Review: "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" Entangled in Too Many Angles

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 43 by Leroy Douresseaux

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
Running time: 142 minutes (2 hours, 22 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi/action and violence
DIRECTOR: Marc Webb
WRITERS: Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, and James Pinkner; from a story by Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, James Pinkner, and James Vanderbilt (based upon the Marvel comic book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko)
PRODUCERS: Avi Arad and Matthew Tolmach
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Dan Mindel (D.o.P.)
EDITOR: Pietro Scalia
COMPOSERS: Hans Zimmer, The Magnificent Six, Johnny Marr, and Pharrell Williams

SUPERHERO/DRAMA/ACTION/ROMANCE

Starring: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx, Sally Field, Dane DeHaan, Felicity Jones, Paul Giamatti, Campbell Scott, Embeth Davidtz, Marton Csokas, Max Charles, B.J. Novak, Kari Coleman, Michael Massee, and Stan Lee with Chris Cooper and Denis Leary

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is a 2014 superhero film and drama from director Marc Webb and stars Andrew Garfield in the title role. It is the sequel to The Amazing Spider-Man, the 2012 film that was a reboot of Columbia Pictures' Spider-Man film franchise, and this movie is also the fifth Spider-Man film in the series.  The Amazing Spider-Man 2 finds Spider-Man facing a former admirer turned super-villain, while Peter Parker worries that being Spider-Man will endanger his loved ones.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 begins as Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) and his girlfriend, Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone), are about to graduate from high school.  Peter is also loving his life as the costumed, crime-fighting superhero, Spider-Man.  Peter, however, is currently haunted by the specter of police Captain George Stacy (Denis Leary), Gwen's deceased father.  As Capt. Stacy lay dying (in the previous film), Peter promised him to keep Gwen out of his life because of Spider-Man.  Peter reluctantly tries to break up with Gwen, but the two teenagers deeply love each other.  Peter's attempts simply sow confusion.

Meanwhile, at OsCorp Industries, Peter's former friend, Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan), returns to New York City in time to take over the business of his recently deceased father, Norman Osborn (Chris Cooper).  OsCorp's past as a company on the cutting edge of controversial genetic research, however, threatens both Harry and Peter.  Also, a new villain, Electro (Jamie Foxx), appears.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 lacks focus, and I think that there are two reasons for that.  First, the screenplay wants to be a story of young romance, but the romance and character drama are overwrought.   Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone give good performances, but Peter and Gwen's relationship is like a car stuck in mud and pointlessly spinning its wheel.  The car isn't going anywhere, and until the end, neither is Peter and Gwen's relationship, and then, that is only for tragic affect.

I think the second reason that The Amazing Spider-Man 2 seems muddled is because it is more than just a superhero movie; it is the birth of an expanded universe.  Sony, Columbia Pictures' parent, wants to take some of the characters that belong to Marvel Comics' line of Spider-Man comic books and use them to expand their Spider-Man film franchise into a Spider-Man universe.  They want something like Marvel Studios' “Marvel Cinematic Universe.”  Why have just Spider-Man movies when you can have movies starring Spider-Man adversaries like Venom and the Sinister Six.

Marvel essentially used the 2010 film, Iron Man 2, to expand its universe, and that movie tended to drift and lack focus, but in the end, Iron Man 2 was a good movie.   The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is meant to expand the Spider-Man universe, but in the end, it is not really a good movie.  The character melodrama is at odds with the showy action-fantasy violence that is the Spider-Man vs. Electro subplot.  Electro is probably the worse villain yet in the Spider-Man films.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 has an engaging visual style, and it is probably at its best when it depicts Spider-Man swinging over New York City, through its canyons and around its buildings and skyscrapers.  Even the fight scenes, which seem tacked on to the story, look good, when they focus on Spider-Man.  Nothing about Electro looks good.  Hopefully, the third installment of The Amazing Spider-Man can be itself, a stand-alone movie that does not have to carry the hopes of Sony's corporate board and accountants.

