mmq007
Joined Aug 2001
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Reviews7
mmq007's rating
A perfect movie and a great movie are not the same thing. Meeting the standards of storytelling and adhering to structural guidelines reflects no more inspiration than does a flawed but heartfelt experiment. But I didn't expect artistic genius as I attended the midnight showing of SPIDER-MAN last night. That being said, I feel I should give the theatre proprietors more money. For to have so much fun for a reasonable fee must surely be unfair.
Charming? Thrilling? Take your pick. Well written? Splendidly crafted? Take those too. While you're at it, throw in a couple of your own. The story is sweet and the action is exciting. The pace is exhilarating, the visuals striking and atmospheric. I'll let somebody else comment on the effects because I don't know the technical language. But they sure looked good to me.
The delightfully simple story flies through three chapters of Peter Parker's life as fast as his strangely acquired powers carry him from building to building. Writer David Koepp wastes not a second in the transition from laughable geek to athlete of the year. Century?
Once Peter gets the hang of his new talents and sets out to defend the innocent against their natural predators, things begin to move even faster. An unspoken love bursts from a lifelong restraint. A super villain appears to challenge the dashing adventurer. Koepp even manages to explore a few relationships, not easy in a slam-bang slugfest. Peter and his surrogate parents; Peter and his would be paramour; and hero and bad-guy all make connections as we watch gleefully from aside.
As in most tales of this nature, the first act is by far the best part. The introduction of the characters, the set-up of the plot and the establishment of conflict are bound to be more interesting than a lot of smashing and crashing. To see this movie is to witness the best example of comic book table setting available.
The action scenes are entertaining, such as they are. It has been said that they happen too fast. That Spidey's web swinging should be a notch slower so we can follow more successfully. I deny neither the point nor that it occurred to me once or twice while viewing. But nothing was ambiguous. Nothing was overlooked. It was handled so much better than most offerings in this venue that I can't complain in good conscience.
Quirky Tobey Maguire is a natural fit as the misunderstood hero. The rest of the players are equally well cast. Sam Raimi's staging reveals not only skilled filmmaking but an admirable reverence for the materiel. No other movie of this type has so efficiently captured the 1960's comic book flavor and format.
With the tragic events of last year forever stamped on the national consciousness, it is a little creepy to see New York City terrorized by the maniacal Green Goblin. But that reservation is quickly alleviated by Raimi's respect for the situation. Besides, what better time for a fantasy about a modern day knight in red and blue armor who protects us from all things evil?
Who am I? Sure you want to know?
Charming? Thrilling? Take your pick. Well written? Splendidly crafted? Take those too. While you're at it, throw in a couple of your own. The story is sweet and the action is exciting. The pace is exhilarating, the visuals striking and atmospheric. I'll let somebody else comment on the effects because I don't know the technical language. But they sure looked good to me.
The delightfully simple story flies through three chapters of Peter Parker's life as fast as his strangely acquired powers carry him from building to building. Writer David Koepp wastes not a second in the transition from laughable geek to athlete of the year. Century?
Once Peter gets the hang of his new talents and sets out to defend the innocent against their natural predators, things begin to move even faster. An unspoken love bursts from a lifelong restraint. A super villain appears to challenge the dashing adventurer. Koepp even manages to explore a few relationships, not easy in a slam-bang slugfest. Peter and his surrogate parents; Peter and his would be paramour; and hero and bad-guy all make connections as we watch gleefully from aside.
As in most tales of this nature, the first act is by far the best part. The introduction of the characters, the set-up of the plot and the establishment of conflict are bound to be more interesting than a lot of smashing and crashing. To see this movie is to witness the best example of comic book table setting available.
The action scenes are entertaining, such as they are. It has been said that they happen too fast. That Spidey's web swinging should be a notch slower so we can follow more successfully. I deny neither the point nor that it occurred to me once or twice while viewing. But nothing was ambiguous. Nothing was overlooked. It was handled so much better than most offerings in this venue that I can't complain in good conscience.
Quirky Tobey Maguire is a natural fit as the misunderstood hero. The rest of the players are equally well cast. Sam Raimi's staging reveals not only skilled filmmaking but an admirable reverence for the materiel. No other movie of this type has so efficiently captured the 1960's comic book flavor and format.
With the tragic events of last year forever stamped on the national consciousness, it is a little creepy to see New York City terrorized by the maniacal Green Goblin. But that reservation is quickly alleviated by Raimi's respect for the situation. Besides, what better time for a fantasy about a modern day knight in red and blue armor who protects us from all things evil?
Who am I? Sure you want to know?
