Peter Parker is angsty, but I'm not used to that coming out in his combat repartee. There he seems more flippant, like he's not taking it as seriously as it might deserve, regardless of what shit he's going through in his life.

I am so on the fence about John Carter.

I am angry they changed the name from A Princess of Mars; I am skeptical about Kitsch's ability to anchor a big action flick (the character is a long way from Tim Riggins); I am cranky about how the plot is basically "What these people need is a honky." I think the trailer makes it look dorky and stupid. I don't like the cliche'd premise that Carter is a Confederate officer. The character of John Carter in the novels isn't particularly complicated or interesting, he's a 2D hero. And Dejah Thoris is, of course, merely a damsel in distress in the books, around just to be rescued & married.

And yet! Andrew Stanton (who made Toy Story!) directed it. Michael Chabon helped with the script. The effects do look kind of amazing, as does the landscape. And the woman who saw this test screening said it was excellent: [link]

So, argh.

OTOH, it opens while I'm in Spain, so I suspect by the time I come back the reviews will be in.

(who made Toy Story!)

And, more importantly, Wall-E and Finding Nemo. He is my most favoritist Pixar director.

Speaking of Pixar (about whose movies I am neutral), IO9 showed some concept art from Brave, and I don't really care what the storyline is, I'll be there with tissues.

IO9 showed some concept art from Brave,

Yeah, those were nice.

I could go for an edgier Peter Parker.

But that's the point that I'm making -- I didn't see anything remotely dark or edgy about it. As far as I could tell from the trailer alone, the only thing making this movie any darker or edgier than Raimi's films is that more scenes were shot at night.

That's not darker except in a strictly literal sense, and not at all edgier to me.

I am all over Brave: I'm so looking forward to it.

Funny thing: I'm going to be in Spain with my niece when The Hunger Games opens, and the niece is a complete squeeing fangirl over the books & the movie. Too bad it's unlikely to be opening in Spain at the same time, so we could see it together.

I am angry they changed the name from A Princess of Mars

Mostly because Disney's fIlm from last year, Mars Needs Moms, was such a bomb. Hollywood is nothing if not superstitious.

I do like the mental image of unwitting parents dropping their 5 to 10 year old girls off at the movie thinking it's going to be a Disney-type fantasy. 5 years down the line, Taylor Kitsch might be the next DiCaprio!

Mostly because Disney's fIlm from last year, Mars Needs Moms, was such a bomb.

Are you sure? I figured it was because of the "Princess" in the title. Remember Tangled? IT WON'T APPEAL TO BOYS.

As far as I could tell from the trailer alone, the only thing making this movie any darker or edgier than Raimi's films is that more scenes were shot at night.

I agree with you there. I think there are some elements that have the potential to be a little darker, depending on how far they take the Spidey vs. the cops thing, but mostly it sure does seem to be a lot night scenes.