Never a day passes by that whenever I watch a movie,there's always a DVD or more to go with it.And after watching World War Z today,I immediately rushed into Astrovision in Glorietta 4 to get some.And I got 4 DVDs.Those are (In alphabetical order) American Beauty,A Nightmare On Elm Street,Jurassic Park Trilogy and Lawrence of Arabia.Also,forgive me and don't put me to exile for the low-res pics,I just took 'em with my phone's camera.
Here they are as they go:
1.American Beauty:
First up is,5 Oscar Winner American Beauty starring Kevin Spacey,Anette Benning,Thora Birch,Wes Bentley,Mena Suvari,Peter Gallagher and Chris Cooper.I didn't got this film for 1 reason,but 3.First of all,it's a great film from what I heard and has Kevin Spacey in one of his best performances yet.Second,it's a gem with a P100 price tag which I'm thankful for.And third,it's a five time Oscar winner so no doubt it'll be great.American Beauty is on sale for a valuable price of P100.
2.A Nightmare On Elm Street:
Not the crappy remake,but of course the iconic 1984 horror movie hit-classic.After watching the great,horrific Evil Dead 2,I planned to get this and voila! I got it now right in the palm of my hands.There really are a lot of reasons to get this.First of all,it's a great 80s modern horror film that is loved by the mass and is definitely a cult classic.And second of all,it's just great and loved.Nothing more,nothing less.A Nightmare On Elm Street is available on DVD for P199.
3.Jurassic Park Trilogy
Finally! I made the right choice and got this.Despite the fact that I only need and want the first one,the other 2 films complete each other as a trilogy.The first one is of course,the classic childhood movie helmed by master director Steven Spielberg that impacted a lot of 90s kids except me (I actually haven't seen this entirely).While the second is still directed by Spielberg,it is miles apart from the first in terms of greatness.The third is directed by Joe Johnston and is claimed to be the worst between the two sequels.Well,I have to see it to believe it.But yet,I am still very happy I finally got this.Jurassic Park Trilogy Boxset is available on DVD for P300.
Last but not definitely the least,Number 4: Lawrence of Arabia.
If you thought that the only reason that I got this is because of the cheap price,then you are wrong.Not to insult you or anything,but you have thought wrongly 'cause I got this due to the fact that this is an epic classic and a great film by all means.Well,I'm a liar 'cause the cheap price is also one of the reasons why I got it.But hey,it's a P100 gem that needs not to be ignored.Lawrence of Arabia is on sale for P100.
Well,that's it for now, but since I got 2 DVDs last Sunday (June 16,2013) and forgot to do a "DVD Haul" post regarding that,I might as well include them here.
*Bonus* Number 5: Superman The Movie (1-Disc)
I decided to get this last Sunday (6/16/13),since I watched Man of Steel the day before that.I absolutely have no regrets in getting this,knowing that it is iconic and great by comic-book movie standards before the superhero movie hype.Superman: The Movie is available on DVD for P187 (1-Disc) and P375 (2-Disc).
*Bonus* Number 6: Hitchcock's Vertigo
After Hitchcock shocked and impressed me simultaneously with his famous masterpiece Psycho,I immediately planned to get another thriller from him and that is Vertigo.I just can't wait to watch this.Also,this is recommended by a friend of mine and since this is one of Hitchcock's finest works,it surely won't disappoint and dismay.Vertigo is on sale for P100,being a gem. Well then,that's actually it.Done,gone,boom,over.Stay tuned for my next DVD Haul...
*Btw,all of those DVDs mentioned above are available to own distributed by Magnavision Home Video.
*Note: This review may contain spoilers,so for those who haven't seen the movie,proceed at your own risk.
How far will one man go to save his family?
Just watched World War Z today and I liked it even though it was part-disappointing.World War Z is directed by Marc Forster (Quantum of Solace) and stars Oscar Nominee Brad Pitt (Fight Club/Se7en),Mireille Enos (Gangster Squad),Daniella Kertesz,James Badge Dale (The Departed/Iron Man 3),David Morse (The Green Mile),Matthew Fox,Fana Mokoena and Ludi Boeken.The film is about United Nations employee Gerry Lane who traverses the world in a race against
time to stop the Zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and
governments, and threatening to destroy humanity itself.
Despite the fact that World War Z is a zombie movie,it isn't that "typical" as the trailer suggests.The film and the plot line actually has something more to it.Well,sure part of WWZ's plot line focuses on humans clashing through a large amount of the undead but the film isn't literally about soldiers fighting off a large amount of zombies,but instead also focuses on how the zombie pandemic started.But wait,there IS much more in store than that.In WWZ,the government doesn't create a cure,but instead a kind of "camouflage" serum that allows humans to "camouflage" through the zombies.But...wait,the zombies aren't "zombies" at all but just humans infected by an epidemic.Aw! It feels like I Am Legend and Zombieland again! but I forgive it.Despite the plot redundancies,I still liked the film for the smart and clever plot that is exceptional by scope and scale which made the movie epic also by the globe-trotting plot line.But even though I liked the film's plot,I had some problems about the biggest plot-hole which regards where the pandemic started.I don't know why the hell they didn't explain where it began,but the possible reason on how they left it out is probably because they were planning for a sequel and because maybe,that's what the "sequel" will be about.I really don't know.But sneaky bastards,they are.Knowing the fact that World War Z is not a typical zombie movie after watching it,the storyline succeeds by "epic" means despite the big plot hole that might be the sequel's story...but damn,they should've just included that (big) plot hole to refrain from the cramming and complaints from the audience.
World War Z (literally) stars at least 1 famous Hollywood star,and that is Brad Pitt.We've seen him gloriously kill Nazis in Inglorious Basterds and pour his heart and emotion out in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.But now,we get to see him kill zombies in World War Z.Pitt's "decent" performance is what anchored the film in terms of acting.He was Gerry Lane,your typical family man who saves the day.I wouldn't refer his performance in WWZ as bad-ass like in Inglorious Basterds and Se7en but I would instead like to describe him here as "awesome". Awesome because he kills zombies,but not much of a large amount.Nonetheless, Pitt's performance was decent and not bad.Mireille Enos' performance as Karin Lane was (sort-of) almost awful.Her acting wasn't that bad but her dialogue is just so typical as a family man's wife would say in a film.I don't know whoever the hell she is but her performance was bad.Oh and yes,I forgot! We have at least one more known Hollywood star in the name of David Morse.Some people may know him best from Contact,but I knew him for his good performance in The Green Mile.Actually,Morse didn't play a major character in the film,but he plays an Ex-CIA Agent whom Gerry finds out how the pandemic started.Even though he is a small and supporting character in the film,he manages to be an important one as he serves a big part in the film's plot.Brad Pitt anchored World War Z in means of performances,as the others were good,but almost awful.But thank God for David Morse.I kinda liked him in this one even though he had just one scene.But the rest,gone.But Pitt was a good choice as the main character.He really "owned" it.
