Author Archives: Keith Garlington

REVIEW: “The Amazing Spider-Man”

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It was 2007 when we last saw Spider-Man on the big screen in the underwhelming and over-blown “Spider-Man 3”. While nowhere near as good as the first two films, “Spider-Man 3” still earned close to $900 million at the box office. In light of that, plans for “Spider-Man 4” immediately took off. But the movie had several problems including creative differences between director Sam Raimi and Sony Pictures which resulted in his departure from the project. The decision was made to scrap “Spider-Man 4” and instead opt for a complete reboot of the popular Marvel Comics franchise. That meant good-bye to Tobey Maguire and hello to Andrew Garfield.

So that brings us to “The Amazing Spider-Man”. Marc Webb takes over the directing duties with James Vanderbilt handling the writing. Vanderbilt goes heavy into the origin of Spider-Man, this time with some new twists but also with the same basic premise. The film starts with Peter Parker’s (Garfield) parents being spooked after their home study is ransacked. In the study, Peter’s father retrieves some secret documents from their hiding place – obviously what the intruders were searching for – then along with Peter’s mother drops Peter off with his Aunt May (Sally Field) and Uncle Ben (Martin Sheen) before hurriedly leaving.

We then skip ahead several years. Peter is the quiet, nerdy teen interested in science, photography, and a beautiful fellow student named Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone). Peter finds out that his father had ties to Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans), an accomplished scientist working for Oscorp. Connors lost his right arm some time ago and thinks he’s found a solution to his handicap through his cross-species regeneration experiments. After slipping into Connors’ Oscorp lab, Peter begins snooping around and comes across an experiment involving – what else – genetically altered spiders. You know the story – he’s bit which leads to new powers and new responsibilities. Meanwhile events unfold that cause Connors to prematurely try out his regeneration formula on himself and, as I’m sure you guessed, it goes terribly wrong. It transforms him into a super strong, destructive, reptilian creature and Peter, now known as Spider-Man, is the only one who can stop him.

As I mentioned above, the movie spends a lot of time retelling the origin of Spider-Man. It’s certainly not a carbon copy of Sam Raimi’s first Spider-Man picture, in fact it seems to go to great lengths to distant itself from the original three movies. Several key parts of the origin differ greatly not only from the previous films but from the comic book source material as well. But originality isn’t a bad thing as long as the source material is respected and it certainly is here. But the film’s biggest problem is also tied into the decision to go heavy into the origin. While it is well written and stands strong on its own, I never could get over the feeling that it was just too soon for a reboot. Even with the fresh approach it still felt too familiar and at about the 1 hour 15 minute mark I was really ready for the story to move on.

But there are some things that “The Amazing Spider-Man” does better than the previous films. On thing is the relationship between Peter and Gwen. I really responded to their complicated romance and it felt more genuine and real than the Peter/Mary Jane relationship in the first movies ever did. Here it felt authentic and I bought into their emotions and affections. I also think more attention was given to fleshing it out whereas Peter and M.J. from the first films were built around a very simple blueprint and they stuck closely to it.

I also think Andrew Garfield was fantastic and his performance was head and shoulders above Tobey Maguire’s. He played the nerdy, reserved introvert very well and even after he gains his powers, Garfield never overplays his character. He throws out just enough witty banter with the criminals he’s putting away and I never doubted the genuineness of his scenes that required more raw emotion. A lot of that is due to Garfield but a lot is also due to how well Vanderbilt handles the character in his writing. I was also a big fan of Emma Stone’s performance. She’s grounded and believable and she sells her character very well. Sally Field and Martin Sheen are serviceable as Aunt May and Uncle Ben and Denis Leary makes for a pretty decent Captain Stacy, Gwen’s father. But the real stars are Garfield and Stone.

The special effects are quite good particularly during the huge, action-packed finale. The spider-influenced fight choreography is a lot of fun and there are several cool tricks used to give Spider-Man’s New York City swinging a different look than in the previous movies. As far as the Lizard goes, he’s a little of a mixed bag. There are times, especially during the fight sequences, when he looks very good. I also remember a specific scene where the Lizard looks awesome as he was walking around in a ripped Connors lab coat. But there are also a few scenes where the CGI was very noticeable and regardless of the attempts at motion capture, it still looked a little unrealistic. But as a whole the visuals are very good. They’re not overused and for the most part they capture exactly what you would want from a Spider-Man picture.

