I have a confessions to make, and it may appall some of you readers... but I am a humungous, blithering Spider-Man fan...
...and I haven't read one comic.
*flinches*
I know, I know. It's disgusting of me to be so passionate about a single super hero without ever reading the material it was inspired from. It's almost the equivalent of someone being a die-hard Harry Potter fan without ever reading a single book! But I can't help it... I love him. :)
And do you know who else I love?
Tobey Maguire.
I absolutely love love love his versions of the Spider-Man movies, and don't care HOW many people tell me they're cheesy, or that Maguire is a creep, or that the villains and plot lines are lame, I will still love them! And it was my deep and sincere love for this version of Spider-Man that I was so very torn at the news that a new movie was coming out... a "new" movie? What was wrong with the old ones? Would this new one be as dark and violent as most of these current super hero movies have become (coughcoughBATMANcoughcough)?
To say the least, I was worried.
But going into this movie I tried to keep an open mind. I didn't want to blind myself to what this new movie had to offer because of my stupid prejudices against sequels mixed with my enthusiasm for the original movies. I mean... what if this new movie was incredible? What if I ended up loving up, but not letting myself because of a false sense of loyalty? So I went in, I was exited, and I ended up absolutely adoring it. I'm not going to lie, it gave those original movies a run for their money in my heart...
So why don't I go ahead and let you in on some of my comparisons eh? I'm going to let you know what I liked about each of these movies in comparison to the other, and then we'll try to focus JUST on "The Amazing Spider Man".
Because people... it WAS amazing! :)
1. Parker vs. Parker: Okay, so first let's talk about each actor's rendition of the character Peter Parker. Parker's character is described as a "professional wall flower" at his High School; he is anti-social, awkward, painfully looked over by girls, and extremely intellectually gifted. In each of these movies we get a Peter who is an outcast, doesn't fit in, is picked on, is brilliant, and is ultimately misunderstood. However, in each of these movies this archetype is achieved through different stereotypes. Maguire's Parker is the typical "chess club" nerd. In the school scene he is the epitome of awkward to the point where it almost makes the audience uncomfortable just watching him! I love the scene where MJ slips in the cafeteria and he catches both her and all of her food she's all like, "Wow! Great reflexes Peter! And woa... I've never noticed hwo beautiful your eyes are without your glasses! If you were hanging upside down in an alley way with a mask on, I'd totes make-out with you"... and he literally just stares at her with this half-blank goofy smile until she gets weirded out enough and leaves. Oh it's just so painful! Maguire's Parker is a loveable teddy-bear of a nerd who is so painfully socially outcast that its contrast to his alter-ego is as stark as a grape juice stain on marble floors. Now... Andrew Garfield's version of Peter Parker is more of the skater, misfit, misunderstood social outcast kind of character. People know his name and they know who he is, they just choose not to associate with him. One thing that is really interesting to me is that he isn't the lowest member on the food chain - which Maguire's Parker was - and we see that during the lunch fight scene. Flash is beating up a nerd when Peter steps in and tells him to stop. Flash's anger is then redirected to him and, being physically inferior to him is then beat up himself. He still has the same awkwardness around girls, but Garfield is attractive enough that he just looks adorable in his awkwardness, not actually awkward like Maguire does.
Another differing aspect between the two Parkers is their back story and their level of nerdy geniusness. One thing that is completely different between these two guys is their status of an orphan. They're both orphans living with Aunt May and Uncle Ben however, Maguire's Peter is just that... and orphan being raised by his aunt and uncle. Garfield's Peter? Oh... his dad was just a scientific genius with a secret discovery that was the answer to cross-species genetics but had to hide it because it was too dangerous for the rest of the world, so he and his wife were forced to drop off their son at a relative's house to be raised while they dropped off the map in order to protect a mathematic equation, but in the process they are killed themselves... NDB. This total back story adds to the whole "tortured soul" persona of this new Peter Parker, and it also adds so cool dimension to his level of smart-ness... he got it from his dad, and his inherited brilliant mind is what completes the missing genetic formula from OSCORP Industries. The old Peter Parker was more of a silent brainiac, trapped in his introverted world, and finally freed with the powers he gets from the bite (which we'll talk about later).
And do you know who else I love?
Tobey Maguire.
I absolutely love love love his versions of the Spider-Man movies, and don't care HOW many people tell me they're cheesy, or that Maguire is a creep, or that the villains and plot lines are lame, I will still love them! And it was my deep and sincere love for this version of Spider-Man that I was so very torn at the news that a new movie was coming out... a "new" movie? What was wrong with the old ones? Would this new one be as dark and violent as most of these current super hero movies have become (coughcoughBATMANcoughcough)?
