The Spectacular Spider-Man episode 2: Interactions

Patrick continues his look at the animated series of THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN with episode 2: Interactions.

 

Warning: SPOILERS!!!

The second episode of The Spectacular Spider-Man kicks off in a more muted fashion from the first episode. We find Peter, Gwen, Eddie and Dr. Connors in the lab conducting experiments on eels. They are trying to harness the electricity of the eels to form a clean energy. To do this they need Max Dillon to up grade the circuitry. Of course there is an accident and Max is hurt, he is now pure electrical energy that has to be contained in a suit for his safety and for the safety of the public. Max is too upset though and escapes hospital and blames Connors for his change. It’s up to Spidey to catch him and stop him doing anything dangerous.

Electro is the main Bad Guy in this episode

The pace of this episode is quite different from the first episode but that is a good thing. In this episode we see how the transformation of Max into Electro is affecting Max and the impact it has. We rarely get to see that in cartoon, we don’t often see how this situation has hurt the person and how it has changed them. We get a sense of what is motivating Electro and his feelings of loss and frustration. He is a man desperate to find a cure. This allows us to relate and to understand the character. It also allows us to see the character of Peter a little better. We see how Peter, who didn’t know Max was Electro, beats himself up about not trying to help him. it’s interesting to see how Peter reacts this way, that he should know better and that he should be a hero. It’s a nice twist and shows the audience that Peter is still a teenager and the leap before you look syndrome is still there. It’s a nice touch, even if it is only a brief moment.

Spidey action is well done

The battles between Electro and Spidey are well executed again in this episode. It seems that the writers and the animators have a great grasp on Spidey’s fighting style and they have used it well again in this episode. This is important as Spidey is going to be battling in all the episodes, knowing his powers and how to showcase them on screen is paramount. I’m glad to say that the show seems to have a handle on this.  

Liz Allen: Kind of annoying.

The one thing that was annoying was the character of Liz Allen. I’m sorry but the voice actress was all nasally and whiney. I’m glad that her involvement was kept to a minimum but I feel that she will become more of a prominent character as the series progress because at the end of the episode it feels like she may have developed feelings for Peter. The creators may move to make Liz a more likable character but at the moment she is annoying. This may be the point of the character but if a relationship develops between them they will have to tweak the character to make her more likable. At the moment Liz is Flash’s cheerleader girlfriend and her attitude towards Peter is a little over bearing in the mean sort of way. the whole storyline of her needing tutoring too seems like it was a way for the writers to work into the story a meaningful start to a could happen relationship.

Dr. Curt Connors

A small note at the end is that Connors is seen injecting lizard DNA and judging by the end of the episode we may see the Lizard in the next episode. I also want to note the one piece of top notch writing is the scene where Spidey is using his powers, we believe he is being chased, but it turns out to be that he is late for school. Just thought it was a nice piece of misdirection.

3/5.

Verdict: Built well on the first episode and it was nice to see Spidey villain from a different side. The B-story with Liz Allen was the only misstep and for that it loses a point. Still nice to see a teenage Peter/Spidey on screen and the setup at the end means that the show may continue to go strong.

Are Fandom expecting too much?

Today Patrick asks the question most of Fandom would rather not ask themselves: Are Fandom’s standards too high?

Movies: A Fan's home

One thing that has always bugged me as a member of fandom is how there are people out there that are never happy. Fan power has never been as power as it is now and it’s down to the internet (ironically the medium I’m using). The question I think we need to ask and ask the trolls too: Are our standards too high?

