Hi! I'm Will. Most of you don't know me, but that's not really important. All you really need to know is that I'm a filmmaker, and a purist, when it comes to the wallcrawler. Seriously. I still believe Amazing Fantasy 15 Spidey is the only Spidey that matters.
Moving on.
Sam Raimi, Marc Webb. No.
I grew up watching Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy, and while it was fun watching him come to the big screen for the first time, it just wasn't Spider-Man. I have to admit that the organic webshooter crap actively pissed me off. MJ being the first love interest? Gwen being a model? THAT'S WRONG. I know I probably sound closed minded, but I don't care. Honestly, IN MY OPINION (I can't stress "IMO" enough) there is only one way to do Spidey, and that's how he was written in the 60s.
I'm not completely against changes however.
When I first caught wind of Marc Webb's Amazing Spider-Man reboot, I was excited. Not only because it was a new Spider-Man film but because it was a fresh start. Maybe,
just maybe, someone is going to get the webhead
right. And TASM did not dissapoint. Mechanic Webshooters? Check. Gwen Stacy as first love? Check. That's just about where my positive feelings towards this movie end. Besides Andrew Garfield's preformance. I mean, his Peter Parker wasn't
perfect but he damn near nailed Spider-Man. It would seem even more so in the The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Also, Emma Stone is as hot as the fiery depths of hell, but that's about it. The rest of the movie still didn't really cut it for me. It was too dark. Spider-Man is supposed to be colorful and exciting. Happy. While his story is a tragic one, he is still one of the most light-hearted heroes out there. Keep him that way. He does not need the "Batman Begins" treatment.
I'm not saying I can't appreciate these movies for what they are. Adaptations. A lot of fans would find a panel-to-panel adaptation of a comic boring. They've seen it before. I beg to differ, but if you have a different opinion, make your own article.
I've been thinking and writing for months and I've come up with a few ideas to how I would like to see a Spider-Man movie done, or better yet, how I would do a Spider-Man Movie. Rather, a Spider-Man short film. Check it out.
THE STORY
The movie starts off in the bedroom of a 16 year old Peter Parker. He is woken up by his rowdy Uncle Ben, who tells him to make his way downstairs for breakfast. At the table, his Uncle & Aunt tell him how they were talking and decided to buy him that new microscope that he wanted (A scene taken directly out of Amazing Fantasy 15, to showcase how much his surrogate parents care for him).
Peter leaves for school.
In class, tests are being handed out. The teacher remarks how, once again, Parker has gotten the highest scores in the class (Yes, to show off his intelligence. Obvious, but necessary). Jealous, school meat-head and bully, Flash Thompson throws his crumpled test at the back of Peter's head. Peter simply ignores him.
The bell rings, and the students jump to their feet, Flash purposely knocking Peter's books off his desk. As he gathers his things off the floor, Peter's teacher approaches. He offers Peter two tickets to a science exhibition happening in town after school.
After the final bell has rung, Peter walks outside and approaches fellow classmate Sally Avril. He asks her sheepishly if she wants to attend the exhibition with him. She declines(Also a scene straight out of AF15). Flash walks over, pushing Peter to the ground, taking Sally and leaving. They all hop in Flash's car and peel away. Peter, unable to defend himself, just dusts himself off and makes his way to the exhibition.
Peter looks around in amazement at the experiments and what-not happening around him. One particular goings-on catches his eye. An experiment regarding radioactive waves.
Peter approaches two large Van Der Graff looking things. Peter watches dutifully as, unbeknownst to himself, a small black spider descends from the ceiling directly into the path of the generators. A man starts up the generators. The spider is caught in the radioactive waves, and falls from it's webs, directly onto Peter. As it slowly begin to die, the small creature unleashes one final bite - onto the hand of our young Parker.
I think you all see where this is going. It is literally a panel-to-screen adaptation of Amazing Fantasy 15. Right down to the damn camera angles. I wanted to keep everything the same as my favorite comic, even the dialouge, which has only been changed to seem a bit more modern. Example:
Amazing Fantasy 15 Dialouge:
UNCLE BEN
You're not foolin' ME, Petey!
I know you're awake--And it's time for school!
PETER
Gosh, Uncle Ben--You're worse than a room full of alarm clocks!
It's corny as hell. I changed it a tad.
My Dialouge:
PETER'S alarm clock goes off, and he reaches out and stops it, pulling his blanket back over himself.
His uncle ben sneaks into the room, tearing the blanket off Peter.
UNCLE BEN
Come on, Pete! You're not fooling anybody. Get up! Your Aunt made breakfast.
PETER flips onto his face, talking into the pillow.
PETER
God, you're worse than the friggin' alarm clock.
Get the picture?
