The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Critic bias towards this franchise?

[Frodo]

This is less about Spidey, and more about having a higher expectation for summer blockbusters. We have entered another age where Jaws, Star Wars and Indiana Jones level films are being released again.

I think it that there's a higher expectation for comic book films in general among the critics and the fans. I feel there's a perception that if one of these films isn't a ground breaker like TDK, Spiderman 2 ,Avengers, or CATWS, then the films aren't considered as good. In the 90's and early 2000's the expectations were quite a bit lower, but now that these films are taken seriously by the critics and can't be easily dismissed, there's this Nolan and Whedon standard which all these films have to measure up to.

As a result, if a film like MOS or Amazing Spiderman 2 are just okay, or decent, they are graded a bit harsher because the bar has been raised. That's kinda where you have a divide between the GA one side and the fans and film critics on the other. The GA is more likely to except these films on their own terms while the critics and fans may want each of these films to be of TDK or Avengers quality.

 

[Shikamaru]

I said in my original post that Iron Man is ghe king of CBMs (comic book movies). The Arkham games don't fit into that category. Batman is the king of CBVGs right now.

With Nolan no longer making Batman movies, I definitely think that Iron Man is on top of the game in Hollywood right now. There's a reason why he was the biggest part of the climax in The Avengers (with the wormhole and everything), and there's a reason why he was in the center of most of the merchandising. There's also a reason why RDJ is by far the highest paid actor for Marvel Studios. In Phase One of the MCU, the first Iron Man movie was undoubtedly the most popular before The Avengers came out. He is the most popular Avenger right now, and the most popular superhero in terms of the box office right now.

And yes, I think most of us can agree that Spidey is far from being at the top at this point.

I agree with that then.

 

[antonydelfini]

Avengers was an ensemble film. It took 6 heroes together plus Nick Fury to make that $1.5 billion. It wasn't just Iron Man by himself. Iron Man fans went, Cap fans went, Thor fans went, Hulk fans went. Batman made $1.0 billion twice by himself.

As for Iron Man 3, $1.2 billion was the result of he "Avengers bump", basically being the direct continuation to Avengers.

I'm not downplaying Iron Man or anything. He is definitely up there with Batman, but he isn't destroying Batman or anything like that. Plus Batman still has an advantage in the other mediums, ala Arkham games and the animated features.

Meanwhile, poor Spidey has fallen in terms of everything. From the movies to television to the games, comics, etc.

Comics? Are yo talking commercially? Cause his comics are selling really well. But I have to agree Batman is still number one in current pop culture, Iron Man is second, and Spider-Man is a close number 3.

 

[redfirebird2008]

I said in my original post that Iron Man is currently the king of CBMs (comic book movies). The Arkham games don't fit into that category. Batman is the king of CBVGs right now.

With Nolan no longer making Batman movies, I definitely think that Iron Man is on top of the game in Hollywood right now. There's a reason why he was the biggest part of the climax in The Avengers (with the wormhole and everything), and there's a reason why he was in the center of most of the merchandising. There's also a reason why RDJ is by far the highest paid actor for Marvel Studios. In Phase One of the MCU, the first Iron Man movie was undoubtedly the most popular before The Avengers came out. He is the most popular Avenger right now, and the most popular superhero in terms of the box office right now.

How much longer will that last though? You suggest that Nolan provided a boom for Batman. I think the same holds true for RDJ. People love his version of the character. He was born to play it, just like Depp was born to play Captain Jack. It will be tough for them to replace RDJ.

Look at the tough time Sony has had convincing people that Garfield is a good replacement for Maguire, and Maguire was nowhere near as great in the Spidey role as RDJ is as Iron Man. He will be in TA2, but what about after that? Hasn't there been discussion from him that IM3 and TA2 might be his last time playing the character?

