The Official "I Loved Raimi's Spider-Man' Thread - Part 1 of 99 Luft - - - Part 12

[ehh]

TDK had a brilliant score, but it worked for THAT movie.

Man when I drank a bit too much, I put on Spider-Man 1 and started crying lol. I have such an emotional connection to that movie.

 

[ItchyWebShooter]

Regarding TDK's score: exactly.

Man, Spider-Man is my childhood. Nothing can replace those memories. I try to separate that from my critiques of the films (mostly successfully IMO) but when I'm not picking it apart, full fanboy mode.

 

[ehh]

I have a really hard time hearing criticisms of the first Spider-Man film. I try to just... let it go.

 

[ItchyWebShooter]

I have a really hard time hearing criticisms of the first Spider-Man film. I try to just... let it go.

They're mostly meritless bashings of fanboys obsessed with the Webb series or the MCU--at least on here lol.

There's definitely real criticisms to be leveled at the trilogy as a whole and that film in particular, but anyone who argues it isn't a good film despite them is just trolling hard.

 

[ehh]

I think Spider-Man (2002) is a genuinely good film, and it holds up today. The first half of the movie is near perfect to me, and most of the flaws are in the latter half as most origin films.

I guess the only flaws I have for this film are:

1. Green Goblin costume (and even then, I still like it)
2. Some of the effects don't look good (but most effects look great today: e.g. final swing)
3. The unity day festival fight is somewhat weak
4. Green Goblin just happens to get the powers the same night/day as Peter
5. Green Goblin doesn't take off Spider-Man's mask when he is paralyzed
6. "We'll meet again, Spider-Man!!!"--but then again, I felt like this was just there to make it like a 60's comic book. I still don't have a huge issue with it.

Other than that, the pros heavily outweigh the cons. Tobey Maguire played a great Peter Parker, and his journey from nerdy teen to badass superhero is great. Just look at him in the opening scene vs the closing voice over: "Who am I? I'm Spider-Man!" The action is pretty good for the most part, and most of the CGI is really good. The origin story is perfectly told, and I actually like the organic webbing in the context of this film. Willem Dafoe does a fantastic Norman Osborn/Green Goblin, Kirsten Dunst was good as MJ in this film, I liked James Franco as Harry Osborn, and the casting of Aunt May and Uncle Ben was just superb. And the music is the best music in any comic book movie in my opinion.

I can go on and on about it. Spider-Man is just a great movie, and I think I'll watch it again soon. It really hurts when I hear James Franco trash the Spider-Man movies, but he's kind of stuck up so I try to take his comments with a grain of salt.

I have a hard time rating this film. The nostalgic part of me wants to give it a 20/10, considering it was the best movie theater experience that I have ever had. I walked out of that movie super charged and excited, and immediately became a big Spider-Man fan.

Realistically, I'll give in an 8/10. And Spider-Man 2 gets a 9/10 from me.

 

[PeterBenParker]

I think Spider-Man (2002) is a genuinely good film, and it holds up today. The first half of the movie is near perfect to me, and most of the flaws are in the latter half as most origin films.

Spot on. The origin basis of it was perfect. It was a bit after I took issue with some things.

I guess the only flaws I have for this film are:

1. Green Goblin costume (and even then, I still like it)

I dislike it but that's just a design choice. Didn't really have an impact on the story. Just an enhanced military suit/body armor.

2. Some of the effects don't look good (but most effects look great today: e.g. final swing)

Yeah, the one where Peter's climbing the building after Ben's death is a bit painful.

3. The unity day festival fight is somewhat weak

First encounter between Spidey and Gobby so it's fine for me.

4. Green Goblin just happens to get the powers the same night/day as Peter

Didn't mind that. It was a way of connecting their characters closer.

5. Green Goblin doesn't take off Spider-Man's mask when he is paralyzed

That whole rooftop scene to me was more-or-less dumb. He wants to team with Spider-Man because. He slaps him on the head like he's a buddy. Just really bizarre.

6. "We'll meet again, Spider-Man!!!"--but then again, I felt like this was just there to make it like a 60's comic book. I still don't have a huge issue with it.

I was good with this.

I'll add another issue that I had. See if you agree or disagree.

7. Green Goblin's motivation sucked. He wanted the board members dead because they wronged him of the company so he kills them off and that's it. He's just left floundering and wanting a team up which is foolish.

What would've been a better way of handling his motivation is to kill them off one-by-one, with some dying and some surviving (either because Norman emerges from his Goblin trance or Spider-Man saves 'em). That gives Gobby a reason to target Spider-Man more than just Spider-Man fighting him after he's killed the board members.

The character of 'Max', who reminded me of Professor Xavier, could've done more along with the JJJ looking guy. Just my thoughts.