4 of 10
C

Monday, September 15, 2014


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

"Vacation" Remake/Reboot/Sequel/Contiunation Begins Filming in Georgia

Cameras Roll on “Vacation”

Principal photography begins on New Line Cinema’s “Vacation,” Starring Ed Helms and Christina Applegate

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The next generation of Griswolds is at it again. Shooting has begun in Georgia on New Line Cinema’s “Vacation,” starring Ed Helms (“The Hangover” films) and Christina Applegate (the “Anchorman” films) on the road for another ill-fated adventure. The film marks Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley’s directorial debut.

Following in his father’s footsteps and hoping for some much-needed family bonding, a grown-up Rusty Griswold (Helms) surprises his wife, Debbie (Applegate), and their two sons with a cross-country trip back to America’s “favorite family fun park,” Walley World.

Rounding out the cast are Chris Hemsworth (the “Thor” films) in the role of Stone Crandall, Rusty’s irritatingly successful brother-in-law; Charlie Day (the “Horrible Bosses” films), who plays a river rafting guide; and Skyler Gisondo (“Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb,” “Hard Sell”) and Steele Stebbins (“A Haunted House 2”), who play Rusty’s sons, James and Kevin. Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo reprise their roles as Clark and Ellen Griswold from the classic “Vacation” comedies.

Goldstein & Daley (“Horrible Bosses,” “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2”) wrote the script, based on characters created by John Hughes. David Dobkin (upcoming “The Judge,” “Wedding Crashers”) and Chris Bender (“We’re the Millers,” upcoming “Horrible Bosses 2”) are producing, with Marc S. Fischer serving as executive producer.

The directors’ behind-the-scenes creative team also includes director of photography Barry Peterson (the “Jump Street” films, “We’re the Millers”), production designer Barry Robison (“Wedding Crashers,” “Pitch Perfect”), and costume designer Debra McGuire (“Ted”).

“Vacation” is a New Line Cinema presentation and will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment company.

---------------------------

Disney and Marvel Studios Release "Avengers: Age of Ultron" Synopsis

Disney/Marvel has released the official synopsis of Avengers: Age of Ultron, the sequel to its blockbuster film, Marvel's The Avengers.

The synopsis is as follows:

Marvel Studios presents “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” the epic follow-up to the biggest Super Hero movie of all time. When Tony Stark tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye, are put to the ultimate test as the fate of the planet hangs in the balance. As the villainous Ultron emerges, it is up to The Avengers to stop him from enacting his terrible plans, and soon uneasy alliances and unexpected action pave the way for an epic and unique global adventure.

Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron” stars Robert Downey Jr., who returns as Iron Man, along with Chris Evans as Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor and Mark Ruffalo as The Hulk.  Together with Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow and Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, and with the additional support of Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and Cobie Smulders as Agent Maria Hill, the team must reassemble to defeat James Spader as Ultron, a terrifying technological villain hell-bent on human extinction. Along the way, they confront two mysterious and powerful newcomers, Wanda Maximoff, played by Elizabeth Olsen, and Pietro Maximoff, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and meet an old friend in a new form when Paul Bettany becomes Vision. Written and directed by Joss Whedon and produced by Kevin Feige, Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron” is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series “The Avengers,” first published in 1963. Get set for an action-packed thrill ride when The Avengers return in Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron” on May 1, 2015.

End of synopsis.

The 15th Annual Grammy Award Nominations to Be Announced Online

The Latin Recording Academy® Will Announce Nominees for the 15th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards® on LatinGRAMMY.com and via Twitter on Wednesday, Sept. 24

#LatinGRAMMY

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--For the first time in Latin GRAMMY® history, The Latin Recording Academy® will announce nominees for the 15th Annual Latin GRAMMY Award® online featuring various celebrities and incorporating music fans on a global scale and will utilize social networking platform Twitter. The nominations will be revealed Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 4 a.m. PT/7 a.m. ET with the launch of a video, which will allow Latin music fans around the world an opportunity to participate in the announcement, followed by a daylong promotion of social interaction during which the public is welcome to tweet exclusive congratulatory messages to nominated artists by using the official Latin GRAMMY hashtag #LatinGRAMMY. The video, press release and full list of nominations will be available simultaneously on www.latingrammy.com. For breaking news and updates, please visit The Latin Academy's social networks on Twitter and Facebook.

