Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion (1970)

Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion (1970)

Directed by: Luciano Ercoli
Screenplay by: Ernesto Gastaldi and Mahnahén Velasco

Genre: Mystery | Thriller
Running Time: 96 Minutes
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Viewed: Netflix Watch Instantly

[IMDb]

Comments: Despite having almost no sleaze (considering the title has the phrase "forbidden photos" in it), I found myself both intrigued and entertained by Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion. I think the reason I was most surprised about my enjoyment of the film was that I absolutely hated the main character of Minou. The story revolved around a man blackmailing Minou for sexual favors based on a story he's feeding her about Minou's husband killing a man. Minou is completely dependent on her husband and succumbs to the blackmailer easily every time to "protect him." The woman had no fight and is an embarrassment to female leads everywhere. I couldn't believe that she was supposed to be the protagonist of the film. Let's just say Minou is not exactly the best role model for women.

But I was interested in the story of Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion, and despite the lackluster ending, I enjoyed the time I spent with the film. The overall lack of nudity and violence was disappointing, but if you allow yourself to get into the film, it's not so bad.

Both Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion and Maniac are expiring Thursday on Netflix.

Maniac (1980)

Maniac (1980)

Directed by: William Lustig
Screenplay by: C.A. Rosenberg and Joe Spinell

Genre: Drama | Horror | Thriller
Running Time: 87 Minutes
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Viewed: Netflix Watch Instantly

Run from this man!

[IMDb]

Comments: I started watching Maniac Sunday night but stopped after about thirty minutes or so; I just couldn't get into it. After finishing it up tonight, I'm glad I watched it, but I didn't find too much special about the film. The real star of the film is Tom Savini - not for his small role, but rather for the outstanding gore effects used in the movie. Maniac is downright brutal at times, and that was pretty damn cool. Unfortunately, the rest of the film pales in comparison. It follows co-writer/lead Joe Spinell for the entirety - there's no other character that truly gets established. And I'm sorry, but Spinell's pretty goddamn boring. And he looks way too much like Ron Jeremy. I know a ton of people love Maniac, but it just wasn't for me.

Jeff, Who Lives at Home (2011)

Jeff, Who Lives at Home (2011)

Directed by: Jay Duplass and Mark Duplass
Screenplay by: Jay Duplass and Mark Duplass

Genre: Comedy
Running Time: 83 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

The first step to finding your destiny is leaving your mother's
  basement.

[IMDb]

Comments: I really enjoyed Jeff, Who Lives at Home. Part of the reason is that Jeff reminds me of me, circa two years ago or so. I wasn't quite as "spacy" as Jeff is at times, but the idea of being lost and trying to figure out your place in life (along with living with your mother and having quite an affinity for the movie Signs) really resonated with me. Jason Segel and Ed Helms are great together, and their adventure is the absolute highlight of the film (the film's runtime is mostly split between the two brothers and Susan Sarandon and a secret admirer at work). That's not to say Sarandon's story wasn't good, but I much preferred the two leads. Judy Greer was great as well (as she always is), and her relationship with Helms feels incredibly real and authentic. So yeah, I liked this movie.

The Iron Giant (1999)

The Iron Giant (1999)

Directed by: Brad Bird
Screenplay by: Tim McCanlies

Genre: Animation | Action | Adventure | Comedy | Crime | Sci-Fi
Running Time: 86 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Viewed: Netflix Watch Instantly

It came from outer space!

[IMDb]

Comments: I think I've mentioned before that I'm not a huge animation guy. Outside of TV shows like Archer, Family Guy, and South Park, there's not a whole lot that really captures my attention. However, I've heard so much about The Iron Giant over the years (and I've liked all of Brad Bird's other films) that when I saw this was another of Netflix's expiring titles, I decided to give 'er a go. And while I enjoyed the film, and can see why some highly revere it, there wasn't much that I really was able to dig into. I think it's time to go back to the gutter with my Netflix watches.

Humanoids from the Deep (1980)

Humanoids from the Deep (1980)

Directed by: Barbara Peeters
Screenplay by: William Martin

Genre: Horror | Sci-Fi
Running Time: 80 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Netflix Watch Instantly

From the caverns of the deep... it strikes!

