Friday, March 31, 2017

My Fifteenth Important Message

Breaking news!

I did re-publish two of the reviews put into draft mode about two weeks ago as they are newly updated; these include Jack and Jill, and Eragon, which are re-written from their old review descriptions and star ratings. It's because my original opinion of these films has since changed. I managed to re-link these two back on the index page. For more comments, be sure to take a look and leave some feedback. Thank you.

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Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Kong: Skull Island Review














Kong: Skull Island


Release Date: 9th March 2017 - Australia


Production Companies
Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)
Legendary Entertainment
Tencent Pictures (presents)

Distribution
Roadshow Films


Genre: Action/Adventure/
Fantasy

Rating: M

Runtime: 118 minutes


Budget: $185,000,000

Box Office Gross: $566,652,812 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary 
During the 1970s, a ragtag team of explorers travelled deep into an unknown but beautiful remote island called Skull Island in the Indian Ocean.

However, they soon learn that the island holds a treacherous secret - it is the home of a giant, prehistoric ape known as King Kong, who possesses immense strength and semi-human intelligence.


Cast
Tom Hiddleston - James Conrad
Samuel L. Jackson - Preston Packard
John Goodman - Bill Randa
Brie Larson - Mason Weaver
Tian Jing - San
John Ortiz - Victor Nieves
Terry Notary - Kong
John C. Reilly - Hank Marlow
Toby Kebbell - Jack Chapman/Kong
Jason Mitchell - Mills
Shea Whigham - Cole
Thomas Mann - Slivko
Eugene Cordero - Reles
Marc Evan Jackson - Landsat Steve
Will Brittain - Young Marlow/
Marlow's Son
Miyavi - Gunpei Ikari
Richard Jenkins - Senator
Willis
Allyn Rachel - Secretary O'Brien
Corey Hawkins - Houston Brooks
Robert Taylor - Athena Captain
James M. Connor - Gen. Ward (Voice)
Thomas Middleditch - Jerry (Voice)
Brady Novak - Base Guard
Peter Karinen - Chinook Pilot
Brian Sacca - Chinook Co-Pilot
Joshua Funk - Seismic Soldier
Daniel F. Malone - Boat Captain
Glenn 'Kiwi' Hall - Boat Captain
Garreth Hadfield - Crew Chief
Shannon Brimelow - Kamikaze
Pilot
Jon Quested - Dead Pilot
Korey Williams - Sunglasses
Pilot
Dat Phan - Bar Thug
Cynthy Wu - Thug's Girlfriend
Beth Kennedy - Marlow's Wife
Bryan Chojnowski - Chicago
Taxi Driver

