NitPickCentral šļø Andrew (@andytsofficial) & Zach (@TFNyoutube) unfiltered, in-depth takes on movies, TV, games & music. We notice the details you missed
Bigger action and bigger monsters, but less of what made blade special.
Wesley Snipes remains fantastic as blade, and the Reapers make for a genuinely creepy new threat. The action is bigger, the fights are slicker, and Guillermo Del Toroās influence is felt throughout.
Unfortunately, weaker writing, the character development, and some rough CGI keep the sequel from reaching the heights of the original.
Still worth a watch, but not quite the step forward we were hoping for.
What did you think of blade 2? Better than the original, or did the first film do better?
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The forgotten blueprint for modern superhero movies.
Before Spider-Man. Before Iron Man. Before the MCU.
Blade proved Marvel characters could succeed on the big screen while delivering a darker, more mature superhero experience unlike anything audiences had seen before.
Itās not perfect, but its influence on comic book movies cannot be overstated.
Dock Ock. I think he better depicts the duality in Peter, a man struggling under the weight of responsibility to use his gifts for the good of mankind. But Otto is working at a place where he THINKS he knows he can help mankind, so thereās that layer of arrogance, meanwhile Peter struggles with his place as a hero and what he really wants out of life, and if he even really wants the gifts he was given. Itās a fascinating breakdown of a superhero and their mission
I like how the TASM 2 suit pops just as much during the day as much as it does at night. Raimi suit during day scenes looks almost black and red and Iām just not too big a fan of how it looks sometimes. Itās iconic and I love it but TASM 2 suit pops at all times and is probably my 2nd fav live action Spidey suit
Jennifer Garner gives a committed performance, but Elektra never develops the story, villains, or mythology enough to justify its existence as a spin-off.
There are a few interesting ideas buried beneath the surface, but sluggish pacing, underwhelming action, and an unfocused narrative leave the film feeling more forgettable than memorable.
A cool character trapped in a painfully thin movie.
What do you think?šš
Is Elektra as bad as its reputation, or does it deserve another look?
Road To Avengers: Secret Wars
A complete rewatch of every Marvel movie, show, one-shot, and special presentation.
NitPickCentralās Take on:
Spider-Man 3 (2007)
Rating: 8.5/10
āø»
Marvel Context
The momentum of the first two Sam Raimi Spider-Man movies cannot be underestimated. The first film set the stage perfectly, and the second film was an excellent follow up that proved Marvel and Sony had a winning formula. The surrounding successes of the Daredevil, X-Men, and Blade movies also boasted good tidings, but even those trilogies suffered a decline towards their ends with Blade: Trinity and The Last Stand, and thatās even besides the attempt at a Punisher movie too. As we all know, with success comes big money and big pressure, and the Spider-Man 3 we would get would partially be born from these ideas.
The Setup
Peter Parker is living it up in NYC and couldnāt be happier. Heās got the girl and about to propose, heās doing well in school, keeping up with friends and family, and the city is head over heels for their favorite hero, Spider-Man. However, once new information about that fateful night regarding Uncle Benās murder is brought to light, Peter finds himself battling his darkest demons yet, all while dodging Harryās vengeance for his fatherās demise and the arrival of a new costume thatās stylish⦠but alien.
What Works
ā¢Most of the cast, but especially the main trio, fit their characters like a glove and carry this movie on their shoulders. Tobey, Kirsten, and James all deliver their best performances of the trilogy and absolutely shine here.
⢠The action scenes somehow have only gotten better and more imaginative. Thereās so much entertainment to be had here and the movie keeps you on your toes with how creative and intense the action scenes are.
⢠The ending of the film brings closure to several major characters. Itās not perfect, but the emotions you feel and the conclusions certain characters receive are still satisfying nonetheless.
What Doesnāt
⢠The film is crushed under the weight of balancing too many ideas. Itās painfully obvious what got more love in the writing department and what didnāt, but it leads to an unbalanced narrative.
⢠Venom is one of the weakest elements of the film. His inclusion feels forced and underwhelming, but when combined with poor visuals and a miscast with Topher Grace, it leaves much to be desired.
⢠The love triangle between the main trio is at the point of exhaustion. The writing and pacing just donāt allow the film to fully bring the emotional punch the first two movies did so well at.
Final Verdict
Itās safe to say Spider-Man 3 is the weakest of the trilogy, but despite all of its shortcomings, itās still a great watch and offers so much for the audience to chew on. The drama is meaty but also messy, the plot is engaging but all over the place, and the action and closure this film gives still make it a worthy addition to the canon.
The Road Continues
And that, ladies and gentlemen, concludes the Sam Raimi Spider-Man Trilogy! What a ride it was to be able to revisit these films, as they mean so much to the both of us. This also concludes the fourth (sort of fourth) trilogy weāve covered now on The Road in addition to Blade, X-Men, and The Punisher! But we still have so much more ground to cover folks.
