The Amazing Spider-Man 2 releases here in the states in a little more than a week, although I am excited to watch the film, I know it will never reach the level of the Raimi Movies. The Raimi movies, besides from being revolutionary movies for the superhero genre as a whole, conveyed a level of care and passion for the character as well as for the audience. Sony's new take on Spider-Man (notice how I don't say Webb's take) seems to only care about the amount of movie the franchise can make, instead of taking time to convey a message and theme about love, loss, redemption, good vs, evil, and responsibility, this new franchise seems to be taking a different route by cramming in comic book nods and references just to please the fans and get a few more bucks.
Spider-Man 3 is at best a mediocre film but it still manages to convey certain universal themes that can be received and learned by anybody. Marc Webb's The Amazing Spider-Man may of been a better film but it lacked passion and soul. It's entire purpose of existing is so that Sony can keep the rights to the Spider-Man character. It lacked heart and seemed to be what Sony thought the fans wanted, a more dark toned, gothic Spider-Man. Turns out fans didn't like that tone so then they seem to have gone back to the light hearted tone of the Raimi movies. This isn't a problem with the new franchise as much as it is a problem with the people in charge of the new franchise. They don't let Webb have any creative control, he is just acting as their lackey and is unable to show HIS version of Spider-Man. I can't be the only one who noticed all the scenes missing in The Amazing Spider-Man that were in the trailer, but weren't in the movie. I am still waiting to see Webb's take on Spider-Man.
Now on to a few comebacks I have towards certain remarks made about The Original Trilogy. "Tobey was a cry baby and a horrible Peter Parker." First off Peter Parker is a nerd, not a hipster skateboarder (not even in the Ultimate Books). I have one question for people who say this, have you read the original Ditko comics? Peter was always angsting and still is to this day. "The Amazing Spider-Man is closer to the comics because of the web shooter, the quipping, and Gwen being his first love interest." The web shooters I agree on. The quipping and Gwen stuff not so much. Peter in the Raimi movies joked and did not come off as a douche bag unlike Garfield's Peter. A few more jokes would of been nice, but Sony did not have to go overboard with the constant jokes as seen in The Amazing Spider-Man. The Gwen thing is the thing that bothers me the most, Betty Brant was Peter's first love interest nuff said.
In conclusion, although their are some aspects of the Webb's *cough* Sony's *cough* Spider-Man, in my opinion, no matter how hard they try, the level of heart shown and respect towards the character in the original trilogy can never be reached. (no matter how many Easter eggs are shoved in there)