Crew
Director - Jordan Vogt-Roberts
Based on the Character - Merian C. Cooper and Edgar Wallace (Uncredited)
Story - John Gatins
Screenplay - Dan Gilroy,
Max Borenstein and Derek
Connolly
Executive Producer - Edward
Cheng
Executive Producer/Unit
Production Manager - Eric McLeod
Producers - Alex Garcia,
Jon Jashni, Mary Parent
and Thomas Tull
Co-Producer/Production
Supervisor - Jennifer Conroy
Co-Producer/Visual Effects Producer - Tom C. Peitzman
Military Technical Advisor - Harry Humphries
Casting Director - Sarah Finn
Production Designer - Stefan Dechant
Conceptual Design - Mark 'Crash' McCreery
Supervising Art Director - Doug J. Meerdink
Art Directors - John Lord Booth III and
Steve Christensen
Art Director: Australian Unit - Bill Booth
Vehicle Design Coordinator - Ron Mendell
Illustrators - Zachary Berger
and Steve Jung
Set Decorator - Cynthia La Jeunesse
Property Master - Steven B. Melton
Property Master: Los Angeles Unit -
Sean Mannion
Costume Designer - Mary E. Vogt
Makeup Department Head - Bill Corso
Key Makeup Artist - Dennis Liddiard
Director of Photography - Larry Fong
Director of Photography: Nature Unit - Ross Reige
Aerial Director of Photography - David B. Nowell
"A" Camera Operator - P. Scott Sakamoto
"B" Camera Operator - Calum McFarlane
Supervising Location Manager - Ilt Jones
Production Supervisors: Second Unit -
Eric Hedayat and Renee Confair
Unit Production Manager: Australia Crew -
Jennifer Cornwell
First Assistant Director - Richard Graves
First Assistant Director: Second Unit - Nick Satriano
Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator -
Spiro Razatos
Second Unit Director (Uncredited)/
Senior Visual Effects Supervisor - Stephen Rosenbaum
Stunt Coordinator - George Cuttle
Stunt Coordinator: Australia Crew - Kyle Gardiner
Stunt Coordinator: Second Unit - Andy Gill
Aerial Coordinator/Pilot - David Paris
Marine Coordinator - Daniel F. Malone
Special Effects Supervisor - Michael Meinardus
Special Effects Supervisor: Australia Crew - Bruce Bright
Visual Effects Supervisor - Jeff White
Visual Effects Supervisors: ILM - Robert Weaver
and Jeff Capogreco
Additional Visual Effects Supervisor - John Dykstra
Additional Visual Effects Supervisors: ILM -
Jason Smith and Dan Seddon
Visual Effects Executive Producer: ILM - Jill Brooks
Visual Effects Art Director: ILM - Aaron McBride
Animation Supervisor - Scott Benza
Animation Supervisors: ILM - Adrian Millington
and Jance Rubinchik
Compositing Supervisors: ILM - Nelson Sepulveda,
Paolo Acri and Aaron Brown
Creature Supervisors: ILM - Karin Cooper
and Steve Sauers
Creature Model Supervisors: ILM - Lana Lan
and Krishnamurti Costa
Editor - Richard Pearson
Additional Editors - Bob Murawski and
Josh Schaeffer
Second Unit Editor - David Kern
Supervising Sound Editor/Sound Designer -
Al Nelson
Supervising Sound Editor - Steve Slanec
Sound Designer/Re-Recording Mixer - Pete Horner
Assistant Supervising Sound Editors -
André Fenley and Coya Elliott
Production Sound Mixer: Hawaii Unit - Peter J. Devlin
Dialogue Editor - Brian Chumney
ADR Editors - Bjørn Ole Schroeder
and Cheryl Nardi
Re-Recording Mixers - Tom Myers
and Tom Johnson
Foley Artists - John Roesch and Shelley Roden
Music - Henry Jackman
Additional Music - Halli Cauthery,
Alex Belcher and Stephen Hilton
Music Supervisors - Peter Afterman
and Margaret Yen
Associate Music Supervisor - Alison Litton
Score Mixer - Alan Meyerson


Review
It's been over a year since we last saw the original King of Beasts in Peter Jackson's remake of the 1933 classic. It proved divisive for newcomers and old-timers, as some were biased towards the 2005 version. Now, the character is getting a makeover for the latest iteration of KONG: SKULL ISLAND. He is yet to have a crossover with Godzilla from 2014's monster hit (click here) in their shared cinematic universe. I had missed several opportunities to watch the classic and the previous interpretations when someone insisted I see another film instead. SKULL ISLAND is no longer taking the giant ape from a tropical island to the Big Apple in the 1930s and is now a survival-based adventure film set in the last days of the Vietnam War. It's different to the rest of the Kong films, whereas this one has a vibe of Apocalypse Now while incredibly entertaining with its action and humour.

Tom Hiddleston was remarkable at portraying the Harrison Ford-type figure in the film as it was a sideline from his known villainous portrayal of Loki. More prominent players include Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman and John C. Reilly. The latter portrayed a stranded World War II veteran, who was a bit of comic relief. Even Samuel L. Jackson was noted for good publicity when he portrayed a vicious Colonel about to carry a grudge against Kong. For the ape-like titular character, he was nearly as good in motion capture as Andy Serkis had portrayed him in 2005. But he has decided to take another mantle on a similarly ape-themed series of Planet of the Apes.

