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December 31, 2013.

This blog is now closed. After three years and 311 posts, I have decided to end this blog. I have enjoyed watching the films, reviewing them, and interacting with global readers.

If you are interested in contacting me, you can do so by commenting on any of the posts. The blog will remain live on the web.
Thank you to all the readers for your comments, ideas, and thoughts. They were helpful, stimulating, and enriching. This is Alene, signing off.

July 12, 2012

The Amazing Spiderman (2012)



When it’s over, WOW!  Great film.  Loved it!  Applause to Director Marc Webb, who spins a new twist to a character that’s been around for decades and have been re-invented multiple times.  Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) searches for the truth about his parents’ disappearance, and along the way becomes Spiderman, encounters his first crush, and learns the true meaning of responsibility as he tries to save New York City from The Lizard/Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans).  Please don’t compare this film to Tobey McGuire’s Spiderman.  The two films are very different and both are fantastic based on their individual merits.  This new re-boot takes the character of Peter Parker into a whole new direction, a direction I seldom see anymore in comic book to screen blockbusters, the direction of character development.  There is actually a solid story that doesn’t waver and the action never takes over the film.  I prefer a good story any time over senseless action, and this film delivers everything with a cherry on top - tight script, precision action, a terrific cast, and a love story that’s got all the sentiments of first crushes.  I didn’t think Garfield could pull off a Peter Parker persona, but I’m so glad to be proved wrong.  I think he captures Parker wonderfully – tall, skinny, gangly, slumped posture – how I remember Parker in the pages of Marvel comics to be.  Garfield’s portrayal of Parker was funny, intense, quirky, and sweet, all played out at the right time in the right scenes.  He makes Parker more three dimensional, a person viewers can relate to.  Emma Stone is well casted as Gwen Stacey, and the chemistry between the love birds is fresh and undeniable.  Even though the supporting cast had minor roles, their screen time definitely added to the embodiment of Parker as a whole, by motivating him, challenging him, and ultimately, saving him.  Sally Field, Martin Sheen, Denis Leary, and C. Thomas Howell fill the small shoes, but take big strides.  I don’t think The Lizard was as menacing a villain in this film, but he served to be just the right adversary to probe Parker in the right direction of a teen becoming a man.  Plus, I’m almost certain the story will continue between Dr. Connors and Parker in the sequel, already in the works.

My rating: 4.5 out of 5


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