Our next stop brings us to the first big screen debut of Marvelās First Family, The Fantastic Four! This duology is one to be remembered for sure, and weāll tell you all about it next time!
#RoadToAvengersSecretWars #Spiderman #Spiderman3 #spiderman #spiderman3 #PeterParker #TobeyMaguire #TopherGrace #ThomasHadenChurch #MarvelReview #ComicBookMovies #MarvelFans #MovieTok #NitPickCentral #podcast
@MCU_Direct This is what we wanted from the start but Iām glad we got the Home Trilogy either way, it was what Spider-Man needed at the time and it was a welcome change, but Brand New Day is a welcome return to form
Before Charlie Cox became the definitive live-action Daredevil, Marvel took its first big swing at bringing the Man Without Fear to the big screen.
The darker tone and comic book roots are evident, but the uneven pacing, dated early-2000s filmmaking, and rushed romance prevent it from fully realizing its potential.
Despite these shortcomings, it remains an important chapter in Marvelās cinematic journey and serves as a reminder that the path to Secret Wars was not always smooth.
What are your thoughts on Daredevil (2003)?
ā¬ļø Did we overestimate or underestimate its worth?
#RoadToSecretWars #Daredevil #Marvel #MarvelMovies #BenAffleck #ComicBookMovies #MovieReview #MarvelFans
Road To Avengers: Secret Wars
A complete rewatch of every Marvel movie, show, one-shot, and special presentation.
NitPickCentralās Take on:
Spider-Man 2 (2004)
Rating: 9/10
āø»
Marvel Context
After the wild success of the first film, it was a no brainer that Marvel and Sony would come together to make Spider-Man 2. Also coming off the heels of the first two Blade films and similar successes in X-Men and X2, the competition was well underway, and the studios had to deliver. And oh boy yeah, they delivered.
The Setup
Set two years after the first film, this second chapter in Peter Parkerās story sees him in the most confusing and exhausting era of his life yet. With the crushing weight of balancing life, hopes, dreams, and responsibility, Peter finds himself at a crossroads: does he fight the good fight and accept who he truly is, or does he follow his wants and needs and be Spider-Man no more?
What Works
⢠Tobey Maguire once again shines as Peter Parker and his story is so powerful and relatable. Arguably one of the most real and memorable stories in comic book movie history, his journey in navigating his responsibilities as Peter and the questioning of his destiny as Spider-Man hit home to this day.
⢠Alfred Molina as Dock Ock is the perfect villain to follow up this particular story. The actor brings the gravitas and range to help sell this new foil for Peter and their dynamic is so engaging.
⢠The action set piece in this movie offers some of the best in the franchise. Every fight scene is so entertaining and offers something different for the viewer to enjoy, and the train action sequence is arguably one of the best superhero action scenes put to film.
What Doesnāt
⢠The relationship drama between Peter and MJ is at an all time high but feels exhaustive and toxic, on both ends, and the movie never really acknowledges that. Both parties just make some wild decisions that can be frustrating more than anything.
⢠The CGI and VFX have improved, but not by much. The movie looks great most of the time, but a good few shots and moments still standout as aged and unpolished.
⢠The 3rd act is not as strong as the first two. Itās noticeably clunkier and feels a bit rushed, not to mention Harry being pushed into the background until his one important scene plays.
Final Verdict
Spider-Man 2 (2004) is an amazing follow up and could be argued that itās one of the best movie sequels of all time, right up there with The Empire Strikes Back and Terminator 2. While it might not be as polished as the first entry, this movie hits highs so high, a lot of Marvel movies today could only dream they could be even half as good as this movie.
The Road Continues
The further down the road we go, the more sequels arise, but Spider-Man 2 is without a doubt one of the best. Films like Blade II, X2, and Elektra (kinda lol) help set the stage for this film to be the major milestone it became for the comic book movie genre.
But of course, this wouldnāt be a trilogy if it didnāt have a third movie on the chopping block. Be sure to stay tuned and be on the lookout for our review of the infamous Spider-Man 3! Weāll catch you in the next one web heads!
#RoadToAvengersSecretWars #Spiderman #Spiderman2 #spiderman #spiderman2 #PeterParker #TobeyMaguire #AlfredMolina #MarvelReview #ComicBookMovies #MarvelFans #MovieTok #NitPickCentral #podcast
Marvel had to start somewhere⦠and sometimes that somewhere was a talking duck from outer space. š¦
Howard the Duck (1986)
Not every step on Marvelās road to success was smooth, but itās definitely been an interesting ride so far.
Have you actually seen this movie? What would you rate it?