KONG: SKULL ISLAND is in the thin waters of characterisation and worldbuilding but is a semi-decent film. On a positive note, most people will be thrilled and find this version more enjoyable than Peter Jackson's polarising interpretation. You better go straight to the cinema before it finishes screening.

Star rating: (7/10) Good Movie

Monday, March 20, 2017

Logan Review (Updated)











Logan


Release Date: 2nd March 2017 - Australia


Production Companies
20th Century Fox (presents)
Marvel Entertainment (in association with)
Donners' Company
Kinberg Genre
Hutch Parker Entertainment
TSG Entertainment (in association with)

Distribution
20th Century Fox Australia


Genre: Action

Rating: MA15+ (Not Suitable for Young Children)

Runtime: 137 minutes


Budget: $127,000,000

Box Office Gross: $619,179,950 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
In 2029, the mutant race is nearly extinct, with Logan and Professor Charles Xavier being the only ones left. However, Logan is getting old as his incredible self-healing abilities are slowly diminishing, and Xavier has succumbed to dementia, which leaves Logan taking care of him. One day, when working as an incognito limo driver, Logan comes across a female stranger who asks him to transport a young girl named Laura Kinney. But
she is no ordinary girl. She
happens to be a mutant,
cloned from Wolverine's
DNA. The ageing Logan
must get Laura safely as the
company that made her their
asset has come to take her
back.


Cast
Hugh Jackman - Logan/
Wolverine/X-24
Patrick Stewart - Charles Xavier/Professor X
Richard E. Grant - Dr. Rice
Boyd Holbrook - Pierce
Stephen Merchant - Caliban
Dafne Keen - Laura Kinney/
X-23
Elizabeth Rodriguez - Gabriela
Eriq La Salle - Will Munson
Elise Neal - Kathryn Munson
Quincy Fouse - Nate Munson
Al Coronel - Federale Commander
Frank Gallegos - Federale Lieutenant
Anthony Escobar - Federale
Reynaldo Gallegos - Rey
Krzysztof Soszynski - Mohawk
Stephen Dunlevy - Macon
Daniel Bernhardt - Bone Breaker
Ryan Stulz - Pretty Boy
Maureen Brennan - Motel Manager
Jason Genao - Rictor
Hannah Westerfield - Rebecca
Bryant Tardy - Bobby
Ashlyn Casalegno - Charlotte
Alison Fernandez - Delilah
Parker Lovein - Lizard Boy
Jimmy Gonzales - Mexican Staff Member
Dave Davis - Convenience Store Clerk
Lennie Loftin - Jackson
Mark Ashworth - Bartender
James Handy - Old Doctor
Bryce Romero - Prom Teen #1
Phi Vu - Prom Teen #2
Chester Rushing - Prom Teen #3
David Simpson - Prom Teen #4
Lauren Gros - Bridesmaid
John Raymond - Pastor
Vanessa Cloke - Mourning Widow
Doris Morgado - Maria
Katie Anne Mitchell - Infirmary Nurse
Lara Grice - Car Dealer
James Moses Black - Major
Han Soto - Valet
Rissa Kilar - Pine Cone Girl
Salef Celiz - Jonah
Kelton DuMont - Glowing Eyes Boy
Damon Carney - Jackson's Henchman
Cynthia Woods - Screaming Woman
Mali O'Connor - Bumpy Skinned Kid
David Kallaway - Rhodes
Robert Vargas - Border Guard
David Paris - Helicopter Pilot
Josh McLaglen - Cowboy in Limo (Cameo)
(Uncredited)