[IMDb]

Comments: For being a bit silly and not all that good, Humanoids from the Deep wasn't a terrible watch. You know you're in for a treat when the name on the title card in the film differs from the box art, but I have to agree that Humanoids from the Deep is a much more fun name than Monster. The film itself was entertaining (although it did remind me of another Roger Corman film, Piranha, quite a bit), and the "humanoids" tearing people apart (and sexing the ladies) was enough to make me not regret wasting eighty minutes on it.

Humanoids from the Deep is another of the expiring titles, too.

Death Race 2000 (1975)

Death Race 2000 (1975)

Directed by: Paul Bartel
Screenplay by: Robert Thom and Charles B. Griffith

Genre: Action | Comedy | Sci-Fi | Sport
Running Time: 80 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Netflix Watch Instantly

A cross country road wreck!

[IMDb]

Comments: There's a ton of titles expiring on Netflix next week that I've been sleeping on, so I'm hoping to dedicate a portion of my weekend to catch as many as I can. I decided Death Race 2000 would be a good place to start. The film's right up my alley, and I did enjoy the hell out of it. If anything, I wish it would've been a little more over-the-top; there's some violence and nudity, but a little more in each category would've bumped my enjoyment level up a bit. I always get a kick out of watching a young David Carradine too; he's such a creepy guy and the leather gimp-like outfit he wears doesn't really help much.

Death Race 2000 is a fun watch, so if you want to check it out, hurry as it will be gone by next Wednesday.

Pawn Stars - Season One (2009)

Pawn Stars (2009-????)

Created by: Brent Montgomery

Season: One (2009)
Genre: Reality-TV
Number of Episodes: 14
Episode Running Time: 30 Minutes
Viewed: Netflix Watch Instantly

[IMDb]

Comments: I don't really watch any "reality" television shows (with the exception of MTV's The Challenge, a show I'll admit I totally fucking love), but I happened to catch a few episodes of Pawn Stars at a friend's house the other week and really enjoyed the show. The scripting at times is obvious, and the underlying stories they weave in each week make me cringe at times. But overall I like the show's stars, and in general I find Pawn Stars interesting. This isn't a show I watched continuously, but it's something I'd pop on when eating dinner at night. There's a metric shit-ton of episodes on Netflix, so I'm sure I'll keep watching them over time. Pawn Stars is the definition of relaxing television.

Lockout (2012)

Lockout (2012)

Directed by: James Mather and Stephen St. Leger
Screenplay by: Stephen St. Leger, James Mather, and Luc Besson

Genre: Action | Thriller | Sci-Fi
Running Time: 95 Minutes (Unrated Cut)
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

Take no prisoners.

[IMDb]

Comments: In regards to Luc Besson, even his lesser films (which is a good portion of his work) are at least entertaining and a fun watch. Lockout, despite a familiar premise and little creativity outside of a jail in space, could have been so much more fun. While it's mildly entertaining, the overall missteps really drag the film down. I should be able to enjoy a movie about a guy blowing shit up in space more, dammit!

The film's first 45 minutes or so are incredibly disjointed. It feels like chunks of the movie were ripped out to shorten the runtime. Many times, I advocate for shorter films. In the case of Lockout, I could've taken a little more. Many of the characters' decisions make little sense, and all I could think about was how stupid this movie was.

Luckily, we settle in a little more toward the middle of Lockout. Maggie Grace and Guy Pearce have a pretty good chemistry together, and Pearce himself was hysterical when given the opportunity. I think that's what makes me so upset: this film could've been Pearce's Shoot 'Em Up, a complete throwaway that's nonetheless awesome as hell.

The ending is even more stupid than the first 45 minutes, and that effectively ruined the positive headway that "Saint and Mather" were making. I'm not too disappointed I picked the Blu-ray up on release week though, because it was mindless entertainment I that I could see myself revisiting again. For all others though, I think the term "rent" is most applicable.

Watchmen (2009)

Watchmen (2009)

Directed by: Zack Snyder
Screenplay by: David Hayter and Alex Tse

Genre: Action | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller
Running Time: 186 Minutes (Director's Cut)
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

This city is afraid of me. I've seen its true face.

[IMDb]

Comments: The Watchmen story isn't one that's exactly made for the big screen. It's so grand and large in concept that it doesn't play out like a film; rather it feels that during the bloated three-hour runtime we're only scratching the surface of what's underneath (I do think this would make an interesting TV show, though). Despite my issues, Watchmen is unlike anything I've seen before - I can still remember being awestruck when leaving the theater in 2009. No superhero film I'd ever seen before dealt with material that was so heady. That's what simultaneously makes Watchmen a great watch, but maybe not the greatest film. Either way, it's quite an experience.

