EDITORIAL: In Defense of The Protrayal of Eddie Brock/Venom In SPIDER-MAN 3

EDITORIAL: In Defense of The Protrayal of Eddie Brock/Venom In SPIDER-MAN 3

LEVITIKUZ will be Venom's defense attorney. I will show you how comic book fans shouldn't show hatred towards my client's portrayal in the movie Spider-Man 3.

Editorial Opinion
By LEVITIKUZ - Oct 28, 2012 08:10 AM EST
Filed Under: Fan Fic



OPENING STATEMENTS


Friends, comic book fans, movie fans, teabag, & Grif. I am here to defend a man who has been hated on in his big screen debut. This man is Eddie Brock/Venom. I've prepared an argument to shows how the portrayal of Eddie Brock/Venom wasn't bad. Comic book fans always complain about characters when they aren't based off the comics. Many have complained about Venom's size and length of time and I agree with that but what I don't believe is that Venom sucked. I have gather evidence to support my client that the hatred for him is unjust. I would like to start with Exhibit A.

EXHIBIT A: THE 616 UNIVERSE INFLUENCE ON SPIDER-MAN 3's EDDIE BROCK


In the comics, Brock becomes a reporter and investigates Sin-Eater. He is contacted by Emil Gregg who claims to be the killer. Brock writes an article announcing Gregg as the Sin-Eater. However, the real Sin-Eater is caught by Spider-Man and Brock is revealed to have been interviewing a compulsive confessor. Brock is fired from his job and then his life just goes down. Brock becomes obsessed with gaining revenge against Spider-Man, blaming him for catching the real Sin-Eater. In the movie, Brock was a photographer and wanted a job for the Daily Bugle and competes with Peter Parker. To get the job, Brock posts what Johan wants. Brock photoshops a photo that looks like Spider-Man is robbing a bank. Peter has probe that shows Brock photoshopped and Brock is fired. Sure the events are different, but the principals are the same. Brock gave false information to a newspaper and is fired. Then Brock blames either Peter Parker or Spider-Man for him getting fired instead of him taking fully responsibility for his actions.

EXHIBIT B: THE ULTIMATE's INFLUENCE ON SPIDER-MAN 3’s EDDIE BROCK


I think I get what Sam Raimi was going at here with the portrayals of Peter Parker and Eddie Brock. In the Ultimate universe, Eddie Brock is about the same size and Peter Parker. No one complained about Brock's size in Ultimate.

EXHIBIT C: THE BIRTH OF VENOM


One thing about Raimi is in his Spidey movies, in some scenes he is very faithful to the comics. Out of his trilogy, the birth of Venom is by far one of not only the best scene but most faithful. In the comics, Peter is in the top of a church where the bell is ringing and Peter is trying to get the symbiote suit off. Brock is at the same church Peter is. Brock is praying to God for forgiveness. When Brock leaves the symbiote becomes attached to his and takes over Brock. Brock and the symbiote become one now. They become Venom. The birth of Venom was a scene very similar from the comics that was done great in the film. It did the comics justice.

CLOSING STATEMENTS


Now you can say "Venom sucked because Sony wanted him." you can say "Raimi should have stood up and not included Venom." You can say "Venom sucked because he wasn't big or was in the movie for like 20 minutes." You can say crap about Topher Grace as Venom but facts are facts. There were many influences from the comics that were used in the movie for Eddie Brock. Sam Raimi wanted Eddie to be the same size and look similar to Peter but be different. Look how Batman & Joker are 2 sides of the same coin, the same can be said about Spider-Man and Venom's relationship. I'm not defending Spider-Man 3, just Eddie Brock/Venom. Based on the evidence it's clear Sam took influences from the 616 and Ultimate universes in his Venom. Topher Grace was a good foil for Tobey Macguire's Peter. Where Peter was good and did things the right way, Eddie choose the quick and evil way. I feel that I fully have enough evidence to support my case. Unfortunately I don't have evidence to defend that emo dance scene in Spider-Man 3. I hope you guys see what I'm trying to say. I rest my case. Peace.

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BarnaclePete
BarnaclePete - 10/28/2012, 8:42 AM
Problem with that movie wasn't Venom. Topher Grace iin my opinion was perfect was Eddie Brock. Once he became Venom it wasn't handled as well as it could have. The movie as a whole was a mess. Tried to do more than they could handle with the story and characters. I don't thing their was too many villains as some do, they just didn't know how to balance it all properly.
aresww3
aresww3 - 10/28/2012, 9:47 AM
@levitikuz - I actually agree, I think you´ve made some valid points. I always thought people were too hard on spidey 3 and topher grace. Topher was the best thing about spidey 3 for me, now I don´t read Spiderman comics, so I can´t comment on the faithfulness to the source material, but from what I´ve read of Spiderman in past Raimi stayed faithful at least to the tone and spirit of Spiderman. And spidey 3 was no worse or better than the rest of his films. the problem with the spiderman films for me is that Spidey just isn´t that interesting a character, once your older he just doesn´t hold the same weight as other characters.

Good article Levitikuz. But don´t quote me ;)
Tainted87
Tainted87 - 10/28/2012, 11:13 AM
I agree with this 100%, good write-up, LEVITIKUZ!

I think there were ultimately two problems with Brock/Venom. I mean, sure, there's the little ones, but they are symptoms of the two.

First: the cast. While I have no problem with Eddie having the same body type as Peter, Topher Grace PHONED IT IN. Some lines are awesome by accident, others seem like he's not trying hard enough. "My spider-sense is tingling - if you know what I'm talking about..." was one of the good ones. When he lands on Peter and tells him his plans, however, I uh... couldn't empathize at all.
I have had this half-baked theory ever since Thomas Haden Church and Topher Grace were announced, that the two were not in the least bit sought out. Is it any coincidence that about two weeks before their announcement, "Sideways" and "In Good Company" came out simultaneously on DVD? The actors certainly were not inspired choices. But yeah, no evidence to prove it, just a feeling.