Crew
Story/Screenplay/Executive Producer/
Director - James Mangold
Based on Characters - John Romita Sr.,
Roy Thomas, Len Wein and Herb Trimpe
(Uncredited)
Comic Book: "Old Man Logan" - Mark Millar
and Steven McNiven (Uncredited)
Creators: Character: Laura Kinney/X23 -
Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost (Uncredited)
Screenplay - Scott Frank and Michael Green
Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -
Joseph M. Caracciolo Jr.
Executive Producer - Stan Lee
Executive Producer/First Assistant Director -
Josh McLaglen
Producers - Simon Kinberg,
Hutch Parker and Lauren Shulen Donner
Co-Producer/Unit Production Manager -
Dana Robin
Co-Producer - Kurt Williams
Casting Directors - Lisa Beach,
Priscilla John and Sarah Katzman
Production Designer - François Audouy
Supervising Art Director - Chris Farmer
Art Directors - Luke Freeborn and Scott Plauche
Art Director: New Mexico - Jordan Ferrer
Set Decorator - Peter Lando
Property Master - John Paul 'J.P.' Jones
Costume Designer - Daniel Orlandi
Head Makeup Artist/Prosthetics Designer -
Joel Harlow
Director of Photography - John Mathieson
Director of Photography: Additional
Photography - Phedon Papamichael
Supervising Location Manager - Maria T. Bierniak
Production Supervisor - Jessica Derhammer
Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator -
Garrett Warren
Stunt Coordinator: Smelting Plant - Gary Hymes
Stunt Coordinator: Re-shoots - Nuo Sun
(Uncredited)
Fight Choreographer (Uncredited)/Assistant
Stunt Coordinator - Steven John Brown
Assistant Stunt Coordinator - Steven John Brown
Special Effects Supervisor - Garry Elmendorf
Visual Effects Supervisor - Chas Jarrett
Visual Effects Supervisors: Soho VFX -
Keith Sellers and Berj Bannayan
Visual Effects Supervisors: Rising Sun Pictures -
Dennis Jones and Anthony Smith
Visual Effects Producers: Soho VFX -
Allan Magled and Kelly McCarthy
Visual Effects Executive Producer: Image
Engine - Shawn Walsh
Digital Supervisors: Image Engine -
Damien Thaller, Dennis Shchulkin,
Jeff Baldemoro, Jeremy Mesena,
Lee Alexander, Marc Jones, Ramiro C. Gomez
and Robert Bourgeault
VFX Assets Supervisor: Image Engine -
Barry Poon
Film Editors - Michael McCusker and
Dirk Westervelt
Sound Designers - Wayne Lemmer
and Hamilton Sterling
Supervising Sound Editor - Donald Sylvester
First Assistant Sound Editor - Skip Longfellow
Supervising Dialogue Editor - Teri E. Dorman
Dialogue Editors - Jim Brookshire and
Anna MacKenzie
Sound Mixer: LA Unit - David Husby
Re-Recording Mixers - David Giammarco
and Paul Massey
Additional Re-Recording Mixer - Craig Henighan
Music - Marco Beltrami
Music Supervisor/Temp and Final Music
Editor - Ted Caplan
Score Producer - Buck Sanders
Recordist and Mixer - John Kurlander


Review
A realistically brutal, tragic and complex film was the last to feature Wolverine in the X-Men series. It's also Hugh Jackman's swan song as the character in this haunting goodbye after 17 years of portrayal in his nine-film appearances. James Mangold has learned from a few mistakes made in his previous instalment and takes the eponymous hero into a cynical future where he is among the few mutants left from extinction. LOGAN was the ultimate standalone feature that remains dark, violent and gritty and brought a take on the character aging and has seen better days. It didn't disappoint fans as its first predecessor did by altering the character's backstory, and the second was a vast improvement. That said, LOGAN has attained the aspects that none of the other spin-offs can have with the same bleak and fierce tone, Western feel, writing and characterisation assembled in the film.

Hugh Jackman wasn't the only actor taking a bow as Wolverine, a.k.a. Logan. Patrick Stewart was in his late 70s when he portrayed Xavier for the last time as the character was now a senile and forgetful figure, no longer a teacher. Both actors deserved better; it was their send-off to the X-Men movie franchise. Dafne Keen was a new starlet from Hollywood, and her role as Laura was superb. Richard E. Grant and Boyd Holbrook did a fantastic job as the villains.

