Did Spidey Lack His Trademark Wit???

[MARVEL-MAN]

I don't really know if this has been discussed here before, but after reading some older back issues of Spider-Man it reminded me how he lacked that wiseass/ witty humor of his when translated to the films. This has always been a quality I've found to be very endearing when it came to the character.
Now I had mentioned this to a couple of friends of mine. They answered back, saying that making callous remarks against one's opponent would come across silly upon the big screen. I beg to differ. I am rather a huge movie buff. I love older films as much as new ones. I recently watched Flynn in "The Adventures Of Robin Hood" and Jose Ferrer in "Cyrano De Bergerac". In these films both men were as entertaining in their manner of speech just as much as they were in their fighting prowess. Durring both duels, Robin Hood's "and" Cyrano's quick witted banter kept both their foes off ballance ands the audience even more entertained. Much the same way Spider-Man could have (*should have*) done. With the exception of an insulting remark towards the wrestler in Spider-Man 1 or Here's Your Change" in Spider-Man 2 he remained much of a mute in these films. I found that rather dissapointing, taking away an important part of what Spider-Man is all about. What are your thoughts??

 

[webhead731]

He says stuff but it's not ALWAYS funny.
At the top of my head:
Spider-Man:
"Hey kiddo, let mom and dad talk for a minute will ya?"
"Staying away from you...that's a cute outfit, did your husband give it to you?"
"Cheese!"
"Oh great" (when first fighting Green Goblin)
"Well, beats taking the subway!"
"You have a knack for getting in trouble"

Spider-Man 2:
"Here's your change!"
"Well, we sure showed him!" (to Aunt May after fighting Doc Ock)
"It rides up in the crotch a little bit too." (elevator)

Doc Ock: You're getting on my nerves.
Spider-Man: I have a knack for that.

Spider-Man 3:
"Shazzam!" (or however it's spelled)
"Apparently you haven't heard! I'm the sheriff around these parts."
"Oh, look at little Goblin junior...gonna cry?"
Spider-Man: You came.
Harry: Looks like just in the nick of time.
Spider-Man: A couple minutes ago wouldn't have been so bad either.

Spider-Man: This thing got anymore?!
Harry: Hang on!
Spider-Man: To what?!

Alot of those made me laugh. But a few were just okay. Sorry if I skipped any. I'm pretty pathetic for knowing this lol.

 

[Wall-weasle]

He says stuff but it's not ALWAYS funny.
At the top of my head:
Spider-Man:
"Hey kiddo, let mom and dad talk for a minute will ya?"
"Staying away from you...that's a cute outfit, did your husband give it to you?"
"Cheese!"
"Oh great" (when first fighting Green Goblin)
"Well, beats taking the subway!"
"You have a knack for getting in trouble"

Spider-Man 2:
"Here's your change!"
"Well, we sure showed him!" (to Aunt May after fighting Doc Ock)
"It rides up in the crotch a little bit too." (elevator)

Doc Ock: You're getting on my nerves.
Spider-Man: I have a knack for that.

Spider-Man 3:
"Shazzam!" (or however it's spelled)
"Apparently you haven't heard! I'm the sheriff around these parts."
"Oh, look at little Goblin junior...gonna cry?"
Spider-Man: You came.
Harry: Looks like just in the nick of time.
Spider-Man: A couple minutes ago wouldn't have been so bad either.

Spider-Man: This thing got anymore?!
Harry: Hang on!
Spider-Man: To what?!

Alot of those made me laugh. But a few were just okay. Sorry if I skipped any. I'm pretty pathetic for knowing this lol.

I actually only found a few of those funny. I always came across Spider-man as sarcastic in his tone of voice, which I think would have made the above remarks much more entertaining for me. As it was, the Spider-man movies didn't give Peter a light enough personality. After all, he often commented in the comics how he is "a snappy dresser" among other classic comments. Especially when he would complain to his enemies as he beat the snot out of them of how he had better things to do or that he was missing such and such event.

 

[Stevens25]

I think my favorite smart @ss line from all the films is,"I guess you haven't heard. I'm the sheriff around these parts!"
I just love how he said it by laughing and it also showed how full of himself he was getting.

 

[MARVEL-MAN]

I think my favorite smart @ss line from all the films is,"I guess you haven't heard. I'm the sheriff around these parts!"
I just love how he said it by laughing and it also showed how full of himself he was getting.

