Avengers: Age of Ultron

We've already had the magic and amazement of seeing our comic book heroes team up in 2012's incredible The Avengers, and now, three years later, they're back and bigger than ever. But does their second outing hold up to the first? Read on to find out in my SPOILER FREE review of Avengers: Age of Ultron.

The main Avengers are back and this time they fight off against, Ultron, an A.I set on saving the world by destroying the human race, mo-capped and voiced by James Spader. It's your usual A.I philosophical tale but this time done on huge budget with superheroes. New to the cast of the film is Elizabeth Olsen as Scarlet Witch, Aaron Taylor Johnson as Quicksilver and Paul Bettany as The Vision. The less you know about The Vision the better, just know that he is awesome in every way, steals the show and leaves you wanting more!

Seeing the main characters on screen in the first film truly was an experience, one that is hard to replicate in Age of Ultron. Instead, director Joss Whedon decides to just go full out and show you these characters working as a team from the offset with loads of incredible action and geeky visuals. In fact the who film is made up of insane action scenes, probably the most we have seen in a Marvel film so far. There is never a dull moment and the whole film is well structured and interwoven into a fast paced two hours and twenty minutes thrill ride. This however, is sometimes its flaw, one of the great things about this film is that you get to see these cool characters interact and engage with each other, and although we get this, for me there weren't enough moments where they slowed down and interacted in other ways rather than just fighting. I mean, we do get these scenes, but personally I just wanted more. The film basically goes from one set piece to another, and although these set pieces are incredible, I just needed some more down time every now and then to catch my breath.
There are pretty much ten main characters to deal with here and they all get their time to shine, even if it's for a small amount of said time, I felt Captain America and Thor could have been given more to do, but apart from that it works, every now and then you realise a character hasn't been seen recently but with the amount of cool stuff going on in the mean time, you can let that slide.

Like the first film, there is a lot of comedy, something I think worked better throughout this film than its predecessor. It's really funny and pretty much all the jokes land and I was laughing out loud throughout. There are a few running gags which really do work, especially one which involves most of the team winding Captain America up about a comment he makes early on in the film, it's hilarious. That's not to say that this film doesn't get dark, it's not all fun and games, but it gets the tone right and the jokes never feel out of place like they do in Iron Man 3. There are a few moments that definitely hit me right in the feels. I still think Captain America: The Winter Soldier got the tone perfect and more so than here, but this still walks the line between seriousness and comedy well, but never really packs too much of a punch.

Ultron is very cool, he looks great and is a good match for The Avengers, however I was a little disappointed at the fact that for me, he wasn't as scary or intimidating a character as the trailers made him out to be. I truly thought this would be Marvel's best villain but he didn't blow me away like I thought he would. He's still menacing but at times he just sounds like a robot Joss Whedon. The two new characters Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch however, did surprise me. I wasn't sure what they would be like but I was pleasantly surprised to see how well they fit into the story and their character arcs as a whole, even their Eastern European accents worked. Scarlet Witch turned out to be one of my favourite characters in the film and her powers truly looked awesome on screen, especially her mind manipulation which creates some very cool sequences for the Avengers to deal with. Talking of favourite characters, Black Widow really stood out for me in this film. I found her annoying in the first Avengers film and a little bit better in The Winter Soldier, but in this film I truly enjoyed watching her on screen and her development as a character throughout. Another character who might surprise audiences is Hawkeye, in fact he gets more character development than most and you will enjoy his character as part of the roster a lot more than previously.

There is an emphasis on saving people in this film and it was refreshing to see this within the superhero genre, which has not shown much of this recently. I definitely think the genre has learnt a lesson from the backlash to Man of Steel and I really enjoyed seeing the heroes putting civilian life first before then going to stop the villain. There are still some 9/11 looking destruction that may upset some, but the emphasis on saving civillians was something I really enjoyed about their second outing.

My last little niggle with the film was the music, there wasn't as powerful a score here and the main Avengers theme is only heard a couple of times and didn't really give me the same feeling it did when I first saw The Avengers. This film as whole didn't have that same kind of feeling you got when you first saw the characters assemble on the big screen, but it gives you enough nerdy comic book moments to forget this and just enjoy what was going on.

The film is a comic book come to life, and although it doesn't pack as big a political punch as The Winter Soldier did, it still is one heck of an enjoyable watch. Joss Whedon knows how to make a fun film and although it does lay the seeds for the next instalments, its still its own thing and not just a trailer for Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It will be a shame to see Whedon leave the franchise, but with The Russo Brothers helming the next instalment means we should still be in for another great ride.

It's not the best Marvel film but it sure is good still and is definitely a worthy sequel to the first Avengers. I feel it deserves a second viewing (like I did with the first film) to fully solidify my views, but for now this how I feel and I am rating Avengers: Age of Ultron a 3/5.

What did you think of the film? Do you think it was better or worse than than the first? Let me know in the comments below.

Thanks for reading!

