Doctor Who Challenge Finale -- The 12th Doctor

So, why did I decide to save only one question for my final post in the Doctor Who Challenge? Because, the question was this: 20 - What actor would you like to play the 12th Doctor? And I have been forming opinions on the subject ever since I felt I was qualified. So, here's my list -- twelve actors I think would be interesting to see as Twelve, in order of least to greatest. Complete of course, with irrelevant opinions, pretty pictures, and pros and cons... and it's absolutely (85%) fanciful. Enjoy!

12 - Simon Woods

33 year-old, five-eleven period drama hero.

Pros: The only reason I thought of Woods is because of his amazing ginger hair in Pride & Prejudice. The Doctor should have his dream -- and not in a half-way kind of way.

Cons: Based on this picture, the red hair wasn't totally real. So unless dyes came onto the scene, it would be half-way. Plus, I'm not sure he has the acting ability for The Doctor... unless you mean romantic and dramatic Doctor Harrison.

11 - Ewan McGregor

42 year-old 5' 9" Scottish Jedi Knight.

Pros: He has the hair, and the vibrant personality, the sense of style, and the acting range... especially the comedy.

Cons: Somehow I feel that his popularity is a con. Could he make his Doctor fresh, or would we just be watching a time traveling Obi-Wan? I imagine his Doctor would also be unbearably cheesy.

10 - Dan Stevens

30, 6-foot British Television hunk.

Pros: He (or at least most his characters) has a interesting, understated off-kilter kind of personality. He does the "awkward but sincere gentleman" very well, and he is very British.

Cons: I'd be worried about his abilities in the action/sci-fi side of the show. And that's pretty important.

9 - Rhys Ifans
46 year-old, six-two chameleon.
Pros: He's got the right face, definitely. You know, the kind that in first glance is weird, but then suddenly grows on you, and next thing you know the guy is actually handsome? A common trait with Doctors. He's also extremely quirky and funny.
Cons: He's too old isn't he? I realize that previous Doctors have been older, but that's not really the thing anymore. Younger audience -- younger actor. Instead, Ifans should just get more film roles; those suit his talents as a chameleon better anyway.

8 - Colin Morgan

Really old, six-foot mythical Irish wizard.

Pros: Watching him in Merlin I assumed he was in his early twenties, and once I found he is actually 27, my very next thought was, "he's old enough to be The Doctor then!" And now I can't get it out of my head. As far as I can tell he has all the necessary qualities, and I personally think he'd be a great, unique Doctor.

Cons: Yeah... there's that one little problem of him having been on Doctor Who before. Rats.

7 - Ben Whishaw
33, 5' 9", supplier of cool toys for 007.
Pros: Well... he's got the wild hair for it. I've only seen him in Skyfall, but based on that, I believe he would make a very interesting, deep Doctor. He has a quiet, but authoritative presence, and an understated sense of humor -- actually everything about him is wonderfully understated... except the hair. Also, I love his voice.
Cons: Since I haven't seen much of him, all this is even more speculative than usual -- I like the idea of him, but really, I have no idea. I could also imagine that his Doctor might be a bit underwhelming. And the hair... it's too much, isn't it?

 

6 - Jamie Bell

The 5' 7" 27 year-old redeeming factor of many terrible movies.

Pros: Obviously, he has the best hair so far, so I'm sold already. He's a very physical actor, so action is no problem, and neither would be comedy as long as sarcasm is okay -- he's great at that. Drama -- very good. Fast-talking -- of course. Bonus -- he's stylish.

Cons: He is rather short, but that's not a problem as long as all companions are as short as Clara. He also usually sticks to movies... but get this: He's Tintin, the sequel is coming soon, and guess who is a writer for those movies? Steven Moffat!