I agree. I thought that line classic Spider-Man.

 

[Spider-ManHero12]

I think my favorite smart @ss line from all the films is,"I guess you haven't heard. I'm the sheriff around these parts!"
I just love how he said it by laughing and it also showed how full of himself he was getting.

I love that line, it truly sounds like something he would say in a Spidey comic.

 

[webhead731]

I actually only found a few of those funny. I always came across Spider-man as sarcastic in his tone of voice, which I think would have made the above remarks much more entertaining for me. As it was, the Spider-man movies didn't give Peter a light enough personality. After all, he often commented in the comics how he is "a snappy dresser" among other classic comments. Especially when he would complain to his enemies as he beat the snot out of them of how he had better things to do or that he was missing such and such event.

Yes, like Ultimate Spider-Man complaing he had to get out of Taco Bell's line "for this" when fighting a crime in the Green Goblin arc.

 

[TNC9852002]

I think they tried to put in enough of his wit without it sounding too weird and out of place. It just goes to show you that sometimes, that stuff just doesn't sound right when spoken in the real world in dangerous situations. It's not the time for cracking jokes..

-TNC

 

[MARVEL-MAN]

I think they tried to put in enough of his wit without it sounding too weird and out of place. It just goes to show you that sometimes, that stuff just doesn't sound right when spoken in the real world in dangerous situations. It's not the time for cracking jokes..

-TNC

And that's exactly the argument. Other movies I've seen (*like I've already mentioned*) have clearly shown that witty conversing durring a battle does work. Look at V For Vendetta for instance. There's a perfect example of what I mean. It doesn't make the hero appear silly, but much more fun, interesting, intelligent, and charasmatic. Again, a trademark of Spider-Man not fully utilized or realized in these Raimi films.

 

[Wall-weasle]

Yes, like Ultimate Spider-Man complaing he had to get out of Taco Bell's line "for this" when fighting a crime in the Green Goblin arc.

lol, I don't normally like the Ultimate series, but I do read them occasionally just to hear what Spidey has to say during battle scenes.

I think they tried to put in enough of his wit without it sounding too weird and out of place. It just goes to show you that sometimes, that stuff just doesn't sound right when spoken in the real world in dangerous situations. It's not the time for cracking jokes..

-TNC

The thing about his wit is that they barely put in any of the wit that Spider-man has during his battles in the comics. He did occasionally make a remark about something the villain said or did, but I was always waiting for him to start noticeably mocking the villains or complaining about things he had to do, places he had to go.

And that's exactly the argument. Other movies I've seen (*like I've already mentioned*) have clearly shown that witty conversing durring a battle does work. Look at V For Vendetta for instance. There's a perfect example of what I mean. It doesn't make the hero appear silly, but much more fun, interesting, intelligent, and charasmatic. Again, a trademark of Spider-Man not fully utilized or realized in these Raimi films.

I agree. V for Vendetta was a wonderful movie. V was incredibly witty and he was wearing a mask too. *sigh* I don't know... maybe I'm just being a little too wishful in seeing a Spider-man movie with the wit I loved from the comics.

 

[November Rain]

The reason he lacked his wit is because peter parker wasn't portrayed as holding angst against those he hated.

The only reason he donned on a costume was to raise money for MJ
The only reason he let a robber go was to get back at the announcer/fight dude


In the comics, he did both of these purely because he thought he was better than everyone else and wanted the cash and respect he didn't have as peter parker.

This manifested itself as wit, which has manifested as a way to deal with his great power/great responsibility gig...

because deep down, spidey really wants to be famous...

 

[Barney Stinson]

I think my favorite smart @ss line from all the films is,"I guess you haven't heard. I'm the sheriff around these parts!"
I just love how he said it by laughing and it also showed how full of himself he was getting.

I mentioned this when sm3 first came out. That line was good but it was ruined and nullified by the fact that it was spider-man saying this whilst being, out of character. He wasn't being himself and he was on a hype, letting the fame and adoration get to his head. Had he said this due to it being a genuine sardonic trait of his then yeah but the fact is, it wasn't. There are many films that have the protagonist crack wise and it works but imo, Raimi just isn't a good enough director or story teller to know how to handle it and that is why we need a new cast and crew who has a better understanding and appreciation for the characters.

