Spidey's cinematic adventures
My thoughts on all of the solo Spider-Man films to date (Spidey's inclusion in Civil War, Infinity War and End Game will not be covered here). These are in the order I enjoy them.
List activity
42 views
• 0 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
7 titles
- DirectorSam RaimiStarsTobey MaguireKirsten DunstAlfred MolinaPeter Parker is beset with troubles in his failing personal life as he battles a former brilliant scientist named Otto Octavius.For me, the class of the Spider-man films is this one. A lot of lessons were learned from the first film and here Raimi brings to screen one of the best versions of the character. Maguire loosens up his Spidey a bit here and lets him have fun, balancing that with the deterioration of his powers, the loss of confidence that Peter Parker goes through. All things that coincide with the normal growing up, maturing and learning that happens organically. I thought Dunst was not as strong this time around as MJ. There is just something not MJ about her here, I can't put my finger on it. Not sure who was doing her makeup for the film, but they did her no favors, making her look washed out. Just all around, this was not MJ I know and love from the comics. That one critique aside, all other elements of the film are fantastic. Alfred Molina is wonderful as Doc Ock. Where things got a little too campy with Defoe in the first film, Molina gives a more tortured, measured performance. At the time of its release, ranked as one of my favorite comic films of all time. It has slipped down some given the fantastic films that have come out in the following years. But none the less, still one of the best. An "amazing" 9 out of 10 stars.
- DirectorSam RaimiStarsTobey MaguireKirsten DunstWillem DafoeAfter being bitten by a genetically-modified spider, a shy teenager gains spider-like abilities that he uses to fight injustice as a masked superhero and face a vengeful enemy.This film is hailed by and large, but for me, something is just a little off with it. Nothing wrong with the cast, dare I say fan punching bag Dunst, for me, is perfectly cast as MJ and does her best work of the series. I am not a fan of all the CGI Spider-man sequences. I know that is kind of crazy to complain about, to fully show Spidey you gotta have him slinging around town which is going to require some extensive CGI. I totally get that, but they used CGI Spidey even in some of the more basic shots and it just felt too fake. I loved Maguire's "Peter Parker", but I feel his Spidey lacked the fun and flair that the character is known for. Dafoe is a really good Norman Osborne, but his Goblin is WAY too campy for my taste. The CGI elements of the character are some of the worst in the movie and have not held up very well over the years. I have relaxed my critiques of the film over the years and actually enjoy watching it now quite often. Those critiques are still there, I just can enjoy the movie in spite of them. A web-slinging 7 out of 10 stars.
- DirectorMarc WebbStarsAndrew GarfieldEmma StoneRhys IfansAfter Peter Parker is bitten by a genetically altered spider, he gains newfound, spider-like powers and ventures out to save the city from the machinations of a mysterious reptilian foe.Released a scant 5 years after the last Raimi/Maguire Spidey film, many in fandom cried "too soon". I was ready to have Sony rectify the way the first trilogy ended. For the most part, this film gets a lot right. We get a Spider-man that is a total wiseass, self-made webshooters not web shooting from the wrists, more partical Spidey action over CGI. Marc Webb does a fantastic job rebooting the character, giving Parker and Spidey a more 2010's spin than the more classic take that Raimi went with in the Maguire films. I do have to admit, the brooding loner Parker over the science geek Parker is the one character element I really didn't like. Garfield also looked a little too much like a boyband member. Slight critiques, but these would become a bigger issue in the next film. No arguing that Garfield nails Spidey, from his taller, leaner look that is reminiscent of the Ultimate edition of Spidey, to his wise-ass attitude, this was the Spidey I want to see. Emma Stone, as always, a breath of fresh air. Reverting back to her natural blonde locks for the Gwen Stacy role, she is the character pulled straight from the pages of the comic. Ifan's Dr Connors is right on point as well, wonderfully realized. The SFX for his Lizard alter-ego is hit and miss, but overall well done. This incarnation of Spidey ranks just behind Raimi's Spider-man for me. A not-too-soon for me 8 out 10 stars.
