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Post by humanbelly on Jul 4, 2012 20:36:41 GMT -5
Is this the right section for that? Not exactly Avengers-related-- but certainly w/in our sphere of influence, yes?
HBSon & I just returned from seeing it, in fact.
Any opinions out there, before I launch into my generally overly-verbose ones?
HB ;D
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Post by Crimson Cowl on Aug 5, 2012 8:47:44 GMT -5
Sadly, you never did get verbose about this?
I saw it recently and was shocked by just how bad it is. Really, I thought it was like a compilation of the worst moments from superhero films. After the excellence of the Sam Raimi films (well the first two anyway) this was remarkably poor. Even in the place where I thought they'd really score, with improved special effects, it was a major let down. The decision to imitate the Harryhausen claymation style for the Lizard was also an odd choice (and doesn't come off anything like as well as it did in Attack of the Clones). Spidey's costume looked pretty good, and choosing to depict him predominantly at night or in the dark was quite effective as were the noticeably more caustic lines that he delivered compared to Toby MacGuire's version.
Other than that I didn't feel there were many positives and I was frequently groaning at things (especially the token blue collar workers turning out in support of the 'people's hero' at the climax in spite of the lack of a Daily Bugle/J.Jonah Jameson plot strand - this only really made sense if you were familiar with the comic or other Spidey films).
I was amazed that most of the reviews I read were positive. For me this was the first major mis-step that Marvel have made with their movies for some time (don't get me wrong, awful as it is, it's still Ingmar Bergman compared to that Green Lantern movie).
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Post by spiderwasp on Aug 5, 2012 23:23:19 GMT -5
Sadly, you never did get verbose about this? I saw it recently and was shocked by just how bad it is. Really, I thought it was like a compilation of the worst moments from superhero films. After the excellence of the Sam Raimi films (well the first two anyway) this was remarkably poor. Even in the place where I thought they'd really score, with improved special effects, it was a major let down. The decision to imitate the Harryhausen claymation style for the Lizard was also an odd choice (and doesn't come off anything like as well as it did in Attack of the Clones). Spidey's costume looked pretty good, and choosing to depict him predominantly at night or in the dark was quite effective as were the noticeably more caustic lines that he delivered compared to Toby MacGuire's version. Other than that I didn't feel there were many positives and I was frequently groaning at things (especially the token blue collar workers turning out in support of the 'people's hero' at the climax in spite of the lack of a Daily Bugle/J.Jonah Jameson plot strand - this only really made sense if you were familiar with the comic or other Spidey films). I was amazed that most of the reviews I read were positive. For me this was the first major mis-step that Marvel have made with their movies for some time (don't get me wrong, awful as it is, it's still Ingmar Bergman compared to that Green Lantern movie). I agree that it was not that great. My biggest issue was that I spent so much of it feeling like I've seen this already but better. I did like the actor pretty well and if it had just picked up and told a Spidey story, I think I would have been happy rather than retelling the origin. My second issue was with the changes (No Bugle, webshooters, etc). They served no purpose other than to demonstrate that this movie was different from the others. They did nothing to enhance the story or characters. They were just ...different. My third issue was the blue collar help you mentioned. It seemed extremely forced and unnecessary. Why exactly did Spidey need their help at that moment anyway. I didn't like it all. Number four (I really didn't realize I had so many). I didn't think Peter should have revealed his identity to Gwen so easily. It was so much better in the comics when her father only admitted to knowing the truth at the end and she still didn't know. I also thought that Cpt. Stacy should have told Peter to take care of Gwen, not to stay away from her. The drama in the original story of him supporting Peter but her hating Spider-man was more dramatic. Finally, and I can't believe I'm saying this, I really didn't like Aunt May. The reason that I can't believe I'm saying it is that Sally Field has always been one of my favorite actresses and I like her, I really really like her but she was totally wrong for Aunt May. Overally, I have to agree that the original movie series was far superior (And I'm even including the 3rd) to this disappointing version. I did appreciate Spidey's enhanced sense of humor though. |
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Post by humanbelly on Aug 25, 2012 19:09:22 GMT -5
Sadly, you never did get verbose about this? I saw it recently and was shocked by just how bad it is. Really, I thought it was like a compilation of the worst moments from superhero films. After the excellence of the Sam Raimi films (well the first two anyway) this was remarkably poor. Even in the place where I thought they'd really score, with improved special effects, it was a major let down. The decision to imitate the Harryhausen claymation style for the Lizard was also an odd choice (and doesn't come off anything like as well as it did in Attack of the Clones). Spidey's costume looked pretty good, and choosing to depict him predominantly at night or in the dark was quite effective as were the noticeably more caustic lines that he delivered compared to Toby MacGuire's version. Other than that I didn't feel there were many positives and I was frequently groaning at things (especially the token blue collar workers turning out in support of the 'people's hero' at the climax in spite of the lack of a Daily Bugle/J.Jonah Jameson plot strand - this only really made sense if you were familiar with the comic or other Spidey films). I was amazed that most of the reviews I read were positive. For me this was the first major mis-step that Marvel have made with their movies for some time (don't get me wrong, awful as it is, it's still Ingmar