“The Amazing Spider-Man” can’t quite escape the fact that it just feels too soon to be offering up a rebooted Spider-Man series. In light of that, the first half of the film can drag and it seems a little wasted. The movie definitely creates its own unique beginning but the thrust of the origin is nothing all that new. That aside, Garfield is a solid replacement as Spider-Man and his character is one you can really invest in. Now with the origin out of the way, I’m anxious to see where the series goes next. If they’re able to keep their components in place and avoid the trappings of “Spider-Man 3”, we could be in for a real treat.

VERDICT – 3.5 STARS

My New Blog Site – “Paris Through New Eyes”

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While “Keith & the Movies” is and will remain my main blog site, I’ve been doing a lot of writing about our recent trip to Paris, France. I’ve received so many kind and wonderful comments about it that I’ve decided to keep on writing. But I felt that if I was going to write about Paris that I needed a blog site dedicated to it . That way the posts wouldn’t interfere with or get mixed up with my new movie content on my main site.

Therefore, I’ve created “Paris Through New Eyes”, a site dedicated to my thoughts and impressions of Paris as a first time visitor. It probably won’t be updated as frequently as my “Keith & the Movies” page but there will be new weekly content for those interested. I have several things up already that many have already read but I also have plenty of new things planned.

You’ll find the direct link to “Paris Through New Eyes” below. I hope you’ll stop by and check it out. If you like it, please click “FOLLOW” on the page for email updates whenever new posts are made. Thanks for checking it out and enjoy!

http://paristhroughneweyes.wordpress.com/

“ANDY GRIFFITH – AN AMERICAN ICON”

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Andy Griffith

While Andy Griffith did appear in a few feature films and was an accomplished singer, he will always be remembered for his contributions to television. From 1960 to 1968 Andy Griffith starred in the appropriately titled “The Andy Griffith Show”. The series became a major hit for CBS. In 1986 he returned to TV starring in the popular series “Matlock”. It ran for almost 10 years and once again solidified Griffith’s status as a television icon.

Andy Griffith, a man known in every American household and many around the world, died yesterday at the age of 86.

Over the years “The Andy Griffith Show” became an American cultural phenomenon. While it was immensely popular during its original run, an argument can be made that it was never more popular than when it went into syndication. Generation after generation has watched and laughed at the exploits of Andy, Barney, Opie, Aunt Bee, Gomer, Floyd, Otis, Earnest T., and others in the fictional but beloved town of Mayberry. My grandparents liked the show. My parents love it. I love it. Now my children – aged 8 and 10 – both love it.

“The Andy Griffith Show” is the definition of timeless. After all this time it still stands strong and it’s rare to find someone who really dislikes it. It was wonderfully written and centered around an assortment of fantastic characters. It also still shows that you can create a genuinely funny product without all of the filth and raunch that seems to be the lazy gimmick of choice in the world of modern comedy – television or film. You can actually watch it with your whole family without being on constant guard. And like “Matlock” what really made the show work was Andy Griffith. He was the stabilizing force and even the host of hilarious side characters played off of him.

Andy Griffith was a true entertainment icon and his passing reminds us of his amazing contributions. Many of us will grow old  remembering the exploits of Andy and Barney – talking about show after show while remembering scene after scene in vivid detail – still laughing after all of these years. THAT is a sign of true comedy. Thank you Andy.

“Need to Drop 5 Pounds? Go to Paris!”

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While my wonderful wife – for reasons that, in the interest of personal safety, I refuse to divulge – will vehemently refute the validity of my discovery, I feel compelled to share it nonetheless. In the United States, people make all kinds of New Year’s resolutions, join an assortment of gymns or diet groups, and spend loads of money to lose weight. Diet regimens and food supplements have become big business yet people are constantly let down by results and are left looking for the next fashionable weight loss plan. That’s where I come in. At the risk of sounding like the most tripe and scripted salesman, would you like to drop 5 pounds in only one week? Take a trip to Paris.

Hopefully by now you’ve finished sighing, rolling your eyes, or laughing out loud. But as preposterous as it sounds, I’ve witnessed this most satisfying weight loss miracle first hand. After a week in Paris enjoying the sights, the city, and of course the food, I was hesitant but curious as to how much weight I had gained. Now I’m not the skinny rail I was in high school. In fact, I’m the guy who recently had to lose 50 pounds after the verbal bludgeoning I received from my doctor over my weight, laziness, and eating habits. In other words, I’m one who can appreciate dropping some extra pounds. But like so many other ills of the world, Paris holds to solution.

