"REVIEW OF THE REVIEWS"

The film that the following critics are reviewing is "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" the 2014 superhero sequel starring Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Dane Dehaan, and Jamie Foxx.  The critics' names are Joe Neumaier and Dana Stevens, both of whom are considered top critics on the website Rotten Tomatoes.  Their reviews of the film can be found here: www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/amazing-spider-man-2-movie-review-article-1.1770206
and here:  www.slate.com/articles/arts/movies/2014/04/the_amazing_spider_man_2_starring_andrew_garfield_and_emma_stone_reviewed.html

Mr. Neumaier's enjoyed the film.  His review is fairly straightforward, careful not to reveal any spoilers, while also revealing enough about the film to understand why he enjoyed it.  He starts off with a short version of his basic thoughts, discusses the basic plot, and then goes more in-depth about what he liked about the film.  The tone of the review is very that of someone who was enjoying what he was typing, and you can tell he was satisfied by the film he had seen.  There are words used like "high-energy", "magnetic", "eye-popping", "gripping", and "epic".  These words are used to explain, in short, how he felt about the film.  The majority of the review was focused on plot and characters.  The only references made to other films are to the previous film, the original Spider-Man trilogy, and and the lead actor's performance in the Broadway play "Death of a Salesman".  These references are made in passing, and don't feel like they are bogging down the point of the review.

Mrs. Stevens, however, disliked the film.  Her review is slightly longer and she spends more time talking negatively about the film before she discusses what the plot is, while still complaining as she explains it.  You can tell from the way she explains the film that she did not enjoy it and is frustrated by it.  Words such as "drearily unnecessary", "drab ", and "disappointing" are used her display her dissatisfaction with the film.  She mostly focuses on characters and only a little bit on plot, and she, like Neumaier, references the previous film and the original trilogy in her review.  She also references the original Superman film for a point in superhero film history, and the lead actor's performance in another film "The Social Network".  These references don't bog down her review either.

If I had to pick a statement from either of these two people's reviews to agree with, it would be in Dana Stevens' review.  "Maybe every generation gets the Spider-Man it deserves, but must every micro-generation?'.  I am one of many people who believe that the franchise was rebooted too soon, and that the new films are just an impatient rush to hold onto the rights to the character.  But that is the least of my problems with this film.  I can explain them to you, but that is a discussion for another day.

If I had not yet seen the film, and I had to decide which of these reviews to trust, I would trust Neumaier's review.  Regardless of how negatively I feel about the film now, if I had read his review before I saw the film, I would trust his opinion, as I almost always pay to see the big summer blockbusters with relatively little convincing.  He is also well-spoken in his review, and you can tell that he is unbiased and that he genuinely enjoyed the film, and I trust critics like that.

If I were to write a one page film review, I would include everything in it from the plot to the directing/screenwriting/acting to the characters.  I may also include how the audience I see the movie with reacted, as it will give whoever reads my review a perspective on how they might feel about the movie before they see it.  I would probably leave out any biases I have against the film, as I don't want the person reading my review to feel that I am being too judgmental and unfair towards the film.  My review would also be fairly straightforward and get right to the point as to whether the film is worth seeing or not.

"Film Intro Survey"

1.    What is the first movie that really made a strong impression on you?
I think the first movie to truly affect me on an emotional level was Jurassic Park.  I used to play with dinosaur toys all the time, but I had never seen a live one until I saw that movie.  And once we had gotten to the scene in the park with the brachiosaurus and the herd of other dinosaurs, I started crying out of pure joy.
2.     What are 3-4 of your favorite genres?
Western, Sci-fi, Fantasy, Horror
3.     What are 3-4 of your least favorite genres?
Romance, Romantic comedy, Musical
4.     What are your five favorite films?
Jaws, The Dark Knight, Pan's Labyrinth, Die Hard, Fight Club
5.     List three characteristics of what you consider to be a good movie.
Strong script, strong directing, strong acting, not boring
6.     What are some (3-5) of your least favorite movies?
Inappropriate Comedy, Movie 43, anything by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer.
7.     List three characteristics of what you consider to be a bad movie.
Bad script, bad directing, bad acting, boring
8.     If you have any favorite directors, list them (3-5)
David Fincher, Martin Scorsese, Alfred Hitchcock, Quentin Tarantino
9.     If you have any favorite actors/actresses, list them (3-5)
Joaquin Phoenix, Kate Winslet, Edward Norton, Charlize Theron
10.   List 3 films that you consider important films for people to see
Citizen Kane, Casablanca, The Godfather, District 9
11.   What's your oldest favorite film?
Jaws
12.   What's the best movie you've seen that's been released in the past 2 years?
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
13.   What are the next five films on your "queue"?
Boyhood, Selma, Grand Budapest Hotel, Birdman, Whiplash