Casting

Affleck as Batman

This is the most controversial of all the calls that can be made in the movie business. Most people have an idea of who Batman should be, who should play Superman, who should play Mary Jane (that you has been played out aggressively on the internet), but can you please everyone. For me casting is important but that I think the majority of the time directors get it right. I thought Shailene Woodley was a good choice for MJ Watson and for me it’s a pity that she has been left in the dark about the Amazing Spider-Man series. Ben Affleck is another controversial casting choice but again I think he will be a good fit for Batman/Bruce Wayne. I think he will bring something different to the characters from Christian Bale’s interpretation, which I think is needed. When looking back at casting decisions there have been more success stories then there have been flops, the obvious ones being Heath Ledger as The Joker, Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, and Daniel Craig as James Bond etc. I think the script, tone and direction of the film has a great more deal to do with whether the movie is good or not.

Oversaturation

Other the last few years the amount out there for Fandom has been immense. One thing isn’t over when we are onto the next. Does the oversaturation of the market make it harder for us to distinguish the good from the bad? To a degree yes would be my answer. For instance I liked Iron Man 3, Man of Steel and Star Trek: Into Darkness but a great deal of fans were disappointed by them. Why? The anticipation was at fever pitch for both, which is a new feature as trailers and publicity for both were huge features to the build up. Again, the appetite to know about the films and not just wait to see what they were like meant that many had ruined the films for themselves before going to see them. This meant that the best part waiting for the movie was gone. The oversaturation of the market meant that people are eventually going to be picking and choosing and nitpicking about the movies. At the end of the day the overall standard of these movies in terms of acting, production etc. are amazing. To be giving them such overbearing meaning is wrong; enjoy them for what they are; fun, popcorn movies.

Direction

Nolan vision grounded in reality.

The more I read and view or research Fandom, the more negativity I come across. Lots of movies in the past year have been criticised for the direction they took. All the movies I mentioned earlier are bearer of this. Fans have been over critical for artistic choices made for the movies. In all those movies I wasn’t too upset with any of the points most fans had points of contention with. Sure I’ve watched movies that have had things that bugged me but in the end I watched them again and they didn’t bother me as much. It’s funny how casting is related to this. Ben Affleck in Daredevil was blamed as being the problem for it being a poor movie. He was only a small part of the movie. In the end it was with the direction of the movie that most people were upset with. For most people were happy with Nolan’s take on the Batman series but not everyone. Again, it’s direction. Nolan chose to ground it in a sense of reality. I think that for many it worked but for those who don’t like it, it’s up to taste. What I don’t like is that people blame him for taking “Comic book movies to a gritty, realistic place”. To those people I say don’t be silly, all innovators have imitators.  

Iron Man 3 disappointed some

I Want Something Originally Classic

With most of Fandom having an original mediums in books or comics etc, fans want to see classic stories on the screen. Again direction and script has a bearing on this. Others want original stories portrayed on screen because they have already seen the classic stories. It’s impossible to win. Especially when details have to be changed to make it more compatible for the screen (character of Bane being one, loved Tom Hardy by the way). I think a good story is all we need to see. When it’s well executed then that’s good enough for me. I don’t get bogged down on this sort of thing and I believe others shouldn’t either.

Comparing movies (especially Marvel and DC!)

Don’t do it and it’s silly to do so. They’re different and that’s a good thing. No flame wars please! (No matter how entertaining they are).

Marvel vs DC: Enough already.

Homeland: Home and Dry or Dead in the Water?

With the return of Homeland to RTE for its 3^rd series, Brenda has a look at the first episode and considers if it’s done enough to resurrect a premise that has been buckling under the weight of expectations. WARNING: SPOILERS

In 2011, Homeland was one of the most talked about new shows. The premise and execution were tense, fraught with the unexpected and an engaging tale of cat and mouse with two compelling lead characters. 

                                                                            Carrie

Conspiracy Theories

The general storyline had Carrie (Claire Danes), a CIA officer believe that recently rescued marine Nicholas Brody had been “turned” by his 8 years of captivity in Iraq. What followed was an intense game of chess as Carrie, haunted by the fact that she missed some crucial evidence that could have prevented the 9/11 attacks, continues to believe Brody’s guilt, despite the fact that no-one else does.  Her increased downward spiral into a manic depressive episode does little to give her story credence with her colleagues. In order to maintain contact with Brody, she ends up having an affair with him and that’s where lines become blurred. Does Carrie really fall in love with him or is her compulsive need to uncover the truth what is driving her? 