Thor: The Dark World

When the Captain America: The Winter Soldier trailer came out the other day I thought that the film would easily top the solo outing films of Marvel phase 2. However I may have been wrong, because Thor: The Dark World just raised the bar pretty damn high! After feeling a bit let down from Iron Man 3 and Marvel's TV show Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D I went into the cinema with average hopes and a critical mind, I came out having just had a blast of a time! Read on to find out why and as always my review is spoiler free!

Thor: The Dark World picks up after the events of The Avengers. Loki is in jail, Thor is back on Asgard with the Bifrost Bridge rebuilt, whilst love interest Jane Foster is down on Earth still doing science experiments and attempting to get over her fling with the demigod. All this gets shaken up when Jane discovers the Aether, a dark force that wakes up Malekith, a dark elve that wishes to bring revenge to Asgard for killing his people a long time ago. Like the first Thor, the plot is quite simple making for a fun and easy watching film, something I really loved about the first film. There's obviously a bit more going down in this second instalment but the heart of the first film is still there even with new Game of Thrones director Alan Taylor on board.

Let's start with the acting, as with all Marvel casting so far, everybody is perfect in their roles. Especially Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston who you couldn't imagine anyone else in their roles as Thor and Loki, their chemistry on screen is even better again and every scene with two becomes the highlights of the film. In villain duties is Christopher Eccleston as Malekith who does a decent job but his performance lacks being memorable, not by fault of his own but my fault of yet another underwritten villain who's plan is essentially to destroy everything, again. One of my favourite characters though is Heimdall played by Idris Elba who gets even more kick ass action in this film. 

That's one of the best things about Thor 2, the really cool moments that see your favourite character do something so cool it makes you nerd out. Early in you know you are in for a good ride when Thor jumps off a balcony twists grabs his hammer and flies away. There are loads of moments like this which make for a really enjoyable watch. This is something Iron Man 3 failed to deliver on apart from the end scene with all the suits but that was unfortunately mostly spoiled in the trailers. Like Iron Man 3 though Thor 2 is very funny but it never feels like a comedy. Unfortunately a few of the joke do fall a bit flat. 

We also get to see the continuation of Marvel writing some stronger roles for it's female characters. They're not fully there yet but I sure would soon like to see a film with female superhero lead soon. Thor's mum Frigga is one of these strong characters and even gets her own fight scene that turns out to be one of the best of the film. Natalie Portman's Jane Foster is still a bit of a damsel in distress but has no fear of standing up to the likes of Loki and even Odin. A love triangle between Thor, Sif and Jane is also hinted at but never really goes anywhere.

The film itself looks great! The use of real sets and locations really makes a difference and something I imagine Alan Taylor had some doing with. The fights are more epic and everything is dirtied up a bit. Saying that Thor is not going down a Nolan esque route with being dark and gritty, far from it actually, in fact it's a very fun and moving adventure film. The visual effects were also great and the whole film looked awesome!

A few dodgy lines and acting aside, Thor: The Dark World is a great ride and really delivered a lot higher than what I expected it to. The story is great and has some great unexpected twists and a lot of fan service. There is a lot of teasing of the future of phase 2 and beyond, so much so that you will hope they announce a Thor 3 soon! Remember to stay for the mid credits and post credits sequence! I really, really loved this film and I can see it becoming one of my favourites of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It’s not without its flaws but you sure do get one hell of a Thor film that leaves you wanting more, therefore I am giving it a rating of 4/5.

I think Alan Taylor really brought something special to the Marvel universe and it is unfortunate that due to rumoured disagreements with the studio and few suspicious answers to questions during the junket for this film that he most likely won't be back. However the bar has been raised for Captain America: The Winter Soldier and The Guardians of the Galaxy.

What did you think of the film? Do you agree with me or disagree completely? Let me know in the comments below.

Thanks for reading!

SDCC 2013 Thoughts #5 - Marvel Edition

So after Marvel came and surprised yet again at Comic Con. Keep reading for news on The Avengers 2, Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, The Guardians of the Galaxy and X-Men Days of Future Past!

So if you weren't already aware (the Internet did explode!) the sequel to the incredible Avengers film was given a title by Joss Whedon, a title that made all us Marvel fanatics very, very excited! Accompanied by a short teaser trailer which showed off a first look at villain Ultron, the name of the sequel is Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Ultron is a classic villain for the Avengers so this is great news that we will finally be able to see him on the big screen. Ultron is actually created by Hank Pym, so will we see Ant Man make his debut in the sequel before his own solo film later in 2015? Apparently not, according to Whedon who says they are tweaking the villains origin story and could be the creation of one of the already established heroes.  Hopefully the teaser will make its way online soon either officially or leaked!

Now over to Thor, where Tom Hiddleston rocked the house with his entrance, all dressed up as Loki!