    “In this era, news is immediate and everyone wants to be the first to share it”

"In this era, news is immediate and everyone wants to be the first to share it," said Gabriel Abaroa Jr., President/CEO of The Latin Recording Academy. "By engaging nominees and fans at the same time, not only will the artists be notified of their good news directly, but music fans will also be a part of this special announcement and have the ability to participate through social platforms."

As previously announced, the 15th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards will be broadcast from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Thursday, Nov. 20, and will air in the United States on the Univision Network from 8–11 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. Central). This year marks the seventh time Latin music's most prestigious awards telecast will take place in Las Vegas and the first time from MGM Grand.

Since the annual Latin GRAMMY Awards debuted entirely in Spanish on Univision in 2005, the telecast has consistently earned significant ratings each year in the United States and is now seen in more than 100 countries around the world. The Latin GRAMMYs have become Univision's most watched and highest-rated show while delivering outstanding social media results and engagement. With nearly 2 million followers on Twitter, @LatinGRAMMYs has more followers than any other awards show.

Additionally, the Road To The Latin GRAMMYTMs — a monthlong series of cultural events culminating with The Biggest Night in Latin Music® — begins with the Latin GRAMMY Acoustic Sessions and Latin GRAMMY Street Parties (taking place in several cities across the United States), as well as the Special Awards Presentation and The Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year tribute gala.

The Latin Recording Academy is an international, membership-based organization comprised of Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking recording artists, musicians, songwriters, producers and other creative and technical recording professionals. The organization is dedicated to improving the quality of life and cultural condition for Latin music and its makers. In addition to producing the Latin GRAMMY Awards to honor excellence in the recorded arts and sciences, The Latin Recording Academy provides educational and outreach programs for the Latin music community either directly or through its Latin GRAMMY Cultural FoundationTM. For more information about The Latin Recording Academy, please visit LatinGRAMMY.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @LatinGRAMMYs on Twitter, like "Latin GRAMMYs" on Facebook , and join the Latin GRAMMYs' social communities on Foursquare, Google+, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and YouTube.

Negromancer News Bits and Bites for the Week of September 7th to September 13th, 2014 - Update #14

NEWS:

From the Telegraph:  Sarah Palin is still hilarious. Yes, we do know who you are; you're that Tina Fey impersonator.

-------------------
From YahooNews:  Celebrities weigh in on Scottish referendum for independence from Great Britain.

-------------------
From HuffingtonPost:  The Bundy's have a family reunion.  The lead cast of "Married... with Children," Katey Sagal, Christina Applegate, Ed O'Neill, and David Faustino, reunite as Sagal is honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Tuesday, September 9, 2014.

---------------------
From InsideTV:  Chris Pratt, the breakout star of Guardians of the Galaxy, will host the first "Saturday Night Live," of the new season.

------------------
From TheHollywoodReporter:  Didn't know that Marlon Wayans was being sued.  And, of course, being that it's Marlon, it is a hilarious lawsuit.

-------------------
From Variety:  According to early estimates, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy wins the September 5th to 7th, 2014 weekend box office.

-------------------
From YahooMovies:  I did not know that The Identical was a "faith-based" film.  It is a box office flop, at least in its first week.  The is a year that saw several successful faith-based films, including Heaven is for Real ($94.4 million), God's Not Dead ($60.7 million), and Son of God ($59.7 million).


COMIC BOOKS - Movies and Books

From TheHollywoodReporter:  "Hulk vs. Thanos" by Jim Starlin, coming before the end of the year.

-----------------
From TheVerge:  Spy photos for the new Batmobile from "Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice."

------------------
From TheWrap:  FOX's "Gotham," a film set in Batman's hometown before Batman debuts, has been named the "most promising new show" of the Fall by the Television Critics Association.


