Back in 2002, I remember Spider-man, and yes, I remembered the hyphen. The magic of the movie theater and the summer blockbuster was never more alive than in the early 2000s with the invention of the superhero genre. I know to say that anything reinvigorated anything is difficult and will immediately destroyed by internet trolls. However, I drink heavily, so there that is. Spider-man 2002 restored the comic book genre. Looking at the convenient numbers on Wikipedia, I want to make a point. Since the 1951 DC epic, Superman versus the Molemen, the Comic Labels (2000 AD, Dark Horse, DC Comics, Image Comics, Marvel Comics, Mirage Comics, Pacific Comics, and Street and Smith) have made 31 movie and earned $3,361,510,372 total and $129,288,860 average. Marvel had only produced six movies starting in 1989 and one, a 1994 version of Fantastic Four was never released, and then came Spider-Man.
I know I have already lost some of you. What of X-Men in 2000 you say? I would say it was important, but there are significant difference. X-Men was a decent start to a series, but the amount of new computer technology was minimal. Also, X-Men earned a huge $296 million, however, this was only a third of Spider-man. Spider-Man earning nearly $900 is still one of the top grossing movies of all time.
You may be wondering, at this point, why did I spend so much time talking about the decade old movie in a review of the new one. Well, unfortunately, when you are rebooting a series, you have to do a lot of rehashing. Spider-Man has to be reborn, Peter Parker has to be re-downtrodden. Uncle Ben has to re-die.
The movie, fundamentally is different than the last trilogy. The 2000s trilogy pivots on the action and the angst. The disguise of Spider-Man hides the confusion and anger that Peter Parker feels; this is pretty standard in the Marvel Universe. From the X-Men (2000) Rogue to the other teen characters that Marvel has tried to reach out with in the last 15 years, the Mask represents hiding. In the 2000s Spider-Man, this was an impudent Peter Parker struggling on his own against a wealthy roommate, shyness around girls, being jobless. However, this was shown as increasingly shallow self-pity; until, by the third one, the whole thing was so ridiculously out of control that the series fell apart. To fix this, the new series had to dig deep.
The story structure of the new one was completely different. First, they kept Peter as a high schooler. Andrew Garfield, the new Peter Parker, so expertly plays a teenager where the person is learning emotions still; not welling in the emotions. He is more cocky than sarcastic, more clumsy and awkward than controlled. To make sure that the movie has that feel, the director chosen was an emotional director, Marc Webb, best known for directing a million music videos (See bottom) and (500) Days of Summer. This means that the characters are far better defined and the plot defines them much cleaner over the movie; if not slow at times.
The story ties Peter Parker to his first love Gwen Stacy, sets up his rivalry with Flash, and faces him off against the Lizard. The casting is strong, placing attractive, young actors in the main roles, a lot of relative unknowns in big roles, Andrew Garfield as Peter and Rhys Ifans as Dr. O’Connor and Lizard. Big actors, with the exception of Emma Stone as Gwen, in minor roles; Dennis Leary as Gwen’s Dad Detective Stacey, Martin Sheen as Uncle Ben, and Sally Field as Aunt Mae. The story really develops the characters and their relationship; even lending mystery to why Peter’s parents leave. As a nerd, I appreciate the version of the Spider-Man that needs to make a web slinger because he cannot provide his own. Also, much like Iron Man, it makes clear that the technology that allows for a hero like Spider-Man can exist outside of one person. Which is important; nothing is worse than a Superman scenario for complexity in the universe.
Overall, the movie lends itself to the emotional attachment you need to make a relate-able character. From the humor of him discovering his powers, to the sadness and vengeful feelings of him toward Flash and his Uncle’s death, to the city coming together while the powers at be hate him. The movie provides an emotional connection that we need to love heroes. Though there are moments of teenage angst with more than a touch of Twilight in the romantic moments, this is an overly redeemable movie.
Enjoy,
Editor
1997
Blues Traveler – “Canadian Rose”
1999
Earth to Andy – “Still After You”
2000
Cold – “Just Got Wicked”
Santana feat. Musiq – “Nothing at All”
2001
On the Line All Stars feat. Lance Bass – “On the Line”
Anastacia – “Not That Kind”
3 Doors Down – “Duck and Run”
Good Charlotte – “Motivation Proclamation”
AFI – “The Days of the Phoenix”
Big Dumb Face – “Duke Lion”
Felix Brothers – “Right Here, Right Now”
Oleander – “Are You There?”