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Screenplay by: Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan

Genre: Action | Adventure | Crime | Thriller
Running Time: 164 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: Theater

The legend ends.

[IMDb]

Comments: Wow... just wow. I'm completely reserving the right to adjust my rating upon subsequent viewings (and there will be many). The Dark Knight Rises is almost too much to take in on one viewing. It's so grand and so intense that I feel I need another go-around to really process everything.

In a flip of my thoughts on The Dark Knight, I felt like the first part of the movie was little too densely packed in setting everything up. Much like The Avengers, though, the build-up was worth it as the finale was extremely epic in the truest sense of the word.

I'll likely have more coherent thoughts after my next viewing. I'm not sure when that will be, but hopefully it's soon.

The Dark Knight (2008)

The Dark Knight (2008)

Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Screenplay by: Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan

Genre: Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller
Running Time: 152 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

Why so serious?

[IMDb]

Comments: Watching The Dark Knight in theaters was probably my favorite movie-going experience ever. I can remember shaking with excitement as I saw this spectacle unfold onscreen. I loved every minute.

Unfortunately, upon subsequent viewings I found that the last thirty minutes didn't hold up to the awe-inspiring two hours before it. But having watched the movie tonight for the first time in a few years, I found that I had a renewed appreciation for the final act, even if it might not be quite up to par with the rest of The Dark Knight.

But yeah, the film's amazing. Bring on The Dark Knight Rises.

Girls Gone Dead (2012)

Girls Gone Dead (2012)

Directed by: Michael Hoffman Jr. and Aaron T. Wells
Screenplay by: Michael Hoffman Jr. and Meghan Jones

Genre: Comedy | Horror
Running Time: 104 Minutes
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Viewed: Owned DVD

Just when you thought it was safe to go topless...

[IMDb]

Comments: Girls Gone Dead is what it is. The film throws together a nice sampling of boobage along with some decent violence and a few mildly humorous scenes for a generally entertaining movie. Outside of being 15-20 minutes too long, there's not too much to complain about in this low budget horror-comedy. The lead is played by the gorgeous Katie Peterson, who reminded me of (a younger, hotter) Tara Reid, except only with half the talent (and that's saying something). Watching Ms. Peterson attempting to "cry" was one of the best parts of the movie. She's also the only female lead not to bare the goods, which was a goddamn Greek tragedy (the rest of the cast does, so I can't complain too much). The story is slow at first, but it gradually devolves into pure comedy, and by the final act, absolutely nothing is taken seriously. While there's absolutely nothing new or original, Girls Gone Dead is fun and that's all I really hoped for.

Batman Begins (2005)

Batman Begins (2005)

Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Screenplay by: Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer

Genre: Action | Crime | Drama | Fantasy
Running Time: 140 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

[IMDb]

Comments: As I'm sure many are, I'll be watching Christopher Nolan's first two Batman films this week before checking out The Dark Knight Rises this weekend. I'm one of the few that liked Batman Begins more than The Dark Knight, and after watching it for the first time in a couple years, I'm glad it still held up for me.

I've always been a huge fan of superhero movies. I never read the comic books or watched the cartoons for any of them, but when it came to movies, I watched all of them (though in recent years there's been so many that I haven't kept up as much). But Batman Begins was the first superhero movie that was different for me; it made me completely forget that I was watching a movie about a guy running around dressed up as a giant bat. It was that powerful. It especially says a lot that as I watched it again tonight, seven years after the film was initially released, I enjoyed Batman Begins as though I was seeing it for the first time.

Words cannot even begin to describe how excited I am for The Dark Knight Rises this weekend. I'll go into that excitement a little more when I watch The Dark Knight (likely tomorrow or Thursday). But as for Batman Begins, I'll leave it with this: it's not a just an exciting superhero adventure. It's top-notch movie making and a fantastic film. Period.

