David Coscina

That's surprising that they wouldn't go out West....

Absolutely Merkel. I'm surprised by the skepticism and cynicism surrounding the special effects in the film. When I go see a movie about a guy who crawls on walls and spinds webs from his hands, I suspend a great deal of disbelief in order to enjoy the experience. But no more than I did accepting a great white shark plunging killer-whale style onto a stern of a boat. I think Lord of the Rings did a lot of people a great disservice by making the effects so real (for Golum) that everyone brings the same expectations to every subsequent film involving a CGI human-type character. Pity.

Thankyou Neeja. I just found out that the LSO will be coming to Toronto which is much better since I live 30 minutes outside of that town. Yippeeeeee!!!! However, I doubt this will top my John Williams Pittsburgh experience from 2003. Meeting him after that amazing concert was a lifelong dream come true.

Ray, thanks for the info. My dad lives in Grosse Point so I'll be making my way to that concert for sure!!!! (saw John Adams conduct his Harmonium there a few years back)

It's not crap but it's noticeabley CGI. To me these SPider-man films are the synthesis of live-action and animation. So when a CGI SPidey is slinging around the screen I just go with it. Much more enjoyable a movie experience that way. Does anyone remember how to use their imagination any more?

A master of his craft has passed. R.I.P. Mr. Brando, you were one of the best actors this world has ever seen.

There is a main theme for SPider-man 2. It's the same one Elfman used in the first film. Whether it's memorable or not is the real topic for debate.

Um, no I don't. I've heard quite enough already, thankyou. But I tell you what Morlock, for the sake of respecting others opinions on this board, I'll refrain from any more discourse on Ottman's technique (or lack thereof). Sound good?

ouch, that's not nice. And I beg to disagree. It sounds like john Adams on the toilet

Very good review Trumpeteer. And I agree that there were parts where I was frustrated by McGuire's lack of emotion. After all the crap he goes through as Parker in this film, you'd think he'd just let it all out. Franco would have made a convincing Parker and yes, he can emote much better. I do think that they didn't give him a lot to work with in Spiderman 2 though. He made the most of his screen time however (like during the party sequence- very dramatic!).

Please, do you think the American press has been been completely objective in their assessment of Bush? Previous presidents were not given the same leniency as the Bush administration. The only reason I mentioned this is that you opened this can of worms with your statement above. where Moore in concerned. He's simply providing another perspective of the same events. We as citizens having both angles can make our own minds up.

Rogue Leader, I totally see eye to eye with you on Michael Giacchino. But when it comes to Michael Moore, we couldn't be more disimilar. it's fine to state your position on his methods or whatever, but please don't tell those of us on this board who do find Moore to be a valid, thoughtful director the how to feel or think about his style of movie-making. That's a fascism. Thankyou.

I'm of the same opinion about Ottman. His compositional style is clumbsy. He just started futzing around on keyboards a while back and it sounds like it. Giacchino uses keyboards but he's had training and that's the difference. He knows how to use the technology as an adjunct to his formal skills rather than compensate for not knowing what the hell he's doing (Ottman). Silvestri I never cared for until I heard Contact. From that point on his music became very interesting to me. I like Predator as well although I wouldn't say it's best example of fine orchestration. But I like how Silvestri has developed over the years.

not to rub it in, but I don't think the commercial release of AI is all the compelling. The 2 disc promo, well, that's bloody brilliant. That one got my vote.

Oh you bet. I'm really looking forward to Batman Begins. Chris Nolan at the helm, I think he will erase any awful assocations that Schumaker helped create with rubbish like Batman Forever or worse Batman and Robin. I got my hands on a version of the screenplay and it does kick serious butt!