If that wasn't great enough, here is description of the footage shown:
The footage begins in the middle of a battlefield. The Warriors Three are among those fighting. The rainbow bridge appears and Mjolnir comes through first. It hits one of the opponent soldiers and Thor is right behind it. He slams it against the Earth and soldiers go flying. Sif saves Thor from a spear at the last second. Over the hill a giant monster who looks like he's made of clay approaches. He's huge and angry. Nearly 20 feet. "I accept your surrender," Thor grins. The beast refuses and Thor smashes him to pieces with the hammer. "Anyone else?" Thor asks. The Marvel logo comes up and we're in London. Jane Foster is there and Thor arrives via the bridge. "I gave you my word I would return for you," he says. We see Jane in Asgard, exploring the wonder of it all. There's a brief, "Holy s--t" line from Kat Dennings as Thor and Jane vanish via the bridge. There's a brief, "Holy s--t" line from Kat Dennings as Thor and Jane vanish via the bridge. Thor goes to Loki. He's get in a prison cell with a big glass panel in front. "After all this time, you come before me, brother?" says Loki, "Why? To mock?" Thor says he needs Loki's help. We see a hand reach for a broken mask, I believe it's Malekith. "Your bravery will not relieve your pain," a voice (I think Eccleston) says. "Your family and your world will be extinguished." Loki sets off with Thor, Jane, Sif and the Warriors Three for a mission. Jane looks at a monitor and says something about the fabric of reality being torn apart. Sif tells Loki that if he betrays Thor, she'll kill him. Jane marches right up and slaps Loki in the face. "That was for New York!" she says. "I like her," Loki grins. There's a final shot of Thor on the ground, hurt, with Loki standing over him. He kicks Thor directly in the face. Thor reaches for his hammer, but Loki kicks his hand away.
Read more at http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/MarvelFreshman/news/?a=83787#tR32PqD5Oirgm3q8.99 
Sounding great right? I for one am very excited at seeing more Thor and Loki on the big screen!

Captain America: The Winter Soldier is starting to kick off now and we will hopefully get a trailer for the film soon. But for now here is a description of the footage show to the audience in Hall H:
We open in an elevator. Cap is inside, looking out the glass window. I think we're in DC. We see him from behind. He's got the shield on his back like a backpack. He turns as more people (Frank Grillo among them) get on. His uniform is new. It looks a lot like the US Agent costume. The music is moody, like The Hunt For Red October. Cap looks Grillo up and down. He senses something isn't right. More people get on. Cap keeps looking at them. He notices many of them are armed. More and more get on with each floor. The elevator is packed. Cap takes another look at their guns. "Before we get started," he says, "Does anyone want to get out?" Grillo says something about it "not being personal" and a fight breaks out. It's a massive fight, mostly shot from above, in the confined space. Cap takes out every single guy. He kicks his shield, flipping it into his hand as he exits. The Marvel logo comes up. We see Robert Redford in an office. He saying that he joined SHIELD to protect the world. "To build a better world sometimes means tearing the old one down," he says. "And that makes enemies." We see the Helicarrier flying. Lots of Black Widow action. Fury shaking hands with Redford. Fury is talking to Cap. "I thought the punishment usually came after the crime," Cap tells him. We see Mackie running from a futuristic helicopter. He leaps off a building and we see the Falcon wings come out! Cap on his motorcycle, fighting the helicopter. The helicarrier falling out of the sky in flames. The final shot is Cap's shield on the ground, A metal hand reaches down to pick it up, revealing the Winter Soldier.
Read more at http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/JoshWildingNewsAndReviews/news/?a=83789#jYvJoLPrf4GjLf1L.99 
Marvel have also announced that this film will be the main gateway into Age of Ultron. I get the feeling this could be a completely new Cap, not like the first film, a complete new take on modern day Captain America.

Now for Guardians of the Galaxy in where we get more footage descriptions, prop pictures and concept art!

The Guardians of the Galaxy footage could be my favorite thing I've seen at Comic-Con this year. Guardians of the Galaxy footage just played, revealing the designs of all the characters, with plenty of laughs and action. Star-Lord gets arrested, disappointed they don't know his name. She's described as "Thanos' adopted daughter by Reilly." No word on the voice of Rocket, But he's feisty. He spits as his name gets read. Dave Bautista's Drax the Destroyer wear the body paint from the comics in what we saw while he's in prison. Groot, who is all CGI and has to lean down for his mug shot. Reilly calls him a "personal houseplant slash muscle." I AM GROOT! Then Star Lord, who very slowly does a jack-in-the-box flipping off Reilly. When he finishes, he mocks surprise. "Oh," he says ,"I'm sorry. I didn't know how that machine worked." As he's getting booked, he's very angry about a guard taking his headphones and listening to them. John C. Reilly: "They call themselves The Guardians of the Galaxy" Peter Serafinowicz: "What a bunch of A-holes."
Read more at http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/MarvelFreshman/news/?a=83791#i177tCfo4MEr3lH0.99

I was a bit worried about this film but now I am excited. Could this be the new Star Wars for the next generation?

And finally, the latest news from X-Men Days of Future Past in which the whole cast was there on stage! The biggest news we heard was about who was time travelling in the film and it will X-Men poster boy Wolverine who's conscious gets sent back to the 70's by Kitty Pride. How Kitty Pride gets time travel powers I don't know? However the cast is impressive enough to make this one of the biggest films of 2014!

