Could we be looking at a complete rebranding of Spider-Man? Including the actor who plays him?
According to Latino Review, that could happen. Sony is a mess right now with its recent hacks, so it’s not their top priority. However, if the current “Spider-Man” movie franchise does struggle, plans could be in place.
From Latino Review’s Kellvin Chavez:
“The 60/40 split still looks to be the divide with Sony handling distribution. However, Marvel’s not inclined to give Sony creative control over the character, nor planning on honoring the contracts with Sony’s Spider-Stars. More poking into the origins of the Aunt May solo film and Female Spider movie rumors revealed that these were actual Sony Picture Entertainment plans that Marvel knew about and severely disliked. Now that Marvel can have the rights to the character back, they plan to wipe the slate with the Amazing Spider-Man universe.
“IF the Marvel/Sony deal were to go forward, Andrew Garfield would no longer be Peter Parker and any baggage from existing films, Raimi or Webb, would be non-canonical, Marvel doesn’t want any part of those films. The idea is that the Spider-Man romance movie has been played out over five installments, so any new Spider-Man films would focus on the difficulties of being a teenager and a superhero with a romance side-story, not the film’s focus. Marvel also thinks that the origin story is well-trodden territory, so any Spider-Man movies under this deal would begin with Peter Parker already leading a dual life. Spider-Man making his debut in Captain America: Civil War is still a distinct possibility and would serve as the character’s introduction to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But as of now Spider-Man will NOT be in Civil War. I was told that they have a script nailed down.”
The next set of reviews we’ll be publishing are some of the ones Roger Thomas has done exclusively for The Stanly News & Press. Roger has written movie reviews for The Stanly News & Press and other outlets for years, long before starting this blog. So we decided it would be good to give readers a sample of his previous work, in addition to posts of reviews of current films. Other reviews will run daily.
Andrew Garfield
I am not a comic-book reader. I may have pointed that out when I reviewed “The Avengers” back in May.
I have great respect for people who read graphic novels (I think that is the term these days). In a way we are kindred spirits: both of us have hobbies based on the consumption of narratives; theirs are printed and illustrated, mine are moving images on a screen. I write all this to say, I am not evaluating “The Amazing Spider-Man” as someone who has read or fully understands the Spider-Man lore. I am just a film-lover who likes a good comic book adaptation.
I also want to state that I am a big fan of the original “Spider-Man” trilogy with Tobey Mcguire playing the title role. If I were ranking those films this would be the order, best to least, 2, 1, 3.
Now let’s consider the new film, “The Amazing Spider-Man.” First, there is great casting here. I liked Tobey Mcguire a great deal, but I think Andrew Garfield brings a whole new dimension to the character. He is great as the shy nerd who is scared of his shadow but he is even better once he gains confidence along with his powers.
I also prefer Emma Stone’s Gwen Stacy to Kirsten Dunst’s Mary Jane. Garfield and Stone have real chemistry and their onscreen relationship seems more real and authentic; possibly because Peter Parker confides in her early in this film. Martin Sheen and Sally Field do a lot with their small roles as Uncle Ben and Aunt May respectively. (I miss Uncle Ben saying, “Remember, with great power, comes great responsibility.” in this film, but Sheen does have a good speech nonetheless.)
Rhys Ifans does good work as both victim and villain in the film. And finally, it is good to see Denis Leary on the big screen again in a pivotal role.
Beyond the casting, this is a stunning film visually. The effects are great especially Spider-Man swinging through New York. The fights are nearly perfectly choreographed. We have seen all of this before, but this time it looks clearer, sharper, more real, and dare I say it, amazing. I am not sure New York ever looked this good in the former trilogy.
Then there is the story. Yes, this is a reboot of the Spider-man origin story. In many ways the first hour of the film are almost exactly the same as the original film of 2002. There are deviations but all the general strokes are the same: Parker is a weak nerd. A spider in a lab bites parker. Parker gains new abilities. Tragedy comes to Parker. Spider-Man is born.
One of the biggest differences here is that it takes much longer for Parker to become noble. Maguire’s Parker decides to be a hero fairly quickly; Garfield’s version stays on a vendetta much longer, and actually has to accomplish something heroic before deciding to be the hero. I like this account better, it seems more honest and realistic. Villains are not usually born evil and neither are heroes born heroic.
The second half of the story is the battle between Spidey and the Lizard-Man. We expect this. The big battle is always the climax. (See “Avengers,” “Men in Black III” and every other comic book film.) But this time it is done exceptionally well including a couple of deeply moving emotional moments that made me want to cheer and shed a tear or two simultaneously.
There are moments in the original trilogy that moved me, and I am glad that director Marc Webb delivered some in his version as well. (By the way, Webb’s previous work is directing the best romantic comedy of the last twenty years, “500 Days of Summer.” If you have not seen it, go and rent it tonight.)
To conclude, and I know this is going to frustrate some people, “Avengers” will be remembered as the biggest film of 2012, but I am not sure it is the best comic book film of this year. And the debate may be moot in two weeks when “The Dark Knight Rises” opens on July 20.
The Amazing Spider-Man” is a smart, fun, exciting, moving, well-cast, well-delivered, visual feast of a film. It belongs beside “Spider-Man 2” as one of the best tales of Peter Parker.
Cinema Corner 