hmm, ok, i think its time i blogged abt last evening's events...
as planned, the group met at south bank cinemas to watch the 9pm screening of Spider-man 3. so, we all met at 630 to buy the tix, then proceeded to feed out hungry stomachs..

dinner.... wasnt too bad, quite filling actually.. kuan and hiroko joined us after a while, followed by carrie and jay.. well, after eating and talking kok, we headed to this coffee place for coffee... and talked more kok. credits to anthony for openly asking hiroko abt japan's sleazy side, and to kuan who mentioned the phrase "soiled girl underwear" so loudly and unknowingly in front of a couple with 2 kids.

DOH.

anyhoo...
it was soon time to queue up for drinks and for the movie seatings, so we all walked back to the cinema.. and somehow or rather, everyone met someone they knew at the queue, it was almost, and i quote jay, like a real-life friendster network. hurhur.

so, the main event of the evening.

Spider-man 3.


what can i say? sam raimi and avi arad did a wonderful job with this blockbuster.. this really proves, that listening to the fans, will definitely reap its rewards. and it was 2 years ago that sam was quoted saying that "Venom was for squares" in response as to whether the villian would be featured in the flick.

Well sam, Venom turned out to be quite the crowd pleaser didnt he?

alrighty, now for my analysis and review of the show..

Characters:

Peter Parker
Tobey Maguire once again returns as the titled hero, donning his red n blue costume for yet another action-packed sequel. Peter's character is explored more in this film, and despite the many different mood swings Peter goes through in this film, Tobey does his role well, making his role so believable that the whole movie felt so akin to the actual comics itself and made us believe in Peter Parker once again.

But, enough abt the actor. The real review here's abt Spider-man. Peter's life is once again in turmoil, torn between his relationship with MJ and his responsibility as New York's protector. While the 1st 2 shows only shows Spider-man sweeping in to save the day and catch the baddies, this movie gives us a glimpse into how his frewuent heroic acts actually cause a strain in his romantic life. He never gets enough time with MJ, is always unable to make time for her, and true to the comics, MJ's reactions showed her insecurities and loneliness.
Peter and MJ did eventually get married in the comics, and MJ grew to understand Peter's situation better and provided him with all the support any husband could ask for and more.
MJ did come close to breaking up with Peter several times in the past, but just as the ending of the movie showed, she and Peter gave each other second chances and turned things out for the better.

Spider-man's abilities are much better than his previous 2 movies, his usage of impact webbing, (the balls of web he shoots out) are a nod to the same technique used by his clone, Ben Reilly, in the comics. Just as Peter adopted the move in paper, so did Sam and Avi in this movie.
Spider-man's spatial awareness, or his spider-sense, is tuned to its peak in this show, as seen in his quicker reactions and adaptiveness in perilous situations, such as avoiding being run over by numerous cars on a street while fighting the Sandman at the same time.
However, the spider-sense in the comics was ineffective towards Venom, as the symbiotic suit grew accustomed to Peter's brainwaves and emitted a nullifying effect to cloak itself from him. Althought the movie didnt explain this, it was quite evident in the battles with Venom where the latter often suprised Spider-man and manges to sneak up on him every time.
As for the suit, although the black variant of regular Spider-man costume was used in the movies, the producers of the movie probably didnt want to use the design featured in the comics because it felt too minimalistic.

Here's a picture.



As u can see, the design is more sleek and badass, but could prove to be too little for a costume used in a movie. As a side note, even after he discarded the symbiote in the comics, Peter still kept a non-living version of the black suit for occasional use, as once again seen in the recent run of the Civil War storyline. More on that, later.

but back to Spider-man. It was unclear as to whether the symbiote suit provided Peter with any black webbing but it certainly did for Eddie. In the comics and old cartoons, Spiderman used web cartridges for his webbing, black webbing from the symbiote costume when he had it, and more recently, acquired the ability to produce organic webbing from his wrists much like the way in the movies.

As to the other changes in Spider-man in the comics, one can only hope that Sam and Avi do decide to follow the storylines and make the movie Spider-man more similar to the mainstream Spider-man in the comics.
Events include; dying and being reborn with more archnid-like powers, being taken under Anthony Stark aka Iron Man 's wing and given an armored costume, unmasking himself to the public.

I may have already spoiled so much of the storylines that maybe its too late to say, "Spoilers ahead, Warning."

but, ah well.

Mary Jane Watson

Kirsten Dunst resumes her role as Peter Parker's main love interest, stepping up her role a bit, compared to the 1st 2 shows. Besides the usual screaming when being teh damsel in distress mode, Kirsten portrays a very accurate version of MJ, in her initial angst and quiet frustration at her inability to understand Peter and his double life fully.
MJ has always been Peter's rock whenever he needed support. She has gone all the way out for him, occasionally risking her life so that Peter could do his job as a superhero. In the comics, one good example was when, since the aftermath of the Civil War where Peter unmasked himself, she and aunt may were exposed to even more dangers than before. Once the world knew of Spider-man's identity, a bullseye is immediately drawn over his most beloveds as targets for his numerous enemies, as well, as the government, since he turned over to the other side in the Civil War. MJ was offered a chance by federal agents into having a new life by giving up Spider-man and aiding them in his capture. However, even when under pressure of such, she kept her faith in her husband and defiantly refused to let anyone harm Peter, even in risk of being captured or worse.
MJ and Peter's relationship, although tested and tried many time since the 1st movie, have shown to be progressing very well, and even though Peter didnt ask for her hand in marriage by the end of the show, it can be well assumed, that things will work out for the better once the 3rd sequel comes out, in, oh i dont know, 3-4 years?