LOGAN was the long-awaited conclusion for the character that many fans have come to expect from a superhero movie. It's not recommended for younger fans under 15 years without parental supervision due to the disturbing violence and a lot of cussing in this feature, so be warned.

Star rating: (10/10) Best Movie Ever

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Tuesday, March 14, 2017

The Great Escape Review











The Great Escape


Release Date: 10th December 1963 - Australia (Sydney) (premiere)


Production Companies
The Mirisch Company
Alpha (Uncredited)


Genre: War

Rating: PG

Runtime: 172 minutes


Budget: $3,800,000

Box Office Gross: $11,973,256 (Worldwide) 


Plot Summary 
Angered by the number of escapes by a relatively small number of Allied prisoners, the Nazis relocated them to a high-security "escape-proof" prison camp. However, the prisoners remained undaunted, and this did not stop them from planning one of the most ambitious escape attempts in the history of World War II.


Cast
Steve McQueen - Hilts 'The Cooler King'
James Garner - Hendley 'The Scrounger'
Richard Attenborough - Bartlett 'Big X'
James Donald - Ramsey 'The
SBO'
Charles Bronson - Danny
'Tunnel King'
Donald Pleasence - Blythe
'The Forger'
James Coburn - Sedgwick 'Manufacturer'
Hannes Messemer - Von Luger 'The Kommandant'
David McCallum - Ashley-Pitt 'Dispersal'
Gordon Jackson - MacGordon 'Intelligence'
John Leyton - Willie 'Tunnel King'
Angus Lennie - Ives 'The Mole'
Nigel Stock - Cavendish 'The Surveyor'
Robert Graf - Werner 'The Ferret'
Jud Taylor - Goff
Hans Reiser - Herr Kuhn
Harry Riebauer - Strachwitz
William Russell - Sorren
Robert Freitag - Capt. Posen
Ulrich Beiger - Preissen
George Mikell - Lt. Dietrich
Lawrence Montaigne - Haynes ('Diversions')
Robert Desmond - Griffith 'Tailor'
Til Kiwe - Frick
Heinz Weiss - Kramer
Tom Adams - Dai Nimmo ('Diversions')
Karl-Otto Alberty - S.S. Officer Steinach

Crew
Producer/Director - John Sturges
Based on the Novel "The Great Escape" -
Paul Brickhill
Writer/Producer (Uncredited) - James Clavell
Writers - W.R. Burnett and
Walter Newman (Uncredited)
Executive Producer - Walter Mirisch (Uncredited)
Assistant to Producer/Second Unit
Director (Uncredited) - Robert E. Relyea
Technical Advisor - Wally Floody (Uncredited)
Art Director - Fernando Carrere
Set Decorator - Kurt Ripberger
Director of Photography - Daniel L. Fapp
Assistant Directors - Jack N. Reddish
and John Flynn (Uncredited)
Special Effects - A. Paul Pollard
Film Editor - Ferris Webster
Sound Effects Editor - Wayne Fury
Composer - Elmer Bernstein


Awards

1964 Academy Awards
Best Film Editing - Ferris Webster (Nominated)


Review
Following the successful release of The Magnificent Seven in 1960, director John Sturges adapted Paul Brickhill's novel THE GREAT ESCAPE to become one of 1963's top-grossing movies. Based on the author's tragic experience in World War II, he was involved in a massive escape attempt devised by his fellow prisoners-of-war (POWs). Many celebrated it as one of the greatest war movies of all time. I remember seeing it on pay TV when shown on the now-defunct Movie Greats channel. It introduced me to Steve McQueen, one of the greatest actors ever. Its famous motorcycle chase scene is what got me into seeing the film. I have waited to see this milestone film again that keeps the old-fashioned edge-of-the-seat experience. THE GREAT ESCAPE was shot on location in Germany with elaborate set pieces and contained some historical accuracy.

