I’ve been back and forth Spider-Man 3 since it came out. As
a child, I loved it and it was one of the first films I eagerly anticipated and
saw on the day of its release. Since then, I’ve taken in its criticisms and
come to disregard it as one of the first missteps in Spider-Man’s cinematic
journey, but what if I was wrong?
It’s been a few years since I’ve seen it and upon
revisiting it I’ve come to believe that maybe we’ve giving this one a bit of a
hard time. Now that’s not to say that there isn’t anything bad, there’s some
definite strange choices made throughout and unfortunately, they seem to have
detracted from the good, and do you know what, there is a lot of good stuff in
this film. I would argue that at least the first hour of this film is pretty
amazing, the setup of the characters, the darker side of Peter Parker before
the symbiote even bonds with him, when his pride and selfishness takes over and
the incredible visuals that show and not tell the story. Any change from source
material is made to inform the main character who in turn informs the story,
like Gwen Stacy being smart, successful and having a caring Father is
everything MJ wants, making her the perfect unknowing antagonist, and it
surprisingly works really well.
Talking of MJ, I always used to think her character was
really annoying in this film when I was younger. However, having now grown up a
bit, I think that most of her actions are justified, she’s a woman who wants
more from life than to be Spider-Man’s girlfriend, she needs something
independent to that, something that Peter isn’t helping her with. And although
this aspect is not concluded, it does add some depth to her character.
Now obviously, the emo styling and dance scenes are a weird
choice but an argument could be made that they are Parker’s own dorky version
of what he thinks is cool, either way it’s still odd. Ultimately, it’s Venom
that doesn’t work, he’s shoehorned in and should either be given more time or
just set aside for Sandman who, along with Harry Osborn, bring some emotion
to the core of the story. And I’ve got to say, Pete and Harry fighting alongside
each other at the end brings a great smile to my face as that storyline is
resolved.
Overall though, I think it’s time for people to re-visit
this one, it’s a smart, pulpy, energetic and a high stakes conclusion to a
brilliant trilogy that I wish never concluded. There’s no denying it’s the
weakest of the trilogy but each film has been about Peter Parker, building on
his character and making it interesting to watch and develop even past his
origin story and this one is no different. This is something hopefully that’s
Marvel Studios will bring along to their own solo outings for the superhero. Man,
I wish we were on Raimi’s Spider-Man 6.
I'm sure not everybody will feel this way, so let me know what you think of Spider-Man 3 in the comments below.
Can we all agree though that we don’t want a Venom solo
movie?
I am a massive fan of Spider-Man, but you probably already knew that. I loved Sam Raimi's Spider-Man films, though Spider-Man 3 did lack in quality compared to the first two. Even though I loved those films I still couldn't wait to see the reboot/remake, even if it was only 5 years after the previous instalment, they do it in the comics all the time! This was my most anticipated film of the year and a couple weeks ago I dedicated a whole blog post to it! So is it as amazing as the title says it is? Thankfully it is! Though it isn't perfect.
I loved the new darker and grounded approach to the character, don't worry it isn't as serious as Christopher Nolan's Batman films but thankfully, it isn't as cheesy as the Raimi trilogy either. The Amazing Spider-Man looks more at the character of Peter Parker, the disappearance of his parents and how these tragedies in his life help shape him into the hero he becomes. It's not an easy path that's for sure. Peter Parker isn't your stereotypical nerd though, now he is a bit more of a lonely emo type nerd. It's great to see him back at high school even if he does look a tad too old to still be there. It is also great to see Peter standing up for fellow classmates against bullies like Flash Thompson even if he does have to face the consequences. The spider bite that gives him special powers just creates another dilemma in Peter's life that he know must learn to deal with.
This story would not work if it wasn't for Andrew Garfield, who is much more of a Peter Parker to me then Tobey Maguire was. I liked Tobey's version, but he just came across as too whiney. If Tobey was in this film, it wouldn't have been half as good. Andrew plays teenager very well and you can really see what kind of hurt and pain his parents have left on him when they disappeared. This hurt is added too when Uncle Ben dies. The death scene in particular really stands out as being a very powerful and emotional moment in the film. Something that hasn't been touched upon as much before. I definitely felt more emotionally connected to this film then I have on the previous ones. This is mainly due to Andrew Garfield who really is perfect for the role and you can tell how much dedication and heart he has put into the character.
The whole film is cast perfectly, Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy is just brilliant, as is Martin Sheen as Uncle Ben. Aunt May played by Sally Field is a bit of a change from the original comics but that's not a bad thing. Rhys Ifans plays a great Curt Connors and motion capture Lizard as well. Although the Lizard isn't perfect, the CGI is pretty good, his storyline is also handled well. I was happy to see that he was still able to speak when in Lizard form, even if he was a very well spoken Lizard.