The trailer for the film includes a scene running zombies,a pile of zombies reaching a wall,and yes,Brad Pitt.But other than that,the film doesn't include more money shots 'cause yes,they used it ALL in the trailer so nothing more from the film can be left.Ugh.The opening scene of the film was immediately the money shot from the trailer that includes the "infected" running through the busy streets of ol' Philly.That scene pumped my heart and was just really exhilarating as if my heart stopped for a while.Then through the 30-45 minute mark,we have the Jerusalem scene that has the "infected" piling up part that was one of the trailer's money shots.Like what I said,other than that there's nothing more to the film's action.Wait,I forgot that we also have the plane scene where the plane tears up a hole sucking out some "infected" in the air.That scene was awesome no denying,but I still am dismayed due to the lack of action.But I forgive the lacking of action for the story redeems the film.But needless to say,that big opening sure was spectacular and amazing at the same time.Marco Beltrami's score was sort of haunting with a mix of dubstep.It fit the film well,and sets the film in the right mood.The film includes a lot of helicopter shots,that emphasizes on the city's destruction which made it look good.'Cause in an infected's words,it says "that is our work,we did it".Something like that.Either way,the cinematography was good,specially during the big opening scene and the Jerusalem scene.
I have to say,Marc Forster directed this well,but the dialogue really needed more spice and the cast needed more "known ones" rather than the "unknowns" and "not have heard of".I'm talking to you,Mireille Enos and the rest of the supporting cast except you,David Morse.I liked your acting in that short scene of yours.But back to topic,Forster did a good job on directing this one,he was able to bring a new twist to the zombie movie genre.Good job! You have redeemed yourself from the almost awful Quantum of Solace.
All the way around,World War Z entertains,thrills and shocks but doesn't impress much.Even though WWZ lacked a lot of action,the story redeems.But the cast wasn't that good though.It needed more known stars.
World War Z gets 7.5 stars over 10.
World War Z is now showing in theaters in 2D & 3D distributed by Solar UIP Philippinesand is rated PG-13 by the MTRCB.
*Catch Brad Pitt kill some Nazis in Inglorious Basterds and solve a mysterious case in Se7en.Both available to own on DVD & Blu-Ray distributed by Magnavision Home Video.Like their Facebook page in the link provided.
**For now,check out a clip from the film that includes those "infected" hammering down an armed chopper.
(C) 2013,Paramount Pictures,Plan B Entertainment,Skydance Productions,GK Films and Hemisphere Media Capital.
Unexpectedly,the first teaser trailer for the long-waited "The LEGO Movie" has dropped.Watch it in the link below,and I'll talk about how I felt while watching the said trailer.
I really didn't expect that the trailer would arrive today.But I'm thankful it did 'cause the movie looks good and I love how they shot it as if they used real LEGOs but really,they used a handful of CGI.But it was no problem,I loved it.To be honest,the opening of the trailer looked EPIC as if it felt like it was a trailer for a Justice League movie but it was not.Either way,after that epic 20 seconds,the funny part came in and it was good to see/know that this movie about LEGOs use stop-motion animation even though it's CGI.The trailer had a lot of epicness just by knowing that it is a movie about those crazily addictive block toys almost all of us definitely played with called LEGOs and also by seeing those epic characters we all love in LEGO form.I forgot,the cast is epic also thanks to Morgan Freeman,Liam Neeson and renowned comedian Will Ferrell.And since this is directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller (Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs/21 Jump Street) we can expect that it will have genuine,clever laughs.
The LEGO Movie tells the story of Emmet,an ordinary LEGO mini-figure who is mistakenly thought to be the powerful and extraordinary MasterBuilder.He then gets recruited to join a quest to stop an evil LEGO tyrant from gluing the universe together.
The LEGO Movie is directed by Phil Lord & Chris Millerand as of now stars Will Ferrell (The Campaign),Liam Neeson (Taken/Batman Begins),Alison Brie (TV's Community/Scream 4),Nick Offerman (TV's Parks and Recreation),Morgan Freeman (The Shawshank Redemption/Se7en),Elizabeth Banks (Pitch Perfect/The Hunger Games),Chris Pratt (Moneyball) and also features the voice talent of Will Arnett as LEGO Batman.
The trailer looks cool,epic and all and it might be hailed as the next Wreck-It-Ralph probably because of the nostalgia it will give.The LEGO Movie assembles in theaters 2014 in 3D distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures (Philippines).
Oh,to end this post properly,I would also like to show you the latest poster for the film:
(C)2013 Warner Bros.Pictures/Village Roadshow Pictures/LEGO
This is the first post
about my DVD Haul regarding the latest movies I bought on DVD.As for
now,I have only 4 DVDs which I have recently purchased.Take a look at them below:
*Pardon me for the low-res pics,I took them with my phone's camera.
Last night,I bought those 4 DVDs and I will give a detailed look at each of them in a little while.
*Back To The Future Trilogy Boxset DVD:
I actually bought the first Back To The Future movie on DVD individually.I loved it so much that I planned to get the entire trilogy soon on DVD.And just last night,I did so.Right now,what I have is The Back To The Future Trilogy Boxset on DVD which includes all three films on DVD with exclusive bonus features.Like what I said,I loved the first film so much and now,I can't wait to watch the two sequels.I am so happy I have this in my hands right now.This boxset is available on DVD for P300.
*Django: Unchained DVD w/T-Shirt:
This is the second Tarantino movie I have on DVD.First is Inglorious Basterds,and now this.I haven't seen the film but I am very interested because of the positive reviews I've read regarding the film.I am lucky I got the edition that has free T-Shirt.Bad thing is,the T-shirt is too large.But that way,I could keep it as a collectible.So it's still a plus.I love the bloody slipcover too,by the way.The cover is a little bit bloodier than Inglorious Basterds' because of the spray of blood.The film won 2 Academy Awards,so I have no doubts whatsoever that this film is gonna be great.I loved Inglorious Basterds because of the stylishness and brilliance so I much as well can't wait to watch this.Django: Unchained is available on DVD with 2 editions.The regular DVD with the slipcover is on sale for P750,while the other one is the same only with added T-shirt for P895.
*Martin Scorsese's Hugo:
I have seen this on HBO previously but now I finally have this.And this serves as my 4th Scorsese film alongside Taxi Driver,Casino and The Departed.Hugo is often described as Scorsese's love letter to cinema,both old and modern.I agree with that 'cause it really does feel like one.I can't wait to see this again.I loved this movie and it is one of my favorites.Hugo is available on DVD for P275.It is a definite must-own for a movie-geek.