The cast featured actors like McQueen, Richard Attenborough, James Garner, Charles Bronson, James Coburn and Donald Pleasence. Each actor pulled through their stellar performances, like McQueen, who has a daredevil persona and likes to take risks in acting. Coburn, an American actor, surprises Australian film-goers that he can play a character with an Aussie accent. The background music by Elmer Bernstein was tremendously combining the score with the film's tragedy and cleverness.

In closing, it is one of my all-time favourite movies, and THE GREAT ESCAPE is comparable to the other films this year. Anyone who wants to view it can purchase it online and in DVD format.

Star rating: (10/10) Best Movie Ever

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Saturday, March 11, 2017

My Fourteenth Important Message

Newsflash, I have taken out my previous reviews of Jack and Jill and Eragon as they are currently under maintenance, and I have yet to rewatch one of these two films. I assure you blog-viewers that when I finish re-writing these critiques, I'll re-post them for about two weeks and re-link them back to the review index page as you look up to the top.

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Spider-Man 3 Review











Spider-Man 3


Release Date: 3rd May 2007 - Australia


Production Companies
Columbia Pictures
Marvel Enterprises
Laura Ziskin Productions

Distribution
Sony Pictures Australia


Genre: Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 133 minutes


Budget: $258,000,000

Box Office Gross: $890,871,626
(Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Peter Parker has finally managed to strike a balance between his devotion to M.J. and his duties as a superhero. But when his suit suddenly changes, turning jet-black and enchanting his powers, it transforms Peter as well. 

Under the influence of the suit, Peter becomes prideful and overconfident and he begins to neglect the ones he cares about most. As two of the most-feared villains yet, Sandman and Venom, gather unparalleled power of thirst for retribution, Peter's greatest battle will become the one within himself. 

 
Cast
Tobey Maguire - Peter
Parker/Spider-Man
Kirsten Dunst - Mary Jane
Watson
James Franco - Harry
Osborn/New Goblin
Thomas Haden Church - Flint
Marko/Sandman
Topher Grace - Eddie Brock/
Venom
Bryce Dallas Howard - Gwen
Stacy
J.K. Simmons - J. Jonah
Jameson
James Cromwell - Captain
Stacy
Rosemary Harris - Aunt May
Parker
Theresa Russell - Emma Marko
Dylan Baker - Dr. Curt Connors
Bill Nunn - Joseph 'Robbie'
Robertson
Willem Dafoe - Norman Osborn/The Green Goblin (Cameo)
Cliff Robertson - Ben Parker
(Cameo)
Elya Baskin - Mr. Ditkovich
Mageina Tovah - Ursula
Ted Raimi - Hoffman
Elizabeth Banks - Betty Brant
Perla Haney-Jardine - Penny Marko
Becky Ann Baker - Mrs. Stacy
Lucy Gordon - Jennifer Dugan
Bruce Campbell - Maitre d'
(Cameo)
Michael Papajohn - Dennis
Carradine/Carjacker
Joe Manganiello - Flash
Thompson (Cameo) 
Stan Lee - Man in Times
Square (Cameo)

Crew
Screen Story/Screenplay/
Director - Sam Raimi
Based on Marvel Comic Book "The Amazing Spider-Man"/Executive Producer - Stan Lee
Based on Marvel Comic Book "The Amazing Spider-Man" - Steve Ditko
Screen Story/Screenplay - Ivan Raimi
Screenplay - Alvin Sargent 
Executive Producers - Joseph M. Caracciolo and Kevin Fiege
Producers - Laura Ziskin,
Avi Arad and Grant Curtis
Casting Director - Francine Maisler
Production Designers - Neil Spisak and
J. Michael Riva
Art Directors - Christopher Burian-Mohr,
David F. Klassen, Dawn Swiderski and
Suzan Wexler
Costume Designers - James Acheson and
Katina Le Kerr
Director of Photography - Bill Pope
Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator -
Dan Bradley
Second Unit Directors - David Lowery
and Jeffrey Lynch
Stunt Coordinator - Scott Rogers
Special Effects Supervisors - John Frazier
and Jim Schwalm 
Special Effects Foreman/Supervisor - John Shea
Visual Effects Supervisors - Richard Kidd,
Scott Stokdyk and Mark Larranaga
Visual Effects Supervisor: New Deal Studios - 
Ian Hunter
Digital Effects Supervisor - Kee-Suk 'Ken' Hahn
Digital Effects Supervisor: SPI - Peter Nofz
Animation Supervisor - Spencer Cook
Computer Graphics Supervisor - Robert Winter
Computer Graphics Supervisor: SPI - Francisco De Jesus
Film Editor - Bob Murawski
Original Music Themes - Danny Elfman
Score - Christopher Young