The Living Dead Girl (1982)

The Living Dead Girl (1982)

Directed by: Jean Rollin
Screenplay by: Jean Rollin and Jacques Ralf

Genre: Horror
Running Time: 85 Minutes
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Viewed: Owned DVD

[IMDb]

Comments: I've watched a bunch of Jean Rollin's films over the past few months, and The Living Dead Girl follows a formula similar to many of his previous offerings. There's beautiful ladies, violent deaths, gorgeous cinematography... and not much else. While I've enjoyed nearly all of Rollin's films, I really don't think any of them are great. I know he has a cult following and I understand the appeal, but like The Living Dead Girl, Rollin always just leaves me a little underwhelmed.

Suspiria (1977)

Suspiria (1977)

Directed by: Dario Argento
Screenplay by: Dario Argento and Daria Nicolodi

Genre: Horror
Running Time: 98 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned DVD

The most frightening film you'll ever see!

[IMDb]

Comments: I love Suspiria. It's without a doubt my favorite Dario Argento film (though there are a few I still need to catch up with). The haunting look combined with Goblin's amazing score make the film captivating every time I watch it. The only real issue I have with the film is the terrible over-acting by some of the supporting cast; it took me out of the film due to the overall silliness. But otherwise, Suspiria is Grade A awesome.

Batman: Year One (2011)

Batman: Year One (2011)

Directed by: Sam Liu and Lauren Montgomery
Screenplay by: Tab Murphy

Genre: Animation | Action | Crime
Running Time: 64 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: Owned DVD

[IMDb]

Comments: Batman: Year One was a decent enough DC animated film, though I was bothered by a few things. First: why? Year One felt very similar to Batman Begins at times. We've been over-saturated with Batman for the past several years, so the last thing I need is to see ANOTHER origin story that's quite similar to Christopher Nolan's version. Second: Ben McKenzie was a terrible choice to play the caped crusader. As a definite O.C. fanboy back in the day, and someone who has enjoyed Southland, I think he's a decent actor. But in Year One, it sounds like he's taking a shit while reading Batman's lines. It's really bad. I think if I hadn't known McKenzie before this, I wouldn't have had as much of a problem, but as it stands his voice acting is bad (luckily Bryan Cranston's Jim Gordon is solid). Third, and lastly: Only an hour long? Going back to my first gripe, what's the point? You are telling a story that's been told before, and I don't see a sequel being made anytime soon, which would hopefuly progress past the origin story and make Year One meaningful. So when the story ended so soon I was left thinking, "that's it?"

Despite my objections, I always enjoy watching Batman related stuff so I enjoyed Year One. If there was a next part lined up, I'd probably be more optimistic. But as a stand-alone film, I'd have to recommend watching Batman Begins again instead. It pulls from the same story and is executed much better. Though I guess a case could be made that it sounds like Christian Bale is taking a shit when delivering his lines too, but it's a much more glorious shit.

Nude Nuns with Big Guns (2010)

Nude Nuns with Big Guns (2010)

Directed by: Joseph Guzman
Screenplay by: Joseph Guzman and Robert James Hayes II

Genre: Action | Thriller
Running Time: 90 Minutes
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Viewed: Netflix Watch Instantly

This sister is one bad mother.

[IMDb]

Comments: Apparently, it's watch movies on Netflix that are unoriginal and blatantly rip off other films. Tonight it was Nude Nuns with Big Guns, a film that takes numerous cues from both Quentin Tarantino's and Robert Rodriguez's recent output and mashes it all together to make a completely unoriginal flick. The violence in the film is also hilariously bad. There are real fucking auteurs out there with blood; you know, those guys that can take a low budget and turn it into a bloody masterpiece. Joseph Guzman and company are not those people. He took what was likely a $20 budget and made the film look like it was shot for $10. (I also like that when our main Nude Nun shoots somebody, they get hit right between the eyes every time.) But, on the bright side, the film's extremely exploitative and blasphemous, two things I always appreciate. The women do look really trashy, but for some reason the feeling that these girls were just pulled out of some shady five-dollar-a-lap-dance strip club only compliments the overall feel and look of the movie.

In summation, Nude Nuns with Big Guns is a terrible movie. You should watch it.

Sorority House Massacre (1986)

Sorority House Massacre (1986)

Directed by: Carol Frank
Screenplay by: Carol Frank

Genre: Horror | Thriller
Running Time: 74 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Netflix Watch Instantly

Who'll survive the final exam?

[IMDb]

Comments: Jesus Christ, this movie was fucking terrible. Sorority House Massacre rips off just about every single aspect of John Carpenter's Halloween, and just makes it all so... bad. And it's so fucking boring, which is insane considering the film is barely over an hour long. And there's a sequel? The humanity! (Though the sad part is not the fact that a sequel exists, but if it was actually on Netflix Instant I probably would watch it anyway.)

