The better Spider-man/Peter Parker? Andrew vs Tobey

[Ajendo]

Originally Posted by flickchick85

It's not, though. Andrew embodied the character in a completely different, quirkier way that Maguire would never have replicated, even with the exact same script. The beauty of Andrew's performance was mostly in the non-verbal, probably non-scripted stuff - the tics, the awkward almost-smiles, the behind-the-beat line deliveries -
that are notable in many of
Garfield's performances, and just
so happen to be perfect for the
character of Peter Parker.

Precisely! This man knows what he's talking about..

[Doctor Jones]

Originally Posted by flickchick85

The exact point I was making was that it was NOT on the page - it's something Andrew uniquely brought to the role that perfectly suited the character's attributes that were on the page, that is, the character of a brilliant, shy introvert who's got it bad for a girl.

He was a bit too introverted which was the problem.

Maguire's scenes like finding Uncle Ben shot, talking to Aunt May after the graduation, and especially his confession to Aunt May. I felt more for Peter here than I did for him in this film. He had good scenes. Like his fight with Uncle Ben. That was good. But he still felt a little meek to me. He didn't let me in all the way. I don't know if it was him, or how the structure of the film was laid out that permitted me to be completely emotionally involved, but I felt so much more for Maguire. I understood and sympathized with him.

But the scenes between Garfield and Sheen don't really compare to Maguire and Robertson. Despite the latter having less scenes and moments together, it was their personalities, words and chemistry that made you emotionally grasp their relationship. Especially their scene in the car.

And I much preferred Peter finding Uncle Ben dead, walking through the streets, and seeing the crowd of people. Getting this sinking feeling, as he gets closer and closer and then he sees him. With Uncle Ben's death here, I was just waiting for it to happen. The novelty of seeing it on screen wore off and didn't create the emotional impact that it already did.

[The Caped Knight]

I like that Tobey's Spider-Man was seen more in the daylight as oppose to Andrew's who didn't really come out much in the day, he was seen more at night but that's also because his suit looked better at night than in the daytime shots.

[Spider-Who?]

Originally Posted by Dragon

Neither is better. They're two different actors working from two different scripts under two different directors. Clearly Webb's approach is to bring Peter out more whereas Raimi's Peter was more pensive and shy. The question is, how would either do if given the other's script. Could Garfiled play a more quiet and thoughtful Peter? Could Tobey play a more expressive Peter? I can say yes to both from seeing their performances.

As for who more so embodies the comic character... Silly question. Peter/Spidey has been drawn by dozens of artists and has had interpretations that scarcely resemble each other. For example, Tobey looks more like John Romita Sr.'s drawings of Peter from the late 60's early 70's while Garfield looks more like Romita Jr.'s work from the 00's. The idea that a thin actor like Garfield is more like the comic is absurd since some artists (Including Ditko) presented Spidey as being quite muscular.

Why does it need to be a competition? We're just the fans- we're not winning anything here simply by liking someone more.

While I definitely agree that these are two entirely different portrayals of the character, this doesn't mean that comparisons can't be made, since they're both Peter and the broad strokes of the character remained intact.

That being said, I think a better question would be, "Who did you enjoy more?"

In this case, I'd have to say Garfield. And that isn't a slam against Tobey. He did great for what he was meant to do. He's the Michael Keaton to Andrew's Bale.* Both are great in their roles, but I find Andrew more entertaining.

* This analogy is based on the general fanboy opinion of the Bat-actors, not my own view of them. I actually prefer Michael Keaton

[Blitzkrieg Bop]

Garfield really shines in his first night out as Spider-Man. First, that awkward silence of waiting for the guy to see him before clearing his throat. Then the repeated webbing of the door and all that followed. Parts like that and small stuff like talking on the phone in costume and playing a cell phone game made me love his Spider-Man. I think his Spider-Man is more fun.

His performance as Peter is great, too, because it's subtle. It's more in his face than in the words.

[Doctor Jones]

So was Maguire's. That shot of Peter looking on across the street to MJ after her performance at the theater spoke then hearing the sirens passing him spoke volumes. Even in his confession to Aunt May, in between words, you can feel him having the difficulty that he has to confess.

[GENERAL RAAM582]

I'd say Andrew, however he was given better work. If Tobey was given the funny and intelligent script he probably would of been just as good. But since Andrew got the more Parker/Spidey like script, he wins. I did really like Tobey though, I didn't even think he was THAT bad in SM3. I blame Raimi for that damn jazz ****, not Tobey.

[Blitzkrieg Bop]

Yeah, Maguire was a good Peter, too. I'll always remember his confession to Aunt May in Spider-Man 2.

[Mike]

Maguire was too wimpy. Andrew was a more realistic aporoach to how any kid would react to acquiring abilities from a spider bite. I loved how freaked out andrew was when he was in his room and researching spiders on the internet.

[GENERAL RAAM582]

I felt his crying was always understandable in SM1 and SM2.

