The Amazing Spider-Man OFFICIAL Rate & Review the Amazing Spider-Man! - Part 1

[spidermanJLA!~]

I really wish Stan Lee would give his review. It must be fun as a creator to see Spider-man interpreted in so many ways.

 

[Picard Sisko]

I really wish Stan Lee would give his review. It must be fun as a creator to see Spider-man interpreted in so many ways.

He is a very humble guy. He said many times that all of the Marvel films are masterpieces. I'm sure he even appreciates the worst movies (Fantastic Four, Hulk, Spider-Man 3, Daredevil, X-Men Origins, etc). Seeing your own work on the big screen has to be exciting. At the time, nobody imagined they would last this long and become some of the highest grossing films of all time.

 

[spidermanJLA!~]

He is a very humble guy. He said many times that all of the Marvel films are masterpieces. I'm sure he even appreciates the worst movies (Fantastic Four, Hulk, Spider-Man 3, Daredevil, X-Men Origins, etc). Seeing your own work on the big screen has to be exciting. At the time, nobody imagined they would last this long and become some of the highest grossing films of all time.

I think Stan Lee would actually not be a purist, because he wrote the original, and I think he wants to see writers put their own "spin"t: on his work.

 

[Picard Sisko]

I think Stan Lee would actually not be a purist, because he wrote the original, and I think he wants to see writers put their own "spin"t: on his work.

I think you're right about that. I think there are certain points that definitely need to be the same, but its always cool to see a twist or a modern take on it.

 

[moviedoors]

Finally caught up with it and I am thoroughly underwhelmed.

I'm too lazy at the moment to write something resembling a cohesive review, so I'm gonna bust out the random bullet points.

-I like Garfield and Stone in concept, and there's nothing wrong with their performances per se, but there is just nothing there for them to work with. So many pauses and longing stares. I never bought their relationship for a second. They are nearly irresistible as likely actors, but there was no chemistry between these two characters.

-Spider-Man didn't do much real crime fighting. He mostly just ran around on a revenge quest. It made the crane scene feel so contrived. Spider-Man's done so little for the city at this point in terms of real public awareness that it fell flat. Not to mention I'm still scratching my head over why the cranes where necessary at all. It was so forced.

-Martin Sheen was great. I bought him completely and other than his final voice mail, the writing for that character was pretty good. I wish he could've been in a better Spider-Man movie.

-Conners/The Lizard sucked. There was no character there. None. I didn't buy it when he injected himself, I didn't buy it when he went evil, I didn't buy it when he quasi-redeemed himself at the end. Not one beat worked. I'm not gonna say the effects on him were bad, but I don't think they leveled up to the bar that's been set by other movies. I was not expecting to dislike The Lizard as much as I did. Just awful.

-The action was alright. It might've worked better had I any real involvement with what was going on dramatically. Not a second of it could hold a candle to the monorail fight in Spider-Man 2.

-What the hell happened to The Lizard SWAT team? What happened to all the hubbub with Peter's parents? What happened to the "untold story?" This movie reeks of being tampered with in the editing room.

-By the end, I don't think Peter learned a damn thing. We all know that famous phrase, and the more I think about it, the more I think this movie completely missed the mark.

-The post credits tease was nearly as bad as the one in Green Lantern.

-James Horner's score was alright. Not particularly memorable or rousing (though music can only do so much when the movie under it isn't working) but I will give him credit for not completely self cannibalizing himself the way he usually does. I heard him sneak a few ideas he's used before here and there, but at least he didn't reuse that danger motif for the 37th time.

 

[spidermanJLA!~]

You do see that SWAT lizards transforming back.

 

[moviedoors]

You do see that SWAT lizards transforming back.

Yeah, but all we see is: they transform, they transform back. That's it. It feels like a set piece got cut, but they didn't cut enough. Why the hell would you establish a bunch of SWAT Lizards and then do literally NOTHING with them?

 

[Picard Sisko]

Yeah, but all we see is: they transform, they transform back. That's it. It feels like a set piece got cut, but they didn't cut enough. Why the hell would you establish a bunch of SWAT Lizards and then do literally NOTHING with them?

Lizard was going to turn everyone into, well, Lizards. The point got across. Had to show some effects of what was happening to the city. Also got shots of New Yorkers running and screaming, and being told they have to evacuate.

 

[moviedoors]

Lizard was going to turn everyone into, well, Lizards. The point got across. Had to show some effects of what was happening to the city. Also got shots of New Yorkers running and screaming, and being told they have to evacuate.

