Kinda like...Bruce being engrossed with Rachel while playing "I'll show you mine if you show me yours" in the mansion. One of the most pivotal moments in Bruce Wayne's life, and if it wasn't for the fact that Rachel was there playing with him, the Waynes might still be alive. Like with the radioactive spider bit, it doesn't mean anything unless you want it to. It's pointless.
Oh come on, man, that's hardly the same at all. That was a child being a child playing hide and seek in his own garden with a friend. Could have happened at any time in any number of circumstances.
Can you say Peter would have gone to the wrestling arena to get money for any reason other than he wanted to impress MJ? No. Money wasn't a major issue with him back then. He was setting up with rich boy Harry Osborn in a cushy apartment Norman was getting them.
It was all extremely specific. He needed money to get a car because MJ had been so impressed with Flash's car. That led him to designing the Spider-Man costume, and even getting his Spider-Man name. Like I said, cause and effect.
But what?
Sorry, I didn't mean to come across as condescending.
And again, the fact that she drove him to do that silly wrestling thing is irrelevant, like Rachel at the mansion. It does not change the fact that Peter learned a tremendous life lesson the hard way, it does not change the fact that he was irresponsible. That's what matters. Him wanting to buy a car to impress MJ becomes a minute detail after what happens that night.
I've addressed this point above.
Peter wanting to impress MJ was even raised again in SM-2 when he confesses his role in Uncle Ben's death to Aunt May. "I went some place because I wanted money to buy a car so I could impress Mary Jane". Raimi was once again reminding us there what led Peter to those events.
It's like nothing can happen without MJ being involved in some way.
And surely wanting to try his powers might have something to do with it. Pre radioactive spider Peter would've never even dreamed of doing something like that.
Pre radioactive Peter didn't have the strength to enter into a wrestling contest. But his reason for being there wasn't to try out his powers.
He read the Newspaper advert for the wrestling match which offered $2000, which he needed after he had been checking out car prices in that same newspaper. The camera literally pans down from the car prices to the wrestling ad.
It was clear as day, mate.
Oh come on. He was drunk. His main problem with Parker in that scene is his relationship with Spider-Man. MJ is a secondary thing. Just more ammo for Harry to use against Parker, but not the real reason they are breaking apart. This you know
Of course the main reason was Spider-Man. But again, MJ had to be in there as ONE of the reasons why he was hostile towards Peter. And he used his connection with MJ, and Peter's love for MJ against Peter.
HAHAHA! Don't remind me. But anyway, what else is he going to do? He is supposed to go against Spider-Man's loved ones.
Why didn't he attack Aunt May at all? Harry did so in the comics in ASM #137. Why not be original for once and not have MJ used as the bait? And then she's kidnapped AGAIN later on by Venom and Sandman.
Yeeeeeeesh!!!
Yes, the kidnapping is ridiculous. But Rachel Dawes had to be saved 3 times in BB as well, and 2 times in TDK, one of which caused her death
Had they kept her alive, you bet she would've been in danger in the next one, too.
But again, the difference was that Dawes was a district attorney fighting corruption in Gotham. She placed herself in dangerous situations by fighting the mob and corruption. Of course she was going to be targeted. All the good city officials were targeted.
Not like with MJ, where the villains went out and kidnapped her for the same reason every time, as bait for Spider-Man. And this never raises eyebrows with the Police, either. Broadway actress with a history of being kidnapped by every super villain that rears their head lol.
You can choose to be distracted by that. Superficially, it's all about a girl. On a deeper level, it's all about growing up.
It might well be about growing up. It's just that most of Peter's growing up revolved around MJ.
I'll have to check the movie again but I take your word for it on the timeframe. But even then, you still have plenty of scenes prior to that showing Parker's horrible life, how's he doing even worse than before. I see it as the last straw. Spider-Man never losed his powers while watching MJ with Harry in SM1.
Because there's no real affection or emotion between them. MJ shys away from kissing Harry on the lips at the unity festival, and Peter sees that. They have a big row at thanksgiving. And she makes it clear that things are not going well with Harry with Peter asks how's it going between them.
He never lost his powers after he ditched her at the end of SM1.
Because that was his decision.
In SM3, he never loses his powers after she ditches him, for Harry, for godsakes!
Because he's consumed with anger and rage when Harry tells him he's the other guy. What happens next? He puts the symbiote on, which amplifies his powers.
In SM2, it is an accumulation of unfortunate events for our loser hero, but she's the last straw. You cannot ignore this.
I don't, because I as I addressed above, I don't believe it to be true. I think MJ is is main reason for losing his powers. Yeah, he has other problems, but from what we're told, he's had them for the longest time.
His landlord says he's late again with the rent, indicating this seems to happen alot. His boss at the Pizza parlour says he's always late. Dr Conners says Peter's grades have been declining for a long time, and that he always late for class, and always appears exhausted.
But none of these caused even the slightest short circuit in his powers. But when he claps eyes on MJ with a new guy, BAM! The powers go out.
"Can't you understand, Papa? I'm not raking in the cash"
What sounds more compelling to you? While the line itself is very incriminating, as a viewer, you know that there's more to it. You have seen it for about an hour in to that point. Once he gives up being Spider-Man, his life gets back on track. He gets good grades, has a relaxed nature to him
Yes, because he has the time to do all that. But it's MJ whom he again seeks out and tries to get with, even though she's engaged to another man!!!
Why doesn't he try and make peace with Harry, his best friend who is hurting and sinking into alcoholism, instead of trying to score with an engaged woman? Because it's ALL ABOUT THE GIRL!!!!!
does a pre-SM3 strut down the streets of NY, and eventually tries to win MJ back, naturally. It's a combination of it all, my lad.
No, my lad, it certainly is not. Peter's other problems are presented as an after thought. The crux of his emotional turmoil is MJ.
Just to clarify my position on this: I'm not saying MJ does not play a BIG role in the movies, at all. I'm saying, it's not ALL about her, even though one could surely make a good case for that notion.
I would agree, but practically everything in Peter's life involves MJ in some way. She even triggers major events in Peter's life. He goes and does stuff because of her, and this leads him into other events. But at the core, it was MJ that led to it.
And I don't like that. One of the best things about Spider-Man 2 was Aunt May. Peter trying to help her get her mortgage sorted in the bank was a welcome oasis because it was an MJ free act, and it involved someone else Peter loves.
If we saw alot more of that, then Raimi would be getting it right.
I'm sure Aunt Carnage would've elicited a similar response from him.
I'm sure. Unfortunately MJ is always the one they use.
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