To say the least, I was worried.
But going into this movie I tried to keep an open mind. I didn't want to blind myself to what this new movie had to offer because of my stupid prejudices against sequels mixed with my enthusiasm for the original movies. I mean... what if this new movie was incredible? What if I ended up loving up, but not letting myself because of a false sense of loyalty? So I went in, I was exited, and I ended up absolutely adoring it. I'm not going to lie, it gave those original movies a run for their money in my heart...
So why don't I go ahead and let you in on some of my comparisons eh? I'm going to let you know what I liked about each of these movies in comparison to the other, and then we'll try to focus JUST on "The Amazing Spider Man".
Because people... it WAS amazing! :)
1. Parker vs. Parker: Okay, so first let's talk about each actor's rendition of the character Peter Parker. Parker's character is described as a "professional wall flower" at his High School; he is anti-social, awkward, painfully looked over by girls, and extremely intellectually gifted. In each of these movies we get a Peter who is an outcast, doesn't fit in, is picked on, is brilliant, and is ultimately misunderstood. However, in each of these movies this archetype is achieved through different stereotypes. Maguire's Parker is the typical "chess club" nerd. In the school scene he is the epitome of awkward to the point where it almost makes the audience uncomfortable just watching him! I love the scene where MJ slips in the cafeteria and he catches both her and all of her food she's all like, "Wow! Great reflexes Peter! And woa... I've never noticed hwo beautiful your eyes are without your glasses! If you were hanging upside down in an alley way with a mask on, I'd totes make-out with you"... and he literally just stares at her with this half-blank goofy smile until she gets weirded out enough and leaves. Oh it's just so painful! Maguire's Parker is a loveable teddy-bear of a nerd who is so painfully socially outcast that its contrast to his alter-ego is as stark as a grape juice stain on marble floors. Now... Andrew Garfield's version of Peter Parker is more of the skater, misfit, misunderstood social outcast kind of character. People know his name and they know who he is, they just choose not to associate with him. One thing that is really interesting to me is that he isn't the lowest member on the food chain - which Maguire's Parker was - and we see that during the lunch fight scene. Flash is beating up a nerd when Peter steps in and tells him to stop. Flash's anger is then redirected to him and, being physically inferior to him is then beat up himself. He still has the same awkwardness around girls, but Garfield is attractive enough that he just looks adorable in his awkwardness, not actually awkward like Maguire does.
Another differing aspect between the two Parkers is their back story and their level of nerdy geniusness. One thing that is completely different between these two guys is their status of an orphan. They're both orphans living with Aunt May and Uncle Ben however, Maguire's Peter is just that... and orphan being raised by his aunt and uncle. Garfield's Peter? Oh... his dad was just a scientific genius with a secret discovery that was the answer to cross-species genetics but had to hide it because it was too dangerous for the rest of the world, so he and his wife were forced to drop off their son at a relative's house to be raised while they dropped off the map in order to protect a mathematic equation, but in the process they are killed themselves... NDB. This total back story adds to the whole "tortured soul" persona of this new Peter Parker, and it also adds so cool dimension to his level of smart-ness... he got it from his dad, and his inherited brilliant mind is what completes the missing genetic formula from OSCORP Industries. The old Peter Parker was more of a silent brainiac, trapped in his introverted world, and finally freed with the powers he gets from the bite (which we'll talk about later).
2. Mary Jane Watson vs. Gwen Stacey: Okay... this is one issue that I will admit to having about the original Spider-Man movies. MJ. Oh my gosh, Kirsten Dunst just annoys the crap out of me! I don't care if she was in Jumanji, she bugs me. Emma Stone on the other hand...? I think she is fantastic! She doesn't do the weird "droopy eye" thing that Dunst always does, and overall I loved her character Gwen Stacey so much more!!! She has brains AND looks and is a total "good girl". She is an intern at OSCORP Industries, is at the top of her class, tutors the bullies, is the daughter of a cop, and isn't afraid to take action for what she knows is right and wrong. MJ? She's a slightly slutty version of the "girl next door", is dating the bully, and is oblivious to what is right and wrong. Hmmm... I pick the science goody two shoes girl. :) She dresses modestly, gets straight A's, and still gets the guy!
