Movie: The Amazing Spider-Man 2012... Was Amazing!

Spider-Man has been and will always be my favourite mythology. I had 'known' him since I was 10. I watched how Marvel groomed him into greatness, and then within a decade almost destroyed his legacy with senseless, idiotic decisions in the course of his storylines. I was among fans who ultimately left Marvel in the late 90s as we watched them torture his life, took away his wife and daughter, killed Ben Reilly and at some point of time, Aunt May. 

I had therefore set pretty high expectations watching 2012 Andrew Garfield's Spider-Man last night. Comparisons against 2002 Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man were inevitable, and ultimately a long time fan like myself would also compare versus canon.

So, dislikes first.

I disliked how parts of the storyline felt a bit rushed. Peter Parker got his spider-powers way too easily with very little pain, and I felt things developed too fast between Gwen and Peter. But hey, of course I get how it is not easy to cramp 50 years of back-story into a 136-minutes movie.

That's it.

A lot of this movie I liked, and liked a darn lot more than the original 2002 franchise. For starters, Gwen Stacy had more depth in her character than just being a screaming damsel-in-distress that was Kirsten Dunst's Mary-Jane Watson. Emma Stone played her as an intelligent, independent love interest and that for me is a big turn on. Of course, in the comics Gwen Stacy would ultimately DIE (too late for spoiler alert? Come on, this has been in public domain for 50 years for God's sake! lol) by the hands of the Green Goblin so I would hate to watch that should it be the storyline of the second instalment.

Sally Field had been my favourite Hollywood 'mom'-figure ever since she played in Brothers & Sisters. She was a perfect choice for Aunt May. She felt like a genuinely affectionate aunt. On the contrary, Rosemary Harris felt more like a doting grandmother.

The mechanical web-shooters were simply awesome. Aside from being canon, Andrew Garfield's way of shooting webs also was more 'real'; he actually 'knit' strands of webbing to create cobwebs in his fights. Tobey's, if Spider-Man is at all real, would have to drink tonnes of fluid everyday to replace his bio-webbing.

I am neutral towards the choice of the Lizard as the primary antagonist and the actor who played him.

Andrew Garfield's Spider-Man also felt a lot more humane. I think that side of Peter Parker was greatly emphasized in the scene where he saved the kid on Williamsburg Bridge.

The action sequences were a lot more fluid and felt less like elaborate computer animations. In fact the entire movie also felt a lot more... scientifically plausible, darker, and had less of the comic book feel. I do think Christopher Nolan did a better job with Batman, though I can't possibly imagine how anyone could have topped that.

Stan Lee's cameo was comical as usual though only a fan would truly understand this.

The most AMAZING thing was that my wife actually stayed awake throughout the entire 136-minutes.

So there, my movie review of  the Amazing Spider-Man 2012. It was a blast, and I definitely will be watching it again and again and again and again. It goes without saying that I can't wait for the second instalment. Just saying.

The Amazing Spider-Man will turn 50 this August.

With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility. Of course.

Season: Naga King Durian Overdose

Durian season is in.

I have had Durian, the King of Fruits since last weekend.

Today was the ultimate. Durian feast at work! Apparently, a world class organization like ours deserved nothing but the best of the best, world-class Durian. I didn't care; as long as they tasted good they can call it Durian Ular Sawa if they wanted to. 

I went into my usual Durian frenzy. Today I counted 21 juicy, fat Durian seeds down my bloated belly. A Blackjack. Heck, they should name one Durian Naga King in my honour!

I went back to the office, sweating Durian in cool air-conditioning.

I went to a  meeting with 2 lovely ladies right after. They visibly cringed at the smell of a Durian-infused Dragon (not my fault, I told them to postpone but NO, they wanted to meet today lol).

I went on a 5km walk home from the office to burn some of the calories. I got home, opened the door, and my wife screamed. I reeked of Durian, even the surrounding air smelled of Durian when I passed by. No hugs and kisses for me today. Oh well.

I went up to clean up and wash away the stench. I burped and can literally taste Durian in my breath. Everything about me smelled of Durian. Every single thing out of my body. EVERY.

Yes, I love Durian so much, I would fill a syringe with it and inject it down my bloodstream. I'm a Dragon on Durian-overdose.

Although, there goes my 'malam Jumaat'.

EURO2012: No (S)Pain No Gain ¡Viva España!

Yesterday was the final match of EURO 2012, contenders being Spain vs Italy. I had hoped for a Spain vs Germany game which IMHO would have been a lot more... dramatic.

Nevertheless it was quite a game last night and I think even haters would have to agree that Spain had played the best throughout the whole tournament. Their sharp passes were simply phenomenal! I remember some pretty nasty comments earlier on Spain's 4-3-3 formation and how even Vicente del Bosque would rather play with all mid-fielders than put Fernando Torres at the front line.

I didn't see anybody complaining at final whistle.

While Spain's line-up was open to coffee shop debate, there is no denying that Spain had in their team the best goalkeeper throughout the entire tournament, possibly even the best goalkeeper in the world right now. Iker Casillas, ladies and gentlemen, who for the entire tournament had a whopping 90% success rate in his saves!

You can get more facts and statistics here. Being someone who is generally detached from football except during World Cups and EUROs, then watched Spain play in the span of a month I can't help but wonder:

• if Spain's training regime involved playing chicken in the center of a circle trying to intercept passes between players;
• if Iker Casillas is really human, alien, or genetically engineered to have the supernatural reflexes of a cat;
• if Spain can sell off footballers to Germany in exchange for a bailout of their country's debts;
• if Fernando Torres and Xavi are perfect soul-mates for each other.

Whatever it is, the game-play shown by Spain throughout reaffirmed my sentiments that English football is really over-publicized and over-commercialized.

Till Rio, ¡Viva España!