The Amazing Spider-Man

The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, and Rhys Ifans
Directed by: Marc Webb
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Grade: A++

As much as I love the original Spider-Man movies (with the exception of the third one we shall not mention), this one easily tops them. I was also skeptical about the casting choice of Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker/Spider-Man. As much as I loved him in The Social Network and Never Let Me Go, I just wasn't sure that he could handle a leading action role. Boy, did he prove me wrong! He was great in the soft moments as well as the moments of action. His chemistry with Emma Stone is one of the best I have seen in a long time and it makes sense that they are dating in real life. In this reboot, Peter Parker (Garfield) has a difficult life, being relentlessly bullied and going unnoticed for much of his high school life. He has lived with his Uncle Ben (Martin Sheen) and Aunt May (Sally Field) after his parents disappeared. He is led to the mysterious Dr. Curtis Connors (Ifans) by information from his even more mysterious father (Campbell Scott), who supposedly died in a plane crash when Peter was little. While at Dr. Connors workplace (OsCorp, which is owned by Norman Osbourne, AKA the Green Goblin in the comic books and original movies), he sees that Dr. Connors' intern is Gwen Stacy (Stone), whom Peter is in love with and who reciprocates these feelings. When Peter gives him an equation, Dr. Connors is finally able to fix his formula for a drug that eliminates human weakness. But, when he is forced to start human trials early and decides to test the drug on himself, he turns into the Lizard, a vengeful reptilian being who is out to turn the world into lizard beings just like him. It was a great reboot and, after the very vague scene during the credits, I can't wait for the next film.  

Magic Mike

Magic Mike (2012)
Starring: Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, and Matthew McConaughey
Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
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Grade: A+

First of all, yes...it is a stripping movie and yes...the guys in the movie are semi-nude some of the time. While this does mean a bit of objectifying the men, this happens with women in every action movie (we're looking at you, Michael Bay) ever made. So, we deserve a little bit of objectifying of the men. Anyway, this movie is about Mike (Tatum), a very talented and rhythmic stripper. At one of his many other jobs, he meets a boy named Adam (Pettyfer), a shy 19-year-old living with his sister, Brooke (Cody Horn). Mike and Adam meet again the next day. Mike asks him to pick up some girls and, seeing that Adam is actually good at it, gives him some work with props at his "Male Dance Revue", owned by Dallas (McConaughey). When one of the other strippers in hurt, Dallas orders Adam to take his place. Showing he has talent for stripping also, Dallas hires Adam, dubbing him "The Kid". As Adam gets more confident in his new profession, Mike starts to find himself falling for Brooke and contemplating leaving the show. However, his newfound friendship with The Kid and his relationship with Brooke may ruin everything Mike has worked so hard for. Overall, awesome movie...enjoyable to watch. Also starring Joe Manganiello, Gabriel Iglesias, and Matt Bomer (yay, Matt Bomer!).