The Amazing Spiderman: Oh what a web they weave

I have been on a superhero kick. Don’t ask me why but I’m addicted (and heavily anticipating the Batman film coming out later this summer). This was not a movie I had planned on seeing though…seeing as this series was just done a few years ago and I had been disappointed with the acting and inconsistencies in the story. But the Amazing Spiderman restored my faith in the red and blue spandex suit. 

The acting was far superior to the originals. I’m sorry but no girl in her right mind can come out of this film without a huge crush on Andrew Garfield. He straddled the line between superhero and geek so naturally and effortlessly. He stole my heart as he was attempting to woo Emma Stone. And he did a great job of providing comic relief. I liked that nothing come easy to him, we see him struggle with his new abilities, and with the whole idea of doing good for others with no return. He just made me want to believe in him. Emma Stone was a much more interesting love interest than Kristen Dunst’s Mary-Jane, who always seemed whiny, vulnerable and slightly annoying to me. I preferred Stone’s character overall, she was smart, took action in any situation and was, in my opinion, a great supplement to Spiderman. Where Dunst seemed to be constantly in trouble and unable to take care of herself, Stone was a strong female role in a male dominated hero story. Rock on girl. 

What really held the story together though was the rich back story that we finally received for Spiderman. Peter doesn’t just get bitten randomly. We learn why he was around those spiders in the first place, how they were created, and about the negatives and positives of inter-species genetics. It was interesting because, though the bad guy was a disgusting lizard hybrid that, I will admit, might haunt my dreams for a week or two, his character balanced Spiderman’s. Both characters were affected by genetically modified species, one reaction was positive and one was negative, making the lizard a much better nemesis than the green goblin. I loved learning about Peter’s parents and why their lives were in danger. It helped to build the story and support motivations for the characters, putting the audience in the loop, thus giving us a better reason to cheer our hero on. 

Noteworthy: The cameo by Stan Lee, creator of Spiderman, was hysterical and much needed comic relief in the middle of a very intense fighting scene. He is also the most adorable old man ever.

Ted: Snuggle bear’s coolest accountant

Before I watched this movie I was on the fence.  There is just something weird about a talking teddy bear that swear, drinks and has sex. Then again, at least it’s an original story. My friends gave it rave reviews, so I went with an open mind, hoping that it would live up to the hype. It did, and here’s why.

Let me premise this by saying that if you are a movie snob and only appreciate academy award winners, this is not for you. But if your open to it, besides delivering laughs, Ted had a romantic comedy-esk plot as well as an overall moral. Go figure. Ya, there are a large number of party scenes where they do crazy things, but what were you expecting? This isn’t the Notebook. Ted may be crude, and at sometimes disgusting (there is a scene where there is a shit on the floor, enough said), but he was a great match for Mark Walhberg’s somewhat innocent and immensely immature character, John. It just made sense that someone so lost would have a talking teddy bear as his best friend. Because, as Mila Kunis character points out, how much can someone grow up if they are still bringing their teddy everywhere? I wonder if the writers meant to give Ted a deeper meaning, or if it just happened, because, surprisingly, this bad-mouthed teddy bear has some wisdom to offer. Ted stops fooling around all the time and gets a job. Mark becomes less selfish, more motivated, and begins building a life for himself and his fiancé. Basically, everyone in the film learns how to grow up, a lesson not easily learned and one that I am currently struggling with.

If you are looking for a great example of a well-written comedic script, this is it. The one-liners were awesome, and some of the jokes so unexpected that it kept me interested when the story dragged a bit in the middle. Though many will argue that the Flash Gordon references were stupid, I think they supplemented the idea of immaturity nicely. Especially since that was one of the most ridiculous shows ever to be created.  Overall, Ted did what it was supposed to. It made me laugh so hard I almost fell out of my seat, and weep for the demise of humanity all at the same time. Sounds like a winner to me.  

Noteworthy: The White Trash name game was hilarious. Apparently Mark Walhberg named off about 50 girls names in 30 seconds just off the the top of his head. Impressive. 

The Avengers: Action Packed Fun

There is just something about a superhero that is appealing. So I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that The Avengers was such a knockout hit. For all you people who were worried that you weren’t going to be able to follow because you aren’t a comic book nerd or you haven’t seen all the prequel films, fear not. Though I wouldn’t call this the  "greatest action film of all time,” like some critics, I am a fan of this motley crew and think that they deserve a place on your radar.

I will be the first to admit that I am not a huge fan of CGI, especially in films where the rest is live. So I thought the aliens that were attacking earth, while weird looking, were kind of lame. The plot itself stems from Thor, so if you haven't watched it you should afterward to get the back story. It was smart to have this be the premesis of the movie, however, because Thor had the best plot of the prequels. And the best villian.

I am a huge Loki fan. I have to say that as far as acting goes, even though he is the bad guy, Loki, played by Tom Hiddleson, was amazing. He wasn't just evil for evil's sake, he had a plan and a purpose. You could see the cracks in the surface of his character, like he used to be put together and now he was slightly off his rocker. He straddled the "in control" and "out of control" line expertly. The rest of the acting was above average. Even though he is a jerk, I love Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man because of his quick wit and truly complex personality. Whoever wrote his lines did a great job.

The set was beautiful, and one of my favorite parts of the movie. The designers nailed the futuristic look that also fit with modern society. They did a great job of differentiating outer space, the secret agent aircraft and our world, giving them all different feels that were equally convincing and real (John Carter take note). The costumer also had a challenge because each superhero was so unique, and unlike most group action heroes (Fantastic 4 or Watchmen, for example) they did not look like they fit together at all, which was important because it supplemented the internal turmoil in the story.

Mostly this movie was enjoyable because their was a lot going on, it was easy to follow, and the characters were heroes. Everyone, regardless of their acting skills, did a great job of getting you to root for them, even Hawkeye who is evil the first half of the movie. Though I don't think that it should have beat out Harry Potter or Titanic for opening week records, I can see how this film could be enjoyed by many, and why it earned the top spot.