The Con is almost over but check back soon for all the latest from San Diego! 

Star Wars Episode 7!?

The news broke this morning that Disney have just bought the Lucas Film company and plan to make a new Star Wars film ready for a 2015 release. This of course sparked Internet outrage and as a massive fan of Star Wars I don't know whether to be excited or annoyed at the prospect of a 7th film in the franchise.

A lot of people are complaining that Disney will ruin the franchise but if you ask any major fans they will probably agree that the image of Star Wars was ruined when they released the first prequel. So why would they know go and make a sequel to the original trilogy?

Well for one reason we will no longer have George Lucas involved, or at least not in a directorial or producing role.In fact he is only going to be an outside contributor which kind of means he won't have much input. Which means we can get someone new to create a Star Wars film, including making a script which doesn't have bland and crappy dialogue. Now we can get some new fresh ideas to help restart the franchise and hopefully bring back the glory of when the first 3 films were released.

Where they go with Episode 7 is anyone's guess. Will Mark Hamil reprise his role as an older Luke Skywalker? Probably not. But hopefully Luke will play a background role in the new film, perhaps bringing him alive through the technology they used to create another Jeff Bridges in Tron Legacy. Will any of the original cast be back, who knows? I for one am anticipating where they hope to go with the new film.

In terms of who should be directing, I don't have a clue, there are the obvious choices like Joss Whedon and JJ Abrams, but I doubt that will happen. My guess it could be someone like Jon Favreau or Mathew Vaugn (could this be the reason he left the new X-Men film?). Whoever it is though will have a massive amount of pressure on them to create a Star Wars film that fans and critics alike will enjoy. May the force be with them.

When it comes to the script, I say hire one of the guys who wrote the well reviewed Star Wars novels or comics, surely their ideas would make a lot of sense in the development of the series.

I don't really see why making a new Star Wars film is a bad idea, surely this just help make the franchise live longer and hopefully become one of the biggest ever. I for one feel like a child again at the prospect of seeing another Star Wars film. In fact I am even more excited for 2015 as Disney will have hell of year, what with The Avengers 2 and Star Wars Episode 7. They are sure going to make a load of money! Lets hope both films are of excellent quality as well though.

2 and half years until a new Star Wars film, didn't expect to hear that this morning... What are your thoughts on a new film in the franchise? Please comment below.

Thanks for reading!

Ted Review

If you like crude humour then Ted  is right up your street. If you don't then it is not, as my girlfriend found out, who hated this film. Me on the other hand, I rather enjoyed it!

Written, directed and starring Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane, Ted's plot goes like this; 'As the result of a childhood wish, John Bennett's teddy bear, Ted, came to life and has been by John's side ever since - a friendship that's tested when Lori, John's girlfriend of four years, wants more from their relationship.' A pretty straightforward plot, a pretty straightforward film, with quite a few laughs in between.

Actually it is the start of this film that gave me high hopes for this to be an excellent comedy film. It is unfortunately after the first act that the film falls short of that. After the first 30 minutes the jokes start to slow down and become less funny. A hilarious party scene in the middle of the film brings back this hope but unfortunately is let down by a lacklustre third act.

The problem with this film was that the talking teddy bear was the most realistic part of it! The relationship between Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis was unbelievable and did not feel real. All of Mila Kunis's lines felt forced, which was such a shame as she is generally a really good actress! Mark Wahlberg is much better in a comedic role as you are actually allowed to laugh at his acting but unfortunately this made most of his more human scenes pretty rubbish, therefore not allowing the audience to become emotionally connected to any of the characters, which pretty much makes the last act fall apart. This is mainly because the third act asks us to worry about these characters when in danger and by this point you couldn't care less.

This film is a comedy film so you shouldn't care about the story too much and just wait for the laughs to come. And there are quite a few really funny ones and there a re quite a few that aren't so much. So you get your fair share but at least it had more laughs then The Sitter did earlier this year!

As I said at the start the jokes are crude and are likely to be about farts or will just offend a few people in the audience. Like Family Guy it can be racist, homophobic and will take the mick out of fat kids but what more do you expect from Seth MacFarlane?

Ted himself looks pretty impressive and thanks to the magic of motion capture I did not once believe I was watching a bear made of CGI, though every now and then thought I was listening to Peter Griffin!

There are some great moments in this film and also some excellent cameos but what it falls short of is emotional connection. But what the hell, it's a comedy! And although its not as good as some this year like 21 Jump Street, it's still on of the better side of the list! If you are a fan of Family Guy then you will probably really enjoy this! Though it wasn't perfect I still enjoyed Ted and had a good laugh. So therefore I am giving Ted a rating of 3/5.


In other news, Joss Whedon has been confirmed to write and direct The Avengers 2!!! This is awesome news! Bring on the next 3 years of anticipation! Joss Whedon is also helping develop a TV show for ABC that will be set in the Marvel cinematic universe. No announcements on what it's about but my guess it will be about the agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. What do you think?

Thanks for reading!

