The Future of Spider-Man?

Editorial Opinion
By superfan714 - Aug 19, 2010 01:08 AM EST
Filed Under: Spider-Man

"Ok let's take it from the top!" This phrase seems as if it's becoming all too familiar in the realm of comic book movies (and Hollywood for that matter). It occurred to me the other day that the comic book movie explosion began with X-MEN in 2000 but in a lot of ways soared to new heights in 2002 with the release of Spider-Man. This trend became more obvious as 2003 delivered Ang Lee's Hulk and Daredevil, continuing with the X-MEN sequel and so on and so forth. But back to my opening line, which states the obvious for what became of Ang Lee's Hulk and what is soon to become of Sam Raimi's Spider-Man: a reboot.
This is happening in too much of a frequent degree with the comic book movies, maybe because they failed to impress audiences(2003's Hulk) or that an attempt at a continuing storyline couldn't manage to take flight(Superman Returns) and left audiences feeling a little...awkward? Reboots and remakes are all too prominent in Hollywood these days, but it seems like there are no time limits on how fast they can be re-done in the superhero world.
It was a mere 5 years after Ang Lee's failed attempt that Lou Lettier's "The Incredible Hulk" was delivered and meant for audiences to "ignore" Ang Lee's version. Batman Begins got it right, but I remember the skepticism and people often saying "Isn't it a little too soon?" or even "So what is this, Batman 5?" And with 8 years from the last incarnation (the forgettable Batman & Robin) I suppose it wasn't. Understandably, Hulk and Superman Returns were awful films and I can see the studios opinion on wanting to give these heroes a second shot. But Spider-Man?
Was it really THAT bad?
Consider this: The first Spider-Man film made $114,844,116 in it's opening weekend, Spider-Man 2 made $180 million in it's first 6 days and Spider-Man 3 made $151,116,516 in it's opening weekend. I can agree(as many fans have said) that Spider-Man 3 didn't pack as good a punch as the first two films, but it certainly wasn't as upsetting as Ang Lee's Hulk or Superman Returns. So I guess my question remains: WHY THE REBOOT? Was it the falling out between Sony and Sam Raimi over the script and the angst that Sony had to get more milk from this cow? Is this just how comic book movies are to be treated-as easily erasable pieces of underappreciated work? The new Spider-Man film is set to open nationwide in the summer of 2012 with Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker/Spider-Man. Let me know what you guys think...

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superfan714
superfan714 - 8/19/2010, 1:32 AM
I realize not only am I the first to comment but that the title of this article is the same as another on this website except for the question mark. My bad, I'm new here so....yeah
FlashGordon2287
FlashGordon2287 - 8/19/2010, 1:41 AM
There are many posibities to why were getting the reboot. I lean more towards Raimi quit and possibly suggested the Reboot. We are always gonna have many incarnations of Spider-Man films. Plus When you think about it where was it really gonna go? ok you do vulture or lizard. but then what? Rhino hardly makes a villain. Carnage would have been a rehash of Venom. I say the Reboot is gonna be cool.
claybo4131
claybo4131 - 8/19/2010, 7:39 AM
People forget that the reboot of Spider-man is going head-to-head with Star Trek 2, and I believe since the Star Trek reboot was well liked by everyone and that the sequel was inevedible, there will be good buzz about Star Trek 2, and there hasnt been some positive buzz about Spider-man reboot focusing on his feelings.
Kovacs
Kovacs - 8/19/2010, 8:05 AM
2012 is a long way off maybe my opinion will change at some point but as of the moment i'd much rather have spidey 4 than a reboot
Deadshot
Deadshot - 8/19/2010, 8:14 AM
The Raimi franchise ushered in the comic book film era, so I think it deserved better then what it got, Sam should have had 100 percent control over the fourth.
Deadshot
Deadshot - 8/19/2010, 8:16 AM
Also I don't see how the Spiderman Reboot will make lots of money considering Batman 3, The Avengers, Star Trek 2, and Men in Black 3 come out the same year.
TheLonelyComicBookNerd
TheLonelyComicBookNerd - 8/19/2010, 9:12 AM
To be honest, I love spider-man 3!
Yeah, It captured the true nature of the symbiote. (with Un-necessary dance moves) I gave me that warm feeling inside that I love superheroes when mary jane was kidnapped and peter pulled his costume from under his bed, that was so cool! It wasn't original to the comics but Sam Raimi gave it his own kind of vision, his own twist to it and I respect that. I watch the spider-man trilogy all the time, and it never gets old cause I think Toby Maguire makes a fantastic Peter Parker and A cooler Spider-man! (Now if only we can throw in a couple wise cracks) But The franchise needed a fresher take and new and improved story, new actors. Thats why they rebooted it. Hopefully Marc Webb wont fail and he'll do good for us this time, I wanna see scorpion! But thats my opinion.
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 8/19/2010, 1:03 PM
There is no future for SPIDER-MAN! : (

