelling the origin story with the previous flicks still so fresh in people's minds... yeah kind of, but not enough to not give this film a chance. Do I hate modernizing comic book properties or re-imagining characters to fit a new theme... of course not, as long as they're done well. It can be kind of frustrating when properties are re-imagined to a point where they barely resemble their source material, BUT as long as they work in a narrative sense while honoring the themes and ideas of the original material, I'm cool with that. So I don't mind reinventing the character... in fact, I encourage it. So yeah, just wanted to get that out of the way.

So after all of that, what did I think of The Amazing Spider-Man? To be honest, I found it to be pretty damn average. It's not bad in the strictest sense as there are a number of things I did genuinely like, but there was just too much about it that I found forgettable, overly-familiar, or just plain bad. To be fair, the film boasts a great cast, promising director, and a couple of pretty cool action scenes. Unfortunately, they're all serving a narrative that is problematic from start to finish. I have no problem with the decision to set this film in high school and it's pretty cool that they decided to make Gwen Stacy the love interest instead of Mary Jane Watson (Gwen came before MJ in the comics). None of that makes up for a script full of plot holes, pacing issues, and problematic characters.

That last point I mentioned is really the biggest problem with this flick, the characters don't work, especially the lead character. I'm not critiquing the cast so much right now, but just the characters from a narrative perspective. In an effort to differentiate Andrew Garfield's Peter from Tobey Maguire's version, this flick downplays the science nerd aspects of the character and instead turns him into... actually kind of a cipher. That's not inherently a bad thing, as it can add a level of mystery to the character that might keep the story engaging as it unfolds. Unfortunately, the best way to actually describe him is something like Edward Cullen meats Bruce Wayne (as in, Bruce before he became Batman)... and no, that's not a good thing. His character is so inconsistent that we never really get a feel for who he is as a person... except that he's kind of a douchebag. At times he's an emo, at times he's a skater, and at he's a manic depressive. None of that would bother that much if they took the time to make the character likable in some way, shape, or form, but they really don't. Throughout the film, Parker is, quite frankly, kind of an asshole. The theme of his "character arc" (I use that term loosely because there's next to no character development) is less about "With great power comes great responsibility" but rather "When you get superpowers, try not to be a douche." I hate to compare this flick to the previous 2002 movie, but since the film goes out of its way to remind you of it, I can't help but think how much better it was done in the first. Take for example the scenes where Peter's Uncle Ben is murdered. In the original, Ben is killed because Peter refuses to take down a thief who robbed a guy that cheated Peter out of 3000 dollars. It was an irresponsible move on Peter's part that led to his Uncle's death, and it suddenly puts things in perspective of what Uncle Ben meant when he said "With great power comes great responsibility." He takes up the Spider-Man mantle as a means to honor his Uncle's death and his wisdom. That's a great start for a superhero and it really makes you root for the character. In this flick, Uncle Ben dies because Peter refuses to stop a thief from robbing a convenience store after the clerk refused to sell Peter a chocolate milk for being a few pennies short. Do I even need to explain why these two don't compare? To make matters even worse is that Parker created the Spidey mantle as a way to avenge his uncle's death. A movie can survive a lot of things, but a bad lead character is a tough hurdle to overcome, and unfortunately this movie struggles because of this.

Now, if there's one way to make up for a weak hero it would be a decent villain and The Lizard was a promising choice for Spidey foe. He's a Jekyll and Hyde kind of villain, an otherwise decent person who turns into an evil reptile when testing an experimental serum to regrow his lost arm. This, in it of itself, is a good setup, and Rhys Ifans is a good choice for the part. Unfortunately, the character suffers thanks to odd structure and strange motivations. Once he turns into the actual Lizard creature, he inexplicably also turns him violent and evil... a bit strange but I can buy that. Where it gets confusing is when he periodically changes back to a human and for some odd reason still retains his evil qualities. As the movie progresses it only gets more absurd. Eventually, the lizard serum not only makes him evil but also turns him into something of a "reptilian fascist" with a mission to create an all lizard society. None of this really adds up or makes much sense, especially when you consider that his only real motivation in the first place was to fix his missing arm. Once again, a promising villain totally wasted. There are a whole bunch of little plot holes and inconsistencies in the script that detract from the movie's quality. Everything from abandoned sub plots and pointless characters are here. Plus, the other major thrust of this narrative was to explore why Peter's parents disappeared, which is only barely explored and left unanswered to presumably be examined in the inevitable sequel. You can basically sum up the screenplay with this statement, promising material ruined thanks to sub-par execution.