The CGI for Spider-Man however was spot on. Not once does he look like obvious CGI and director Marc Webb's decision to make a lot of the stunts practical really payed off in making this the most believable Spider-Man yet.
Another great addition are the web shooters, they show off Peter's academic skills and keep more to the comics. They could have been used more in the film though. There is so much you could use in the storyline with the web shooters such as running out of web during a battle or swinging through New York but this is never touched upon. Even when caught by a surprise attack in school Peter still has his web shooters on for some reason. That would have been a cool moment for him to think on his feet without them.
There is a lot more this film could have used to create scenarios we haven't seen in Spider-Man films before. I don't want to spoil the film so I won't go into them but I felt that the scriptwriters cut short on some elements that could have been used to create incredible set pieces.
My other problem with this film was the amount of action, there just wasn't enough Spider-Man. I really enjoyed the love scenes between Peter and Gwen, they had amazing chemistry, but this meant that there was too little of amazing Spider-Man! The action was great when it was there but I just needed more. When Peter was learning how to use his powers it was great and a highlight of the film but we never got to see him use them to his full ability. When there were action scenes though, he had his mask off way too much! Also like Prometheus, more questions are raised then answered which isn't always a bad thing but Peter's parents sub-plot kind of got forgotten after the first half, as did the search for Uncle Ben's killer.
The suit however looks so much better! I really liked the new design and it looked very cool on screen. I doubt it will stay this way for the sequel though, I can see Peter upgrading the suit like in the Batman films. If this was to happen it would be very awesome, maybe he could even have a utility belt like the tie in game has.
I saw this film in 3D and it was pretty good. It wasn't always apparent but looked good when it was. I'm not sure if I would recommend seeing it in 3D, I may actually watch it in 2D in the coming months to see if 3D was better or not. I had heard great things about the 3D though, so the lack of it in my showing may have been down to the screen. I would love to go see this in IMAX!
Some fans may be annoyed at a few of the origin tweaks but I for one thoroughly enjoyed the take on the web slinger. Apart from a few picky bits this film was enjoyable throughout and had some incredible Oscar winning acting that made it live up to its name. It feels as if this is the Batman Begins of the Spider-Man universe and that the sequel to this film has the potential to be more amazing now that we have the origin out of the way. That makes me very excited! Like all Marvel films remember to stay until the end! I am rating the film as a 3/5. P.S - Best Stan Lee cameo yet!
The short film Spider-Man Eclipse, which I talked about in my special Spidey post is now out so please go check that out here: www.spidermaneclipse.com
My review of the short will be online in the next few days.
50 years ago a man named Stan Lee created one of the most loved and well known super heroes ever. That super hero was Spider-Man. 50 years later he is still a big icon in modern day pop culture and with a still running comic book series and new movie coming out next month, he is not fading away just yet! Therefore I am dedicating this post to my hero, The Amazing Spider-Man. This is an extra long Spider-Man special post that will look at the man behind the mask and why his latest big screen movie could be his best. Also I will be voicing my opinions on what I want from Spider-Man in the future. I also have some great stuff to show you from a soon to be released fan movie called Spider-Man Eclipse, prepare to be amazed! Most of the images here have also been supplied and created by fans of Spider-Man, what better way to show our love! Thank you to all the people who got involved in making this post extra special! So here we go, hold on to your webs true believers!
Who is Spider-Man?
Spider-Man first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15 in 1962. He was thought up by the mind of editor/writer Stan Lee and brought to life through the artwork of Jack Kirby and Steve Dikto (who also helped with the storylines).
Peter Parker was the boy underneath the mask. A high school student turned masked vigilante after a radioactive spider bite. Peter Parker was an incredibly smart and good humoured teenage boy, who was orphaned at the age of 6 after his parents died in a aeroplane crash. Peter's shyness and scholastic interest often made him a social outcast and he was often picked on by the cooler kids at his school, kids such as Flash Thompson.
Peter lived with his aunt and uncle in Queens, New York. The spider bite gave Peter superhuman strength, proportionate to that of a spider, including the ability to stick to surfaces and super agility. He also gained spider-sense, a brain function that is triggered whenever danger is near. Using his amazing scientific knowledge, Peter went on to create his own web shooters.
Peter used these abilities to help make cash by becoming a wrestler and winning fights, and after a TV appearance Peter failed to stop a thief, claiming that it wasn't his responsibility. That thief went on to kill his beloved Uncle Ben. Since that day he has kept to his Uncle's saying 'With Great Powers, Comes Great Responsibility'.