Not once WEBB [frick]s it up, shame SONY shame!

X-MEN's the only franchise that needs a [frick]ing REBOOT, thats it!

DEADSHOT @ Agreed dude!
Killik13
Killik13 - 8/19/2010, 4:28 PM
I see what you mean, and it's true that studios are way too eager to reboot. However, I think it's ridiculous to just take this "frick the reboot" stance. They're not going to listen, you won't get your Spiderman 4 with Raimi and Maguire, so just keep an open mind. I'm glad they abandoned Raimi's series, but they really should have waited longer to reboot, as WB did with Batman.

Also, how can you put Superman Returns in the same league as Hulk or SM3? Returns was a great film, in fact, before I saw it, I hated the character, but was converted instantly! I'd be happy to see Routh come back for the Nolanboot (even though I know it won't happen).

I know I'm looking forward to Ultimate Spiderman, or whatever it'll be called much more than I would ever be about Spiderman 4.
Deadshot
Deadshot - 8/19/2010, 5:53 PM
"Also, how can you put Superman Returns in the same league as Hulk or SM3? Returns was a great film"

LOL, no point in debating you but I hear at medical clinics for patients that can't sleep, instead of giving them pills they put Returns on.
Killik13
Killik13 - 8/19/2010, 6:38 PM
@Deadshot How long'd it take you to come up with THAT one? Very original...

No, Returns wasn't mile-a-minute, but if you bother to watch the original Richard Donner movie, it wasn't either. Doesn't make it a bad film, it just means you need an attention span greater than that of a 5 year old to enjoy it.

Spiderman 3 was great if you want moronic action sequences instead of a decent script, cast, story, etc. But i expect a little more from a CBM than "O LOOK AN EKSPLOSHON!", and I think we did get more from Superman Returns.
Deadshot
Deadshot - 8/19/2010, 10:19 PM
I think of Superman Returns and these words pop into my head, much like they pop into any Superman fans head when they think of that movie, the words are dry, dull, boring, and stupid it totally lacked substance in almost every was possible, the dialogue was awful, the action was non existent. The plot was just horrid, why have lex luthor as the villian AGAIN? why give superman a kid? Theres a reason why it made barely any money and there pretending like it never existed now, the same reason also explains why 90 percent of Superman fans hate it. I've literally tried to watch it twice and fell asleep, and I do have a high attention span, Ive seen 2001 a space odyssey 10 times :P.
Deadshot
Deadshot - 8/19/2010, 10:20 PM
Oh and I have seen the Richard Donner Superman film....umm isn't it somewhat obvious by my display picture of Christopher Reeves as Superman?
Killik13
Killik13 - 8/19/2010, 10:35 PM
it's not like I think it's the best movie ever made, I just don't think it's as deserving of condemnation as Ghost Rider, Hulk etc.

Clearly I'm not going to change your mind (and I know you're not going to change mine), so we may have to agree to disagree. And that nothing sucks as much as Ang Lee's Hulk :P
Deadshot
Deadshot - 8/20/2010, 8:41 AM
Okay, lets agree to disagree. However, you're right about one thing Superman Returns is better then Ghost Rider and the first Hulk movie.
squirt
squirt - 9/10/2010, 6:57 PM
i think some of the best action/fight sequences could be spidey vs scorpion
superfan714
superfan714 - 9/14/2010, 6:07 PM
100% agree with you squirt...think of all the great action scenes that could have come from a "continuation" of these films: Spidey VS Rhino, Spidey VS Shocker, Spidey VS Mysterio ans the list goes on!
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