 
 5 - Laurence Fox
Very sensitive Detective Sergeant. 6' 3" thirty-five.
Pros: He's married to Billie Piper, so that pretty much makes him The Doctor already. His looks are perfect for The Doctor (except not ginger) -- unique, odd, but still handsome. Based on his DS Hathaway, you'd think he'd be too mellow for The Doctor, but I read he's actually pretty quirky and upbeat, so really, pluses all around.
Cons: I also read that there's no "Inspector Hathaway" series in the works because he's looking to do more films. In America. A cover story?

4 - Benedict Cumberbatch
37, 6-foot, the universe's only consulting detective.
Pros: Naturally ginger; naturally awesome. He looks like an otter. (yes, that's definitely a pro!) He's a true artist at fast-talking, and equally great at any kind of humor, drama or action. In short, amazingly talented. So much so that...
Cons: ...Doctor Who would actually waste his talents. Then there's that little matter of him actually stating that he wasn't interested in playing The Doctor. Solution: He's The Master. Anyway, I wouldn't want Sherlock and The Doctor to be the same person; I need variety in my obsessions.

 

3 - Rupert Grint
24, 5' 8"; Most ginger ginger ever.
Pros: Look at him. Stop reading and look. ... That's what The Doctor wants to look like, and you know it. I have actually never seen "Harry Potter" but I saw Grint in this brilliant action comedy "Wild Target" and loved him in it. He was goofy and witty and awkward and endearing and oh-so-likable. And oh, did I mention GINGER?
Cons: At twenty-four, he is a bit too young. Perhaps the 13th Doctor will be the ginger one? (hint hint) That would give Grint time to separate himself from that "Weasley" guy too.

2 - Tom Hiddleston
6-foot-2, 32 year-old extremely charismatic god of mischief.
Pros: Charming, lighthearted personality, talented in every genre, classic British gentleman looks, authoritative presence... Hiddleston fits all usual requirements for The Doctor with perfect ease. Like many other guys, just... better. He stands out even more though, in one area I've previously left unconsidered: he respects his fans. He's always patient and gentlemanly, and those are qualities The Doctor should have off screen as well. Practically perfect in every way, and my no-brain-er top choice for this wish list.
Cons: Like Cumberbatch, I fear Doctor Who would waste his acting talents. Still, he is my ideal Doctor.

1 - The Unknown Actor
Height: Adorable. Age: Awesome. The guy born to be the 12th Doctor.
Pros: Now I'll be realistic, and really (realistically) this is the very best choice. An unknown. (Or at least someone you'd need to dig around to find.) This guy is something none of the previous of this list are; fresh. Any known actor is too safe, but a new actor will be bold and original and exciting and mysterious -- just like the show! Yes ladies and gentlemen, somewhere out there is the perfect 12th, and in Moffat I have an appropriate amount of trust.
Cons: Everyone will hate him at first. But no worries; we'll adore and love him like the crazed fans we all are later.



So there you have it -- thanks for bearing with me for all this completely pointless but absolutely fun Doctor Who silliness! Who did I forget? Who did I get totally wrong? I'd love to hear your input! If you missed my previous parts of this challenge, here they are: Part I, Part II, and Part III. And for even more fun, if you were to click here, you would find yourself reading one of the audition scripts for the Twelfth Doctor -- very helpful for imagining how your favorite actor might sound as Twelve!

The Amazing Spider-Man

Ladies and gentlemen, the amazing Spider-Man! – Mark II. Due to many complications and problems typical of Hollywood, after three movies and ten years, Sam Raimi, Tobey Maguire, and Kristen Dunst and her bright hair are being tossed to the wind. They had a good run, but now it time for the new; two of the hottest young actors (in both appearance and skill) Andrew Garfield, and Emma Stone, and the director with the perfect name, Marc Webb, are all set for an at least equally long, probably better reboot of everyone’s favorite web-crawling franchise.

For my sanity, I’m going to try my best not to directly compare this movie to the 2002 version, but I’m afraid it might be hard, though not quite as hard as it is to not judge people who say “The reboot is actually a better film, but since I enjoyed the ’02 version just fine, I’m going to say I didn’t like it at all!” Ahem.

