The Amazing Spider-man (2012)

Reboots only happen when a movie franchise has run its course, both critically and financially (think George Clooney and Bat-nipples from the '90s). Admittedly, Spider-man 3 did suck ass, but it's only been five years. Really?

*No spoilers. Unless you've seen Sam Raimi's Spider-man.*

Considering that The Amazing Spider-man (TAS) goes back to the start of the story, the first half plays out like the first half of Sam Raimi's Spider-man. The only difference is that TAS is more faithful to the source material, with Peter making his own webbing devices (rather than being part of his mutated biology), Gwen Stacy being his first girlfriend (not Mary-Jane Watson) and the villain (the Lizard instead, and not arch-nemesis Green Goblin). Since we're still relatively fresh from Raimi's movies, the first part of TAS can be a bit draggy.

[The only thing missing from this movie is the iconic, “with great power comes great responsibility," line, but if you pay close attention, though, Uncle Ben kind of summarises the concept in one of the scenes.]

Surprisingly, TAS wasn't the chatty emotional dullfest I expected it to be (apparently it is based on the Ultimate Spider-man series, which had less emphasis on villains). It had sufficient action in the second act to thrill me (at least, enough to satiate my blockbuster cravings), and it also spent quite a bit of time on character development, which luckily didn't really slow the movie down at all.

Going in with no impression whatsoever of Andrew Garfield (haven't seen The Social Network), he completely bowled me over as Peter Parker. He's able to pull off being an awkward gangly teenager (despite being almost 30), and thankfully, isn't namby-pamby. Mainly, Garfield was adorable; think I may have a mini-crush now.

Special mention also goes to Rhys Ifans, who plays Dr Curt Connors/the Lizard, doing a fine job of balancing ethically-conflicted and what he actually wants (which is growing his arm back). It's a bit of a waste that Dylan Baker (who played Connors in Raimi's films) didn't get the chance to go full-on baddie, even after two instalments of foreshadowing. If you're curious to see what's been missed, he guest-stars on The Good Wife once in a while, and he's deliciously slimy in that.

Since this is the restart of the franchise, there is plenty of foreshadowing in this (there's a scene midway of the end credits), and several unresolved minor plotlines saved for the sequel. I'm hoping that they bring in Norman Osborne in the next one; he's plenty mentioned in TAS, but not seen.

I can't decide whether this trumps Raimi's first Spidey flick or vice versa, because both are equally enjoyable and both are good movies in their own right. The clearest comparison I can give is that Raimi's first is true to the definition of 'summer blockbuster', whereas TAS seems to be slated for a February/March release, rather than in July. The journey to becoming Spider-man is felt more in TAS, and in way, the timeline is slower as Peter is still in high school at the end of TAS (whereas in Raimi, everyone graduates high school quarter-way through the film).

[My only gripe with TAS is that I like Denis Leary too much.]

Although I still don't see the point in rebooting the series in such a short time, TAS is a worthy entry into the movie series. Do watch this. 8/10

Rumor round-up!

Well, I'm guessing y'all heard about the Spider-man reboot? Just a recap, the casting and director slots are now open considering that original director Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire backed out of production, taking EVERYONE ELSE with them.

Rumors are flying that the REAL reason why Raimi and Co. quit was because of, get this: Avatar. Apparently, Raimi was blown away after watching the furriesAvatar and wanted A LOT OF CGI for Spidey 4, which would've made the already overdue film overbudget, and that's why he and the studio parted ways.
 
Aside from that, the big question now is, who will be playing the new Peter Parker?
(who's supposed to be in his teenage years since they're gonna milk this franchise for even MORE than its worth)

See him brood. As if Twilight fans need to eff the world up more.

In this article from EW, other names include Zac Efron, Daniel Radcliffe, Shia LaBeouf and even Jaden Smith. Out of the whole bunch, Shia LaBeouf would be the only one I'd pay to see, or even waste two hours (-plus, depending on film's running time) on, and that's saying a lot.


[And besides, the "nununununu" always makes me laugh.]

Other news during the week / period:

• Blake Lively is now Love Interest, and Peter Sarsgaard in talks to play Dr Hector Hammond, a villain, in Green Lantern. We still don't know who's gonna play Sinestro (who eventually turns to the Dark Side, but only probably at the end of the movie), though Jackie Earle Haley is still in the running. Sherlock Holmes' Mark Strong is also being mentioned here and there, and though I'm rooting for RorschachHaley, between the two, Strong has the height. Whatever happened to Hugo Weaving? His name kinda dropped off the minute Haley's showed up.

• Transformers 3 to start filming soon, and THEY HAVE NO SCRIPT! Word also on the street is that the third movie will have less robots and more storyline, which I guess means that it'd be a bit like the first movie. I think I'm one of the rare people that enjoyed Transformers 2, and I'm a hesitant about Movie Trés, as whenever I enjoy the sequel, the threequel will suck so much ass that it annihilates the entire trilogy (see Spider-man, The Matrix, The Mummy, Terminator, etc.). Director Michael Bay and producer Steven Spielberg is also at odds about whether to film in 3-D (apparently Spielberg L-O-V-E-D Avatar), but I really don't care about that since first time is always 2-D for me.

