First of all, as if there was going to be any doubt that Venom would have been involved in the franchise after the teaser poster a year before the film's release was plastered all over movie theaters across the country. It's not the fans' fault, Sony made a dumb move that they thought would please everyone...and well...So Sony is to blame for the Venom controversy. What SHOULD have happened is:
-Harry should've been the bad guy right to the end.
-Harry should've been the one to team up with Sandman.
-Harry should've kidnapped Gwen Stacy and held her hostage rather than MJ.
-Spider-Man should've gotten the upper hand on Sandman and turned his attention to Harry.
-Harry should've killed Gwen Stacy in a similar way as The Green Goblin did in the comics.
-Spider-Man should've still been wearing the black suit, lost his cool and killed Harry (or at least do little to save him from perhaps a self-inflicted wound like his father before him).
-Sandman would still reconcile with Spider-Man.
-At Gwen's proposed funeral, Eddie Brock would of course be in attendance. Peter Parker would not be in attendance because...
-Peter is at the church tormenting himself with all the mistakes he has made with the black suit. Then the mother of all cliffhangers...
-The EXACT frame for frame church scene which I thought was masterfully done.
-Venom eats the camera...blackout...BOOM! Credits.
Now for the reboot. I would like to point out that I think a reboot isn't appropriate. Because the whole reasoning behind it (so it seems) is that they want something different than what we've seen before. There's just one problem I see in that: Spider-Man 3 wrapped up an entire saga (unfortunately). We would've had to have seen a whole new story anyways. But whatever. Here is my take on the reboot:
-NO ORIGINS! I think everyone on the planet knows the Spider-Man origin. It's just as well known (if not more known) than the Superman origin.
-The story should start up a couple of months or so after the spider bite (maybe the opening credits could recap like in The Incredible Hulk)
-Peter Parker has to be more of a total wuss. We need to see more of him at school! That way the younger audience (kids) can relate to him more. If I were a studio exec, that's exactly what I would have in mind.
-Spider-Man needs to be a smart ass! The only time we saw a remotely funny Spider-Man thus far was in the third movie!
-Spider-Man needs to start out smaller. Maybe his first foe shouldn't be a fan favorite. The idea behind reboots is to do something DIFFERENT. Make a more obscure villain a new fan favorite.
-Spidey should first take on The Enforcers who are employed by Tombstone (cause King Pin is actually owned by Twentieth Century Fox still. We will never see King Pin outside of that studio.). The Enforcers motivation (ever villain needs a motivation.) should be a bounty on Spider-Man's head.
-Spider-Man beats The Enforcers, but soon after, Montana from The Enforcers should become Shocker.
-During this transition, a mad scientist hired by Tombstone as a 'secret weapon' of sorts should come into play. Tombstone hires: Vulture.
-Now I know that it's cramming a lot in, but Chameleon should be a side character. He would be a great right hand man for Tombstone. Nothing too physical, therefore it's not really cramming him into the action.
-Chameleon should be playing a spy to find out who Spider-Man really is. When he eventually finds out, he realizes that he's just a kid and sides with Spidey in a four-way fight against Shocker and The Vulture at the end.
-Shocker and Vulture could either die or go to prison (too many villains die nowadays), Chameleon is killed, Tombstone blames it on Spider-Man and then informs his brother (Kraven) that he was killed by the wall crawler.
-Credits.
Now of course you have to mix in a love interest somewhere in there, so I think Gwen Stacy should be the first love of Peter's life. MJ should come in in the sequel as the more racy, outspoken, mysterious girl next door character. This would be a great love triangle, unfortunately ending in Gwen's death when the Green Goblin (Harry this time!) kills her. But that's another tale for another time. I know it seems a bit...cramped and complicated. But so is Peter Parker's life. My inspiration for this synopsis comes from mainly the Ultimate universe, but with an Amazing Spider-Man backbone. I actually started working on a screenplay for a reboot in hopes of being established enough in ten years to produce it. But it looks like Hollywood's a bit too fast for me.
Finally, some casting suggestions:
Spider-Man/Peter Parker: Preferably an unknown young actor with a comedy background. Remember, Peter Parker has to become a seasoned hero over time, not in the first twenty minutes of the movie. The character should be screwing up things a lot at first.
Gwen Stacy: Dakota Fanning. I know, I know, but she's becoming a veteran actress and she looks the part of the geeky, shy, basically female version of Peter Parker which would be very cute to see on screen.
Harry Osborn: Aaron Johnson. The star of 'Kick-Ass' also played John Lennon in Nowhere Boy last year. He's got the acting chops to pull off a depressed, tormented drug (or serum) addicted punk/best friend to Peter.
Tombstone: Idris Elba (Rock N' Rolla, Obsessed, The Losers)
Chameleon: Not important
Montana: Josh Brolin (Milk, W., No Country For Old Men)
Fancy Dan: Kevin Dillon ('Drama' on Entourage)
Ox: Some big dumb guy
Adrian Toomes/ Vulture: Sir Ben Kinglsey
Norman Osborn: (Cameo, no famous actor needed for first film)
Aunt May: Jane Lynch (Glee, 40 Year Old Virgin, Role Models)
J. Jonah Jameson: Will Arnett (Arrested Development, Blades of Glory, Semi-Pro)
Well, what do you think?