Revisited Raimi's first two Spider-Man movies. It's been at least several years..
Spider-Man (3/5) - fun time, nostalgia. The dialogue and Goblin are the two things that bring this movie down. I love DaFoe and he's a solid Norman, but he's a terrible Goblin. The suit is goofy, he overacts everything, the dialogue is straight out of a bad cartoon when Gobby speaks, and he's directed like a cartoon just as much as Schumacher directing villains. There's no intimidation factor which is a shame.
Love seeing Macho Man again and there's some laugh out loud moments in that wrestling scene (Bruce Campbell, "where did you get that tank top? Did your husband buy it for you?") but come on. As a gigantic wrestling fan, this scene is still insulting and beyond cringeworthy. It's like Raimi has never watched wrestling before he shot the scene. Fans, especially in this modern era know it's a work (scripted, not trying to kill each other). Even counting to 3 without a cover? Lmfao awful. Very lazy. It's like those people who go "wrestling? You know it's fake right?"
yes, we know, just like you know that a movie is fake! Haha I know it's probably nitpicking but not if you understand that side of the industry. More effort in the details Sam!
The dialogue throughout the movie is corny exposition. Aunt May annoys me in this more than MJ. I always liked Dunst in the first film.
Maguire is soo good in this role. The suit looks great. Actors have chemistry. All the Peter/Uncle Ben scenes are top notch. The robbery, Peter making the choice..that's how you do it! Good laughs in this movie.
Spider-Man 2 (4/5) - Better than the first on every level. Even the flaws are still an improvement. Flaws? Random subplots that feel rushed like MJ's marriage. A similar third act with the damsel in distress, and a villain being controlled (the whole "split personality", talking to himself and answering). Aunt Mays hero speech is both emotional but heavy handed at the same time. All Harry Franco does is whine in this movie.
OK the good stuff. J.K Simmons is perfection, again but even more here. There will never be a better Jameson. Maguire is perfect. The action and effects are incredible in this film. Alfred Molina isn't hamming it up as much as DaFoe and Doc Ocks looks good. I always complained about the corniness of the horror hospital sequence but this time I dug the hell out of it. I guess watching it in the context of the film made it a better experience.
This movie is still pretty character driven. The humor and music is superb. Organic webs or not, Peters dilemma and how he loses his powers, only to get them back when he's inspired again..just works so well. What else? Great opening credits and ending. The comedy is so well done. Love how the hero and villain relate to each other. The move into a crappy apartment was a wise choice. "Rent?"
Aunt May is an improvement but MJ is now getting annoying. It's like a reversal of the first movie in that sense..
Wow Dunst lost a lot of weight and changed her hair. How come I don't remember this change?
