What are Sam Raimi's thoughts about Venom now?

[MaJiN]

I know he didn't like Venom before sm3 because he's all about the more classic villains. I'm sure he did plenty of research for the movie. Does anyone know if his opinion on Venom had changed at all? Does he understand the reason behind the popularity of this one character?

 

[matthooper]

There is no way that he would put the character in if he hadn't found some level of respect for Venom. That respect might have come solely out of the fans respect for the character of Venom. My bet is that if he didn't like Venom before, he likes him now. Simply because it's his take on Venom.

That's what I love about Raimi. He listened to the fans and gave them what they wanted.

It's the opposite of what we got from Superman Returns. No fans were asking for a terrible soap opera with a super-kid and another real estate plan from Lex Luthor. Singer made the film he wanted to make. It's the same film he makes over and over, a main character who feels alone in the world. Raimi gives us what WE want.

 

[Spidey-Sean]

Well at Comic Con, Raimi said Alvin Sargeant's treatment of writing the character of Venom (and likely Eddie Brock) gave him a humanity that he was lacking before. I'm sure once Raimi read up on Brock and the possibilites with a tormented and conflicted character like that, it was an easier choice to put Venom in the movie.

Not to be a party pooper, but shouldn't this be in the Venom thread too?

 

[Antonello Blueberry]

He still doesn't like the character, that's why Venom will be only in the last 5 minutes of the movie and soon killed.

 

[matthooper]

I'm sure once Raimi read up on Brock and the possibilites with a tormented and conflicted character like that, it was an easier choice to put Venom in the movie.

True, I bet Raimi simply just wasn't as familiar with Brock/Venom so in turn he lacked a passion for him.

Well at Comic Con, Raimi said Alvin Sargeant's treatment of writing the character of Venom (and likely Eddie Brock) gave him a humanity that he was lacking before.

This is why I love Sargents writing. The characters go much deeper than the average superhero movie. Sargent's writing credits include films that often pack an emotional punch. Much of the best stuff from part 1 was actually Sargent's.

Not to be a party pooper, but shouldn't this be in the Venom thread too?

Yup.

 

[The Joker]

Well at Comic Con, Raimi said Alvin Sargeant's treatment of writing the character of Venom (and likely Eddie Brock) gave him a humanity that he was lacking before.

Bingo!

Whatever changes Raimi has made to Brock's backstory can only be for the better. One of the things that I dislike about comic book Venom is his lack of decent motivation for hating Spider-Man.

Raimi's Brock may be a version of the character I can actually dig, hopefully.

 

[CrashNburn]

i wonder sometimes if Raimi actually comes on these boards to check out the latest opinions.

 

[Visionary]

i wonder sometimes if Raimi actually comes on these boards to check out the latest opinions.

There's no need to, he knows that we're going to see SM3 regardless of our opinions.

 

[XXTBWCXX]

He hated the idea of Venom and the symbiote stuff...but once the script came in and the way Topher Grace played the part of Eddie, Sam Raimi started to love the character of Eddie/Venom...he said that in an interview once.

 

[Hannibal King]

Yeah sure, Venom isn't in it that long, but does it really matter? I love the character, but to me, the Symbiote is whats important in my books, and it plays a huge role in the film.

Raimi gives us what WE want.

What WE want? Don't you mean what YOU want? Everyone has different opinions and wants, and no matter if Raimi or any other director listens to some people, he'll always be alienating others. Heck, lots of people hate Venom and never wanted him in the film at all. Even then, I doubt many people would have wanted Topher Grace. Sure, the idea of both may grow on people over time, but its never what we all wanted.

As for SR, well, hate it all you want. I encourage it lol, the more power to you. It's the opposite about what I said about Raimi and Spider-Man though. Just because it wasn't what you wanted, doesn't mean it wasn't what others wanted or liked.

If you're Venom, my mistake, I always get confused when people say WE as in a bonding between a human being and an alien symbiote...

 

[matthooper]

As for SR, well, hate it all you want. I encourage it lol, the more power to you. It's the opposite about what I said about Raimi and Spider-Man though. Just because it wasn't what you wanted, doesn't mean it wasn't what others wanted or liked.

The fact that Superman Returns made $220 million less domestically than Spider-Man tells me that Singer didn't give the fans what they wanted, and Raimi did. Superman Returns made less than Meet the Fockers and Rush Hour 2. It was a box office dissapointment. The box office tells me that the fans were not happy with SR.

