Dirección: Sam Raimi, 2002.
Interpretación: Tobey Maguire (Spider-Man / Peter Parker), Willem Dafoe (Duende Verde / Norman Osborn), Kirsten Dunst (Mary Jane Watson), Jame Franco (Harry Osborn), J.K. Simmons (J. Jonah Jameson), Cliff Robertson (tío Ben), Rosemary Harris (tía May), Joe Manganiello (Eugene 'Flash' Thompson), Ted Raimi (Hoffman), Bill Nunn (Joe 'Robbie' Robertson).
* * *
Heroes y SuperhombresInterpretación: Tobey Maguire (Spider-Man / Peter Parker), Willem Dafoe (Duende Verde / Norman Osborn), Kirsten Dunst (Mary Jane Watson), Jame Franco (Harry Osborn), J.K. Simmons (J. Jonah Jameson), Cliff Robertson (tío Ben), Rosemary Harris (tía May), Joe Manganiello (Eugene 'Flash' Thompson), Ted Raimi (Hoffman), Bill Nunn (Joe 'Robbie' Robertson).
* * *
Superman, Spiderman, Batman tienen todos una doble vida. La primera es miserable y se parece a la de todo el mundo, la otra es alucinante y se parece a la que mucha gente nos gustaría tener. No hay que ser muy freudiano para pensar que la fantasía de ser un tío más fuerte y tremendo nos sirve a los don nadies que llevamos una vida de fracasos para aguantar los sinsabores imaginando una doble vida. Y casi todos estos fracasos se concentran cuando se trata de cautivar a la chica popular.
Hay un problema común a los super-hombres. A ellos les gusta la guapa, pero resulta que la chica guapa no se fija en ellos. No se fija en el fracasado que pierde el autobús con su despiste, o es blanco de las risas de los chicos populares. La chica guapa se cuela por el hombre que teje telas de araña y atrapa a los malvados, o por el que vuela con su capa. Es cierto que son la misma persona, pero no es lo mismo que Mary Jane te quiera porque tienes superpoderes y la salvas escalando paredes, que el que te quiera por ser el chico patoso y tímido de la clase.
En los superhombres siempre queda un gusto amargo. No me identifico con ellos si triunfan en el amor siendo superhombres. Pero, por otro lado, tampoco consuela que la chica se enamore del debilucho, de Peter Parker, porque si lo hace ¿para qué sirve tanto duelo con supermalvados y tanta CGI?
Creo que voy a ofender alguna intenligencia con una conclusión tan facilita. Pero es que no se me ocurre una mejor: yo creo que el modelo de super-hombre no me llena demasiado porque hace una separación innecesaria. Los verdaderos héroes son los que unen las dos facetas. Los que son capaces de algo grande y a la vez reírse de sí mismos y meter la pata. Vamos, que un verdadero héroe nunca puede ser super.
SPIDER-MAN James Ebert
Peter Parker was crucial in the evolution of Marvel comics because he was fallible and had recognizable human traits. He was a nerd, a loner, socially inept, insecure, a poor kid being raised by relatives. Maguire gets all of that just right, and I enjoyed the way Dunst is able to modulate her gradually increasing interest in this loser who begins to seem attractive to her.
The origin story is well told, and the characters will not disappoint anyone who values the original comic books. It's in the action scenes that things fall apart.
'Spider-Man's' World Wide Web (washingtonpost.com) I DON'T like to use the c-word in a family newspaper. It embarrasses me, my editors, my family and most of all, our beloved Weekend readers. But with "Spider-Man," I've got no choice.
The movie is cute.
Dafoe's Green Goblin is more amusing than threatening. Oh sure, he's got devastating power bombs that can turn people into instant skeletons. But he's almost (sorry) cute, as he flies around on his futuristic airborne surfboard. He's so laid-back that, when he captures Spider-Man on one occasion, he doesn't even lift the superhero's mask to find out who he is. With sociopaths like this, who needs easygoing people? And with disarmingly entertaining movies like this, dare I say, who needs big bad superhero movies?
Mr. Cranky Rates the Movies : Spider-Man
Finally, we understand what's been bothering Parker throughout the whole film: He's gay.
While it takes Parker a long time to admit this to himself, the clues are ever-present. First of all, what heterosexual guy pines to put on a skintight leotard and run around the city in it? You can only be gayer by dressing up as a large, pink triangle. Despite his claims about being deeply attracted to Mary Jane, the lack of a visible erection in his form-fitting suit during their encounters is testament to his gayness. And, of course, Spider-Man just loves to get other men sticky. In fact, the web that emerges from his wrist after a spider bite is simply a metaphor for the uncaring society that keeps his gayness in check.
Peter Parker was crucial in the evolution of Marvel comics because he was fallible and had recognizable human traits. He was a nerd, a loner, socially inept, insecure, a poor kid being raised by relatives. Maguire gets all of that just right, and I enjoyed the way Dunst is able to modulate her gradually increasing interest in this loser who begins to seem attractive to her.
The origin story is well told, and the characters will not disappoint anyone who values the original comic books. It's in the action scenes that things fall apart.
'Spider-Man's' World Wide Web (washingtonpost.com) I DON'T like to use the c-word in a family newspaper. It embarrasses me, my editors, my family and most of all, our beloved Weekend readers. But with "Spider-Man," I've got no choice.
The movie is cute.
Dafoe's Green Goblin is more amusing than threatening. Oh sure, he's got devastating power bombs that can turn people into instant skeletons. But he's almost (sorry) cute, as he flies around on his futuristic airborne surfboard. He's so laid-back that, when he captures Spider-Man on one occasion, he doesn't even lift the superhero's mask to find out who he is. With sociopaths like this, who needs easygoing people? And with disarmingly entertaining movies like this, dare I say, who needs big bad superhero movies?
Mr. Cranky Rates the Movies : Spider-Man
Finally, we understand what's been bothering Parker throughout the whole film: He's gay.
While it takes Parker a long time to admit this to himself, the clues are ever-present. First of all, what heterosexual guy pines to put on a skintight leotard and run around the city in it? You can only be gayer by dressing up as a large, pink triangle. Despite his claims about being deeply attracted to Mary Jane, the lack of a visible erection in his form-fitting suit during their encounters is testament to his gayness. And, of course, Spider-Man just loves to get other men sticky. In fact, the web that emerges from his wrist after a spider bite is simply a metaphor for the uncaring society that keeps his gayness in check.