Brody

Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis)

In the first series Brody is dealt with in an interesting way. Damian Lewis deserves a great deal of credit for making the character not entirely unsympathetic. Despite the fact that we don’t know the full story, Brody is not a black and white bad guy. If anything, once we do find out the motivation for his beliefs we find them, in some ways, understandable. We see his psychological damage from years of torture and captivity, his struggle to adapt to life back in the US, particularly with his family who have spent the last 8 years believing he was dead. 

Losing it's Way?

Ultimately in the season finale, the attack Brody is commissioned to carry out in the Vice President’s office is aborted. In a tense scene involving a phone call from his daughter Dana, Brody promises he’s coming home and de-activates the suicide vest he’s been fitted with. Carrie, believing that her mental health has compromised her reasoning undergoes electric shock therapy which leads to her forgetting many of the details she has uncovered.

All in all a solid story well told. A few twists, a few turns - did we end up where we expected to? Not quite but who doesn't like to be kept guessing to the end?

For some people though the second series was a step too far. So, where do they believe Homeland lost its way? Well, many believe that Brody should have died in the first series. I have to admit it would have been a gutsy move. Showing the viewers that no-one was safe and the show was prepared to make brave decisions.

Carrie and Saul

As a result of their decision to keep Brody front and centre, we get a second season that isn’t quite as sure of its footing.  The cat and mouse element still remains. The CIA uncovers Brody’s pre-recorded confessional tape meaning that Carrie is welcomed back with open arms as the only person who saw the light. Still unstable and damaged by her experience from the previous season, her behaviour becomes more erratic. Saul (Mandy Patinkin), her confidante and mentor within the CIA tries to contain her behaviour but with laughable results. The introduction of new moody kid on the block in the form of Peter Quinn (Rupert Friend), a CIA analyst, does add an extra dimension, with the viewer never quite sure whose side he’s on. 

Highlights and Puzzling times

This season is not without its merits, when Carrie confronts Brody in the hotel room declaring him a traitor to his country the audience can taste the bile in Claire Danes' voice. She practically spits her hatred in his face for what he has done to her life and her mental health. The following interrogation scenes where Carrie gets Brody to confess in his own words is undoubtedly my highlight and must have played a significant role in Claire Danes' Emmy win this year. Unfortunately, after this episode the series lost me. Carrie and Brody resume their affair after Brody agrees to go counter spy on Abu Nazir, the terrorist leader of al-Qaeda. What follows is a number of frantic situations including Brody being air lifted out of a field in a chopper by terrorists, a pace maker being hi-jacked and our two mentally unstable protagonists believing that they can skip into the sunset, conveniently forgetting the damage they’ve done to each other.

A Parody?

Parts of the show became so over-wrought it even seemed to parody itself. Traits from the show have begun to enter the lexicon – such as “Carrie’s Cry Face”. The Saturday Night Live spoof featuring Anne Hathaway highlighted some of these perfectly and if you've seen some previous episodes I recommend you seek out this sketch. You'll never look at it in quite the same light.

My friend James and I even created the rules to a drinking game that is bound to have you under the table within the episode! Shots if you see any of the below!

1. Carrie pops pills/doubts own mental stability
2. Carrie's cry face 
3. Carrie hysterically convinces Saul that they need to act now
4. Saul inexplicably listens to Carrie
5. Carrie does what she is specifically told not to do  
6. Dana (Brody’s daughter) toys with her hair/sleeves
7. Dana makes hostile teenage face at her mother
8. Anytime Brody starts sweating under pressure

4 SHOTS based on statements 1-4

Saved or Lost?

So has there been any steps to use this third series as a method of pulling the concept back from the brink?

