Why does Spider-Man's mask keep coming off!

[gamemiester]

Through the film Spider-mans mask is taken off 5 times some are not needed and some are, so i wonder if this is some technical reason.

1. When Spidey first loses his powers and falls on the pipes, he stands up and takes his mask off - not needed

2. When he falls after trying to climb the wall he takes it off again - not needed

3. When trying to save the train, it gets burnt and he takes it off - whether that was what was meant to happen or not i dont think that was needed

4. Harry takes it off - needed obviously

5. when he shows doc ock who he is - also needed

 

[The Joker]

I don't see the problem of him taking off his mask when he's alone. Both times that happened was when his powers failed him.

He was obviously freaked out by it.

 

[Sloth7d]

The movie I don't mind so much, but in the comics it gets rather annoying reading anything with Spidey in it. Now because everyone knows who he is, he usually has it off more than on.

 

[gamemiester]

I don't see the problem of him taking off his mask when he's alone. Both times that happened was when his powers failed him.

He was obviously freaked out by it.

yeah but freaked or not theres no need to take off his mask

 

[The Joker]

yeah but freaked or not theres no need to take off his mask

There's alot of things you don't need to do, but do anyway. When you're freaked out, and fall from a great height, I'd say it's not so bizarre to take off the mask.

 

[gamemiester]

i read on another forum about the amount of screen time toby has, by taking the mask off is face is in the film more

 

[calculator2006]

I don't see the problem of him taking off his mask when he's alone. Both times that happened was when his powers failed him.

He was obviously freaked out by it.

He was checking out his hand, maybe he wanted to see it perfectly without the oakleys in the way. You know, sometimes you need to take off sunglasses to read directions and such, better vision. who knows

 

[Geko]

I don't know if you're looking for justification within the story, however...
One of the 'complaints' about the first film was that it's harder to connect with a character who has no face.
Also, Rami sees Spider-Man not as an Alter-ego, like Bats and Bruce, but instead, Spidey is just Pete in a mask.
So, Rami had Spidey out of the mask more often so the audience would connect with him more. So he's out of the mask in the train scene so we can connect with how much of a challenge that was, and then again in the climax when he has to hold up the entire wall, again so we can see it's truly a struggle.

 

[Drago]

I think a lot of it has to do with the duality theme too- especially the final 3... the way they came across to me was that his taking the mask off was symbolic of his accepting that he's both Spidey and Parker, and it wasn't until he accepted the whole duality thing that he was doing that in front of everyone. Don't know how many people care about that kind of stuff, but I thought it kind of cool and definitely think it can be argued.

As for the other 2, I guess you could argue that it was to stress him as Parker and not both, but the second (when he falls into the alley) was needed to show him squinting and losing his powers.

 

[Adam West]

I think the better question is: How did those two kids manage to run all the way back and get his mask off the train tracks, and make it back to the train in less than two minutes?

It was like, 4 miles away.

 

[Mr Jide]

He was checking out his hand, maybe he wanted to see it perfectly without the oakleys in the way. You know, sometimes you need to take off sunglasses to read directions and such, better vision. who knows

Its a shame we're not all like P.Diddy then.

Seriously though, I think in certain instances it wasn't an issue for spidey to take off his mask. The two times he fell out of the sky and then took his mask off wasn't a problem, its an understandable reaction but the others, including the sparks on his mask during the train sequence weren't necessary.

 

[Mr Jide]

I think the better question is: How did those two kids manage to run all the way back and get his mask off the train tracks, and make it back to the train in less than two minutes?

It was like, 4 miles away.

Thats just down to stupidity on Raimi's part.

 

[zanos]

I don't know if you're looking for justification within the story, however...
One of the 'complaints' about the first film was that it's harder to connect with a character who has no face.
Also, Rami sees Spider-Man not as an Alter-ego, like Bats and Bruce, but instead, Spidey is just Pete in a mask.
So, Rami had Spidey out of the mask more often so the audience would connect with him more. So he's out of the mask in the train scene so we can connect with how much of a challenge that was, and then again in the climax when he has to hold up the entire wall, again so we can see it's truly a struggle.

This wouldn't even be necessary if Spidey wasn't a mute in these films. Keep him talking in costume and the audience will connect with him fine. If we need to see Peter's face for whatever reason like during the train sequence then just make half of his mask transparent during that scene. It's rather simple.

 

[NUFFSAID2004]

This wouldn't even be necessary if Spidey wasn't a mute in these films. Keep him talking in costume and the audience will connect with him fine. If we need to see Peter's face for whatever reason like during the train sequence then just make half of his mask transparent during that scene. It's rather simple.

"BINGO"! This is where the film all fell apart for me. Spider-Man is simply not in character. He acts more grim than Batman. That, and never actually protecting the ones he loves. That is by not protecting his secret identity. Great post. Thank-you.

 

[Geko]

This wouldn't even be necessary if Spidey wasn't a mute in these films. Keep him talking in costume and the audience will connect with him fine. If we need to see Peter's face for whatever reason like during the train sequence then just make half of his mask transparent during that scene. It's rather simple.

I won't argue that he needs to talk more, because I agree with you on that point, however, people connect emotionally with characters that have faces, and that means expressive eyes and mouths. In the comics artists can express a level of emotion in the mask that a real mask doesn't actually convey.
And I'm sorry, making the mask transparent, would only work if they had set up the convention in the first film.

 

[Geko]

I think the better question is: How did those two kids manage to run all the way back and get his mask off the train tracks, and make it back to the train in less than two minutes?

It was like, 4 miles away.

Thats just down to stupidity on Raimi's part.

He was actually at the front of the train which had large windows open when he took his mask off. We only see him take it off, we never see it leave his hand. If he dropped it in front of the train or even on the side as close to the window as he was, it could easily have been sucked into the train for the boys to find.
Raimi's a genius.

