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Awesommmme.
Nov. 6th, 2014 04:58 pmSo last night we finally got around to seeing The Amazing Spider-Man. We're usually pretty late on seeing films, and although I was curious about the Spider-Man reboot, I was leery because we seemed to be about the only people who didn't think the 2002 Spider-Man movie was the cat's pajamas. Everyone around us was always praising it up, and then we saw it and were like "... Why?" The special effects were cool and all, but it was so depressing. The thing about the uncle being shot, and then the villain having a split personality and dying because he tried to kill Spider-Man and it backfired, and the son being convinced Spider-Man killed his father and swearing vengeance, not knowing that his best friend is Spider-Man.... Seriously?
Of course, there are some sad things in the reboot film too. The uncle being shot because Peter doesn't intervene with the robber seems to be a staple of the origin story. But it seems to be a necessary thing, because it's that point when he realizes that he has to take responsibility and be involved.
Responsibility is a big theme in both movies, but I prefer how it's brought out in the reboot. Everything is built up to more; Peter doesn't get bit by the spider in the first few minutes of the film. We really get to know him before it happens, and see how he's dealing with it after it happens, and witness this evolution of his character from being an angry, apathetic person to taking responsibility and really wanting to use his powers to help people.
I do think he's a little obnoxious sometimes in the reboot, but that's tempered with a great sincerity and determination to help. And the guy that was such a bully to him ends up becoming a nicer person and perhaps even a friend by the end.
The bad guy in the reboot isn't the same one from the 2002 film. He goes bad from honestly wanting to help people and then flips out when he injects himself with an experimental drug, but it looks like by the end of the film he's brought back to himself. Instead of trying to kill Spider-Man, he struggles to save him from falling. And he doesn't die himself, either.
The girl in the reboot is a lot more likable. They used Gwen instead of Mary Jane, and I like her sooo much better. She's smart and sharp and deep and a techie and I am very sad that she is ( Spoiler for those who haven't seen the sequel/don't know the comics )
Gwen's policeman father is really against Spider-Man for most of the film, but in the climax he comes to help him fight the bad guy and says he realizes the city does need Spider-Man. He dies, and that's really sad, and he makes Peter promise to stay away from Gwen so she won't be hurt while he's off being Spider-Man. But the film doesn't end on a discouraging note; he indicates to her that he will still see her, and she's happy because she doesn't want him to keep to that promise. I bet if it had been like the 2002 movie, she wouldn't have realized there was a promise and she would have just left feeling hurt that he didn't come to the funeral.
I really love the hope that there is in the reboot. The first one just seemed so discouraging, but this one has awesome scenes like these crane operators realizing Spider-Man needs to get to the bad guy and he's hurt, so they set up their cranes so he can swing from one to the next on the webbing and get there fast. It's a very powerful scene.
I also loved that there was barely any swearing, although on that point, I think both movies were similar.
All in all, I'm thrilled to have seen a really good Spider-Man film. Although I wonder if most people still prefer the earlier film. I would be amused if so, but not really surprised, since we disagreed on the earlier film to begin with. It would make sense if we also disagreed on the newer one.
Of course, there are some sad things in the reboot film too. The uncle being shot because Peter doesn't intervene with the robber seems to be a staple of the origin story. But it seems to be a necessary thing, because it's that point when he realizes that he has to take responsibility and be involved.
Responsibility is a big theme in both movies, but I prefer how it's brought out in the reboot. Everything is built up to more; Peter doesn't get bit by the spider in the first few minutes of the film. We really get to know him before it happens, and see how he's dealing with it after it happens, and witness this evolution of his character from being an angry, apathetic person to taking responsibility and really wanting to use his powers to help people.
I do think he's a little obnoxious sometimes in the reboot, but that's tempered with a great sincerity and determination to help. And the guy that was such a bully to him ends up becoming a nicer person and perhaps even a friend by the end.
The bad guy in the reboot isn't the same one from the 2002 film. He goes bad from honestly wanting to help people and then flips out when he injects himself with an experimental drug, but it looks like by the end of the film he's brought back to himself. Instead of trying to kill Spider-Man, he struggles to save him from falling. And he doesn't die himself, either.
The girl in the reboot is a lot more likable. They used Gwen instead of Mary Jane, and I like her sooo much better. She's smart and sharp and deep and a techie and I am very sad that she is ( Spoiler for those who haven't seen the sequel/don't know the comics )
Gwen's policeman father is really against Spider-Man for most of the film, but in the climax he comes to help him fight the bad guy and says he realizes the city does need Spider-Man. He dies, and that's really sad, and he makes Peter promise to stay away from Gwen so she won't be hurt while he's off being Spider-Man. But the film doesn't end on a discouraging note; he indicates to her that he will still see her, and she's happy because she doesn't want him to keep to that promise. I bet if it had been like the 2002 movie, she wouldn't have realized there was a promise and she would have just left feeling hurt that he didn't come to the funeral.
I really love the hope that there is in the reboot. The first one just seemed so discouraging, but this one has awesome scenes like these crane operators realizing Spider-Man needs to get to the bad guy and he's hurt, so they set up their cranes so he can swing from one to the next on the webbing and get there fast. It's a very powerful scene.
I also loved that there was barely any swearing, although on that point, I think both movies were similar.
All in all, I'm thrilled to have seen a really good Spider-Man film. Although I wonder if most people still prefer the earlier film. I would be amused if so, but not really surprised, since we disagreed on the earlier film to begin with. It would make sense if we also disagreed on the newer one.
