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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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 from the rest of the Kong films as 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

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Logan Review

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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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 made me watch 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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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.

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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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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", "Titanic" and "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".

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