You know, I liked the first two Spider-man films, but they didn't age all that well, although they're still good. And the first Andrew Garfield one wasn't terrible. But I never felt like they really got Spidey right. Both franchises did several things well. Ultimately though, the Sam Raimi films were more Sam Raimi films than Spiderman films. And the others were bloated studio cash grabs.
But after Civil War and now this, there's no doubt we were all missing out. I'm so thankful for the classic John Romita Sr. look.
I still quite like the first two Sam Raimi films, and I consider it a feature rather than a bug that they're Sam Raimi films. I mean, that scene in Spider-Man 2 where the arms come to life on the operating table is maybe the scariest villain bit in any superhero movie to date, while also hilarious.
As per aging well? They certainly aged better than Singer's first X-Men, and I do think they're the tipping point that got us to where we are now, allowing studios to think in ways they hadn't before. But I genuinely felt like those first two movies felt like old-school Spidey comics from the 60's and 70's. Peter is put upon, he's a Bad-Luck-Chuck whenever he takes off the mask, and it's played for absurd laughs in SPider-Man II in the manner of a slapstick film, and that's something I don't think I'd seen in a Marvel movie until Doctor Strange (of all films).
The third was where it was clear the studio was going bonkers behind the scenes and it was painful to watch.
But - man, I hated the first Andrew Garfield Spidey and didn't see the second.
Everything about this looks pretty good, and I actually think The Vulture is underutilized, so I'm pretty jazzed he's out villain!
I like that the Vulture seems like an actual threat. Nice to see a villain that seems like he might actually harm someone, but I guess that's Spidey's bread and butter. I just hope we don't get too "Deus Ex Tony Stark".
Yeah. I like that they finally explain how a high school kid has this groovy costume, but a minimum of Tony is preferred.
I've liked Vulture since picking up a Spider-Man reprint digest at Skaggs Alpha Beta in 1987 or so. He's just a straight up jerk, and I thought maybe underutilized in the comics. Before getting into the more complicated villains like Kraven, I'm glad they went with this guy, especially since they cast Keaton. Getting all meta up in here.
I sincerely have no idea how that place ever closed down. My oddest memory was going to buy groceries one night and a Borden Dairy "Bessie the Cow" mascot was sort of forlornly hanging out in a cardboard "barn". Just kind of sadly sitting there under all the bright flourescent lighting and I felt really bad for her.
Yeah. When I moved to Austin, that Albertson's was a "Tom Thumb". I lived in that area from 1984-1990, so it's possible we crossed paths. I was living over off Anderson Mill by Spicewood Elementary.
You're talking about Showplace 6, and, damn, son, I saw most movies there between 1984-1990 than I care to think about. From "The Untouchables" to "Goonies" to "Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome" to "Batman" to "Adventures in Babysitting". "Monster Squad". "Ghostbusters 2". By 8th grade, my mom was letting me just ride my bike over there. Hell, I had my first date ever in that theater. Now, it wasn't always a dollar theater, but it should have been.
You know, I liked the first two Spider-man films, but they didn't age all that well, although they're still good. And the first Andrew Garfield one wasn't terrible. But I never felt like they really got Spidey right. Both franchises did several things well. Ultimately though, the Sam Raimi films were more Sam Raimi films than Spiderman films. And the others were bloated studio cash grabs.
ReplyDeleteBut after Civil War and now this, there's no doubt we were all missing out. I'm so thankful for the classic John Romita Sr. look.
I still quite like the first two Sam Raimi films, and I consider it a feature rather than a bug that they're Sam Raimi films. I mean, that scene in Spider-Man 2 where the arms come to life on the operating table is maybe the scariest villain bit in any superhero movie to date, while also hilarious.
ReplyDeleteAs per aging well? They certainly aged better than Singer's first X-Men, and I do think they're the tipping point that got us to where we are now, allowing studios to think in ways they hadn't before. But I genuinely felt like those first two movies felt like old-school Spidey comics from the 60's and 70's. Peter is put upon, he's a Bad-Luck-Chuck whenever he takes off the mask, and it's played for absurd laughs in SPider-Man II in the manner of a slapstick film, and that's something I don't think I'd seen in a Marvel movie until Doctor Strange (of all films).
The third was where it was clear the studio was going bonkers behind the scenes and it was painful to watch.
But - man, I hated the first Andrew Garfield Spidey and didn't see the second.
Everything about this looks pretty good, and I actually think The Vulture is underutilized, so I'm pretty jazzed he's out villain!
I like that the Vulture seems like an actual threat. Nice to see a villain that seems like he might actually harm someone, but I guess that's Spidey's bread and butter. I just hope we don't get too "Deus Ex Tony Stark".
ReplyDeleteYeah. I like that they finally explain how a high school kid has this groovy costume, but a minimum of Tony is preferred.
ReplyDeleteI've liked Vulture since picking up a Spider-Man reprint digest at Skaggs Alpha Beta in 1987 or so. He's just a straight up jerk, and I thought maybe underutilized in the comics. Before getting into the more complicated villains like Kraven, I'm glad they went with this guy, especially since they cast Keaton. Getting all meta up in here.
Ah, Skaggs. Comics, tapes and movie rentals, all in one gloriously super market. I recall they had a handful of video games, too.
ReplyDeleteI sincerely have no idea how that place ever closed down. My oddest memory was going to buy groceries one night and a Borden Dairy "Bessie the Cow" mascot was sort of forlornly hanging out in a cardboard "barn". Just kind of sadly sitting there under all the bright flourescent lighting and I felt really bad for her.
ReplyDeleteI chuckled at a Twitter post that described the Spider-Man trailer as a feature length Malcom in the Middle with a costume.
ReplyDeleteWhere was that Skaggs? Austin?
ReplyDeleteI like that the guy from Birdman is rhe Birdman in this. Meta.
hell yeah. Skaggs at Anderson Mill and 183. That place had EVERYTHING.
ReplyDeleteWe used to shop there sometimes. More so at the Albertson's on 183/Spicewood Springs (which was where my 2nd job was).
ReplyDeleteI just got to wondering if we ever crossed paths as children in North Austin at some point. Totally possible.
Yeah. When I moved to Austin, that Albertson's was a "Tom Thumb". I lived in that area from 1984-1990, so it's possible we crossed paths. I was living over off Anderson Mill by Spicewood Elementary.
ReplyDeleteAnd now one's an HEB and one's an Aquarium owned by animal abusers.
ReplyDeleteI guess our overlap was only about 4 years, which lessens the chances. But I bet we were both at the $1 theater off Lake Creek Plaza at the same time.
You're talking about Showplace 6, and, damn, son, I saw most movies there between 1984-1990 than I care to think about. From "The Untouchables" to "Goonies" to "Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome" to "Batman" to "Adventures in Babysitting". "Monster Squad". "Ghostbusters 2". By 8th grade, my mom was letting me just ride my bike over there. Hell, I had my first date ever in that theater. Now, it wasn't always a dollar theater, but it should have been.
ReplyDeleteI definitely didn't see any of those there, maybe Ghostbusters 2, but I saw Batman at maybe the Arboretum and haven't seen the others in the theater.
ReplyDeleteI feel like I always remember it as a dollar theater. Wonder what's there now.
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/9740
ReplyDelete