I was just thinking about that today. What we consider "classic stories", really aren't considered such in the outside world.
For example, if they did a Kraven's Last Hunt adaptation, even though it's a universally acclaimed comic book, it'd get some complaint reviews; people would think Kraven was a kind of silly character, and that it was too brooding for a good "popcorn action flick." They'd also say the suicide is unnecessary, and call the whole thing a disturbing piece of pulp fiction.
The thing is that most decent stories in comics or games aren't simple 'popcorn action flicks'
The action in most comics takes a back seat to the story driven plot. To even try and sell the last hunt as an action film would be its own downfall.
The last hunt is a good story but unfortunately what people want from a spiderman film isn't what the last hunt has to offer, or at least that is the notion that raimi keeps shoving down us.
HOwever if they managed to capture the essence one would get from reading it into the film, then it would work. Unfortunately no comic book film has managed to capture the essence of how it feels like to go through that story.
I mean look at the countless books that have been adapted to films and made it, especially genres like horror.
The thing about Kraven that one needs to get is that he has conquered all of life's trials easily, maybe too easily. He's the greatest hunter and then spidey comes and time and time again beats him. He's literally going out of him mind trying to figure out why. Then Bam, he sees an opening of how he can gain an ultimate defeat on his enemy in becoming him and tackling a problem he was unable to.
Then there is role reversal as Kraven takes him and defeats him in a way that helps his aid. This makes spidey feel as humilated as kraven has felt but he doesn't care because he believes he's done a feat spidey has been unable to do and that is the ULtimate victory, beating spidey at being spidey.
He now lets vermin and spidey go thinking he's gained the ultimate victory in life and has no more reason to live so he takes his own life. What he doesn't realise is that spidey finds the strength to accomplish what he didn't before and take down vermin single handedly in a non-violent manner which again makes spidey the winner.
This situation could be adapted to any kinda admiring obsessive situation and that's because it fundamentally works but it doesnt work as an action or popcorn flick. I wish people (especially comic readers) would stop narrowing the horizon's of comics. I've spent a long time intelligently trying to persuade people they aren't all 'just comics', I find it strange that now similar people are doing the same thing to their films.
I'm fairly sure no fantasy film had won high awards at the oscars before lord of the rings, what's to say a superhero film may one day have the same potential to. Good stories and acting can come in all shapes and forms, not just autobiographical films.
), I guess set in modern day and not the 60's.