Plus... sorry MJ, but the chemistry between Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone FAR EXCEEDS that between Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst... FAR EXCEEDS people. In the original Spider-Man movies I do understand that their relationship was meant to be a tragic, "we can never be" relationship but really Mr. Director...? Did you have to make them so... awkward together? And yes, this IS Peter Parker we're talking about, but I feel that the new Amazing Spider-Man did an incredibly better job at putting together a love interest and romance for Peter. It's so full of innocence and discovery, and you find yourself rooting for the relationship almost as much as you do for the hero himself! There is absolutely no weird air between these two actors at all, and when it comes to their romantic scenes....?
If you tell me that this isn't one of the most romantic, perfect chemistry, incredible acting scenes you had ever seen in your life, then you are a fool and you are LYING to yourself! People, this scene was brilliant! It was steamy without them having sex or making out... or kissing at all for that matter! It was just so innocent, yet vulnerable, and was probably the turning point in their relationship where Gwen has to choose between loyalty to her father and her love for Peter and Garfield and Stone executed it with complete and utter concentrated PERFECTION!!! My hat is off to those two fake love birds... and I don't even wear hats!
3. The Kiss: Okay... who could forget that upside down Spider-Man kiss? You cannot, I tell you, it simply can't be done. It is too epic and too iconic. With that being said, it's almost unfair to try and compare these two kisses because the one on the right has no chance of defeating the one on the left... however it does have its own levels of swoon-worthy awesomeness that I think are worthy of recognition! First, I absolutely love and hate just how smooth Peter Parker is after having supposedly NO girl experience whatsoever. At first I was like, "Oh puh-LEASE Hollywood! There is no way that a nerd like Peter can be that smooth and that good at making out!" But then the scene played out and I remembered that I had to stop comparing Parker present to Parker past. This Peter isn't the same kind of social awkward as old Peter... he's more misunderstood, outcast, and down-trodden. Yes he's a nerd, but he's more a skater, bad-boy nerd and therefore has a bit more "swag" - if you will - and is able to pull his smooth "web-sling-catch-girl-make-out" move. I also love that during this scene he is trying so hard to tell her that he is Spider-Man and he just... can't! He physically cannot bring himself to say it, so he is reduced to showing her. But Garfield really did do a fantastic job at showing the mixture of nerves in Peter from both trying to reveal his secret and being on a rooftop with the girl of his dreams... "Okay, okay, okay, okay... *vigourous head shakes*" ... adorable. Also... the fact that Gwen is piiiiiiiised upon finding out that he is Spider-Man and he still gets her to make out with him deserved some MAD props! And lastly...? My favorite line of perhaps the whole movie, Gwen stops kissing him at first and starts to protest about him being the stupid vigilante and that he lied and that he is a jerk etc., and what does he say? "Shut up!" She then agrees that she's being stupid and the make-out continues. Holy yes. Whomever's idea it was to combine insults with romance created one swoon-worthy scene!
And just because it's that awesome... watch it right here. :) It has easily snuck its way into my list of all time favorite movie kisses!
4. Soundtrack: Okay guys... this one is a touchy subject for me. I abso-freaking-lutely love the original Spider-Man movie soundtrack by Danny Elfman. It seriously cannot be topped! Ever! So seriously! Stop trying! In all seriously, the new soundtrack is good... but that's all it is folks, it's just good. It's not fantastic, and it's definitely not comparable to the Danny Elfman score... that's all I have to say. There's no competition, hands down the original score beats the new score into the dirt. Just listen, you'll see what I mean...
Original Danny Elfman Masterpiece...
New Amazing Spider-Man James Horner Mediocrity...
5. The Suit:
As far as the suit goes... this had to be believably conceived as a full-body suit put together by a teenage boy. No ifs, ands, or buts about it... when going along those lines, the new suit takes the cake. The material is less like spandex and more like... something else (I'm not going to pretend to be savvy in fabrics and materials), and the footsies actually have grips... as if he actually took boots and added them into the suit. And the eyepieces are actually lenses from sunglasses engineered to fit into the face mask. I don't know about you, but as hard as it looks, it's at least conceivable. However, the look of the old suit, in my opinion, is much more comic-book looking due to its lack of texture and more opaque coloring. So in this category, it really all depends on you preference: looks, or believability.
UPDATE FROM THE WRITER
This post has been in the drafts folder for months now and I'm sort of sick of seeing it there.
So I'm just going to give this over to all y'all unfinished...
Is that alright?
Good.
Sorry to leave you all hanging. I knoooow that posts about suerheros is what you're all DYING to hear me rant about. ;)
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