The story basically follows Amazing Fantasy panel by panel. The only thing I wanted to do was make it seem like this kid exists in reality. First thing he does with these powers is fame and fortune. He makes appearences on TV shows, does his whole wrestling shtick, the whole nine yards. I wanted to make sure it was apparent that he wasn't in this to be a hero. I think my favorite scene I wrote was the scene right after Uncle Ben's death:
PETER sprints angrily through the streets. Damn! Traffic Jam. He takes the alleyway. He dodges a few trashcans, jumping off a dumpster and - What?! Oh yeah. He can stick to walls. PETER remembers his abilities, through his anger. After hesitating, he scales the wall. He leaps from rooftop to rooftop. The gaps get bigger and bigger when suddenly, theres one he just can't make. He notices a building several stories taller. Webshooters.. PETER takes off his clothes to reveal his Spider-Man costume - He had just gotten back from a guest appearence on a TV show. PETER attaches a line to the tall building and takes a few steps back. He intends to use the web as swing to make the gap. He takes a running start and leaps! He swings, nervously, over the gap, arms and legs flailing. Oh no! The web isn't long enough! PETER comes just short of the opposite ledge! As he starts to swing backwards, he webs the opposite ledge. He is caught, motionless, between each ledge. He releases the first line, but now hes swinging directly towards a wall! He webs another building to pull himself away, but he collides with the corner, knocking him off his webs and into the night sky. Free falling, PETER yells, terrified, spinning through the air. He steadies his fall and - THWIP! Fires a webline to the buildings above him! He arcs just above the street below, swinging his legs over some cars.
What I wanted to show with that scene is that it wasn't Peter's first instinct to swing from his web-lines. It happened by accident. Because, really, in a world without Spider-Man who's first thought would be "You know, I could probably dangerously swing through buildings with these crazily-thin strings of glue." No.
So yeah. The entire story is basically Amazing Fantasy 15. I did, however change the end scene. That last panel, that I'm sure we all remember.
I've turned that panel into the final swing. Because every Spidey movie needs a final swing. Heres what that scene looks like:
PETER sits on the corner of the building, crying, staring down at the mask. Understanding now, that these powers aren't to be wasted. His face morphs to one of determination. He pulls the mask over his eyes, standing. With little to no effort, PETER drops off the building, into a nose dive. THWIP! He swings directly back into the air! PETER shows off that he is truly Amazing as the following is narrated:
UNCLE BEN (As Narrator)
And a lean.. silent figure.. slowly fades into the gathering darkness. Aware. At last. That in this world. With Great Power. There must also come... Great Responsibility.
END
So yeah that's a bit different. But that's my story.
And yes, I'm aware we've seen Spidey's origins a million times but shut up, this is my article.
THE SUIT
Oh, the suit. This could potentially make or break a Spidey film (or any superhero film I suppose).
I liked Raimi's suit. It was good. I liked everything but the eyes. They bothered me. Also the fact that it looked like somebody professionally made it for him. I mean, Peter is a kid. I don't know about any teens out there but that would be hard as hell to pull off.
Amazing Spider-Man got a little closer to the home-made/made by a kid aspect of the suit. Sneakers for the bottom of the boots, and sunglass lenses as the eyes were brilliant but even then. It still seemed too theatrical.
I don't think the Spidey suit has to look like it was made for a movie to look good. The suit should be obviously stitched together. The weblines should not be perfect. They should be like this.
That would be perfect.
The suit should be a little baggy in some places. It should be obvious that it's pants tucked into boots and a mask tucked into a turtle neck. It should show that while Peter is a genius, he isn't wonderful with a needle.
And I know a lot of people don't like it, but I'm keeping the damn armpit webbing. But not like we've seen it. Something like they've done here in this concept art from TASM. Like a tattered cape.. Sort of.
As for the eyes and the spiders?
I have one thing to say about that.
Ditko. Don't act like you didn't see that coming.
THE TITLE
I put a long time into thinking of the perfect title. Being the purist that I am, I wanted to call it "Spider-Man" after that very first story in Amazing Fantasy 15 but Raimi kind of called dibs.
"Amazing Spider-Man" would have been second choice, naming it after the hero's flagship title, but look at that. Webb took it.
So I started thinking DC. The Dark Knight. Man of Steel. Movies named after alternate names for these heroes. I mean, Spidey's got nicknames but I don't think many people want to see a movie called "Webhead" or "Wallcrawler."
So then I started thinking about what would be instantly recognizable as a Spider-Man film. And then it hit me.
With Great Power
It's perfect. It's simple. It's Spider-Man's mantra. It sums up the entire arc of this short film. Peter learning that With Great Power. Comes Great Responsibility.
THE MUSIC
A lot of people think Danny Elfman's score in the Raimi films was perfect. It was pretty damn good. And it was catchy. But Spider-Man, it was not. Spider-Man is a hero. His theme should be fanfare. It should be heroic. Uplifting. When I think of Spidey I think of trumpets and hard-hitting strings and a wonderful catchy, heartwarming tune that makes the audience giddy at the arrival of the webslinger.
It's a little off the ball, but Henry Jackman's score in Captain America: TWS is similar to what I would like in a Spider-Man movie. Actually, if Henry Jackman wants to score every Spider-Man film for the forseeable future that would just be great.
Now I don't really want to do a fan-cast or crew or anything like that because this may be a project I intend to pursue. I'll put together a cast of local actors/actresses/friends that fit the bill.
So!
That's basically the bulk of my ideas when it comes to a Spidey movie.
If some of you guys actually like the idea I may pursue it as a short film project, but I don't know. I've got school and work and stuff to worry about so who knows.
Let me know what ya'll think about my ideas!
Oh and, also, this is pretty much my first article (of this magnitude anyway) So don't be a dick.
Til next time!