Years ago, a blogger mentioned the magnitude of civilian death in Superman: Man of Steel. I feel that it actually wasn’t near as much as most superhero movies, but I have been more sensitive to this issue since that blogger pointed it  out, and what with the violence in our nation, criticism of our guns laws, and Islamic extremist, I am thinking more and more of violence and the attitude toward life.

I am trying to realize that America HAS committed crimes. I am trying to understand that we have done great thing and we have done horrible things, but that the horrible things do not outweigh the great and that we have not been overall as evil as many/most nations and continents. Balance and facts, peoples.

Even if someone is evil, I don’t think you should rejoice in that person’s death, and the Sadism in some of the wars and etc.

Anyway, people were so casual about life in this movie. I mean, really, really. And nothing else about the movie stood out as spectacular.

I love, love, love these movies. I wanted to see this film again in theaters after I watched it. I felt that plot-wise this film did not match the first film, but as before the characters were awesome. The characters were personable, believable, sweet/interesting, and compelling. The bad guy in this one was nutzo and not the best villain, but still his very craziness was very well-played and focused on, we saw a plot line of him besides the ones for Peter and Harry (notice that I do not include Harry as a bad guy :P).

My sister pointed out that these Amazing Spider Man movies have less action than many superhero movies, this one more so than the first, but still less. That point is a great deal of what makes the films good, but it is not the whole explanation of the awesomeness of the films. A great part of the quality of these films is due the fact that the other scenes are just normal life with normal, (comparatively) average people. No billionaire-genius-playboys or angst-filled dramatic adults. Or gods. The films are filled with little interactions between Peter and his aunt, Peter and his friends/acquaintances, and Peter and Gwen. The film has drama and action, friends and family, romance, and humor. The humor is cute and dorky but not overdone, goofy, and really just not funny (I am looking at you embarrassing Avengers). I did think the action/drama part of the bad guy a bit overkill (missing some cleverness) and Harry’s story was too rushed.

My sister pointed out, when I said that Peter was not cocky, that he was cocky in his suit. Okay, give him a break, he was 18, and most of the time he was an angel. Oh, Peter, such sweetness overall. His treatment of his aunt, so sweet. I loved the chimney scene, and the scene when he is trying to hide his suit. He tried to do the right thing always even when he found it hard. And he did not do it primarily for the glory (he may have liked it a little, but he followed principles (like Robin Hood did thankyouverymuch horrible-Marian-in-the-beginning and anyone else who snipes at him). He tried to help his friend by bringing Spider Man, but Harry was too far gone to be appeased (btw, the film made it as if Harry had no one but Peter).

Gwen and Peter were SO, SO sweet. I love that they never really fight. I hate the low-down fights so many couples have or the ugly feminism-tinged competitiveness (they are only teasingly so), or the sassy/sexy talk. These two are just so just plain-good-old-fashioned sweet. My sister pointed out that Gwen tried to be mad at Peter but she could not manage to be so very long (and I love the scene when he is Spider Man, and she yells out “Peter!” and then claps her hand over her mouth). Thor and Jane are like that too, but their characters and romance are not as developed and not as quite as adorable since they are older.

First of all, Harry Osbourn is my husband, so hands off. Brilliant blue eyes, deep raspy voice, quirky style. Drama. Yes. So, so handsome. “That is Mr. Osbourn to you. We are not friends.” Be the man, show them you ARE their boss. Excellent. “Wait. I know the way out.” He has dignity. That expression on Harry’s face after Gwen leaves the elevator looks so vulnerable . . . but you can see a dangerous look lurking there too.”I don’t do complicated.” No, he sure does not. He asks for something and receives “No” as “No” completely and irrevocably.

Despite my overall love for the Amazing Spider Man films and Harry, I felt that Harry’s story rolled out waaaaay too fast. Yes, of course I just would have liked to see more of him because I am a silly fan girl, but I do feel that from a critical standpoint he really should have had more time in his story. I was under the impression that he was in all three of the first set of Spider Man films, so I thought this film portrayed his story really fast. We do not see Peter and Harry’s friendship enough to feel Harry’s sense of betrayal (yes, he is wrong, this I know) strongly (I felt it to be a bit of an overreaction because of the film’s speed). I feel like we should have seen the climax of his bitterness and fear and anger coming, but that it should have shown up in the next film.

Two young men with abandonment and loss. Peter actually faced more by the beginning of this film, but he is an angel while Harry is the troubled one. Peter does have his aunt and Gwen (at the beginning) even after losing so many people in his life while Harry only has his buddy it seems, but STILL. And Peter loses his love (and he feels that it is his fault) and his friend betrays him at the end, so his load is doubled at the end of this film. Even after that burden he does take up his role again after mourning. That is a hero. He is hurt, mocked, betrayed, but he still continues to perform his job.

