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Probably during the coming attractions for "Fahrenheit 9/11" |
Posted on 07/04/2004 4:44:55 AM PDT by Dr. Scarpetta
The web-slinger is back, and the verdict is in. Two years have served Peter Parker well.
Spider-Man 2 snared a whopping $40.5 million on Wednesday, according to estimates from distributor Sony Pictures. If the number holds, it will be the largest opening day ever, eclipsing the original Spider-Man's record of $39.4 million in 2002. And the superhero is doing it with story over special effects.
Opening to a chorus of glowing reviews and sold-out theaters, Spider-Man 2 is accomplishing what few comic book films manage: winning over audiences not typically drawn to superheroes.
"I saw the first movie on video and didn't like it that much," says Mary Espinoza, 23, who was "dragged" by her boyfriend to the midnight showing Wednesday at the Mann Village Theater in Westwood in west Los Angeles.
"I liked it as much as he did," says Espinoza, a dental assistant. "It didn't feel like one of those big summer movies, with explosions and special effects. I even cried once."
Timothy Redfield, 29, of Austin says the sequel is what "every other comic movie should be."
"It had a real story to it," says Redfield, a video store manager. "Just because it's a comic book movie doesn't mean it has to be shallow. The characters were as good as in any dramatic film."
Reviewers seem to agree. Spider-Man 2 is the second-highest-praised film of the year, according to MetaCritic.com, a Web site that surveys major critics nationwide.
The film scored an 85, second only to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which scored an 87. Both films happen to feature Kirsten Dunst.
The film may be swinging into theaters just in time to save the web-slinger's box office reputation. Shrek 2 is expected to cross the $400 million mark this week and will likely surpass Spider-Man as the fifth-highest-grossing film ever. The original took in $403.7 million, including $114.8 in its first weekend.
Could the sequel return the superhero to the top 5? It's possible, says Paul Dergarabedian of box office tracker Exhibitor Relations, particularly given the strength of sequels recently. Shrek 2 and each installment of The Lord of the Rings surpassed its predecessor, he notes.
"Last summer we had something like 15 sequels, most of them disappointing," he says. "This summer is invigorating the sequel after 2003 almost killed it. If Spider-Man maintains the buzz it's gotten so far, there's no telling how big it will get."
The part of the movie that got me the most was when Aunt Mae was telling Peter about heroes. Oh, and when the people in the subway promised not to tell who he was. The kid handing back the mask was a tear jerker. For the record, Aunt Mae looks like my Grandma, so that gave me an emotional tie-in. ;)
Can I just say they guy who plays Jameson is brilliant?
Dialog. Telling a story. Good points. This story speaks of an painfully ordinary geek, possessing talents largely unvalued today (intelligence, respect for the strong parental figures in his life, morality in depth) and faced with a Great Choice. In a time of manufactured reality and high voltage video games, an ageless tale that whispers directly to the soul is a rarity. Books are uncool and only a handful appreciate the stage. Hollywood producers in general would love to be able to deliver the "entertainment" that is really the main character in Strange Days. "Just jack it straight into my brain, please."
Yes, I agree. J. K. Simmons is prefectly cast as J. Jonah Jameson. I find it intriguing that Kirsten has indicated she is definately "not interested" in anything past Spiderman 3 and this film features Elizabeth Banks as Betty Brant somewhat more than the first did. Of mild interest is that Kirsten's standin is named Kristen (real trivia on that one). Each film has featured one villian, but I suspect that Spiderman 3 will have two, with the return of Green Goblin and the emergence of the Lizard.
Let me guess. Butt-chin boy from Spidey 2 will be the Lizard...
Saw it on Friday night....far better than the first....A great movie. When I go down to Fl. to see my girl we are going to see it.
From the comics, Professor Conners is involved in research in the regeneration of lost limbs, as he happens to be missing one. His research involves reptile's ability in this area. He succeeds.
A poor kid works hard and studies hard to get ahead in life. He doesn't take the easy way out of turning to a life of crime or government dependency.
He refuses to join the Gremlin and Doc Oc in their criminal enterprises, not even to save his last remaining blood relative that he loves and cherishes, the girl he loves, his own life, or any number of innocent victims used as hostages.
Spidey makes the tough choices. He preserves his honor, integrity, honesty and wins the day with courage, bravery, hard work, determination, love and faith in himself and his fellow man.
No wonder the Liberals hate this movie!
What kind of role model is Spidey for the kids they want to make dependent on government largesse?
One film like Spiderman could undo decades of Liberal attempts to brain-wash our children and now there are two such films! Drat!
Why Spidey makes the kids that use poverty as an excuse to turn to drug dealing, thievery and other criminal activity or Welfare and Food Stamps look like lazy, unprincipled, immoral products of a failed Liberal social experiment.
Is this the kind of message that the Liberals want Hollywood putting out? ;^)
But I am somewhat like Mr. Cranky, and like little of what I see.
The real problem is there is nothing else to go see at the movies. I, Robot looks like it will be good, but it's not out yet.
My recommendation would be this, if you go, do not expect it to be better. Then either I will be wrong, and you will be pleasantly surprised, or you will agree, but possibly can see redeeming value in it. (The villian is good...It just takes to long to make him one.)
Also, save money and go early in the day when it's cheaper.
Simmons does a fine job in the film. You want more of him and that character.
actually VENOM.
I'm looking forward to Catwoman and King Arthur. National Treasure looked like an interesting plot, but Nick Cage kinda wears on me. The only flick I liked him in was The Rock.
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Probably during the coming attractions for "Fahrenheit 9/11" |
Definitely when it comes to film it is the pre-concieved notions that you take with you that influences your opinion of it. Most definitely.
Hopefully there will be a story behind Robot, otherwise your prediction will come true and I will be disappointed.
In S2, I felt the actors were not true to their roles. MJ was simply horrible. She wasn't struggling, she was a made woman. Osborn was too stupid, wimpy and pouty. Aunt May had way too much snap, and is too aggressive too often. And I did not feel Maguire made the case for Parker like he did in the first film. He is too calm and always has that smirk on his face. Too sure of himself, even when he is unsure...which is what a lot of the film was supposed to be about. I did not see him struggle with himself.
I was also bothered by the filming of several scenes where he/others are on the phone, walking down the streets or on the Columbia campus, and the extras in the shots are staring straight at the main actors and the camera while the principles are doing theirdialog. This is a HUGE no-no. A couple of shots they even have the crowd in the back blurred out, but they are still staring and watching the scene. The director should be drawn and quartered for allowing those. Here's Parker on a pay phone in the middle of a busy college campus, where a few scenes before he dropped a book and was trampled on, and now he his softly speaking into the phone and there are no less than a dozen people 30 or more feet away staring at him.
Spiderman was always the best-drawn sequential art popular strip! Every panel a work of art! Astounding! Dynamic!
Saw it yesterday, loved it! Dock Ock says eight thumbs up!
Spidey makes the tough choices. He preserves his honor, integrity, honesty...
This is submission to a Greater Truth. None of it is his. He merely accepts what must be, in Law, above Mans. I wonder to whom, if anyone the film attributes this Law. Couldn't be God, un-PC. "Troy" had a problem here
I thought Van Helsing was a big BORE.
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