The Amazing Spider-Man 2 why do people consider andrew garfield's peter parker a jerk?

[Doctor Octopus]

More interested in his Parents? Did you see "your my boy?"

I saw it. It was Aunt May having a meltdown because her jerk of a nephew was more interested in his folks than her.

A promise he was kind of forced to make. George was dying and wanted to make sure Gwen wouldn't date peter (the exact opposite of the comics, but Webb & Co. don't care about comic book accuracy), so Peter took it. Both Gwen and Peter decided to stay together despite the risks, so I can't really blame them for that. However, his comment "those [broken promises] are the best kind" was just insensitive.

He wasn't forced to do anything. Peter promised he'd stay away from Gwen, he did for 5 minutes, then he went back to her saying promises like Cap Stacy's are the best kind to break and actually made a joke out of it, too.

He is a jerk.

 

[SpideyK]

Oh my.

The hyperbole is strong in this one.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

I really don't get why giving the bully and the car thief a hard time was considered jerk behavior. They're a bully and a car thief. I guess that when a character is that confident he comes off as abrasive, makes people uncomfortable? I dunno.

With Flash, the problem is he goes to far. I can see getting some measure of revenge, but Peter just outright humiliates the guy to the point where I was feeling somewhat sympathetic towards him. I shouldn't be sympathizing with Flash.

The carjacker is worse. It is portrayed in a way such that Peter is a predator toying with his victim. He's less of a jokester the way he is in the comics, and more of a sadistic vigilante. What if he had seen the tattoo on the carjacker? Would he have murdered him? The way that scene goes it leads you to believe that he might. And that's a big problem. He's Spider-Man, not The Punisher.

 

[spider-neil]

I think it's good that Peter has an 'edge' to him. Now if something happens to him (like being taken over by the black suit) and he lashes out, you'll buy it because the character has grey areas to him.

 

[Andrew Lucas]

We're talking about Peter, not Spider-Man.

Peter is just like us. Hell, if you're actually a Spidey fan I shouldn't even need to say anyting more.

K is inspired today I see.

 

[SpideyK]

K is inspired today I see.

What can I say?

 

[Doctor Octopus]

Oh my.

The hyperbole is strong in this one.

The pointless snark is strong in this one.

 

[SpideyK]

I've never been called snarky before.

Woah. I'm one of those now.

 

[Andrew Lucas]

I've never been called snarky before.

Woah. I'm one of those now.

Don't mind those lost souls.

 

[SpideyK]

Don't mind those lost souls.

Sweg.

 

[UltimateWebhead]

All versions of the character involve him getting a swelled head and selfish attitude. Then Uncle Ben dies as a result of that attitude and he learns with great power, comes great responsibility, yadda, yadda, yadda.

The problem with ASM Peter is that he never learns that. They got the first part right and forgot the part where he learns the error of his ways. He never evolves as a character and just keeps the same selfish attitude and making the same mistakes as the pre-Ben's death Peter. So he comes off as unlikable.

I disagree with this.

Immediately after Ben dies, yes, the responsibility part doesn't kick-in automatically. Andrew's Parker goes thru a slower more drawn out learning curve. And maybe this is just my interpretation but even with Peter from 616, he also goes thru a learning curve and is seen making mistakes with his responsibility for awhile. But in ASM, Peter begins to use his powers to help him to try and track down Ben's killer--he's hunting anyone who essentially fits the profile and at some point he starts capturing the criminals and dropping them off at the police station. In Peter's mind he's doing the right thing and getting these crooks off the street. It isn't until he receives a blunt and harsh wake-up call from Capt Stacy that he begins to realize what he's doing isn't helping people, he's only following his selfish needs. It all culminates later when he saves the boy on the bridge and puts his selfish desires aside to stop the Lizard and save NY--"that's not your job." "Well maybe it is--I have to do this, it's my responsibility."

That's my interpretation anyways and I just don't understand it when people make the comment that Peter in ASM didn't learn anything.

 

[Andrew Lucas]

Spoiler

I disagree with this.

Immediately after Ben dies, yes, the responsibility part doesn't kick-in automatically. Andrew's Parker goes thru a slower more drawn out learning curve. And maybe this is just my interpretation but even with Peter from 616, he also goes thru a learning curve and is seen making mistakes with his responsibility for awhile. But in ASM, Peter begins to use his powers to help him to try and track down Ben's killer--he's hunting anyone who essentially fits the profile and at some point he starts capturing the criminals and dropping them off at the police station. In Peter's mind he's doing the right thing and getting these crooks off the street. It isn't until he receives a blunt and harsh wake-up call from Capt Stacy that he begins to realize what he's doing isn't helping people, he's only following his selfish needs. It all culminates later when he saves the boy on the bridge and puts his selfish desires aside to stop the Lizard and save NY--"that's not your job." "Well maybe it is--I have to do this, it's my responsibility."