Other than the above, nothing could really beat Spider-man 4's news, so that's about it from me. I hope to see Legion this weekend, so expect a review up sometime next week! :)

"Spider-man, no more..."

Technically.

Following news about scripting problems and halting production, yesterday Paramount announced that Thor's release date has been pushed into Spider-man 4's slot of May 11th, 2011, from its original of May 20th. Today, MTV reported that Spider-man 4 will be a REBOOT!

What a lousy way to (relatively) start off the New Year. Sorry for not updating, folks; been absolutely swamped.

Director Sam Raimi has backed out, citing his inability to meet the studio's release date deadline of 2011, and so has main star Tobey Maguire. The rest of the main cast is also expected to NOT return.

As the fourth film will supposedly have a storyline about Peter Parker during his early days of having 'great power', i.e. in high school, it looks like it will be a prequel.


[So, following DC now, are we?]

Currently, release date has been pushed to Summer 2012. Looks like Spidey won't be having a guest spot in The Avengers.

Granted, the third movie sucked, but that's no reason to restart the entire franchise. And if the cause of the scripting issues are true as reported (Raimi wants the Vulture, studio doesn't), the studio would've been worrying about nothing, as Raimi wanted John Malkovich to play the Vulture.

That's right. John. Fricken'. Malkovich.

Over the past few days, Malkovich kinda confirmed his involvement as the Vulture in the movie, but with this recent bit of news, I'm not so sure anymore.


But screw all that, who's gonna play J. Jonah Jameson now?!!

Spidey 4 production halted indefinitely!

Variety reports that production will not start as scheduled in February, and contrary to what Sony initially had denied, there are some problems with the script.

Seems that director Sam Raimi is adamant about having the Vulture as main baddie this time around. There is no word on whether the release date (slated May 6th, 2011) is moved, but it's gonna be a close one if there isn't any change.

Spidey 4 production halted indefinitely?

IESB is reporting that the Spider-man 4 (or reportedly, Spider-M4n) script is incomplete, due to director Sam Raimi and Sony Pictures butting heads about who the major villain for this outing should be. As of last Thursday, production has been stopped.

Raimi wants the Vulture; Sony doesn't. The article also mentions that Sony doesn't seem to know what is it that they actually want, just not the Vulture. Apparently, Raimi had also wanted the Vulture in Spider-man 3; the Vulture and Sandman were supposed to be partners-in-crime, with the Vulture being the more aggressive of the two.

Looks like it's Spidey 3 all over again. To recap, Venom was only included in the villain mix due to Marvel head honcho Avi Arad's insistence, and we all know how that one turned out. Now, we all know that Raimi knows best, but really, TWO movies is enough foreshadowing.

Let the poor Lizard have his day out in the sun.

EDIT: MTV just reported that Sony has denied the rumors, and that the so-called 'hiatus' is just a break for the upcoming Christmas season. However, the source did agree that the script is still underway.

New Spidey 4 rumor!

I haven't been reporting much on Spider-man 4, since every other article is still on the Black Cat conundrum.

But this one takes the cake.

Instead of the hackneyed Anne Hathaway = Black Cat news, Hathaway apparently will be the Vulturess, a villain not of comic book canon to be introduced in Spidey 4. She'll still be Felicia Hardy, though, only she won't turn into Black Cat.

If this is true, Spidey 4 will turn out to be more of a massive fail than Spidey 3.

Movieline also states that John Malkovich is up for the Vulture, which I can totally see, but personally feel that the Vulture is too minor a villain for the likes of Malkovich.

I mean, come on, it's JOHN MALKOVICH.

[I'd say Gobby, but that's already taken. Awesomely.]

Really, March '10 cannot come any sooner.

Spider-man 4: May 5th, 2011.

Also, this:

If only this poster was real... would've made my year :)

Spider-man 4 starts shooting in January 2010!

...so says Bruce Campbell, frequent cameo-maker and long-time best friend of director Sam Raimi.

Pah-DON.

Having been in each Spider-man movie (I've been keeping an eye out for him ever since I saw him in the second and found out he was in the first), it seems that he may be playing a bigger role this time around. Campbell told AccessHollywood that he's been told he has a major part – but has no news on who the character is yet.

Early fan rumors go that Campbell may be playing Mysterio, master of illusion, but up till now there has been no confirmation or news about the villains OR the storyline in the upcoming movie. Past rumors on villains include the Lizard (foreshadowing on Dylan Baker's part in the past two movies, so finally!), as well as Kraven the Hunter, Morbius the Living Vampire and even the Sinister Six.


[If Campbell DOES turn out to be a villain, it'd be totally cool if Peter went, "Haven't I seen you somewhere before?" when they meet for the first time in the movie.]

Will someone release a statement or something already. Despite the fail that is the third movie, I'm still interested in Spider-man series, and can't help the speculating and the getting excited.

Spider-man 4 is slated for release in May 2011.