The Amazing Spider–Man Double Feature (2012 & 2014)

The Amazing Spider–Man Double Feature (2012 & 2014)

The Amazing Spider–Man (2012)

C. – 136m.
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 – Widescreen
A.K.A.: Spider–Man 4: The Amazing Spider–Man, Spiderman 4: The Amazing Spiderman, The Amazing Spider–Man In 3D, The Amazing Spiderman In 3D, The Amazing Spiderman, Spider–Man, Spiderman
Dir.: Marc Webb.
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Martin Sheen, Sally Field, Campbell Scott and C. Thomas Howell.

As with the first Tobey Maguire Spider–Man (2002), Peter Parker finds himself an alter–ego around the time of the death of his Uncle Ben (Sheen). Garfield is the web-slinging hero and Emma Stone is his drug of choice, Gwen Stacy, right under the nose of her father – a cop, Denis Leary. Rhys Ifans is right at home as the decent guy turned evil by mutation in a lab accident, he turns into The Lizard, and Field plays a lovely matronly Aunt May. 

This one holds it’s own against the first two Maguire Spider–Mans (2002 & 2004) and delivers just a bit more. While Kirsten Dunst’s Mary Jane Watson is clueless but cute, Stone’s Gwen Stacy is almost as equally a nerd as Garfield’s Peter Parker. Need I say that she is of course as pretty as Dunst was in her respective role back in the day? In short: There are no dumb or clueless characters in sight here and that is what makes this one work so well in, what can only be called, the cynical age (2010 – Present). There is plenty of romance and action here to keep both sexes appeased! 

Rated: [PG – 13] – Sequences Of Action & Violence.
Available On 3D & 2D Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy.

The Amazing Spider–Man 2 (2014)

C. – 142m.
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 – Widescreen.
A.K.A.: Spider–Man 5: The Amazing Spider–Man 2
The Amazing Spider–Man 2: Rise Of Elctro, The Amazing Spiderman 2: Rise Of Electro, Spiderman 5: The Amazing Spiderman 2, The Amazing Spider–Man 2 In 3D, The Amazing Spiderman 2 In 3D, The Amazing Spiderman 2, London Calling, Spider–Man 2, Spiderman 2, Spider–Man, Spiderman
Dir.: Marc Webb.
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Fox, Dane DeHaan, Felicity Jones, Paul Giamatti and Sally Field.

After pushing Gwen Stacy (Stone) away at the end of the first film, Peter Parker (Garfield) must fight to keep his one time love and the rest of New York City safe from another Oscorp villain, Electro (Jamie Fox).

Part of the charm of the Spider–Man character is that he is at once bright but shy and cool but yet awkward. In this sequel, Spider–Man ceases to be shy, cool and awkward. What is left is a pompous jerk who can throw canned webbing around so he can get place to place. This is a far cry from what Spider–Man was and should be. As such it is hard to root for him even though he is THE superhero of the film. And where the first film felt nice and tight and left viewers wanting more, this one is a slow, sloppily told yarn that could have been shortened by 40 minutes. In short, this just about kills the fun of a Spider–Man film! Small wonder this was the last of the Garfield series.   

Rated: [PG – 13] – Sequences Of Sci–Fi Action / Violence.
Available on 3D & 2D Blu–ray, DVD and Digital Copy. 

Battle Of The Sexes (2017)

Battle Of The Sexes (2017)

C – 121m
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1 – Widescreen
A.K.A.: The Battle Of The Sexes}
Starring: Emma Stone, Steve Carell, Sarah Silverman, Bill Pullman, Alan Cumming, Howard Cosell and Mary Tyler Moore.

The true story of the 1973 tennis match between World number one Billie Jean King and ex–champ and serial hustler Bobby Riggs. Well done dramatization of the true story has great acting and enough laughs in it to keep audiences entertained for the just over two hour duration. The actors are in top form. It starts a little slow though, so stick with it. Be forewarned that modern feminists will go nuts over much of the dialogue that Carell and Pullman spew. Remember though: this is a capture of a moment in time. Some people thought that way. So don’t take offense and ruin the rest of the film for yourself, view it as the set up that it is to the payoff of the match.