Other than that, the pros heavily outweigh the cons. Tobey Maguire played a great Peter Parker, and his journey from nerdy teen to badass superhero is great. Just look at him in the opening scene vs the closing voice over: "Who am I? I'm Spider-Man!" The action is pretty good for the most part, and most of the CGI is really good. The origin story is perfectly told, and I actually like the organic webbing in the context of this film. Willem Dafoe does a fantastic Norman Osborn/Green Goblin, Kirsten Dunst was good as MJ in this film, I liked James Franco as Harry Osborn, and the casting of Aunt May and Uncle Ben was just superb. And the music is the best music in any comic book movie in my opinion.

I can go on and on about it. Spider-Man is just a great movie, and I think I'll watch it again soon. It really hurts when I hear James Franco trash the Spider-Man movies, but he's kind of stuck up so I try to take his comments with a grain of salt.

I have a hard time rating this film. The nostalgic part of me wants to give it a 20/10, considering it was the best movie theater experience that I have ever had. I walked out of that movie super charged and excited, and immediately became a big Spider-Man fan.

Realistically, I'll give in an 8/10. And Spider-Man 2 gets a 9/10 from me.

Rest I pretty much agree with. Tobey got better as the series went on but some of his dialogue was a bit dopey or lifeless in some scenes.

Ratings are on point.

 

[NotNickFury]

Yes, exactly. I think the Spider-Man trilogy has the best music out of any comic book movies.

I still think "Farewell" is not just my favorite, but one of the better 'last' pieces of music used in a superhero film, followed very closely by the finale in the 1989 Batman film.

[YT]eM_C9_VRmZE[/YT]

 

[Gothamsknight]

This soundtrack still gets me emotional to this day. You can feel Otto realizing what hes done is wrong just by hearing the music. Its beautiful!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsZco-y-JPI

 

[ehh]

Spot on. The origin basis of it was perfect. It was a bit after I took issue with some things.



I dislike it but that's just a design choice. Didn't really have an impact on the story. Just an enhanced military suit/body armor.



Yeah, the one where Peter's climbing the building after Ben's death is a bit painful.



First encounter between Spidey and Gobby so it's fine for me.



Didn't mind that. It was a way of connecting their characters closer.



That whole rooftop scene to me was more-or-less dumb. He wants to team with Spider-Man because. He slaps him on the head like he's a buddy. Just really bizarre.



I was good with this.

I'll add another issue that I had. See if you agree or disagree.

7. Green Goblin's motivation sucked. He wanted the board members dead because they wronged him of the company so he kills them off and that's it. He's just left floundering and wanting a team up which is foolish.

What would've been a better way of handling his motivation is to kill them off one-by-one, with some dying and some surviving (either because Norman emerges from his Goblin trance or Spider-Man saves 'em). That gives Gobby a reason to target Spider-Man more than just Spider-Man fighting him after he's killed the board members.

The character of 'Max', who reminded me of Professor Xavier, could've done more along with the JJJ looking guy. Just my thoughts.



Rest I pretty much agree with. Tobey got better as the series went on but some of his dialogue was a bit dopey or lifeless in some scenes.

Ratings are on point.

Yeah, I mean most of the criticisms I list aren't even super serious criticisms from me. Just minor flaws that you can probably find in just about any movie.

The rooftop scene is kind of goofy, although it was good seeing Peter stand up for what is right.

Green Goblin's motivations were a bit off, but I think the idea is that he was just out of his mind. He got what he wanted with killing off the board members, and now it's just bringing chaos, and spiderman was either with him or against him.

I think that an MCU Goblin would have some motivation to take over the criminal underworld, similar to TSSM.

 

[ItchyWebShooter]

The rooftop scene is the #1 flaw with that movie, and I think it's the only one most fans won't try to defend.

Personally, "We'll meet again, Spider-Man!" is one of my favorite lines from the movie. Is it cheesy? Maybe. But it's a damn comic book come to life if ever there's been one.

The New Yorkers on the bridge get complained about a lot, too, but I have a hard time believing that there wouldn't be a few courageous people willing to stand up to save kids (like 9/11 first responders) and that would spur on and embolden the larger crowd to do the same. It's a nitpick that people who don't like the films go back to like a magic well, but I never really understood the hate.

I personally give Spider-Man a 9/10 with Spider-Man 2 getting a solid 9.5/10 from me. Even Spider-Man 3 I'd give a 7.5/10.

 

[The Joker]

My problem with the New Yorkers on the bridge scene is that Goblin didn't retaliate. He just stood there and took their abuse and throwing crap at him. He should have flown up there and dropped a pumpkin bomb on them.

