As good, if not better than the first. More action, much more Spidey. A nice look into the pains and responsibilities of a hero. More J. Jonah Jameson. Woo hoo! Kirsten Dunst worked for me this time. She makes a nice Cecily, too. Completes and extends the 1st movie the way Superman I and II make one good big movie. Some of the schmaltzy scenes and platitudes could have been shortened, but that could be just me. Sometimes I'm impressed by Toby Maguire's acting, sometimes I want to slap him and scream "Say something!" I hope that's intentional. Great Evil Dead flashbacks during an Ock scene. I want... no, I need to see this again, in slow motion, to catch all the moves during the fight scenes. Incredible choreography. How would a powerful man with spider powers fight a guy with eight autonomous arms? How would the guy fight back. Well, like this. Damn. Even liked the soundtrack.
I'll post this to get things started, then come in with my (minor) gripes.
Posts: 7790 | Registered: Aug 2000
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quote:Great Evil Dead flashbacks during an Ock scene
You're the second one to allude to this so far. Is it nice and obvious, or do I need to watch them to refresh my recollection? If so, which one?
One thing I liked in the previews was the use of the tentacles. In some of the poorer Spidey comics, Doc Ock uses all four tentacles to pick up a car, which means his normal body is supporting the weight of the car. In the trailers, he's always bracing two of them when he lifts something. Is this done consistently?
posted
Agreed. Saw the midnight movie (for my dollar, the best way to see films any more).
I think this is the purest comic book adapation since the original Christopher Reeve "Superman" pic. In fact, there are scenes that are reminescent of both the first and second Supe movies (though not stolen or anything, this reminding me). This is a good thing. It is heroic without being snide about it. The humor is more natural and extremely funny while the action scenes, as Chris said, are superior to just about any superhero movie action.
In terms of story, every facet of the original is delved into deeply. We learn more about the "power and responsibility" more about Petey's sacrifices, more about MJ's desires, more about Aunt May and Pete, etc. It is a continuation of the original story, not a retread or not a "stand alone" sequel. Like X-Men 2, I think it surpasses the original by building on a strong foundation and going higher, not simply staying where they left off.
The special effects were also much improved. I think they did a better job of integrating CG spidey with real actor Spidey. This made for a more genuine feeling for the action, the swinging, the heroics.
Go see this gem. THIS is what summer moviegoing (or any moviegoing) is supposed to be about.
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Dagonee: Yep, and I was glad to see it. Two tentacles are supporting him whenever he lifts something the man couldn't handle. Nicely done.
Minor quibble: several times Spidey punches him directly in the face. I would have thought he'd be knocked out pretty easily if that happened, but if need be it could be explained by his tentacles keeping him upright or even reacting to the attack fast enough to pull him away slightly or something. Not important enough to bother me.
Posts: 7790 | Registered: Aug 2000
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posted
I like the reviewer personally, but I don't always recommend his reviews. Not because I necessarily disagree with them - we have our different tastes, and besides, he loved Spidey 2 - but because he has a bad habit of giving away plot. That's a cardinal sin for a reviewer, as far as I'm concerned.
Here's his, if anyone's interested. Warning: it does slip some facts that I think work better as surprises. And this is coming from someone who watched every online trailer, teaser, and clip he could before seeing the movie.
posted
Yeah, you're right Chris. A punch straight to the face from Spidey-much less several of them-is all it takes to knock Doc Ock out. But that's a minor, comic-nerd quibble.
It was awesome, and I think it was as good if not better than the first one, too. I really enjoyed the direction they took with Otto, too. He's a villain that can start out bad, like in Ultimate Spidey, or start out neutral, or start out good. I like the choice they made.
Posts: 17164 | Registered: Jun 2001
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I have tickets to see this tonight, before leaving for LA tomorrow. I can't wait (for either of those events)!
Posts: 159 | Registered: Jun 2004
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I just got back from seeing it! It was great!