 

[Shikamaru]

I was talking commercially and overall pop culture. Yeah, Batman and Iron Man are still in the top 2 respectively, but Spidey isn't third at the moment. I see him in fourth place. In third place are the rest of the Avengers, which I don't think are too far off from Iron Man, especially with the success of Captain America 2.

 

[Shikamaru]

How much longer will that last though? You suggest that Nolan provided a boom for Batman. I think the same holds true for RDJ. People love his version of the character. He was born to play it, just like Depp was born to play Captain Jack. It will be tough for them to replace RDJ.

Look at the tough time Sony has had convincing people that Garfield is a good replacement for Maguire, and Maguire was nowhere near as great in the Spidey role as RDJ is as Iron Man. He will be in TA2, but what about after that? Hasn't there been discussion from him that IM3 and TA2 might be his last time playing the character?

His contract initially ended after IM3, but he then signed up for TA2 and TA3. There was no mention of IM4.

 

[redfirebird2008]

His contract initially ended after IM3, but he then signed up for TA2 and TA3. There was no mention of IM4.

So we get at least two more from him. That's good. Would suck if he ditched the TA series after only 2 movies. At least they can sort of make it a trilogy if they want. Given the kind of cash cow it is, they could keep it going as long as they want...will be tough to keep the actors though.

 

[Leenie]

How much longer will that last though? You suggest that Nolan provided a boom for Batman. I think the same holds true for RDJ. People love his version of the character. He was born to play it, just like Depp was born to play Captain Jack. It will be tough for them to replace RDJ.

Look at the tough time Sony has had convincing people that Garfield is a good replacement for Maguire, and Maguire was nowhere near as great in the Spidey role as RDJ is as Iron Man. He will be in TA2, but what about after that? Hasn't there been discussion from him that IM3 and TA2 might be his last time playing the character?

Right now, currently, in present time, Iron Man is #1 in Hollywood. Not Spider-Man, not Batman. Iron Man. For now.

I don't know how long that's going to last, but to quote Colonel Sanders from Spaceballs, "We're at now now." I am just describing how things are right now. Of course it can change (and it will drastically change whenever RDJ hangs up his armor), but right now, Iron Man is #1 with superhero movies.

Spider-Man was once easily at the #1 spot for CBMs, until Christopher Nolan's Batman came in (and until Spider-Man 3 came out, which didn't go over well). Batman was easily the king back in 2008. With Nolan's Batman finished, though, Iron Man is now at #1.

 

[redfirebird2008]

Right now, currently, in present time, Iron Man is #1 in Hollywood. Not Spider-Man, not Batman. Iron Man. For now.

I don't know how long that's going to last, but to quote Colonel Sanders from Spaceballs, "We're at now now." I am just describing how things are right now. Of course it can change (and it will drastically change whenever RDJ hangs up his armor), but right now, Iron Man is #1 with superhero movies.

Spider-Man was once easily at the #1 spot for CBMs, until Christopher Nolan's Batman came in (and until Spider-Man 3 came out, which didn't go over well). Batman was easily the king back in 2008. With Nolan's Batman finished, though, Iron Man is now at #1.

I'll agree with that. I don't think adding Batman to the Superman sequel is going to automatically add the kind of box office boost that WB is hoping for, but who knows.

 

[Lord]

Spider-Man dropping out of number 1 had nothing to do with Spider-Man 3 coming out at all, that's just what fans like to say, it had to do with a 5 year hiatus where multiple franchises started to rise in its place and SONY rebooting so soon, leading to diminished interest in the general public that grew up and was accostumed to the previous Trilogy.

 

[TeeKay]

Now I know why I can't trust you TeeKay. Bad 3D with fake IMAX. Can you even see the movie?

Hear hear, some of the films have been shot in real 3D and real IMAX as well. Didn't watch Cap 2 in 3D though. Best IMAX 3D experience of my life was with the 3rd Transformers movie. Didn't watch Avatar in theatres, haven't even watched in on blu ray lol.