Well, I already thought Andrew Garfield was adorable from seeing him waaay back in The Social Network information (no, I haven’t watched that movie and have no desire to . . . beyond gazing at His Handsomeness). Seeing him in a movie, wow, he is too cute to be real . . .  and his character was soooo sweet.

He seemed like an amazing actor (I hesitate because I have seen him in nothing else, and so he could be playing the same role in every movie, and it just happened to fit this one . . . that does happen although not so perfectly). He would have been in his late 20’s whilst filming this movie, but he pulls off awkward, struggling teenage boy flawlessly. The angst is not overdone; Peter Parker is just miserable, trying to struggle his way through high school and do the right thing. He of course lets his superpowers and his uncle’s death go a bit to his head and does some stupid, wrong things, but he comes back on track. The fact that he keeps his uncle’s voicemail to replay over and over; that is just, yeah. He later gives his aunt eggs which he forgot to buy much earlier in the movie . . . just yeah. That is how young people think. He is disobedient and rude at times like a real teenager, but he really does love his family, so much. Peter is just real I guess . . . okay, probably too good to be real, but yeah. Wow, just wow. He tries to obey Gwen’s father after his death.

It was cool that the “cool” dude and Peter became friends . . . I actually think that the guy was trying during the period immediately following Peter’s uncle’s death . . . as if he wasn’t just saying it, so Peter wouldn’t kill him, but he really meant it.

I like the protective dad in Mr. Stacy. I at first wanted him to disappear, but I like how he realized that he was wrong . . . albeit not until after he was forced to essentially. I did not like that he was motivated by his daughter rather than responsibility at times although this was not as much as it at first seemed. I wanted Peter and Gwen to stay together (especially after hearing who will play Mary Jane and because of the fickleness and shallowness of that character as told, and presumed accurate to the comics, in the bits I have seen and heard from the horrible Toby McGuire spiderman).

I know other reviews have used this photo and said this, but they are so stinking cute and sweet. My sister pointed out that she thought that Gwen liked him all along. She certainly didn’t seem like a snob or diva or anything like that from much of the movie. Although, personally I think Peter is waaaay out of her league. I love how he taps on her window and nothing horrid is implied. Actually, there was no sex stuff in the parts that I saw; that is so lovely.

I do have problem with the portrayal of the lizard villain. No one is truly good, and if he had enough common grace to be good in human terms, then  he would have killed himself or turned himself in rather than let the evil overtake him. He whole mind goes even in human form for most of the movie, but bam he’s back after the antidote in the end. Peter’s spiders didn’t do that to him; this sort of thing only happened with the mouse and lizard. I am sorry, that just isn’t plausible and I hate the humanism . . . and my siblings hated my lecturing. The flaw was the “guns kill people” argument, nope, the person holds responsibility every. single. time.

Just like The Hobbit I want to watch this movie again, soon! Of course this is partially because I missed a part of it.

I wrote this a month or two back. I need to see this movie again. How quickly I forget about what movie choices we have.

I went to a midnight showing of Avengers  the first time around, and I just watched it for the second time with more of my brain awake. I have seen most of the necessary precursory movies: Ironman, Captain America, and Thor which really are necessary in order for the desire to see the Avengers to amount to anything. The first viewing was supposed to be with a certain group of people which was part and parcel of my desire to see it in the first place. The movie I was really looking forward to this summer was Dark Knight. I suppose what I am trying to say was that I was not a diehard fan before the movie came out (unlike one of my siblings who dressed as Loki for the movie).

I did of course enjoy the movie. Superhero movies are, oddly enough, one of my genres of choice. That being said; it did not strike me as being incredible movie in and of itself. I know I am comparing it in my mind to the Batman movies; it is not at that level; therefore, I simply cannot think that it is amazing. I know I am sounding like a terrible critic, but I am sorry, I felt that it was rather fluffy. Indeed, I think that the plots of the original character movies were all better than the plot in this one. I am not sure what I was expecting exactly.

Honestly, when you analyze the plot it does not amount to much at all. This is pure action here people. Loki comes to earth via the tesseract; he takes Burton, the phycist and the tesseract; the various members of the Avengers gather to fight Loki; Stark mocks the goody-goody Captain America while Banner sarcastically sulks; Loki makes a show whilst he gathers a needed substance and is captured which was his desire; the Avengers fight, argue, and discover weapons of mass destruction which angers them; the Avengers are attacked, Loki escapes, a significant secondary character dies; the death of the S.H.E.I.L.D. agent spurs everyone to bond and fight against Loki (why exactly?); and there is a magnificent battle in New York (one of my siblings pointed out that the city in peril is always New York even when the movies call the city something else…such as Gotham).