Well, I personally think that there has been. The first episode was tense, re-established the boundaries and offered us a different battle ground. An inquiry into the explosion which decimated the CIA headquarters at the end of season 2 is going to be the main focus. Saul is now the acting head of the CIA and is in the media spotlight as people look for answers. Carrie's inquiry is behind closed doors as she still has assets in the field that are important. All in all Carrie is toeing the line as much as I believe she is capable of doing but it seems that Saul may be a little too eager to offer her up as the sacrificial goat for "the greater good".

Brody, innocent as far as the viewer and Carrie are concerned, is currently on the run and did not feature in the first episode. Sadly, his family did. I have yet to come across more uninspiring and less interesting people. Inexplicably Dana still has screen time, having attempted to commit suicide under the strain of the revelations that her father was a terrorist and guilty of the CIA bombing as far as the media are concerned. Bizarrely, watching her smile in this episode has to be one of the less believable moments in the whole concept.

Instead of filling air time with The Brody Bunch, I would rather have seen more regarding the inquiries. Or a better set-up and more time spent on the mission that Quinn and the other agents undertook. And while Brody didn't make an appearance, a final shot, without dialogue showing us where he was would have set the scene for the audience for the story to come.

Carrie and Quinn (Rupert Friend)

For me, this season will be make or break. I think some drastic steps have to be taken, some character changes and given that Abu Nazir was eliminated we now need a new focus which hasn't become entirely clear from the season opener. 

The tone also needs to be grounded. We were shown signs of it in this episode but the writers have to trust the audience to appreciate the quieter twists and reveals rather than the loud crashing and explosion of a storyline that once the smoke clears lacks in substance. Only time will tell which approach wins out.

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D: How it is Shaping Up?

Now that MARVEL’S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D is two weeks in Patrick has decided to look at how it’s shaping up.

Now that Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D has started I’ve decided to look at how it’s shaping up based on my previous article about what I wanted to see from it.

Characters

Although it’s only too weeks in we can see how the characters are shaping up. Coulson is the leader, Agent Ward is the headstrong young agent, Fitz and Simmons are the plucky two scientists with little or no field experience, Melinda May is the quiet, tough veteran of the group and Skye is the resourceful yet mysterious outsider who has been asked to join the group.

Skye: Mysterious

At the moment we haven’t seen a lot of the characteristics of the character but we have seen enough to know that each member has a unique place in the team and they each have their worth. Skye and Agent Ward seem to the focal point so far. There is a definite tension between them. There is also a sexual tension between them and guessing by the Skye side of the story line, if a relationship develops between them it’s Ward who is going to feel betrayed.

So far I would say that I like all the characters but none of them has stuck out for me yet. Skye has been given the most in the first two episodes and her character is intriguing. At the moment we know she is part of a movement called Rising Tide which is trying to stop S.H.I.E.L.D from doing what they do. She is a computer anarchist really and as Agent Ward explained to her in the episode 2 the reality of the situation is actually more complicated than she may think.

Ward, Fitz and Simmons are good characters but as it’s only two episodes in there hasn’t been too much focus on any of those characters. The only trait we can say for certain is that Ward, while capable, leaps before he looks. This is good in some ways but his headstrong nature means that he could become annoying if it continues too long. Still there is plenty of time to see the whole team in action and I know that in a few weeks I’ll probably have a favourite character or characters.

Humour

Ward: Too Serious?

To be honest humour has been in place but in a way it’s not very prevalent at the moment. In the pilot had one funny incident with Agent Ward and some nice banter between Coulson and Maria Hill but after that there was little in the way of humour. There were some funny points in the 2^nd episode as well but again it wasn’t a major feature. Considering Whedon is known for his sense of wit and humour I’m slightly disappointed in it. Having seen the first two seasons of Buffy recently I would consider one of its best features is the level of humour. I know this is a different show, but it’s based on a comic book. I’m afraid that it will take itself too seriously. The tone of the show is like the MCU but it seems very serious. When I watch something on television I want to have fun and laughing is a part of that. I hope this is stepped up and that we see something different, after all Avengers and Iron Man are the most successful in the MCU and that is due to, in a small part, to the humour.

