Hello StylishHokie21, that’s cool, I’ll try to answer your questions as best I can.
So let’s see, where to begin…
I know this was like a month ago, but....damn! What was so great about Sandman's ending? It's totally out of character for Spider-Man to let someone go just like that.
How was it out of character? The theme of the movie was about turning away from revenge and embracing forgiveness. Once he learned that lesson, Spider-Man displayed that quality and forgave Sandman despite all his wrong doing. That’s what forgiveness is all about.
Sandman had killed Uncle Ben and many others already.
Uncle Ben yes but who are the ‘many others’? If you mean the cops and occasional innocent bystanders, then the movie is done with such subtlety that the viewer can take it in which ever way they want - from minor injuries, to permanent paralysis, to instant death. It’s this kind of ambiguity that make all those other ‘incidents’ hard to argue.
Why doe Spider-Man forgive him so quickly? Whether he forgives him or not, he belongs in jail.
Well, first of all, if you’re gonna argue that Sandman seriously injured and possibly killed people, then so can I say that Spider-Man injured and possibly killed people while he was under the influence of the symbiote. Not to mention he genuinely wanted to kill Flint and though he did, with no regret and with satisfaction in fact, if only it wasn’t for his sand powers.
Remember that scene, Spidery admits it himself: “I’ve done terrible things too.”
Therefore, if Sandman belongs in jail, so does Spider-Man.
Otherwise, if Flint Marko would just give himself up afterwards, it would invalidate the whole forgiveness theme. So Spider-Man granted him a second chance and he should just blow it away by turning himself in? There’s no point in that, since in that case Spidey wouldn’t have to forgive him at all. Instead he could just beat the crap out of Flint and deliver him to the authorities himself.
The real Spider-Man would never let him off the hook.
Define ‘real’ Spider-Man.
Again, if he wouldn’t, then there would be no moral lesson to teach.
X-Men 3 had a similar ending and it was just as bad.
How? What ending? Please elaborate.
You're trying to tell me you didn't laugh or cringe when Joker did his "magic trick?" How about when Joker was torturing the fake Batman? Joker's interrogation? You weren't impressed with Heath Ledger's portrayal at all?
I did smile and chuckle occasionally, I’ll give you that.
Look, I devilishly thought to myself: “Hehe, that guy is soo evil! I like it!” just like any other dedicated movie goer. I liked Heath’s performance. But as for being ‘impressed’ by it, I’ve seen other movies with the same type of character already. Brad Pitt in 12 Monkeys instantly comes to mind.
The only thing in SM3 that is better than TDK is the Sandman ending. I’m not saying that I place SM3 above TDK in quality. That’s a different story.
Observing Raimi’s usual trilogy patterns, I don’t count on him doing anything of the sort that I have in mind after SM3, especially looking at what he did with SM2 after SM1. But currently I find Spider-Man and Sandman’s relationship to be the most original hero-villain idea I’ve ever seen.
Throw away comic book faithfulness and think about this for a moment:
Sandman is the only supervillain who ever gave Peter Parker the most grief…and he
forgave him for it!
By NY’s perspective, Flint Marko is still a very serious threat to the city and the authorities would still want him hunted down. This way forcing him to be constantly on the run. And the only one who could actually catch him simply won’t do it. Spider-Man gave a second chance to Sandman and that’s equivalent to a promise. It would go against his own standards and turn him into a real dick, if he broke it. So now they’re both at a dilemma - Flint’s only way to stop all this is to give himself up, leaving no chance to see his daughter for possibly the last few days she has to live, and Spider-Man is torn apart - should he do what the people ask him to do, since he’s there to serve and protect them, or should he keep strong to his own moral convictions? What do you think the city would think of their hero in that situation?
I don’t see Batman and the Joker ever having such a dynamic.
I respect your opinion though.
Yeah, isn’t that a phrase often thrown around these parts just for void appearances.
But if you really mean it, thanks, I appreciate it a lot, there aren’t many left that do.
What did you think of Spider-Man 3 yourself?