STAR WARS:

From TheWrap:  Actor Mark Ruffalo reaches out to Star Wars Episode 8 writer-director, Rian Johnson, in hopes of landing a role in the film.  Ruffalo previously worked with Johnson on The Brothers Bloom.

----------------
From TheVerge:  First, a British pilot and engineer accidentally caught sight of the Millennium Falcon.  Now, savvy photographers have taken photos of what may be an X-Wing fighter.

----------------
From YahooMovies:  A message from J.J.Abrams leads to speculation about the appearance of a third Death Stars.

-----------------
From InsideTV and ScreenRant:  Two articles about how the upcoming Disney XD animated series, "Star Wars Rebels" will connect to the existing films and the upcoming Episode 7.

------------------
From HuffingtonPost:  A pilot inadvertently captures the Millennium Falcon while unknowingly flying over an Episode 7 set.


REVIEWS:

From TheHollywoodReporter:  A review of Mike Binder's Black and White with Kevin Costner and Octavia Spencer.  Oscar buzz for Spenser - hope it goes better than the results of her Oscar buzz for Fruitvale Station.


OBITS:

From YahooTV:  Chicago-based actress, Molly Glynn, died in an accident when a tree fell on her while she was bike riding with her husband.  Glynn had a recurring role on the television series, " Chicago Fire."


MISC:

From ESPN via RSN:  NFL star Adrian Peterson charged after "whooping" his son.

-----------------
From YahooSports:  No, he doesn't know where Alabama is...

-----------------
From YahooSports:  The Baltimore Ravens cut running back, Ray Rice, after the full disturbing video of him knocking out his wife (then fiance) emerges.  Shortly afterwards, the NFL suspended him indefinitely.

Review: "Sabotage" Mostly a Failure

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 42 (of 2014) by Leroy Douresseaux

Sabotage (2014)
Running time:  109 minutes (1 hour, 49 minutes)
MPAA – R for strong bloody violence, pervasive language, some sexuality/nudity and drug use
DIRECTOR:  David Ayer
WRITERS:  David Ayer and Skip Woods
PRODUCERS:  David Ayer, Bill Block, Paul Hanson, Palak Patel, and Ethan Smith
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Bruce McCleery (D.o.P.)
EDITOR:  Dody Dorn
COMPOSER: David Sardy

CRIME/THRILLER with elements of action, drama and mystery

Starring:  Arnold Schwarzenegger, Olivia Williams, Sam Worthington, Joe Manganiello, Josh Holloway, Terrence Howard, Mireille Enos, Harold Perrineau, Max Martini, Kevin Vance, Mark Schlegel, and Martin Donovan

Sabotage is a 2014 crime thriller co-written and directed by David Ayer.  The film stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as the leader of an elite DEA task force that is being hunted after they take money from a drug cartel safe house.

Sabotage focuses on John “Breacher” Wharton (Arnold Schwarzenegger), the commander of an elite Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Special Operations Team.  During a raid on a drug cartel safe house, the team steals 10 million dollars from the cartel's massive stash of cash.  However, the team members are unable to hide the fact that some of the cartel's money is missing from their DEA superiors, and the money also disappears from the place where the team hid it.

Six months later, team members find themselves being murdered one by one.  Wharton joins local police Investigator Caroline Brentwood (Olivia Williams) in an attempt to discover who is killing members of his team.  Why are they being killed?  Where is the money?  Are the answers closer than Wharton and Brentwood would like to admit?

Sabotage is a muddled mess.  In many of these reviews, I talk about what the movie should have been or could have been.  Sometimes, I even guess what story the director and writer(s) were trying to tell.  In the case of Sabotage, I am not sure what the filmmakers wanted to give us.

There are some good actors in this movie, but it still manages to seem miscast.  What is Arnold Schwarzenegger doing here?  He looks old and tired, while delivering some of the worst acting of his career; this might be the worst of his career.  There are some good moments in Sabotage, even some compelling and thrilling moments.  Sabotage had potential...