Second: the amount of screen time. As we all know, Raimi didn't really like the character, but Avi Arad and fans pressured him into writing Venom in, almost at the last minute. There was no exploration of the character's motivations, nor his relationship with the symbiote. How does he know to grab Mary Jane? WE know because the symbiote retains all of Peter's memories, but it is never explained in the movie. At any rate, Brock should have become Venom at the last possible minute, giving us an awesome cliffhanger.
aresww3
aresww3 - 10/28/2012, 12:30 PM
@levitikuz - even archenemies see eye to eye once in a while :) keep up the good work.
Knightrider
Knightrider - 10/28/2012, 12:41 PM
I guess one of my major gripes was ''Eddie" was mentioned in the first movie; Robert Roberson saids "Eddie's been on it for weeks." in regards to getting a clear picture if Spider-man. Yet in the 3rd movie no-one knows who this guy is.

Yes, could say is a different guy, but c'mon out all the names that could have chosen for a throw-away-line Eddie is a clear reference to Eddie Broock.

So I thought they should have shown him in 2 perhaps illustrated the point that because Peter got the Spider-man pictures Eddie wasn't working then carried that through to the 3rd.

Also, I really disliked the idea that this alien life form just so happened to land next to the one man on Earth with Super-powers. All over mediums to my knowledge gave a good reason for Spider-man to come into contact with the suit. Again like the "Eddie" mention in SM1, they introduce JJ's son, the astronaut, seemingly setting up the idea that he may go into space and find this thing, but again is never followed through
EdgyOutsider
EdgyOutsider - 10/28/2012, 1:15 PM
I've always defended the portrayal of Venom is Spider-Man 3. While yes, I prefer him to have a bigger role. He did is part in the movie just fine. Alot of fans complain how Topher Grace wasn't a built guy and how a built guy is needed for Venom. That's not necessarilly true. It don't matter how built the actor is as long as they stay true to the spirit of the character, which they did. I would like to see Venom in this Spider-Man trilogy but it probably won't happen. As I stated before, I've supported Venom's portrayal in the film despite how short he was in it AS Venom. I thought Topher Grace was a good choice. He is so well known for portraying the goodie two shoes in That 70's Show and is always known for playing the good guy that people don't give him a chance to play a villianous role. He proved he can in SM3 and in Predators. Topher Grace played Eddie Brock/Venom well. I would be completely happy if they would've gave him more screen time as Venom.
FirstAvenger
FirstAvenger - 10/28/2012, 7:20 PM
Good point.
AfterlifeGuy
AfterlifeGuy - 10/28/2012, 10:10 PM
I agree with this article and the way you pointed out all the similarities make Raimi's Venom understandable and very accurate.

As a Venom fan, I honestly disliked it a lot, it was a huge letdown, I mean, when I was seeing SM3 and the church scene came up, I was extremely excited, Raimi completely nailed the scene and it was just epic to me, it gave me chills, but as the movie (or at least the last 20 min) progressed, it felt like Venom was very forced and you have to agree on this with me: as you pointed out in your article, Spidey and Venom are like opposites or the 2 sides of a coin, however, in the movie they tried to do it and while they succeeded with the Peter-Eddie relationship, they failed with Spiderman and Venom.

Sandman ended up being the biggest menace and I feel like Venom was just a very poorly done helper of the main villain, if they were going to reduce Venom's actions to that point, they could've done Shocker instead, because Venom was not nearly as creepy, menacing and strong as ANY of its comic book counterpart.

The way it looked was great though, people complained even with the lack of its crazy tongue but I liked it anyways, I was just hoping for Venom to be more of a nemesis and see Spidey struggling on a fight with him, and yeah, choking him from behind with a web or stuff like that was not enough. The "aerial" battle they had was really good, though!!

Great article!
Spideyguy94
Spideyguy94 - 10/29/2012, 4:16 AM
I personally despised venom in sm3. Venom is a much more menacing threat to spider-man than just something for spider-man to fight in the 3rd act because he kidnapped mary jane (again). Eddie brocks motivations are seriously lacking as well. He hates peter parker because peter exposed that he photoshopped a few spidey pics peter took, im sorry but photoshopping your competitors photos and passing them off as your own is stupid and asking to get caught, in the comics it was much more sympathetic because the guy lies to him and screws him over. And the other reason he hates Peter is because he stole his 'girlfriend' even though gwen states early on in the movie they had a coffee which hardly counts as a date. Another thing about venom was that it just felt like Eddie Brock with powers, I never got any sense of the symbiote having a mind of its own it just felt like it was a mindless creature. The venom i know and love from the comics when he refers to himself he says we and us that's a lot more interesting than what they done. They should've done the black suit all the way through 3 and save venom for 4 because venom deserves a whole movie as a villain.
Spideyguy94
Spideyguy94 - 10/29/2012, 4:58 AM
@LEVITIKUZ I didn't mean to come off as offensive if I did there, I do respect your opinion I believe people should be able to say whatever they want, I just disagree with some of what you have said nothing against you personally I but I do agree with some of the things you say here
Spideyguy94
Spideyguy94 - 10/29/2012, 7:02 AM
@ LEVITKUZ i got carried away there lol. I usually just get pissed off when I'm talking about spider-man 3 especially the emo dance urgh.
TheRealDorkKnight
TheRealDorkKnight - 11/9/2012, 10:45 PM
I agree with Spideyguy
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