When we returned home from our week-long adventure in the world’s greatest city I had to take time to face that thorn in the side of every weight conscious individual – the scales. But to my surprise it shared some good news. I had lost 5 pounds. It didn’t take long to reflect back on the things we did in Paris, particularly the things we ate while there. We didn’t scrimp on our meals. French food was something that we intended to make a big part of our trip and boy did we! So how could I have dropped 5 pounds. Well the obvious answer from the traveler like me, blinded by his utopian love for Paris, would be that the “City of Light” is pure, unadulterated magic and within the city of Paris miracles do happen. On the other hand, much more stable minds would say there’s a more reasonable and plausible explanation.

The Streets of Paris

First, Paris is a city made for walking. Unlike in the United States, Paris is your prototypical European-styled city whose structure is tied directly into its history – a history that preceded the introduction of the automobile – therefore making walking not only an acceptable but enjoyable mode of transportation. In the states, we have become car dependent. We drive to work, we drive to get groceries, we do drive-thru banking, drive-thru fast food – our vehicles are a substantial part of our daily lives. In many ways – and my own life reflects this – we can’t function without our automobiles. That’s not the case in Paris. Be prepared to walk, burn calories, and enjoy it.

Parisians seem to move in a rapid yet fluid state of motion, zipping along through the arteries, veins, and capillaries of the city with confidence and purpose. Regardless of what part of Paris you’re in, the sidewalks are filled with fast walkers and no slow traffic lanes. I remember thinking to myself “We’re walking a lot faster that we would back home” yet we were being passed on both sides. In a way I felt like a street sweeper blocking rush hour traffic. So sometimes taking a walk down Rue de Rivoli or Boulevard Saint-Germain while keeping pace with the locals can feel like an extensive aerobic workout.

But don’t misunderstand me, it’s not as if walking in Paris is a headache. In fact it’s quite the opposite. While sometimes the Parisian pace can be hectic and rushed, there’s also plenty of walks in Paris that you simply can’t miss. It’s as if each and every street has an interesting story and a new discovery that you would never encounter if you chose to wage vehicular combat through the city’s streets (what we Americans call driving). The pedestrian market streets, the Seine-side sidewalks, and the beautiful green gardens are just some of the treasures awaiting those willing to navigate the city afoot. In other words, Paris invites you to walk and failing to do so would be like missing out on one of the greatest experiences the city has to offer.

The Paris Metro

Even using the Metro is a stringent workout in itself. Aside from keeping up with the fast-moving flow of people, the Metro is an impressive labyrinth of hallways and concrete stairways that are sure to burn off a few of those calories added by the morning’s ham and cheese crepe. And if you have to switch trains in one of the busy underground hubs, you can count on even more walking. Again, it’s not a headache, it’s just another method of maneuvering around Paris that encourages walking and provides more exercise than some of us get in a week.

Besides walking, another more logical reason for losing weight in Paris is the food. Now I don’t want to mislead anyone into thinking our French cuisine experience consisted of a strict diet of leafy green salads and fresh fruit. On the contrary, food was a key part of our trip. Parisians love their food and that was one element of their culture we had no problem diving into headfirst. We had our fair share of pastries and we most certainly threw ourselves into the cafe scene. We ended each day with lovely meal at a nice restaurant trying all sorts of local favorites such as duck, herring, lamb, shrimp, escargot, beef, and more. We ended our evening indulgences with a delectable assortment of chocolates, ice creams, and cakes.

Some of Paris’ many treats

There are several noteworthy things about food in Paris. First, unlike in the United States, it doesn’t take long to notice the absence of fast food places. They do exist. I mean there’s a McDonalds plopped right in the middle of the Champs Elysees. We saw a Pizza Hut stuck down a small side street in the 7th arrondissement. We were almost ran over by a Domino’s bicycle delivery guy. We even saw a poster advertising Kentucky Fried Chicken. But these spottings were extremely rare. Instead almost every street in Paris has a cafe, bistro, or restaurant serving an assortment of food of a higher quality than a Whopper with cheese or a Double Quarter Pounder. Of course you have to enjoy stops at the patisseries and the chocolate shops. And how can you not make Les Deux Magots’ pitcher of thick hot chocolate a part of your every week? Still, even though we ate a lot and ate good, I couldn’t help but feel I was eating better.