 

[ScarletSpider]

Aye, what Geko said.

 

[zanos]

I won't argue that he needs to talk more, because I agree with you on that point, however, people connect emotionally with characters that have faces, and that means expressive eyes and mouths. In the comics artists can express a level of emotion in the mask that a real mask doesn't actually convey.
And I'm sorry, making the mask transparent, would only work if they had set up the convention in the first film.

Hey better late than never. As for the mask let me ask you something have you ever failed to connect with PP/Spider-man in the comics or in the cartoons just because he wears a mask? I certaily haven't. Do you ever fail to connect with characters in a novel because you never see them? It's the same concept. Never underestimate the power of speech. I'd be willing to bet that the majority of ppl who have seen the spider-man movies have never truly connected with Spider-man because he doesn't talk. Raimi can have PP take off his mask as much as he wants. It won't help. One of the reasons the character has been so beloved by fans for decades is his personality, humor and how real he was. You take that away and what you have left is an empty shell. If that was the goal then I say to Sam Raimi, good job!

 

[NUFFSAID2004]

Hey better late than never. As for the mask let me ask you something have you ever failed to connect with PP/Spider-man in the comics or in the cartoons just because he wears a mask? I certaily haven't. Do you ever fail to connect with characters in a novel because you never see them? It's the same concept. Never underestimate the power of speech. I'd be willing to bet that the majority of ppl who have seen the spider-man movies have never truly connected with Spider-man because he doesn't talk. Raimi can have PP take off his mask as much as he wants. It won't help. One of the reasons the character has been so beloved by fans for decades is his personality, humor and how real he was. You take that away and what you have left is an empty shell. If that was the goal then I say to Sam Raimi, good job!

Yet another nail on the head post! Thank-you, Zanos. You sure know what you're talking about!

 

[Won '08]

Just a few general questions about some of the things you guys have said...not that I don't agree with a lot of them but:

During the train scene, when his mask was ON FIRE! what makes you think it "wasn't need" for him to rip his mask off? Personally , for cool factor, I would have had him rip just the mouth section off...but you get what I'm asking right?


Annnd Zanos, you're spot on, but in the comics, theres a difference. We can see their thoughts. In movies....we can't really do that....well...unless the Director makes it so. Which I wish he did.

 

[blind_fury]

Hey better late than never. As for the mask let me ask you something have you ever failed to connect with PP/Spider-man in the comics or in the cartoons just because he wears a mask? I certaily haven't. Do you ever fail to connect with characters in a novel because you never see them? It's the same concept. Never underestimate the power of speech. I'd be willing to bet that the majority of ppl who have seen the spider-man movies have never truly connected with Spider-man because he doesn't talk. Raimi can have PP take off his mask as much as he wants. It won't help. One of the reasons the character has been so beloved by fans for decades is his personality, humor and how real he was. You take that away and what you have left is an empty shell. If that was the goal then I say to Sam Raimi, good job!

V for Vendetta proved you don't need to constantly see a character's face to empathize with them.

 

[zanos]

Just a few general questions about some of the things you guys have said...not that I don't agree with a lot of them but:

During the train scene, when his mask was ON FIRE! what makes you think it "wasn't need" for him to rip his mask off? Personally , for cool factor, I would have had him rip just the mouth section off...but you get what I'm asking right?


Annnd Zanos, you're spot on, but in the comics, theres a difference. We can see their thoughts. In movies....we can't really do that....well...unless the Director makes it so. Which I wish he did.

In the cartoons he talks to himself alot. Why can't it be done in a live action film? During action scene where he's climbing or swinging around and you can't do that you can have Peter narrating the scene as a voice over. It's all rather simple. The fact is Raimi didn't want that character. He wanted to create his own

 

[ryano 91]

Yeah but did anybody notice that when the trains control panel explodes and
burns his mask that it is damaged much more than it is shown to have
been in later scenes ?

 

[Geko]

Hey better late than never. As for the mask let me ask you something have you ever failed to connect with PP/Spider-man in the comics or in the cartoons just because he wears a mask? I certaily haven't. Do you ever fail to connect with characters in a novel because you never see them? It's the same concept. Never underestimate the power of speech. ...

You are correct, I've never failed to connect with the characters in those other mediums. However, they are exactly that... OTHER MEDIUMS. In comics, as I mentioned, artists distort the mask in order to give Spidey's masked face emotion. Cartoons do the same thing. Novels have no visuals at all, so you as the reader create those images in your head, and they are perhaps the most powerful because every character looks exactly as you would have them look.
In the movies however, Spidey's mask is static. Actually Rami experimented with animating the mask, changing the shape of the eyes for emphasis to get that same comic feel, but felt in live action it didn't work. So, with no moving features, Spidey runs the risk of becoming a puppet. Ever notice that Kermit the Frog almost NEVER stands still. He's always moving bouncing a little, that's because if he stops moving he's no longer perceived as a living thing. The same rule applies to the masked Spidey. Even if he's talking, if he's not moving you run the risk that the audience will fail to associate the voice with the image.
I do not underestimate the power of speech. However as both an actor and a teacher I can tell you with some authority, the power of visuals trump the power of speech nearly every time.

 

[Geko]

In the cartoons he talks to himself alot. Why can't it be done in a live action film? During action scene where he's climbing or swinging around and you can't do that you can have Peter narrating the scene as a voice over. It's all rather simple. The fact is Raimi didn't want that character. He wanted to create his own

In cartoons they slow down the action, pause and create time for characters to talk to themselves.
If they did that in the movies, you'd wonder why Doc Ock stopped fighting for 45 seconds so Spidey could have an internal monolouge.