Trivia: Emma Stone was originally cast as Billie Jean King but had to pass due to scheduling conflicts. Brie Larson looked to be replacing her until she too had to drop out. Then Emma Stone freed up and the film was made with her in the role. Emma Stone put on 15 pounds of muscle for this film. Stone’s middle name is also Jean – like the woman she portrays here.

Rated: [PG–13] – Some Sexual Content & Partial Nudity
Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy

The Humbling (2014) & Birdman (2014)

The Humbling (2014)

C – 112m
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 – Widescreen
A.K.A.: The Last Act
Novel By: Philip Roth
Screenplay: Buck Henry & Michal Zebede
Dir.: Barry Levinson
Starring: Al Pacino, Greta Gerwig, Ninia Arianda, Charles Grodin, Mary Louise Wilson, Dan Hedaya, Dianne Wiest, Steve Rosen, Andrea Barnes and Dylan Baker.

A stage actor who is slowly losing his mind engages in a semi–relationship with a sexually confused younger woman. Funny, touching, and dramatic, but ultimately somewhat disturbing, is what would best describe this film. Pacino has great ideas as to who to write and direct this adaption of the book, and it pays off. Acting, direction and script are solid. Pacing for some may not be ideal, but this reviewer had no issues with the pace because everything else was working. Not for all tastes but it makes a good pairing with the similar film, Birdman Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014).

Trivia: It was Al Pacino’s idea to make the book into a film, to the point of convincing director Barry Levinson to do it and both of them getting Buck Henry to write the script. The film itself was shot on and off over the period of 20 non–consecutive days. And both this film and The Judge (2014) feature the same restaurant with the table by the window where “Simon”, Pacino, and “Pegeen”, Gerwig, have lunch.

Rated: [R] – Sexual Material, Language & Brief Violence
Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy

Birdman Or (The Unexpected Virtue Of Ignorance (2014)

C – 119m
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 – Widescreen
A.K.A.: Birdman
Co–Writer – Dir.: Alejandro G. Inarritu
Starring: Michael Keaton, Emma Stone, Kenny Chin, Zach Galifinakis, Naomi Watts, Katherine O’Sullivan, Edward Norton, Amy Ryan, Lindsay Duncan, Janis Corsair, Bill Camp and Jackie Hoffman.

A washed–up actor, who once played an iconic superhero, attempts to revive his career by writing and starring in his very own Broadway play. Michael Keaton, Emma Stone and Edward Norton stand out in this otherwise routine story of an actor nearing the end of his rope. Very artistically done and for the most part it is done commendably so. Pacing and indifferent direction to other actors in the film aside from the aforementioned three bog it down a bit. Also, the film just ends rather than having a satisfactory conclusion… Jokes have been made about a Birdman 2. Draw your own conclusions.

This won Oscars® for Best Picture, Best Director – Alejandro G. Inarritu, Best Original Screenplay and Best Cinematography. It was additionally nominated for the Oscars®: Best Actor – Michael Keaton, Best Supporting Actor – Edward Norton, Best Supporting Actress – Emma Stone, Best Sound Mixing and Best Sound Editing. It won Golden Globes for: Best Actor – Musical Or Comedy – Michael Keaton and Best Motion Picture Screenplay. It was additionally nominated for the Golden Globes: Best Director – Motion Picture – Alejandro G. Inarritu, Best Picture – Musical Or Comedy, Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture – Emma Stone, Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture – Edward Norton and Best Original Score – Motion Picture.

Trivia: This movie was so carefully rehearsed and shot in sequence during a two–month period that the editing on it only took two weeks. There are only 16 visible cuts in the film. Given the long takes, Michael Keaton and Edward Norton reportedly kept a tally of mistakes made by the actors. Emma Stone had the most and Zach Galifinakis had the least, though a few of his flubs actually made it into the film. And finally: This was the first film to be shot entirely on digital equipment and win Best Picture. Prior all Best Picture winners were shot entirely or partially on film.

Rated: [R] – Language Throughout, Some Sexual Content & Brief Violence
Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy