The Amazing Spider-Man

Story: Movie reboot retelling Spider-Man.

Review: When I first heard that Columbia Pictures is doing a reboot of Spider-Man, my first question was, will it be better than the first two films? Will Andrew Garfield be the better Spider-Man than his predecessor?

Spider-Man's first appearance

Spider-Man first appeared in Amazing Fantasy # 15 in August 1962 and was created by Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. Spider-Man was first drawn by the late comics legend, Jack Kirby. According to Stan Lee, the idea came to him when he was conceptualizing new characters and he saw a spider climb up the wall. Spider-Man became Marvel Comics' flagship character.

Five years after the first appearance, the Spider-Man syndicate started entered another medium that was television the first animated series lasted three years(1967-1970). Spider-Man has the most animated series than any other characters or teams.

The first live action Spider-Man was played by Nicholas Hammond in a 2-hour special in 1974 followed by regular series in 1977 with 13 episodes in two seasons. Toei also made their own tokusatsu version of Spider-Man in 1978. But unlike the Marvel Comics, Toei's Spider-Man also uses a robot to fight giant monsters and has his own car and has some deviated abilities. You can compare Supaida-Man, as the Japanese pronounced it, to any Kamen-Rider or Super Sentai action.

Nicholas Hammond, the first live-action Spider-Man

These two versions were not able to do the ideal Spider-Man moves done in the comics and animation because camera effects was very limited. It was only until 2002 that the Spidey's fighting abilities was realized when Sam Raimi directed the first of the Spider-Man trilogy that starred Tobey Maguire.

The Spider-man reboot brings back where it all started and making it more accurate from the Marvel Comics. Unlike the first trilogy, Peter Parker is a teenager and a high school student for the whole duration of the movie. Spider-Man was the first teenage superhero that isn't a sidekick like Robin and Bucky. The Amazing Spider-Man story arc is not as fast-phased as the first trilogy.

 The universe that revolves around Spider-Man also receives an overhaul. Just like in the comic books, Gwen Stacy was really Peter's first love. Emma Stone did well playing the role because she can play whatever the age of the character she portrays within her bracket.

In the last trilogy, Dr. Curtis Connors made some appearances which made me thought he will be the villain in the next movie but appeared instead in a Spider-Man animated series that MTV produced based on the first film. In this new movie, the Lizard is now part of the Spider-Man's movie rogues gallery. I never thought British actor Rhys Ifans can have a serious role because I knew him as a comedian in the previous movies. It is also nice to see that the old web shooters are back on Spider-Man's wrists that was removed in the trilogy.

A fellow fanboy said that we are seeing a new emo-type Peter Parker/Spider-Man and not because he always wear a hoodie but because the story is darker than the trilogy and I agree. The story itself proves to make it a worthwhile watch that it also was way better than Spider-Man 3 so I can say that the new emo-take on Marvel's flagship character is for the new generation of fans. When I watched it on its opening day, only one cinema in the mall is not showing The Amazing-Spider-Man. The local cinemas is probably pretty sure that the success of Marvel's The Avengers will also reflect on this new movie so I am only hopeful. The Amazing Spider-Man is now showing in cinemas and was released and distributed by Columbia Pictures Phils., a Sony Pictures Company.

MONUMENTAL 3D ANIMATION “EPIC” TO BRING NEW HIGHS IN ADVENTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT

From the most creative and groundbreaking filmmakers and writers who gave the world wonderful unparalleled hits such as the “Ice Age” series and “Rio” comes “Epic” – the latest animation that will sweep the world off its feet anew based on William Joyce’s “The Leafmen and the Brave Good Bugs.”

                Directed by Chris Wedge who serves as the voice of Scrat in the “Ice Age” series, “Epic” follows a teenager who has been magically transported into an unknown deep forest revealing a hidden world unlike any other in an all new 3D CG action-adventure comedy.  “Epic” tells the story of a battle raging all around us between the forces of good, who protect nature, and the forces of evil, who wish to see it destroyed.  When a teen age girl finds herself magically transported into this secret universe, she must band together with a rag-tag team of fun and unique characters to save their world…and ours.

                Joining in “Epic” is an all-stellar voice cast including Steven Tyler, Beyonce Knowles, Colin Farell, Amanda Seyfried, Josh Hutcherson, Pitbull, Johnny Knoxville, Jason Sudeckis and Blake Anderson.

                Magical action and adventure for all ages opens when “Epic” (in 3D) unfolds in cinemas on May 29, 2013 from 20^th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros. (in Phils.)

“THE DARK KNIGHT RISES” DIRECTOR TO BE HONORED AT GRAUMAN'S CHINESE THEATRE

In celebration of the upcoming release of “The Dark Knight Rises,” the film’s director/writer/producer, Christopher Nolan, will be accorded a rare industry honor: Nolan will have his hand and footprints cemented into the famed forecourt of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. 

Christopher Nolan

The hand-and-footprint ceremony will take place on Saturday, July 7, at 10:00 a.m.

Jeff Robinov, President, Warner Bros. Pictures Group, stated, “Everyone at Warner Bros. joins me in congratulating Christopher Nolan, who has been such an integral part of our family for the past 12 years. We are extremely proud of the cinematic legacy he has given us through his films. At only 41, Christopher takes his place alongside other industry giants featured at Grauman’s, and generations of fans will remember the extraordinary impression he left on their imaginations.”

Opening in the Philippines July 19, 2012, “The Dark Knight Rises” is Nolan’s hugely anticipated conclusion to his Dark Knight trilogy, which began in 2005 with “Batman Begins.” In 2008, he followed with “The Dark Knight,” which broke multiple records on its way to earning more than a billion dollars at the worldwide box office. 

Apart from the blockbuster franchise, Nolan earned widespread praise, and two Academy Award^® nominations, for his hit thriller “Inception,” which remains one of the most talked about films in recent years. He earned his first Academy Award^® nomination for his screenplay for the thought-provoking 2000 release “Memento,” which he also directed. His other directing credits include “Insomnia” and “The Prestige.”

John Krasinski plays “ADAM” in Ken Kwapis’ Big Miracle

John Krasinski, best known to American audiences as Jim Halpert on the hit television show The Office.  In Universal’ Pictures ‘Big Mircle he plays  Adam Carlson a television reporter who lived in the city at that time, but as an amalgam of small-town news people who served to tell the human elements of the story.

John Krasinski

            Even though signing on would mean multiple trips between the set of his television series and Anchorage, Krasinski believed it was worth it to work again with director Ken Kwapis.  The filmmaker had directed him in License to Wed, as well as many pivotal episodes of The Office.  “Ken is a phenomenal person,” commends Krasinski.  “He did the pilot of our show and many of the important episodes, including the first time I said ‘I love you’ to Pam.  He’s been there emotionally in a lot of stages of my life as an actor, as well as a person growing up in front of the camera.  He has that rare gift to be not only in tune with you but also with the whole movie.”

The producers were pleased to bring him onto the production as a character who would discover the story and be at the center of the story’s romantic triangle.    

When Barrymore heard that Krasinski was a candidate to play Adam, she advocated bringing him onto Big Miracle.  “I remember calling Ken from the San Francisco airport,” she says.  “I was screaming down the hallway that I’d do anything to do this movie with him.  He was perfect for the role, as he is wholesome, funny and a good guy, just like Adam.  Even though the film is rooted in the environmental and political aspects of the whale rescue, there is also a love triangle that had to work among me.”

This is a big change for you from The Office.

Definitely. For a while there, Ken Kwapis (director) and I were doing both at the same time.  It was pretty wild. For the first month or so that we were shooting, I was going back and forth from The Office to this. It's awesome and it's so fantastic to have the opportunity to do a movie like this that has such a beautifully epic story.  It is moving. I was hooked on the idea of the true story.
When you're reading the script, there are moments where you say to yourself, “Oh, come on! This is so over the top and not real!” Then you find out it's exactly what happened. Especially the story of the Colonel getting married to Kelly. I'm just psyched to be up here. This is my first time being on a big, crazy location.

How are you dealing with the cold?

Pretty well. That's my Boston blood in me coming back. It got pretty diluted in LA. My brothers make fun of me when I go home to Boston and when it’s around 60 degrees I'm like, “Ooh... It's getting cold.” They think I'm completely ridiculous but it's finally coming back and I'm starting to get the feeling in my hands again.

Can you talk about your character?

I play Adam Carlson, a local news reporter. He’s been sent up here to Barrow, Alaska by the Anchorage news station that he works for to cover several different stories.  He would love to get back to a major news station elsewhere. Then he happens upon these whales that are trapped in the ice. Adam is the first person to cover the story and it's Adam's story that gets picked up by the national news. So, he's the reason everybody's here.  A lot of my scenes happen once the national news services come to Alaska. Adam is pretty overwhelmed and trying to get his foot in the door with anyone of these people that will listen to him.  For me, it was a whole thing about the media frenzy that went on.

Did you get to meet the real Adam Carlson?

Adam is actually a hybrid of a couple of different people. I didn't get a chance to meet one person because there wasn't really that one person. Drew Barrymore (plays Rachel) met the person whose character she portrayed, Cindy, the real Rachel. Cindy is a phenomenal lady and she gave Drew all this great material to work with.

How did you prepare?

Because my character is a news reporter, I basically looked at all the news footage that happened at the time. Having read the book, you see that it did become a huge media frenzy.  It's both incredible and a little ridiculous that so much media power can be focused on one place, at one time. It's also incredibly inspiring. It gives you the idea that we could potentially be doing more with where we're focusing the media these days. That's kind of where I was going with my character.

Can you talk about working with Drew Barrymore?

Drew is phenomenal. She has so much experience and is still so young. She's had so many experiences and learned so much about the business in such a short amount of time. Drew is such a pro. She knows exactly what she's doing. She is prepared and, on top of all that, is able to have fun. Off set, we get along great. She's fantastic and as the lead of the film, you couldn’t’ have anyone better. Her spirit as an actor and her deep belief in all her causes are huge to have on set. And the love story with Drew is really fun. Come on. It's Drew Barrymore.

Can you talk about your favorite scenes?

So far, one of my favorite scenes is the big emotional climax of the movie, when the whales start to move. When you read the script, you hope there's an emotional impact on screen. Those scenes are fun to shoot because you get to see the weight of the movie actually coming together. When you're doing a lot of scenes, and they're kind of scattered, it's hard to keep a barometer of what's going on in the movie. When we did that scene, you realize what kind of movie it is and it's a really good check in point.

How is it working with director Ken Kwapis?

I have worked with Ken on The Office.   He put me in LICENSE TO WED and in this film. I think he still to this day is one of the best directors I've ever worked with. He's incredible with actors and with grasping on to emotional strengths.

What do you make of the anima-tronic whales?

I was genuinely frightened when I first came to the set. When you first look at them, you get the sense that you're going to fall into a tank, like if you go to SeaWorld or the zoo. They're unbelievably realistic. The guys running them are unreal. They are so incredibly talented, designing these things and then the way they move them. It's like a video gamers dream come true. They have these huge joysticks. I'm jealous.

“Big Miracle” is released and distributed by United International Pictures through Solar Entertainment Corporation.

FIRST-LOOK: “THE ODD LIFE OF TIMOTHY GREEN” TRAILER

Walt Disney Pictures has just premiered the Trailer B of its upcoming drama-comedy “The Odd Life of Timothy Green” starring Jennifer Garner (“Valentine's Day”) and Joel Edgerton (“Warrior”).

           

             Academy Award®–nominated director/writer Peter Hedges (“Dan in Real Life,” What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?”) brings enchantment to the screen with “The Odd Life of Timothy Green,” an inspiring, magical story about a happily married couple, Cindy and Jim Green (Garner and Edgerton), who can’t wait to start a family but can only dream about what their child would be like. 

             When young Timothy (CJ Adams) shows up on their doorstep one stormy night, Cindy and Jim—and their small town of Stanleyville—learn that sometimes the unexpected can bring some of life’s greatest gifts. 

             Opening across the Philippines on August 2012, “The Odd Life of Timothy Green” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.

“THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN” SWINGS TO CINEMAS IN 3D

Columbia Pictures' new action-adventure “The Amazing Spider-Man” was shot in 3D, and for the filmmakers, it is a key choice. 

             “3D isn’t right for every movie, but 3D was made for Spider-Man,” says producer Avi Arad. “It is another way we have of keeping the audience immersed in the storytelling. You see the world through his eyes and you feel like Spider-Man – the exciting moments are even more exciting. But what might be surprising is that 3D makes the intimate moments more intimate as well – I can think of some scenes that are quite emotional that are even more emotional in 3D. It’s a perfect choice for this movie.”

             “We wanted to put people in Peter Parker’s shoes and Spider-Man’s shoes in this film, to let them experience the thrills themselves. What better way to do that to enhance the reality than through 3D,” notes director Marc Webb. “It’s the ideal format to allow the audience to viscerally experience the quality of moving through space, flying through the air, swinging through Manhattan.”

             Webb referred to the “3 Vs” – “Velocity, Vertigo, and Volume” – as keystones for his approach. “It seemed to me that Spider-Man was the perfect venue for immersing the audience into the experience of flying with the character,” he says. “I like to shoot things from a subjective point of view, so in creating a connection between the camera and the character, the three dimensionality of it gives you the feeling of the sense of velocity when Spider-Man swings through the streets.”

             Marc Webb adds, “3D enabled us to capture not only the thrills of a huge action sequence, but the portable handheld rigs allowed us to capture emotionally charged, more intimate scenes, such as a scene between Peter and his Aunt May that felt palpable, real and authentic. I wanted to create environments that felt realistic and not super stylized. You wanted to spend time in this world and there was beauty and sophistication in even the simplest of moments.”

             “The Amazing Spider-Man” will also be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience with proprietary IMAX DMR (Digital Re-mastering) technology for IMAX theaters. The crystal-clear images coupled with IMAX's customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.

             "We couldn't be more excited to be able to offer this extraordinary new Spider-Man adventure in IMAX," said Rory Bruer, President Worldwide Distribution, Sony Pictures Entertainment. "Marc Webb and the entire production team have been working tirelessly to deliver a 3D motion picture that will take the Spider-Man experience to a whole new level. Audiences will literally feel like they are swinging through the streets of New York and that will only be accentuated when seen in IMAX."

             "I was blown away after getting a sneak peek at some early footage for 'The Amazing Spider-Man' and this latest installment in the iconic franchise is a perfect DNA match for IMAX," said Greg Foster, Chairman and President, IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "The film is an important addition to our 2012 film slate and we're excited to be working with Marc Webb, Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach and the team at Sony Pictures Entertainment to take IMAX and Spider-Man fans around the globe on this next adventure in IMAX 3D."

             “The Amazing Spider-Man” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Visit http://www.columbiapictures.com.ph for trailers, exclusive content and free downloads

DIRECTOR MARC WEBB TALKS ABOUT “THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN”

Given his surname, you might think that it’s inevitable that Marc Webb would end up directing a Spider-Man movie. But the 37 year old would be the first to admit that he’s something of a leftfield choice to oversee this latest iteration of the friendly neighbourhood webslinger, with The Amazing Spider-Man representing only his second film, following 2009’s hit romantic comedy, (500) Days Of Summer. 

Mark Webber and Andrew Garfield

            That movie’s wry humour, flashy setpieces and focus on characters, though, persuaded The Amazing Spider-Man producers, Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach and the late Laura Ziskin that Webb was their Spider-director. And Webb has risen to the challenge, with an earthy, grounded aesthetic that sees the webslinger’s legendary story take place in a very recognisable universe: ours. 

            We caught up with Webb in his Culver City editing suite, and talked to him about his decision to get involved with the project, the challenges of making Spider-Man swing, and finding Andrew Garfield...

            How did you get involved with The Amazing Spider-Man?

            I was meeting with these guys [Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach] and they brought up the idea. I was meeting with them on something else and I thought it was totally ridiculous. I said, I don’t make movies like that. They said, that’s why you should do it.

            This is a new version of the Spider-Man story. How different is it?

            There’s so much to tell in terms of who this kid is. My favourite thing about Spider-Man, is Peter Parker, the fact that he’s a kid from Queens who’s not a billionaire and he’s not an alien. He’s a kid who has the same problems we all do and that makes him intensely relatable. Spider-Man becomes wish fulfillment for that, flying through the air and beating up bad guys, but that all emanates from what Peter Parker would dream of, whether or not he was Spider-Man. To me, I wanted to start from a place where it felt like, if you walked into the theatre, that it was the same universe you lived in, and ground that both aesthetically and emotionally, which is difficult when you have a giant lizard running down the street.

            How did you approach the scenes where Spidey is swinging through the city?

            It was important for me to not just see Spider-Man swinging away from afar, but to be with him and feel that. We went to New York, near Columbia and Harlem and built a travelling rig system. We have motion capture elements that are there to create a sense of realism, weight and physical realism that we’re still working on and will be working on until the day before the movie comes out. It’s about expanding the universe, where you earn the spectacle of Spider-Man’s abilities.

            You shot the movie in 3D. It seems that, if any character is suited for 3D, it’s Spider-Man.

            I agree completely. 3D after Avatar was, for the studios, the thing to do because it was the salvation of the theatrical experience. But it was misused and maligned. But the truth is, it’s an incredible tool for specific things and particularly to create that sense of flying. There are movies for which it is made and there is no character better suited for 3D than Spider-Man.

            Let’s talk about Andrew Garfield. What made you cast him as Peter?