Marvel Phase 2

Being a massive Marvel fan I thought it would be a good idea to voice my opinions on all the announcements from the San Diego Comic Con on the next phase of the Marvel cinematic universe. I didn't go to Comic Con so I am working off the stuff I have read from news sites and the fans who went there.

Iron Man 3 - 2013
The first Iron Man film is one of my favourite films of all time. Robert Downey Jr. was the perfect casting as Tony Stark and completely stole the show! Unfortunately Iron Man 2 was not that good, it has its good moments but was a disappointment compared to the first film. However I have much higher hopes for the third outing with the great playboy, philanthropist. This is mainly because Shane Black is on board as director. As much as I loved Jon Favreau, it will be great to see someone else take on Iron Man and hopefully keep the awesomeness of the first film and The Avengers. Shane Black's only other film is the incredible Kiss Kiss Bang Bang which also starred Robert Downey Jr. Black also penned the Lethal Weapon films.

At Comic Con, Marvel showed footage of the new film that is due out for release next year. the footage showed Tony Stark testing out new armour and then having his house blown up by an army, apparently run by the Mandarin played by Ben Kingsly. In the comics, Mandarin is Iron Mans greatest foe, the way Joker is to Batman. That is why this new villain could be awesome. Guy Pearce and James Badge Dale have also been added to the villain mix. Both great actors but I do hope this doesn't turn into Spider-Man 3! I have faith in this though, all we need know is the footage to creep onto the Internet, hopefully in the form of a trailer!

Thor: The Dark World - 2013
All that was announced of this project was the name. And what a cool name! It has been rumoured that in this film we are going to be exploring the darker gritty side of Asgard and this announcement sort of confirms that. Natalie Portman is back on board so we probably still get some Earth scenes but I cannot wait to see more of Asgard! Christopher Eccleston has come on as the villain but I bet a Thanos will be somewhere behind the scenes. I'm not a big fan of Christopher Eccleston but we still get Tom Hiddleston's Loki, so who cares?

Captain America: The Winter Soldier - 2014
Oh yes, you saw right! The Winter Soldier! Perhaps my favourite announcement of Comic Con is that the new Captain America movie will follow the story of the late Bucky Barnes who (SPOILER) is not dead, unless they change the story completely that is! Bucky gets brainwashed into becoming a spy for the Russians, being dosed up with anti ageing drugs and becoming just as strong as Cap. This is all speculation at the moment, but this could be awesome. Antony Mackie is also rumoured to play the Falcon, which adds another super hero to rota. The Avengers made Captain America cool so I cannot wait to see where he goes next!

Guardians of the Galaxy - 2014
This was the most disappointing news for me, although it was Marvel's worst kept secret, I was still hoping for them to announce a Black Panther movie. Instead we get this sci-fi team up of superheroes which guard the galaxy. I never really got into the comics and I dodn't know how Marvel are going to make the team work in the same universe. Hopefully it will have its own universe but either way I am interested in what comes off this, but not as much as the rest of the line up in Marvel phase 2.

Ant Man - 2014/15
I love everything that Edgar Wright has ever done and this is shaping up to stay on his record of awesome movies. Ant Man isn't my favourite Marvel character but after the reported test footage shown at Comic Con I know this will be awesome! The test footage showed off some action that was reported as a new form of fighting called size-fu. That sounds very cool! There isn't a set date but it has been rumoured it could be out as early as 2014! I look forward to casting news, which could come any day now!

The Avengers 2 - 2015/16
 It's happening! We not sure when and we don't know if Joss Whedon will direct but it is happening! The next wave of superheroes are getting ready to set it up, no solo Hulk movie yet but Mark Ruffalo is contracted to do 5 more films as Bruce Banner! Will it be as good as the first? Only time will tell, but I will be just as excited!

What are you most excited about in Marvel Phase 2? Comment below and thank you for reading!

Alex's Essential Spider-Man Blog

Submitted by John Smith @OMGitsJohnSmith

50 years ago a man named Stan Lee created one of the most loved and well known super heroes ever. That super hero was Spider-Man. 50 years later he is still a big icon in modern day pop culture and with a still running comic book series and new movie coming out next month, he is not fading away just yet! Therefore I am dedicating this post to my hero, The Amazing Spider-Man. This is an extra long Spider-Man special post that will look at the man behind the mask and why his latest big screen movie could be his best. Also I will be voicing my opinions on what I want from Spider-Man in the future. I also have some great stuff to show you from a soon to be released fan movie called Spider-Man Eclipse, prepare to be amazed! Most of the images here have also been supplied and created by fans of Spider-Man, what better way to show our love! Thank you to all the people who got involved in making this post extra special! So here we go, hold on to your webs true believers!

Who is Spider-Man?