I would gladly pay extra to see an action movie on the biggest screen at the theater if it meant that the show was in 2D instead of 3D. For a number of years right after Avatar, it seemed like the theater was trying to ram 3D down our throats. Kind of funny how the trend is changing, at least in the United States. Overseas, it seems the audiences don't have as much choice. Feel bad for them, especially people who are medically bothered by 3D (seizures, headaches, etc.).

Really? Here in Ireland we do have a choice, I just prefer to see most movies especially CBMs on the biggest screen possible.

Spidey's the prodigal son. I'd be more worried if so many people didn't want Spider-man in the MCU.

I think asking critics to compartmentalize their previous movie experiences is asking way too much.

I think with the on-slaught of CBMs coming out now, critics are way harsher. Spidey is being death throned by 2nd tier Marvel characters.

 

[Spider-Fan]

I definitely think critics are harsher now on CBMs than they once were, but I don't think it is by as much as people think. We still had PLENTY of plastering reviews of CBMs back in the day, also. I just really think it is a matter of quality in regard to how critics are reviewing these movies.

 

[Tony Stark]

Had there been more time between the reboot series and Spider-man 3 the reaction might be very different. I think most people thought there wasn't sufficient time between franchises, and TASM really didn't bring anything new that Rami's Spider-man did. Mechanical Webshooters are not a valid reason to make a reboot series, and going for the Ultimate universe really took the sheen of this franchise IMO.

The only thing that really worked for me was having Gwen Stacey in there, and Emma Stone's fantastic performance. Garfield's performance I also prefer to Maguier's

There's no question that Iron Man had dethroned Spidey as Marvel's flagship character, and that was all from the movies.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

It did not help that the first series ended on what many considered a sour note. I can understand many feeling that the first series was not given a proper ending, and being slightly resentful about the reboot. But at this point, I don't think it is that big of an issue.

 

[Tony Stark]

What bothered me most about Spider-man 3 was there was no final swing. Ending the film with the fadeout on Peter and MJ was horrible. So when you say sour note, for me I'd gotten past the hyper-crying and too much going on, but closing on that shot was the straw that broke the camel's back.

There's actually a lot I like about Spider-man 3, but it's covered up by all the annoying stuff.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

What bothered me most about Spider-man 3 was there was no final swing. Ending the film with the fadeout on Peter and MJ was horrible. So when you say sour note, for me I'd gotten past the hyper-crying and too much going on, but closing on that shot was the straw that broke the camel's back.

There's actually a lot I like about Spider-man 3, but it's covered up by all the annoying stuff.

Very true. I didn't end on that uplifting, heroic, iconic image the series had established. It reminds me of Justified. All but the third season ends with a rendition of a specific song. And that finale always sticks out in mind as being "wrong" because of it. It sticks out like a sore thumb.

 

[Frodo]

I definitely think critics are harsher now on CBMs than they once were, but I don't think it is by as much as people think. We still had PLENTY of plastering reviews of CBMs back in the day, also. I just really think it is a matter of quality in regard to how critics are reviewing these movies.

I agree. The bar has been raised as far as the critics go, but in a way that's good. It means that these films aren't easily dismissed anymore and that they concede, that this films can and characters can really touch audiences, and can be taken seriously.

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

^The bar being raised didnt stop Cap 2 from getting great reviews though, if TASM2 had been more focused and better made, it would have gotten good reviews as well. I like TASM2, but I am not surprised one bit by the mixed response.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

Spider-Man dropping out of number 1 had nothing to do with Spider-Man 3 coming out at all, that's just what fans like to say, it had to do with a 5 year hiatus where multiple franchises started to rise in its place and SONY rebooting so soon, leading to diminished interest in the general public that grew up and was accostumed to the previous Trilogy.

A reboot is always a hard sell that's why you need to aim for the fences from the get go.

When ASM got mixed reception it was a huge set back.

You don't get many chances to redeem a franchise. The reboot opener has to be a slam dunk.