Last but not the least...Pitch Perfect:
Get pitch-slapped.This actually isn't mine,it is my little sister's but since she told me to put it in my DVD shelf,I asked her if we can share and she replied yes.End of story.I have seen this movie before,and I liked it.It is electrifying and entertaining.A nice stress-reliever and a good film all the way.Pitch Perfect is available on DVD for P550.If you're gonna buy this,look for the one with the slipcover if you're a sucker for slipcovers.Good thing I saw this one.
*All of those DVDs pictured above are available on DVD & Blu-Ray all distributed by Magnavision Home Video.
*Before proceeding to read,I just want to inform you that this review may contain spoilers.So for those who haven't seen this film,proceed at your own risk.
"I have so many questions. Where do I come from?" -Clark Kent (Man of Steel)
Finally watched Man of Steel last in 3D.The cinema was packed last night and almost all seats were occupied.Meaning,the film would really be great 'cause that's what usually happens during some blockbuster movies' screenings.And you know what,I wasn't wrong.The audience I was in laughed and applauded once the credits started rolling.Man of Steel is directed by Zack Snyder (300/Watchmen) and produced/written by Christopher Nolan and stars Henry Cavill (Immortals/The Cold Light of the Day),Amy Adams (The Fighter/The Master),Michael Shannon (Mud/Premium Rush),Diane Lane,And Oscar Winners Russell Crowe (Gladiator/A Beautiful Mind) & Kevin Costner (Dances With Wolves/The Untouchables).The film tells the story of a young itinerant worker who is forced to confront his secret
extraterrestrial heritage when Earth is invaded by members of his race.
Man of Steel's storytelling reminisced me very much of Batman Begins'.And that's the reason why (for me) it felt more like a Nolan-directed film rather than a Snyder-directed one.I loved how the film's plot jumped from a present plot point to past plot point.I think that's what they call "Non-linear storytelling".And just like The Dark Knight Trilogy's storytelling,Man of Steel's is also brilliant,masterful and compelling thanks to the story written by Christopher Nolan and David S.Goyer.The film's story had some plot points that reminded me of some movies'.For example,the terraforming plot point easily reminded me of Transformers: Dark of the Moon's part where they try to rebuild Cybertron by shifting it into Earth.Nonetheless,even though that plot point was repeated,it didn't bother me whatsoever.And for those big fans of the comic books,the ending might give you nerdgasms.So,I give a big two thumbs up to both of them for helping in making this a great movie by writing an incredible narrative for the film.Zack Snyder didn't make a wrong/bad choice by choosing Christopher Nolan and David S.Goyer as one of the writers of the film's story.
Man of Steel has a stellar cast,and a well-chosen one.The best thing is,not even one member's talent from the main cast was wasted.Just to be honest,this is the first Superman movie I've seen,meaning I haven't seen the other actors who played Superman's performances though I heard they're quite good.Either way,I felt that Henry Cavill was a great choice to take on the Clark Kent/Kal-El/Superman role.Though the way he portrayed the role seemed to be very serious,he performed really well.I could sometimes felt affected by how he feels in some emotional scenes.Specifically while he was watching his Earth-dad Jonathan Kent (Kevin Costner) fall to his untimely demise.I almost cried in that scene,and maybe some of the audience shed some tears.That scene was heartbreaking and just by seeing Henry Cavill's Clark Kent scream in sadness as he watches his dad die is just really painful but all the way great due to Cavill's amazing acting.Also,his portrayal was very heroic and inspiring in some aspects.He was just really great in the film.He was emotional,very serious and the way he delivers his lines by his deep,awesome voice was simply incredible.That's just my opinion anyway.In Man of Steel,Amy Adams plays Lois Lane,Clark Kent's love interest.Adams became one of my favorite actors/actresses after watching her act in The Fighter.And just like in The Fighter,She performed well in Man of Steel though I felt she needed more screentime.Kevin Costner plays Jonathan Kent,Clark's adoptive father.Costner's character in MoS guided Clark as he grew up and told him a lot of life lessons.Costner's performance was very emotional and heartfelt and perhaps his best scene in the film for me is his death scene because during that scene,he sort of connected to the audiences' emotions.Opposing to Costner's adoptive-father figure role is Russell Crowe's incredible performance on the biological-father role.Crowe's character dies early in the film but still appears throughout its' entirety as he is sort of the ship's guide.Russell Crowe's gravelly,deep voice felt very powerful and sort of guided the movie all throughout as if he was the film's vehicle,engine and motor because of his powerful guidance on the plot.I think I'm forgetting something here...Oh I forgot Michael Shannon! Regarding Shannon's performance,he was villainous and sinister.But behind his villainous aspects is his sort of love for his fellow by terraforming Krypton into Earth 'cause that way,the Kryptonians could be born again.But still,it was a villainous act.All the way through,Shannon portrayed General Zod very well.Man of Steel has a very talented cast,both main and supporting.And all of them performed well,I had no problems with them whatsoever.
Man of Steel combines the incredible talent of two incredible directors Christopher Nolan and Zack Snyder.If Christopher Nolan wrote a brilliant story for the film,then Zack Snyder provided amazing,jaw-dropping,breathtaking visuals as always.But if you're looking for Snyder's cool trademark slow-mo shots,well Man of Steel doesn't have it.Not at least one.But what it has in exchange for that is edge-of-your-seat entertainment and heart-stopping action,and from what I noticed,the film has several lens flares in the likes of JJ Abram's.Man of Steel started with Lana giving birth to Kal-El (Who will be later known as Clark Kent) and alongside that scene has a shot of Krypton facing war.That scene which has the shot included in the trailer was amazing,it opened the film both dramatically and awesomely by adding some spice to Lara's birth to Kal-El.And the parts where Jor-El (Russell Crowe) kicks ass was just awesome.And as the film gets close to the middle and final act,the action heats up and just never stops.And most of those might make you jump out of your seat.But one of the most astonishing and awesome parts in the movie for me was the first time Clark wears the Superman suit and tries to fly.That part left me completely breathless.That was very breathtaking.Because of the non-stop action once it reaches the mid-act,this might just be the most action packed Superman movie yet thanks to Zack Snyder's stunning,breathtaking visuals.