I don't buy it. I think they cut a major sequence. There's that whole bit about him being injured and having trouble reaching Oscorp tower. I think they originally had more than a bullet wound making him drag ass and I'm pretty damn sure that had to do with him fighting a bunch of Lizard men. And you have to admit, that would have been way cooler than "he got winged by a cop who don't listen so well."

And wouldn't it have added to the stakes if we got to see what happens when average people get turned? It's never made clear if Connors was being bad because of the serum or it was always there in the first place. Showing us how the SWAT team reacts would have helped clarify. Presumably, these SWAT Lizards just milled around and did nothing until transforming back.

I'm still reeling. That part really sucked.

-------------

And another thing? What the hell happened to that nefarious Middle Eastern dude? He just drops out of the movie after that tedious bridge sequence. And Uncle Ben's killer? Completely unresolved.

Yikes. The more I think about, the more this movie completely falls apart.

 

[Picard Sisko]

I like Garfield and Stone in concept, and there's nothing wrong with their performances per se, but there is just nothing there for them to work with. So many pauses and longing stares. I never bought their relationship for a second. They are nearly irresistible as likely actors, but there was no chemistry between these two characters.

No chemistry? Their relationship was probably the best thing about the film.

-Spider-Man didn't do much real crime fighting. He mostly just ran around on a revenge quest. It made the crane scene feel so contrived. Spider-Man's done so little for the city at this point in terms of real public awareness that it fell flat. Not to mention I'm still scratching my head over why the cranes where necessary at all. It was so forced.

He didn't do that much crime fighting because he is still growing into the Spider-Man we know and love. The entire film is an origin story. He hasn't really become a "crime fighter" yet. At the end, after Uncle Ben's voice over, you hear police sirens, and Spider-Man goes to follow them.

-Martin Sheen was great. I bought him completely and other than his final voice mail, the writing for that character was pretty good. I wish he could've been in a better Spider-Man movie.

Martin Sheen was fantastic. Its Martin Sheen!

-Conners/The Lizard sucked. There was no character there. None. I didn't buy it when he injected himself, I didn't buy it when he went evil, I didn't buy it when he quasi-redeemed himself at the end. Not one beat worked. I'm not gonna say the effects on him were bad, but I don't think they leveled up to the bar that's been set by other movies. I was not expecting to dislike The Lizard as much as I did. Just awful.

The Lizard was a disappointment, but I don't think he was that bad. He wasn't developed enough, and his plan does come out of nowhere. The CGI was fine, though its really hard to create a giant CGI monster and not screw it up, so I give them credit.

-The action was alright. It might've worked better had I any real involvement with what was going on dramatically. Not a second of it could hold a candle to the monorail fight in Spider-Man 2.

It doesn't come close to the train fight in SM2, but the action scenes in the school and at Oscorp tower were really cool IMO.

-What the hell happened to The Lizard SWAT team? What happened to all the hubbub with Peter's parents? What happened to the "untold story?" This movie reeks of being tampered with in the editing room.

This is another argument that I don't feel like participating in right now.

-By the end, I don't think Peter learned a damn thing. We all know that famous phrase, and the more I think about it, the more I think this movie completely missed the mark.

Peter says, "I've got to stop him, because I've created him. Its my responsibility!"

-The post credits tease was nearly as bad as the one in Green Lantern.

I love the post credits scene, but w.e.

-James Horner's score was alright. Not particularly memorable or rousing (though music can only do so much when the movie under it isn't working) but I will give him credit for not completely self cannibalizing himself the way he usually does. I heard him sneak a few ideas he's used before here and there, but at least he didn't reuse that danger motif for the 37th time.

I liked the score, it just wasn't as good as Elfman's theme.

 

[Picard Sisko]

I don't buy it. I think they cut a major sequence. There's that whole bit about him being injured and having trouble reaching Oscorp tower. I think they originally had more than a bullet wound making him drag ass and I'm pretty damn sure that had to do with him fighting a bunch of Lizard men. And you have to admit, that would have been way cooler than "he got winged by a cop who don't listen so well."

And wouldn't it have added to the stakes if we got to see what happens when average people get turned? It's never made clear if Connors was being bad because of the serum or it was always there in the first place. Showing us how the SWAT team reacts would have helped clarify. Presumably, these SWAT Lizards just milled around and did nothing until transforming back.

I'm still reeling. That part really sucked.

-------------

And another thing? What the hell happened to that nefarious Middle Eastern dude? He literally just drops out of the movie, just like Uncle Ben's killer.