Spider-Man first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15 in 1962. He was thought up by the mind of editor/writer Stan Lee and brought to life through the artwork of Jack Kirby and Steve Dikto (who also helped with the storylines).
Peter Parker was the boy underneath the mask. A high school student turned masked vigilante after a radioactive spider bite. Peter Parker was an incredibly smart and good humoured teenage boy, who was orphaned at the age of 6 after his parents died in a aeroplane crash. Peter's shyness and scholastic interest often made him a social outcast and he was often picked on by the cooler kids at his school, kids such as Flash Thompson.
Peter lived with his aunt and uncle in Queens, New York. The spider bite gave Peter superhuman strength, proportionate to that of a spider, including the ability to stick to surfaces and super agility. He also gained spider-sense, a brain function that is triggered whenever danger is near. Using his amazing scientific knowledge, Peter went on to create his own web shooters.
Peter used these abilities to help make cash by becoming a wrestler and winning fights, and after a TV appearance Peter failed to stop a thief, claiming that it wasn't his responsibility. That thief went on to kill his beloved Uncle Ben. Since that day he has kept to his Uncle's saying 'With Great Powers, Comes Great Responsibility'.
Mary Jane Watson is the most well known love interest of Peter Parker, but she was not the first. Liz Allen was the first lady to take a fancy to Peter, although they never dated. Betty Brant of the Daily Bugle was given that honour. Not that it lasted long.
When Peter went to University he met Gwen Stacy, after a bumpy start they soon became friends. As this started, Mary Jane entered the picture. Though at this time Peter was interested in Gwen.

Submitted by Emma Dean

Gwen and Peter's relationship began to blossom, until the death of her father was blamed on Spider-Man. Gwen decided to leave the country but Peter changed her mind. Their relationship took a turn for the worst after The Green Goblin dropped her off a bridge only for Spidey's webbing to break her fall but also her back, killing her instantly.
It was after her death that Peter and Mary Jane began to come close. They fell in love and married, but after a pact with the devil their relationship was broken up in exchange for his Aunt May's life. Although they still spent a large part of their life together they decided it was best to remain friends.
Other relationships include Felicia Hardy aka The Black Cat and the most recent Carlie Cooper, who broke up with Peter after learning about his secret identity after everybody in New York got Spider powers. Peter currently works at Horizon Labs as a top scientist.

The Comics
It was in 1963 that Spider-Man got his own comic series 'The Amazing Spider-Man' and it is still going strong. Along the way other Spider-Man comics have come about that give a fresh new take on the web head. Comics such as The Spectacular Spider-Man, Ultimate Spider-Man and Peter Parker:Spider-Man. I do like these new takes on Spidey but I am more of a 'Amazing' fan as this was where Spider-Man started and where his journey is still progressing. Its had its less appealing storylines in the past but i feel it is now at one of its strongest points with 'The Ends of the Earth' storyline written by Dan Slott.
Dan Slott has been a great attribute to the Spider-Man legacy and really proved himself recently with the awesome storyline 'Spider Island' where all of New York acquired spider powers! He has now just finished 'The Ends of the Earth' storyline which sees Spider-Man face Doc Ock in one last attempt to stop the mad scientist destroy the world. The story has been awesome and the threat has never been so menacing. Peter even designed a new spidey suit to stand up against the Sinister Six, which looks very cool! Not that you could ever get rid of his red and blue spandex original suit! I have loved every minute of this storyline and cannot wait to see what Slott has up his sleeve next! Something big is happening with The Lizard later this month, just in time for the film!

The Movie
I enjoyed all of Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy, with Spider-Man 2 being one of my favourite films ever! I even enjoyed his third outing, not that it compared with the first two. Tobey Maguire however was not Peter Parker to me. Peter Parker is an extremely intelligent nerd, not a crying wimp like Maguire portrayed him. He had his try, but now we move on to the next guy and he seems to have a bit more of an understanding of who Peter Parker is.
A lot of people don't like the idea of rebooting Spider-Man so soon, but its his 50th anniversary this year, how could we not have a film out to celebrate? In the comics Spider-Man has many different versions, in one he's not even Peter Parker anymore! I can't wait to see The Amazing Spider-Man and these are my reasons why:

-Andrew Garfield
If anyone has seen his previous work then you know this guy can act! He has been brilliant in everything he's been in! He is very good at understanding characters and who better to play Spidey then an actual fan! Just take a look at his speech at Comic Con last year, you just know he is going to do the character justice! He is definitely one to watch as he could be the next big thing.

