Are the Spider-Man movies too samey? (SPOILERS)

[HellCat]

Three movies now and I'm noticing alot of similarities. A big one- during the end fight, Peter will lose his mask and have some sort of moral discussion with the villain.

[LazyReaper]

The reasoning behind Spidey losing his mask at the end of each movie has been explained by Sam Raimi a couple of times. Unlike other superheroes, Spidey's mask covers the entire face, meaning that aside from the voice of Spider-Man, the audience would not be as connected if they couldn't see what he was feeling and going through.

In the comics, you're able to dive into Peter's head through thought bubbles, or things of that nature, but it's gonna be really hard to pull that off in a movie. Which is why Spidey loses his mask, or gets his mask torn half way so that you can see his expressions and really connect with what he's going through at that moment.

I know alot of people hated Spider-Man losing his mask in the 2nd movie at the train part, but do you really think that the scene where he stops the train would've been as powerful if his entire face was covered? Sam had to get rid of his mask so that we could see that Spidey was literally pushing his strength to the edge as he tried to save all those people.


-Aximlli-

[Cogliostro]

I know alot of people hated Spider-Man losing his mask in the 2nd movie at the train part, but do you really think that the scene where he stops the train would've been as powerful if his entire face was covered? Sam had to get rid of his mask so that we could see that Spidey was literally pushing his strength to the edge as he tried to save all those people.

I am one of the fans that hated Spiderman losing his mask during the train scene. I completely understand why Sam has the mask come off during intense or emotional scenes, just as you said to show the experssions on Peters face. But I don't understand why Peter couldn't have told everyone to get to the back of the train. Not only would it help slow down the train and get the people in the front out of danger but it would also keep them from seeing him. Simple and logical.

Back on the topic, the moral lessons are at the core of Peter and Spiderman as well as many superheroes. They are lessons he and the people around him learn and are expressed to the audience. It happens alot in comics. The first one he learns with great power comes great responsibility, the second that a gift is a privelage and should be used for good and that sometimes means making sarificies. In the third I suppose he learns that no one has the right to take a life, killing a killer just makes you the new killer, sin begets sin.

[Michael24]

Haha!! At first I thought the thread said "are the Spider-Man movies to sammy," meaning too heavy-influenced by Sam Raimi's style. Anyway...

One gripe I have with a lot of comic book movies (even the ones I like) is the hero always loses/removes the mask during the big battle. I guess I can understand the reasoning behind it, but still, it irks me. (Much like how it seems so many villains in such films fall to their death.) That's why I love the final fight at the end of Batman, and even the first Spider-Man. I liked how it got torn up, but otherwise remained on.

One of the biggest offenders (and I hate to say it because it's one of my favorite superhero movies) is The Shadow. The final confrontation starts out as The Shadow vs. Khan, but quickly becomes just Lamont vs. Khan when The Shadow loses his hat and chucks his scarf and cape, and it's just Alec Baldwin running around in a trenchcoat.

I don't know. It's just something that's always irked me, even when I was little. I guess I just like to see my heroes in full costume when it comes time for the big battle, rather than finding some (usually) contrived way of removing the mask so that the "real star" of the film can be seen in action.

EDIT: Heck, they even do the equivalent in The Punisher when Frank Castle takes off his skull vest before heading out to finish off Howard Saint. I remember saying to myself, "There goes the mask again!"

[Ishtar]

Of course, in all 3 movies, MJ get's kidnapped by the villain towards the climax.

[Anarky]

Of course, in all 3 movies, MJ get's kidnapped by the villain towards the climax.

which explains, partially, why Dunst is done w/ the franchise

[langden alger]

In the third I suppose he learns that no one has the right to take a life, killing a killer just makes you the new killer, sin begets sin.

that plus the whole 'choices' theme. we choose to be either good, honest or petty and bad(eddie brock). take a life or save one, take revenge or not(harry, peter) be a criminal or go for redemption(sandman) chase your dream or make sacrifices for your loved ones(mary jane) etc...

[Knight]

Of course, in all 3 movies, MJ get's kidnapped by the villain towards the climax.

I thought I was the only one who noticed that.

[Silly McGooses]

Apparently there is a deleted scene where Mary Jane whines about it from 3.

[cyde]

YUP!! Their writers write stuff like that just to make money and get high from it, just to be greedy typhoons.

[BCVM22]

YUP!! Their writers write stuff like that just to make money and get high from it.

Absolutely! A hex upon creative professionals trying to do their jobs and get paid for it!

[Crash]

Norman Osborne--Good hearted scientist, but troulbed. Driven mad by a blotched experiment that put an evil voice inside his head. Committed evil acts, but (sort of) reclaimed his (non-evil) humanity before the end.

Doc Ock--Good hearted scientist, but driven mad by a blotched experiment that killed his wife and put evil voices in his head. Committed evil acts, but reclaimed his humanity before the end.

Doc Conners--I can't tell you how happy I was that the Lizard wasn't the villain of Spidey 3!

Sanman--A thug driven to evil extremes by circumstances. Repents at the end.

Harry Osborne--Again, a good guy driven to evil mostly by circumstances. Repents in the end.

Yeah, I definately noted some similarities in the three movies. But at least we had Venom put some moral clarity in the rouge's gallery...

[Gpoliceman]

I dont mind Spiderman losing his mask all the time.

1) In the movies, its obvious Peter makes the costume himself - and Peter is dirt poor, so it makes sense that his costume gets torn to shreds in every fight.

2) In filmmaking, the actor needs to use his face to convey emotions. I'm glad Raimi takes Peter's mask off during emotional moments as Spiderman.

I always felt the directors of the Matrix movies did a disservice to the actors by having them constantly covered by sunglasses during every emotional scene. An actor needs his eyes! they're windows to the soul! Every powerful moment of the Matrix films was hindered because you couldn't see any of the actor's eyes.

[cyde]

Absolutely! A hex upon creative professionals trying to do their jobs and get paid for it!

until the IRS takes it from them.

[BCVM22]

until the IRS takes it from them.

I don't understand in the slightest how this is relevant to the thread or why you keep propagating it throughout the forums. Writers make money. People pay taxes, the more you make, the more you pay. We get it. Stop injecting it and associated comments into threads where they don't belong.

[Duke]

2) In filmmaking, the actor needs to use his face to convey emotions. I'm glad Raimi takes Peter's mask off during emotional moments as Spiderman.

I can understand taking his mask off during scenes such as when Harry dies, but not in the middle of a battle. You can tell how hard Spidey is working by his body language and the sounds he makes, you don't need to see Peter gritting his teeth to understand that Spider-man is having trouble stopping a speeding subway train from going off the tracks. If the animated versions of Spidey can show him worried, stressed, angry, etc. without taking his mask off all the time, then the live-action Spidey (or their CG representatives) should be able to do that as well.

Hell, if freaking Power Rangers can do that, so can Spider-Man.