Hey.. I rarely do this, but I’ve copied this review at both barnson.org and timpane.com.. Oh.. and this review is Spoiler free.
Why?
Because everyone should get out and see this movie now. yup, thats right. Send a message to hollywood that making superhero movies with charm, wit, intelligence, real acting, and a well thought out story is ALWAYS the way to go.
Its true.. this movie is better than the (exceptional) first movie. Like X2:XMen United, this movie picks up from a flawed but good first story, and runs with it, improving on everything good abotu the first one, with lots fewer flaws.
Acting: I hated Dunst as Mary Jane in the first one, but this time she actually had me involved in her story. Tobey is a LOT less bored looking. The villian is 3 dimensional, and not as showy as Dafoe was. Aunt May has an expanded role and plays it beautifully. James Franco as harry osborn takes his character to new heights.. it is just, well, better.
Action: Less of it this time, but when it does come.. it blows away the first movie by leaps and bounds. The CG was seamless.. the scenes tighter.. and there are quite a few “wow” moments.
Story: More complex, less convoluted. It ebbs and flows nicely, and doesn’t rely on some of the contrived conventions of the first film.
Overall: It is a slower movie than the first, but thsi isn’t a bad thing. Instead of a smattering of 2 minute action sequences, it gives you big sequences with more time inbetween centering on story, LOTS of humor, and some real human drama things..
Its hard to do more without giving stuff away. So.. go out and see it.. its worth it.
No luck tomorrow night, maybe later.
We still haven’t seen Shrek 2, so our plan is to catch Shrek 2 and Scooby Doo 2 at the drive-in tomorrow night. Spider-Man 2 will be some time later this summer — or maybe just on video. We have a decent sound system now. Definitely going to be a “buyer” regardless of if I see it in the theater or not.
And, strangely enough, on my list of summer movies I want to see is “White Chicks”. Get together a group of guys and go check it out, woo!
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Matthew P. Barnson
Re-viewing
Kelly and I want to see it a second time.. if only we had someone to take with us!