The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

I just finished watching The Amazing Spider-Man (2012), from Marc Webb. I must say that in general I do like Marvel's films. Except some few crappy ones like Thor.

This was my favorite Spiderman film so far. I had found the previous Spiderman trilogy from Sam Raimi, but this newer version is more dark and, obviously, the action scenes have better special effects. Sam Raimi's Spiderman had also become too cheesy, and the romantic scenes somewhat out of topic. In a way it's like comparing Tim Burton's Batman with Christopher Nolan's. After you watch the latter, the first look more childish.

The Amazing Spider-Man features Martin Sheen as Uncle Ben. Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker acts too naive and clumsy for my taste, but his acting is good.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire - Not so original, but good and entertaining

I recently watched The Hunger Games, second part. I did enjoy the film, although I have to admit that I usually have a prejudice against actions films where the heroine is a woman that kicks everyone else's ass. And even more if it is a teenager or young adult. It's not because I have anything against female protagonism, but I can't identify with teenage cinema; and I find this type of films the most commercial type especially made for the teenage public. It is too obvious that these films have been made for female teenagers that love to identify themselves with the heroine; and for male teenagers who love to watch pretty girls and fantasize a bit. A good example of that, for me, is Transformers.

Nevertheless. I had fun with the film. Some acting was very good (especially Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland and Lenny Kravitz), and the theme is interesting enough although not really original. If you have been watching Sci-Fi movies from the 80's, you will remember that sci-fi classic of 1987 with Arnold Schwarzenegger: The Running Man. This films, based on a novel from Stephen King, also focusses on a man that is thrown against his will into a wild game scenario where he has to survive fighting other players. In the meantime he is broadcasted for everybody to watch. This happens in an imaginary future, and also, the system doesn't want to allow the protagonist to win, so they even get to the point of faking his defeat and death.

There are a lot of similarities between both films, and it is too obvious that there is an inherited plot. Nevertheless, The Hunger Games goes much further in its political theme, which makes it an interesting movie to watch.

Silent Running (1972) - A Sci-Fi low-budget "classic" that I personally found extremely overrated

I like to watch sci-fi classics, and last night I sat down to watch Silent Running (1972). I had gotten this film a long time ago, after I had found it recommended somewhere in internet. I love many of those classics like Colossus, Forbidden Planet, 2001, etc. But I found this film disappointingly boring, with an old-fashioned acting performance and the end was uninteresting.