Mary Jane Watson is the most well known love interest of Peter Parker, but she was not the first. Liz Allen was the first lady to take a fancy to Peter, although they never dated. Betty Brant of the Daily Bugle was given that honour. Not that it lasted long.
When Peter went to University he met Gwen Stacy, after a bumpy start they soon became friends. As this started, Mary Jane entered the picture. Though at this time Peter was interested in Gwen.
Submitted by Emma Dean
Gwen and Peter's relationship began to blossom, until the death of her father was blamed on Spider-Man. Gwen decided to leave the country but Peter changed her mind. Their relationship took a turn for the worst after The Green Goblin dropped her off a bridge only for Spidey's webbing to break her fall but also her back, killing her instantly.
It was after her death that Peter and Mary Jane began to come close. They fell in love and married, but after a pact with the devil their relationship was broken up in exchange for his Aunt May's life. Although they still spent a large part of their life together they decided it was best to remain friends.
Other relationships include Felicia Hardy aka The Black Cat and the most recent Carlie Cooper, who broke up with Peter after learning about his secret identity after everybody in New York got Spider powers. Peter currently works at Horizon Labs as a top scientist.
The Comics
It was in 1963 that Spider-Man got his own comic series 'The Amazing Spider-Man' and it is still going strong. Along the way other Spider-Man comics have come about that give a fresh new take on the web head. Comics such as The Spectacular Spider-Man, Ultimate Spider-Man and Peter Parker:Spider-Man. I do like these new takes on Spidey but I am more of a 'Amazing' fan as this was where Spider-Man started and where his journey is still progressing. Its had its less appealing storylines in the past but i feel it is now at one of its strongest points with 'The Ends of the Earth' storyline written by Dan Slott. Dan Slott has been a great attribute to the Spider-Man legacy and really proved himself recently with the awesome storyline 'Spider Island' where all of New York acquired spider powers! He has now just finished 'The Ends of the Earth' storyline which sees Spider-Man face Doc Ock in one last attempt to stop the mad scientist destroy the world. The story has been awesome and the threat has never been so menacing. Peter even designed a new spidey suit to stand up against the Sinister Six, which looks very cool! Not that you could ever get rid of his red and blue spandex original suit! I have loved every minute of this storyline and cannot wait to see what Slott has up his sleeve next! Something big is happening with The Lizard later this month, just in time for the film!
The Movie I enjoyed all of Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy, with Spider-Man 2 being one of my favourite films ever! I even enjoyed his third outing, not that it compared with the first two. Tobey Maguire however was not Peter Parker to me. Peter Parker is an extremely intelligent nerd, not a crying wimp like Maguire portrayed him. He had his try, but now we move on to the next guy and he seems to have a bit more of an understanding of who Peter Parker is.
A lot of people don't like the idea of rebooting Spider-Man so soon, but its his 50th anniversary this year, how could we not have a film out to celebrate? In the comics Spider-Man has many different versions, in one he's not even Peter Parker anymore! I can't wait to see The Amazing Spider-Man and these are my reasons why:
-Andrew Garfield
If anyone has seen his previous work then you know this guy can act! He has been brilliant in everything he's been in! He is very good at understanding characters and who better to play Spidey then an actual fan! Just take a look at his speech at Comic Con last year, you just know he is going to do the character justice! He is definitely one to watch as he could be the next big thing.