But they redeemed themselves in the sequel when the New Yorkers on the train tried to pull the same stunt again defending Spidey from the villain, but Doc Ock was having none of that, and just viciously smashed them all out of his way. That's one of my favorite scenes. I love how Ock just smiles at them and says "Very well" and then obliterates them.

 

[ehh]

I think I'm going to rewatch the trilogy soon. I'll never forget those movies.

I'll watch Civil War shortly before watching Spider-Man: Homecoming.

 

[ehh]

My problem with the New Yorkers on the bridge scene is that Goblin didn't retaliate. He just stood there and took their abuse and throwing crap at him. He should have flown up there and dropped a pumpkin bomb on them.

But they redeemed themselves in the sequel when the New Yorkers on the train tried to pull the same stunt again defending Spidey from the villain, but Doc Ock was having none of that, and just viciously smashed them all out of his way. That's one of my favorite scenes. I love how Ock just smiles at them and says "Very well" and then obliterates them.

Agreed.

 

[ItchyWebShooter]

My problem with the New Yorkers on the bridge scene is that Goblin didn't retaliate. He just stood there and took their abuse and throwing crap at him. He should have flown up there and dropped a pumpkin bomb on them.

But they redeemed themselves in the sequel when the New Yorkers on the train tried to pull the same stunt again defending Spidey from the villain, but Doc Ock was having none of that, and just viciously smashed them all out of his way. That's one of my favorite scenes. I love how Ock just smiles at them and says "Very well" and then obliterates them.

1. That scene from Spider-Man 2 is indeed amazing. So good.

2. That's a fair point, but anything can be explained away with enough work lol. For my No-Prize, I'll say that no one had stepped in Norman's way since the Unity Day festival. Everyone was scared of him and he was in control--other than Spider-Man's interference. The shock of being assaulted by those who should fear him plus his OCD obsession with Spider-Man combined to sort of freeze him in the moment. Odd? For a guy as obsessed with power and control as Norman, maybe. But we also have to remember that he was mentally not well. His brain was operating a bit differently than all of ours.

I think I'm going to rewatch the trilogy soon. I'll never forget those movies.

I'll watch Civil War shortly before watching Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Ditto on both counts.

 

[ehh]

My mistake before watching TASM1 was watching the Raimi series shortly before seeing it. I'm not making the same mistake for Homecoming.

 

[Spidey_62]

Something one of my friends brought up today that they said they really appreciated about the Green Goblin was him saying "don't tell Harry" right before he croaks (we joke about that because like 5 times people tell others to not tell Harry something lol, but joking aside...). That's a little, unexpected thing at a moment like that and it goes a long way to add something really cool to the character in that yeah, he does really care about his son. Especially after all that had transpired he saw his son still loved him, too. The villains were super great in the 1st 2 movies.

 

[ehh]

I think my heart dropped when I saw the Goblin get impaled by the glider the first time. That whole finale was just really intense.

 

[Spidey_62]

I think my heart dropped when I saw the Goblin get impaled by the glider the first time. That whole finale was just really intense.

I usually don't like it when the villains die but even as a 7 year old I knew how the Goblin originally died and I was so excited when I saw the glider coming up from behind, that scene is great. One of my favorite death scenes. "Oh."

Plus we got more Dafoe anyway, that was fun!

 

[ehh]

That scene was so well directed.

"Oh."

When Spider-Man dodges the Glider and it impales Goblin, I just thought "OH S***!" I don't think we'll see a moment like that in a Spider-Man movie again for a while. I think that scene almost gave the movie an R rating and they had to take out some blood or whatever.

 

[Spidey_62]

That scene was so well directed.

"Oh."

When Spider-Man dodges the Glider and it impales Goblin, I just thought "OH S***!" I don't think we'll see a moment like that in a Spider-Man movie again for a while. I think that scene almost gave the movie an R rating and they had to take out some blood or whatever.

Agreed! Yeah, I heard there was some stuff cut out of the final battle that was pushing it with razor bats coming in and slicing up Pete pretty good. I think you can see the suit have a lot of cuts on it from one shot to the next, too- but it's been months since I've watched the movie so I don't exactly remember for sure.

 

[ehh]

"Misery, misery, misery, that's what you've chosen..."

Green Goblin gets really dark with his dialogue. "...but now that you've pissed me off, I'm gonna finish her. Nice... and slow. MJ and I... we're gonna have a hell of a time!"

 

[Mandon Knight]

I think the traffic in here will get real busy after the Homecoming trailer has been screened.

 

[Nardz937]

Did they or did they not pay tribute to Spider-Man 2 in that trailer?

 

[The Chris]

Yeah that was great. No surprise considering how much Feige loves Spidey 2. I'm ready to love a Spider-Man movie again. They certainly got the actor for it.

 

[ehh]

You guys mean the ferry shot at the end?