John William's iconic and legendary "Superman March" does not make it in the film but instead it is replaced by Hans Zimmer's "An Ideal Of Hope" which made the film even more dramatic and heartfelt thus it fit the film perfectly because of the tone and themes the film had.Hans Zimmer is a great composer and he just does it again in Man of Steel.Now,everytime I hear that said score,it gives me the goosebumps and chills.But of course,John William's score is still very legendary and iconic up to now.The film was shot really well,and the way they captured the action scenes will make you jump to the edge of your seat.MoS had a lot of close-ups on explosions,and they reminded me mostly of last year's The Avengers.But it was no fuss.And yeah,the way they shot Superman's first flight was astounding.I saw Man of Steel in 3D,and the 3D was really just nothing special.It was as if I was just watching it in plain 2D.So if you're planning to see this,my best recommendation is to see it in regular 2D.But it still depends on your choice.
Zack Snyder and Christopher Nolan does an incomparable tandem in Man of Steel with Snyder as director and Nolan as one of the writers/producers and together they make an effective duo.Like what I said above,Nolan did a great supervision on the film's story and Snyder gave us jaw-dropping visuals,and great movie moments.This might just be the best film from director Zack Snyder ever since Watchmen.
Prior to watching this film,I always thought of Superman as a really lame Superhero and just simply corny but after watching Man of Steel,my entire perspective on the superhero changed.Man of Steel is one of this year's most anticipated movies and unlike Iron Man 3,this didn't disappoint me in any aspect.It lived up very much to my expectations.MoS provides a great amount of action,amazing performances from the well-chosen cast,incredible non-linear storytelling,and breathtaking movie moments.If Man of Steel could speak directly to Iron Man 3,it might probably say "Suck on these Kryptonian nuts!".Hahahaha.I just can't wait for the green-lighted sequel to this.I'm ready for more Superman action.
Entertaining,emotional,heartfelt and just brilliant,Man of Steel gets 8.5 over 10 stars.A perfect film for Father's Day.
Being a record-breaker in the Philippine box-office,Man of Steel is still flying high in theaters in regular 2D,3D and IMAX 3D theatrically distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures (Philippines).
*If you want more to see the Man of Steel's previous heroic acts,Superman: The Movie,Superman II,Superman III,Superman IV and Superman Returns is available to own on DVD & Blu-Ray distributed byMagnavision Home Video.
**Catch the next Zack Snyder produced film,300: Rise of an Empire in theaters coming March 2014.
*For now,why not check out this clip from the film:
*Videoclip courtesy of Movieclips.com and Warner Bros.Pictures.
(C) 2013,Warner Bros.Pictures/Syncopy,Legendary Pictures & DC Entertainment.
The newest poster for 300: Rise of an Empire was unveiled yesterday and alongside that poster unveiling was the announcement of the first trailer's release.It said that the trailer will be online June 13,2013 and as expected,the trailer just arrived today.Watch the trailer in the link below:
The trailer is dosed with a lot of action,epicness,fight/battle scenes,and more action.And since that it is a sequel to 300,it will definitely use a big dosage of slow-motion potion according to the trailer.The trailer looks really good,but I just hope that this won't be another Immortals,Clash of the Titans or other crappy period piece CG-fests.But it seems to be that it won't turn out like that since Zack Snyder will come back in this as one of the writers and producers in this.I just hope that director Noam Murro won't fuck this up,'cause It looks pretty epic and great.Craving for more 300 epicness? Well,why don't you give another look at the bloody cool poster released just yesterday:
It is not yet determined whether the film will be a sequel or a prequel.But it can be theorized that it will be a sequel due to the absence of Gerard Butler's character Leonidas since his character died in the first film.But who knows? It might take place before the events of the first film and we might see Leonidas in battle...again.But as for now,here's the plot summary:
In 300: Rise of an Empire,The Greek general Themistocles battles an invading army of Persians under the mortal-turned-god, Xerxes.
300:
Rise of an Empire is directed by Noam Murro with a screenplay from
writers Zack Snyder & Kurt Johnstad.The film stars Lena Headey
(Dredd 3D),Eva Green (Casino Royale),Rodrigo Santoro (Rio/Che),Andrei
Claude,David Wenham,Sullivan Stapleton,Jack O' Connell & Hans
Matheson. Since the trailer released today was just a teaser,we can expect that more and more marketing ads such as trailers,interviews,posters,merchandise,etc. will arrive as it gets closer to the film's release date.
300: Rise of an Empire is set to open March 2014 in 2D,Digital 3D & IMAX 3D for the best movie experience distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures (Philippines).
300: Rise of an Empire's producer/writer Zack Snyder's latest movie Man of Steel is now showing in Philippine theaters nationwide in 2D,Digital 3D & IMAX 3D.Also distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures (Philippines).Like their Facebook page in the link.
*Before heading to see the "Rise of an Empire" check out the battle of the 300 Spartans in 300,available to own on DVD & Blu-Ray distributed by Magnavision Home Video.
Tonight,we dine in hell!...Again,that is.Anyway,the first poster for the sequel to 300,300: Rise of an Empire has been just released and it looks cool and pretty bloody.Check it out below:
Now that's what I'm talkin' about! Blood! And the poster provided a big serving of that by putting what appears to be a wave of blood as the backdrop.Epic,huh?.If you want more of that epicness,why not give another look at the previously released poster:
Uh,pardon that August 2 release date.That was the old poster according to the new poster,the film's release date has been pushed back from August 2,2013 to March 2014.Oh,I forgot.The first trailer for 300: Rise of an Empire will be released tomorrow.
300: Rise of an Empire is directed by Noam Murro with a screenplay from writers Zack Snyder & Kurt Johnstad.The film stars Lena Headey (Dredd 3D),Eva Green (Casino Royale),Rodrigo Santoro (Rio/Che),Andrei Claude,David Wenham,Sullivan Stapleton,Jack O' Connell & Hans Matheson.
Here's the film's short synopsis:
The Greek general Themistocles battles an invading army of Persians under the mortal-turned-god, Xerxes.
300: Rise of an Empire is scheduled for battle in the box office March 2014 in 2D,Digital 3D and IMAX 3D for the most immersive movie experience.
*Catch Zack Snyder's newest film Man of Steel.Now showing in theaters in 2D,Digital 3D & IMAX 3D.
Last Monday,the first poster for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug was unveiled and together with that unveiling,was the announcement of the trailer's first arrival.
This just in,the trailer has finally been released and it looks epic and better than the first.Watch the trailer in the link below:
Judging from the trailer,the film will be darker in tone and tinting and will probably have more action than the last one.And yeah,the trailer looks epic and just really dazzling.The trailer also gave us our best look yet at Smaug and the comeback of Legolas.Alongside that trailer,they also released official stills from the film.Here they are:
The Hobbits and a great shot of Erebor.
Looks like Thorin is upset and worried in this shot.What's happening? We'll all know soon.
LOTR fans rejoice! 'Cause the bow & arrow slinging elf Legolas is back in town!
What the hell is up with Bilbo's face?
