05/03: The Amazing Spider-Man

Just a year and a half ago this was the most I ever payed to see a movie at the theater. I saw it in 3-D and Imax. But it was cool to see it well-technified, I guess. Most people that the Spider-Man franchise was the fastest to ever get the 'starting over' treatment, especially 5 years after the disappointing Spider Man 3. Though it would have been great had the franchise continued on, who knows how it really would have ended. Rather than waste time, I guess mostly focus on the 'new' Spider-Man series. The second just opened yesterday. I do plan on seeing it real soon.

The movie starts from scratch, somewhat similar to the first Spider Man movie (2002) in how Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) gets bit by the 'spider' and develops into 'Spider-Man'. The big difference is his love interest; this time around its Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone), whose father is the head of the big police department. Also, a different villain, the Lizard (Rhys Ifans), who mutated from Peter's mentor/hero Dr. Connors. It's basically a recycled but cool Superhero plot, with some variations here and there. Another subplot being used from the original series involves his uncle/guardian (Martin Sheen) being killed.

I've never read the original comic books, so I'm not sure if this is story was adapted from it. It wouldn't surprise me if it was though. I'd say this was put together real well. At the same time, I feel this was also missing something, but I don't know what. That's how I felt about Batman Begins. Some agreed with me on that. Great performances were put on by Sally Field (who plays Peter's aunt), Stone, and Garfield. It is easy to forget that Garfield is from England, and he always uses his British accent away from the camera.

I'd say this was a great reboot, and I expect bigger things to come with this new franchise. That way, this one will be remembered for generations. I trust that it will, given the fact that it got a jumpstart.

My rating: 7 out of 10

04/17: Easy A

In an update (or modernized version) of The Scarlet Letter, Emma Stone gives one of her best performances in Easy A. It's always easy to be confused by her hair, be it blonde or brunette. She even said in an interview that one of them was her actual natural color. She leads a great cast in this film.

Good-girl/level-headed Olive (Stone) tells her friend Rhiannon (Aly Michalka) in the ladies room at school that she lost her virginity to a college guy. Listening in is the jealous religious girl Marianne (Amanda Bynes) which she later spreads around the school, leading to a chain reaction of things pinned on Olive. Living the lie, she enjoys the attention for a bit until it gets way out of hand. Her teachers even become involved.

It goes without saying its a great teen movie for this generation. And by modern, I mean by technological ways, like webcasts and such. Olive narrates most of the movie through her webcast. It's a great story, and despite of what I said in the opening statement above, it's not necessarily completely based on Scarlet Letter. There are some parts not related that are mixed in.

Paul Rudd gives a great serious performance as a teacher, and I believe this was the last Amanda Bynes film before she went weird....I mean really weird. Check this one out!

My rating: 8 out of 10