Story Arc and The Superhero element

The show has struck the right balance so far.

It’s only two episodes in so it’s hard to see any major arcs developing at the moment. Seeds of story arcs have been planted with Skye’s past and involvement in the Rising Tide movement. This is bubbling under the surface and the end of episode two seems to bare this out as being one of the major arcs in the series. Coulson’s story is also one of the mysteries of the series. “He must never know” how he came back. This is obviously going to be a big reveal during the season. At the moment it’s nice to see that the season is going somewhere but we don’t need to be too concerned of it at the moment but we can keep it in mind for the season

I think the writers have handled the superhero aspect well at the moment. It’s good to see that the team have a function outside just dealing with heroes and that has been evident in episode two. From the evidence so far it seems that whatever fears I may have had about this, the writers will find a happy balance and that is something that will make me happy anyway.

Link to the MCU

Links to the MCU have been subtle

This has been done really well so far and has been done in the way I hoped they would too. The references are small, infrequent but they are there all the same. I’m not going to mention all of them as I’m sure there are people who haven’t seen the episodes yet and I don’t want to spoil anything. One thing I did like was the cameo at the end of episode two.

This has really given me hope for the rest of the series and makes me believe that there will be more of these links to the MCU. It also allows the fans to see the wider connection to Marvel universe and keep the excitement at fever pitch when the movies are coming out.

Toy Avengers, ASSEMBLE!

To be honest I’m excited by where the series is going and where it can go. Some of the points I touched on before the series have been addressed and in the way I hoped too.  It’s early doors yet but I am hopeful and enjoying the series at the moment. Anyone who likes Marvel’s Movie Universe I think this series is for them. They won’t be disappointed.

Terminator Salvation; Time to Review?

With Alan Taylor the director of THOR: THE DARK WORLD has been named to reboot The TERMINATOR series Patrick looks back at TERMINATOR: SALVATION and points out that some fandom sectors may have missed something.

Alan Taylor: set to direct next Terminator Movie

Warning: Possible Spoilers

There have been many movies in recent times that have been given a great deal of criticism when it comes to blockbusters, Terminator Salvation has shifted a great deal. Salvation gained notoriety because of Christian Bale’s, now infamous, outburst on set. What happened afterwards was that a perfectly decent Action/Thriller was cast by the way side and left in the shadow of the incident. This article is going to look at the movie and make the case that Terminator Salvation is not only a decent action movie but one that should be reassessed.

The Franchise Effect.

Arnie in T2

Many movies have suffered what I would call the franchise effect. Salvation is one such movie. Much like Prometheus, Salvation was killed by its predecessors. Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgement Day are classics and without doubt the best example of the on-the-run, on-the-edge-of-your-seat, white knuckle rides that have probably ever been put on screen. Honestly it wasn’t until The Dark Knight that I can say that I have seen any movie that can match Judgement Day for intensity. Unfortunately for Salvation this was always going to be tough to follow and like Prometheus the weight of the franchise can be seen to a certain degree on the film. Like Prometheus and the Alien movies, the last of the series did not live up to the standard set by those before it. Rise of the Machines definitely showed that the Terminator franchise had lost its way; the evidence of this is in Salvation, with none of the cast from that movie returning to for the movie. It seemed that studio executives and fans wanted to erase any existence of the film and start a new. There was huge hope and hype surrounding Salvation, as there is with all blockbusters now, but this was seen as something special.  This was going to put Terminator back on track and there was talks that this was going to kick start the resurgence of the franchise. This was going to be the first of three new movies and would have fans flocking to get back to the multiplexes. But why was there all this hope? The main reason was the set up of the movie: the aftermath of Judgement Day was going to be realised for the first time on screen. This was going to be an all out war movie. Fans had always wanted to see this and this gave them hope of something fresh and interesting for them to latch on to. The fact that McG was directing as well was also a plus of sorts. He’s a director with visual flare and can handle the large scale action and special effects. Another plus was that Christian Bale was going to portray John Connor, the leader in the war against the machines. This was the actor who helped resurrect Batman and made it believable. This was an actor who had the credentials and the experience to carry this kind of movie.