Seems like this is Evangeline Lilly as Tauriel...
Gandalf looks pretty puzzled in this one...
The fierce and vicious Azog is back!
And finally,Luke Evans as Bard The Bowman
The
Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is directed by Academy Award Winner
Peter Jackson and stars Benedict Cumberbatch (Star Trek: Into
Darkness),Luke Evans (Fast & Furious 6/Immortals),Christopher
Lee,Martin Freeman (The World's End/Love Actually),Hugo Weaving
(Transformers/The Matrix),Richard Armitage,Ian McKellen
(X-Men Trilogy/The Lord of the Rings Trilogy),Cate Blanchett
(Elizabeth),Elijah Wood (Green Street Hooligans),Andy Serkis and
Evangeline Lilly.
Here's the film's synopsis: The Dwarves, Bilbo and Gandalf have successfully escaped the Misty
Mountains, and Bilbo has gained the One Ring. They all continue their
journey to get their gold back from the Dragon, Smaug.
The
Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug arrives in theaters December 13,2013 in
Digital 3D,HFR 3D (High Frame Rate 3D) & IMAX 3D for the most immersive movie experience.Also
available in 2D.
In case you wanna give another look at the poster,here it is:
I just can't wait for this epic film.
*Before heading to The Desolation of Smaug,embark on An Unexpected Journey first in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.Available to own on DVD & Blu-Ray distributed by Magnavision Home Video.Like their Facebook page in the link.
The only thing getting blown tonight is their cover.
Decided to re-watch 21 Jump Street again as a back-to-school movie yesterday and also because it is one of my favorite comedies.I've seen the film for about a several times already and I never get tired of it because of the overly-positive vibe (Even for a raunchy R-rated comedy that also includes violence).Every time I watch it,it always cheers me up for a reason I really don't know.Maybe because it's hilarious? Yeah,maybe because of that.21 Jump Street is a revamped version of the hit 80s cop drama of the same name only this time it's added with laugh-out-loud humor and freshness.And also,teen angst & delinquency.Let's not forget that.21 Jump Street is directed by Phil Lord & Chris Miller (Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs) alongside a screenplay by Michael Bacall (Who was also one of those who wrote Scott Pilgrim VS The World's screenplay) and stars Jonah Hill (Superbad/Moneyball),Channing Tatum (Fighting/Coach Carter),Brie Larson (Scott Pilgrim VS The World),Dave Franco,Rob Riggle (The Other Guys),DeRay Davis,Ice Cube (Friday), and Dax Flame.21 Jump Street tells the story of two underachieving who are sent back to a local high school to blend in and bring down a synthetic drug ring.
At first glance,you may think that 21 Jump Street is just one of those typical,raunchy,R-rated dumb comedies,but after you see this,your perspective at this film's quality might definitely change.Because it actually is good.Not decent,but good.Since the film is adapted from the 80s cop drama show of the same name,so the plot of this may come from an episode of the show.Nevertheless,the plot is typical but still good.And yeah,the film even homages the show even the characters.One of the screen writers of the film is Jonah Hill and he is possibly the reason why the film was filled of hilarity.I mean damn,Jonah Hill became funnier than ever in this.He served as a good writer,so maybe he can be a director sooner or later.21 Jump Street has a usual plot like other cop comedies (Taking down a drug syndicate/drug ring) but it still works.Specially because of the cast's hilarious performances and the wise writing by Michael Bacall and comedian Jonah Hill.The film had a lot of creative jokes,even though most of them are raunchy and explicit (See part in the bathroom stall & The phases of drug effects).And hell,this might even be a part of the best comedies you've seen in a while since there aren't much good comedies these days.Speaking of performances,let's talk about it now.
The performances in 21 Jump Street are just so hilarious and will make you laugh a lot.Jonah Hill plays the nerdy smart kid Schmidt.Jonah was typical ol' Jonah.But he was not the one we saw in Superbad.In this one,we saw him as the nerdy type but smart in the film's opening,then when he gets back to high school (undercover),he gets to be one of the cool kids.Jonah Hill was ever-funny,throwing off raunchy hilarious jokes one after the another.So,if you're a Jonah Hill fan,his performance here will make you laugh out loud and will definitely cheer you up.We never knew that Channing Tatum is good at comedy,well he tells us that he is in 21 Jump Street.Channing's character was the cool but uh,dumb character but always gets the fun.Channing was amazing and surprising in here since we haven't seen him star in a good comedy and also because we always see him act dramatically.His performance was a crowd-pleaser.Meanwhile,James Franco's younger bro Dave Franco also stars in this hell of a comedic ride.Dave Franco was good,but sometimes almost annoying.But good thing,he also throws out one of my favorite lines in this film (See It Rhymes With Grape Scene). Rapper turned actor Ice Cube has often been described as a bad actor,but he slightly redeems himself because he is actually good in this.He plays Captain Dickson,the Captain in the MPD Jump Street division.His character was one of my favorites due to his bad-ass,hilarious dialogue.Oh yeah,I forgot.There's a surprise appearance in this film that might make you go "whoa,really?".I'm not gonna tell who those are,because it is a damn surprise.Well yeah,fans of the show might know them.21 Jump Street isn't a comedic ensemble movie,but the cast are still pretty good at giving laughs specifically the duo of Channing Tatum & Jonah Hill and also,Ice Cube.
Since the film was a comedy and comedies don't usually have great cinematography (Except The Hangover),21 Jump Street's cinematography was good,it was well-shot specially the chase scenes which might make you jump outta your seat.It puts you right in the heart of the action.What I liked in the film was the visuals (Even for a comedy). The film had good,charming visuals like the explosions,the things in during the end credits,the drug effects' phases,almost everything.Those specific visuals made me happy while watching it.I dunno,I'm weird I guess.I get attracted to those things so easily.The film had a good score that also homages the said show.Although it is revamped for a new age by replacing the guitar riffs with electronic,techno beats,it still quite sticks good to the old show's theme song.And the score felt police-y,you know courageous and everything.Which fit the film well.
21 Jump Street is well-directed and well-written which is unusual for a comedy these days.The writers seem to have researched well and made the jokes with passion and care,and creativeness.Michael Bacall & Jonah Hill's involvement in writing the screenplay & story was amazing,they did a good job and I damn hope that they do it again in the sequel but better and improved regarding the jokes & story.Phil Lord & Chris Miller directed the film well without making the film too corny and look stupid.They are just one of the good guys these days that have made good comedies.I hope they team-up again to make more smart comedies soon.
