Rexfellis

Was this a great film? No. Will it scare you? See previous answer. Is it fun? Well, of course it is. The filmmakers did not take themselves too seriously here, and neither should you. If anyone saw this flick with expectations of a Vertigo or the original Psycho, they must have been delusional.

Let's set the stage. We have two slasher icons from the 80's. One is a horribly disfigured, ominous, mask-wearing maniac with a talent for swinging a machete and an extreme Oedipus complex. The other is also horribly disfigured (see a trend here?) child-killing maniac that attacks people through their dreams armed with a glove equipped with razor-sharp blades, a sardonic sense of humor, and a certain panache for intricate, original methods of slaying his hapless victims. Sound's like a great time, right? It is.

If you are a fan of either or both of these series, you should find something to like here. It's really nothing new, but, it is far better than the most of the later installments in either of the franchises. (Barring New Nightmare, of course.) The final battle alone is worth the price of a rental.

Final verdict: Predictable, cheesy slasher flick, replete with loads of gore, special effects, and completely devoid of any real character development. Just take the movie for what it was meant to be. Then just sit back and enjoy the fun.

Rex

After Spider-Man's box office success, the incredible media hype, and the rumors about Tobey Maguire opting out, I honestly didn't have much faith in this film. I was worried that it would be a sub-par affair designed solely to reap profits from the cash cow that was the original. (Think, Matrix: Revolutions)

I couldn't have been more wrong. This film actually exceeded the first in almost every aspect. The writing was smarter than can usually be expected from a summer blockbuster. It was true to the spirit of Stan Lee's comic book work, without being too clichéd or campy. Now, before die-hard fans of the comic books jump all over me, I am aware that the storyline has been changed dramatically from the graphic novels, but, it seems that Sam Raimi, Alvin Sargent, and crew did their best to be respectful to Mr. Lee's work.

J.K. Simmons' portrayal of J. Jonah Jameson was boisterous and funny without being too over the top. Maguire's performance seemed to add more depth to the characters of Parker/Spidey than in the original. Horrible films such as Bring It On and The Crow: Salvation (sacrilege!) notwithstanding, Kirsten Dunst is actually a very talented actress. This is not a role that will garner her an Oscar, but, she did a very passable job as Mary Jane. Alfred Molina's depiction of Dr. Octavius/Doc Ock stole the show here. A bit more explanation of the AI of his tentacles, and the motivation behind them would have been welcome, but Molina did an outstanding job with this character. Add to this a quite proficient supporting cast, and you have the makings of a quite enjoyable film. Some of the flashbacks with Uncle Ben were pretty contrived, but, not so much as to take you out of the moment.

CGI Spidey was well-done, without being overdone, as were the rest of the effects. Great eye-candy, without detracting from the film itself. With technology today, it would be easy to let computer effects take over the movie (remember The Hulk?), but, luckily, some restraint was shown here.

Final Verdict: A great escapist, action flick with a little bit of substance thrown in for good measure. You get superb effects, a love triangle, a vulnerable super-hero, great story, above par acting (for a summer blockbuster), and enough teasers to make you eagerly await the third installment. What else do you need? 7/10

Rex