Why I Liked The Amazing Spiderman (to Huw)
so, you want three reasons? here they are:
- peter parker is 3 dimensional. he’s a bit dorky and shy but mostly he’s just quiet. he reacts like a normal human being would to very angsty situations (my parents fucked off, why???) without being all ‘emo’ about it. his character does develop, he realises he’s been a douche and tries to make up for it, he gains confidence etc. + on this subject, pretty much all the characters are 3d in some respect, like flash isn’t just a mindless bully. i mean he’s a total jerk, but he’s not obnoxiously targeting peter (its vaigly implied that thier not really friends but maybe they were like yeeeeeaaarrs ago? idk) he lays off after uncle ben dies, and starts to mellow out towards the end of the film. also, why were uncle ben and aunt may so damn old in the original?? they’re his aunt and uncle not his grandparents! much better casting this time around.
- the rise to Superheroness is much more paced and developed. he doesn’t just get superpowers and is like “fuck yeh, i’m gonna do all this cool hero stuff” - he starts off freaked out, and wants nothing to do with them. then he gets some idea of what justice is (humilating flash, which he then realises is just eye for an eye) and realises that he should do something. then when ben dies, instead of going around doing actual crimefighting, he just goes after the man who killed his uncle - which to be fair, he’s a teenager in mourning. WHO would actually start going out that noble in that situation? its more realistic. then after a good talking to from the police chief (who i was glad to see wasn’t the stereotype of “boo vigilantes, booooo!” you know, his position changes - like a persons would) he decides that actually he has been given powers which give him a much greater responsibility - actual hero work. see in the toby maguire version, all he gets is “great power, great responsibility”, ben dies and BOOM spiderman. its totally rushed and doesn’t develop his character what so ever. and in reference to what movie bob said about how it was because of peter using his powers that ben dies in the original - thats still there. peters angsting about his powers and how he can’t even get his revenge on flash right (cos you know, who wouldnt) and stropps off. ben goes after him and dies. hell! the “no i wont stop the mugger” scene is practically identical (albeit less silly, really wrestling match?) so idk what his problem was…
- the parallels between the lizard and spidey. both gain superhuman powers through gene splicing, both feel a responsibility to the world (one to save them from peril, the other to force lizarding upon them) its interesting to see a villain who has sort of understandable motives instead of just “kjashdfghaglhaf i’m crazy now!!!!” i mean yeh, he goes wacko as the lizard, but still it comes from a good place - he only becomes the lizard so indian douche wont experiment on veterans.
- gwen stacy. fuuuuuuck did i hate mary jane. gwen is smart, funny and above all not a stupid damsel in distress. i mean yeh, she needs saving occaisionally, but only because she goes back to help peter. and she stays at the lab to finish the antidote, even though she’ll probably get eaten. + emma stone: <3
- cinematography was lovely. marc webb is genius. case closed.
- i got a mug free with my popcorn
- its not a ripoff batman begins. i honestly don’t get the whole “its just a rip off of batman begins!” comes from because the character arcs are very different (i mean the whole “you killed my X, now i am even more determined” is fairly standard in superhero films, so fuck you movie bob) and staging is very different.
- it is lighthearted. again, i dont get where the “its so much darker” comes from, it would be stupid to show a vigilante in pleasantville wouldnt it, so obviously they make the surroundings a bit dark. but i laughed all the way through, it has genuinly lighthearted moments to it, while maintaining a good strong narrative.
- the romance isn’t twilight. again, wtf moviebob. yes there are quite a few scene setting up thier romance, because if there werent it’d be fucking stupid that they like each other after so little time together, this isnt disney for fucks sake! and once thier relationship is established, their scenes together pretty much only relate to him being spiderman, what he must do as spiderman, why gwen and spiderman is a bad idea etc because at this point in the film she’s the only person he can talk to since ben is dead and its awkward with may. its not a fucking romance story, she’s the romantic lead yes, but she’s also a character.
- at no point in this film did i think of the sam raimie films. it doesn’t feel like a souless reboot, because it isn’t a souless reboot. it has thought and planning involved.
so there you are.
p.s this isn’t the first time i’ve disagreed with moviebob, remember watchmen?