McG on set of Terminator Salvation

Along with this Bale was to be surrounded by indie actors who would compliment the history of the Terminator Franchise, a franchise known for making stars out of their actors. It’s funny that this can be explained after watching the movie but the fact that Salvation, again like other disappointing franchise instalments, tries so hard to associate it’s self with what has gone before means that it suffers because of it. Salvation in many ways is completely different from the other movies. This is definitely seen in the storyline of the movie.

Story.

Bale in action

In Salvation, Judgement Day has happened. The Resistance is trying to take on the machines in what seems to be a losing war. In the other movies they were always trying to stop this from happening. This made the earlier instalments a race against time/ chase movie compared to the all out action movie Salvation is. This is what made the chase movie so compelling. Would they get there in time to stop it? What this is replaced with in Salvation is the chase to save Kyle Reese, Connor’s father. There are a few problems with this however. It brings to light the complexity and the sheer daftness of Connor’s existence in the first place. The fact the other movies didn’t focus on this meant that the audience wouldn’t question it because it wasn’t a focal point of the story. This means that it is very hard to really get an emotional footing in the story. It’s hard to root for Connor as he is saving someone for his own gain really. The fact that humanity was in danger and not just one person it was easier to root for the good guy. Here it comes off as selfish and confusing and in the end no-one really cares too much. It doesn’t help that the B story surrounding Sam Worthington’s character is quite slow and lame for the most part. This is due to the fact that Marcus has no memory for the most part. We never get the sense that his story is going anywhere until all of a sudden he becomes the focal point for the whole movie. The audience already knows that he is part machine but this isn’t revealed until three quarters through the movie to the rest of the characters.

I think if this had been revealed sooner the tension could have really boosted the story line as well. Leaving it so late means that any tension between Connor and Marcus is rushed at the end. The pacing of all this makes it even more unbelievable that Connor would then trust Marcus in his time of need.

Anton Yelchin as Kyle Reese

It also doesn’t help that the resistance has no direct opponent like the first three Terminator movies. Skynet as a whole is the enemy and this is hard to connect to. Skynet is faceless enemy and this makes the danger that the resistance is facing seem quite distant from the viewer. Unlike the Lord of the Rings which had Sauron as a faceless enemy, it got away because the overwhelming odds were shown to us. Salvation never shows us truly what the resistance is up against. This problem could have been rectified if there had been more fire battles on screen. I get that there are small bands of resistance fighters in small fire fights but a large scale fight would have been nice and would have given us the sense of the uphill battle that the resistance had.

Characters

Bale and Worthington at loggerheads

The movie’s characters are solid but not well rounded. I always felt that Connor’s character was bound too much by his destiny. Bale moves away from Nick Stahl’s conflicted and depressed Connor to a more aggressive and hard edged version of the character. The reason for this choice was probably for to show how war has hardened Connor. This seems reasonable but it does make Connor a hard character to warm to. The fact that he risks everything to save his father (for the main reason of saving himself), makes him seem selfish.

The other main character, Marcus is well played by Sam Worthington, his only problem is that he isn’t helped by the fact that his character has no memory. This in a way allows us to see into his character as the movie progress. However this is sidetracked by the Kyle Reese story. Anton Yelchin does a good job with a very under written character of Kyle Reese. He tries to add gravity and character to Reese but he is given very little screen time to develop the character. The fact that the character is a teenager and not seen as all that important, except to Connor. Other actors like Bryce Dallas Howard are given too little screen time to really comment on their characters other than to say that they give solid performances. This is where the characters and the story fall down. The action in this movie makes up for some of its problems.