So while the romantic in me wants to credit the alluring and enchanting forces of Paris with my surprising five-pound drop, the realist in me has a more grounded understanding. But even though it’s not as dramatically fantastical or storybook, you can’t argue with results and even though I know the real reasons, I choose to credit and thank the mythical transcendental aura of Paris. Regardless, if given a choice, you can keep your magic pills, chalky diet shakes, and carb-free dinners. I’ll take a trip to Paris – a true miracle in weight loss.

THE TOP 5 MOVIES OF 2012…SO FAR

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2012 has been an interesting year at your local theater. We’ve had our share of big budget, target audience pictures, some pointless and some amazing sequels, some highly anticipated films, and some smaller surprises. We’ve also seen several trends that mercilessly continue – a bombardment of raunchy comedies and the typical assortment of sub-par romantic comedies. I could point several other negatives about the 2012 movie year but this is all about the positive.

It’s July which marks the half-way point of the movie year. So in place of the normal “Phenomenal 5”, I’m going to look at my top 5 movies of 2012 so far. Mid-year lists do carry with them a disclaimer. Things can change throughout the movie year and when my year-end top 10 list is done, all of these could be in still here or left out. Second viewings always help in determining my overall feelings about a film and I’m really anxious to see some of these again. But, all have made an impression on me thus far so they have earned their spot on the list. With that, here we go….

#5 – “HAYWIRE”

I was stunned that I liked an action thriller starring a mixed martial arts fighter. But such was the case with “Haywire” and it’s largely due to the fantastic Steven Soderbergh. His direction, editing, and cinematography gives the film a slick stylish look which perfectly matches the unorthodox action movie vibe. Also surprising is the movie’s star, Gina Carano, who works in large part to her tremendous physical ability but also due to the measured way she is used. And how can I not mention the fantastic supporting cast featuring Michael Fassbender, Antonio Banderas, Ewen McGregor, Michael Douglas, and an even decent performance from Channing Tatum. “Haywire” went largely unnoticed by audiences but it’s a movie that I had a blast with.

#4 – “THE KID WITH THE BIKE”

From the Belgian filmmaking duo the Dardenne brothers, “The Kid with the Bike” is a foreign picture that debuted overseas in 2011 but made its US opening earlier this year. It’s an emotional drama that completely grabs you from its opening moments. The Dardenne’s use a visual style that pulls you into the story and that also engages the audience with the characters on pretty personal levels. Young Thomas Doret’s performance is quite good but it’s Cecile de France that really blew me away. Her character’s acts of grace combined with the personal void in her own life is a key component to what makes the movie work so well. It’s a great little movie with a punch and it’s one more people need to see.

#3 – “PROMETHEUS”

Many have voiced their problems with Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated return to the science fiction genre. And while I don’t deny the second half of the film isn’t as polished as the first and there are a few storytelling issues, I really responded to the film. The visual presentation is astounding and Scott’s mix of top-notch CGI and elaborate set  pieces make the futuristic world believable. For my money Scott asks enough questions to challenge the audience and his intentional ambiguity, a turn-off for some, worked for me. The cast is strong particularly Michael Fassbender who is already on my short list for Best Supporting Actor for his performance. I’m a huge Ridley Scott fan and “Prometheus” does nothing to change that. It may not have met everyone’s expectations but it certainly met mine (and they were high).

#2 – “CORIOLANUS”

“Coriolanus” is a movie that could also be considered a 2011 film but it made its limited premiere here earlier this year and I loved it. The film marks Ralph Fiennes’ directorial debut and he really shines. He takes the Shakespeare story and throws it into a more modern setting while keeping the original language intact. It’s tricky material and the movie nails it. Fiennes also stars in the film and his towering performance is mesmerizing from his first appearance on-screen until the last scene. “Coriolanus” also features a fantastic supporting cast including Gerard Butler, Jessica Chastain, Vanessa Redgrave, and Brian Cox. The movie’s choice of language can be a bit jarring at first but it quickly becomes perfect for what the movie is shooting for. Fiennes’ first shot at directing is incredibly good and his performance reminds us that he’s one of the better actors in the business.

