I thought it was fun, although I thought it was very sloppy. It seemed to me like they took some serious short cuts in the story telling, and I thought the effects were sub-standard. Spidey 2 is the best of the bunch.
I tend to agree. I had a good enough time, but I can't help but feel that all parties involved just wanted to get this one over with. Kids and the general, non-geek crowd will love it and probably not even notice how contrived some of the plot devices were (won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it yet).
Sorry ... I got through about 3/4 of the movie, right up to the spot where Spidey is escaping from the alien goop ... my son's friend (who is very emotional) got really agitated at this scene and needed to leave. Sob! Inside I was crying even as he calmed down. So, I can say I loved the first Spidey Hobgoblin aerial battle and the formation of Sandman, I can't comment on the final battle(s) because I ... didn't ... see ... them ..... gawrrr.
I saw it tonight at a 10pm showing at an IMAX. It was a good monster movie. Two great monsters, Venom and Sandman. The fight scenes were just right. Very kinetic but a good feel for the audience's tracking abilities. I don't agree with much of what I've read knocking it. I liked the whole dark Peter Parker moment. That seemed to have bugged people the most. And it had Bruce Cambell! The cherry on top. But really, the visuals of Sandman and Venom were very exciting. I liked it better than the second, dok ok one.
Interesting, Ellis... you've put your finger on exactly what I didn't like about it... it was a monster movie. Venom isn't a villain, he's a mindless monster. I'm okay with mindless monster movies, but my expectation is for a Spiderman villain to be more compelling than just a mindless monster.
I'm okay with the "Dark Spiderman" part of the movie... the whole point is for him to redeem himself, and you can't redeem yourself if you don't go astray (it's no accident that the scene for removing the venom suit happens in a church!).
Monster movies have a couple of ways to go with making the monster frightening. But it's often a matter of making them weird, impossible to understand forces of the unknown. Venom as a goopey multi tentacled mass was a great effect. Everybody got to do a turn as a monster in the movie. Even Mary Jane got to be a green eyed monster.
The biggest problem I had was how they handled Sandman. They got him right, mostly, visually, but then they turned him into King Kong at the end. Ditko's sandman was a hardened thug who relished his power and was quite inventive with how he used it for evil purposes. The film Sandman was completely different. Not bad, but different entirely, except in powers. I liked how Ditko's Sandman would make keys with his fingers and slide under safe doors, etc. with a big conceited smile on his face. I was hoping I'd get that take on the character.
I thought it was fun, although I thought it was very sloppy. It seemed to me like they took some serious short cuts in the story telling, and I thought the effects were sub-standard. Spidey 2 is the best of the bunch.
ReplyDeleteI tend to agree. I had a good enough time, but I can't help but feel that all parties involved just wanted to get this one over with. Kids and the general, non-geek crowd will love it and probably not even notice how contrived some of the plot devices were (won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it yet).
ReplyDeleteI am on hold till hysteria wanes
ReplyDeleteSorry ... I got through about 3/4 of the movie, right up to the spot where Spidey is escaping from the alien goop ... my son's friend (who is very emotional) got really agitated at this scene and needed to leave. Sob! Inside I was crying even as he calmed down. So, I can say I loved the first Spidey Hobgoblin aerial battle and the formation of Sandman, I can't comment on the final battle(s) because I ... didn't ... see ... them ..... gawrrr.
ReplyDeleteI saw it tonight at a 10pm showing at an IMAX.
ReplyDeleteIt was a good monster movie. Two great monsters, Venom and Sandman. The fight scenes were just right. Very kinetic but a good feel for the audience's tracking abilities. I don't agree with much of what I've read knocking it. I liked the whole dark Peter Parker moment. That seemed to have bugged people the most. And it had Bruce Cambell! The cherry on top. But really, the visuals of Sandman and Venom were very exciting. I liked it better than the second, dok ok one.
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ReplyDeleteInteresting, Ellis... you've put your finger on exactly what I didn't like about it... it was a monster movie. Venom isn't a villain, he's a mindless monster. I'm okay with mindless monster movies, but my expectation is for a Spiderman villain to be more compelling than just a mindless monster.
ReplyDeleteI'm okay with the "Dark Spiderman" part of the movie... the whole point is for him to redeem himself, and you can't redeem yourself if you don't go astray (it's no accident that the scene for removing the venom suit happens in a church!).
Monster movies have a couple of ways to go with making the monster frightening. But it's often a matter of making them weird, impossible to understand forces of the unknown. Venom as a goopey multi tentacled mass was a great effect. Everybody got to do a turn as a monster in the movie. Even Mary Jane got to be a green eyed monster.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest problem I had was how they handled Sandman. They got him right, mostly, visually, but then they turned him into King Kong at the end. Ditko's sandman was a hardened thug who relished his power and was quite inventive with how he used it for evil purposes. The film Sandman was completely different. Not bad, but different entirely, except in powers. I liked how Ditko's Sandman would make keys with his fingers and slide under safe doors, etc. with a big conceited smile on his face. I was hoping I'd get that take on the character.
ReplyDelete