21 Jump Street is a raunchy,comedic thrill ride that will make you cheer and laugh so hard,and maybe even applaud.To fans of the show,it might give a dose of nostalgic memories.And to newbies,don't worry,you won't get lost 'cause you can research.Haha.Well,just kidding.But overall,the film is a good comedy that is light-hearted and never heavy and dull with creative jokes that are actually funny and jolting amazing comedic performances from the cast.If you love comedies,then you are in for a treat.P.S: The film is also a great stress-reliever.
21 Jump Street gets 7.6 over 10 stars.
*Catch Jonah Hill alongside fellow comedians survive the apocalypse in This Is The End.Coming soon in Phil.theaters.
*Save the White House with Channing Tatum in White House Down,showing in Phil.theaters July 3,2013.Distributed by Columbia Pictures Philippines.Same with This Is The End.Anyway,like Columbia Pictures Philippines' Facebook page in the link attached.
*21 Jump Street is available to own on DVD & Blu-Ray today distributed by Magnavision Home Video.Like their Facebook page in the link.
Why not check this hilarious clip from the film anyway:
>Video clip courtesy of Movieclips.com,Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and Columbia Pictures.
(C) 2012,Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and Columbia Pictures.
The first poster for The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug has arrived online and it really looks majestic.Give a look at the poster below:
Marvelous! Marvelous,that's how I describe that majestic,beautiful,mysterious poster.And I love the way how Bilbo stands there because it seems like he is ready for more adventures and quests as if he isn't afraid to do so.This poster unveiling really is good news since we get a first look at what's the film gonna be like.But what's even better is that in 2 days,the first trailer for the film will be released online.July 11,10am to be exact.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is directed by Academy Award Winner Peter Jackson and stars Benedict Cumberbatch (Star Trek: Into Darkness),Luke Evans (Fast & Furious 6/Immortals),Christopher Lee,Martin Freeman (The World's End/Love Actually),Hugo Weaving (Transformers/The Matrix),Richard Armitage,Ian McKellen (X-Men Trilogy/The Lord of the Rings Trilogy),Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth),Elijah Wood (Green Street Hooligans),Andy Serkis and Evangeline Lilly.
Here's the film's synopsis:
The Dwarves, Bilbo and Gandalf have successfully escaped the Misty
Mountains, and Bilbo has gained the One Ring. They all continue their
journey to get their gold back from the Dragon, Smaug.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug arrives in theaters December 13,2013 in Digital 3D & IMAX 3D for the most immersive movie experience.Also available in 2D.
*The predecessor to this film,The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is available to own on DVD & Blu-Ray distributed by Magnavision Home Video. **Own the one ring in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy available also in DVD & Blu-Ray distributed also by Magnavision Home Video.
You don't get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies.
It was a Saturday afternoon yesterday and I had nothing to watch.Then it popped into my mind that I had been planning to re-watch The Social Network since I haven't seen it in a while.And thus,I watched it again.End of story.Anyway,The Social Network is directed by David Fincher (Se7en/Fight Club),screen-written by Aaron Sorkin & Ben Mezrich and stars Jesse Eisenberg (Zombieland/Adventureland),Andrew Garfield (Never Let Me Go/Lions for Lambs),Armie Hammer,Justin Timberlake (Black Snake Moan/Alpha Dog),Rooney Mara,Rashida Jones & Max Minghella.The Social Network tells the story of Harvard Student Mark Zuckerberg and his creation of the social networking website that would be later known as Facebook.He is later sued by two brothers who claimed he stole their idea.Later then,the co-founder of Facebook gets squeezed out of the business.The Social Network won 3 Oscars in 2011 including Best Achievement in Film Editing (Kirk Baxter & Angus Wall),Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score (Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross) and Best Writing,Adapted Screenplay (Aaron Sorkin).
The Social Network doesn't easily tell the successful and innovative creation of the now ever-famous social networking website,Facebook but it also tells the hardships and lawsuits that the developers encountered while they were working on it.And,behind those stories are stories about Mark Zuckerberg's success,greed and arrogance.And underneath those stories is another layer of plot that centers on Friendship,Greed,Loyalty and Betrayal.Aaron Sorkin's complex but really brilliant writing on the film's story was really very impressing and breathtaking.He really deserved that Oscar he won because of his impeccable writing.The plot is emotionally strong and very dramatic and you will sometimes really feel the characters' emotional struggle throughout the film.And alongside that brilliant plot writing is a well chosen cast.The entire cast are really amazing in The Social Network.We'll talk about their performances in a little while.And yeah,Aaron Sorkin did a wonderful job in writing the film's screen play.Ben Mezrich did a good job too in adapting the book to film.Kudos to both writers of the film specially Aaron Sorkin.
The Social Network introduces us to real life characters and mainly one of those is Mark Zuckerberg,a hacker,Harvard Student and creator of Facebook.Jesse Eisenberg was a great choice to play Mark and he really was the perfect choice to fit the role.Jesse Eisenberg did a great job in playing Mark Zuckerberg.He was really so clever,witty and sometimes,arrogant.But all of the time he was amazing.All in all,Eisenberg's performance was phenomenal.Just like the film was.Andrew Garfield plays Eduardo Saverin,Mark's best friend,co-creator of Facebook and later turns into Mark's rival/enemy.Before seeing this,I really didn't know who Andrew Garfield is and I didn't really know he is one of the newest actors out there that really have the skill to act almost professionally.And once I noticed that he is great specially in the film,I was really impressed.He portrayed the character very emotionally and strong (See the argument scene near the end where he visits Mark's office).He was really impressing & amazing in that scene and the entire film.And believe me,once you see him act in this film you will be amazed and might applaud.His performance is my 2nd favorite in this film.First would be Eisenberg's. Armie Hammer plays Cameron/Tyler Winklevoss,Two of Mark's enemies who claims Mark stole their idea and they file a lawsuit against him.Armie Hammer did a wonderful job in playing the Winklevoss twins.Armie Hammer's performance was good,but not good enough.I don't know what it is,but I thought he was okay in the film.My 3rd favorite performance in the film would be Justin Timberlake's.Justin plays Sean Parker,founder of Napster and the one who destroys the friendship between Mark & Eduardo.Justin Timberlake is a versatile actor and he proves that he is once again in The Social Network.I loved the way how well JT performed here,and significantly I loved his character due to his traits.You know,playboy,millionaire,arrogant.And I loved his dialogues too,every word JT's chracter mutters in this film is just wonderful.And like what I said previously,The entire cast performed well in The Social Network and they will impress the viewers.And yes,they are a very well chosen cast.'Nuff said.
