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I just came back from the Spider-Man screening here in Reykjavík (Iceland) which was hosted by my local geek shop (comics, rpgs, whatever) and well...
You'll believe a man can swing.
That's what it's all about isn't it? Credibility. I went into the theatre ready to hold the movie up to such great films like 1989's Batman (which is simply, NOT arguably, the best superhero movie EVAH!) and X-Men, but it didn't really work because Spider-Man isn't a movie about a wacko's fight against his inner turmoils or social battles against predujice. You won't find anything so serious in this movie. This movie is about being fun. It is about the struggle between good and evil, about the ideal of the "True American Hero (tm)" beating the crap out of the boogey man. This movie can only be compared to the 1978's Superman movie. As it tried to convince us that 'a man can fly' Spider-Man tries to convince us that 'a man can swing'. This movie is trying to sell to me the idea that a man in blue and red tights is swinging between New York's rooftops and actually be able look good while doing it.
Well, it worked.
I'm not really that much of a fan of Spider-Man. Always been more of a DC man. Superman, Batman, those are the heros I grew up with. I could never connect with Spider-Man very well, it always felt like a soap opera. Of course, the Spider-Man I grew up with wasn't a teenager, he was married. But none the less, I loved the movie. It isn't in any way flawless, but extremely entertaining.
First about the performance of the cast.
Tobey Maguire is perfect as Peter Parker. Goofy yet forceful. The only thing I found lacking was Spider-Man's comedic side, but that has probably more to do with the script.
Willem Dafoe is one of the best on-screen comic villains in history, second only to Jack Nicholsson's Joker. He nails the Green Goblin down perfectly. This battle against Spider-Man is so important, so personal. It isn't about killing Spider-Man because he's interfering with his plans, but because he offered Spider-Man a team up and he refused. He also gets Osborn's double nature perfectly. Norman Osborn doesn't really know that he's the Green Goblin until halfway through the movie, with a great scene where he tracks the Goblin's voice to a mirror. The Goblin suit did look much better in action than I expected but still screamed 'Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers'. I would've liked more facial expressions.
Kirsten Dunst is probably the weakest link. She delievers the lines but not all that much more. Meh. Who cares, we got a wet t-shirt scene.
The supporting cast delievers well. Harry Osborn, Aunt May, Uncle Ben and JJ Jameson do their characters plenty of justice (J.K. Simmons is especially great as Jameson).
Now, the CGI did look fake at times. Especially in the scenes that took place during the day. It didn't really bother me all that much, but somtimes it woke me up from the movie magic trance I had falled into.
Also, Danny Elfman's score felt flat. He gives us a MiB-ish score, but lacked it's spark. I'm a big fan of Elfman so this was somewhat disappointing. I've never known him to give a bad score before.
Overall, I loved it. It was campy movie magic fun, that delievered well on the big screen while still being able to stay loyal to the original source. I'm so there when it premiers!
Actually, spider-man has come full-circle. Back in the 60's and early 70's, he was a teenager. In the 70's and early 80's he went to college. In the 90's he got married to Mary Jane after she learned his secret. And then she supposedly died. Then I think she came back. THEN about 5 years ago they revamped the whole origin storyline, so he was a teenager in the 90's, who used a secret organic polymer formula that his father discovered working for the gov't (or something like that).
Honestly, I haven't followed since the early 1990's, so I can't relate. But I do enjoy SPider-man. The verdict is out on the movie - I may actually wait till video.
__________________ "Conversely, I'm amazed at the number of people queueing up to tell people that don't like 4e that they are wrong. Why can't people just agree to disagree, and get on with actually playing the game?" --Delericho
If there's one dragon, it's a solo monster.
If there's five dragons, they're standard monsters.
If there's a dozen dragons, either most of them are minions or your DM is tired of the campaign.
--Lizard
great films like 1989's Batman (which is simply, NOT arguably, the best superhero movie EVAH!)
That's not only arguable... I actually can't believe you wrote that.
Quote:
Also, Danny Elfman's score felt flat. He gives us a MiB-ish score, but lacked it's spark. I'm a big fan of Elfman so this was somewhat disappointing. I've never known him to give a bad score before.
REALLY? A Danny Elfman score felt FLAT? I hate Danny Elfman. All his scores are dry and flaky to me, made notable only by the trademark choir voices. Arrgh. I'll punch Danny Elfman in the freakin' nostril. I hate that he's scoring for this movie- which, along with Kirsten Dunst and the Goblin armor design, are the only bad parts I can see coming.
Am I the only movie geek who hates Danny Elfman and shivers whenever some other geek sings the praises of Elfman and his FAR-overrated hack friend Burton?
Originally posted by Aaron L What? They revamped Spider-Man?! I'm glad I missed it.
I think they are referring to the "Ultimate Spiderman." A few years ago Marvel decided to start a line that basically starts now. I think Spiderman was the first. Basically, they wanted people to be able to start reading Spiderman without having 40 years or so of back-story to catch up on. The old Spiderman is still around and being published (to my knowledge).
I haven't read any of them (I really haven't read any Marvel books in a year or two). However, I've heard that the Ultimate Spiderman is a very well-written book, for what it's worth.
"Spider-Man, Spider-Man,
Swings a web, anywhere..."
Funny thing about that cartoon, though. The sky was all yellow and red and crap. New York must've had a SERIOUS problem with pollution in the early 80's!