Workaholics - Season Two (2011)

Workaholics (2011-????)

Created by: Blake Anderson, Adam DeVine, Anders Holm, Kyle
  Newacheck, Connor Pritchard, and Dominic Russo

Season: Two (2011)
Genre: Comedy
Number of Episodes: 10
Episode Running Time: 30 Minutes
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

Seize the day.

[IMDb]

Comments: I really dig this show. Workaholics is not the greatest show on TV by any means, but it's funny as hell (even if it is It's Always Sunny's red-headed step-child, and I mean that in a good way). Even if there's an episode where I'm not laughing out loud, I'm always entertained. I do wish more episodes took place in the office because I love both the bitchy boss Alice (who's fucking hot... and the bitchier she is, the hotter she gets) and the semi-insane Jillian (even if she's the human version of Pam from Archer). But regardless of the show's location, Workaholics is a definite fun watch. I have the first several episodes of the third season recorded on my DVR, so I'll be diving into those soon. I'm pre-ing right now just thinking about it.

Galaxy of Terror (1981)

Galaxy of Terror (1981)

Directed by: Bruce D. Clark
Screenplay by: Marc Siegler and Bruce D. Clark

Genre: Action | Horror | Sci-Fi | Mystery
Running Time: 81 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Netflix Watch Instantly

Hell has just been relocated!

[IMDb]

Comments: Galaxy of Terror is a Roger Corman produced riff on Alien, which was released just two years prior. Galaxy has a pretty solid following, but I just couldn't get into it. I really had no idea what the fuck was going on at times, and although everything's explained more toward the end, it still felt like giant chunks of the film were missing. On the bright side, the film did feature Sid Haig and Robert Englund (along with production design by James Cameron... yes, that James Cameron), plus we got to see a woman sexed to death by a giant space worm, which is never a bad thing in my book. The Netflix print of the film was a fucking terrible full screen version, so that certainly didn't help things either. Where's the Blu-ray version at? Anyway, while Galaxy of Terror wasn't very good, it was at least fun to watch. And just like attractive women being raped by space worms, that's not the worst thing in the world.

Total Recall (1990)

Total Recall (1990)

Directed by: Paul Verhoeven
Screenplay by: Ronald Shusett, Dan O'Bannon, and Gary Goldman

Genre: Action | Sci-Fi | Thriller
Running Time: 113 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Owned DVD

What would you do if someone stole your mind?

[IMDb]

Comments: I've seen the trailer for the upcoming remake of Total Recall enough that I decided it was time to sit down and watch Paul Verhoeven's original film. I'm glad I did, because Total Recall was right up my alley.

- I loved the general idea behind the film. The various different twists and turns that were brought up felt fresh and original. Plus, I loved how violent and offbeat the entire thing was. The film felt very horror-esque at times, and that's never a bad thing for me.

- I know many love '80s Arnie, but he's always just been so goofy to me. Don't get me wrong, as many of his films are undeniable classics, but I just can't help but chuckle at his acting style at times.

- Sharon Stone was fucking hot back in the day.

- I think Len Wiseman's remake, which comes out in few weeks, will be decent. The trailers look alright, and the cast is decent. I doubt it will be fantastic, but I'm sure I'll go see the film. They better have a three-titted chick though.

The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

Directed by: Marc Webb
Screenplay by: James Vanderbilt, Alvin Sargent, and Steve Kloves

Genre: Action | Adventure | Fantasy | Thriller
Running Time: 136 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: Theater (2D)

The untold story begins.

[IMDb]

Comments: A lot of the early reviews I read for The Amazing Spider-Man asked what the point of rebooting the franchise so soon was. I wasn't too swayed by this, as I'm usually not against remakes. But when a film like The Amazing Spider-Man feels so similar to 2002's Spider-Man, I really have to join the chorus of reviewers asking "Why?"

There were parts of the film I dug. As a whole, I think the entire cast is better. Andrew Garfield, despite being almost thirty and playing a high school student (what the fuck?!) does a pretty solid job and avoids some of the goofiness that Tobey Maguire brought to the role. And I love Emma Stone in everything, so there were no complaints there. Similarly, Martin Sheen rules and I enjoyed him as Uncle Ben. I also liked how they portrayed Flash and didn't make Sally Field as annoying as Rosemary Harris' Aunt May. The fight scenes were really cool too, and I like how the camera moved as Spider-Man did at times, instead of just watching a giant blur onscreen.