Green Day – “Waiting”
Good Charlotte – “Festival Song”
Live – “Simple Creed”
Professional Murder Music – “Slow”
Stereomud – “Pain”
Godhead – “Eleanor Rigby”
Live feat. Tricky – “Simple Creed”
Pressure 4-5 – “Beat the World”
Tru Vibe – “On the Line”
2002
Unwritten Law – “Seein’ Red”
Counting Crows – “American Girls”
Soil – “Unreal”
Puddle of Mudd – “She Hates Me”
Maroon 5 – “Harder to Breathe”
Hatebreed – “I Will Be Heard”
The Wallflowers – “When You’re on Top”
O-Town – “These Are the Days”
Hoobastank – “Remember Me”
Disturbed – “Remember”
2003
Cold – “Stupid Girl”
P.O.D. – “Sleeping Awake”
AFI – “The Leaving Song Pt. II”
Santana & Alex Band – “Why Don’t You & I”
3 Doors Down – “Here Without You”
Memento – “Saviour”
Wakefield – “Say You Will”
MxPx – “Everything Sucks”
P.O.D. – “Will You”
Brand New – “Sic Transit Gloria… Glory Fades”
2004
P.O.D. – “Change the World”
Gavin DeGraw – “I Don’t Want to Be”
Smile Empty Soul – “Silhouettes”
Puddle of Mudd – “Heel over Head”
Midtown – “Give It Up”
Yellowcard – “Ocean Avenue”
My Chemical Romance – “I’m Not Okay (I Promise)”
Sparta – “Breaking the Broken”
Jesse McCartney – “Beautiful Soul”
Dirty Vegas – “Walk into the Sun”
Coheed and Cambria – “Blood Red Summer”
Switchfoot – “Dare You to Move” (version 2)
Hoobastank – “Disappear”
2005
Jimmy Eat World – “Work”
Daniel Powter – “Bad Day”
The Used – “All That I’ve Got”
My Chemical Romance – “Helena”
Snow Patrol – “Chocolate”
Low Millions – “Eleanor”
Trey Songz feat. Twista – “Gotta Make It”
Antigone Rising – “Don’t Look Back”
Hot Hot Heat – “Middle of Nowhere”
Incubus – “Make a Move”
Hilary Duff – “Wake Up”
My Chemical Romance – “The Ghost of You”
Ashlee Simpson – “Boyfriend”
Daniel Powter – “Free Loop (One Night Stand)”
Yellowcard – “Lights and Sounds”
Weezer – “Perfect Situation”
2006
All American Rejects – “Move Along”
Matisyahu – “Youth”
Aly & AJ – “Rush”
Daniel Powter – “Lie to Me”
Yellowcard – “Rough Landing, Holly”
AFI – “Miss Murder”
Ashlee Simpson – “Invisible”
Fergie – “London Bridge”
Regina Spektor – “Fidelity”
Evanescence – “Call Me When You’re Sober”
AFI – “Love Like Winter”
Pussycat Dolls feat. Timbaland – “Wait a Minute”
Barefoot – “Rain”
Teddy Geiger – “These Walls” (Version 2)
2007
Good Charlotte – “The River”
Relient K – “Must Have Done Something Right”
P. Diddy – “Last Night”
My Chemical Romance – “I Don’t Love You”
My Chemical Romance – “Teenagers”
Evanescence – “Good Enough” (co-directed with Rich Lee)
Blaqk Audio – “Stiff Kittens” (co-directed with Rich Lee)
Regina Spektor – “Better”
Fergie – “Clumsy” (co-directed with Rich Lee)
Miley Cyrus – “Start All Over”
2008
Maroon 5 – “Goodnight, Goodnight”
Nelly feat. Fergie – “Party People”
All American Rejects – “Gives You Hell”
2009
Green Day – “21 Guns”
She and Him – “Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?” (Version 2)
Green Day – “21st Century Breakdown”
Weezer – “(If You’re Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To
2010
Green Day – “Last of the American Girls”
Taking Back Sunday – “Faith (When I Let You Down)”