From a technical perspective, the film is hit and miss. Spider-Man's new costume is a bit over-designed but unmistakably recognizable as Spider-Man. Fortunately, it gives Garfield the ability to move around in what are some admittedly decent action scenes. There are a couple of enjoyable hand-to-hand combat segments along with some exciting web slinging moments. From a pure geek perspective, I do have to admit that it's cool to see Spidey using the mechanic web shooters instead of the organic ones from the previous trilogy. The settings were a bit odd though. Why they had to set so many scenes in lens-flare saturated nighttime shots, I don't know (well, I guess they were trying to emulate The Dark Knight) but I don't have too many complaints on that front. Unfortunately, I do have some majors issues with the cgi used to render The Lizard... my God does he look terrible. The design is problematic, as he looks like a cross between The Lizard and those goombas from the Super Mario Bros movie. It's not helped that the cgi itself looks like a cut-scene from a mediocre video game. Their efforts to find creative angles to film him in order to make him look less awful were commendable but none managed to remedy just how awful he turned out. You know, a lot of people complained about the Green Goblin's goofy looking suit in the first movie, but I'd rather have a cheesy looking practical effect any day as opposed to sub-par cgi. If there was one thing a summer blockbuster like The Amazing Spider-Man has to get right, it's decent action and production value, and despite the Lizard, it's more-or-less mission accomplished.

Finally, we come to the cast. For the most part, I don't have much to say about the chosen actors, none were great but none were bad either. Andrew Garfield has done some great work prior to this, namely as Eduardo Saverin in The Social Network, and as Parker he does a commendable job working with such a flaky script. Emma Stone, once again, gives another strong performance as Gwen Stacy, who is both the love interest, but also manages to contribute a bit to the plot as well. Rhys Ifans does what he can as The Lizard, and despite the weird motivations, looks like he was having some fun hamming it up a bit as the villain. Martin Sheen and Sally Field were a bit on the nose as Uncle Ben and Aunt May, but they do their usual good job. The only real stand out to me was, believe it or not, Dennis Leary as Captain Stacy, Gwen's police chief father. Leary is primarily known for his comedic roles, so seeing him do a role somewhat against type worked to his advantage. He's a strong character who cares deeply for his family as the safety of New York's citizens, and at first approaches Spider-Man as a dangerous vigilante. While we know Spidey isn't evil, he nonetheless acts somewhat reckless and kind of a dipshit, so it's understandable why Stacy would be reluctant to trust him, and Leary does a good job personifying that kind of character. Overall though, I can't complain too much about the cast. Most did a solid job and managed to somewhat elevate the film.

Overall, The Amazing Spider-Man is hardly what the title implies. It's by no means amazing and not even that particularly good. It's just pretty average when you get down to it. I know this film was plagued by a rushed schedule and frequent re-writes, so hopefully the sequel will improve on this front. Overall though, I wasn't that impressed but not overly disappointed either. If it's still playing in theaters and you've managed to miss it, keep on doing that or wait for a DVD rental.

My Score: 2.5 out of 5!

Captain America: The First Avenger - Review

Out of all the Marvel comic movies, I think Captain America has probably had the toughest time transitioning into film. It's not hard to see why... a patriot-themed superhero comes off as a bit campy, especially in a time where America isn't exactly seen in a particularly positive light these days. The character actually been adapted to film 4 times before. The first of which was a 1944 serial. It was decent for it's time I suppose, but like most serieals from the time period, it hasn't aged well. 1979 saw two forgettable made-for-TV adaptations that made little to no impact on audiences. Of course, the most infamous adaptation was the 1990 film, simply called Captain America. This low budget abomination went straight to video and is often considered one of the worst superhero films ever made. So yeah, the Captain's film history hasn't exactly been stellar, that's for sure. Is director Joe Johnston's film adaptation, Captain America: The First Avenger, the one to change all that?

This World War II themed superhero flick begins in the city of Brooklyn in the year 1942. Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) is a young man who wants nothing more than to serve his country as a soldier in the US Army. However, due to his lack of physical strength, his asthma, and general poor health, he is deemed unfit for military service. That all changes when rogers meets Dr. Abraham Erskine (Stanley Tucci), a military scientist who after recognizing Rogers' perseverance and good nature, selects him as a candidate for his super soldier program. The experimental procedure would change Rogers from an asthmatic weakling to super-strengthened fighter and the prime American soldier. The experiment is a success, but when the program is sabotaged by Nazi spies, the government shuts down plans to create a super-powered army and instead turns Rogers into a costumed character known as Captain America. He is then treated as a gimmick, paraded around USO shows selling bonds and boosting soldier morale. Not content with simply being a sideshow attraction, Rogers takes to the battlefield as Captain America and stumbles onto a heinous Nazi organization known as Hydra, led by an equally powerful Nazi known as the Red Skull. With Hydra becoming stronger everyday and the Skull's hunger for world domination increasing, Captain America becomes the world's only chance of stopping them and saving the world.