This from an old comics fan--Spidey has inhibitions about punching people with his full strength unless he knows they can take it, and sometimes if they can, if he knows them or they look weak (cf. the Lizard/Curt Connors; the Vulture/Adrian Toomes, an old man). Octavius, except for his arms, is basically human; Peter knows if he gets a shot through he could probably knock the guy's block off, literally. So he holds back.
Posts: 1114 | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
I have to admit, after Chris' endorsment and several other reviews I've read, I'm seriously reconsidering how much I want to see this. When I saw the trailer, my first thought was "Well, now I don't need to see the movie." So, there is really more to the movie than they showed in the trailer?
Posts: 9871 | Registered: Aug 2001
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posted
So much more than in the trailer. Sooooo much more.
Great movie. Not perfect, but by far the best super-hero movie ever.
Also one of the best action movies ever.
And, a top-notch just plain ol' movie. It transcended it's genre and had meaningful stories. Makes the tortured Bruce Wayne/Batman in the movies look like a cardboard cutout.
quote: Makes the tortured Bruce Wayne/Batman in the movies look like a cardboard cutout.
As a diehard fan of the comic I hate to admit this, but at least in the movie versions this is completely accurate. Now, the animated movies of the Bat come pretty close, though...
As far as comic book movies go, make mine Marvel.
fil
PS Was it simply internet rumor or was Tobey really kept at a slightly lower salary due to threat of having Jake Ghyllenhal as on-deck for the role? I like Jake a lot, but Tobey is the man for this movie.
Posts: 896 | Registered: Apr 2003
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posted
Jake is Superman. Or The Green Hornetm, depending on who you believe. Silly boy.
(psst, acutally, here is the direct quote from Jake. "There was an issue with Toby Maguire and his back. They had millions of dollars riding on the movie and they said it might happen but it never became a reality, so its kind of funny to talk about.")
posted
I heard an interview the other night with Jake and he was talking about Superman and Spiderman. He said that when he saw Spiderman he decided that making blockbusters might not be such a bad idea. He loved Spidey and thought Toby was great. Apparently, up till then, he felt that big budget movies were worthless and only made "art" films. Once he saw Spidey, though, he changed his mind. I was serious about him being Superman. The interview made me like him less, and Toby is okay, I just get tired of watching try so hard to look like he isn't trying. I saw The Day After Tomorrow and while it wasn't the best movie ever, it was a relief to see Jake deliver lines without all the torture Toby puts into it. Watching him wasn't an experience in pain. It was nice.
Posts: 9871 | Registered: Aug 2001
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posted
If you're worried that you've seen all the good stuff in the trailers, rest easy. Not only is that barely a fraction of the action, but some of the scenes in the trailer are mixed a bit so that even when something comes up you think you've seen, you're surprised.
Posts: 7790 | Registered: Aug 2000
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HOMG, though. The Hal Sparks cameo was the best. And I love the way they foreshadowed for, like, three future movies in there. And um. Yeah. Alfred Molina rocked my socks, and Tobey Maguire's eyes are HUGE. Also, comic book physics were largely relied upon, Doc Ock grounded himself most of the time while lifting heavy things and so on. There were a few "Oh my God, he couldn't do that!" moments if you didn't remember that there were cameras in the tentacles, but they established that pretty well.
By the way. The first part of the post was irony.
Posts: 4816 | Registered: Apr 2003
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quote:As a diehard fan of the comic I hate to admit this, but at least in the movie versions this is completely accurate. Now, the animated movies of the Bat come pretty close, though...
I agree - but they're trying to do less, and they're hindered by not wanting too much character development in the animated series (so it can keep going, I guess). But they were far better than the Batman movies.
And yes, the trailers don't even show the best parts. Which is pretty unbelievable, but still true.
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I dig the Tobey. Jake is great, but Donnie Darko is HIS superhero of choice...![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
And I love the way they foreshadowed for, like, three future movies in there. 