Judging by the released clips he really has taken to the role and  no doubt will be the best Spidey to date!
-Emma Stone
We all thought Emma Stone was going to play the red headed Mary Jane, so it came as a bit of a surprise when she dyed her hair blonde and became Peter's first love, Gwen Stacy. But we had no reason to be surprised, she looks incredible! She looks as if she's been ripped from the pages of the comics! Her acting in the trailer shows off that she could be the most perfect Gwen Stacy we have ever seen! Whilst promoting this film Stone has been adamant about the choice to include Gwen in this adaption is because she falls in love with Peter, whereas MJ falls in love with Spider-Man. With Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield now an actual couple in real life, their chemistry on screen should be (no pun intended) amazing!
-Curt Connors/The Lizard
Peter's first enemy in the new Spider-Man film could also be his most personal. Unlike other villains, the Lizard is going to be anything but one dimensional! Curt Connors was a friend of Peter's dad and could help Peter find out who he really was. His transformation into this large scaly beast is much more emotional, all Connors wants is to grow back his arm. Rhys Ifans looks like he is going to do a brilliant job as both Connors and the mo-capped Lizard. Unlike other people I think the CGI looks pretty good and I don't mind that he doesn't have a snout. This way we get to see Ifan's performance shine through the Lizard's facial features. Also the theme of cross species genetics is apparent throughout this film.
-Marc Webb
Although his last name may make Marc Webb seem like the perfect choice as director of the new film, his previous work suggests other wise. After doing a load of music videos, Marc Webb's first and only feature film to date was the brilliant (500) Days Of Summer. A truly awesome and super cool film, yet it is nothing like a superhero action film. My only guess is that the producers wanted a man who could make a great character story and believable on screen romances. Marc Webb is your man then! Don't worry about the action though, he even stated that he did this movie so he can blow stuff up. Lets hope he contains himself a bit more than Michael Bay! Can't wait to see what he does for Spidey!
-The Origin

Submitted by Ben Doney

There could be some story tinkering here! Not that it's a bad thing. Uncle Ben will still probably die but Peter Parker isn't the nerd he was in the comics. Nerds are cool now, didn't you know? Peter Parker is more of an outsider then he ever was and this time round he wants to know more about his parents. Rumours also state that the spider bite may just trigger his powers, which may have already been there! At first I was worried about this but actually, this could be good!
-Web Shooters
The film is not only just changing some of the original story, it is also keeping with some of the original comic elements that Sam Raimi's film did not use. One of these being the web shooters. Peter Parker is super smart and it will be great to show this finally by showcasing his talent. They look pretty awesome and they flash! The flashing is weird I agree but I can't wait to buy the toys.
-The Suit
There have been mixed opinions on the design of Spider-Man's new suit. I actually really like what they have done with it, there have been a few pictures where I have been worried but after seeing the trailer I really think it works well. Also the design looks more as if it could have been made by Peter Parker with the trainer style shoes and the the biker design gloves.
-The Sequels
Before we have even seen the first film, Sony have already hired writers to write the second in the series. So they must believe this will be a good one. The marketing has already stated that this will be the first part of the story and that not all questions will be answered in the first instalment. Are we seeing a story arc that has already been set up and that Marc Webb and company already know what route they want to go down and what villains they want to use next?
-The Game
Movie tie in games are usually rubbish. Yet this one is not? That's what reports are saying from people who have played the demo at events such as E3. So why put so much effort into a game if the movie isn't going to be just as amazing. I've pre ordered mine and guess what, you also get a chance to play as Stan Lee! NERD OUT! If it can live up to the awesomeness of the Spider-Man 2 game then it really could be one of the best ever!
-The Trailer
If the trailers are anything to by then this certainly could be good! The trailers have had a good reception and have made me very, very excited! This was my favourite one:

-The Clips
Although I have tried not to spoil this film too much for myself, I had to watch this one clip of Spidey in action. I just wanted to see if they had got it right! And they certainly did! It doesn't look as if Spider-Man is going to have a perfect start to his career, and the mix of practical stunts and CGI have really paid off as this looks ten times better then Raimi's fully CGI Spider-Man!

Also this latest clip of Peter Parker and Flash Thompson really shows off the great comedic value that is going to be apparent throughout the film. Just like Spidey should be.

-Viral Campaign
Viral campaigns have made it big all of a sudden after The Dark Knight campaign proved very successful! The Amazing Spider-Man's campaign has been very good as well! Although you don't really get much to do over here in the UK, it has been fun seeing people spraying the Spider-Man logo in different places and taking pictures of the web head to send in to a fake police site. There was an awesome wanted poster and other items given out to fans during the process. Makes me wish I was living in the states.

Submitted by @CosmicRewind

Spider-Man Eclipse

It's not just Hollywood who have big plans for Spider-Man, over here in the UK a group of people have been putting together a short film based on the web head called Spider-Man Eclipse. I only recently came across this project but after watching all of their videos on making the short I am now very excited for it! This is more then just a fan film! Here is the official description from their website www.spidermaneclipse.com 'SPIDER-MAN : ECLIPSE IS THE UPCOMING SHORT FAN FILM FROM BOKEH PICTURES DUE FOR RELEASE ON 2ND JULY 2012. WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY AWARD-WINNING DIRECTOR AL WHITE (BENEATH, COLORBLIND AND LEAD-SINGER OF UK INDIE BAND GHOSTLIGHT), ECLIPSE IS A TRUE PASSION PROJECT AND IS ENTIRELY INDEPENDENT. SHOT ON THE RED EPIC AND BOASTING A HIGHLY SKILLED AND PROFESSIONAL CREW, STUNNING PARKOUR STUNTS, AND FX FROM AN AWARD-WINNING TEAM: THIS NEW VISION OF SPIDER-MAN INTENDS TO CHALLENGE THE UPCOMING MARC WEBB AND ANDREW GARFIELD REBOOT 'AMAZING SPIDER-MAN' BY THROWING THE CHARACTER INTO A TRULY VISCERAL, BRUTAL AND REALISTIC WORLD - EXPOSING THE DARKER, MORE HONEST AND AFFECTING TRAITS OF THE LEGENDARY MARVEL COMIC BOOK CHARACTER TO THE SCREEN.' Sounds pretty awesome right!? A teaser trailer has recently gone up, which also acts as a sort of prelude to the short film. Check it out bellow:

I can't wait to see how this turns out! Spider-Man made in the UK! The current release date is the 2nd of July, but this could change so keep an eye on their Twitter for details: @SPIDERMANSHORT 

I really admire what these guys are doing as a fellow Spider-Man fan and filmmaker. Make sure to spread the word so these guys get loads of attention, they deserve it! I will review the short film in a later blog post.



What's Next For Spider-Man?

Submitted by @ComicBookKidUK
 www.comicbookkid.co.uk

Well as I have already mentioned there is a sequel planned for the film, what villains we do not know. There is talk of a Venom movie that ties into the movie's universe, which could be pretty awesome! Lets hope if this does happen that they pick a suitable actor to play Eddie Brock. I can't see Venom being the main villain in the next film if they wish to give him a spin off. What if the spin off is just the origin story for Venom, maybe he could be the next villain in an Avengers movie? I know Sony have the rights to these characters but Avi Arad the producer of Spider-Man recently stated; "Everything is possible. If something like that happens, it's great for Disney, it's great for Sony. If the right story comes in, we are now working on Venom first." This could be the start of something amazing! It's not official yet but a reference to The Amazing Spider-Man was planned to be put into The Avengers with the Oscorp building from the new movie being rendered into the skyline of New York. Though unfortunately the digital New York was already rendered and it would take too much time to add in. Sad news but it is also great to hear that Sony and Disney were willing to work together on this one, I would love to see Spider-Man in an Avengers movie. Who wouldn't?

Submitted by @jzzmncttrll

I would like to see a possible adaption of The Six Arm Saga in the sequel to The Amazing Spider-Man, and as we are trying to keep a grounded touch on this series of films, it could be done like the 1994 TV show where Peter finds out that his spider powers are mutating, eventually ending up as a giant spider! If Curt Connors is not killed off in the first film then it would be great to see his scientific mind put to more use in finding a cure for Spider-Man and himself! I wouldn't rule the Lizard out of appearing again at some point in the future! If these films are looking more into genetic DNA scientific aproach to Spider-Man, then this could be a great route to go down! When Spider-Man does turn into a giant spider, Kraven the Hunter could be called into catch him, creating yet another villain who is not one dimensional. That's just my thoughts though. What I hope they don't do though is kill Peter Parker off and replace him with Miles Morales, the latest character to wear the suit in Ultimate Comics:Spider-Man as nobody wears the suit apart from Peter Parker! It was a good idea from Marvel but having somebody who isn't Peter Parker in the suit just doesn't feel right.

In other Spider-Man future events, we still have the 50th Anniversary issue to come from the comics, yet again written by Dan Slott who no doubt has something amazing in store for us! Who is Alpha?

The new TV show Ultimate Spider-Man has also been renewed for another season. I warn you though it is not great. It is a fun TV show but this Peter Parker is not the one from the comics, in this series he is cocky and arrogant. You might like it but you're more likely to hate it. The animation is good though and you also get more Agent Coulson so it's not all bad. One episode including the Hulk is made to look as if its filmed on a video camera, in a Paranormal Activity esque way is pretty good. You have been warned though!

With Great Powers Comes Great Responsibility

Submitted by me! @SuperAlexMan

So here we come to the end of my special Spider-Man blog. It's been great writing this and I want to thank everyone who contributed to making this blog extra special, including all those who submitted fan art and Al White who gave me the pictures from Spider-Man Eclipse.

There is a lot of love for Spider-Man and that is a great thing to see. The new film coming out looks like it could be the best yet! I am sure Marc Webb and Andrew Garfield will do the character justice. Make sure to come back here to read my review when is out in cinemas 3rd July.

Spider-Man means a lot to people all around the world. The means to stand up for what is right and to never runaway from doing the right thing! Stan Lee did not just create an character, he created an icon, an inspiration, a hero. Spider-Man is my hero because he is Peter Parker and so am I. Easily one of the most relateable figures in Marvel Comic universe.

Excelsior! Thanks for reading and remember 'With Great Powers, Comes Great Responsibility'

Follow me on Twitter here: @SuperAlexMan
And remember to follow and support Spider-Man Eclipse here: @SPIDERMANSHORT and here: www.spidermaneclipse.com

On one final note, do you like to buy Spider-Man stuff? You do! Well this site 'The Spider-Man Collectionary' has all the best Spidey goodies for you to buy. It's awesome, I didn't even know some of the stuff on their existed. You can check out the site by clicking this link: http://thecollectionary.com/club/Spiderman

Feel free to leave comment or drop me an email: alex-moppy@hotmail.com

Nuff Said.

Thanks For Reading!