 

[MARVEL-MAN]

I agree. V for Vendetta was a wonderful movie. V was incredibly witty and he was wearing a mask too. *sigh* I don't know... maybe I'm just being a little too wishful in seeing a Spider-man movie with the wit I loved from the comics.[/quote]
You should never view yourself as being too wishful when you only want to see a character done correctly. Thanks for the intelligent response.

 

[Milu]

In terms of wittiness, Spidey seemed the most accurate in Number 3.

 

[Venom'sDad]

Not sure he ever had true wit, in either of these films.

 

[Barney Stinson]

To be truthful, a witty spider-man was never going to happen at least while Raimi was directing, because, Peter Parker himself was written so badly he was rendered pretty much useless as a character. Raimi imo turned him into an idiot who had no real grasp of common sense, so for him to be a quick-thinking, sardonic wise ass would have been a stretch....and this ultimately where the problem lies. Raimi just didn't know how to capture the characters in an honorable and justified manner and that is why imo all 3 films are such a huge failure overall.

 

[Barney Stinson]

Not sure he ever had true wit, in either of these films.

He didn't. Remember, we're talking about a character who is supposed to be a freelance photographer and when he's in financial peril, he lacks the intelligence to sell his pics to another paper establishment. If he can't apply such forward reasoning, what hope does he have to be a quick-thinking smart mouth. This is why, I can't buy Peter being a clever science major. When he was talking about acoustics in sm3 and the fusion experiment with Octavius in sm2, he just sounded as though he was forcing it, it never came off as natural. This is no way a discredit to TMags' is acting but geared more towards Raimi's shoddy directing.

 

[Abaddon]

how is this even a question?

 

[tdeverea]

Yes, he lacked it tremendously. Tobey Mac is a great young actor but he's not witty nor does he have good comedic timing. His strengths lie in other areas. Even if there were different writers, I'm not confident that Tobey could've pulled it off. I think Spidey requires comedic timing like that of Ryan Reynolds... not saying that he should've been Spidey though!

 

[Immortalfire]

Yes, he lacked it tremendously. Tobey Mac is a great young actor but he's not witty nor does he have good comedic timing. His strengths lie in other areas. Even if there were different writers, I'm not confident that Tobey could've pulled it off. I think Spidey requires comedic timing like that of Ryan Reynolds... not saying that he should've been Spidey though!

He did them fine in the Spidey video games.

 

[Wall-weasle]

You should never view yourself as being too wishful when you only want to see a character done correctly. Thanks for the intelligent response.

Maybe... I've been called old-fashion for my age though... but you're welcome

He did them fine in the Spidey video games.

The person who wrote the dialogue in the video games did such a fabulous job with Spidey's wit. If only they had the guy involved in the movies.

 

[Silver Spider]

I think they tried to put in enough of his wit without it sounding too weird and out of place. It just goes to show you that sometimes, that stuff just doesn't sound right when spoken in the real world in dangerous situations. It's not the time for cracking jokes..

-TNC

Yeah I always thought that maybe he wasn't making wisecracks as much because the supervillians are kind of a tough thing to deal with in the movies and he had to keep his head in the fight. And the villians in the movies are like his worst, most dangerous enemies in the comics. So if he were fighting someone like Rhino or Shocker he could laugh at them all he wants since they're not as much of a threat.

 

[Wall-weasle]

Yeah I always thought that maybe he wasn't making wisecracks as much because the supervillians are kind of a tough thing to deal with in the movies and he had to keep his head in the fight. And the villians in the movies are like his worst, most dangerous enemies in the comics. So if he were fighting someone like Rhino or Shocker he could laugh at them all he wants since they're not as much of a threat.

That's why I want Mysterio in one of the movies (plus he's my favourite Spider-man villain).

 

[MARVEL-MAN]

He did them fine in the Spidey video games.

I must admit that after playing the xbox 360 version of the Spider-Man 3 game, I actually enjoyed it 100 percent better than I did the actual film itself. Spider-Man's lines were great. Spider-Man actually sounded off like Spider-Man should while Tobey excuted the lines perfectly. I only wish they'd have more of this in the movies.

 

[Leenie]

The wit was just fine in the movies. I think people are really nitpicking right now.

Too much wit would have made the movies much campier than they are ... Not to mention Spidey would have been really annoying. I know I wouldn't want to hear a quip every five seconds during the battles throughout the movies.