Action

Terminator Salvation as some good action sequences.

The action in the movie is quite good. The visual effects really stand up and some of the sequences are thrilling to watch. The action in this movie is very different to the action we have seen in other Terminator movies. The chase with the Human Harvester machine is akin to the chase scenes that the franchise is known for. The final battle at Skynet headquarters is well paced and very well put together. It’s the lead up to all the action sequences that seem stale and it feels like that we are waiting until we can bring the next big machine onto screen and see what that does to our characters. All in all the action is above your average action movie but the story that surrounds it is what hurts it.

Outcome

The outcome of the movie is one of indifference really for most fans. There are some good action sequences but the story itself is very undercooked. More development of the characters and a better structure of the story would help the movie no end. The reboot that Alan Taylor is scheduled to direct is has been rumoured to take place in the ‘50s which is an interesting premise. It allows for an interesting question of how to stop a machine with ‘50s technology but I think neglecting the work done in Salvation would be a miss. We finally saw the effects of Judgement Day and with some slight tweaking there is a lot that can be done in that environment. I think that the given the time to develop its own sense of where the franchise can go, change the direction slightly the Terminator franchise could work again. Neglecting Salvation, a part of the story that will inevitably have to be revisited may be a trick that the studios may be missing and one that could make it very hard to go back too.    

The Spectacular Spider-Man: Episode 1 Review

The Spectacular Spider-Man

Today Patrick is going to look back at the ill-fated and surprisingly good SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN Cartoon. Over the next few weeks he will look at all the episodes giving his views on them. Today he reviews episode 1 Survival Of The Fittest.

WARNING SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!

When I was small I watched the original Spider-Man cartoon. When I heard about this one I decided to check it out and see what it was like. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.

The episode starts off with Peter Parker as Spider-Man after a summer fighting crime. Peter is revelling in his new found powers and manages to stop a robbery from two goons which he has done regularly over the summer. We see Spidey play and toy with them and we get that trademark Spidey wit. What Spidey doesn’t know is that he is being watched by a big bad. Cut to the opening theme tune.

It’s a strong and confident start from a show I had never heard about until recently. The show gets that you know the origin story and that we don’t want to see it from the start all over again. Spider-Man’s origin is as well known as Batman’s or Superman’s and doesn’t need to be given to us again. We get straight into the heart of the story.

Spidey in spectacular form.

May and Peter have little or no money and Peter takes it upon himself to make money for his family. Peter wants this to be a year of change and when he arrives in school nothing has. We see him interact with his friends Harry and Gwen and we see him being shot down by a cheerleader and bullied by Flash Thompson and his friends. All standard Peter Parker stuff but it’s done in a great way. It touches on all the good points about Spider-Man and it does it short and snappy.

The Spider-Man of the story takes place when Adrian Toomes attacks Norman Osborn for stealing his flight tech suit idea. Toomes becomes Vulture and he and Spidey have a sky battle that eventually lead to Osborn being saved. The pace of the episode is fast and fun. The trademark humour of Spidey is never far away. Eventually the climax of the story takes place between Spidey, Vulture and the Enforcers, a group of henchmen set on Spidey from the big bad at the start of the show. Spidey of course wins this battle, with a little difficulty but we see the resourcefulness of the character and we see that despite not being the finished article Spider-Man is still an effective hero.

Some of the character we meet are well conceptualised

There is another story in the mix where Peter gets an internship with Dr. Curt Connors. He and Gwen get the internship and there they meet Connors, his wife and Eddie Brock. We are let known that Brock and Peter have a strong friendship but that has been put hold since Brock has gone on to college. Peter thinks this may be his chance to earn money but his hopes are dashed as he finds out that it isn’t a paying gig.

