Chalk me up for the crisis of faith: While I concede that there are enough laughs in the animated works of Seth McFarlane to dismiss the notion that the creator of such shows as Family Guy and American Dad is everything that's wrong with televised comedy (an assertion that's nowhere near true so long as Hot in Cleveland remains on the air), I still had my concerns about Ted, McFarlane's live-action, feature film debut about a guy (Mark Wahlberg) and the rocky relationship he has with his affable, raunchy teddy bear (voiced and performed in mo-cap by McFarlane). So Cinefantastique Online's managing editor Steve Biodrowski volunteered to check the film out on his own, and in his review at the top of the show gives some idea whether it merits its #1 box-office take.
Then, in anticipation of next week's debut of The Amazing Spider-Man, Steve and I sit down to discuss the trilogy that kicked-off the franchise: Sam Raimi's Spider-Man; Spider-Man 2; and Spider-Man 3. Among the topics covered: who, from Willem Dafoe and his Green Goblin to Alfred Molina and his Doc Ock to Thomas Haden Church and his Sandman to Topher Grace and his Venom, delivers the most credible villain; which film embraces its dramatic elements most convincingly; and is J.K. Simmons truly a gift from the gods?
Also: What's coming to theaters next week. Actually tomorrow. Actually it's The Amazing Spider-Man, I said it just above, ya happy?
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