3 of 10
C-

Friday, September 5, 2014


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

22 Viacom Networks Will Be Available on Sony's Cloud-Based TV Service

Viacom and Sony Reach Landmark Internet Distribution Agreement

Deal Marks Major Programming Agreement for Sony’s Forthcoming Cloud-Based TV Service in the United States

Twenty-Two Viacom Networks, including Comedy Central, MTV, Spike, VH1, Nickelodeon to be Available on New Service at Launch

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Viacom (NASDAQ:VIAB)(NASDAQ:VIA) and Sony Corporation (NYSE:SNE) today announced a landmark agreement for Sony’s forthcoming cloud-based TV service to carry 22 Viacom networks at launch. The deal marks Viacom’s first-ever agreement to provide its networks for an Internet-based live TV and video on demand service.

    “Viacom’s award-winning networks are a perfect match for our new service, ensuring that our customers will be able to access the shows they love on their favorite devices, when and how they choose.”
“Viacom always strives to create transformational opportunities that combine consumer value and technological innovation,” said Philippe Dauman, President and CEO, Viacom. “Given our young, tech-savvy audiences, our networks are essential for any new distribution platform, and we’re excited to be among the many programmers that will help power Sony’s new service and advance a new era for television.”

“Our new cloud-based TV service will combine the live TV content people love most about cable with the dynamic experience they have come to expect from our network,” said Andrew House, Group Executive, Network Entertainment Business, Sony Corporation. “Viacom’s award-winning networks are a perfect match for our new service, ensuring that our customers will be able to access the shows they love on their favorite devices, when and how they choose.”

The partnership unites Sony’s rapidly growing network and more than 75 million Internet-enabled Sony devices in U.S. living rooms with Viacom’s content portfolio, all of which have deep connections with today’s young adults. Viacom owns and operates the largest basic cable portfolio in the United States by audience share, including 25.9% share of basic cable viewership among young people aged 2 to 34*.

Sony’s cloud-based TV service will offer subscribers Internet-based live TV and video on demand from major programmers, including the following content from Viacom:

1. At least 22 Viacom linear networks at launch, including BET, CMT, Comedy Central, MTV, MTV2, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Nicktoons, Spike, TV Land and VH1, BET Gospel, Centric, Logo, CMT Pure Country, MTV Hits, MTV James, mtvU, Palladia, TeenNick, Vh1 Classic and Vh1 Soul and all available HD.
2. Authenticated access to hundreds of hours of programming on Viacom’s TV Everywhere websites and apps. Viacom currently offers TV Everywhere apps from Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, VH1, CMT and Logo.

3. Viacom’s full video-on-demand package.

Additional terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Sony will announce more details about its new cloud-based TV service in the near future.

*Nielsen Media Research, July 2014

About Viacom
Viacom is home to premier global media brands that create compelling television programs, motion pictures, short-form video, apps, games, consumer products, social media and other entertainment content for audiences in more than 160 countries and territories. Viacom's media networks, including MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, BET, CENTRIC, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., TeenNick, Nicktoons, Nick at Nite, Comedy Central, TV Land, SPIKE, Channel 5 (UK), Tr3s, Paramount Channel and VIVA, reach approximately 700 million television subscribers worldwide. Paramount Pictures, America's oldest film studio, is a major global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment.

For more information about Viacom and its businesses, visit www.viacom.com. Keep up with Viacom news by following Viacom's blog at blog.viacom.com and Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/viacom.

Sony Network Entertainment International
Sony Network Entertainment International LLC (SNEI), a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, is the premier provider of digital entertainment. Through the Sony Entertainment Network portal, consumers around the world are able to access their favorite digital entertainment conveniently and instantly on their favorite connected devices. SNEI offers the latest and highest quality music, video, and game content through Sony Entertainment Network as well as PlayStation Network while also delivering third-party services. In addition, SNEI provides a compelling consumer experience through innovative content discovery features and a simple user interface that is globally consistent, yet locally relevant.

------------------------------