DACrowe
Avenger
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2000
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I recently watched the SM trilogy a couple of weeks ago and saw part of SM1 on TNT yesterday again. And I was thinking that in retrospect that this may be a near perfect adaptation of the Spidey comics.
Now hear me out. I still think Spider-Man 2 is a much better movie in terms of pure cinema and has better action. And because of that and the obvious newness that wore off the first Spidey, most of us overlooked SM1 as just its problems (the GG suit, the cheesiness of people saving Peter's life, no ariel, battle, etc.). But considering the budget and technological problems, watching this movie with fresh eyes made me appreciate it much more. It's all here besides mechanical web-shooters. Spidey's origin is perfectly executed. Him learning to climb, beating up Flash, getting confidence in the wrestling ring, Uncle Ben's more logical murder, etc. Dafoe pretty much plays Stan Lee's GG to perfection. Peter has a strong supporting cast, JJJ tries to protect Peter but Spidey webs his mouth shut when he starts yammering on again. The city is unsure about Spidey and dislikes him. MJ is more outgoing and friendly, with her own confidence. Even the wisecracks are here. Mind you 2/3 of them are not well written or poorly delivered, but I think if you played the video games you know Maguire got better at them and it was a bad decision to mute Spidey for the most part in SM2 (in SM3 it is almost always "so serious," there is no time for jokes). I mean it is all here.
Since we got that awesome action in the sequels and a Goblin ariel battle, etc. Looking back the flaws melt away and you can watch it as a whole with some perspective and remember why it was considered so faithful and loved by the fans originally. Raimi had not made Parker overly-awkward like in SM2, MJ overly-sad like in both sequels, etc. He just pretty much played it like a comic book in the 1960s and all the elements people whine need to be in the movies are here. The only thing I really think they missed the boat on is that if they had used Gwen her death at the hands of GG would have been epic. But they wouldn't have been able to do that great uplifting ending in SM2, then. But even the ending in SM1 between him and Harry and him and MJ (despite MJ"s cheesy dialogue) with him walking away...it is so perfectly Spider-Man.
I just am saying that after six years, maybe it would do well to go back and just take away all previous notions on this movie and try to watch it with fresh eyes. It was probably the first time I've really watched this movie since 2005. And you'll find something very special. SM2 may be the best movie of the three, but this is such a good adaptation and with all the hate for SM3 (warranted or not) and praise for SM2, most fans, including myself, seemed to forget why this movie worked so well.
Now hear me out. I still think Spider-Man 2 is a much better movie in terms of pure cinema and has better action. And because of that and the obvious newness that wore off the first Spidey, most of us overlooked SM1 as just its problems (the GG suit, the cheesiness of people saving Peter's life, no ariel, battle, etc.). But considering the budget and technological problems, watching this movie with fresh eyes made me appreciate it much more. It's all here besides mechanical web-shooters. Spidey's origin is perfectly executed. Him learning to climb, beating up Flash, getting confidence in the wrestling ring, Uncle Ben's more logical murder, etc. Dafoe pretty much plays Stan Lee's GG to perfection. Peter has a strong supporting cast, JJJ tries to protect Peter but Spidey webs his mouth shut when he starts yammering on again. The city is unsure about Spidey and dislikes him. MJ is more outgoing and friendly, with her own confidence. Even the wisecracks are here. Mind you 2/3 of them are not well written or poorly delivered, but I think if you played the video games you know Maguire got better at them and it was a bad decision to mute Spidey for the most part in SM2 (in SM3 it is almost always "so serious," there is no time for jokes). I mean it is all here.
Since we got that awesome action in the sequels and a Goblin ariel battle, etc. Looking back the flaws melt away and you can watch it as a whole with some perspective and remember why it was considered so faithful and loved by the fans originally. Raimi had not made Parker overly-awkward like in SM2, MJ overly-sad like in both sequels, etc. He just pretty much played it like a comic book in the 1960s and all the elements people whine need to be in the movies are here. The only thing I really think they missed the boat on is that if they had used Gwen her death at the hands of GG would have been epic. But they wouldn't have been able to do that great uplifting ending in SM2, then. But even the ending in SM1 between him and Harry and him and MJ (despite MJ"s cheesy dialogue) with him walking away...it is so perfectly Spider-Man.
I just am saying that after six years, maybe it would do well to go back and just take away all previous notions on this movie and try to watch it with fresh eyes. It was probably the first time I've really watched this movie since 2005. And you'll find something very special. SM2 may be the best movie of the three, but this is such a good adaptation and with all the hate for SM3 (warranted or not) and praise for SM2, most fans, including myself, seemed to forget why this movie worked so well.
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