I would like to begin my review of Dredd 3D by saying I have never read 2000 AD comic books, so therefore I can not tell you how close this film is to its source material. I do know some basic facts about Judge Dredd and so I can confirm that he does not take his helmet off in the film. I can also confirm that the latest adaption of the comic book anti hero is totally bad ass! Read my SPOILER FREE review to find out why!
'The future America is an irradiated waste land. On its East Coast, running from Boston to Washington DC, lies Mega City One - a vast, violent metropolis where criminals rule the chaotic streets. The only force of order lies with the urban cops called "Judges" who possess the combined powers of judge, jury and instant executioner. Known and feared throughout the city, Dredd is the ultimate Judge, challenged with ridding the city of its latest scourge - a dangerous drug epidemic that has users of "Slo-Mo" experiencing reality at a fraction of its normal speed.' The story is pretty cool and once Dredd and his trainee Judge, Anderson are locked in a 200 story slum the story really kicks off. The premise has been compared to that of The Raid Redemption, a film I have yet to see, so I will have to wait to find out if the comparisons are correct. It is also great to see that this is not an origin story and yet we still get to know who the character is by the time the credits role. So you can do it Hollywood, it's been proven!
The film looks great and the acting is perfect. It is obvious that Karl Urban put a lot of dedication into his character and after hearing various interviews with him it sounds as if Dredd 3D was definitely his and the director Pete Travis's baby. Now their baby is all grown up and kicking all kinds of ass in a film that is deserving of its 18 certificate. This is definitely a comic book movie for adults as blood is spilt in all kinds of cool ways. That being said isn't a complete gore fest and is a lot more dark and gritty then most comic book movies but a little bit more light hearted then the recent Batman films. Karl Urban plays Dredd brilliantly even though it's his awesome chin that does most of the work.
Dredd is an anti-hero and this is not shyed away from in the film. Dredd is hard faced and emotionless but this is all part of his character, his 'sidekick' Anderson on the other hand is not so much. She brings more connection to Dredd as she is more human. That being said she is actually a psychic mutant. Olivia Thrilby does a great job of keeping this film from becoming too stupid and she also kicks a lot of ass too. That's the great thing about this film is that the women are not the damsels in distress or the love interests, they can handle themselves just fine. Or they can be down right evil like the main villain Ma Ma, played by Lena Heady, yes the horrible Cersei from Game Of Thrones. Who is just as evil in this film, or at least it's said she is, i would have possibly liked to see her have some more bad ass moments as she was a terrific villain.
The coolest thing about this movie though, was the use of the drug slo-mo, which was mainly an excuse to have some extremely awesome 3D moments but damn it worked so well! Yes you read right, the 3D was awesome! When 3D is done right it can really work and it did here. For once the 3D added to the experience rather then taking away and I suggest everybody see it in this format as it probably won't be as cool without it. It had a kinda of Matrix feel in places whilst seeing people getting shot in the head in slow motion, in 3D! Like I said at the start, it is badass!
The film was shot in South Africa on practical sets which really pay off. When there is CGI it is always good with only a few shots looking less then that . But all together the film looks great and I can't wait to see more of Mega City One if a sequel gets a green light. If this does happen I hope they keep Paul Leonard-Morgan as the composer, because his soundtrack is all kinds of techno awesome!
After seeing this, all I want to do is see more of Judge Dredd! The film is great and very violent so it might not be to everyones taste, but if you like that kind of thing then definitely give it a go! And if you can watch it in 3D, which for me was the only format I could, then I strongly advise it as it is the best use of the third dimension this year! I'm giving Dredd 3D a rating of 4/5.
What did you think of Dredd 3D, hit or miss? Please comment below!
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.
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.
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?
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!
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'
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
So yehh, I just saw the new trailer for my most anticipated movie of 2012, possibly of all time... I'M KIND OF NERDING OUT RIGHT NOW!!! While I calm down you can watch it for yourself:
Did you just see that! Wow Spider-Man is back and looks better then ever. All the haters can shut up as this trailer brings a storyline that looks nothing close to the first one. It's dark it's gloomy and still has great humour, 'Do I look like a cop?'.
Andrew Garfield puts on his Peter Parker mojo brilliantly and really suits the character more then anyone else (Tobey Maguire!). It looks like it's taken advice from Christopher Nolan but not enough to make it look like a rip off. The stunts look cool, you actually believe that is Spider-Man swinging through New York and beating up criminals and taking on a SWAT Team!
