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Seeing as how we're dealing with a) a movie series, where each is made to
leave the door open for a follow-up and thus each is dependent on the next
and b) a movie adaption of a comic series that's over 40 years old (and one
that has been reinvented in comic form a few times itself) I'm going to try
to tone down my comments on the story aspects and focus more so on casting
and characters. Spider-Man The Good: The first movie, directed by Sam Raimi (Evild Dead, Dark Man), basically an origin story. Tobey Maquire, turns out, plays a great Peter Parker. I don't think anyone could've captured the teen awkwardness, the social failing of the young Spidey. The costume is done well (despite the odd dimensionality of it), and the story really shows the character of Spider-Man well. And Kirsten Dunst plays a good Mary Jane as the girl next door, the high school crush. Aunt May and Uncle Ben work for what they are, so no complaints there. The Bad: While Kirsten does Mary Jane as she does, she still isn't
what I'd call "hot". No offense, but when I look at her face I don't
lose myself or some shit. The Ugly: That pug ugly Green Goblin costume. Look at the comic, look at the movie, need I say more? How Close to Perfect: 8/10 This is really how comic book movies should be done, and this movie really pulls off the origin story awesomely. Considering how many years of material to pick through and how many variations of Spider-Man have been done both in media and comics, this really comes pretty close to perfect. The only faults fall on the supporting characters casting and that damn Green Goblin costume. Spider-Man 2 The Good: It's hard not to start off with how great this movie is, how Raimi's horror background shows up as a positive, or how this is just one of the best superhero movies out there. That's my mention, so I'll try to move on. This movie feels more like a comic book, and while the first one was a standard bearer, this one isn't slowed down with half the movie as an origin story. Translation: more action from start to finish. And if you had any doubts left over about Tobey Maquire after the first one, they should be thoroughly crushed by the end of this flick. Oh yeah, and (surprise!) Doctor Octopus actually has moments of greatness as a villian. The Bad: Can something be a good thing and a bad thing at once? That's
the question Doctor Octopus raises in this movie. He doesn't look like the
fat schlub from the comic, he doesn't have the green jumpsuit, and the arms
are so much cooler than the comic book's depiction. And to me, Doc Oc always
came off as one dimensional to me, really lacking character. Villian of the
Month. But here he has depth, driven to crime because the AI in the arms convince
him to. All this sounds great, but the problem here is it doesn't match the
comic book. And folks, that's what we're really focusing on. So while he's
a good villian in this movie, he isn't the true Doc Oc that we're expecting. The Ugly: Not much in ugly. In fact by breaking away from the comic book likenesses we are spared the ugly. Can you imagine if they actually DID have Doctor Octopus look like his comic book namesake? Ugh, that would've been ugly. How Close to Perfect: 7/10 While this movie feels more like a comic book, the fact is Doctor Octopus really strays far from the course. Too far to overlook. Don't get me wrong, I really feel that this movie is a better viewing experience than the first (more action, greater fight scenes), but is it accurate? No, it's not. Spider-Man 3 The Good: The third movie brings us Spider-Man in direct conflict
with Harry Osborn (the New Goblin), the Sandman, Eddie Brock (Venom), and
himself via the Black Symbiote Costume. It also brings us Gwen Stacy and her
father Chief Stacy (sorry comic fans, I forgot his first name). The Bad: Gwen Stacy: the character. See, though if it wasn't as obvious
in the first two, it becomes blinding here. Mary Jane is a total Gwen Stacy
(from the comic) character, while Gwen Stacy is lacking. Filler even. MJ here
is Pete's high school crush and first love, completely innocent, the object
of competition for, and get's tossed to her (near) death by the Green Goblin.
These are all the things that Gwen Stacy was in the comic book. Meanwhile
in the comic MJ was Peter's second love, a fall back off Gwen Stacy, and someone
who is more a bad-girl, wild-child. Dudnst's peformance of her as a high school
crush was alright, but as Peter's adult love interest doens't seem to match
up. The Ugly: The difference between Peter Parker, before, after, and
during his Black phase. It wasn't as noticable in the previous ones, but this
one they REALLY push him as a total geek. Total, complete, dork. Even as Black
he still shows some signs of it, but they contrast it enough. How Close to Perfect: 4/10 Sandman and Gwen Stacy appear spot
on. Venom, Harry's Goblin, and the Black Costume not so much.
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