On a whole, the fans of Spider-Man were much happier with the films than Superman fans were happy with Superman Returns.

 

[BatJeff7786]

It's the opposite of what we got from Superman Returns. No fans were asking for a terrible soap opera with a super-kid and another real estate plan from Lex Luthor. Singer made the film he wanted to make. It's the same film he makes over and over, a main character who feels alone in the world. Raimi gives us what WE want.

Yeah, that's why Avi Arad made him put him in the movie.......

 

[matthooper]

I won't respond to anymore Superman Returns talk on a Spider-Man forum. That film is simply not worth another thought. I only brought it up to highlight the point that Raimi listens to the fans. Generally, he has given the fans what they had hoped for.

Singer gave us a movie we had seen already in 1978, just much much less creative and boring. You can't tell me that in general, Superman Returns is what most fans wanted.

 

[Mr Jide]

See, Raimi just wasn't familiar with venom period and he wanted to focus more on the original classic villain alone so, venom just wasn't a character to consider. However, this humanity that venom now has that he was lacking before was harder for Raimi to attribute simply because he was never a consideration. The same thing happened with Doc Ock. Ock's character was revamped, giving him more humanity and a profound connection to Peter and the audience but it was easier for Ock because, Raimi wanted to use him anyway, so it was going to be done.

I dont think Brock's motivations for hating spidey are any more silly than the likes of any other villain. Afterall, they're all f'n crazy.

I mean seriously, Norman hated spidey for foiling his plans time after time and the real hate began when he found out that spidey was just some school boy, I mean come on, honestly, Norman's reasons are probably the worst.

 

[Mr Jide]

I won't respond to anymore Superman Returns talk on a Spider-Man forum. That film is simply not worth another thought. I only brought it up to highlight the point that Raimi listens to the fans. Generally, he has given the fans what they had hoped for.

Singer gave us a movie we had seen already in 1978, just much much less creative and boring. You can't tell me that in general, Superman Returns is what most fans wanted.

Bro, I fail to see how Raimi has listend to the fans. Raimi's done what he's wanted to do all along. The only thing that wasn't part of his plan was, venom and he's only in the movie because Arad and the producers said so. Other than that, the fans have no impact on what Raimi does with these movies other than feed sony's fat asses with cheddar.

 

[dodus]

I dont think Brock's motivations for hating spidey are any more silly than the likes of any other villain. Afterall, they're all f'n crazy.

I mean seriously, Norman hated spidey for foiling his plans time after time and the real hate began when he found out that spidey was just some school boy, I mean come on, honestly, Norman's reasons are probably the worst.

I agree 100%. The guy hates Spider-man because Spider-man ruined his life. What's hard to understand about that? Seems pretty legitimate to me.

Realize that many, many, many successful full-length movies are made that revolve around one character, that upon initial conception has less motivation than that. You can make an interesting movie about anything, as long as the writing is good enough. People making adaptations from comics or anything else almost have a head start, in that there's source material to draw from. All you need is a little imagination.

 

[The Joker]

I agree 100%. The guy hates Spider-man because Spider-man ruined his life. What's hard to understand about that? Seems pretty legitimate to me.

But, Spider-Man didn't ruin his life. Brock screwed up his own life. Anyone with half a brain can see that. It's got nothing to do with insanity. It's sheer stupidity on Brock's part.

How does apprehending a serial killer [Sin Eater] make Spider-Man a bad person?? What kind of stupid would someone have to be to make that a rational thought??

Whatever it is, comic Brock is it.

 

[AIRWOLF]

Well now that Raimi has included Venom, I think he would have had developed some likeness towards to the character, but I still believe that if he had his own way, Venom would not have been in this movie. But I no longer believe that Raimi hates the character, because at the Comicon he did say he's one of the latest fans of the character. I dont see why Venom couldn't have worked for a better part of the movie, after all, he is one of the most formidable foes Spidey faced and from what I have read in comics, Spidey never liked going face to face with Venom.

 

[The Lizard]

There is no way that he would put the character in if he hadn't found some level of respect for Venom. That respect might have come solely out of the fans respect for the character of Venom. My bet is that if he didn't like Venom before, he likes him now. Simply because it's his take on Venom.

Nah. The Sony execs contacted Sam and said "Venom = $$$$, so put him in the story" and voila - instant Venom.

