Peter Parker (AKA Spider-Man) discovers an alien suit that enhances his amazing spider-powers more then he could have ever imagined. Sadly for him, it’s also starting to affect his personality, turning him from friendly neighbourhood superhero into a dark & twisted version of his own inner-demons.
I didn’t care much for THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN. Sure, Andrew Garfield was great, and Emma Stone looked hot. But personally, I didn’t take to it like so many other cinemagoers have. Much in the same way that way back in 2007, I took to Sam Raimi’s much-maligned SPIDER-MAN 3, whilst everyone else decided that they didn’t much care for it. Karmas a bitch, am I right?!
SPIDER-MAN and SPIDER-MAN 2, in my eyes, are two of the best superhero films ever committed to celluloid – inventive and action packed, often heart-breaking and hilarious, and best of all, true to the spirit of the original source material. Whilst SPIDER-MAN 3 doesn’t come anywhere close to eclipsing either movie in terms of quality, I firmly believe that it isn’t as bad as everyone else seems to think.
It’s a flawed film, for sure. There’s too many plot strands, fan-favourite Venom is reduced to little more then a one-note bad guy, popular characters from the comics like Gwen Stacey and Eddie Brock are just there for the most part, and then there’s THAT embarrassing dancing on the street moment. But underneath all that is a film that, like it’s predecessors, has heart and depth. The central theme of the film is that of consequences and redemption. Peter is corrupted by the alien symbiote suit and hurts those closest to him, both physically and emotionally, and by the end of the movie, must redeem himself by accepting responsibility and making amends. The Sandman, played to perfection by the extremely underrated Thomas Haden Church, must atone for his past crimes, whilst Harry Osborn, desperate for vengeance against Spider-Man for his father’s death, faces the greatest moment of redemption of them all.
The action sequences here are excellent, and probably some of the best in the entire trilogy. Whilst the climatic battle with Venom and Sandman may not have the edge-of-your-seat feel that SPIDER-MAN 2’s train sequence did, the battle with Sandman in the subway is brutal, shocking, and excellently choreographed. Likewise, the airborne clash between Harry and Peter is equally breath-taking, and blew my 15-year-old self away when I first saw it way back in 2007, much like it still does today.
Yet for me, it’s the performances and the smaller character moments that make me love this film: the reveal of Harry’s damaged, scarred face; the first silent, sombre appearance of the Sandman; Aunt May giving Peter her wedding ring to give to Mary-Jane; the hilarious Daily Bugle scenes with JK Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson; Eddie Brock’s ‘prayer’ as Peter struggles to remove the Black Suit; Bruce Campbell’s stitch-inducing cameo. And then there’s that bittersweet and emotional ending, which always leaves me with a tear in my eye.
It’s far from perfect, as I already said. Had the film’s narrative concentrated purely on the Sandman and the Black Suit storylines, and saved Venom for SPIDER-MAN 4, I’m sure it would have been a much more tighter film. But I can forgive it that. Because I love Spider-Man, I love this franchise, and I love Sam Raimi. The direction is near flawless; Tobey Maguire is as excellent as ever as Peter Parker, whilst an equally excellent supporting cast ably assists him. The action scenes are fantastic, and above all, the film has plenty of heart and emotion, something that is sadly lacking from many big summer blockbusters today.
Give me this over THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN any day!
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Cielo
Aug 2, 2012 at 6:25 pm
You are entitled to your opinion in which Spider-man movie you prefer.
However saying Raimi’s version being more true to the source material??? Dude, I don’t know what source material you have been reading, but it is not the same Spider-man I’ve been reading since I was 14 (and I am now 31). Sure Tobey’s Spidey was reminiscent of a shy teen of the 60s much like the original comic. However, you can’t set a movie circa 2012 and make the characters behave like they did on the 60s (which was pretty much what Raimi and Maguire did). Raimi/Maguire’ Spidey never had the sarcasm, the loudmouth, the talk back attittude that Peter Parker has always had. An example:
Flash: I saw you walkin’ home from school with Liz yesterday! I’m through warnin’ you to keep away from my girl now, puny Parker! It’s time you learned a lesson you’ll understand!
Peter: Look, bird-brain! The only lesson a meat-head like you could teach is a lesson in stupidity! Now get lost…
P.3, Amazing Spider-man Annual 01, 1964
Raimi’s trilogy Spidey NEVER had the talk back, sarcastic spark (Spark that Webb and Garfield brought from scene one of this new movie). Not only that but the first three movies completelly messed up not only Gwen’s arc but also Venom’s, and made MJ an unlikeable damsel in distress. After all of this Raimi’s trilogy could NOT be futher away from the comics.
Brad
Aug 2, 2012 at 11:56 pm
Could not agree with you more. I loved Spider-Man 3. I was 20 when it came out and have never been more excited for a movie. I ended up seeing it in theater 6 times. I even went once by myself, I’ve never done that any other time. I was so pumped when they announced a 4th and 5th movie with Raimi and Tobey. Equally as crushed when they withdrew and Sony decided to reboot. I decided to go and see the amazing spiderman. I went into it with an open mind and was hoping to be pleasantly surprised. For the most part I was bored and mad. The fact that that movie is rated higher on imdb than all the other Spidermans is shocking. Especially when it’s not even close to being as good as the lowly rated Spider-Man 3. I wish everyone could forget about this recent spiderman film and Sony will get down on it’s hands and knees and beg Raimi and the gang to come back and continue their well deserved story.
Matt Dennis
Aug 3, 2012 at 11:31 am
Thanks Brad, I totally agree with you, I’m glad there’s someone else out there who likes this film, I thought I was alone.
And Cielo, I totally agree with you – the Raimi films do lack humour when Spidey’s on-screen, but they do make up for it with the awkward humour surrounding Peter’s character. I didn’t find the Amazing Spider-Man to be any funnier then these films, if I’m honest.
What I meant by true to the comics was referring more to Peter’s origin and the story lines of Doc-Ock, Sandman, and Harry Osborn. I think the Venom arc is rather similar to the comics, its just that its so rushed here (the church transformation by the way is ripped straight from the comics). I agree on the subjects of MJ and Gwen though – she was shoehorned in just for fan service (though Raimi reveals on the DVD Commentary that originally it was to be Gwen trapped in the Taxi in the film’s climatic battle).
John Sharp
Aug 6, 2012 at 4:18 pm
I… liked… the dancing… 🙂