- DirectorJon WattsStarsTom HollandMichael KeatonRobert Downey Jr.Peter Parker balances his life as an ordinary high school student in Queens with his superhero alter-ego Spider-Man, and finds himself on the trail of a new menace prowling the skies of New York City.This is a tale of two halves. The first act and a half of the film is hard to get through. There doesn't seem to be any kind of firm footing in the story. We pick up with the events right after the battle from Captain America: Civil War (preceded by an intro to Keaton's character that is set 8yrs earlier). The thing that powers you through the stumbling first half is Holland's fantastic performance as Peter Parker/Spider-man. The second half of the film finds its footing story and pace wise and it ends very strong. There is a surprise character/story twist that is telegraphed a mile away. A couple of political jabs come off as out of place more than topical. The framework is firmly placed by the strong ending, lets hope the next film is more of a complete effort. A work-in-progress Spidey sense 7 out of 10 starts.
- DirectorJon WattsStarsTom HollandSamuel L. JacksonJake GyllenhaalFollowing the events of Avengers: Endgame (2019), Spider-Man must step up to take on new threats in a world that has changed forever.While there are some nice twists and turns, genuine laugh-out-loud moments and Holland continues to provide the best Peter Parker to date, this outing reflects a continued MCU fatigue. Like the first Spidey film under the MCU banner, the first act here is an effort to get through. What is different this time is we end up with a finale that is even more dull than the Captain Marvel finale. The middle act and the two post credit stingers are the best thing about this film. I really hope this is not a harbinger of things to come with the MCU as the last two entries NOT Avenger films, have done just enough to get a 7 out of 10 stars but nothing more. Speaking of, to date, one of the least convincing SFX spectacles in the MCU. While it still manages to get a 7 out of 10 from me, it is disappointing this doesn't rate higher.
- DirectorMarc WebbStarsAndrew GarfieldEmma StoneJamie FoxxWhen New York is put under siege by Oscorp, it is up to Spider-Man to save the city he swore to protect as well as his loved ones.There were still many who were not in the mood to give these films much of a break given their close proximity to the previous trilogy of films and this film suffers the most fan backlash. Unlike Raimi's improvement on his first outing with the excellent Spider-man 2, Marc Webb takes a step backward with his second attempt at the character. Webb's biggest misstep is way too much SFX Spidey. Webb made a point to give us more practical Spidey in "Amazing", then seemed to forget about it here. Jamie Fox's character "Electro" isn't bad, the character is just a little too camped up, much like Defoe's turn as "Goblin". Speaking of Goblin, we also get Harry Osborn, aka "Green Goblin" here. Like with Spidey 3 before it a case of one too many characters here. DeHaan's "Harry/Goblin" is a bit of a hit and miss. At times he is spot on and others there is a bit too much Actor Studio playing in the mix. The film ends on a very down note with a character death that is widely known by fans of the comic. Not a total train wreck as I said before, but an unfortunate for all involved step backward. This would be the last film Garfield would have in the Spidey suit as Tom Holland was selected to carry on the character in the MCU films. A step backward 7 out of 10 stars.
- DirectorSam RaimiStarsTobey MaguireKirsten DunstTopher GraceA strange black entity from another world bonds with Peter Parker and causes inner turmoil as he contends with new villains, temptations, and revenge.Expectations were really high coming on the heels of Spider-man 2, Raimi could do no wrong at this point. However, studio greed got in the way of telling a good story. Raimi already had Sandman being the main antagonist with Harry taking on the Goblin persona, the studio bullied Raimi into adding Venom/Eddie Brock to the list of antagonist. If all of the foes to fight were not enough, they also introduced Gwen Stacy to make Pete's love-life complicated, like it already wasn't complicated. Troubling even more, Bryce Dallas Howard outshines the ever declining Dunst. Then you have EMO Peter. I don't think Raimi will ever live down making Peter a Jazz club hopping EMO. Just tons and tons of too much here. I think had Raimi been left alone and we just had Sandman and Goblin, with just the normal love-life drama without the addition of Gwen Stacy, the film could have ended the trilogy on a high note A not so webtastic 6 out of 10 stars.