I've been meaning to post my thoughts on Spider-man III for the last couple weeks. When I heard about all the different players included in this film (Sandman, Green Goblin II, Venom, Gwen Stacy), I suspected a messy plot. My fears were not unfounded. There's way too much going on over the course of 2:20 or so. Three villains involving different plots? Come on. You don't need to be a film executive to know that's a train wreck waiting to happen. The action sequences are fun, but the film feels rushed and sloppy. Rather than offering a point by point review of Spider-man III, I thought I'd offer my thoughts on how Raimi could have made an excellent, character driven superhero movie.
1. Ax Venom. The character only works with significant set up. Introduce the black suit in this film and save Venom until the IV installment of the franchise. With all the money generated by the Spider-man films, there will be a IV film.
2. Make Green Goblin II the primary villain. Rather than having GG II and Spidey duke it out all movie, go for the psychological angle. The two meet early in the film and battle to a draw. Harry decides to completely destroy Peter's life (which he does in the current incarnation of the film . . . in 15 minutes. Argh!). Harry dismantles Peter's life in every way possible: job, school, and home. Jameson stops buying his pictures, he gets evicted, flunks out of school, and Mary Jane walks away (manipulated or on her own--doesn't matter). Aunt May might even be hospitalized (Harry will stop at nothing to have his revenge). Much of the film would be about this systematic destruction of Peter's life.
3. In the midst of all this personal chaos, the Sandman goes on a New York crime spree. This further exasperates Peter's situation; he's trying to fight crime while his life unravels.
4. Somewhere along the line, the symbiote enters the picture. Down and out, Peter encounters the new suit and embraces the power it provides.
5. Spider-man finally defeats/apprehends Sandman, only to discover Harry/GG II is behind the crime spree. Sandman is part of the larger plot to unhinge Peter.
6. Feeling the influence of the symbiote, Peter finally gives in to the dark side. Green Goblin II and aggressive Black Suit Spider-man duke it out in a climactic battle.
7. Spider-man wins, but beats Harry to a pulp in the process. Harry's amnesia protects Peter's identity. The film closes with Mary Jane and Peter encountering one another in Harry's hospital room. Visiting hours end and the two leave the room together; Peter asks MJ if she wants to grab a cup of coffee. She agrees and we see the two walk away together, hopeful that things will be set right. As they walk away, we see a shimmer of the black suit from beneath Peter' clothes.
8. Roll credits.
9. No Gwen Stacy. This storyline is sacred ground for Spider-man fans. The films went in a different direction. Leave it alone. Period.
Film IV focuses on Peter putting his life back together, symbiote in tow, and the downfall of Eddie Brock.
You should have talked to me, Raimi. There's no reason these films can't be entertaining as all get out and offer a quality story.
7 comments:
After reading your version of how the movie should have been, I see no real reason to see the actual movie now....
Glad I skipped it - None of the Spider-man movies have really been all that good, and if fans don't like the third one, I'd likely hate it.
I thought the first one was pretty spot on and the second had its moments. This is one is good eye candy--see it for the action sequences--but is the weakest of the three in terms of narrative.
There's a thread about Spider-Man 3 over at the Hero Games discussion boards. It sound like many of the regulars have some of the same opinions that you do.
http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55783
D, would you object to me posting all or part of this over there (or a link to your comments, if you'd prefer) and see what the others have to say about your ideas?
Dratted thing cut off the address. Try this:
herogames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55783
Mikey: post away.
Maybe I'll like this one - the last two were all to pathos drama for me. Too much "Let's dump all the problems of the world on Peter" - now that is an element of the character in the comics, but I felt it was way too overdone in the movies. I pretty much scan over all the "drama" (read melodrama) in the first two movies.
Give me Superman Returns or Batman Begins - or the Incredibles any day.
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