The cinematography in The Social Network is beautiful specially during the opening credits and the "Regatta rowboat" scene.The entire film was shot beautifully and gorgeously.I loved the film's camera work,but what I gave emphasis on the film's technical department was the music handled by Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross.The music felt very "computer-y","digital" and felt code-ish.That "digital" score I'm talking about was the one played in the "Facemash" part.You know,part of the score had music that sounded like they were made with computers.And that music fit the film properly because of the "innovation & technology" theme.But what I also liked is the fact that even though most of the scores in the film sounded "digital" there were still some scores that are somber and I don't really know how to describe it,but let's just say it was beautiful.Part of the "beautiful" score I was referring to was the one played during the opening credits.Aside from being somber & beautiful,the score played during the opening credits felt very dramatic and it set the right tone & mood for the film.
David Fincher's direction in The Social Network might be his best ever since Fight Club (Though I haven't seen it,that's what I knew & heard).He made the film very dramatically intense with a few unexpected witty laughs.And he chose the cast perfectly.None of them felt miscast.All of the actors performed brilliantly.And his team-up with writer Aaron Sorkin is just amazing.After re-watching this,this might be the best David Fincher film I have ever seen yet since Se7en (I haven't seen Fight Club nor Panic Room) but I have to say,this might be one of his finest works.
I absolutely had no conflicts with the film since I consider this as an "epic" drama for this generation.The Social Network is an irresistible modern classic that is brilliantly written,superbly acted,thrilling,emotionally strong,dramatically intense and beautifully directed thanks to David Fincher's incredible directing efforts.It is definitely a must-not-miss that everyone should watch.I guarantee that you'll "like" The Social Network.
I didn't like the film,but I definitely loved it so,The Social Network gets 8.7 over 10 stars.I was supposed to give the film 8.3 stars but since it is one of my all-time favorites ever since I saw it for the first time,I immediately changed my mind regarding my rating on the film.
That minimalistic poster above looks great by the way since the poster shows the algorithm used in making Facemash and later then,Facebook.That algorithm was made by Eduardo Saverin,by the way.And yes,the poster above is a big plot point in the film.
*The Social Network is available on DVD & Blu-Ray distributed by Magnavision Home Video alongside other David Fincher classics "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and Se7en.
For the meantime,why not check out this awesome clip from this film:
*Video clip courtesy of Movieclips.com & Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
The new poster for the Escape Plan is here and well,it looks good,a little bit. Check out the poster below:
Last January/February of this year,Arnie made a comeback in The Last Stand and in October,he's gonna be back to do an "Escape Plan".
Meanwhile,Stallone has been recently active in Hollywood due to his blockbuster hit The Expendables 2 and the awful but entertaining Bullet To The Head.And together with Arnie,they'll team up again in Escape Plan this October 2013. From the look of the poster above,the film will possibly be dark but it still might be action-packed with gun slinging and the fistfights just because it has 2 Action movie icons starring in it.But,let's just hope that the film won't be as bad or near bad like Bullet To The Head.Thank God that film was entertaining at least.But from what I sense,it still might end up like that.Well who knows?,it still might be good.And yeah,it's good to see Sly and Arnie together again onscreen post-Expendables 2.
Escape Plan is directed by Mikael Hafstrom (1408/The Rite) and stars Sylvester Stallone (Rocky/The Expendables),Arnold Schwarzenegger (The Terminator/The Last Stand/Predator),Jim Caviezel (The Passion of the Christ/The Count of Monte Cristo),Vincent D'Onofrio (Full Metal Jacket/Men In Black),Vinnie Jones and 50 Cent.The film was formerly titled "The Tomb" and "Exit Plan" until the title was revised again to be called "Escape Plan".
Here's the film's synopsis:When a structural-security authority finds himself incarcerated in a
prison he designed, he has to put his skills to escape and find out who
framed him.
Escape Plan is set to open in theaters October 2013.
New set pics of Thor: The Dark World has been up and it features our best look yet at Christopher Eccleston's Malekith The Accursed.Check them out below:
Chris Hemsworth as Thor together with director Alan Taylor instructing him or something like that.
Whoa,wait...Why is Thor miserable or something? Is he grieving? We'll all know as soon as the film comes out.
Those are some cool shots above featuring Thor during a battle.Awesome.
Malekith's minions,otherwise known as The Dark Elves
And finally,our clearest look yet at Malekith:
Thor: The Dark World is directed by Alan Taylor (Who directed some episodes of HBO's hit series Game of Thrones) and stars Chris Hemsworth (Thor/The Cabin In The Woods),Natalie Portman (Black Swan),Tom Hiddleston (War Horse/The Avengers),Anthony Hopkins (The Silence of the Lambs/Hitchcock),Kat Dennings,Idris Elba,Stellan Skarsgard & Christopher Eccleston (G.I Joe: The Rise of Cobra/Elizabeth).
Here's the plot synopsis: When Jane Foster is targeted by the denizens of the dark world of
Svartalfheim, Thor sets out on a quest to protect her at all costs.
Thor: The Dark World will strike theaters November 2013 in 3D.
To get more pumped up for Thor: The Dark World,why not check its' trailer below:
*The first film,Thor is available to own on DVD & Blu-Ray distributed by Magnavision Home Video.Like their Facebook page in the link provided.
In 2011,Saw director James Wan creeped us allout with Insidious.It was a great modern horror film that was really scary even without the gore.The ending hinted that a sequel is possibly in the works because the door was open for ideas.
Last February 2012,director James Wan and screenwriter Leigh Whannell were in talks to recur to do a sequel for Insidious.It is later revealed that the sequel will be titled Insidious: Chapter 2 as it is a direct continuation of the events of the first film.
Just yesterday June 5,2013 the first theatrical trailer was released online.You can check the trailer below:
From the looks of the trailer,the film will possibly more darker in tone as the plot-line centers on The Lambert Family's uncovering of the mysterious childhood secret that has left them dangerously connected to the spirit world and the film will probably a good sequel to a good modern horror film.And yeah,the trailer also creeped the shit outta me.Also,the film looks more creepy than the first because of the much more haunted house setting and from what I believe,that creepy house is of Josh's mother who made an appearance in the first Insidious.One last creepy thing is that terrifying music in Insidious will be possibly played again in Insidious: Chapter 2.Oof.Creepy.
Insidious: Chapter 2 is directed by James Wan (Saw) with Leigh Whannell's screenwriting and stars Rose Byrne (X-Men: First Class/Bridesmaids),Patrick Wilson (Watchmen/Lakeview Terrace),Barbara Hershey,Ty Simpkins (Iron Man 3) and Lin Shaye.Also,Screenwriter Leigh Whannell and Angus Sampson will reprise their role as the paranormal investigators from Insidious.
As the poster above says,Insidious: Chapter 2 is scheduled to terrify its' audiences once again September 13,2013.No announcement yet regarding its' Philippine theatrical release.
*The first film,Insidious is available on DVD distributed by Viva Video Inc.Like their Facebook page in the link provided above.