 

[Mr Jide]

Venom was just a hassel for Raimi. He wasn't deeply famliar with the character and so just didn't want to bother with it, especially as his plans were to focus on the original classic villains. Why waste time trying to recreate and bend venom's character to something more "human" and meaningful when Raimi's only intensions were to focus on vilains from the 60s. That's why sandman's been updated and is the main villain. Wether Raimi likes venom or not isn't all that important, he was forced to use that character and that's why he's not the main villain. Venom fans should rejoice because you're damn lucky he made it into Raimi's movies at all.

 

[Spider-ManHero12]

Even if Sam doesn't it's not bad. quite frankly Sam doesn't need to love Venom to incorporate the things from the comics onto the big screen for the simple fact that what matter's is if the directors create's/interpert's him the right way without deviating too far from the comic's and in fact I think he has done a magnificent job. but Sam doesn't hate the character as much as he did befor he was convinced to put Venom in spidey3 which is a good thing because it's always great for director's like if not love the villian's that us fan's do. by the way, Sam did say that him and his costmue designers when't back to the comic's with Venom in them and looked at Venom throughout the history that he has in the spidey mythos so yeah they did approach the comic's with the making of Venom in term's of look's and just overall style that Venom had in the comics.

 

[Johnny Israel]

I love everyones opinions always good to read. But any thoughts on us Venom fans just being happy to see him, i dont see it that way and I dont have too. I like the Venom character a great deal...well Eddie Brock i should say, Venom is just cool. You can say Eddie's reasons for hating spiderman are stupid, and thats great, good for you. Eddie regaurdless of if his problems are his own, thinks spiderman ruined his life. He thinks spiderman is the cause of his problems, now most of us know, yeah its eddie's own fault. But come on, you never knew u did something wrong but still thought it was someone elses fault? Eddie is a lost soul and he can face his problems in his mind with the aid of the symbiote.

Now back to my main point on being happy with Venom's treatment. If i go to a resturant and order Steak and my Steak sucks, Im not going to feel happy about it. Now someone else may think my Steak is great. Someone else may say because I don't know how to cook properly, i should be satisfied with the meal. We all have our views and opinions, mine is just that as someone who pays to see the movies, id like to see the best adaptation for one of my favorite characters as possible.

I want the characters mannerisms and actions to fit how I see fit. And because someone who lacked aprpeciation for him was told to, I wont assume his take on the character is a worthwhile take. I will reserve judgement till after the movie however. I can understand change to a character, but i dont want Venom butchered.

/rant

 

[shogunrua]

And regardless of everything in this forum has already said, I doubt Raimi would ever say "No I don't like Venom, he's only in SP3 because the people with money said so (well, he kinda have said that though...) and to make a little more money than expected" yeah I'm playing the Devil's advocate, but is it really important if he likes Venom or not? The guy seems to have treated the character with respect and tried to fit him in a great story, it's all that matters (for me at least...)

But if May 2 (because where I live it will come out in May 2) I see "Spider Man 3: an Alan Smithee movie", it might give some answers about if Raimi likes Venom or not.t:

 

[dodus]

But, Spider-Man didn't ruin his life. Brock screwed up his own life. Anyone with half a brain can see that. It's got nothing to do with insanity. It's sheer stupidity on Brock's part.

How does apprehending a serial killer [Sin Eater] make Spider-Man a bad person?? What kind of stupid would someone have to be to make that a rational thought??

I never really interpreted Brock's storyline as such...that he "screwed up his own life" is certainly a legitimate interpretation but I don't see why it's taken as gospel on these boards.

Just as you can't fault Spider-man for revealing Sin-Eater's identity, it's hard to place the blame squarely on Brock for sourcing information from someone who was lying. He's a victim of circumstance, just like PP, and in a situation like that it's human nature to find an external focus for the blame. Doesn't seem far-fetched to me, more of a cynical view of human nature than a poor reflection on Brock as a character.

Either way, tweaking the origin story to make a malicious symbiote Spidey more directly responsible for ruining Brock's life is not an earth-shattering character change. It's a no-brainer, and they did it in TAS.

 

[ihateusernames]

But, Spider-Man didn't ruin his life. Brock screwed up his own life. Anyone with half a brain can see that. It's got nothing to do with insanity. It's sheer stupidity on Brock's part.

How does apprehending a serial killer [Sin Eater] make Spider-Man a bad person?? What kind of stupid would someone have to be to make that a rational thought??

Whatever it is, comic Brock is it.

I do agree.
But, have you never blamed someone because it was easier than blaming yourself?