Andrew Garfield is Peter Parker, a smart, slightly geeky, and more than slightly troubled, but still hip high school student. He lives with his Aunt and Uncle ever since his parents unexpectedly left him with them, and disappeared. His dad was a scientist, who was working on something very secret. One day, when cleaning out the basement, Peter finds his dad’s old briefcase, and inside, some equations he doesn’t understand, and a picture of his dad and a co-worker; Dr. Curt Connors, played by Rhys Ifans. Peter goes to talk to Dr. Connors, but ends up doing more sneaking around than talking. He ends up in a strange room full of spiders, where one bites him. No way.

Getting used to his new super powers proves to be hard for Peter, and while funny, it was a little unbelievable… even for a comic hero. After that awkward first day though, things start to pick up for Peter. He first uses his power as we could all assume; to make his own life easier, but it doesn’t exactly work, and after a tragedy we all knew was coming, he puts himself toward a more noble cause, more noble, but still his own cause. You get the super part overnight, but the hero part takes some work. The spider didn’t make Peter good, but it does jump-start his journey toward heroism, a journey that takes a long time, and involves the audience in a way only a modern super hero pic could.

Peter has a crush on a pretty, popular girl at school named Gwen Stacy played pleasingly by the lovely Emma Stone. Gwen apparently likes him too, because when Peter finally – and awkwardly – talks to her and asks her out, things get moving along pretty fast. They have a cute, hilariously awkward relationship, (and you should know, I don’t often think awkward movie moments are actually funny, I usually just laugh to keep from crying… not in this case) and before you know it, he admits to being the “masked vigilante” her police captain dad has been trying to catch and arrest, immediately eliminating at least half of the unnecessary melodrama classic to the genre. Another thing I enjoyed was that Gwen never requires rescuing through the entire film, another refreshing change from the usual super hero fare, which will also remove that drag-y repetitive feeling when it inevitably happens in the next film.

This web-slinger is flying in 3D, and if you’re pulling out the extra money for that ticket, I will not say ye nay. The 3D is quality, and shows off the action sequences very well. But this action would look good without it as well, in fact, it would look good anywhere – it is some of the most stylish and exciting action I’ve ever seen. It has a certain crisp, clean feeling that really brings out that fun thrill that should be in a comic hero film, while never throwing away the gravity that makes Spidey’s situations worth investing in.

I would tell you, as a general rule, to never, ever, ever, ever put slow motion in a movie unless it was absolutely necessary to show what happened, or if you were making a ridiculous, stylized movie. I have now changed my mind. Marc Webb did a great job knowing exactly where to put the slow-mo to perfectly enhance the visual appeal, and the intensity, and I now believe he should be the only person ever allowed to use that dreaded gimmick.

Webb also did wonders in the character department. I have never felt so invested in Spidey’s story before, whether when he was sad and bitter from being abandoned by his parents, or his sense of duty when it came to saving the city, his slow journey to being a true hero, to his sweet nervousness around Gwen, it was all great. (Things totally missing or done painfully wrong in the ’02 Spidey! (Sorry, I compared them… but I couldn’t help myself, and hey, I lasted a pretty long time!))

So now we come to the conclusion, and what is there to say? Which Spidey is better in my opinion? Is it finally time for the comparison? Well, I say no, because both movies are perfectly good stories of the Spider’s origin on their own merit, and this review is on The Amazing Spider-Man, so that’s where I’ll stay.  This movie is a high-flying good time with pizzazz that gives The Avengers a run for its money in visual flair, but delves in deep, and is emotionally resonant, just how we like our heroes these days. We all basically knew what the plot for this film was going to be; there’s only so many ways to do an origin story, so there's nothing really surprising, but it promises there will be more - much more - and I for one, can hardly wait.

- 4/5 stars