Gwen Stacy
Bryce Dallas Howard's role as Gwen Stacy in this movie, turned out to be quite a disappointment. Gwen was Peter's first love in the comics, not MJ as many would assume. She and Peter were more involved than portrayed in the movie. Her character was very akin to a regular random woman who Spider-man happened to save from imminent doom and so happened to harbor crush on the web-slinger afterwards.

I was really expecting Gwen to DIE in this movie, much like the way she died in the comics. A snap of the neck caused by severe whiplash from being yanked upwards during a long fall off a building in an ironical attempt to save her life by Spider-man. She was thrown off the building by the Green Goblin in the comics, but since she was the object of affection of Eddie Brock Jr aka Venom, a quick toss off the roof in order to get to Spider-man by Venom in this case would be a very tragic and interesting turn of events if done so in the movie. But, as this movie as always, a family-friendly one, Marvel has to tune down on senseless harm to sweet pretty girls and not kill the darn woman off when her time's up. Gwen Stacy fans, i'm sorry, but Mary "Go-get'em-tiger" Jane Watson beats her hand down.

Harry Osborn
James Franco played the emotionally tortured Harry well in this show, and even better than his whiny idiotic versions in the past 2 movies. While all Harry did was whine abt his father and make life-threatening rants at Spider-man, he actually went and did something abt it this time, all thanks to the Green Goblin formula he found in his father's secret lab at home.
The movie version of Green Goblin 2 was a rather radical change from the armored one used by his father in the 1st show. With no more PowerRanger villian look and a more sleeker looking hoverboard, James made bad look good in his debut role as a supervillian, albeit a rather short one.
Harry's torn emotions between his loyalty to his friends and his obligations to avenge his father often clash in him, with him resolving the matter finally, and deciding to help Peter in one of the most spectacular team-up battles of all in the marvel universe. Even the Fantastic Four's battle against Dr Doom in the movie was never this dynamic or adrenaline-inducing as Peter and Harry's tag team fight against Venom and Sandman.
Although Harry died in the comics just as he died in the movie, the movie death was more emotional and exciting. Harry died from eventual poisoning in his blood due to overusage of the green goblin formula, but his death scene in the movie, coupled with the amazing fight that ensued before that, proved to have a better impact.

Sandman
Flint Marko, played by Thomas Haden Church, was true to his role as a tragic and unwilling villian, not driven by madness like his predeccesors in Spider-man 1 and 2, but by his need to save his daughter. His humanity, which seperated him from all the Spider-man movie villians so far, have shown a more 3-dimensional character that made us actually feel sorry for his situation, instead of putting on a lame mask and being merry about it.
The Sandman's powers in the movie was fully detailed, from the constant shifting of sand in his body, to the various physics that showed in the fights between him and Spider-man. Thanks to a bigger budget, Sam Raimi's team of graphic designers managed to successfully bring out Sandman's full potential.

Venom
What can i say? The most highly anticipated villian of all in Spider-man movie history since his debut in the comics, Venom was brought out in his full glory and badassness in this film. With the eye appearance similar to that of the comics, as well as his elongated fangs and tongue, Venom was practically cheered for when he finally appeared in the movie.
Eddie's character as a cocky, overconfident photographer was in sync with his comic counterpart, and their eventual humiliation at the hands of Peter Parker and Spider-man were quite truthful to the comics.
However, Venom in the comics, apart form his extreme hatred towards Spider-man, was somewhat an anti-hero. He would perfom occasional acts of heroism, but in rather brutal and unorthodox methods, like a vigilante. The Venom in the movie, was short of being a sociopath.
But, all said and done, the fans got what they wanted, and the big bucks keep rolling in.

Other reviews
The music and themes from the film were as good as the last 2, inspirational, moving and believable. The story theme of a mere student transformed in to a superhero and his eventual acceptance of his role in society, with his determination to protect the innocent, are all heard in the music. This a movie soundtrack that deserves recognition, and, would no doubt, be nominated again at some awards later this year.

The storylines were more engaging and exciting in this 3rd film, and as i said before, the best way to make the fans happy, is to listen to them. Just as they did for the upcoming Fantastic 4 sequel, next year's Iron Man, and DC's Batman Begins sequel, The Dark Knight, the fans have proven themselves worthy and essential to the recipe of a ground-breaking blockbuster movie.



Until next time Spider-man, swing away...

Ken blogged on 2:25 PM

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