Secrets have a cost. They're not free. Not now, not ever. -Aunt May (The Amazing Spider-Man)
Who would've ever known that Sam Raimi's ever successful 2002 hit film Spider-Man would get a remake/reboot 10 years after? Anyway,That quote is great,specially for this film,but I still love Ben Parker's classic quote from Sam Raimi's Spider-Man better.But still,it's a great quote from TASM's Aunt May (Played by Sally Field).Both are just so valuable.I just watched Marc Webb's hit blockbuster comic-book movie The Amazing Spider-Man earlier today again for the 5th time maybe.The Amazing Spider-Man is directed by Marc Webb (Who previously worked on 500 Days of Summer) and stars Andrew Garfield (The Social Network),Emma Stone (Zombieland/Easy A),Rhys Ifans (HP7.1),Denis Leary (Ice Age),Martin Sheen (Apocalypse Now/The Departed) and Sally Field (Forrest Gump/Lincoln).The Amazing Spider-Man finds Peter Parker a clue that might help him understand why his parents disappeared when
he was young. His path puts him on a collision course with Dr. Curt
Connors, his father's former partner.And because of that plot-line,the film revealed more secrets that were never discovered in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man.
The Amazing Spider-Man's storyline showed Peter Parker on a quest to discover about the disappearance of his parents when he was young.The plot was fresh and justified the film's tagline (The Untold Story Begins) and it took the plot into deep places that Sam Raimi's Spider-Man never took.Well,what I mean is,TASM plot deepened and became serious because of the "discovering the past" theme and somehow,I liked that plot point better now than Spider-Man's plot that dealt with responsibility.But I really don't know,both plots from the 2 films are great but for me it's hard to decide which is the superior one.Maybe it's Spider-Man's because it is very valuable,but still,TASM's plot is still valuable because of the other theme that dealt with discovering who you really are.Despite the freshness of The Amazing Spider-Man's storyline,it still managed to homage some of Spider-Man's plot points such as "the scientist turning into a creature" scheme,The killing of Ben Parker,Peter hunting down Uncle Ben's murderer and so on and so forthwhich still felt like watching Spider-Man only darker in tone.And since I noticed those redundancies,the plot was still fresh but still managed to represent some plot points from Spider-Man.
In The Amazing Spider-Man,we are reintroduced to Peter Parker,only this time played by a new actor in the name of Andrew Garfield.Andrew Garfield played a moody and emotional Peter Parker.Spider-Man's Tobey Maguire was also emotional,but occasionally.If you're asking who's the better one in portraying Peter Parker,I would say both.Both were fresh in those times,both are great and both have wonderful acting.But IMO,Andrew's performance just ties in with Maguire's.'Nuff said.I really didn't knew he would become one great Peter Parker until I saw him act as one here.And he was so happy he landed the role.From what I read in an article,playing Spider-Man was his dream and his dream became a reality.And he was really great,seeing him act.In this film,we also reintroduced to Gwen Stacy only this time,instead of being portrayed by Bryce Dallas Howard,she's played by the vivacious,amazing Emma Stone.In my opinion,Emma Stone's performance was even better than Kirsten Dunst in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy in playing Peter's love interest.But,Kirsten did a good job too in Raimi's Spidey trilogy but I just thought that Emma was better in playing the hero's damsel.Rhys Ifans plays Dr.Curt Connors/The Lizard here and I thought he was good.He was strong in his performance.But I thought Willem Dafoe's performance as Norman Osborn/Green Goblin in Spider-Man was a tad better.But still,both were good and the 2 did well.But what I did like in both of the actors' performances is,that even though they played villains,both had heart somehow.Denis Leary plays Capt.Stacy (Gwen's dad) and he did a good job in playing the role.He had a cop's bad-ass virtue and also,a soft heart.And he was somehow,heartwarming and also reminded me of Norman Osborn's last words in Spider-Man.Meanwhile,Apocalypse Now veteran Martin Sheen plays Uncle Ben,who then again gets shot.Well,between the two Uncle Bens (Martin Sheen & Cliff Robertson's) I would vote for Cliff Robertson's because he was more emotional during his death scene and he brought a better message to the viewers.Well,Martin Sheen made a good Uncle Ben too,but Cliff was better.If you noticed how I tackled the performances and how I compared them is because almost all of the actors here were both superior and inferior to their Raimi Spider-Man trilogy equivalents.But all along the way,both of the performances in both films are just good.
The Amazing Spider-Man's cinematography felt more realistic this time and it felt more close-up.And one of the best things I loved in the cinematography was the dark tinting.If Raimi's Spider-Man had a light,orangey tint,this one had a dark bluish tint that made the film better since the film had a dark plot.Albeit having dark tinting,the film's color palette still looked vibrant because of the flashing lights of NYC specially during the film's climax.And speaking of cinematography,Spider-Man's web-swinging through the busy streets of The Big Apple never looked better and sharper.It felt like during Spidey was swinging,he brought a video cam with him.Taking over Danny Elfman in the score was James Horner (Titanic).The eeriness of Horner's score improved the film's dark vibe.But if I would compare the two great scorers,I would say both.Both of them did a tremendous job in scoring both films.Horner's score was dark and intense while Elfman's was comic-booky and cheesy.The Amazing Spider-Man was (In My Words) Spider-Man only more intense and deeply emotional but still managed to balance the dark and light.And you could feel TASM's dark vibe better thanks to Horner's score and the dark tinting.
Marc Webb's direction on The Amazing Spider-Man was brilliant and somehow,outdone Sam Raimi's direction on the first Spider-Man.It's because he tried to experiment Spider-Man taking a dark direction and a deeper plot.Which thankfully succeeded.He was a great director for this film.And I loved the fact that even though the film was dark (like what I said above) he was still able to mix light into the dark.
The Amazing Spider-Man is a great remake/reboot that lived up to the original even though it was fresh and different.Marc Webb was a great choice as the new director for the new Spider-Man film.I can't wait to see the results of him directing the sequel.But it will be definitely great and might outdo the first film.
The Amazing Spider-Man is dazzling and captivating thanks to Marc Webb's great directorial efforts,the incredible visuals and James Horner's dark,eerie,and sometimes emotional score and also because of the amazing acting talents of the fresh cast.Therefore,The Amazing Spider-Man gets an amazing 7.8 stars over 10.
*Its' sequel,The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is swinging into theaters May 2014. **The Amazing Spider-Man is available to own on DVD & Blu-Ray distributed by Magnavision Home Video.Also available on DVD are Sam Raimi's Spider-Man Trilogy also distributed by said distributor.
Anyway,why not check out this funny clip from the film:
*Video clip courtesy of Movieclips.com & Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