Josh Keaton who voices Spider-Man

There is a lot packed into the 20 or so minutes in this first episode but that is the brilliance of the show. It’s face and confident enough to give old fans what they want and new fans enough to go on that they won’t be lost. We get to see Peter interact with all the main characters. I think Josh Keaton is the perfect choice for Peter/Spider-Man. He balances the naivety of Peter and the confidence of Spider-Man really well. I also like that Peter is a teenage and he looks that way even. The animation style is one that I liked and I think that was one of the reasons I stated watching in the first place. I can see however why other people may not like it as much. It’s hard to tell where the story is going to go but I can see a nice story arc developing already. The other voices actors do a good job of supporting Keaton, but it’s hard to see any standouts as of yet.    

All in all I fell like this is a great start and I encourage Spider-Man fans old and new to check it out if they can. I myself am looking forward to the next few episodes. All of which I will review here. As for episode 1 it’s a great start!

4/5.

Arctic Monkeys: MY FAVOURITE WORST NIGHTMARE

Arctic Monkeys: Favourite Worst Nightmare

Patrick is going to take his first foray into music blogging by telling you about one of his favourite albums ARCTIC MONKEYS’ "FAVOURITE WORST NIGHTMARE”.

People who know me will know that I am not a fan of the “Popular” music or contemporary music. I find that the charts are now a huge blob of hip hop, rap, and dance music that make little or no sense to me. My musical kicks come from the likes of Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, and Tom Petty or the likes. Any current bands that I would like are Two Door Cinema Club, Arcade Fire and Arctic Monkeys.

To be honest when Arctic Monkeys released Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not I didn’t like it that much. Sure I liked tracks from the album but not all of them. I thought that they were a bit brash and I foolishly thought that they were trying to copy Oasis and other bands of that nature. I look back and see that 14 year old can’t be forgiven for that silly assumption. Since then I have liked a lot of the Arctic Monkey’s songs and that can be attributed to their second album Favourite Worst Nightmare. This is an album that I sought out purposefully and it was because of the heavy airplay that the singles were getting. However it’s one of the few albums that I find that I like all the songs on it. When I listen to it there is no track that I would skip.

Arctic Monkeys have a fast a raw edge in this album

What I love about the album is the fact that it’s so fast and powerful. The album is dripping with confidence. The album flies by and by the time it finishes you don’t realise that it has. The singles of the album Teddy Picker, Fluorescent Adolescent and Brianstorm, are great songs and I can see why they were picked as the forerunners for the album. They are fast and punk orientated, a suburban 15 year-old that kind of sound is something that is inspiring in a weird sort of way. This kind of music was a sort of rebellion I would think for most fans. The anarchist vibe that comes from the album with songs like This House is a Circus and D is For Dangerous, which are incredible to the all the senses. As I have gotten older though, I can really appreciate the sound of the other tracks. Slower tracks like Do Me a Favour have a level of maturity and confidence that display Alex Turner’s talent for song writing.

Alex Turner

Turner’s song writing, coupled with the strong sound from the band give the album a distinctive feel and style. I’ve read articles that compare it to The Smiths (another band that I like), but I think that is a stretch to be honest. I can see that may be a certain likeness but I never really equated the too. I always felt that Arctic Monkeys have a rawer edge. The Smiths have a much more melancholic feel to their songs. Turner’s voice and songs are full of angst and anger. You get a much more feel of that younger edge compared to The Smiths deeper more philosophical outlook on things.

The Smiths

I think that this album is a great introduction to punk rock or to British indie rock. Arctic Monkeys took the rock sensibilities and moved them to that punk sphere. This is one of my favourite albums and for some reasons it’s hard to explain why. Most of them are about the time that I got the album and the impression it made on me at that time. Most of all it’s because whenever I listen to it, it takes me back and in some ways that is why I like it so much: A pimpled, skinny, 15-year old who thought that listening to Arctic Monkeys made him cool. Its funny but in a way I feel like it still does and that’s why it’s one of my favourite albums.