Can't wait to see this movie, though. I plan to be there with my brother, sister, and my 2 nieces on opening day.
Originally posted by Glyfair I think they are referring to the "Ultimate Spiderman." A few years ago Marvel decided to start a line that basically starts now. I think Spiderman was the first. Basically, they wanted people to be able to start reading Spiderman without having 40 years or so of back-story to catch up on. The old Spiderman is still around and being published (to my knowledge).
Pretty much right though MJ did allegedly die, she came back (was never actually dead), but she and Pete are separated at the moment.
J. Michael Straczynski is currently writing Amazing and Spectacular is written by Paul Jenkins. At some point in the next year JMS will start a new Spidey book and Kevin Smith will take over ASM.
Quote:
I haven't read any of them (I really haven't read any Marvel books in a year or two). However, I've heard that the Ultimate Spiderman is a very well-written book, for what it's worth.
If you still read comics I suggest you give USM and ASM a try.
In fact you can read some Marvel books online here for free. Including USM (all the way back to the beginning).
Batman changed the entire origin of both Batman and the Joker. And then they KILLED Batman's main nemesis.
The Joker exists to foil Batties inner psychosis. Hard to do when he's dead two hours into his illustrious career. I have no problem with altering a story for a screenplay but the Joker's continued existence is so crucial to the Batman story that killing him made NO sense.
That said, I skipped the rest of the Bat trash that Warner Bros. threw out there to make a buck.
__________________ ...and now to unveil today's theme ingredient! Spam!"
"Spam him I say! Spam him on toast!" - Lord Guntherhurd Dekkion, Governor of the High Northern Dales of the Cormyrean Empire (right before he was shot)
Originally posted by Chairman_Kaga The Joker exists to foil Batties inner psychosis. Hard to do when he's dead two hours into his illustrious career. I have no problem with altering a story for a screenplay but the Joker's continued existence is so crucial to the Batman story that killing him made NO sense.
Sure it did, if you consider that it was supposed to be a one-shot, two-hour production - there weren't even any plans for a sequel at the time. Gotta come to some sort of conclusion if you only have two hours to do th' whole thing, eh?
(Besides, the Joker's "real" origin is so full of plot holes and improbabilities it would have turned the movie into a comedy if they'd used it. )
Oh, and Dr Midnight... I see somebody can't tell the difference between personal distaste and an actual, objective evaluation of quality. "I don't like it, but most other people are okay with it, therefore... it's trash and everyone else is an idiot!", eh?
- Sir Bob.
Last edited by PenguinKing; 26th April 2002 at 04:12 PM..
Originally posted by Green Knight "Spider-Man, Spider-Man,
Swings a web, anywhere..."
Funny thing about that cartoon, though. The sky was all yellow and red and crap. New York must've had a SERIOUS problem with pollution in the early 80's!
Can't wait to see this movie, though. I plan to be there with my brother, sister, and my 2 nieces on opening day.
And the 1989 Batman was a great movie.
Well, the original Spiderman cartoon was done in the late 60's early 70's by none other than Ralph Baski (sp?) the same guy who did that terrible Lord of the Rings cartoon/live action thing.
I am looking forward to Spiderman far more than Star Wars Ep2 (although recent trailers and interviews at least make me want to see Ep2 before it hits video ).
Batman was the best superhero movie until X-Men came out. I never really followed Batman as a kid (except for the psyhce-scarring Adam West TV show) but I liked the movie well enough to actually pick up some issues. Personally I never felt that, given how often the history is re written and the dead come back to life, it was too important for movies to try and follow the comic book as far as orgins go - just give me an entertaining story!
And Dr. M. Tim Burton a hack? Puleeeze!
__________________ "Don't take your organs to Heaven...Heaven knows we need them here." - London Health Sciences Centre.
I'm looking forward to Spiderman, and I'm taking a look at these online comics right now.
Batman I (and II) are very good movies, and Tim Burton is a great director (just go watch Ed Scissorhands or Nightmare before Christmas) who sold his soul to the devil Hollywood with "Planet of the Apes". It still hurts to write both, Burton and the movie's name, in the same sentence.
Batman I had Jack Nicholson, II had Christopher Walken (and Catwoman - meow!) Don't go dissing them! And especially, don't go mentioning them and the Schumacher garbage that came after in the same breath!
Berandor
should have opened a new thread, perhaps?
Disclaimer 1: Above all, I am a very silly man. So if a statement of mine can be construed as joke - especially if it's not funny - it likely is.
Disclaimer 2: I am also opinionated, so when not joking I am still voicing my opinion. Except when I am stating facts.
Originally posted by PenguinKing (Besides, the Joker's "real" origin is so full of plot holes and improbabilities it would have turned the movie into a comedy if they'd used it. )
Yeah, I know I'D take a glorified bank robber named the Red Hood seriously. *Henry tries his best to hold back the inevitable cracking of his straight face.*
To me, the only time the Joker was REALLY good was his first-ever appearance in Detective Comics back in the 1930's. He was friggin' NASTY!
__________________ "Conversely, I'm amazed at the number of people queueing up to tell people that don't like 4e that they are wrong. Why can't people just agree to disagree, and get on with actually playing the game?" --Delericho
If there's one dragon, it's a solo monster.
If there's five dragons, they're standard monsters.
If there's a dozen dragons, either most of them are minions or your DM is tired of the campaign.
--Lizard
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