Bergman compared to that Green Lantern movie). I agree that it was not that great. My biggest issue was that I spent so much of it feeling like I've seen this already but better. I did like the actor pretty well and if it had just picked up and told a Spidey story, I think I would have been happy rather than retelling the origin. My second issue was with the changes (No Bugle, webshooters, etc). They served no purpose other than to demonstrate that this movie was different from the others. They did nothing to enhance the story or characters. They were just ...different. My third issue was the blue collar help you mentioned. It seemed extremely forced and unnecessary. Why exactly did Spidey need their help at that moment anyway. I didn't like it all. Number four (I really didn't realize I had so many). I didn't think Peter should have revealed his identity to Gwen so easily. It was so much better in the comics when her father only admitted to knowing the truth at the end and she still didn't know. I also thought that Cpt. Stacy should have told Peter to take care of Gwen, not to stay away from her. The drama in the original story of him supporting Peter but her hating Spider-man was more dramatic. Finally, and I can't believe I'm saying this, I really didn't like Aunt May. The reason that I can't believe I'm saying it is that Sally Field has always been one of my favorite actresses and I like her, I really really like her but she was totally wrong for Aunt May. Overally, I have to agree that the original movie series was far superior (And I'm even including the 3rd) to this disappointing version. I did appreciate Spidey's enhanced sense of humor though. Man, where has the summer gone?? I've been totally unable to get back all of these threads! (I had even planned to chime in a bit in defense of Silverclaw over in Woodside's Volume 3 thread-!) And now. . . I'm viewing the film through the lens of diminishing memory. Ah well. But still-- I'm afraid I'll simply have to respectfully disagree with you fellas on this new Spidey film. And I went to the theater DETERMINED to hate it, because I'm such a fan of the first three. But-- I found myself unexpectedly seeing it as its own film, not as a rehash of a story that I was already far too familiar with, and I was able to buy into it and surrender to it. Was it a well-told, well-paced story? Absolutely. Were the characters compelling, interesting and believable? Again, absolutely-- in fact, the actors playing Pete and Gwen were quite honestly terrific, and their obvious chemistry was delightful. This was a very, very different Peter Parker-- but a great take on a possible interpretation: hopelessly geeky, painfully unsocial (unable to make eye contact, etc)-- who finds a mask behind which he can express himself. HBSon far, FAR preferred this interpretation, oddly enough. Thought it was much more true to what he sees from his geekier pals. At this point, I was unbelievably relieved to see the circumstances of Uncle Ben's death altered in detail, albeit not in spirit. I don't think I could have gone through the original scenario yet again. I think having Pete facing a somewhat lesser opponent on his inaugural outing was in fact a very smart move, as now we can perhaps build up to tougher nemeses, rather than simply crowd the screen with more villainous bodies with each successive film. And not having the Daily Bugle here at the outset is also fine-- again, gives us some story to build up to (although, geeze, I wouldn't want to be the actor trying to follow in JK Simmonds' footsteps, here.). Oh, there were weak spots, sure. The hopelessly obvious introduction early on of how the as-yet-uncreated villain would try to take over the world. A mystifyingly under-used Sally Field (I would almost bet money that she had another scene somewhere that didn't make it to the final print). The painfully hokey, video game friendly, "peoples' hero" sequence with the cranes (which, to be fair, have plenty of precedent in the earlier films-- they're just better executed). But these aren't even remotely enough to make me go, "Oh, bad movie, man". Nah. I was actually thrilled to see him reveal his identity to Gwen. Cripes, it was the only thing to do-- and is FAR more realistically-teenagerish than the paroxysms he's historically gone through. And the ending-- that last line. Sorry guys, but that trick of completely turning around the tone of the moment and altering the "what will the next moment bring?" resolution with one very simple, indirect-reference of a whispered final line (with Gwen's lovely smile as a result), is simply brilliant, surprisingly minimal, refreshingly optimistic, old-school film-making. I thought I was going to feel so awful. . . and then I felt so great. For the great feeling alone: Two enthusiastic thumbs-up. Siskel & Ebert & HB |
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Post by Ignore Me! on Sept 22, 2012 7:39:54 GMT -5
I saw the new Spidey at te drive-in. Unfortunately their new sound system wasn't calibrated right and tried to blow the my car speakers everytime there was heavy base. Aside from that, it was an 'okay' movie. As with any feature, especially a super hero film, the villain makes the movie. Personally, I wasn't too thrilled with the Lizard as the bad guy. There was something missing in his performance as the tortured professor and as a reptillian monster.
As for the crane scene, very hokey. Even worse than the scene in Spider-Man 2 where the crowd carries Peter over their heads in the train. I know both were attempts for the citizens of New York to show support for the "people's hero" but it just comes across and unrealistic and unnecessary.
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Post by Marvel Boy on Sept 27, 2012 22:42:50 GMT -5
I have yet to see it though some of my friends, who are nowhere near the comic fan I am, who saw it, told me they liked it.
The biggest gripe about the film though, from my POV, is having to explain who Gwen is. These same friends, and some others, keep asking me where Mary Jane is or some variation thereof.
I would think that including Gwen in a new update of the franchise would make some sense. But then again, it may be adding salt to the open wound that is the Gwen vs. Mary Jane debate (marriage topic also included for your amusement)
So would you all want to see more of Gwen?
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