I did not feel that the pieces of the plot blended together smoothly. I still, after two viewings of the film and explanation from friends, don’t quite “get” the plot. There just wasn’t any depth. There were no plausible motives on the part of the Avengers, and there was far too much pettiness for a group of heroes. They come together far too fast and without any clear communication to each other or reasons as to their complete 180 degree attitude change. The action, decisions, and discoveries don’t blend very well with each other.Some of my friends think that there will be more development in the further movies-I certainly hope so, this plot was simply too light and quick paced. I am sorry, the movie may bring in millions, but I do not love it, and I don’t see that I should.

There was much that was tacky-far more than in any of the precursory movies. Some of the humor was so embarrassing and/or tacky. Here are some of the cringe-worthy “humorous” scenes and quips: “He is adopted.” “It appears to run on some sort of electricity.” “You and I remember Budapest very differently.” The I am a god and I will not be bullied scene.

Okay, here is what makes the movie for me. The humor and the characters. Chris Hemsworth. Chris Evans. Tom Hiddleston. All the Avengers men are handsome. Loki is handsome. I like the “unromantic” tension between Hawk Eye and Black Widow.There are definitely plenty of awesome lines/quips: “Phil. His first name is Agent,” “Hold on Legolas,” “There is only one God ma’am, and I am pretty sure he doesn’t dress like that.” Stark, as much as I want someone to repay him in his own coin, is I admit, pretty awesomely funny.

I loved the characters themselves rather than the movie itself. I don’t think most of them were shown to their full advantage excepting Ironman (the playa egomaniac gets front and center of course) and Captain America. I really think that more of the characters could have shone;the action could have been shortened. I ,as before, enjoyed the fraternal relationship between Thor and Loki; Thor really loves Loki, and he knows that Loki is capable of changing. Thor is perfectly just; he knows Loki should be punished, but he definitely can see more sides of the issue. I appreciate Captain America’s gentlemanliness as ever. He is as polite and honorable as before, and he endures Spark’s mockery even as he thinks through Spark and Banner’s legitimate points. Some friends appreciated Ironman’s sacrificial move…of course like in most of these type of movies he survives his act. I still want someone to one-up him in sarcasm…a man that is as Pepper’s quips don’t count as revenge although they are hilarious.

Okay, that’s about all that I have to say about that movie. There is not much need here for deep discussions of good and evil and perceptions and misconceptions regarding the movie and characters…unlike like the best movie of the summer.

I finally saw Thor!!!!! I watched it for the first time yesterday…and fell in love with Loki. Yeah, my sister is not happy; she says that he is hers. Oh, and I am still in love with Thor too. I cannot wait for The Avengers to come out!

Yeah, this movie was great, but not for the plot. For the two REALLY handsome men! Yes, this not a review; this is a gush post. Sorry…not really.

But seriously, the plot was fine, but it was waaaaay too fast for a superb movie and a little too simple. All superhero movies are definitely not created equal. It was like the directors did not want to think too much or make a very long movie. This was a kind of candy movie (yeah, eye candy too).  Oh, and I thought that Thor’s little band of sidekicks (especially the girl) were stereotypical and lame. It was SO fast; it did not deal thoroughly with all the issues such as Thor’s childishness (zap, he is mature now), the father’s lack of sensitivity (towards both his children), Thor’s treatment of Loki, and Loki’s inferiority complex.

Oh I like them both; I just am more lenient to Loki. Oh.My.Word. The scene when he finds out what and who he is?!!! His acting=amazing. Actually, all the actors were great. Oh, they could have had a much better movie! Yeah, I refuse to believe that Loki attempted to kill Thor; the directors just did not explain it. Loki is NOT a bad guy; he.is.not.the.end.

I also love the scene when he patches up things with the ice king, so they all can leave with no harm done from Thor’s little expedition, and then the ice king insults Thor and Loki who is headed back towards home says, “D…..!” because he knows exactly what is going to happen next. Love.

 What a sweet, silly boy Thor was. He was hilarious with his ludicrously pompous and old-fashioned mannerisms and actions on earth. Like when he walked casually into the street and just looked at all the cars while they honked at him.

Jane was rather nondescript, but the romance was sweet. It was also hilarious that she kept hitting him with her vehicle.

Here he is in all his pompous glory! That movie is going to be so much fun!