            He was just the right guy. In his screen-test, he killed it. It was one of those things - we did the screen-test and that night I was cutting it together and I couldn’t stop watching it. He moved like a kid, his elbows were flying all over the place, and even though he’s a little bit older, he had the humour, the awkwardness but also an ability to go deep in a way that very few actors can do. He’s a highly-trained actor, he’s very thoughtful about that and that grabbed me. The editors we’re working with, they didn’t know he was British! (laughs)

            What can we expect from his Spider-Man?

            We start off with a different kind of Peter Parker, without subverting the iconography of what Peter Parker and Spider-Man is. There are certain mythological obligations people have in any story, but it’s so radically different in terms of tone and what he experiences and backstory and the mystery about his father that I’m very comfortable with the movie occupying a different space. What we took for the beginning of the story is Peter being left by his father and mother, and what that does for him, and the emotion ripples through the movie, and subsequent movies as well.

            So he suffers?

            I wanted him to feel pain. We fall in love with heroes not because of the way they can punch someone, but for how they can take a punch. But he’s funny. We wanted to give him some quips, that was such an important part of the character that I really enjoy in the comics.

            And then there’s Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy, a hugely important character for Peter.

            Listen, I’m a romantic. I love relationships, guy/girl stuff that’s interesting and relatable. And Gwen is very smart. Emma’s attitude is so not a movie star, but she’s the biggest movie star I’ve ever worked with. She’s so charismatic and funny and decent and a wonderful actor. The other thing I like about her, is the humour. She’s very funny.

            And can you talk about choosing The Lizard as the villain?

            I’m interested in the idea that Curt Connors was his mentor and then became his adversary and he cares about this guy who he has to fight. He’s the literal embodiment of the theme of the movie, which is we all have a missing piece. He has no arm, Peter has no parents. He has to fill that void, and he fills it with Spider-Man. Curt is not as strong as Spider-Man on the inside, but he’s much stronger on the outside, and essentially he becomes a big bully. But I like that The Lizard thinks that what he’s doing is right, in his weird, haywired brain, he’s right. He’s not the bad guy. I love that. I love the idea that Peter is trying to find the humanity in the inhumane, it gives him a very good obstacle to navigate.

            Will we hear the phrase, ‘with great power comes great responsibility?’

            That’s ingrained in the very DNA of Spider-Man, with great power comes great responsibility. There are different incarnations of that idea that are learned in different parts of this movie, and it’s part of his arc, but it doesn’t completely define his character. It’s about him growing up. Every movie is, who am I? We say that in the movie, explicitly. Being responsible for things bigger than himself is what he’s about, it’s what superheroes are all about. It’s why we love them.

         (Opening across the Philippines on June 29 in Digital 3D, 2D and regular theaters, “The Amazing Spider-Man” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Visit http://www.columbiapictures.com.ph for trailers, exclusive content and free downloads. Like us at www.Facebook.com/ColumbiaPicturesPH and join our fan contests.)

Skyfall Cast On Location in Instabul

-- Production in Istanbul Marks the 3rd Time in the 50-Year History of the James Bond Franchise That the City Has Served As a Backdrop 

Skyfall Presscon in Instabul

(Istanbul, April 29, 2012) -- Daniel Craig and cast and filmmakers of SKYFALL, the 23rd adventure in the longest-running film franchise of all time, have arrived in Istanbul, Turkey. 

Their arrival marks the third time a James Bond adventure has filmed in the historic city.  Previously, Istanbul served as a backdrop for scenes in FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE and THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH.  

SKYFALL locations in Turkey include Adana, Fethiye and Istanbul.  At a photo call and press conference today to mark the occasion were producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, director Sam Mendes, and cast members Daniel Craig, Naomie Harris, Bérénice Marlohe, and Ola Rapace.

 In SKYFALL, Bond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her.  As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost. 

SKYFALL is from Albert R. Broccoli’s EON Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, and Sony Pictures Entertainment.  2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the legendary motion picture franchise.

Albert R. Broccoli’s EON Productions presents Daniel Craig as Ian Fleming’s James Bond in SKYFALL.  The film also stars Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Bérénice Marlohe, Ben Whishaw, with Albert Finney and Judi Dench as ‘M.’  Directed by Sam Mendes.  Produced by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.  Written by Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and John Logan.  Director of Photography is Roger Deakins, ASC BSC.  Production Designer is Dennis Gassner.  Editor is Stuart Baird, A. C. E.  Costume Designer is Jany Temime.   The film will begin its worldwide roll-out in the UK and Ireland on October 26^th 2012