Then there is Emma Stone's Gwen Stacy who looks like she could be Peter's best catch yet, she actually looks as if she loves him, though I (spider) sense that they could bring Mary-Jane back for round 2 to form a tricky love triangle for the webslinger. Though they would have to bring in some one good enough to create an on screen romance that betters the one I have just seen, probably helps that they are now a real life couple. Though I am also secretly hoping Gwen Stacy get chucked off a bridge like in the comics, that would create something we have never seen in the case of Peter Parker's personality, especially since he seems a bit more darker in this version.
Then finally there is Rhys Ifans as The Iizard or Dr Conners. Didn't get much chance to see him in all his glory but the glimpses shown did look impressive. Could be quite a strong fella too as in the last part of the trailer we see him taking down a building that we all know is going to look super cool in 3D. I also like how they are hinting at Peter Parker possibly making the formula that creates The Lizard. That would be a lot of 'With Great Power Come Great Responsibility' especially as Peter has daddy issues this time round and Dr Conners looks like the only one who will help him out!
Overall it looks incredible and I cannot wait for this film! I'm going to go and watch that trailer again and again and again!
With the recent instalment of Netflix in the UK it crossed my mind that more and more entertainment texts are becoming available online. But is this a good thing? I am not just talking about films, I'm talking about newspapers, books, magazines and even music, all now available online and digitalised.
Ever since Internet speeds have sped up, piracy has gone up. It has been a big subject in the news recently especially with the SOPA act that was trying to be put in place. But even they underestimated the power of the Internet nerd!
I can see why sites such as LoveFilm and Netflix have come along now because they have an easy affordable solution to illegal downloading. You can now watch official movies online for a small amount of money. The only bad thing about this is that users are still able to open a new tab and download the same films for free. I also don't think I would like to watch a film on a small pixelated screen that needs to buffer every 10 seconds depending on your connection. I would much rather get the DVD, which is an offer that LoveFilm do where they will send the disc to you, this however costs more.
But it's not just films that are becoming multi-platformed, look at books and comics. Download ibooks on to your iPad and you have millions of cheap books at your disposal wherever you are. When devices such as the Kindle were first created I couldn't see why you would want to read off a screen instead of a book. I now however have come to terms with idea as I can see the reasoning if you are a massive book worm and go through a different book everyday. But still, there are such things as libraries where you can get all these books for free.
But I do love being able to read comics off my iPod! Living in the UK, where it is not as comic book mad as the USA, I have never been able to get down to a comic books store which has all the latest releases. As a child I found myself reading a comic book here and there if it was in the library. With the Marvel Comics app I have been able to buy and read comics as soon as they have been released. It did take a while for them to get this way though. I now buy every issue of The Amazing Spider-Man and have been lucky enough to be able to experience Dan Slott's great writing style in the big Spider Island event which took my fandom of Spider-Man to new heights!
Music is another thing I buy online which allows for it to be put straight on my iPod. I no longer have to wait until I go into town to get the latest CD, I can now just order it off iTunes. Unfortunately this hasn't been great for the music industry 'apparently' but it's a lot easier for us the music buyers!
So yes I can see the why we are going digital with our entertainment but I personally would rather see a film in the cinema rather then my laptop and if I could buy a comic rather then have it on my iPod I would! But the great advantage of the digital era is that it means the entertainment is now more easily accessible then it ever was and can be seen, read or heard by a larger audience. That's if its legal though.
On another note it's the start of Being Human Series 4 tonight!!! And a new The Amazing Spider-Man trailer should be out on the 9th!
The film looks great and the acting is perfect. It is obvious that Karl Urban put a lot of dedication into his character and after hearing various interviews with him it sounds as if Dredd 3D was definitely his and the director Pete Travis's baby. Now their baby is all grown up and kicking all kinds of ass in a film that is deserving of its 18 certificate. This is definitely a comic book movie for adults as blood is spilt in all kinds of cool ways. That being said isn't a complete gore fest and is a lot more dark and gritty then most comic book movies but a little bit more light hearted then the recent Batman films. Karl Urban plays Dredd brilliantly even though it's his awesome chin that does most of the work.
Dredd is an anti-hero and this is not shyed away from in the film. Dredd is hard faced and emotionless but this is all part of his character, his 'sidekick' Anderson on the other hand is not so much. She brings more connection to Dredd as she is more human. That being said she is actually a psychic mutant. Olivia Thrilby does a great job of keeping this film from becoming too stupid and she also kicks a lot of ass too. That's the great thing about this film is that the women are not the damsels in distress or the love interests, they can handle themselves just fine. Or they can be down right evil like the main villain Ma Ma, played by Lena Heady, yes the horrible Cersei from Game Of Thrones. Who is just as evil in this film, or at least it's said she is, i would have possibly liked to see her have some more bad ass moments as she was a terrific villain. 