Judging by the released clips he really has taken to the role and no doubt will be the best Spidey to date! -Emma Stone We all thought Emma Stone was going to play the red headed Mary Jane, so it came as a bit of a surprise when she dyed her hair blonde and became Peter's first love, Gwen Stacy. But we had no reason to be surprised, she looks incredible! She looks as if she's been ripped from the pages of the comics! Her acting in the trailer shows off that she could be the most perfect Gwen Stacy we have ever seen! Whilst promoting this film Stone has been adamant about the choice to include Gwen in this adaption is because she falls in love with Peter, whereas MJ falls in love with Spider-Man. With Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield now an actual couple in real life, their chemistry on screen should be (no pun intended) amazing! -Curt Connors/The Lizard Peter's first enemy in the new Spider-Man film could also be his most personal. Unlike other villains, the Lizard is going to be anything but one dimensional! Curt Connors was a friend of Peter's dad and could help Peter find out who he really was. His transformation into this large scaly beast is much more emotional, all Connors wants is to grow back his arm. Rhys Ifans looks like he is going to do a brilliant job as both Connors and the mo-capped Lizard. Unlike other people I think the CGI looks pretty good and I don't mind that he doesn't have a snout. This way we get to see Ifan's performance shine through the Lizard's facial features. Also the theme of cross species genetics is apparent throughout this film. -Marc Webb Although his last name may make Marc Webb seem like the perfect choice as director of the new film, his previous work suggests other wise. After doing a load of music videos, Marc Webb's first and only feature film to date was the brilliant (500) Days Of Summer. A truly awesome and super cool film, yet it is nothing like a superhero action film. My only guess is that the producers wanted a man who could make a great character story and believable on screen romances. Marc Webb is your man then! Don't worry about the action though, he even stated that he did this movie so he can blow stuff up. Lets hope he contains himself a bit more than Michael Bay! Can't wait to see what he does for Spidey! -The Origin
Submitted by Ben Doney
There could be some story tinkering here! Not that it's a bad thing. Uncle Ben will still probably die but Peter Parker isn't the nerd he was in the comics. Nerds are cool now, didn't you know? Peter Parker is more of an outsider then he ever was and this time round he wants to know more about his parents. Rumours also state that the spider bite may just trigger his powers, which may have already been there! At first I was worried about this but actually, this could be good! -Web Shooters
The film is not only just changing some of the original story, it is also keeping with some of the original comic elements that Sam Raimi's film did not use. One of these being the web shooters. Peter Parker is super smart and it will be great to show this finally by showcasing his talent. They look pretty awesome and they flash! The flashing is weird I agree but I can't wait to buy the toys. -The Suit
There have been mixed opinions on the design of Spider-Man's new suit. I actually really like what they have done with it, there have been a few pictures where I have been worried but after seeing the trailer I really think it works well. Also the design looks more as if it could have been made by Peter Parker with the trainer style shoes and the the biker design gloves. -The Sequels
Before we have even seen the first film, Sony have already hired writers to write the second in the series. So they must believe this will be a good one. The marketing has already stated that this will be the first part of the story and that not all questions will be answered in the first instalment. Are we seeing a story arc that has already been set up and that Marc Webb and company already know what route they want to go down and what villains they want to use next? -The Game Movie tie in games are usually rubbish. Yet this one is not? That's what reports are saying from people who have played the demo at events such as E3. So why put so much effort into a game if the movie isn't going to be just as amazing. I've pre ordered mine and guess what, you also get a chance to play as Stan Lee! NERD OUT! If it can live up to the awesomeness of the Spider-Man 2 game then it really could be one of the best ever! -The Trailer
If the trailers are anything to by then this certainly could be good! The trailers have had a good reception and have made me very, very excited! This was my favourite one:
-The Clips
Although I have tried not to spoil this film too much for myself, I had to watch this one clip of Spidey in action. I just wanted to see if they had got it right! And they certainly did! It doesn't look as if Spider-Man is going to have a perfect start to his career, and the mix of practical stunts and CGI have really paid off as this looks ten times better then Raimi's fully CGI Spider-Man!
Also this latest clip of Peter Parker and Flash Thompson really shows off the great comedic value that is going to be apparent throughout the film. Just like Spidey should be.
-Viral Campaign
Viral campaigns have made it big all of a sudden after The Dark Knight campaign proved very successful! The Amazing Spider-Man's campaign has been very good as well! Although you don't really get much to do over here in the UK, it has been fun seeing people spraying the Spider-Man logo in different places and taking pictures of the web head to send in to a fake police site. There was an awesome wanted poster and other items given out to fans during the process. Makes me wish I was living in the states.
It's not just Hollywood who have big plans for Spider-Man, over here in the UK a group of people have been putting together a short film based on the web head called Spider-Man Eclipse. I only recently came across this project but after watching all of their videos on making the short I am now very excited for it! This is more then just a fan film! Here is the official description from their website www.spidermaneclipse.com 'SPIDER-MAN : ECLIPSE IS THE UPCOMING SHORT FAN FILM FROM BOKEH PICTURES DUE FOR RELEASE ON 2ND JULY 2012. WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY AWARD-WINNING DIRECTOR AL WHITE (BENEATH, COLORBLIND AND LEAD-SINGER OF UK INDIE BAND GHOSTLIGHT), ECLIPSE IS A TRUE PASSION PROJECT AND IS ENTIRELY INDEPENDENT. SHOT ON THE RED EPIC AND BOASTING A HIGHLY SKILLED AND PROFESSIONAL CREW, STUNNING PARKOUR STUNTS, AND FX FROM AN AWARD-WINNING TEAM: THIS NEW VISION OF SPIDER-MAN INTENDS TO CHALLENGE THE UPCOMING MARC WEBB AND ANDREW GARFIELD REBOOT 'AMAZING SPIDER-MAN' BY THROWING THE CHARACTER INTO A TRULY VISCERAL, BRUTAL AND REALISTIC WORLD - EXPOSING THE DARKER, MORE HONEST AND AFFECTING TRAITS OF THE LEGENDARY MARVEL COMIC BOOK CHARACTER TO THE SCREEN.' Sounds pretty awesome right!? A teaser trailer has recently gone up, which also acts as a sort of prelude to the short film. Check it out bellow:
I can't wait to see how this turns out! Spider-Man made in the UK! The current release date is the 2nd of July, but this could change so keep an eye on their Twitter for details: @SPIDERMANSHORT
I really admire what these guys are doing as a fellow Spider-Man fan and filmmaker. Make sure to spread the word so these guys get loads of attention, they deserve it! I will review the short film in a later blog post.
