Movie Review: The Amazing Spider-Man 2

So last night I got to attend the screening of "The Amazing Spider-Man 2." I was worried since I had read an earlier review comparing the film as the "Batman & Robin" of "The Amazing Spider-Man" series. Trthfully though, it felt more like "Batman Forever." An overall good film, with some bad moments, but overall good ones. Trying to avoid as much spoilers as possible, but some minor ones will be present, if you haven't watched any of the trailers in theaters or TV.

The beginning of the film wasn't great. Things I didn't like included Aleksei Sytsevich's (Paul Giamatti) incoherent dialogue, not to mention the character's lack-of-intellect. Granted Aleksei (aka the Rhino) isn't a scientist in the comics, but the characterization in the movie's beginning was just badly comedic.

Max Dillon (Jaime Foxx) on the other hand played the geeky scientist, who's either looked down upon or outright ignored by his peers. He's also a bit of the bumbling professor, similar to Jim Carrey's Edward Nygma (Riddler). My gripe in the film was that they made him just too pathetic, before his rebirth as Electro. It just came to the point that they stuffed every bumbling, geeky cliche they could into his character.

Another downside for me was Peter Parker's (Andrew Garfield) bad excuses to pretty much everyone in the film, not to mention the on-and-off interest he continues to have with his power's origin, as well as his father's research.

However the biggest gripe is Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan)… the character just overall lacked bad judgement and his sudden genetic ailments were just rushed for no reason other than to push the story along, when it didn't make sense. The reason it didn't make sense to me, was due to us seeing Norman Osborn surviving the same ailment for decades, while Harry suffers the effects in a matter of hours.

Once you survive the beginning of the film though, it does get better.

Electro's Times Square attack is beautifully done, as is the Spider-Man fights with Electro and "Green Goblin" (never actually called that in the film, BTW).

Wasn't a fan of Electro in the trailers, but loved him in the film. The effects for Electro and his powers were fantastic, and there's even a chase scene that looks fantastic as Spider-Man's chasing a streak of electricity.

The clock tower fight between "Green Goblin" and Spider-Man is fantastic with a lot of close-quarters fighting on gears and atop the goblin glider.

The series does continue to show Peter Parker as a scientist, as there's a wonderful scene of him trying to figure out how to protect his web shooters from Electro's powers in the garage.

Amazingly enough, there were many scenes in the various trailers that were cut from the final film, not to mention there being no scenes in the credits, although the trailer for "X-Men: Days of Future Past" has been tacked onto the end, after credits, in some countries.

Overall loved the film! Just wished some of the dialogue was better.

Movie Review: "Captain America: The Winter Soldier"

Got a chance to check out "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" last night, and I thoroughly enjoyed the film. The movie is billed as a spy/espionage movie, and it definitely fits the bill. Granted it's more follow the clues from A to B, but that's the situation when you cram the elements into a movie, thus having only a 2-hour time-constraint.

The movie's plot deals with an internal force within S.H.I.E.L.D. threatening to destroy the organization and the world, just as S.H.I.E.L.D. is about to unleash their newest program designed to keep humanity safe, Project: Insight.

During the movie Steve Rogers (aka Captain America; played by Chris Evans) comes into contact with the Winter Soldier, a myth circulated among the Intelligence community for decades. For long-time comic book fans, we know the identity, and it's quickly revealed in the movie, that the Winter Soldier is real, and is Roger's former childhood friend, and long-thought deceased army brother, James Buchanan Barnes (aka Bucky; played by Sebastian Stan). Unfortunately for Captain America, Bucky's memories have been wiped, for the most part.

The movie also introduces Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), a retired paratrooper, who was part of a decommissioned experimental paratrooper rescue unit utilizing rocket-propelled wing harnesses, dubbed "Falcon." Rogers and Wilson know one another from morning exercise routines around the Washington, D.C., area. Wilson quickly becomes one of the few people Rogers can trust once the shit hits the fan.

The movie is quickly about Captain America and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) going on the run, trying to uncover the truth about "Project: Insight," after a manhunt is initiated for Captain America, under the pretense of him withholding knowledge, and possible involvement, in the assassination of Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). The operation is headed by Fury's long-time friend, Alexander Pierce (Robert Redford), intent on learning the truth about Nick Fury's assassination. I normally wouldn't reveal this, but they are mentioned it in the trailer… so yeah...

The action was great, especially the fight scenes between Batroc the Leaper vs. Captain America and Captain America/Black Widow vs. Winter Soldier. While there were some fast-cut, shaky shots, for the most part the fights were clear and discernible shots showing fight choreography and not shaky footage to pretend there's a fight going on.

Also returning to the movie are Cobie Smulders (as Maria Hill), Hayley Atwell (as Peggy Carter), Maximiliano Hernandez (as Jasper Sitwell), and Toby Jones (as Arnim Zola). Being introduced into the Marvel cinematic universe are Brock Rumlow/Crossbones (Frank Grillo), Georges Batroc/Batroc the Leaper (Georges St. Pierre), Sharon Carter/Agent 13 (Emily VanCamp), Alexander Pierce (Robert Redford), Baron Wolfgang Von Strucker (Thomas Kretschmann), Pietro Maximoff/Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), and Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen).

