Does whatever a spider can...
May. 16th, 2002 11:46 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
khaosworksJust came back from watching Spider-Man with Tom Galloway and Logam... some thoughts follow, after the obligatory spoiler cut...
Okay, so it wasn't a great movie, but it was a good one. I liked it. Just a few random thoughts about it bouncing around in my head at the moment:
Tobey Maguire works as the voice of Peter Parker, but somehow doesn't quite cut it as the voice of Spider-Man. The full face mask, while necessary, doesn't help either, as you can't see him speaking so you're occasionally wondering if what he's saying is part of his internal monologue or not. You realize some things can't really be translated from the comic book, that being an example. Another element is not enough quippage, but it's hard to do that realistically in the middle of a real-time fist fight.
Unlike some fans, I had no problem with the organic web shooters. It led to a pretty funny scene with him trying to activate them, so I can forgive that. It's not an important element anyway, and the rest of the myth was still intact.
I am so grateful for the fact that they didn't do any SFX to accompany the spider-sense activations, like they did in the 70s series. This way was more subtle, and the freeze shot in the high school corridor, with everything frozen as the spider-sense takes in all the surroundings, was quite effective.
Willem Dafoe was pretty good as the Goblin, but the last bit where Norman Osborne tries to appeal to Peter's admiration of him as a father figure fell flat, basically because not enough was done during the course of the movie to establish him as even vaguely any competition for Ben Parker. Anyway, nice demise - exactly the way Osborne first "died" in the comics, and it sets it up nicely for Harry to take up the Goblin mantle in Spider-Man 3. Oh come on, as if you didn't see that coming.
Kirsten Dunst as Mary-Jane Watson. The worst thing I can really say about her is that she was unconvincing as MJ. I just did not get why, aside from the fact that she's gorgeous, Peter should care so much about her. The script didn't give her any opportunity to show her vitality, her vivaciousness, and how that hides the inner strength that made her such a strong character in the comics. And she didn't say the line - "Face it tiger, you just hit the jackpot," which I was hoping they could sneak in somehow. But that's just a fanboy desire. But on the other hand... wet blouse... mmm... don't speak the name of the Holy.
What worked? J.K. Simmons was absolutely perfect as J. Jonah Jameson (and he even showed some depth, as he protected Peter even while being threatened by the Goblin). The wrestling scene was great fun. The web-swinging, though obviously CGI'd, captured the feel of what the comics looked like, almost like watching an Alex Ross painting come to life. The general elements of Stan's story - with great power comes great responsibility, the single mistake that will haunt Peter and drive him for the rest of his life - remaining intact. Cute little continuity in-jokes like Dr. Stromm and Dr. Connors being referenced.
Like I said, overall, a good movie - not a great one. But I'm looking forward to the sequel - and maybe this time we'll get to see Gwen Stacy instead...
Okay, so it wasn't a great movie, but it was a good one. I liked it. Just a few random thoughts about it bouncing around in my head at the moment:
Tobey Maguire works as the voice of Peter Parker, but somehow doesn't quite cut it as the voice of Spider-Man. The full face mask, while necessary, doesn't help either, as you can't see him speaking so you're occasionally wondering if what he's saying is part of his internal monologue or not. You realize some things can't really be translated from the comic book, that being an example. Another element is not enough quippage, but it's hard to do that realistically in the middle of a real-time fist fight.
Unlike some fans, I had no problem with the organic web shooters. It led to a pretty funny scene with him trying to activate them, so I can forgive that. It's not an important element anyway, and the rest of the myth was still intact.
I am so grateful for the fact that they didn't do any SFX to accompany the spider-sense activations, like they did in the 70s series. This way was more subtle, and the freeze shot in the high school corridor, with everything frozen as the spider-sense takes in all the surroundings, was quite effective.
Willem Dafoe was pretty good as the Goblin, but the last bit where Norman Osborne tries to appeal to Peter's admiration of him as a father figure fell flat, basically because not enough was done during the course of the movie to establish him as even vaguely any competition for Ben Parker. Anyway, nice demise - exactly the way Osborne first "died" in the comics, and it sets it up nicely for Harry to take up the Goblin mantle in Spider-Man 3. Oh come on, as if you didn't see that coming.
Kirsten Dunst as Mary-Jane Watson. The worst thing I can really say about her is that she was unconvincing as MJ. I just did not get why, aside from the fact that she's gorgeous, Peter should care so much about her. The script didn't give her any opportunity to show her vitality, her vivaciousness, and how that hides the inner strength that made her such a strong character in the comics. And she didn't say the line - "Face it tiger, you just hit the jackpot," which I was hoping they could sneak in somehow. But that's just a fanboy desire. But on the other hand... wet blouse... mmm... don't speak the name of the Holy.
What worked? J.K. Simmons was absolutely perfect as J. Jonah Jameson (and he even showed some depth, as he protected Peter even while being threatened by the Goblin). The wrestling scene was great fun. The web-swinging, though obviously CGI'd, captured the feel of what the comics looked like, almost like watching an Alex Ross painting come to life. The general elements of Stan's story - with great power comes great responsibility, the single mistake that will haunt Peter and drive him for the rest of his life - remaining intact. Cute little continuity in-jokes like Dr. Stromm and Dr. Connors being referenced.
Like I said, overall, a good movie - not a great one. But I'm looking forward to the sequel - and maybe this time we'll get to see Gwen Stacy instead...
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2002-05-16 09:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2002-05-16 02:31 pm (UTC)I thought Toby McGuire was note perfect as both Spider-Man and Peter. I did notice that he wasn't that much of a smartass except when he sprays the webbing into JJ's mouth.
All in all I loved it, though I would have rather had Gwen Stacy and her death in the film and bring MJ in during the 2nd movie.
no subject
Date: 2002-05-16 11:16 pm (UTC)Dr. Connors is of course Curt Connors, whose experiments with reptiles and regeneration turned him into the Lizard.
Jonah's secretary in the movie was credited as Miss Brant, though never named. This would be Betty Brant, Peter's first girlfriend, later on to marry Ned Leeds, reporter, and one of the Hobgoblins. I'm sure you also noticed Robbie Robertson, although much more rotund that he is in the comics.
Did you notice the punk girl who swears Spider-Man has eight arms is one Lucy Lawless?
Re:
Date: 2002-05-17 12:52 am (UTC)I did notice Robbie and yeah he was way way bigger than in the comics.
And I just barely caught the Lucy Lawless scene. The joys of getting placed in a movie because you husband is best buddies with Sam Raimi. Ahh, if we were all only so lucky.
no subject
Date: 2002-05-19 10:55 pm (UTC)If you're out here, shame on you for not saying hi. :-)
no subject
Date: 2002-05-20 06:47 am (UTC)