Well as I have already mentioned there is a sequel planned for the film, what villains we do not know. There is talk of a Venom movie that ties into the movie's universe, which could be pretty awesome! Lets hope if this does happen that they pick a suitable actor to play Eddie Brock. I can't see Venom being the main villain in the next film if they wish to give him a spin off. What if the spin off is just the origin story for Venom, maybe he could be the next villain in an Avengers movie? I know Sony have the rights to these characters but Avi Arad the producer of Spider-Man recently stated; "Everything is possible. If something like that happens, it's great for Disney, it's great for Sony. If the right story comes in, we are now working on Venom first." This could be the start of something amazing! It's not official yet but a reference to The Amazing Spider-Man was planned to be put into The Avengers with the Oscorp building from the new movie being rendered into the skyline of New York. Though unfortunately the digital New York was already rendered and it would take too much time to add in. Sad news but it is also great to hear that Sony and Disney were willing to work together on this one, I would love to see Spider-Man in an Avengers movie. Who wouldn't?
I would like to see a possible adaption of The Six Arm Saga in the sequel to The Amazing Spider-Man, and as we are trying to keep a grounded touch on this series of films, it could be done like the 1994 TV show where Peter finds out that his spider powers are mutating, eventually ending up as a giant spider! If Curt Connors is not killed off in the first film then it would be great to see his scientific mind put to more use in finding a cure for Spider-Man and himself! I wouldn't rule the Lizard out of appearing again at some point in the future! If these films are looking more into genetic DNA scientific aproach to Spider-Man, then this could be a great route to go down! When Spider-Man does turn into a giant spider, Kraven the Hunter could be called into catch him, creating yet another villain who is not one dimensional. That's just my thoughts though. What I hope they don't do though is kill Peter Parker off and replace him with Miles Morales, the latest character to wear the suit in Ultimate Comics:Spider-Man as nobody wears the suit apart from Peter Parker! It was a good idea from Marvel but having somebody who isn't Peter Parker in the suit just doesn't feel right.
In other Spider-Man future events, we still have the 50th Anniversary issue to come from the comics, yet again written by Dan Slott who no doubt has something amazing in store for us! Who is Alpha?
The new TV show Ultimate Spider-Man has also been renewed for another season. I warn you though it is not great. It is a fun TV show but this Peter Parker is not the one from the comics, in this series he is cocky and arrogant. You might like it but you're more likely to hate it. The animation is good though and you also get more Agent Coulson so it's not all bad. One episode including the Hulk is made to look as if its filmed on a video camera, in a Paranormal Activity esque way is pretty good. You have been warned though!
So here we come to the end of my special Spider-Man blog. It's been great writing this and I want to thank everyone who contributed to making this blog extra special, including all those who submitted fan art and Al White who gave me the pictures from Spider-Man Eclipse.
There is a lot of love for Spider-Man and that is a great thing to see. The new film coming out looks like it could be the best yet! I am sure Marc Webb and Andrew Garfield will do the character justice. Make sure to come back here to read my review when is out in cinemas 3rd July.
Spider-Man means a lot to people all around the world. The means to stand up for what is right and to never runaway from doing the right thing! Stan Lee did not just create an character, he created an icon, an inspiration, a hero. Spider-Man is my hero because he is Peter Parker and so am I. Easily one of the most relateable figures in Marvel Comic universe.
Excelsior! Thanks for reading and remember 'With Great Powers, Comes Great Responsibility'
On one final note, do you like to buy Spider-Man stuff? You do! Well this site 'The Spider-Man Collectionary' has all the best Spidey goodies for you to buy. It's awesome, I didn't even know some of the stuff on their existed. You can check out the site by clicking this link: http://thecollectionary.com/club/Spiderman
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