But going back to my main point, the film feels so close in its tonality to the original Spider-Man, and that's a shame. In an era where superhero movies are grandiose and fantastically awesome, that same air or silliness that plagued Raimi's films applies to The Amazing Spider-Man. Everything feels so cheery at times, as not long after Uncle Ben's demise is Spider-Man hootin' and hollerin' and swinging around the streets. I know it's a tad cliched now for all superhero movies to be "darker," but a little more intensity could have helped The Amazing Spider-Man. For a character built on avenging a family member's death, there's not a lot despondency and sadness in our masked hero.

However, despite all of the issues, I still enjoyed the movie. If it wasn't so soon after the original trilogy and it didn't feel so damn similar, I'd mostly have good things to say about the film. I certainly wouldn't mind a sequel down the line too, so here's hoping to an improved Spider-Man in... 2015?

Spider-Man 3 (2007)

Spider-Man 3 (2007)

Directed by: Sam Raimi
Screenplay by: Sam Raimi, Ivan Raimi, and Alvin Sargent

Genre: Action | Fantasy
Running Time: 139 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

The battle within.

[IMDb]

Comments: This is honestly the first time I watched Spider-Man 3. Despite my (then) love of the first two films, the number of negative reviews scared me away in 2007. I'd always planned to catch up with it on DVD but never did. And now that I've watched the movie, I can safely say that Spider-Man 3 is nowhere near as bad as many say; unfortunately, though, it's not very good either. The number of "coincidences" that occur to shape the film are annoyingly mind-boggling, and even if they mostly stay true to the comics that doesn't make them any less dumb. Luckily, even as the audience has to suffer through "emo Peter," there were a few fun battles and enough good scenes to sufficiently entertain me. I would've loved to see Raimi get at least one more shot at the franchise, but I guess a reboot wasn't the worst thing either. From the early reviews I've read about The Amazing Spider-Man though, it doesn't seem like there's all that much different about the new direction the series is going in. I'll find out this weekend.

Spider-Man 2 (2004)

Spider-Man 2 (2004)

Directed by: Sam Raimi
Screenplay by: Alvin Sargent

Genre: Action | Fantasy
Running Time: 135 Minutes (Extended Cut)
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

Sacrifice.

[IMDb]

Comments: When Spider-Man 2 was released in 2004, I was all over that shit. Just like the first film, I'd fallen in love with the sequel. Luckily, Spider-Man 2 holds up a lot better than its predecessor as it's really well-made; the film cuts down on a lot of the extraneous silliness and has a more suitably serious tone.

This was the first time I watched the extended cut, and it seemed rather unneeded. There's nothing new added to the film, and the only scene I really enjoyed was J.K. Simmons dancing around in the Spider-Man suit in his office. If you're going to watch Spider-Man 2, just stick with the theatrical cut.

On a sidenote, the number of future stars in bit roles in this film is crazy. Joel McHale, Elizabeth Banks (who's in all three films), Emily Deschanel, and Daniel Dae Kim are just a handful of the names that have small parts.

Spider-Man (2002)

Spider-Man (2002)

Directed by: Sam Raimi
Screenplay by: David Koepp

Genre: Action | Adventure | Fantasy
Running Time: 121 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

With great power comes great responsibility.

[IMDb]

Comments: Spider-Man came out at the perfect time for me: I was a about to be a senior in high school, was a complete nerd, and had no idea what I wanted to do in life. And here comes this perfect superhero movie, one that I desperately wished could've been my life. I saw Spider-Man a few times in theaters, something I rarely do (Spider-Man 2 and The Dark Knight are the only other ones that comes to mind). This the the first time I've watched Spider-Man in years, and unfortunately the film doesn't hold up as well now. It's really goofy at times, with mediocre performances all around. Raimi's stamp is definitely all over the movie, but that doesn't really help make viewers take the film more seriously, as his style lends more toward campy humor. Spider-Man is still an entertaining film, but compared to the quality superhero work that's come out in the last few years, it just can't compete.

And what the hell is up with Kirsten Dunst's teeth? I can't believe they didn't pretty those up before having a close up of her smiling.