#1 – “THE AVENGERS”

Speaking of high expectations. In what may be one of the most ambitious projects in movie history, Marvel Studios not only succeeded in bringing their superhero team together on the big screen, they gave us an incredibly funny and action-packed movie that took the movie world by storm. What’s great is that “The Avengers” is actually a genuinely good movie. It’s not all explosions and spandex. One of the reason it works so well is because of Joss Whedon’s script. His familiarity with the characters and the injection of just the right amount of humor makes everything gel nicely. Whedon also had the challenge of taking the previous movies that have led up to “The Avengers” and giving them all a harmony. Mission accomplished. The cast, led by Robert Downey, Jr., is simply wonderful and Whedon (who also directed the film) uses them perfectly. “The Avengers” is a blast and Marvel Studios accomplished their goal. I think the over $1 billion box office proves that.

So what did I miss. There are a few other movies that were right there but just fell short of my Top 5. What are your top 5 movies of the year so far?

REVIEW: “Big Miracle”

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The “incredible true story” of three California gray whales trapped in ice in The Arctic Circle certainly has all the ingredients for a feel-good family film. But as with many of these types of pictures, they are often burdened with shallow characters and even shallower writing. Unfortunately “Big Miracle” falls well short of the potentially good subject matter. It’s yet another case of taking a surefire gimme of a story and completely missing the mark.

“Big Miracle” is a movie with a message but it also tries to play it both ways. Drew Barrymore stars as Rachal Kramer, a rather rabid Greenpeace environmentalist who is immediately drawn to the news story of three whales trapped in ice off the coast of Alaska. The story is reported by Adam Carlson (John Krasinski), a local reporter who hopes to use the story as a way to climb the TV journalism ladder. Rachel and Adam know each other and we learn that they have a history. Her more dogmatic approach to the whales’ plight clashes with his career boosting motivations and, as you will see coming a mile away, he must decide what’s more important, the lives of the whales or his own selfish ambitions.

We also get several stereotypical characters that Hollywood never gets tired of using. We get the blonde reporter who is beautiful but all about the story first. We get evil politicians who, by the film’s depiction, hates the whales and the environment and are only interested in fattening their pockets and increasing their approval ratings. We get a macho National Guardsman who is straight-laced and by the books and even a mean old oil executive. Oh, and throw in some local whale hunters and the obligatory “cute kid” to round things out. All of these people are brought to the light by our compassionate environmentalist heroine.

Now there’s nothing wrong with making a movie with characters who are environmentalists and there is certainly nothing wrong with making movies with a good message about taking care of the environment. Some movies have done it right, others bludgeon you to death with it (see “Avatar”). But in “Big Miracle”, Barrymore’s character is just whiny and grating. Now to be fair, the movie does try to show her as someone who doesn’t quite understand the big picture. The local Inupiat whale hunters make a case that hunting is their way of supporting their families. It provides food and other necessities. The movie uses a couple of scenes that attempts to show both sides of the argument. I don’t know if this was an honest attempt at representing all bodies of opinion or if it was just an attempt to not seem so heavy-handed with their main message. Either way the supposed friction between the two sides feels terribly contrived.

The movie also isn’t helped by some pretty lame dialogue. Rachel is constantly making overly dramatic and at times down right silly statements, my personal favorite being “Ronald Reagan killed the whales!” So many characters speak in ways that are true to the typical caricatures they portray. Throw in several of the gimmicks used with these types of movies and in the end you really don’t have anything that impressive or memorable.

“Big Miracle” does have a pretty amazing story at it’s core and to be fair you do get glimpses of it. The idea of people coming together from different viewpoints both environmentally and politically is certainly a good message. Also the movie does manage to keep you interested in the whales and whether or not they’ll survive their horrible predicament. While the ending offers no real surprise, it’s still fairly successful in packing a little emotional punch.

That being said, “Big Miracle” still has too many flaws to make it worth recommending. It feels like a film dedicated to an overused formula, a formula that quite frankly I’ve grown tired of. It’s also another example of a “family film” that still feels the need to slip in an assortment of profanities and even uses the always annoying ‘kid cursing’ attempt at humor. Throw in the cheesy dialogue, boring caricatures, and uneven direction and you have a movie that fails to execute even with the good story it has to work with.

VERDICT – 2 STARS