Saw a midnight show of the sequel to the pop hit of a couple years ago. And what with the reviews heralding this as "as good as Superman The Movie" I had to check it out. First, it is about the only super hero film where the titular character is actually the focus of the film. What a novel idea. Unlike a certain other hero who dresses up as a winged night mammal, and who has to compete with 5 million other characters for screen time in his franchise, Spider-man 2 focus' solely on Peter Parker. And what a nice surprise it is. Many comic book adaptations are so concerned with getting the "world" and the "look" just right, they concern themselves with plot over character development. It's so great to see Parker muddle through life and attempt, (and fail mostly) at leading a double life. Raimi actual brought the world of the mundane into the life of a super hero. Other than Unbreakable, I don't think we've ever really seen a hero who's so fragile (no pun intended) or vulnerable. I don't know about everyone else, but I could certainly identify with Parker's balancing of duty to family (AUnt May), a job to put himself through college, romantic distractions (with MJ). It's all there. He also just happens to be a guy who can climb walls, spin a web (any size), and race around the city saving people. It's an interesting moral dilemma that Raimi introduces into the film too. Are people who have been gifted with an ability obligated to serve humanity to the exclusion of their own life goals and ambitions? Well, you'll all have to check out the film to see how it develops. I'm not offering any spoilers. However a few more comments... The music by Elfman and co. (additional cues were composed by John Debney and Chris Young) is in some ways much more melodic and accessible than the first although I found the incessant use of the main theme to be distracting at times rather than effective underscore. A couple standout cues are when Octavious is trying out his new fusion device for the first time, with some really great symphonic bombast underlining the gravity of the moment. Also, and I think kudos go to Debney on this one, the subway-train fight scene is one of the best action set pieces I've seen in recent history. Really fine stuff, well shot and edited so you can understand what's happening (I hate the usual MTV frenetic editing style where you can't really see what's going on). Debney's music has some shrilling winds that recall our man John's Jurassic Park and I'd say the most thematically strong presentations of Elfman's material. Debney is a more thematic composer while ELfman excells (of late) at motivic writing. And these are just a couple in a long line of memorable scenes form the film, which actually is funnier than the original but balances it perfectly with drama. One never feels like they're sitting through Batman Forever which didn't take its story or characters seriously. A perfect example of how Spidey 2 pulls this off is in the Burt Bacharach montage. When you see it, you'll understand. Raimi beautifully pulls this moment off. It's not superfluous either- it has a context in the story arc of the film. The only downside is the irregular pacing. Around 40 minutes in, I noticed that the film suffered from this. I don't mind long dialogue sequences. In fact I salute Raimi for putting these in. But the rhythm of how these scenes work with the action moments just didn't seem to gel. It's like shifting gears in a car too quickly- the film had a bit of a studdered effect. But you know what? I still thought it was great. 'nuff said.

Foxfan is Canadian....unless you don't count Quebec as a province...

Jennifer Garner is a bad actress? Bad, well perhaps pedestrian at best. She has limited range and yes, her martial arts aren't convincing (coming from someone who has studied a variety of them for the past 20 years). In fact I'd like to see her get her ass whupped by someone like Jason Borne who really knows what close combat is all about. Half of those b.s. moves GArner does would land her with a broken leg or arm. Kicking is about is useful in real life if you are 5 feet away from your target. And something like Wing Chun or Shaolin Kung Fu have shorter kicks that actually work more effectively. As for Alias, I also agree that Garber and Rifkin are the most compelling characters. Vaugh is a pussy and I can't by him as a tough guy. The past season really let me down insofar as the story genesis was concerned. I did like the 2nd season, especially when they had Lena Olin guest star as Sydney's mother. Now I could believe that she could be dangerous and kick ass! Same goes for Garber. Some of the looks he gives people as Jack Bristow are chilling. Giacchino hopefully will make his way into feature films more and leave behind Alias since it seems he too has become uninspired by the crappy quality of shows in the third season.

That's a real cop-out Rogue Leader. If you don't like the film, why not articulate what about it you felt let you down. Do you like Williams' score at all? I think "The Blue Fairy" cue is just amazing, one of the finest pieces Williams has written in that last 10 years. But it does feel like an ending piece and I agree that Spielberg should have left David at the bottom of the ocean. I know Kubrick would have. Insofar as the message or story arc is concerned, there is some kind of resolution in that scene. David's quest to be human ends with his acceptance of some form of religion. his god is the Blue Fairy.

Very well put Adam. Very well put indeed.

Of all the films, I still enjoy Star Wars the best. As a film score, I prefer Empire Strikes Back though.

to get things a little back on topic, how do people find his use of music in his films? While Bowling for Columbine had what I'd call the requisite roll of music in documentary film, I've heard that F911 uses music as a larger player in the fabric of the film. Can anyone confirm that? I understand that an Arvo Part piece was played under the footage from 9-11.

And that's the great thing about the arts. People from all different walks of life find commonalities in music, visual art, and literature. Back on topic, I love Williams' Christmas Tree song from Home Alone 2. Those harmonic extensions (major 7ths and 9ths) are so beautiful. I actually prefer it to Somewhere in My Memory from the first film. Just gorgeous. I play it every x-mas. Dracula- the part where Van Helsing raises the small cross to ward away Dracula in the dining room. Great stuff. Very operatic. Nixon- some beautiful music that isn't on the CD where young Nixon rails against his destiny at Harold's funeral. A moving string elegy can be heard in the background until Nixon says "and what about happiness?" wherein Williams brings in the secondary theme, (the 5 chord rising figure). Ahhh, sends chills down the spine. Schindler's List- The soft guitar part where Schindler, after raging and threatening a woman who pleads him to have her infirm parents admitted to his factory, asks Stern to have them brought over. I love the delicacy of the music which is so contrary to his actions leading up to this moment. Really nice.

Yes, I heard that Moore was anti-establishment even in his youth.

Hilaroo, you do make several valid points about Moore. In Bowling For Columbine, he cites Canada as much safer and shows our idea of what a slum is. Well, this was incorrect. He was standing in from of a Co-Op Housing unit, and they are very well taken care of. In my line of work, I've seen what bad buildings are like in bad neighbourhoods, and Toronto has them, maybe not to the same extent as major cities in the States but we do have them. Regardless of this, and yes, I'm forgiving of Moore's film tactics, I think he ultimately wants to provoke discussion about these current issues. And I think that's an honorable thing.