This is a pleasant and entertaining little movie and it was fun seeing new faces and styles. The story is interesting and relevant. The people believable and charming. I enjoyed getting to know them as they got to know each other. the film employs a delicate approach to such topics as death, impotence, God and loneliness. I wasn't always enthralled. A couple of scenes dragged a bit and my attention began to wander. The woes and goals of some characters lacked originality. The situations have been depicted many times in many movies. None the less, I was never bored, never annoyed and did not feel slighted as the viewer.
An impressive cast and tight direction keep the show moving efficiently and provide a dependable vehicle for the delivery of the intended results in a satisfying manner.
What surprised me was the number of cinematic conventions incorporated into a project that reportedly meant to avoid them. I claim no authority on the Dogma 95 movement, but I understand they aspire to strip a movie of as many mainstream cliches as possible. Standard story elements and cinematography are not what the filmmakers wish to present.
One of the conventions they frown on is the artificial insertion of background music. Yet this movie does use such incidental music in one scene, in a very traditional format. It's even an old, familiar tune. Like "Rock Of Ages" at a funeral or "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" when we see Yankee Stadium. And for an approach expected to break with tradition, there is an awful lot of happily ever after in the resolutions to the various conflicts.
The average looking actors and the less than beautiful scenery add greatly to the believability. The fun they, and in turn, we have with it offsets any flaws in the production. But it's going to take more than a hand held camera and a Scandinavian accent to overcome 100 years of accepted film technique. But I enjoyed the show and if they keep trying, I'll keep watching.
An impressive cast and tight direction keep the show moving efficiently and provide a dependable vehicle for the delivery of the intended results in a satisfying manner.
What surprised me was the number of cinematic conventions incorporated into a project that reportedly meant to avoid them. I claim no authority on the Dogma 95 movement, but I understand they aspire to strip a movie of as many mainstream cliches as possible. Standard story elements and cinematography are not what the filmmakers wish to present.
One of the conventions they frown on is the artificial insertion of background music. Yet this movie does use such incidental music in one scene, in a very traditional format. It's even an old, familiar tune. Like "Rock Of Ages" at a funeral or "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" when we see Yankee Stadium. And for an approach expected to break with tradition, there is an awful lot of happily ever after in the resolutions to the various conflicts.
The average looking actors and the less than beautiful scenery add greatly to the believability. The fun they, and in turn, we have with it offsets any flaws in the production. But it's going to take more than a hand held camera and a Scandinavian accent to overcome 100 years of accepted film technique. But I enjoyed the show and if they keep trying, I'll keep watching.
LOTR is not a bad movie. It is fantastic and exciting, colorful and scenic. The main characters are charming and well played by Elijah Wood and Ian Mckellan. The action scenes, though there are too many of them, are thrilling and heroic.
But the story is not all that intriguing. Said and done, this is nothing more than the tale of a perilous journey. The hero treks toward a somewhat contrived destination, encounters multiple bad guys and large monsters. And that's about it. This is merely Jason, Sinbad and Ulysses recycled through the 21st century special effects system. The actual plot is minimal and the story plays only on a superficial level. I suspect the book is more detailed and more stimulating. But that didn't help me as I sat in the theatre wishing for a third course to round out the meal.
Even the aforementioned action sequences could have been handled more efficiently. For the most part, they do work. But the visuals are cluttered so that it's not always easy to tell who's doing what to who. That's the very last thing a fight scene needs.
There is an appealing fairy tale flavor to this first installment of the popular trilogy. A sense of mystical, other worldliness that makes for pleasant entertainment in spite of the film's many shortcomings. But from a genre that knows no limitations, I expected more.
My own fantasies are much better.
But the story is not all that intriguing. Said and done, this is nothing more than the tale of a perilous journey. The hero treks toward a somewhat contrived destination, encounters multiple bad guys and large monsters. And that's about it. This is merely Jason, Sinbad and Ulysses recycled through the 21st century special effects system. The actual plot is minimal and the story plays only on a superficial level. I suspect the book is more detailed and more stimulating. But that didn't help me as I sat in the theatre wishing for a third course to round out the meal.
Even the aforementioned action sequences could have been handled more efficiently. For the most part, they do work. But the visuals are cluttered so that it's not always easy to tell who's doing what to who. That's the very last thing a fight scene needs.
There is an appealing fairy tale flavor to this first installment of the popular trilogy. A sense of mystical, other worldliness that makes for pleasant entertainment in spite of the film's many shortcomings. But from a genre that knows no limitations, I expected more.
My own fantasies are much better.