Yikes. The more I think about, the more this movie completely falls apart.

If you have any common sense, its obvious that the serum made Connors "bad"

 

[Anno_Domini]

Yeah, but all we see is: they transform, they transform back. That's it. It feels like a set piece got cut, but they didn't cut enough. Why the hell would you establish a bunch of SWAT Lizards and then do literally NOTHING with them?

The SWAT turning into lizards became one of the most disappointing things with the movie, imo.

I get the audience needed to see 'how it would've happened' by Lizard making a small group turn into lizards, but it would've been more personal if Connors had done this to his own family, imo, with Martha and Billy and then try "phase two" on New York City.

Doing it to the SWAT team instead just gave us a pointless look on a small group turning into lizards as well which could have given us at least Spider-Man fighting off these SWAT lizards, but nope...the SWAT lizards didn't even try to harass other civilians. I guess they just stayed in one spot through that entire time. If the city turning into lizards would be that calmly, what would be the fuss? Lol.

 

[Anno_Domini]

The Lizard was a disappointment, but I don't think he was that bad. He wasn't developed enough, and his plan does come out of nowhere. The CGI was fine, though its really hard to create a giant CGI monster and not screw it up, so I give them credit.

You say he was a disappointment, but you didn't think he was that bad. Is there something worse than a disappointment?

 

[Picard Sisko]

If I didn't know about Martha and Billy in the comic books, it wouldn't have been such a big deal to me. I was disappointed that they didn't have a role in this film at all. But then again, that would mean that they have to get into a whole other subplot, and I think they were frightened of making the movie cramped like Spider-Man 3. Oh well, it is what it is. The Lizard was the only real disappointment for me in the movie.

 

[Nathan]

Maybe I need to watch Raimi's Spider-Man again, but I don't understand why Connor's gets so much flak, especially about his turn to evil, when Norman went psycho as soon as he opened his eyes after the experiment and is scenes later terrorizing the city as the Green Goblin. I think he was probably even less developed than Connor's.

 

[Picard Sisko]

You say he was a disappointment, but you didn't think he was that bad. Is there something worse than a disappointment?

Look at my previous post. Sorry, I didn't expand on what I meant there lol

 

[Picard Sisko]

Maybe I need to watch Raimi's Spider-Man again, but I don't understand why Connor's gets so much flak, especially about his turn to evil, when Norman went psycho as soon as he opened his eyes after the experiment and is scenes later terrorizing the city as the Green Goblin. I think he was probably even less developed than Connor's.

This.

 

[moviedoors]

Peter says, "I've got to stop him, because I've created him. Its my responsibility!"

That was lip service. How the hell did he create him anyway? That's another major puzzle piece that seems to be missing here. Peter's guilt seems way out of proportion to what we actually see him do with Connors. He seems more guilty about that than he does Ben's murder. I mean what the hell?

He didn't do that much crime fighting because he is still growing into the Spider-Man we know and love. The entire film is an origin story. He hasn't really become a "crime fighter" yet. At the end, after Uncle Ben's voice over, you hear police sirens, and Spider-Man goes to follow them.

Then why the rally to help him. Yeah, yeah, the kid he saved had a dad, but there's a whole row of construction workers ready to help, and the news crews seem to be rooting for him when, for them, he's still basically an unknown quantity. And there's still the issue of why the hell the cranes were necessary at all. The crane scene may have been the stupidest, most contrived scene I've seen in one of these superhero movies in a long, long time.

No chemistry? Their relationship was probably the best thing about the film.

They're likable, but their scenes just dragged and dragged. There's almost no conflict, no courtship, no drama; they're instantly smitten and that's that. Peter's sneaking into a lab she's responsible for, he going in restricted areas and potentially getting her in a lot of trouble, and the next thing you know he's invited over for dinner. They're one on one scenes had no meat on them. Pure tedium.

 

[Anno_Domini]

If I didn't know about Martha and Billy in the comic books, it wouldn't have been such a big deal to me. I was disappointed that they didn't have a role in this film at all. But then again, that would mean that they have to get into a whole other subplot, and I think they were frightened of making the movie cramped like Spider-Man 3. Oh well, it is what it is. The Lizard was the only real disappointment for me in the movie.

I don't think bringing in Martha or Billy would have even cramped up TAS-M. The more time, the merrier, imo. The only reason S-M 3 feels cramped up is simply because it wasn't longer. Don't see what would be so bad with an extra fifteen or twenty minutes to TAS-M; I'd be thankful for that if Webb wanted to use Connors' family.