Review
What should have been a major step-forward in Sam Raimi's 'Spider-Man' trilogy has put a nail in the coffin and left Sony to reboot the film franchise as 'The Amazing Spider-Man' with a mixed response. If it weren't for the unnecessary additions to the story-line like the Emo Peter subplot and the character of Venom, the latter having less screen-time and affecting a few character arcs like Peter, The Sandman and Harry Osborn's. For future reference, these two elements should have been used for potential sequels and spin-offs and not been forced into the third instalment.

This is why 'SPIDER-MAN 3' would have been a good film if had been faithfully integrated with the director's vision and not the studio's which might explain a lot. The characters and story would have been fleshed out more including Gwen Stacy who was underused and would have had a larger role if included in more scenes of Peter Parker's conflict of his affections between her or MJ.

Topher Grace is an appalling cast decision for the role of Venom - one of the lead villains as well as his bitter alter-ego Eddie Brock in an over-hyped superhero movie like 'SPIDER-MAN 3'. Grace wasn't the only actor whose performance has let down the whole fan-base, Tobey Maguire while in my opinion was still near-perfect in his interpretation of both Peter Parker and Spider-Man has seemed to collide with a darker version that he looked ridiculous. Thomas Haden Church was the best actor of the movie and he gets a performance right in portraying the arch-foe of Sandman. That character leaves a lot to be desired by anyone who can relate to his pain after seeing his backstory.

This was in-arguably the second least favourite of all 'Spider-Man' movies, you may want to forget that it has its flaws. It's bad enough that this was the last of Sam Raimi's film adaptations of the character and it's close to being a huge disappointment.

Star rating: (5/10) Average

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Wednesday, March 1, 2017

In Memory of Bill Paxton (1955-2017)







Bill Paxton (1955-2017)

Those of you may remember his name in each of his films. I'm sad to announce that Bill Paxton, the known frequent collaborator of director James Cameron and star of "Aliens", "Twister", "Apollo 13", "Titanicand "True Lies" has passed away due to surgical complications at the age of 61 on February 25th, 2017.

Paxton started acting in 1975 and was in minor roles like "Stripes" and "The Terminator". The latter was the first movie he worked with director James Cameron when portraying a thug. Paxton became better known as an actor in prominent supporting roles. "Weird Science" was one of them playing a bully sibling of the main character. His breakthrough role as Private Hudson in "Aliens" propelled his stardom. Starring opposite Sigourney Weaver and fellow "Terminator" co-stars Lance Henriksen and Michael Biehn, Paxton improvised some of the character's dialogue, including "Game over, man". Eventually, Paxton continued to do full-time work as an actor in other collaborations with James Cameron, like "True Lies" and "Titanic" and lead and ensemble roles, including "One False Move", "Apollo 13", "Twister", "Mighty Joe Young", "A Simple Plan", "U-571", "Vertical Limit", "Thunderbirds", "Edge of Tomorrow" and much more. He even featured himself and narrated James Cameron's documentary "Ghosts of the Abyss".

In addition to acting, Bill Paxton has directed several movies, including "Frailty" (in which he also starred) and "The Greatest Game Ever Played". He also did television work where he made guest appearances in shows like "Miami Vice", "The Hitchhiker", "Tales from the Crypt", and "Frasier" before he went into the lead and recurring roles in "Big Love", "Hatfields and McCoys", and "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."

When he died, he had finished work on his current television series based on a film, "Training Day", and the upcoming film, "The Circle".