That's my interpretation anyways and I just don't understand it when people make the comment that Peter in ASM didn't learn anything.

Great post

"I've gotta stop him though, I have to"
"The point is this is my responsibility, I have to fix it"

Also that scene where he looks to his suit is when he realizes that his powers must be used for the greater good.

 

[spider-neil]

Coming from someone who was bullied in school, I can't tell you how much of a kick I got from Peter absolutely humiliating Flash and that is exactly what I would have done if I got super powers.

 

[Emperor_Zerg]

The only thing that seemed extremely out of character was the "The best kind of promises are the broken kind." That was pretty insensitive to a dead man's wish.

Besides that, I don't see anything wrong with the ASM portrayal of Peter. From what I remember, Tobey was going to kill Uncle Ben's killer directly after hearing the news on the radio of where he was heading and was pretty close to doing so. In ASM, they just extended that guilt and rage towards the death by frequently looking for the killer.

The whole "Please got to bed Aunt May!" scene was fine by me as I have reacted in that sense as well. Peter's face was brutally bruised from his altercations of him trying to find his uncle's killer. Seeing Aunt May startled him and he already felt guilty for the death of Uncle Ben and the fact that he hasn't found the killer yet. Not only that, but now he knows that he is giving his loving Aunt grief and he just wants to get out of the situation. He believes that just pushing Aunt May to leave him alone for a moment is the lesser of two evils than having her see his face brutally battered. Once she sees that, she will do nothing but worry.

He's a teenager, he still did the right thing when it all mattered.

And Spidey still makes quips even when he isn't in complete danger, he makes it when he first confronts his enemies too.

 

[chaseter]

ASM Peter seemed down on his luck much like how I was in high school and he didn't seem that all depressed. He seemed to be alright with his family and girlfriend. Also a loner is also someone who doesn't have any friends.

ASM Peter didn't have a single friend. All he ever talked to was Gwen.

I would say SM1-SM3 Peter is down on his luck. That was part of Raimi's schtick. ASM Peter was down on his life.

 

[chaseter]

Never said he did. I said he could pull off being a student better than Maguire could look wise. Does Garfield look 30? No.

What does Garfield not looking 30 have to do with anything? We both agree he doesn't look like a high schooler so he shouldn't have been in high school for 2 movies. He looks like a grown man. That's the point. Tobey and Garfield looked the same age respectively so I am not saying one did better than the other. Neither looked like a 17 year old. I only give credit to Raimi for getting Tobey out of high school asap.

 

[Andrew Lucas]

At least he has a girlfriend lol.

 

[OriginalMiles]

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh.

OT: Peter does come off as a little jerkish at times, like all people.

 

[Andrew Lucas]

Lol Miles,you don't need to overreact.

 

[OriginalMiles]

but that's my thing!!!

 

[Andrew Lucas]

Oh sorry bro.

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

I saw it. It was Aunt May having a meltdown because her jerk of a nephew was more interested in his folks than her.

"i AM your boy, you are enough. you are more than enough. don't get it twisted, that's not what this is about..."

 

[StarkTheProdigy]

After viewing the movies, I didn't feel he came off as a jerk. Just as a young adolescent with still a lot to learn in the world. That's all.

 

[LizardMan07]

I don't know why people wanted parker to be like Jesus. He's going to feel all ranges of emotions, do all sorts of very good and very bad things, because he's human and he makes mistakes.

In my opinion, it's better to do this then to stick to this one dimensional kind of Parker that's softly spoken and a nerd the entire time. Because a more layered, more varied parker can connect with the audiences more, and better explore human nature, which is really the ultimate goal of any artistic medium, whether that be art, film or literature

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

ASM Peter didn't have a single friend. All he ever talked to was Gwen.

I would say SM1-SM3 Peter is down on his luck. That was part of Raimi's schtick. ASM Peter was down on his life.

Especially in SM2. He's basically George Bailey in that film. He dedicates his life to helping others, but it is destroying his life in the process, so he quits, then discovers how much the world really needs and appreciates him, finally fully accepts how important he is, and ends up getting rewarded by getting the one thing he always wanted. SM2 is pretty much exactly the same story as It's a Wonderful Life.