Eep! I hate it when I give away that much plot information, but every time I tried to cut it off, I felt like I was selling this movie short. This movie really has a lot going on in it, both as it's own film and it's role in the continuity of the Marvel movie universe. It's a superhero film, it's a WWII epic, it's a prelude to the Avengers, and it's a prequel to Iron Man, Thor, and The Incredible Hulk. What's funny about all that though is that the story itself is essentially a straightforward comic book plot, the basic good-natured hero vs evil villain, albeit with patriotic overtones. Still, almost everything in this movie works... like really well. The storyline is engaging, the characters are fun, and the action is awesome. It's one of those movies that feels as if I shouldn't have liked it as much as I did... but everything comes together so nicely. Seriously, there's next to nothing in this flick that doesn't work.

Probably the biggest success comes from the perfect casting of nearly every character in the movie. Chris Evans (The Human Torch in the Fantastic Four movies) tones down his usual snarky attitude and rather plays the Captain with a likable and rateable demeanor. Unlike many disturbed (Iron Man), troubled (Spider-Man), or borderline psychotic superheroes (Batman), Captain America is one of the more straightforward comic books heroes. He's a good natured, friendly, and overall decent guy who loves his country. This doesn't mean he's stale or underdeveloped, in fact I'd say his good guy demeanor actually makes him one of the more refreshing superheroes in recent memory. Sure, one might still see him as little more than a glorified boy scout, but I personally think there's more to the character. He starts off as a weak man who becomes a national hero that's based less on his physical ability and more on his passionate yet not arrogant patriotism. If nothing else, he's an incredibly fun character that's a blast to watch.

Speaking of fun characters that are a blast to watch, the movie also features Hugo Weaving as the film's central villain, Johann Schmidt aka The Red Skull. The depiction of the character bares many similarities to his comic book counterpart, the best of which is his spot on appearance. One element of the Skull's backstory that was cleverly reinvented for the movie was this. He starts off as a prominent Nazi official (like the comic) and head of Hydra, the Nazi advanced weapon manufacturing division. Soon after the movie starts, Hydra succeeds from Nazi affiliation due to the fact that Hitler consider Schmidt to be too evil... Wow! Overall, I found Weaving to be incredibly entertaining as the red faced villain, finding a perfect balance between camp and seriousness. There are also great supporting performances from Haylee Atwell as the female lead Peggy Carter, Dominic Cooper as Howard Stark (Iron Man's father), Stanley Tucci is great as always as the scientist Dr. Abraham Erskine, as is Tommy Lee Jones as Col. Chester Phillips. Overall, it's a great cast!

Of course for any summer blockbuster, especially a superhero movie, one would expect some great action scenes and special effects. If that's all you come to this movie expecting to see, then I can all but guarantee you'll leave happy. Aside from some a few dodgy cgi shots, I'd go as far to call the action scenes perfect... or at least as great as one can expect. There's the usual hero vs villain fights, but there's also a Bourne style on-foot chase scenes (minus the erratic camera) and some well shot WWII battle scenes. Like I said, there were a few cgi shots that could have been rendered a little better. The most apparent one would have to be Chris Evans pre-experimented body, digitally made shorter and weaker. At times it looks real, but more often that not it looked like a digital effect. Granted those are nitpicks that didn't take me out of the movie. It delivered on all levels as an over-the-top summer blockbuster, a War film, and a fun superhero flick.

If Captain America was simply a fun summer blockbuster with cool action and fun characters, I probably would have been fine with that. Apparently, that wasn't enough for the filmmakers and director Joe Johnston. In addition to the action and characters, this movie features top notch production design, amazing costumes, a great musical score from Alan Silvestri, and an engaging story. It's one of the few superhero films to find a great balance between camp and seriousness while never loosing track of basic solid filmmaking. The 40s setting gave the filmmakers a great opportunity to play with some fun retro themes. It kind of reminded me of Joe Johnston's earlier and very underrated WWII superhero film, The Rocketeer. The sets compliment the 40s vibes and gives the movie a really stellar look. I also dug the tinted old-film inspired color correction, again aiding in it's retro appeal.

My favorite element of the production design had to be the costumes. All of the outfits are extremely well made and seem to be authentic, but it's the main hero's costume that really did it for me. Captain America's costume is about as perfect as you can get. It honors it's source material, updates it appropriately, and appears to be a fully functional costume for it's actor. In other words, Evans is able to move around and pull off the action scenes without looking stiff or robotic. Honestly, if this movie doesn't have the best superhero costumes of all time, it's definitely in the top 5. It's right up there with Spider-Man and Iron Man.

It's so refreshing to see a great superhero film made by passionate filmmakers, especially coming off of the disappointing Green Lantern. It goes to show that when you have a great director, cast, and team all pouring their heart and soul into any movie, especially one as difficult to adapt as Captain America, the results can be awesome. Let me just make this clear... do NOT miss this movie! It's awesome! Not quite Dark Knight or Spider-Man 2 awesome, but definitely my favorite out of the connected Marvel movies (Cap, Thor, Iron Man, and The Increidble Hulk) and somewhere in my Top 10 favorite superhero movies. Now bring on the Avengers!

My Score: 4.5 Out of 5!