[Ajendo]

Originally Posted by GENERAL RAAM582

I'd say Andrew, however he was given better work. If Tobey was given the funny and intelligent script he probably would of been just as good.

I disagree. Maguire IMO lacks charisma at least the sort of charisma needed to successfully pull off spider-man. He has a weak and monotone voice, his VA in the spidey movie games were horrendous. He just doesn't have that natural ability to pull it off with conviction. The closest he ever got was in sm3 around the time the fame got to his head and even then, according to how his persona was developed fir those movies, it was an out of character trait when in fact it should have been his character from the get go.

[Mike]

Originally Posted by Ajendo

I disagree. Maguire IMO lacks charisma at least the sort of charisma needed to successfully pull off spider-man. He has a weak and monotone voice, his VA in the spidey movie games were horrendous. He just doesn't have that natural ability to pull it off with conviction. The closest he ever got was in sm3 around the time the fame got to his head and even then, according to how his persona was developed fir those movies, it was an out of character trait when in fact it should have been his character from the get go.

:thumbs up: and you get the gold star

[Ajendo]

Originally Posted by Mike

Maguire was too wimpy. Andrew was a more realistic aporoach to how any kid would react to acquiring abilities from a spider bite. I loved how freaked out andrew was when he was in his room and researching spiders on the internet.

Lol yeah, after he destroyed his bathroom, the way GE was sat on his bed, looking disheveled and feeling hypersensitive to everything going on around him was excellent.

[Mike]

Originally Posted by Ajendo

Lol yeah, after he destroyed his bathroom, the way GE was sat on his bed, looking disheveled and feeling hypersensitive to everything going on around him was excellent.

yea i read an interview about Andrew stating what it would be like to be a spider and incorporating that into his performance. Did tobey ever take that initiative?

[Bruce_Begins]

Tobey's crying scenes are damn difficult to get of of head, once you have seen it in all three Raimi movies.

Thank Webb for Garfield.

[GENERAL RAAM582]

And Tobey didn't bother to read the comics which really annoyed me.

[Ajendo]

Originally Posted by Mike

yea i read an interview about Andrew stating what it would be like to be a spider and incorporating that into his performance. Did tobey ever take that initiative?

Not at all. Tobey IMO was only in it for the pay-cheque.

[Mike]

Originally Posted by Ajendo

Not at all. Tobey IMO was only in it for the pay-cheque.

lol i agree it was a stepping stone for him and it shows in his performance in the previous trilogy.

[DarknessOfDeath]

Wow...

Im not gay but I love Garfield! Not the cat, Andrew Garfield. lol. and I think he's cute. and I knew that he and Emma were dating IRL. Both brought so much to their perspective roles and it was so cute to see them. Too bad I missed the part when she gets webbed in the ass. lol.

[Bruce_Begins]

I would like to make to make it clear that I am not really bashing Tobey, he is a good actor and he certainly deserves a lot of credit for the success of the Raimi's movies.

But He is not the best Peter Parker and now I view the Rami's movies as a different interpretation of Spider-man.

Just like Hulk, Batman, Punisher and Superman movies have a different versions of the same character.

[Ajendo]

That was a good scene. The way Emma conveyed her surprise and shock at discovering Peter was spidey was brilliantly acted. Her mood, facial expressions and body language was....excellent acting of the highest order, something Dunst could never ever do IMO.

[DarknessOfDeath]

I missed that part I wanted to see Emma's ass get webbed lols.

[TheFuture]

Originally Posted by Ajendo

Not at all. Tobey IMO was only in it for the pay-cheque.

Originally Posted by Mike

lol i agree it was a stepping stone for him and it shows in his performance in the previous trilogy.

What makes either of you think that? Taking the trilogy as a whole, I don't see how anyone could question his enthusiasm for the role. I can understand people saying that about Dunst, but I think Maguire always tried his best, even when running up the mountain in SM3.

Anyway, I'd have to vote for Garfield, purely because some of the cheese that Maguire had to work with at times isn't present in this script. But it's not just Garfield, it's the package of both him and Stone that appeals me to me so much. The one thing that is like an anchor on the ankle of Maguire's performances is Dunst. I just hated watching the both of them on screen and that's why Garfield just about gets the vote ahead of Maguire.

[flickchick85]

Originally Posted by Dragon

The characterisitics not being on the comic page is not the same as it not being in the script. And regardless, he had a director on the set guiding his performance. What it comes down to is that you may have simply liked Andrew as a person better. It doesn't mean he was better in the part of Peter Parker. And it definitely doesn't mean that Tobey couldn't have given a strong performance with a script that demanded a more expressive Peter.

It has nothing to do with Andrew as a person, and everything to do with his performance. I simply found him to be a better, more believable Peter Parker that I was actually able to relate to and feel for this time around.

[Dragon]

Originally Posted by GENERAL RAAM582

And Tobey didn't bother to read the comics which really annoyed me.

That's not true. He read like the first 4 years of Stan Lee's run.