Monday, March 19, 2018

The Spider-Man Films



Spider-Man is one of the most iconic characters in all of comic book history. So, it's only fitting that there have been several big-budget films made starring the wall-crawler, and after rewatching them all, I've come up with my worst-to-first ranking of all 7 Spider-Man films. Venom (2018) will not be included because Spider-Man isn't in it. Additionally, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) isn't included because this list is only for live-action films.


#7 The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)

This film is a mess. Sony tried to jam so much into the 2+hr runtime and none of it really works. Jamie Foxx as Electro doesn't work, the hints to a Sinister Six movie feel tacked on, the Green Goblin storyline feels shoehorned in, etc. Plus, the filmmakers had no idea what to do with Paul Giamatti and that is one of the great crimes against cinema.


#6 Spider-Man 3 (2007)

Toby Maguire's last film outing as Spider-Man suffered from being overstuffed with villains. In an effort to 'give the people what they want' Sandman and Venom were shoved alongside the James Franco turning into Green Goblin subplot that had been building since the second film. The Venom storyline (with someone other than Topher Grace) or Spider-Man vs Sandman could've been interesting movies on their own.


#5 The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

This movie is a total mixed-bag. For every thing the film gets right, it gets just as much wrong. The Lizard is a good Spider-Man villain but this film doesn't build Dr. Conners up as a mentor to Peter. Emma Stone knocks it out of the park as Gwen Stacy, but Andrew Garfield's Peter Parker skateboards to Coldplay... 


#4 Spider-Man (2002)

This is an overall solid superhero flick. It's well paced, pretty well written, and the cast is good. There are a few flaws and some of the CGI hasn't held up that great, but if you're looking for a Spider-Man film you can't go wrong with this one.


#3 Spider-Man 2 (2004)

Of every film on this list this is the one that I feel is the best Peter Parker story. That's not to say Alfred Molina isn't great as Dr. Otto Octavius, or that the Spider-Man elements are bad because both of those aspects are good. However, it's a film about choice, what it means to be a hero, the risk involved etc. and that sets it at the #3 spot.


#2 Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

Tom Holland continues to be my favorite big-screen version of Spider-Man. Even though I didn't like this one quite as much as Spider-Man: Homecoming, I still had a good time and thought the movie was a ton of fun.

#1 Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

Unlike Spider-Man in 2003 or The Amazing Spider-Man in 2009 which featured Peter Parker getting superpowers and being a hero almost immediately, this film shows a a kid who is still learning and making rookie mistakes throughout. Yes, there is a lot of good comedy and yes the MCU tie-ins are nice but it is that aspect of feeling like this is a real teenager who wants to be an Avenger but still has a lot to learn that makes me enjoy this film above the others. Plus, Michael Keaton.

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