 

[moviedoors]

If you have any common sense, its obvious that the serum made Connors "bad"

Please don't get patronizing.

 

[Picard Sisko]

That was lip service. How the hell did he create him anyway? That's another major puzzle piece that seems to be missing here. Peter's guilt seems way out of proportion to what we actually see him do with Connors. He seems more guilty about that than he does Ben's murder. I mean what the hell?

Once again, common sense. He gave Lizard the formula which ultimately turned him into the Lizard. We didn't really see Peter feeling guilty about Ben's death in SM1. He runs after the killer, is shocked to find out who it was, becomes Spider-Man, and moves on. In the sequel, he admits what he has done to Aunt May, and that really shows us how he feels.

Then why the rally to help him. Yeah, yeah, the kid he saved had a dad, but there's a whole row of construction workers ready to help, and the news crews seem to be rooting for him when, for them, he's still basically an unknown quantity. And there's still the issue of why the hell the cranes were necessary at all. The crane scene may have been the stupidest, most contrived scene I've seen in one of these superhero movies in a long, long time.

Captain Stacey probably told officers to assist Spider-Man, and honestly, its just a movie. Point is, the guy was helping out Spider-Man for saving his son. They see a guy with Spider powers headed for the Lizard, and they probably assumed he was the only chance of stopping the Lizard. The cranes made it easier for Spider-Man to swing to Oscorp. It was a little forced, but I found it to be quite an emotional scene... everyone in the theater got up clapping. How could you not root for Spidey?

They're likable, but their scenes just dragged and dragged. There's almost no conflict, no courtship, no drama; they're instantly smitten and that's that. Peter's sneaking into a lab she's responsible for, he going in restricted areas and potentially getting her in a lot of trouble, and the next thing you know he's invited over for dinner. They're one on one scenes had no meat on them. Pure tedium.

I think we had enough drama between Peter and MJ in SM2 and SM3. Their relationship is in the early stages. I'm sure we'll get more conflict with MJ in the next film, perhaps starting a love triangle.

 

[Picard Sisko]

Please don't get patronizing.

I'm sorry, but you can use the same logic with the Green Goblin in SM1. He gets the serum, turns bad. Simple.

EDIT: Also, when he gets cured at the end of the film, he isn't really "bad" anymore, considering he is concerned for Captain Stacey, and tells the man in the shadows to "leave him alone!" in the post-credits scene.

 

[moviedoors]

How could you not root for Spidey?

Because the scene was so overwhelming contrived and stupid. That scene could not have worked less well for me.

'm sorry, but you can use the same logic with the Green Goblin in SM1. He gets the serum, turns bad. Simple.

And it's clear in that movie. I'm not a huge fan of that one, but I at least knew who Norman Osborne was and what he wanted from moment to moment. I was confused by the Lizard because pre-Lizard, he's such a cipher. There was no character there. Nothing. Not to mention, when he's the Lizard, he's just a rote bad guy. He may as well have had a mustache to twirl. A completely dimensionless villain. The Lizard had one (1) moment I liked: when he made an on-the-fly explosive mixture in the chemistry classroom. I thought that was clever.

----

The more this one settles in, the more I think it was nearly as bad as Green Lantern. And I was rooting for this one.

 

[Picard Sisko]

Because the scene was so overwhelming contrived and stupid. That scene could not have worked less well for me.


And it's clear in that movie. I'm not a huge fan of that one, but I at least knew who Norman Osborne was and what he wanted from moment to moment. I was confused by the Lizard because pre-Lizard, he's such a cipher. There was no character there. Nothing. Not to mention, when he's the Lizard, he's just a rote bad guy. He may as well have had a mustache to twirl. A completely dimensionless villain. The Lizard had one (1) moment I liked: when he made an on-the-fly explosive mixture in the chemistry classroom. I thought that was clever.

----

The more this one settles in, the more I think it was nearly as bad as Green Lantern. And I was rooting for this one.

We know who Connors was, and what he wanted. What wasn't clear?

Oh wow, I think that's going too far. Haven't heard that comparison since "Real Iron Man" gave his reaction. But to each his own. You're entitled to your opinion. So I'm guessing you liked Spider-Man 3 more than The Amazing Spider-Man?

 

[moviedoors]

We know who Connors was, and what he wanted. What wasn't clear?

Everything. I have no idea who that man was other than "I miss ma' arm!" and that doesn't cut it.

So I'm guessing you liked Spider-Man 3 more than The Amazing Spider-Man?

Didn't care for it either and I cant really remember it all that well now. I don't care to qualify them against one another.