You have a great mid-credit scene, directed by Joss Whedon, that leads into "The Avengers: Age of Ultron," plus a brief one at the end featuring Bucky. Overall I loved the film. the only thing I felt meh about were two things within the movie that if I were to reveal would be too much of a spoiler :P

Movie Review: Byzantium

So I got to check out Byzantium tonight at the Tribeca Film Festival. It's a film about vampires directed by Neil Jordan, who directed "Interview With The Vampire" (starring Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise, based on Anne Rice's book).

"Byzantium" was adapted from a play written by Moira Buffini. First off the movie's vampires are not what you expect. These aren't the traditional vampires who prowl at night and sleep during the day. The only thing they have in common with their mythical counterparts is the need for blood and the restriction of being unable to enter private dwellings without an invitation.

The movie follows Clara (Gemma Arterton) and Eleanor (Saoirse Ronan) as they travel around Ireland, leading a nomadic lifestyle. Clara does what she can to provide a life for both Eleanor and herself, and she's not afraid to do anything to earn cash, so that she can provide for them both. She gets her hands dirty, while she protects Eleanor. Eleanor on the other hand is the dreamer and innocent child, overall. However the nomadic lifestyle they both lead begins to wear Eleanor down. She's lonely. She's tired. She yearns to be free of the life they currently lead. Feeding and then moving on, a cyclic life of repetitive non-existence. She's lonely, she's seeking an ear willing to listen to her tale. Hell, she's a teenager, been one for 200 years.

I felt the film's pacing was overall great. There were some moments where time felt like it was standing still, but overall the film flowed smoothly. The visuals were great, especially the outdoor scenes. The dialogue was engaging overall, but some was lost due to the accents of the actors, but that's more my fault I feel for not interacting with native Irish folks. Despite what the trailers may show you, the film's primarily a drama.

The vampires were a refreshing take on the creatures, and while overall not too different, the film was more about Clara and Eleanor as two women trying to survive and etch out a "normal" life, than being monsters of the night.

Movie Review: Snow White & The Huntsman

So I got a chance to check out "Snow White and the Huntsman" today, and the movie looked fantastic. The lighting, scenery, special effects, and wardrobe of the characters were, for the most part, fantastic!

And that's about it.

The story itself was great. I liked seeing the back story of Queen Ravenna (Charlize Theron), or at least the elements they did cover. Still left out how she learned magic... We got a little glimpse into the nature of the Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth), although his character is never named in the movie, aside from being called Huntsman. Snow White (Kristen Stewart) did actually appear pretty gorgeous in some scenes, unlike what we saw in the trailer. Sadly, what I didn't feel was any attachment thanks to the lackluster acting on pretty much all the parts of the actors. Although Theron's acting did fare better once Queen Ravenna begins to feel her life waning away and she lashes out in anger at everybody, especially her brother Finn (Sam Spruell). Otherwise, it feels like everyone's coasting for the paycheck.

The story doesn't stray too far from the mythos of "Snow White," but it does include a lot of fantasy/fairy tale tropes, to the point where a lot of it was predictable. I'll be honest, I rolled my eyes a lot...

And last but not least... there was a serious math problem in this movie... which you should be able to figure out after seeing the movie to the end, if you paid attention.

Overall it is an okay film, but some polishing would've greatly improved it for me.

Movie Review: 21 Jump Street

It's time to head back to 37 Jump Street... I mean 21 Jump Street!

The new movie, 21 Jump Street, based on the 1987-1991 TV show hits theaters on March 16 and stars Noah Hill (Superbad, Evan Almighty) and Channing Tatum (G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra, The Vow) as Schmidt and Jenko, two screw-up rookie officers who've been transferred to the newly-recommissioned Jump Street Division, captained by Capt. Dickinson (Ice Cube). This movie takes place long after the TV series, featuring cameos from past actors in the show, as well as some returning characters from the original series.

The plot revolves around Schmidt (Hill) and Jenko (Tatum) playing brothers as their cover as they attempt to bust a drug ring in high school after a student dies from a new mysterious hallucinogenic drug. However, things have changed since these two were in high school. The jocks are no longer the cool kids, and the geeks are no longer the outcasts. And if that was not enough, the two forget their cover and switch places, so Schmidt is left learning about high school as an Athletics and Drama student, while Jenko is thrust into the world of Mathematics and Science.

While the original series focused on the experiences of a team and their difficulties reintegrating into high school, this movie focuses on Schmidt and Jenko understanding what the other went through the first time around. This understanding leads to Schmidt and Jenko further solidifying their post-school brotherhood with one another.

The movie contains action, comedy, and stupidity. Running gags include making pop-culture references about today's entertainment industry to action movie sequences you would expect blockbuster movies to possess.

If you're looking for a movie full of Michael Bay-esque explosions? You won't find it here. If you're looking for in-depth police procedures and police drama? You won't find it here. If you're looking for guys in awkward situations trying to be popular and kiss the girl? You've got it. Dry-humping? You got it! If you're looking for an arthritic grandmother with a stiff hand who needs some cock? You've got it here!